bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural speech tracking is modulated by voice identity, but not by voice familiarity
Authors: Perepelytsia Valeriia , Giroud Nathalie , Meyer Martin , Dellwo Volker
Published: January 2025

The brain tracks incoming speech by aligning the phase of its low-frequency endogenous oscillatory activity to the slow amplitude modulations in the speech signal and is modulated by various bottom-up and top-down factors such as speech acoustics or selective attention. However, it is unclear whether speech tracking can be influenced by voice characteristics such bottom-up driven voice identity or the top-down feature of familiarity with the speaker’s voice. Speech from familiar speakers is more intelligible, so higher speech tracking response can be expected for speech from familiar compared to unfamiliar speakers. To test this, we familiarized 39 young adult listeners with four female voices. We used high-variability training containing sentence stimuli from different speaking styles and audio qualities to ensure listeners can recognize voices reliably across different stimuli types and form more stable voice representations. After this, we recorded EEG while participants listened to sentences from familiar and unfamiliar speakers in quiet and in multitalker babble noise. To quantify neural speech tracking, we computed cross-correlation between the neural response and the amplitude envelopes of the presented sentences. Results revealed that lab-trained familiarity with female voices does not affect neural speech tracking. We also found no differences in sentence comprehension scores for familiar and unfamiliar voices suggesting that lab-trained familiarity does not benefit sentence comprehension. However, we found a significant effect of individual speakers on speech tracking suggesting that neural speech tracking is modulated by voice identity. We also found a relationship between voice recognition and speech tracking: the better a particular speaker was recognized, the higher the speech tracking response was to the respective speaker. Our results further support the notion that voice identity is reflected in early acoustic and later linguistic processing stages in the brain and that linguistic and speaker-specific voice information are processed jointly on the neural level.
Charting the unknown: Sex differences in spatial exploration across the lifespan
Authors: Zheng Luming , Genç Zehra Nur , Baumann Valentin , van der Ham Ineke , Schomaker Judith
Published: January 2025

Previous work has suggested that males and females adopt different exploration styles, with females often taking a more secure, or cautious exploration approach. In the current study, females (n = 206) and males (n = 218) aged 7-77 years explored a 3D virtual environment. First, we computed a series of exploration measures that are commonly used in the animal literature (including roaming entropy, distance traveled, shape of exploration and exploratory efficiency). Taking a fine-grained approach, based on a hierarchical cluster analysis we identified three distinct measures of exploration: 1. Exploratory activity; 2. Exploratory efficiency; 3. Shape of exploration. We investigated whether these distinct aspects capture individual differences – between sexes and across the lifespan – in exploration behavior. Males were found to explore more than females, as evidenced by higher exploratory activity and a more complex shape of exploration. Interestingly, however, females were found to explore more efficiently than males. These findings suggest that even though women show more caution when exploring an unknown environment, they are more efficient in charting it. Our novel fine-grained exploratory behavior analyses further suggested that older individuals had a simpler exploration shape – as defined by lower sinuosity/tortuosity in their path – than younger individuals, while other exploration measures were not affected by age. The current novel findings thus suggest that specific characteristics of exploration behavior depend on individual differences, including sex and age. As exploration behavior is altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders this suggests that taking into account such differences in exploratory styles is crucial.
Advancing forest disturbance economics – assessing the impacts on timberland returns requires consistent economic approaches
Authors: Thomas Knoke , Fibich Jonathan , Lopez Lena , Paul Carola
Published: January 2025

The discussion about economically optimal forest ecosystem management is almost as old as forest science. Continuous cover forestry renounces removing the tree canopy of forest ecosystems. In contrast, clear fell forestry suggests harvesting all trees at once to replace the crop trees with young trees. Assuming occurrence probabilities for stands of different ages, a study by Kärenlampi (10.1371/journal.pstr.0000146) introduced a forest portfolio perspective to analyse profitability (expected net revenues divided by forest value) and disturbance costs of continuous cover and clear fell forestry using data from another study (10.1007/s10640-022-00719-5). The reported results suggest that continuous cover forestry has a much lower economic performance and is economically more vulnerable to disturbance impacts than clear fell forestry, which differs from the results in the other study. In this work, we demonstrate that 1) the approach in Kärenlampi’s research does not allow for deriving accurate economic performance indicators, 2) the hypothesised forest states are incomparable, and 3) the reported continuous cover disturbance costs are poorly conceptualised due to inconsistent assumptions. His study’s proposition that a disturbance leads to a regime shift from continuous cover to clear fell forestry or that high maintenance costs are associated with it does not seem convincing. Managers can replant or adopt natural regeneration on forestland after disturbance to perpetuate continuous cover forestry long-term. Whilst Kärenlampi’s study highlights valuable discussion points, our analysis reaffirms the necessity for more conceptually consistent and realistic approaches and avoiding oversimplification, which will more effectively support the economic assessment of forest disturbances.
Long-distance slurry pipeline transport
Authors: Ihle Christian , Valencia Pedro
Published: January 2025

