bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On name change
Authors:   Biblioteca Centrală Universitară „Mihai Eminescu”, Iaşi, România, Gafton Ioana
Published: January 2023

This study is based on the research of certain documents on name change (laws, archive documents, Official Gazettes issued between 1895–1945). The aim is to clarify the reasons why such onomastic amendments were requested. Thus, the paper is focused particularly on the applications for name change, not on how they were solved. Name change was requested by Romanian citizens and by other inhabitants on the Romanian territory. The study contains a summary of the evolution of the legal framework which allowed the name changes to be made, along with the underlying motivations and procedures. In general, name change applications are directly related to the features of different historical events and only indirectly to the inhabitants’ citizenship and religion. The examples investigated are relevant: the examination of all the documents on name change issued during the aforementioned period enabled the author to obtain a faithful image of the extent of this phenomenon in relation to ethnicity. Upon processing the results, one can see that the reasons behind name change were multiple, especially social, cultural and political.
Names of characters in Game of Thrones: for and against multiculturalism
Authors:   Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, North University Centre of Baia Mare, Romania, Tomoiagă Ligia
Published: January 2023

The Game of Thrones is one of the most popular shows in the world, with numerous audiences since it has been translated into many languages. Like any other such show, the reactions to it function like mirrors of contemporary themes and obsessions. As with most aspects of culture today, ideologues of all types – Marxists, conservatives, traditionalists, Critical Race Theory activists, intersectionalists, feminists, and others – always try to use such widely popular shows to illustrate their ideas and push their agendas. Some aspects of Songs of Ice and Fire have triggered debates on the issue of its characters as being not diverse enough, and thus showing how George R. R. Martin wrote a rather non-progressive book. This paper focuses on the names the author chose for his characters, and argues that the choice of names in the show is due to a wish of the author to evoke important world cultures, to have a sonority that matches the characters’ personalities, and to be both archaic and memorable. I have called such a view a non-ideological and symbolic one, and I think that viewers identify with the characters in the film due to their likes and dislikes, and not according to any kind of ideological claims. Nevertheless, these names can also be considered to be a good illustration of diversity – of ethnic, cultural, and racial background. For such a demonstration the study concentrates on the names of a few of the main characters, trying to come up with possible etymologies (as we know that Martin looked into such names of Medieval England) which are correct from a historical linguistic point of view, but which also can be interpreted as symbolic and have a rich connotation within the literary text.
Multicultural elements reflected in literary anthroponymy. Case study: L. M. Arcade
Authors:   Institutul limbii române, România / Universitatea din Craiova/ Universitatea „Sfinţii Kiril şi Metodiu” Veliko Tărnovo, Bulgaria, Zăbavă Elena-Camelia
Published: January 2023

It is known that onomastics plays a major part in a literary text. Toponymy impacts on the spatial projection of the action, while anthroponymy helps outline and individualize characters. This paper aims to reveal the extent to which characters’ names reflect multiculturalism. To this end, the object of study consists of anthroponyms used in Cultural revolution, one of the literary creations by L. M. Arcade (Leonid Mămăligă’s pseudonym). For instance, the names of some of the main characters in the novel, twelve students, are indicative of a wide multicultural range: Bokutu, a Congolese who studies theology; Şloimi Pipirig, a Jew; Coco Ipsilanti, whose name has Greek roots. There are also other names which are suggestive in themselves: Catrafus, Voioşilă, Johny Doi, Smântânică, etc. It is precisely the presence of students pertaining to various nationalities, religions and ethnic groups which allows the author to introduce a series of multicultural elements.
Symbolic value of anthroponymy in the novel Donna Alba by Gib I. Mihăescu
Authors:   Universitatea Tehnică din Cluj-Napoca, Centrul Universitar Nord Baia Mare, România, Zăvoian Mirela Letiţia
Published: January 2023

The act of naming characters in the novel Donna Alba by Gib I. Mihăescu is an obvious way to individualize the respective characters and to unmask their notable features or their more or less noble ancestry. In this regard, this paper is a semantic and etymological analysis of the anthroponymy in the above-mentioned novel. The research aims to illustrate the symbolic meaning and literary function of the characters’ names as a way of conveying the message of the literary work. Thus, the names of Gib Mihăescu’s characters reflect the values and multicultural influences specific to the age depicted in the novel, by virtue of the careful selection of the words fulfilling an onymic role, and as a result of the use or phonetic adaptation of foreign anthroponyms.
Children’s names and family language policy for multilingual parents in the UK
Authors:   SOAS, University of London, UK, Green Clare
Published: January 2023

This paper explores the relationship between the names that multilingual parents choose for their children, and the family’s language policy (consisting of their language practices, beliefs and management). Using case studies from interviews with parents in the UK who speak a first language other than English, it discusses the factors behind the name choice, various ways parents make their children’s names “work” in multiple languages, and why some parents give their children monolingual names. Children’s names often reflect their parents’ linguistic beliefs and intentions, but they do not predict how the family’s language policy will later develop.
Subjective Factors Influencing Students to Use Bicycle on Campus: A Case Study in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
Authors:   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Ahmad Termida Nursitihazlin , Zaperi Noor Haliza ,   ITG Electronics Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Daniel Basil David ,   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Endrayana Dimas Bayu ,   Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Hardini Probo ,   Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Published: January 2023

