Indirect Ones Research Articles

Increasing Commitment through the Effect of Green Training and Development and Green Behavior in State-Owned Bank Employees

The rising concern of global warming has spurred numerous organizations and companies worldwide to adopt green business strategies, which integrate environmental management with Human Resource Management (HRM), notably through implementing Green HRM (GHRM). The Indonesian government has also promoted eco-green applications in support of environmental sustainability in various government institutions, including state-owned banks, as a pioneer in the GHRM program. The research evaluated the influence of green training and development on organizational commitment among employees at a state-owned bank. The research raised the novelty by modifying indicators that were relevant to banking activity. Additionally, it examined the role of green behavior as a mediating factor in the relationship between green training and organizational commitment. The research involved 200 employees from the head office of a state-owned bank, using non-probability and convenience sampling methods. Then, data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and the Smart PLS 3.0 software. The findings indicate that green training and development significantly influence green behavior, substantially enhancing organizational commitment. A shift towards a more environmentally conscious work culture strengthens employees’ commitment. The management of the state-owned bank, particularly the HRM departments, is advised to focus on enhancing and implementing GHRM practices. The practices include integrating green training and development into their in-person and online programs to promote green behavior and positively impact employee organizational commitment. The research underscores the mediating role of green behavior in the relationship between green training and organizational commitment, although the direct effects are more pronounced than indirect ones.

The Strategies of Invitation Speech Act in Turkish

This study examines the strategies on invitation speech act in Turkish based on the speech act theory in pragmatics which fundamentally positions that when people use language they actually perform a kind of action. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the strategies employed on invitation speech act by native speakers of Turkish. To accomplish the goal, an online Written Discourse Completion Task (DCT) was employed with an aim to delineate the strategies Turkish speakers use while inviting. Another method was examining several different Turkish television series. Following the implication of the quantitative technique of conversation analysis, the utterances in data from invitation acts were analyzed in terms of the patterns of the semantic formulas categorized in the taxonomy by Suzuki (2009). The findings of the study revealed that invitation acts used in Turkish have their unique patterns. Direct invitations (84.90%) were more frequent than indirect ones (15.09%). Moreover, the most predominant type of head act was declarative (40.33%) and query on hearer’s plan (17.64%) had the highest frequency among preparatory acts. The most common supportive move was description of event by 48.44% of Turkish invitations.

Profiling EFL writing teachers’ feedback provision practices and activity uses in Saudi universities

Understanding the realities of feedback practices and activity uses in writing classrooms is key to optimizing them. This study attempted to profile Saudi university English writing teachers’ uses of feedback delivery modes, error correction strategies, and learner-centered feedback activities. The study drew upon the qualitative approach by using an open-ended questions to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of teachers’ feedback provision practices and activity uses. Open-end questionnaire responses were collected from 74 English writing teachers working at eight Saudi universities. The results revealed that handwritten and oral feedback modes are more dominant in the teachers’ practices than electronic and audio-recorded modes. Additionally, a relatively larger number of the teachers reported using direct and comprehensive error correction strategies more than indirect and selective ones. A considerable number of the teachers were found to use combinations of feedback modes, direct-indirect and comprehensive-selective error correction forms. With regard to their use of learner-centered feedback activities, a larger number of the teachers reported making use of peer feedback in their classes but neglecting student self-evaluation and automated writing evaluation activities. The paper discusses the implications pertinent to improving feedback provision practices and activity uses in the Saudi university context.

Public R&D and Growth: A dynamic Panel Vector-Error-Correction Model Analysis for 14 OECD Countries

This paper addresses the controversial issue of the direct and indirect effects of public R&D on growth. We look at six variables of R&D-driven growth jointly for 14 OECD countries using methods of dynamic systems for panel data analysis: GDP, technical change, domestic and foreign businesses and public R&D. Cointegration tests suggest four long-run relations for the six variables. We estimate these relations using group mean versions of fully modified and dynamic OLS. Domestic public R&D has positive long-run regression coefficients for direct effects on productivity and indirect ones via private R&D. Here, we build a panel vector-error-correction model with these long-term relations. Shocks to domestic public R&D enhance domestic private R&D, technical change and the GDP. Permanent changes in foreign public and private R&D have positive growth effects, which are transitional for foreign public R&D.

