bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change on water use and supply: experience of Istanbul, Türkiye
Authors: Yilmaz Ferhat , Osborn Dan , Tsamados Michel
Published: July 2023

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has affected not only populations around the world but also the environment and natural resources. Lockdowns and restricted lifestyles have had wide-ranging impacts on the environment (e.g., air quality in cities). Although hygiene and disinfection procedures and precautions are effective ways to protect people from Covid-19, they have significant consequences for water usage and resources especially given the increasing impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns, water use and resources. Climate change and public health issues may compound one another, and so we used a drivers, pressures, state, impact, response framework (not previously used to examine the actual and potential impacts of Covid-19 and climate change on water consumption and resources) to scope the main factors that may interact to affect water use and resources (in the form of reservoirs) using evidence from Istanbul, Türkiye, with some discussion of the comparative situation elsewhere. We modified initial views on the framework to account for the regional, city and community level experiences. We note that water consumption in Istanbul has been increasing over the last two decades (except in times of very low rainfall/drought); that there were increases in water consumption in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic; and, despite some increase in rainfall, water levels in reservoirs appeared to decrease during lockdowns (for a range of reasons). Through a new simple way of visualising the data, we also noted that a low resource capacity might be recurring every 6 or 7 years in Istanbul (a similar finding to Thames Reservoir in London). We made no attempt in this paper to quantify the relative contribution that climate change, population growth, etc., are making to water consumption and reservoir levels as we focused on looking at those social, environmental and economic factors that appear to play a role in potential water stress and on developing a drivers, pressures, state, impact, response framework for policy and adaptive management options for Istanbul and other large complex conurbations. If there are periodic water resource issues and temperatures rise as expected in climate projections with an accompanying increase in the duration of hot spells, the subsequent additional stress on water systems might make managing future public health emergencies, such as a pandemic, even more difficult.
SAÚDE MENTAL E QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE ESTUDANTES DE MEDICINA DE UMA UNIVERSIDADE PÚBLICA BRASILEIRA
Authors: Oliveira Graziella Lage , Ribeiro Adalgisa Peixoto
Published: July 2023

Problemas de saúde mental em estudantes de medicina afetam o desempenho acadêmico, levam ao abandono e à avaliação negativa do curso e influenciam a vida profissional futura. Objetivou-se estimar a prevalência de problemas de saúde mental e a percepção de qualidade de vida, segundo ciclos do curso. Realizou-se um inquérito epidemiológico, no qual os 1.980 estudantes de graduação em medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais foram convidados. Em 2018, os estudantes responderam o questionário online (Google Forms), contendo informações sociodemográficas, relacionadas ao curso, comportamentos, saúde mental e qualidade de vida. Realizou-se análise descritiva e comparativa, de acordo com os ciclos (Básico, Teórico-prático e Clínico), por meio do Qui-quadrado de Pearson e ANOVA. A taxa de resposta foi de 74,2% (n=1.470). Depressão (42,8%), ansiedade (19,4%), alterações no sono (70,0%) e pior percepção de qualidade de vida foram mais prevalentes no ciclo Básico; consumo de álcool e de ansiolíticos nos ciclos Teórico-prático (88,3%; 23,5%) e Clínico (86,5%; 27,9%). Maiores prevalências de problemas de saúde mental e pior percepção de qualidade de vida nos dois primeiros anos do curso médico mostram a necessidade de ofertar apoio psicológico aos recém-chegados à universidade, além de melhorar o ambiente educacional.
The Role of Biofertilizers in Sustainable Agriculture: An Eco-Friendly Alternative to Conventional Chemical Fertilizers
Authors: Abioye Oluwaseyi Matthew , Olasehinde David Ayodeji , Abadunmi Taiwo
Published: July 2023

Empirical observations and theory both discourage the production and use of chemical fertilizers as they can lead to environmental pollution, soil degradation and reduction in soil fertility in the long term. In certain cases, excess nutrients from chemical fertilizers such as nitrogen and phosphorus can leach into nearby water causing eutrophication. Also, the production process requires large amounts of energy, which often comes from burning fossil fuels contributing significantly to greenhouse gas concentration. Biofertilizers present a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers and improve agricultural sustainability and reduce environmental pollution. However, there is still more to learn about the potential benefits of biofertilizers based on factors such as soil type, crop species, and environmental conditions. This review shows the Trichoderma species as one of the most prominent biofertilizers that can help in plant growth promotion and serve as a biocontrol agent against plant pathogens. An extensive summary of scientific literature on Trichoderma’s production, effectiveness in comparison to chemical fertilizers and its potential for use are discussed. Trichoderma species have been documented to possess numerous mechanisms to combat a wide range of plant pathogens, protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses, reduce drought and salinity stress fungal attacks and promote root growth. Trichoderma is an ecofriendly organic fertilizer that can promote food security and enhance sustainable crop production. This article provides a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the current state of knowledge on Trichoderma as a biofertilizer and indicates future research directions.
Learning-centred assessment validation framework: A theoretical exploration
Authors:   UNSW Sydney and ACEM, Ijiwade Oluwaseun , Alonzo Dennis
Published: July 2023

