bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommendations for Strengthening the Critical Factors of Utilizing the Public Procurement for Innovative Solutions
Authors: Januska Martin , Pesik Jiri
Published: October 2023

The presented article presents recommendations for strengthening the critical factors of utilizing the Public Procurement for Innovative solutions (PPI) concept. The utilization of the PPI concept is the author's research topic, and the author has already published several articles on this subject. As part of the author's research, critical success factors of the PPI concept were identified in the Januska & Palacka (2023) article. This article presents research conducted within autor habilitation thesis and describes proposals for eliminating or mitigating the identified barriers based on structured interviews with industry experts and a literature review. The aim of this article is to disseminate the results of the conducted research among the scientific community. Martin Januska has also been a co-researcher on two international projects, PPI2Innovate and RI2Integrate, focusing on supporting the PPI concept in the Interreg Central and Interreg Danube programs. Expert groups have been established within these project structures and are utilized in the development of the proposals.
The Clarity of Financial Reports in the Global Environment: A Comparative Study of Selected Issues in the Czech and Brazilian Accounting Systems
Authors: Malíková Olga , Begnor Bedra João Marcos
Published: October 2023

The paper focuses on selected Czech and Brazilian financial accounting systems issues. These two systems have historically developed in quite different socio-economic conditions, but due to globalisation in recent decades, there has been a growing demand to harmonise the conditions for the creation of the content of financial information disclosed primarily by entities that are in the public interest. This paper aims to investigate to what extent similarities and differences can be identified in selected areas of financial accounting and reporting. Given the limited scope of the paper, the areas discussed are accounting regulation, and the form and structure of balance sheets of business entities. The objective was achieved by applying traditional scientific methods, namely by searching scientific and professional papers to obtain knowledge about the current level of knowledge in the field under study, as well as by describing the current state of accounting regulation in both countries and comparative analysis of the requirements placed on the balance sheet of entrepreneurs. The historical method was partly applied to obtain knowledge in the necessary historical context of the topic. The final discussion provides a synthesis of the knowledge gained on the identified similarities and differences in the above areas of financial accounting. The paper can be seen as unique, as it introduces the previously unpublished topic of comparability of the accounting systems of the Czech Republic and Brazil.
Application of VAR Model to Determine Sustainability of Short-Term Rental Accommodation
Authors: Guth Karel , Aišmannová Tereza , Benešová Irena
Published: October 2023

Platforms like Airbnb have fundamentally reshaped the hospitality sector as we have known it. With its distinctive model, short-term rentals (STR) have gained significant popularity among tourists and property owners alike. As the popularity of STR continues to grow, questions arise regarding its implications for sustainable tourism. In this paper, we investigate the impact of short-term rental accommodation on residential housing prices in the centre of Prague by employing an econometric analysis of time series. For this purpose, we apply the vector autoregressive (VAR) model. In the modelling, we use data on the numbers and locations of Airbnb listings alongside data on the average housing price per square meter. Other variables did not prove to be statistically significant in the equations. Firstly, the variables need to be tested for stationarity. Based on the detection of non-stationarity in the time series, the data are then transformed using the first differences. Finally, the variables are suitable for the estimation of their parameters. Subsequently, we present an impulse response analysis and plot a forecast. The prediction is then subject to the ex-post comparison, which visualises how the prognosis of the VAR model correlates with the real values.
Fostering Employee Sustainability: Competencies Formation for a Resilient Business Environment
Authors: Ostin Vasilii , Maršíková Kateřina
Published: October 2023

One of the foremost challenges companies face is a cultivation of a sustainable mindset among the organization itself and its employees. This research paper aims to address this challenge by proposing a sustainability competency model that organizations can implement to bridge the existing sustainability gap in the development of their employees. The paper explores the concept of sustainable competencies within the business environment. By conducting a comprehensive literature review and synthesizing findings from multiple surveys, this study seeks to identify the critical competencies prevalent in diverse industries. The primary objective is to gain insights into the competencies that can be fostered through organizational training and development programs. The research draws on three primary surveys: the "Future of Jobs Report" by the World Economic Forum, the "Global Green Skills Report" by LinkedIn, and the "Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey" by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The proposed sustainability competency model offers a systematic approach to integrate sustainability principles and practices. The research findings and competency model will be further used for subsequent primary research. The model will be tested through semi-structured interviews within automotive companies to assess its effectiveness in fostering sustainability competencies among employees. These insights will contribute to validating and refining the model for driving sustainable practices in the industry. By incorporating these competencies into employee development plans, organizations can effectively evaluate the acquisition and application of sustainability skills. This research contributes to the knowledge on sustainable competencies and their significance in driving organizational success in a rapidly changing world.
The Destiny of Globalisation and the Fate of Climate Protection
Authors: Kislingerová Eva
Published: October 2023

