bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of possible translation solutions based on comparative stylistic studies (using the material of English and Russian parallel newspaper texts)
Authors: Abdulmanova Adelia Khamitovna , Vyunova Ekaterina Kirillovna , Lekomtseva Irina Alekseevna
Published: December 2023

The study aims to identify communicatively equivalent interlanguage correspondences in English and Russian by conducting a comparative analysis of parallel texts in a communicative-pragmatic aspect, followed by the use of these results in solving translation problems. Based on the analysis of newspaper texts on the subject of ‘spontaneous combustion of smartphones’ / ‘phone fires’, the paper identifies the patterns of linguistic representation of logical and semantic categories and associative-verbal networks of words representing the key concepts within this topic. Associative-verbal networks consist of semantic zones reflecting the paradigmatic and syntagmatic representation of keywords. The study is novel in that it is the first to develop a methodology for conducting a comparative analysis of parallel texts and to obtain data on the patterns of use of linguistic units in the linguistic representation of the key logical and semantic categories. As a result, the theoretical and empirical research, on the one hand, identified interlanguage communicative-pragmatic correspondences at the level of expression of extra-linguistic, logical-semantic categories within the framework of comparative analysis, and, on the other hand, it proved the possibility of applying the results of such a functional, communicative-pragmatic comparative study in translation practice.
System of discursive concepts of Taiwanese reality. Creating a short glossary
Authors: Kurdyumov Vladimir Anatolievich
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the study is to present a model for understanding foreign language (Taiwan Guoyu) discursive reality, aimed at Russian sinologists and, more widely, native speakers of the Russian language, based on a potentially expandable glossary (minimal at this stage) of basic concepts (topics of communication). Scientific novelty: for the first time, a minimum set of communication concepts of the linguistic environment of Taiwan was substantiated and formed (as a short glossary, explanatory dictionary). The previous studies described only “general” Chinese realities and values supposed to be transferred by default to the Chinese world as a whole. A comparative analysis and description of concepts with a focus on decomposition into denotative, significative and connotative components was carried out for the first time. As a result, the specificity of the basic discursive concepts of Taiwanese reality has been identified, including differences from synonymous/homonymous concepts in Russian and/or Mainland discursive reality, a list of concepts with interpretations has been proposed, and the prerequisites have been created for further study and the formation of a new direction in explorations.
Linguistic means of stereotyping Russia and Russians in German mass media texts
Authors: Shamanskaya Maria Anatolyevna , Sharmanova Oksana Sergeevna
Published: December 2023

The paper studies the language representation of stereotypes using the example of German mass media texts dealing with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The aim of the research is to reveal the peculiarities of the process of language stereotyping concerning the images of Russia and Russians. The theoretical and methodological basis of the present work is founded on the theory of stereotypes as cognitive units. The scientific novelty of the study lies in analyzing the specified stereotypes at the moment of their transformation using the methodology of stereotype modelling and in identifying their most current features including those that have not yet been described. The research findings allowed us to single out a number of stereotypes about Russia and Russians transmitted in the German media texts of today and to describe linguistic means that represent the features inherent in the stereotypes. The evaluating content of the stereotypes under consideration proved to be negative. It was confirmed that a stereotype is an effective tool for forming and promoting certain convictions among the target audience.
Frente al neoliberalismo, más educación pública. Un alegato en favor de la memoria y la emancipación
Authors: Andrea Díaz
Published: December 2023

En tiempos donde el neoliberalismo impregna la vida social, política e institucional, es fundamental recuperar la memoria histórica que forjó la tradición de la educación pública democrática. Nos proponemos reflexionar brevemente sobre lo que significa hacer memoria prospectiva de esta tradición como forma de resistencia y de emancipación. La memoria de la herencia como recurso heurístico nos llevará a analizar, además, cuál es el rol social y político de la universidad en esta tarea de pensar más allá del neoliberalismo.
Docilidade e disciplinamento do professor no contexto do projeto educativo neoliberal
Authors: Betlinski Carlos , Wesley Dias Santos
Published: December 2023

O presente artigo tem como objetivo identificar os dispositivos da racionalidade neoliberal, na produção do disciplinamento docente, que se dá, na maioria das vezes, mediado por um discurso de progresso e inovação. O arquétipo do trabalhador, como empresário de si mesmo, acaba por responsabilizar os sujeitos pelo sucesso ou fracasso das atividades desenvolvidas, sempre numa perspectiva individualista que altera a compreensão da responsabilização coletiva e do próprio Estado pela execução dos projetos educativos. Para entendermos o trabalho docente, que é nosso objeto de investigação, buscamos referências teóricas em Michel Foucault (2007), Pierre Dardot & Christian Laval (2016) e Ricardo Antunes (2020) e, numa abordagem contextualizada junto às alterações do sistema produtivo capitalista, vinculamos a racionalidade neoliberal com o projeto de educação mercadológico para, então, compreendermos a configuração do trabalho docente, caracterizado pelos princípios do empreendedorismo, da meritocracia, concorrência e com perspectiva de formação pragmática vinculada à racionalidade instrumental. As análises permitiram concluir que há forte índice de interferência dos discursos e dos princípios empresariais, na organização da educação pública e, em consequência, na configuração do trabalho docente.
Exploring the role of instructional leaders in promoting agency in teachers’ professional learning
Authors: Robertson Dana A. , Padesky Lauren Breckenridge , Thrailkill Laurie “Darian” , Kelly Avia , Brock Cynthia H.
Published: December 2023