Malaysia’s energy consumptionis predicted to grow over time and the main contributor to the energy consumptionis in transport sector.It is also predictedthat energy for transport may expandsignificantly for the next 25 years. Therefore, it is vitalto create sustainable development in every energy-produced sectors, especially in transport sectors, nationallyand globally. One of the measures to reduce energy consumptions in transport sector is to promote sustainable transportationparticularly in promoting active transportation mode such as bicycle. This study aims to investigate subjective factors that influence the students’ decisions to use a bicyclefor movingoncampus.Probability sampling method using stratified sampling technique was appliedsince the study was conducted among Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia postgraduate students. Survey method via online questionnaire was used and quantitative method in conjunction with relevant statistical approachessuch as descriptive statistics and regression analyseswas applied to analyse the data. Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) wasapplied to test therelationships between thefactors.It is found that very few students have used bicycle for movementon campusfor participating in mandatory, maintenance and leisure activitiesin both weekdays and weekends. Regression results show thatsubjective factorswhich aresubjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and attitude arestrongly influence students’ decisionsto use bicycle for daily travels in campussignificantly.In addition, the perceived behavioural control that is ease of bicycle use on campus is significantly influenced the behaviour of cycling on campus with similar weightage found with the intention variable.
Antecedents of Technology Adoption by Manufacturing Firms in the UAE
Authors:   Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Almehairbi Khalfan Mohamed Saqer Saif , Jano Zanariah ,   Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Abo Mosali Najmaddin ,   20 Surrey Drive
Published: January 2023

Technology adoption growth has become a primary motivator for individuals,businesses, and governments in this competitive world. Hence, this paper presents a study of antecedents of technology adoption by manufacturing firms in the UAE. This study has identified 19 antecedents of technology adoption growth from the literature. A questionnaire survey was conducted by distributing 400 questionnaires to the manufacturing firms’ employees involved in production operations in UAE. However, only 330 valid questionnaires were for data analysis. The collected data was analysed to rank the antecedents based on its influenced on adopting new technology in the UAE's manufacturing sector. The ranking was based on mean score and standard deviation values of the antecedents. It was found that the five highest ranks are organizationantecedentranked first with a mean value of 4.50, followed by Time for implementation ranked second with a mean value of 4.44. Technique for operating technology ranked third with a mean value of 4.38, compatibility ranked fourth with a mean value of 4.37, relative advantage ranked fifth with a mean value of 4.36. Following, the collected data were analysed for each antecedent effectiveness in technology adoption. Out of 19 identified antecedents of technology adoption, it wasfound that ten of it have strong level of effect, while nine have high level of influences on the technology adoption growth. The study's findings can help government agency to formulate policy related to technology adoption growth in UAE manufacturing sector and this will improve the UAE's business and economic growth improves their performance and productivity by leveraging technology.
Quality Measurement of Existing Color Metrics using Hexagonal Color Fields
Authors: Kotsarenko Yuriy , Ramos Quintana Fernando
Published: January 2023

En este trabajo varias formulas están introducidas que permiten calcular la medir la diferencia entre colores de forma perceptible, utilizando el espacio de colores YIQ. Las formulas clásicas y sus derivados que utilizan los espacios CIELAB y CIELUV requieren muchas transformaciones aritméticas de valores entrantes definidos comúnmente con los componentes de rojo, verde y azul, y por lo tanto son muy pesadas para su implementación en dispositivos móviles. Las formulas alternativas propuestas en este trabajo basadas en espacio de colores YIQ son sencillas y se calculan rápidamente, incluso en tiempo real. La comparación está incluida en este trabajo entre las formulas clásicas y las propuestas utilizando dos diferentes grupos de experimentos. El primer grupo de experimentos se enfoca en evaluar la diferencia perceptible utilizando diferentes formulas, mientras el segundo grupo de experimentos permite determinar el desempeño de cada una de las formulas para determinar su velocidad cuando se procesan imágenes. Los resultados experimentales indican que las formulas propuestas en este trabajo son muy cercanas en términos perceptibles a las de CIELAB y CIELUV, pero son significativamente más rápidas, lo que los hace buenos candidatos para la medición de las diferencias de colores en dispositivos móviles y aplicaciones en tiempo real.
Advanced Tools for the estimation of basic Knowledge Level on Education and Training
Authors: Hernández Aguilar José Alberto , Burlak Gennadiy , Santaolaya Salgado René , Ochoa Ortiz Carlos Alberto , Atakishiyeva Messouma
Published: January 2023