This chapter of the SME Surface Mining Handbook deals with long-distance slurry pipelines, defined asthose longer than 10 km is used to transport solid materials, including ore, concentrate, and tailings,mixed with water, where the latter acts as a medium. Such pipelines tend to pass through public andprivate sites, and commonly through natural topographies and barriers that require the constructionof numerous ascending and descending sections. This type of transportation mode is an alternativeto other traditional means of transport such as trains, trucks, and conveyors. The chapter coversa variety of topics related to slurry pipelines, including their advantages and disadvantages, slurryproperties, hydraulics, infrastructure, commissioning and operation, and pipeline integrity.
Enhanced cohesive zone model to predict delamination behaviour of carbonepoxy laminated curved beams
Authors: Ranz David , Cuartero Jesus , Castejon Luis , Miralbes Ramon , Valladares David
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes an enhanced Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) for the prediction of delamination in curved beams of epoxy carbon laminates. This model improves the conventional CZM, taking into account the fiber-bridging phenomenon and the variation of the element size among the thickness in the curved zone. The advantages of the enhanced model are underlined when results obtained from the numerical simulations of a four-point-bending test in compliance with ASTM D6415 standard are compared with the corresponding experimental results. The prediction of the post-failure behaviour obtained with this model is closer to that obtained experimentally than with the conventional model.
Techno-economic analysis of an air conditioning heat pump powered by photovoltaic panels and the grid
Authors: Aguilar Valero Francisco Javier , Crespí-Llorens Damián , Vicente Quiles Pedro Ginés
Published: January 2025

This work presents an environmental and techno-economic study of an inverter air conditioner simultaneously powered by photovoltaic panels and the grid, without batteries. The unit provides the thermal demand to an office in an administrative building located in Alicante (South East Spain). In comparison with other systems which also use renewable energy for air conditioning, this one presents significant advantages. It is comparatively simple, reliable, has low maintenance needs and its renewable energy production is entirely self-consumed, which avoids problematic interaction with the grid. The system has been monitored during one year to measure the thermal energy provided to the room, the electrical consumption of the device and the photovoltaic and grid contribution to it. Experimental results of some Key Performance Indicators are presented as a result of a one-year data collection campaign. The measurements show a solar contribution of 54% to the electricity consumed by the system. As a result, the ratio between the thermal energy and grid electricity consumption during one year is SPFsys = 9.6. Consequently, the primary non–renewable energy consumption is drastically reduced to a 26% of the reference system (SPFref=2.5). Furthermore, the techno-economic study concludes that in spite of requiring a higher initial investment in the system, the saving produced by the lower electricity consumption, results in an annualized cost of 84% of the reference system cost.
Willpower needs tactical skill
Authors: Bermúdez Juan Pablo
Published: January 2025

In “Willpower with and without effort”, G. Ainslie advances our understanding of self-control by theoretically unifying multiple forms of willpower. But one crucial question remains unanswered: How do agents pick the right forms of willpower in each situation? I argue that willpower requires tactical skill, which detects willpower-demanding contexts, selects context-appropriate tactics, and monitors their implementation. Research on tactical skill will significantly advance our understanding of willpower.
Butt-dialing the devil: Evil agents are expected to disregard intentions behind requests
Authors: Dunk Rebecca Joy , Goulding Brandon W. , Fugelsang Jonathan Albert , Friedman Ori
Published: January 2025

Evil supernatural beings are often depicted as responding to unintended requests, whereas this may be less common in representations of good supernatural beings. This asymmetry suggests that people may expect good and evil agents to differ in their sensitivity to other people's intentions. We investigated this proposal across five experiments on 2231 adult US residents. In Experiments 1 to 4, participants judged whether good or evil agents would grant requests from individuals who varied in their understanding of what they requested, and in whether they executed requests correctly. Across experiments, the good and evil agents were either supernatural beings or regular humans. Participants predicted good agents would be sensitive to intentions behind requests, but predicted evil agents would be comparatively insensitive to these intentions. In some experiments, they also predicted that evil agents would be more sensitive to whether requests were executed correctly. In Experiment 5, participants rated explanations for why an agent would grant a request from someone who did not understand what they were requesting. Participants thought evil agents might grant such requests because they are indifferent to the others' intentions, but participants did not strongly endorse this explanation for good agents. Taken together, our findings suggest that people have distinct expectations of how moral character affects decision-making. They also suggest that people's beliefs about good and evil supernatural beings may be grounded in their views of ordinary humans.
Great Expectations: Anticipating a Reminder Influences Prospective Memory Encoding and Unaided Retrieval
Authors: Peper Philip , Ball Hunter
Published: January 2025

