bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le Brexit , révélateur de l’alchimie entre Constitution politique et Constitution juridique au Royaume-Uni
Authors: Antoine Aurélien
Published: December 2023

La procédure de sortie du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne est à l’origine d’une crise politique profonde qui met à l’épreuve la Constitution britannique. Alors que, outre-Manche, les débats entre constitutionnalistes sont vifs, les réflexions en France sur le sujet se font plutôt discrètes. Pourtant, le Brexit révèle l’instauration d’une forme d’équilibre entre les caractères politiques traditionnels de la Constitution britannique et ceux plus proprement juridiques qui s’identifient au travers d’une intervention régulière des juges pour en préserver les principes fondamentaux.
La jurisprudence récente de la Cour constitutionnelle allemande relative au droit de l’Union européenne
Authors: Langenfeld Christine
Published: December 2023

La contribution examine le rapport entre la Cour constitutionnelle fédérale allemande et le droit de l’Union européenne dans le contexte des décisions récentes de la Cour. Dans le domaine de la protection des droits fondamentaux, la Cour a récemment complété son contrôle vertical (« Solange II ») par une dimension horizontale lorsque la réalité dans un État membre est susceptible de constituer une atteinte à la dignité humaine. Dans le domaine du processus d’intégration, la Cour se réserve le droit de déclarer inapplicable en Allemagne un acte juridique de l’Union européenne qui ne respecte pas les « qualités inhérentes à l’identité constitutionnelle » protégées par la Constitution allemande ou qui outrepasse les compétences de l’Union européenne après avoir donné l’occasion à la CJUE de statuer sur l’acte en question.
Improved MPPT algorithm: Artificial neural network trained by an enhanced Gauss-Newton method
Authors: Dkhichi Fayrouz
Published: December 2023

A novel approach defined by the artificial neural network (ANN) model trained by the improved Gauss-Newton in conjunction with a simulated annealing technique is used to control a step-up converter. To elucidate the superiority of this innovative method and to show its high precision and speed in achieving the right value of the Maximum Power Point (MPP), a set of three comparative Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) methods (Perturbation and observation, ANN and ANN associated with perturbation and observation) are exanimated judiciously. The behavior of these methods is observed and tested for a fixed temperature and irradiance. As a result, the proposed approach quickly tracks the right MPP = 18.59 W in just 0.04382 s. On the other hand, the outstanding ability of the suggested method is demonstrated by varying the irradiance values (200 W/m2, 300 W/m2, 700 W/m2, 1000 W/m2, 800 W/m2 and 400 W/m2) and by varying the temperature values (15℃, 35℃, 45℃ and 5℃). Therefore, the ANN trained by Gauss-Newton in conjunction with simulated annealing shows a high robustness and achieves the correct value of MPP for each value of irradiance with an efficiency 99.54% and for each value of temperature with an efficiency 99.98%; the three other methods sometimes struggle to achieve the right MPP for certain irradiance values and often remains stuck in its surroundings.
Is the projected landscape also perceived? A proposed research plan on Etna Park's conflicting destination image
Authors: Malvica Sonia , Nicosia Enrico , Porto Carmelo Maria
Published: December 2023

With the advent of social media, the online Destination Image (DI) is focal for destination development as well as a comprehensive promotion strategy. However, it has been demonstrated that the official projected destination image could not respect the tourist perceived image, generating a case of a "conflict landscape". Such a conflict could be critical for destination promotion, especially in the actual, prominent use of social media in tourist approach and experience. Social media has, in fact, a pivotal impact upon the online user's perception and destination development. Thus, electronic word-of-mouth content strongly influences the will to visit a destination, forcing Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to update their image often. In the present work, we aim to present an in-progress-research on Etna Park (in Italy), a Regional Nature Park since 1987. More precisely, a web/social media analysis strategy on Etna Park's naturalistic pathways is exposed, highlighting tourists' feedback and perceived image. The results suggested managing any policy differences among actors (e.g., residents, Local Action Groups) engaged in Etna Park's DI, also investigating disagreements in all the viewpoints. The results obtained in this preliminary phase of research will be the basis for planning future research, which is intended to develop a positive relationship between nature-based tourism and Etna Park as a resilient destination, recommending a coherent place storytelling.
Image, Adoration, Meditation
Authors: Boer Wietse de
Published: December 2023

This essay seeks to reconstruct critical debates about the sacred image and its role in meditative practices during the mid-sixteenth century, the formative period of the project for the Evangelicae Historiae Imagines / Adnotationes et Meditationes in Evangelia. These debates took place against the backdrop of the Council of Trent, but largely bypassed its proceedings. Trent’s famous decree on the cult of saints, relics, and images largely confirmed the image theology of the Second Council of Nicaea, implicitly rejecting Thomist views grounded in a unified understanding of the perception (and veneration) of the image and the imaginatum, the representation and the represented. Yet scholastic faculty psychology was central to the, often polemical, interventions of Catholic theologians examined here: Martín Pérez de Ayala, Matthieu Ory, Ambrogio Catarino, Feliciano Ninguarda, and Diego Laínez. If theological debate was mostly avoided at Trent, whose leadership sought to forestall doctrinal disputes in the rush towards closure in late 1563, it continued to shape Jesuit thinking about the role of images as instruments of meditation. This background no doubt informed the genesis of the Imagines / Adnotationes project. Under Trent’s shadow, Jerónimo Nadal was deeply concerned about its orthodoxy. In Ignatius’s footsteps he pursued its deliberate use of visual images in meditative practice, even if the ultimate purpose was to transcend them in the quest for divine union.
Le genre des Imagines
Authors: Guiderdoni Agnès
Published: December 2023

