bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformasi Usaha Gula Semut: Solusi Inovatif untuk Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Pengrajin
Authors: Sungkawaningrum Fatmawati , Maulana Sendi , Nada Silvia Khoirun , Eliyanti Eni
Published: February 2025

Pengrajin gula semut memiliki peran penting dalam perekonomian pedesaan, tetapi mereka menghadapi berbagai tantangan, seperti fluktuasi harga, ketergantungan pada tengkulak, dan keterbatasan akses pasar serta modal. Kondisi ini menyebabkan rendahnya kesejahteraan pengrajin dan lemahnya daya saing di pasar global. Analisis kesenjangan menunjukkan bahwa hanya sebagian kecil pengrajin yang mampu menjual produknya secara langsung, sementara mayoritas masih bergantung pada perantara dengan harga jual rendah. Selain itu, keterbatasan teknologi dan kualitas produk juga menjadi hambatan dalam menembus pasar internasional. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi keberlanjutan usaha pengrajin gula semut serta merumuskan strategi pemberdayaan guna meningkatkan daya saing mereka. Metodologi yang digunakan adalah pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif dengan survei, wawancara mendalam, serta analisis data sekunder dari Dinas Perindustrian. Pembahasan mencakup strategi pemasaran, inovasi produksi, serta model kemitraan yang dapat mengurangi ketergantungan pada tengkulak. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa akses pasar langsung, diversifikasi produk, serta pemanfaatan teknologi sederhana dapat meningkatkan pendapatan pengrajin secara signifikan. Rekomendasi dari penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi dasar kebijakan dalam mendukung pengrajin gula semut agar lebih mandiri dan berdaya saing di pasar global.
Sterol deprivation elicits a somatic cost exclusively towards Drosophila melanogaster males that are reproductively-active
Authors: McCracken Andrew W , White Nicola , Tanianis-Huges Jola , Rosca Elena , Gill Thomas , McKinney Libby , Morimoto Juliano , Wigby Stuart
Published: February 2025

The effect of nutrition on life-history has received considerable attention from evolutionary theory and mechanistic studies, particularly in relation to the ability of dietary restriction to extend lifespan. A body of evidence has formed, disputing the classical model of a simple strategic allocation of energy towards either reproduction or somatic maintenance; macro- and micronutrient intake has been shown to play a role in mediating plastic responses in fitness components, often obscuring an observable trade-off. For example, previous work has shown an interaction between cholesterol and macronutrients, mediates female (but not male) reproduction and lifespan in the sterol auxotroph, Drosophila melanogaster. Eggs are more nutritiously expensive than ejaculates, potentially explaining why males apparently display limited nutritional trade-offs and an invariance to dietary cholesterol. However, the costs of ejaculate production may have been underestimated previously by not considering male mating history, or interactions between macronutrients and sterols. To address this, here we utilise a fully chemically-defined diet with an exome-matched amino acid ratio to specifically deprive cholesterol from the nutritional environment, and find costs are realised solely in the lifespan of frequently-mating males, with no concomitant cost realised in reproductive fitness. Furthermore, in contrast to previous work, we find that predictions derived from life-history theory are indeed generalisable to male flies, since males exhibit a nutritional trade-off between high- and low-protein diets. We estimate a high P:C lifespan optima relative to previous studies, suggesting individuals may be more tolerant to consumption of dietary proteins when amino acid ratios are matched to the needs of the consumer. These data suggest there may be synergistic effects of under- and over-consumption of cholesterol and protein respectively, and reinforce the importance of considering the oft-overlooked costs of reproduction in males, and the macronutritional context of micronutrients.
A meta-analyst should make informed decisions: Issues with Bayesian model-averaging meta-analyses
Authors: Román-Caballero Rafael , Vadillo Miguel A.
Published: February 2025

