bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Necro-Ecology in Günderrode’s “The Idea of the Earth”
Authors: Norris Benjamin ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: September 2024

In addition to foregrounding the intimate interconnectedness between the human and the non-human world necro-ecology also undermines the absolute separation between life and death. The purpose of this paper is to deploy these central tenets of necro-ecology to provide a reading of Karoline von Günderrode’s 1805 “The Idea of the Earth.” After discussing a shift that takes place in Schelling’s theory of the relationship between nature, life, and death (Section 1) I turn to the role of corporeal decomposition in relation to the earth as spelled out by Günderrode in “The Idea of the Earth” (Section 2). Though “The Idea of the Earth” operates within a naturphilosophical framework, it does so in a way distinct from Schelling’s theologically inflected middle work and in a way that is of relevance to the philosophical history and promise of necro-ecology.
The Effect of Zikr Meditation on Anxiety, Stress Levels and Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Kurniawati Erna Yovi , Sari Dian Nirmala
Published: September 2024

Background: Hypertension, a prevalent chronic condition, poses significant health risks when left untreated. Psychological factors like stress and anxiety are known contributors to high blood pressure. Effective management of hypertension may benefit from non-pharmacological interventions that address these psychological elements. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the impact of Zikr meditation, a spiritual mindfulness practice, on reducing anxiety, stress, and blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 hypertensive patients, randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in 20-minute Zikr meditation sessions for four weeks daily, while the control group engaged in a placebo activity. Anxiety and stress levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), respectively. Blood pressure readings were taken before and after the intervention. Results: Participants in the Zikr meditation group showed a significant reduction in anxiety and stress levels compared to the control group. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among those practicing Zikr meditation. Conclusions: Zikr meditation effectively reduces anxiety and stress, leading to lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that incorporating Zikr meditation into standard hypertension management could offer a valuable, non-pharmacological approach to improving cardiovascular health. Further research is recommended to examine Zikr meditation's long-term effects and broader applicability in hypertension care.
Scientific Article Writing Training for Teachers of State Elementary School 2 Liligundi
Authors: Werang Basilius Redan , Utami Ketut Herya Darma , Sukmayasa I Made Hendra , Rupiana I Nyoman Sugita , Wati Ni Nyoman Kurnia
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this training activity is to improve the understanding and skills of teachers at SDN 2 Liligundi in writing scientific articles. The number of participants in this training is 10 people. This training activity will be carried out using a face-to-face method. The data collection method used to measure the success of this training is the training assignment method and questionnaire. While the data analysis method used is the quantitative descriptive data analysis method. The indicator of the success of this training is the increasing ability of teachers at SDN 2 Liligundi in compiling scientific articles, especially scientific articles from research they have conducted at school. The results of this training are to improve the understanding and skills of teachers at SDN 2 Liligundi in writing scientific articles, especially scientific articles sourced from Classroom Action Research that has been carried out by teachers. It can be concluded that the scientific article writing training activity for teachers at SDN 2 Liligundi has gone very well and is beneficial for improving teacher professionalism in compiling scientific articles.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN AUDITING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY AT A NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
Authors: Rodriguez Carlos , Maksy Mostafa M. , Kusaila Michelle M.
Published: September 2024

The grade the student intends to earn in the course is a strong motivating factor for students to perform well but intention to take the CPA exam or attend graduate school do not seem to motivate students to improve their performance in the Auditing course. The number of work hours and course load do not seem to have any negative effect on student performance, but students who work in accounting-related jobs perform better than students who work in non-accounting and non-business-related jobs. Class attendance and homework have positive effects on student performance but course study hours and total study hours per week do not. Students seem to make inaccurate evaluation of their math, reading, and listening abilities but make somewhat accurate evaluation of their writing abilities. Lastly, overall GPA is a strong predictor of student performance in the Auditing course.
PROSPECTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF LOCAL BUSINESS SHOPS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: Kumar Harish , Gupta M.P.
Published: September 2024

Digital technologies are altering the retailing ecosystem for local shops. In developing countries, most of the population is usually dependent on the local shops. The local stores can target more consumers through satisfying customers’ requirements and ensuring last-mile delivery. But with the rising of digital businesses, change in consumer patterns, convenience of online shopping and limited time availability have challenged the survival of such local stores. The research explores various prospects for the existence of local business stores in fast moving developing countries. Based on the literature and consensus of experts, a mind map has been developed in terms of market analysis, government support, digital connectivity, products and services, customers’ perspectives, and social commerce practices to illustrate the possible existence of local business shops. The proposed novel mind map can help policymakers, service providers, investors, managers, regulatory agencies, trade groups and decision makers to focus on initiatives like market analysis, government support, digital connectivity, quality of offered products and services for the existence of local stores along with big e-tailers.
SELECTION OF DISTRIBUTION CENTER LOCATION USING FUZZY TOPSIS APPROACH
Authors: Tripathy Bibhuti Bhusan , Singh Sarbjit
Published: September 2024