This qualitative study used structural analysis of conversational episodes and content analysis to examine how two instructional leaders fostered teacher agency and collaboration in planning ongoing structures and content during a yearlong professional learning experience in one elementary school. Framed within a theory of agency, we found a merging of insider and outsider knowledge in the interactions between university partners and the two leaders of the English language arts leadership team that occurred across time, that agentive discourse was topically coherent among the leadership team as a collective group, and that the collective group maintained reflective and forward-looking common professional learning goals. We argue that meaningful professional development contexts position all participants in ways that value and trust their individual contributions and prompt them to act agentively to meet individual learning goals while maintaining a focus on the school’s collective goals.
Assessing Magistrates’ Psychological Status and Behaviour in the Reconciliation Practice
Authors: Evstifeeva Elena , Filippchenkova Svetlana , Tokarchuk Elena
Published: December 2023

The article presents the results of a psychodiagnostic study (2022) to assess the psychological status and behaviour of magistrates engaged in the reconciliation practice in Tver and the Tver region. They actualize the problem of popularizing the reconciliation practice to settle a judicial dispute, and also substantiate the psychological status of a justice of the peace as the main figure in the reconciliation process. They also raise the question of the justice of the peace’s personal and psychological resources and his or her compliance with their professional competencies.
Analysis of the Ergodesign of a Scientific and Educational Organization Logo
Authors: Kuz'menko Aleksandr , Pestrakova Kristina , Sinyukova Yulia
Published: December 2023

The article discusses modern approaches of ergonomics in the organisation’s logo development. A scientific and educational organisation is considered as an institution. The chosen approaches help to understand the psychology of perceiving colour and shape of the elements, which is important for the organization’s brand memorability. The article analyses scientific studies that confirm that the right choice of colour and shape can significantly affect the brand perception and its attractiveness to the society. Analysing the available elements of corporate styles of scientific organisations in the field of ergonomics is also carried out.
Individual Typological Features of Recognizing Real and Model Electroencephalogram Signals
Authors: Turovskiy Yaroslav , Tishchenko Valeria , Kiselev Evgeny , Ustimenko Tatiana , Adonyeva Alexandra
Published: December 2023

An experiment is conducted to identify individual typological features of the user’s recognition of real and model electroencephalogram signals within the framework of tasks related to designing ergatic system simulators. During the experiment, psychological testing of the study participants is carried out. The following diagnosis methods are used: the Eysenck personality questionnaire, diagnostics of the leading perceptual modality, the Spielberg state-trait anxiety inventory, the Corsi block-tapping test for assessing working memory. The key test is passing a test in the original software form developed by the authors to identify the ability to distinguish a real encephalogram from an image generated by the programme. The analysis of correlation dependencies shows that the trial subjects who gave the best results at the training stage improve their performance at the experiment stage without feedback. Trial subjects with a leading auditory perceptual system give worse results at the experiment stage without feedback than subjects with leading visual and kinaesthetic perceptual systems. Trial subjects with a higher level of anxiety give out lower indicators during the experiment at both stages.
The history of state financial control in Russia from its origins to the present day
Authors: Pleshakov Alexander , Ishshuk Yaroslav
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the history of the development of financial control in Russia. The authors propose a number of conclusions that predict the main directions of financial control in the future. Some problems of financial control are considered, some suggestions are made for its improvement in historical retrospective.
Music as a tool for the development of intercultural competence among students of a new generation: history, current state and prospects
Authors: Weihong Guo
Published: December 2023

The process of globalization, which has been rapidly, unfolding since the end of the 20th century, has brought together the development of science and technology, national cultures, turning the world into a real “global village”. The increase in the frequency of cultural exchanges has highlighted the need to understand the phenomenon of multiculturalism and the urgency of improving intercultural communication skills. Today's global music industry needs international talent with intercultural qualities.
Historical and comparative legal analysis of the Agreement of sale of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Yao Sun , Yunsheng Ju , Chekulaev Sergey , Tcyrulnikov Maxim
Published: December 2023

The relevance of this study is due to the large role of the sales contract in the economy of each state. In any country, an important place in the regulation of civil law relations is occupied by the regulation of contractual obligations. The contract law of the People's Republic of China is of theoretical and practical interest as this country plays an extremely significant role in the world community, is an economically developed country, as well as a direct geographical neighbour and business partner of Russia.
Does television have a history?
Authors: Fortunatov Anton , Shaveleva Marina
Published: December 2023

Television as a sociocultural phenomenon still does not have its own, scientifically substantiated history. The systematization of the periods of development of television as a technology does not take into account the most important social effects that TV has had on billions of people. However, there are already several “television" generations in society who cannot imagine their life without a screen, and modern screen culture, embodied in smartphones and gadgets, has its roots in the history of television. The need to make sense of television history is only growing.
Documenting Maritime Accidents of Recreational Vessels in the Republic of Croatia
Authors: Strabić Marko , Mohović Đani , Frančić Vlado , Komać Ante
Published: December 2023