The study addresses the question of the future of the circular economy after the economic shocks brought about by the COVID-19 disease pandemic and the energy crisis linked to the war in Ukraine and other phenomena. It is based on the hypothesis that global climate agreements are closely linked to deepening globalisation. The latter is identified here as the most significant economic trend of the late twentieth and first two decades of the twenty-first century. The working hypothesis is that if pandemics and energy crises mark the end of further globalisation or even begin a process of deglobalisation, this could very well threaten the future of climate agreements and the withdrawal of many countries from their commitments. At the same time, the climate agreements are one of the cornerstones of the promotion of the circular economy in developed countries, since it is the commitments made under these agreements (currently, the Paris Agreements in particular) that underpin legislative action to promote the circular economy. At the same time, globalisation is defined as a primarily economic process, the essence of which is to maximise the exploitation of comparative and absolute advantages, in other words, to maximise the efficiency of cooperative links. This means that if the hypothesis formulated is fulfilled, the deglobalisation process must necessarily imply a reduction in the overall efficiency achieved globally. At the same time, the study formulates the hypothesis that the reduction in global pressure to implement the circular economy will be largely substituted by national and regional pressures. However, these will not be motivated by efforts to prevent climate change, but by the need to reduce dependence on global logistics and on the supply of raw materials and components or intermediate goods from countries with unstable access to their own geopolitical objectives for strategic reasons.
Legal Aspects of Futile Therapy in the Face of the End of Life
Authors: Świderska Małgorzata A.
Published: October 2023

This article presents legal issues related to therapeutic decisions made by doctors and to euthanasia and assisted suicide, which are prohibited and penalized in the Polish legal system. The paper refers to the terms ‘futile therapy’ and ‘over-zealous treatment’. It was also considered appropriate to refer to the concept of resuscitation, which can be understood narrowly as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or broadly as all activities aimed at potentially reversing the dying process. Completion of resuscitation as it is broadly understood means that (unless there has been recovery) it is considered a futile therapy.De lege latathere are no statutory regulations in the Polish legal system that could be directly related to the decision to abandon futile therapy in order to assess its legal legitimacy. The aim of the study is to present the problem of futile therapyde lege lataandde lege ferendain the face of the end of life. The article also presents the latest draft of legal regulation regarding futile therapy developed by an interdisciplinary team appointed by the Patients’ Rights Ombudsman in the form of ‘Standards of conduct in medical therapies used in the end-of-life period’.
Consumption and hegemony of Japan: A case study on consumer culture of Japanese identity products toward undergraduates
Authors: Puspitasari Diana , Suryadi Yudi , Widodo Heri
Published: October 2023

This research aims to find the relationship between consumer culture lifestyle and Japanese identity products with educational background. Through this research, would know the things that encourage consumer culture towards products with Japanese identity. The subject of this study were undergraduates of Jenderal Soedirman University majoring in Japanese literature survey method. This research analysis was descriptive qualitative using the perspective of the lifestyle-culture consumer-culture industry while the data is presented quantitatively. The study found that the tendency to consume Japanese-identified products was due to the impression that they were part of Japan and the belief that Japanese-style variants tasted betters. There are no undergraduates majoring in Japanese literature who consider products with Japanese identity as ordinary goods. That shows that those who have studied Japanese have indirectly been hegemonized and become agents of cultural intermediaries. Through consumption culture, they give meaning to products with a Japanese
The Community-Based Ecotourism Development Strategy of The Mataram Cultural Tourism Area of Mangunan Forest Management Resort
Authors: Muflihah Nur Wahidatul , Prajanti Sucihatiningsih Dian Wisika
Published: October 2023

This study aims to develop Community Based Ecotourism Development Strategies for the Mataram Cultural Tourism Area of Mangunan Forest Management Resort. The analytical methods used in this study include Fishbone diagrams, qualitative data analysis, and analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The result shows that the Mataram Cultural Tourism still has several obstacles in some aspects, which include human resource aspects, institutional aspects, marketing aspects, infrastructure aspects, attractions, and competitiveness. Even though there are still various obstacles and problems, the Mataram Cultural Tourism also has a lot of cultural-based potentials such as the Cultural Show of Mataram Cultural Tourism with a series of kenduri activities, cultural carnivals, dance performances, and dance performances that tell about the history and myths of the Mangunan people. The supporting variables for the development of the Mataram Cultural Tourism Area include supporting facilities and attractions including parking lots, food stalls, photo spots, prayer rooms, bathrooms, and camping areas. The criteria that are most prioritized in the community-based ecotourism development strategy of Mataram cultural tourism area of Mangunan Forest Management Resort are infrastructure criteria with a weight value of 43.9%. Meanwhile, the most prioritized alternative is the addition of supporting facilities for tourism objects in the form of tourist shopping places (restaurants and gift shops) by the community with a weight value of 21.2%. A suggestion that can be conveyed in this research is the government in this case the local tourism office must continue to assist optimally and sustainably so that Mataram Cultural Tourism Area can continue to grow and is increasingly in demand by the public. This research still has limitations on the focus of the object, which is still limited so further research can expand the tourism object to be more comprehensive.
Post-bariatric hypoglycaemia diagnosed during pregnancy
Authors: Duggan Dave , Riguetto Cinthia Minatel
Published: October 2023

