Search

The paper proposes a brief analysis of the main elements that, on a theoretical, normative and situational basis, affect the value of properties placed as collateral for loans, with particular reference to the value they assume in the event that they are affected by an enforced procedure instead of being subject to normal sale, in free market conditions. Starting from the classic analytical estimate of the fair market value of a real estate asset in free market conditions, the paper will define the principles the appraiser has to follow to quantify the value of the asset from which to start the judicial auction. Considering the regulatory mechanisms in place in Italy, the paper will put in evidence how a value calculated for an execution sale of a property occurring in a foreclosure process is considerably far from its fair market value and even more from its final judicial value, considered as the amount that will be recovered at the end of the sale of the property by judicial auction. For debtors and creditors, the significant differences between fair market, execution and judicial values become an increasingly topical issue in the face of the growing number of default and distress of loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors constitute a marginalised professional group who can struggle to achieve the professional development they desire. Our primary objective was to understand, from a theoretically informed perspective, the ways in which the professional identity of SAS doctors influences their professional development opportunities, including through appraisal. Ten UK SAS doctors participated in indepth, narrative interviews. Participants were drawn from six medical specialities, and ranged in experience (2.5--15 years) and country of primary medical qualification. Interview transcripts were analysed via critical discourse analysis using Figured Worlds theory. The position of SAS doctors within the Figured World was at times unstable, ambiguous and context dependent. They were often relative outsiders, not immediately trusted by colleagues. Some found their development needs eclipsed by the priorities of colleagues, typically consultants and postgraduate trainees. Appraisal was often not perceived to have successfully addressed these issues. This study enhances our understanding of the lived experience of SAS doctors, which is often in stark contrast to formal policy on the range of roles that they can fulfil. The struggles and successes of SAS doctors described here suggest that there is scope to improve the professional status and professional development opportunities for SAS doctors, including through appraisal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselor's right to utilize assessment, appraisal, and tests, and diagnose has substantive implications for professional counseling, counselor education, the provision of evidence‐based practice, and supporting client development across the life span. We identified documents detailing licensure rules and regulations for counselors' use of these clinical tools within the contiguous United States, Washington, DC, Alaska, Hawaii, and inhabited U.S. territories. Proportion comparisons over time, Fisher's exact test, and related effect sizes were computed to identify changes over time, as well as trends associated with regional professional association. Our results indicated increased representation over time of privileges allowing for the use of assessment, appraisal, and tests, and diagnosis within counselors' scope of practice and educational requirements, but modest representation of normal assessment use and allowable/nonallowable assessments and tests. Furthermore, we identified statistically significant differences in the regional representativeness of diagnostic privileges. Implications for counselor education and individual and association‐level advocacy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study disentangles positive and negative reactions to home-to-work transitions (i.e. transitions from the home role to the work role during non-work hours; HWTs) and examines their consequences for employees' work engagement and psychological strain. Based on boundary theory and appraisal theories, we expected that positively appraised HWTs would relate to more engagement and less strain whereas negatively appraised HWTs would contribute to less engagement and more strain. We tested our hypotheses using two daily diary datasets from different Belgian companies, one collected before the COVID-19 pandemic during 13 workdays among 81 employees (678 observations; Study 1) and one collected during the pandemic during 9 workdays among 82 employees (516 observations; Study 2). Hypotheses were tested both on the within – and the between-person level using multilevel modelling to account for daily fluctuations in the appraisals of HWTs and between-person differences. As expected, positive appraisals were related to more engagement and less strain at the between-person level in both studies. We did not find this impact on the within-person level, nor did we find any within – or between-effects of negative appraisals. Our study highlights the relevance of positive appraisals for employees' between-level engagement and strain beyond the impact of HWTs themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the level of awareness of safety precautions in the use of extension cords in Ho Municipality in Ghana. The relevance of this study is to provide an understanding of the awareness level of safety measures likely to lead to a significant reduction in incidents of domestic fire outbreaks when using an extension cord. A cross-sectional research was carried out in the Ho Municipality between February and April 2022. Six hundred and one (601) individuals were chosen from houses using a random selection method. A standardised questionnaire was used to gather data, and then entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) V.16. Descriptive statistics, Binary logistic regression analysis with a 0.05 p-value and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), Relative Importance Index (RII), and the Sample T-test were used to examine the significance of connections. Among the participants, there is a low level of awareness of extension cord ratings and standard labels from autonomous testing facilities. The participants' knowledge of awareness was significantly related to gender; [0.722 (95% (CI): 1.476 - 2.869), p = 0.001 < (0.05)]. Again, most participants overload the extension cord during usage and practice poor safety measures that could result in a fire outbreak. The study suggests that users should purchase extension cords that have been endorsed by an autonomous testing