Use Of Local Resources Research Articles

International sales interactions in a post-disruptive environment

This study examines the impact of a major global disruption on the international sales force. A total of twenty-three qualitative interviews, with eighteen international sales executives, were collected at two points in time. These interviews occurred one year apart (January to March 2022 and January to March 2023), allowing for insights to be developed both during the disruption and after the disruption. The sales executives interviewed had visibility to over $130B in annual global revenue. Findings suggest that previously established success factors, including teams and processes, cultural understanding, and the development and management of local relationships, will remain important in the post-global disruptive sales environment. However, going forward, international sales will involve less travel, due to increased use of technology and local resources, suggesting the need to balance the use of these tools. As a result, this study offers both practical and academic implications, including a set of five propositions, to advance our understanding of international sales interactions after the occurrence of a global disruption.

Polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities and glycaemic index of Dioscorea spp and Coleus esculentus from Cameroon

The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages the use of local natural resources for the maintenance of human health. However, some tubers with interesting nutritional properties are rarely found in the diet of the Cameroonian population. This study aims at investigating the flavonoid and polyphenol contents, antioxidant activities, and glycaemic index of four varieties of yam tubers, namely: Dioscorea schimperiana, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea burkilliana and Coleus esculentus. Standard methods were used to determine the total flavonoid and polyphenol contents, DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities, and glycaemic index. Total flavonoids ranged from 77.49 to 11,327.52 mg CE/100 g DM (dry matter) and phenolic compounds from 50.95 to 3664.26 mg GAE/100 g DM, FRAP-reducing capacity of tubers varied between 137.61 and 14,879.62 mg FeSO4/100 g DM. DPPH-scavenging activities ranged from 0.85 to 40.65 mg GAE/ml. A correlation was observed between phenolic compounds and FRAP-reducing activity (R2=0.999, p<0.001) and between flavonoids and FRAP-reducing capacity (R2=0.951, p<0.001). C. esculentus presented a low glycaemic index; D. burkiliana and D. shimperiana had medium glycaemic indices; and D. bulbifera showed a high glycaemic index. Thus, red D. shimperiana (West) could be used as a natural antioxidant while C. esculentus (NW) could be used in the management of chronic diseases, especially diabetes.

Natural Indigenous Paper Substrates for Colorimetric Bioassays in Portable Analytical Systems: Sustainable Solutions from the Rain Forests to the Great Plains.

Point-of-care (POC) devices can provide inexpensive, practical, and expedited solutions for applications ranging from biomedicine to environmental monitoring. This work reports on the development of low-cost microfluidic substrates for POC systems suitable for analytical assays, while also satisfying the need for social and environmentally conscious practices regarding circular economy, waste reduction, and the use of local resources. Thus, an innovative greener process to extract cellulose from plants including abaca, cotton, kozo, linen, and sisal, originating from different places around the world, is developed, and then the corresponding paper substrates are obtained to serve as platforms for POC assays. Hydrophobic wax is used to delineate channels that are able to guide solutions into chambers where the colorimetric assay for total cholesterol quantification is carried out as a proof of concept. Morphological and physicochemical analyses are performed, including the evaluation of fiber diameter, shape and density, and mechanical and thermal properties, together with peel adhesion of the printed wax channels. Contact angle and capillary flow tests ascertain the suitability of the substrates for liquid assays and overall viability as low-cost, sustainable microfluidic substrates for POC applications.

Social Innovation Program Sustainability Analysis

This research analyzes the social innovation contained in the Super-Man Program which focuses on the sustainability of Edu-Eco Farming by the Taruna Tani Group in Sumanding Village, Jepara Regency. The aim of this research is to understand and explore the implementation of social innovation in the form of the Super-Man Program which aims to increase the sustainability of Edu-Eco Farming and its impact on the community in Sumanding Village. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method, involving data collection through observation, interviews and document analysis. The research results show that the Super-Man Program has succeeded in implementing social innovation in the development of Edu-Eco Farming in Sumanding Village. This innovation includes the use of local resources, the use of minimal input from outside, a combination of food crops, basic sustainable biological principles, sustainable ecology, and the use of appropriate technology. The success of the Super-Man Program is reflected in several things, including a portrait of the element of novelty of the Super-MAN Sumanding program which can produce new products, new production processes and new markets. Apart from that, it also creates local livestock markets, agricultural products, and environmentally friendly plantations.