Research in the retrospective memory domain has shown that individuals encode information less effortfully when expecting a reminder system (i.e., external store) to be available at test. Critically, this expectation leads to worse memory performance when the reminder is unexpectedly removed. The current study examined whether these findings extend to prospective memory (PM) intentions, which are thought to maintain a privileged status in memory and therefore may be less sensitive to expectancy effects. Participants formed the intention to make a special PM response to target items across four ongoing task blocks. Study duration (Exp. 1 and 3), pupil size (Exp. 2), and self-report (Exp. 1-3) indexed encoding effort while learning these targets. Participants had reminders available across the first three blocks (i.e., targets listed at the top of the screen), but not on the fourth. Critically, only one condition was informed that they would not have a reminder prior to encoding targets in the fourth block. Results showed that expecting a reminder lowered objective (Exp. 1 and 3) and subjective (Exp. 1-3) encoding effort and reduced unaided PM retrieval (Exp. 1-3) in the fourth block, independent of memory load (Exp. 3). Objective (Exp. 1 and 3) and subjective (Exp. 1-3) effort also partially mediated the influence of expectations on unaided PM retrieval. These findings suggest PM and retrospective memory encoding operate similarly and that participants can alter learning to more effectively commit PM targets to memory when reminders are not expected.
Neural Bases of Affect-Based Impulsivity: A Decision Neuroscience Account
Authors: Schreiber Alison , Hallquist Michael
Published: January 2025

Affect-based impulsivity describes the tendency to behave impulsively while experiencing negative or positive affective states. In the context of psychiatric disorders, the consequences of affect-based impulsivity can be dire, including suicidal behavior and harmful substance use. Here, we articulate a decision neuroscience account, recasting affect-based impulsivity in terms of Pavlovian and goal-directed decision systems. We consider how negative affect influences whether to act, what actions to consider, which action to select, and how vigorously to engage in a selected action. Further, we describe the neural and neuroendocrine bases of these computations. Specifically, we propose that modulation of norepinephrine and glucocorticoids during negative affective states enhances the pursuit of rewards by reducing goal-directed computations and increasing appetitive Pavlovian computations.
Effects of tACS on alpha oscillations are task-dependent
Authors: Chinchani Abhijit Mahesh , Skiba Rafal Marcin , Ni Yi Qing Yvette , Radlmeier Sage , Vương Chính Dân , Chen Yudan , Woodward Todd
Published: January 2025

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a widely used non-invasive technique that aims to modulate neural activity and behaviour. However, the effects of tACS are rather inconsistent and difficult to replicate. In this study, we seek to modulate alpha oscillations and further research on identifying the optimal conditions for observing reliable tACS-induced changes. Specifically, we investigated the effects of 10 Hz stimulation on alpha oscillations compared to 41 Hz stimulation in a within-subject experimental design. We chose a montage with the anode and cathodes spaced farther apart to generate stronger electric fields at the expense of focality. Participants performed an oddball version of the standard vigilance task with a lateralized bias in motor responses, which is likely to engage alpha oscillations as they are thought to play a role in inhibitory control and lateralized attention management. Our findings revealed that the difference in alpha power enhancement between alpha and gamma stimulation was higher for the contralateral electrodes than the ipsilateral ones. This lateralized effect emerged despite our non-lateralized tACS electrode positioning, suggesting it may be due to the lateralized inhibitory motor planning involved in the task. Our results indicate that the effects of tACS on alpha oscillations are task-specific. Consequently, tACS researchers may opt for stronger electric fields, even at the cost of focality, as tasks could help direct tACS effects to specific brain areas.
A New Measure of Psychiatric Severity Using Administrative Data: the Manifestations of Psychiatric Severity Index (MoPSI)
Authors: Murdoch Maureen , Clothier Barbara , Noorbaloochi Siamak
Published: January 2025

Background: Health care managers rely heavily on measures derived from administrative data to monitor and manage their enrollees’ health. There are very few administrative measures of psychiatric illness severity, however, and most either comingle demographics and medical comorbidities or do not have ordinal properties.Objective: To assess the construct, concurrent, and predictive validity of a novel, 6-item, ordinal, administrative measure of psychiatric severity, the Manifestations of Psychiatric Severity Index (MoPSI).Methods: Panel study of 960 gender-stratified, nationally representative Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or New Dawn Veterans who had a pending disability claim for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The 6 input items for the MoPSI were number of mental health clinic visits, emergency department visits or psychiatric hospitalizations in the past 6 months; and the presence of any diagnosis for alcohol use, substance use, or self-harm in the past 6 months. We used 4 scoring approaches based on classical test theory, item-response theory, joint probability density (JPD) method, and a linear approximation of the JPD method. With all approaches, higher MoPSI scores indicate severer psychiatric severity.Results: The four scoring approaches correlated 0.976 – 0.999. Regardless of scoring approach, in terms of construct validity, Veterans who were unmarried or had low income had higher MoPSI scores than Veterans who were married or had higher incomes, respectively (Ps <.03). In terms of concurrent validity, Veterans with serious mental illness or a PTSD diagnosis also had higher MoPSI scores than their respective counterparts (Ps ≤ .0001). In terms of predictive validity, higher MoPSI scores predicted cigarette use, street drug use, and PTSD and depression/anxiety symptom severity six months later, as well as disability award status approximately 1 year later (Ps ≤ .05). Conclusions: The MoPSI appears to be a very well calibrated set of 6 input variables with evidence of construct, concurrent, and predictive validity. Because it has interval and ordinal properties, it is suitable for use as either a predictor variable or an outcome variable in regression analyses, and it avoids collinearity with sociodemographic variables or with medical comorbidities. The MoPSI may be a useful administrative measure of mental health.Trial Registration: Not applicable. Key Words: Manifestations of Psychiatric Severity Index; Psychometrics; Validity; Administrative Data; Population Health; Mental Health
Historical and Partisan Trends and Changes in Korean Press Representation of Feminism: A Topic Modelling Study (1990-2022)
Authors: Oh Dayei , Bok-yong Shin
Published: January 2025