There is a scarcity of literature relating to post-bariatric hypoglycaemia (PBH) in pregnancy. Recurrent hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia can have significant consequences for both the mother and the developing fetus. We describe a case of a young pregnant woman who was diagnosed with symptomatic PBH in the second trimester of pregnancy using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) 3 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Instigating a low glycaemic index and complex carbohydrate diet significantly improved the patient’s glycaemic excursions. Given that this condition is likely underdiagnosed as a complication of RYGB surgery, a greater awareness of this complication is needed. Patients should be adequately consented pre-operatively for this relatively frequent late surgical complication to enable patients to identify symptoms of this condition at an early stage and seek medical treatment.

Learning points

PBH is an important diagnosis in patients post-RYGB surgery, particularly in women of childbearing age when consequences of both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia during pregnancy can adversely affect both mother and the fetus.

Adverse outcomes of recurrent hypoglycaemia to the fetus can include small for gestational age, intrauterine growth restriction and possible impairment of beta cell function.

Providing adequate carbohydrate intake to allow growth of the fetus during pregnancy while also attempting to resolve both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia associated with PBH by reducing the intake of simple carbohydrates and high glycaemic index foods can prove challenging.

Patients should be adequately consented for late complications of RYGB surgery such as PBH in order to allow early recognition of symptoms and enable prompt treatment.
The Russian Language in Kyrgyzstan through the Lens of Students
Authors: Khairutdinova Rezeda R. , Abdulakhamidova Barno N. , Toroshov Taalajbek K. , Kaparov Abduvakhap Sh.
Published: October 2023

Introduction. The Kyrgyz and Russian languages reflect the language situation in the Kyrgyz Republic. Recently, the public discourse on the relationship between the two languages has attracted scientific attention. National surveys on the prospects of Russian as a functional language in education, public life, and government agencies are being conducted. While there are several studies on this issue, research on the opinions of the younger generation, constituting the majority of the countryʼs population, is almost non-existent. This article analyzes the current status of the Russian language in the Kyrgyz Republic and identifies its role in the personal and motivational preferences of students.
Мaterials and Methods. The sociocultural approach forms the methodological foundation of the study. We conducted the survey research which involved 130 students majoring in teacher education from the Osh region in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The frequency analysis was carried out for empirical data processing. In addition, the contingency tables were created. Pearson’s chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test were employed to test the hypothesis that there was a relationship between the variables. The analysis was carried out with the help of the IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results. The analysis of the survey results revealed that the majority of students have a positive attitude towards Russia and cooperation between the two countries in various spheres of activity. At the same time, students from rural areas had a higher rate of agreement with these statements. It was revealed that the distribution of answers had a statistical dependence on the place of residence. The highest values were recorded in studentsʼ answers related to statements about the Russian language. The participants ‒ future teachers ‒ expressed great interest in studying Russian language for the purpose of professional and personal growth.
Discussion and Conclusion. The present study confirmed that the language policy of a state should take into consideration the practical needs of young people, who consciously treat Russian as a reliable way to unlock their inner potential and improve their professional competitiveness. Therefore, there is an objective need to improve the quality of Russian teaching and to introduce joint effective practices of language education. The materials of the article can be useful for scientific and methodological research of the identified problems.
Improving Financial Literacy of Students: Specificity and Opportunities of Regional Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Reznik Semen D. , Sazykina Olga A. , Chernikovskaya Marina V.
Published: October 2023