Expressive Speech In “To All The Boys: Always And Forever”

This study explores how expressive speech acts are used in the teen romantic comedy movie "To All the Boys: Always and Forever," directed by Michael Fimognari. Using Searle's theory of expressive speech acts and Yule's framework for direct and indirect speech acts, the study analyzes the female main character's speech acts through a descriptive qualitative approach. The study identifies few instances of expressive speech acts, with doubting speech being the most frequent. It also discovers that direct speech acts are more widely used than indirect ones. These findings contribute to the understanding of expressive speech acts in film, specifically how emotions and attitudes are conveyed through conversation.

Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Waste to Energy Systems in the Developing World: A Review

The global move towards a circular economy, as well as that of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has necessitated the search for several sustainable solutions in various sectors. Given this, the provision of sustainable waste management and electricity systems constitute a significant part of the SDGs, and the waste-to-energy (WtE) concept has recently become a key topic given that it can potentially help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation, as well as minimizing the need to dispose of waste in landfill. However, to date, the sustainability assessments of WtE generation technologies have been limited in scope concerning the three-dimensional sustainability framework (economic, environmental, and social). Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) has been proposed as a potential approach that could comprehensively address these three pillars of sustainability simultaneously based on life cycle thinking. LCSA, as a holistic method, could also potentially deal with the complexity associated with decision-making by allowing for the consideration of a full range of possible sustainability consequences. LCSA is an analytical tool that integrates the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (sLCA) methodologies, which already exist and continue to be developed. Individually, these life-cycle approaches tend to be used to point out particular ‘hotspots’ in product or service systems, and hence focus on direct impacts in a given sustainability domain, neglecting the indirect ones. LCSA aims for a more holistic sustainability perspective and seeks to address the associated challenge of integrating these three pillars of sustainability into an overall and more comprehensive sustainability assessment. This need for harmonization within the LCSA methodology is a major challenge in its operationalization. In recent years there has been steady progress towards developing and applying LCSA, including for WtE. The aim of this paper is to review the most recent trends and perspectives in developing countries, especially regarding how LCSA could help inform decision-making. The paper also analyses the LCSA literature to set out the theoretical and practical challenges behind integrating the three methods (LCA, LCC, and sLCA). The review was conducted via a search of keywords such as LCSA, waste, and energy in the Web of Science databases, resulting in the selection of 187 publications written in English. Of those, 13 articles operationalized LCSA in specific waste and WtE related case studies. The review provides a review of the application of LCSA for researchers, technological experts, and policymakers through published findings and identifies perspectives on new research. These include uncertainty, subjectivity in weighting, double-counting, the low maturity of sLCA, and the integration of the interconnection between the three dimensions (environmental, economic, and social dimensions) of LCSA results in decision-making. In addition, gaps (such as the integration of the interconnection between the three dimensions) that need to be addressed via further research are highlighted to allow for a better understanding of methodological trade-offs that come from using the LCSA analytical approach to assess the sustainability of WtE generation technologies, especially in developing countries. It is hoped that this study will be a positive contribution to environmental and energy policy decisions in developing countries faced with the dual problems of waste management and electricity supply along with their sustainable development goals.

Histopathology and its clinical correlation of liver biopsy in patients with treated autoimmune hepatitis

