Exploring the Influence of Beliefs of Instructors on Adoption of Technology in Teaching

The implementation of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) due to Covid-19 pandemic resulted in classes being taught online.  This research study examines computer-mediated instruction as it is influenced by beliefs of English-language instructors, and how those instructors make sense of their beliefs regarding computer-mediated online instruction tools.  An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research design was used.  English-language instructors employed full-time in universities in Tokyo participated in this study.  It appeared that each instructor’s beliefs interacted in a complex manner to technology which impacted instructors’ teaching practices related to the use of computer-mediated instruction.  It revealed a multifaceted relationship between what instructors’ think and what they do in class in relation to computer-mediated tasks.  Findings of this study suggest that English language instructors are navigating competently, yet cautiously in the digital age.  This study suggests technology integration into the English language curriculum will require a greater collaborative effort by relevant stakeholders in recognizing instructors’ beliefs as vital to technology acceptanc

Impact of Weather on Household Welfare: Cross Sectional Evidence from Bangladesh

This study aims to determine how Bangladeshi household welfare varies depending on the weather. The Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016 data and historical Bangladeshi monthly rainfall data are both used in this study. The log of per capita consumption and the food diversity index serve as measures of the welfare at the household level. The numerous illnesses, such as pneumonia, fever, and diarrhea, are used to gauge an individual's level of welfare. This study discovers that rural households' log per capita consumption grows by more than 3% more than that of other households on average for every unit increase in rainfall. Furthermore, food diversification has benefited from rains. Rainfall generally raises the food diversity index, which raises the diversity of foods. This implies that rainfall on average increases households’ welfare. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/13-18-07 Publication date:September 30th 202

Corporate governance and tax avoidance: evidence from an emerging market

This study investigates the impact of corporate governance practices (namely board characteristics, ownership structure, and audit committee characteristics) on corporate tax avoidance. For this purpose, this study uses generalised least squares regression on a sample of 138 companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Ten-year data from 2009 to 2018 are collected from published annual reports, comprising 1380 firm-year observations. The findings highlight that board independence, concentrated ownership, and audit committee gender diversity are negatively associated with tax avoidance. Conversely, managerial ownership and audit committee independence positively influence aggressive tax behaviour. Additional analysis reveals that these impacts are nonlinear and change with the different levels of tax avoidance. Enhanced governance stifles tax avoidance at lower levels; however, it encourages tax avoidance when firms are already aggressively avoiding taxes. This scenario represents a ‘double down’ behaviour depicted by the Pakistani corporate sector. This is one of the foremost studies to explore the impact of corporate governance on tax avoidance in Pakistan. It contributes to the literature by examining the impact of under-researched factors such as board meetings and audit committee characteristics and provides insights into the conflicting findings on board characteristics and ownership structure

İçten Yanmalı Bir Motorun Emme Manifoldunun Hesaplamalı Akışkanlar Dinamiği (HAD) ile Tasarımı

Günümüzde içten yanmalı motorlar otomotiv, denizcilik, havacılık vb. birçok sektörde çok yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Tek silindirli ve küçük boyutlarda yapılabileceği gibi, özellikle gemilerde kullanılmak üzere çok büyük boyutlarda da üretilebilmektedir. İçten yanmalı motorlar, birden çok parçanın birleşmesi ile oluşan kompleks yapılardır. Ayrıca silindir içerisinde gerçekleşen yanma olayı da oldukça hızlı ve karmaşık bir reaksiyondur. Dolayısıyla bir motorun güç performansı birden çok faktöre bağlıdır. Bu faktörlerden en önemlilerinden biri de yanmanın, ideal yanmaya yakın koşullarda sağlanabilmesidir. Bu ise, silindir içerisinde reaksiyona giren oksijen ve yakıtın uygun oranlarda karışması ile mümkün olabilmektedir. Bir motorun sürekli yüksek performansta çalışabilmesi için, yakıtın sürekli olarak, hava ile yeterli oranda beslenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu hava beslemesi emme manifoldu aracılığı ile gerçekleşir. Dolayısıyla iyi bir yanmanın sağlanabilmesi için emme manifold tasarımı önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu amaçla, bu çalışmada; bir dizel motorda emme havasının ihtiyaç duyulan miktarda sağlanabilmesi için, emme manifoldunun giriş açılarının etkileri ele alınmıştır. Farklı giriş açıları için Ansys Fluent paket programı aracılığı ile simülasyonlar yapılmış ve akış karakteristiklerine olan etkileri irdelenmiştir. Simülasyonlardan elde edilen sonuçlar ışığında, manifold içerisindeki hız ve basınç dağılımları elde edilmiş ve çıkış debi değerleri aracılığıyla optimum şartlar belirlenmiştir

