Insights from migrant entrepreneurship in Portugal pre- and post- COVID- 19

This study explores the resilience of Brazilian businesses in Porto, Portugal, focusing on those that survivedthe COVID-19 pandemic. Entrepreneurs were interviewed before and after the pandemic, providing insightsinto the local entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) from a migrant perspective. Using a mixed embeddednessapproach, the research examines the pandemic’s impact on these businesses and identifies attributes criticalto their survival. This study highlights conceptual gaps in the EE framework, particularly regarding small businessesand migrant entrepreneurship during crises. Through Eisenhardt’s case study methodology, data werecollected via 32 in-depth interviews before the pandemic, with follow-ups revealing that only 15 businessesremained operational. Five surviving entrepreneurs were interviewed in detail. Resilient businesses, suchas restaurants and computer/cell-phone repair shops, adapted by offering in-home services and leveragingsocial media to engage clients, demonstrating creativity and risk-taking. Unlike many local entrepreneurs,Brazilians exhibited higher risk tolerance, using government financial aid not only for personal needs butalso to sustain their businesses. This research contributes to the literature by addressing theoretical gaps inmixed embeddedness and EE concepts, while applying an innovative analytical framework combining mixedembeddedness, resilience strategies, and resource orchestration theory. It offers practical implications forpolicymakers and stakeholders, emphasizing the economic and social integration of migrants. Tailored supportstrategies are recommended to address the unique challenges migrants face, underscoring the broadercontributions of migrant businesses to economic growth and social cohesion in host communities

The Role of Diaspora Networks in Driving Trade and Investment in Uzbekistan’s Emerging Economy

The Uzbek diaspora plays an important role in Uzbekistan’s economic development by easing internationaltrade, promoting Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI), and transferring knowledge and skills. This study examineshow diaspora networks in Russia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Türkiye influence trade and investmentflows, highlighting their impact on Uzbekistan’s economy. The findings reveal that while remittances andinvestments contribute significantly to national development, challenges such as informal labor markets,regulatory inefficiencies, and weak engagement frameworks continue to limit their full potential. Addressingthese barriers through targeted tax incentives, dual citizenship reforms, and structured diaspora engagementpolicies could significantly enhance economic contributions. This study emphasizes the strategic importanceof diaspora networks and calls for proactive policy measures to optimize their role, positioning theUzbek diaspora as a key driver of sustainable economic growth

The differential effect of individual and collaborative processing of written corrective feedback on French as a foreign language learners’ engagement

An increasing number of studies have explored the effects of collaborative writing on written outcomes; however, few studies have examined the influence of collaborative processing of feedback. This study addresses this gap by focusing on learner engagement. While collaborative writing involves co-authoring a text, which requires negotiation and idea sharing, collaborative processing of feedback focuses on jointly interpreting and responding to feedback. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, this study examined 24 learners of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) over an 8-week period. It compared their engagement with written corrective feedback (WCF) when processed individually versus in pairs. The findings provide insights into how different feedback processing modes influence learner engagement and highlight the potential benefits of collaborative feedback processing. The instructor provided indirect WCF, and learners revised their essays with think-aloud sessions. The study examined cognitive and behavioral engagement through writing analysis and used think-aloud reports examining affective engagement. Results indicated that learners’ cognitive engagement varied between individual and collaborative processing, with individuals employing fewer high-depth and low-depth processing strategies. However, affective engagement was found to be independent of task completion mode, and behavioral engagement did not differ between individual and collaborative processing of WCF.Un nombre croissant d’études a examiné les effets de l’écriture collaborative sur la production de textes; cependant, peu de recherches ont analysé l’influence du traitement collaboratif de la rétroaction. Cette étude comble cette lacune en se concentrant sur l’engagement des apprenants. Alors que l’écriture collaborative implique la corédaction d’un texte, nécessitant négociation et partage d’idées, le traitement collaboratif de la rétroaction corrective se focalise sur l’interprétation et la réponse conjointes à cette rétroaction. En adoptant une démarche mixte, cette étude a analysé le comportement de 24 apprenants du français langue étrangère (FLE) sur une période de huit semaines. L’étude a comparé l’engagement des apprenants face à la rétroaction corrective écrite (RCE), lorsqu’elle était traitée individuellement versus en binômes. Les résultats apportent des éclairages sur la manière dont les différentes modalités de traitement de la rétroaction influencent l’engagement des apprenants et mettent en évidence les bénéfices potentiels du traitement collaboratif de la RCE. L’enseignant a fourni une rétroaction indirecte, et les apprenants ont révisé leurs essais lors de séances de réflexion à voix haute. L’étude a examiné l’engagement cognitif et comportemental des apprenants à travers l’analyse de leurs productions écrites, ainsi que leur engagement affectif à partir des rapports de réflexion à voix haute. Les résultats indiquent que l’engagement cognitif varie selon le mode de traitement, avec une utilisation moindre de stratégies de traitement à profondeur élevée ou faible en contexte individuel. Cependant, l’engagement affectif s’est révélé indépendant du mode d’achèvement de la tâche, et l’engagement comportemental n’a pas différé entre le traitement individuel et collaboratif de la rétroaction