The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) relies on well-established criteria encompassing histological, serological, and clinical features. Diagnosing AIH may become challenging when encountering patients who have undergone steroid therapy for other co-existing diseases. Thirty-nine liver biopsies from 25 patients with treated and untreated AIH were classified into three groups: 1) Newly diagnosed untreated biopsies (n = 16); 2) Newly diagnosed partially treated biopsies from patients already on steroid treatment for other co-existing diseases (n = 9); 3) Previously diagnosed biopsies from patients who had undergone complete treatment (n = 14). In the untreated AIH group, at least 50 % of the cases exhibited the following features: at least moderate portal inflammation (81 %), at least moderate lobular inflammation (56 %), ductular reaction (94 %), inflammation gradient from bile duct to interface (88 %), unequivocal interface hepatitis (100 %), emperipolesis (56 %), plasma cell cluster (88 %), apoptosis or necrosis (63 %), pericentral inflammation (63 %), and periportal fibrosis (88 %). Although all these diagnostically sensitive histologic features were present in significantly fewer cases after treatment (p < 0.05), the features of ductular reaction, inflammation gradient from bile duct to interface, pericentral inflammation, and periportal fibrosis were likely to persist after treatment, especially in partially treated cases; these features did not show a significant association with higher transaminase levels (P > 0.05) and were considered as indirect features of hepatocytic injury. Our data suggest categorizing AIH histological features into direct and indirect hepatocytic injuries. Direct hepatocytic injury features significantly correlate with transaminase levels and respond well to treatment, while indirect ones show weaker transaminase correlation and relative treatment resistance.

Macroalgae as a sustainable biostimulant for crop production according to techno-economic and environmental criteria

One of the main hotspots in the agricultural sector is related to the extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to direct environmental impacts, such as eutrophication, and indirect ones, such as the energy demand associated with their production. Faced with these limitations, the use of biostimulants has emerged as a suitable and effective strategy to improve crop productivity, avoid the use of chemicals and promote a more sustainable agricultural sector. This manuscript addresses the valorization of macroalgae for the production of biostimulants for crop cultivation according to three possible scenarios: steam autoclaving (SAE), boiling (BE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In order to evaluate their ecological potential, both techno-economic and environmental assessments have been developed, following the life cycle assessment methodology. The results obtained show that, from an environmental point of view, the use of energy resources and CO2, in the case of the SFE scenario, makes a significant contribution to the environmental profile. The optimization of the process could contribute to a reduction of the impact in the range of 12 %–41 %, which increases the sustainable potential of the biostimulant production. On the other hand, regarding the economic study, all scenarios are considered economically viable, since a minimum selling price (MSP) similar to the market average is obtained. However, by improving the process yield and the consumption of energy resources and materials, the MSP could be reduced by 19.81 %. In addition, this manuscript also shows that the application of this biostimulant in wheat production contributes to a significant reduction in environmental impact compared to a conventional crop stimulant.

Exploring the effects of AI literacy in teacher learning: an empirical study

As most practitioners (including teachers) do not know how AI functions and cannot make full use of AI in education, there is an urgent need to investigate teachers’ intentions to learn AI and related determinants so as to promote their AI learning. This study collected survey data from a total of 318 K-12 teachers from sixteen provinces or municipalities in China. A two-step structural equation modeling approach was performed to analyze the data. Our findings show that K-12 teachers’ perceptions of the use of AI for social good and self-efficacy in learning AI are two direct determinants of behavioral intentions to learn AI, while awareness of AI ethics and AI literacy are two indirect ones. AI literacy has a direct impact on perceptions of the use of AI for social good, self-efficacy in learning AI and awareness of AI ethics and has an indirect impact on behavioral intentions to learn AI. This study represents one of the earliest attempts to empirically examine the power of AI literacy and explore the determinants of behavioral intentions to learn AI among K-12 teachers. Our findings can theoretically and practically contribute to the virgin field of K-12 teachers’ AI learning.

The interactions of pectin with TiO2 nanoparticles measured by FT-IR are confirmed in a model of the gastrointestinal tract

The presence of nanoparticle fractions (<100 nm, NPs) in the food additive TiO2 (E171) rises concerns about its potential harmful impact on human health. The knowledge about the interaction of TiO2 NPs with food components is limited to proteins or polyphenols. The present paper is the first to report on interactions between TiO2 NPs and high molecular pectins that form gels in boluses and are remain nearly intact during digestion until they reach the colon. Direct interactions were studied using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy while indirect ones were monitored by measuring the “absorption” of TiO2 using a 0.2 microfiltration membrane, during in vitro digestion in a model of the gastro-intestinal tract. The FT-IR spectra registered for pectin-TiO2 NPs solutions confirmed changes in band intensities at 1020, 1100, 1610, and 1740 cm−1, suggesting interactions taking place mainly via the COO– groups. Furthermore, the I(1020)/I(1100) ratio was decreased (C-O stretching vibrations), suggesting partial blocking of the skeletal vibrations caused by interactions between pectin and TiO2. The modelled in vitro digestions confirmed that the “availability” of Ti was reduced when TiO2 NPs were combined with pectin, as compared to TiO2 NPs “digested” alone.