Selection of distribution center location is one of the crucial activities for a company to reduce transportation costs and improve business performance. To select an appropriate location for the distribution center, decision-makers must consider many factors such as availability of labor, infrastructure, closeness to customers and suppliers, expansion capacity, etc. It is very difficult for the decision-makers to select an appropriate distribution center that satisfies all requirements of various criteria. In this paper, the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach is presented to evaluate and select an appropriate distribution center location from many alternative locations. The proposed approach involves identification of potential alternative locations, selection of evaluation criteria, use of fuzzy set theory and linguistic variables to evaluate the rating of alternatives to the criteria, and the fuzzy TOPSIS approach to generate aggregate scores for evaluation and selection of the best distribution location center from all alternatives. The best alternative for a distribution center location is the best alternative with the highest score. An illustrative example is presented to clarify the results and the applicability of the proposed approach. The result can suggest that managers in the company deal with multiple criteria and uncertainty in selecting distribution centers through linguistic parameters. The proposed approach can be practically applied in deciding upon the potential location of the distribution center when the data are vague, imprecise, and uncertain by nature.
PARTICIPANT ADJUSTED MEDAL COUNTS: A NOTE ON EQUITY AND INCLUSIVENESS APPROACH TO TOKYO OLYMPIC
Authors: Kwon Ik-Whan , Kim Sung-Ho
Published: September 2024

A lack of standard reporting systems on Olympic medal counts and subsequent rankings raises confusion among spectators. Ranking, based on inconsistent measures by IOC and other reporting organizations, has hampered scholarly investigations in search for objective, fair and inclusive ranking system based on the IOC spirit. This paper attempts to incorporate two additional variables into ranking system, size of participants and wealth of nations. When these two variables are incorporated into the statistical models, different outcomes emerged from what IOC and other organizations reported. Small countries like Bermuda and Kyrgyzstan emerged as strong contenders in the Olympic Games. This approach appears to have addressed fairness and inclusive issues in Olympic Games.
LUNAR PHASES AND STOCK RETURN: INDIAN STUDY
Authors: Kapil Kanwal Nayan
Published: September 2024

The study aims to understand the lunar phases and its impact on stock return, examining moon related mood swings and investment behaviour. Focus is directed to empirically test the impact of moon phase on stock market return, wherein moon phases are taken as 15 day cycle of new moon and full moon. Stock return was calculated on Stock market index namely BSE Sensex and NSE -Nifty 50 in India. Study confirms that lunar cycle has deep impact on stock market returns for BSE as well as NSE in Indian context. Stock market Investment behaviour specifically, the rate of return on stocks during the 15 days cycle for new moon period exhibit four times the stock market returns as experienced during the 15 days cycle for full moon period.
IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON INDIAN AVIATION INDUSTRY
Authors: Solanki Mamta S , Oberoi Sarbjit Singh
Published: September 2024

The world is facing its biggest ever fear which initially seemed to be an outbreak and within days it engulfed many countries globally and World Health Organization (WHO) announced it a PANDEMIC on 11th of March, 2020.The Coronavirus or COVID-19, term given by WHO, starting in the Wuhan province of China in November 2019, has witnessed 808,716 deaths, 24 August 2020. Over the years, tourism has grown into an industry and has become a major source of revenue for many nations. The economy of many countries rests largely on foreign currency earned through tourism. Further, due to economic growth and rise in per capita incomes, people have a higher disposable income and the urge to travel and see different places is now more easily satisfied. The tourism is one of the industries which has been badly effected due to the pandemic. The nationwide lockdown, restrictions on movement has added to the woes with leaving many jobless. This study, calculates the effect of COVID-19 on aviation industry which is complement to tourism industry. The outcomes of this study will help the bureaucrat’s and industry practitioners to form a strategy to minimize the economic effect and to bring back on track the industry. This will help the industry to recover post lockdown and to bring back its lost glory.
Random Walks in the Real Exchange Rates of 20 OECD Countries: Recent Evidence from the Panel Integration and Cointegration Tests
Authors: Shirvani Hassan , Delcoure Natalya (Natasha)
Published: September 2024