Nautical tourism in the Republic of Croatia represents an important segment of Croatian tourism. Due to the natural conditions that Croatia possesses, it is recognized as one of the most desirable European and world destinations for boaters. The increase of nautical tourism activities in the Adriatic in recent years also increases the possibility of accidents at sea. In order to reduce the risk of accidents, analyses of available data on accidents from the National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) were carried out. In the aforementioned database, recreational vessels were selected and analyzed. The compiled data refers to sailing vessels, yachts, small fishing vessels, boats, and inflatable boats regardless of their flag state. Based on the research conducted, suggestions were made to optimize the existing way of filling out reports in order to better manage statistical data, and potentially identify the causes of recreational vessel accidents.
The Comparative Analysis of Alternative Refrigerants on Ship Refrigeration Systems
Authors: Durmusoglu Yalcin , Kocak Gazi
Published: December 2023

The usage of CFC and HCFC gases, which are extensively used in ship refrigeration and air conditioning systems, has been restricted due to harmful effects on the ozone layer and global warming. Thus, the use of alternative refrigerants becomes a possible solution. In this study, the performance parameters, environmental and economic effects of the system for various refrigerants were analyzed comparatively for marine refrigeration systems. For this purpose, the refrigerants R407C, R1234yf, R245fa, R152a, R513a, R450a, R161, R453a, and R717 are investigated as alternatives to the most commonly used R22 and R134a refrigerants on board ships. The results show that the best alternatives -in terms of performance, environment and economy- for R22 are R717 (new) and R453A (drop-in) and for R134a are R717 (new) and R152a (drop-in). In addition, drop-in, retrofit or new system suitability of the analyzed refrigerants for replacement of R22 and R134a are presented.
Maritime Data Transmission Coverage Optimization Under Power and Distance Constraints
Authors: V. Romanuke Vadim
Published: December 2023

A problem of the minimum-energy broadcast routing is considered for efficient maritime data transmission coverage. The power emitted by a ship radio station is limited, and this limitation tethers distance. Given an initial number of ships and their locations, they are triangulated. Upon the triangulation, the edges exceeding the maximum edge length equivalent to the maximum distance are removed. If the resulting graph has no disconnected ships, the solution is the minimum spanning tree. For two or more disconnected subgraphs, a minimum spanning tree is built for each of them, and the corresponding set of the efficient solutions is formed. Within this set, no minimum spanning tree exists that would either be shorter by connecting no fewer than a number of ships from an efficient solution or be not longer by connecting more than a number of ships from an efficient solution. The respective optimization problem, consisting in minimizing the broadcasting route length along with maximizing the number of ships communicating through the route, is solved by scalarizing the two criteria. The scalarization consists in standardizing the two criteria and calculating the distance of every achievable standardized efficient solution to the unachievable standardized solution. The percentage of two or more disconnected subgraphs is about 60%, whereas it is about 80% probable that the number of efficient solutions is equal to the number of disconnected subgraphs.
PANDANGAN MUFASSIR SYIAH TERHADAP MAKNA SURAT AL-BAQARAH AYAT 46
Authors: Wi'an Muhammad Iqbal
Published: December 2023

Tafsir adalah suatu disiplin ilmu yang penting Ketika ingin mengetahui makna darisebuah ayat Al-Quran. Produk yang dikeluarkan dari proses penafsiran dinamakan kitab tafsir.Adapun orang yang melakukan proses penafsiran dilabeli sebagai seorang mufassir. Dalammenafsirkan Al-Quran, seorang mufassir seringkali berangkat dari pemahaman teologis yangyang dianutnya. Salah satu aliran teologs yang ada adalah syiah. Aliran teoloogis ini seringmenggunakan argumentasi yang menguatkan pemahaman teologis mereka dalam menafsirkan Al-Quran.. Berdasarkan latar belakang tersebut, penulis akan melakuukan penelitian mengenaianalisis makna QS. Al-Baqarah ayat 46 tentang pertemuan dengan Allah dalam empat kitab tafsirSyiah yaitu Tafsīr Al-Qummī karya al-Qummī, Tafsīr Al-Fath al-Qadir karya al-Thabarsi, TafsīrMajma’ al-Bayān karya at-Thabarsȳ, dan Tafsīr Al-Mīzaān karya Tabātabā’ī. Jenis penelitianadalah studi kepustakaan (Library Research). Adapun hasil penafsiran yang penulis peroleh daripenelitian ini adalah rangkuman pendapat dari empat mufassir syiah yaitu al-Qummī, al-Tṭhabarsī, Ṭābāṭābā’ī, dan al-Syaukānī berupa persamaan pemahaman terkait makna kata “dzon” didalam Q.S. Al-Baqarah ayat 46. Keempat mufassir ini meyakini bahwa kata “dzon” itu sendiri dapat diartikan dalam dua makna. Adakalanya bermakna sebuah keyakinan dan kadang bermakna sebuah keragu-raguan.
Gangs, Low Detection Rates, and Educational Achievement: Major Drivers of Violence
Authors: Bahall Mandreker
Published: December 2023

