bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS BY REMOVAL OF EXPLOSIVE REM OF WAR - CASE STUDY ,,DENINO BRDO” -
Authors:   Mine Action Centre of Republic of Serbia, st. Vojvode Toze 31, 11050 Belgrade, Serbia, Stevanovic Zoran ,   Millennium Team d.o.o., st. Zanke Stokic 39, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, Krunic Djordje ,   Mine Action Centre of Republic of Serbia, st. Vojvode Toze 31, 11050 Belgrade, Serbia, Milenkovic Miodrag
Published: December 2024

Throughout history, the territory of the Republic of Serbia has been the scene
of a large number of different types of armed conflicts. Remnants of wars are
manifested by different types of projectiles (mortars, cluster bombs and mines,
grenades - artillery or cannon, artillery-rocket missiles, air bombs) and mines (anti-
personnel, anti-tank, anti-ship and mines that were used for mining remains of sunken
ships). A significant number of the mentioned ordnances were not activated during use,
but remained unexploded on the surface or inside the ground. The consequences of the
aforementioned explosive remnants of war are shown through various examples
(deaths of the population, damaged roads, impossible work due to the destruction of
construction or agricultural machinery, disability among residents, fear, etc.). In the
light of today's infrastructure development with the aim of expanding the construction
industry, the importance of creating conditions for the safe execution of infrastructure
works is growing.
FOREST FIRES AND CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Authors:   University of Defence in Belgrade, Military Academy, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Lazarevic Јelena ,   University of Defence in Belgrade, Military Academy, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Vukojevic Nikola ,   University of Defense in Belgrade , Military Academy, Veljka Lukica Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Milicevic Jovica
Published: December 2024

Nowadays, natural disasters represent an increasingly serious problem for
humanity. The consequences, after their occurrence, are reflected in human losses,
material and non-material damage. Forest fires, as natural disasters, represent the
most extreme form of forest devastation, and lead to its complete destruction. In all
regions of the world, changes in the regime of air temperature and precipitation were
observed, as well as significant variability and changes in other climatic elements. The
occurrence of forest fires depends on a number of factors, and one of them is the
weather, the state of humidity and the amount of combustible plant material, as well as
human activities. The connection between climate change and the increasing number
of forest fires is obvious.
Forest ecosystems are exposed to the adverse effects of climate change, they are a
significant carbon reservoir and an important potential for mitigating global warming,
which is why they require a special management method that includes protection,
improvement of the existing condition and establishment of new forests.
Protecting forests from forest fires, especially in extreme climatic conditions suitable
for the occurrence of fires, is one of the most important goals of the entire society,
considering the importance and functions of the forest.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR RESCUERS AND VOLUNTEERS: A CASE STUDY OF 2023 TÜRKIYE EARTHQUAKE
Authors:   Security Research Center, Street Sinise Mijatovica 9, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marceta Zarko ,   Security Research Center, Street Sinise Mijatovica 9, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jurisic Dragisa
Published: December 2024

Management processes during and after natural disasters, among other
things, depend on the processes that take place in the phase before natural disasters
occur. Training and preparation programs for rescuers and volunteers in the field of
psychosocial activities are necessary, because trained and prepared personnel perform
their tasks better and more efficiently. The aim of this paper is to analyze the
preparedness of rescuers and volunteers who were engaged in the earthquake rescue
mission in the Republic of Türkiye in February 2023 in providing psychological first
aid. The existence of psychological first aid provided to rescuers and volunteers as a
type of psychosocial activity carried out in the circumstances of natural disasters in the
training of organizations that engaged them in a rescue/humanitarian mission in the
Republic of Türkiye was analyzed.
CHALLENGES IN FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors:   University of Tuzla, Faculty of mining, geology and civil engineering, Tuzla, BiH, Nukic Edisa ,   University of Tuzla, Faculty of mining, geology and civil engineering, Tuzla, BiH, Markovic Jelena ,   TRANSKOP d.o.o., Tuzla, BiH, Zepic Fahreta
Published: December 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a very high risk of floods, which is
documented in Vulnerability assessment, where it is defined that "floods represent the
greatest danger for community and its population". Due to climate changes in recent
decades, floods have become one of the most serious forms of threat to the population
and material assets.
After signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in 2008, BiH
accepted obligation to harmonize its legislation with the EU acquis communautaire,
which also includes water legislation. The complex constitutional arrangement and
unfavorable socio-economic situation make it difficult to fulfill assumed obligations, as
well as protection and rescue system normal functioning on state territory.
This research subject is protection and rescue system analysis, assessment of the
adequacy of existing measures and current flood risk management techniques in BiH
through a comparative analysis with practice of flood risk management in the EU.
FUTUROLOGY OF THE PRIVATE SECURITY SECTOR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors:   Faculty of Security and Protection, Independent University of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djukic Sinisa ,   Faculty of Security and Protection, 8 Braće Podgornika Street, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoric Zeljko
Published: December 2024

