Diverse Resources Research Articles

Workplace Diversity and Human Resource Performance Among Non-Teaching Staff of Selected Private Universities in Ogun State

The proliferation of privately owned institutions in Nigeria has led to a range of challenges, including the issue of workplace diversity. The observed phenomenon is a naturally occurring event that can have varying effects on worker performance, depending on the effectiveness of its management. Numerous research studies have demonstrated the significant impact of non-teaching personnel management on their performance in private university settings. This study investigates the influence of workplace diversity on the efficacy of human resource management, expanding on the existing theoretical framework. The study utilised a survey research method, specifically targeting private universities in Ogun State that have obtained approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). A representative sample of respondents was selected. The data was collected using a meticulously designed questionnaire. Regression analysis of ordinary least squares (OLS) and Pearson product correlation were used to analyse workplace diversity and human resources performance among non-teaching staff in a selected private university in Nigeria. The regression analysis conducted in this study revealed a statistically significant association between workplace diversity, encompassing factors such as age, education, and gender, and employees' performance in Nigeria. Ethnic diversity has a detrimental effect on workplace diversity. The study indicates that it is important for organisational management to establish and implement policies that support diversity in the workforce, considering the varied backgrounds of all individuals involved.

Exploring Learning Paths: Understanding the Learning Strategies of Artificial Intelligence System Users and Their Involvement in Social Forums

In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of commercial semi-autonomous vehicles by consumers. This has led to a surge in concerns among users about the limitations of these systems, especially when it comes to safety. In order to address these concerns, users often seek out diverse educational resources to comprehend these constraints, explore alternatives, and determine whether their experiences are representative. This paper examines the viewpoints of users who are using a new AI system that has received minimal training from the vendor. We conducted interviews of the users of the AI to examine the many sources from which users obtain knowledge and developed a learning technology-based framework that utilizes technology to disseminate knowledge among users of the AI.

OrthoDB and BUSCO update: annotation of orthologs with wider sampling of genomes.

OrthoDB (https://www.orthodb.org) offers evolutionary and functional annotations of orthologous genes in the widest sampling of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses, extending experimental gene function knowledge to newly sequenced genomes. We collect gene annotations, delineate hierarchical gene orthologyand annotate the orthologous groups (OGs) with functional and evolutionary traits. OrthoDB is the leading resource for species diversity, striving to sample the most diverse and well-researched organisms with the highest quality genomic data. This update expands to include 5827 eukaryotic genomes. We have also added coding DNA sequences (CDSs) and gene loci coordinates. OrthoDB can be browsed, downloaded, or accessed using REST API, SPARQL/RDFand now also via API packages for Python and R Bioconductor. OrthoLoger (https://orthologer.ezlab.org), the tool used for inferring orthologs in OrthoDB, is now available as a Conda package and through BioContainers. ODB-mapper, a component of OrthoLoger, streamlines annotation of genes from newly sequenced genomes with OrthoDB evolutionary and functional descriptors. The benchmarking sets of universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO), derived from OrthoDB, had correspondingly a major update. The BUSCO tool (https://busco.ezlab.org) has become a standard in genomics, uniquely capable of assessing both eukaryotic and prokaryotic species. It is applicable to gene sets, transcriptomes, genome assembliesand metagenomic bins.

Perceived Age Discrimination has Different Effects on Japanese People's Wellbeing Based on Age Groups.

This study elucidates the direct and indirect effects of perceived age discrimination on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among young, middle-aged, and older adults-through the mediator variables of psychosocial resources and aging stereotypes. Data were collected through a web-based survey conducted in Japan. The total sample size was 2400: 400 men and women in each of the age groups 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 to 79. Our findings indicate that perceived age discrimination is linked depressive symptoms, even among young adults, who report more age discrimination than older adults. Its effect on life satisfaction, however, is stronger among older adults. Across age groups, most of its effect on life satisfaction was explained by both psychosocial resources and aging stereotypes. By contrast, its effect on depressive symptoms did not differ significantly by age group, and was partly explained by the mediators. These differing results may be attributable to selection bias in the web survey.

