bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Türkiye yangın yönetmeliğine göre toplanma amaçlı yapıların tahliye performansının simülasyon tabanlı analiz edilmesi
Authors: Satır Muhsin Selçuk , Topraklı Abdurrahman Yağmur
Published: May 2024

Bu çalışmada, kuralcı (prescriptive) yaklaşımla hazırlanmış olan “Binaların Yangından Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik” in getirdiği tanımlayıcı/sınırlayıcı standartların tahliye süresi bağlamında performatif sonuçlarının analiz edilerek kritik edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yönetmeliğin getirdiği sınırlılıkların tanımlanması ile yapılan simülasyonlar sonucu, yönetmeliğin toplanma amaçlı yapılar sınıfına dair tahliye süresi performansı ölçülmüştür. Bu bağlamda yönetmelikteki en yoğun kullanıcı yükü tanımını içeren 3 farklı toplanma amaçlı sınıfın analiz edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Hazırlanan A, B ve C senaryolarının her biri farklı kullanıcı sayısına sahip 230 alt senaryodan meydana gelmektedir ve toplamda 690 farklı alt senaryo oluşturulmuştur. Çalışma kapsamında elde edilen bulgular incelendiğinde en dikkat çekici sonuçlardan birisi, tahliye süresinde ana etmenin kullanıcı yükü (sayısı) olduğudur. A, B ve C senaryoları, tahliye süresi bağlamında benzer sonuçlar vermişlerdir. Çalışmanın bir diğer önemli sonucu, yönetmelikte belirtilen kişi başına düşen çıkış genişliğinin aynı şartların korunması için gerekenden bir miktar fazla olduğudur. Ayrıca, yönetmeliğin, binalarda yangının yayılma hızını azaltmak ve bina kullanıcılarının kaçabileceği bir alan sağlamak amacıyla getirdiği kompartıman alanı sınırlamasının tahliye süresine bir etkisi bulunmamaktadır. Yapılan bu çalışmada, yönetmeliğin en yoğun kullanıcı yükü tanımına sahip 3 farklı toplanma yapısının yangın yönetmeliğine uygun yapılmış bir binada verebileceği minimum tahliye süresi değerleri tespit edilmiştir. Bulunan değerlerden daha kısa tahliye sürelerinin elde edilebilmesi için yönetmelik sınırlarından daha büyük çıkış kapasitesinde bir tasarım yapılmalıdır. Dolayısıyla çalışmanın bulguları, birçok çalışmaya yön gösterici olacaktır. Bundan sonraki yönetmelik düzenlemelerinde kuralcı tanımlar dışında performatif tanımlamalara yer verilerek performans tabanlı analizlerin önü açılması, yetkin kişiler tarafından yapılacak performans analizleri ile normatif tanımların esnetilebilmesi tavsiye edilmektedir. Aksi durum tasarım kısırlığına yol açmaktadır.
Mühimmat geri dönüşüm problemi için depo yer seçimi ve dağıtım ağı tasarımı
Authors: Kurtay Kemal Gürol , Erol Serpil
Published: May 2024

Bu çalışmanın amacı, son kullanma tarihi geçmiş mühimmatın askeri birliklerden depolara ve depolardan geri dönüşüm tesisine akışını optimize etmektir. Mühimmatın çevreye ve insan sağlığına en az zarar verecek yerlerde depolanması için tesis kapasitesini belirleyen ve depo birlik atamalarını gerçekleştiren, bilimsel bir yaklaşım geliştirilmiştir. Mühimmatın; birliklerden depolara, depolardan geri dönüşüm tesisine olan tersine lojistik problemi ele alınmıştır. Geri dönüşüm tesisindeki söküm hatlarının kapasite tespiti için analitik bir yaklaşım geliştirilmiştir. Literatür taraması, çeşitli araştırmalar ve uzman görüşleri ile belirlenen kriterlere göre aday lokasyonların tespitinde Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemi (CBS) kullanılmıştır. Toplam maliyeti en aza indirmek için CBS ile belirlenen aday depo lokasyonları, her bir depo türünden kaç tane açılması gerektiği, birliklerin depolara atanması ve hangi deponun her dönemde geri dönüşüm tesisini besleyeceği matematiksel bir model geliştirilmiştir. Bu çalışma sonucu; maliyet-etkin, patlayıcı madde depo yer seçimi kriterlerine uygun, çevre ve insana yönelik az risk taşıyacak depo yerlerini belirlemek, verimsiz olan depo yerlerini ve sayısını azaltarak, depoların daha etkin ve verimli işletilmesini sağlayacak bir bilimsel yaklaşım ile mühimmat için tersine lojistik sistemi oluşturulmuştur.
Characterizations of the Direct Sum of Two Difference - Mean Fuzzy Graphs
Authors:   Associate Professor of Mathematics, PG and Research Department of Mathematics, Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College (Autonomous and Affiliated to Bharathidasan University), Trichy-23, Tamil Nadu, India, Radha K , Harini S Sri
Published: May 2024