laboratory and fully be educated on the safety procedures that will aid in safeguarding lives and property by both government and non-governmental agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has two main objectives: to generate intelligibility about the English learning experiences of a group of Undergraduate students, as well as to understand the process of discursive reconstruction of those experiences. Bearing these goals in mind, the category of perezhivanie (affective experience) is used aiming to comprehend theoretically the role of these affective experiences in the students' subjective English learning pathways. Semistructured interviews were performed with the students of the Chemistry Teacher Formation Program of the Federal Institute of Maranhão - Campus Codó. In order to understand the different ways our affective experiences are materialized in discourse, this study employs the Appraisal System as an analytical tool to examine the meaning of the appraisals realized encoded in the narratives. The results demonstrate that the affective elements play a key role in the teaching-learning of English and that the appraisal represents an important tool for the reconstruction of our affective experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a subtle attempt to fortify territorial boundaries, the rise of White nationalism and far-right politics worldwide has recently brought to the fore the dangerous conflation of immigration and ecological crisis at the basis of eco-racist discourses fuelling several conspiracy theories. These, in turn, have led to a series of terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting among the Hispanic community which took place in El Paso, Texas, on 3 August 2019 by Patrick Crusius. Drawing on a theoretical framework that combines eco-racism, appraisal theory, and facticity in linguistic analysis, this article aims to analyse Crusius's manifesto - "The Inconvenient Truth" - to highlight the linguistic strategies he deploys to construct his discourse as factual in order to influence readers' convictions. The analysis intends to increase awareness about the implications of the co-articulation of anti-ecological and racist discourses and eventually aid their dismantling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of emotion regulation strategies on achievement emotions among tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. It also explores the strategies employed by students to regulate these emotions. Employing a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, data was collected from forty-nine language learners attending prep-classes at the Department of Foreign Languages in a state university in Türkiye. The participants were categorized based on their utilization of cognitive reappraisal (CR), expressive suppression (ES), or a combination of both emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). They completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Academic Emotions Questionnaire-Foreign Language Classroom to assess differences in achievement emotions among groups. Subsequently, the participants provided narratives regarding their perceptions and regulation of emotions. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA (Version 2020) was conducted. Results revealed significant variations in emotions among groups, with the ES group reporting lower levels of positive emotions and higher levels of negative emotions compared to others. The study underscores the importance of evaluating emotion regulation strategies to foster sustainable and enjoyable language learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aled: Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios del Discurso is the property of Asociacion Latinoamericana de Estudio del Discurso and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article investigates empathic listening as practised in the tradition of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), noting that this tradition is understood as a designed register of interpersonal connection, "concerned with progress toward a better world" (Hughes 2018). In the tradition, empathy is considered "a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing, ... we give to others the time and space they need to express themselves fully and to be understood" (Rosenberg 2015: 91–92). The analysis in this article applies the tools of systemic functional linguistics to demonstrate that this empathic understanding is achieved by the empathiser supporting the speaker's exploration of their emotions via a linguistic pattern of co-created, continuous thematic progression of resonated new information. The article provides insights into the linguistic machinery powering NVC empathy practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the multi- and intersemiotic expression of empathy and compassion in a campaign organised by the Vegan Society. It draws upon insights from ecofeminism and the ethics of care as well as systemic functional semiotics as a way of exploring how instances of attitude (affect, judgment and appreciation) in the campaign's various texts might be negotiated and shared, creating potentials for empathetic and compassionate responses. The study finds that parts of the campaign represent empathy and compassion as exemplars for readers to follow, while other parts of the campaign, especially social media, provide readers with an opportunity to enact empathy and compassion. The study also identifies gendered and generational dimensions, and suggests that syndromes or clusters of positive and negative attitude can form the basis for empathetic and compassionate responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The living systematic review (LSR) approach is based on ongoing surveillance of the literature and continual updating. Most currently available guidance documents address the conduct, reporting, publishing, and appraisal of systematic reviews (SRs), but are not suitable for LSRs per se and miss additional LSR-specific considerations. In this scoping review, we aim to systematically collate methodological guidance literature on how to conduct, report, publish, and appraise the quality of LSRs and identify current gaps in guidance. Methods: A standard scoping review methodology was used. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and The Cochrane Library on August 28, 2021. As for searching gray literature, we looked for existing guidelines and handbooks on LSRs from organizations that conduct evidence syntheses. The screening was conducted by two authors independently in Rayyan, and data extraction was done in duplicate using a pilot-tested data extraction form in Excel. Data was extracted according to four pre-defined categories for (i) conducting, (ii) reporting, (iii) publishing, and (iv) appraising LSRs. We mapped the findings by visualizing overview tables created in Microsoft Word. Results: Of the 21 included papers, methodological guidance was found in 17 papers for conducting, in six papers for reporting, in 15 papers for publishing, and in two papers for appraising LSRs. Some of the identified key items for (i) conducting LSRs were identifying the rationale, screening tools, or re-revaluating inclusion criteria. Identified items of (ii) the original PRISMA checklist included reporting the registration and protocol, title, or synthesis methods. For (iii) publishing, there was guidance available on publication type and frequency or update trigger, and for (iv) appraising, guidance on the appropriate use of bias assessment or reporting funding of included studies was found. Our search revealed major evidence gaps, particularly for guidance on certain PRISMA items such as reporting results, discussion, support and funding, and availability of data and material of a LSR. Conclusion: Important evidence gaps were identified for guidance on how to report in LSRs and appraise their quality. Our findings were applied to inform and prepare a PRISMA 2020 extension for LSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual processing of emotional words modulates early event-related potentials (ERPs) such as the early posterior negativity (EPN). Questions remain as to whether this modulation reflects modality-specific processing, preferentially elicited by emotional words of the native language (L1). This study investigates the modulation of early ERPs during rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of adjectives or nouns referring to emotional feeling states, neutral traits, to an overweight or lean body or to concrete body parts or neutral objects, presented in the L1 and the second language (L2). Word ratings in the L2 were assessed in a pilot study. The N100 and the EPN were modulated by the emotional valence of the stimuli irrespective of the word class or the task (silent reading vs. word counting). The results suggest that early affective appraisal is obligatory, not restricted to privileged categories of linguistic information (emotions) or solely found for the embodied language (L1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: South African legislation promotes the accommodation of employees with disabilities through enabling modifications and adjustments in the workplace. The literature about the experiences of employees with disabilities in higher education environments regarding accommodation is scant. Filling the gap, this research aimed to explore how employees with disabilities at a South African university cope with disability management practices by means of accommodations. Objectives: The objectives entailed exploring the encounters of employees with disabilities regarding accommodation in the workplace, their beliefs about these encounters and the meaning that the employees with disabilities attached to them. Method: The study design is grounded in the subjectivist epistemology of social constructionism and took on a qualitative approach. The bounded single-case study concerned formative evaluations. The homogeneous purposive sampling strategy amounted to 13 employees with disabilities. Twelve semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The participants relied strongly on self-agency to address splintered or unresponsive disability management practices. To avoid marginalisation, they worked extra hard for securing a rightful place at work. Misconceptions of able-bodied peers or managers triggered psychological stress. Conclusion: Coping with the university's disability management practices is mainly a stressful challenge, consequently endangering people's well-being. Contribution: Exploring the coping of university employees with disabilities through accommodations filled a gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reiterates the importance of the role of multisource feedback (MSF) in continuing medical education/continuing professional development (CME/CPD) and its impact on doctors' performance and patient experience globally. It summarises a unique initiative of robust utilisation of internationally recognised multisource feedback tools in an outpatient child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Qatar. The process involved the effective adoption and administering of the General Medical Council's (GMC) self-assessment questionnaire (SQ), patient questionnaire (PQ), and colleague questionnaire (CQ) followed by the successful incorporation of these tools in CME/CPD. The original version of the PQ questionnaire and the instructions to the patient document were translated into Arabic through the blind back-translation technique. This initiative of introducing gold-standard MSF tools and processes into clinical practice, among other quality-improvement projects, has contributed to the improvement of service standards and doctors' clinical practice. Patient satisfaction was measured through the annual patient experience analysis using the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ) whereas changes in doctors' performance were evaluated by comparing annual appraisal scores before and after implementation of this initiative. We have demonstrated that when MSF is obtained impartially and transparently using recognised and valid tools, it can improve patient experience and enhance doctors' performance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bodies of water are usually being polluted by wastes from domestic and industrial sources thereby making them unfit for use. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the water quality from Asa River, Ilorin, Nigeria in terms of bacteriological and physicochemical parameters. The bacteriological parameters assessed were heterotrophic bacterial count, total coliform, faecal coliform, identification of the isolates, antibiotic resistance patterns, and plasmid profile of the isolates. Whereas, the assessed physicochemical parameters were pH, total chloride, suspended solid, and total hardness. The heterotrophic bacterial count, total coliform, and faecal coliform counts ranged from 7.6 x 103 to 3.2 x 106 cfu/ml, 9 to 24000 MPN/ 100ml and 0 to 6.0 x 10³ cfu/ml respectively. Bacteriological analysis showed that the water contained arrays of bacteria heavily contaminated with pathogens. The genera of bacteria isolated were Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Brevundimonas, Enterococcus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Proteus, Pasteurella and Aeromonas. The pH, total hardness, total chloride, and suspended solids of