When synthesizing the results of multiple studies, meta-analysts typically assess publication bias using different models. However, none of those methods clearly outperforms the others and the inferences drawn from them are therefore subject to substantial uncertainty. One approach proposes to solve discrepancies between publication-bias methods by favoring results of methods that perform reasonably well under the specific conditions of the meta-analysis. A recent proposal known as robust Bayesian meta-analysis (RoBMA) has become an influential alternative. RoBMA uses Bayesian model averaging with different publication bias models and is presented as a method that absolves the meta-analyst from the difficult decision of having to choose which publication-bias model to apply. Unfortunately, we have noted from replication projects that the combination of heterogeneity and well-informed sample size planning might result in small-study effects that meta-analysts might misinterpret as a sign of bias, named here as the power analysis–bias paradox. In the present study, we tested the performance of RoBMA with simulated meta-analyses where publication bias was absent, but some proportion of studies based their sample size on power analyses. Under those conditions, RoBMA identified evidence of publication bias and underestimated the effect. As preregistration and power analyses become widespread in research and given that scientific results are heterogeneous for reasons that are not always known, meta-analysts should become increasingly careful in their use and interpretation of methods based on funnel plot asymmetry. Our findings suggest that publication-bias analyses require informed decisions by the meta-analyst and no data-driven approach can replace their expertise.
Leveraging Order-Theoretic Tournament Graphs for Assessing Internal Consistency in Survey-Based Instruments Across Diverse Scenarios
Authors: Danish Muhammad Umair , Rehman Umair , Grolinger Katarina
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces Monotone Delta ($\delta$), an order-theoretic measure designed to enhance the reliability assessment of survey-based instruments in human-machine interactions. Traditional reliability measures, such as Cronbach’s Alpha and McDonald’s Omega, often yield misleading estimates due to their sensitivity to redundancy, multidimensional constructs, and assumptions of normality and uncorrelated errors. These limitations can compromise decision-making in human-centric evaluations, where survey instruments inform adaptive interfaces, cognitive workload assessments, and human-AI trust models. Monotone Delta addresses these issues by quantifying internal consistency through the minimization of ordinal contradictions and alignment with a unidimensional latent order using weighted tournaments. Unlike traditional approaches, it operates without parametric or model-based assumptions. We conducted theoretical analyses and experimental evaluations on four challenging scenarios: tau-equivalence, redundancy, multidimensionality, and non-normal distributions, and proved that Monotone Delta provides more stable reliability assessments compared to existing methods. The Monotone Delta is a valuable alternative for evaluating questionnaire-based assessments in psychology, human factors, healthcare, and interactive system design, enabling organizations to optimize survey instruments, reduce costly redundancies, and enhance confidence in human-system interactions.
What you saw a while ago determines what you see now: The effect and temporal dynamics of awareness priming on implicit behavior
Authors: Zheng Zefan , Trübutschek Darinka , Huang Shuyue , Cai Yongchun , Melloni Lucia
Published: February 2025

The perceptual content (e.g., seen a happy vs. seen a sad face) and also subjective visibility (e.g., whether the stimulus is visible or not) of a given (liminal) stimulus is influenced by the history of previously consciously experienced stimuli. This effect on subjective visibility, termed awareness priming, suggests that findings from a large body of literature on unconscious processing might be confounded by conscious awareness. However, those literatures on unconscious processing used implicit behavioral measures of unconscious processing. The challenge is only valid if previous visible stimuli (not just physically salient) also affect implicit behavior, e.g., response priming. Here, we used Continuous Flash Suppression (CFS) to probe the limits and temporal dynamics of awareness priming effect. We showed that prior conscious exposure to two Chinese words increases both visibility and discrimination accuracy, and also improves the response priming of words presented just at the visibility threshold. A correlation analysis revealed that this effect is only driven by the high visibility of the previous stimuli but not high physical saliency. Our results strongly validated the challenge from awareness priming to the literature on unconscious processing. Moreover, we found a different temporal dynamic for how previous visible exposure to a word affects current perception: previous short-term exposure (1-10 back trials) to a visible word only enhances discrimination accuracy of the same word in the current trial, whereas long-term exposure (10-30 back trials) exclusively elevates visibility. This novel finding suggests that areas higher in the processing hierarchy, with larger temporal receptive field, contribute to consciousness, while areas lower in the cortical hierarchy contribute to objective discrimination.
Causal inference deficits and integration failure drive stable variation in human punishment sensitivity
Authors: Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel Philip , Zeng Lilith , Park Haeme , McNally Gavan P.
Published: February 2025

