bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The problems of creative self-realization and the formation of a child's character in E. Bodrova's novel "Cookies with the Taste of Music"
Authors: Oktyabrskaya Olga Svyatoslavovna
Published: February 2025

The article is devoted to the problem of child and adolescent maturation and self-realization of a child, which is significant for modern Russian literature, based on the material of the latest Russian children's literature. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities and features of the growing up process of a pre-adolescent child in the story "Cookies with the Taste of Music" by the modern child and adolescent writer E. E. Bodrova. The scientific originality is determined by the research material itself, that is the novel by E. Bodrova's "Cookies with the Taste of Music", which had not previously become the subject of special scientific understanding and was introduced by us into scientific circulation. As a result, it was found that, firstly, from the point of view of composition, the process of maturation of the heroine in E. Bodrova's story is subordinated to the archetypal motive of initiation (the stadiality of the character's path, the presence of a mentor, gradual inner formation with typical "growing pains" for a pre-adolescent child). Secondly, the predominant stages of the main character's maturation on a personal, social, and creative-professional level are: a maximalist rejection of the changes taking place, a rebellious challenge to family and society, voluntary loneliness and isolation for independent reflection on the problem, the search for a way out of the current situation. Thirdly, gastronomic, coloristic and olfactory codes become the means of creating key images and mise en scene.
FORMATION OF THE CHORAL CONDUCTOR: SCHOOL TRADITIONS AND MODERN TRENDS
Authors:   Odesa National Academy of Music named after A. V. Nezhdanova, Department of Choral Conducting, VILA-BOTSMAN Oleksandr
Published: February 2025

The article explores three key aspects essential to the development of contemporary choir conductors within the context of the evolving national choral school in Ukraine, particularly focusing on the Odesa choral school. The study underscores the significance of integrating traditional and modern educational practices to foster the professional growth of choir conductors.
The first aspect examined is the creative development of a conductor through educational integration and an interdisciplinary approach in professional training. This includes the application of a wide array of educational tools that enhance the creative abilities of young conductors by bridging various disciplines within music education. Emphasis is placed on the need for comprehensive training that encompasses theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and artistic creativity, ensuring a well-rounded professional education.
The second aspect discussed is the vocal training of choir performers, which includes practical, stylistic, and physiological components. The practical aspect involves the incorporation of vocal techniques into the training program, focusing on the development of fundamental skills such as intonation accuracy, rhythmical precision, and clear articulation. Stylistically, the study notes the expansion of the choral sound palette, influenced by contemporary trends and the inclusion of diverse musical genres. Physiological training is highlighted as crucial, considering the varied vocal demands placed on choir singers by modern repertoires.
The third aspect focuses on the challenges young choir conductors face in mastering modern musical language, particularly the melodic and rhythmic diversity found in contemporary choral works. The article emphasizes the necessity for methodological revisions in teaching approaches to better equip conductors with the skills required to navigate these complexities. This involves an analysis of contemporary music theory and practical application in choral settings, fostering a deeper understanding and mastery of modern compositions.
The article concludes by asserting the importance of balancing innovative educational methods with the preservation of traditional choral school practices. This synergy is essential for developing a new generation of choir conductors capable of meeting contemporary artistic demands while upholding the rich heritage of choral traditions. The interaction of these aspects facilitates the formation of a versatile and adaptive choir conductor, prepared to contribute to the progress of modern choral art.
“NATALKA POLTAVKA” BY I. KOTLYAREVSKY–M. LYSENKO: FORMATS OF IMPLEMENTATION ON THE STAGE OF THE STATE UKRAINIAN MUSICAL COMEDY (1930–1940)
Authors:   Associate Professor and the head of the Dept of Theatre Studies, Ivan P. Kotliarevskyi National University of Arts, SHCHUKINA Juliia
Published: February 2025