Objectives: This study presents a new type of fuzzy graph known as the difference mean fuzzy graph by introducing difference mean edge. Methodology: In this paper, difference mean edge in a fuzzy graph is defined by considering the relationship between the membership value of the edge and the membership values of its end vertices. Also, difference mean fuzzy graph is defined and its properties are derived. Findings: The difference mean edge and the difference mean fuzzy graph are introduced. The requirements for an edge in the direct sum of two fuzzy graphs to be a difference mean edge are found in this study. Additionally, conditions are derived such that the direct sum of two fuzzy graphs is a difference mean fuzzy graph. Novelty: Depending on the membership values of the edges and vertices, effective edge in fuzzy graph have already been defined. A new concept of difference mean edge in fuzzy graph is introduced. Using this, difference mean fuzzy graph is also introduced. Characterizations of the difference mean edge in the direct sum of fuzzy graphs are attained. The requirements for the necessary and sufficient component of difference mean fuzzy graphs to be a direct sum are suggested. Mathematics Subject Classification (2020): 05C72, 05C76. Keywords: Difference mean edge, Difference Mean fuzzy graph, Effective fuzzy graph, Effective difference mean edge, Direct sum
Performance Analysis of Feeding System in Sugar Mill with Consideration of Bagasse Jamming
Authors:   Assistant Professor (Maths), G.C.Dujana, Jhajjar, Haryana, India, Kumari Anil , Bhatia Pooja
Published: May 2024

Objectives: The sugar industry comprises various units, including feeding, crushing, evaporation, refining, and crystallization. The feeding system is the most crucial aspect of the sugar mill as the sugar-making process starts from here. So faults which occur here are divided into four categories minor, major, cease faults and walkout faults. This paper sets out to showcase a comprehensive analysis of the system's performance, availability, and profit. The study takes into account how minor, major, and cease faults can potentially impact the system's overall effectiveness. The findings of this research hold significant importance for sugar mills that prioritize optimal performance and profit. Methods: Primary data regarding various failures is collected from Ch. Devilal Co-Operative Sugar Mills Limited, Ahulana, Gohana. To find MTSF, Reliability, Availability, Profit etc., a mathematical model has been created. This model is based on the Semi-Markov process and Regenerative Point Technique and equations are drawn using exponential distribution and solved with Cremer’s rule and Laplace ­- Stieltjes transformation. Findings: A fault, Bagasse Jamming is considered a cease fault which occurs very frequently in the feeding system. Therefore, it is found that cease faults and major faults have more adverse impacts on the system's performance and availability than minor faults. MTSF, Availability and Profit are inversely proportional to these faults. When a major fault is 0.0035 and the cease fault is 0.0042, MTSF is nearly 100. So, to gain more profit we have to pay more attention to these faults. Novelty: The paper's results will aid in fault removal, increase availability, and optimize maintenance tactics in the sugar industry. Keywords: MTSF, Performance Analysis, Availability, Reliability, Minor, Major, Cease Faults
Brain Tumor Prediction and Segmentation with Morphological Region-based Active Contour Model and Refinement using Boltzmann Monte Carlo Method in MRI Images
Authors:   Presidency College, Chennai, 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India, Srivaishnavi K R , Perumal T Pramananda , Anishiya P
Published: May 2024

Objectives: The primary goal of the research work is to accurately detect the precise location of the brain tumor in the radiological Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images of human brain using segmentation method. Methods: In this research work, we introduce mainly the Morphological Region-based Active Contour model and Boltzmann Monte Carlo method (MACB model), involving a comprehensive three-step methodology for the segmentation of the brain, MRI images in order to detect brain tumor. The initial step involves pre-processing which includes Gaussian filtering for noise reduction and Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) technique to enhance image features. In the second step, we identify tumor-related clusters using morphological operations and delineate the tumor regions using Active Contour (Snake) model to get a segmented image. In the final step, the Boltzmann Monte Carlo method is used to refine the edges of the segmented image. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, the 2D brain tumor datasets, available in the public domain, are used. The first dataset is taken from Kaggle website and has 3064 MRI human brain images and its respective ground truth images which is used for segmentation. The second dataset is used for visualization of segmented tumor, available in the same Kaggle website. Findings: The Performance metrics for finding similarity between the segmented images generated using the proposed MACB model and the ground truth images, available in the first dataset, exhibit higher values. That is, the proposed method has achieved higher values of Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC): 93.26%, Jaccard Co-efficient: 86.44%, Sensitivity: 97.27%, Specificity: 99.43% and Pixel accuracy: 98.95%. Novelty: In this research work, MACB model is proposed for the detection, segmentation, and refinement process of brain tumor by incorporating Boltzmann Monte Carlo method with Morphological Region-Based Active Contour model. This novel approach has resulted in enhanced precision and efficiency in the brain tumor segmentation process. Keywords: Brain Tumor Segmentation, Morphological Operation, Active Contour, Boltzmann Monte Carlo Method, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A Feasibility Inquiry to the Sustainable Utilization of Few Invasive Flora
Authors:   Post Graduate, Department of Botany, Little Flower College, Guruvayur, Thrissur District, Kerala, India, Sreeranjini K
Published: May 2024