Classroom-based assessment validation has received considerable critical attention and many conceptualisations have emerged. While these conceptualisations are helpful in advancing our assessment knowledge, there is a need for a more learning-oriented teacher assessment practice validation. This paper builds on previous validation theories and approaches to redefine the validity of classroom-based assessment in terms of practical, useful, and trustworthy interpretation and uses of classroom assessment in enhancing learning and teaching. Further, the paper sets relevant inferences and prioritises teachers as sources of evidence in assessment evaluation based on pragmatic principles and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. This explication is valuable in exploring a learning-centred validation approach for evaluating classroom assessment. The paper suggests practical principles for evaluating learning-oriented, teacher-based assessment. Lastly, the paper concludes by articulating implication of the approach in any contemporary assessment system.
Doctor who? Developing a translation device for exploring successful doctoral being and becoming
Authors:   Nottingham Trent University and Rhodes University, Clarence Sherran , van Heerden Martina ,   University of the Western Cape
Published: July 2023

Doctoral training and education tends to focus on how to research and write a thesis, which can take many forms. However, a thesis is not the only valued outcome of a doctorate: the emerging Doctor is important too. Being and becoming a Doctor implies identity work and engaging affective dimensions of researcher development alongside researching and writing a thesis. These are not always explicit in doctoral education, though. Thus, we contend that their role in researcher development needs to be named, described, and understood. In this paper we use Constellations from Legitimation Code Theory to make visible two valued doctoral attributes and dispositions as exemplars. We have used published papers in the field of doctoral studies as data. Within increasingly diverse doctoral student cohorts, it is important to actively foreground the development of valued affective dispositions through doctoral education to enable more candidates to achieve success in their doctorates.
Reimaging reflexivity through a critical theoretical framework: Autoethnographic narratives on becoming a (de)colonised researcher
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Sims Danica
Published: July 2023

The theory and practice of reflexivity need to be reimagined. In the increasingly globalised world of medical education research, critical perspectives and methodologies for honest, powerful, and just reflexivity are needed. Autoethnography offers a compelling methodological approach to reflexivity, for it interrogates self and interpersonal interactions within socio-cultural contexts through retrospective autobiographical storytelling. Southern theory, decoloniality, and intersectionality together framed critical reflections on power inequalities at personal, contextual, and epistemological levels, throughout the qualitative research process. Reflective questions informed by these theories are included to practically guide individuals in their reflexivity. We are collectively responsible for epistemically- and socially-just research, which means the disruption of normative and hegemonic (i.e., White, Western, Eurocentric, and colonial) research and reflexivity practices; and the development of ethical research that does not reproduce inequalities but welcomes and amplifies other ways of knowing, doing and being.
Demographic Transition and Population Development in Belarus: Theory and Reality
Authors: Jin Xin
Published: July 2023

The population transition theory provides a macro-level overview where one can see the connection between social and economic development and the progression of population transition. This study conducts a systematic analysis of Belarus’ social development and immigration trends over the last 30 years to investigate the regularities and generalities in its population development. Research has shown that during this period of demographic transition Belarus has characteristics that are different from the demographic transition theory. Belarus’ demographic development is characterized by negative population growth, an imbalance in the sex ratio and an aging demographic structure, all of which are inherent to the period of demographic transition. The demographic transition of Belarus is characterized by the following trends: greater difficulty in changing fertility attitudes, a lack of a stable external environment for population development, the absence of large-scale population outflow, stability with respect to the composition of the main ethnic groups, and the susceptibility of the population to chronic diseases. The solution requires a scientifically-integrated programme for the sustainable development of the population in a stable and orderly socio-economic environment. Future research should focus on the problems of migration within the region and the impact of ethnic, religious and cultural spheres on demographic development.
Mechanical characterization of randomly oriented short Sansevieria Trifasciata natural fibre composites
Authors: Fantin Irudaya Raj  , Appadurai  , Lurthu Pushparaj  , Chithambara Thanu
Published: July 2023

