Personal Purposes Research Articles

Translational activity in the focus of presentational discourse

The actualization of a translator’s presentational potential and competence within the framework of discourse linguistics contributes to the expansion of the contemporary paradigm of translation studies and motivates the study of language features of web discourse and its genre forms in the synergy of professional (institutional) and personally oriented communication. The aim of this article is to study the genre features of a professional translator’s presentational discourse focusing on their web-based interaction. The methods used in the paper, i.e. contextual, comparative and distributive analysis, allowed us to identify the features of self-presentation and self-expression of the translator, promoting text and presentational discourse within the framework of web interaction, and thus to justify the hypothesis about the tendency of professional translators to actively express themselves in Internet not only for professional but also personal purposes. Considering the multi-layered nature of web-based communication and the multi-genre palette of web discourse, the authors of the paper analyze the presentation forms of a translator on the material of various online genres: personal website, blog, webinar, and YouTube channel. The novelty of the research lies in the analysis of presentation forms of professional translation discourse focusing on web discourse. The positioning of translator’s professional personality on the Internet is studied from the perspective of their individuality, the synergy of personal and professional communication. It is concluded that all possible genre forms of self-presentation are realized in the presentation discourse of translators in the web-based communicative space: demonstratives; reportatives; sociatives; creatives; agitatives; instructives; prescriptives; attractives. The conclusion is drawn that among the many forms of translator’s self-expression, the most effective in terms of web-based presentation discourse is the translator’s personal blog, which requires further detailed and in-depth analysis. Based on a comprehensive analysis of empirical material, the authors have been able to outline a new direction for research of the professional personality of translators, to define accents, trends, and specific features of self-presentation and self-expression of translators in the modern world. In the future, it is planned to examine the socio- and lingua-cultural features of the translator’s professional personality on the material of various blogs in different linguo-pragmatic conditions.

The Keys to Developing Communicative Competence as a School Project: A Qualitative View from Teachers’ Beliefs

Educational systems have the common objective of coordinating efforts to improve students’ communicative competence and facilitate the development of their oral and written language skills for personal, social, academic, and professional purposes. The work on communicative competence from a school perspective has various antecedents in the international educational context. In Spain, the improvement of students’ linguistic communication competence in all the languages spoken in the schools (mother languages and second languages) has been addressed through different initiatives, among which the SLP (School Language Project) programme, better known in Spanish as Proyecto Lingüístico de Centro (PLC), which has been implemented in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia since the 2013–2014 academic year, stands out. The aim of this paper is to examine the opinions of the teacher coordinators involved in the implementation of SLP in their schools as well as their perceptions about the impact of external factors in the process and, lastly, to highlight the main implications emerging from this global vision for the implementation of interdisciplinary projects to improve LCC (Linguistic Communication Competence) schools. This study is based on the feedback provided by the coordinators of the SLP initiative in Andalusian institutions over five academic years. The findings have been studied utilising a qualitative methodology and assessed using the Atlas Ti 6.0 software, then grouped into five diverse categories. The results indicate that, despite the programme’s strengths, specific improvement measures are necessary in both external and internal aspects related to SLP.

Domesticating WhatsApp Groups: Indonesian Women’s Experience with Misinformation and Hate Speech in the 2019 Election

There are rising concerns over the spread of misinformation and hate speech on mobile instant messaging, especially during political elections. In 2019, when Indonesia held its legislative and presidential elections, WhatsApp groups had become the main source of the harmful content for Indonesians, with politically motivated content being the most received. This paper examined how Indonesian women used WhatsApp groups and addressed the harmful content on the platform during the arguably most divisive presidential election in the country’s history. Their experiences were approached with the four processes of domestication: appropriation, conversion, incorporation, and objectification. This study applies qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews with 30 informants selected through purposive sampling technique in five Indonesian cities namely Jakarta, Banda Aceh, Yogyakarta, Makassar, and Jayapura. This study found that WhatsApp groups enabled them to gain self-actualization for professional and personal purposes, but their experience was disrupted by the political event that drove misinformation and hate speeches. Based on their gender identity, political interest and ethnicity, they responded to misinformation and hate speech differently in different WhatsApp groups, ranging from ignoring to verifying and debunking them. Their responses to misinformation and hate speech differ depending on their understanding of gender bias, political interests, as well as religious and ethnic identities, which are also influenced by the type of group and conversations on WhatsApp groups. Keywords: Indonesian women, WhatsApp, domestication, misinformation, hate speech.