We study the real exchange rates of 20 OECD countries over the 1970-2020 period. The panel unit root tests developed by Im, Pesaran, and Shin (2003) and Pesaran (2007) reveal no evidence of unit roots. However, allowing for the presence of cross-sectional dependence, we find significant evidence of unit roots. We also attempt to explain the deviation of the real exchange rates from their PPP levels by testing for the presence of cointegration between these variables and some of their potential determinants, such as differences in national productivities and the price of oil, again drawing on more powerful panel cointegration tests of Larsson, Lyhagen and Löthgren (2001). Our findings strongly support the presence of cointegration for all the countries in the sample, thus providing additional evidence for the existence of higher real exchange rates in the countries with higher productivities. Hence, our findings also necessitate the adoption of more coordinated economic policies within the OECD to avoid the balance of international crises that periodically afflict the member countries.
REVISITING NEW ZEALAND TRADE BALANCE AND EXCHANGE RATE: EVIDENCE FROM ASYMMETRY ANALYSIS
Authors: Harvey Hanafiah
Published: September 2024

Recent trends on empirical studies of trade balance and exchange rates, focusing on a non-linear approach, supply new insight in the case of New Zealand. The earlier empirical study is limited and unsuccessful in providing dedicated support for J-curve in the long run. This paper adds a new case study between New Zealand and its 13 trading partners. Following an innovative approach using the non-linear method supply rewarding results. The results show that the short-run effects of exchange rate changes are asymmetric in all models, but they also lasted into the long-run significant asymmetric effects in the cases of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Switzerland.
EFFECTS OF DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION ON JAPAN’S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INFLATION
Authors: Rahman Matiur
Published: September 2024

This study empirically explores the likely effects of active-age and elderly populations on Japan’s real GDP growth and inflation. Annual data from 1986 to 2019 are used to avoid the COVID-19 unusual period. DF-GLS and Ng-Perron unit root tests, ARDL bounds testing procedure for co-integration and associated VECMs are implemented. Unit root tests results display a mixture of I(0) and I(1) behaviors of variables with no I(2) behavior. An ARDL bound testing confirms co-integrating relationship among the variables in both real GDP growth and inflation equations. Their respective associated VECM results reveal relatively fast adjustments toward long-run equilibria. Elderly population shows contractionary effect on real GDP growth, while active-age population reveals, otherwise. In inflation related VECM estimates, both segments of population add to inflationary pressure through respective consumption channels.
FIRM-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF INDUSTRIAL R&D: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE INDIAN R&D INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES
Authors: Tyagi Shilpi
Published: September 2024

This study examines the firm-level R&D determinants of Indian high R&D intensive industries recognized for their historically weak R&D initiatives and global competitiveness. This study intends to use inflation-adjusted financial balanced panel data for 2001–2021 and apply the random effects Tobit model with bootstrapped standard errors. The study has found that stronger intellectual property regime dummy, export intensity, firm size square, and industry dummies for pharmaceutical, automobile, and electronics industries firm's market power and operational efficiency have positively impacted firm-level R&D intensity. In contrast, the negative and statistically significant impact of raw material import intensity and firm size indicates the requirement for planning and implementing appropriate managerial strategies. A bigger firm size does not stimulate R&D investment and offers a competitive edge to the R&D active firms, so managers may think about launching small R&D subsidiaries for innovation building. Policymakers may also focus on improving the outward orientation of the firm by facilitating exports and discouraging raw material imports.
Morphological Identification of Bacteria from Tuna Fish Isolates (Thunnus sp.) in Kondang Merak
Authors: Yulianto Agus , Yamindago Ade
Published: September 2024

Bacteria are microscopic organisms, and a small portion of them are pathogenic or harmful to living organisms. One example is bacteria that cause damage and decay in captured Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.) off the coast of Kondang Merak, Malang. Therefore, to determine the genus of bacteria found in Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.), bacterial morphology identification was conducted. Bacterial morphology identification was performed using methods involving the identification of colony and cell morphology, as well as bacterial respiration tests to enhance genus prediction accuracy. Bacterial morphology identification involved several testing stages, including Gram-staining, cell observation and measurement, motility testing, and bacterial respiration testing. The bacterial isolation samples from Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.) on TSA media consisted of 8 samples, namely 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3, 4a, 4b, and 5, which were differentiated based on bacterial colony morphology. Based on the results of colony morphology identification, cell morphology, and respiratory testing, all 8 bacterial samples were manually identified with reference to identification books. The identification results showed that several samples had similar morphological characteristics. The bacterial morphology identification results for samples 2a and 2b were identified as belonging to the genus Aeromonas; samples 4a and 4b were classified into the genus Mesophilobacter; sample 1a was categorized into the genus Carnobacterium; and samples 1b, 3, and 5 belonged to the genus Vibrio.
Land Suitability Assessment for White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Ponds Using Geographic Information System in the Mulyorejo Subdistrict, Surabaya, East Java
Authors: Hardiana Fajrian
Published: September 2024