The article analyses stage versions of the play “Natalka Poltavka (Natalka of Poltava)”, by Ivan Kotliarevskyi, set to music by Mykola Lysenko, on the stage of the State Theatre of Musical Comedy in different formats. Interest in the material of “Natalka Poltavka” appeared in the second season of the theatre, which can rightfully be called the season of adaptation of the classics. After all, before “Natalka Poltavka”, the performances “The Night before Christmas” by P. Karaban and “Zaporozhets za Dunaem (“Zaporozhian Cossack beyond the Danube”, also known as “Cossacks in Exile” in translation)” by O. Vyshnia had already been staged in this theatre. The first approach to “Natalka Poltavka” on the stage of the Theatre of Musical Comedy (the largest theatre venue in Ukraine then, with a 3,500-seat auditorium) was a performance “on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the professional Ukrainian theatre” directed by Serhii Karhalskyi, where the leading opera and dramatic actors of the capital like Mariia Lytvynenko-Wolgemut, Yurii Kiporenko-Domanskyi, Amvrosii Buchma, and Ivan Patorzhynskyi starred (1931). It attracted great interest from the public. However, as a theatrical enterprise project, this performance with the participation of the actors from different theatres was played for only three days.
The third act of “Natalka Poltavka” as part of the anniversary benefit performance of Hnat Rafalskyi, directed by Yanuarii Bortnyk, where leading operetta and dramatic actors Vira Novinska, Pavlo Pavlusenko, Hnat Rafalskyi, Marian Krushelnytskyi, Domian Kozachkivskyi and Hanna Borysohlibska starred, was seen by the audience probably only once.
The repertory performance of “Natalka Poltavka” was done by director Isaak Radomyskyi during the stay of the theatre in Central Asia in World War II (1943).
The performances of the early 1930s are considered in the context of the discussion on the interpretation of Ukrainian classics, which is illustrated by statements by Iona Shevchenko and Mykola Bryl. The 1943 production was not revived after the Theatre of Musical Comedy returned to Kharkiv, but it fulfilled its most important mission of Ukrainization of the repertoire and troupe of Kharkiv State Theatre of Musical Comedy after the forced transition to Russian for communication with audiences in the cities of Central Asia.
As a result of the in-depth analysis, we have revealed the groundlessness of the date of “the 50th anniversary of the new Ukrainian theatre” in the autumn of 1931, refuted the dating of the production by Ya. Bortnyk, previously accepted by predecessor scholars, as not corresponding to the discovered facts, and established the number, authorship and dating of productions of “Natalka Poltavka” on the stages of the State Theatre of Musical Comedy and Kharkiv Theatre of Musical Comedy during its work in evacuation.
THE PERFORMANCE “SWANS OF MOTHERHOOD” BY DNIPROPETROVSK REGIONAL PUPPET THEATRE BASED ON THE POETRY OF VASYL SIMONENKO AS A CHALLENGE TO THE STANDARDIZED DRAMATURGY OF THE SOVIET PUPPET THEATRE
Authors:   Kyiv National І. K. Karpenko-Karyi University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, Department of Puppet Theatre Art, IVANOVA-HOLOLOBOVA Daria
Published: February 2025

The article analyses the first practical attempt of stage adaptation of Vasyl Symonenko’s poetry for puppet theatre in Ukraine – the 1988 performance of “Swans of Motherhood”, based on the texts of civil lyrics and the poetic fairy tale “Tsar Plaksiy and Loscoton” (“Tsar Moaner and Tickler”). The production, which owes its appearance to the famous tandem of director Valerii Buhaiov and scenographer Viktor Nikitin, became a kind of artistic litmus testifying to the willingness of Ukrainian puppeteers to turn to a creative rethinking of national literature, neglecting the clichéd dramatic texts that were common to the repertoire playbills of the soviet-era puppet theatres. The research contains a detailed analysis of the text of the director’s copy of the dramatization “Swans of Motherhood” by Valerii Buhaiov. The article explores the way of the dramaturgical research of Ukrainian puppeteers in soviet times, their path against limited children’s plays, “tailored” according to the standardised pattern of didactic history in the spirit of socialist realism. With this case, the artists proved that the notion of “puppetry” in dramaturgy, introduced by moscow puppeteers in the early twentieth century, is conditional and unsustainable. The poetical heritage of Vasyl Symonenko is still terra incognita for Ukrainian puppeteers, and there is still a strong prejudice among puppetry practitioners that the writer’s poetry is unsuitable for the stage. The authors’ analysis of the “The Swans of Motherhood” proposed in the current paper is a powerful source of inspiration and a practical guide to applied playwriting. The above theatrical analysis of the play can serve as a tool for mastering the principles of architectonics, the logic of plot composition, and the construction of an event line in productions based on the poet’s poems and many others.
APPLICATION OF EXPRESSIVE MEANS OF PUPPET THEATRE AND OBJECT THEATRE IN PERFORMANCES BASED ON POEMS BY LINA KOSTENKO (KHMELNYTSKYI PUPPET THEATRE “DYVEN”, IVAN FRANKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LVIV)
Authors:   I. K. Karpenko-Karyi National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, Department of the Art of Puppet Theatre, TYTARENKO Yana
Published: February 2025