The disintegration processes of the countries with socialist socio-political,
economic, social and security structure from the beginning of the 1990s, have left
significant consequences on the security sector as well. This is due to the fact that a
previously unknown entity – private security – appeared in the security sphere, exposed
through detective activity and physical and technical people and facility protection.
The changes that have occurred in terms of property ownership, the disappearance of
state property through the privatization process and the like, among other things, are
factors that have affected the new security entity development embodied in the private
security sector. The current situation of the private security sector in Bosnia and
Herzegovina is at a satisfactory level, but some legal solutions have proved to be
impractical and inefficient, so they should be further improved in accordance with
modern security standards. The analysis of content documents which regulate this
sector, led to certain conclusions that may affect the further course of private security
development. This paper also elaborates on the segment of competencies over this
sector’s work control, which is directly related to the specific structure of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
HYDROTECHNICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR NAVIGATION IN THE CHANNELS OF THE DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE HYDROSYSTEM
Authors:   River Flotilla, 1300 kaplara 11, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, Tesanovic Milorad ,   River Flotilla, 1300 Kaplara 11, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, Matijevic Vladimir ,   University of Defense in Belgrade, Military Academy, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka Street Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Soskic Svetislav
Published: December 2024

the Danube-Tisa-Danube Hydrosystem (Hs DTD) canals and experiences
gained during navigation and research will be described. channels Hs DTD in the
period from 2010 to 2021 with ships of the River Flotilla . And all in order to verify the
accuracy of the data of JVP "VODE VOJVODINA" related to the hydrological
characteristics of waterways and hydrotechnical characteristics of buildings on Hs
DTD.
Before these voyages, there was no information and data about the voyages of the ships
of the River Flotilla in the Hs DTD channels. A survey was conducted before each
voyage of the Hs DTD canal and hydrotechnical structures on the canals from the land
with the use of motor vehicles and boats in order to measure the height of the free
passage on the bridges and measure the depth of the canal due to the draft of the ship.
The obtained data can be used for commercial purposes, and as is known, there are no
,,pilots“ on the Hs DTD channels that can safely guide the ships to the desired location.
MODERN ARMED CONFLICTS AND RESERVE MILITARY FORCES
Authors:   University of Defence in Belgrade, National Defense School, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Berisa Hatidza ,   Doctoral student at the University of Defence in Belgrade, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Korsev Goran
Published: December 2024

Today, the world is faced with crises and conflicts which, due to the
possibility of uncertain development, represent a real threat to global, regional and
national security. New-old geopolitical rivalries and Cold War divisions have revived,
even within the European Union itself. The development of the scientific-technological
and informational factor enabled the networking of various state and non-state actors
regardless of time and space distance. Modern conflicts require a more flexible
approach with smaller, specialized units that can be quickly deployed to respond to
changing situations, as crises and armed conflicts of a local nature are an increasingly
frequent threat to security. Especially in this sense, the significant use of reserve
military forces organized on the territorial principle, because reserve forces organized
in this way do not lack the motive to fight both against regular armed forces of
aggressors and against non-state actors and irregular forces.
The authors point out that the modern operational environment is becoming
increasingly complex, more dynamic in terms of duration and intensity, but regardless
of the type, they represent a great challenge for the cooperation of the parties due to
the operational weapons and the multitude of actors present in the area of operations.
Therefore, the focus of the work is to point out that in modern wars, in addition to the
regular forces, a very important role is played by the reserve military forces.
CURRENT STATE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Authors:   Educons University, Faculty of Security Studies, Vojvode Putnika 87, Sremska Kamenica, Republic of Serbia, Tosic Jovanka ,   Educons University, Faculty of Security Studies, Vojvode Putnika 87, Sremska Kamenica, Republic of Serbia, Ivetic Zorana
Published: December 2024

