bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengaruh Struktur Modal, Profitabilitas Dan Kebijakan Dividen Terhadap Nilai Perusahaan Pada Perusahaan Asuransi Di BEI Periode 2019–2022
Authors: Arochman Maqbula , Surenggono Surenggono
Published: June 2024

An insurance company is a company that manages the cash of its customers. An insurance policy is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the stock market experienced a decline so the value of investment in unit link insurance policies decreased. As a result, few customers experience losses due to the value of insurance investments that become worth zero rupiah. This research aims to analyze the influence of debt-to-equity ratio, return on equity, and dividend payout ratio on the company value of insurance companies on the IDX for the 2019-2022 period. This research uses a purposive sampling method with criteria, namely insurance companies whose shares have actively traded since 2019-2022, and published annual financial reports during the observation period from 2019 to 2022. The total population that meets the criteria is 13 insurance companies with an analysis period of 4 years, the total number of samples is 52. The analysis technique used is the classical assumption test and multiple linear regression analysis. The research results show that the debt-to-equity ratio (DER) has a significant effect on company value (PBV), return on equity (ROE) does not have a significant effect on company value (PBV) and the dividend payout ratio (DPR) has a significant effect on company value (PBV).
Comparative analysis of Ukrainian and foreign banking applications
Authors: Lohachova Y.O. , Yesina M.V.
Published: June 2024

Mobile banking applications have been actively used in the financial sector for several years. Such applications significantly facilitate the use of banking services for their users. At the time of active digitalisation, the financial sector also needed reforms and active changes, that is why developers have been actively working on creating first home banking and then mobile banking applications since the end of the last century. Mobile banking applications have come a long way in evolution, so that users can now perform not only simple banking operations, but also many new additional functions making life easier. The development of the technologies used has also led to the emergence of new vulnerabilities, which required the improvement of security systems in such applications. The development path and experience of Ukrainian applications is somewhat different from that of foreign ones, but no less valuable. The development of foreign applications is more standardised and controlled by the government. Such solutions allow for better verification of compliance with security requirements. However, it should not be forgotten that mobile banking was created to facilitate financial transactions remotely, and therefore it should be easy to use by the average user. The article provides a comparative analysis of Ukrainian and foreign banking applications, including: Stanford FCU, Fideuram, N26, Banque populaire du nord, Sparkasse, Monobank, Privat24, Ukrsib-online, Oschadbank, and PUMB. The applications were compared by two groups of criteria, namely security and convenience criteria. The article focuses not only on the aspects in which Ukrainian applications should develop, but also on those in which they have an advantage over foreign apps.
Research horizons in group cryptography in the context of post-quantum cryptosystems development
Authors: Kotukh Y. , Khalimov G. , Korobchynskyi M. , Rudenko M. , Liubchak V. , Matsyuk S. , Chashchyn M.
Published: June 2024

Asymmetric cryptography relies on the principle of ease of calculation and complexity of one-sided functions’ inversion. These functions can be easily implemented, but inverting them is computationally difficult. In this context, NP-complete problems are ideal candidates for the role of such functions in asymmetric cryptography, since generating their cases is easy, but finding solutions is difficult. However, the practical application of NP-complete problems has certain limitations, in particular due to difficulties in creating problems that would be complex on average. Although an NP-complete problem may be hard in general, a particular case of it may be solvable, making it unsuitable for cryptography. The article considers classes of NP problems. Basic definitions and concepts are given. The properties of the class of NP-complete problems, the conditions for determining belonging to the set of NP-complete problems, and the current state of difficult to solve problems are analyzed. It turns out that the class of NP-complete problems is hard for quantum computing. The criteria for belonging of the word problem in groups to NP-complete problems are analyzed. Finite non-Abelian groups are defined for which the word problem is NP-complete. The advantages of using non-Abelian groups for cryptographic applications are considered. The rules of change of form, which determine the transformation of equivalent words, are given. The word problem in finite groups is one of the NP-complete problems. The latest research and prospects for the development of cryptographic primitives of asymmetric cryptography using difficult-to-solve problems in finite groups are analyzed.
Early warning model of cyber threats in 5G networks using Markov processes
Authors: Kolyadenko Y.Y. , Badeyev V.O.
Published: June 2024