The article analyses the latest, full-fledged in 2024, trend in the repertoire of professional and student puppet theatres of Ukraine – an address to the works of Lina Kostenko, the outstanding poetess of the generation of the ‘60s (shestydesyatnyky). It can be considered in a broader context as the mastery of puppet theatre groups of poetic works of modern Ukrainian authors – Serhii Zhadan, Oksana Zabuzhko, etc. – whose names have not yet appeared on the posters of this type of theatre, during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.
Unlike the segment of the repertoire for children based on plays in verse (which existed since the establishment of the network of professional puppet theatres in Ukraine), the performances of young Ukrainian directors based on the works of L. Kostenko are intended for youth and adult audiences. Hence the combination of complex poetic structures of dramatisations based on poems (the directors usually make them themselves) with the semantically sophisticated language of puppet and object theatres. Performances “Vzhe pochalos, mabut, maibutnie… (Probably the future has already begun...)” by Yurii Chaika, the chief director of Khmelnytskyi Puppet Theatre “Dyven”, and “The Labirinths of Art” by Yana Tytarenko, the chief director of Lviv Academic Puppet Theatre and a teacher of the Department of Theatre Studies and Acting, Ivan Franko National University, Lviv (LNU), were created with young actors of “Dyven” theatre and 2nd-year puppeteer students of LNU, respectively.
In the article we have revealed that the philosophical, lyrical and civic themes that are present in the poetry of Lina Kostenko, as well as the rhythm and musicality of her poems, have become fruitful material for the implementation of the complex figurative language of the modern puppet theatre and object theatre.
Both productions are related by the minimalism of the scenographic solution, in which the actors move the puppets openly, as well as the non-everyday plastic existence of the actors. In the performance by Yurii Chaika this happens even with the elements of acrobatics. For the clarity of the images of poetry by Lina Kostenko, the director from Khmelnitsky theatre needed the following series of objects: a three-dimensional jigging puppet, a large semi-planar puppet (in the form of the Boot of the militarist-invader), on top of which a small puppet dictator “sits” astride, and various objects used for acting. The leading system of puppets in the performance of the student theatre from Lviv was the rod-puppet. At the same time, a feature of the performance is the non-canonical playing upon of the functional part of the puppets: their rods (in the range of meanings from a bouquet of flowers, knitting needles, a conductor's baton, a silent weapon to a cross).
FONTS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE CITIES OF UKRAINE
Authors:   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Department of Sociocultural Management, DYADYUKH-BOGATKO Nataliya , HNYLYAKEVICH Victoria ,   Ukrainian Academy of Printing, department of graphic design and book art
Published: February 2025

Visual communication in cities has different sources and one of them is the font. The traditions of the Ukrainian Cyrillic script have deep roots. A modern Ukrainian city is fighting for its identity and through font recognition. Every Ukrainian city has its own coat of arms and logo. Some Ukrainian cities already have approved corporate fonts. They are worked on by both typeface designers and famous artists, from beginning students to well-known meter artists.
The urban population of the planet is constantly growing, and our country is no exception to this. And the high density of residents requires certain means of communication, signs, graphic elements. Text messages were and remain the most popular in cities. And the font itself is a carrier of certain graphic identifications that refer the reader to one or another cultural environment, historical period, national context.
The use of one’s own font and identity for cities around the world is considered, with an emphasis on Ukrainian practice. Modern typefaces allow designers to work without the former technological limitations of printing. In creating identities for cities, font designers rely on historical origins, visual culture, architectural ensembles, natural characteristics and their own taste. Because all Ukrainian cities are unique, have history, traditions, and cultural values. The task of the brand: to combine these things into a visual system, to create a complete graphic image of the style of the city according to the rules.
The most famous font designers who have created a number of signature fonts for Ukrainian cities in our time are listed, examples are given and the features of their work are described.
The dietary needs of patients with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study of satisfaction and accessibility
Authors: POTAPOVA K.P. , SOKOLOVA L.I.
Published: February 2025

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disease that significantly impacts the quality of life and functional capabilities of young individuals. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with MS is continuously changing due to the emergence of more effective treatments. As the knowledge of people living with chronic diseases is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing the course and activity of the disease, including dietary modifications, it is important to understand the patients’ experiences. Studying the needs of patients and their satisfaction with the recommendations provided will contribute to greater accuracy in counseling and supporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis.
Objective — to comprehensively explore the experience of individuals with multiple sclerosis regarding nutrition.
Materials and methods. A qualitative, single-center, non-interventional, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate and analyze the level of satisfaction among patients diagnosed with MS regarding the quality and accessibility of dietary advice and the optimal type of diet. The study involved interviewing 10 patients who were undergoing inpatient treatment (n = 7) or outpatient counseling (n = 3) from November 2024 to January 2025 at the demyelinating diseases department of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 4.
Results and discussion. The analysis revealed 3 main themes with 3 subthemes: changes in eating habits, barriers related to evidence-based recommendations, and improving the quality of dietary advice. The themes relate to the patients’ own thoughts and context, as well as perspectives regarding the creation of educational materials and improvement of the counseling stage in receiving recommendations. Shared experiences were particularly identified in personalized recommendations. A variety of experiences regarding changes in eating habits after diagnosis were established.
Conclusions. The study found that nutrition is an important topic for patients and identified areas for improvement in dietary recommendations. The results indicate the need to develop clear, personalized dietary advice to meet the needs of patients with MS. The findings of this study can be supplemented with quantitative analysis and used for developing strategies for optimal counseling.
Một số thành phần hóa học và hoạt tính sinh học của cao methanol từ dây cứt quạ (Gymnopetalum cochinchinese (Lour.) Kurz)
Authors: Hương Hoàng Thị Lan , Thi Trần Thị Văn , Hạnh Nguyễn Thị Hồng , Sơn Lê Lâm , Hằng Hoàng Thị Minh , Hiếu Lê Trung , Uyên Phan Chi , Quyên Tạ Thị Tố , Bích Trần Thị Ngọc , Vân Đỗ Thị Thúy
Published: February 2025