An emergency situation represents a complex combination of events, in which
there was an irregular state of functioning of the social system or its parts. Caused by
events of a larger scale, emergency situations have the effect of endangering the
population, material goods and the environment, thus putting to the test the ability of
society and the state to react successfully in unforeseen circumstances.
It is necessary to undertake comprehensive measures in order to manage emergency
situations. Successful management of emergency situations requires cooperation and
coordination of all participants in the system, at the level of the Republic of Serbia, at
the level of the Autonomous Provinces and at the level of local self-governments, in
order to mitigate the consequences of the emergency situation and ensure the fastest
and most efficient recovery.
The paper analyzes the current state of emergency management in the Republic of
Serbia. Procedures and institutions dealing with responding to emergency situations in
the Republic of Serbia were analyzed. The inductive-deductive method as well as the
method of content analysis was used.
STRATEGIC DIMENSIONING OF THE DEFENSE SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA BASED ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MODERN ARMED CONFLICTS
Authors:   General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Directorate for Development and Equipping J5, Technical Test Center, Center for Testing Weapons and Military Equipment, Nikinci, Republic of Serbia, Jankovic Katarina ,   General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Directorate for Development and Equipping J5, Technical Test Center, Center for Testing Weapons and Military Equipment, Nikinci, Republic of Serbia, Vukovic Srecko ,   RASEC, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Dabizljevic Slavica
Published: December 2024

Armed conflict as a social phenomenon is an often studied topic, but its
research is always a challenge, especially since it is a changing social phenomenon
that evolves in time and space, with all its peculiarities, carrying a part of its
unchanging character. For all those who in any way participate in the formulation of
the defense strategy, it is extremely important to first accept that there have been
changes in the physiognomy of modern armed conflicts and that, for the sake of its
understanding, strategic, conceptual, critical and systemic reflection is imposed as
necessary access. The defense system represents the overall organization, equipment
and capability of the state, its citizens, the army and other subjects of society (defense
force) for the defense of its sovereignty, territory, independence and constitutional
order. In this regard, the paper points out that modern armed conflicts, bearing in mind
that they have always been the most serious form of threat to security, determine the
way of dimensioning the defense system of the Republic of Serbia.
CIVIL DEFENSE OR CIVIL PROTECTION
Authors:   Security Research Center, Street Sinise Mijatovica 9, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jurisic Dragisa
Published: December 2024

Contemporary security trends are such that threats, both from natural and
other hazards, are very certain, constant, and increasingly frequent. The opening of
certain crisis hotspots, such as in Ukraine, also requires the reconfiguration of certain
protection and rescue systems and adaptation to the resulting situation. The protection
of civilians from various acts of war that affect them directly or indirectly, through the
lack of fuel, food, water, and other necessities, is one of the priorities of modern
protection and rescue systems. Stories about the possible use of nuclear assets moved
forward the re-considering of some questions related to the shelters, stockpiles,
decontamination, and similar measures that have been somewhat marginalized over
the past period. This paper aims to point out the difference between civil defense and
civil protection and to highlight the need for a broader concept and a return to civil
defense in the context of contemporary threats.
FINANCIAL POSITION AND FACTORS OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SERBIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY - CASE STUDY “YUGOIMPORT SDPR” J.P. THROUGH PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Authors:   University of Defence in Belgrade, National Defense School, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Vidovic Nikola ,   University of Defence in Belgrade, Military academy, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Republic of Serbia, Pejcic Jovana ,   University of Defence in Belgrade, National Defense School, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Berisa Hatidza
Published: December 2024

The Serbian defence industry is a group consisting of 7 state-owned
enterprises, which are under the Ministry of Defence and represent a vital industry
branch today, which ensures continuity in the supply of defence resources to all security
forces at the national level. With the development potential of the defence industry,
Serbia's security and economic stability is closely linked, and in a context of constant
threats and risks and to integrity, it is a significant segment of national security policy.
In this paper, the analysis of the financial position of the companies from the group of
the Serbian defence industry, focusing primarily on the public company Yugoimport
SDPR, examines the economic possibilities of these entities and subjects. Through the
analysis of the ratios of indicators, primarily the indicators of liquidity, efficiency and
business performance, shows the current state of the company,, where appropriate
measures are proposed, which the Government of the Republic of Serbia, through the
Ministry of Defence, can take, to increase the contribution of these companies to the
entire economy, and also an incentive for further sustainable development. Adequate
business policy will affect the business of these companies and exploit the development
potential that exists, while in particular with Yugoimport SDPR J.P. - the holder of
Serbian defence industry, will maximize profit and export potential.
THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM DURING COVID-19
Authors:   University of Defence in Belgrade, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 1, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Zgonjanin Srdjan ,   University of Defence in Belgrade, National Defense School, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Berisa Hatidza ,   University of Defence in Belgrade, National Defense School, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 1, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Miljkovic Milan
Published: December 2024