Security of telecommunication networks, in which the transmission channel can be used by many users simultaneously, is a particularly important problem. In wireless metropolitan networks, this problem is compounded by the fact that the communication channel is publicly available. In other words, information transmitted in such networks can be easily intercepted by intruders. This can lead to theft of personal data, financial losses, or even to a breach of security of critical infrastructure.
Information security can be compromised by failures that affect the availability, integrity, or confidentiality of information. These failures can be caused by vulnerabilities, namely, defects in software or hardware that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to information. Information security is one of the components of 5G networks reliability. The main security threat to such systems is vulnerabilities, primarily of software components. Despite the fact that information about vulnerabilities of software products is publicly available, there is not enough data to quantify the security of these products using a single general criterion. It is also impossible to predict how well they will be protected from attacks in the future. One of the main problems of choosing the most secure 5G configuration is the difficulty in quantifying the level of information security. In addition, it is difficult to choose adequate evaluation indicators that take into account all the factors affecting successful network penetration and the amount of potential damage.
The search for vulnerabilities in software components is an urgent and resource-intensive task that has recently been taken up by large companies and research centers. Analysis of vulnerability detection and remediation processes shows that they can be described by a mass service system with an infinite queue length.
A model for early warning of cyber threats in 5G networks using Markov processes has been developed. Using simulation modeling in the Matlab environment, a time diagram of the arrival of requests for vulnerability detection was obtained. The change in the probabilities of states was also obtained. Thus, knowing the intensity of the flows, it is possible to model and predict the processes of the arrival of requests for vulnerability detection in real time.
Evaluation of the quality of radar information of dependent cooperative surveillance systems
Authors: Svyd I.V. , Ignatyuk I.V. , Shuniborov O.D. , Maistrenko G.V. , Tulenko M.V.
Published: June 2024

The work demonstrates that cooperative surveillance systems occupy a significant place in the information support of the airspace control and air traffic control system. The issues of assessing the quality of radar information from dependent cooperative surveillance systems have also been studied. These systems are shown to be promising surveillance systems for air traffic control. Authors' attention is focused on the importance of ensuring the integrity of information of dependent surveillance systems. The objective of this work is to formalize models for assessing the probability of an erroneous alarm and integrity risk. According to the results of the study, it is shown that the difference in the coordinates of two independent measurements of the same aircraft position is greater than some predetermined value, and therefore the quality of the coordinate information of the dependent surveillance system under consideration is unsatisfactory and leads to a warning alarm for the dispatcher. It has been demonstrated that the integrity of the coordinate information of dependent surveillance systems determines the likelihood that information about the coordinates of the aircraft transmitted in messages from dependent surveillance systems and used by the dispatcher for air traffic control purposes does not contain undetected errors exceeding the threshold of the established holding radius.
Comparative in silico analysis of transporters coded within biosynthetic genes clusters for ramoplanin and related antibiotics
Authors:   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Zhukrovska K. , Fedorenko V. ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
Published: June 2024

Glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs), like teicoplanin and vancomycin, have been the first-line treatment for infections caused by Gram-positive multidrug-resistant pathogens. GPAs appear to be related to ramoplanin-like lipodepsipeptides (LDPs), yet another signi­ficant class of lipid II binders. Major compounds among LDPs are ramoplanin (the key representative), enduracidin, and chersinamycin; each with known biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Five additional BGCs for the putative LDPs were recently described. LDP BGCs are poorly investigated; one particular aspect that deserves further investigation is transporters coded within BGCs. These proteins most likely take part in the export of antibiotics out of the cell, as well as in the producer’s resistance to its own secondary metabolite. In this work, we performed in silico analysis of genes encoding transporters from ramoplanin and other LDP BGCs. We investigated the domain architecture of these transporters, discovered their homologues in BGCs from MIBiG and beyond, generated models of secondary and tertiary structures, and compared the overall LDP BGCs transport genes blueprint. We were able to identify previously uncharacterized gene encoding ABC transporter within ramoplanin BGC – ramo3. Ramo1 and Ramo3 in ramoplanin BGC appear to be paralogues coding for a permease subunit of the ABC transporter. In every other LDP BGCs, except for chersinamycin BGC, we found only one corresponding homologue encoding this type of protein. Similarly, we found that Ramo2 and Ramo23 are also homologous proteins, which appear to be ATP-binding subunits of the ABC transporter; Ramo2 and Ramo23 have only one homologue in each other LDP BGCs. Next, we were able to describe Ramo8 as ATP-binding ABC transporter, containing both ATPase and transmembrane parts, similar to those encoded in GPA BGCs. For Ramo8, we modelled 3D structure as well as quaternary structure for homodimer of this protein. Finally, our in silico analysis revealed Ramo31 to be a proton membrane antiporter, having distant homologue only in chersinamycin BGC; most likely Ramo31 is not connected to ramoplanin biosynthesis.
Psychophysiological state of students under the war
Authors:   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Bychkova S. , Korol T. ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ikkert O. ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
Published: June 2024