Authenticating Hafu Identities on Instagram: A Small Stories Analysis of Interactions on Hafugods

Described as “the predominant narrative environment for contemporary storytellers” (Mäkelä & Meretoja, 2022), social media are attracting increasing attention as sites for the study of a wide range of everyday narrative practices. Moreover, storytelling has become integrated into platform architectures through features such as Stories on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, and is being celebrated as “the ideal vehicle for presenting an authentic self” (Georgakopoulou, 2022). The word authenticity finds its roots in the Greek authentikós, (autós, self) and is associated with notions such as realness, genuineness, credibility and truthfulness (Lacoste, Leimgruber & Breyer, 2014, p2). In interactional sociolinguistics, authenticity is treated as an effect of discursive performance and negotiation of identity between participants in an interaction. The analytical focus is therefore on the discursive strategies and interactional processes that authenticate a person’s claim to a particular identity or group membership. This chapter explores the implications of authenticity as discursive performance in relation to hafu (ハーフ) identities, through a Small Stories (Georgakopoulou, 2013; 2016) analysis of an Instagram account called hafugods. Hafu is a racialised identity term used to describe someone who is mixed-ethnic or mixed-race Japanese, and hafugods presents itself as a space for telling stories about what it means to be hafu. The analysis demonstrates how storytelling is being mobilised for the performance of hafu identities, and reveals how alignment strategies such as ‘ritual appreciation’ and ‘knowing participation’ (Georgakopoulou, 2016) serve as authenticating practices of proving membership to the group, and by extension, a hafu identity

From “Being Real” to “Relatable Tales”: Formatted Authenticity and Stories in TikTok Short Form Videos

Authenticity in the sense of off-the-cuff, raw, believable presentation of the teller and their everyday life through storytelling has been a widely circulating discourse in digital storytelling (e.g. brand storytelling). In my longitudinal technographic study of stories online, I have explored the connections of this type of authenticity with stories as a feature on platforms (Georgakopoulou 2022). I have shown authenticity to be a platformed directive, supported by specific affordances and design, and integrally connected with the storytelling practice of sharing-life-in-the-moment. These choices have developed recognizability and normativity (i.e. formatting). Building on this research, in this article, I examine how formatted authenticity in stories migrates onto TikTok short form videos. I focus on a series of videos with conventionalized captions “when your/my mum …” that build a generic tale about roles and relationships within the family. Using small stories and positioning analysis, I show how the formatted authenticity that I have attested to in previous work is reconfigured and repurposed at different levels, in line with TikTok affordances for creating multi-layered, intertextual storytelling. The intermingling of the personal with the collective/generic within sharing-life-in-the moment emphasizes the shift of authenticity from teller-based truth-telling to a tale-based relatability. The discussion shows how studying authenticity in social media narratives requires a historical, media-genealogical approach so as to understand the evolution and trans-platformization of storytelling genres and choices that serve as recognizable emblems of authenticity