In recent decades, South Korea experienced rapid growth and socio-legal changes promoting women’s rights and gender equality. This article explores how feminist issues have been framed and discussed in the Korean press from 1990 to 2022. We examine news articles that mention feminism (peminijeum), gender equality (seong pyeongdeung), and gender discrimination (seong chabyeol) from 54 national, regional, and online news outlets (n = 49,028) and employ a structural topic modelling to identify 17 major topics and shifts in topic trends over time and across press partisanship. When examining coverage longitudinally, our findings suggest that while feminism has gained increasing attention in the Korean press in the last three decades, the focus of the issues has changed substantially. Feminism is less discussed as issues of employment, family system, and education, but more as issues of party politics and elections, gender-friendly policies, and gender conflicts between men and women. Our results also highlight that liberal and conservative press emphasise different issues in their articles on feminism, focusing on preferable issues for their political readership. Our findings suggest a need for press discourse that can shed light on the neglected intersectional aspects of feminism, including class struggles and LGBTQ rights.
Breathwork and Binaural Beats for Boosting Creativity: Examining Synergistic Effects on Divergent Thinking. A Narrative Review Using PRISMA Guidelines
Authors: Zaraiskaia Zoia
Published: January 2025

This narrative review examines the synergistic potential of breathwork and binaural beats in enhancing divergent thinking, a core component of creativity. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and therapeutic practices, it explores how these methods influence cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and neural synchronisation. Particular attention is given to mechanisms such as alpha brainwave activity, dopamine modulation, and the interplay between the Default Mode Network (DMN) and the Executive Control Network (ECN), which are critical for idea generation and evaluation. PRISMA guidelines ensured a systematic and transparent approach to the literature review, highlighting the unique benefits of slow diaphragmatic breathing and alpha binaural beats. Despite their promise, the field faces challenges such as inconsistent methodologies, limited demographic diversity, and conflicting results, complicating the interpretation of findings. These issues emphasise the urgent need for standardised protocols, more representative samples, and comprehensive studies on the combined effects of these techniques. Addressing these gaps through rigorous research and real-world testing in education, corporate settings and therapy could significantly advance the field. The findings underscore that breathwork and binaural beats offer accessible, non-invasive, and cost-effective tools for fostering creativity and emotional resilience. Integrating these practices with emerging technologies, such as devices that monitor physiological states (e.g., heart rate or breathing patterns) and provide real-time feedback, could further enhance their effectiveness and accessibility for diverse populations.Keywords: creativity, divergent thinking, breathwork, binaural beats, alpha rhythms, emotional regulation, neural synchronisation
सामाजिक मानवशास्त्रको दृष्टिमा परिवार
Authors: अधिकारी Adhikari शुक्रराज Shukraraj , आचार्य Acharya गंगा Ganga
Published: January 2025

समाजशास्त्री एवम् मानवशास्त्रीहरूले परिवारलाई सामाजिक र जैविक दुवै खालको सम्बन्धको एकीकृत स्वरूपको रूपमा चर्चा गर्ने गरेका छन् । यसै सन्दर्भमा यस आलेखको मूल ध्येय सामाजिक मानवशास्त्रीय सैद्धान्तिक दृष्टिका आधारमा पारिवारिक सम्बन्धलाई विश्लेषण गर्नु रहेको छ । यस अनुसन्धानमा उद्देश्य प्राप्तीका लागि गुणात्मक अनुसन्धान ढाँचा अन्तर्गत अन्तरवस्तु विश्लेषण विधिको प्रयोग गरी प्राप्त भएका सूचनाहरूलाई अन्तरवस्तु विश्लेषण विधिकै माध्यमबाट विश्लेषण गरिएको छ । परिवार सामाजिक संरचनाको एक अधारभूत तत्वको रूपमा रहेको पाईयो । परिवारको उत्पत्ति सम्वन्धमा समाजशास्त्री एवम् मानवशास्त्रीहरूका बीचमा फरक–फरक धारणा रहेको देखियो । उद्विकासवादी दृष्टिले परिवारको स्वरूप क्रमिक रूपमा विकास हुँदै आएको तर प्रसारवादी दृष्टिकोणअनुसार पारिवारिक संरचना कुनै ठाउँ विशेषमा रहेको परिवारबाट निर्माण भएर सर्दा–सर्दै खास स्वरूपमा आईपुगेको हो । यी दुई सिद्धान्तको मत परस्पर विपरित रहेको देखिन्छ । सांस्कृतिक पर्यावरण र प्रतीकवादी सैदान्तिक अवधारणाले जीविकोपार्जनको विधि एवम् प्रतीकको अर्थ खास खालको भौगोलिक परिवेश तथा पर्यावरणीय स्वरूपमा निर्भर रहन्छ भन्ने कुरामा जोड दिएको छ । जैविकीय समाजशास्त्रीय दृष्टिले भने पारिवारिक संरचना तथा परिवारभित्र अवलम्बन गरिने सम्पुर्ण मानवीय ब्यबहारहरू जैविक गुण तथा वंशानुगत गुण ‘जीन’ बाट प्रभावित हुने तर्क गरेको छ । परिवारभित्र कायम रहने मानवीय सम्बन्धका स्वरूपहरूको गहिराई पहिल्याउन एउटै दृष्टिकोणबाट मात्र अध्ययन गरेर सम्भव नहुने रहेछ भन्ने निचोडम प्राप्त भयो ।
Contribuição dos produtos educacionais no processo de ensino-aprendizagem na EPT: revisão integrativa
Authors: Ribeiro Fernanda Tasso , Bleicher Sabrina , Juliani Douglas Paulesky
Published: January 2025

