Abstract:The Narcissus serotinus complex is one of the most taxonomy-challenging groups within the genus Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae). While western Mediterranean populations have been studied thoroughly, eastern Mediterranean populations remain poorly understood. This taxonomic uncertainty has led to confusion about species boundaries, especially regarding the identity and distribution of cytotypes such as N. serotinus, N. obsoletus, and N. miniatus. This study aimed to clarify the taxonomic status and cytogenetic diversity of N. serotinus s.l. populations in southwestern and southern Turkey using an integrative approach. Morphological assessments, karyological analyses, and nuclear DNA content measurements were conducted on eight natural populations in detail. The analyses showed that all studied populations had a consistent chromosome number of 2n = 30, a cytotype not previously documented in the region. Nuclear DNA content ranged from 48.65 to 54.85 pg, indicating genomic variation despite uniform ploidy. Phenetic clustering based on combined morphological and cytogenetic data confirmed the existence of three main lineages, supporting the distinctiveness of N. miniatus and revealing previously unrecognized diversity within Turkish populations. The discovery of 2n = 30 cytotypes in Turkey expands the known cytogenetic and biogeographic range of the N. serotinus complex and supports recognizing N. miniatus as a distinct species. Additionally, this study emphasizes the importance of integrative taxonomy—combining morphological, cytogenetic, and genomic methods—in resolving complex plant groups. It also highlights the eastern Mediterranean, especially Turkey, as a key region for studying speciation, hybridization, and plant evolution within the genus Narcissus.
Abstract:The Penghu Archipelago is Taiwan’s largest offshore island group, composed of 13 inhabited islands besides the main island. Local residents rely heavily on ferries for commuting to school, work, medical facilities, and the delivery of essential goods. With the steady growth of the Penghu International Fireworks Festival and summer tourism, increasing maritime traffic and environmental pollution have become urgent issues. This study, conducted from the perspective of passenger and cargo transport operators in the Penghu offshore islands, surveyed stakeholders to construct an assessment model for identifying the key factors influencing energy-efficient transportation and optimal fuel combinations on Penghu's outlying islands using the PESTEL framework—Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal dimensions. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods were used to analyze operators’ objective perspectives on adopting hybrid, energy-efficient fuels. The findings indicate that “technology” constitutes the most significant dimension, “infrastructure reliability” emerges as the primary critical factor, and “lithium-ion batteries integrated with solar photovoltaic systems” represent the most energy-efficient solution for contemporary maritime transport in the Penghu Islands.
Abstract:The present study explores the influence of oil price risk (volatility) on tanker freight rates, specifically freight returns and volatility. The Chicago Board of Options Exchange Oil Volatility Index (OVX) is used as a proxy of oil price volatility. The freight rates of four oil tanker types and two tanker freight rate indices are sampled from June 2008 to December 2024. Our results reveal an inverse association between the OVX and the Western Texas Intermediate oil price. Our study finds that the influence of the change in the OVX on tanker freight returns and volatility is strong, positive, asymmetric, and related to vessel size. Meanwhile, the returns and volatility of large tankers respond noticeably to increases in the OVX, whereas the returns and volatility of small and medium-sized tankers respond noticeably to decreases in the OVX. Furthermore, the influence of changes in the OVX on tanker freight volatility is significant, positive, and asymmetric, indicating that the OVX has a spillover effect on tanker freight volatility. Finally, we construct tanker freight forecasting models incorporating the asymmetric effect of the OVX; these models are more accurate than models that do not incorporate this effect. The findings of this study can help tanker operators understand tanker freight rate dynamics and formulate strategies to address changes in crude oil price.
Abstract:To impacts of global warming and pollutions, some continued damages, especially in marine pollutions of large ships, had hurt for sustainable development and environmental protection. Large ships, often causing marine pollutions, are the main vehicles for international shipping and logistics. Nowadays, utilizing clean energy ships for international shipping and logistics is a useful way in related industry to resolve the problems of marine pollutions. Due to emission reduction and energy saving, clean energy ships are the evident solutions of marine sustainability and thus it is critical to understand the importance of technological criteria on evaluating the kind of ships. Since priorities of technological criteria are varied for evaluating clean energy ships, fuzzy best-worst method (fuzzy BWM) owing to optimization will be practically a suitable way to obtain criteria weights. In this paper, we use fuzzy BWM to yield the optimal criteria weights of evaluate clean energy ships on technology through expert assessments. According to experts’ ratings, pairwise comparisons between varied criteria are expressed, and then fuzzy pairwise comparison matrix summarizing their ratings are established. Based on the reduction of fuzzy pairwise comparison matrix, best-to-all and all-to-worst vectors in fuzzy BWM are grasped and thus the optimal weights on technological criteria for evaluating clean energy ships are finally derived.