Based on the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) of Surabaya for the period 2010-2030, Mulyorejo Subdistrict is designated as a mangrove preservation area that integrates ponds and marshes ecosystems. However, the limited available land and diverse societal conditions have led to economic development focused on natural resources, such as shrimp ponds. In order to ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries and marine utilization, this research aims to analyze the land suitability of L. vannamei ponds in the Mulyorejo Subdistrict using a Geographic Information System (GIS), considering water quality, land use, and geophysics. The methodology employed a land suitability matrix based on scoring and weighting data for each parameter, processed using ArcGIS 10.2 software. Spatial analysis was conducted by overlaying the spatial data of all parameters. Attribute analysis involved summing the scores of all parameters and classifying them into three categories: good (score 81-100), medium (score 63-80), and bad (score 45-62). The obtained data included pH levels ranging from 6.78 to 8.86, salinity levels of 0-25 ppt, nitrate levels of 0.05-0.26 ppt, phosphate levels of 0.04-1.71, soil C/N ratio ranging from 1 to 16, soil types identified as typic epiaquepts and typic endoaquepts, temperature at 28.8°C, evaporation rate of 2.84-4.50 mm/day, annual rainfall of 1,776-2,201 mm, and land use categories comprising settlements, ponds, mangrove forests, and vacant land. Based on the research findings, the land suitability for white shrimp ponds in Mulyorejo Subdistrict covers an area of 425.18 hectares, with the largest portion located in Kalisari Village.
Kohti monipuolisempaa tutkijanarviointia
Authors: Pietilä Maria , Kekäle Jouni , Rintamäki Katri
Published: September 2024

Tutkijanarviointia kehitetään eurooppalaisissa tutkimusorganisaatioissa. Kriteerit, joilla tutkijoita arvioidaan, ovat tärkeitä, koska ne ohjaavat tutkijoiden toimintaa ja kannustavat heitä keskittymään tiettyihin aktiviteetteihin ja tuotoksiin muun toiminnan kustannuksella. Arviointijärjestelmiä on kritisoitu metriikkapainotuksesta ja siitä, että ne korostavat tiettyjä tutkimukseen liittyviä suoritteita jättäen vähäisemmälle huomiolle tutkijantyön muut keskeiset osa-alueet, kuten opetuksen ja yhteiskunnallisen vuorovaikutuksen. Tässä artikkelissa esitellään eurooppalaisen yliopistoallianssi YUFEn kehittämä portfolio tutkijarekrytointia varten. Portfolio pyrkii monipuolistamaan akateemisessa rekrytoinnissa saatavilla olevaa informaatiota tutkijan monipuolisista ansioista, vahvuuksista ja motivaatiosta. Portfolio pilotoitiin eurooppalaisen tutkijatohtorirekrytoinnin yhteydessä. Artikkelissa raportoidaan hakuprosessissa mukana olleiden asiantuntijoiden kokemukset portfolion käytöstä. Pohdimme myös tutkijanarvioinnin muutoksen toimeenpanon kannalta olennaisia dynamiikkoja, jotka voivat vaikeuttaa arviointijärjestelmien uudistamista.
Energy Performance Indicator of a Gold Mining Industry in Indonesia
Authors: Mahandari Cokorda Prapti , Yamin Mohamad , Palaloi Sudirman , Hasan Muhammad Syukri , Kurniawan Cucuk
Published: September 2024