The statement that there is no single definition for such a monster, terrorist
organizationcalled terrorism sounds not only as a cliché, but also as an alibi for not
engaging in certain spheres of exploration and penetration into the essence of this
phenomenon. Staying on the surface, do not bother and do not try to delve into the
depths of terrorism, means not knowing the complexity of matter, and therefore making
the wrong conclusions at the root of a particular phenomenon. That is why the new
challenges that appeared, terrorism applies them in its owm way, and that is
whynumber of questions are being asked about how terrorist organizations behaved
during the time of COVID 19
COVID-19 virus or biological weapon? Is it terrorist act or selective killer? What is
behind this new treat? These and much more questions go through our heads when we
hear for this new invisible thing, called SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease. It
seems everything vanished when COVID-19 pandemic started this January 2020.
Terrorism and other threats just went away. Many people even did not realize that it
happened so.
Many governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations fighting global
terrorism and at the forefront of all the world's media houses, have suddenly
disappeared from public life.
APPLICATION OF THE AHP METHOD IN RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE PIRAEUS-BELGRADE- BUDAPEST RAILWAY CORRIDOR WITHIN THE ,,BELT AND ROAD” INITIATIVE
Authors:   University of Defense, Military Academy, Veljka Lukica Kurjaka 33, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Komazec Nenad ,   General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Directorate for Development and Equipping J5, Technical Test Center, Center for Testing Weapons and Military Equipment, Nikinci, Republic of Serbia, Jankovic Katarina ,   S4 GLOSEC Global security, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Mladenovic Milica ,   S4 GLOSEC Global Security, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Srbija, Mijatovic Maja ,   Public Utility Company City Sanitation Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, Lapcevic Zoran
Published: December 2024

The paper examines the application of the AHP method in risk assessment
for the Piraeus-Belgrade-Budapest railway corridor, which is part of the ,,Belt and
Road Initiative”. The AHP method is employed to identify, analyze, and evaluate risks
in five key areas: security, operational, economic, environmental, and political risks.
The analysis includes the assessment of potential threats to infrastructure security,
operational efficiency, economic sustainability, and environmental protection. The
results are presented in a tabular format, providing insight into risk prioritization and
their relative importance. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex
challenges accompanying the implementation of major international infrastructure
projects, offering a systematic approach to risk management and supporting decision-
making within the comprehensive logistics chain connecting Asia and Europe.
Attitudes and Concerns towards Inclusive Education in Pakistani Context: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perspectives
Authors: Parveen Zahida , Batool Syeda Beenish , Arif Amna
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: Inclusive education projects are being practiced in few public sector schools in Punjab. This research aims at investigating the perspectives of pre-service teachers in terms of their attitudes and concerns about inclusive education in the Pakistani context.
Methodology: For this purpose, a survey was conducted on (N=191) students enrolled in different teaching training programs at a public sector university in metropolitan city, Lahore. The responses of students were recorded on ATIES (Wilczenski, 1992) and CIES (Sharma & Desai, 2002).
Findings: The findings showed that pre-service teachers have favorable attitudes regarding including those kids who have trouble expressing themselves, who perform two or more academic years below grade level, and who require instruction in self-help skills and daily living tasks. However, they had the least favorable opinions of visually impaired and kids who required individualized functional academic programs in reading and math. The respondents expressed higher concerns about shortage of time, disliking of parents of children without disabilities and inappropriate infrastructure of public schools. Differences in attitudes and concerns were explored on the basis of gender, disability in family and course studied.
Conclusion: Implications of this research for teacher training institutes were also discussed. The results of this study have a number of ramifications both worldwide and within the setting of Pakistan. This study suggests that the length of the program is subject to the content covered in the pre-service teacher education programme and it carries more importance. The practical application of the study's findings should enable the development of more confident and upbeat educators who can guarantee education for all students through inclusive education.
Propaganda as a War between Pakistan and India: Objectives and Reasons
Authors: Murtaza Zainab , Shah Ali Shan , Murtaza Khadija
Published: December 2024