Some individuals persist in behaviors that incur harm to themselves or others. While adaptive decision-making requires integrating such punishment feedback to update action selection, the mechanisms driving individual differences in this capacity remain unclear. Here, in a sample spanning 24 countries, we used a conditioned punishment task to identify how individuals learn from and adapt to punishment. We identified three, behaviorally robust phenotypes: (1) Sensitive, who correctly inferred punishment causality and adaptively updated decisions through direct experience of punishment; (2) Unaware, who failed to correctly infer punishment causality from direct experience but corrected their decisions following an informational intervention clarifying consequences; and (3) Compulsive, who persisted in harmful decisions despite both punishment and informational intervention. These phenotypes were driven by distinct cognitive mechanisms: (1) causal inference deficits, where individuals misinterpreted punishment causality, impairing correct knowledge acquisition (remediable via targeted informational intervention); and (2) integration failure, a deficit in synthesizing causal knowledge, action valuation, and action selection that rendered decision-making inert to punishment feedback, even after targeted informational intervention. Remarkably, these phenotypes predicted longitudinal outcomes (learning trajectories, choice behavior) six months later. By identifying the cognitive mechanisms driving variation in human punishment learning, this work provides a new framework to understand why individuals persist in harmful behavior and highlights the need for approaches to address these distinct cognitive barriers to adaptive decision-making.
Get Over It! A Hurdle Approach to Modeling Audit Samples with Partial Misstatements
Authors: Derks Koen , de swart jacques , wetzels ruud
Published: February 2025

A well-known problem in statistical audit sampling is inferring an upper limit for the population misstatement based on a sample with partial misstatements. Typically, auditors use the Stringer bound for this purpose. However, this method is often too conservative and lacks a solid statistical foundation. Despite the development of better alternatives, none of these methods have been widely adopted, partly because they are impractical. To address these issues, we propose an intuitive approach that combines Bayesian statistics with hurdle modeling. We show that this approach is reliable, has a stronger statistical foundation than the Stringer bound while also being more efficient, and is more practical than alternative methods. Additionally, it enables auditors to incorporate multiple sources of pre-existing audit information into the statistical analysis in a straightforward manner, thereby increasing transparency and efficiency. In sum, the Bayesian hurdle approach is an attractive solution for modeling audit samples with partial misstatements.
Using Consumer Wearables to Measure Physical Activity of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Authors: Gawehns Daniela , Portegijs Suzanne , van Beek Adriana Petronella Anna , van Leeuwen Matthijs
Published: February 2025

Physical activity of nursing home residents can be assessed with tools such as questionnaires and standardized fitness tests. For residents with dementia, however, those tools can be cognitively challenging and difficult to administer. Consumer wearables could potentially aid as an affordable tool for ubiquitous assessment. In this pilot study with 16 participants, we explore how measurements with an off-the-shelf wearable relate to structured observations of physical activity. We collected both processed and raw tri-axial accelerometer data from Samsung, wrist-worn fitness trackers. To anchor those data in the free living environment, we compare the measurements with the physical activity scale of the Medlo behavioral observation scheme. We show that consumer wearables are a valid tool for long term data collection in this vulnerable patient population. Regarding the movement intensity, the data collected by fitness trackers is overall in accordance with the data collected with the observational tool. Regarding the type of movement, we conclude that the automatic activity classification on the wearables is not yet ripe for use in a mostly sedentary patient population.
Heritage-making and the Revival of Jhijhiya in Janakpurdham
Authors: Mottin Monica
Published: February 2025

Jhijhiya is a dance performed by women and girls of the Maithil communities of India and Nepal. As part of a ritual practice, it is performed for Goddess Durga by specific castes only during the festival of Dashain, to ward off evil powers. As a folk dance, it is performed at any time of the year by cultural groups and it has become a much loved symbol of Maithil identity. Over the last decades, the practice of jhijhiya had declined. In some villages of Dhanusha district, the dance was dying out. Since 2018, urban youth and cultural organisations volunteered to revive the dance by organising public events inviting both jhjhiya teams from nearby villages and urban cultural groups. Around the same period, a grassroots organisation engaged women from marginalised communities, revived the dance in their villages, and also provided them with a platform to perform in Janakpurdham and from there in other communities of the area. Such a revival has spurred interest and led to the establishment of new jhijhjiya teams both in Janakpurdham and in villages around.
Based on ethnographic research carried out in Dhanusha district between 2022 and 2024, this article aims first to locate jhijhiya as a ritual dance still practised in both urban and rural areas during Dashain. Second, it will explore how different Janakpurdham organisations are engaging with communities to revive jhijhiya and reposition it as a folk dance and an icon of Maithili heritage. Thirdly, this article will look at how the dance has changed in the process of heritagisation. In conclusion, I will argue that what jhijhiya is and how it should be practiced is still a contested issue but probably the shift from ritual to heritage has revitalised a dance that was previously considered on the verge of extinction.
Cross-cultural Significance and Impact of the Gaura Festival: A Comparative Study between Sudurpashchim Province (Nepal) and Uttarakhand (India)
Authors: Kalauni Mukund Ballabh
Published: February 2025

