bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Structure, Purpose and Contents of Early Childhood Education Curriculum in Korea and Myanmar
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Chae Youngran , Htang Myaw
Published: December 2024

This study aims to compare and analyze the structure, purpose and goal, and contents of each area of early childhood education curriculum in Korea and Myanmar. The subjects of the study are Korea's 2019 revised Nuri curriculum (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2019) and Myanmar's curriculum for early childhood development (Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare, 2007). In order to compare and analyze the early childhood education curriculum in Korea and Myanmar, data such as notices and commentaries of the 2019 revised Nuri curriculum, curriculum and class guidelines for early childhood development in Myanmar were collected and analyzed. As a result of the analysis, first, the composition system of the 2019 revised Nuri curriculum in Korea is organized with the systematic structure of the curriculum with general theories and goals and contents by area, but the curriculum in Myanmar is simplified with the curriculum and class outline for early childhood development. Consists of. Second, the 2019 revised Nuri Course presents the purpose and goal to realize the human image that it seeks. Curriculum in Myanmar presents only the purpose. Third, the Nuri curriculum is composed of content categories and contents in five areas, but Myanmar's curriculum is composed of goals, necessity, and class titles according to areas. Fourth, the commonality of early childhood education courses in both countries is based on the healthy development of young children. However, Korea’s 2019 revised Nuri curriculum is a curriculum centered on infants and play, which systematically organizes the curriculum so that infants can learn on their own, focusing on the content they need to experience. The early childhood education curriculum in Myanmar does not present specific contents, but consists of contents at a level that can be referred to as guidelines for teacher education. Through this study, it will be possible to understand the actual condition of early childhood education in Myanmar and to provide basic data for future revision of Nuri curriculum in Korea.
Reading Paco's Story from the Angle of Difference Feminism in 1980s
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Im Yeong
Published: December 2024

More than a decade after the end of the Vietnam War, a large number of novels and movies about the war were produced, leading to the post-Cold War period in the 1990s. Among them, Paco's Story by Larry Heinemann received public attention, winning the 1987 the National Best Book Award in the United States. In the novel, the protagonist Paco with his colleagues raped an enemy woman during the Vietnam War, and after returning home with injuries, he wandered lonely due to mental and physical aftereffects, and found himself reflected externally in the diary of a sexually free-spirited woman.
Through the autobiographical content of this work, this study analyzes the gender consciousness of veterans during the Vietnam War and social changes after returning home from the perspective of difference feminism in the 1980s. The research method analyzes domestic prior studies and divides the story by comparing the group rape during the Vietnam War, the anti-war feminism in the 1960s and 1970s, and the imaginary affair after returning home and the difference feminism in the 1980s and 1990s. Previous studies explain the social perception of veterans' actions, the narrative structure that ghosted dead comrades to become speakers, and the protagonist's self-awareness process, but did not mention veterans' gender perception along with the actual feminist aspect.
The following analysis shows that, first, the feminist movement calling for gender equality in the 1960s and 1970s was within the category of the anti-war movement, but soldiers who actually fought wars regarded violence as their identity and hated femininity, so they committed wartime sexual assault without difficulty. Second, in the 1980s and 1990s, the women's movement argued for gender neutralization, which equated the attributes of gender, reflecting on the adverse consequences of women, and acknowledging gender differences in practical ways, but demanding that genderization be modified as an unfair social gender role. It was found that this view could effectively explain the scene in which Paco appealed to a woman to heal her scar.
This study is meaningful in that it contributed to devising a plan to resolve the gender discrimination and misogyny atmosphere that has not been fully resolved even now by re-analyzing the contents of the work in light of actual historical facts.
A Study on Ways to Raise Consensus on 'Unification Policy' through the Use of 'Metaverse': Focusing on the Unification Policy of the Yoon Suk Yeol Government
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Kim Namsung
Published: December 2024

About 70 years have passed since the division of the two Koreas, but many difficulties surrounding the Korean Peninsula have yet to be solved. In particular, “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” is at stake due to North Korea's nuclear weapons development, and expectations and interest in unification are decreasing over time for the entire generation.
Against this backdrop, this paper discusses ways to increase the efficiency of unification policies by utilizing the characteristics and advantages of metaverse, a key ICT technology of the “4th Industrial Revolution.” At first glance, the combination of unification policy and metaverse may seem somewhat heterogeneous. This is because there is still an absolute lack of papers and discourses in academia that connect unification issues and metaverse.
However, metaverse, the next-generation Internet technology, is a combination of the fourth industrial revolution technology, and the use of metaverse in the future is essential like the current use of the Internet. In particular, this paper argues that if characteristics such as fun, immersion, and interaction are used among the various characteristics of the metaverse, various effects such as spreading public consensus and raising unification awareness can be achieved when implementing unification policies.
To this end, this paper summarized the unification policies of the previous and Yoon Suk Yeol governments and proposed policy measures to improve the efficiency of unification policies using metaverse. The four characteristics of the metaverse, Augmented Reality, Life Logging, Mirror Worlds, and Virtual Worlds, can effectively promote and educate the government's unification policy. It will also be able to compare and organize the lives of more than 35,000 North Korean defectors with South Koreans and use them as efficient data for future unification of the two Koreas.
Supply-side Constraints to Technology Adoption: The Market for Energy-efficient Cookstoves in Rural Senegal
Authors: Sievert Maximiliane , Ankel-Peters Jörg , Jeuland Marc , Usmani Faraz , Lenz Luciane , Ndiaye Ousmane
Published: December 2024