A growing number of countries are using disinformation missions to influence and change popular opinion at home and abroad. Pakistan is currently the target of propaganda warfare, particularly from its archrival India. After overt nuclearization and technological advancement, India failed to deter Pakistan due to its strong conventional military and nuclear capabilities. Thus, these things changed its strategy towards propaganda tactics. India is creating a sense of insecurity among the Pakistani people and hatred towards the state by disseminating fake news, information and propaganda through modern digital technology and cyber space, i.e., social media. India is working below the threshold and using both conventional and unconventional propaganda means to target Pakistan. This research paper discusses the different propaganda tools and tactics used by India in past and currently they continually spread out the fake news on international level by its strategy of isolated Pakistan.  However, there are some reasons and objectives of both states to adopt propaganda tactics. This research paper will describe those reasons and objective of both states. The spread of fake news and misinformation are serious components as propaganda in current state conflicts. This paper discusses and unveils the Indian propaganda operation or tactics which are used to deteriorate the image of Pakistan and to set a negative narrative on international stage. The data is collected through qualitative approach.
Socio-cultural Transferal and Modernization: Communal Insight Concerning the Hujra and Hospitality
Authors: Imran  , Ahmed Zubair , Jabeen Irum
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: Socio-cultural values contribute to the cultural identity of human beings and guarding their social institutions. The phenomenon of change is constant, although its pace may vary concerning time and place. The concept of modernization, wherein the society moves from simple to the complex mode of life, also alters the socio-cultural values. The primary goal of this research was to comprehend the influence of modernization on the socio-cultural values of Pakhtun culture in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The focus of the analysis is Hujra and hospitality.
Methodology: The researchers obtained the relevant information from the different nature of participants in the study area through research tools (in-depth interview and focus group discussion) based on non-probability sampling procedure. The collected information was analyzed on the analogy of qualitative research through thematic analysis.
Findings and Conclusion: The study findings depicted that modernization is drastically impacting the socio-cultural values of Pakhtun society. Hujra no longer exists in its proper form, especially in urban areas. Besides, the mode of hospitality is also impacted by modernization.
Mental Well-being of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Rehman Fouzia , Sajjad Shahida , Saleem Saira
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a unique disorder that cannot be easily diagnosed; every individual with autism is different from another individual, and faces different issues in their life span such as lacking in social communication, socialization, cognition, and behavioral issues, etc. These problems may vary from individual to individual and differ in severity level. However, adults with autism tackled more mental health problems in their adulthood as compared to their childhood. For this purpose, it was hypothesized that adults with ASD faced many more mental health issues in their social settings.
Methodology: This survey research used a quantitative approach and the data was collected through convenience sampling method. The sample was adults with autism (N=90), having the age ranged from 17 years and above with mild to moderate severity levels and Asperger. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) was used to collect the data, which was analyzed through descriptive statistics and ANOVA test to find the gender differences.
Findings: Results showed that adults with ASD faced multifarious mental health problems in different areas of their lives, especially in social settings. Low scores were observed in almost all items of the WEMWBS, which indicates low mental well-being in adults with ASD.
Conclusion: The main reason for low mental-health and well-being is stigmatization, isolation, bullying, incantation/black-magic as treatment, etc., instead of medical or therapeutic services. It was recommended that the barrier of stigma should be removed through awareness related programs at different governmental levels, elementary level at school and start campaigns through media.
Unfolding Interpersonal Meanings through the Transgendered Language: A Discourse-based Study of Julie Khan's Speeches
Authors: Arshad Nimra , Tehseem Tazanfal , Arshad Aqsa
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: This paper aims at unfolding the embedded ideologies in transgenders' speeches by taking experiential meta function of meaning into consideration.
Methodology: Drawing on the Systemic Functional approach of Appraisal Analysis (Martin & White, 2005) and Register Model (Halliday, 2014) this paper unfolds the fabrication of the viewpoints by exploring linguistic patterns of evaluation in the selected text. The wholesome thirty-two clause data is taken from Julie Khan’s two social speeches.
Findings: The analysis demonstrates the linguistic patterns that transgenders employ to appraise their emotions through their speeches and to show how particular attitudinal meanings express certain emotional attitudes. The findings illustrate the use of positive, negative, unhappy, disappointed, appreciative, desired, and judgmental linguistic patterns to appraise the transgendered hidden perspectives. Furthermore, the analysis reveals society's negative and judgmental attitude toward transgenders and how they have been deprived of their basic human rights in a highly polarized Pakistani society.
