bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Fourth Industrial Revolution on Small and Medium Size Enterprises in South Africa
Authors: Saah Paul , Mbohwa Charles
Published: January 2025

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) offers both transformative opportunities and significant challenges for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The purpose of this study is to examine how 4IR technologies, such as robotics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence (AI), affect the development and performance of SMEs in South Africa. With the use of a quantitative research methodology, this study meticulously investigates the connection between business outcomes and SME adaptation to 4IR. Using a descriptive single cross-sectional design and a nonprobability convenience sample technique, 50 SME owners and managers from the Eastern Cape province of South Africa were chosen to represent the entire nation. Version 27.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to assess the collected information. The findings reveal a significant positive association between perceived business growth and SME adoption of 4IR technologies. Most businesses experienced improved operational efficiency and competitiveness after just a year of adaptation. However, opinions on 4IR adoption are greatly influenced by the characteristics of small enterprises, including their industry and location. Small business enterprises in more developed industries and urbanized locations are more likely to use 4IR technologies than SMEs in traditional or rural sectors, where issues like low levels of digital literacy, inadequate digital infrastructure and restricted access to finance still exist. However, all SMEs in South Africa must ultimately have fair access to 4IR technologies to promote long-term sustainability, competitiveness, and socioeconomic growth in the global digital economy.
Assessing The Competitiveness Of Logistics And Trade In Uzbekistan (In The Logistics Performance Index) (LPI)
Authors: Xolmurodovich Pardayev
Published: January 2025

The focus of this study is on logistics performance in Uzbekistan which is thought of as a key enabler of trade competitiveness and economic growth. However, Uzbekistan remains geographically privileged in the role of a transit hub of regional scale and faces the problem of coordinated development of multimodal transport systems and use of digital solutions. The research aims to address this knowledge gap employing mixed methods approach by using quantitative data from the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and freight turnover reports, and the qualitative analysis of national strategies and policies. Freight turnover in 2023 is 12,664.45 million ton-kilometers, yet the LPI score rose to 2.6. Rail transport holds at 75%, and the road and air transport remain underdeveloped. The results underscore the importance of integrated multimodal systems, digital transformation and public private partnerships for furthering development in Uzbekistan’s logistics sector. This work has also important implications for policymakers and businesses as these findings provide actionable recommendations to reduce logistics inefficiency, enhance trade facilitation, and promote economic growth.
How does information affect vote choice in open-list PR systems? Evidence from a survey experiment mimicking real-world elections in Switzerland
Authors: Quoß Franziska , Rudolph Lukas , Däubler Thomas
Published: January 2025

List proportional representation with candidate voting can facilitate policy representation in multiple dimensions. However, candidates with deviating positions may not benefit if cues such as shared socio-demographics drive candidate choice instead. Does this use of cues reflect a lack of policy-related information or a preference for descriptive representation? We study this question in a real-world context, using a survey-embedded experiment that emulates actual vote choice shortly after the 2019 Swiss elections. We vary the level of information on candidates’ policy positions in zero, one or two dimensions (left–right, environment). Our results show that spatial proximity voting increases with better information on the secondary (but not the first) dimension, indicating that information can improve the alignment of (environmental) policy views between voters and candidates. In turn, same-gender and same-age voting slightly decreases when more information is available. The preference for local candidates remains strong. Our results inform debates regarding citizens’ preferences for different types of representation and how electoral systems moderate their expression.
Kuva-analyysi tiedettä esittävistä piirroksista
Authors: Okulov Jaana
Published: January 2025

Tämä kuvallinen analyysi tarkastelee yhtä osiota suomalaista tiedepääomaa tutkivan ja kehittävän FINSCI-hankkeen “Mitä tiede tarkoittaa?” -kyselystä. Kysymyksessä numero 5 osallistujia pyydetään piirtämään ”tiede”. Tutkimuksen muut osiot tarkastelevat tiedekäsityksiä kysymyspatteriston ja vapaiden vastausten avulla. Ne analysoidaan erikseen FINSCI-tutkimusryhmän toimesta. Kuvallisia vastauksia kyselyyn on annettu yhteensä 417 kappaletta. Olen ryhmitellyt vastaukset ensisijaisesti niiden semanttisen sisällön kautta 25:een eri kategoriaan, jonka jälkeen olen tehnyt kuville suppean esteettisen analyysin.Vastausten perusteella tiede nähdään abstraktina muotona, useimmiten spiraalina. Vastauksissa keskiöön nousee osallistujien erilaiset tiedekäsitykset, jotka nojaavat pääosin matemaattis-luonnontieteelliseen maailmankatsomukseen. Ihmisen rooli tieteen tekemisessä on suuri. Kuvissa esiintyvä ihminen on tutkija, joka toimii tutkimusta tehdessä yksin ja on pääosin iloinen. Kuviin on piirretty paljon teknologiaa, mutta tutkimusvälineet ovat vain harvoin moderneja. Tiede nähdään suurelta osin synonyyminä tutkimukselle; tutkimus lähtee kysymyksenasettelusta, tai sitä tehdessä herää kysymyksiä, joihin löytyy aineiston mukaan harvemmin selkeitä vastauksia. Tiede kuvataan kuitenkin myös itsensä sulkevana (monimutkaisena) prosessina. Tutkimusta tehdään useammin kohti makrotason (joka vaikuttaa olevan visuaalisesti pysähtynyt) kuin mikrotason (jossa visuaalista dynaamisuutta lyhyinä purkauksina) ilmiöitä. Matemaattiset kuvaajat ja kaaviot ovat laajasti edustettuina. Tiede näyttää aineiston perusteella maailman, jossa asiat ovat kytköksissä, kiertyvät ja sulkeutuvat toisiinsa/itseensä.Kuvien estetiikkaan vaikuttaa voimakkaasti piirtämisessä käytetty digitaalinen, MS paint-tyyppinen työkalu, jonka oletusasetuksena on ollut musta ohut viiva, siksi muokattua viivaa ja värikuvia on kokonaisuudesta vain pieni osa.
Food as an Icebreaker: The Impact of Social Eating on Freezing Body Movements in Natural Conversations
Authors: Straßheim Jana , Bousquet Christophe A. H. , Köchling Johanna , Wikelski Martin , Schupp Harald , Renner Britta
Published: January 2025

