bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIDACTIC ASPECTS OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ TRAINING AT UK UNIVERSITIES
Authors: TRETKO VITALIY , SHUNKOV VASUL
Published: February 2025

The article discloses didactic aspects of pharmacy students’ training at UK universities. To begin with, the article shows that one of the main objectives of medical education in the UK today is to prepare students for conscious participation in social life and health care via various forms of teaching and learning. Future pharmacists should be able to adapt to rapid social changes and practically assess the current situation to discover ways to improve it due to their area of expertise. Besides, the article indicates that the UK adheres to the internationally recognized global standards for medical education and aims to develop the professional elite of pharmacists. The following technologies are relevant for medical education in the UK and, especially, pharmacy students’ training: problem-based learning, team-based learning, teaching with simulation, teaching with practicals and labs, teaching with technological tools. Importantly, the article proves that interactive learning eliminates the boundaries between instructors and students and, therefore, strengthens their educational partnership. In this regard, medical education is becoming a turning point in the ongoing transformation of future professionals as the focus is on interactive pedagogy. The article concludes that the transition from passive to active learning, which lies in the dialogization of knowledge transfer, is becoming a priority in the UK’s medical education and, in particular, in the professional training of future pharmacists. Further research should attempt to find ways to improve the professional training of future pharmacists under the internationally recognized standards to strengthen the competitiveness of Ukrainian medical education, as well as optimize conditions for international mobility of medical students in both Ukrainian and international labour markets.
INTERACTIVE METHODS OF PATRIOTIC EDUCATION FOR FUTURE NAVAL CADETS: INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS
Authors: DUDOVA DINA
Published: February 2025

The article deals with the scientific issue of using interactive methods in the system of patriotic education for future naval specialists in the context of foreign scholars’ views. It shows that given today’s historical and socio-economic conditions, it is vital to abandon excessive ideology and ideological monopoly, schematism and formalism in the educational process, implement more effective educational technologies and, most importantly, create a new system of forming patriots using interactive methods. The article proves that since interactive methods enhance pedagogical interaction, communication, exchange of activities and their diversity, they manage to improve the behaviour and activities of naval cadets towards patriotic education. It also indicates that the introduction of interactive and communicative forms of personality-oriented education in patriotic education of naval cadets mostly depends on the invariants of personality-oriented approach to the educational process. It is because naval students choose moral norms, values, lifestyles and thus acquire positive personal experience through their participation in such forms of learning. A prerequisite for fulfilling the goals of patriotic education is appropriate methodical training of university teachers. However, there are no original methods characteristic of especially patriotic education of students. One cannot develop students’ patriotic feelings, patriotic identity, spirituality, culture, independence, initiative, and sociality socialize with traditional methods only. In this regard, some scholars believe that interactive methods have proved to be most effective concerning patriotic education as interactivity enables interpersonal cognitive communication and interaction between all education stakeholders.
JOINT PHD PROGRAMS AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN GERMANY
Authors: PAZIURA NATALIIA , HRYHORIEVA VІТА , KALASHNYKOVA TETIANA
Published: February 2025

The paper focuses on the process of internationalization of higher education in Germany as one of the factors that ensures international cooperation in education and science, strengthens competition in the global educational market, improves the quality of future professionals’ training. The study considers the specific features of joint degree programs for training Ph.D. students in German universities and reviews three main types of these programs, namely: a research project within a pre-defined research topic; previously developed schemes of academic cooperation; the program of obtaining a joint Ph.D. degree in universities of the doctoral student's choice (which do not yet have a formal cooperation agreement). It was found that joint degree programs provide the prospective Doctors of Philosophy with the opportunity to conduct their doctoral studies in two universities. The training plan is developed jointly by two or more higher education or research institutions, so that doctoral students are enabled to conduct research based on several universities or research institutions, while receiving simultaneous scientific consulting from several experienced scientists. It was determined that these programs stimulate mobility and intercultural exchange, significantly increase the competitiveness of their graduates, promote greater transparency and alignment of curricula through mutual recognition of scientific degrees, as well as the establishment of close inter-academic contacts. Key institutions promoting and coordinating the development of the internationalization of higher education in Germany include the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), and others.
BORDER GUARDS’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES AND UKRAINE: COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: BALENDR ANDRII
Published: February 2025