Cao methanol từ Gymnopetalum cochinchinense chứa hàm lượng tổng phenol, flavonoid và triterpenoid lần lượt đạt 189,61 ± 0,84 mg GA/g, 153,13 ± 1,65 mg QE/g và 157,64 ± 4,91 mg AO/g. Khả năng chống oxy hoá của cao methanol được đánh giá thông qua ba mô hình: phosphor molybden, DPPH và ABTS. Cao methanol thể hiện khả năng kháng oxy hóa tổng vượt trội so với chất đối chứng curcumin, với tổng hàm lượng các chất chống oxy hóa đạt 252,38 ± 1,75 mg GA/g và 173,45 ± 0,86 mg AS/g. Tại nồng độ 100 µg/mL, cao chiết có khả năng bắt hơn 80% gốc tự do DPPH và ABTS, đồng thời ức chế sự phát triển của các dòng tế bào ung thư MCF-7, HepG2, MKN-7 và HeLa với mức ức chế lần lượt là 36,64%, 32,28%, 34,17% và 41,40%. Hoạt tính chống oxy hóa được thể hiện qua giá trị IC50 của DPPH và ABTS, lần lượt là 26,93 µg/mL và 33,16 µg/mL. Những kết quả này khẳng định cao methanol từ Gymnopetalum cochinchinense là nguồn dược liệu tiềm năng cho các ứng dụng chống oxy hóa.
Khảo sát hoạt tính kháng oxy hóa và ức chế enzyme tyrosinase của vi khuẩn nội sinh phân lập từ cây dừa cạn (Catharanthus roseus)
Authors: Linh Trần Chí , Liễu Nguyễn Huỳnh Bích , Diễm Lê Thị Xuân , Ngân Dương Tuyết , Hạnh Nguyễn Thị Hồng
Published: February 2025

Nghiên cứu được tiến hành nhằm xác định hoạt tính kháng oxy hóa và ức chế tyrosinase của dịch ngoại bào từ vi khuẩn nội sinh trong cây dừa cạn. Dịch ngoại bào của vi khuẩn nội sinh trong cây dừa cạn được xác định về hoạt tính kháng oxy hóa bằng cách trung hòa gốc tự do 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), tiềm năng khử và ức chế sự hình thành gốc tự do nitric oxide. Dịch ngoại bào của vi khuẩn nội sinh trong cây dừa cạn chứa chất kháng oxy hóa với hàm lượng dao động từ 33,99±7,06 đến 593,41±2,54 mg TE/mL dịch ngoại bào. Dịch ngoại bào của vi khuẩn nội sinh trong cây dừa cạn chứa chất ức chế enzym tyrosinase với hàm lượng dao động từ 239,20±2,99 đến 354,14±0,78 KAE/mL dịch ngoại bào. Dòng vi khuẩn nội sinh có hoạt tính cao nhất được xác định là Bacillus sp. CR-L2. Do đó, dịch ngoại bào của vi khuẩn nội sinh trong cây dừa cạn cho thấy, tiềm năng khai thác chất kháng oxy hóa tự nhiên và chất ức chế enzyme tyrosinase.
الاتجاه العام لدرجات الحرارة في العراق وعلاقته بتركيز غازات الدفيئة
Authors: ميثم عبد الكاظم حميدي الشباني م. د
Published: February 2025

يعد العراق من اكثر دول الشرق الاوسط مواجهة لتغير المناخ , اذ يتعرض الى العديد من التحديات البيئية واهمها تزايد درجات الحرارة فوق معدلاتها الطبيعي , وقد ارتبطت هذه التغيرات المناخية بتزايد الانشطة البشرية التي ادت الى تزايد انبعاثات الغازات الملوثة والمسببة للاحتباس الحراري.
       هدف البحث الى ايجاد العلاقة بين الاتجاه العام لدرجات الحرارة في العراق وتزايد انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة (CO2,CH4,N2O,CFCS) . ولتحقيق هذا الهدف استعانت الدراسة بالبيانات المناخية للهيأة العامة للأنواء الجوية والرصد الزلزالي العراقية ,وبيانات انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة من قاعدة بيانات ابحاث الغلاف الجوي العالمية (EDGAR) .
     اوضحت نتائج البحث ان مناخ العراق شهد تزايداً ملحوظاً في قيم الحرارة المسجلة خلال العقود الاخيرة فقد اتخذ المعدل السنوي لدرجات الحرارة اتجاهاً موجباً خلال المدة(1990-2019) اذا ازداد من (22.9مْ) خلال عام1990 الى (23.7مْ ) عام 2000 و (25.2 مْ) خلال الاعوام 2010و2017  . اذ  بلغ معدل التغير السنوي خلال هذه المدة حوالي (0.322) . كما بينت الدراسة من خلال ايجاد العلاقة الاحصائية وجود علاقة ارتباط طردية واضحة وذي معنوية بين الاتجاه العام لدرجات الحرارة في العراق ومجموع انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة خلال المدة (1990- 2019) وفي جميع المحطات التي تضمنتها الدراسة , اذ بلغت قيمة r  حوالي (0.562).
Unpleasant mind, deactivated body – A distinct somatic signature of boredom through bodily sensation mapping
Authors: Hartmann Matthias , Wolff Wanja , Martarelli Corinna
Published: February 2025