Social eating, a ubiquitous activity encompassing family dinners, workplace lunches, and public canteens, profoundly influences social dynamics, yet its behavioural implications remain underexplored. This study examines how eating with others shapes social interactions by analysing body movement patterns in eating and non-eating conditions across contexts with varying levels of conversational tension. Social eating was found to significantly reduce the frequency, duration, and contagiousness of motion-freezing episodes – key indicators of social tension – even after accounting for eating-related movements. Crucially, the reduced contagiousness of motion freezing suggests that social eating may act as an inoculation mechanism, mitigating stress-related behavioural alignment and promoting positive social dynamics. These findings emphasise the distinctive role of social eating in promoting smoother interactions and creating a relaxed social atmosphere. By extending its significance beyond nutrition, this research highlights the deeply social nature of eating and its essential role in alleviating tension and fostering social relationships.
Why Non-Scientists Are Needed to Advance Science
Authors: Morales Manuel
Published: January 2025

A new empirical method has been developed to test superdeterminism, i.e., predetermined events. [1] The successful results reveal that current scientific methods fail to account for the predetermined condition of two mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive nonlocal variables that can only come-to-exist yet are necessary to conduct all local experiments. The discovery of nonlocal missing variables in scientific investigations explains why local methods yield false-positive and false-negative results. The unambiguous empirical evidence obtained has undergone peer review, has been published, and can be tested by the entire human race via the Final Selection Experiment. [2] The evidence is universal and absolute, which sets the stage for researchers worldwide to embrace this new method for the advancement of science. However, scientists still require funding and peer acceptance. Thus, nonscientists who are free from peer pressure and have the authority to grant such funding will inadvertently be needed to advance science beyond its current limitations.
Recognizing the importance of design, content, and delivery features of health animations for preventative health behaviours: a realist review
Authors: McCorry Kathleen , Maniatopoulos Gregory , Errington Linda , Land Ellie , Craig Michael , Vijaykumar Santosh , Bärnighausen Till , O'Brien Nicola
Published: January 2025

Background: Animated messages promoting preventative health behaviours (health animations) are prevalent globally. Health animations are visual and less reliant on language and therefore can overcome health literacy barriers and reduce health inequities. Additionally, they are easily and inexpensively shared, making them a potentially powerful tool for disease prevention.Purpose: To understand why, how, for whom, to what extent, and in which contexts health animations work to promote preventative health behaviours.Method: This realist review followed the iterative stages outlined by Pawson and was conducted in accordance with the RAMESES standards. This methodology allows for the inclusion of peer-reviewed publications and grey literature, with appraisal focusing on the relevance, rigour, and richness of included data. Evaluations of animations promoting preventative health behaviours to any age population, and employing any design or comparator were included. Data syntheses sought to produce the context-mechanism-outcome configurations, which contributed to the programme theory. International stakeholder workshops with professionals and members of the public were used to sense check findings and refine the programme theory.Results: This review included the synthesis of data from 32 animations. Design, content and delivery contexts were identified, including representing the target audience, using storytelling, evoking emotion and using a credibly perceived source, which enabled the triggering of key mechanisms of action, including transportation in the story, identification, knowledge and skills. Conclusion: Health animations can be an effective tool to promote preventative health behaviours. The findings from this review have produced research and practice recommendations for the future design of health animations.
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Dual Objective, Dual Gain?
Authors: Szmalec Arnaud , Simonis Morgane , Hauspie Cathy , Ordonez Magro Laura , Hiligsmann Philippe , Van Mensel Luk , Galand Benoit
Published: January 2025