the water ranged from 6.2 to 7.9, 128 to 291 mg/l, 6.21 to 17.04 mg/l and 170 to 310 mg/l respectively. All the Gramnegative bacteria were resistant to cefuroxime, cefixime, augmentin, and ceftazidime. Whereas all the Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to cefuroxime, cloxacillin, augmentin, and vancomycin. The bacteria also showed multiple antibiotic resistance. The resistance of Pasteurella multocida to nitrofurantoin was plasmid mediated. After plasmid curing, Brevundimonas diminuta was susceptible to ciprofloxacin and intermediately susceptible to gentamicin, while Pseudomonas fluorescens was susceptible to ofloxacin and ceftazidime and intermediately susceptible to ciprofloxacin. It was concluded that the water from Asa River at the different sampling points was unsafe in term of bacteriological as well as some physicochemical qualities. It is recommended that this water should not be used in its present state without treatment. Discharge of industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes should be stopped; and open defecation at the bank of this river should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopted correlational survey design where it determined guidance services as correlate of primary four pupils' self-efficacy in mathematics. This study answered two research questions and tested two null hypotheses. A sample of 600 primary four pupils' was selected from public primary schools using the simple random sampling technique. An instrument titled "Guidance services and selfefficacy in Mathematics Questionnaire (GSSEMQ) was used for data collection. The reliability of the questionnaire established using Cronbach Alpha with a coefficient of .85 and .88 The hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment correlation Coefficient at .05 level of significance. Findings of the study reveal that appraisal and information guidance services significantly relate with pupils' selfefficacy in Mathematics. Based on the findings of this study. It is therefore recommended amongst others that appraisal and information guidance programmes should be embedded in the primary school curriculum in order to increase pupils' self-efficacy in Mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding environmental sustainability and market pricing, the energy class is an increasingly more decisive characteristic in the real estate sector. For this reason, a great deal of attention is now devoted to exploring new technologies, energy consumption forecasting tools, intelligent platforms, site management devices, optimised procedures, software, and guidelines. New investments and smart possibilities are currently the object of different research in energy efficiency in building stocks to reach widespread ZEB standards as soon as possible. In this light, this work focuses on analysing 13 cities in Northern Italy to understand the impact of energy class on market values. An extensive data-mining process collects information about 13,093 properties in Lombardia, Piemonte, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino alto Adige. Then, a feature importance analysis and a machine learning forecasting tool help understand the influence of energy class on market prices today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the sources of evaluative attitudes through the use of language in descriptive texts written by students, and the classification of these words into the source systems of attitudes, such as influence, evaluation and appreciation in the work of the students studied. This research uses a qualitative method, with the descriptive case study as the research design. The researcher uses analyze the descriptive texts of the students with tables. 10 learners participated in writing Descriptive The learners' writing are conducted from instagram. The data source for this study is from eighth grade students of Karawang Secondary School. Affect was found to account for 44%, judgment for 33% and appreciation for 22%, indicating that affect seemed to express students' ideas through writing more than other types of students. Positive language for each type of attitude was more frequent than negative language in students' written language use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of emotion regulation strategies on achievement emotions among tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. It also explores the strategies employed by students to regulate these emotions. Employing a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, data was collected from forty-nine language learners attending prep-classes at the Department of Foreign Languages in a state university in Türkiye. The participants were categorized based on their utilization of cognitive reappraisal (CR), expressive suppression (ES), or a combination of both emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). They completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Academic Emotions Questionnaire-Foreign Language Classroom to assess differences in achievement emotions among groups. Subsequently, the participants provided narratives regarding their perceptions and regulation of emotions. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA (Version 2020) was conducted. Results revealed significant variations in emotions among groups, with the ES group reporting lower levels of positive emotions and higher levels of negative emotions compared to others. The study underscores the importance of evaluating emotion regulation strategies to foster sustainable and enjoyable language learning environments.

The general research here introduced concerns the phenomenon of urban sprawl unfolding in the last century and defined as “the physical pattern of low- density settlement in urban areas”. The focus, as part of the more general research cited, is the relationship between sprawl and public transportation. The specific study here present is a possible approach to planning and managing policy responses to urban sprawl through the integration of consolidated settlement systems (with a view to their re-revitalization) with rail green public transportation in the framework of TOD (Transit-Oriented Development). A paramount issue emerges about sprawl: there are prototype case in which TOD and rail green public transportation help concentrate settlement instead of sprawl? No cases have been found. Instead the most recent literature recommends to perform new researches concerning solutions through real world applications, given the total shortage of case studies. The general research framework has been applied in a specific Case Study to support the community of Calabria, the southernmost Mediterranean region of mainland Italy in European Union, within