God and the Machine: A Correlational Study on Mobile Phone Dependence, Religious Coping, and Mental Health

Research on the various effects of mobile phones did not begin to be published until after they had already been integrated into society. To date, the results of various studies looking into the relationship between mobile phone use and mental health demonstrate that phones, if used in problematic ways, have negative effects on mental health. Even so, there are no studies looking into problematic mobile phone use and how it correlates with spirituality and positive religious coping as well as mental health. Due to this gap in the research, this anonymous online study was designed to look into correlations between problematic cell phone use, positive religious coping, and mental health. The Adapted Cell Phone Addiction Test (ACPAT) was used to assess problematic cell phone use, the Religious Coping Activities Scales (RCOPE) were used to assess positive religious coping, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42) were used to assess mental health

Hydrological Characteristics of the Mae Klong River Basin in Thailand

[ABSTRACT] This paper discusses hydrological characteristics in the Mae Klong River Basin in Thailand. Firstly, rainfall distribution characteristics are examined by using daily rainfall data in sixteen rainfall observatories. Secondly, hydrological events of the two dam basins were qualitatively analyzed. It was found that, there was a relationship between the Western Monsoon and the rain occurrences; Si Sawat (Sri Nagarind) zone was draughtier in the Mae Klong River Basin. Si Sawat Dam Basin and Khao Laem Dam Basin, although they are close to each other (50 Km in distance), their differences concerning hydrological characteristics are high

CEReS Newsletter No.62, January 2011

[掲載記事] 「＜調印式報告＞千葉大学・パジャジャラン大学との大学間交流協定」ほ

Organizational approaches to the forming of strategic partnership of enterprises of region

Систематизовано організаційні підходи до формування стратегічного партнерства підприємств, що існують у вітчизняній та зарубіжній науковій літературі. Виділено цільовий, або проблемно-орієнтовний, підхід, первинним етапом якого є встановлення стратегічних цілей; ресурсно-компетенційний підхід, який засновано на визначенні наявних ресурсів та компетенцій підприємств – потенційних партнерів, та проектний підхід, згідно з яким формування стратегічного партнерства підприємств пов’язано з реалізацією сукупності проектів. Обґрунтовано функціональний, або структурний, підхід, що передбачає включення у партнерство підприємств тих галузей, які є ключовими та які визначають спеціалізацію регіону. Використання запропонованого підходу забезпечить комплексний соціально-економічний розвиток господарства регіону.Organizational approaches to forming of strategic partnership of enterprises which exist in domestic and foreign scientific literature are systematized. Target, or problem-orientated, approach the primary stage of which is establishment of strategic aims; resource-competent approach which is based on determination of present resources and jurisdictions of enterprises – potential partners, and project approach, according to which the forming of strategic partnership of enterprises is related with the realization of complex of projects are selected. Functional, or structural, approach, which foresees plugging in partnership of enterprises of those industries which are key and which determine specialization of region is grounded. Offered approach has the followings stages: determination of regional type and basic industries of industrial production, successful development of which will become the key factor of regional economic development; formulation of strategic aims of enterprises of priority industries according to norms and normative correlations, set the most perfect technologies, by organization of production on the whole and separate subsystems of enterprises which are utilized in the proper industries in Ukraine and world; estimation by the enterprises of present and necessary resources and jurisdictions, determination of potential partners after the criterion of presence of necessary resources and jurisdictions and choice of enterprises – potential partners, clarification of strategic and operative aims of strategic partnership that formalize the relations of enterprises-partners. The use of this approach will provide complex socio-economic development of economy of region

Are flowering plants in abandoned semi-natural grasslands pollen limited; an experiment with Campanula rotundifolia

Populasjoner av pollinatorer forsvinner, og vi trenger nye mater å hindre dem i å forsvinne. En måte å gjøre dette på kan være å restaurere landskap med plantepopulasjoner som opplever pollen-begrensning. Dette skjer når en plante ikke mottar nok pollen til å befrukte hver eggcelle. For planter som pollineres av dyr forekommer dette når det er for få pollinatorer. Vi sammenlignet graden av pollen begrensning i den hovedsakelig humle-pollinerte arten Campanula rotundifolia mellom en forlatt semi-naturlig eng og en intakt semi-naturlig eng. I begge lokasjonene sammenlignet vi frøproduksjonen mellom håndpollinerte og åpen-pollinerte blomster for å teste om pollenbegrensningen var mer alvorlig i den forlatte engen. Vi viser at planter i den forlatte engen opplever kraftig pollen begrensning sammenlignet med den intakte engen, selv om resultatene burde vurderes med forsiktighet på grunn av den begrensede prøvestørrelsen. Vi fant ingen forskjell i størrelsen på frøene produsert i de ulike behandlingene, som tyder på at pollen konkurranse muligens har lite effekt på frø-kvalitet.In the wake of dwindling pollinator populations, we need to look for ways to keep the pollinators from disappearing. One way of doing this could be to restore landscapes that house plant-communities that experience pollen limitation. This occurs when a plant does not receive enough pollen to fertilize each ovule. For animal pollinated plants, this occurs when there are too few pollinators. We compared the degree of pollen limitation in the mainly bumblebee-pollinated species Campanula rotundifolia between an abandoned semi-natural grassland and an intact semi-natural grassland. In both sites, we compared seed production between hand-pollinated and open-pollinated flowers to test whether pollen limitation is more severe in the abandoned site. We show that the plants in the abandoned site are under heavy pollen limitation compared to the intact site, though these results should be considered with caution due to the limited sample size. We found no difference in the size of the seeds produced between the different treatments, suggesting that pollen competition has possibly little effect on seed quality