Increasing the diffusion of technologies with positive externalities is a global policy priority.We investigate the market for energy-efficient biomass cookstoves in rural Senegal, whichhave private and external benefits, but uptake is low. Our pre-specified study covers stoveproducers and intermediary vendors on the supply side, and we elicit demand from ruralhouseholds using real purchase offers. We randomly relax supply-side constraints amongvendors by providing demand information, marketing materials, and a transportation grantto bridge the last mile to villages where customers reside. We find that demand informationand marketing materials alone do not increase vendor sales, but only in combination with thetransportation grant. Yet, overall sales are still too low to deliver noteworthy take-up at thehousehold level. We also show that market conditions are structurally challenging: markupsare lower than for competing products and demand is highly elastic and volatile. Thiscombination of high risks and low profits need to be addressed by policy interventions if largescalediffusion is the goal.
Greener Pastures? A Labor Market Theory of Climate Governance
Authors: Singh Simran , Thrall Calvin , Zucker Noah
Published: December 2024

Climate governance requires access to climate experts: individuals with specialized knowledge of decarbonization and climate science. Here we model climate governance as the function of a competition between the state and private sector for a scarce pool of climate experts. Governments seek experts to develop and implement climate policies. Firms seek experts to affect policy choice, skirt enforcement, and measure climate risks to commercial interests. As firm interest in climate grows, the government’s ability to attract experts declines, making it more reliant on the private sector for climate governance. To support this argument, we measure private sector demand for experts with unique data on U.S. job postings, paired with administrative data on government bureaucrats and procurement. Our findings offer a novel labor-based account of climate politics, contributing to the study of labor markets in political science, the sources of bureaucratic expertise, and the net effects of corporate social responsibility.
A Comprehensive and Extended Re-Evaluation of Be Star Populations under Transcendental f(R) Gravity:Detailed Analyses of Kozai-Lidov Oscillations, Disk Tearing, Non-Linear Curvature Effects, and Multi-Scale Dynamics
Authors: Chen Wen-Xiang
Published: December 2024

Classical astrophysical scenarios relying on general relativistic frameworks and standard viscous disk models have historically predicted a much larger number of Be stars than observed. These discrepancies, rooted in simplified gravitational assumptions and idealized disk instability criteria, have persisted for decades. In this study, we present a substantially expanded and rigorous examination of Be star formation rates within a transcendental $f(R)$ gravity paradigm. Extending previous works by incorporating more complex curvature corrections and a broader parameter space, we analyze how transcendental modifications to the gravitational action,\[f(R) = R + \beta \exp(\gamma R),\]reshape the conditions governing Kozai-Lidov (KL) oscillations, disk tearing thresholds, and angular momentum redistribution.We significantly refine and broaden our approach by:\begin{enumerate} \item Deriving multi-order expansions of the exponential curvature terms and quantifying their impact on disk dynamics. \item Employing a suite of high-resolution numerical simulations and semi-analytical models that incorporate non-linear hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) processes, radiative cooling prescriptions, and extended viscosity formulations. \item Integrating observational constraints from the latest interferometric surveys, Gaia-based parallax data, and multi-band photometric analyses to benchmark theoretical predictions against a vast array of empirical evidence. \item Expanding the theoretical framework to include additional perturbative effects and non-linear interactions within the disk. \item Conducting a comprehensive parameter sensitivity analysis to determine the robustness of our results across various astrophysical environments.\end{enumerate}Our extensive results show that transcendental $f(R)$ gravity effectively suppresses the runaway formation of Be stars by increasing the KL oscillation periods, reducing oscillation amplitude, and elevating the disk tearing radius. This threefold stabilizing effect closely aligns theoretical predictions with observed Be star populations. Moreover, we discuss the strong implications of these findings for the astrophysics of disks in diverse environments, ranging from protoplanetary disks to circumbinary accretion flows and compact object binaries. This comprehensive assessment provides a critical step toward a universal gravitational framework that bridges the gap between theory and observations in stellar astrophysics and disk dynamics.
Defending Liberal Internationalism in the Legislature: When Bureaucrats Go Principal Shopping
Authors: Calacino Anthony
Published: December 2024