The present work investigates the mechanical characteristics of randomly oriented short Sansevieria Trifasciata Fibre Polyester (STFP) composites. The STFP composites are fabricated using compression moulding methods with varying fibre weight percentages (5 %–50 %) and fibre lengths (5 mm–50 mm). It has been observed that the impact, flexural, and tensile strength of STFPs improve as the length of the fibre increases, up to a maximum of 40 mm. After that, these properties start to decrease as the length of the fibre further increases. Further, the analysis revealed that STFPs exhibited an increase in properties when the fibre weight percentage was less than 40 %, followed by a decrease in properties as the fibre percentage increased beyond that point. The impact strength of STFP is around 8.2 J/cm2. Similarly, the STFP has a flexural modulus and strength of about 3.4 GPa and 82.6 MPa, respectively. Lastly, the tensile strength of STFP is around 78.26 MPa, the elongation at break is between 6.25 % and 9.36 %, and the Young’s modulus is 11.8 GPa. The matrix and fibre interaction were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analyses are carried out. From these analyses, the thermal stability of STFP is 200 °C and its activation energy is 65.48 kJ/mol. After a thorough comparison with other well-known natural fibres, the proposed properties of STFP demonstrate its superiority as a practical and effective natural fibre composite.
Fostering Excellent Research by the Austrian Micro Data Center (AMDC)
Authors: Fuchs Regina , Göllner Tobias , Hartmann Simon , Thomas Tobias
Published: July 2023

Access to high quality microdata is a precondition for the empirical investigation of many interrelationships in the economic and social sciences. Therefore, well-functioning research data infrastructure is a cornerstone of a successful science location. While other countries in Europe, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, have had microdata centres at their respective National Statistical Offices for quite some time, microdata access for research purposes in Austria was very limited for a long time. Established in 2022, the Austrian Micro Data Center (AMDC) at Statistics Austria enables researchers of accredited research institutions to work with pseudonymized microdata on individuals and firms. The available microdata includes not just microdata of Statistics Austria but also registry data of the Austrian federal government. The main novelty is that microdata can be linked deterministically to each other via unique pseudonymized identifiers among data sets of Statistics Austria, administrative registers, and also to microdata brought in by the researchers themselves. The AMDC is operated by Statistics Austria and its services are open to research institutions worldwide.
Link handling for the atmospheric turbulence using LSTM neural networks in free space optical (FSO) communication
Authors: Lapsiwala Pranav B. , Vasava Priteshkumar B.
Published: July 2023

Free-space optical (FSO) communication is an emerging technology that uses light waves to transmit data, providing a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional wired communication. However, FSO communication is susceptible to atmospheric turbulence caused by factors such as rain, snow, and fog. To overcome this challenge, this study employs artificial neural network (ANN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) models to analyze the impact of atmospheric turbulence on FSO communication. The results indicate that higher wavelengths experience less attenuation than lower wavelengths in the presence of fog. The use of ANN and LSTM models to analyze the attenuation of various wavelengths in the presence of fog has shown that higher wavelengths experience less attenuation than lower wavelengths. Additionally, the LSTM model outperforms the ANN model in handling atmospheric turbulence, with an accuracy of 64.68 % compared to 63.98 %. These findings highlight the need for adaptive networks that can quickly adjust to traffic situations while being cost-effective. As the fiber optics industry continues to expand and evolve, there is potential for further developments in optical communications that prioritize speed, efficiency, and flexibility. As technology advances, the pursuit of faster and more reliable communication will continue to drive innovation in this field.
High performance of photonics crystals Demux with an integrated channel drop filter based on annular periodic ring cavity
Authors: Larioui Fateh , Lebbal Mohamed Redha , Boukebeche Mouncef , Zabouri Amira , Bouchemat Mohamed
Published: July 2023

In this work, we are interested in the design of a basic filter structure based on an annular ring cavity where we study its characteristics and its performance in terms of transmission and selectivity of the signal. The basic structure is a 2D photonic crystal (PC) with holes in the substrate which are more suitable for different PC manufacturing processes. Based on the optimization of the filter structure results, we created a high performance structure and improved a 4 channels demultiplexer (DEMUX) with an optical parameters which are the transmission efficiency, the quality factor and the crosstalk with average values of 97.25, 3171 and −26.58 dB, respectively, it had a significant role in optical communication networks. The compact size of the proposed DEMUX is 211.7 μm2 which is suitable for the integrated optics. To determine the photonic band gap (PBG) of our proposed structure, we used the plane wave expansion (PWE) method and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method used to study normalized transmission.
The crystal structure of [1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one], C16H12F3NO
Authors: Pu Xuewei , Meng Fanjie , Zhang Shaoliang
Published: July 2023

C16H12F3NO, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 6.9928(6) Å, b = 8.9764(8) Å, c = 21.216(2) Å, V = 1331.7(2) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt
(F) = 0.0583, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1552, T = 298 K.
The crystal structure of nitroterephthalic acid, C8H5NO6
Authors: Bourletidis How Jeraldine Maire , Lemmerer Andreas , Smith Mark G.
Published: July 2023