Conclusion: Conclusively, the study illustrates the way language is used to build textual personas, and to control interpersonal positioning and relationships, as well as how the trans voice reveals the socio-cultural reality of the transgendered people. The study is significant because it reveals the biased and marginalized attitudes of society towards transgenders and the perspectives of transgenders about themselves and society.
Slow Violence and Environmental Resistance: A Postcolonial Eco-critical Study of Ronald Fraser’s Drought: A Novel
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad , Hashmi Farah
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: This paper explores layers of slow violence inflicted upon working classes of the Global South. Transnational enterprises of the Global North inflict folds of slow violence upon the communities in which they operate. Such multinational syndicates indulge in maneuvering natural resources of Global South regions. Moreover, they create cultural and ecological hazards for communities in which they operate. Consequently, natives of such places raise voice against exploitation of their resources and ecological vandalism. However, this study, essentially, focuses on investigating slabs of slow violence inflicted upon working communities and their strategies of environmental politics to conserve environment and culture from further deformation. In this regard, it brings to the fore the gendered resistance strategies of affected communities.
Methodology: Theoretically, this study is premised on investigating existing relationship between imperial powers and recently decolonized world. In this context, theoretical underpinnings of postcolonial Eco-criticism seem plausible for this investigative study. The study consists of textual analysis of Ronald Fraser’s Drought: A Novel (2015) to explore layers of slow violence and strategies of environmental politics of impacted communities.
Findings & Conclusion: The study finds that transnational actors establish their syndicates in the Global South geographies to enhance their revenues. They exploit natural resources and inflict cultural and ecological degeneration upon these geographies. In addition, it unpacks that local authorities accomplice in exploitation, infliction of slow violence and de-escalation of environmental strategies.
Digital Classrooms and Assessment Challenges in Higher Education
Authors: Zainab Sana , Mansoor Maryam , Zulfiqar Amna
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: Digital classrooms became a new normal during the pandemic, though those were there and used by some institutions already, but the global transition from physical classrooms to digital classrooms became general practice during the pandemic. This paper aims to explore educators’ experiences and concerns, primarily focused on assessment in digital classrooms. The primary objective of this study is to find out the challenges of educators in online assessment of university students.
Methodology: It investigates through semi-structured interviews by educators working in the higher education sector. It analyzes and reviews their experiences, views and concerns when it comes to assessment in digital classrooms.
Findings: The study reveals that educators had to face multiple challenges while ensuring transparent and accurate assessment both because of the digital divide and by exploiters. It also discusses how educators handle it particularly when things have gone shady and a few of the learners try to take advantage of them.
Conclusion: There is a need for comprehensive planning, training, skills and regulations to handle it and to achieve pedagogical and anagogical goals either by offering alternative assessment criteria or by incorporating digital tools to root out any discrepancies. The scope of this study is limited and covers only educators’ experiences and perspectives, but it definitely suggests further investigation to find out students’ experiences, concerns and challenges when it comes to examination on digital platforms and find a solution to make it smoother for both educators and learners in a digital setting.
A Study of Patients’ and Relatives’ Experiences with Neurological Care at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: OMU Ruth Ebikaboere , JEGEDE Ayodele Samuel , MALOMO Ademola , AMINU Kafayat
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: Neurological disorders when measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years; an estimate of individuals who are ill or die in each age-sex group and location is 8,079,967 people in Western Sub-Saharan Africa. Patients and their relatives are often faced with challenges when seeking neurological care. This study examined patients’ and relatives’ experiences with adult neurology care services in a Nigerian hospital.
Methods: The study's target subject was the university college hospital. Patients and their family members receiving care at the neurology department of the university college hospital were included in the target population. 26 In-depth Interviews (IDIs) were conducted with patients and their family members to collect information. Data were analyzed using Atlas.ti (Version 6.2). Eight domains were used to describe experiences with health care services, including hospital admission, the relationship between health workers and patients, the sharing of treatment information, referral services, support services like laboratory services, post-hospital rehabilitation programmes, family member involvement in treatment, and treatment costs.
Results: Generally, participants’ experiences of care were both positive and negative. Experience with care was found to determine satisfaction which influenced treatment outcomes.
Conclusion: The study recommended the need for more training on effective management of health worker/patient relationship as a major determinant of positive experience and satisfaction with care.
Students’ Perceptions Regarding Teachers’ Classroom Teaching Practices at University Level in Balochistan, Pakistan
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad , Jaffri Syed Iftikhar Hussain
Published: December 2024