Objectives: The study focuses on utilising invasive flora affecting the indigenous plants and thereby bring about monetary benefits to the local people by means of handmade papers from the invasive weeds. Methods: Handmade paper from five invasive plants namely, Eichhornia crassipes, Eupatorium odorata, Combretum indicum, Lantana camara and Hyptis capitata was attempted. These plants after collection from Nilambur, Kerala were subjected to treatment with washing soda, blending, vat preparation, moulding and drying. This is followed by checking the paper quality parameters viz., Productivity, Clarity/opacity/transparency, Strength, Grammage, Paper grain, Ageing of paper and Moisture content. Findings: Out of the five invasive plants tested, the fibre yield was maximum for Eichhornia, but the productivity rate was less compared to other samples. Lantana and Hyptis yielded maximum productivity even though the fibre yield from these plants was less. The fibre uniformity of paper developed was positively detected for all the 4 plants except Eichhornia thereby proving the feasibility for paper manufacture. All sample paper allows the light; so, all are translucent in nature. Integrity of paper samples was retained in the paint test. The age test also yielded positive results. The gsm test showed lowest for Eichhornia as 98.12g/m2; Lantana 111.87g/m2; Combretum 131.87g/m2; Hyptis 163.75g/m2; Eupatorium is 255g/m2. Even though the gsm of Eichhornia is the best for paper manufacture according to gsm standards, the lack of fibre uniformity is a withdrawing feature for feasibility. The moisture content appeared high for Eichhornia and lowest for Combretum. Novelty: To date, studies on invasive plant utilisation done individually; no comparative study on productivity done. Current study can be further refined for environmental sustenance along with livelihood for local people. Keywords: Invasive Flora, Paper manufacture, Grammage test, Productivity, Ecological sustainability
Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Mechanical Properties of Bidirectional Woven Kevlar Epoxy Composite
Authors:   Research Scholar, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, De Gargi Danda , Sarkar Soumya , Mitra Souren
Published: May 2024

Objectives: This study focuses on the mechanical behavior of different fiber orientations of bi-directional woven Kevlar fabric to improve the mechanical properties of the Kevlar epoxy composite materials. Methods: Here in this paper hand moulded composites are fabricated with the Bidirectional plain-woven Kevlar-49, Epoxy resin LY 556 and hardener HT972 and the configuration of the layer was symmetrical and contained 6 plies which arranged as C- (0/45/-45/45/-45/0), B- (0/60/-60/60/-60/0). The standard ASTM D 3039 for tensile test, ASTM D790 for flexural test and ASTM D256 was followed for the laboratory test. F indings: Polymer composite materials are popular due to its weight strength ratio. Bidirectional woven fiber is used for the analysis, where different fiber orientations are compared. From the analysis it is observed that, mechanical properties vary with different fiber orientations. Novelty: In this paper, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and absorbed impact energy observed in the laboratory to find out the suitability of the Kevlar composite as a building material. The findings of this research are expected to have practical implications for the development of stronger and more durable polymer fiber composites in various structural applications. Keywords Kevlar fiber, Epoxy, Tensile test, Woven fabric, Fiber orientation
Transformative User Credibility Assessment on Twitter: A RNN based Heuristic Approach
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Computer Science, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, Gujarat, India, Nair Vinita , Pareek Jyoti
Published: May 2024