Le moment où sont conçues puis publiées les Imagines de Nadal correspond à celui où se reconfigure le domaine de l’illustration biblique dans une variété de formes dont toutes ne sont pas si aisément définissables quant à leur genre. On y observe une intense circulation d’images et de motifs, qui va de pair avec de massives opérations de recyclage et de bricolage. Cette étude s’attache à situer les Imagines dans cette circulation. Plus spécifiquement, il s’agit de saisir ce qui circule de ces images et ce qu’elles sont d’un point de vue générique, sur un arrière-fond emblématique, dont le régime herméneutique semble alors contaminer toutes les représentations iconotextuelles, en particulier dans le domaine sacré. À cette fin, le volume de Nadal y est mis en dialogue avec des recueils d’emblèmes et des suites gravées représentant l’histoire de la Bible ou la vie du Christ ressortissant au genre des « figures de la Bible », en examinant le traitement réservé à chaque fois à la figura biblique.
Bartolomeo Ricci in the Wake of Nadal
Authors: Zierholz Steffen
Published: December 2023

This chapter focuses on three writings of the Roman Jesuit novice master Bartolomeo Ricci: the Instruttione di meditare (1600), the Vita D.N. Iesu Christi (1607), and the Considerationi sopra tutta la vita di N.S. Giesu Christo (1607) – all published in Rome by the Zanetti family and maybe projected as a trilogy from the very start. While the Instruttione is a comprehensive prayer manual that introduces the reader into the theory of meditation but also gives practical advise, the Vita and the Considerationi are illustrated with engravings, in order to facilitate meditation and prayer. A synopsis of these writings that pays particular attention to image-text interrelations, to the role of the visual arts in the practice of speculation, as well as to the impact of Jerónimo Nadal’s Adnotationes et meditationes in Evangelia on Ricci, will produce deep insights into the mimetic theory and practice of the Jesuits.
The Convergence of AI and BCIs
Authors: Jaber Wassim , Jaber Hussein A.H. , Jaber Ramzi , Saleh Zahraa
Published: December 2023

BCIs and AI converge for enhanced brain-machine interaction. AI optimizes signal processing and control algorithms, fueling applications like movement restoration and mind-driven communication. This comprehensive review underscores AI's vital role in BCIs, tackling translation hurdles and fostering innovation. It explores AI-boosted BCIs for motor control, sensory feedback, and research. Transformative outcomes encompass disability empowerment, performance enhancement, and deeper brain insights. Challenges include quicker training and improved sensor accuracy. This partnership heralds a dynamic future, revolutionizing human-device interaction and advancing neurotech. As AI and neurotechnology advance, BCIs promise impactful transformations, enriching lives, and capabilities.
Stress and Coping Strategies Among Nursing Students at the University Campus in Namibia
Authors: Tomas Nestor , Hausiku Lucia
Published: December 2023

There's strong evidence suggesting that nursing students experience extreme stress. Yet no research has explored the perspectives of nursing students on stress and coping strategies among student nurses in Namibia. A qualitative exploratory descriptive research was employed on 15 undergraduate nursing students. This chapter explored and described nursing students' perceptions on factors contributing to stress and the coping strategies among nursing students at the University of Namibia, Rundu campus. In-depth individual interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were analysed using thematic analysis. The focus of this study centered on two main themes. The initial theme sheds light on the perceived stressors followed by the strategies employed to cope with stress.
Fintech and Islamic Banking
Authors: Sheela P. , Kusuma K. , Panigrahi Rashmi Ranjan , Shaikh Zakir Hossen
Published: December 2023

In an era of unprecedented technological advancement, the convergence of financial technology (Fintech) and Islamic finance has emerged as a dynamic and transformative force in the global financial landscape. Fintech, characterized by innovations such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, mobile payments, and peer-to-peer lending, has redefined traditional financial services, offering unprecedented efficiency, accessibility, and convenience, The convergence of Fintech and Islamic finance promises to enhance financial services' efficiency and inclusivity and facilitate Sharia-compliant offerings' expansion to a broader audience. This amalgamation could address long-standing challenges in Islamic finance, such as accessibility, transparency, and product diversity. The primary objective of this research is to comprehensively investigate the convergence of Fintech and Islamic finance, aiming to uncover the implications, challenges, opportunities, and potential outcomes of their integration.
Islamic Finance and Fintech
Authors: Minz Nitish Kumar , Mushir Nikhat , Tanwar Sunita , Chaffai Mustapha
Published: December 2023