The war in Ukraine has an impact on the psychophysiological state of citizens, whether they are direct participants in the conflict or reside far from the front line. Conside­ring this, studying the psychophysiological state of students continuing their education in a country at war is a relevant issue. Understanding this state can aid in developing effective strategies for preserving the psychological health of youth. The limbic system, which regulates emotions, directly influences the cardiovascular system. Therefore, the research aimed to establish the connection between the frequency of heartbeats (heart rate) during air alarms and mental states (depression, anxiety, stress) of students, as well as components of their emotional intelligence (self-motivation, managing one’s own emotions and the emotions of others, empathy). In the study, 62 second-year students from the Biological Faculty Ivan Franko National University of Lviv participated. Students assessed their psychoemotional state using the «Global Emotional Intelligence Test» and «DASS21» questionnaires. Heart rate (HR) was monitored using smartwatches in combination with corresponding smartphone applications. The average daily heart rate of students was 78.12±0.74 beats/min (n=62), while during air alarms, it increased to 91.21±2.54 beats/min (p≤0.001, n=21). Individuals with additional physical activities showed a tendency toward higher HR during air alarms compared to those who did not engage in exercises. It was found that 50 % of students experienced anxiety, 20 % reported high and extremely high stress levels, and 10 % had a high level of depression. A moderate negative correlation was established between the level of depression and HR during air alarms (r=-0.55, p≤0.05, n=13). A high level of emotional intelligence indicators was observed in the following percentages of students: managing the emotions of others – 27 %, empathy – 24 %, self-motivation – 23 %, managing one’s own emotions – 8 %, and integrative emotional intelligence – 2 %. Positive correlations of mo­derate strength (p≤0.05) were identified between HR during air alarms and the psychological and emotional states of students: r=0.51 (n=11) with anxiety, r=0.59 (n=13) with the level of integrative emotional intelligence, r=0.62 (n=13) with self-motivation, and r=0.63 (n=13) with managing the emotions of others. Therefore, war has an impact on the psychophysiological state of students, resul­ting in an increased level of anxiety. This is evident in the rise of heart rate (HR) during air alarms, which is considered a normal response of the body to a stress factor. However, the more depressive a person is, the lower the HR during air alarms. Thus, there is a correlation between HR during air alarms and psychophysiological state of students.
Rutas hacia la interdisciplina: Casos y aproximaciones desde las Ciencias Sociales
Authors: García Garnica Alejandro , Poox Martínez Diana Gabriela , Téllez Silva José Merced
Published: June 2024

Los trabajos presentados aquí son resultado de la red de vínculos que el posgrado en Ciencias Sociales de la Facultad de Estudios Superiores de Cuautla ha construido y de los temas y orientaciones involucradas en la conformación y consolidación de este programa de estudios. Algunos de los autores son egresados, otros han participado en comités de tesis de maestría y doctorado; la mayoría han discutido diversos temas de investigación de entre la amplísima gama de cuestiones teóricas o metodológicas involucradas en las investigaciones de tesis y del núcleo académico. Estos trabajos fueron presentados, comentados y discutidos en un evento realizado en el año 2022, con el fin de fortalecer las capacidades de los estudiantes y vincularlos con los egresados para mantener activa la red de académicos e investigadores. El objetivo de este libro es servir como material de discusión en seminarios de investigación para analizar las perspectivas teórico-metodológicas que se han incorporado, a veces con base en acuerdos y a veces sin ellos.
Search for associations of single-nucleotide substitutions of the GOS2 gene with signs of body weight and fat deposition in broilers
Authors: Barkova O. , Krutikova A. , Larkina T.
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Search for mononucleotide polymorphisms of the candidate gene G0S2 involved in lipid metabolism and study their relationship with abdominal fat content and body weight in broiler chickens.

Materials and methods. The experiments used 150 broilers of the Isa Hubbard F-15 cross at the age of 35 days from a private farm (2015). For sequencing, we used chickens of the Pushkin breed (23 individuals) aged 475 days, kept on the basis of the bioresource collection of the VNIIGRZh “Genetic collection of rare endangered breeds of chickens” (Pushkin, St. Petersburg). Identification of mononucleotide polymorphisms of the G0S2 gene was carried out by sequencing regions containing coding and regulatory sequences. Genotyping using the amplification method for testing test systems was carried out on a Thermal Cycler T100 device (Bio-Rad, USA).

Results. Using sequencing of the regulatory region of the G0S2 gene, two mononucleotide polymorphisms were identified: rs29005090 (A/G) and rs317858728 (A/G), as well as a significant influence of all three genotypes (AG, AA, GG) of the rs29005090 substitution on the studied traits. Mononucleotide substitution rs29005090 is classified as major, since the effect of allele substitution is more than 0.6–1.5 sigma. The GG genotype rs29005090 can be recommended for marker-assisted selection to increase poultry weight gain and reduce abdominal fat of chicken carcasses in meat poultry farming. When conducting an analysis of variance of data to calculate the effect of substitution of alleles of the mononucleotide substitution marker rs317858728 (A/G) with the traits bird weight and abdominal fat weight of broilers of the Isa Hubbard F-15 cross, a significant difference was revealed between genotypes AA-GG for the traits bird weight and for the sign abdominal fat mass. The highest indicators for body weight and abdominal fat mass were observed in chickens with the GG genotype. This mononucleotide substitution is considered major in relation to the trait “abdominal fat”, since the standard deviation is more than one sigmа.
Features of the protein profile of cows depending on the lactation period and method of housing
Authors: Kolomiets S. , Sosnina L.
Published: June 2024

Purpose: the study of the laws of protein metabolism of high -eating cows, depending on the period of lactation in the attached and unmistable ways of keeping animals in the conditions of the European North of Russia.