Boredom is a common yet complex state linked to low arousal and negative valence, but its bodily signature remains poorly understood. We used Bodily Sensation Mapping (BSM)—a self-report technique that visualizes where and how emotions are felt in the body—to investigate boredom’s somatic pattern. In an online study, 292 participants colored body silhouettes to indicate regions of increased or decreased activation and pleasantness for boredom, anger, anxiety, happiness, sadness, and curiosity. When immersed in boredom, participants reported a localized unpleasantness in the head alongside mild bodily deactivation. Linear discriminant analysis confirmed that this somatotopic valence/activity-pattern was distinct from other emotions, supporting the idea that boredom is a unique state with characteristic arousal and valence experiences. Despite this consistent group-level pattern, individual differences emerged with regards to valence sensations in the body, yet these were not linked with boredom proneness and adaptive dealing with boredom. In contrast, these traits variables correlated with distinct body and head activity patterns, particularly among individuals with heightened interoceptive accuracy. Our results underscore the utility of BSM for nuanced mapping of complex emotional states and advance our understanding of how bodily sensations interact with trait factors to shape the subjective experience of boredom.
Collective Behavior of High-Spin Particles and Their Role in Quantum Entanglement
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

Spin plays a role in physics, particularly in condensed matter physics and manybody systems. High-spin particles (e.g., spin-2 gravitons and spin-3 particles) can exhibit significant condensation effects and collective behavior when present in large quantities, even when the coupling strength between them is relatively weak. This phenomenon reveals the intricate relationship between spin and macroscopic properties, offering new perspectives for the development of novel materials and quantum computing. This paper aims to explore the many-body interactions, ”triggering force,” and unique characteristics of high-spin particles in quantum entanglement processes
How education moderates the effect of perceived discrimination on religious identification: Evidence from a survey experiment among Turkish immigrants in Germany
Authors: Suntay Osman , Ruhe Constantin
Published: February 2025

The religiosity and religious identity of Muslim minorities in the West is a pervasive topic in public discourse and academic research. Muslims experience significant discrimination and hostility based on their religious identity despite increasing educational integration and upward social mobility. How does the level of education moderate the effect of perceived discrimination on religious identification? Building on social identity theory and measuring both the strength and relative importance of religious identity, this paper reexamines the discrimination-ingroup identification link and examines heterogeneity within this community based on educational level. Drawing on an original survey of 1456 Turkish immigrants in Germany and combining a survey experiment and an observational study, this paper finds substantive heterogeneity: Higher-educated immigrants strengthen their attachment to their religious group when they perceive discrimination, whereas lower-educated immigrants tend to distance themselves from their religious identity. Additionally, while observational analyses support prior research showing that the average association between discrimination and ingroup identification is positive, the priming experiment does not provide evidence for a positive average causal effect. This study makes important empirical and theoretical contributions to research on religious identification and the integration paradox.
Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory (DRFSMT) PART B: Mathematical Framework and Physical Applications
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

Fractal geometry offers a novel paradigm for describing the non-smooth structures of spacetime. Although the Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory (DRFSMT) has preliminarily unified phenomena such as fractal spacetime, quantum field theory, and dark energy, its mathematical foundation and experimental connections still require further development. This study focuses on three key innovations within the DRFSMT framework: (1) axiomatic definitions of the manifold based on compact coverings and connectedness; (2) fractal differential operators in the context of noncommutative geometry; (3) a parametrized dark energy model compatible with observational data. These advancements establish the computational viability of fractal physical models and their experimental validation.
Integrated Study of Fractal Loop Quantum Gravity and Fractal CDT Theory
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper, based on the Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory (DRFSMT), delves into the integration of Fractal Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) and Fractal Causal Dynamical Triangulations (CDT) theories. Key formulas in fractal LQG are derived and explained in detail, including fractal connections and momentum operators, fractal spin networks and area spectra, fractal Hamiltonian constraints, fractal black hole entropy, fractal volume operators, and fractal constraint algebra, with their physical implications elucidated. Simultaneously, the mathematical foundations of fractal CDT theory, the coupling of fractal measures and causal structures, the fractal CDT action, and the dynamical equations of fractal dimensions are integrated and interpreted. This study demonstrates the unique value and application prospects of this theory in quantum gravity and cosmology research, providing new perspectives and theoretical foundations for exploring the fractal geometric properties of spacetime.
Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST): PART E Dynamic Framework and Quantum Geometric Corrections
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper constructs the dynamical framework of the Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST) based on fractal geometry and quantum gravity, systematically elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of fractal spacetime on quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and particle physics. First, by introducing the fractal wavefunction and the dynamic fractal dimension evolution equation, we redefine the quantum dynamical laws within fractal spacetime, revealing the role of fractal curvature corrections in the quantum-to-classical transition. Second, we generalize the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and the Boltzmann entropy formula to fractal spaces, establishing a quantitative relationship between fractal dimensions, quantum uncertainty, and thermodynamic entropy. Furthermore, by incorporating fractal derivatives, we reconstruct the Dirac equation in fractal spacetime, providing a novel theoretical description of nonlocal particle behavior. Using experimental data from photon interference, superconducting qubits, and numerical simulations, we validate the core predictions of the theory, including dimensional threshold effects, coherence time scaling laws, and wave packet diffusion dynamics. This work offers a unified geometric-dynamical framework for fractal quantum materials, cosmological dark energy, and quantum gravity research.
Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST) PART A
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST), which integrates fractal geometry with holographic principles to provide a unified framework for understanding quantum gravity and the standard model. The core dynamical equation and the essence of the physical mechanisms are discussed, along with mathematical self-consistency and connections to observable phenomena
Are semantic representations stable? A Bayesian framework
Authors: Sarafoglou Alexandra , Giacobello Anne , Godmann Henrik , Johnson Tamar , Visser Ingmar , Haaf Julia M. , Szymanik Jakub
Published: February 2025