Background: An emerging trend has been observed in the number of schools offering Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programs, where academic content is taught through a foreign language. The studies exploring the impact of CLIL programs on content learning are scarce and produce inconsistent results.Aims: The current study examines the acquisition of academic content learned in a foreign language in CLIL education, when pupils are tested in the main school language.Sample: The sample consisted of 725 sixth grade primary and twelfth grade secondary education pupils enrolled in CLIL and in non-CLIL, in French-speaking Belgium.Methods: Content learning was examined by collecting the end-of-curriculum official external evaluations for the participants. The external evaluation for primary pupils focused on mathematics, history and geography, sciences, and French, while it focused on history and French for secondary pupils. The particularity of these evaluations is that they are identical for all schools in French-speaking Belgium.Results: Although academic subjects are instructed in a foreign, non-dominant language (i.e., English or Dutch), CLIL pupils successfully achieve their school curriculum (just like non-CLIL pupils do) and are able to acquire content in a foreign language, even though the assessment takes place in the main school language (i.e., French). These results remained stable even when controlling for cognitive and demographic confounding variables.Conclusion: CLIL pupils do not seem to be at a disadvantage for the acquisition of academic content, compared to non-CLIL pupils.
The Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale: Development, validation, and associations with workplace outcomes
Authors: Littrell Shane
Published: January 2025

From boardrooms and brown bags, to emails and earnings calls, business culture often seems overrun by “corporate bullshit,” a type of semantically empty or otherwise vague rhetoric that leverages abstruse corporate buzzwords and jargon in a way that misrepresents or obscures some aspect of organizational reality. Though corporate bullshit may sometimes seem harmless, it can disrupt organizational and employee effectiveness in numerous ways including obstructing effective communication, increasing employee disengagement, tarnishing company reputation, and exposing businesses to legitimate financial and legal risks. Here, results from three studies (N = 745) report the construction and validation of the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale (CBSR), a novel measure of individual differences in receptivity to corporate bullshit. Results show that corporate bullshit receptivity is distinct from a general affinity for corporate speech. Moreover, it is significantly associated with measures of analytic thinking and other bullshit-related constructs in theoretically-consistent ways. Importantly, corporate bullshit receptivity is strongly associated with several measures of organizational culture and job performance and is a strong, robust predictor of work-related decision-making. Overall, the findings establish the CBSR as a valid and reliable tool to aid researchers in examining the causes, correlates, and consequences of bullshit in the workplace.
The Not So Illusory Truth Effect: A Rational Foundation for Repetition Effects
Authors: Orchinik Reed , Rand David Gertler , Bhui Rahul
Published: January 2025

The illusory truth effect - the finding that repeated statements are believed more - is understood as a cognitive bias at the core of the psychology of beliefs. Here, we propose that the effect, rather than representing a flaw in human cognition, is a rational adaptation to generally high-quality information environments. Using a formal model, we show that increasing belief in repeated statements improves belief accuracy when a source is credible (i.e., likely to tell the truth) but sometimes makes errors. The theory unifies four key findings in the literature while predicting a testable edge case for the illusory truth effect: when a source is likely to convey falsehoods. Using a large (N = 4,947) pre-registered online experiment, we show that the illusory truth effect is substantially smaller in a low-quality (mostly false) relative to a high-quality (mostly true) information environment. In fact, a majority of participants in the low-quality condition do not demonstrate any illusory truth effect. We identify the deployment of an alternative strategy in the low-quality condition where participants decrease their belief given repetition. Three process-level indicators - response times, cognitive reflection, and the prior plausibility of items - confirm an adaptively rational interpretation. In sum, we suggest the illusory truth effect may not be purely illusory, highlighting its adaptive foundations and the ability of people to efficiently navigate complex environments.
Measurement properties of the 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9): A systematic psychometric review and meta-analysis
Authors: Echterhoff Jette , Petter Jonas , Ralbovszki Judit , Scholl Isabelle , Härter Martin , Kriston Levente
Published: January 2025

Background. The 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) is widely used to measure shared decision-making (SDM) across clinical settings, but no study so far has synthesized its psychometric properties. Purpose. We systematically reviewed and synthesized psychometric evidence of the SDM-Q-9. Data Sources. MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINAHL. Study Selection. Original studies in English or German, providing any information on psychometric properties of the SDM-Q-9 considering all possible interpretations and constructs measured by the instrument. Data Extraction. Details on study design, sample characteristics, and any information on psychometric evidence were extracted. Data Synthesis. 83 studies were included, with 73 articles contributing evidence on validity, 46 on reliability, and 3 on fairness. We found a high amount of psychometric evidence on validity and reliability of the SDM-Q-9, interpreting the score as SDM perceived by the patient. Evidence is lacking for other interpretations and fairness. Notable is the weak association of the SDM-Q-9 with physician-rated SDM. Conclusions. The SDM-Q-9 is highly reliable and valid for the subjectively experienced level of SDM by the patient. Further research is needed on alternative interpretations, and on fairness of the measure.
A Thirty-Year Retrospective on “Minstrels of Soul”: The Enduring Relevance of Intermodal Expressive Therapy
Authors: Wainwright Richard , Roberta Rasmussen-Merz MSW
Published: January 2025