The Gaura festival, deeply rooted in the Himalayan region, particularly in Nepal and Uttarakhand, India, is explored in this article for its religious, cultural, and social significance. Celebrated in Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces of Nepal and Uttarakhand province in India, the festival is integral to the Manas Pradesh region, where Vedic beliefs intricately merge with the festivities. Honoring the inseparable bond of Lord Shiva and Parvati, Gaura festival's boundaries are defined by the Mahakali or Sharda River, shaping its observance. The article underscores the festival's role in promoting religious tourism while preserving Vedic traditions amid modern challenges.The research delves into the festival's connection with Vedic values, providing a crucial link to the region's glorious past, often overlooked by the youth. Utilizing qualitative methods, including interviews, observations, and historical study, the paper emphasizes Gaura festival's unique position in maintaining Vedic purity amidst distortions in other celebrations. Serving as a cultural bridge, Gaura Parva holds a special place in the hearts of Himalayan inhabitants, embodying a harmonious blend of their heritage, religious convictions, and the lush natural environment.
Symbolic Meaning of Disasters: Appeasing Malevolent Spirits through Ritualistic Practices in the Himalayan Community
Authors: Lama Dipendra
Published: February 2025

This paper examines how a community affected by a flood disaster found unity and meaning through ritual practices, aiming to understand the complex nature of such catastrophic events. The floods that devastated Chame village in the central Himalayan region of Nepal between May and June 2021 prompted the local community to organize a four-day ritual designed to cleanse the negative influences and misfortune caused by the disaster.
By maintaining sacred spaces, engaging in worship practices, intertwining nature with personal and communal existence, constructing protective shrines, and performing various rituals, the community exemplifies the intricate relationship between nature and culture. This study is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from June 2021 to October 2022, which included participation in the four-day ritual, informal discussions, and interviews with flood survivors, community leaders, and participants in the ritual practices. The findings reveal that disasters unveil a symbolic dimension that highlights the complex interactions among individuals, communities, nature, and culture. Rituals, in particular, emerge as a powerful force with significant implications for both individuals and the community, reshaping societal dynamics in the aftermath of disaster.
INISIASI PENDAMPINGAN DAN IDENTIFIKASI PERMASALAHAN KELOMPOK USAHA TANI HUTAN PROHUTANI TAWANGMANGU KARANGANYAR
Authors: Dewanti Ida Susi , Tjahjanti Rosalia Dwi Fadma , Wulandari Asih Marini , Zaki Ahmad , Hapsari Nurul Retno
Published: February 2025

This community service was conducted by lecturers from the Business Administration Department, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, aimed at identifying and assisting the Forest Farming Business Group ProHutani in Tawangmangu, Karanganyar, Central Java. The team mapped out problems and analyzed the situation of the coffee farming business group, identifying issues such as capital, production capacity, business management, and product marketing. The activities were carried out in several stages, including lectures, discussions, and direct interviews with business actors. The identification results indicated the need for training in coffee cultivation, business management, licensing, and marketing. This community service successfully identified several solutions and follow-up steps for the further development of this business group.
PEMBERDAYAAN KELOMPOK TANI DALAM PEMBUATAN PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR
Authors: Haryanto Darban , Wibawa Tri , Suratna Suratna , Utomo Humam Santosa
Published: February 2025

Permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh kelompok tani di desa Sembungan, Kejajar, Wonosobo adalah banyaknya buah carica yang tidak layak diolah menjadi sirup carica. Buah carica yang rusak tidak dapat diolah sehinggah menjadi sampah yang mengganggu lingkungan pariwisata setempat. Permasalahan kedua adalah mahalnya harga pupuk dan obat tanaman yang digunakan petani untuk bercocok tanam sayuran. Tujuan pengabdian ini adalah membantu kelompok tani dalam mengolah limbah buah carica menjadi pupuk organic cair dan obat hama tanaman. Teknologi yang digunakan adalah proses limbah carica menjadi eco-enzyme. Metode pengabdian yang digunakan adalah sosialisasi tentang pemanfaatan limbah organik, pelatihan produksi pupuk cair, fasilitasi teknologi, pelatihan pemasaran pupuk organic, dan pendampingan. Pengabdian ini menghasilkan luaran berupa pupuk organic cair yang siap diterapkan untuk penyubur tanaman sayuran dan obat hama penyakit tanaman.
PENDAMPINGAN MENGEMBANGKAN KREATIVITAS DAN KETERAMPILAN ANAK USIA DINI MEMANFAATAN BAHAN BEKAS DUSUN SUMBER NANAS KABUPATEN BANYUWANGI
Authors: Romadloni Sahru , Qomariyah Rifanatul
Published: February 2025

AbstractUniversities as educational institutions have the main task of carrying out educational and teaching processes, as well as carrying out research and community service. Community service is a movement process of self-empowerment for the benefit of society. The implementation of community service activities can bring changes to society for the better. One form of community service carried out is providing education on the use of used goods. The activities implemented do not yet refer to the analysis required in accordance with early childhood learning standards. Activities to stimulate creativity in early childhood need to be perfected by adapting to the child's stage, namely learning through play. However, in fact, public knowledge, especially young children, regarding efforts to reduce plastic use is still lacking. Efforts to understand the younger generation about the dangers of plastic are one solution to reducing plastic use. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out training on the use of used materials as a solution to this problem.Keywords:  Used Goods, Community Service, Increasing Creativity.AbstrakPerguruan tinggi sebagai lembaga pendidikan memiliki tugas pokok melaksanakan proses pendidikan dan pengajaran, serta melaksanakan penelitian dan pengabdian masyarakat. Pengabdian masyarakat adalah suatu gerakan proses pemberdayaan diri untuk kepentingan masyarakat. Adapun pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian dapat membawa perubahan kepada masyarakat yang lebih baik. Bentuk pengabdian masyarakat yang dilakukan salah satunya adalah mengadakan edukasi pemanfaatan barang bekas. Kegiatan yang diterapkan belum merujuk pada analisis yang diperlukan sesuai dengan standar pembelajaran anak usia dini. Kegiatan untuk merangsang kreativitas anak usia dini perlu disempurnakan dengan menyesuaikan pada tahapan anak, yaitu belajar melalui bermain. Namun faktanya pengetahuan masyarakat terutama anak usia dini terhadap upaya mengurangi penggunaan plastik masih kurang. Upaya untuk memahamkan generasi muda akan bahaya plastik merupakan salah satu solusi mengurangi penggunaan plastik. Maka dari itu perlu dilakukan pelatihan pemanfaatan terhadap bahan bekas sebagai salah satu solusi terhadap masalah tersebut.Kata Kunci:  Barang Bekas, Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, Peningkatan Kreativitas.
Queering the Ukrainian Diaspora: The Experiences of LGBTQI Ukrainian Migrants Following Russia's Full-scale Invasion
Authors: Proudman Freya
Published: February 2025

This article offers a sociological exploration of the experiences of LGBTQI Ukrainian migrants in queering the Ukrainian diaspora following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Employing Vertovec's (1997) conceptualization of diaspora as both a social form and a type of consciousness, a study was conducted involving twelve in-depth, semi-structured interviews with LGBTQI Ukrainian migrants to examine their engagements with Ukrainian diasporic communities and spaces, as well as their embodiment of diasporic consciousness. Next, the study analyzed how their LGBTQI identities influenced these engagements and whether their experiences can be considered a successful queering of the diaspora. The findings revealed that participants frequently encountered challenges in queering the diaspora as a social form, referring to the creation of queer spaces within, or outside of, the established ethno-cultural diasporic communities, due to the invisibility and underrepresentation of LGBTQI identities within these spaces. However, participants exhibited a distinctly queer diasporic consciousness, characterized by a positive identification with their homeland that was shaped by both their ethno-cultural and sexual/gender identities. In this regard, this article enhances academic understanding of the experiences of LGBTQI Ukrainians, a largely understudied group, and highlights a greater diversity in how LGBTQI migrants may engage with, and queer, diasporas. It argues that diasporas may be queered not only through the creation of physical queer spaces but also through the integration of intersectional identities that shape mental states of belonging.
Can a Simple Model Have Value without Validation? A Study to Develop and (Attempt to) Validate a Bovine Caudal Epidural Model and Rubric
Authors: Hunt Julie , Bonnema Hannah , Kelly Christopher , Trantham Natalie , Miller Lynda
Published: February 2025