Pengembangan Pakan Ikan Berprotein Tinggi Dari Keong Mas (Pomacea Canaliculata) Terhadap Ikan Nila (Oreochromis Niloticus) Dan Penerapannya Dalam Program Kerja Kuliah Kerja Nyata Di Masyarakat Desa Sungai Petai

This research focuses on developing high protein fish feed derived from golden snails with the addition of a mixture of fish pellets. The aim of this research is to produce high quality fish feed from available local resources and apply it in the Community Service Program (KKN) in village communities. Experimental methods were used to develop a feed formula with the right ratio of golden snails and fish pellets. The feed developed has a high protein content and a balanced nutritional composition. Furthermore, the KKN program was implemented in the village by involving students as facilitators in the socialization and application of high protein fish food to the community. The results show positive adoption of the feed by village communities and increased productivity of fish farming. This program provides dual benefits, namely increasing village community income through more efficient fish farming and supporting sustainable use of local resources.

Resilient and Sustainable Housing Models against Climate Change: A Review

Most of the world’s population resides in urban areas, and it is expected that this will continue to be the case in the future. These urban areas face enormous challenges such as climate change, economic instability and inequality. Housing is considered a basic unit comprising cities, and, as such, this study contextualized the concepts of urban resilience and sustainability against climate change such that housing models that respond to these concepts could be identified. As a result of an extensive literature review, three resilient housing models and four sustainable housing models are presented and discussed with a focus on the main characteristics necessary for meeting urban resilience and sustainability against climate change. When analyzing the housing models considered resilient, the need to establish housing on safe land stood out and concrete was a common building material among these housing models. In addition, the use of alternative sources of water and energy supply was prioritized. On the other hand, sustainable housing models were developed by local entities and certified by various initiatives. In addition, these models account for the climatic specifications of their location, energy and water efficiency, and quality of the indoor environment, and promote the use of local materials and resources. The use of durable materials was considered a requirement for both resilience and sustainability. The results of this study are a contribution to the process of strengthening housing against the challenge posed by climate change in a timely and adequate manner considering both urban resilience and sustainability aspects.

Dependence on the socio-economic system impairs the sustainability of pasture-based animal agriculture

Livestock systems contribution to environmental change is controversial. Pasture-based systems are considered a sustainable alternative due to their adaptation to the use of local natural resources. However, they have limited productivity per product unit and, in Europe, depend on public economic support. Furthermore, they are heterogeneous in farm structure and resources use, which may determine their sustainability. We use emergy accounting to assess the sustainability of mountain pasture-based cattle systems and analyse the variability among farms. Emergy accounting assesses the sustainability performance of complex systems (i.e., farming systems) and their interaction with other systems (i.e., the environment and the socio-economic system) focusing on the origin, quality and quantity of the energy required for the system to function. Results show that pasture-based systems largely use local natural renewable resources but depend largely on the wider socio-economic system given their reliance on public economic support and purchased animal feeds. This economic dependence turns out in most farms largely using non-renewable resources. Increasing self-produced feeds and grazing on natural pastures can reduce the dependence on the socio-economic system and improve farm sustainability.

