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Understanding the history of the late Roman synagogue at Huqoq in Israel’s Galilee through radiocarbon dating and observations on site formation
Full text linkGalilean-type synagogues are monumental, basilical structures found in northern Israel
that have long been dated, mainly on stylistic grounds, to the 2nd – 3rd centuries CE.
This chronology is influenced by historical considerations – specifically, the notion that
monumental synagogues must have been constructed before Jews came under Christian
rule in the early 4th century. However, the stratigraphic contexts of the pottery and coins
associated with the foundation of these buildings suggest they represent an architectural
innovation dating to the 4th (especially the later 4th) to 6th centuries CE. The Huqoq
Excavation Project was initiated in 2011 with the goal of determining the construction date
of a Galilean-type synagogue through controlled stratigraphic excavation, including the
systematic collection of samples for radiocarbon dating along with micromorphological
analysis of the fill deposits. Here we present the initial results of these analyses, which
indicate that the radiocarbon ages conform with the pottery data to place the construction
of the Huqoq synagogue in the late 4th – early 5th centuries (late Roman period). However, the ages of dated samples from thick fills overlying the floor, which were deposited
when the synagogue was rebuilt and expanded in the early 14th century (late medieval/
Mamluk period) do not reflect the stratigraphic sequence.peer-reviewe
Establishing Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as a conceptual educational tool to enhance competencies in pharmaceutical scenarios
Full text linkBackground: Continuous research and collaboration are vital for advancing pharmacy practitioners’ competencies. This paper explores the role of pharmacist special interest groups (SIGs) as educational tools and learning models for competency development. Deviating from the traditional structure of empirical research papers, it discusses the current state of continuous professional development (CPD) in pharmacy and the potential of SIGs in enhancing learning for pharmacy professionals.Methods: Concepts on the contribution of SIGs to competency enhancement were identified by analysing 14 articles selected from established databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and ProQuest.Results: Pharmacists’ roles have evolved to prioritise patient care, leading to new specialisations and a demand for advanced skills. Comprising professionals and students, SIGs offer opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration. However, barriers to participation, such as time constraints and unclear benefits, highlight the need for flexible and well-organised groups.Conclusion: SIGs address specific interests and can enhance CPD progammes, supporting competency development and framework evolution in the pharmaceutical field. They are proposed as educational tools to address professionals’ needs, although further research is required to validate their effectiveness. Establishing future focus groups could sustain, enhance, and advance the roles of SIGs.peer-reviewe
Women’s leadership in contemporary organizations in Poland and other EU countries : social and economic aspects
Full text linkPURPOSE: The aim of the article was to assess equality between women and men over the last
15 years. An attempt was also made to characterize the female and male leadership styles.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: In order to achieve this, Polish and EU reports
characterizing the professional activity of women on the labor market and in European
parliaments and in the management boards of listed companies were analyzed.FINDINGS: Although women are strongly determined, the number of men in management
positions is still higher, despite the implementation of anti-discrimination and equality
legislation by the EU.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the research confirmed that it is necessary to continue
the adopted policy of gender equality, because by combining the predispositions and skills of
women and men, it is possible to create an excellent and effective team to manage the
company.ORIGINALITY: The modern economy – based on knowledge and new technologies – ennobles
the features associated with a woman's style of thinking and acting. This creates a demand
for a cooperative, non-hierarchical and based on partnership, relational and diversity
management style. Only such an approach will allow us to take a step towards ensuring not
only legal, but also actual equality of representatives of both sexes.peer-reviewe
The use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce customer communication
Full text linkPURPOSE: The aim of the article is to address the issue of using artificial intelligence tools to
communicate with customers in e-commerce. The first part of the study analyzes theoretical
approaches to artificial intelligence. The second part describes the research methodology,
presents the results and analysis of own research.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The purpose of the article was achieved through an
argumentative review of the literature, providing a foundation for the methodological
assumptions for further research. The main research method was a diagnostic survey. The
use of a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods made it possible to find out the
opinions of respondents on the issue under study. This made it possible to formulate
conclusions and recommendations.FINDINGS: In view of the unquestionable presence of artificial intelligence in various areas of
social life, an attempt was made to solve the research problem concerning the application of
the Chatbot artificial intelligence tool in customer communication in the e-commerce sector.