Bovine practitioners expect new graduates entering clinical practice to be able to place a caudal epidural. Teaching this task on models facilitates scheduled training sessions and sufficient practice to reach competency. This study sought to create and validate a bovine caudal epidural model and scoring rubric using a framework of content evidence, internal structure evidence, and relationship with other variables evidence. Veterinarians ( n = 11) and students ( n = 40) were video recorded while placing a caudal epidural on the model. Recordings were scored by a blinded rater. Participants completed a survey evaluating the model's features, ease of use, and anticipated best use. Veterinarians reported that the model was helpful for students to learn and practice the task and that the model had sufficient landmark features and realism ( content evidence). Rubric scores achieved acceptable internal consistency after one item was dropped ( α = .736; internal structure evidence), and there was no significant difference between veterinarians’ and students’ performance scores on the model ( relationship with other variables evidence). Survey feedback indicated the task on the model was simple, allowing students to achieve scores similar to those of veterinarians. Therefore, the model and rubric were not able to be validated using this study's validity framework. However, there are simple clinical skills models used in veterinary education and other health care fields, and research suggests that learning does take place on these models. Educators must consider whether simple models that are helpful for students to practice their skills may still have value, even if they are not able to be validated.
Financial Literacy and Income Inequality in the European Emerging Countries
Authors: Masca Simona-Gabriela
Published: February 2025

This study highlights the distributional impact of financial litera­cy by using annual cross-country panel data from a sample of Central, East­ern, and Southeastern European countries observed during the period 2012- 2017. Particular attention is dedicated to financial competencies regarding various aspects of interest rates, inflation, and risk diversification issues. Our empirical approach, based on the estimated generalized least square meth­od, allows us to identify those groups of individuals who benefit in terms of relative incomes based on different financial skills. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between risk diversification knowledge and over­all and top-bottom income inequality. Important policy implications are drawn in the case of the emerging European countries.
Challenges Faced by the Albanian Automotive and Auto-Insurance Industries Amidst Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Disruption
Authors: Barolli Ezmolda , Zeneli Muhamet
Published: February 2025

This paper aims to explore the automotive and auto insurance industries in Albania, pointing out the presence of such challenges as sys­tem interoperability, vehicle repair traceability, and risk analysis in insur­ance claim processing. Identifying the fragmented characteristics of these sectors is made possible through research techniques, including interviews with stakeholders and analysis of available open data. It also examines how various systems used by stakeholders are disconnected, vehicles’ ser­vice history associated with VINs being rare, and risks from odometer fraud and rolling wrecks (re-entering damaged cars into the market). This paper further explores the auto insurance landscape by highlighting the non-ex­istence of a bonus-malus system despite legal provisions, lack of data op­erability among insurers, and traditional labor-intensive claims settlement methods that intensify fraud risks. The paper discusses how blockchain and AI technologies can address these issues, drawing insights from previous re­search on their application in this sector.
Strategic Management in the Selected Organization
Authors: Zezulová Viktorie , Škrabal Jaroslav
Published: February 2025

The paper focuses on Strategic Management in the Selected Or­ganization. The paper aims to perform an analysis of strategic manage­ment in a pre-selected healthcare facility (organization) in the Czech Re­public. Furthermore, the paper is based on secondary data. This informa­tion is important for the creation of individual methods that were imple­mented and analyzed in the paper. As part of the paper, the authors eval­uated the primary data, which involves the implementation of a strategic management analysis in a pre-selected medical facility. Among the stra­tegic management methods used by the authors, it is primarily an analy­sis of the external and internal environment together with a SWOT analy­sis (plus/minus matrix). Conclusions and recommendations are drawn up at the end of the paper.
Does the Customs Clearance Process Affect Economic Growth? A Panel VAR Data Analysis
Authors: Katris Christos , Daskalopoulos Evangelos , Mylonas Aristeidis
Published: February 2025