Converging perspectives: Assessing AI readiness and utilization in Philippine higher education

In rapidly evolving landscape of technology, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has become prevalent, reshaping various facets of students’ lives. This study delved into the uncharted territory of AI awareness, utilization, and perceptions among college students. The study used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, integrating quantitative survey data with qualitative responses in order to get insights on the impact of AI in education and society. The survey found that college students familiarity on AI depends on age, academic year, and field of study. This emphasizes the need for targeted AI education to overcome knowledge inequalities, particularly among younger cohorts and in fields with little AI expertise. AI usage is usually modest for academic and personal purposes, while insights includes its uses in academic research, job administration, and language translation. The varied application of AI requires institutions to adapt their procedures, and societal impacts which are largely seen positively. This optimism is tempered by concerns about job loss, data privacy breach, technological overuse, and human decision-making. Thus, comprehensive AI education programs are needed to address and traverse these varied opinions. The results emphasized the necessity for institutions and policymakers to be proactive when artificial intelligence is transforming many companies and social systems. Students must learn AI literacy, combining knowledge and practical application, to navigate the AI-driven environment's complexity and opportunities. The endeavor requires teaching technical skills and a deep grasp of AI's social and ethical implications. Institutions can prepare students for a future where artificial intelligence is becoming more important by understanding these effects and tailoring teaching.

Features of health competencies of preschool children with intellectual disabilities

An important aspect in teaching children with intellectual disabilities of preschool age is the development of healthy lifestyle skills in them. This article conducted a study of the degree of formation of the cognitive component of health-preserving competence of preschool children with intellectual disabilities. Children aged 5-7 years took part in the study. For the study, a task was selected based on children identifying among various items exactly those things that are used for personal hygiene purposes. Based on the results obtained, conclusions were drawn about the need to carry out correctional and developmental work with preschool children with intellectual disabilities to improve their health-preserving competence.

Socioeconomic Impact of Agricultural Projects Financed by the District Development Fund: Case Study of the District of Vilankulo - Mozambique

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, agriculture is recognized as the cornerstone of the country's development. However, the levels of production and productivity in this sector remain low. In response to this challenge, the Government established and implemented the District Development Fund (DDF) to provide financial support for economic activities, with a particular focus on agriculture (IBIS, 2010). Therefore, the goal of this research was to analyze the socioeconomic impact of the DDF on the beneficiary communities. To achieve this objective, semi-structured interviews of 36 beneficiaries of DDF and unsystematic observations were conducted. The results indicated that all participants reported a significant increase, six times higher than before, in their agricultural production areas. This enhancement allowed for the expansion and diversification of agricultural products. The surplus generated from the sale of these products was used for personal purposes, such as purchasing radios, telephones, school supplies for their children, and improving their housing conditions. Consequently, these improvements significantly enhanced the quality of life for those involved in agriculture. These findings strongly align with the objectives underlying the creation of the DDF and could serve as an exemplar for other districts within the country. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that the DDF has made significant contributions to improving the living conditions of the beneficiary population in the district of Vilankulo.

Protection path of personal data and privacy in China: Moving from monism to dualism in civil law and then in criminal law