Extramural English and students’ motivation. A Mixed Methods Study on Norwegian Students’ Motivation and Attitude Toward English Classroom Practice

Denne masteroppgaven undersøker om det er en sammenheng mellom norske elevers bruk av engelsk utenfor skolen, (extramural engelsk) og deres motivasjon og holdninger til engelskfaget. Studien bruker en mixed methods metode, og kombinerer kvantitative data fra spørreskjemaer med kvalitativ innsikt samlet gjennom to fokusgrupper. Valget av metode vil gjøre det mulig å besvare oppgavens forskningsspørsmål som er: I hvilken grad tilsvarer bruk av engelsk utenfor klasserommet elevens motivasjon og holdning til engelskfaget. Valget av deltakere var fra to distriktsskoler i Norge. Den kvantitative fasen innebar å innhente data ved bruk av to spørreskjemaer for elever på mellomtrinnet og ungdomsskolen om deres engelskaktiviteter utenfor klasserommet og deres motivasjonsnivå. Den kvalitative fasen besto av to fokusgrupper fra ungdomsskolen, denne åpnet for en mer dypere innsikt i elevenes erfaringer og perspektiver, som påvirker deres motivasjon for å lære engelsk. Forskningen avdekker flere hovedfunn. Ett av hovedfunnene viser at en betydelig andel av norske elever bruker mer enn halvparten av tiden sin på digitale plattformer ved frivillig eksponering av engelskspråket. Det andre hovedfunnet var at de mest brukte språkferdighetene elevene brukte var å lytte og snakke engelsk på forskjellige sosiale medier. I tillegg ble det oppdaget en positiv sammenheng mellom elevers bruk av engelsk utenfor klasserommet og elevers motivasjon til å bli flinkere i engelsk. Disse resultatene understreker viktigheten av å anerkjenne engelskaktiviteter utenfor klasserommet som en viktig faktor når det gjelder elevers motivasjon til å lære engelsk. Ved å anerkjenne og bygge på elevenes eksisterende engelskferdigheter, kan lærere øke klasseromsengasjementet og fremme et mer motivert læringsmiljø. Disse funnene bidrar med verdifull innsikt for engelsklærere som ønsker å optimalisere engelskspråklig klasseromsundervisning og bedre tilpasse engelskfaget med elevenes preferanser og motivasjoner.Abstract This masters thesis investigates if there is a relationship between Norwegian students extramural English activities and students' motivation and attitudes towards English classroom practice. The study uses a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative data from questionnaires with qualitative insights gathered through focus groups. The choice of method will make it possible to answer my thesis’ research question which is: To what extend extramural English corresponds to students’ motivation and attitude toward English classroom practice. The choice of participants was two schools in rural part of Norway, where the quantitative phase involved administering questionnaires to late primary and lower secondary school students, gathering data on their extramural English activities and levels of motivation. The qualitative phase consisted of two focus groups from lower secondary school, allowing for in-depth exploration of their experiences and perspectives that affects their motivation in learning English. The research findings reveal several main findings where a significant proportion of Norwegian students dedicate more than half of their time spent on digital platforms by exposing themselves voluntarily to English-related activities. The other main finding was that listening and speaking emerged as the most frequently utilized language skills during these extramural activities. Additionally, a positive correlation was discovered between the frequency of extramural English engagement and students' motivation levels within the classroom context. These results underscore the importance of recognizing extramural English activities as an important factor when it comes to students’ language learning. By acknowledging and building upon students' existing extramural language practices, teachers can enhance classroom engagement and foster a more motivated learning environment. These findings contribute valuable insights for English teachers seeking to optimize English language classroom instruction and better align classroom practices with students' preferences and motivations

Voltage tuning of spin and charge supercurrents in a spin-active Josephson Junction

Charge and spin-supercurrents in a spin-active Josephson junction is investigated through the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. Analytical work has been performed and numerical results are presented, showing that through the application of a voltage bias across the normal metal weal link, the distribution function in the normal metal is brought out of equilibrium and the magnitude of the supercurrents decreases. The transition to a π-junction is controllable via the voltage bias as a consequence

Riversdale, n'water skaars-area? : an anthropological study in inequality, race amd water discourse in the Western Cape

This paper looks at the ways in which race and inequality affects the lives of Western Cape South Africans as well as how these social factors affect people’s dispositions towards water consciousness in an area that is perceived as vulnerable to climate change. Using mainly ethnographic fieldwork and the method of participant observation as the basis for its empirical evidence, the examples of informants actions and ways of talking are not random or anecdotal, but are examples of patterns of social interaction that repeats itself time and again and is, in my opinion, typical for the social structures of this society. By analyzing this evidence in the light of social theory on identity and group negotiation, social inequality and class, as well as rights constructs, discourse analysis and theories on social conflict over water, it aims to show what kind of social structures are shaping the lives of South Africans in the Western Cape, and what effects, if any, these structures have on the actors’ consciousness and discourse on water. Conclusively it finds that social situation does indeed influence dispositions towards water and that we can see this in the interactions, and prevailing discourses that we find amongst the different social groups of Riversdale