Nosotros describimos el uso de nuestro sistema de evaluación en línea (Cliente-Servidor) equipado con capacidades de reconocimiento biométrico, aplicado para evaluar el conocimiento básico en una preparatoria. En este reporte discutimos la posibilidad de la identificación real de estudiantes remotos para resolver el importante problema de: ¿quién está ahí?. En nuestro experimento, seleccionamos aleatoriamente una muestra de estudiantes (n=54) y llevamos a cabo dos evaluaciones: una evaluación normal (en lápiz y papel), y una evaluación por computadora. En este último caso, nuestro sistema de evaluación en línea con herramientas biométricas puede autentificar a un estudiante por medio de la huella digital. Si un estudiante es autentificado, el sistema permite la evaluación en línea, mientras tanto el estudiante está siendo monitoreado por cámaras Web. Durante la evaluación en línea los estudiantes fueron afectados por el ambiente en línea, ellos obtuvieron bajas calificaciones en línea con respecto a los exámenes tradicionales. El reconocimiento de huella digital fue muy bien aceptado. Sin embargo, a 13% de los estudiantes evaluados les disgustó ser monitoreados con cámaras Web, y el 20% de ellos encontraron alguna forma de hacer trampa. Esta tecnología nos permite obtener estadísticas comparables de ambas evaluaciones, y discutir recomendaciones generales para la estrategia, tecnología y equipamiento de las evaluaciones en línea.
ATUAÇÃO DO ENFERMEIRO NA CONSULTA DE PUERICULTURA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Authors: De Souza Lima Ana Erica , Arnaldo Falcão Brenda , Fernandes Granjeiro Moane , Kilcia Carvalho Sena Damasceno Carolinne , Dalva da Silva Oliveira Adélia , Macêdo Magalhães Juliana
Published: January 2023

Objetivo: Analisar na literatura científica a atuação do enfermeiro na consulta de puericultura. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada nas bases de dados eletrônicas LILACS, MEDLINE, BBDENF via BVS e na SciELO. Resultados: Foram utilizados 23 artigos. Os mesmo foram agrupados em categorias temáticas, sendo elas: atuação do enfermeiro na puericultura e dificuldades encontradas na atuação do enfermeiro na puericultura. Conclusão: O enfermeiro desempenha um papel importante no cuidado de enfermagem a partir da formação de vinculo e atendimento integral. Contudo vale ressaltar que apesar da criação desse vinculo o enfermeiro enfrenta algumas dificuldades na realização das consultas, tanto dificultas estruturais quanto técnicas, havendo a necessidade de um treinamento desses profissionais. Acredita-se também que o enfermeiro é um dos maiores apoiadores da equipe e cuida da criança com base na aceitação, atenção e coesão. As pesquisas atuais sobre o assunto apontam para uma lacuna importante e representa uma limitação pela necessidade de pesquisas nos últimos anos para aprimorar o novo processo de vivência da atuação do enfermeiro na consulta de puericultura.

Descritores: Cuidados de Enfermagem; Enfermagem de Atenção Primária; Cuidado da Criança.
Tren Model Bisnis Wirausaha Waralaba
Authors: Wijaya Thalia Tjody
Published: January 2023

Franchise atau yang biasa disebut pula dengan waralaba merupakan suatu metode bisnis dalam melakukan pendistribusian produk maupun layanan jasa yang dimana pemiliknya akan melisensikan operasinya yang termasuk menetapkan merek dagang dan sistem bisnisnya. Hal ini membuat pemilik waralaba akan mendapatkan keuntungan serta mendapatkan royalti berkelanjutan dari si penerima waralaba.
MAZHAB – MAZHAB ANTROPOLOGI HUKUM
Authors: Anugrah Boby
Published: January 2023

Secara historis zaman terus berkembang melalui hierarkis perkembangan yang terus diiringi dengan perubahan sosial, dimana dua hal ini akan selalu beriringan. Keberadaan manusia yang dasar pertamanya bebas menjadi hal yang problematik ketika ia hidup di dalam komunitas sosial
Study of High Blood Pressure and its Effect to Cancer
Authors: Khan Muskan
Published: January 2023

Study of High Blood Pressure and its Effect to Cancer
Effect of Height Blood Pressure on Adrenal Glands
Authors: Khan Muskan
Published: January 2023

Effect of Height Blood Pressure on Adrenal Glands
Academic writing and AI: Day-1 experiment
Authors: Nguyen Minh-Hoang
Published: January 2023

To check the ability of AI to identify precise and detailed scientific information, I experiment with how accurate AI recognizes scientific terms, their origins, meanings, and usages, and whether the accuracy increases over time
The upper mantle geoid for lithospheric structure and dynamics
Authors: Afonso Juan , Salajeghegh Farshad
Published: January 2023