Materials and methods. Biochemical studies were conducted with the aim of determining the protein profile of animals on the basis of the laboratory of biochemistry and physiology of animals using the equipment of the Center for Agricultural Research and Biotechnology Center for the Center for Agricultural Studies and Biotechnology, the Volnz RAS FSBBUN. The object of the study was the cows of the black-and-habitat of the Holstinized breed with a productivity of over 8500 kg in the household. When selecting groups of experimental animals, the physiological state, the stage of the sexual cycle and the method of content were taken into account. In total, 108 cows participated in the experience. Blood was taken from the tail vein in the morning in front of feeding. The conditions of feeding and content corresponded to the breed features of animals and ensured the development of high productivity indicators. To assess the condition of protein metabolism, the content was determined in the blood serum: total protein; Albuminov; alpha 1 globulin; Alpha 2 globulins; Beta Globulinov; Gamma Globulinov; protein index (the ratio of albumins to globulin). The material for the study was blood serum. In total, 108 samples were investigated.

Results. The concentration of total protein in the blood serum of experienced animals is within fairly constant limits and the deviation is from 1 to 5 % lower than the established norm during the physiological cycle in the studied groups of animals. A connection has been established between the content of total protein and protein fractions in the serum of the studied animals and the method of detention. So the indicators of the total protein, the protein index and albumines with the tied method of content are higher than with the unmistable method of content during all periods of lactation. The maximum difference was detected in the period after the hotel (1-100 days of lactation) by the content of total protein and gamma globulin and amounted to 5 %. The smallest dependence of the indicators of the protein profile on the method of content was detected in animals during dryness. The level of total protein amounted to 8.0 and 7.99 g%, the content of albumins 3.07 and 3.04 g%, the protein index 0.6 and 0.58, with a binding and unmistable method of detention, respectively.
Physiological features of the cardiomodynamics of Jersey cows
Authors: Stepura E. , Ippolitova T.
Published: June 2024

Purpose: to establish indicators of cardiohemodynamic values and analyze them in Jersey cows.

Materials and methods. In our studies, to measure and further analyze indicators of central and peripheral hemodynamics, we used a hardware-software complex for non-invasive study of central hemodynamics using the method of volumetric compression oscillometry KAP TsGosm-“Globus” (oscillometric analyzer of blood circulation indicators).

Results. In the course of the study, in Jersey cows, average numerical values of myocardial-hemodynamic parameters were obtained: different types of blood pressure, vascular characteristics and indicators of cardiac activity. During mathematical analysis, hemodynamic parameters established the breed characteristics of Jersey cows. In this regard, it is advisable to include the assessment of these parameters in the basic set of methods for diagnosing heart diseases in cattle. The study of the cardiovascular system is of great importance in veterinary treatment and prophylactic work.
Multimodality Imaging of Cardiac Myxomas
Authors: Hrabak-Paar Maja , Muršić Miroslav , Balaško-Josipović Tihana , Dilber Daniel , Bulj Nikola
Published: June 2024

Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms. Echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality used to analyze cardiac masses, allowing the detection of tumor location, size, and mobility. However, additional imaging techniques are required to confirm the diagnosis, evaluate tissue characteristics of the mass, and assess potential invasion of surrounding structures. Second-line imaging includes cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) depending on availability and the patient’s characteristics and preferences. The advantages of CT include its wide availability and fast scanning, which allows good image quality even in patients who have difficulty cooperating. MRI has excellent soft-tissue resolution and is the gold standard technique for noninvasive tissue characterization. In some cases, evaluation of the tumor metabolism using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with CT may be useful, mainly if the differential diagnosis includes primary or metastatic cardiac malignancies. A cardiac myxoma can be identified by its characteristic location within the atria, typically in the left atrium attached to the interatrial septum. The main differential diagnoses include physiological structures in the atria like crista terminalis in the right atrium and the coumadin ridge in the left atrium, intracardiac thrombi, as well as other benign and malignant cardiac tumors. In this review paper, we describe the characteristics of cardiac myxomas identified using multimodality imaging and provide tips on how to differentiate myxomas from other cardiac masses.
Multicomponent and multiphase CO2-brine system in microfluidic characterised in situ by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Zając Michał , Nagy Stanisław , Kuczyński Szymon , Dąbrowski Karol , Smulski Rafał , Hellevang Helge , Nooraiepour Mohammad , Masoudi Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Deep-saline aquifers could be instrumental in the geological storage of carbon dioxide due to their relatively good reservoir properties, high volume, and prevalence. However, there are a few difficulties which should be overcome to obtain effective stores in such reservoirs. Most problems are related to formation damage caused by salt precipitation. Due to the complexity of such systems, it is necessary to identify crucial processes, phenomena, factors, and products. In our work, we present a novel platform to trace precipitation ‘in situ’ using microfluidics and Raman spectroscopy. We have built a set in which we can investigate not only the salt deposition phenomenon in pores or microchannels by visual observation but also, because of Raman spectroscopy, determine the kinetics of reactions, carbon dioxide solubility, phase composition, and crystal composition. On the basis of our research, we have identified intensive clogging of pores and fast growth of crystals on the rock-like grain boundaries and bottlenecks. Furthermore, in a 20% weight NaCl solution we have found precipitated carbonates, for example, nitrate. Our results can broaden our understanding of CCS in high-saline aquifers and contribute to the development and common use of this process.
Do large earthquakes start with a precursory phase of slow slip?
Authors: Bletery Quentin , Nocquet Jean-Mathieu
Published: June 2024