C8H5NO6, monoclinic, C2/c (no.15), a = 12.8112(9) Å, b = 11.7614(8) Å, c = 11.1954(8) Å, β = 100.726(3)°, V = 1657.4(2) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt
(F) = 0.042, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1247, T = 173 K.
Optimizing bending strength of laminated bamboo using confined bamboo with softwoods
Authors: Cruz Alfonso , Takeuchi Caori
Published: July 2023

The objective of the study was to improve the stiffness and bending strength of laminated bamboo through confinement with softwood. A total of 144 beams were tested, divided into 6 groups of 24 specimens each. The tests were conducted on specimens of laminated bamboo, wood, and composite sections with different levels of confined bamboo laminate (20, 40, 60, and 80%). The results indicated that the composite exhibited optimal behavior when the ratio of bamboo to wood was between 46 and 54%. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated a bending modulus of elasticity that was 16.6% higher and a modulus of rupture that was 18.3% higher than the values predicted by the mixing rule. A mathematical model was developed to predict the design mechanical properties based on composite thickness. This model was validated through 18 additional bending tests. This new material is an environmentally sustainable alternative that has the potential to be used as beams in buildings, providing improved mechanical performance, reduced weight, and lower manufacturing cost compared to bamboo laminates.
Investigation of aggregation behavior and surface properties of cationic surface-active ionic liquids and sodium carboxymethylcellulose mixed systems
Authors: Ahsan Safiya , Dhanagar Arun , Shaheen Arifa
Published: July 2023

The impact of different concentrations of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) on the micellization process in cationic, ester-functionalized, ethyl-substituted imidazolium-based surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) ([C
n
Eeim]Br where, n = 12, 14, 16) were investigated using specific conductivity and surface tension measurements at 298 K. The study focused on determining the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the three pure SAILs and their mixtures with NaCMC to evaluate various thermodynamic and interfacial parameters. The results showed that the CMC values decreased significantly with increasing hydrophobicity of the SAILs, while the CMC increased with a gradual increase in the NaCMC mole fraction in the SAIL–NaCMC mixed systems. It was observed that the excess free energy of micellization (

∆
G

e
x

m

${{\increment}G}_{ex}^{m}$

) and the minimum free energy of surface at equilibrium (

∆
G

min
s

${{\increment}G}_{\mathrm{min}}^{s}$

) exhibited an opposite behaviour, indicating that the formed mixed micelles were stable while the formed surface was unstable. The results of this study are useful for evaluating the properties of SAIL–NaCMC mixed systems to improve and better understand their applications in the food, medical and cosmetic industries.
Simulation study on the single droplet evaporation of N-tetradecane with CeO2 nanoparticles
Authors:   School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China, Mei D. Q. , Qi J. W. ,   School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China, Guo D. M. ,   School of Science, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China, Yan Y. W. ,   School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China, Zhao W. D. ,   School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Published: July 2023

To investigate the influence of CeO2 nanoparticles on the evaporation characteristics of fuel droplets, numerical simulation for single nano-fuel droplet evaporation was conducted based on ANSYS FLUENT software according to the single droplet evaporation visualization experiment. And the effects of nanoparticles’ concentration and size on the temperature and fuel-vapor concentration during the evaporation of were emphatically discussed. The simulation results showed that the temperature field and concentration field were distributed in a gradient. Nano-fuel droplets absorbed heat from the external environment, and the temperature of the nano-fuel droplets kept rising until reaching the evaporation equilibrium temperature. The evaporation equilibrium temperature of nano-fuels droplets was higher than that of N-tetradecane (C14) at the temperature of 573 K. In addition, it increased with the increment of nanoparticle concentration and reduction of the nanoparticle size. In the beginning of the evaporation, the vapor volume fraction of nano-fuel was relatively low and it increased slowly with time. As the evaporation process continued, the evaporation rate of nano-fuel droplets increased. The liquid nano-fuel was constantly evaporating to the fuel vapor, and the vapor volume fraction was increased. The vapor volume fraction was increased during the same evaporation period when elevated nanoparticles concentration and minished nanoparticles size.
Study of the impact of quantum confinement energy on the energy gap and activation energy of indium phosphide (InP) and indium arsenide (InAs)
Authors:   Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Anbar, Iraq, Asal A. H. H. , Al-Rashid S. N. T. ,   Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Anbar, Iraq
Published: July 2023