The relationship between privacy protection and personal data protection is legally and academically challenging. The PRC's civil law has evolved from the traditional monism of privacy right provision (protecting personal information) to the dualism of separating privacy protection and personal information protection. But when the private information within the privacy sphere involves personal information, the dualism protection is not absolute, but more delicate than it has been suggested.More importantly, there is little in the existing literature analysing the noteworthy divergence of the protection path of privacy and personal information in civil law and criminal law – or considering the reasonable convergence of the protection path under the civil and criminal law. China's Criminal Law has sought to protect privacy with personal information provision for more than a decade. But it is presently difficult to convert privacy content into private information for personal information protection purposes. Given the multifaceted forms of contemporary privacy invasion and comparative law trends and thoughts, we seek to build a protection framework for privacy in the information age under the criminal law – and continually updating it – so as to make use of the expression function of coherence law theory to nurture a culture of respecting individual privacy and trusting legal protection in the information technology environment. The eventual convergence of dualism protection of personal data and privacy in both civil law and criminal law corresponds to the doctrinal coherence in the information age and to policy considerations in the digital economy and society. Privacy is by default an inalienable right to protect dignity and liberty – while personal information can be a comprehensive interest, which values and balances security and purpose, in accordance with law, in a specific jurisdiction such as contemporary China. The dualism exemplifies criminal law's coordination with civil law in protection.

A Case Study of Four Pre-service Science Teachers: What Do Teacher Reflections Tell Us?

<p style="text-align: justify;">Reflection requires someone to think in deep and express the impression of a phenomenon or an event. Reflection can be defined as a mirror to look at and see the personal insights, feelings, motivation, or purposes of individuals within a particular context and practice in a realistic way. This study examined the nature of pre-service science teachers’ reflections during the last semester of the teacher education program. There were four cases as student-teachers attending science teacher education program in northwest region of Turkey. The qualitative data, written reflections and researcher field notes were utilized and analyzed through inductive methods. The results indicated that even though pre-service science teachers learned scientific practices and inquiry, they were not able to implement due to some constraints: mentor teachers forced them to teach on a traditional basis. They could only complete the required four-hour teaching practice. Student teachers reflected on their learning as becoming a science teacher, but their actions were restricted, and they could not find supportive community in school and classroom context.</p>

Characterization of spatial-temporal distribution and microenvironment source contribution of PM2.5 concentrations using a low-cost sensor network with artificial neural network/kriging techniques

Low-cost sensors (LCS) network is widely used to improve the resolution of spatial-temporal distribution of air pollutant concentrations in urban areas. However, studies on air pollution sources contribution to the microenvironment, especially in industrial and mix-used housing areas, still need to be completed. This study investigated the spatial-temporal distribution and source contributions of PM2.5 in the urban area based on 6-month of the LCS network datasets. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was used to calibrate the measured PM2.5 by the LCS network. The calibrated PM2.5 were shown to agree with reference PM2.5 measured by the BAM-1020 with R2 of 0.85, MNE of 30.91%, and RMSE of 3.73 μg/m3, which meet the criteria for hotspot identification and personal exposure study purposes. The Kriging method was further used to establish the spatial-temporal distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in the urban area. Results showed that the highest average PM2.5 concentration occurred during autumn and winter due to monsoon and topographic effects. From a diurnal perspective, the highest level of PM2.5 concentration was observed during the daytime due to heavy traffic emissions and industrial production. Based on the present ANN-based microenvironment source contribution assessment model, temples, fried chicken shops, traffic emissions in shopping and residential zones, and industrial activities such as the mechanical manufacturing and precision metal machining were identified as the sources of PM2.5. The numerical algorithm coupled with the LCS network presented in this study is a practical framework for PM2.5 hotspots and source identification, aiding decision-makers in reducing atmospheric PM2.5 concentrations and formulating regional air pollution control strategies.

Pelatihan Internet of Things (IoT) Bagi Siswa Ponpes Imam Ibnu Katsir

The rapid development of technology has had a significant impact on various aspects of life and indirectly compelled society to adapt to these changes. The need to enhance efficiency, optimize resources, and improve the quality of life has led to the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in all aspects of life. Islamic boarding schools, as one of the educational institutions, are required to be able to meet the challenges of this digital era by producing graduates who not only understand religion but are also proficient in technology. The existence of IoT training is expected to help expand the knowledge of students at the Imam Ibnu Katsir Islamic boarding school, which can potentially be utilized for personal purposes and make a positive contribution to society.