Geoid anomalies offer crucial information on the internal density structure of the Earth, and thus, on its constitution and dynamic state. In order to interpret geoid undulations in terms of depth, magnitude and lateral extension of density anomalies in the lithosphere and upper mantle, the effects of lower mantle density anomalies need to be removed from the full geoid (thus obtaining a residual signal known as the 'upper mantle geoid'). However, how to achieve this seemingly simple filtering exercise has eluded consensus for decades in the solid Earth community. While there is wide agreement regarding the causative masses of degrees > 10 in spherical harmonic expansions of the upper mantle geoid, those contributing to degrees < 7-8 remain ambiguous. Here we use spherical harmonic analysis and recent tomography and density models from joint seismic-geodynamic inversions to derive a representative upper mantle geoid, including the contributions from low harmonic degrees. We show that the upper mantle geoid contains important contributions from degrees 5 and 6 and interpret the causative masses as arising from the coupling between the long-wavelength lithospheric structure and the sublithospheric upper mantle convection pattern, including subducted slabs. Importantly, the contributions from degrees 3 < l < 8 do not show a simple power-law behaviour (e.g. Kaula's rule), which precludes the use of standard filtering techniques in the spectral domain. Our model of the upper mantle geoid will be useful in a wide range of geodynamic and geophysical applications, including the study of i) the thermochemical structure of the lithosphere, ii) dynamic topography and mantle viscosity, iii) the nature of the mechanical coupling of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system and iv) the global state of stress within the lithosphere and its associated hazards.
How fine is fine enough? Effect of mesh resolution on hydrodynamic simulations in coral reef environments
Authors: Saint-Amand Antoine , Lambrechts Jonathan , Thomas Christopher , Hanert Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Coral reef environments are biodiversity hotspots that provide many services to coastal communities. They are currently facing an increasing anthropogenic pressure that jeopardises their survival. Numerical ocean models are an important tool to understand the functioning of coral ecosystems and the mechanisms ensuring their resilience. However, simulating the water circulation through reef systems is challenging because of their naturally complex topography and bathymetry. Many ocean models used for such applications have a spatial resolution coarser than the scale of individual reefs, which puts into question their suitability for the task. Here, we assess the sensitivity of a coastal ocean model's outputs to its spatial resolution when simulating the water circulation in the entire Great Barrier Reef (Australia), the largest coral reef system in the world. We consider the same model with five different resolutions near reefs, ranging from 250 m to 4 km, and compare the model outputs at different locations around reefs and in the open ocean. We also simulate the transport of passive particles released from those different locations. Our results show that the simulated tidal signal is similar for all five resolutions. However, strong discrepancies (> 10 cm/s) in the current velocity are observed near the reefs and along the rugged coastline. When using a coarse-resolution model, the amplitude of the currents is overestimated over reefs, and underestimated between them. We find that validating the model at deep water mooring sites is not sufficient to ensure it performs well close to reefs. Discrepancies in currents lead to more directional and uniform tracer dispersal patterns on coarse-resolution meshes that contrast with the more dispersive patterns observed on fine-resolution meshes. Those differences at the reef level have a large cumulative effect when simulating transport processes over several weeks. Our results suggest that ocean circulation and transport simulations in coral reef environments should be based on model resolutions finer than the reef scale, which generally means a maximum resolution of about 250-500 m.
The Equalization Potential of Schools: Does Schooling Increase or Reduce Socioeconomic Inequality in Student Achievement and Conscientiousness in Both Primary and Lower Secondary Education?
Authors: Jensen Simon Skovgaard
Published: January 2023

AbstractA growing literature has established that schooling either decreases socioeconomic inequality in achievement or contributes equally to student achievement. However, these studies predominantly focus on the early years of schooling and primarily consider achievement outcomes, with little known about the effects in later years of school, and other outcomes. I apply a differential exposure approach to address the role of schooling for both students’ reading achievement and conscientiousness. I use test scores from a biennial mandatory reading test conducted in all Danish public schools (grades 2–8), as well as a self-reported survey measure of conscientiousness from an annual mandatory school survey (grades 0–8) combined with Danish administrative register data. The results show that school exposure improves student achievement, yet it also leads to a decline in students’ self-reported conscientiousness. I find that schooling contributes to narrowing the gap in reading achievement in second grade, and the results indicate that schooling also reduces the gap in conscientiousness in all grades beyond grade 0. However, these reductions are relatively modest in comparison to the overall differences observed in these outcomes.
A Python program to draw energy level diagram and to calculate quantum defects, the high lying Rydberg level
Authors: Hasan Nafees  , Javaid Saba , Misha shafi,  , Rajput Ahmed Ali , M. Daniyal  , Zahid M. Mustaqeem , Ejaz Fatima
Published: January 2023