This study examines how quantum confinement energy affects the electrical characteristics represented by the energy gap. and the activation energy of indium arsenide (InAs) and indium phosphide (Inp) was studied using a computer program (MATLAB) version (R2012a), which is based on the characteristic matrix theory and Bruce's model, we found that the energy gap increases with the quantum confinement energy at small nanoscales, as well as the activation energy due to the quantum confinement effect, but these electrical properties decrease with the quantum confinement energy at large nanoscales.
The effect of tungsten ions on the structural, elastic moduli, and shielding characteristics of arsenic lead phosphate glasses
Authors:   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia., Basha B. , Shaaban Kh. S. ,   Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, P.O. 71452, Assiut, Egypt, Abdel Wahab E.A. ,   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, P.O. Box 71524 Assiut, Egypt.
Published: July 2023

A series of phosphate glass with the following formulation was manufactured using the melt quenching procedure: 3As2O3 – 37PbO – (60 − 𝑥𝑥) P2O5- 𝑥𝑥 WO3, 𝑥𝑥 = (0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 5 mol. %). The glasses' physical and other structural characteristics were examined in depth. The basic structural properties of the materials were examined using a variety of characterization procedures, such as XRD and FT-IR. With increasing WO3 concentration, the phosphate network evolves, leading to depolymerization of the glass network, according to the FT-IR analysis. With increasing WO3, the physical, mechanical, and structural parameters were enhanced like glass density, longitudinal and shear speeds, and all elastic moduli. Because of P–O–W bonds in the glass network are stronger than P–O– P bonds, the radiation characteristics were enhanced as the content of WO3 increased. The interpretation of the parameters showed that the glass in the statement is an excellent candidate for photon shielding applications.
Electrochemical deposition of gelatin particles on electrode ITO thin films
Authors:   Pollution and waste treatment laboratory (PWTL), Kasdi Merbah Ouargla University .P.O. Box 511, 30000, Algeria, Kamarchou A. , Hammadi B. ,   Laboratory of Energy and electrochemistry of solid Process Engineering Department Faculty of Technology, U.F.A. Sétif, 19000, Algeria, Chaabia N. ,   Laboratory of Energy and electrochemistry of solid Process Engineering Department Faculty of Technology, U.F.A. Sétif, 19000, Algeria, Kemerchou I. ,   Applied mechanic and energy systems laboratoty (LMASE), Faculty of Applied Science, University of Ouargla, Ouargla 30000, Algeria
Published: July 2023

In this paper, an electrochemical study of Gelatin was carried out on the glass semiconductor ITO electrode in different media: acidic medium (sulfuric acid) and basic medium (sodium hydroxide solution), using chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammetry methods in order to obtain an electrochemical response of a substance Gelatine. In order to study the structural and optical properties of the film, we used several techniques, including the DRX technology and the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
“A Stranger in a Strange Land”: Nadine Gordimer and Her Journey Through
Egypt
Authors:   University of Silesia in
            Katowice, Poland, Pawlicki Marek
Published: July 2023

The aim of the article is to describe Nadine Gordimerʼs political development in
the late 1950s by analysing her travel essay “Egypt Revisited” (1959) and her short
story “A Thing of the Past” (1959). In the first part of the article, Gordimerʼs
political stance is explained in reference to her non-fictional texts. It is argued that
in the late 1950s Gordimer was torn between her liberal humanist belief in
multiracialism and the awareness that this stance was becoming increasingly untenable in
the changing historical circumstances. Her journey to Egypt in 1959 gave her a valuable
opportunity to consider her political convictions in the wider context of the
decolonization processes happening on the African continent. What is clear both in
“Egypt Revisited” and “A Thing of the Past”—a short story inspired by her visit to
Egypt—is her desire to transcend the colonial perspective by distancing herself from her
racial and social origins. These texts also convey her belief that the decolonization
processes in African countries force the white inhabitants of the continent to redefine
themselves so that they can remain politically relevant in the new reality. This belief
would become the basis of the political and artistic theories that she developed in the
decades to follow.
How to Disembark Completely: Annemarie Schwarzenbach’s and Ella Maillart’s Afghan
Journey (1939)
Authors:   University of Silesia in
            Katowice, Poland, Szołtysek Julia
Published: July 2023

In 1939, when the world was but a step away from the irreversible, Ella Maillart
and Annemarie Schwarzenbach set out from Engadine, an Alpine valley region in the
eastern Swiss Alps, heading for Kabul, Afghanistan. The journey was far from safe; the
greatest dangers, though, lurked not so much in the curves and bends of the road as in
the recesses of Schwarzenbachʼs boyishly coiffed head. Through a close reading of
Maillartʼs and Schwarzenbachʼs memoirs of the trip (The Cruel Way and All the Roads Are
Open, respectively), endeavour to determine whether the journey was a means of escape
from the impending doom of the war, especially given that they were both anti-fascists,
or whether it was instead an attempt to cure Schwarzenbach of her addictions and help
her recuperate after yet another stay at a mental hospital following a suicide attempt.
Relying on Joseph Campbellʼs mythologically-informed concepts of the hero quest and
Maureen Murdockʼs feminist rewriting of Campbellʼs theory, the articleʼs analysis of the
two womenʼs accounts of the journey also aims to probe the question of how they
performed themselves and staged their travelling bodies in writing on the shaky scene
offered by, on the one hand, the limited space of the speeding car and, on the other, by
the seemingly boundless expanses of the route they followed.
Cycle Touring and the Middle-Class Consumption of Nature. Anti-urbanism in H. G.
Wells’ The Wheels of Chance and Cycling Press Reports of the Late Nineteenth
Century
Authors:   University of Rzeszów,
            Poland, Kiersnowska Beata
Published: July 2023