The liberal international order (LIO) faces growing challenges from newly elected leaders and parties worldwide, many of whom also target domestic bureaucrats. While existing research emphasizes bureaucratic exit strategies, this paper explores an alternative: principal shopping. This concept describes how bureaucrats engage directly with legislatures to build alliances, influence policy, and uphold liberal internationalism. Focusing on the case of Brazil, I use a mixed-methods approach to test this theory. Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Model (LLM) analysis of over 1,200 senate commission transcripts (2013–2022) reveals that bureaucratic participation is associated with increased references to International Organizations (IOs), a proxy for interest in liberal internationalism. Furthermore, sentiment analysis shows that when bureaucrats are present in public hearings, they make the discussion of IOs more positive when right-wing senators preside over hearings. Interviews with bureaucrats and politicians, along with ethnographic observations from dozens of public hearings in 2022 during an administration hostile to the LIO, further support these findings. This paper reveals how public administration can help defend the LIO but also highlights an unconventional pathway to that activism through legislative participation
Decoding Community Proximity Discourse: A Mixed-Methods Comparative Analysis of Online Local and National Newspapers in Romandy, Switzerland
Authors: Bros Victor , Gatica-Perez Daniel
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces a mixed-method approach to media analysis, integrating quantitative linguistic metrics with qualitative content analysis grounded in Fairclough's model of discourse analysis—to incorporate external socio-cultural contexts—and Goffman's frameworks of frame analysis and interaction—to examine social behaviors, including those of journalists. Our pipeline of analysis comprises statistical examination of linguistic features—including quotation extraction, readability, and lexical richness—named entity extraction, and topic modeling, and concludes with a grounded theory content analysis for qualitative insights. Applied to a comparative study of local versus national news in Romandy, Switzerland, this approach uncovers strategic divergences in narrative construction and audience engagement. In a media landscape where local news outlets face economic challenges and recent mass layoffs, this research appears timely. Local news is shown to prioritize community-centric content, fostering direct connections with readers, while national news employs sophisticated storytelling techniques to engage a broader audience. These findings highlight the distinct roles and strategies of local and national media in shaping public discourse and community identity.By synthesizing quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this study provides a nuanced understanding of media strategies and audience engagement. It underscores the need for a comprehensive analytical approach to navigate the evolving dynamics between media outlets and their audiences.
PERPETUAL MOTION: Barking Up The Wrong Trees For Nine Centuries
Authors: Kumar Rajesh
Published: December 2024

Over the past nine centuries, all unsuccessful attempts to experience a gravity-basedperpetual motion machine have consistently involved spinning or overbalanced wheels. Suchmechanical structures cannot achieve perpetual motion. Mass in a loop cannot be used togenerate kinetic energy. To achieve perpetual motion, a system must possess both aninitiating force and a sustaining force while performing useful work. This necessitates thecreation of energy and the reversal or offsetting of system disorder. This philosophicaldiscourse proposes one of two new approaches that may lead to the successful experienceof a gravity-based perpetual motion machine. A specific configuration and its embodimentare suggested, with accompanying diagrams. This paper also discusses potential implicationsand outlines further research directions inspired by its proposition.
The Modelled Health and Economic Impacts of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fiscal Policy in Fiji
Authors: Mounsey Sarah , Hospers Lily , Thow Anne Marie , Waqa Gade , Veerman Lennert
Published: December 2024

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation has been recommended as an effective policy instrument to address rising numbers of diet-related non-communicable diseases. This study informs policy makers of health and economic impacts of various SSB tax scenarios in Fiji.Methods: A proportional multistate life table model utilizing body mass index (BMI), SSB consumption, and the incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of 11 BMI-related diseases data was used. Four different tax scenarios were modelled against a base case scenario of zero tax: FJ$0.35/L, FJ$2.00/L +15% excise, FJ$2.00/L + 15% excise with 50% ad valorem tax, and 100% ad valorem tax. Revenue generation and health-adjusted life years (HALYs) were estimated, and HALYs were monetised to reflect productivity gains.Results: Overall and across all health outcomes, the greatest benefits came from FJ$2.00/L + 50% and the smallest benefit from FJ$0.35/L. Within a population of ~900,000, across tax scenarios, reductions in numbers with obesity ranged from 1512-8551 in males, and 1668-9527 in females, while overweight prevalence reductions ranged from 845-5662 in males and 195-1737 in females. Over the first 25 years (25y), these reductions had the largest impact on type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence (reduction ~4500-26,000). Revenue generated over 25y discounted at 3% ranged from ~US$105million (undiscounted, US$141million) to ~US$452million (undiscounted, US$605million). Across scenarios, a gain of HALYs in the range of ~4000-24,000 would be achieved over 25y.Conclusion: Meaningful reductions to the burden of obesity and obesity-related disease morbidity and mortality can be achieved with a scale-up of current SSB tax policies in Fiji.
Ethics for Responsible Data Research: Integrating Cybersecurity Perspectives in Digital Era
Authors: Temara Sheetal
Published: December 2024