O presente estudo tem como objetivo principal responder de que forma os produtos educacionais (PE) desenvolvidos no âmbito dos programas de pós-graduação profissional strictu sensu da Área de Ensino têm contribuído com o processo de ensino-aprendizagem dos estudantes da Educação Profissional e Tecnológica (EPT). Trata-se de uma Revisão Integrativa de Literatura (RIL), com abordagem qualitativa e objetivos exploratórios. A pesquisa segue rigorosamente as etapas condicionais para esse tipo de estudo: elaboração da pergunta norteadora; busca ou amostragem na literatura; análise crítica dos estudos incluídos; discussão dos resultados e apresentação final.  Através do estudo realizado foi possível concluir que os produtos educacionais desenvolvem um papel significativo e extremamente útil no processo de ensino-aprendizagem no cenário educacional, oferecendo meios para tornar o processo mais contextualizado, formativo e significativo de acordo com os preceitos da EPT.
Aprendizagem baseada em problemas e tecnologias digitais na educação do campo
Authors: Leonel Ronaldo dos Santos , Albuquerque Jacirene Vasconcelos de , Souza Ronilson Freitas de , Bedin Everton
Published: January 2025

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados da replicação do Processo Educacional (PE), intitulado "Formação Continuada com Educadores/as do Campo: Ensinando Ciências da Natureza a partir da Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas e Tecnologias Digitais" com professores de Ciências da Natureza nas séries iniciais e finais do ensino fundamental em escolas localizadas em contextos camponeses no município de Pacajá, no estado do Pará. Adotou-se a uma abordagem qualitativa e a pesquisa-ação. Analisaram-se as percepções e métodos adotados por 39 professores durante e após participarem da formação. Os dados foram coletados, por meio de questionários, entrevistas e observação participante, e foram analisados utilizando a técnica de Análise Textual Discursiva. Como resultado, verificou-se que a formação continuada oferecida foi bem-sucedida para os educadores que atuam nas escolas do campo, permitindo a introdução das Tecnologias Digitais (TIC) e da Metodologia Ativa de Ensino Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas (ABP), em suas práticas, contribuindo assim para o aprimoramento profissional e para a qualidade do ensino. A etapa avaliativa do processo ocorreu por meio de rodas de conversa com professores da Escola do Campo, de modo positiva resultou na ampliação da formação para 24 professores da Reserva Extrativista do Xingu (RESEX), além de convites de outros municípios da região. Em conclusão, os resultados obtidos demonstram que o PE aplicado aos professores de Pacajá apresentou alta eficácia, evidenciada não apenas pela incorporação da Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas e Tecnologias Digitais, mas também pela melhoria nas práticas pedagógicas, maior engajamento dos alunos e uma abordagem mais contextualizada no ensino de Ciências.
Construção e validação de questionário para avaliar a saúde mental de professores que atendem crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista
Authors: Messina Shabbina Ribeiro , Ribeiro Manuel Gustavo Leitão
Published: January 2025

O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) é uma condição definida por dificuldades na comunicação e comportamento. Crianças com TEA têm o direito à inclusão no ensino regular, sendo fundamental o papel dos professores nesse processo. No entanto, a docência é uma das profissões mais afetadas por doenças ocupacionais, o que pode impactar as qualidades do trabalho. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de descrever o processo de construção e validação de um questionário para avaliar a saúde mental de professores do Ensino infantil e do Ensino fundamental do município de Uberaba-MG que atendem crianças com TEA. O estudo adotou a metodologia de participação pesquisa-ação, foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) e contou com a participação de 86 professores. A pesquisa revelou de forma qualitativa como os problemas enfrentados pelos professores, como condições precárias de trabalho, falta de apoio, excesso de trabalho e lacunas na formação profissional contribuem para o desgaste psicológico dos educadores. Isso foi essencial para a elaboração colaborativa de um questionário de pesquisa para investigar a fundo esses aspectos. Os resultados advindos da aplicação e análise dos dados desse questionário poderão auxiliar a implementação de políticas e ações para promover a saúde mental desses profissionais e melhorar suas condições de trabalho, resultando, por conseguinte, em um processo de ensino-aprendizagem mais inclusivo para estudantes com TEA.
أثر القيادة الديمقراطية على الرضا الوظيفي لدى معلمي المدارس السعودية خارج المملكة
Authors: Al-Shomrani Ayid Ali , Amzat Ismail Hussein
Published: January 2025