The article aims to discuss the cultural significance of cycle touring for the
Victorian urban middle class in the context of the growing significance of leisure and
recreation to Englandʼs working popula-tion and the burgeoning mass tourist industry.
Cycle tourism in the countryside is presented as a leisure activity reinstating an
organic link between man and nature that was severed by the progress of industrial
capitalism in Victorian cities. The remarkable popularity of bicycle tourism in the last
decade of the nineteenth century was induced mainly by its perception as an essentially
rural recreation, allowing cyclists to immerse themselves in the unspoilt nature of
England's pastoral countryside. As such, the activity corresponded with Victorian
attitudes to nature, their idealisation of the country, nostalgia for the wholesomeness
of rural existence and denunciation of the city. The discussion of the phenomenon is
illustrated with references to numerous press publications promoting cycle touring in
the countryside and extolling its benefits, and Herbert George Wells' bicycling novel
The Wheels of Chance: A Bicycling Idyll (1896).
The Humanist Discourse in J. M. Coetzee's Waiting for the Barbarians
Authors:   The Hashemite University,
            Jordan, Neimneh Shadi
Published: July 2023

This article interrogates the humanist discourse in J. M. Coetzee's Waiting forthe
Barbarians(1980), negotiating the intersections between the novelʼs narrator, the
Magistrate, and Coetzee, the public intellectual. The ethical narrator, through the very
act of witnessing and describing imperial violence, objects to the practices of torture
perpetrated on captured prisoners yet feels guilty for his complicity with the
torturers. The articulation of his difficult position as a humanist serving a declining
Empire forms the essence of a humanist discourse that corresponds to the difficulties
and ambivalences experienced by the postcolonial writer/intellectual. Using the work of
Edward Said on the representations of the intellectual and Coetzee's views on ethical
authorship and torture, the present article locates the humanist discourse articulated
by the Magistrate in the center of Coetzee's conception of the public intellectual.
While Coetzee undertakes the task of representing oppression without reinscribing it,
his narrator struggles with distanc-ing himself from the oppressors physically and
psychologically, and thus achieving the relative autonomy Said called for. In the
process, the Magistrate moves from a position of consent to one of dissent.
Sustainable competitiveness of the visegrad group countries
Authors:   Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie, Falkowski Krzysztof
Published: July 2023

Purpose – The main objective of this paper is to present the results of an analysis of sustainable competitiveness of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries in comparison with other EU member states, including the aspects of the European Green Deal and the challenges associated with its implementation in the V4 countries from the perspective of their sustainable competitiveness. The analysis is preceded by a synthetic discussion of the issue of sustainable competitiveness in theoretical terms. Research method – To achieve the objectives of the study, the methods of literature review (on theoretical analysis of sustainable competitiveness), and analysis of source materials (on sustainable competitiveness of V4 countries) and of available statistical data (on the structure of energy production in V4 countries) were used. Results – Although sustainable competitiveness of the Visegrad countries varies, as a group they perform much better than other EU Member States when compared to the rest of the world. As a result of the implementation of the European Green Deal, an improvement in the overall sustainable competitiveness of the V4 countries can be expected in the long term, despite short-term costs related to the planned ecological transition and digital transformation. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – Although the number of publications on sustainable competitiveness in the contemporary international economic literature is growing, there is still a lack of research studies in this area dedicated to the V4 countries. This paper fills this research gap.
Distribution of state aid for medium-sized enterprises in Poland during COVID-19 crisis
Authors:   Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Szczecin, Franek Sławomir , Wiśniewski Tomasz ,   Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Szczecin, Adamczyk Adam ,   Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Szczecin
Published: July 2023

Purpose – The aim of this study has been to provide a rationale for state aid granted to medium-sized enterprises in Poland. The fundamental point raised in the study became the answer to the question of whether the companies that received aid actually needed it. Research method – In their research, the authors used a comparative analysis of the financial situation of companies that obtained COVID state aid with that of companies not covered by COVID state aid. Results – The research shows that the aid was provided not only to the companies that needed it. At the same time, more than 30 per cent of medium-sized enterprises that experienced a drop in sales did not receive such assistance. This demonstrates the imperfect distribution of COVID state aid. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – The value of the research lies in the combined use of COVID state-aid data and information on the financial condition of medium-sized enterprises. The study covers more than 75% of the number of medium-sized enterprises in Poland.
Linkages in business-science cooperation as a driving force of technological innovation in the national economy
Authors:   University of Warsaw, Tużnik Filip
Published: July 2023