This review commemorates the thirtieth anniversary of Minstrels of Soul: Intermodal Expressive Therapy (Knill et al., 1995), a central text in the expressive arts therapy field. Drawing on Paolo J. Knill’s interdisciplinary background in musicology, psychology, and systems theory, the authors propose a model of “intermodal decentering” that integrates multiple art forms—visual art, music, dance, poetry, and drama—into therapeutic practice. Emphasizing “aesthetic responsibility,” the book addresses ethical considerations and underscores the relational power of artistic processes to foster meaningful change. While grounded in the 1990s, its foundational principles resonate with current realities of political polarization, global conflict, and collective trauma, illustrating the continued relevance of an embodied, creative framework. Future directions include deeper cultural adaptation and exploration of digital modalities, yet Minstrels of Soul remains an enduring cornerstone for professionals seeking holistic, arts-based approaches to individual and communal healing.
Comparative Study on Wavelet-based Linear and Non-Linear Image Denoising Techniques
Authors: Chikanbanjar Milan , Pandey Sanjeeb
Published: January 2025

Denoising an image is still a challenging domain in the image processing research area. Denoising means removing noise from a corrupted image but the challenge is to retain different details of an image. The search for efficient image-denoising methods is still a valid challenge at the crossing of functional analysis and statistics. In spite of the sophistication of the recent methods, most algorithms have not yet attained a desirable level of applicability. All the algorithms show a high outstanding performance when the image model corresponds to the algorithm assumptions but it generally fails to create artifacts or change the main structures of the original image. De-noising of natural images corrupted by white Gaussian noise using wavelet techniques is very effective because of its ability to capture the energy of the signal in a few energy transform values or coefficients. This method performs well under a number of applications because wavelet transform has the compaction property of having only a small number of large coefficients where the remaining wavelet coefficients are very small. The choice of threshold in wavelet-based image denoising is very critical as well as image restoration and noise reduction are eminent problems in almost all image processing applications. Numerous image restoration methods have been developed, each of which has its own advantages and limitation. For the removal of salt and pepper noise on natural images, different wavelet techniques are tested on various grayscale and colour images. Here, linear and non-linear wavelet transform denoising techniques of images are studied and compared using thresholding techniques such as Weiner, soft, hard, semi-soft, LevelShrink, SUREShrink, VisuShrink and BayesShrink.
Deep Learning Model for Security of IoT Network
Authors: Thakur Sukhachandra , Joshi Shashidhar Ram
Published: January 2025

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the emerging and rapidly rising network of phys-ical objects that are provided IP addresses for network connectivity and having the ability of transferring data between objects and other Internet-based devices and systems. There are billions of IoT devices connected and there is a high cyber security and data privacy risk. Com-puters and mobile devices have many software and security solutions to secure and defend from attacks, but a similar type of security solution is missing to secure IoT networks. In this paper, the One-Dimensional Convolution Neural Network (1DCNN) is proposed to measure efficiency using UNSW-NB15 dataset which is the latest and covered modern attacks data in comparison to NSL KDD and KDDCUP99. For comparison study of performance, we have compared attic Machine learning models with KNN and Naïve Bayes. In each experiment, the model ran up to 200 epochs and with 0.001 learning rate. Deep learning models have outper-formed in comparison to the attic machine learning model.
Engineering Faculty Perspectives on Bachelors’ Student Mathematical Prerequisites
Authors: Paudel Krishna Chandra
Published: January 2025

This study explores engineering faculty perspectives concerning the adequacy and relevance of Nepal's secondary level mathematics curriculum as a foundation for undergraduate engineering education. Through interpretative qualitative research involving purposively selected six engineering professors from two universities in Nepal, this study examines the alignment between secondary mathematics education and engineering program requirements through in-depth interviews. The major themes that emerged were contents sufficiency, sequential consistency, contextual pedagogical practice and unfamiliarity exam system. The results of the research can assist mathematics curriculum developers and teachers in secondary and undergraduate levels.
समानान्तरताका आधारमा चरीमाई उपन्यासको विश्लेषण
Authors: पन्थ Pantha नारायणप्रसाद Narayan prasad
Published: January 2025