Overview on Lumpy Disease: Pathogenesis, Sign and Symptoms, Risk Factor, and Treatment

The lumpy diseases is an infectious disease. It is caused by viruses (LSDV) of the family Capripoxvirus.An investigation on the risk variables linked to the proliferation of LSD in Ethiopia has been conducted through a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study LSD virus,virus has been detected in stomoxy calcitrans and Anopheles stephens. virus can survive in necrotic skin for about 33 days and remains viable for at least 18 days in air-dried skin lesions at room temperature. The virus has been reported to persist in necrotic skin nodules for up to 33 days or longer, in dried crusts for up to 35 days and at least 18 days in air-dried hides.LSD has gross lesions that are well-described. Skin nodules are typically elevated, hard, and spherical in shape, however some might fuse together to form enormous, uneven plaques with defined boundaries. Biphasic fever, a clinical symptom of LSD, is characterised by two episodes of fever that develop after a varying incubation period of 4–12 days (typically 7 days). The affected animals' body temperature rises to 40–41.5°C, and this can last for at least 6–72 hours and, in exceptional cases, up to 10 days.To guarantee sufficient defence against LSD, susceptible adult cattle should receive a yearly vaccination.To reduce the possibility of the disease spreading by vectors, cattle should get routine treatments with insect repellents. While not completely effective, this method can lower the likelihood of transmission..The first report of LSD's clinical symptoms was published in Zambia (Morris 1931 ) The affected animals displayed symptoms of nasal discharge, emaciation, necrotic plaques in the mouth and nose mucous membranes, and excessive salivation. The most popular technique for diagnosis is full-thickness skin biopsies or scabs with electron microscopy showing the presence of characteristic capripox virions.To identify the antigens, techniques such as ELISA, PCR, and viral neutralization test procedures are helpful. Doctors may administer vitamin injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, or antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infection fever and inflammation.needed a full recuperation period of six months A27L, L1R, and a combination of the two LSDV antigens were included in the development of three vaccines. Insect repellents, disinfectant cleaning, proper disposal of contaminated areas, and awareness-raising are examples of preventive approaches.The economic impact of LSD was caused by both direct consequences, like control expenses, and indirect ones, including milk loss, mortality loss, and draft power loss.

Investigation of the directional Faraday cup and improvement of the comparison between direct and indirect thrust measurements of a magnetic nozzle ECR thruster

The thrust of an electric propulsion device estimated from electrostatic probe measurements may be different from direct thrust measurements. In order to reduce this discrepancy for electron cyclotron resonance thrusters (ECRT), a new diagnostic is presented: the directional Faraday cup (FCDi). Thanks to a peculiar design, it assesses the angular distribution of ion current density in the plume of plasma thrusters. First, a theoretical model of the angular selectivity of the FCDi is introduced. It is validated with both simulations and experiments. Guidelines are given to use the FCDi in the plume of ECRT. Second, the observed discrepancies between direct thrust measurements made on a thrust stand and indirect ones are reduced when using the FCDi instead of a planar Faraday probe with a guard ring (FPGR). Relative errors come down to 10% with the FCDi, which are compared to 20%–30% observed with the FPGR. An analysis demonstrates that it is not due to the effect of local ion trajectories but comes from the magnitude of the ion current measured. A large sheath in front of the negatively biased FPGR seems to be the cause of this phenomenon. The grounded opening of the FCDi reduces this phenomenon and improves the ion flux measurement accuracy. This new probe, with angular selectivity characteristics, allows for the comparison of the ion flux ejection direction with the magnetic field line and contributes to a better description of ion population dynamic in the magnetic nozzle of the thruster.