the most urbanized sub-regional sub-area, in analyzing the rampant phenomenon of sprawl and, possibly, in addressing and mitigating it relying on TOD and rail green public transportation. In the Case Study of the present research there are three alternatives in sub regional public transportation: A1; A2; A3. A1 is the status quo. A2 is the upgrading of the railway which, although existing, is illogically neglected. A3 is an unexpected new project by the railway managing body for a new route in the south of the area completely away from the most important settlements and outside any transport or mobility or accessibility institutional public plan. The three alternatives were subjected to social discussions well as a qualitative evaluation by a panel of experts. The multiple criteria valuation approach resulted in a preference for Alternative A2 over Alternatives A1 and A3. The preferred Alternative A2 integrates perfectly with the existing settlement by responding to a fundamental criterion placed at the top of the valuation: integrating the urban railway directly into the existing consolidated inhabited centers. This preferable Alternative A2 has among its peculiar characteristics: – directly connects many of the settlements in the area; – can serve approximately MORE THAN 250,000 potential settled residents; – connects coast to coast the narrowest regional and national isthmus; – creates the fastest and shortest possible connection in the national territory between the two fundamental railway backbones Tyrrhenian (Palermo - Milan - Torino) and Ionian-Adriatic (Reggio Calabria - Venice); – thereby helping to connect two of the Trans European Network and pan-European train mega-corridors I (Palermo - Berlin) and VIII (Skopje - Varna). The A2 Alternative has the further distinctive feature of performing both local and supra-local dual service in a unified venue that is both train-tram and long-distance rail, in analogy with continental benchmarks and experiences, such as the German S-Bahn. Subsequently, in the Case Study, the costs of the Alternative A2 for the upgrading (and “modernization”) of the existing railway has an estimated cost of 168 million appraised by the research team with a detailed quantification, and subsequently, in de facto double-blind estimate, surprisingly confirmed by the railway managing body. According to the latest and most up-dated estimates by the same railway managing body, the completely new route project located far south of all the settlements, constituting the Alternative A3, would cost over 485 million, are reported. This is because all the areas have to be acquired and because the route crosses land with technical difficulties to be overcome by carrying out expensive works. In terms of costs, the preferred Alternative 2 seems to be the most balanced, much more even than the status quo Alternative 1 (do nothing). The latter only apparently has no big investment costs, unless ordinary maintenance. In fact it hides enormous private costs and implicit (and not immediately monetary) social suffering, due to: car commuting (un-pooled) of people; their monetizable travel times, enormous due to congestion; air pollution; accident risks; congestion in cities; high private personal costs of using the individual vehicle (car wear; fuel); parking cost and fine risk; etc.

Climate change is the most lethal crises facing Humanity. The majority (99%) of scientists agree that climate change is caused by humans. According to empirical evidence this ecological tragedy is rooted primarily in world-wide enormous fossil energy production and consumption. The civil sector, including settlements, is the world’s “largest fossil energy consumer and polluter”. Green building is the only way to ensure sustainable development and to overcome climate change by decarbonizing the constructions. The aim of the research is to test a strategic solution, applied to the civil sector, valuated through new assessment tools including the novel BIM in updated platforms. Some significant Building Energy Performance Simulation Programs (BEPSPs) are comparatively tested in a Case Study experimented in the simplest Prototype Building. One goal of the present research is to valuate if the ecological coat produces a saving of up to at least 40% of energy consumption in the building in the short-medium terms i. e. by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844 and if it is economically feasible. The passivation of brown common inefficient Prototype Building is implemented using bio ecological panels made from natural materials. By simply using a six or ten centimeters thick panel coat, the energy saving for heating is around 71% or 82%, way above the set objective of 40% by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844. The building global energy saving is always more than 55%. The research achieved the general objective and the specific goal set, obtaining the empirical evidence of the extraordinary impacts/benefits produced by insulation using extremely small panels/boards made from local natural cork in a local circular economy structure. Since the economic and financial impacts are of great relevance for the feasibility of the Strategy “Green Building” Strategy, a financial estimate has been developed. It immediately also highlighted the economic profitability, pecuniary convenience and financial feasibility convenience of the Sustainable Scenario. Research appraised a favorable monetary Pay Back\recovery (within only five years from the ecological intervention) of the differential additional upfront cost due to passivation additional works. There is a gap in the real world and a strong request in the research world (Hopkins, 2016) of appraisal concerning financial feasibility of the “Green Building” Strategy. The presented research aims to contribute to answer these demands of economic valuation. Il cambiamento climatico è la crisi più letale che l’umanità deve affrontare. La maggior parte (99%) degli scienziati concorda sul fatto che il cambiamento climatico è causato dall’uomo. Secondo l’evidenza empirica, questa tragedia ecologica è radicata principalmente nell’enorme produzione e consumo di energia fossile a livello mondiale. Il settore civile, compresi gli insediamenti, è il «più grande consumatore di energia fossile e inquinatore con conseguenti emissioni di CO2» al mondo. La bioedilizia, e quindi la decarbonizzazione degli edifici con l’efficienza energetica e quindi il risparmio anche mediante cappotto ecologico, è l’unico modo per garantire uno sviluppo sostenibile e per superare il cam- biamento climatico. Tale approccio è definibile: Strategia “Green Building”. L’obiettivo della ricerca è quello di testare una soluzione strategica, applicata al