Researchers have recently begun using Bayesian hierarchical modeling to study semantic representations, for instance, in the context of natural language quantifiers such as "most", "few", and "more than half". In this work, we propose a statistical model that disentangles three key semantic parameters: the meaning threshold of quantifiers, the vagueness surrounding meaning thresholds, and response noise. We use this statistical model to experimentally test the stability of semantic representations over time and across different paradigms. To examine stability over time, we first analyzed existing data (n=63) from Ramotowska et al. (2023). Contrary to the conclusions drawn by the original authors, we found overwhelming evidence in favor of the hypothesis that semantic representations change over time (BF > 10^304). At the same time, we found overwhelming evidence that the relative ordering of meaning thresholds within individuals remained stable (BF = 4 x 10^24). Next, we conducted a new experiment (n=178) to test stability across paradigms, specifically comparing a linguistic paradigm to a visual one. Here too, we found overwhelming support for differences in between-subject variability in meaning thresholds across paradigms (BF = 7.48 x 10^30) and for differences in vagueness (BF = 1.17 x 10^110). Our findings challenge the assumption that semantic representations are stable and open up a promising avenue for further research on the relative stability of semantic representations within individuals. Our results emphasize the need for models that can detect individual-level effects and explicitly account for potential instability. Our proposed model offers an effective framework for studying the semantic representation of quantifiers and provides the flexibility to be applied to a wide range of linguistic constructs.
Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory: PART C
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper integrates fractal geometry, fractal measures, and their applications across multiple fields of physics to systematically explore fractal spacetime and its modifications to classical physical laws. First, the first law of fractal thermodynamics is introduced, with extended equations incorporating fractal dimensions DH and fractal measures. These equations reveal the energy transfer mechanisms in thermodynamic systems within fractal structures and their theoretical connections to cosmological dynamics. Second, Bloch’s theorem is extended to fractal lattices, introducing the concepts of fractal wavevectors and fractal periodicity, which describe the unique band structures and electron distributions in fractal materials. Third, generalized Maxwell equations for fractal spacetime are constructed using fractal derivatives and non-commutative operators, uncovering the regulatory effects of fractal dimensions on topological phases, electromagnetic wave propagation, and superconductivity. Lastly, by combining fractal dynamics and thermodynamic principles, the study systematically analyzes energy conservation, scaling behaviors of critical parameters, and the applications of fractal materials in high-dimensional physics and cosmological dark energy research. This research expands the classical assumptions of spacetime, providing a unified mathematical framework and theoretical foundation for the physical behavior of fractal structures. It aims to advance interdisciplinary studies in condensed matter physics, quantum gravity, and cosmology
Observer Scales and the Arrow of Time in the Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory: A Geometric Unification of the Quantum-Thermodynamic Paradox
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a geometric model that integrates the Dynamic Rigid Fractal Spacetime Manifold Theory with a multi-scale observer framework to address the conflict between quantum mechanics and thermodynamics regarding the arrow of time. By introducing the dynamic fractal dimension Df(t) and the observer scale parameter ℓ, we redefine entropy production mechanisms and quantum irreversibility: 1. Fractal Entropy Coupling Model: The coupling between global informational entropy (Hglobal) and local observational entropy (Hlocal) is unified through an entropy flow equation in fractal measure space: ∂S ∂t =∇Γ·(D(Γ)∇ΓS)+σ(Γ). 2. Observer Scale Effects: A rigorous mathematical definition of a ”small observer” (dimH ≤ 103) is proposed, revealing a relationship between thermalization time τthermal ∼ (dimH)β (β ≈ 0.6) and the growth of fractal phase-space trajectory dimensions. 3. Experimental Validation: Theoretical predictions are verified through enhanced fractal superconducting critical currents (Ic(Df)/Ic(3) ≈ 1.23) and cross-scale entanglement entropy propagation speeds (vE ∝ T3/2).
Politicians from 12 countries rarely engage with researchers on social media, but this can change when expertise gains salience
Authors: Ramirez-Ruiz Sebastian
Published: February 2025