This study analyses violent crimes (murder, kidnapping, incest, sexual offences, rape, and suicide), their drivers, and associated factors. This descriptive study employs secondary violent crime data from Trinidad and Tobago over at least two decades. The data were collected from multiple search engines and websites and included the socio-demographics of perpetrators, gang and gun-related violence, crime detection levels, and socio-economic factors. A descriptive analysis was used to determine associations between these factors and crime rates. Overall, major crimes rose by 790% between 1990 and 2022, rising from 7.94 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 70.63 in 2022. The number of crime victims cumulatively increased from 7541 in 2013 to 68 322 in 2022, surging by 806%. Moreover, the number of people indirectly affected (family, friends, and members of the community) are estimated (using 10 per victim) to be at least 600 000 or half the population. The analysis shows no association between violent crimes and employment level, income, or national security and social welfare budgets. However, school performance/educational status, gang numbers, and detection rates are correlated with violent crime, suggesting that these factors are the driving forces behind violent crimes.
Managing Human Resources
Authors: FADILATURAHMAH MEITA
Published: December 2023

Pentingnya sumber saya manusia manajeman
Changes In People's Social Life Influence Of The Industrial Revolution Era 4.0
Authors: Azizi Muhammad Rizki
Published: December 2023

The research entitled Changes in Social Life of the Community Influence of the Industrial Revolution Era 4.0 contains a study of social influences that occurred in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 itself is a continuation of the Industrial Revolution 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 was strongly influenced by the development of information and communication technology. The method used in this study is qualitative. The data obtained came from a literature study review. The result achieved in this study is that the Industrial Revolution 4.0 had a great influence on almost all lines of society. The industrial revolution 4.0 affects various fields including industry, entrepreneurship, transportation, education, and health. However, people are still confused about how to use technology in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0. To keep up with the times, adaptation is needed by adopting information and communication technology in various fields.
SCOPING REVIEW of Interprofessional simulation and occupational therapy
Authors: Goycolea Rodrigo , Beltran Leidy Lagos , Pierart Tamara , Nova Claudia , Espejo Raquel
Published: December 2023

Antecedentes Durante la última década ha existido un mayor interés en la educación interprofesional en los equipos de salud, esto dado que la mayoría de los profesionales de la salud se forman en un aislamiento disciplinario, lo que limita su capacidad para comprender los roles del otro, participar en el trabajo interprofesional y aprovechar las oportunidades que surgen del trabajo en equipo. La simulación clínica se utiliza ampliamente en la formación de profesionales de la salud, incluyendo la terapia ocupacional. Se ha encontrado que el uso de la simulación de alta fidelidad (con pacientes simulados) mejora la motivación de aprendizaje y proporciona una retroalimentación valiosa en el entrenamiento de las habilidades de los estudiantes. La integración de la simulación interprofesional en la terapia ocupacional es una estrategia educativa crucial que mejora la formación y competencia de los futuros terapeutas ocupacionales. La simulación ofrece un entorno de aprendizaje seguro y controlado, permitiendo a los estudiantes desarrollar y practicar habilidades clínicas, de comunicación y de toma de decisiones en situaciones realistas sin poner en riesgo a los pacientes reales. Esta metodología también fomenta la colaboración y el entendimiento interprofesional, elementos esenciales en la atención sanitaria moderna. La terapia ocupacional, centrada en habilitar a las personas para participar en las actividades de la vida diaria, se beneficia enormemente de la simulación interprofesional. Esta revisión pretende conocer la evidencia científica que existe sobre simulación interprofesional en Terapia Ocupacional, así como los tipos de intervenciones que se desarrollan y como esta mejora la educación y la práctica en terapia ocupacional, ofreciendo un enfoque práctico y realista para el aprendizaje. La simulación interprofesional no solo mejora las habilidades técnicas, sino que también cultiva habilidades blandas, como la empatía y la comunicación, cruciales para el Terapeuta Ocupacional. Por lo tanto, su inclusión en la formación de terapeutas ocupacionales es fundamental para preparar profesionales competentes y empáticos, capaces de colaborar efectivamente en equipos interdisciplinarios.
Diverse Carbonates in Exoplanet Oceans Promote the Carbon Cycle
Authors: Hakim Kaustubh , Tian Meng , Bower Dan , Heng Kevin
Published: December 2023

Carbonate precipitation in oceans is essential for the carbonate-silicate cycle (inorganic carbon cycle) to maintain temperate climates. By considering the thermodynamics of carbonate chemistry, we demonstrate that the ocean pH decreases by approximately 0.5 for a factor of 10 increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide content. The upper and lower limits of ocean pH are within 1-4 of each other, where the upper limit is buffered by carbonate precipitation and defines the ocean pH when the carbon cycle operates. If the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) resides above the ocean floor, then carbonate precipitation and the carbon cycle cease to operate. The CCD is deep (>40 km) for high ocean temperature and high atmospheric carbon dioxide content. Key divalent carbonates of magnesium, calcium and iron produce an increasingly wider parameter space of deep CCDs, suggesting that chemical diversity promotes the carbon cycle. The search for life from exoplanets will benefit by including chemically more diverse targets than Earth twins.
Error-related electromyographic activity over the corrugator supercilii is associated with neural performance monitoring
Authors: Elkins-Brown Nathaniel , Saunders Blair , Inzlicht Michael
Published: December 2023