The cohabitation of Financial Technology (FinTech) and Islamic Finance have far-reaching implications for the global financial market. This bibliographic review surveys pivotal research papers that elucidate diverse aspects of this amalgamation, encapsulating ethical considerations, regulatory complexities, technological vulnerabilities, and the ramifications of digital assets. Furthermore, it scrutinizes FinTech's role in advancing sustainability objectives, navigates the intricacies of peer-to-peer lending, and scrutinizes the manifold viewpoints regarding the digital metamorphosis of Islamic finance. Collectively, these scholarly works furnish a holistic comprehension of the evolving rapport between Islamic finance and FinTech, proffering invaluable insights for the future evolution of Islamic financial technology, all while upholding the tenets of Sharia principles.
The Effect of Strategic Partnership on Innovation and Business
Authors: Shaikh Zakir Hossen , Irfan Mohammad , Nomran Naji Mansour , Lawin Moïse Laïfoya
Published: December 2023

Nothing could have prepared any of us for the recent outbreak of COVID 19. It has impacted individuals, communities, economies, and countries around the world. It has acted as a catalyst for growth because its impact has gone beyond a physical, financial, and economic level. The purpose of this study was to discuss the impact of strategic partnerships on driving innovation, accelerating digital transformation across financial services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and economic growth. The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Digital Lab, a collaborative effort, between the CBB and several strategic Partners of FinHub973 including the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bank ABC, Benefit, BisB, ila Bank, and the National Bank of Bahrain, enables local and global FinTechs to connect seamlessly to explore, test, and prototype new and innovative solutions on a centralized digital sandbox. These new solutions are commonly referred to as fintech. Collaborative partnerships are essential to catalyse innovation in finance, for the benefit of the industry, economy, and society at large.
Transforming the Future of Furniture Woodworking Instruction Through VR-Enhanced Distance Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lee I-Jui , Wang Shyh-Rong
Published: December 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, distance teaching became the main solution, including for the furniture woodworking course at National Taipei University of Technology in Taipei, Taiwan, which relied on video and online software. However, this posed challenges for maintaining teaching quality and achieving objectives in technical practice courses. To address this, this study introduced remote technical guidance using VR in technical practice courses. This method combined distance-teaching and live dual-teacher broadcasts, allowing students to participate in real-time online discussions. During these broadcasts, instructors used VR to demonstrate operations on a virtual platform, explaining as they went along. Students could observe from the operator's perspective, gaining insights into furniture production processes. They also engaged in group interactions, assuming roles like technical operators, thereby mastering key furniture production concepts. This innovative teaching approach offered a solution that combined remote technical guidance with VR. It provided immediate teaching enhancements and problem-solving solutions in the post-COVID-19 era.
Pre-treatment with galectin-1 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocarditis by regulating the Nrf2 pathway
Authors: Shen Liying , Lu Kongjie , Chen Zhenfeng , Zhu Yingwei , Zhang Cong , Zhang Li
Published: December 2023

Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of a highly conserved family of animal lectins, plays a crucial role in controlling inflammation and neovascularization. However, the potential role of Gal-1 in preventing myocarditis remains uncertain. We aimed to explore the functions and mechanisms of Gal-1 in preventing myocarditis. In vivo, C57/BL6 mice were pre-treated with or without Gal-1 and then exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce myocarditis. Subsequently, cardiac function, histopathology, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of myocardial tissues were detected. Following this, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to measure iNOS, COX2, TXNIP, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 p10 expressions. In vitro, H9c2 cells pre-treated with different doses of Gal-1 were stimulated by LPS to induce myocarditis models. CCK8, flow cytometry and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay were then employed to estimate cell viability, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Furthermore, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions were evaluated by Western blotting in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that in vivo, Gal-1 pre-treatment not only moderately improved cardiac function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, but also ameliorated myocardial inflammation and oxidative damage in mice with myocarditis. Furthermore, Gal-1 inhibited TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In vitro, Gal-1 pre-treatment prevented LPS-induced apoptosis, cell viability decrease and ROS generation. Notably, Gal-1 elevated HO-1, total Nrf2 and nuclear Nrf2 protein expressions both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, pre-treatment with Gal-1 exhibited cardioprotective effects in myocarditis via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, and the mechanism may relate to the Nrf2 pathway, which offered new solid evidence for the use of Gal-1 in preventing myocarditis.
A comparative evaluation of colistin Minimum Inhibitory Concentration determination by reference broth microdilution with other commonly used phenotypic methods in Multidrug-Resistant Gram-negative bacilli
Authors: Goyal Nisha , Gangar Seema , Grover Malika , Singh Narendra Pal , Dwivedi Aditya Nath , Varshney Ananya , Chaudhary Deeksha , Arya Neelam
Published: December 2023