This study was focused on students’ perceptions regarding teachers’ classroom teaching practices at university level in Balochistan. The objective of this study was to explore the students’ perceptions regarding teachers’ classroom teaching practices and give suggestions for improving teachers’ classroom teaching practices at university level in Balochistan. This study was descriptive in nature. Survey method was used to collect data from the concerned respondents. The data was collected from the male and female students through a questionnaire, the questionnaire comprised 22 close ended items on five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire was personally administrated to 397 students were randomly selected. For this study, 4 universities were selected from Balochistan. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS by using mean and standard deviation. The results of the study indicated that the participants have much positive perception regarding teachers’ classroom teaching practices at university level in Balochistan. The results of the study also provided right directions to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to bring improvement in teachers training materials at university level in Balochistan, Pakistan.
A Study of Internalized Stigma, Psychological Distress, Quality of Life with Moderating Role of Resilience among the Faculty Members of Universities
Authors: Noor Ayesha , Malik Fozia , Sarfraz Najia
Published: December 2024

Aim of Study: This study analyzes the impact of internalized stigma on psychological distress and quality of life (QoL) among the individuals infected with COVID 19 in Pakistan.
Research Methodology: Questionnaires were distributed to 200 COVID 19 infected individuals and a total of N=(157) questionnaires were returned. Hayes macro models were used for regression analysis.
Results: The results shows that internalized stigma negatively affect the quality life of infected people with mediation of psychological distress. The results also depicted that resilience negatively exacerbate the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological distress.
Conclusion Overall this study shows that internalized stigma affects the quality of life in COVID 19 infected individuals and strategies should be design at organizational level in order to handle such situations in future.
Resistance from the Periphery: A Power Structured Traumatic Study of Aakhri Station by Sarmad Khoosat (2018)
Authors: Aamir Khadija , Binth e Zia Atifa , Amjad Sundus
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: This research aims to explore the trauma of women with Foucauldian power structures represented in Sarmad Khoosat’s Aakhri Station (2018) written by Amna Mufti and produced by Kashf Foundation Production and Sarmad Khoosat. It describes the lives of seven marginalized women of different background and classes living in multiple regions of Pakistan. This study tends to examine free will and feminine power in the light of ‘memory’ and ‘resistance’ in Cathy Caruth’s Trauma Theory.
Methodology: By applying the notion of fragmented consciousness by Cathy Caruth with Michel Foucault’s power structure to Aakhri Station’s post-colonial land, this study contends that women are bound within certain traumatic spaces.
Findings: By considering resistance as a tool against power structure of patriarchy, this qualitative study defines the notion of a woman standing against violence in public and domestic life space towards a new feminine narrative in Pakistani cinema.
Conclusion: The work focus on social hierarchies, prevalent patriarchal norms and culture and hegemonic discourses which eventually becomes the root-cause of acts of violence. Hence, patriarchs unleash violence on women and consider it as their fundamental right. By building upon the notion of Foucault’s disciplinary power, this study also highlights that women in Aakhri Station are yearning for empowerment in a global space where power positions are shifted and importance of female sanity are emerging.
Christopher Hookway, In Memoriam
Authors: Moya Carlos , Grimaltos Tobies , Jordi Valor
Published: December 2024

Obituari del professor Chistopher Hookway
Calcium tunneling through the ER and transfer to other organelles for optimal signaling in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Li Zhu-Hong , Asady Beejan , Chang Le , Hortua Triana Miryam Andrea , Li Catherine , Coppens Isabelle , Moreno Silvia NJ
Published: December 2024

Ca
2+
signaling in cells begins with the opening of Ca
2+
channels in either the plasma membrane (PM) or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and results in a dramatic increase in the physiologically low (<100 nM) cytosolic Ca
2+
level. The temporal and spatial Ca
2+
levels are well regulated to enable precise and specific activation of critical biological processes. Ca
2+
signaling regulates pathogenic features of apicomplexan parasites like
Toxoplasma gondii
which infects approximately one-third of the world’s population.
T. gondii
relies on Ca
2+
signals to stimulate traits of its infection cycle and several Ca
2+
signaling elements play essential roles in its parasitic cycle. Active egress, an essential step for the infection cycle of
T. gondii
is preceded by a large increase in cytosolic Ca
2+
most likely by release from intracellular stores. Intracellular parasites take up Ca
2+
from the host cell during host Ca
2+
signaling events to replenish intracellular stores. In this work, we investigated the mechanism by which intracellular stores are replenished with Ca
2+
and demonstrated a central role for the SERCA-Ca
2+
-ATPase to keep not only the ER filled with Ca
2+
but also acidic stores. We also show mitochondrial Ca
2+
uptake, by transfer of Ca
2+
from the ER most likely through membrane contact sites. We propose a central role for the ER in tunneling of calcium from the extracellular milieu through the ER to other organelles.
Decapping activators Edc3 and Scd6 act redundantly with Dhh1 in post-transcriptional repression of starvation-induced pathways
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Zhang Fan , Niphadkar Shreyas , Onu Chisom , Vijjamarri Anil Kumar , Greenberg Miriam L , Laxman Sunil , Hinnebusch Alan G
Published: December 2024

Degradation of many yeast mRNAs involves decapping by the Dcp1:Dcp2 complex. Previous studies on decapping activators Edc3 and Scd6 suggested their limited roles in mRNA decay. RNA-seq analysis of mutants lacking one or both proteins revealed that Scd6 and Edc3 have largely redundant activities in targeting numerous mRNAs for degradation that are masked in the single mutants. These transcripts also are frequently targeted by decapping activators Dhh1 and Pat1, and the collective evidence suggests that Scd6/Edc3 act interchangeably to recruit Dhh1 to Dcp2. Ribosome profiling shows that redundancy between Scd6 and Edc3 and their functional interactions with Dhh1 and Pat1 extend to translational repression of particular transcripts, including a cohort of poorly translated mRNAs displaying interdependent regulation by all four factors. Scd6/Edc3 also participate with Dhh1/Pat1 in post-transcriptional repression of proteins required for respiration and catabolism of alternative carbon sources, which are normally expressed only in limiting glucose. Simultaneously eliminating Scd6/Edc3 increases mitochondrial membrane potential and elevates metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid and glyoxylate cycles typically observed only during growth in low glucose. Thus, Scd6/Edc3 act redundantly, in parallel with Dhh1 and in cooperation with Pat1, to adjust gene expression to nutrient availability by controlling mRNA decapping and decay.
Efficient value synthesis in the orbitofrontal cortex explains how loss aversion adapts to the ranges of gain and loss prospects
Authors: Brochard Jules , Daunizeau Jean
Published: December 2024