Emerging research in social and affective neuroscience has implicated a role for affect and motivation in performance-monitoring and cognitive control. No study, however, has investigated whether facial electromyography (EMG) over the corrugator supercilii—a measure associated with negative affect and the exertion of effort—is related to neural performance monitoring. Here, we explored these potential relationships by simultaneously measuring the error-related negativity (ERN), error positivity (Pe), and facial EMG over the corrugator supercilii muscle during a punished, inhibitory control task. We found evidence for increased facial EMG activity over the corrugator immediately following error responses, and this activity was related to the Pe for both between- and within-subject analyses. These results are consistent with the idea that early, avoidance-motivated processes are associated with performance monitoring, and that such processes may also be related to orienting towards errors, the emergence of error awareness, or both.
Actual and Perceived Partisan Bias in Judgments of Political Misinformation as Lies
Authors: Reins Louisa Marie , Wiegmann Alex
Published: December 2023

In times of what has been coined “post-truth politics”, people are regularly confronted with political actors who intentionally spread false or misleading information. The present paper examines 1) to what extent partisans’ judgments of such behaviours as cases of lying are affected by whether the deceiving agent shares their partisanship (actual bias), and 2) to what extent partisans expect the lie judgments of others to be affected by a bias of this kind (perceived bias). In two preregistered experiments (N=1040) we find partisans’ lie judgments to be only weakly affected by the partisanship ascribed to political deceivers, regardless of whether deceivers explicitly communicate or merely insinuate political falsehoods. At the same time, partisans expect their political opponents’ lie judgments to be strongly affected by the deceiving agent’s partisanship. Surprisingly, misperceptions of bias were also present in people’s predictions of bias within their own political camp.
What Do Children Need to Succeed in Self-Regulated Learning? A Co-Design Study on Educational Technology
Authors: Amaefule Chimezie Obioma , Britzwein Jan , Yip Jason C. , Brod Garvin
Published: December 2023

Self-regulated learning (SRL) involves processes by which learners purposefully direct their cognitions, emotions, and behaviors towards the achievement of personal learning goals. Research has shown that young learners often struggle with SRL. Educational technology could be useful to support their SRL. However, it remains unclear how support mechanisms can be best adapted to the needs of children. Adopting a participatory design (PD) approach involving an intergenerational design team of six children (ages 10-12) and three adult facilitators, we explored children’s perspectives on factors that facilitate or hinder their SRL, and what kinds of support they desire. The study consisted of three in-person co-design sessions (one per week) lasting about 90 minutes each over three weeks. The sessions centered on brainstorming needs, evaluating existing technology, ideating and designing paper prototypes of study-planner apps. Our findings indicate that children primarily voice the need for support to better organize their study and to keep focused on the learning task at hand. They also make it clear that SRL support systems must be designed to be attractive and fun. Children’s subsequent evaluation of app features and the prototypes which they designed were consistent with these needs. Taken together, our study indicates that children have clear and consistent preferences for SRL support with educational technology. By including children in the design process, we can ensure that educational technologies effectively meet their needs, enhance their learning experiences, and promote self-regulation and academic success.
Measuring SETPOINT vocational interest dimensions: The development and validation of three short scales
Authors: Hou Daphne , Su Rong , Tay Louis
Published: December 2023

Vocational interest research has seen a resurgence in the applied psychology literature, given evidence showing its predictive validity for key work outcomes. There is a need for integrative, reliable, and valid measures to advance research in this space. While the RIASEC model of vocational interests (Holland, 1997) has been the most widely used and studied typology for the assessment of six broad interest types, more recent work with the SETPOINT model (Su et al., 2019) suggests that eight interest dimensions provide better fit to interest data and demonstrates stronger criterion-related validity evidence. However, to date, no short scales are available for measuring the broad SETPOINT dimensions. We developed three short scales with 8, 24, and 41 items, respectively, that capture the eight dimensions of the SETPOINT model in an integrative manner. Using a sample of 972 full-time working adults assessed across two-time points over five weeks, we validated these three short scales following robust psychometric analyses. These scales are shown to have good psychometric properties. The development and validation of the three short scales help close the operational gap for the SETPOINT model and further facilitate the study of interests and use of interest measures in academic and applied settings.
Working memory flips the direction of serial bias through memory-based decision
Authors: Chen KuoWei , Bae Gi-Yeul
Published: December 2023