Rydberg atoms have strong and adjustable atomic interactions that can be tweaked by choosing different states with various principal quantum numbers or orbital angular momentum. They are highly used in quantum information applications. Furthermore, these atoms have long lifetimes and many possible energy levels, and their separations enable coupling to electromagnetic fields with frequencies ranging over six orders of magnitude. We studied some properties of these atoms and have developed a python program; the program gives two options. Firstly, it calculates energies of elements in s, p, d, and f orbitals and draws an energy level diagram of the element listed in the program. Secondly, it gives an option for calculating energy and quantum defects of atoms and ions, either listed or not listed in the program and generates their graphs accordingly. There are 21 elements in the database  whose energy level diagrams could be drawn. The database can be extended by adding more elements.
Ground state energy of the hydrogen atom inside penetrable spherical cavities; variational approach
Authors: Aquino N. , Rojas R. A. , Castaño E.
Published: January 2023

In this work we calculate the ground state energy of the hydrogen atom confined in a sphere of penetrable walls of radius Rc. Inside the sphere the system is subject to a Coulomb potential, whereas outside of it the potential is a finite constant V0. The energy is obtained as a function of  Rc and V0  by means of the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method, in which, the trial function is proposed as a free particle wave function within a finite square well potential but including an exponential factor that takes into account the electron-nucleus Coulomb attraction. For an impenetrable sphere, , the energy grows fast as Rc approaches zero. On the other hand, when the height of the barrier V0 is finite, the energy increases slowly as Rc goes to zero. We also compute the Fermi contact term, nuclear magnetic screening, polarizability, pressure and tunneling as a function of  Rc and V0. As expected, these physical quantities approach the corresponding values of the free hydrogen atom as Rc grows. We also discuss the pressure-induced ionization of the hydrogen atom. The present results are found in good agreement with those previously published in the literature.
Mínimos Cuadrados para la Calibración en Reconstrucción 3D mediante Proyección de Franjas
Authors: Muñoz Antonio , Aguilar Loreto Omar , L. Flores Jorge
Published: January 2023

En sistemas de medición de superficies mediante la técnica de corrimiento de fase con proyección de franjas, la calibración del sistema es una parte esencial para determinar la relación entre la fase obtenida y la altura real del objeto. En este trabajo, presentamos un análisis matemático detallado del modelo de calibración lineal. La deducción del esquema de mínimos cuadrados, requerido para la estimación, se plantea de forma intuitiva empleando la teoría subyacente en análisis numérico. El método de calibración es aplicado a la superficie de un objeto 3D obteniendo resultados favorables.
Retarded potentials and radiation of a rotating charged rod
Authors: Cervantes Contreras Aldrin , Ramirez Olvera Marco , López Cavazos Lucio , López Miranda Jose Alonso , Huet Soto Adolfo
Published: January 2023

In this paper we determine the electromagnetic properties of a rotating charged rod, which rotates around the x-axis with an angular frequency that it’s not constant. As the charge is changing its position over time, the electromagnetic information reaches us with a certain time lag. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the time-dependent(retarded) potentials at any point in space, for which we need multipolar expansion to determine the field at any point in space and do a Taylor expansion of the distance at which we want to measure the electromagnetic fields, in the static and induction zone. Then, we determine the Poynting vector in the corresponding radiation zone. Finally, we determine the radiated power, emphasizing the symmetries of the problem and showing how we can approach its solution considering these symmetries.
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The Moderating Role of Internal Locus of Control in the Relationship between Environmental Management and Organization Citizenship Behavior towards Environment
Authors: Sahil Shahidullah , Zadran Habib Gul , Nayel Ahmad Nabi
Published: January 2023

Concerns about environmental protection have risen to prominence as a global issue in recent years, and leaders and intellectuals must consider how to address it, Customers, suppliers, the public, and the government all expect that Organizations take on more environmental obligations nowadays. Environmental management measures are expanding in response, Environmental concern arises from individuals' set of values of themselves, their families or communities, plants, or animals and we expect that it show to be the biggest predictor of their tendency to engage in OCBE. Individuals are worried about the environment and are more likely to engage in environmentally beneficial activity if they believe that any harm done to the environment would in turn harm them, their friends, families, or animals. As a result, customers, employees and stakeholders are compelled to be ecologically friendly due to underlying values about the impact of their actions on the environment, their family, or future generations. This study suggests that employees who engage in environmentally friendly civic activities out of a moral imperative may also engage in comparable behaviors as workers. As a result, we believe that people who are concerned about the environment are more likely to engage in OCBEs than people who are less concerned. Therefore, the moderating role of internal locus of control have been analyzed in this study in the relationship between EM and OCBE, the result show that ILC significantly and positively affect OCBE, furthermore ILC do not moderate the relationship between EM and OCBE.
Impact of Bank Specific and Macro-Economic Factors on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Afghanistan
Authors: Akbari Mohammad Farhad , Naseri Mohammad Elyas
Published: January 2023