Detection of Human papillomavirus 16 and 18 types in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in Yazd, Iran: A Case-Control Study

         The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa in Iranian individuals with OSCC and their association with various risk factors. The investigation followed a hospital-based case-control design. Cases were individuals with diagnosed OSCC, age- and sex-matched with controls. Sixty-six paraffin embedded tissue samples (39 OSCC and 27normal oral mucosa) were studied. DNA was purified to amplify HPV-DNA using HPV type specific primers-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.Mean age was 64.2 ±14 years in cases (range 25-81 years), and 63.5 ±13.5 years in controls (range 22-78 years). Forty-three percent (17/39) of OSCC but none of normal oral mucosa were positive for HPV 16/18 DNA (p = 0.001). The most frequent type in patient group was HPV-16 type. The prevalence rate was high older in age (>50 years) and gender (male) and tongue tissue but no significant association was found (p=0.7, p=0.5 and p=0.42 respectively). We found a significant association of HPV16/18 with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Also, HPV16/18 is a co-factor in oral carcinogenesis. In addition, also it is suggested that HPV is as a risk factor independent of alcohol and tobacco can be effective in creating OSCC.

Investigation of MPPT Techniques Under Uniform and Non-Uniform Solar Irradiation Condition-A Retrospection

A significant growth in solar photovoltaic (PV) installation has observed during the last decade in standalone and grid-connected power generation systems. The solar PV system has a non-linear output characteristic because of weather intermittency, which tends to have a substantial effect on overall PV system output. Hence, to optimize the output of a PV system, different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques have been used. But, the confusion lies while selecting an appropriate MPPT, as every method has its own merits and demerits. Therefore, a proper review of these techniques is essential. A “Google Scholar” survey of the last five years (2015-2020) was conducted. It has found that overall seventy-one review articles are published on different MPPT techniques; out of those seventy-one, only four are on uniform solar irradiance, seven on non-uniform and none on hybrid optimization MPPT techniques. Most of them have discussed the limited number of MPPT techniques, and none of them has discussed the online and offline under uniform and hybrid MPPT techniques under non-uniform solar irradiance conditions all together in one. Unfortunately, very few attempts have made in this regard. Therefore, a comprehensive review paper on this topic is need of time, in which almost all the well-known MPPT techniques should be encapsulated in one paper. This article focuses on classifications of online, offline, and hybrid optimization MPPT algorithms, under the uniform and non-uniform irradiance conditions. It summarizes various MPPT methods along with their mathematical expression, operating principle, and block diagram/flow charts. This research will provide a valuable pathway to researchers, energy engineers, and strategists for future research and implementation in the field of maximum power point tracking optimization

Experimental Investigation of Metal-Based Calixarenes as Dispersed Catalyst Precursors for Heavy Oil Hydrocracking

Slurry-phase hydrocracking utilizing metal-containing oil-soluble compounds as precursors of dispersed catalysts is an effective approach for heavy oil upgrading. We propose applying metal-based p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (TBC[6]s) organic species as dispersed catalyst precursors to enhance catalytic hydrogenation reactions involved in the upgrading of vacuum gas oil (VGO). Co- and Ni-based TBC[6]s were synthesized and characterized by SEM-EDX, ICP, XRD, and FT-IR. The thermogravimetric and calorimetric behaviors of the synthesized complexes, which are key properties of dispersed hydrocracking catalysts, were also explored. The experimental evaluation of the synthesized catalyst precursors show that the synthesized metal-based TBC[6] catalyst precursors improved the catalytic hydrogenation reactions. A co-catalytic system was also investigated by adding a commercial, first-stage hydrocracking supported catalyst in addition to the dispersed catalysts. The naphtha yields increased from 10.7 wt.% for the supported catalyst to 11.7 wt.% and 12 wt.% after adding it along with Ni-TBC[6] and Co-TBC[6], respectively. Mixing the metal-based precursors resulted in elevated yields of liquid products due to the in situ generation of highly active Co–Ni bimetallic dispersed catalysts.This research was funded by Deanship of Research Oversight and Coordination (DROC) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), grant number DF181018