Is irrational behavior the incidental outcome of biological constraints imposed on neural information processing? In this work, we consider the paradigmatic case of gamble decisions, where gamble values integrate prospective gains and losses. Under the assumption that neurons have a limited firing response range, we show that mitigating the ensuing information loss within artificial neural networks that synthetize value involves a specific form of self-organized plasticity. We demonstrate that the ensuing efficient value synthesis mechanism induces value range adaptation. We also reveal how the ranges of prospective gains and/or losses eventually determine both the behavioral sensitivity to gains and losses and the information content of the network. We test these predictions on two fMRI datasets from the OpenNeuro.org initiative that probe gamble decision-making but differ in terms of the range of gain prospects. First, we show that peoples' loss aversion eventually adapts to the range of gain prospects they are exposed to. Second, we show that the strength with which the orbitofrontal cortex (in particular: Brodmann area 11) encodes gains and expected value also depends upon the range of gain prospects. Third, we show that, when fitted to participant’s gambling choices, self-organizing artificial neural networks generalize across gain range contexts and predict the geometry of information content within the orbitofrontal cortex. Our results demonstrate how self-organizing plasticity aiming at mitigating information loss induced by neurons’ limited response range may result in value range adaptation, eventually yielding irrational behavior.
Pharmacologically inducing regenerative cardiac cells by small molecule drugs
Authors: Zhou Wei , He Kezhang , Wang Chiyin , Wang Pengqi , Wang Dan , Wang Bowen , Geng Han , Lian Hong , Ma Tianhua , Nie Yu , Ding Sheng
Published: December 2024

Adult mammals, unlike some lower organisms, lack the ability to regenerate damaged hearts through cardiomyocytes (CMs) dedifferentiation into cells with regenerative capacity. Developing conditions to induce such naturally unavailable cells with potential to proliferate and differentiate into CMs, that is, regenerative cardiac cells (RCCs), in mammals will provide new insights and tools for heart regeneration research. In this study, we demonstrate that a two-compound combination, CHIR99021 and A-485 (2C), effectively induces RCCs from human embryonic stem cell-derived TNNT2+ CMs in vitro, as evidenced by lineage tracing experiments. Functional analysis shows that these RCCs express a broad spectrum of cardiogenesis genes and have the potential to differentiate into functional CMs, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Importantly, similar results were observed in neonatal rat CMs both in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, administering 2C in adult mouse hearts significantly enhances survival and improves heart function post-myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, CHIR99021 is crucial for the transcriptional and epigenetic activation of genes essential for RCC development, while A-485 primarily suppresses H3K27Ac and particularly H3K9Ac in CMs. Their synergistic effect enhances these modifications on RCC genes, facilitating the transition from CMs to RCCs. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the feasibility and reveal the mechanisms of pharmacological induction of RCCs from endogenous CMs, which could offer a promising regenerative strategy to repair injured hearts.
Decoding contextual influences on auditory perception from primary auditory cortex
Authors: Englitz Bernhard , Akram Sahar , Elhilali Mounya , Shamma Shihab
Published: December 2024

Perception can be highly dependent on stimulus context, but whether and how sensory areas encode the context remains uncertain. We used an ambiguous auditory stimulus – a tritone pair – to investigate the neural activity associated with a preceding contextual stimulus that strongly influenced the tritone pair’s perception: either as an ascending or a descending step in pitch. We recorded single-unit responses from a population of auditory cortical cells in awake ferrets listening to the tritone pairs preceded by the contextual stimulus. We find that the responses adapt locally to the contextual stimulus, consistent with human MEG recordings from the auditory cortex under the same conditions. Decoding the population responses demonstrates that cells responding to pitch-changes are able to predict well the context-sensitive percept of the tritone pairs. Conversely, decoding the individual pitch representations and taking their distance in the circular Shepard tone space predicts the opposite of the percept. The various percepts can be readily captured and explained by a neural model of cortical activity based on populations of adapting, pitch and pitch-direction cells, aligned with the neurophysiological responses. Together, these decoding and model results suggest that contextual influences on perception may well be already encoded at the level of the primary sensory cortices, reflecting basic neural response properties commonly found in these areas.