Objectives: To construct a comprehensive weighted multi-dimensional model to assess the impact of influence score of Twitter users, considering the credibility based on user profile, their tweets and social interactions aiming to empower users in distinguishing fake news or misinformation. Methods: The credibility evaluation is formulated based on text analysis, user account attributes, and user social engagement. We've gathered around 100,000 tweets from 100 users using Tweepy API over a six-month duration for the purpose of evaluating credibility. The collected tweets spanned diverse professions namely politics, entertainment, business, science, sports, and trending topics. We chose to utilize a self-devised deep active learning model to classify and label the unlabelled data instead of engaging in time-consuming human annotation for the tweets we gathered. Findings: The obtained accuracy for influence score evaluation for Recurrent Neural Network, Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, and Support Vector Machine are 89.03%, 79.10%, 81.59%, 73.06% and 79.45% respectively. Upon reviewing and analysing the outcomes, RNN surpassed all other models achieving an exceptional accuracy of 89.03%. Novelty: Employing a weighted multi-dimensional framework, it systematically evaluates the influence score by considering the credibility of both users and tweets within the context of Twitter. Weighted features are instrumental in capturing the relative importance of different elements, leading to a more refined and context-aware decision-making process. In contrast to earlier research, which predominantly centred on the credibility of individual tweets, our research work shifts the focus to a broader perspective, encompassing the credibility of users, their tweets and their overall social influence. By incorporating user influence score, the framework not only empower users in discerning fake news or mis-information but also elevates their ability to gauge the reliability of information, offering a nuanced approach to news credibility analysis. Keywords: Active Learning, Credibility Score, User Influence, Twitter, Machine Learning, Recurrent Neural Network
BIM in Optimization of Power Duct for Efficient Cable Routing: An Industrial Approach
Authors:   Irrigation, Industrial and Infrastructure SBG, WET IC, L&T Construction, India, Kumar V Rajesh , Koda Sai Kumar , Kumar P Sai , Arivalagan Naveen Aravind
Published: May 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to achieve optimized power duct sizes with ensuring sufficient bending for the electrical cables at the road junction locations. Methods: Used Revit tool, a Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology to integrate the design data of electrical cables and for modelling the power duct structure. Tools in the Revit software were used to automate the cable bending and clash detection simulations tasks. Findings: With the help of these tools, we modeled cable routing and optimized power duct structure sizes, saving 90% of man-hours and achieving 20% cost savings at the site compared to conventional methods. Novelty: It’s a pioneering effort to integrate the design data of electrical cables and automate the cable routing by ensuring the sufficient bending radius by utilizing the tools in the Revit software. And optimization of the power duct size at the cable transition locations by performing multiple simulations of the model and clash detection. Keywords: BIM, Revit, Virtual Design, Cable Routing, Electrical Design
Institutionalization of Psychological Assistance in the Higher Education System of the Russian Federation
Authors: Metelkova E.I.
Published: May 2024

In the article, psychological assistance in the higher education system is analyzed in the context of its formation and development as a social institution — taking into account various scientific approaches to the definition of the concept of “Social institution”, including within the framework of the economic concept of growing social institutions and directed institutional changes, since this determines the role and place of psychological assistance in the life of society in general and the university community in particular, and also ensures its acceptance, recognition, sustainability and adaptability in changing historical conditions and socio-economic situation. In addition, recommendations are presented for the further development of the institute of psychological assistance in the system higher education in modern cultural and historical conditions.
Correction of the Emotional State of Women Raising Disabled Children through the “Life-Giving Sip” Program
Authors: Vlasova N.V. , Danilova L.Yu.
Published: May 2024

The article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of the psychocorrective program “Life-giving sip” on the emotional state of women raising children with disabilities. This program was implemented in the ANO Hippocenter “Luchik”, Ulyanovsk. The above experimental study involved 56 women aged 25 to 54 years, raising a disabled child aged 4 to 28 years. The “Methodology for diagnosing mental activation, interest, emotional tone, tension and comfort” was used as a toolkit (authors L.A. Kurgansky and T.A. Nemchin). A comparative analysis of the data obtained from the results of the implemented program showed the presence of significant differences in the emotional state of the respondents in terms of: mental activation, interest, emotional tone and comfort. Thus, the proposed “Life-giving sip” program is a proven effective corrective measure that allows women raising a child with disabilities to accept themselves and the external conditions of their lives, reduce anxiety and concern for the child and their actions in interaction with him, adjust to decision-making, expand the range of interests, relieve internal tension and feel yourself in a comfort zone.
Legal Relations and Public Relations as Paired Categories
Authors: Ershov V. V.
Published: May 2024

The paper examines modern controversial issues of legal relations, public relations; legal, social and individual regulators of legal relations and public relations; current national and international acts, monographs, dissertations and other scientific publications. The general scientific methodology is used — philosophy, logic, systems theory and computer science. The author has researched and taken into account the general scientific conclusions of Marx, Engels and Wiener, as well as the positions of recognized Russian experts in the field of general theory of law, primarily N. G. Alexandrova, A. S. Pigolkina and A. M. Vasilyeva. The paper draws the following conclusions: 1) actual legal relations arise objectively and are primary in relation to legal regulators; 2) legal relations and public relations are paired categories with both general and special features; 3) legal relations are «organized» by legal and individual regulators; 4) legal relations and legal regulators of legal relations are ontologically heterogeneous legal categories; 5) legal relations and legal regulators of legal relations are not homogeneous elements of a unified system of forms of law containing only ontologically homogeneous and only legal regulators.
Artificial Intelligence in the Criminal Justice of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China: the Importance of State Legal Regulation
Authors: Sobenin A. A.
Published: May 2024