Introduction. Despite the significant measures and programs implemented by the countryʼs leadership to improve the financial literacy of the Russian population, students of Russian universities are still not financially literate enough. In this regard, it is necessary to develop and implement a set of intra-university educational practice-oriented technologies that can improve financial literacy and economic independence of students during the period of university education. The purpose of the article is to show the features and opportunities of regional universities of the country in solving the problem of improving financial literacy of student youth.
Materials and Methods. The study of the problem of formation of financial literacy of student youth during university education was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire survey of 565 students from 29 universities of the Russian Federation in May‒June 2022 using a specially designed questionnaire via Google Forms. The results of the questionnaire survey were processed using the SPSS program and the method of comparative analysis of responses of students of leading (federal, national research, metropolitan) and regional Russian universities, which made it possible to identify and analyze the peculiarities of studentsʼ financial literacy formation depending on the status of their higher education institution
Results. Self-assessment of students of regional universities of their financial literacy showed its low level, indicating the insufficiency or lack of serious knowledge in the financial sphere. At the same time, students understand the importance of financial literacy and indicate their willingness to participate in various forms of training on this issue. To implement the educational process aimed at intensive formation of studentsʼ financial literacy, the system of continuous practice-oriented formation of financial literacy is proposed.
Discussion and Conclusion. The materials of the article can be useful in the organization of educational process in universities to improve financial literacy of students. In the future, the study will be supplemented by analyzing the formation of studentsʼ financial literacy at different stages of education on the basis of taking into account the influence of age, year of study and other factors.
Evaluation of various commercial lipid removal sorbents for the detection of 18 neonicotinoid insecticides and their metabolites in meat by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Kai , Guo Liqiang , Tian Guoning , Xu Xiaojie , Li Yajing
Published: October 2023

A highly accurate and precise method for the simultaneous detection of 18 neonicotinoids and their metabolites in meat was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). To improve the pretreatment step of the method, five different commercially available clean-up materials (including C18+PSA (primary secondary amine), Z-Sep (with Discover DSC-C18), EMR-Lipid, SHIMSEN QuEChERS, and Clean-up LPAS) were studied in the treatment of three meat matrices: pork, duck and yellow croaker. Based on the recovery data, we found that among the five purification materials, SHIMSEN QuEChERS was slightly more effective than the others for 18 neonicotinoids. Therefore, SHIMSEN QuEChERS was used as the purification sorbent, and the extraction solvents, extraction methods and chromatographic and mass spectrometric conditions were optimized. A matrix-matched calibration method was applied for quantification. In three different meat matrixes (pork, duck, and yellow croaker), all the target compounds showed good linearity, both with values of r2 > 0.995. The average recovery of all neonicotinoids ranges from 63.4 to 114.2% (pork), 63.0–113.2% (duck), and 63.9–110.5% (yellow croaker). Relative standard deviations were all <15% for intraday and interday precision. The values of limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were, respectively, ranging from 0.04 to 1.0 μg kg−1 and 0.10 to 2.0 μg kg−1. Compared with previous reports, this method has advantage in LOQs, indicating that it it may be a preferred choice for the detection of neonicotinoid pesticides in meat samples.
Cubomedusae (Cubozoa, Carybdeida, Carukiidae) in Hong Kong, China: first records of cubozoans in Chinese waters confirmed using citizen science and digital authentication
Authors: Terenzini John , Boco Sheldon Rey , Falkenberg Laura J.
Published: October 2023

The Hong Kong Jellyfish Project uses photographs and videos from citizen scientists to document the occurrence of jellyfish in this region. Based on these records, we describe sightings of two previously unrecorded species of box jellyfish, Malo filipina (Bentlage & Lewis, 2012) and an unidentified species of Morbakka sp. Gershwin, 2008, in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. This understanding of where these species currently occur is important due to the potential impacts of box jellyfish on human activities and their role in local ecosystems.
Quality-grade analysis of velvet antler materials using ultra-weak delayed luminescence combined with chemometrics
Authors: Zhu Jianxun , Fan Shasha , He Min , Wang Nan , Xu Xiaoru , Pang Jingxiang , Yan Yu , Li Li , Yang Jiale , Chang Wen-Te , Chang Tung-Ti , Zhao Ye , Han Jinxiang , Sun Mengmeng
Published: October 2023

The pharmacological properties of velvet antler, a well-known animal-derived traditional Chinese medicine material and functional food, are extensively acknowledged globally. However, there are significant restrictions on the quality standard and control system of velvet antler. The four quality grades of velvet antler slices taken from Cervus nippon Temminck and Cervus elaphus Linnaeus were evaluated in this study using delayed luminescence (DL) and chemical analysis of protein and amino acid content. Our results demonstrated a significant degree of consistency in the assessment impacts of the measurements for identifying velvet antler slices of different quality grades from Cervus nippon Temminck and Cervus elaphus Linnaeus. Additionally, it is possible to distinguish velvet antler slices of Rangifer tarandus from those of other deer species by exploiting DL parameters (i.e., I0, Beta, Tau, and T). Moreover, there is a strong correlation between the DL parameters and particular amino acids detected in velvet antler slices. As an innovative, quick, and systematic methodology, DL enables the examination of the overall property of various grades of velvet antler slices. The integrated assessment using DL and chemical components can give a novel method for determining the quality of animal-derived herbs and functional foods.
INVESTIGATION OF THE YOLOv5 ALGORITHM EFFICIENCY FOR DRONE RECOGNIZATION
Authors: Zubkov O. V. , Sheiko Sergey O. , Oleynikov Volodimir M. , Kartashov Vladimir M. , Babkin Stanislav I.
Published: October 2023