In today’s digital age, ethical issues are a principal concern during responsible data research which require thoughtful consideration and approaches for managing them. As technological advances materialize to increase the standard of living for people across the world, ethics must be prioritized by cybersecurity professionals to ensure these technologies are not being misused or inflicting harm to the general population especially to underrepresented and underprivileged communities. Cybersecurity subject matter experts must develop awareness regarding ethical ramifications of their research endeavors to ensure security is balanced with moral standards. Observance of and adherence to ethical based policies, principles, and security best practices will delineate cybersecurity professionals from threat actors.
Challenging the turbidity current maximum run-up height paradigm
Authors: Wang Ru , Hughes Mia , Hodgson David , Peakall Jeff , Brown Helena , Keavney Edward , Keevil Gareth
Published: December 2024

Turbidity currents are a primary mechanism for transporting sediments, pollutants, and organic carbon into the deep ocean. They are strongly influenced by seafloor topography because of their relative bulk density and associated gravitational influence being 3-4 orders of magnitude smaller than in terrestrial systems. Marked run-up of turbidity currents on slopes poses a hazard to seafloor infrastructure, and leads to distinctive depositional patterns, yet the prediction of run-up heights remains poorly understood because the present calculations are derived from 2D experimental configurations and/or numerical modelling and merely limited to scenarios in which the flow strikes the topographic barriers orthogonally. Here we present the results of 3D experiments in unconfined settings that are used to develop a new analytical model that improves the prediction of maximum run-up heights of turbidity currents that encounter topographic slopes of varying gradients and flow incidence angles. We show that existing predictive models based on 2D confined flows focusing on frontal topographic configurations underestimate the run-up heights of turbidity currents by approximately 15-40%. Experimental results highlight the importance of considering the energy contribution from internal pressure in the fluid, and lateral flow expansion and divergence in unconfined flows. Our findings reveal that intermediate slope gradients (ca. 30°) and (near-)perpendicular flow incidence angles generate the highest run-up heights, up to 3.3 times the flow thickness. Novel analytical models are presented subsequently for predicting maximum run-up height as a function of both the gradient and incidence angle, comparing the models to the newly observed data. Such models provide relatively more realistic estimates of run-up heights for flows on three-dimensional slopes typical of natural systems. These findings are critical for improving sediment transport models, predicting the distribution of sediments, pollutants, and organic carbon in deep-sea environments, assessing seafloor geohazards, and reconstructing ancient deep-water basin palaeogeographies.
Emotional Contagion: The Role of Interoceptive Inference in Affective Empathy and Co-Regulation
Authors: Schoeller Felix , Christov-Moore Leonardo , Reggente Nicco
Published: December 2024

Affective empathy, the ability to share and understand others’ emotional states, is a fundamental aspect of social cognition. Recent evidence suggests that interoceptive inference, the brain’s prediction and processing of internal bodily signals, plays a key role in affective empathy. Building on the active inference framework, we propose that emotional contagion arises from shared interoceptive priors between individuals, shaped by physiological synchrony during social interaction. We hypothesize that precision-weighted interoceptive prediction errors update shared priors, enabling the dynamic alignment of affective states and flexible switching between defensive and affiliative modes of co-regulation. We discuss the putative neurobiological implementation of this model, focusing on the insula, amygdala, and brainstem nuclei involved in interoception and allostatic control. This theoretical account bridges neurobiology and phenomenology through computational modeling, generating precise hypotheses for future research on the mechanisms of emotional contagion
Psychiatric conditions in today’s Russian leaders and ideologists: hypothesis
Authors: Jargin Sergei V.
Published: December 2024

Psychopathological approach to politics is successful if it identifies politicians or ideologists with a limited mental competence. An attempt is made here to analyze mental conditions of Vladimir Putin and the influential ideologist Aleksandr Dugin. Dmitry Medvedev and Ramzan Kadyrov are briefly discussed as well. Physical maltreatment was described in Putin’s biographies. It was hypothesized that he is re-enacting traumas in conditions of intergenerational traumatic chain. Child abuse is associated with various psychiatric and related conditions including paranoia. A paranoid call may sanction destruction of supposed enemies. Putin formulated the aims of his military operation: to protect Russian-speakers from “genocide”, to disarm and denazify Ukraine. Apparently, this idea is delusional. Certain war instigators are paranoid in their tendency to present themselves as prophets or world saviors. Some of them are aggressive against delusional goals. Mentally healthy people can be susceptible to psychotic appeals, a predisposing condition being fear of strangers and projection of hatred upon them. Some individuals, maltreated during their childhood, respond by acting out fight or flight responses, attacking weaker persons and submitting to dominant ones. This seems to be reflected by Putin’s relationships with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechen Republic, who appears as a dominant personality. Certain ethnically non-Russian subjects of the Federation may be interested in a continuation of the Ukraine war; and there are concerns that Putin has come under their influence. An important topic in this connection is the inter-ethnic difference in the birth rate and migrations, which is avoided by Russian media and officials these days. In conclusion, mental derangements in politicians are dangerous and must be diagnosed by psychiatrists on the basis of speech, writings, and behavior. More expert opinions are needed.
A Review on Benefits of Homestay Tourism in Nepal
Authors: Gautam Biranji
Published: December 2024