Abstract:The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed the lives of all students across the world and has been a major problem to both their academic and personal well-being. This research paper set out to research the impact of the pandemic on the lives of students, specifically at two South African universities. One hundred and twenty students (60 students in University A and 60 students in University B) were tasked to fill out questionnaires to evaluate their perception and experience regarding the effects of the pandemic on their academic, social, and emotional experiences. The findings revealed that students had high levels of stress, anxiety, and isolation as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, they reported the problems with adjusting to online learning through reference to the insufficient technical problems, the absence of face-to-face communication, and the lack of motivation. It is important to note that students of University A showed more stress and anxiety than students of University B. These results show that universities should focus on the mental health and well-being of students in the period of crisis. It proposes that the institutions should offer support services, including counseling, online materials, and flexible learning structures. The paper is relevant to the existing research on the effects of COVID-19 among students, as it illuminates the experiences of university students through these unprecedented global events in a way never seen before.
Abstract:This literature review focuses on how professional development has a good effect on teacher efficacy and student learning outcomes. This literature review is aimed at the synthesis of the existing research on the effects of professional development on teacher efficacy and student learning outcomes. In particular, the following review should address the impact of different forms of professional development on the self-efficacy of teachers and the academic performance of their students and consider the mechanisms and mediating variables that determine these relationships. A synthesis of literature indicates teacher professional development programs can make a considerable impact on teacher self-efficacy, which consequently results in better instructional practices, engagement of the student, and better academic performance. Another significant aspect of the effectiveness of professional development that is identified in the review is the participation of the teachers, instructional design, and leadership support. The results propose that school leaders and policymakers are more inclined to invest in high-quality professional development opportunities that correspond to the needs and interests of teachers and offer continuous support to those teachers who should apply the new skills and knowledge in their classrooms.
Abstract:This literature review has examined the connection between socioeconomic status (SES) and quality education in a multidimensional and complex way in which SES has an impact on educational opportunities and educational outcomes. Despite education being a significant variable that can be used to establish social mobility, the access to quality education remains unequal across the various socioeconomic strata. The review recaps the findings of the different bodies of knowledge, including sociology, education, and economics, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of SES on educational access and quality. The review highlights the relevance of poverty, income inequality, parental education, and social capital in defining educational opportunities and ways education institutions and policies can alleviate or increase such effects. The findings are suggestive of the fact that the intersectional dynamic between SES and education must be addressed so as to support social equity and redress the already existing educational inequities.
Abstract:In Turkiye, not only new varieties but also new rootstocks are needed for almond production. In recent years, the availability of novel cultivars has helped with self-fertility and late blooming times, as well as high density and ease of adaptation for machine harvest. There are, however, few studies that examined how these novel cultivars interact with hybrid rootstocks. Before introducing certain new rootstocks to the market, it is necessary to understand the possible "translocated" and "localized" graft incompatibilities. We determined the sapling development performance and compatibility status of the "Independence" almond variety grafted onto different rootstocks ("GF 677", "Garnem", "Rootpac 20", "Rootpac 40", and "Rootpac R"). The graft success rates of the saplings were high, with the highest rate on Garnem rootstock. The development of the saplings was the highest in June and July. Shoot development and lengths of the saplings grafted onto Garnem rootstock were higher compared to other rootstocks in both years. Saplings grafted onto GF 677 rootstock produced lower values in both years. The thicknesses of the Garnem and Rootpac R rootstocks, with high shoot lengths, were also high. Considering the compatibility statuses, no significant findings were found in terms of incompatibility among the GF 677 and Independence, Rootpac 40 and Independence, and Garnem and Independence combinations at the examined grafting points. On the other hand, since the cambial continuity was not fully observed in the Rootpac R and Independence, and Rootpac 20 and Independence combinations, the connection of the vascular bundles was not strong, and the necrotic layers preserved their presence in a fragmented form. This circumstance suggested to us that there may be an incompatibility in these combinations.
Abstract:Poverty remains to be one of the most widespread and persistent social issues in the world that impacts millions of people and communities. Although individuals have made efforts to combat poverty through such means as economic growth, social welfare schemes, construction of good roads and bridges, it still prevails. This review of the literature examines the role of education in reducing poverty with focus to theoretical and empirical studies in the world. The review includes the study on the role of education in poverty reduction including the impact it has on individual results, including income and employment, and on community results, including economic development and social cohesion. The results show that education plays a key role in reducing poverty since high level of education is associated with better economic performance, improvement of social mobility and reduction in poverty. The review also demonstrates that the correlation between education and poverty is complex. To illustrate using the quality of education as an example, the ease of obtaining education, culture surrounding education and many others influence the ability of education to enable people to get out of poverty. The review concludes with a discussion of what the findings have to do with policy and practice. It emphasizes the necessity of a multifaceted solution, which would deal with access to education and quality education so that poverty can be successfully eradicated.
Abstract:Intellectual activities conducted at an early age play an important role in the formation of a well-rounded personality in modern society. Games, including chess, are an extremely effective way to engage in such activities. The paper proves the equivalence of the engineering approach and the principles of quality management in the education of children of preschool and primary school age. As an example, an organization that teaches children to play chess has been chosen. The findings allow other similar organizations of additional education to effectively build their short-term and long-term work to increase the competitiveness of both the educational organization and the students who have completed their training. The study employed a qualitative methodology of educational engineering based on the application of quality management system principles. Additionally, along with this, the following tools for management, analysis, and quality engineering were used: SWOT analysis, methods for describing business processes, and statistical quality management tools. Furthermore, to enhance the motivation of learners and their parents for systematic studies and to further digitalize the educational process, a startup project based on the use of artificial intelligence has been described.