The article reveals the results of the comparative study of the foreign language training of border guards in the European Union countries and Ukraine. It has been established that the Basic training program at the Main Training Center of the Personnel of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is to a great extent harmonized with the Common Core Curriculum for basic training of European border guards and is in line with the Sectoral Qualifications Framework for border guarding in European Union countries. A comparative analysis of compliance of foreign language training subjects in the system of training of personnel of the European Union border guard agencies revealed certain professionally-oriented topics, that are missing from the Ukrainian basic training program for border guards. Absence of the mentioned subjects can be explained by their peculiar features characteristic for European Union border guard’ functions, including different border guard services structure, key European border security related documents. Some of the absent subjects are partially covered in the Ukrainian training program, such as “Cross-border crime” which envisages types of crimes, criminals, smuggled goods, weapons and is studied within the topic “Border checks”, the subject “Apprehension, detention and return” is partially covered in the topics “Conflict resolution” and “Border checks”. Also, there are subjects almost completely absent from the national training program, such as: “Fundamental rights”, “Providing first-aid”, “Public service”, although the national training program includes basic principles, case studies and role-plays on these subjects. Thus, the prospects for further scientific research encompass studying the possibility of practical implementation of the European experience of border guards’ foreign language training into the system of personnel professional training of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
THE INTEGRATING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE INFUSED ENGLISH READING MATERIALS FOR 10TH-GRADE STUDENTS: A NEED ANALYSIS
Authors: Anjani Suci Dhea , Sulistyaningrum Siti Drivoka
Published: February 2025

The educational sector is gaining significant interest in intercultural competency due to its potential to enhance students' global learning experiences and academic performance. In this study, a needs analysis was used to investigate the existing learning materials of the needs of 10th-grade students in intercultural competence for English reading materials. The primary goal of this research is to analyze the English reading materials currently used by 10th-grade students and evaluate the extent to which they incorporate intercultural competence. In addition, the results of the need analysis show the gap between the current materials and intercultural competence. However, the result also found that students need teaching materials that contain intercultural values. These values are taken from international, national, and local cultures.Â Therefore, it indicates an urgency to integrate new English reading materials that promote intercultural materials to facilitate the needs of students.
INVESTIGATING THE STUDENTS' WORK IN TRANSLATING RECOUNT TEXT FROM INDONESIA TO ENGLISH THROUGH GOOGLE FORM: MORPHOLOGICAL ERRORS
Authors: Irawansyah Irawansyah
Published: February 2025

The objective of this study is to determine what morphological errors appear in students' sheet translations of recount texts from Indonesian to English by using surface strategy taxonomy (SST). SST is classified into omission, addition, Misformation and misordering. Descriptive qualitative research was performed in this study. 15 college students from a variety of major backgrounds were randomly selected for the sample by sharing a Google form. Testing and documenting were the research instruments employed in this investigation. The results of this study demonstrate that students made 130 morphological errors when translating recount text. The most common morphological error is an inflectional error which appears 37 times while the least common is a pronoun error and auxiliary error which appears 6 times. Meanwhile, the errors that frequently occur in surface strategy taxonomy are Misformation error which appears 58 times, followed by omission error 42 times and addition error 30 times. In this study, resarcher did not find any misordering errors that appeared. Keywords: Error Analysis, Morphological Error, Recount Text, Surface Strategy Taxonomy, Translation
NON-DIGITAL LANGUAGE GAMES TO CREATE MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ADULT LEARNERS
Authors: Sastrikirana Anastasia , Pramudita Wahyu
Published: February 2025

Civil servants are expected to be professional and competent because they have to be able to work well and to tackle challenges in VUCA conditions. To improve their competitiveness, opportunities to continue to higher level of education are given. Those who take these opportunities should attend TOEFL Preparation classes held by the Language Training Center of the National Institute of Public Administration. In order to help them learn TOEFL, three non-digital language games were developed and applied in the classroom to help them learn. To obtain data whether these games could create meaningful learning this research was conducted. Data were gathered from online questionnaire whose questions were revolved around five attributes of meaningful learning and also from classroom observation. The results showed that all attributes of meaningful learning which were active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative were achieved. The games enabled them to actively and enthusiastically played the non-digital language games with their classmates. They also shared common knowledge that they could use to answer Structure and Written Expressions questions. They also mentioned that the games helped them construct their initial knowledge and the new knowledge they learnt in the classroom. They also agreed that the games enabled them to obtain a clear description of the real TOEFL Structure and Written Expressions.Keywords: non-digital language games; meaningful learning experience; adult learners
Caracterización del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en población universitaria
Authors: Quiroz Coral Sandra Yaneth
Published: February 2025