The article analyzes the use of artificial intelligence in the field of criminal proceedings. The existing discourse between legal and technical knowledge and the increasingly growing imbalance between legal and technical approaches in justifying the use of professional artificial intelligence are discussed. The use of facial recognition technologies in criminal proceedings, the introduction of promising systems for monitoring and analyzing big data obtained on the Internet, and the use of ChatGPT in criminal proceedings create significant risks in achieving the purpose of criminal proceedings. The experience of introducing artificial intelligence into the field of criminal justice in the People’s Republic of China as one of the leading states in this field seems interesting and noteworthy. A range of problems are outlined that the Russian Federation also needs to solve, related to the incorrect interpretation of court decisions by artificial intelligence, the inability to make value judgments, possible bias of algorithms, selectivity of data, the procedural form of sentencing, a decrease in the level of public confidence in the system of making court decisions made with the help of artificial intelligence.
Certain problems of protecting the constitutional rights of the individual when considering complaints by the courts in accordance with Article 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation
Authors: Osipov A. L.
Published: May 2024

Based on the conceptual characteristics of the institute of judicial control in accordance with Article 125 of the CCP of the Russian Federation, separate problems of protecting the constitutional rights of an individual using this means of judicial protection are identified: lack of uniformity in the interpretation of norms on the subject and ambit of judicial control; lack of clear standards of proof when considering complaints by courts in accordance with Article 125 of the CCP of the Russian Federation; lack of regulatory provisions defining formal criteria for the admissibility of submitted complaints, which entails limiting the right of interested persons to judicial protection in cases of arbitrary interpretation of the provisions of the law by the courts. As measures to improve judicial practice, it is proposed to refine the subject, ambit and standards of judicial control by referring to them the issues of validity and proportionality of restrictions on constitutional rights of the individual, as well as assessing the sufficiency of evidence in favor of the introduction of such restrictions; regulatory clarification of the requirements for the content of complaints, as well as the powers of the court to make decisions on refusal to accept formally unacceptable complaints for  production.
The Body of Inquiry as a Participant in Criminal Proceedings
Authors: Danilenko I. A.
Published: May 2024

The article discusses the problematic aspects of determining the legal status of the body of inquiry as a participant in criminal proceedings. It is noted that despite a number of legislative changes, a considerable number of issues concerning the procedural position of the body of inquiry in the criminal process of Russia remain unresolved. The inconsistency of the legislator in determining the list of bodies of inquiry is separately indicated, the allocation among them of those who have the right to conduct a preliminary investigation in the form of an inquiry, and those who are authorized only to initiate a criminal case and carry out urgent investigative actions. Referring to the foreign experience and the historical development of this institution in domestic legislation, the author emphasizes the unjustified narrowing (compared with the pre-revolutionary state) of the number of state institutions belonging to the bodies of inquiry. The author criticizes the legislative criterion of attribution to the bodies of inquiry, based on the sign of the implementation of operational investigative activities. Special attention is paid to the shortcomings of the legislative definitions given in Article 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation.
Calibration of Decision-Based Crowd-Behaviour Model
Authors: Vacková Jana , Bukáček Marek
Published: May 2024

Various methods of calibration are used depending on the model type, application, and individual preferences. While there is no universally applicable method, statistical techniques became popular in recent decades. Introduced calibration concept consists of separate calibration episodes to avoid choosing only a few metrics to describe the whole system and a high computational time increasing exponentially with the number of parameters. These episodes are designed to be separated from each other and to cover one type of pedestrian behaviour captured by some model parameters. The design of the calibration quantities; estimate of the needed simulation time to get stationary results; and the number of iterations by Chebyshev's inequality influencing the quality of the results are discussed. Furthermore, hypothesis testing (James' test) is used to compare the model and experimental data. This calibration process can be applied for any pedestrian model; this paper deals with its application on the crowd-behaviour phase in the author's decision based model.
Heterogeneity of Agents in Cellular Evacuation Model Explains the Decreasing Bottleneck Flow
Authors: Hrabák Pavel , Šutý Matej , Hotlib Mykola
Published: May 2024

Heterogeneous crowd consisting of pedestrians with essentially diverse abilities behaves in certain aspects differently than a homogeneous crowd consisting of "average" pedestrians. This study investigates the influence of heterogeneity in aspects connected to the ability to navigate through a crowd in front of a bottleneck. Simulations of cellular multi-agent model suggest that the heterogeneity in ability to push through the crowd (represented by aggressiveness) and willingness to bypass the crowd (represented by sensitivity to occupation) may be responsible for the bottleneck flow decreasing in time – a phenomenon observed in experiments.
Classification of Pedestrian Crowds by Dimensionless Numbers
Authors: Cordes Jakob , Nicolas Alexandre , Schadschneider Andreas
Published: May 2024

Presently, classifications of pedestrian crowds primarily rely on density. This fails to encompass the diverse behaviours and risk profiles observed. We introduce two dimensionless numbers, the Intrusion number In, based on the desire to maintain one’s personal space, and the Avoidance number Av, based on the anticipation of collisions. These two numbers delineate different flow regimes, as we intuitively expect and as we empirically demonstrate using an extensive dataset. Similarly to Fluid Mechanics, where dimensionless numbers guide the choice between different approximations, the dynamics of crowds can be approached in each regime by perturbative expansions, which yield pedestrian models applicable in the corresponding regime (and only there).
Older Adult Stair and Walking Speeds from Controlled Trials as Inputs into Simulations of Retirement Home Evacuation
Authors: Forrest Bronwyn , Van Ooteghem Karen , Jones Bryn , Gales John , Weckman Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