Образ жизни детей и взрослых варварской округи Херсонеса (по материалам могильников Фронтовое 3 и Киль-Дере 1)

The necropolises Frontovoe 3 and Kil-Dere 1 from the environ of Chersonesos are interesting and important for the reconstruction of the cultural and historical situation on the borders of the Roman Empire. Data on the isotopic composition of bone collagen and tooth enamel provide new opportunities to discuss the nutrition, economy, and mobility of societies. The isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen informs about the average dietary intake of an individual over the last few years of life (7—10), while the ratio of strontium isotopes in tooth enamel characterizes the habitat of the child during the formation of the crown of the teeth (in this case, from 1 to 6 years). Thus, we obtain information about local natives and migrants of the first generation, whose childhood, probably, passed outside the environ of Chersonesos. The isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in 67 samples of bone tissue and the composition of strontium in 35 samples of tooth enamel were studied. The life support system of these societies was based on the use of local terrestrial food resources. Few individuals have been found who can be named first-generation migrants. The low variability of the isotope ratios of strontium and carbon indicates a clear localization of this population group on the given territory. We also discuss the factors behind the differences in the isotopic markers of groups from Kil-Dere 1 and Frontovoye 3. These can be both environmental factors and cultural differences. The questions addressed here can be answered by studying a broader base of the compared materials.

A Techno-Economic Appraisal of Green Diesel Generation through Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Leveraging Residual Resources from Seaweed and Fishing Sectors

This study examines the economic viability of an emerging technology for potential upscaling and commercialization in a specific location: the village of New Stuyahok, Alaska. The proposed technology is hydrothermal liquefaction, which utilizes kelp macroalgae and fishing waste as feedstock. These materials were chosen due to their easy availability in the village and their alignment with the local economy. The economic evaluation is based on the net present value (NPV) and sensitivity models. Different feedstock ratios (on a dry basis), such as 100:0, 50:50, and 30:70 of kelp and fishing waste, respectively, were evaluated to determine the optimal combination. The results indicated that the process is economically viable only when a high proportion of fishing waste is used. This can be ascribed to the constrained output yield of the kelp biomass and the relatively negligible influence exerted by alginate production on the NPV. However, the ratio 50:50 appears to be economically promising if the costs can be reduced by at least 13.5% or the benefits can be increased by 12.1%. Nevertheless, government support could play a crucial role in expediting the implementation of this technology once it becomes market-ready. This means being practical, scalable, and economically viable, enabling reduced investments or increased benefits that signify its readiness. Utilizing such a tool offers valuable insights into the framework of the proposed technology and the use of local natural resources.

Prospects and Aspirations for Workforce Training and Education in Social Prescribing.

A social prescribing (SP) link worker (LW) is responsible for enabling and supporting individuals, by assessing their personal goals and co-producing solutions to make use of appropriate local non-clinical resources or interventions. As an emerging new role, LWs are not regulated by professional bodies associated with SP. Therefore, currently there is no standardised training for LWs who are from varied backgrounds. As such, LWs have varying knowledge about how to deal with individuals with complex needs, which can impact on their decision-making capabilities to seek solutions and navigate complex systems. The purpose of the research was to explore LWs' level of education, past and current training requirements as well as elicit how much LWs were willing to pay (WTP) to access and undertake training to improve their skill set. A rigorous mixed method research design was employed which included semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and quantitative questionnaires including contingent valuation (CV) questions to a population of LWs across Wales from March to June 2020. Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders who commission and deliver social prescribing interventions employing LWs identified perceived link worker qualities and requirements for LW roles. Purposive sampling was used to identify and select individuals that have experience in managing LWs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews were carried out exclusively online. LWs self-selected to complete the online questionnaires. Questionnaires gathered data on LW qualifications and demographic information with the CV questions gathering data on the value LW placed on accessing training in SP. Thematic narrative analysis was applied to interpret the data from the semi-structured interviews. Descriptive frequency analysis was conducted on the quantitative data generated from the online questionnaire. SP coordinators (n = 6) reported that 'personal skills' are the most essential skills required by LWs in SP intervention. Training is available for LWs; however, the training undertaken varies depending on the type of intervention delivered, with 70% of LWs previously undertaking training to facilitate their development as an LW. The results from the contingent valuation questionnaire (n = 54) indicated that 100% of the respondents would avail of training. LWs were asked how much they were willing to pay as a single payment for professional training; on average, LWs were WTP GBP 58 from their personal funds to access training and the associated benefits to enhance their skills and knowledge. The semi-structured interviews conducted with the key SP stakeholders yielded rich information and novel insight into LW training. External funding for the salary of the LW is an obstacle for LW development through training. In addition, the questionnaire results regarding stated preference techniques demonstrate that LWs place value on their professional development and would be willing to spend their own money on training to improve their knowledge and skills.