Innovative Ultrasound Criteria for the Diagnosis of Adenomyosis and Correlation with Symptoms: A Retrospective Re-Evaluation.

The 2022 Delphi revision of the MUSA (Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment) criteria for the ultrasound diagnosis of adenomyosis divides the ultrasound signs for diagnosis into direct and indirect ones, considering the presence of at least one direct sign as a mandatory criterion. This study aimed to reclassify the patients referred to the Pelvic Pain specialist outpatient clinic of the Gynecological Clinic of Udine according to the new criteria, evaluating the number of overdiagnoses and the possible correlation between the direct and indirect signs and the patients' symptoms. 62 patients affected by adenomyosis were retrospectively recruited. The patients were then re-evaluated by ultrasound and clinically. At least one direct sign of adenomyosis was found in 52 patients, while 16% of the population examined did not present any. There was no statistically significant difference between patients presenting direct signs and those presenting none for the symptoms considered. According to the new criteria, 16% of the patients examined were not affected by adenomyosis; applying the new consensus to symptomatic patients could increase false negatives. In a population of symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of adenomyosis is still highly probable even without direct ultrasound signs, given the clinical symptoms and having ruled out other causes of such symptoms.

Effect of different draft tube designs on the phase resonance in a pump-turbine based on compressible CFD simulation

An investigation into projects with significant noise issues during full-load turbine operation revealed a distinct draft tube elbow design difference compared to more successful projects. This prompted an initiative to explore the impact of draft tube shape on pressure pulsations within the pump-turbine during full-load operation. Various draft tube designs were tested on the same prototype-scale pump-turbine unit using 3D compressible transient simulations. Results indicated increased pressure pulsation amplitude in the spiral casing for the flat elbow draft tube, accompanied by phase shifts that rendered pressure pulsations close to zero at certain locations, converting direct pulsations into indirect ones. Moreover, phase variations in the opposing runner channel aligned with multiples of the rotation period, suggesting possible cancellation of pressure pulsation waves. These improvements were confirmed through contour analysis, which showed reduced negative pressure areas in the draft tube, minimized pressure differences, and more uniform and stable streamlines. This study analyses the influence of draft tube shape on internal flow field pressure fluctuations, offering theoretical insights for enhancing pump turbine stability and guiding further research.

An obstructed inguinal hernia with maldescended testis as content in an adult male: A case report

Abstract A long-standing direct inguinal hernia may manifest as an acute or subacute intestinal obstruction. An obstructed direct inguinal hernia with testis as content is extremely uncommon, and up to date, no such case has been reported. Direct inguinal hernias are much less common than indirect ones in terms of incarceration and even strangulation. Obstructed direct inguinal hernias requiring surgery are very rare. Such hernias are exceedingly challenging to diagnose clinically and are diagnosed intraoperatively. According to the literature, individuals with direct inguinal hernias on the left side are more likely to develop such sequelae. Herein, we report the case of a 26-year-old male who presented with an obstructed inguinal hernia of the left side with the testis as content, taking into consideration the rarity and possible consequences of such hernias.

Enhancing supply chain performance of Saudi hospitals through resilience: The roles of supply chain integration and innovation

This study aims at investigating the roles of supply chain integration and innovation on supply chain performance through a mediation mechanism of supply chain. This study develops a theoretical framework based on resource-based view and dynamic capability theory. Based on a quantitative study of 214 Saudi hospitals, an empirical analysis was made using a structural equation modelling with AMOS. Results revealed that supply chain integration and innovation positively affect supply chain resilience and performance. In addition, supply chain resilience has a positive and significant relationship with supply chain performance. Most significantly, the relationships of supply chain integration and of innovation to supply chain performance were found to be partially mediated by supply chain resilience. These results showed that integration and innovation have direct effects to improve supply chain performance and indirect ones when hospitals make efforts in developing their resilience. This study is important for top managers of Saudi hospitals to integrate their supply chains and innovate them to improve their resilience and performance.