Background: over the past decade, the dependency on colistin as a last resort antibiotic has driven the global emergence of colistin resistance among many bacterial species. This study comparatively evaluated the colistin Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by various phenotypic methods, including the reference method of Broth Microdilution (BMD), other approved methods of Colistin Broth Disk Elution (CBDE), and Colistin Agar Test (CAT) and widely available method of Epsilometer Test (E-test) among Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. Methods: ninety Gram-negative bacterial isolates that were resistant to three or more classes of drugs (MDR) were included in the study. All the MDR isolates were subjected to colistin susceptibility determination by BMD, CBDE, CAT, and E-test. Results: amongst 1118 samples, 90 (8.05%) samples yielded MDR Gram-negative bacilli. All the MDR Gram-negative isolates were colistin intermediate by all four methods of phenotypic colistin susceptibility. Three Acinetobacter baumannii and two Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that had MIC of 2 μg/mL by BMD, displayed MIC of <1 μg/mL by CBDE and CAT. Three isolates (2 Citrobacter koseri and 1 Enterobacter spp.) showed higher MIC by the E-strip method in comparison to BMD. Conclusions: our study holds significance, as there is a paucity of data comparing the four phenotypic methods for colistin MIC determination; BMD is the most reliable, gold standard method, but it is labor-intensive and requires technical expertise. In the present study, CBDE and CAT methods showed good concordance with BMD, and are easy to perform with limited logistics. Thus, they can be used as an alternative to BMD. We found that even though the Etest method was less accurate, it can still be used with caution to exclude the possibility of colistin resistance.
Risk of primary failure under Densiron-68 in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with multiple retinal breaks involving both superior and inferior retina: a retrospective case-control study
Authors: Ewais Wael A. , Aly Lamia S. , Nossair Ashraf A.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To estimate risk of primary failure during the use of Densiron-68 in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) cases with multiple superior and inferior retinal breaks as well as to detect possible confounder predictors of primary failure.

Methods

This is a retrospective case-control study. Data was collected for 52 eyes with hematogenous retinal detachment with multiple retinal breaks who were treated via pars plana vasectomy using Densiron-68 as a tamponed agent. Pars plana vasectomies had been performed from March 2014 to November 2019. Eyes were categorized into two groups based on retinal status in presence of Densiron-68 1 month postoperatively (PO).

Group A: primary failure group (n=18 eyes) and group B: Reattachment group (n=34 eyes). In each group we observed patients records to identify distribution of retinal breaks (superior and inferior, inferior only), and to identify other confounding risk factors for primary failure; including, number of retinal breaks, age, sex, duration of symptoms, uveitis, RD Quadrants, macula status, giant retinal tear (GRT) or Dialysis, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and grade of PVR, inferior retinectomy, and Hypotony.

Results

Group A (n=18) included 13 eyes with superior and inferior breaks (SIRB) (72.2%), associated with 2.94±0.73 retinal breaks, 12 eyes with PVR (66.7%), and 3.39±0.92 quadrants of detachment. Group B(n=34) included 13 eyes with superior and inferior breaks (SIRB) (38.2%), associated with 2.4±0.5 retinal breaks, three eyes with PVR (8.8%), and 2.32±0.91 quadrants of detachment. The odds ratio for primary failure with SIRB was 4.2.

Conclusion

There are higher odds of primary failure following the use of Densiron-68 in cases with multiple retinal breaks that involve both superior and inferior retina, especially with a larger number of retinal breaks, a larger number of quadrants, and in the presence of PVR. We do not recommend using Densiron-68 for these cases.
Home nursing in clinical trials: Result from semi-structured qualitative interviews
Authors: Sharma Pooja , Bhowmick Subhrojyoti , Nayak Kedar , Bhattacharjee Soma , Lahiry Sandeep
Published: December 2023

There is a need to transition from conventional (on-site) clinical trials (CTs) to trials conducted within the comfort of a patient’s home or community (decentralized CT) through e-consent, remote data monitoring, and telemedicine consults. This shift in trial procedures will positively impact recruitment rates, compliance and participant retention, protocol deviations, and delays or missed visits. Home nursing in CTs (HNCTs) will be an important component of this decentralization effort. A few limitations may impact the implementation of HNCT in India. In this regard, the workstream conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with experts from diverse domains of CT conduct (researchers from academia and industry, clinicians, investigators, nursing staff, patient research advocates, institutional ethics committee, or institutional review board members, legal experts, and trial participants) to collect their understanding, perspectives, and the ground realities about HNCTs in India. The current review puts forth the key areas that would facilitate the establishment of HNCTs in India and provides recommendations for the same.
Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Saudi infants and toddlers: A cross-sectional multicenter study
Authors: Hasosah Mohammed , Al Sarkhy Ahmed , AlQuiar Khalid , AlMuslami Ibrahim , AlAhmadi Najat , Almehaidib Ali , AlShahrani Adel , Alanazi Aziz , Khan Muhammad , Aljohani Abrar , Alanazi Saqqar , Alhassan Tariq , AlNaqeeb Ahlam , Hameedaldeen Marwah , Albalawi Sanabil , Abdulmenem Safa , Almehaidib Ibrahim , Qurashi Mansour
Published: December 2023

Background:

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common pediatric problems, but their prevalence in Saudi Arabia is unknown. We aimed to assess the prevalence of FGIDs and risk factors among children in six regions of Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional multicenter study enrolling children aged 0–48 months, attending pediatric clinics. Questionnaires evaluated the clinical history, symptoms, and sociodemographic information. FGIDs were defined according to Rome IV criteria.