Hydrochemical Characteristics, Water Quality, and Evolution of Groundwater in Northeast China

Groundwater is vital to local human life and agricultural irrigation, and the quality of the water is critical to human health. As a result, it is critical to investigate the hydrochemical evolution and water quality of groundwater in the Sanjiang Plain. There were 259 samples obtained. Furthermore, hydrogeochemical simulation was performed to highlight groundwater’s hydrochemical features, evolution process, and water quality. The analytical results show that the groundwater in the study area is somewhat alkaline with a mean TDS of 285.94 mgL−1 and the primary contributing ions being Ca2+ and HCO3−. The closer the concentration of TDS and NO3− is to the city, the higher the concentration, indicating that the chemical composition of the water body has been affected by certain human activities. The Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, and correlation analysis results demonstrate that the chemical type of groundwater is mostly HCO3-Ca and the hydrochemistry is primarily regulated by weathering and carbonate and silicate dissolution. According to the entropy-weighted water quality index, the groundwater quality in this location is pretty acceptable. This study could help strengthen groundwater quality monitoring based on local conditions, identify the source of nitrate, provide data support for the safe use of local water resources, and serve as a reference for global water chemical evolution and water quality evaluation in cold regions.

Identifying important plant areas for useful plant species in Colombia

While area-based approaches continue to dominate biodiversity conservation, there is growing recognition of the importance of the human dimensions of biodiversity. We applied the Important Plant Areas (IPA) approach in Colombia to identify key sites for the conservation of plant species with reported human uses. Drawing on the Checklist of Useful Plants of Colombia, we collated 1,045,889 clean occurrence records for 5400 native species from global data repositories and digitized herbaria. Through analysis based on regionalized grid cells, we identified 980 sites meeting IPA thresholds. These are primarily located in forest habitats, with only 19.8 % within existing national natural parks or internationally designated conservation areas. Grid cells were transformed to polygons based on overlapping ecosystems and administrative boundaries to form more meaningful site boundaries. A subsequent two-stage ranking procedure based on conservation value and richness found 46 sites to be of high priority, with 10 selected as top priorities for further investigation and conservation action. These 10 sites support significant populations of 33 threatened useful plant species and represent six of the 13 bioregions of Colombia in just 0.27 % of its land area. To progress from potential to confirmed IPAs, targeted fieldwork is required alongside stakeholder engagement and consultation, crucially involving local resource users. As a megadiverse country ranked second in the world for its botanical richness, effective IPA management would not only contribute to Colombian targets for sustainable development and conservation but would also support global targets to recover biodiversity for both planet and people.

Gandhian Thought for Rural Development

This paper focuses on the role of Mahatma Gandhi in promoting the concept of Gram Vikas or rural development. Mahatma Gandhi was a visionary leader who believed that the key to India's progress lay in the development of its villages. He advocated for selfsufficiency and decentralization as fundamental to achieving rural development and called for the use of local resources and skills to promote sustainable and equitable growth. Gandhiji firmly believed that the well-being of India's society was directly connected to the development of its rural areas. The study examines how Gandhiji's philosophy of nonviolence and education influenced his vision of rural development. He emphasized the importance of promoting cottage industries, handicrafts, and the use of renewable energy sources to create employment opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural communities. Gandhiji's ideas of Gram Vikas are seen as a holistic approach to rural development, encompassing social, economic, and environmental aspects. This work highlight the relevance of his ideas in the context of modern-day challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation. The promotion of Gram Vikas or rural development is seen as a way to address these challenges and create a more equitable and sustainable society. The promotion of Gram Vikas or rural development is essential to achieving this goal, and the principles underlying Gandhiji's vision of rural development can be seen as a way to promote constitutional values of democracy, social justice and equality such as the right to education and gender equality. This paper emphasizes the importance of integrating Gandhian principles in rural development policy and policymakers adopting Gandhi's principles to achieve sustainable rural development. By incorporating these principles into policy formulation and implementation, policymakers can promote equitable and sustainable growth in rural communities. The paper concludes that policymakers must prioritize sustainability to achieve long lasting progress in rural areas and to retain this progress involvement of community and sustainable use of resources is necessary.

Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review for Optimizing Food Production and Environmental Conservation

Advances in sustainable agriculture are essential for simultaneously optimizing food production and preserving the environment. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth study of the current state and future possibilities of sustainable farming practices. With the ever-increasing global population, ensuring food security has become a paramount issue. Conventional farming techniques, though effective for mass food production, pose serious threats to environmental sustainability due to excessive resource utilization, pollution, and degradation of biodiversity. Sustainable agriculture promotes practices that are environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially equitable. This involves the application of advanced technologies, including precision farming, genetically modified crops for higher yield and disease resistance, and integrating renewable energy sources in farming practices. Importantly, the study also emphasizes agroecological practices which include crop rotation, organic farming, and agroforestry that contribute to enhancing soil fertility, reducing synthetic pesticide use, and promoting biodiversity. Additionally, sustainable agriculture supports the use of local resources and traditional knowledge to maintain ecological balance while ensuring food production. This review also highlights the crucial role of policy support and education in promoting sustainable farming. Farmer training and public awareness campaigns can increase understanding and acceptance of sustainable practices, leading to wider adoption. Overall, this review suggests that the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is not just a choice but a necessity for ensuring food security and environmental conservation in the future.

Management of Local Community-Based Tourism in West Sekotong Village – West Lombok Regency

The concept of CBT (community base tourism) in the management of a tourism object is a rational choice and answer to various weaknesses with the G + B (government and business world) approach. In CBT's view, management is also carried out by the local community/local community, so the pattern becomes G+B+C. This study aims to describe forms of tourism management by local communities, and their relationship with G+B. Besides that, the research seeks to explore the operationalization of one aspect of Sapta Pesona into programs/activities that have been carried out by the local community. The research location is in West Sekotong Village, West Lombok Regency, with key informants as respondents. The survey was also conducted on domestic tourists to get their opinion in the form of an assessment of the implementation of the Cleanliness Program, and as feedback (feed back) on the CBT management model. Full data analysis using qualitative data. The participation of the private sector. Important indicators in the CBT model are decision-making costs (DMC) and financing of the use of local human resources (utilization of human resource cost, UHRC) in building community participation. Based on a survey of domestic tourists on the Cleaning Program (from Sapta Pesona) in Sekotong Barat Village, it was shown that in general they thought the program was 2839relatively good, with a score of 4.104 from the range 1 (=very bad) – 5 (=very good).