In a recent publication, we showed that a stack of all GPS time series recorded before Magnitude ≥ 7.0 earthquakes suggests that large earthquakes start with a precursory phase of accelerating slow slip (Bletery and Nocquet, 2023). While no peer-reviewed comment or publication has formally contradicted this result, informal discussion has emerged on various platforms. We present here the different elements of discussion and address them through a series of tests. In particular, it has been proposed that correcting GPS time series from network common-mode noise makes the signal vanish. We confirm this result, but we show that this common-mode filtering procedure may inadvertently remove an existing tectonic signal. Moreover, the analysis of past records indicate that the likelihood that common-mode noise produces the signal we observe is well below 1 %. Additionally, we find that the signal is maximum at the location of the impending earthquakes, and for a slip direction (rake angle) close to the one of the upcoming events. The collective outcomes of these tests make very unlikely that the signal solely arises from noise. Even though the results of our tests do not irrefutably demonstrate the existence of a precursory phase of slow slip, they do support its existence. We hope that this study will motivate further work by others to provide a definite answer to the question of the tectonic origin of the observed signal and confirm or refute that large earthquakes start with a precursory phase of slow slip.
The Dreamscape Project: Mapping the phenomenological and neurophysiological features of subjective experience during sleep
Authors: Windt Jennifer , Tsuchiya Naotsugu , Andrillon Thomas
Published: June 2024

We spend a third of our lives asleep, and sleep teems with vivid dreams. While most people rarely remember their dreams, laboratory studies using timed awakenings show that healthy adults experience multiple dreams per night. Dreams have been hypothesised to play a key role in the development of consciousness and cognition1,2. Dreams are believed to contribute to sleep-related memory consolidation3 and emotional processing4, maintaining a healthy emotional balance and influencing waking mood and well-being5. Dreams are also believed to change in response to real-life events, which in turn can impact sleep quality as well as mood and cognitive functioning in wakefulness. The emotional significance and apparent meaningfulness of dreams has fuelled fascination with dreams for centuries. The flurry of interest in social and print media and numerous scientific studies, including CI Windt’s own work, on how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced our dream lives is just the latest testament to this fact6,7.
How Product Development Methods Solve I-O Psychology’s Relevance Problem
Authors: Morelli Neil , Willford Jon , Blacksmith Nikki , McCreedy Ryan , Wagner Dane
Published: June 2024

Fifteen years ago, Ryan and Ford (2010) argued that I-O psychology’s professional identity was facing a tipping point of losing its distinctiveness. I-O psychology has grown, but irrelevance amid growing competition is still a risk. The challenge lies in failing to truly understand the needs of ‘customers.’ To overcome these challenges, we argue that I-O psychologists should view the field as a “product,” a solution set aligned with a deep understanding of customer needs, by adopting product development methods such as continuous discovery. In doing so, I-O psychology can address its existential identity crisis and adoption challenges, ultimately leading to the intended goal of positively impacting the workplace. We give a brief background on product development, introduce three continuous discovery practices, and provide several illustrations of continuous discovery from four I-O personas.
Self-report measures of fear learning and extinction and their association with internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy outcome
Authors: McGregor Thomas , Carr Ewan , Barry Tom Joseph , Catarino Ana , Craske Michelle , Davies Molly Rose , Kerr Tim , Krebs Georgina , MacDonald Bridie , Purves Kirstin Lee , Skelton Megan , Thompson Ellen Jo , Breen Gerome , Hirsch Colette , Eley Thalia Catherine
Published: June 2024