The analysis of the extensive literature on the subject and the results of survey research
indicate that there are numerous controversies related to the use of artificial intelligence and
its practical applications.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The conclusions of the research should serve as guidelines for
improving the design of a communication tool such as Chatbot. They also suggest directions
for the development of the competence of managers responsible for communication in the
company, paying particular attention to modern tools and technologies.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality of the article lies in taking up a topic that has not been
widely covered in the literature so far. The analysis conducted made it possible to identify
contemporary trends in the perception of artificial intelligence and its applications. The
growing interest of consumers in Metaverse-related products and services, including
e-commerce, and their increasing activity in virtual spaces was noted. The thesis was put
forward that although communication with Chatbot in e-commerce is not without its flaws, it
supports the process of making purchasing decisions and improves the effectiveness of
customer interactions.peer-reviewe
In homes where there is animal abuse, it is important for the criminal justice response to look out for intimate partner violence as well
Full text linkThis article by Chanelle Abela was previously submitted as part of
CRL 1008 and is being published with the author’s permission. It
centres around the topic animal abuse, animal welfare and the actions
they proceed to take when there is animal abuse linked to intimate
partner abuse and other material relating to this topic.peer-reviewe
Repression without compassion : the state of forced migration governance in Malta
Full text linkGuest post by Daniela DeBono and Anna Khakee. Daniela DeBono is Head of Department and Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology. She conducts research on migration and displacement, borders, humanitarian action and human rights. Anna Khakee is Associate Professor at the Department for International Relations, University of Malta and former Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) Director. Her research interests include humanitarian action and democratization/democracy promotion. This blog post draws on the published article, Repression Without Compassion: Forced Migration Governance at the EU’s Southern Frontier.peer-reviewe
Content-based image retrieval using COSFIRE descriptors with application to radio astronomy
Full text linkThe morphologies of astronomical sources are highly complex, making it essential not only to classify the identified sources into their predefined categories but also to determine the sources that are most similar to a given query source. Image-based retrieval is essential, as it allows an astronomer with a source under study to ask a computer to sift through the large archived database of sources to find the most similar ones. This is of particular interest if the source under study does not fall into a ‘known’ category (anomalous). Our work uses the trainable COSFIRE (Combination of Shifted Filter Responses) approach for image retrieval. COSFIRE filters are automatically configured to extract the hyperlocal geometric arrangements that uniquely describe the morphological characteristics of patterns of interest in a given image; in this case astronomical sources. This is achieved by automatically examining the shape properties of a given prototype source in an image, which ultimately determines the selectivity of a COSFIRE filter. We further utilize hashing techniques, which are efficient in terms of required computation and storage, enabling scalability in handling large data sets in the image retrieval process. We evaluated the effectiveness of our approach by conducting experiments on a benchmark data set of radio galaxies, containing 1180 training images and 404 test images. Notably, our approach achieved a mean average precision of 91 per cent for image retrieval, surpassing both DenseNet-161 and group-equivariant convolutional neural networks (G-CNNs). Moreover, our approach is significantly more computationally efficient compared to both DenseNet-161 and G-CNNs.peer-reviewe
Inclusion in recreation and green tourism as a condition for internal human balance on the way to environmental sustainability and legal-administrative regulations : part 2
Full text linkPURPOSE: This article is the second part of the discussion; it is continuation of the first
article. The concept of sustainable development refers to the interrelationship of humans
with the surrounding natural environment. Due to the development of technology, increased
productivity and changes in the organization of work, modern people have more
opportunities to implement the concept of sustainable development in the gradually
increasing time allocated to recreation and tourism. The purpose of this review was to
characterize the historical and contemporary thought linking the issue of globally
understood sustainable development with its inalienable condition of an intrinsically
sustainable human being.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research method used was a search based on finding
scientific sources of information linking the concepts of personal and environmental balance.FINDINGS: A review of popular concepts linking equilibrium at the level of the human interior
to the equilibrium of the environment in a cause-and-effect mechanism proves more
similarities than differences defining various theories.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: All the aforementioned concepts can be part of the philosophy of
human life on the grounds of outdoor recreation and so-called green tourism, considered as
currently popular proposals to return to nature and seek in its balance a chance for personal
balance.peer-reviewe
Profitability of self-employment in Poland after the introduction of the Polish deal regulations compared to other EU countries
Full text linkPURPOSE: The primary objective of the study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of self-employment as a strategy for optimizing labor costs in Poland, with a particular focus on the
impact of changes introduced as part of the Polish Deal reform. In comparative terms, the
objective of the study was to benchmark the level of labor taxation and preferences for the
self-employed in Poland against other European Union (EU) countries.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The analysis was based on secondary data from publicly
available statistical sources (including the Central Statistical Office, Eurostat, and the
OECD), as well as industry reports, academic publications, and normative acts regulating
the taxation and social security system in Poland. The following indicators were employed to
ascertain the comparative profitability of various forms of employment: total cost of
employment, annual net income and effective tax rate.FINDINGS: The study indicates that the disparities in net income between the self-employed
and those employed under a contract persist, though their extent has diminished. In the tax
and contribution structure subsequent to the implementation of the Polish Deal, there has
been a partial equalization of the profitability of employment between forms for low-income
earners, while self-employment remains fiscally more favorable for higher income groups
(especially under the lump-sum tax regime). These changes can influence decisions
regarding the form of employment and strategies to optimize labor costs. However, the
structure of self-employment in Poland exhibits significant disparities compared to the
patterns observed in Western and Northern European countries.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The analysis conducted and the results obtained should prompt the
authors of tax regulations to consider, when drafting new legislation, the need to equalize the
tax and contribution burden between employment under a contract of employment and selfemployment. This measure has the potential to contribute to the reduction of the phenomenon
of false self-employment.peer-reviewe
Synodus synodus (Actinopterygii, Aulopiformes, Synodontidae) in the coastal waters of Malta, central Mediterranean Sea
Full text linkThe occurrence of Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the central Mediterranean Sea is ascertained through integrated morphological and molecular analyses conducted on two specimens collected in April 2025 off the southwestern coast of Malta as well as through underwater photographic documentation from the same region. Morphological examination, including meristic counts and morphometric measurements, revealed diagnostic characters consistent with S. synodus. DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene further supported this identification, with BOLD assigning the sequences to a S. synodus with 99.84% similarity. The presence of S. synodus in Maltese waters represents the first confirmed record for the area and is added to the sparse reports of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The occurrence of other Synodontidae recently found in the basin is briefly discussed.peer-reviewe