This work aims to add to the current database of human movement data, specifically, 3-stair descent speeds from controlled trials of typically aging older adults (n=212, aged 60-99) with and without mobility impairments. Additionally, to explore the impacts of model input parameters, stair and walking speeds obtained from controlled trials are used to simulate first-iteration Canadian retirement home egress scenarios with Pathfinder. Analysis of descending stair speeds reveal interesting trends and key inter-population variations. Moreover, when the stair and horizontal walking speeds determined from these controlled trials are used as inputs into the illustrative egress simulations, a difference in predicted egress outcomes are seen compared to when model defaults are used. Together, the findings indicate important egress considerations for a vulnerable population.
The state of oncological care in Russia: liver cancer (C22). Age-specific characteristics of observed and relative one-year and five-year survival rates of patients (clinical-population study). Part 2
Authors: Merabishvili Vakhtang M. , Bagnenko Sergey S. , Balakhnin Pavel V. , Busko Ekaterina A.
Published: May 2024

Survival rate calculations for liver cancer patients at the federal level in the Russian Federation are only conducted in the North-Western Federal District and a few other individual administrative territories. In the first part of our study, we presented a detailed analysis of the prevalence of liver cancer, noting that the levels of standardized incidence and mortality rates in Russia and the North-Western Federal District are virtually identical, allowing us to consider the results of our study as nationally representative. The conducted research confirmed the seriousness of the issue of liver cancer among the population. However, certain advancements in patient treatment were recorded, with a significant increase in survival rates, primarily for one-year survival. For example, in the North-Western Federal District, one-year survival increased from 13.6% in 2000 to 23.1% in 2022, representing a 69.8% increase. At the same time, five-year survival rates remained largely unchanged. Increases in survival rates were observed in most age groups. A significant deficiency in the initial patient record-keeping was identified - insufficiently accurate determination of the stage of liver cancer. One-year survival rates for male and female liver cancer patients (22.7% and 22.1%) were nearly equal, as were the survival rates for liver cancer patients residing in urban and rural areas. Therefore, further improvement in the outcomes of treatment for this complex patient group can only be achieved through the implementation of regional and federal screening and epidemiological surveillance programs among populations at high and extremely high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.
Self-Esteem and the Sense of Loneliness in Young Adults
Authors: Wrótniak Joanna
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The rapidly-growing sense of loneliness should be regarded as one of the key challenges of the modern world, which we cannot approach with negligence. How young people cope with loneliness, and how they experience and perceive it, strongly depends on their subjective perception of themselves, their self-esteem and self-concept. Research Aim: This paper presents the author’s own study which was aimed at analysing the relationship between self-esteem and the sense of loneliness among young adults. The study involved 314 people aged between 18 and 33. Method: The diagnostic survey method was used along with the following research tools: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and the Revised R-Scale ‒ UCLA. Results: The average global self-esteem score was M = 27.7, out of 40 points possible, with the minimum score of 10 points. The results of the study reveal that nearly 50% of the respondents are characterised by very low or low self-esteem (154 respondents). More than 20% of the respondents (69 people) represent an average level of self-esteem, while high and very high levels of self-esteem are reported by nearly 30% of the respondents (91 people). The average overall score for the analyses of the sense of loneliness among young adults was M = 41, out of 80 points possible, with the minimum score of 20 points. As regards individual aspects of the sense of loneliness, the scores ranked low or average. The analyses performed in the study reveal that there is a negative correlation between the variables analysed, meaning that higher levels of self-esteem are accompanied by a lower sense of loneliness among young adults. Conclusion: The results of this study provide an important premise for undertaking preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at young adults, to prevent and reduce their levels of perceived loneliness.
Towards Nostalgic Reading of Children’s Literature in Academic Teaching
Authors: Kupiec Monika
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The need to recognize the student’s way of reading children’s reading is related to planning the development in the course of academic education of important methodological skills of the future teacher of early education (selection of literary texts, organization of work with the text). Every early childhood teacher is a nostalgic go-between for children’s literature. Research Aim: The aim of my own research is to identify students’ opinions about selected texts of children’s literature. Particular attention was paid to identifying revealed reading strategies. Method: The method of personal documents was used. The impulse that triggered students’ reflection on their own opinion about a children’s book was writing a review of a selected reading. Results: 41 student statements were collected. Among the reviewed items, the vast majority (in 31 reviews) were literature considered classic, which has been included in the recommendations of the core curriculum for years. The analysis shows that 14 people read the reviewed books in childhood and declared that they read them again in their adult life. The analysis of students’ choices reveals a lack of knowledge of children’s books published after 2006, i.e. during their early education. The most frequently activated strategy of receiving children’s literature – regardless of the baggage of experience related to reading a given book in childhood – is infantilizing reading. Conclusion: Without identifying the strategy of reading children’s literature, future teachers will not be able to participate competently in the child’s literary communication, even with personal “reading”. Intensifying the critical reading of children’s literature in academic classes for future teachers of early childhood education seems to be a good way to collect reading experiences and prepare for the role of a mediator of reading. Critical reading activities can be intensified in the activities of circles, laboratories and children’s book discussion clubs for future teachers of early childhood education.
The Idea of Sightseeing and the Formation of National Identity of Youth in the Kingdom of Poland in the Early 20Th Century
Authors: Krakowiak Małgorzata Maria
Published: May 2024