Despite the widespread use of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), only about half of patients respond favourably. Understanding whether relevant psychological processes are associated with treatment response could help identify patients at risk of non-response prior to treatment and improve their outcomes by enabling clinicians to tailor interventions accordingly. Fear conditioning tasks are a valuable tool for studying the learning processes associated with anxiety disorders and their treatment. This study examined associations between outcomes from a remote fear conditioning task and responses to internet-based CBT. Anxious adults (n=112) completed a fear conditioning task before receiving internet-based CBT. Participants rated their expectancy of an aversive noise (unconditioned stimulus; US) in response to a reinforced conditional stimulus (CS+) and a nonreinforced conditional stimulus (CS-) during acquisition, followed by extinction where neither stimulus was reinforced. Anxiety symptoms were assessed before each CBT session. Linear regression models indicated no significant association between mean US-expectancy ratings for 'safe' stimuli (acquisition CS- and extinction CS+) and change in anxiety across treatment. These findings contribute to the mixed literature on fear conditioning's role in treatment outcomes, highlighting the need for further research to elucidate the complex interplay between fear conditioning processes and response to CBT in anxiety disorders.
5-MeO-DMT in the complete resolution of the consequences of chronic, severe sexual abuse in early childhood—a retrospective case study
Authors: Turkia Mika
Published: June 2024

5-MeO-DMT is a psychedelic substance with a short duration of action and intensive effects. Its therapeutic efficacy and practicality may significantly surpass those of classical psychedelics such as ayahuasca and LSD. This retrospective ethnographic inquiry features a woman in her mid-thirties who witnessed her mother's violent suicide and its bloody aftermath at the age of three. Before and after that, her childhood was characterized by domestic violence and sexual abuse perpetrated by several members of her family and extended family. In her twenties and thirties, she dated a member of the local mafia with the intention of asking him to kill her father, who had been the main perpetrator of the sexual abuse and violence. This plan was eventually not carried out, but it reflected her deep bitterness and wrath. A process initiated in her early thirties involving four 5-MeO-DMT sessions and a few additional sessions with psilocybin and ayahuasca in the course of two years completely resolved her symptoms related to the abuses, to the extent that she could rebuild a functional relationship with her father and feel love and compassion towards him. This outcome, i.e., the complete reversal of her attitude and emotions towards her father, appeared highly unusual. For the last three years, the outcome had remained stable. The article also presents the perspective of a female facilitator of this treatment process. The article contributes to a better understanding of the use of 5-MeO-DMT in severe traumatization as well as exemplifies the possible positive contributions of actors who are not medical professionals in resolving deep collective traumatization in societies.
Physical restraint in psychiatric settings: A novel characterization of the patient's experience via a linguistic, sentiment, and metaphor analysis
Authors: Nichini Cristiano , Barattieri di San Pietro Chiara , Scalingi Biagio , Alecci Eleonora , Toschi Luca , Cavallotti Simone , Cicognini Anna Chiara , Durbano Federico , Ferraris Silvia , Santinon Patrizia , Pompei Chiara , Frau Federico , Mangiaterra Veronica , Bischetti Luca , Bosia Marta , Peschi Gianluca , Politi Pierluigi , Bambini Valentina
Published: June 2024

Physical Restraint (PR) is a coercive procedure used in emergency psychiatric care to ensure safety in life-threatening situations. Because of its traumatic nature, studies emphasize the importance of considering the patient's subjective experience, till now mostly limited to qualitative approaches. We pursued this aim by innovatively applying a multilayered semiautomated language analysis to a corpus of narratives about PR collected from 99 individuals across seven mental health services in Italy. Compared to a reference corpus, PR narratives were characterized by reduced fluency and lexical density, yet a greater use of emotional and cognitive terms, verbs, and first-person singular pronouns. Sadness was the most represented emotion, followed by anger and fear. One-third of the PR narratives contained at least one metaphor, with Animals and War/Prison as the most distinctive source domains. The quality and length of the PR experience impacted both the structure and sentiment of the narratives.Findings confirm the distressful nature of PR but also point to the use of various linguistic mechanisms which might serve as an early adaptive response toward healing from the traumatic experience. Overall, the study highlights the importance of Natural Language Processing as an unobtrusive window into subjective experience, offering insights for therapeutic choices.
Contribution to an Ecological Worldview: Adaptation and validation of the New Ecological Paradigm Scale to the European Portuguese language
Authors: Arriaga Patricia , Rosa Pedro Joel , Madeira Marta
Published: June 2024