With the growth in the production and sale of drones, the number of offenses related to the use of drones in no-fly zones is increasing. Visual detection systems using neural networks for drone recognition effectively solve this problem. One of the most effective algorithms for objects of various classes is YOLO, which can be used to detect drones. However, this algorithm has a number of limitations that reduce the drone detection range. Therefore, the goal of the research is to evaluate the detecting drones' effectiveness at different distances using the fifth version of this algorithm, as well as to create algorithms for increasing the detection range. Based on the experimental data, datasets were created for training four main modifications: s, m, l, and x of the neural network of the YOLOv5 algorithm. These network modifications were trained for the visible and infrared (IR) ranges, as well as various image resolutions at the network input. After processing a dataset of drone flight videos, the effectiveness of various modifications of the neural network was evaluated, the dependences of the probability of detecting a drone on the distance and speed of the drone were plotted, and the maximum detection range was estimated. A two-stage algorithm has been created that makes it possible to increase the detection probability and increase the detection range as a result of a combination of the classical YOLOv5 algorithm at the first stage of processing and the convolutional neural network proposed by the authors at the second stage. An algorithm for synthesizing IR images has been created to supplement IR datasets with the necessary drone-background combinations when training neural networks. Practical recommendations are given for choosing the type of neural network and quantitative estimates of the YOLOv5 algorithm's efficiency in combination with a two-stage processing algorithm.
Central Adiposity Increases Risk of Kidney Stone Disease through Effects on Serum Calcium Concentrations
Authors: Lovegrove Catherine E. , Bešević Jelena , Wiberg Akira , Lacey Ben , Littlejohns Thomas J. , Allen Naomi E. , Goldsworthy Michelle , Kim Jihye , Hannan Fadil M. , Curhan Gary C. , Turney Ben W. , McCarthy Mark I. , Mahajan Anubha , Thakker Rajesh V. , Holmes Michael V. , Furniss Dominic , Howles Sarah A.
Published: October 2023

Significance Statement

Kidney stone disease is a common disorder with poorly understood pathophysiology. Observational and genetic studies indicate that adiposity is associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease. However, the relative contribution of general and central adipose depots and the mechanisms by which effects of adiposity on kidney stone disease are mediated have not been defined. Using conventional and genetic epidemiological techniques, we demonstrate that general and central adiposity are independently associated with kidney stone disease. In addition, one mechanism by which central adiposity increases risk of kidney stone disease is by increasing serum calcium concentration. Therapies targeting adipose depots may affect calcium homeostasis and help to prevent kidney stone disease.

Background

Kidney stone disease affects approximately 10% of individuals in their lifetime and is frequently recurrent. The disease is linked to obesity, but the mechanisms mediating this association are uncertain.

Methods

Associations of adiposity and incident kidney stone disease were assessed in the UK Biobank over a mean of 11.6 years/person. Genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were undertaken in the UK Biobank, FinnGen, and in meta-analyzed cohorts to identify factors that affect kidney stone disease risk.

Results

Observational analyses on UK Biobank data demonstrated that increasing central and general adiposity is independently associated with incident kidney stone formation. Multivariable MR, using meta-analyzed UK Biobank and FinnGen data, established that risk of kidney stone disease increases by approximately 21% per one standard deviation increase in body mass index (BMI, a marker of general adiposity) independent of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, a marker of central adiposity) and approximately 24% per one standard deviation increase of WHR independent of BMI. Genetic analyses indicate that higher WHR, but not higher BMI, increases risk of kidney stone disease by elevating adjusted serum calcium concentrations (β=0.12 mmol/L); WHR mediates 12%–15% of its effect on kidney stone risk in this way.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that visceral adipose depots elevate serum calcium concentrations, resulting in increased risk of kidney stone disease. These findings highlight the importance of weight loss in individuals with recurrent kidney stones and suggest that therapies targeting adipose depots may affect calcium homeostasis and contribute to prevention of kidney stone disease.
Prosodic conditioning of the null complementizer in English
Authors: Kruger William W
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a novel account of the distribution of the null complementizer (C) in English, arguing that the licensing of null C is a case of prosodically conditioned allomorphy (Carstairs 1988, 1990; Paster 2006; Inkelas 2014). The account expands on prior proposals (Bošković & Lasnik 2003, An 2007a-b), observing that environments which prohibit null C all show an obligatory Intonational Phrase (IP) boundary preceding C. In contrast, an obligatory IP boundary does not appear in environments which allow null C. I argue that null C is an allomorph associated with a specific prosodic environment: “medial” position within IP, (…C…). Overt C, on the other hand can appear in “initial” position within IP, (C…). This synchronic account is supported by a diachronic account, tracing how null C arose from phonologically weak overt forms of C (/ðæt/ → /(ð)æt/, /(ð)ət/, /-t/ → Ø). Crucially, the distribution of these weak forms is itself prosodically conditioned by principles which allow phonological weakening in medial prosodic positions but prevent weakening in initial position, a result of “domain-initial strengthening” (Pierrehumbert & Talkin 1992; Fougeron & Keating 1997; Beckman 1998; Keating et al. 2004; White & Turk 2010).
Root-adjacent exponence in the Sanskrit, Ancient Greek, and Latin verbal systems
Authors: Calabrese Andrea , Petrosino Roberto
Published: October 2023