Introduction: At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of sightseeing as a social movement and a field of study was developing in the Kingdom of Poland. It had a special significance due to the socio-political conditions of the Polish lands. It was an attempt to oppose the russification activities, through activities aimed at preserving heritage and traditions to build and maintain national identity. Research Aim: The aim of the article is to show the idea of sightseeing and the role of the sightseeing movement as a tool for shaping the national identity of adolescents in the Kingdom of Poland at the beginning of the 20th century. Evidence-based Facts: Previous studies on the historical aspects of the sightseeing movement have mainly focused on the evolution of the idea, its origins, examples of practical implementation of activities and representatives of the sightseeing movement. Although some texts have discussed the issue of sightseeing as an educational tool, there has been a lack of in-depth analyses considering the impact of the idea of sightseeing on the shaping of the national identity of adolescents. Summary: The sightseeing activities were seen as a hope for shaping patriotic and civic attitudes. Forms of sightseeing activities at the beginning of the 20th century were regarded as a form of patriotic education. Despite the declarations about the democratic character of the sightseeing movement, it remained an exclusive movement especially for people from non-elite backgrounds and national minority.
Effectiveness of Aggression Replacement Training in Developing Social Skills of Older School Students
Authors: Wołk Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Aggression replacement training (ART) is a multimodal psychoeducational intervention designed to change aggressive behaviour. The skills acquired during training provide alternative ways of behaving pro-socially. Social competences determine the effectiveness of coping with specific types of social situations and also contribute to building appropriate relationships. Many educational programs that turn out to be exceptionally effective today are directly or indirectly related to social competences. Research Aim: The aim of this text is to find out the effectiveness of ART in developing social skills of older primary school pupils. Method: In this study, a pedagogical experiment was used as the research method. Results: A significant increase in the social skills of pupils participating in the training was indicated. A difference was noticed in the way of understanding and recognising anger control sequences. During the moral reasoning session, the participants experienced looking at the problem from the perspective of different people. Conclusions: The obtained results prove that ART effectively contributes to the increase in social competences. Among people who completed the entire cycle of ART, improvement in behavioural results was noted in all three components of the Training: social skills, anger controland moral reasoning.
Brave Poles save the ghetto? Some comments on Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust in the narrative of the United Right
Authors: Zieliński Konrad Paweł
Published: May 2024

The martyrdom of the nation, including the crimes committed against the Polish population by Germans, Soviets or Ukrainians, occupies an important place in the historical policy promoted by the United Right camp. The actions of the authorities give the impression that they are trying to equate the fate of Jews and Poles during the war and, moreover, to erase from the collective memory the crimes committed against Jews by their Polish neighbours during the war. This is not a new procedure, also during the communist era shameful pages of Polish history were tried to be hidden. However, after 2015, the narrative promoted by the United Right on the attitudes of Poles towards the Holocaust goes further: not only are difficult matters kept silent, but attitudes testifying to the heroism and generosity of Poles in saving Jews are promoted in every way, in an attempt to convince public opinion at home and abroad that these attitudes were universal. To paraphrase a well-known poem by Czesław Miłosz and an essay by Jan Błoński, not - "Poor Poles look at the ghetto", but - "Brave Poles save the ghetto". The article is an attempt to comment on post-2015 historical politics in the context of Polish-Jewish relations during the German occupation on the basis of literature on the subject and media statements and reports.
The image of Ukrainians on the regional websites in Podkarpacie and Lower Silesia from February 2022
Authors: Skibińska Anna
Published: May 2024

Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its consequences, e.g. in the form of the influx of refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries, highlighted the role of reliable sources of information. The aim of the research was to check how the media image of Ukrainians was created in the first year of the war on two regional websites (www.gazetawroclawska.pl and www.nowiny24.pl) belonging to Polska Press Sp. z o. o. The research units were verbal and visual content. A set of research questions was an attempt to answer the following questions: what was the frequency and dominant sources of origin of the surveyed units, what thematic and interpretative frameworks were present in them, and what functions were dominant in them. Interdisciplinary research methods were used – content analysis with elements of discourse analysis. The obtained results lead to the conclusion about the diverse media image of Ukrainians in the studied regions. The interpretative framework and the functions of headlines and photographs were the same, thematic framework and attendance were different.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's foreign policy image in the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper in the context of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine (2022–2023)
Authors: Leśniczak Rafał
Published: May 2024