Homestay tourism in Nepal has become a prominent and sustainable model, offering a range  of socio-economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This review explores how homestays contribute to these areas, highlighting examples from across the country. Since the introduction of homestays in Sirubari in 1997, the model has expanded to over 200 homestays across 60 districts. Google Scholar, Web of Science, Research gate, JSTOR, and Scopus using keywords like “homestay tourism in Nepal” and “benefits of homestay tourism.” Relevant peerreviewed articles, reports, and literature published between 2010 and 2024 were included. Homestays in various regions provide tourists with immersive experiences in ethnic cultures, including traditional festivals and local crafts, which help preserve cultural heritage and build community pride. Economically, these homestays generate essential income for local families, improve access to education and healthcare, and boost local businesses through increased demand for goods and services. Environmentally, homestays adopt sustainable practices such as waste reduction and solar energy use, with tourism revenue supporting conservation projects like reforestation and wildlife protection. By aligning with global trends toward responsible tourism, homestays reduce ecological impact and foster meaningful interactions between tourists and hosts. The review recommends implementing comprehensive training programs for homestay operators to enhance sustainable practices and maximize benefits, ensuring the long-term success and positive impact of homestay tourism in Nepal.
Role of Tamsulosin and Solifenacin to Reduce Double J Stent Related Symptoms After Uncomplicated Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy
Authors: Basnet Robin Bahadur , Regmi Prabodh , Adhikari Baikuntha , Basnet Surendra
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Endoscopic urological surgeries are safe procedures with further reduction in morbidity due to double J stents. Stents usually give rise to lower urinary tract symptoms and various drugs have been prescribed singly drug or in combination to ameliorate the symptoms. Since double J stenting of the ureter is one of the most common procedures in our department, we attempted to compare the efficacy of the anti-muscarinic drug Solifenacin over alpha-blocker Tamsulosin.   
Materials and methods: A prospective study was done where 50 consecutive patients who underwent double J stenting following ureteroscopic lithotripsy were randomized and given 5 mg Solifenacin or 0.4 mg Tamsulosin. Lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed at end of first and second week. The results were analyzed.
Results: Fifty consecutive patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy were enrolled in the study. 25 of them were randomly prescribed Solifenacin and 25 were prescribed Tamsulosin based on computer generated randomization. The IPSS score was higher in the Solifenacin group, compared to the Tamsulosin group in both the first and second weeks, which was significantly higher in the first week. The reduction of symptoms within the first and second week in both groups was clinically significant, Solifenacin group being p <0.0001 and Tamsulosin group being 0.0004.
Conclusions: Lower urinary tract symptoms are common and quite bothersome following DJ stent insertion. The symptoms can be ameliorated with the use of alpha blockers and anti-muscarinic drugs.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Palpable Head and Neck Masses: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Chalise Sanat , Hirachand Suspana , Dhakhwa Ramesh
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a quick and safe technique done for the initial diagnosis of head and neck region masses. This study aims to assess the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology in head and neck palpable masses.
Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Pathology Department of Kathmandu Medical College from 1st February 2023 to 31st December 2023. All the patients with palpable head and neck lumps were included in the study. A convenience sampling method was used. The data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0
Results: Among 650 fine needle aspiration cytology done during the study period, 184 were from head and neck lesions (28.30%). The mean age of the patient was 35.4 years with female predominance. The most common site was lymph node 85 (46.19%) followed by thyroid 39 (21.19%). Reactive lymphadenitis was the most common cause of lymphadenopathy seen in 41(22.2%) patients and colloid goitre was the most common cause of thyroid swelling seen in 26(14.13%) patients.
Conclusions: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a useful and reliable technique for the diagnosis of head and neck mass. It helps to avoid unnecessary surgeries and is recommended and guides the clinician in general clinical management.
The role of the Stranger in Jewish Literature: Exploring Efraim Sevela´s “Righteous” and “The Informant” through Georg Simmel´s Theory
Authors: Ivashkevich Natalia
Published: December 2024