Objetivo: caracterizar el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en la población universitaria de cuatro instituciones de educación superior de la ciudad de Pasto. Metodología: estudio descriptivo y transversal, basado en un muestreo aleatorio simple de cuatro universidades privadas; se tuvo en cuenta la prevalencia del último año = 10,0 %, error = 1,8 %, 31 nivel de confianza = 95 %. Para un total de 1.623 estudiantes de las cuatro universidades, matriculados en el periodo B del año 2019. Se consideró el cuestionario del Sistema Interamericano de Datos Uniformes sobre consumo de drogas, al cual se accedió de forma remota a través de un servidor de la Organización de Estados Americanos, con el objetivo de que los estudiantes pudieran responder en línea mediante una página web. Para el análisis estadístico de los datos, se utilizó el programa estadístico SAS versión 9.3. Resultados: la sustancia de mayor consumo fue el alcohol, seguida de cigarrillo y marihuana. La percepción de riesgo sobre el consumo de estas sustancias fue baja. Finalmente, en función de la variable acceso para adquirir estas sustancias, prevaleció la oferta de alcohol, cigarrillo y marihuana. Conclusión: el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) es una problemática compleja que afecta principalmente a la población joven en edad productiva. Esta situación se relaciona en gran medida con el uso de sustancias legalizadas, que están integradas a la vida universitaria.
The Improving Knowledge and Oral Health Behaviour of Cadres through the Use of Dental Care Application
Authors: Purnomowati Ratnasari Dyah , Prasetiowati Lies Elina , Arianto Arianto , Linasari Linasari , Nanda Gustina Tri
Published: February 2025

The limitations of dental healthcare personnel to reach the entire population necessitate the involvement of health cadres in fostering self-care practices for oral health. Through training using the Dental Care Application, they can effectively convey this knowledge to the community. This research aims to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of Posyandu cadres related to dental and oral health. The research method employed is a Quasi-Experiment with a Non-Randomized Control Group Pretest-Posttest design. The Wilcoxon test is utilized to assess the impact of the Dental Care Application on these variables. The research results indicate a significant increase in knowledge by 96%, attitudes by 98%, and cadre actions by 86%. It is concluded that cadre training using the Dental Care Application positively influences cadre behavior in the context of dental and oral health, with a significant p-value of 0.000. Recommendations for future research include the development of this application for online accessibility and the addition of more diverse features to enhance training effectiveness.
Oral Health Survey at PPA Eagle and PPA Agape: Dental Health Status, Service Needs and WTP (Willingness to Pay)
Authors: Manu Apri Adiari , Saragih Rosliani
Published: February 2025

Low utilization of dental health services, particularly among children, is a significant public health issue. Factors such as distance, cost, and service quality hinder access. Child Development Centers (PPA) present a potential target population for dental health interventions. The objective of this study to assess the oral health status and service needs of PPA children, determine the Foundation's willingness to pay for dental treatments, and explore potential collaborations between the PPA and the Dental Health Department. The methods used a cross-sectional study was conducted on 522 PPA children. Data on oral health status, service needs, and willingness to pay were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using statistical methods. The results of this study revealed a high prevalence of dental caries among children. The most common service need was dental fillings. The Foundation's willingness to pay for dental services was significantly lower than the current rates offered by the Dental Health Department. The conclusion is the findings highlight the need for affordable and accessible dental care for PPA children. Collaborations between the PPA and the Dental Health Department can help address this issue by providing subsidized or free dental services.
The Use of Red Dragon Fruit Gel as A Disclosing Agent for Plaque Measurement
Authors: Purnomowati RR Ratnasari Dyah , Arianto Arianto , Linasari Linasari , Muliadi Muliadi
Published: February 2025

Assessing oral hygiene through plaque index assessment is essential to identify areas that require attention, as poor hygiene can lead to problems such as caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and systemic health issues. In response to challenges such as limited access to natural tooth colouring materials and the side effects of chemical alternatives, red dragon fruit has emerged as a safe and natural option. This experimental study aimed to develop a red dragon fruit disclosing gel with concentrations of 35%, 50%, and 75% and to compare the staining effectiveness of these three concentrations. The study employed an experimental research design categorized as an "experimental study" using the Posttest Only Design. In this design, interventions (X) are carried out, followed by posttest measurements (O2). Since there is no control group, the results of O2 cannot be compared with other groups. This approach is also referred to as the "One-Shot Study." The observations (O2) provide descriptive data, with parameters measured including color intensity and plaque index scores. The study was conducted on university students as the sample population. The results revealed that a 35% concentration of red dragon fruit gel was effective in disclosing dental plaque by staining it. However, the highest color absorption and most intense staining were observed at the 75% concentration. The study concluded that a 35% concentration of red dragon fruit gel is sufficient for use as a disclosing agent, while the 75% concentration provides the best and most intense staining. Future research is recommended to stabilize the anthocyanin content in red dragon fruit extract by incorporating acetic acid or other stabilizing agents.
Tooth Decay in the Perspective of Nutritional Status
Authors: Nuryati Sri , Habibah Siti Sab’atul , Danan Danan
Published: February 2025