Breaking Waves: A snapshot of women in hydrography in the South-West Pacific

Only 25 % of qualified hydrographers are women. Here we present a case-study of South-West Pacific women in hydrography from three perspectives: 1) women in hydrography, 2) hydrographic employers, and 3) an undergraduate. Results show the largest barrier is the lack of information about hydrography in schools and universities. Other findings indicate challenges such as a culture of stereotyping, not enough “champions”, discrimination, and time away. Recommendations include better promotion of the profession, developing role-models and industry considerations. Suggested further research directions encourage the expansion of the case-study to include high-school children and staff, and women in hydrography beyond our region

Expanding and improving the Israeli geoid undulation model in the coastal area using nautical and shipborne GNSS measurements

The geoid, an equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field, corresponds to the global mean sea level, linking ellipsoidal and orthometric heights. As reliance on GNSS grows, accurate geoid models for coastal and marine areas are increasingly needed. We propose using a single shipborne GNSS receiver and nautical measurements as a cost-effective solution for coastal geoid modeling. Correcting GNSS data for vessel dynamics, tidal effects, atmospheric variations, and sea surface topography enables the creation of a local costal geoid model. Applied to Haifa Bay cruises (2019–2021), this method integrates into Israel's geoid, achieving sub-3 cm accuracy in coastal zones

Marine accidents ascribe to man or machine?

The International shipping industry is responsible for the carriage of around 90 % of the world trade (ICS, 2024). The efficient Marine Safety Information Services (MSIS) have been made available to the mariner besides national / international regulations using the upgraded navigational tools like ENCs and virtual e-navigation. A roadmap to switch over to the S-100 data model and generating new S-101 ENCs has already been prepared by the IHO. Irrespective of technological developments, marine accidents are increasing worldwide every year and the reports (MAIB, 2017) reveals that lack of trained manpower on bridge, lack of familiarization to the digital equipment and its use was the root cause of many of these marine casualties. The sub working group members of the NCWG have prepared a document on the Future of the Paper Nautical Chart (FOTPNC) in view of maximal use of ECDIS and ENCs onboard ships. The present study after analysing the aforesaid investigation reports reveals that the increase of marine accidents may be attributed to both man and machine

A Comparison of EFL Students and Instructors’ Written Feedback Preferences and Reported Practices at a Moroccan University

This study aimed to investigate university students’ preferences for and reported instructor practices of written feedback (WF) and how these align with instructors’ perceptions and self-reported practices in EFL writing classrooms. An 80-item survey was conducted with 13 instructors and their 210 students at a Moroccan university. The findings revealed that instructors’ perceptions aligned with students’ preferences for judgmental WF on the written text and all process-based WF subscales. However, instructors considered WF modes on the written text more important than students. In terms of practices, instructors reported employing certain WF practices (judgmental WF on the written text, content-based WF related to textuality standards, and macroaspects of writing) more often than students reported. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning classroom WF practices with students’ preferences to enhance writing performance.Cette étude a pour but d'examiner les préférences des étudiants universitaires et les pratiques des enseignants en matière de rétroaction écrite (RÉ), ainsi que la manière dont ces préférences s'alignent sur les perceptions des enseignants et les pratiques qu'ils déclarent dans les classes d'écriture en anglais langue étrangère (ALÉ). Une enquête de 80 questions a été menée auprès de 13 enseignants et de leurs 210 étudiants dans une université marocaine. Les résultats ont révélé que les perceptions des enseignants correspondaient aux préférences des étudiants en matière de RÉ avec jugement sur le texte écrit et sur toutes les sous-échelles de RÉ basées sur le processus. Cependant, les enseignants considèrent les modes de RÉ sur le texte écrit plus importants que les étudiants. En ce qui concerne les pratiques, les enseignants ont déclaré employer certaines pratiques de RÉ (RÉ avec jugement sur le texte écrit, RÉ basé sur le contenu lié aux normes de textualité et macro-aspects de l'écriture) plus souvent que les étudiants ne l'ont déclaré. L'étude souligne l'importance d'aligner les pratiques de RÉ en classe sur les préférences des étudiants afin d'améliorer les performances en matière d'écriture