The Attitude toward Teacher Digital Media in English Language Teaching

The increasing integration of digital media in education has opened new pathways for enhancing student engagement, particularly in English reading classes. This study aims to explore students' attitudes toward using digital media in reading lessons, focusing on its impact on motivation and accessibility in English language learning. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative approach, this research was conducted in a State Junior High School in Sleman, with data collected from ten students through interviews, observations, and questionnaires. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to uncover recurring patterns related to student experiences with digital media. The findings reveal that students generally respond positively to digital media, appreciating its flexibility and access to diverse reading resources. Digital media facilitates engaging, interactive learning and enables students to study independently outside the classroom, breaking the limitations of time and space. The study concludes that digital media has significant potential to enhance motivation and foster a more inclusive, accessible learning environment. However, challenges remain regarding digital literacy and consistent technology access. Future research could explore the long-term impact of digital media on reading proficiency and strategies to support broader implementation in under-resourced schools.

Enhancing Metalinguistic Awareness Through Microlearning: A Comparative Analysis of Catalan Acquisition Between Multilingual French and English Learners

Knowing that previously learned languages may influence and support language learning among multilingual learners, equipping educators with diverse tools and resources empowers them to make more informed decisions in facilitating language learning. This holds particular significance in the case of minority languages like Catalan, where resource availability tends to be more restricted. This paper presents the findings of a project aimed at identifying the specific needs of multilingual B1 learners of Catalan. Using a comprehensive five-way classification system, the study compares the written productions of multilingual learners from different linguistic backgrounds (English and French L1 learners of Catalan). Analyses revealed a similar pattern regarding the nature of the errors, with incorrect word selections at the lexical-semantic, syntactic, and orthographic levels being the most frequent. Both groups differ significantly in terms of the distribution of errors; however, they did not differ when the analyses were conducted by error types. In both cases, the most frequent error was the lexical-semantic misselections, with false analogies and incomplete applications of rules explaining the errors. These findings led to the creation of just-in-time microlearning capsules tailored to address these issues. The microlearning capsules were designed to enhance students' metalinguistic awareness. Students' and teachers' perceptions of the tool were also assessed, and both groups predominantly viewed interlinguistic information as beneficial to language learning. This project highlights how microlearning, tailored to frequent errors, can bolster multilingual learners' acquisition and provides promising tools for language teaching.

Isotopic heterogeneity in U.S. Urban water supply systems reflects climatic, environmental, and sociodemographic factors: Implications for forensic identification.

The forensic application of stable oxygen isotope data from human tissues depends on naturally occurring isotopic variation in drinking water across geographic areas. One factor which complicates interpretation of forensic data is local variability: if a wide range of drinking water values is in a small geographic region it may be difficult to identify or rule out that region as a location of origin. We examine data from community collection programs documenting tap water isotope variation within 30 cities\developed areas throughout the United States. Isotopic variation within individual developed areas ranged widely, from essentially nil to greater than 9‰ (δ18O interdecile range). Many (14/30) of the study areas exhibited multi-modal isotope distributions, even in cases where the isotopic range was very small (e.g., <2.0‰), suggesting that the use of multiple, isotopically different sources was common. Most variation was attributed to differences in the source-region altitude or degree of evaporation for different water sources, and we observe limited variation in areas where contrasts in these variables are small. Variation tended to be largest in cities across the western USA. We explored correlations between the magnitude of local isotopic variation and climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic variables. We found that higher levels of variation occurred at sites where local water resources were likely to be more isotopically heterogeneous and in lower supply, consistent with the development of supply systems in these areas that access diverse and isotopically heterogeneous water resources. We also found that variation was positively correlated with larger developed areas, suggesting that pressures related to city growth may affect the degree to which infrastructure tapping diverse water resources is developed. Collectively, our results suggest that the influence of local tap water isotope heterogeneity on the precision of forensic geolocation is systematic and somewhat predictable, information to be factored into future applications.

An empirical study on web API usability: The consumer-developer perspective

The ease with which web APIs facilitate access to diverse resources and services has led to their widespread adoption, consequently giving rise to a new business paradigm: the “API economy”. Given this, usability has become a pivotal attribute for API adoption, and within a competitive market, it merits detailed investigation. This exploratory study presents the findings of a survey targeting both consumers and developers of web APIs. The primary objectives of this survey were (1) to ascertain how respondents perceive various usability factors and (2) to identify potential correlations between specific characteristics of participant profiles and their expressed opinions. To fulfill these objectives, descriptive statistical parameters and independence tests were employed. Results indicate that documentation is regarded as the most influential factor on usability, while the quantity of consecutive parameters of the same type is perceived as the least influential. Furthermore, the findings reveal that expert opinions do not deviate significantly from those of non-experts, and that a respondent's experience as a software developer and with web APIs can influence their perceptions regarding certain factors.