Energy Audit follows ISO 50002 standard had been done on one of gold mining industry in North Maluku, Indonesia that has operations involving two underground mining. As part of the energy audit report, this paper present energy sources and energy consumption, specific energy consumption cum energy intensity of the plant.  Energy audit methods include energy audit planning, opening meeting, data collection, measurement plant, siti visit, data analysis, energy audit reporting and closing audit. Most electricity data were collected from the SCADA system which the company use to monitor and control maximum electricity demand. Arithmetic mean, energy intensity equation and visual graphic methods had been employed to investigate energy profile and energy performance indicator of this gold mining. As the site located far away from the national grid then four Diesel powerhouses generates the electricity. Fuel consumption for four unit mainly electricity generation, transportation, heavy duty and supporting are investigated thoroughly. Since Diesel powerhouse occupy more than 80 % fuel consumption then the Diesel power houses is the Significant energy users (SEU). Further study SEC and on heat rate of the powerhouse is carried out and benchmarked with the IEA. It shows that the powerhouses have excellent performance as SEC and heat rate is lower than typical powerhouses. The powerhouse distributed electricity to four different unit, Kencana Underground Mining, Toguraci underground mining, Mill and Merril Crowe Processes and Supporting Unit. Among these units, Togurachi under gound mining with its uniqueness become the highest electricity end user as expected. It covers more than 40 % electricity consumption resulting quite high total energy intensity by ore milled which is approximately 475 kWh/ton (1710 MJ/ton) and energy intensity by Dore bullion is 1,420 kWh/ounce (5108 MJ/oz).
Government Organization Adaptation to Implement Agile Practices in Provincial Smart City Agency
Authors: Wijaya Rizki , Kumorotomo Wahyudi , Ratminto Ratminto , Djunaedi Achmad
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study is to describe how the Provincial Smart-City Agency in Indonesia adapted agile practices. Implementing agile in conventional government is challenging because formal regulations dictate that a government entity operates by default. While agile approach demands a quick and effective response to shifting circumstances, its deployment frequently contrasts with the established bureaucracy. Considering practicing agile in government organizations, this paper asks how the Provincial Smart-City Agency adapts an agile approach to comply with the conventional government. This case study uses a qualitative method and NVivo software to organize and analyze data. Data were collected through internship observation from April to August 2022 and semi-structured interviews between June and September 2022. Data triangulation was used to validate the informants’ information. By describing the adaptation of agile practices in a provincial smart city agency, this paper expands knowledge on the adaptation of government organizations to implement agile concepts within a conventional bureaucracy that previous studies did not discuss. The result of this study contributes to agile adaptation practice to help government organizations start implementing agile practice by learning from the Provincial Smart-City Agency's success through six elements adapted to enable agility: the innovative structure of the organization, flexible working hours for non-permanent employees, workflow interaction, operational flexibility in the workplace, categorization of work into dynamic flexible tasks and routine repetitive tasks, and work location. These elements are affected by several factors, some of which arise from inherent characteristics of the agile components that influence the other components.
Deposits In The Wild
Authors: Schwantes Collin
Published: September 2024

import mermaid from 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/mermaid/dist/mermaid.esm.min.mjs'; mermaid.initialize({ startOnLoad: true }); For the better part of a year, I have been looking for an opportunity to use the rOpenSci package deposits in myrole as the Data Librarian at EcoHealth Alliance.I had done some initial testing with Mark Padgham, the brilliant person who developed this package, but there weren’t any projects ready for me to put
Public oversight and performance measurement in public sector entities
Authors: Milutinović Sunčica , Medved Ivana , Dimitrijević Dragomir
Published: September 2024

The existence of the public sector is conditioned by meeting the needs of citizens for public goods and services. Business under constant public scrutiny poses challenges to public sector entities in the form of effectiveness and efficiency in providing services on the one hand, and achieving satisfactory financial performance on the other. Measuring the performance of entities in the public sector can be problematic precisely for the reason that it is necessary to measure the performance of entities whose operations are aimed at meeting public needs and not at making a profit. Therefore, the goals of these entities are taken as a starting point when establishing an adequate performance measurement system. Bearing in mind that the public sector is at the service of the citizens of a country, the question of measuring business performance, as well as the question of public supervision in public sector entities, arises. State audit, financial management and control and internal audit, as elements of public supervision, should ensure fair and true presentation of results and performance of business in public sector entities.
Continuity of the West German judiciary with the Third Reich
Authors: Vuković Slobodan
Published: September 2024

With the adoption of the Basic Law on May 24, 1949 in the Bundestag, West Germany was formed from the three western occupation zones. After the initial denazification in early 1948, the US military government ordered its swift end and limited its own jurisdiction. In parallel with that, a campaign for the release of convicted criminals and the step-by-step takeover of the Nazi functional elite is launched. In the mid-1950s, only twenty percent of the leading positions in the "new" state were held by opponents of the Nazi regime. It was similar in the Ministry of Justice. Prosecutors, judges and lawyers returned to their previous positions. Between 1952 and 1962, between 68 and 77 percent of Germany's judicial staff were Nazi judges. More than 6,656 verdicts were handed down in Allied and German courts, of which 30% were sentenced to six months, 60% to less than one year and 90% to less than five years. Only 15% of all charges and 17% of convictions were for murder (between 17 and 20 million civilians). There is no data on the distribution of the sentence served. Since the beginning of the Cold War, amnesties and individual and mass releases have alternated on a conveyor belt.
Assessing surface water quality of the Porečka river
Authors: Milijašević-Joksimović Dragana , Vuletić Marija
Published: September 2024

The Porečka River is located in Eastern Serbia and is a right tributary of the Danube. Using data from the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), the paper analyzes water quality using a combined physico-chemical index - Water Pollution Index (WPI). Data for the five year period 2018-2022 were analyzed on Mosna profile. The following parameters were taken into consideration: dissolved O2, O2 saturation, pH, suspended sediments, biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (CODMn), nitrites, ammonium, orthophosphates, metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg), sulphates and coliform germs. The analyzed parameters provide insights into water quality and pollution levels.
The city of Uzice: The center of the Zlatibor district spatial-functional organization of tertiary economic activities
Authors: Dragojlović Jovan , Tanasković Senka , Burić Dragan
Published: September 2024