In his short stories, “Righteous” and “The Informant”, Sevela explores the theme of being an outsider in the society, a recurring motif in Jewish literature. This literary exploration aligns Sevela with well-known Jewish authors like Franz Kafka and Philipp Roth, who also hassle with the elaborateness of being an outsider. Georg Simmel’s theoretical framework on “the stranger” helps us understand Sevela’s characters. Simmel suggests that strangers have a unique social position, being both a part of and apart from the society. How strangers are treated reflects broader social and ethical concerns. Accepting strangers fosters unity while rejecting them can lead to conflict. Sevela uses various markers to highlight an outsider within the society, with physical appearance playing a prominent role. Jankowski’s analysis of the characters’ feelings within the society reveals an inner conflict about official inclusion while feeling like outsiders. Drawing from personal experiences, Sevela sheds light on the broader struggles of Soviet Jews adapting to new environments. Sevela’s autobiographical novel, “Farewell Israel,” provides insights into his own transformation into a cosmopolitan outsider due to state-sponsored antisemitism.Collectively, these texts highlight the subtle exploration of the outsider’s identity in Sevela’s works. Whether viewed through Simmel’s sociological lens, Jankowski’s analysis of inner conflict, or Sevela’s personal reflections, the theme resonates with universal human struggles of displacement, identity, and the quest for belonging. In Sevela’s narrative, the outsider becomes a symbol of hope, kindness, and compassion — a potential catalyst for positive change in a world shadowed by darkness.
Trapped in Time – Early Modern Court Jew, Early Maskil or Outsider? Yehuda Leyb Nevakhovich and his Historiographical Tract
Authors: Terpitz Olaf
Published: December 2024

Yehuda Leyb Nevakhovich (1776-1831) seems to be almost forgotten in current research on Jewish literature and culture in Eastern Europe. Nevertheless, among his contemporaries, he enjoyed a remarkable success in the realm of cultural production, and to some extent in the realm of imperial Russian society. Entangled between Hebrew, Russian, and European literatures, the scope of Nevakovich’s writing encompasses occasional poetry, emancipation treatises, and historical dramas. His understanding of literature was wide, interlacing the fields of literature, history and historiography. In his historiographical treatise “Remarks on a Review” (1806), the review being written by a German historian, Nevakhovich reflects on the state of Russian historiography and discusses the position of historiography and its meaning for the formation of a national discourse. He presents a polemic in favour of Russian scholarship that in its verve and gesture does not rank behind his emancipation treatise “Lamentation of the Daughter of Yehuda” (1803). With this treatise, he leaves the circle of Jewish intellectuals working in Hebrew. He now sees his place of speech primarily as one that is anchored in Russian imperial culture and attempts to install himself at this European interface as mediator. In his cosmopolitan mind set Nevakhovich was not acknowledged by later generations of Jewish thinkers and did not leave notable traces in the Jewish literature being created since the middle of the 19th century in Eastern Europe.
“With the Eyes of a Jew”: Unveiling Canvas of Identity in Early 20th Century Art Expeditions to Mandate Palestine
Authors: Balestrieri Anna
Published: December 2024

In the early 20th century, a wave of missions to exotic lands, including Mandate Palestine, sparked artistic exploration across cinema, painting, and photography. This article examines how painters on these expeditions aimed to express Jewish identity through their artwork. Drawing from exhibition reviews, it explores the transformative impact of these journeys on artists’ worldview and artistic expression, highlighting their role in bolstering Jewish self-awareness. Through examples like Artur Szyk, Adolphe Feder, and Mane-Katz, it demonstrates how travel to Eretz Israel shaped artists’ self-perception, enriching their artistic perspective while maintaining their deeply rooted ethnic identity.
Wpływ agresji rosyjskiej na Ukrainę na stabilność globalnego rynku finansowego
Authors: Mikita Małgorzata
Published: December 2024

The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022 on the stability of the global financial market. For the purpose of the analysis, the Financial Stress Index (FSI) published by the American Office of Financial Research (OFR) was used. The index covers financial markets of developed and developing countries, as well as the United States market. The period from 1 February 2022 to 31 December 2023 was analysed. The study consists of four parts. The first part presents the economic consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The second part explains the concept of financial market stability. The third part presents the essence of the OFR FSI index. In the fourth part, an assessment of the level of stability of the global financial market after the Russian aggression against Ukraine was made using the OFR FSI index. The study showed that the war caused a significant increase in tensions in financial markets, leading to increased instability. Key factors affecting the global financial market included an increase in risk and uncertainty, as well as changes in the debt market. However, from mid-April 2023, the situation in th global financial market began to stabilise.
SUBCLINICAL SEIZURES ON EEG WITH SLEEP PHASES AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN PATIENTS WITH FOCAL EPILEPSY
Authors: Erdoğan Çağla , Apaydın Doğan Ebru , Akbudak İsmail Hakkı
Published: December 2024