Results:

The study involved 1011 infants and toddlers (mean [standard deviation (SD)] aged, 21.7 [19.4] months; FGIDs and mean [SD] age 17.4 [16.4] months; controls). FGIDs were diagnosed in 483 (47.7%) of all infants and toddlers. The prevalence of FGIDs was significantly higher in children aged 0–12 months than in those aged 13–48 months (P < 0.001). The most common disorders were functional regurgitation (13.8%) in infants and functional constipation (9.6%) in toddlers. Univariate regression analysis confirmed that the rate of FGIDs was higher in term gestational age infants (odds ratio (OR) 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.76–4.17, P < 0.001), in partial breastfeeding (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40–0.84, P = 0.003), in formula feeding (OR 2.25; 95% CI, 1.51–3.35, P < 0.001), and in subjects with no history of food allergy (OR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.58–3.64, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

FGIDs are common in Saudi infants and toddlers (47.7%). Regurgitation is most prevalent in infants, and functional constipation is most common in toddlers. Term gestational age infant, partial breastfeeding, formula feeding, and subjects with no history of food allergy are associated with the prevalence of FGIDs.
Controllable Privacy-Preserving Online Diagnosis with Outsourced SVM over Encrypted Medical Data
Authors: Wei Fanxi , Ping Yuan , Wu Wenhong , Niu Danping , Cao Yan
Published: December 2023

With the widespread application of online diagnosis systems, users can upload their physical characteristics anytime and from anywhere to receive clinical diagnoses. However, for privacy and intellectual property considerations, users' physical characteristics, diagnosis results, and the medical diagnosis model should be protected. To achieve an efficient and secure online diagnosis, secure outsourcing and low burden become research objectives. However, few of the existing privacy-preserving schemes focus on the secure outsourcing of the training process, and few consider the supervision of the hospital for the online diagnosis process. By introducing a four-party architecture with two non-colluding servers, a hospital and users, in this paper, we propose a controllable privacy-preserving online diagnosis scheme (CPPOD) with outsourced SVM over encrypted medical data. Concretely, an integer vector homomorphic encryption is employed to protect medical data and user requests. In the encrypted domain, a series of collaborative protocols including data collection, sequence minimum optimization solver, SVM model building, and online diagnosis are constructed and take place between different participants, while no significant increase in computation on either the hospital or user side. CPPOD enables the hospital to delegate online diagnosis services to a cloud server while ensuring that its regulatory capabilities cannot be bypassed unauthorized. Security analysis and performance evaluation suggest that CPPOD performs well regarding security and efficiency.
Wąż Miedziany i rzekoma nobilitacja. Przyczynek do biografii Tomasza Tretera
Authors: Kiliańczyk-Zięba Justyna
Published: December 2023

The Brazen Serpent and the Alleged Ennoblement: A Case for Tomasz Treter’s Biography: The article discusses signs of identity (burgher arms) of Tomasz Treter (Treterus, 1547–1610). Treter was a trusted secretary of Cardinal Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius), but also a draughtsman, a painter, an engraver, a designer of monuments and prints, and a Neo-Latin poet. The texts focuses on Treter’s non-armorial seals, depicting a shield with a winged snake twisted around a cross (the Brazen Serpent) and on Treter’s two supralibros (one with the burgher arms and the other displaying an impresa). The paper also analyses emblematic compositions in Symbolica vitae Christi meditatio, a volume of meditations composed by Treter. These sources are used to undermine the belief that Treter was ennobled by Pope Gregory XIII and that he used the Boncompagni’s coat of arms (Draco).
Liminality and In-betweenness in Kathleen Jamie’s Surfacing
Authors: Kocot Monika
Published: December 2023

The article looks at Kathleen Jamie’s collection of essays entitled Surfacing (2019) and explores the issue of narrative in-betweenness and liminality. The focus in the first part of the article is on the liminal features of Jamie’s essays, on the way the collection is designed, but it also discusses the importance of paratexts such as the book cover. It introduces the concept of spiral time, and liminal space-time so characteristic of Jamie’s writing. The second part analyses an essay entitled “A Tibetan Dog” in which Jamie creatively investigates multimodal “threshold” connections between the present and the past, the realm of reality and the realm of dreams, and, last but not least, the link between intellectual knowledge and bodily wisdom.
Neurotyczna męskość. O książce Krystyny Kłosińskiej Neuroza. Zagrożone męskości
Authors: Gajewska Agnieszka
Published: December 2023

W artykule autorka omawia monografię Krystyny Kłosińskiej zatytułowaną Neuroza. Zagrożone męskości. W syntetycznym ujęciu recenzentka sytuuje najnowszą książkę Kłosińskiej w kontekście jej wcześniejszych prac naukowych oraz studiów nad męskościami. Autorka ukazuje, że dla Krystyny Kłosińskiej neuroza to kategoria ogniskująca dziewiętnastowieczne obsesje, fantazje i uwewnętrznione lęki, związane z rozwojem technologicznym, wyzwaniami dotyczącymi przeobrażeń politycznych oraz gospodarką kapitalistyczną. Kłosińska stawia w centrum swoich dociekań figury męskości i interpretuje je z perspektywy podziałów genderowych dziewiętnastego stulecia.