The city of Uzice is located in the western part of the Republic of Serbia and is the center of the Zlatibor Administrative District. The administrative district of Zlatibor is the largest district of the Republic of Serbia by area and covers a territory of 6140 km², and it is also the district with the largest number of inhabited places, with 438. It is for this reason that the city of Uzice should be analyzed from the point of view of the regional structure of the settlement, which is viewed through a whole series of socio-economic, demographic and functional characteristics. In the processes of socio-economic transformation of the Republic of Serbia, based on dynamic changes and social mobility of the population from rural to urban settlements, as well as from underdeveloped to more developed areas, and from primary to secondary and tertiary activities, the settlements in the area of the city of Uzice were also transformed. The task of the work is the discovery and presentation of those activities and phenomena in the overall environment of the geographical space of the city of Uzice, which are key to uncovering the truth and realistic presentation of problems in a given time. The paper should point out the main guidelines for spatial-planning differentiation and organization of the settlement network of the observed area. By classifying economic and analyzing tertiary activities, we form the basis for the typology of settlements, especially urban centers as carriers of overall development. The geostrategic position of the Zlatibor district and the city of Uzice in it, with its gravity area, represents an interesting area for study, the complexity of the influence of various functions, the existing network of settlements, and especially for determining the model and methodological basis for further planning, both in this area and in the wider environment.
Functional development of municipal centres in the Republic of Serbia at the beginning of the 21st century
Authors: Nikolić Teodora
Published: September 2024

The article deals with the effects of modern social and economic processes, in particular the process of deindustrialisation, on the functional development of municipal centres as potential carriers of spatial and social development. The functional significance and the development of the centres were analysed in terms of the capacity and the territorial reach of the work function. For the monitoring of development processes, the territorial reach of the work function is defined in accordance with the principles of functional centrality and spatial continuity. The degree of functional integration of the centre with the surrounding area was measured by the intensity of daily movement of the active population. The analysis is based on the processing of unpublished material and anonymised microdata from the 2002 and 2011 censuses. A total of 155 municipal centres were included (with the exception of the centres on the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija and the municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo, as the data were not available). In the period under review, the contingent of the population working in municipal centres dropped by 5.2%, while the volume of daily immigration of the active population increased by 5.2%. However, the redistribution of workplaces and daily migrants in the network of central settlements was characterised by pronounced spatial inequalities. In order to distinguish the types of functional development of the centres, the changes in the capacity of the work function, the volume of daily immigration and the territorial reach of the work function were observed. The results show that the weakening of the industrial function had a negative impact on the capacity of the work function of most centres. In the period observed, only 34 centres recorded an absolute strengthening of the capacity and territorial reach of the work function, in 85 centres the decline in the capacity of the work function was accompanied by an increase in the volume of daily immigration and/or an expansion of the territorial reach of the work function, while in 36 centres negative changes were recorded for all three indicators.
Improvement of nature protection NM "Miljakovac forest" and NM "Kosutnjak forest"
Authors: Blagajac Irena , Samardžić Ivan
Published: September 2024

The subject of the research paper is the improvement of the nature protection of the natural monument "Miljakovac Forest" and the natural monument "Kosutnjak Forest". The task is to analyze the management of these protected areas, with an emphasis on the activities undertaken for their protection and on anthropogenic activities that have a negative impact on natural values. The aim of the work is to investigate the effectiveness of the activities undertaken for nature protection in NM "Kosutnjak Forest" and NM "Miljakovačka šuma" and to propose new protection measures in locations where the protection actions undertaken did not yield results. The research includes the analysis of physical-geographic characteristics, the analysis of criteria important for determining the effectiveness of actions for nature protection and the proposal of measures for more effective environmental protection. The methods used are analysis and synthesis, AHP method (Analytic Hierarchy Process), comparative method, statistical and cartographic method. The criteria included in the analysis are distance from forest paths, distance from roads, anthropogenic impact on individual locations, distance from settlements. The criteria were ranked from 1 to 5 according to importance, based on which they were processed using the AHP method. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), that is, using the program QGIS 3.16. the research results are presented in the form of maps.
Processing the teaching topic "geography of the local environment" through a board game and the homeland almanac
Authors: Grujić Miroslav
Published: September 2024