Proto-Indo-European verbal morphology is generally described as consisting of at least a “thematic” and an “athematic” conjugation, which differ in whether or not a fixed vocalic piece adjacent to the root (traditionally known as “thematic vowel”) is present. This paper investigates the behavior of the outcomes of the thematic vowels in three ancient Indo-European languages: Sanskrit, Ancient Greek, and Latin. We show that, on the one hand, Latin thematic vowels are typically “ornamental”, in that they lack any morpho-syntactico-semantic information, and are used exclusively for classification purposes; on the other hand, Sanskrit and Ancient Greek thematic vowels are fully functional, in that they expone (at least) aspectual information. We argue for a diachronic account of such differential treatment of thematicity across the three languages, whereby the original functionality of such pieces, albeit fully preserved in Sanskrit, was gradually lost over time, and finally gave rise to the Latin verbal ornamental system.
Building up the EU Revenue Side: But What Is a Tax in EU Law?
Authors: Antón Ricardo García
Published: October 2023

While the US Constitution expressly grants the federation the power to tax, Article 311 TFEU is silent on whether such power exists at the EU level. This contribution argues that the Union has the power to tax, provided that the chosen resources in the basket match the objectives and policies of the Union. Since the achievement of the internal market is a shared competence (Article 4 TFEU), the Union can decide the level of resources tailored to this goal. Although the Union has a broad power to tax under Article 311 TFEU to pursue its objectives and policies, the member states are still the “masters,” able to decide the level of resources under the unanimity rule. To resolve this paradox, this contribution embraces a democratic legitimacy of EU taxes that grant the European Parliament the power to decide the revenue side of the EU budget. EU democratic taxes approved by the European Parliament could reaffirm the redistributive function of taxes, thereby allowing the redistribution of wealth from rich to poor.
The Debudgetisation of Public Finances in Poland After Covid‐19 and the War in Ukraine
Authors: Serowaniec Maciej
Published: October 2023

The experience of dealing with the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine confirms the thesis that decisions on financial assistance must be taken without delay and that the government must have a certain degree of freedom and flexibility to act. However, do emergencies entitle governments to bypass the principles of responsible and transparent fiscal policy-making? Do the challenges countries face in dealing with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine also legitimise governments’ furthering of the debudgetisation of public finances? This article aims to answer these questions. The background of the considerations will be an analysis of Polish legal solutions and systemic practice. First, it is worth noting that anti-crisis measures in Poland have been taken primarily through extra-budgetary financial instruments, which are not included in the monitored scope of public finance. Surprising budgetary solutions appear, such as transferring Treasury securities instead of subsidies or pushing certain expenditures outside the state budget, to circumvent regulations and legally binding restrictions. In the context of parliamentary scrutiny, this means that a significant proportion of public debt is outside parliamentary control, and the scale of circumvention of the constitutional limit on public debt has been increasing for several years, reaching a considerable percentage of the GDP in 2021. This phenomenon is also accompanied by a record increase in public debt, fuelled by borrowing to finance tasks related to countering the Covid-19 pandemic and the socio-economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. It is, therefore, worth taking a closer look at the Polish government’s budgetary solutions, which undoubtedly do not contribute to fostering transparency in budgetary policy.
FACTORS AFFECTING TEACHERS’ ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING
Authors: PRIHANDOKO Lastika Ary
Published: October 2023

There is a sudden transition in education during this pandemic era of COVID-19. Students’ learning which is previously conducted in an offline face-to-face meeting should shift to online learning. This sudden change surely affects students’ learning experience. In the attempt to create a better online learning, this study investigates the interplay of the factors affecting participants’ online learning experience namely selfdirected learning and TPACK (Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge). A quantitative study using Partial Least Square- Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) model analysis was employed to explore this issue. A total of 434 in-service teachers joining an online Teacher Professional Development program participated in this study. The results show that Self-directed learning and TPACK are positively and significantly associated with online learning experience. It indicates that students with high self-directed learning skills and TPACK are predicted to have a positive and satisfying online learning experience. Further implication for pedagogy and future research recommendation is discussed.
EVALUATION OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS USING INTERVAL VALUED INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY-Z NUMBERS
Authors: SERGI Duygu , SARI Irem Ucal
Published: October 2023