Purpose – The purpose of the article is to analyse the importance of linkages and trust in business‑science cooperation. Moreover, the aim is to verify the impact of close business‑science relations on the innovativeness of the national economy. Research method – Literature studies, surveys, FGI (Focus Group Interview) Results – The research confirms the high importance of relations and relationship management in the development of business‑science cooperation. Companies that assess cooperation with science as valuable and significant to innovation, also indicate a high level of mutual relations and related fluidity in the exchange of knowledge. On the other hand, weak relations and low levels of trust often lead to problems in the implementation of joint projects, and, as a result, in the development of innovation. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – The processes of relationship development and trust‑building are as important in business‑science cooperation as the carefully conducted technology transfer. Thus, companies and scientific units engaged in mutual cooperation should pay attention to both of these factors. In macroeconomic terms, the level of relations between representatives of business and science affects the number of innovations created by a given economy. As a result, it also determines its innovativeness.
Sustainable energy policy with an environmental dimension – towards decarbonization
Authors:   Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Chojnacka Katarzyna J.
Published: July 2023

Purpose – The article poses a research question: Is decarbonization an alternative or a necessity? In view of the current problems with coal supplies on the one hand, and the need to take care of the environment on the other, the question posed takes on a deeper meaning. Particularly when sustainable management of natural resources and broad energy policies appear in the background. Therefore, the research hypothesis is: “decarbonization, as one of the recently imposed trends, is indicated from the point of view of sustainable management of natural resources as part of the energy policy and and as a desirable solution in order to to take care of the environment and current problems with coal supplies”. Research method – The article uses several research methods: literature studies, secondary data analysis, analysis of figures in the economic aspect or elements of comparatism. Results – The analysis shows that decarbonization is desirable (it is supported by economic and environmental considerations). Moreover, it is a necessity and follows from the adopted national energy strategy, which is influenced by the EU’s climate and energy policy, based on the pursuit of climate neutrality of the EU by 2050. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – The presented point of view, supported by a preliminary analysis of available statistical data, can be considered as the author’s opinion leading to more in-depth analyses based on more and more recent data in the future. In view of the above, the article is a voice in the discussion on the role and importance of energy policy, in the context of the concept of sustainable development, with a particular focus on one of the components of the European Green Deal. The included commentary on decarbonization, treated as one of the recently imposed trends, was intended to stimulate the reader’s thoughts and their own assessment of the changes taking place and the challenges that go along with them. The text was developed as part of the research project: SUPB.RN.21.109, Id: 538.
Paradygmat krytyczno-emancypacyjny w dydaktyce. Perspektywa filozoficzna
Authors:   Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie, Jemioł Maciej
Published: July 2023

The critical-emancipatory approach to the didactic processes is sometimes mentioned as one of the great paradigms of education. Admittedly, it is not a particularly popular approach in pedagogical practice, but it is still alive, at least in the discussions of experts in didactics, and for this reason it is worth returning to it in our reflections on educational reality. This short study is an attempt at such a return to the critical-emancipatory paradigm in didactic considerations and he topic will be taken up here from the perspective of the very core of this paradigm, i.e. the philosophical concepts that lay at its basis. This requires reference to the thoughts of the proponents of the so-called Critical Theory, which originated in the Frankfurt School in the interwar period. This paper will present a general reconstruction of them, precisely so that the current didactic discourse does not lose sight of what lies at stake when it comes to critical didactics. Aspects of the critical-emancipatory paradigm will be considered here, such as the goals it sets for education, the course of the didactic process, the kind of relationship it establishes between student and teacher, and what kind of knowledge it produces. The analysis leads to the conclusion that, although the critical paradigm may contribute to small-scale changes on a local scale, it nevertheless remains largely inadequate to the contemporary educational reality, because it is politically motivated and has hard to achieve ambitions of large-scale social change.
Sens pracy pedagogicznej a poczucie sprawstwa nauczycieli – szkolnych liderów. Relacja z pierwszej fazy projektu Erasmus+ Getting Heads Together
Authors:   Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie, Porębska Małgorzata
Published: July 2023