The growing need for societies to adopt a more ecological and sustainable mindset highlights the importance of instruments such as the 15-item New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP Scale). The scale measures the individuals’ endorsement of an ecological worldview, contrasting with the perspective of human dominance and exemptionalism. This study aimed to validate the European Portuguese version of the NEP Scale using a cross-validation approach. The total sample, consisting of 511 participants (56.4% women; aged between 18-73 years old), was split into two halves, with the first half used to perform an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to refine the scale, and the second half to perform a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA revealed a 14-item two-factor latent structure, which was subsequently confirmed through CFA (CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.04; SRMR = 0.06). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and McDonald’s omega (ωs), with factor 1 (Ecocentrism; α = .88; ωs = .87), and factor 2 (Anthropocentrism; α = .80; ωs = .81) showing strong internal consistency. Significant moderate correlations between both NEP Scale dimensions and the Ecologically Conscious Consumer Behavior (ECCB) scale (r1 = .383; r2 = .313) provided convergent evidence for construct validity. The correlation between NEP dimensions was .70, indicating an acceptable discriminant validity. This study adds to the evidence of the European Portuguese version of NEP being a valid, reliable, and valuable tool for assessing environmental orientation within Portuguese-speaking samples. Moreover, average NEP scores showed that the Portuguese are akin to a pro-ecological worldview (M = 3.72, SD = 0.68), specially among young women with low income.
Widening gaps: the critical disparity in girls’ education globally
Authors: Koohy Hashem , Sabah Behnoosh
Published: June 2024

In this short manuscript, by highlighting some shocking numbers to reflect the depth of the critical disparity in girls education globally, we delve into the ramifications of gender discrimination, with a particular focus on the educational ban imposed on girls, and its subsequent effects on the physical and mental well-being of women. Afghanistan serves as a poignant example in our discussion, illustrating the profound issues engendered by the draconian policies of hardliner regimes.We urge policymakers, sports organizations, NGOs, and especially academic institutions to formulate immediate and effective strategies that can reinstate girls’ educational opportunities and dismantle entrenched gender discrimination. It is vital for girls and women, who have suffered under the yoke of gender apartheid worldwide, to witness global acknowledgement that their rights are immutable and transcend ethnicity or place of birth.
Environmental peacebuilding and AI: the case for decomputing
Authors: McQuillan Dan
Published: June 2024

In this paper I address the relationship between environmental peacebuilding and AI. That this question should come up is no surprise. Environmental peacebuilding, as the set of multiple ways in which the management of environmental issues can be integrated into conflict prevention, resolution and recovery, is no stranger to the use of technologies such as remote sensing and data analysis. Given the claims made about AI as a form of generalised problem solving with uncanny powers of prediction and interpretation, it seems only natural to ask how it might be adopted for such worthy ends. Indeed, this is in line with the reception of AI in society as a whole; that it is inevitable, and that the actual questions that arise about AI are utilitarian ones of maximising benefits and minimising harms. However, the argument I will put forward is that the nature of contemporary AI makes it profoundly problematic for environmental peacebuilding because it is deeply entangled with destroying environments and driving conflicts on multiple levels. The paper will make the case that the adoption of AI by the emergent field of environmental peacebuilding will intensify its own internal inconsistencies and amplify those tendencies that some have called environmental peacebuilding’s ‘dark side’.However, taking a critical stance towards AI for environmental peacebuilding is not simply to argue in the negative. In this paper I will also make the case for an alternative to AI as we know it, in the form of a prefigurative technopolitics of environmental peacebuilding. That is, it will try to articulate an approach to technology which is indivisible from the desired social and environmental ends, and which in its day-to-day operations acts to bring those goals into being. In the context of advanced computation and its relationship to environmental peacebuilding, the approach proposed in the paper is one of ‘decomputing’. Decomputing is a departure from AI’s commitments to extractivism and scale. It invokes care for the environment through a commitment to low-power infrastructure, salvage and repair, and to deconfliction by replacing modes of computation that sediment the status quo with those drawing on principles of relationality, inclusion and respect for life.
Shifting Baseline Syndrome and beyond: Addressing environmental misperceptions for nature recovery
Authors: Gao Shuo , zu Ermgassen Sophus , Bull Joseph W. , Milner-Gulland E.J.
Published: June 2024

Countries worldwide have collectively agreed to halt and reverse nature loss. However, a poorly understood and systemic challenge to this vision is Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS), wherein people misperceive the extent to which nature has been changed, with erosion of the baseline of what “good” nature looks like over time, either between generations or for an individual. This can diminish societal expectations for nature recovery. Here, we propose a framework that incorporates cognitive mechanisms underlying environmental misperceptions, broadening the conceptual framing of SBS to include other mechanisms behind misperceptions of environmental change, and including not just nature loss but also recovery. We demonstrate the utility of the framework using a mixed-methods study in Qunli New Town, Harbin, China, consisting of in-depth interviews (N=42) and a population-based quantitative survey (N=1018). Our results show that more accurate perception is associated with gaining information about an area from personal experience rather than indirect information sources. Cognitive errors, including errors of “omission” and “commission”, were related to the processes of sensation, attention, learning, thinking, and memory. Minimising SBS is important to ensure that people affected by environmental change are able to perceive it accurately, so that they can better respond to it; this is essential to pursuing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive societies under the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Biodiversity Framework.
What are the priority welfare issues facing captive parrots? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus
Authors: Chalmers Rhianne , Cooper Jonathan , Ventura Beth
Published: June 2024