The use of online education tools has increased rapidly with the transition to distance education caused by the pandemic. The obligation to carry out all activities of face-to-face education online made it very important for the tools used in distance education to meet the increasing needs. In line with these needs, radical changes have occurred in the learning management systems used in distance education. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to determine the features that the systems used in distance education should have and to compare the existing systems according to these features. For this purpose, a novel fuzzy extension, interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy Z-numbers, is defined for modeling uncertainty, and AHP and WASPAS methods using proposed fuzzy numbers are developed to determine the importance of decision criteria and compare alternatives.
EXAMINATION OF THE PREDICTION OF FLEXIBILITY FOR LEARNER SATISFACTION IN ONLINE COURSES
Authors: AKCAY Arif
Published: October 2023

Universities consider student satisfaction in order to improve the online education they give to students and to question the fulfillment of their responsibilities. Student satisfaction may depend not only on the educational institution but also on individual characteristics. One of these individual characteristics is flexibility, which requires multidimensional pedagogical responsibility in online learning environments. The aim of this study is to examine whether the flexibility of time management, the flexibility of teacher contact, and the flexibility of content predict online course satisfaction. In this research, the predictive relational research method was used. 1794 students participated in the research. During an academic term, students took an online Turkish II course at a university’s Distance Education Research and Application Center. According to the results of the analysis, the students’ three flexibility predicts their satisfaction and the model that explains their satisfaction is significant (R2=.60; p<.01). In the model, the variable that most explains student satisfaction is the flexibility of content. In addition, other variables explaining student satisfaction are students’ flexibility in teacher contact and their flexibility in time management. Based on the results of the research, implications, and suggestions are presented.
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING AND MOOC INTEGRATION INTO HIGHER EDUCATION EFL CLASSROOMS
Authors: SEN ERSOY Nazife , DOGAN Yunus
Published: October 2023

This research includes the first cycle of an application based on the integration of a MOOC given in the field of “writing” into the formal education curriculum to reinforce classroom teaching and support the learning process to improve English writing skills. It was carried out in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year with 14 students studying in an English preparatory program at a Turkish state university. In this study, qualitative research method was adopted and the action research design was applied. The implementation was carried out within the scope of the Reading/Writing course in the program in question. As data collection tools, a semi-structured interview form, Self-directed Learning Scale, and students’ course completion scores in their chosen MOOCs were utilized. In addition, the articles written by the students at the end of the term within the scope of classroom evaluation were also used to support the research data. The first data obtained in this direction show that the majority of the participants could not go beyond the course selection and registration stage. Although the students mostly did not have problems in accessing technology and showed self-directed learner characteristics, they did not follow or complete these courses due to lack of motivation, technological problems, heavy course loads and health problems.
IDENTIFYING VARIABLES THAT PREDICT STUDENTS’ GEOGRAPHICAL INQUIRY SKILLS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: YIGIT OZUDOGRU Hulya
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to observe the predictive power of the practices carried out in distance geography courses conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic in students’ self-efficacy in geographical inquiry skills. Fourteen variables were determined for this purpose. In this context, questions covering the individual characteristics of the students, systems followed by the students (synchronous-asynchronous), students’ interests in the course and their follow-ups, and their learning experiences were included. “The Self-Assessment Scale for Geographic Inquiry Process Skills” was used to determine the students’ self-efficacy levels. The data were collected from 493 students attending 11th and 12th grades in eighteen high schools in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. The screening model was used in the research and the data were analyzed using multiple hierarchical regression methods. The results of the study showed that nine variables statistically predicted 89% of the total variance. In order of relative importance, grade, school type, and gender are the first and most important predictor variables. Students’ asking questions, doing homework, and using supplementary materials come next. Based on this, it is recommended that teachers take on the responsibility of raising their students as individuals who are independent and learned to learn.
A.P. Derevianko’s Multivolume Three Global Human Migrations in Eurasia and Its Place in Paleolithic Studies
Authors:   National University of Uzbekistan, Suleimanov R. H.
Published: October 2023