प्रस्तुत लेखमा समानान्तरताका आधारमा चरीमाई उपन्यासको विश्लेषण गरिएको छ । यस लेखको मुख्य उद्देश्य समानान्तरताका आधारमा चरीमाई उपन्यासको विश्लेषण गर्नु हो । यसमा प्राथमिक सामग्रीका रूपमा चरीमाई उपन्यासलाई लिइएको छ भने पुस्तकालय कार्यबाट पुस्तक तथा लेखरचनाहरूलाई द्वितीय सामग्रीका रूपमा उपयोग गरिएको छ । यस लेखमा वर्णनात्मक विधिको प्रयोगद्वारा चरिमाई उपन्यासमा भाव, परिवेश र पात्रअनुकुल हुने गरी समानान्तरताका सान्दर्भिक प्रयोगको खोजी गरिएको छ । समानान्तरताद्वारा बाह्य तथा आन्तरिक सौन्दर्यमा वृद्घि गराउनुका साथै भावगत गहनतालाई जीवन्त तुल्याएको देखिन्छ । समानान्तरताको उपयोगका क्रममा लक्ष्यार्थ र व्यञ्जनामूलक भाषिक एकाइको प्रयोग गरी विभिन्न प्रतीकात्मक भाषिक उपयोगद्वारा आर्थी अभिव्यक्तिलाई आकर्षक तुल्याइएको छ । उपन्यासकारले भाषिक सौन्दर्य र अर्थगत सामथ्र्य बढाउन समानान्तरताको यथेष्ट उपयोग गरेका छन् । त्यस्तै समानान्तरताद्वारा प्रस्तुतिलाई चमत्कारपूर्ण तुल्याउन विभिन्न अलङ्कार, विम्ब, प्रतीक, उखान र टुक्काको प्रयोग गरेको देखिन्छ । उपन्यासमा समानान्तरताको उपस्थितिका निम्ति ध्वनि, भाषिकागत, प्रयुक्ति, व्याकरणिक तथा आर्थी तहमा विचलनका सान्दर्भिक प्रयोग गरिएको पाइन्छ । उपन्यासमा भाव, परिवेश र पात्रअनुकुल हुने गरी समानान्तरताका सान्दर्भिक तथा सार्थक प्रयोगले उपन्यास रोचक, सौन्दर्यपूर्ण र कलात्मक बन्न गएको निष्कर्ष निकालिएको छ । यो अध्ययन शिक्षक, विद्यार्थी, साहित्यप्रेमी तथा पाठकवर्गलाई उपयोगी हुने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ ।
Elevated PM2.5 Levels Associated with Incense Burning in Bangalamukhi Temple, Lalitpur, Nepal
Authors: Shahi Binita , Hamal Shudarshan , Maskey Shila
Published: January 2025

Incense burning is a common practice in many Asian countries, often used at homes to mask bad odors and repel insects. Pollutants released from incense burning can quickly accumulate to hazardous levels in indoor environments, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. Particulate matter (PM) emitted from incense is of great importance due to its adverse effects on human health. The study focuses on the measurement of PM2.5, and CO2 concentrations in Bangalamukhi temple located in Lalitpur, Nepal. The data were collected using an Air Visual Pro (IQAir, Switzerland). The air quality parameters were measured for two days during the Navaratri (Dashain) festival designated as Peak Period I and II, and on Thursday as Peak Period III, considering the higher flow of people during these days. Non-peak Periods I and II were defined as any other days except Thursday and/or Saturday, assuming a lower flow of people. The RH levels during the sampling periods ranged from 47-72% and ambient temperature ranged from 13.7-29.0. The study showed the maximum hourly average PM2.5 concentrations during peak and non-peak period days at Bangalamukhi temple exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2012. Furthermore, the peak value of PM2.5 concentration during both the peak period days (peak period I and II) was significantly higher than in the samples conducted during all the non-peak period days at the sampling site (peak value PM2.5 concentration: 439.40-118.8 vs 215.1-55.4), indicating that the burning of incense was responsible for the elevated PM2.5 concentration in the temple premises.
Assessment of Noise Pollution in Hospitals along the Major Highways of Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Nepal
Authors: Singh Rita , Kayastha Sadhana Pradhanang , Limbu Arjun Kumar , Joshi Anusuya
Published: January 2025

Noise pollution in the hospital area is a significant problem that may cause patients to respond negatively in several ways. This study assessed the existing noise condition in 14 hospitals by monitoring noise levels within the hospital compound and at the roadside of the respective hospital. The sound pressure level was measured in A-weighting sound level meters in the morning (8:00 AM -11:00 AM) and in the evening (3:00 PM- 6:00 PM) at 10 seconds of the time interval during the high traffic flow period on working days. The study revealed that the Equivalent Sound Pressure level (Leq) value exceeded 60 dBA, in the morning and the evening at both sites surpassing the standard prescribed by WHO, USEPA, and GoN standards. There was no difference in the measured noise level (Leq) in the morning and evening within the hospital compound at 95% confidence intervals. However, a significant difference was observed in the noise within the hospital compound and to the nearest road revealing that the compound wall within the hospital premises attenuates noise level. A survey conducted with 100 respondents revealed that 77% are aware of noise pollution and 79% identified vehicle noise as a major source of noise. The survey also revealed that they had health impacts due to traffic noise, 53% reported an increase in their temper, 45% reported sleep disturbances, 38% reported headaches, 36% complained of lacking concentration, 30% mentioned speech interference, and 6% complained of having chest pain. Hence the study shows that the patients in hospitals and people around are affected by noise pollution though the hospitals are declared as peace zones.
Neurotic Self in Henrik Ibsen’s The Master Builder
Authors: Phuyal Komal Prasad
Published: January 2025