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are widely kept in captivity, yet their welfare is under researched in comparison to other captive species. This study aimed to determine key welfare issues affecting captive parrots through a modified Delphi approach. Twenty-eight welfare issues affecting captive parrots were first compiled via a preliminary literature review. Parrot welfare experts and sector professionals (n=26) were then recruited to participate in an online survey to rank the identified welfare issues on a 6-point Likert scale according to severity, duration and prevalence of each issue. Participants could provide commentary on their ranking and propose additional welfare issues of concern. Items with a mean score of 4 or above progressed to a second survey, where participants (n=14) indicated whether they agreed or disagreed with the current ranking of the welfare issue. Finally, two online workshops were held, where participants (n=7) discussed the rankings from the second survey and sought to establish a consensus on the top 10 welfare issues. Six of the seven final participants agreed with the final rankings, achieving a consensus rate of 86%. The top welfare issues overall were lack of owner knowledge and support; social isolation; housing; environmental opportunity to express behaviours; nutrition; development of normal behaviour; lack of a ‘life plan’ for birds; abnormal behaviours; lack of parrot-specific veterinary training; and insufficient application and enforcement of legislation. The identification and recognition of these priority areas will be useful in directing future efforts in research, owner and veterinary education, and policy initiatives to improve captive parrot welfare.
Former à l'éthique de l'IA en enseignement supérieur: trousse pédagogique
Authors: Bruneault Frédérick , Laflamme Andréane Sabourin , Boivin Jacob , Grondin-Robillard Laurence , Le Calvez Eveline
Published: June 2024

Cette trousse pédagogique est complémentaire au référentiel de compétence intitulé "Former à l’éthique de l’IA en enseignement supérieur : référentiel de compétence" que nous avons produit grâce au Pôle montréalais d’enseignement supérieur en intelligence artificielle (PIA). Nous proposons dans cette trousse pédagogique des moyens concrets pour réaliser des activités de formation qui permettront de développer les différents aspects de la compétence en éthique de l’IA. Pour chaque activité, vous retrouverez une courte explication du lien entre l’activité proposée et ces éléments provenant du référentiel de compétence. Cette trousse pédagogique doit être envisagée comme un document de travail à partir duquel la créativité des personnes enseignantes qui l’utiliseront pourra être mise à profit.
A Theoretical Review of Benefits & Costs of Direct Investment in a Host Country
Authors: Kansakar Dev Ratna
Published: June 2024

Not Available.
Nepal's Food Policy: Some Basic Issues
Authors: Rawal Tilak
Published: June 2024

Not Available.
Farmers' Response to Wheat Prices in Nepal
Authors: Koirala Govinda Prasad
Published: June 2024

Not available.
Significance of Fixed Assets Management to Nepalese Public Corporations
Authors: Pradhan Radhe Shyam , Regmi Jaya Ram
Published: June 2024

Not Available.
Farm Forestry: A Farming System Approach (A Case Study of Chitwan District in Nepal)
Authors: Pyakuryal Kailash
Published: June 2024

Not Available.
Causes of Inflation in Nepal: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: Khanal Suman
Published: June 2024

Not Available.
Early versus Delayed Feeding in Uncomplicated Primary Caesarean Section - A Comparative Study at Shree Birendra Hospital
Authors: Malla Rosy Vaidya , Khadka Shailaja , Neupane Bibhushan , Bidari Sumit , Thapa Sumana
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Conventionally, oral feeding is delayed after Caesarean section fearing delayed bowel motility. This study is designed to compare early oral feeding within six hours versus our conventional delayed 24 hours of oral feeding for women at term undergoing primary Caeserean section.
Methods: A prospective, comparative study was conducted over a six months period at Shree Birendra Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. All pregnant ladies undergoing uncomplicated Caeserean section at 37 to 42 weeks of gestation were randomly placed in two groups: (A) Early feeding group (Oral fluids within six hours) (54) and (B) Delayed feeding group (Oral fluids after 24 hours) (56). The patients were noted for symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, return of bowel sound, passing of flatus, duration of stay in hospital and total IV fluid requirements.
Results: The passage of flatus was significantly earlier in Group A compared to Group B (12.54 hours vs 15.38 hours - p < 0.05). Appearance of bowel sounds was also earlier in Group A (8.85 hours vs 12.63 hours – p < 0.05). The mean IV fluid requirement was comparatively less in Group A (4.15 litres vs 5.71 litres – p < 0.05). The average hospital stay was also significantly less in Group A (2.89 days vs 4.16 days - p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Early feeding in patients undergoing uncomplicated primary Caesarean section is safe, generally well tolerated with early return to bowel functions, less intravenous fluid requirements and reduced duration of hospital stay.