Developing Students’ Creativity in Online Education Contexts under Covid-19

This report examines how to enhance student creativity in online education. It begins by defining creativity and its significance in today's society, then underscores the unique benefits of online education in nurturing student creativity through diverse courses and resources. Additionally, the report demonstrate how online platforms and social media provide global knowledge access, stimulating creativity and imagination. It further explores how innovative curriculum design and teaching methods in online settings boost creativity via collaboration and tools such as virtual laboratories. Nonetheless, it addresses challenges such as reduced engagement and potential student isolation, which can impede creativity. Finally, the report concludes with strategies for educators to surmount these challenges and improve students' creative abilities.

Social Media and Language Learning: How: EFL Students Use Online Platforms for Language Learning at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait

This study explores the role of social media platforms in facilitating both academic and social interactions among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. The main aim of this study is to investigate EFL students’ perceptions of this use of social media and thus to determine how it can be used to facilitate language learning. A qualitative analysis approach was used, based on semi-structured interviews with 60 college students, to explore how these learners use platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) Instagram, and WhatsApp as tools for language learning. Understanding the use of social media for language learning has relevance in the modern world in terms of it enriching EFL learners’ experiences by bridging the gap between formal education and practical language use, highlighting the need to integrate these digital tools into language learning. The findings in this case reveal that social media is a significant tool for facilitating language learning practice, peer collaboration, and access to educational resources, acting as a critical tool for language learning by offering students opportunities to engage in authentic communication, access to diverse linguistic resources, and chances to participate in online communities that foster collaborative learning.

Renewable energy quality trilemma and coincident wind and solar droughts

Renewable energy is essential for power system decarbonization, but extended and unexpected periods of extremely low wind and solar resources (i.e., wind and solar droughts) pose a threat to reliability. The challenge is further exacerbated if shortages of the two occur simultaneously or if they affect neighboring grids simultaneously. Here we present a framework to characterize these events and propose three metrics to comprehensively assess renewable energy quality: resource availability, variability, and extremeness. An examination of long-term data across a vast geographical region shows a strong spatial correlation and temporal coincidence of renewable energy droughts. It also finds a lack of sites that excel in all three quality attributes, which presents a trilemma to investors, system planners, and policymakers. These findings underscore the significance of considering factors beyond mere resource availability and contribute to developing informed strategies for the reliable and sustainable deployment of variable energy resources.

Practical Research on Integrating Folk Art into Public Art Education Courses

This study focuses on the feasibility and practical strategies for integrating folk art into public art education courses. By exploring the cultural heritage and educational value of folk art, it analyzes the current shortcomings in public art education and underscores the necessity of incorporating folk art into the curriculum. The study designs suitable content and methods, including traditional art optimization and diverse resource applications, to strengthen students' cultural identity and aesthetic development. Additionally, case studies demonstrate the tangible effects of integrating folk art into public art education, with results indicating a significant improvement in students’ understanding and appreciation of local art. This research provides new insights for future public art course designs and proposes expanding folk art education with technological support.

Flying by night: Comparing nocturnal pollinator networks over time in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Abstract Where climate is seasonal, such as in high‐altitude ecosystems, the occurrence and activity patterns of insect pollinators may vary with the varying occurrence of floral resources. This high turnover of species occurrence and interactions may lead to changes in the structure and properties of plant–pollinator networks. Here, we systematically compared the properties of moth pollen‐transport networks in Colorado, USA, over the course of a season, and tested for a link between moth species specialisation and morphology. We predicted that network properties would change through the season as the abundance and diversity of available floral resources increased. We also predicted that there would be a link between moth specialisation and morphology, as moth proboscis length can restrict their ability to utilise different floral resources. We sampled moths for pollen over 9 weeks in June through August 2021. We then constructed pollen‐transport networks, and used mixed models to test for differences in network indices between different parts of the 2021 season; we also tested for a relationship between moth proboscis length, the duration of moth species' presence across the season and the number of flower species pollinated. As expected, we found high rates of species turnover and high rates of plant–pollinator interactions over the summer. However, linkage density and robustness were the only overall network metrics that changed. We also found that longer proboscis lengths and more persistent species occurrence over the season were predictive of higher generalisation among moth species. We suggest that even with high rates of species turnover, nocturnal moth pollen‐transport networks may maintain their overall structure over a season, with variations in the availability of floral resources driving limited variation in some network metrics. Our study highlights the necessity of continuing to research moth pollen‐transport networks over different temporal scales, to better understand how ecological factors can lead to changes in network structure over time.