Optimal nutritional intake impacts a child’s physical growth and development, including their oral and dental health. Adequate protein and mineral intake influence the growth of primary teeth. This study aims to describe the relationship between tooth decay and nutritional status among first-grade students at SDN 3 Guntung Manggis, Banjarbaru City. The research employs a descriptive study design with a cross-sectional approach. Samples were selected using the Proportional Random Sampling technique, with a total of 92 students as respondents. The results indicate that the majority of respondents had good nutritional status (70.6%), while some were overnourished (14.1%) or obese (10.9%). Most respondents exhibited a high level of tooth decay (53.3%). Cross-tabulation analysis revealed that all nutritional status categories were predominantly associated with high tooth decay, with the highest proportion observed in the obese group, where 60% of obese students experienced severe tooth decay. In conclusion, obese students tend to be more vulnerable to tooth decay. Future research is suggested to use analytical methods and increase the sample size.
Rampant Caries in Stunted Children Aged 2-5 Years
Authors: Nurwati Bunga , Isnawati Isnawati , Nuryati Sri
Published: February 2025

The prevalence of stunting among children under five in the working area of Puskesmas (Community Health Centers) Karang Intan 2, based on data from the Banjar District Health Office in October 2022, was recorded at 506 cases. Dental and oral health issues, particularly dental caries, are among the most common health problems globally, affecting nearly half of the world's population or approximately 3.58 billion people. According to the 2018 Basic Health Research, dental caries, including decayed or damaged teeth, accounted for 45.3% of dental problems in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate rampant caries among stunted children aged 2–5 years in Pulau Nyiur Village, Karang Intan Subdistrict, Banjar District, South Kalimantan.  The study employed a descriptive research design with a total sampling technique, involving 50 children aged 2–5 years attending the Posyandu within the working area of Puskesmas Karang Intan 2. The results revealed that male children outnumbered females in the sample. Among the participants, 36 children (72%) were stunted, while 14 children (28%) were not. The most common type of rampant caries was Type 3, affecting 15 children (31%), followed by Type 4 with 14 children (27%), Type 1 with 13 children (26%), and Type 2 as the least common, affecting 8 children (16%).  It can be concluded that stunted children aged 2–5 years in Pulau Nyiur Village have a significant prevalence of rampant caries, with Type 3 being the most frequently observed. Additionally, the majority of stunted children in this study were male. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions addressing both nutritional and dental health to reduce the prevalence of stunting and caries among young children.
The SANDOZ Catastrophe and the Consequences for the River Rhine
Authors: Reinhard Walter
Published: February 2025

On 1st November 1986 a stockroom of the chemical company SANDOZ near Basle (Switzerland) burned down; it contained 1,200 tons of pesticides, solvents and other toxic chemicals. 10,000–20,000 m3water for fire fighting contaminated with approximately 30 tons of pesticides and 200kg of mercury flowed into the river Rhine. Unknown amounts of persistent organic pollutants infiltrated the groundwater. Three days later SANDOZ informed the drinking water companies along the River Rhine about the toxic flood. Approximately 150,000 eels died in the Upper Rhine. This also meant the extinction of all species in the water, as it was later reported by a speaker of the German Ministry of the Environment. On 5th November the pollution of the river had spread about 400 kilometres. Waterworks in the Middle and Lower Rhine began to close their water intakes. The President of SANDOZ announced intensified controls for chemical stockrooms. The German chemical industry worried about the tightening of environmental laws as a result of the SANDOZ catastrophe. About 25,000 inhabitants of a village in the Middle Rhine area were supplied with drinking water by tanker lorries after the closure of the (bank filtrate) fountains. On 8th November in Basle up to 1,000 people took part in a demonstration against the “Arrogance of Power”. On 18th November SANDOZ reported for the first time that the stock room also contained 1.9 tons of the highly toxic insecticide ENDOSULFAN.
Territory, Migration and Conflict: What Might Work to Improve Muslim/non-Muslim Intergroup Relations
Authors: Victoroff Jeff
Published: February 2025