settore civile, valutata attraverso nuovi strumenti di valutazione tra cui le nuove piattaforme BIM. Sono stati testati comparativamente alcuni importanti programmi di simulazione delle prestazioni energetiche degli edifici in un caso di studio sperimentato in un semplice edificio prototipo. Uno dei passaggi specifici della presente ricerca è quello di valutare se il cappotto ecologico produca un risparmio fino ad almeno il 40% dei consumi energetici dell’edificio nel breve-medio termine, ovvero entro il 2030, come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844, e se sia economicamente fattibile. La passivazione dell’edificio prototipo comune ed inefficiente è realizzata utilizzando pannelli bioecologici realizzati con materiali naturali. Utilizzando semplicemente un pannello di sei o dieci centimetri di spessore, il risparmio energetico per il riscaldamento si aggira intorno al 71% o 82%, ben al di sopra dell’obiettivo fissato del 40% entro il 2030 come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844. Il risparmio energetico globale dell’edificio è sempre superiore al 55%. La ricerca ha raggiunto l’obiettivo generale e l’obiettivo specifico prefissato, ottenendo l’evidenza empirica degli straordinari impatti / benefici prodotti dall’isolamento con pannelli di dimensioni estremamente ridotte realizzati con sughero naturale locale in una struttura di economia circolare locale. Poiché gli impatti economici e finanziari sono di grande rilevanza per la fattibilità della Strategia “Green Building”, è stata elaborata una stima finanziaria che ha immediatamente evidenziato anche la redditività economica e la convenienza di fattibilità finanziaria dello Scenario Sostenibile, valutando un favorevole Pay Back\recupero monetario (entro soli cinque anni dall’intervento ecologico) del differenziale costo aggiuntivo dovuto alle opere aggiuntive di passivazione. C’è una lacuna nel mondo reale e una forte richiesta nel mondo della ricerca (Hopkins, 2016) di valutazione riguardante la fattibilità finanziaria della Strategia “Green Building”, e la ricerca presentata mira a contribuire a rispondere a queste esigenze di valutazione economica.

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has the potential to drastically change society, planning, design, and development strategies. This study uses the PRISMA protocol to carry out a systematic literature review, focusing on the backcasting method as an analytic tool. By examining. 21 studies published between 2003 and 2024, this paper highlights the phases of backcasting: visioning, policy packaging, and appraisal, and identifies critical factors necessary for the successful integration of AVs. Visioning for future driverless cities includes high-quality urban areas, active mobility, and innovative developments. Policies and Packaging suggested a focus on restricting vehicular access, transit-oriented development, and encouraging public transportation. Appraisal reveals skepticism about the positive impacts of AVs, urging policies that limit access to urban areas and promote sustainable modes of transportation. The main contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive application of backcasting to AV implementation, offering a structured approach to envisioning future urban scenarios, formulating supportive policies, and evaluating their impact. This analysis provides a solid foundation for future research, urging us to explore the intersection between AVs, citizen participation, and environmental sustainability to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities.

The stress experiences and their impact upon the daily lives and mental well-being of English Premier League professional (soccer) football coaches were explored using an in-depth qualitative design. Eight participants were interviewed using a semi-structured approach with thematic and causal network analysis revealing that (a) a range of contextually dependent demands were experienced and interpreted in relation to their situational properties; (b) many demands were appraised and emotionally responded to in a negative manner; (c) a range of coping strategies were adopted to cope with stress experiences, with many reported as ineffective; and (d) stress experiences often led to negative implications for their daily lives and eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. Positive adaptations to some demands experienced were reported and augmented perceptions of mental well-being. The findings of this study make a novel and significant contribution to understanding the interrelationships between the principal components of the stress process and the prospective links between stress and mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose This study characterized depression trajectories during the COVID pandemic and investigated how appraisal and changes in appraisal over time related to these depression trajectories. Methods This longitudinal study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic included 771 people with data at three timepoints over 15.5 months. The depression index was validated using item-response-theory methods and receiver-operating-characteristic curve analysis. The Quality of Life (QOL) Appraisal Profilev2 Short-Form assessed cognitive-appraisal processes. Sequence analysis characterized depression-trajectory groups, and random effects models examined appraisal main effects, appraisal-by-group, and appraisal-by-group-by-time interactions. Results Sequence analysis generated six trajectory groups: Stably Well (n = 241), Stably Depressed (n = 299), Worsening (n = 79), Improving (n = 83), Fluctuating Pattern 1 (No–Yes–No; n = 41), and Fluctuating Pattern 2 (Yes–No–Yes; n = 28). While all groups engaged in negative appraisal processes when they were depressed, the Stably Depressed group consistently focused on negative aspects of their life. Response-shift effects were revealed such that there were differences in the appraisal-depression relationship over time for standards of comparison and recent changes for the Stably Depressed, and in health goals for those Getting Better. Conclusion The present work is, to our knowledge, the first study of response-shift effects in depression. During these first 15.5 pandemic months, group differences highlighted the connection between negative appraisals and depression, and response-shift effects in these relationships over time. Egregious life circumstances may play a lesser role for the Stably Depressed but a greater role for people who have transient periods of depression as well as for those with improving trajectories (i.e., endogenous vs. reactive depression). How one thinks about QOL is intrinsically linked to mental health, with clear clinical implications.