هدف هذا البحث إلى بيان أثر القيادة الديمقراطية على الرضا الوظيفي لمعلمي المدارس السعودية في الخارج، وذلك من خلال دراسة التأثير المباشر لمبادئ القيادة الديمقراطية (التفويض، المشاركة، العلاقات الإنسانية) على الرضا الوظيفي من وجهة نظر المعلمين أنفسهم. حيث اعتمد البحث على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، واستخدم الباحث الاستبانة بوصفها أداةً لجمع البيانات وذلك من خلال تطبيقها على عينة عشوائية مكونة من (179) معلمًا ومعلمة من المدارس السعودية في الخارج خلال العام الدراسي 2023/2024م. ولمعالجة بيانات البحث تم استخدام برنامج الرزم الإحصائية (SPSS)، وتم استخدام الارتباط الخطي المتعدد لقياس العلاقة بين متغيرات البحث. وقد أظهرت النتائج وجود علاقة ارتباطية موجبة بين تطبيق القيادة الديمقراطية والرضا الوظيفي لدى معلمي ومعلمات المدارس السعودية في الخارج، وأنّ أكثر أبعاد القيادة الديمقراطية تأثيرًا في الرضا الوظيفي لدى المعلمين في المدارس السعودية في الخارج هو (بعد العلاقات الإنسانية). وفي ضوء تلك النتائج تضمن البحث جملة من التوصيات للقائمين على النظام التعليمي السعودي عمومًا.
Strengthening Vocabulary Ability among Toddlers in their Early Childhood Literacy through the Reading Seed Programme (RSP)
Authors: Rozaimie Awang , Johari Aiza , Mohd Jawi Abdul Ismail , Unin Norseha
Published: January 2025

The Reading Seed Programme (RSP) by PUSTAKA Negeri Sarawak has the potential to be the main nationwide literacy programme, especially to inculcate a reading culture. For instance, the RSP is designed to aid children in developing their reading vocabulary, and the RSP's target participants were pregnant mothers. The mothers would be utilising the RSP kits during pregnancy and after childbirth on their babies and toddlers. A substantial number of survey respondents were mothers and/or guardians of toddlers under three years old, and they shared their experiences with the RSP programme. Therefore, this paper aims to collect empirical data to assess the extent to which the RSP has achieved its objective of enhancing vocabulary ability among the toddlers during their participation in the reading programme. Convenience sampling was employed to collect the data among the RSP participants (the parents who enrolled in the RSP). This pilot study targeted RSP users in Kuching City, the hometown of PUSTAKA Negeri Sarawak. 385 respondents completed the online questionnaires, which yielded a 92.33% response rate. The findings of this research demonstrate that the RSP has proven to significantly contribute to the toddlers’ vocabulary ability in reading. However, the RSP needs to address individual learning capabilities, incorporate updates or monitoring systems, improve training, establish a strategic roadmap of the RSP outcomes, and clarify the programme's attitudinal components with respect to the targeted outcomes. The RSP should continuously empower programme implementation to develop a global brand of early childhood reading programmes.
The Role of Technology in Transforming Rural Social Systems: An Insightful Review
Authors: Olayemi Sennuga Samson
Published: January 2025

The paper explores the impact of technology on rural communities, focusing primarily on developing countries. Rural areas, traditionally constrained by geographic isolation, limited resources, and a reliance on agrarian economies, are increasingly integrating technological innovations that reshape social, economic, and cultural dimensions. This study employs theoretical frameworks such as Modernization Theory, Diffusion of Innovations, Dependency Theory, Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), and Sociotechnical Systems Theory to analyze how digital tools are influencing areas like agriculture, education, healthcare, and communication in contexts. Empirical evidence is presented to illustrate both the transformative potential and the challenges posed by technology. For instance, advancements in precision agriculture have improved productivity and environmental sustainability, while digital communication tools have expanded market access for smallholder farmers, helping them achieve fairer prices. Moreover, telemedicine and online educational platforms have enhanced access to healthcare and learning, which were previously limited due to infrastructure constraints. The study also addresses critical issues such as unequal access, socio-economic disparities, and environmental risks. The paper concludes that while technology holds immense potential to enhance rural development, its impact is contingent on local socio-economic conditions, infrastructure, and cultural factors, necessitating supportive policies and institutional interventions to ensure equitable and sustainable benefits.
Vitamin, antioxidant and anti-nutrient Evaluation of African Black Night Shade (Solanum nigrum) ethanolic leaf extract used by traditional medicine practitioners in Ogodo, Ankpa Kogi State, Nigeria
Authors: TB Momoh
Published: January 2025