This study was carried out to examine the effects of bank-specific factors and macroeconomics on the financial viability of commercial banks in Afghanistan. The ten banking institutions' panel data sets for the years 2010–2021 were used. A random Effect model of regression was applied. The model of random effects was recommended when the Hausman test was employed to confirm the models' fitness. The null hypotheses were also rejected based on the results of the Wooldridge test for serial correlation and the modified Wald test for group-wise heteroscedasticity. The findings of current research revealed that bank determinants, specifically liquidity and asset management, showed a positive but slight effect on bank profits, while deposit ratio, bank number of branches, and ATMs showed a negative influence. Regarding macroeconomic factors, the outcomes indicated that the influence of the GDP, exchange rate, and inflation rate on bank profitability was negative, while the interest rate, taxes, and industry growth rate had a positive and significant impact on bank profitability. Additionally, by highlighting weak points, the study's findings will assist the management of banks, financiers, the government, policymakers, and shareholders in taking better decisions and enhancing bank performance. Overall, decision-makers need to be better knowledgeable about the factors that affect the profitability of Afghan commercial banks.
The historical development of decentralisation in Syria
Authors: Rabat Lujain
Published: January 2023

This article presents a comparative historical analysis of the development of decentralization in Syria during three historical stages: under the Ottoman empire, during the French mandate, and in the period after the country became independent. The purpose of this research is to reveal patterns that explain the current state of decentralization in Syria today. Primary sources such as legislative decrees and constitutions, as well as secondary scientific and analytical sources are used in this work to analyse the development of decentralization in Syria. This article identifies different aspects, in which the local administration system today has been influenced by previous laws and practices developed by previous governments, namely the country’s administrative-territorial division, the concentration of power at the local level with centrally appointed persons, and the perception of decentralization as a threat to security. Despite many constitutions and legislations throughout Syria’s history mentioning decentralization and empowering local administrative units, governance remains a highly centralized process, giving elected local administrative units limited powers and responsibilities. The securitization of administrative processes as well as prioritizing economic, political, military, and other elite interests throughout Syria’s history have been obstacles to decentralising powers and responsibilities to local administration bodies. However, due to the development of events on the ground in Syria since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, different views on the best form of decentralization for the country’s future, and the role it can play at this important stage of the country's history began to appear in the Syrian society.
Ceramic complexes of the mouth of Wadi el-Hawad: Features of Meroitic pottery under king Natakamani (morphology and archaeometry)
Authors: Malykh Svetlana E.
Published: January 2023

The urban and temple centers of the ancient Sudanese kingdom of Meroe – Hamadab, Awlib and Abu Erteila are located to the south of capital, at the mouth of the seasonal watercourse Wadi el-Hawad, and flourished under the King Natakamani in the 1st century A.D. The study of the pottery shape features makes it possible to identify the morphological evolution of Meroitic ceramics, its functions, and local characteristics. Archaeometric analysis of pottery helps to differentiate the methods of its manufacture and belonging to production centers. As a result, we can say that each of the settlements could have own pottery workshops, which provided, first of all, their needs. Trade in ceramics was weak, and ordinary types of utensils were used in the exchange of their contents. The location of the pottery workshops identified in Hamadab and Muweis demonstrates the development of a planning system for their settlements according to a single model, clearly divided into residential and craft areas, being a characteristic feature of the production infrastructure of the capital region of the Meroitic Kingdom. Although the image of material culture of Meroe shows a high degree of centralization, clearly expressed in the unity of the temple and administrative architecture, and the style of household and cult items (primarily ceramics), we can conclude that the handicraft production and exchange of goods between Meroitic settlements were less centralized, which led to the creation and active functioning of their own pottery workshops both in large urban centers and small administrative and temple complexes.
Historical background and consequences of the kanal Istanbul construction
Authors: Bdoyan David
Published: January 2023

The security and stability of the Black Sea Region is vital for the interests of Russia. The current status of the Black Sea Straits, which is regulated by the 1936 Montreux Convention, generally ensures this security. A destabilizing factor for the region may become Turkey’s desire to strengthen control over the Straits and the construction of an alternative channel, which will be under Turkish jurisdiction and which will not be subject to the Montreux Convention.
 
The construction of the Kanal Istanbul in the context of global instability and the existence of serious contradictions between Western countries and Russia can lead to an imbalance of forces in the Black Sea region. In this regard, this article provides a brief historical overview of how Russia has defended its vital interests in this region over the centuries, as well as how the control over the passage from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean by the different actors was influencing the balance of power in the region. In addition, for a better understanding of the military, political, economic, and ecological consequences of the construction of the Kanal Istanbul the article analyzes the current situation around this project using a matrix of interests.
 