Background: Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) derives the dramatic tension from the neurotic self of the protagonist in his seminal play, The Master Builder (1892). The playwright builds on the repressed content of the protagonist: anxiety, phobia, and obsession appear in him, resulting in a neurosis.
Methods: This study attempts to interpret the abnormal behavior of the central character through the psychoanalytic lens of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), who has provided us with a functional model of the id, the ego, and the superego as the three drives in the human mind.
Result: Ibsen employs anxiety, phobia, and obsession as the window to examine the inner composition of his personality and critiques the social contradictions that were rising in Norwegian society in the 1880s and the 18890s. Critically approaching the protagonist and the root of his motivation, this paper argues that Halvard Solness suffers from neurosis that manifests through unusual behavior with Ragner, Kaiza Fosli, and Hilde.
Conclusion: The family tension that Solness undergoes throughout the play can also be explained through Freudian theoretical design of the repression and lack of sublimation in personality.
Novelty: Finally, this paper concludes that anxiety, phobia, and obsession in the protagonist's behavior help us understand the neurotic self, which functions as the central impetus in the play.
An In-Depth Analysis of the Oral Reading Comprehension of the Grade 7 Students of Liceo de Pulilan Colleges Inc.
Authors: Jesus Dennis A. De , Isleta Angelica Joy M. , Laoyon Gresa J. , Reyes Henderson DN. , Bugauisan Julie Ann L. , Caasi Richard E.
Published: January 2025

Literacy, defined as the ability to read and write, was considered a vital skill for personal success and societal development. In the Philippines, the literacy rate was reported at 96% in 2019 (World Population Review, 2024). However, reading comprehension remained a significant concern. According to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines ranked 76th out of 81 participating countries in reading comprehension (Servallos, 2023). This was not a new trend; in the 2018 PISA, the country had ranked the lowest among 79 nations, indicating a persistent challenge in improving reading skills among Filipino students. This study provided an in-depth analysis of the oral reading comprehension skills of Grade 7 students at Liceo de Pulilan Colleges Inc. It aimed to determine the factors that affected their reading proficiency and to identify strategies to enhance their comprehension abilities. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research assessed student performance through standardized tests, classroom observations, and teacher interviews. The findings revealed significant gaps in reading comprehension, which were attributed to several factors, including teaching methods, language exposure, socio-economic conditions, and limited access to reading resources. The study emphasized the need for targeted interventions and instructional improvements to bridge these gaps and foster a higher level of literacy among students. Ultimately, the research contributed to developing effective educational policies and practices that aimed to enhance reading skills, supporting students' academic success and lifelong learning potential.
Non-financial reporting as an element of social responsibility of Polish enterprises
Authors: Tomala Magdalena
Published: January 2025

Soon, non-financial reporting will become a formal legal requirement for companies, and neglecting it will entail liability. In view of the legal changes related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), it should be noted that there is a gap in the academic literature concerning the analysis of implementation of the CSR principles in Polish enterprises. The aim of this article is to assess the level of preparedness of enterprises to report CSR objectives. The study will use content analysis to verify companies' readiness for non-financial reporting. It can be seen that there has been a huge development in this field last few years. Environmental reporting covers three scopes, which are responsible for the emissions produced by the company. Calculating the carbon footprint in scope 1 and 2 is not a problem for Polish companies, while scope 3 is more difficult. This is due to the lack of data and insufficient cooperation of companies in this field
පුවත්පත් ආචාරධර්ම සහ ළමා අපයෝජන වාර්තාකරණය Newspaper Ethics and Child Abuse Reporting
Authors: වාසනා මධුෂානි වීරහීන්ගේ
Published: January 2025

Although the child, who is considered a wonderful product of the universe and the lifeblood of the entire world, is a living entity that has more legal and social protection compared to other human groups, under the current social situation, child abuse is a strong social problem. This research was done to find out how the reporting of child abuse is portrayed in the press. The analysis of the ethical situation in the entire sample focused on ethical violations in abuse reporting by newspaper, ethical violations in abuse reporting by month, and the nature of ethical violations in newspaper abuse reporting. Through the analysis of these facts, it was recognized that there was a need to present not only the reporting but also the awareness needed to prevent such incidents from happening again, taking care of journalistic ethics in the reporting of child abuse.
Would Artificial Intelligence, Like ChatGPT, Be a Good ‘Peer’ Reviewer in Academic Publishing? A Human Versus AI-Based SWOT Assessment
Authors: Teixeira Da Silva Jaime A. , Tsigaris Panagiotis
Published: January 2025

With the continuing passionate debate about the role of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI)–based text generator, in academic research and publishing, we reflect on whether AI can serve as a peer reviewer to overcome human weaknesses and other inherent weaknesses of the current human-supported peer-review model. The authors made their own assessment of this possibility by conducting a strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of human-based peer reviewers versus AI-based reviewers on 12 November 2023. A similar SWOT analysis was conducted for both humans and AI by employing cues fed to the paid version of ChatGPT (GPT-4). Despite the authors’ own ample experience and considerable efforts to make a balanced SWOT analysis, ChatGPT-4 was able to provide a comprehensive assessment, although it refused to cite relevant literature and obtained its information from websites and blogs. An earlier SWOT analysis (15 February 2023) using the free version (GPT-3) erred in citing the relevant literature while some citations and references were fabricated. Although AI (in this case, GPT-4) provided a logical and reasonable SWOT analysis, demonstrating its strength, it has not reached—in the authors’ view—a dependable stage yet to review articles for trusted academic journals.
A New Family of Rankings of Universities
Authors: Kosmulski Marek
Published: January 2025