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the vitamin, anti-nutrients and antioxidant contents of the ethanolic extracts of African black night shade (Solanum nigrum) using appropriate standard methods. The anti-nutrient constituents evaluated are cyanide (21.01 mg/100g), nitrate (6.15 mg/100g), phytate (13.81 mg/100g) and oxalate (9.23 mg/100g). Also, the vitamin constituents evaluated are Vitamin A (34.13 mg/100g), Vitamin B1 (20.17 mg/100g), Vitamin B2 (1.07 mg/100g), Vitamin B6 (0.98 mg/100g), Vitamin B9 (14.80 mg/100g), Vitamin B12 (3.72 mg/100g), Vitamin C (58.22 mg/100g), Vitamin D (2.04 mg/100g), Vitamin E (12.74 mg/100g), Vitamin K (9.82 mg/100g) and Beta carotene (10.48 mg/100g). Furthermore, the antioxidants values were significant statistically at different concentrations. At 25 mg/g, DPPH radical recorded the highest antioxidant (47.10 mg/g), followed by FRAP (34.21 mg/g) while vitamin C recorded the lowest antioxidant power (21.00 mg/g). Similar trends occurred at 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/g in a concentration dependent manner. At 800 mg/g the antioxidant activities exhibited its peak as demonstrated in the results in table 3. DPPH scavenging activity recorded (168.20 mg/g), FRAP antioxidant power recorded (125.22 mg/g) while vitamin C recorded (98.00 mg/g). The vitamin concentration and antioxidant activity of Solanum nigrum is a proof of its therapeutic potential and remarkable nutritional properties. Thus, the use of S. nigrum in the treatment of many ailments among the rural dwellers in Ogodo, Ankpa Kogi State could be justified by its vitamin and antioxidant contents.
Our Dependance on The Earth We Live On
Authors: Kuman Maria
Published: January 2025

The article reveals that the Sun, the Earth, and the Man have the same torus shape nonlinear electromagnetic field (NEMF), and if so, they should communicate or influence each other. Our science claims that all biorhythms in the body are ruled by light and if so, Sun’s light should rule them. However, our breathing has maximum at 3 pm and minimum at 3 am, and there is no Sun light at 3 am to activate the breathing after the minimum. So, I decided to look for another activating factor. I found that Earth’s maximum temperature with maximum extension of its ionosphere and atmosphere is at 3 pm (like breathing in) and min at 3 am (like breathing out). So, our breathing is synchronized with Earth’s breathing. This raises the question: In long-lasting cosmic travels how long Man can live healthy without having his feet on the Earth? Maybe we should try to imitate the periodic changes of Earth’s magnetic field on the space ships and space stations.
Superinfected Libman-Sacks Endocarditis Revealing a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Case Report with Review of the Literature
Authors: Hana Charif
Published: January 2025

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is rare as a first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Currently, sterile verrucous lesions of Libman-Sacks endocarditis are recognised as a cardiac manifestation of both systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. They are clinically silent in a majority of the cases. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with three times higher prevalence of mitral valve nodules and significant mitral regurgitation.
The Alluring Past
Authors: Mäkelä Heidi Henriikka
Published: January 2025

During the nineteenth century, the tradition of metered oral poetry, often referred to as “Kalevalaic” poetry or runo singing, became a fundamental and emblematic part of Finnish cultural heritage. The collections of metered poetry include hundreds of poems that discuss sexual relationships, the female body, and genitals. This article analyses the re-heritagisations of such poems in contemporary Finland. Through an examination of ethnographic interviews, media texts, and folk music recordings, I assert that the use of traditional sexual poetry reflects progressive values, such as the promotion of equality, social change, and diversity. Furthermore, the progressive contextualisation of these sexual poems is situated within transnational body politics, such as the #MeToo movement, and is closely linked to feminist viewpoints.
Lifts, Gifts and Paradigm Shifts
Authors: Purkis Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Patrick Laviolette 2020: Hitchhiking: Cultural Inroads. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Prints from German Publishing Houses in the Dominican Monks’ Book Collection in Różanystok (Poland). Contribution to the Books’ Circulation in Europe from the 17th to the 19th Century
Authors: Zimnoch Katarzyna
Published: January 2025

The aim of the paper is to present a fragment of the 17th–19th century book circulation in Europe with special emphasis put on the flow of the prints from German publishing houses into Poland. The objective of the analysis is the book collection owned by the Dominican Order based in Różanystok in the borderland between The Crown of the Kingdom of Poland (The Crown) and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The source for the study comprised handwritten inventories in the Dominican monastery library dated 1828 and 1846. The book collection was analysed for the geography of publishing and chronology, and compared to other Dominican libraries (in Borek Stary, Kalwaria Żmudzka, Lviv, Poporcie, Wrocław). The analysis resulted in confirming the existence of 75 German prints (12.88% of the studied book collection) originating from German printing houses in: Augsburg, Dillingen, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Leipzig, Mainz, Nuremberg, Paderborn and Sulzbach. The proposed studies point to the specific examples of libraries in Central and Eastern Europe reached by the prints from German publishing houses and indicate the channels for the transfer of cultural and religious contents from specified publishing centres over the said period.
A lesson with the Maestro: an overview of Constantin Sandu’s piano teaching
Authors: Del Conte Lorenzo
Published: January 2025