This research discusses journalists' ideology and position in four selected news articles from the English-language newspaper, The Jakarta Post. The news articles report on the no-deforestation pledge of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26), which commits to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. This research aims to find the appraisal devices used by the journalist and explain the journalist's ideology and position toward the deforestation pledge. The revelation of ideology is analyzed through Appraisal System by Martin and White (2005). There are 90 sentences obtained in this thesis. The result shows that the three appraisal subsystems are applied in the texts. We found that the ideology of the journalists in two opposite sides. From four selected news articles, two news articles support the capitalist ideology, and the other supports the environmentally friendly ideology.

Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the media landscape of Francophone African countries, the study examines the existence or otherwise of such sentiments in Ghana's media landscape through the media's publications about the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II. It explores the attitude portrayed by the media through their publications to understand the current political relationship between Ghana and Britain. Using the linguistic Appraisal System's Attitude as a tool for analysis, the study, selecting fifteen print and radio media organisations in Ghana, examines data about the death and burial of the Queen. The study finds that the British monarch and her affiliates are favourably presented in the affect, judgement and appreciation systems of evaluation and considers this presentation as a demonstration of solidarity between the nations. It concludes that Ghana, and by extension, African Anglophone countries, shows less hostility towards the former colonial authority.

BackgroundThe global or multinational scientific evidence on the distribution of opioid fatality is unknown. Hence, the current study collects epidemiological characteristics to shed light on the ongoing global or multinational opioid crisis and to promote the development of public health prevention/management strategies.MethodAll documents on PRISMA standards were retrieved via electronic databases.ResultsAmong the 47 articles relevant to our studies, which depict a total population size of 10,191 individuals, the prevalence of opioid fatal overdose was 15,022 (14.74%). Among the 47 articles, 14 of them reported the gender of the participants, with 22,125 (15.79%) male individuals and 7,235 (5.17%) female individuals, and the age distribution of the participants that was most affected by the overdose was as follows: 29,272 (31.13%) belonged to the 18-34-year-old age group and 25,316 (26.92%) belonged to the less than 18-year-old age group. Eighteen studies qualified for the meta-analysis of the multinational prevalence of fatal opioid overdose, depicting an overall pooled prevalence estimate of 19.66%, with 95% CIs (0.13–0.29), I2 = 99.76% determined using the random-effects model, and Q statistic of 7198.77 (p

Background: Previous research has shown that multiple traumatic experiences cumulatively increase the risk for the development of severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, little is known about the specific psychological mechanism through which this increased risk comes about. Objective: In the present study, we examined a possible cognitive link between multiple traumatic events and PTSD symptom severity through dysfunctional cognitions and expectations. Methods: A sample of patients with a diagnosed PTSD (N = 70; MAge = 42.06; 82% female) and high symptom burden (IES-R M = 79.24) was examined. On average, patients had experienced 5.31 different traumatic events. In a structural equation model, we tested the hypothesis that the relationship between multiple traumatic experiences and PTSD symptom severity is mediated through dysfunctional general cognitions and dysfunctional situation-specific expectations. General trauma-related cognitions were assessed with the Posttraumatic Cognition Inventory (PTCI) and trauma-related situational expectations were assessed with the Posttraumatic Expectations Scale (PTES). Results: The direct effect of the number of traumatic events on PTSD symptom severity was non-significant. Instead, as hypothesised, there was evidence for a significant indirect effect via dysfunctional general cognitions and situation-specific expectations. Conclusions: The current results further specify the cognitive model of PTSD by indicating that the relationship between the number of traumatic events and PTSD symptom severity is mediated through dysfunctional cognitions and expectations. These findings emphasise the importance of focused cognitive treatment approaches that seek to modify dysfunctional cognitions and expectations in people with multiple traumatic experiences.