Purpose: It is observed in studies that subclinical seizures have significant impact on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment responses. Aim of our study is investigating presence of these seizures, their relationship with sleep, contribution to diagnosis, and impact on treatment selection and prognosis in patients diagnosed with focal epilepsy.
Materials and methods: Total of 1,626 EEGs conducted in the EEG unit were examined. Among them, 626 were found to belong to patients diagnosed with focal epilepsy. 140 patients who underwent twenty-minute EEG monitoring and 28 patients who underwent twenty-four-hour EEG monitoring were included in the study.
Results: A comparative analysis was conducted between two cohorts of patients: one subjected to a twenty-minute EEG and the other undergoing a 24-hour EEG. In the presence of resistant epilepsy, the risk of SCS is increased by 3.1 times. The presence of SCS in frontal lobe epilepsies demonstrated a 2.2-fold elevation compared to temporal lobe epilepsies (1.0-5.3). A statistically significant relationship between Levetiracetam usage and seizures was observed (p=0.044). The calculated Odds Ratio for risk indicated a 1.2-fold (1-1.6) higher frequency of seizures with Levetiracetam usage. Risk analysis revealed a 1.5-fold (1.2-1.9) higher incidence of seizures with the use of well-known drugs in favor of lacozamide-zonisamide.
Conclusion: SCSs are gaining increasing clinical significance in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The relationship between these sleep and SCSs holds importance for future research with a larger number of patients and centers.
“This is killing me. Please let me leave”: Trans and non-binary youth and sexual health education in Alberta
Authors: Maine Emilie , Hardy Teresa , Wells Kristopher
Published: December 2024

This article highlights sexual health education findings from a larger qualitative research study that examines the lived experiences of transgender and non-binary (TNB) youth (aged 14–25) in Alberta. This study contributes to a growing field focusing on the unique experiences of TNB students in Canada by exploring the gaps and successes in sexual health education. Given that there is no federally mandated sexual health curriculum, and that each Canadian province and territory updates curriculum and teaches sexual health differently, this study aims to provide insights into the experiences of TNB youth and the sexual health education they have received in their formal educational environments. The research findings highlight two major themes and two sub-themes: (1) All participants found sexual health education in schools to be inadequate in some way. (2) If you want something done right, do it yourself. Sub-themes included; (2a) the community or internet media are key sources of relevant sexual health information, and (2b) youth have limited access to the sexual orientation and gender identity–specific sexual health information they want.
Resilient relationships: Role of partner responsiveness and relationship satisfaction in posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Meuleman Eline M. , Karremans Johan C. , van Ee Elisa
Published: December 2024

LAY SUMMARY

This research delves into how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects relationships. Most studies focus on how PTSD negatively affects romantic relationships, but this study looked at what makes relationships resilient for patients undergoing PTSD treatment. The study population consisted of 89 patients, including 49 Veterans, and the authors explored how trauma symptoms and perceived partner support influence relationship quality. The results reveal that partners’ supportiveness strongly affected relationship satisfaction, suggesting that couples in which one partner is dealing with PTSD can maintain a positive relationship when the other partner is supportive. This sheds light on the importance of partner support in fostering strong relationships amid struggles with PTSD.
Mapping Disciplinary Competencies and Learning Outcomes to the Competency-Based Veterinary Education Framework Using Veterinary Pharmacology as an Example
Authors: Hawes Martin , Fajt Virginia , Werners Arno H.
Published: December 2024

The competency-based veterinary education (CBVE) framework describes essential domains of competence and related abilities for veterinary graduates. Translating these outcomes into daily teaching is a challenge, particularly regarding the underpinning basic and clinical science knowledge. In this article, we identified a lack of specific reference to the selection and use of drugs within the CBVE framework; this requires pharmacological knowledge and pharmacology-specific competencies. To fill the gap and provide guidance to veterinary pharmacology educators, we first identified competencies within the CBVE framework relevant to the field of veterinary pharmacology. We then mapped the Day One competencies in veterinary pharmacology published by Werners and Fajt in 2021 to the pharmacology-relevant CBVE competencies. This exercise has led to identifying gaps, redundancies, and a lack of reference to clinical practice within the Day One competencies in veterinary pharmacology, as well as gaps and ambiguous wording within the CBVE framework. Further research is necessary to update the Day One competencies in veterinary pharmacology, align basic and clinical pharmacology concepts and skills with the CBVE framework, embed pharmacology-specific competencies into teaching, and identify progression milestones that guide students toward safe prescribing and the appropriate and effective use of drugs.
Spinal cord–spinal canal disproportion following treatment for syringomyelia associated with Chiari malformation type I: illustrative case
Authors: Nair Arjun , Gupta Vivek P. , Kolmetzky Devin , Strahle Jennifer M. , Limbrick David D.
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) is a common pediatric neurosurgical condition that is often associated with syringomyelia (SM) and spine deformity. The association of these three conditions is well recognized, but the pathophysiology linking them has yet to be fully elucidated.