Effect of Bat Guano and Biochar on Okra Yield and Some Soil Properties

The difficulty in obtaining commercial fertilizers by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa makes it very important to optimize the use of local organic resources. In VilanKulo, Mozambique, a study was carried out on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) over two growing seasons. The soil was a haplic, loamy-sand textured Lixisol. As organic amendments, bat guano and biochar were used. Bat guano is a phosphorus (P)-rich and low-carbon (C)/nitrogen (N)-ratio material from natural deposits on a cave floor. Biochar is a C-rich material prepared via an artisanal process using forest residues as a feedstock. Bat guano was applied at two rates (5 and 10 t ha−1) just before sowing. It was also applied at the same rates one month before sowing. Biochar was used at two rates (5 and 10 t ha−1) applied at sowing. Biochar and guano were mixed at the rates of 1 and 4 t ha−1 and 2 and 8 t ha−1, respectively, and applied at sowing. The experiment also used a non-fertilized control. Field trials were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The treatments that received high rates of guano tended to show significantly higher fruit yields (&gt;10 t ha−1 as the two-year average) in comparison with the control, which showed the lowest average okra fruit yield (6.21 t ha−1). In the guano treatments, the apparent recovery by okra of some important nutrients, such as N, was greater than the amount of the nutrient contained in the guano itself. This result, together with many others related to the tissue nutrient concentration, soil properties and residual fertilizing value in guano plots, indicated a strong mineralization of guano during the growing season. This was probably due to its low C/N ratio and favourable environmental conditions for the mineralization process. The result also suggests some kind of manuring effect, i.e., a fertilizing effect of guano beyond what can be explained by the nutrient supply. The use of biochar increased the total organic C in the soil and cation exchange capacity (CEC) compared with the control but did not affect the variables related to plant performance. Overall, the results showed that farmers can benefit from the use of guano in the short term because it releases nutrients, while with the use of biochar, the benefits can arise in the long term by improving the soil properties.

Pengaruh Tingkat Inflasi dan Laju Pertumbuhan Investasi terhadap Pendapatan Asli Daerah pada Kabupaten di Sumatera Selatan Tahun 2018-2020

Purpose: This study examines how regional original income in the cities of South Sumatra Province is partially and simultaneously affected by investment growth and inflation between 2018 and 2020.Purpose: This study examines how regional original income in the cities of South Sumatra Province is partially and simultaneously affected by investment growth and inflation between 2018 and 2020. Methodology/Approach: The analysis in this study was performed using panel data, which are a combination of cross-sectional and time-series data. Results/findings: According to the national development mission, which calls for the realization of an independent, prosperous, and united society based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, economic growth is a strategy for improving the nation's standard of living. Involving local governments' use of natural resources and initiatives to increase products per capita. LGR is regional income that indicates a region's degree of independence. The presence of the LGR enhances the capacity of the region to explore and exploit its resources. Own-source revenue is negatively affected by the inflation rate, as demonstrated in this study. Meanwhile, the rate of investment growth has a positive impact on local revenue. Local revenue is positively impacted by both inflation and the investment growth rate simultaneously.

Походы армии Тамерлана в Центральное Предкавказье в 1395–1396 гг. (локализация, проблемы изучения)

Introduction. The article attempts to localize Tamerlane’s campaigns of 1395–1396 in Central Ciscaucasia aimed to weaken the Golden Horde, eliminate chief forces of Tokhtamysh and his allies native to the region invaded. Goals. The study seeks to analyze and compare data from artefacts, written and phonic sources relating to Tamerlane’s campaigns in Central Ciscaucasia, clarify the roles once played therein by archaeological sites investigated across Stavropol Krai. Materials and methods. The paper focuses on artefacts, written and phonic sources. The former include ones contained in the occupation layer of Majar hillfort and bearing traces of the city’s demolition in the late 14th century CE, as well as those from two other sites of the Golden Horde era — Novopavlovka and Kochubeevskoe-1 settlements. The examined written sources are works by Arab, Persian and Western European authors, including modern ones. As for medieval Arab and Persian sources, the most detailed accounts for further analysis are contained in Books of Victory by Nizam al-Din Shami and Sharaf al-Din ‘Ali Yazdi, as well as in chronicles by Abd-al-Razzāq Samarqandī. Most precious data has been discovered in J. Schiltberger’s writing, oral accounts summarized by E. Çelebi and A. Firkovich. The work employs the historical-systemic, historical-comparative, and cartographic methods. The analysis is supplemented with results of scientific surveys recently conducted across glaciers of the Central and West Caucasus. Results. In spring of 1395, Tamerlane invaded the East and Central Caucasus to defeat Tokhtamysh in the decisive battle that took place in the Malka-Kura interfluve. Later in autumn and winter of 1395–1396, the invaders would return to the North Caucasus for raids throughout the lands of Kuban and Beshtau. Conclusions. In 1395–1396, Tamerlane was following a certain plan of his compiled with due regard for natural/climatic conditions of the region and seasonal economic cycles of Central Ciscaucasia’s nomads. The invading troops kept the field with the use of local resources — foodstuffs of Dzhulat county, summer pastures of Bishdag, and winter pastures of the Kuma-Manych Depression. Tamerlane was devastating the right wing of the Ulus of Jochi to take into possession the resources previously deployed by rulers of the Golden Horde.