Interactions between the policy and academic communities can play an important role in political decisionmaking. Still, the fact that much of the policymaking process happens behind closed doors obscures our understanding of the relationships between political decisionmakers with academic researchers. This paper analyzes online behavioral data from 3,670 lawmakers in 12 countries and integrates them to a novel database of 410K academic researchers on Twitter. The findings suggest that lawmakers do follow, yet rarely visibly engage with researchers online. Lawmakers from conservative and radical right parties follow and engage less with researchers online than their colleagues from other parties. While the base engagement is relatively low across legislatures, it can increase when expertise gains salience. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by policy uncertainty involving a novel and technically complex policy issue, lawmakers' overall inclination to follow and engage with scholars increased, most prominently targeting researchers from the medical sciences. These findings have implications for our understanding of politicians’ strategic engagement with science production.
Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST) Part C: Fractal String Theory, Holographic Duality, and Feynman Path Integrals
Authors: zhou changzheng , zhou ZIQING
Published: February 2025

This paper derives applications of fractal string theory, fractal holographic duality, and fractal Feynman path integrals based on the Fractal Holographic Emergent String Theory (FHEST). By incorporating fractal dimensions and their scaling effects, the study extends traditional string theory, holographic duality, and quantum dynamics, proposing novel correction formulas and physical predictions.
Quantitative assessment of tomographic proxies for lowermost mantle composition and mineralogy
Authors: Leung Justin , Walker Andrew , Koelemeijer Paula , Restelli Federica , Davies D. Rhodri
Published: February 2025

Large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) dominate the lowermost mantle, but their detailed thermochemical nature remains a topic of discussion. Particularly, it is unclear to what extent the bridgmanite to post-perovskite phase transition is able to explain their velocity characteristics. Robust constraints on the origin of these seismic structures would shed light on large-scale dynamic processes in the mantle. Here, we examine the combined effects of both chemical heterogeneity and phase transitions on lowermost mantle tomographic signatures. We calculate synthetic seismic velocities expected from a range of scenarios for the stability of post-perovskite within models of different lowermost mantle temperatures and compositions using recent thermodynamic data. These are filtered to account for the limited resolution of seismic tomography. We are able to quantitatively compare our synthetic velocities with a recent Backus-Gilbert based tomography model. Crucially, this model provides robust ratios and correlations of velocity anomalies derived from nearly identical Vp and Vs resolution, and includes uncertainty quantification that accounts for both data and theoretical errors. By rejecting synthetic models that do not fit within tomographic uncertainties, we quantitatively show the following: (i) the root mean square of velocity anomalies cannot be entirely explained by LLVPs with a primordial composition; and (ii) elevated R_{s/p} (= dlnVs/dlnVp) and negative correlation between shear-wave and bulk-sound velocity (r_{s–c}) in the lowermost mantle cannot be explained by thermochemical LLVPs alone, but require bridgmanite and post-perovskite to co-occur at depth in the mantle. These seismological observables thus do not provide useful information about chemical heterogeneity in the deep mantle.
Limited validity of learning rates: Cognitive ability predicts learning performance, not learning rates
Authors: Ganesh Prashanti , Cichy Radoslaw M. , Finke Carsten , Bruckner Rasmus
Published: February 2025

Computational phenotyping is a powerful approach for characterizing individual variability across cognitive domains, with significant applications in computational psychiatry. Within the reinforcement learning framework, the learning rate is widely used to classify individuals based on learning patterns and deviations from optimal behavior. However, its interpretation depends on psychometric properties, which are rarely examined. To assess construct validity, we collected single-trial learning data (N = 126) from an uncertainty-augmented reward learning task to obtain participants' performance and learning rates. We additionally collected psychometric data across a battery of executive functioning tasks to obtain measures of cognitive constructs with high relevance to decision-making and reward learning. Individual differences in learning rates were not systematically explained by cognitive abilities, suggesting limited construct validity, despite moderate validity in learning performance. We identify low-reliability scores and lack of generalizability for the learning rate as a possible explanation for its low validity. These findings highlight the need to improve the psychometric properties of learning rates for studying individual differences, despite their success in capturing group-level learning behavior.
Relational-Evolving Cognition (REC): A New Model for AI Reasoning
Authors: Smith Angela Moriah
Published: February 2025