Students encounter the concept of the local environment already in the first cycle of primary education through the subjects "The World Around Us" and "Nature and Society". In the second cycle of basic education, they study geography from the 5th to the 8th grade, but there is not enough time devoted to the geography of the local environment. This very important topic is covered by only two or three lessons towards the end of the 8th grade. Due to the small number of lessons dedicated to this topic and the fact that they are planned towards the very end of the school year, our students don't know enough about the geography of the environment where they live. The main goal of the this work is to present the methods by which the geography of the local environment can be processed to increase the level of acquired knowledge on this topic and also to increase the level of interest and engagement of the students themselves when processing the material. The first method discussed in this paper is a social game similar to "Ludo game", which is full of questions and tasks related to the values of the local environment and is played on a board in the form of a map of the local environment (municipality). This social game and monograph "My Kikinda - let's fi nd out where we live" are an integral part of a quiz for primary and secondary school students that has existed for a decade and in which students compete in knowing the geography and history of the local environment. Another method is the treatment of the topic through the "Homeland Almanac", thanks to which students deal with this topic throughout the school year instead of only in a few lessons scheduled for the topic. Analyzes of tests done on the local environment during the semester of the eighth grade and the average final grades at the end of the school year confirmed that the application of these methods of processing the geography of the local environment gives positive results.
Virtual reality in geography teaching as a source of student motivation
Authors: Vuletić Jovana
Published: September 2024

Non-immersive virtual reality has found its place in teaching at all levels of education, while immersive virtual reality is still on its way to being implemented in teaching practice. Issues such as the development of tools for the independent creation of immersive virtual reality content for the classroom, the selection of teaching content suitable for processing using virtual reality, the readiness and training of teachers to use this technology, its impact on student achievements, etc. are increasingly attracting the attention of educational researchers. Due to the specificity of its subject of study, geography as a school subject is constantly looking for new teaching tools that allow students to study the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of space in a vivid way, which could lead to greater motivation and better student achievements. This paper presents the results of an empirical study investigating whether the use of virtual reality in geography lessons has a positive effect on the development of students' motivation. The sample consists of two groups of students, one of which is experimental and the other a control group. The same teaching unit is worked on by the experimental group using immersive virtual reality and by the control group using PowerPoint presentation, which is a widely accepted teaching tool in geography lessons due to the possibility of combining multimedia content. The motivation of the students after the lessons is examined using a questionnaire containing a motivation scale that measures the motivation for learning geography using a five-point Likert scale. The statistical processing of the data from the questionnaire in SPSS will analyze whether there is a difference between the students of the experimental and the control group in the level of motivation and whether there is a correlation between the level of motivation of the students and the use of virtual reality in geography lessons.
The necessity of methodological transformation of geography curriculum and textbooks for primary and secondary education in Serbia
Authors: Dragović Ranko , Kićović Dušan
Published: September 2024

The analysis of the geography curricula shows the mismatch between the curriculum and the textbooks with the students' cognitive maturity for learning those contents. In addition, their practicality for the further general education development of the student population is also questionable, considering the number of geography students for whom geography will be the professional choice. Looking at geography learning programs, one can see the lack of respect for the systematicity and gradualness of studying regional geographical topics. The principle of studying the physical geography of Serbia in the first semester and social and regional geography in the second semester has been overcome. It should be harmonized with Bloom's taxonomy, standards, and outcomes of geography. The paper discusses the possibility of transforming the teaching contents of geography according to grades and semesters. The contents of the program and their mutual compatibility were analyzed. A comparison of the teaching programs with the generalized cognitive abilities of the students was carried out to achieve the results and reach the standards for the end of elementary, secondary professional, and high school education. The paper contains suggestions for program corrections in the vertical correlation of geographic topics in order to harmonize the study of geography from the 5th grade of elementary school to the final year of studying geography. In the first phase, the curricula should be conceived as a whole, and then in the second phase, they should be diversified according to the cognitive maturity of the students. In the third phase, it is necessary to identify and omit content that is not necessary to realize general key competencies.
Scientometrics in Serbian geography: From scientific reality to delusion
Authors: Đurović Predrag
Published: September 2024

Scientometrics is the contemporary need of society to quantify the results of scientific achievements in order to determine the level of competence of researchers when it comes to making decisions about project commitments, individual scientific, educational progress, etc. Scientometrics has certain positive effects, but also negative effects on the scientific community. They concern delusion of the scientific performance level of individuals in terms of their inability to achieve a realistic level of scientific competence, but also of individuals or teams striving for scientific dominance. Such changes have been observed in all countries and scientific fields where scientometrics is used as a method for assessing scientific achievements. It is therefore necessary to draw attention to the observed problems and misunderstandings so that already observed negative consequences do not continue in a further decline of science. Geography in Serbia is not immune to the delusion caused by the use of scientometrics in quantifying the results of scientific research. A comparative analysis of geographical articals in national journals before and after the introduction of scientometrics revealed a smaller increase in the number of co-authors and the degree of interdisciplinarity, which can be explained by the lower importance of national journals in quantifying the results of scientific achievements compared to international journals. In the case of international journals, the increase in the number of co-authors and the decrease or complete loss of the author's scientific integrity is evident and cannot always be seen as a result of the complexity of the researched topic or new directions in the development of geography in Serbia, but is aimed at increasing the formal scientific competence of researchers. This leads to a distorted image, delusion of the necessity and the way of scientific engagement, the manner of interpreting scientific achievements from the essential to the formal, an unjustified favouring of individuals or teams, i.e. delusion about achieved scientific competences.
Comparative analysis of geography teaching modules at German and Serbian University: Intercultural perspective
Authors: Janković Mihajlo
Published: September 2024