Reported perception of a new stimulus is either attracted toward or repelled away from task-irrelevant prior stimuli. While prevailing theories propose that the opposing serial biases may stem from distinct stages of processing, the exact role of working memory (WM) in serial bias remains unclear despite its consistent involvement in nearly all pertinent studies. Additionally, it is not well understood whether this bias is primarily driven by the biased representation itself or by the decision-making process for the new stimulus. In the present study, we used a novel delayed estimation paradigm with an intervening task, designed to disrupt the maintenance of stimulus information to investigate the involvement of WM in serial bias. In the analysis, we scrutinized the trajectory of mouse reports and response time to investigate how the response unfolds over time. Our findings indicate that interrupting WM maintenance process significantly reversed the direction of the bias effect and that the associated response trajectories and response time exhibited patterns that cannot be explained by the biased representation alone. Together, these results demonstrate that the task-irrelevant prior stimulus influences the decision for the new stimulus, with the direction of the final bias determined by how the stimulus was maintained in WM, thereby placing significant constraints on existing theories on the serial bias effect.
Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Bussemakers Carlijn , Stappers Nicole , Kroese Floor , van den Putte Bas , de Bruin Marijn
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Physical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the Covid-19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within-person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors for handwashing and distancing behaviour. Design: We used individual-level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit Covid-19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Methods: Fixed-effects models were employed to estimate within-person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors. Results: Pandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within-person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self-efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross-sectional models, indicating such models tend to overestimate effects.Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within-person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people’s capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example by modifying the environment.
The Social Iowa Gambling Task (S-IGT): A Novel Paradigm for Investigating Social Learning and Decision Making
Authors: Perez Eliany , Shoenfelt Alayna , Lighthall Nichole Renee , Frazier Ian , El-Shafie Dalia , Lin Tian , Ebner Natalie C.
Published: December 2023

The unique distinctions between non-social and social learning and decision making are largely unknown. Facial cues, critical in forming first impressions of trustworthiness, may influence maladaptive social learning, such as prioritizing appearances over actions and settling for satisfactory outcomes. To test this, we augmented a well-established measure of learning and decision making, the Iowa Gambling Task, to examine the role of social (face)cues in learning. Our newly developed Social Iowa Gambling Task (S-IGT) includes: 1) the experimental manipulation of facial cues of trustworthiness; 2) the incorporation of two conditions in which the dis/advantageous decks are represented by un/trustworthy faces (i.e., congruent condition; CS-IGT) and vice versa (i.e., incongruent condition; IS-IGT); and (3) a non-social control condition. With these features, the new S-IGT goes beyond widely used multi-round trust games and expands on their ability to model the influence of social context during decision making. Across three studies, 558participants were randomly assigned to complete either the IGT or one of the two conditions of the S-IGT (i.e., in/congruent). Participants showed the best initial performance in the CS-IGT, but also evidenced the least improvement over time in this condition and most disadvantageous decision making after learning (i.e., during the last block). Results from this novel task support the notion that congruence between facial cues of trustworthiness and behavior can inhibit learning and result in inadequate/suboptimal decision making, perhaps because they promote satisficing.
Quality of Life Among Elderly People in Chitwan District, Nepal
Authors: Poudyal Jiwan Kumar , Shakya Dhanendra Veer , Parajuli Sumitra , Dhungana Govinda Prasad
Published: December 2023

As the world's elderly population grows, the Quality of Life (QoL) of the elderly becomes an emerging issue and plays a vital role in social development. The aim of this study was to assess the QoL of elderly people in the Chitwan district, Nepal. An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed to evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) among the elderly residing in the 17 wards encompassing all municipalities and the metropolitan area. The sampling method employed was Probability Proportionate to Size (PPS), which facilitated the selection of 26 respondents from each of the chosen wards. In total, 442 elderly individuals were recruited from the community and surveyed using the WHOQoL-brief questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data in SPSS 20. Most of the elderly mentioned neutral status in both overall QoL (71%) and satisfied with their health status (48.4%). Elderly aged 60-69 years had higher QoL scores in the physical (p<0.007) and psychological (p<0.014) domains compared to other age groups. There was statistically significant association of physical domain with age group, marital status, religion, and presence of chronic illness. The psychological domain was associated with age group, education, religion, and presence of chronic illness. The social domain was associated with marital status, type of family, education, ethnicity, and presence of chronic illness. The environmental health domain was associated with sources of family income, marital status, education, different living arrangements, religion, ethnicity, and presence of chronic illness. All QoL domains showed a positive correlation (p<0.01) with each other as well as with the overall health and quality of life of elderly people. The overall health status and QoL of elderly people was neutral. As increasing the age of the elderly, almost domains of quality of life were declining. Living arrangement with family was associated with the environmental health domain. The absence of chronic illness was associated with all domains of the quality of life of the elderly.
Theoretical Investigation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Lead-free Ternary Alloys Sn-Sb-Bi and their Subsystems
Authors: Sah Sanjay Kumar , Jha Indu Shekhar , Koirala Ishwar
Published: December 2023