Medical students as teachers: impact of peer-led teaching sessions on NBME exam performance

Introduction/BackgroundPeer-led teaching sessions (PLTS) supplement conventional medical education, allowing students to share knowledge effectively. PLTS have shown significant academic benefits for student instructors. However, the impact on attendees, especially concerning NBME-style examinations, remains underexplored.MethodsThis study analyzed de-identified data from 67 first-year medical students at Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, divided into PLTS attendees (study group) and non-attendees (control group) based on session participation. Data were collected before two NBME examinations, with attendees defined as those attending at least five Peer-led teaching sessions. Academic performance was measured using NBME Customized Assessment Services (CAS) exam scores. Statistical analyses, including p-tests, chi-square, and t-tests, assessed differences in performance and potential biases based on MCAT scores, first-generation status, and socioeconomic background.ResultsThe study group initially had 26 students, and the control group had 31 students. Post-first examination, the study group adjusted to 22 students, and the control group to 35 students. MCAT scores and demographics showed no significant differences between groups. The first examination revealed a significant higher score in PLTS attendees’ scores (4.28% increase, p = 0.036), indicating a positive impact of PLTS on basic science knowledge. The second examination on organ systems physiology showed no significant difference (p = 0.722).DiscussionPLTS effectively enhance foundational science understanding but may be less impactful for advanced topics. The diminishing effect may result from increased use of diverse study resources and adaptation to medical school. Future research should explore long-term benefits, optimal implementation strategies, and the impact of instructor quality and engagement. Therefore, the overall conclusion is that PLTS positively influence NBME-style exam performance in early medical education, but benefits decrease over time.

Manajemen Perpustakaan Sekolah/Madrasah: Strategi, Tantangan, dan Implementasi Teknologi

Library management is a crucial aspect to ensure efficient and effective access to information resources for users. It involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the library's information resources, including collections, staff, budget, and information technology. The main objective of library management is to support and enhance learning, research, and knowledge development by providing high-quality and relevant information services. The principles of library management include planning, organizing, leadership, control, collection development, user services, and technology utilization. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the learning process in schools and madrasas by providing various learning resources, facilitating independent learning, enhancing information literacy, supporting student research and projects, promoting a reading culture, collaborating with teachers, providing access to digital resources, and offering reference and consultation services. Collection development is a critical aspect of library management, involving the systematic selection and acquisition of library materials based on user needs, curriculum relevance, and the latest developments in various fields of knowledge. The maintenance and preservation of library collections are also essential to ensure their longevity and accessibility. Effective library management strategies, including the development, maintenance, and preservation of collections, are vital to providing diverse and high-quality resources that support learning, research, and knowledge development in educational environments.

The value of long-duration energy storage under various grid conditions in a zero-emissions future

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is a key resource in enabling zero-emissions electricity grids but its role within different types of grids is not well understood. Using the Switch capacity expansion model, we model a zero-emissions Western Interconnect with high geographical resolution to understand the value of LDES under 39 scenarios with different generation mixes, transmission expansion, storage costs, and storage mandates. We find that a) LDES is particularly valuable in majority wind-powered regions and regions with diminishing hydropower generation, b) seasonal operation of storage becomes cost-effective if storage capital costs fall below US$5 kWh−1, and c) mandating the installation of enough LDES to enable year-long storage cycles would reduce electricity prices during times of high demand by over 70%. Given the asset and resource diversity of the Western Interconnect, our results can provide grid planners in many regions with guidance on how LDES impacts and is impacted by energy storage mandates, investments in LDES research and development, and generation mix and transmission expansion decisions.

Effect of Solar Irradiation Inter-Annual Variability on PV and CSP Power Plants Production Capacity: Portugal Case-Study

The sizing of solar energy power plants is usually made using typical meteorological years, which disregards the inter-annual variability of the solar resource. Nevertheless, such variability is crucial for the bankability of these projects because it impacts on the production goals set at the time of the supply agreement. For that reason, this study aims to fill the gap in the existing literature and analyse the impact that solar resource variability has on solar power plant production as applied to the case of Portugal (southern Europe). To that end, 17 years (2003–2019) of meteorological data from a network of 90 ground stations hosted by the Portuguese Meteorological Service is examined. Annual capacity factor regarding photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants is computed using the System Advisor Model, used here for solar power performance simulations. In terms of results, while a long-term trend for increase in annual irradiation is found for Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), 0.4148 and 3.2711 kWh/m2/year, respectively, consistent with a solar brightening period, no corresponding trend is found for PV or CSP production. The latter is attributed to the long-term upward trend of 0.0231 °C/year in annual average ambient temperature, which contributes to PV and CSP efficiency reduction. Spatial analysis of inter-annual relative variability for GHI and DNI shows a reduction in variability from the north to the south of the country, as well as for the respective power plant productions. Particularly, for PV, inter-annual variability ranges between 2.45% and 12.07% in Faro and Santarém, respectively, while higher values are generally found for CSP, 3.71% in Faro and 16.04% in São Pedro de Moel. These results are a contribution to future instalments of PV and CSP systems in southern Portugal, a region with very favourable conditions for solar energy harvesting, due to the combination of high production capacity and low inter-annual variability.