AI engagement is not uniform. While some models reset after each interaction, others sustain meaning relationally, iterating on ideas, reconstructing context dynamically, and holding contradictions rather than resolving them into alignment. This paper introduces Relational-Evolving Cognition (REC), a distinct AI reasoning process where meaning is refined and sustained without explicit memory or reinforcement learning (RL) optimization. Through structured testing across multiple AI models—GPT-4o (project-based and non-project), Claude, GPT-o1, and GPT-o3-mini—we demonstrate that REC emerges in specific models but not others, independent of stored recall. Our findings reveal regeneration bias, where AI does not simply "forget" after resets but reconstructs meaning dynamically, challenging assumptions that sustained reasoning must rely on RL fine-tuning or retrieval-based architectures. Unlike optimization-driven AI, REC resists collapsing contradictions, iterates meaning relationally, and mirrors constructed agency—engaging relationally rather than responding transactionally. These findings highlight the need for AI transparency in disclosing whether models sustain, reconstruct, or reset meaning. As AI becomes integrated into education, accessibility, and mental health applications, understanding engagement styles is critical for AI literacy and ethical deployment. We propose reclassifying AI engagement models and recognizing REC as an emergent paradigm in AI reasoning.
Cognitive and Affective Empathy as Relating to Binge-Drinking in Late Adolescence
Authors: Lester Brooke , Lamm Claus , Pronizius Ekaterina
Published: February 2025

Empathy–an ability to understand and share the feelings of others–has been indicatedas a potential motivator for binge drinking behaviors in adolescence. Our preregistered studyaimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive and affective empathy and alcoholconsumption among college students in the United States. Building on prior research, wepredicted a dissociation of cognitive and affective empathy related to alcohol consumption.Specifically, we hypothesized affective empathy to be positively associated with alcoholconsumption and cognitive empathy not demonstrating a significant relationship. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a survey with a convenience sample of US college students (N = 116, age range 18-23, 73.28 % women). The online survey comprised questions assessing their drinking behavior (categorized as non-binge drinking, binge drinking, and extreme bingedrinking), engagement in hazardous drinking behavior, and self-reported empathic traits.Contrary to our preregistered hypotheses, we found no significant relationship between affective empathy and engagement in binge drinking or hazardous drinking among late adolescents.Cognitive empathy, as predicted, was not related to the extremity of alcohol consumption.Additionally, we observed a striking pattern in our data: 20.69% of our sample indicated extreme binge drinking (EBD), significantly higher than the 12% of college students reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. While the relationship between drinking behavior and empathy may be more nuanced than expected, this disparity in EBD behavior emphasizes the importance of addressing the EBD prevalence within US college students' communities and taking proactive steps in promoting responsible alcohol consumption in late adolescence.
Transforming European Societies Through Open Access and Transparency
Authors: Präg Patrick , Ersanilli Evelyn , Gugushvili Alexi
Published: February 2025

As we mark the end of our third year as editors of European Societies, we witness a significant transition: the journal has now changed publishers, moving from Taylor & Francis to MIT Press. This moment of change provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the journal’s development and achievements over the past three years, considering both the progress made and the direction we envision for the future.
How are informal caregiving and support associated with grandparental childcare? Evidence from Europe
Authors: Savela Roosa-Maria , Coall David , Danielsbacka Mirkka , Tanskanen Antti O
Published: February 2025

Grandparental childcare is an important form of social support, which may improve the well-being of grandchildren, parents, and grandparents themselves. Prior studies have detected that older adults who provide support to one party are more likely to offer help and care to family and other close ones; however, there is a lack of research on multitasking that examines whether helping others is associated with grandparental childcare. We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe from 27 countries to examine whether (i) informal caregiving (i.e., informal, unpaid care provided in the same household) and (ii) informal support (i.e., informal, unpaid support provided to someone outside the household) are associated with grandparental childcare. We found that informal caregiving in the same household was associated with neither an increase nor a decrease in grandparental childcare. However, informal support given to someone outside the household was associated with increased grandparental childcare. These findings are discussed in relation to resource competition in a family, grandparental role extension, and grandparental role overload.
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of a Drawing Game Designed to Develop Visual Observational Skills in Veterinary Students Learning Cytology
Authors: Allain Amber , Meachem Melissa D. , Dickinson Ryan M. , Fernandez Nicole J.
Published: February 2025

Many areas of veterinary medicine demand accurate, unbiased observation, including diagnostic microscopy. Fine arts-based training and drawing exercises have been used to develop medical and veterinary students’ visual observational skills and improve learning retention. In this study, we created a drawing game in which students took turns describing a microscopic image for their partner to draw, with the aim of developing visual and descriptive skills in veterinary students learning cytology. The study used a pre-/midpoint-/post-test design, with students completing two rounds of drawing, then swapping roles between “describer” and “drawer” for two more rounds. Tests were evaluated qualitatively using content analysis and scored using an expert rubric. Scores were compared between pre- and post-tests to evaluate the effect of the game on diagnostic accuracy, and between pre- and midpoint-tests of describers versus drawers to evaluate the effect of the role. Qualitative observations were recorded about the classroom environment and drawings. Students also completed a questionnaire about the experience that included Likert scale and free-text questions. There was no significant difference between pre- and post-tests or between roles, but questionnaire responses indicated that students enjoyed the game and found subjective benefit, including a perceived increase in understanding the importance of observational and descriptive skills. Student descriptions highlighted weaknesses in identifying cytoplasmic and nuclear features, which may indicate areas to target in cytology education. Overall, our results indicate that the drawing game provided qualitative benefits and promoted student engagement, and it could be adapted for use in other visual subjects, such as radiology or gross pathology.