The concentration-dependent properties, like the constituents’ activities for the binary liquid alloys like Sb-Sn at 905 K, Bi-Sn at 600 K, and Bi-Sb at 1200 K, and the integral Gibbs free energy of mixing, ΔGXS, of the correspondent alloys were computed using the molecular interaction volume model (MIVM). Further, the model has been used to compute the activities of the component Sn in the ternary Sn-Sb-Bi system at 900K at the three cross-sections, i.e., Sb:Bi = 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1. The theoretical data have been analyzed with the corresponding experimental data accessible in the literature. An acceptable concurrence has been obtained, with some inconsistencies. The activities of the ternary alloys along the three cross-sections, i.e., Sb:Bi = 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1, show that the deviations change from positive to negative with increasing Sb content. The results confirm that MIVM is a good model for estimating the thermodynamic properties of binary and ternary systems.
Impact of Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility on Beneficiary Institutions Satisfaction in Nepal
Authors: Wagle Sudip
Published: December 2023

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) became mandatory legislation since 2016/17, in Nepal. The aim of this study is to determine the beneficiary institutions satisfaction from the companies CSR activities in Nepal. Descriptive and causal comparative research design was applied. For that, structured questionnaires were used among 400 registered beneficiary institutions. Mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis were performed by using IBM SPSS 25 version software. The results of this study showed a significant positive correlation between corporate CSR initiatives and the satisfaction of beneficiary institutions in Nepal. Out of eight parameters, three variables make a statistically positively significant contribution (p-value<0.05) in beneficiary institutions satisfaction. The concern variables are company routinely visits the community through different CSR projects (BEN-CV). In case of any tear, wear, or depreciation in the community, assure the local company of their involvement (BEN-CI) and, companies conduct CSR programs for the uplifting community, from problems to prosperity (BEN-PP), whose beta value are 0.178, 0.171, and 0.373 respectively. Moreover, these days companies CSR program is more effective to the beneficiaries that play a meaningful role in society for nation’s sustainable development.
योद्धा उपन्यासमा वर्गपक्षधरता
Authors: [Prabha Marahatta Koirala] प्रभा मरहठ्ठा कोइराला
Published: December 2023

प्रस्तुत लेख यदुनाथ भट्टराईद्वारा लिखित योद्धा उपन्यासमा अभिव्यक्त वर्गपक्षधरता अध्ययनमा केन्द्रित छ । यस लेखमा उपन्यासलाई माक्र्सवादी ऐतिहासिक द्वन्द्वात्मक भौतिकवादी कसीमा राखी वर्गीय पक्षधरता अध्ययन गरिएको छ । नेपाल कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी माओवादीले २०५२ सालदेखि सुरुवात गरेको जनयुद्धकालीन परिवेश र घटनाहरूलाई विषयवस्तु बनाइएको यस उपन्यासमा निम्नवर्गीय समस्या, उत्पीडन तथा तिनै वर्गको सक्रियतामा सुरुवात गरिएको वर्गीय सङ्घर्षका उद्देश्यहरूलाई महइभ्व दिई सोही वर्गको हक, हितका पक्षमा वकालत गरिएको छ । त्यसैले यस लेखमा योद्धा उपन्यासमा वर्गपक्षधरता कसरी अभिव्यक्त गरिएको छ भन्ने प्राज्ञिक जिज्ञासा समाधान गर्ने उद्देश्यमा अध्ययनलाई केन्द्रित गरिएको छ । उपन्यासमा जनयुद्धमा कमान्डर बनेका प्रमुख पात्रहरूका बाल्यकालीन जीवनशैली, पहाडी भूभागका समस्या तथा सेना, पुलिसको जागिर छोडेर जनयुद्धमा समर्पित भई बलिदानीका साथ लडेका साहसिक क्रियाकलापलाई मुख्य विषयवस्तु बनाइएको छ । गाउँका सामन्त, शोषकहरूले राज्यसंयन्त्रसँगै शक्ति, सत्ताको पक्षमा लागेर निहत्था जनतालाई दुःख दिएका तथा चरम यातना दिएर मारेका घटनाहरू उपन्यासमा चित्रण गरिएको छ । उपन्यासमा जनयुद्धमा सहभागी सबै पात्रहरूमा वर्गीय पक्षधरता देखिन्छ । तत्कालीन निरङ्कुश राजतन्त्रात्मक संसदीय प्रणाली विरोधी आन्दोलनका रूपमा सुरुवात गरिएको जनविद्रोह नै वर्गयुद्ध रहेको देखिन्छ । यसलाई दमन गर्न अन्य राजनीतिक दलसमेत लागेको देखिन्छ । उपन्यासमा तत्कालीन माओवादी पार्टीले सुरुवात गरेको जनयुद्धलाई पृष्ठभूमि बनाएर पात्रहरूले गरेका विद्रोहपूर्ण सङ्घर्षमा वर्गपक्षधरतालाई सचेत रूपमा चित्रण गरिएको छ । जनयुद्ध समाजमा रहेका जातीय, वर्गीय, लैङ्गिक विभेद तथा सबै प्रकारका उत्पीडनबाट मुक्तिका चाहनामा लक्षित रहेको सन्देश उपन्यासले दिएको छ । समाजमा व्याप्त राजनीतिक, आर्थिक, सामाजिक शोषण, दमन र अन्यायका विरुद्धमा चलाएका अभियानहरूमा उपन्यासलाई केन्द्रित गरिएको छ । यसर्थ यस लेखमा ‘योद्धा’ उपन्यासमा उत्पीडित वर्गीय, श्रमजीवी तथा सर्वहारा वर्गीय पक्षधरता रहेको निष्कर्ष निकालिएको छ ।
Ecosystem engineering: Rufous-bellied woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus (Vigors, 1831) modifying tree shapes of Himalayan broadleaved forests
Authors: Baral Hem Sagar
Published: December 2023