Estimated annual costs of Chikungunya fever in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

To estimate the cost of illness of Chikungunya in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2019. The study is a partial economic evaluation carried out with secondary data with free and unrestricted access. Direct outpatient and indirect costs of the acute, post-acute, and chronic phases of Chikungunya fever were estimated, in addition to hospital costs. The estimate of direct costs was performed using the notified cases and the standard treatment flowchart in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The indirect ones consist of loss of productivity and disability, using the burden of disease indicator (Disability-adjusted life year - DALY). The total number of reported cases was 38,830. Total costs were calculated at BRL 279,807,318, with 97% related to indirect costs. The chronic phase and indirect costs were the most expensive. The inability and permanence of Chikungunya differentiate the disease and increase the costs of its treatment.

Экономические эффекты применения цифровых решений в горной промышленности (на примере западной части Арктики)

Mining activities in the western part of Arctic is currently experiencing significant challenges caused by the increased mining depth, a decrease in the grades of the mined ore and the complicated mining and geological conditions. The use of digital solutions, as the experience of the main mining enterprises of the Kola region shows, can mitigate these challenges to a certain extent. The intensive introduction of digital technologies into the main business processes of mining production allows obtaining both direct and indirect economic effects. The direct effects include generation of additional profits, reducing costs and increasing labor productivity. The indirect ones can be of scientific, technical and social nature, as well as those concerned with improving the safety of mining operations. The objective of the study was to justify a scientific and technical approach to assessing the economic effects of digital solutions in the mining industry based on parametric and scenario modeling of the discounted cash flows. The result was to develop a graphical algorithm and disclose its step-by-step description for evaluating the economic effects of digital solutions for the mining industry in the Western part of Arctic. The use of digital solutions is estimated as an effective tool that meets the requirement to obtain positive direct and indirect economic effects. The proposed scientific and technical approach was tested using the case of one of the promising ore deposits in the Western part of Arctic.

Rural employment in Russia: Present conditions and prospects for agricultural and non-agricultural sectors

Contributing to a discussion on rural employment forecast in Russia, this paper sys­tematizes the challenges for the rural labor market: population outflow, weak impulses to develop non-agricultural employment and rural entrepreneurship, changing labor needs in agriculture and a decline in the number of labor migrants. The results of the regional differentiation research show that the response strategies of Russian regions to stabilize employment differ significantly and include active intra-Russian labor migration or reliance on high agricultural state support, development of self-employment and jobs preservation in labor-intensive, low-productivity sectors of agricultural production. The article discusses rural development prospects associated with the return migration of urban residents to rural areas, which creates a new basis for rural employment growth. A theoretical implication of the rural employment perspectives discussion is the proposed concept of “out-of-urban employment” that actualizes the traditional approach of seeking employment only for indigenous rural people who have lost their jobs in agriculture, and includes new types and forms of employment for urban dwellers. Analysis of the current state support for rural employment in Russia shows that it is poorly aligned with the existing challenges. The scale of both financing and the number of potential participants is small; direct support measures are limited to the agricultural sector, while indirect ones — through support for rural infrastructure — create mainly public sector employment. The practical implications of the outcomes are some proposed ways of developing measures to support rural employment, taking into account non-agricultural rural economy needs.

Molten Salts Tanks Thermal Energy Storage: Aspects to Consider during Design

Concentrating solar power plants use sensible thermal energy storage, a mature technology based on molten salts, due to the high storage efficiency (up to 99%). Both parabolic trough collectors and the central receiver system for concentrating solar power technologies use molten salts tanks, either in direct storage systems or in indirect ones. But even though this is a mature technology, it still shows challenges in its implementation and operation. This paper underscores the critical importance of stringent design criteria for molten salt tanks in thermal storage technology. Focusing on the potential ramifications of design failures, the study explores various dimensions where an inadequate design can lead to severe consequences, even jeopardizing the viability of the entire technology. Key areas discussed include structural integrity, corrosion, thermal shock, thermal expansions, and others. By elucidating the multifaceted risks associated with design shortcomings, this paper aims to emphasize the necessity of thorough reviews and adherence to robust design principles for ensuring the success, safety, and sustainability of thermal storage technology.