Europe faces a crisis. A combination of immigration and differential birthrates is rapidly increasing the proportionate Muslim population at the very time when Muslim/non-Muslim relations are globally strained. Double-edged rejection separates these groups, with mutual fear, distrust, negative feelings and even hatred escalating tensions and distress. It is theoretically plausible that violent jihad against the West may be causally linked to these poor inter-group relations. If so, earnest programs to improve those relations would be expected to reduce the risk of political violence. Sixty years of applied social psychology research has suggested specific interventions that measurably reduce prejudice and improve inter-group relations in the short term. However, there is an astonishing gap in our knowledge: we don't know what works to improve relations in the long-term. This paper summarizes the available evidence and proposes an urgent research agenda to find the optimum ways to improve Muslim/non-Muslim relations in Europe.
Wounds of War – Suicide of War-Veterans of Wars Waged on the Territory of Former Yugoslavia
Authors: Dedic Gordana  , Panic Milivoje  , Djurdjevic Slavisa
Published: February 2025

In the territory of former Yugoslavia, wars were waged within the period of 1991-1995 on the territory of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in 1999 in the territory of Kosovo and Metohia during NATO aggression, which resulted in mental consequences, or wounds of war, in some of the participants. The aim of our study was to describe the wounds of war, suicide of war-veterans, and professional staff, participating in these wars. Our second aim of this study was to suggest some preventive measures that could help in the further application of the Suicide Prevention Program in the modern Army of Serbia. On the basis of the data obtained by psychological autopsy of suicide, selected were 30 professional staff who committed suicide within the period of 1999-2007; 10 of them were war-veterans and 20 were the control group. War-veterans have positive psychiatric heredity, they more intensively practice bodybuilding, more often were punished due to problems at work, while within the scope of the presuicidal syndrome, they manifest isolation more often in comparison with the control group formed of the professional staff who committed suicide in the same period. It is concluded that the further application of the Suicide Prevention Program is focused on four risk factors of suicide in returning troops: the past enviromental factors (taking part in wars), egzogenic (punishments at work), endogenic (genetic) and behavioral (early recognition of the presuicidal syndrome).
Neurobiology of Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Pivac Nela  , Kozarić-Kovačić Dragica  , Nedić Gordana  , Mustapić Maja  , Stipčević Tamara  , Nenadić-Šviglin Korona  , Grubišić-Ilić Mirjana  , Mück-Šeler Dorotea
Published: February 2025

Suicide is a major social and public health problem, one of the leading causes of death, a major complication of different psychiatric disorders that can evoke great suffering in patients and their families, and places a financial burden on society as a whole. Suicidal behavior and suicide are frequently associated with various psychiatric disorders and personality traits. However, most psychiatric patients never attempt suicide, indicating that aside from psychiatric diagnoses, other socio-cultural, environmental, biological and genetic factors are important risk factors for suicide. The biological and genetic contributions to suicide are still not completely understood, and the heterogeneity of the underlying neurobiology makes such investigations particularly difficult. Molecular basis of suicidal behavior is assumed to involve the changes in different neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine systems (primarily in the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems, the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Therefore, research on suicide, which is the major and the most dramatic consequence of suicidal behavior, should be linked to biological characteristics of suicidal behavior, to find biomarkers that might predict suicidal behavior, in order to prevent suicide.
Power Effect in Magnetic Lamination Taking into Account Elliptical Hysteresis Approach
Authors: Zakrzewski Kazimierz
Published: February 2025

On the grounds the author's early works the analytical formulae for unit active power (losses) and reactive power in magnetic lamination were presented. The elliptical hysteresis approach of magnetic loops was assumed.
Power Quality Effects on Ferroresonance
Authors: Barbieri Luca  , Leva Sonia  , Maugeri Vincenzo  , Morando Adriano P.
Published: February 2025

Ferroresonance is a complex phenomenon very dangerous for electric power system. In this paper, the power quality effect on ferroresonant circuit is for the first time investigated by using nonlinear dynamics theory. In particular, the software package AUTO is used to determine the period solutions of the differential equation describing a typical voltage transformer circuit, supplied by distorted voltage, in which ferroresonance can occur.
NDE Research Makes a Difference
Authors: Scruby C.B.
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the development of research in NDE and its impact on industry. Examples will be given of past research projects that have been translated into solutions to industrial inspection problems, and present day challenges to industry and the NDE research community. Recurring themes include the need for quantification, and physical models to give scientific understanding and hence improved confidence for product quality and safety-critical application. Timely technology transfer is a continuing challenge and lessons from past experience will be discussed. Finally, the author will discuss future research strategy, including opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in order to integrate NDE more effectively into the engineering life cycle.
Design of Reflection Type Pulsed Eddy Current Nondestructive Testing
Authors: Shin Young-Kil  , Choi Dong-Myung  , Jung Hee-Sung
Published: February 2025