Towards a model of Teachers’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD): a border crossing journey with embedded contradictions, ethical dilemmas and transformative possibilities

ABSTRACT Shulman (1989) argued how ‘outrageously complex’ teaching is and how reform imperatives driving standards should not lead to standardisation and the subsequent loss of soul. We assert that framing a model of teachers’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is similarly ‘outrageously complex’, a multifaceted construct that has professional, personal and political ends and purposes and is concerned with needs beyond that of the individual teacher, such as the teaching profession, schooling system, economic and social needs, as well as the wider public-interest values of the state. For this study, we worked as a community of inquiry, drawing from theoretical pluralism in order to conduct an abductive analysis of existing models of teachers’ CPD. Our model of teachers’ CPD offers an explanatory framework that positions teachers’ values, goals and dreams at the centre, involves a relational border crossing journey rather than a final destination, and necessitates ethics (philosophy), critical reflexivity and the empirical as productive ways of staying with the embedded contradictions, ethical dilemmas and transformative possibilities of an advanced professional practice. We present this new model of CPD not as a final analysis but rather as a theory worthy of further research and consideration.

Australian tax arrangements for trusts: Section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act (1936) Cth

Abstract The reason taxpayers make arrangements is because they are able to suit themselves, as well as their and business and investment purposes. Such arrangements are as many and varied as there are taxpayers. It is impossible for a legislator, especially in relation to taxation, which by its very nature is a by-product of being free to so arrange, to set out, or prescribe in detail what is and what is not acceptable, except in the clearest of cases. The use of trusts causes the Commissioner of Taxation some concern and the ATO arguably starts with the position that those using trusts are doing so to lessen their taxation burden. Trusts, however, are used for a variety of personal and commercial purposes. It is the case that taxation considerations are increasingly considered to be a part of the equation. The difficulties around the application of section 100A are causing no little consternation for taxpayers and their advisors, not in the least because the Australian Revenue authorities have taken considerable time to issue their view, while at the same time pursuing taxpayers for alleged breaches of the provision.

Do prospective parents have a right to bury their deceased previable foetuses? A discussion of how the Constitutional Court has created great legal uncertainty

The Constitutional Court, in Voice of the Unborn Baby NPC v Minister of Home Affairs, was faced with a request to recognise a constitutionally protected right to bury a deceased previable foetus. This is a sensitive topic, since many persons who lose a foetus in utero wish to bury the remains for personal or religious purposes. Prior to this case, the general understanding was that such burials were prohibited in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (BADRA), which allows the burial only of viable foetuses. The case, therefore, turned on whether BADRA permits the burial of a deceased previable foetus and, if not, whether this is unconstitutional. The applicants requested that the court declare that prospective parents have a right to bury their previable foetuses. The High Court found that BADRA does not allow such burials, and that this is unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court, however, found that BADRA does not prohibit such burials, since such deaths are not covered by the Act at all. This article discusses the lacuna that the Constitutional Court's decision created. It specifically considers whether such a right is protected in the Bill of Rights, and what the current law is regarding the burial ofpreviable foetuses, given the finding that this matter is not covered by BADRA.

Multiproxy analysis of Upper Palaeolithic lustrous gravels supports their anthropogenic use.

Upper Palaeolithic sites in southwestern France attributed to the Upper Gravettian and the Solutrean yielded sub spherical gravels with a highly shiny appearance that have intrigued researchers since the 1930s. In this work, we analyze specimens from five sites, including the recently excavated Solutrean site of Landry, to establish whether their presence in archaeological layers and peculiar aspect are due to natural processes or human agency. We study the spatial distribution of gravels at Landry and submit archaeological gravels from the five sites, natural formations, Landry sediment sieving, and polishing experiments with a rotary tumbling machine to morphometric, colorimetric, microscopic, and textural analyses. Our results indicate the lustrous gravels found at the five sites result from deliberate selection and suggest their shiny appearance is the consequence of human agency, possibly resulting from prolonged contact with a soft material such as animal skin. Ethnographic accounts indicate that these gravels may have been used for magico-religious ritual purposes (charms, sorcery, divination etc.), in games, as elements of musical instruments, and as items serving other social and personal purposes. We argue that these objects reflect a cultural innovation emerged during the Gravettian and continued into the Solutrean.