Consequently, by studying the historical and modern processes taking place in the Black Sea region, and also considering the importance of this region for the security and economic well-being of Russia, the author came to the conclusion that the future status of the Kanal Istanbul should be included in the Russian-Turkish agenda.
The carrier of word-formation meaning in russian and arabic gramatic traditions: the word model in the russian-arabic translation algorithm
Authors: Al-Foadi Raheem A.
Published: January 2023

The article is devoted to the Russian-Arabic translation, a particular theory of which has not been developed in domestic translation studies to the extent that the mechanisms of translation from and into European languages are described. In this regard, as well as with the growing volumes of Russian-Arabic translation, the issues of this private theory of translation require significant additions and new approaches. The authors set the task of determining the means of translation (cognitive and mental operations and language transformations) that contribute to the achievement of the most equivalent correspondences of such typologically different languages as Russian and Arabic. The work summarizes and analyzes the accumulated experience of modern Russian linguists, Arabists (Belkin V.M., Gabuchan G.M., Grande B.M., Finkelberg N.D., Frolov V.D., etc.) and representatives of the Arabic classical linguistic school (Ibn Jinni, Sibawayh, etc.) in determining the carrier of word-formation meaning. The purpose of the study is designated as the description of the role of this category in achieving equivalence in the pair of Russian and Arabic. The lexical-semantic group of tools and instruments was considered as a material. These lexemes, both in Russian and Arabic, have an acceptable frequency, cover various stylistic registers and are formed by a relatively limited set of formants, interlingual correspondences of which can be established and compared. For the first time, on the material of this lexico-semantic group, a systemic interlingual correlation of the series of word-building formants in Russian and Arabic is revealed. The authors draw conclusions about the category of the word-formation model as a key one in the algorithm of translation activity, as well as about the specific linguistic signs of the equivalence of the Arabic-Russian translation (full transfer of the real meaning of the motivating base, the coincidence of the rhythm of the derived Arabic word with a model, the correspondence of the derivative to the grammatical categories contained in the model).
Monument to the Qing Emperor in Korea: the Visible Embodiment of Imperial Policy
Authors:   Moscow City University, Vasilyev Dmitry , Ryabov Alexander V. ,   Saint Petersburg University of State Fire Service of EMERCOM of Russia, Kuznetsova Natalia V.
Published: January 2023

The paper focuses on The Great Qing Emperor's Merit and Virtue Stele (大清皇帝功德碑) that was erected in Joseon state in 1639 after the 1637 peace agreement and recognition of Qing suzerainty. Stele is examined as a visible embodiment of the imperial policy in order to concretize its features and evaluate the representing component. The main source of the article is the translation from the Manchu text on the Stele first translated by A.M. Pozdneev and then published in 1891. The paper also uses the Chinese text of the inscription. As a result the features of the Qing policy towards Joseon visualized in the monument, perceived and broadcast within of sinocentrism are identified following. Vassalage acceptance is presented as a historically conditioned event: the military attack took place because Joseon had violated the alliance previously concluded with the Manchus. The relations established after 1637 did not imply annexation, influence on the government system. In actual fact, vassalage was a nominal act: the ruler returned to his country, and the people – to a peaceful life. Suzerainty recognition had both actual (social) and sacred legitimation of the van power: he admitted his guilt, and subsequently became a conductor of Heaven within his state. The Stele can be regarded as an official document was created in the “solid book” form (稳书) characteristic of China. This document monumentally embodied Korea's recognition of vassalage on the Qing dynasty and recorded the Joseon’s recognition the Manchu ruler as emperor of Celestial Empire.
“It Is Favorable to the Forces of Socialism to Keep the Americans in South-East Asia Longer”. The Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee in the Determination of the Strategic Line of the USSR in the Second Indochina War of 1965
Authors: Naumkin Vitaliy
Published: January 2023

Based on a scrupulous review of a large body of documents from the Russian and some foreign archives, for the first time introduced into scholarly discourse, this article contemplates a period in the Soviet Union history, when the influence of the USSR in world affairs reached its maximum. It was a short by historical standards span, when the so-called “collective leadership” headed by Leonid I. Brezhnev, Alexei N. Kosygin and Nikolay V. Podgorny was at the helm of the Soviet state. The authors of the article show that it is unlikely that the transformation of the USSR into one of the superpowers would have been possible if not the US defeat in Indochina. With the aim of proving this premise, the authors have focused on the developments related to one of the turning points of the Cold War – the first half of 1965. In this context, the article closely analyses the course and results of the negotiations between Kosygin and the leaders of the DRV, PRC and DPRK. In fact, it was then, as evidenced by the researched documents, that the Soviet Union turned de facto from an observer into an actual participant in the Vietnam War (and, more broadly, the confrontation with the United States in the Far East) as part of the anti-American coalition of the USSR – PRC – DRV – DPRK. And although the authors are talking about a strategic plan in place – as it happens in real politics – and also in this case, it was born almost by accident, while the genuine masterminds of the geopolitical combination have remained in the shadow of history for many years.
Problems of identity and separatism of ethnic minorities in the global world: case of Assam, India
Authors: Stolyarov Alexander A.
Published: January 2023