Reflection type shielded send-receive probe is designed for accurate measurement of specimen thickness by pulsed eddy current testing and when evaluating material conductivity, effects of pulse width on the signal are investigated. Results show that the best sensitivity to thickness is achieved when ferrite shields for both coils are used and when the exciter coil is located inside the sensor coil. Pulse width study suggests that the shorter pulse width is desired if the peak amplitude is used to evaluate the material conductivity, while the longer pulse width is needed if the peak time is used for the same purpose.
Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Rebars
Authors: Morozov Maxim  , Rubinacci Guglielmo  , Tamburrino Antonello  , Ventre Salvatore
Published: February 2025

This paper concerns quantitative imaging, consisting in finding location, direction and size, of concrete rebars by means of eddy current measurements and an innovative inversion method. Owing to an accurate numerical modelling of the probe-rebar interaction, an analysis of issues to be considered for the quantitative imaging of rebars is conducted, which leads to significant simplifications in the numerical model and enables developing an accurate and computationally efficient imaging method. Results of experimental testing demonstrate favourable validity of the proposed numerical model.
Diffusion and Cascading Behavior in Networks
Authors: Leskovec Jure
Published: February 2025

Information cascades are phenomena in which individuals adopt a new action or idea due to influence by others. As such a process spreads through an underlying social network, it can result in widespread adoption overall. Here we consider information cascades in the context of recommendations and information propagation on the blogosphere. In particular, we study the patterns of cascading recommendations that arise in large social networks. We review recent studies of cascading behavior in product recommendation networks, and information diffusion on the blogosphere. Next, we examine theoretical models of information, virus and influence propagation. Last, we present developments on selecting and targeting nodes in networks to maximize the influence or detect cascades and disease/information outbreaks effectively.
Learning to Populate an Ontology of Politically Motivated Violent Events
Authors: Tanev Hristo  , Wennerberg Pinar
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present a working event extraction and classification infrastructure, which monitors news articles, detects and extracts structured descriptions of Politically Motivated Violent Events (PMVE) and feeds them into an ontological knowledge base. A knowledge base of about 2800 PMVE was built semi-automatically.
The Challenges of Transport of Radioactive Materials and Wastes in Albania
Authors: Qafmolla Luan
Published: February 2025

The transport of Radioactive Materials (RM) and Radioactive Wastes (RAW) involves a potential radiological hazard. To ensure the safety of people, property and the environment, appropriate transport regulations to both domestic and international are necessary. The approved Regulation, their principles and objectives, are in order to ensure that the transport of Radioactive Materials is in compliance with IAEA regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials. Albanian Government on 27.05.1971 approved “The Regulation of “Safety Transport of Radioactive Materials and Radiation Protection by Ionising Radiation Sources”[1]. Already, this old regulation was abrogated and a new one so-called: “The Regulation of Safety Hazard Materials”; is in force since 18. 04. 1997 approved by Albanian authorities. In this Regulation exist some articles for the safety Transport of Radioactive Material. Since 2001, we have prepared the new Regulation of Safety Transport of RM & RAW in Albania Our Regulation establishes standards of safety, which provide an acceptable level of control of the radiation, criticality and thermal hazards persons, property and the environment that, are associated with the transport of Radioactive Materials. The total activity of radioactive substances transported in Albania (domestic and international) during 2006 has been some thousands Ci of unsealed & solid radioactive sources, mainly99mTc;131I,60Co,137Cs,241Am etc., by import-export procedures, and approximately over 560 type A and Type B packages.
Institutional and Legal Aspects of EU Counter-Terrorism
Authors: Casale Davide
Published: February 2025

The 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington lifted counter-terrorism to the top of the European security agenda. The bombings in Madrid of March 2004 and in London of July 2005 proved that Europe is also a target of the new forms of international terrorism. The EU has since been trying to react to the terrorist threat with a comprehensive strategy grounded on four core objectives: prevent, protect, pursue and respond. The Union has also reshaped its institutional and legal counter-terrorist framework. The role of some EU bodies has been strengthened, while new institutional actors have been set up. The most important EU institutions in the fight against terrorism have proved to be the European Commission, Europol and Eurojust. Despite some good results achieved, lack of co-ordination and difficulties in information sharing are weaknesses that still hamper the realization of effective intelligence and judicial co-operation. A new common European definition of terrorist offences, the introduction of the European Arrest Warrant and the use of biometrics are pioneering legal instruments in counter-terrorism. Such legal tools have enhanced the efficacy of the EU action in preventing and suppressing terrorism. On the other hand, they have raised concerns with fundamental rights and civil liberties. This paper is aimed at providing an initial evaluation of both institutional and legal aspects of the EU fight against terrorism. Whilst acknowledging the achievement of many positive results, this assessment leads also to the conclusion that the European Union has to step up further its efforts to remedy a number of inadequacies and weaknesses arising in both the institutional and legal frameworks of the EU counter-terrorism response.
An Overview of the Law on Terrorism
Authors: Cryer Robert
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this piece is limited to an overview of the various different ways in which international law seeks to combat terrorism. The UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Secretary-General have engaged extensively with the issue of terrorism. Although negotiations on a comprehensive terrorism treaty are ongoing, it is admittedly with limited success. One might ask whether the more appropriate route to take would be to encourage ratifications of the existing treatises rather than to expend diplomatic energy on what might be impossible. Where terrorism is subsumed under other international crimes, the considerations that apply to international crimes apply equally to any terrorist offences that fall under that rubric. In opposition to this, some scholars, like Antonio Cassese, believe that terrorism has matured into a fully-fledged international crime in its own right. However, so far, States and international organisations dealing with terrorism have used the mechanisms of transnational, rather than international, criminality.
Terrorism and Its ‘Globalization’
Authors: Çitlioğlu Ercan
Published: February 2025