The Classification of Dual-Purpose Contracts in European Private International Law

Consumers, as the presumed weaker party, are granted with favourable jurisdiction and choice of law rules under the Brussels Ibis Regulation and Rome I Regulation. The identity of a person as a consumer is the precondition of applying consumer protective rules. However, what if a person is acting partly for professional purpose and partly for private purpose? What criterion should be relied upon to classify a dual-purpose contract? Whether the private purpose must be predominant or primary, or it is irrelevant as long as the professional purpose is non-negligible? What if a person changes the purpose after the conclusion of contract? Whether the original purpose or the subsequent purpose should be decisive? This article aims to clarify the notion of hybrid consumer or dual-purpose contract in European private international law. The CJEU case might show that a less strict criterion is adopted to determine the legal nature of dual-purpose contracts. Compared to the notion of consumer in EU consumer directives and the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention, it might be advisable to adopt the non-predominant or primary purpose criterion. Accordingly, a dual-purpose contract is a consumer contract if the person is acting primarily outside of his trade or profession (primarily for personal, family or household purposes), or the professional purpose is so limited as not to be predominant. Meanwhile, a dynamic or ex post approach, albeit secondary to the static or ex ante approach, shall be adopted in examining the purpose of a dual-purpose contract. The subsequent change of purpose is relevant.

Отношение россиян к коррупции (по материалам пилотного исследования)

The article is aimed at examining the problem of corruption; it presents an analysis of the theoretical basis of sociological science for interpreting this phenomenon as anomie and a destabilizing factor in the development of the state and society. The relevance of the article is determined by the complex situation in society in this regard, the entrenchment of corruption in the Russian society. Results of a pilot survey of citizens’ opinion on the causes of corruption and necessary measures to counteract it are presented. The main fields of distribution of corrupt practices and the degree of involvement of citizens in deviant schemes were recorded. It is revealed that with a generally negative attitude of citizens towards corruption, they still express a weak willingness to counteract it and allow themselves the opportunity to be a subject of corruption relations and use such practices for personal purposes, if it helps them solve issues that are significant for them. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that in order to improve the situation in society, it is necessary to strive to get rid of the indicated contradic-tion.

Incidences of Hepatitis-B Within Kirkuk Province in Iraq, a Biochemical Study of Some Liver Enzymes

Geographical distribution of Hepatitis-B, both acute and chronic caused by the hepatitis-B virus (HBV) has always been attracting attention worldwide. Prevalence of HBV does vary among genders and ages while symptomatic and asymptomatic are not uncommon. The present research involved assessment of three different parameters i.e. four liver enzymes, hematological and serological factors in 91 patients (70 male and 21 female) compared with 28 control counterpart (23 male and 5 female) admitted a private Medical laboratory in Kirkuk province. The arithmetic values of the 4 main liver enzymes, Alanine Trans-Aminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP); aspartate transaminase (AST) and GammaGlutamyl transferase (GGT) showed significant increase (p≤0.05-0.001) in Hepatitis-B patients in comparison with their counterpart healthy individuals. An insignificant differences was detectable in both WBC and Hb% values meanwhile significant increases (20-25 folds) elevation was detected in the total serum bilirubin (TSB) of HBV patients. Variations in the values of these enzymes, particularly ALT enzyme, was also prominent between the genders e.g. in male patients were comparable with their counterparts female. The values of the enzyme ALT, particularly in female hepatitis, were four folds higher than males; however, other enzyme showed lesser value variations ranged between significant to insignificant. It is conclude that regular check-up of these enzymes deems necessary for personal health purposes of HBV patients.