Geography education plays a key role in shaping students' understanding of the world and its complexity. The focus of this scientific work is on conducting a comparative analysis of teaching modules in geography at the Humboldt University in Berlin and our Faculty of Geography in Belgrade, with the aim of revealing and providing insight into different pedagogical approaches, curriculum structures and cultural influences that shape geography education in these two contexts. Using a mixed methods approach, data is collected from personal experience, recommended scientific examination literature and communication with professors and other students at the mentioned universities. The focus of the analysis includes: the design and way of implementing the curriculum, teaching methods, assessment practices and conducting exams, field work and the use of auxiliary scientific means in everyday teaching. In German universities, geography university modules show a strong interdisciplinary orientation, often integrating elements from environmental science, sociology, economics and statistics. Emphasis is on practical application of knowledge in modern times, as well as evaluation of students' critical thinking. A type of interactive method is advocating a debate on certain current world topics. In addition, there is a strong focus on sustainability and environmental management, reflecting the German republic's commitment to environmental management. In contrast, Serbian universities show a more traditional approach to geographic education, with a dominant focus on theoretical frameworks and conceptual understanding. Lectures and exercises are the primary mode of instruction, with limited opportunities for hands-on learning experiences. In addition, the curriculum tends to reflect the historical and geopolitical context, with a strong focus on processes and changes closely related to the Republic of Serbia. Cultural factors also significantly influence the teaching and learning process in both contexts. German education emphasizes the intellectual autonomy of students and independent learning, while Serbian education places more emphasis on instructions given by the professor and literal interpretation of knowledge. This work would contribute to a better understanding of two completely different types of higher education. By offering an insight into different approaches in teaching geography and different national contexts, it is an opportunity to develop and upgrade the curriculum at our faculty. By understanding these differences, educators can enrich their pedagogical practice and promote contemporary trends and global perspectives in geography education. By implementing these innovative trends, they would go beyond the traditional approach to science and step towards a modern approach.
Large ovarian cystadenoma masked by obesity in a patient with graves' hyperthyroidism
Authors: Radić Nevena , Jeremić Danka , Živanović Dušan , Dronjak Đurđina , Dumanović Janko , Lazarevski Danilo , Šumarac-Dumanović Mirjana
Published: September 2024

Ovarian tumors are a common entity in clinical practice. Tumors with an ovarian mass diameter exceeding 20 cm are termed giant ovarian tumors. Their prevalence is low, as most cases are diagnosed early during routine gynecological examinations or are incidental findings. A 34-year-old patient was admitted to the Clinic for Endocrinology for the initiation of a weight loss regimen and reevaluation of hyperthyroidism. She reported gaining about 70 kg since 2019, during which she was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. In September 2022 she underwent thyroid surgery (right lobe and isthmus removed); histopathology result: colloid cystic goiter, partly hyperplastic thyroid gland. Upon admission, her main complaints were abdominal pressure and shortness of breath. On examination, the patient was morbidly obese (BMI 62 kg/m²). Initial and repeated abdominal ultrasound showed a well-defined subcutaneous fluid collection measuring about 240 mm, creating cellulitis in the anterior abdominal wall. A gynecological examination revealed an anechoic formation measuring 110x80 mm behind and above the uterus. A CT scan of the abdomen without IV contrast showed a large cystic expansive tumor change in the right adnexa measuring 318x380x242mm with sharp contours, filled with serous fluid, and surrounded by a capsule, differential diagnosis: cystadenoma of the right ovary. The patient was presented to the Oncology and Radiology Institute of Serbia (IORS) for a multidisciplinary consultation, where it was decided to remove the tumor of the right ovary and the remaining left lobe of the thyroid gland in one operation. On September 21, 2023, the patient was operated at IORS, where the tumor weighing about 30 kg was removed. Histopathology results: 1. mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary; 2. colloid goiter micro and macrofollicular thyroid gland. Follow-up in January 2024 showed the patient without previously mentioned symptoms of dyspnea and abdominal pressure, with TSH 7.21, fT4 16.4 on a dose of 175mcg levothyroxine. The patient continued with a reduction diet at home.