Neurotic Masculinity. On Krystyna Kłosińska’s Book Neuroza. Zagrożone męskości

In this article, the author discusses Krystyna Kłosińska’s monograph entitled Neuroza. Zagrożone męskości. In a synthetic approach, the reviewer situates Kłosińska’s latest book in the context of her earlier scientific works and masculinity studies. The author shows that for Krystyna Kłosińska, neurosis is a category that brings together nineteenth-century obsessions; fantasies and internalized fears related to technological development; challenges related to political changes and the capitalist economy. Kłosińska puts the figures of masculinity at the center of her research and interprets them from the perspective of nineteenth-century gender divisions.
On “Reliving the Past”: An Anthropologist’s Perspective
Authors: Nikiel Dariusz
Published: December 2023

The article presents a theoretical conceptualization of the metaphor of “reliving the past” for ethnographic fieldwork use. The following three issues are elaborated: (1) how the metaphor of “reliving the past” is present in the academic literature; (2) what anthropological theories inspire the proposed use of the notion of “reliving the past”; and (3) how the use of this kind of “theory” and “method” might affect the practice of ethnographic fieldwork. The article is based on the author’s experience gathered during the realization of research on the memory of the Second World War and the post-war period in the Podhale region.
“Dangerous Liaisons”: Whiteness and Private Relations between German Colonial Officials and Indigenous Women in German Togo and Their Political Consequences
Authors: Piwowarczyk Darius J.
Published: December 2023

The article addresses the topic of intimate relationships between colonial officials and indigenous women in German Togo (1884–1914), which occurred in the ideological context stimulated by Cultural Darwinism, and the issue of socio-political consequences of such relations, both in the colony and in the homeland. In its analytical part, I draw on the conceptual distinction between “whiteness” and “blackness” – understood as biological phenotypes – as well as between “whiteness” and “Whiteness” – the latter term denoting a sociocultural system in which people of white complexion are more likely to experience privilege and preferential treatment in comparison with their darkskinned counterparts. The fact that “Whiteness” has been historically “porous” and Western imageries about Africans “flexible” – ranging from brutal racism to romanticization – presented numerous possibilities for certain individuals to “become white” by “acting White”, including the sphere of intimate relationships. In the context of the dominant Darwinian discourse – namely, the perceived threat of racial “degeneration” – the mixed marriages and their offspring became politicized in Germany, and a series of – largely ineffective – legal measures were taken to impose a stricter metropolitan control over the conduct of German colonial officials.
Power training in older adults: A pilot and feasibility study
Authors: el Hadouchi Mohamed , Kiers Henri , Boerstra Brittany A. , Pijpers Roos , Veenhof Cindy , Dieën Jaap H. van
Published: December 2023

Background: Previous research shows that power training can increase power output in older adults and may also improve physical performance, physical functioning, and independence. However, power training interventions have not been optimized for older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a power training program called Powerful Ageing in older adults.

Methods: A total of 28 older adults participated in a 12-week power training intervention at an intensity of 20-30% 1RM. The primary outcome, feasibility, was assessed through intervention retention, adherence (attendance and compliance), and safety. Secondary outcomes were measured in health domains of the ICF. In the function domain, muscle power and anaerobic power were assessed using a weighted squat and Wingate test, respectively. In the activities domain, physical performance was measured using the 6-minute walk test, and in the participation domain, physical activity in daily life and health status were evaluated using an accelerometer and the SF-36 questionnaire, respectively.

Results: With intervention retention and adherence at 100%, and 0% drop-out due to injuries, Powerful Ageing was considered feasible and safe for older adults. Power training significantly improved muscle power, anaerobic power, and physical performance in older adults, but did not have a significant effect on physical activity in daily life or health status.

Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that Powerful Ageing is a feasible and safe intervention that may improve muscle power, anaerobic power, and physical performance in older adults. Randomized clinical trials are necessary to fully assess the potential of power training as an exercise intervention for older adults.
Reinventing International Business Education: Integrating the Power of Generative AI
Authors: Benmamoun Mamoun
Published: December 2023

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes global business, international business (IB) education must adapt. This article explores the incorporation of Generative AI (GenAI) into IB curricula, examining course fit and faculty readiness, while presenting actional recommendations across three dimensions: Engagement, Collaboration, and Academic Integrity. We propose methods for interactive learning and lesson engagement using GenAI’s conversational interface and prompts engineering. We also propose leveraging GenAI as a multifaceted tool to enhance international teamwork and collaboration and cultivate cross-cultural and linguistic connections. Additionally, we outline measures to prevent its misuse and mitigate the inherent threats it poses to academic integrity and assessment.
On a Determinantal Formula for Derangement Numbers
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Kuwait University, Kuwait, ANÐELIĆ MILICA , DA FONSECA CARLOS M. ,   Kuwait College of Science and Technology, Kuwait,   University of Primorska, Slovenia
Published: December 2023

The aim of this note is to provide succinct proofs for a recent formula of the derangement numbers in terms of the determinant of a tridiagonal matrix.
Construction of Simultaneous Cospectral Graphs for Adjacency, Laplacian and Normalized Laplacian Matrices
Authors:   Department of Mathematics,  Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, INDIA, DAS ARPITA , PANIGRAHI PRATIMA ,   Department of Mathematics,  Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, INDIA
Published: December 2023

In this paper we construct several classes of non-regular graphs which are co-spectral with respect to all the three matrices, namely, adjacency, Laplacian and normalized Laplacian, and hence we answer a question asked by Butler [?]. We make these constructions starting with two pairs (G1, H1) and (G2, H2) of A-cospectral regular graphs, then considering the subdivision graphs S(Gi) and R-graphs ℛ(Hi), i = 1, 2, and ﬁnally making some kind of partial joins between S(G1) and ℛ(G2) and S(H1) and ℛ(H2). Moreover, we determine the number of spanning trees and the Kirchhoﬀ index of the newly constructed graphs.
Forms of interaction between the National Medical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine (for adults) and the regions of the Russian Federation
Authors: Fomin V. V. , Yavorovsky A. G. , Shepetovskaya N. L. , Sokolov N. A. , Vyzhigina M. A. , Kirichok I. V. , Shinkarenko Ya. V.
Published: December 2023

In order to implement the Federal Project “Development of a Network of National Medical Research Centers and Implementation of Innovative Medical Technologies”, the National Medical Research Center (NMRC) on the “Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (for adults)” was established in 2021 on the basis of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), designed to perform organizational and methodological management of specialized units of medical organizations of regions of the Russian Federation. Aim. Evaluate the contribution of Sechenov University to the implementation of the federal project “Development of a network of medical research centers and the introduction of innovative medical technologies” using the unique experience of the NMRC as an example.. Materials and methods. Analysis of the results of NMRC visits to the regions of the Russian Federation. Reports review of medical organizations of the regions of the Russian Federation. The involvement of medical personnel of the regions in the system of continuous medical education, including scientific and practical events carried out by NMRC, and the demand for the use of telemedical consultations were assessed. Results. During 17 months of the NMRC work 15 of on-site inspections in the regions of Russian Federation were carried out in order to analyze the level of anesthesiology and intensive care services in the regions of Russian Federation, 2577 telemedical consultations were provided, and 15 interactive educational modules for the portal of continuous medical and pharmaceutical education of Ministry of Health of Russia were prepared. Conclusion. The main forms of NMRC’s interaction with the regions of the Russian Federation are organizational and methodological, scientific and educational support of the representatives of healthcare practitioners and regional healthcare authorities. The NMRC activities are aimed at improving the quality of medical care in the field of anesthesiology and intensive care in the regions of the Russian Federation and the formation of a value-oriented approach in modern health care.
Analysis of the primary incidence of drug addiction disorders in regions including cities with a population of over a million and regions without such cities
Authors: Tominina E. V. , Skripov V. S. , Kurkova E. S. , Esina K. M. , Semenova N. V. , Kulakov D. D.
Published: December 2023

To analyze the primary incidence of mental disorders and behavioral disorders associated with the use of psychoactive substances in subjects with cities with a population of over a million and in subjects where there are no such cities, using the example of the Volga and North-Western federal districts. Material and methods. The study compared the detection rates for these disorders obtained from the forms of federal statistical observation №11 «Information on diseases with narcological disorders» for 2020 in all subjects that are part of the Volga and North-Western federal districts. Results. When assessing the detectability of narcological disorders between the North-Western and Volga federal districts, significant differences were found in the detectability of alcoholism, harmful use of alcohol and harmful use of narcotic substances. In all cases, the detection of such disorders was higher in the Volga Federal District. At the same time, when assessing the detection of drug addiction, no differences were found. It was established that the primary incidence of drug addiction, the harmful use of alcohol and drugs was significantly higher in the cities with a population of one million in the Volga Federal District. And in the Northwestern Federal District, the opposite situation was observed. It draws attention to the fact that the detection of alcoholism, the harmful use of alcohol and the harmful use of drugs is significantly less in St. Petersburg, compared with other subjects of the district. Conclusion. The incidence of narcological disorders depends on many factors, including economic, social, as well as the territorial location of the subject. In addition, the identified differences both between the compared federal districts and between regions with cities with a population of over a million and regions without such cities indicate different approaches to organizing drug treatment services for the population, in particular preventive and diagnostic measures.
Batak Language Maintenance among Teenagers in Bekasi Indonesia
Authors:   English Department, Faculty of Letters and Culture, Universitas Gunadarma, Indonesia, Hastuti Erni , Fristy Amelia Regina ,   English Department, Faculty of Letters and Culture, Universitas Gunadarma, Indonesia, Oswari Teddy ,   Management Department, Faculty of Economic, Universitas Gunadarma, Indonesia
Published: December 2023