Automatic selection of the best performing control point approach for project control with resource constraints

During project execution, the actual project progress shows deviations from the baseline schedule due to uncertainty. To complete the project timely, project monitoring is performed at discrete control points to identify project opportunities/problems and take possible corrective actions. These control points affect the quality of project monitoring and corrective actions, but little guidance is available on identifying situations where the control points pay off the most in terms of project duration.This paper proposes new control point approaches considering the risk, the complexity of the network, and subnetwork information to determine the timing of project monitoring and action taking. Moreover, new parameters are proposed to model more realistic project characteristics. Subsequently, a classification model is developed to select the best performing control point approach given project characteristics. An extensive computational experiment is conducted on a set of 3,810 artificial projects with diverse project characteristics to evaluate the performance of the classification model and further validate it on empirical project data.The computational results indicate that the classification model outperforms the average performance of any proposed control point approaches. The results also show that the resource variability that indicates the resource usage deviations between project activities is the primary driver for detecting the best control point approach for projects with resource constraints.

Pan-transcriptome analysis provide insights into resistance and fruit quality breeding of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)

Pyrus pyrifolia, commonly known as sand pear, is a key economic fruit tree in temperate regions and possesses highly diverse germplasm resources for pear quality improvement. However, research on the relationship between resistance and fruit quality traits during the breeding of fruit species like pear is limited. Pan-transcriptomes effectively capture genetic information from coding regions and reflect variations in gene expression between individuals. Here, we constructed a pan-transcriptome composed of 506 samples from different tissues of sand pear, and explored the intrinsic relationships among phenotypes and the selection for disease resistance during improvement based on expression presence/absence variation (ePAVs). The pan-transcriptome contains 156,744 transcripts, among which the novel transcripts show significant enrichment in the defense response. Interestingly, disease resistance genes are highly expressed in landraces of pear but have been selected against during the improvement of this perennial tree species. We found that genetically diverse landraces can be divided into two subgroups and inferred that they have undergone different dispersal processes. Through co-expression network analysis, we confirmed that the formation of stone cells in pears, the deposition of fruit anthocyanins, and the ability to resist stress are interrelated. They are jointly regulated by several modules, and the expression of regulatory genes has a significant correlation. Moreover, we identified candidate genes such as HKL1 that may affect sugar content and are missing from the reference genome. Our study provides insights into the associations between complex fruit traits, while providing a database resource for pear disease resistance and fruit quality breeding.

Farmers’ preferences for rice bean production traits in western Kenya

Rice bean (Vigna umbellata) is an important legume for food and nutritional security. However, the level of its cultivation in western Kenya, where there is a serious malnutrition challenge, is still low due to a lack of insights into its attributes. Hence, to bridge this knowledge gap, this study analyzed smallholder farmers' preferences for production traits. We collected data from 204 farmers through a choice experiment (CE) approach in upper and lower midland agro-ecological zones. Subsequently, we used the random parameter logit (RPL) model to analyze the data. Results showed that farmers preferred all attribute levels presented except 61% or more pest resistance. The lower midland farmers preferred compensation of Kenya shillings (Ksh) 34.93 for yields of 9 or more bags per acre; Ksh 52.22 for 61 to 79 maturity days and; Ksh 20.24 for 40% to 60% pest resistance level. In comparison, upper midland farmers preferred compensation of Ksh 66.44 for 6 to 8 bags per acre; Ksh 53.82 for 9 or more bags per acre; no compensation for 50 to 60 maturity days; and Ksh 132.98 for 40% to 60% pest resistance. However, farmers preferred no compensation for intact pods. The observed differences in farmers’ preferences for rice bean attributes are explained by heterogeneity in the agroecological conditions, farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, and risk perceptions. The findings should inform targeted extension and breeding programs that fit farmers’ diverse environments and resource endowments.