The exponential growth of social media has resulted in the establishment of significant communities, trends, and phenomena. Amidst these phenomena is the sad culture, where social media users comfortably express their mental concerns. This study is conducted to have a profound conclusion on Sad Culture as a phenomenon, using social influence theory to determine its cause of emergence. In addition, the meaning of the terminologies is discussed using appraisal theory. This study implements qualitative and content analysis research design. It is implemented by gathering the data from @mytherapistsays Instagram page and performing an in-depth content analysis. Upon conducting the research, it is concluded that Sad Culture is a type of cyberculture. It is formed due to the rapid development of ICT-social media in particular-and the rising number of mental illnesses in the US. It started as a trend, then grew massive due to conformity, a term under social influence theory defined as an act where the majority influences others to perform what is believed to be the norm. In @mytherapistsays Instagram account, ten appraisal items are found, comprising 10% positive and 90% negative items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper consists of a linguistic-pragmatic study of the Twitter messages of Spanish politicians, men and women, in order to discover how the image of a public figure is constructed and deconstructed through the comments of citizens. These comments reflect their evaluations of the politician and his or her management, and at the same time, they are projected publicly, affecting the candidate's image. We focus on the vocatives used, showing, from this integrated approach, not only their syntactic function and their basically appellative nature, but also their socio-pragmatic behaviour as a tool for defining the interactive relationship with the person alluded to and forming a generally negative identity for the public figure. The vocatives frequently resort to ad hominem attacks based on their personality or the role they play. Accusations of lying, misrepresenting, stealing or not fulfilling their obligations are constant, as well as other more personal insults. Positive appraisals are less frequent. The study contrasts the results according to the gender of the person to whom the vocatives are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to discover President Joe Biden's confidence level and the realization of probability in his speech. A qualitative content analysis approach was conducted in this research. The data of this research were the speeches of Joe Biden on several occasions accessed from YouTube. Furthermore, the data were transcribed and then analyzed using probability theory. Therefore, the analysis result indicated that Joe Biden has high confidence. This result can be observed through his speech that he tends to use a high degree of probability in stating his plans, promises, and predictions of the policies he will implement. The probabilities used by Joe Biden also tend to vary in forms such as modal verbs, modal verb phrases, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the role of political power and politics in selecting, creating and preserving Liberation Movement archives in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: A review of literature focusing on liberations archives was carried out. Findings: Politics and the associated power play an essential role in the selection, creation and preservation of liberation movement archives. The study found out that the African National Congress (ANC) selected the University of Fort Hare as the center to preserve liberation movements repatriated from all over the world to South Africa. The National Archives of South Africa did not play a role in the preservation of liberation movement archives. The study also noted that there existed an ineffective collaboration between the ANC and the National Archives of South Africa regarding the preservation of liberation movements archives. Research limitations/implications: The study focused on the liberation movement archives created by the ANC of South Africa only. Social implications: The establishment of liberation archives may promote social cohesion. Originality/value: The liberation movement archives are a part of the history of South Africa and present perspectives on the history of the liberation of South Africa. This study, which builds on the post-colonial scholarship on liberation movement archives, discussed the significance of liberation archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the strategies put in place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the implementation of public procurement policy. The paper utilised primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected solely through the administration of questionnaires on the respondents. The study population 1,020 comprised the staff members from ministries, and agency that monitors the implementation of procurement policy in the state, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA). Proportionate random sampling technique was used in selecting a sample size of 154 respondents representing 15% of the study population. Secondary data were obtained from books, academic journals, official document of LSPPA and the internet. Data collected were analysed using percentage, frequency, and (RII) Relative Importance Index. The results of the study showed that the strategies put in place by Lagos State Procurement Agency; such as establishment of a threshold (52.6%, rank 7th), constitution of contract performance audit committee (63%, rank 9.5th), supervision of the deliveries (69.5%, rank 9.5th), and creation of a procurement officer's desk (57.8%, rank 8th) were not adequately substantial strategies put in place in monitoring the implementation of public procurement policy in Lagos state. Moreover, the paper revealed strategies that were adequately substantial which were put in place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the implementation of public procurement law, such as composition of technical review committee (79.9%, rank 1st), appraisal of procurement plan for procuring entities (73.3%, rank 2nd), setting of fair pricing standards and benchmarks (61%, rank 6th), strategic oversight on the contracts (65.6%, rank 5th), keeping of contractors' database for proper identification (65.6%, rank 4th), publication of details of major contracts in the State (69.5%, rank 3rd) significantly improved accountability, proficiency, efficacy among the ministries selected. The study therefore, conclude that the strategies put in place by LSPPA, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the implementation of public procurement law in the state is substantial, and apt which ensures that procurement law of the State is followed. It was further evident from six claims affirmation as against four claims that refuted it respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many individuals have experienced increased stress and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. College students with disabilities may have experienced the pandemic as more threatening and stressful due to exposure to risk factors for contracting COVID-19 and stressors related to college and health and safety. This study examined differences in general stress, cognitive appraisals of the pandemic (e.g., viewing the pandemic as threatening or uncontrollable), and pandemic-specific stress between southeastern college students with and without disabilities. Analyses of covariance revealed group differences in general stress, threat appraisal of the pandemic, and pandemic-specific stress related to academics, larger societal concerns (e.g., economy, death toll), concern for loved ones' well-being, financial issues, health and safety concerns, mental health concerns, uncertainty about the future, concern regarding access to medical resources, and technology concerns. Participants with disabilities viewed the pandemic as more threatening and stressful than those without a disability. Participants with comorbid mental health, learning, and/or physical disabilities reported greater threat and stress compared to other groups, with those with a mental health disability only also showing this pattern. As policies related to course formats and COVID-19 safety precautions change, further examination of pandemic appraisals and stress should continue in order to provide recommendations to student support professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]