The rise of individualism, the end of the Cold War, and the increasing role of non-state actors have caused international relations to transform into a much more complex system. This new system has created many communities which feel themselves to be victims. Such populations may abandon rational debate and retreat into ‘learned despair’, only communicating through violence. Regional conflicts have spread, and this has in turn been exploited by the hegemonic powers as they seek to consolidate their positions. Many more conflicts are likely to result from the growth in world population, climate change, energy and water shortages. In this context, terrorist groups are likely to base their ideologies on the two most enduring elements of popular identity: religion and ethnicity. This paper also analyzes the term ‘global terrorism’, and finds that what is called ‘global terrorism’ is no different from earlier terrorism.
On Negative Security Assurances
Authors: Malov Andrey
Published: February 2025

At the moment a complicated situation is emerging in the nuclear non-proliferation sphere. The NPT Review conference held in 2005 almost failed – the participants could not reach agreement and no substantive document was adopted. And though no one claimed that the Treaty had exhausted itself it does not solve all the tasks which it was created for. More and more states doubt the effectiveness of the NPT and their own security. At the moment the situation with Iran develops in such a way that the possibility of its withdrawal from the NPT is not ruled out. Under the conditions when the US leadership discusses the possibility of military solution of the Iranian issue Iran has progressively less reasons to keep its non-nuclear status. Other states may also choose moving away from the Treaty and eventually withdrawing from it.
Nuclear Issues – Energy – Disarmament – Cooperation: An Indian Perspective
Authors: Seth Aftab
Published: February 2025

India's nuclear program and its policies has been the subject of considerable comment.
Some Results from Dynamic Monitoring Linked to Mining: Case Studies in Bulgaria (Provadia) and Belarus (Starobin)
Authors: Paskaleva I.  , Aronov A.  , Valev G.  , Seroglazov R.  , Kouteva M.  , Aronova T.
Published: February 2025

This work focuses on the assessment of seismic risk issues associated with the potassium salt deposit of Provadia and Soligorsk. The long-term studies, 1983–2007, of the only terrestrial Bulgarian salt deposit (Provadia, φ=43.060N, λ=27.450E) and Belarusian (Starobin φ=52.840N, λ=27.470E) in connection with the observed higher seismic activity and probable manifestations of technogenic seismicity in the region is presented. The characteristic features of the seismic processes are identified by the curves of recurrence of seismic events with an energy range of 4÷8. A quasi-periodic character of the seismicity activation over time against the general trend of increasing seismicity activation is established. It is shown that zones of epicentres of seismic events are larger that mining areas. Some differences in the pattern of seismic processes, such as: seismic activity in the range of small energies (K = 4–8) is higher in the Soligorsk region; events of the higher energy class K>9 characteristic of the Provadia region are carried out.
The Cytogenetic Status of Human Organism as a Diagnostic Parameter in a System of Socio-Ecological Monitoring
Authors: Gorova Alla  , Klimkina Irina  , Buchavy Yury
Published: February 2025

This paper offers a methodology for socio-ecological monitoring. It consists of high-sensitive indicator systems and a unified procedure for estimating the integral environmental condition with regard to the toxic-mutagenic background, and the general and genetic health of the population. It permits the definition of the integral criteria describing the ecological and genetic hazards for biota and human beings from the impact of mutagenic ecological factors. The paper shows a perspective of using a micro-nucleus test in the system of a socio-ecological monitoring in somatic cells of a person. This test also defines the general mutagenic background and the state of a human organism in the cytogenetic status.
People with Dementia Watch Television! But Why?
Authors: Knall Gunilla  , Östlund Britt
Published: February 2025