Una observación hacia los procesos asistidos por computadora en la producción de prendas de vestir. Comparación y análisis de software CAD/CAM en Bangladesh

This research paper inquires about different attributes of Computer-aided processes in garments production. This perspective Research was done by our courageous team from 2021 to 2022. It reveals adequate information on the Garments industry's Intension and criteria for choosing CAD/CAM software. For the sake of this Research, we visited more than 600 industries to gather raw data; Every Industry tried to attend this Research from a different region of Bangladesh willingly. After collecting all raw data from the garments industry. The data of the Garments industry was coordinated by Excel program. Consequently, the data was analyzed and implemented statistically to identify the Garments Industry attribute for satisfaction with CAD/CAM software. This process also detects many challenges and defines and advises a proper solution to the problems that the Garments industry is facing in the current situation. This research paper demonstrates adequate information about the Garment's criteria and demand in purchasing garments Computer-aided software.Este trabajo de investigación indaga sobre los diferentes atributos de los procesos asistidos por computadora en la producción de prendas de vestir. Esta investigación de perspectiva fue realizada por nuestro valiente equipo de 2021 a 2022. Revela información adecuada sobre la intención de la industria de la confección y los criterios para elegir el software CAD/CAM. Por el bien de esta investigación, visitamos más de 600 industrias para recopilar datos sin procesar; Cada industria trató de asistir a esta investigación desde una región diferente de Bangladesh de buena gana. Después de recopilar todos los datos sin procesar de la industria de la confección. Los datos de la industria de Vestuario fueron coordinados por el programa Excel. En consecuencia, los datos se analizaron e implementaron estadísticamente para identificar el atributo de la industria de la confección para la satisfacción con el software CAD/CAM. Este proceso también detecta muchos desafíos y define y aconseja una solución adecuada a los problemas que enfrenta la industria de la confección en la situación actual. Este trabajo de investigación demuestra información adecuada sobre los criterios de la prenda y la demanda en la compra de prendas Software asistido por computadora

Antimicrobial compounds from Calophyllum canum

Calophyllum species have been used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties in many tropical climate counteries. Calopyllum canum locally known as bintagor merah has been isolated and tested for its antimcirobial activity. Stembarks of C. canum were extracted by soxhlet extraction with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and then methanol, successively. The antimictovial activity was carried out by disc difussion method and determination of MIC and MBC values. n-Hexane extracts was active against S.aureus and B.subtili, while methanol extract inhibited the growuth of S.aureus, B.subtilis and E.coli. Ethyl acetate extract was also active against S.aureus and B.subtilis. Both n-haxena and methanol extracts were furhter subjected to column chramotography by guiding of its antimicrobial actvity. Four compounds were sucesfully isolated.; two (D1 and D2) from n-hexane extract and two from methanol (CCM1 and CCM2). The compondsD1 and d2 were active against S.aureus and B. anthracis. While CCM1 and CCM2 were active against S.aureus. Furhter research need to be done to identify the structure of the active compounds and investigate their mood of action

Analysis of user’s comfort on automated vehicle riding simulation using subjective and objective measurements

The naturalistic study investigated the potential influence of personal driving preferences (assertive and defensive driving style) on users; comfort when being driven in an automated vehicle with a defensive driving style. Adopted the Wizard of Oz design, the study involved three phases: pre-, during, and post-driven to measure their comfort, perceived safety, and likeness as well as motion sickness propensity through self-report questionnaire and heart rate variation. After answering a set of questionnaires, participants were exposed to simulated driving in an automated vehicle with a defensive driving style. A statistical analysis produced no statistically significant difference between assertive and defensive participants. This indicates an overall preference, perceived comfort without severe motion sickness propensity to the defensive driving style of the autonomous vehicle, regardless of participants’ personal driving styles