Рассмотрены основные итоги многолетней исследовательской работы известного археолога академика А.П. Деревянко, представленные в первых четырех томах монографии «Три глобальные миграции человека в Евразии». Изучение путей освоения первобытным человеком всего евразийского континента, начиная с исхода первых гомининов из Африки, автор успешно сочетал с решением проблем эмпирического и теоретического плана. При его непосредственном участии и под его руководством исследовались памятники эпохи палеолита на обширной территории Азии. Особое значение имеют открытия на Алтае, поставившие ряд принципиально важных вопросов, на которые у мирового научного сообщества пока нет окончательных ответов. Опираясь на изучение опубликованных данных по находкам гомининов рода Homo и подвергнув критическому анализу основные гипотезы и априорные предположения о развитии эволюционных процессов как биологического, так и культурогенетического уровня, А.П. Деревянко предложил свою оригинальную концепцию. В многотомнике уделено внимание гуманистическим предпосылкам формирования рода Homo, восходящим к австралопитековым гомининам. Популяции некоторых видов австралопитековых, видимо, объединявшие уже социализированных особей, являлись сложным общественным организмом, способным создавать и развивать технологии изготовления орудий и способы передачи знаний. В этом ряду — проблема погребения сородичей; данный ритуал, фиксируемый с конца ашельской эпохи и при разнообразии форм имеющий единый смысл, является первым историческим актом гуманизма. Проблема миграций гомининов рассматривается как узел взаимосвязанных вопросов, касающихся физических свойств сырья, определявших облик каменных индустрий; зависимости мигрирующих популяций от необычайного геобиохимического разнообразия и экологических условий величайшего континента земного шара. С учетом экспоненциального увеличения числа публикаций по эволюции гомининов можно сделать вывод о том, что основанные на выделении наиболее существенных связей между явлениями обобщения А.П. Деревянко имеют самостоятельное и во многом ключевое значение, поскольку научные гипотезы не формулируются непосредственно на эмпирических фактах, а возникают в ходе решения теоретических проблем.
Early-Middle Acheulean Occupation of the Northern Transcaucasian Highland
Authors:   Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, Belyaeva E. V.
Published: October 2023

На севере Закавказского нагорья (Лорийская котловина, Армения) давно исследуются памятники Карахач, Куртан I и Мурадово со стратифицированными комплексами каменных изделий, которые определены как ранне-среднеашельские. На основании абсолютных дат и палеомагнитных показателей для первых двух их возраст оценивается в интервале от середины раннего до начала среднего плейстоцена. Установлено, что все три памятника содержат единую индустрию со своеобразным набором орудий (разнообразные чопперы, пики, в т.ч. с долотовидным концом, рубила, макроскребла, макродолота, макроножи), которые сделаны преимущественно из плитчатых обломков местных вулканических пород. Выделены индикаторные типы этой индустрии (подпрямоугольные и вееровидные чопперы, брусковидные долота и др.). Рассматриваются еще 28 пунктов с ашельскими изделиями, в т.ч. 11 стратифицированных, которые открыты за последние годы в разных частях Лорийской котловины, а также в сопредельных районах Ширакской котловины и долины р. Дебед. Доказано, что изделия из всех этих пунктов принадлежат к карахачской традиции. Приведены данные, согласно которым три памятника (Ягдан, Агви-каньон и Агворик) имеют возраст более 2 млн лет, а еще два (Куртан II и Джрадзор) — не менее 1,5 млн лет. Сделано заключение о том, что носители карахачской ашельской традиции появились на севере Закавказского нагорья ок. 2,0 млн л.н., затем широко расселились и обитали там несколько сот тысяч лет. Это объяснимо благоприятными природными условиями региона в раннем плейстоцене и обилием крупноразмерного сырья.
Effect of psychotherapy on the efficacy of treatment for chronic oral mucosal diseases
Authors: Kinkulkina Marina A. , Knyazeva Marina V. , Samokhlib Yana V. , Paramonova Irina A. , Paramonov Yuri O. , Shelemetyeva Galina N.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND: Psychological factors negatively affect the development and course of chronic oral mucosal diseases.
AIM: To evaluate the effect of psychological support on the effectiveness of therapy for lichen planus and chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cohort of a nonrandomized clinical trial involved 64 patients, including 46 women (71.8%) and 18 men (28.2%). The average patient age was 60.3±3.0 years. The patients were divided into groups based on their consent to work with a psychologist. The study group provided consent for psychological support, whereas the comparison group refused psychological support. Anamnestic examination included an assessment of the quality of life, severity of pain syndrome on a visual analog scale, and anxiety on the Beck anxiety inventory. Clinical examination was performed according to the standard method of dental examination.
RESULTS: After treatment in the study group, a significant decrease in anxiety, a decrease in the severity of pain syndrome, and an improvement in the quality of life were observed. In the comparison group, a tendency to decrease the severity of pain syndrome, without a statistically significant change in the level of anxiety or an improvement in the quality of life, was noted.
CONCLUSION: Psychological correction in the complex treatment of patients with chronic diseases of the oral mucosa increases patient compliance and the effectiveness of treatment of the underlying disease.