Ok I need help! Can CTCA rescue Teaching and Learning Machine Language in an African secondary school?

This study was conducted to determine if the use of the Culturo-Techno-Contextual Approach (CTCA), a learning strategy that incorporates the use of cultural knowledge (indigenous knowledge), contextual drawing from the immediate environment to illustrate teaching, and the component of technology, can improve learning. What is the purpose of machine language? It is a difficult-to-learn concept in the computer studies curriculum of Nigeria, despite being the basis of computer programming. It is hypothesised that (i) there is no statistically significant difference in (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes between males and females when taught in machine language. (ii) There are no statistically significant interaction effects of sex and training method on (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes of students in machine language. A total of 207 computer studies students in senior secondary year two (SS2), comprising 106 females and 101 males, participated in the study. The instruments used to gather data were the machine language attitudes questionnaire (MLAQ) and machine language achievement test (MLAT), which had reliability coefficients of 0.71 and 0.70, respectively. The one-way MANCOVA multivariate F (Pillai’s Trace) was not significant [F = 0.49; P &gt; 0.05]. Univariate tests on achievement [F (1, 203) = 0.72; P &gt; 0.05] and attitude [F (1, 203) = 0.36; P &gt; 0.05] failed to attain statistical significance. Hypothesis one was not rejected because there was no statistically significant effect of student gender on (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes when taught using CTCA and the lecture method. The two-way MANCOVA multivariate F (Pillai’s Trace) was not significant [F = 2.26; p &gt; 0.05]. The interaction effect between sex and training method on achievement [F (2, 199) =.90; P =.41] was not significant, but on attitude [F (2, 199) = 3.67; P =.03] attained statistical significance. The study concluded that educators are encouraged to use the CTCA and could demonstrate how it could be used as a pedagogical design for improving the achievement and attitude of students in computer studies and other subjects offered in senior secondary schools by capitalising on its assets. The strategies will assist both teachers and students in gaining respect for local activities and culture, its wisdom and ethics, indigenous science and technology, and the use of local resources, thereby enhancing sustainability, and they will encourage collaboration among students, resulting in improved academic achievement and attitude. Both males and females performed on neutral ground. Giving both male and female students the opportunity to excel on a neutral ground without having any influence over the other.

Regional Labelling as a Tool for Supporting Rural Development: A Slovak Case Study

Regional product labelling has become a trend in recent years, with the goal of being able to stimulate and support local economies; increase the sales of quality local products and services; preserve and maintain traditions, local cultural values, and the character of rural landscapes; and promote the use of local resources, potential, and raw materials. The existing Slovak studies deal primarily with the perception of consumers and tourism. In this article, we analysed forms of rural development in connection with regional product labelling and the Slovak regions of Kopanice and Záhorie. This theme is a relatively new phenomenon in Slovakia, and that is the author’s main contribution. The research was conducted using an online questionnaire administered between May and July 2022 in each district of the region, with a total of 283 respondents participating. The results obtained from the questionnaire survey were statistically processed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. We used STATISTIC 109 software (Tibco software, Palo Alto, California). The questionnaire method is the most suitable method for determining the perceptions of the respondents. The goal was to analyse rural development in connection with regional product labelling and to identify areas of the application of regional product labels. The term regional product was associated with production in a specific region (50.5%) and with the customs and traditions of the region (43.8%). Supporting employment and entrepreneurship in the region were considered by 43.1% of the respondents as the most important in the region. From the perspective of the application of regional labelling in connection with rural development, we confirmed gender and education dependence. Women with first- and second-level higher education saw regional labels as the main element in the development of the region and the local economy.