Language maintenance is an effort to ensure that a language continues to be used and preserved, especially as the identity of a community group. This research aims to find out the factors of Batak language maintenance in Bekasi. This research used descriptive qualitative method. The subjects of this research are Bataknese teenagers who live in Bekasi Indonesia. The techniques used by researchers in the data collection process are observation and questionnaires. The result shows that the factors support the use of Batak language among Bataknese teenagers consist of the positive attitudes of the teenagers toward Batak language in which they still maintain the Batak language. In family, Bataknese teenagers still use Batak language to communicate with their family members. Homeland contact factor in which Bataknese teenagers has a really strong ties with each other and it is very often for Bataknese teenagers to gather up in a cultural event and most of the time, their extended family members would come from a far just to attend the event.
The Roles of Schemata in Reading Comprehension: An Empirical Study among Ielts Test Takers at a University in Hanoi
Authors:   Dai Nam University – Hanoi, Vietnam, Huyen, M.A. Bui Thi Khanh
Published: December 2023

The present study employed a mix-method research design to identify the impacts of activation of schemata on the reading comprehension scores and the individual differences and text characteristics influence (if any) the relationship. The study was conducted with 68 students of different learning styles; Visual learner, n=12; Auditory learners, n= 23; Group learners, n=19 and Individual learners, n=14. The findings reveals that students who were introduce schemata (experimental group) activation gained better reading scores, M=6.89 while the control group gained the score which was much lower, M= 4.65. The statistical analysis ANOVA was used to identify the difference in the means scores of participants with different learning styles. The ANOVA was examined based on an alpha value of .05. The results of the ANOVA were significant, F(3, 64) = 4.55, p = .006, indicating there were significant differences in Experimental group among the levels of Learning style. In the first place was Auditory leaners M= 7.19. Ranking in the second place was Auditory learners with M=7.19, following by Group leaners and Visual learners with M= 6.73 and 6.42 respectively.
CSR: Issues, Developments, and Strategies of Intervention
Authors:   Professor, Department of Social Work, Dr B.R.Ambedkar College, DU, Singh Dr. Avtar , Singh Oshank ,   Finance Trainee, NLR-India
Published: December 2023

This article delves into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its significance, drawing upon existing theoretical and empirical literature. It explores the contextual and highly debated relationship between profitability and morality, focusing on India's cultural diversity and its social development challenges. CSR and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been localised to address these challenges. The article analyses the potential implications of mandated CSR under India's recently enacted Companies Act of 2022 on firm incentives, likely responses of corporations within the ambit of the law, and the implications of resource availability and delivery of social good. The success of addressing these implementation challenges will determine how far the objective of the new regulation is met. Ultimately, this paper studies the interface between CSR and social development, emphasising the importance of both in promoting sustainable growth.
The Influence of Easy Access to Loans, Cost Efficiency and Loan Duration on Consumer Intention to Carry out Loans with Borrowing Risk as a Moderation Variable
Authors:   Master of Management University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, Firmansyah Firmansyah , Bangsawan Satria ,   Master of Management University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, Fihartini Yuniarti ,   Master of Management University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
Published: December 2023

This research aims to examine the influence of ease of loan access, cost efficiency, and loan duration on intention to make a loan in the fintech P2P lending industry. This research also tests the role of lending risk as a moderating variable in this relationship. Data collection uses a purposive sampling method using a questionnaire via an online survey to people who have accessed fintech P2P lending services and consists of questions that are relevant to the research variables. The number of samples in this study was 240 respondents. Data analysis was carried out using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique with the help of the AMOS analysis tool. The results of this research show that ease of access to loans, cost efficiency, loan duration which is moderated by the risk of borrowing influence the intention of Fintech P2P Lending consumers to make loans so that it is hoped that it can add to the body of knowledge, because this research can theoretically help in deepening understanding of the factors. - factors that influence consumer behavior in the fintech market, it is also hoped that the results of this research can help fintech companies understand consumer preferences and behavior regarding the products and services they offer. By understanding consumer preferences, companies can develop products and services that better suit consumer needs.
Sibling Authors Propose Bipolar Disorder Of Publishing Biomedical Research: With MEDLINE Footprint Imploding And Retraction Footprint Fudging, Can Pursuit For PubMed® Footprint Challenge Humane Human Imprinting By Physician Scientists?
Authors: Gupta Divya , Gupta Deepak
Published: December 2023

With continents and oceans in-between, sibling authors, one from a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) nation and other from a G7 (Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States) nation, propose christening bipolar disorder of publishing biomedical research.