Constantin Sandu is a Romanian-born piano teacher at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo in Porto, Portugal. Having had the opportunity to follow his lessons for eight months as his assistant, I decided to write this article with two main objectives: to collect and give order to my experience as an apprentice and to try to briefly recount the human and professional story of a piano teacher, with the aim of describing and sharing, albeit briefly and in a non-exhaustive manner, his pedagogical method. A recount can be a starting point for reflection on the role of a teacher and the importance it has for young people in approaching the world of classical music.
The Power of lyricism in Puccini’s drama
Authors: Hebeisen-Mosuc Elena
Published: January 2025

Puccini’s musical language is deeply imbued with beauty and truth. His poetic realism gains enormously in color and setting because Puccini understands opera as theater. His lyricism serves to express inner feelings, transforming characters’ intimate feelings into moments of high dramatic tension. His melodies are full of cantabile, intensely expressing extraordinarily thrilling moods, deep inner feelings, bringing to the spectators’ normal characters with whom they resonate and with whom they experience musical moments that often reach catharsis. The orchestra participates intensely in the melodic discourse through strong contrasts of dynamics and color, maintains balance in harmony, emphasizes the characters’ emotional states through the use of instruments capable of suggesting subtle emotions, remaining faithful to the Italian traditions of belcanto and verismo, but at the same time integrating modernist elements.
Andre Jolivet: The Poetics of Cello
Authors: Nakipbekova Alfia
Published: January 2025

My paper pertains to the works for cello by the French composer André Jolivet (1905-1974) – an important artistic figure of the twentieth century whose musical thinking represents the complexity of transformation within Western music and the culture of his time. Strongly influenced by the creative ideas of the French pioneer of sound Edgard Varèse, he continued to develop his musical style and aesthetics throughout his life – as a composer, writer, critic, conductor, visual artist, musical theatre director, and pedagogue. Jolivet’s fertile sources for artistic inspiration and spiritual quest extend from the philosophy of Bergson and Tarkovsky’s cinematography to the mythology of Africa, Oceania, and ancient incantations and rituals. In this article I will explore Jolivet’s cello music – from the perspective of multi-interdisciplinary influences – focusing on Suite en concert pour Violoncello seul (1965), as an example of his compositional style and as an expression of the artist’s awareness of the universal mystery and ‘magical’ voice embodied in the sound of the cello.
Poetic Rhythm and Musical Rhythm: Theories and Controversies in Nineteenth-Century Italy
Authors: Stanciu Mihaela-Elena
Published: January 2025

This article contains a brief exposition of theories and controversies concerning the supposed interrelationships between the standard poetic rhythm conferred by classical poetic metrics (Greek, Roman, Italian) and the musical rhythm proper, with profound implications for nineteenth-century opera music). The final aim of this paper is to map poetic metrics according to the musical phrases used, as it was envisaged by the musical theorists of the musical bel canto era and the one that followed it. A whole host of Italian or German authors (many of them almost unknown) are listed and quoted. The various, more or less speculative theories still tributary to the mentality of the time are succinctly presented. All these discussions and controversies converge towards a possible and utopian general theory of rhythm, a theory based on the analogy between the regular metrical feet of classical poetry and rhythm.
The Silencing of a Composer – Nicolae Bretan
Authors: Wood Charles
Published: January 2025

During the 20th century, while many artists thrived and enjoyed free expression, numerous others were suppressed by goverments, depriving the world of their works. This paper examines the impact of non-musical circumstances, particularly the rise of communist rule in Romania, on the reputation and recognition of composer Nicolae Bretan. Despite his numerous compositions, Bretan's refusal to support the newly empowered communist party led to the silencing of his music in 1948. The focus is on Bretan's vocal music, namely three of his one-act operas, which reflect his desire to create uniquely Romanian operas using Romanian poems and folklore.
Mental practice and visualization in Piano performance: A comparative Study of Cognitive memorization techniques
Authors: Bratu Andreea
Published: January 2025

This article presents a comparative study of various cognitive memorization techniques in piano performance, focused on mental practice and visualization. Drawing on methods from influential pianists and pedagogues such as Walter Gieseking and Heinrich Neuhaus and the author's personal experience, the analysis explores how pianists can internalize music without physical engagement with the instrument. Techniques such as score visualization, aural imagery, and structural analysis are examined in terms of their effectiveness in enhancing musical memory and performance security. The study highlights the cognitive processes underlying these methods, offering insights into how mental preparation complements traditional physical practice for pianists.
Benjamin Britten's vision on the Lullaby in „A Charm of Lullabies”
Authors: Codreanu Maria-Claudia
Published: January 2025

His childhood experience is a source of inspiration for Benjamin Britten’s cycle of songs A Charm of Lullabies. Concerned with discovering national musical and poetic treasures, he selected five poems from representative authors, from the Renaissance to Romanticism – William Blake, Robert Burns, Robert Green, Thomas Randolph, John Philip – interesting for the audience to be set to music. The songs illustrate the bedtime routine when an adult expresses profound feelings of love and care for his child. The themes chosen present various moods and the performers should portray an authentic nighttime atmosphere, full of charm, using technical and artistic means of expression.