The Meaning of Pedagogical Work and the Teachers’- School Leaders’ Agency: a Summary of the First Phase of the Getting Heads Together Erasmus+ Project. The aim of the article is to present and to summarize the first phase of the Getting Heads Together (GHT) project, implemented under the Erasmus+ program in cooperation with seven institutions from five European countries. The aim of the project is to develop a transformational model for school leadership development, on the basis of which a school leadership development program will be created to support school leaders’ sense-making capability, a subject that has not been sufficiently included in school leadership developmental programs so far. The article briefly introduces the basic categories on which the development program will be based and their understanding in the context of the GHT projectIt indicates those elements of school reality addressed by the GHT project that may be related to teachers’ agency and self-efficacy.
The Experience Economy: Perspectives for East European Borderlands
Authors:   Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management in Gdansk, Gański Włodzimierz
Published: July 2023

Goal – consideration of the conceptual provisions of a new direction of economic theory, called the experience economy, in the context of a unique cultural space and diverse ethno-cultural landscape of the Eastern European borderlands. Research methodology – when conducting the study, general scientific and special research methods were used, such as dialectics, system analysis, historical-logical, method of theoretical generalization, etc. Score/results – the study is characterized by a sufficient level of scientific analysis and contains theoretical provisions and developments that can be used for further research on sustainable development based on the cultural factors available in the region. Originality/value – the practical significance of the results obtained lies in the development of theoretical foundations for the processes of economic use of cultural factors (cultural space, cultural landscape, cultural potential and cultural heritage), which creates the basis for their successful use in the system of the national economy, use by public authorities and local governments, institutions social and cultural services, business structures and local communities for sustainable development.
Social Responsibility of Universities on The Example of The University of Bialystok
Authors:   University of Bialystok, Gołaszewska-Kaczan Urszula
Published: July 2023

Goal – the purpose of this study was to present selected aspects of the social responsibility of universities and to describe examples of socially responsible activities undertaken by the University of Bialystok. Research methodology – for the purpose of the article, the analysis of the literature on the subject and the method of document research were used. Score/results – the article showed that the concept of social responsibility of universities is developing all the time and there is no single, generally accepted approach to it. Despite this, it is an idea that should be implemented by all universities. The University of Bialystok has already taken up this challenge. However, perhaps there is a need for greater structuring of these activities and their wider promotion. Originality/value – the article expands the knowledge about the social responsibility of universities. It presents selected socially responsible activities of the University of Bialystok.
Euroregions of the Eastern Borderland of Poland – What Can They Aim at in the Current Geopolitical Conditions (Development, Stagnation, Twilight of Functioning)?
Authors:   University of Białystok, Maksimczuk Marta
Published: July 2023

Goal – the problem presentation of the evolution of the functioning of the Euroregions located in the eastern borderlands of Poland has been examined in the context of the objectives of the EU’s eastern policy. Research methodology – the study is based on an analysis of documents (founding acts, statutes, activity reports and others) of the Euroregions (Neman, Białowieża Forest, Bug and Carpathian) and the scope of their financial support from the EU funds. Score/results – alongside the positive elements, the reservations in their functioning arising from the economic and political crisis phenomena occurring since 2008 are pointed out. Recent events, related to the hybrid war on the Polish-Belarusian border and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, have prompted a deeper reflection on their future. The results of this analysis, applied to the latest developments, allow us to argue that there may be a further acceleration of the process of the already ongoing curtailment of the statutory activities of most (apart from the Carpathian) of the Euroregions under investigation. The distant future may lead to the disappearance of the activities of some of them (especially the Neman and Bug Euroregions) without excluding the possibility of their disappearance. Originality/value – the article raises the important and timely issue of the functioning of Euroregions.
The Influx of War Refugees from Ukraine – Recommendations for Poland Based on Turkey’s Experiences
Authors:   Cracow University of Economics, Szkołut Sylwia
Published: July 2023

Goal – the presentation of analysis results regarding the numerical comparison of migration crises caused by refugee displacements from Syria and Ukraine and the identification of challenges faced by Poland based on Turkey’s experiences related to the mass influx of refugees. Research methodology – the examination of Poland’s and Turkey’s official state documents, a review of articles and existing studies, the analysis of statistical data on the flows of persons from the following databases: the UNHCR, the UN Population Division, data from the Polish Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Office for Foreigners. The research methods used also include synthesis and inference. Score/results – although the Syrian and Ukrainian migration crises show various differences, Poland can certainly draw on Turkey’s proven tools and avoid solutions having hindered integration and contributed to the exclusion of Syrian refugees. However, Turkey’s and Poland’s experiences represent evidence for other countries that it is necessary to have a clearly defined migration policy in place. Originality/value – the originality of the article lies in the comparison of the two largest migration crises of recent years and an attempt to identify challenges faced by Poland in connection with the influx of war refugees and possible solutions based on Turkey’s experiences. In addition, the subject has significant research potential due to the imminent economic crisis in Ukraine, which may trigger another wave of migration.