The aim of this article is to reconstruct the foreign policy press image of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the period from 8.12.2021, i.e. from the day the politician was confirmed by the Bundestag as German Chancellor and on the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (24.02.2022), to the end of the conference on the future of Ukraine taking place in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah (6.08.2023). The research used a content analysis method, supplemented by elements of text hermeneutics. The image of Scholz in the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper in the area of his foreign policy in the context of the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine reflects conservative and prestige politics (according to Hans Morgenthau's typology). The media portrayal of German-Ukrainian relations furthermore highlights the German Chancellor's attitude of post-classical realism in Robert Gilpin's terms. In the journal analysed, the image of the head of the German government is that of a politician intent on maintaining businesslike relations with Russia and taking up a new business-as-usual policy with the Russian Federation. Scholz represents so-called Realpolitik and consequently does not realistically (apart from the declarative layer) support Ukraine's political aspirations related to its membership of NATO and the European Union. The article increases the cognitive value in the area of research on the media image of European political leaders in the context of the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine.
Assessing Students Amidst the Challenge of ChatGPT
Authors: Wang Michael H. , Lee Meihua
Published: May 2024

Recently, the rapid advancement of AI hardware and tools has led to the widespread adoption of natural language transformers like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing AI, and others in various business sectors. Nevertheless, for the academic community, these AI tools present both opportunities and threats. Like their counterparts in the business and industrial sectors, academics can leverage these AI tools for coding, idea/concept generation, planning, and other applications, benefiting from their global usage. However, the academic community also harbors concerns regarding the potential impact on academic integrity, as students may be tempted to rely on these tools to complete their essays, assignments, and exams without putting in their own efforts. In this article, we will present the authors’ approach and findings in dealing with these AI tools while evaluating students’ performance with two university student groups: engineering (Canadian) and communication technology (Taiwanese). We have identified key guidelines to deter students from directly copying answers provided by AI tools like ChatGPT. However, it is important to recognize that this approach will be an ongoing process, as AI tools continuously learn and adapt to new cases.
Learner Autonomy in China: English Teachers’ Attitudes and Practice
Authors: Wang Zhe , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: May 2024

In response to college English curriculum reform, a questionnaire and interview were conducted to explore English teachers’ views on learner autonomy in higher education. Based on the literature reviewed the items in the questionnaire are grouped under 4 variables: (1) Teachers’ perceptions of the present conditions for learner autonomy; (2) The relationship between teachers and learners; (3) Classroom activities are considered beneficial for self-directed learning; (4) Teacher’s professional development. Findings point to a clear cognizance of learner autonomy, and teachers’ generally favorable outlooks; while many are ready to treat students as equals, they still experience some perplexity. The primary issues lie in the assessment system, class sizes, and teacher professional development requirements.
Impact of Mobile Phone Addiction on College Students’ Learning Investment under COVID-19: The Intermediary Role of Time Management Tendency and the Regulation of Self-Control
Authors: Peng Tiantian
Published: May 2024

Under the background of the COVID-19 epidemic, the problem of mobile phone addiction in college students has become increasingly serious. This study takes the relationship between mobile phone addiction and college students’ learning input under the COVID-19 epidemic as the main line, investigates the intermediary role of time management tendencies on mobile phone addiction and their learning input, and investigates the regulatory role of self-control. It is hoped that this study can help college students realize the harm from mobile phone addiction, thus reducing the time they spend in using mobile phones and improving their learning investment. In this study, 972 valid questionnaires were selected from 6 colleges and universities in Henan Province, and the effects of the variables such as mobile phone addiction, time management tendency, and self-control on college students’ learning input were explored. The results show that: (1) There is a significant negative correlation between learning investment tendency and mobile phone addiction. (2) Time management tendencies play an intermediary role between mobile phone addiction and college students’ learning input, that is, mobile phone addiction mainly affects college students’ learning investment through time management tendencies. (3) Self-control plays a regulatory role in the mediating effect of time management tendencies.
Inequality Persistence and Policymaking Constraints: Explaining Regional Data Patterns
Authors: Vlaicu Razvan
Published: May 2024

In well-functioning democracies, the policymaking process should in principle respond to persistent economic inequality with corrective policies. This process is set in motion through majority demands for redistributive taxation and spending that elected representatives eventually supply through policies designed to alleviate inequality. Policymaking constraints on both the demand side and the supply side have, however, considerably limited the extent of redistributive policies in Latin America. This paper explores recent data patterns from national and micro data to provide several potential explanations for the continuing high inequality observed in the region. Countries with stronger democracies have adopted more redistributive policies, even though post-tax inequality remains high in all of the region's democracies. Low citizen interpersonal and political trust both lead to fiscal policy preferences that constrain effective redistribution. Electoral participation has risen in the more democratic countries, while economically motivated protests have increased in weakly institutionalized settings.