A new ranking of universities (The Magnificent 7, TM7) is based on the ranks of the top seven scientists from a given university in a ranking of scientists. This idea was tested using recent rankings of scientists based on the total number of independent citations, h-index, Schreiber’s hm index, and composite index by Ioannidis et al. The ranks of universities in TM7 based on the mentioned four criteria are highly correlated. The ranks of universities in TM7 are compared with their ranks in other popular rankings like the Shanghai ranking and the Times Higher Education ranking. TM7 can be used with any ranking of scientists and updated when rankings of scientists are updated.
Medicinal herbs, their names and uses among the Tsengel Tyva people in Mongolia
Authors: Bayarsaikhan Badarč , Dolgoržav Karl
Published: January 2025

In this short report, we look at how the Tyva people, who live in northwestern Mongolia, in the municipality of Tsengel in Bayan-Ölgiy province (aimag), approach medicinal herbs. We focus on the names of plants and their use in traditional practices.
Cognitive models used in the naming of plants in Yakut
Authors: Marina Osorova  , Ninel Malysheva  , Lyudmila Zamorshikova
Published: January 2025

This article presents an analysis of naming strategies for plants in the Yakut (Turkic) language. The purpose of this study is to consider the motivational features of herbaceous plant names and to identify the features of the cognitive mechanisms of plant naming. The present study analyzes a corpus of 52 Yakut plants including important taxa such as ta:lǰït 〈таалдьыт〉 Holosteum umbellatum L., sutugax talax 〈сутугах талах〉 Salix pyrolifolia, Ledeb., timäx ot säbirdäxte:x ärbähin 〈тимэх от сэбирдэхтээх эрбэhин〉 Artemisia tanacetifolia L., among others. The corpus was selected via continuous sampling using published dictionaries and lexicographic sources. Our results show that motivational features fall into the following groups based on ecology, utility, and sensation: place of growth, use in medicine/economic activity, and plant appearance or smell.
Acupuntura como tratamento complementar para retenção das membranas fetais em vaca Nelore
Authors: Oliveira Bruna Marcele Martins de , Paes José Salomão de Freitas , Sobral Camila Alves , Silva Isabella Leme , Silva Danielle Cristinne Baccarelli da
Published: January 2025

Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) is a common condition in cattle, characterized by the failure to expel the placenta within 24 hours after calving. This condition can be either infectious or non-infectious, with negative impacts on the reproductive health and well-being of affected animals. This report describes the case of a Nellore cow treated with acupuncture, combined with prostaglandin F2α. Acupuncture was performed at specific points: Stomach 36 (ST36), Bladder 23 (BL23), and Spleen-Pancreas 6 (SP6). After two acupuncture sessions, combined with the application of prostaglandin F2α, the fetal membranes were completely expelled in a shorter time when compared to traditional methods. The technique proved to be effective, fast, low-cost and non-invasive, avoiding excessive use of medications and associated risks. It may represent a promising alternative for managing RFM, contributing to the reproductive health and productivity of cattle.
Boolean Algebra (Mathematical Logic) for Computational Differential Diagnosis in Medicine
Authors: Zugmaier Gerhard
Published: January 2025

Background: Medical diagnosis has become challenging due to the complexity of disease definition. An arsenal of methods is necessary to conduct a correct differential diagnosis

Aim: This study used computational medicine in form of Boolean algebra to assess diagnosis. We used Boolean algebra as rigid framework designed to aid in differential diagnosis.

Results: Each symptom or test result was represented as a Boolean variable. Each condition or disease was represented as a Boolean variable.

Conclusion: Boolean algebra can be used to model and simplify decision-making processes in differential diagnosis.
Low Muscle Mass and Mortality in Patients with Sars-Cov-2: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lourenço Rafael Pinto
Published: January 2025

Background: Aim Low muscle mass assessed by computed tomography (CT) may be associated with mortality or admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of patients with COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: Data were collected through searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE using the Rayyan tool to screen identified studies, and the review followed the PRISMA model. Data extraction was performed by two authors independently, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality tool. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.5.2 (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing) and Review Manager (RevMan 5.3. Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Center) software.

Results: Eighteen observational studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis, one of which was excluded due to a high risk of bias. Fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, totaling 3,920 patients and 640 deaths, which demonstrated that individuals with low muscle mass are 2.40 times more likely to die. When admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was considered an outcome, eight studies were included, totaling 2,993 patients, of which 770 required intensive care support, with low muscle mass increasing the chances of admission by 1.99 times in the ICU.