The study, conducted from 2005 to 2018, encompassed twelve sites in Nepal, including both protected and non-protected areas. The primary focus of the observations was on tree species, their shapes, structures, and their interactions with the rufous-bellied woodpecker. The rufous-bellied woodpecker in Nepal's Himalayas predominantly utilized specific tree species, notably oak (Quercus semecarpifolia and Q. glauca), birch (Betula utilis), Himalayan holly (Ilex dyperina), and maple (Acer species). These trees displayed a remarkable diversity in girth sizes, ranging from 0.5 meters to almost 2.5 meters, with tree heights varying from 5 to 30 meters. Among these, Quercus semecarpifolia was the preferred choice. Notably, rufous-bellied woodpeckers exhibited a distinctive behavior of drilling numerous small holes around tree trunks, often forming ring-like structures. These "sap-wells" were meticulously created by drilling dense rows of small holes encircling the tree trunks and served as the primary food source for the woodpeckers. They attracted a wide array of insects and offered a valuable source of protein. This continuous interaction between the woodpeckers and the trees resulted in unique modifications to the trunks of old-growth forest trees. Over time, the trees developed swollen trunks, and some trunks even displayed bending and deformations due to the woodpecker’s sap-well chiselling activities. Furthermore, the study observed several other bird species benefiting from these sap-wells created by the rufous-bellied woodpeckers. This observation underscores the broader ecological significance of these structures, benefiting a diverse range of species within the ecosystem. In essence, this study sheds light on the rufous-bellied woodpecker's role as an "ecosystem engineer" and an indicator of forest health in the temperate Himalayas, emphasizing its critical ecological importance.
Scaling up Vulture Safe Zone to conserve a greater number of Endangered raptor species: A case for creating a Raptor Safe Zone in Nepal
Authors: Chaudhary Anand
Published: December 2023

Nepal has successfully piloted the Vulture Safe Zone, a broad-scale conservation strategy for Endangered vulture species. An obvious question is: what more can we do to build on this accomplishment? Through this paper, I advocate for expanding the Vulture Safe Zones to include other threatened raptors to create Raptor Safe Zones (RSZs). RSZs are a logical next step for Nepal because this country is a global hotspot for raptors and because the RSZ will help conserve 23 threatened raptor species, both within and beyond existing protected areas. I discuss opportunities, challenges, and the way forward for creating RSZ.
Prevalence of fungal infection in clinically suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis visiting a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Shrestha Rajani , Nayak Niranjan , Bhatt Dharma Raj , Hamal Deependra , Gokhale Shishir
Published: December 2023

Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most important health concerns. Some fungi may acquire pathogenic potential in immunocompromised persons due to underlying diseases, use of prolonged antibiotics, chronic disease and malignancy. The presence of fungal pathogens in cases of pulmonary TB adds to the chronicity of the disease and being difficult to treat. This study aimed to evaluate tuberculosis (TB) status and coinfection of TB with pulmonary fungal infections. A total of 330 sputum samples were collected from suspected pulmonary TB and were examined using Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) staining method as per revised national tuberculosis control program (RNTCP) guidelines and GeneXpert assay procedure adopted, was in accordance with the WHO recommended guidelines. Those sputum samples were also processed for fungal culture. In case of any growth, this was identified by gram staining or by lactophenol cotton blue wet mount preparation and slide culture technique, if needed. A total of 29 (8.8%) samples out of 330 yielded tuberculosis by GeneXpert assay. Maximum positivity was noted among age group 31- 45 years (15.5%). In the present study, GeneXpert positivity for the Mycobacterium tuberculoris (MTB) detected rate remained to be 8.8% (29/330) detected as against smear positivity in only 5.4% (18/330) (P value: 0.001). Out of 18, Z-N smear positive samples, maximum i.e. 17, which had yielded either high or medium detected of TB bacilli in the GeneXpert assay. Whereas, out the rest 12 GeneXpert positive (low and very low) samples, only one sample showed acid fast bacilli in the smear. A significant correlation was found between GeneXpert and smear positivity (p<0.001). Overall, 90 (27.7%) Candida spp. were isolated. Interestingly, 7 of these 90 Candida positive samples were found to positive to MTB by GeneXpert test, accounting a prevalence rate of 24.1% (7/29) of Candida coinfection among TB cases. Tuberculosis remains a global threat despite effort to eradicate the disease and TB co-infection with Candida spp. may complicate infection and treatment. In this present study, although the prevalence rates of all the coinfections were low and statistically not significant. Being chronic in nature and with confusing clinical and radiological findings, these fungal infections are misdiagnosed as reactivation of tuberculosis. Screening for TB should be conducted to diagnose early and treat these opportunistic infections and decrease mortality and morbidity rates associated with fungal coinfection in tuberculosis patients.