This article explores the way in which television viewing contribute to a sense of coherence, in the salutogenic way of emphasising the healthy parts of a person. Participatory observations were carried out at a department for people with dementia who watched TV in the common TV room. Previous research points at TV viewing as an important routine in everyday life and as an active occupation as opposed to assumptions about TV viewing being passive. This study confirm these results and shows that television viewing contributes to keep up with routines in an unproblematic way. TV viewing has a role in generating communication and shared experiences from what persons jointly watch. This communication is recommended to be developed as a part of the caring strategy. Programme content can also be developed to better fit the needs and demands of old viewers with dementia.
Living with Dementia and the Challenges of Domestic Technology
Authors: Nygård Louise
Published: February 2025

This chapter presents and reflects on recent findings on how people with dementia experience and try to manage their daily lives on their own initiative, including their use of technology, and possible consequences for design are discussed. Research has showed that common activities of daily life may have very profound and individually different meanings in the experienced world of people with dementia. It is also argued that if we are open to expressions of awareness in the context of concrete, daily life issues, we are likely to gain information on how the person with dementia perceives his or her situation. People with dementia have been found to use a variety of self-initiated strategies – spontaneous and planned – in individual manners to meet changes and difficulties in their daily lives. These aspects could be taken as a point of departure in support and design, as they build on what is well-known and intuitive rather than on cognitive capacity. Finally, it is proposed that everyday technology can be very important in the lives of people with mild-stage dementia, although their overall use of technology decrease and problems are common.
Foreign Bases and Strategies in Contemporary Portugal
Authors: Telo António José
Published: February 2025

This article seeks to provide a panorama of the reasons leading to the creation of foreign bases in modern Portugal. By foreign bases is meant the prolonged presence (of at least one year) of foreign military units that have been duly authorised by the legitimate authorities on Portuguese territory. The presence of military missions, even when large-scale and prolonged, or of training or instruction missions will not be considered here. This study covers the period from the establishment of the multi-polar international system at the end of the 19th century until the transition to democracy in 1974, which also corresponded with the final phase of the Cold War. Only European Portugal, which includes Madeira and the Azores, will be examined: the colonies will not be considered. The way of understanding the establishment of foreign military bases in Portugal is to analyse the national and international strategies that resulted in their creation. The military plans that these strategies inspire are mentioned; however, lack of space here means they cannot be explored in any exhaustive or developed manner: the bases are classed according to the strategies that led to their creation.
Modeling Homeland Security Transportation Including Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Altunok Taner
Published: February 2025

Transportation Security became an issue of particular interest among policy-makers and scholars following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and from that moment on, it has been considered along with terrorist attacks. Taking into account the global particularities of critical air transportation infrastructures, this article proposes a model for homeland security transportation.
Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy: Applications in the Biosciences
Authors: Miles Andrew J.  , Wallace B.A.
Published: February 2025

Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy is enabling a number of new applications in biology because of its ability to measure lower wavelength data, lower requirement for sample quantities, higher signal-to-noise levels and ability to examine proteins under a wide range of conditions. Advances in SRCD instrumentation, data collection methodologies, data processing, reference datasets and methods of analysis have lead to new applications of SRCD for examining interesting biological questions. Although most of the SRCD studies to date have focused on proteins, the technique has been successfully applied in the study of other macromolecules including DNA and carbohydrates. This chapter briefly discusses a number of examples of studies that have been undertaken with this new methodology.
Measurement of Circular Dichroism and Related Spectroscopies with Conventional and Synchrotron Light Sources: Theory and Instrumentation
Authors: Sutherland John C.
Published: February 2025

A linearly polarized optical beam that passes through a photoelastic modulator can be used to measure circular dichroism, linear dichroism, optical rotary dispersion, fluorescence detected circular dichroism and fluorescence polarization anisotropy. These parameters, along with the simultaneous measurement of absorption and fluorescence are possible with a conceptually simple single beam spectrometer, with only minor adaptations. Practical spectrometers and the components needed to build them using both conventional (Xenon arc) and synchrotron light sources are reviewed. The need to match the components throughout the instrument is discussed and methods of calibrating critical components are described. Potential artifacts associated with sample inhomogenity are discussed. An explanation for the observation that a linear dichroism signal can appear at the modulation frequency expected for circular dichroism is presented. Spectra demonstrating the ability of a synchrotron source spectrometer to extend the range of wavelengths for the circular dichroism of proteins are presented. Three general classes of practical spectrometers are described based on the components used and the performance achievable. Vendors of polarization-modulation spectrometers and specialized components required to build them are listed, as are existing and planned synchrotron based user facilities.