Conclusion: Based on the results shown in the present study, low muscle mass assessed by CT suggests an association with higher mortality and ICU admission in patients with COVID-19.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Potentiates the Cytotoxic Effect of Erlotinib in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells by P38 Mapk Mediated Xrcc3 Downregulation
Authors: Lin Yun-Wei
Published: January 2025

Green tea polyphenols, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), are thought to be responsible for the major physiologic benefits. XRCC3 participates in homologous recombination (HR) to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The use of EGCG in combination with erlotinib to increase survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still debatable and requires further research.

Materials and Methods

We used the MTS, trypan blue dye exclusion and colony-formation ability assay to determine whether EGCG alone or in combination with erlotinib had cytotoxic effects on the four NSCLC cell lines. Real-time PCR was conducted to measure the amounts of XRCC3 mRNA. The protein levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK and XRCC3 were determined by Western blot analysis.

Results

We demonstrated that EGCG can amplify erlotinib cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells. EGCG treatment promote p38 MAPK activation and decreased XRCC3 mRNA and protein levels; moreover, combined treatment with erlotinib resulted in a significant reduction in XRCC3 protein levels and triggered XRCC3 degradation via a 26S proteasome-dependent pathway. The p38 MAPK activity was greatly increased by constitutively active MKK6 vector expression (MKK6E) and could promote XRCC3 degradation, which enhanced erlotinib and EGCG cytotoxicity. Conversely, SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, could prevent p38 MAPK activation and restore XRCC3 levels that had been decreased by erlotinib and improve cell survival.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings imply that XRCC3 downregulation is one of the primary mechanisms boosting the lethal effects of erlotinib by EGCG in NSCLC cells.
Effect of Yoga and Classicalmusic on Uterine Artery Indices
Authors: Shamkuwar Sujata
Published: January 2025

During antenatal period, the fetus and mother are connected through placenta, a structure that perform the functions of supplying nutrients to foetus, exchange of gases and elimination of waste through well maintained blood circulation. Thus, foetal health is dependent on this circulation. Any impairment in it can cause adverse effects on foetus. The present case study aimed at understanding the effect of yoga and Indian classical music on maternal and foetal health. Along with routine antenatal care, the patient was advised yoga exercises and listening to some Indian classical music ragas. Today, the effect of yoga and music has been examined on various physical and psychological dimensions of pregnant women. However, there are still sparse studies on the effect of yoga and music on the uterine artery indices as well as maternal and foetal complications. It was found that yoga and classical music resulted in improved uterine artery indices, foeto-maternal health and good foetal outcome.
Medicinal Activities of Fennel
Authors: M. Hamouda Ibrahim
Published: January 2025

The common name of fennel is sonf, belongs to the Apiaceae family. Scientifically fennel known as Foeniculum vulgare, aromatic plant. The cultivation of fennel is seen in usually Mediterranean land. Fennel is a spice herb that plays a significant role in treating several illnesses. So, research proves that fennel is used continuously in the medical field. Foeniculum vulgare is a rich source of essential oil which has lots of medicinal & commercial properties. Fennel is a rich source of various components like flavonoids, phenolic acid, etc. Thesecomponents perform different activities.
Порівняльний аналіз розвитку вейкбордингу в різних країнах світу та основні тенденції його популяризації
Authors: Шинкарук Оксана , Куницька Анастасія
Published: January 2025

Wakeboarding holds a prominent place among extreme sports, with a continuous increase in its popularity worldwide. The most significant development of this extreme sport has been achieved in Europe, America, and Australia. The purpose of the study is to identify the characteristic features, global trends in the development and popularization of wakeboarding in different countries, and to conduct a comparative analysis of wakeboarding functioning worldwide. Methods and organization of research. In the course of the research, the following methods were used: analysis of scientific, methodological, and specialized literature, Internet data; surveys; comparison; methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The leading countries developing wakeboarding, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, European countries, and others, have similar approaches to the organization and development of this sport. These approaches include a club system, a system of qualification categories and training levels for athletes, participation in competitions, and the presence of water infrastructure equipped with tracks. Several European countries develop wakeboarding through the adoption and implementation of long-term development programs for the sport, supported by the government and state institutions. Distinctive features include differences in the perception of wakeboarding as a hobby (USA and Canada) or a sport (Australia, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay), the organization of mass events (Germany, Italy, and France) or professional competitions (Great Britain and Spain), sources of funding (Australia and Brazil prioritize state funding, while other countries rely mainly on private organizations and sponsors), the age at which wakeboarding begins (ranging from 6 to 12 years old), their own systems for assessing the level of athletes’ training and classification, and the varying quantity and quality of water bodies and parks. The main features of the competition system in wakeboarding are the competition format, participant categories, trick evaluation, team competitions, and judging. Each of the reviewed countries has its own system of national and recognized international wakeboarding competitions. The greatest popularity and spread of wakeboarding development have been identified in Europe, North America (USA and Canada), Australia, and Oceania, making them leaders in the development of wakeboarding worldwide. In Asian countries, wakeboarding is at an initial stage of development, while in African countries, there is increased interest in the sport with a small number of participants. Conclusions. The analysis confirms that wakeboarding is a dynamic and promising extreme sport that is actively developing in various countries around the world.