OBSERVATIONS

This case report describes the unusual course of a 13-year-old male with CM-I, a large holocord syrinx, and progressive scoliosis who developed an angiography-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) 4 months after successful posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD). Notably, his cervical spinal canal diameter was increased relative to normative data. After presenting with SAH, he was treated with a course of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage, which relieved his symptoms, and he had no further incidents. His syrinx responded to PFDD with a dramatic decrease in spinal cord diameter, in contradistinction to his dilated bony spinal canal. He is presently 4 years out from his SAH and doing well clinically.

LESSONS

This report describes the first case of nonaneurysmal SAH following PFDD for CM-I and SM and explores a possible link between SM and bony spinal canal diameter.

https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24272
Design, Development and Characterization of Novel Ranitidine-Loaded Mucoadhesive Delivery System
Authors: Pandey Garima , Dangi Surendra , Gupta Bhaskar Kumar
Published: December 2024

Aim: The study aims to develop and evaluate floating tablet formulations of ranitidine to overcome its short half-life (1.2–1.9 hours) and maintain stable plasma drug levels. This approach seeks to enhance drug bioavailability through gastroretentive systems using rate-modifying polymers. Methodology: Nine ranitidine floating tablet formulations (F1-F9) were prepared using a multiple punch tablet compression machine with 9 mm round flat-faced punches, each containing 80 mg of ranitidine. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M) and xanthan gum were used as rate-modifying polymers. Drug-polymer compatibility was assessed using Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The formulations were evaluated for pre-compression parameters (bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s index, Hausner’s ratio, angle of repose) and post-compression characteristics (hardness, friability, weight variation, drug content, swelling index, buoyancy, and in vitro drug release). Accelerated stability studies were performed for 90 days, and drug release kinetics were analyzed. Results: The floating ranitidine tablets demonstrated optimal buoyancy and extended drug release profiles. Compatibility studies confirmed no significant drug-polymer interactions. All formulations met pharmacopeial standards for physical parameters. In vitro drug release studies showed sustained drug release over several hours, and stability tests confirmed the formulations’ robustness. Conclusion: The developed floating tablets successfully prolonged the release of ranitidine, enhancing its half-life and maintaining steady plasma drug levels. This formulation strategy could serve as a foundation for future advancements in anti-retroviral pharmacotherapeutics, improving patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes.
Role of Albitbr bio-stimulant application on growth, yield and quality characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars under open field conditions
Authors: YAKOB BAHRAN KNFE , SABIROVICH GINS MURAT
Published: December 2024

Climate change coupled with the indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are causing tremendous challenges on the production potentials of crops and also health of the people of the world. As part of the sustainable production strategy, the current study was conducted at the experimental station Vniccok, Russia during summer of 2024 using a bio-stimulant “Albitbr on tomato crop. In the experiment, four different cultivars were treated with seven different doses of the bio-stimulant (control, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 50 L/ha). The highest significant leaf area (115.23 cm2) and yield of tomato fruits (83.35 t/ha) were obtained from Fenaric and Malets cultivars, respectively. Application of the bio-stimulant also resulted in a significant effect on leaf area, total yield, titratable acidity (TA) as well as total soluble solids (TSS)/TA with the highest leaf area (119.88 cm2), total yield (78.81 t/ha) being produced from the bio-stimulant dose of 2.5 L/ha, whereas the highest values of TA (0.28 %) and TSS/TA (21.72) were obtained from 0.1 L/ha and 50 L/ha, respectively.
M. Gorky and V. Vasnetsov: the Unknown about the Known
Authors: Primochkina N. N.
Published: December 2024

A scientific study of unpublished correspondence between M. Gorky and V.M. Vasnetsov and other archival sources has been conducted, which allowed a new look at the complex, even conflicting personal and creative relationships of two major figures of Russian artistic culture of the late 19th – early 20th centuries. The documents found, despite their private nature, raise the main questions of human existence, faith and religion. At the same time, they testify to the deep ideological and political split of Russian society on the eve of the revolution, including its artistic elite. It is shown that Gorky admired the bright talent of Vasnetsov, the artist, from a young age, the pathos of his paintings, praising the heroic strength and invincible spirit of the Russian people. Vasnetsov also took great interest in the young, but already well–known writer – a native of the people. But the correspondence that began between them in 1900 immediately revealed an insurmountable gap in their religious and socio-political views. This was especially clearly manifested in the attitude towards the national genius of Russia – L.N. Tolstoy and his conflict with the Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore, the friendly relations between the writer and the artist, which began in the spring of 1900 with mutual sincere sympathy, did not last long and, apparently, were interrupted in the autumn of the same year.