‘Midlife Crisis’ and the scramble for fresh personal purposes amongst middle-aged men

The universality of the midlife crisis has cost so many middle-aged men, with so many men rebooting and restarting their lives in the scramble for a fresh personal purpose. The researcher’s inquisitiveness about the experiences of middle-aged men in an identified community in Masvingo, Zimbabwe ignited the study. However, little research has been carried out in this nation concerning the subject under study. The study aimed to understand the psychological and social experiences of middle-aged men and how midlife crises can facilitate marital instabilities and a drastic change in social life. A narrative biography was obtained from the seven men in-depth interviewed. The purposively selected participants were between the ages of 35 and 45. Confirmation of the different studies that have been carried out in the West, many middle-aged men experience a lot of psychological challenges, including depression, stress, insomnia, and others. The study discovered that the escalation of divorce rates is rooted in the challenges associated with the midlife crisis. Many middle-aged men are not aware of marriage counseling, with quite a number less or not knowledgeable about the existence of psychological services. The study exposed the need for educational campaigns and midlife crisis awareness to the populace. Keywords: Crisis; death; middle age; midlife crisis; scramble; well-being.

Metaverse Banking Service: Are We Ready to Adopt? A Deep Learning-Based Dual-Stage SEM-ANN Analysis

Metaverse banking service is the transformation from online banking to a metaverse environment that allows customers to access banking services and interact with representatives in a virtual environment. The metaverse refers to a virtual realm that integrates physical reality with digital environments, enabling users to interact, socialize, and participate in a wide range of activities through the use of avatars and immersive technologies. While there are advantages to adopt the metaverse, the metaverse adoption researches are scarce and primarily focus on the game, education, and sport, providing limited attention to banking services. Furthermore, most adoption research using standard information technology/information system models has focused primarily on organizational context and adopted compulsorily. Metaverse banking service is mainly adopted voluntarily by users and for personal purposes. Thus, this leads to the difficulty in drawing meaningful conclusions toward metaverse adoption. The study addresses these issues by proposing a new unified theory of acceptance and use of the metaverse technology model (UTAUMT), which consists of metaverse performance expectancy (MPE), metaverse facilitating conditions (MFC), metaverse effort expectancy (MEE), and metaverse social influence (MSI) to determine metaverse banking service adoption. Moreover, metaverse trust (MET) and metaverse financial resources (MEF) are also incorporated to investigate complexity in the metaverse environment. The integrated model has been developed and validated through a pretest (face validity and content validity) and pilot test before applying to 491 metaverses-experienced users in Vietnam through a questionnaire approach. Partial least squares structural equation modelling-artificial neural network (PLS-SEM-ANN) has provided a comprehensive result as it can capture both linear and nonlinear relationships. The results from the model showed that only one of the proposed hypotheses between metaverse financial resources (MEF) and behavioural intention to use metaverse banking services (BIM) was not supported in this study and thus needed further investigation. The study contributes to the academic literature by proposing new constructs to assess users’ likelihood of adopting metaverse banking services. The result also assists bank managers in understanding metaverse banking adoption and makes them realize the metaverse banking services’ growth opportunity to pursue. Given the limited scope of the study focusing solely on Vietnam, it would be advantageous for future research on the cultural variations among users of mobile social commerce to incorporate a comparative analysis across multiple countries, with a particular emphasis on Asian nations.

Safety, health and environmental impacts of commercial motorcycles in Sub-Saharan African cities

ABSTRACT In Sub-Saharan Africa, vulnerable road users make up approximately 50% of all traffic fatalities. Despite the dangers of using motorcycles for transportation, the usage of motorcycles—and more recently, motor tricycles—for both personal and commercial purposes has increased exponentially in most Sub-Saharan African cities. The study sought to study the safety, health and environmental impact of commercial motorcycles in Sub-Saharan African cities. Two cities—the national capital and a secondary city—were selected in each of our five study countries: Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Using a mixed-methods approach, motorcycle taxi operators were surveyed and key transport stakeholders were interviewed in these ten cities. In Ghana, where both motorcycle and motor-tricycle taxis are officially banned but continue to operate, we also surveyed motor-tricycle taxi operators. The results indicated variability in accident occurrence across countries for both minor and major road traffic collisions (RTCs) among motorcycle/tricycle taxi riders. Apart from Liberia, motorcycle/tricycle taxi unions in our study countries contribute to improving the safety of their riders. Interest in electric bikes is low amongst riders in all five countries, with education and infrastructure provision required to cause a shift from conventional bikes to electric bikes.