The article is dedicated to the study of the problem of separatist and protest movements among ethnic minorities in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, seeking to maintain their identity. Over the centuries, migration trends in the state have shaped a complex multiethnic and multicultural population. Amendments to the Citizenship Law in the 2000s led to an even greater unification of the local population in protest groups for political reasons. The first part of the article provides a brief overview of the historical prerequisites influencing the destabilization of the Assamese society in the modern world. The second part focuses on specifics of the protests in 1950s–60s. The third part revolves around the current state of affairs in the Assam society, tracing various forms of protest and identifying sides of the conflicts between: a) tribal communities in their struggle for inclusion in the category of Scheduled Tribes; b) tribes and non-tribal populations; c) tribes and immigrants; d) the unification of tribes against the state. A parallel between ethnic separatism in the Indian northeastern states and the European version is drawn. The article is based on publications in the English-language media and academic works of Indian researchers, in which a view of the problem from within the state is traced. The study concludes that before the problem with illegal immigrants, there was a number of several other reasons, due to which, over the centuries, many ethnic groups have sought to obtain autonomy.
The Indian Model Of Democracy: Between West and East
Authors: Zakharov Aleksei
Published: January 2023

Currently, experts and researchers have a wide discussion on the crisis of liberal world order and the rollback of the “third wave” of democratization proposed by S. Huntington. The Indian democracy seems to be at the nexus of Western and Eastern political system. On the one hand, India has a successfully functioning parliamentary democracy built on the principles of the Westminster system, which has demonstrated its sustainability even during periods of political crises. On the other hand, the Indian socio-political structure includes some elements that noticeably distinguish it from the Western states: the caste system, complex interethnic relations and sectarian divisions, occasionally resulting in communal violence. Critics of Indian democracy often note departure from liberal practices, particularly in terms of respect for individual liberties, and the emergence of authoritarian tendencies in state policies.
In the first part of the work, the authors review the political system of India and the functioning of various branches of the government. The second part examines main theoretical concepts of the non-Western models of democracy. The authors analyze approaches by R. Dahl, L. Pye, A. Lijphart and assess their applicability to the Indian model of democracy.
It may be argued that the Indian model is best explained by the theory of consociational democracy, which takes into account the multi-ethnic and multiconfessional composition of the Indian society. The inequalities and deep cultural divisions inherent in the Indian social order make the implementation of democracy a necessary condition for building loyalty of the population and strengthening the statehood.
Iran – “Taliban”: a comparative analysis of relation-ship stages
Authors: Machitidze Georgy G.
Published: January 2023

The article is devoted to comparative analysis of Iran's relations with the Taliban in the past 30 years. The conducted research suggests that these relations can be divided into three stages: confrontational, pragmatic and public. Tehran's initial reliance on the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance led to a serious confrontation with the Taliban in the 1990s. The realization of the need to contain the United States led to a change in Tehran’s critical approach to the Taliban to a pragmatic one. The transformation of the Iranian elite’s views coincided with the start of the Taliban insurgency in the country. With the transition from hostility to pragmatism, Iran began to provide military assistance to the Taliban. The success of the Taliban in confronting government and coalition forces, the intensification of Washington’s efforts to reach agreements with the Taliban, as well as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s actions in the same direction, contributed to the reformatting of Tehran’s relations with the Taliban into public ones. The author notes that Iranian-Taliban ties have never been a strong alliance, with each side respecting its own interests. Formal non-recognition of the Taliban regime by Tehran does not hinder the development of trade economic relations. The author comes to the conclusion that Iranian pragmatism contributed to the establishment of normal relations between Tehran and Kabul, which is important for regional stability at the present stage. But uncertainties in terms of further development of Afghanistan under the Taliban can revive the painful problems for both sides.
Mongolia In Finno-Ugric Academic And Political Discourse (1840s – 1910s)
Authors: Zagrebin Aleksei Ye.
Published: January 2023

Mongolia, as one of the geographical and semantic centerpieces of Central Asia, has remained in focus of Finno-Ugric, Altaic and Turkic studies for several generations. Expeditions and academic publications in the 1840s-1910s were given special attention due to growing political tension in a strategically important region, where the interests of the "Great Powers", Japan and China, converged. The search for Oriental rarities and negotiations with the leaders and religious figures of Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang took place against the backdrop of tense social situation in a multiethnic and multiconfessional land. Mongolia, the Mongolian language and ethnoculture have gained prominence in the scholarly discourse of Finno-Ugric studies. By looking into Mongolian materials, Finnish and Hungarian researchers have tried either to confirm or to disprove the linguistic and ethnogenetic closeness of their own ethnicities to the Central Asian cultures of the past. M.A. Castrén and A. Csoma de Kőrös had paved the first roads of research to the East, after which the expeditions of J.R. Aspelin, H. Vámbéry, A.O. Heikel, K.G. Mannerheim, G.J. Ramstedt and J.G. Granö followed. A leading role in the organization of field research in Southern Siberia, Altai and Mongolia was played by the Finnish-Ugric Society, established in 1883, and its longstanding Chairman, Professor O. Donner. Studying the oral poetry, literary and monumental heritage of Mongolia, scholars have directly or indirectly touched upon the issues of  ethnic identity and self-representation of contemporary Finno-Ugric peoples. In this case, the scholarly dialogue was combined with discussions on domestic politics and international affairs at the same expedition tent.