The scope of this paper is to investigate whether the Customs clearance process can affect the economic growth in Greece. With the term growth, we mean the GDP per capita and a more general concept as it is ex­pressed in the Human Development Index which is addressed by the term development. The considered variables are the “Logistics Performance In­dex: Efficiency of the customs clearance process (1=low to 5=high)”, the “Human Development Index”, the “GDP per capita growth rate” and oth­er development and governance indicators from the World Bank. The re­sults stem from the econometric design of the panel VAR approach where the “Logistics performance index: Efficiency of customs clearance process (1=low to 5=high)” is the considered dependent variable and the other var­iables are the independent variables while the period is from 2000 to 2021 in our study.
Portfolio Diversification in a New Era of Financial Markets
Authors: Galvão Rosa , Dias Rui , Palma Cristina , Alexandre Paulo , Gonçalves Sidalina
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this study is to understand the movements between Fintech and AI stock indices, namely the Global Fintech, Artificial Intelligence & BigData Index (IAIQ), Blockchain Index (ILEGR), Disruptive Technology Index (IDTEC), in order to understand whether they behave as diversifying assets for India’s main stock index (Nifty 50). The results show no evidence that the Fintech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) stock indices, as well as other related indices such as Blockchain and Disruptive Technology, behave as diversifying assets concerning India’s main stock index, the Nifty 50, during the period from January 2020 to January 2024. In conclusion, in­vestors should adopt a prudent approach when considering including these assets in their portfolios and seek effective diversification through a variety of assets and strategies.
Epistemological concepts of business process management in providing enterprise economic security
Authors: SAMBORSKA Oksana
Published: February 2025

The concept of the epistemological framework within the foundations of business process management in providing an enterprise economic security has been proposed. The semantic division of such concepts is demonstrated, forming the basis for structuring the mentioned concepts across different fields of knowledge. The substantive epistemological concepts within these epistemological foundations are structured according to fields of knowledge, highlighting such areas as micro-level security studies, the process approach, evaluation theory, and micro-level management. These epistemological concepts are also structured by the sources of knowledge, distinguishing theoretical, empirical, instrumental, and sociocultural foundations. The negative consequences of the absence of various of epistemological foundations by origin within the epistemological foundations of business process management in providing the economic security of an enterprise are shown.
The issue of congruence between different epistemological foundations of business process management in providing the enterprise economic security is considered. Managerial recommendations for actions in the absence of such congruence are formulated to provide the integrity and consistency of epistemological foundations of business process management in providing the enterprise economic security.
A structured matrix of substantive epistemological concepts within the epistemological foundations of business process management in providing the enterprise economic security is built. Based on this matrix, with the involvement of structural epistemological operands, a continuum of epistemological foundations for business process management in providing the enterprise economic security is developed, allowing for the structured and coherent visualization of the content of the mentioned foundations
Adaptive Strategies of Indigenous Nenets Reindeer Herders for Climate Change in Yamal
Authors: Terekhina Alexandra , Volkovitskiy Alexander , Stammler Florian , Mertens Karl , Ivanov Valeriy Y. , Orekhov Pavel , Wren Colin D. , Tian Boqi , Shen Xin , Ivanova Aytalina , Liu Desheng , Ziker John P.
Published: February 2025

Nenets reindeer pastoralists of Yamal in the Russian Arctic, successfully deal with rapidly changing climate and natural gas industrialization. We present results from our long-term ethnographic study (2001–present) on the adaptive strategies that Nenets nomadic households have employed over time, their tradeoffs, inherent risks, and social implications of these strategies. While some strategies limit the adaptive flexibility of herding, they simultaneously enable agency that keeps Nenets households on the land—critical for maintaining their nomadism. Rapid climate change in the Arctic, which could lead to increased icing of pastures, makes reindeer herding more vulnerable. We examine meteorological data from Yamal to better understand the climatic trends challenging reindeer nomadism. Our analysis is relevant for policymakers through understanding Nenets adaptation and interactions with ecological processes and institutions.
Psychological Perspectives on Fear of Childbirth
Authors: Kanellopoulos D. , Gourounti K.
Published: February 2025

The current review aims to shed light on the psychology of tokophobia (fear of childbirth) with an emphasis on its etiology, as well as its physiological, cognitive and behavioral aspects for suffering women/mothers. Findings from the most recent reviewed articles support the perspective that its etiology is attributed to the way the woman’s/mother's personality is structured and organized, the comorbidity with anxiety or depressive disorders, the possibly unfavorable family and/or social environment, the poor emotional husband support, the possible history of abuse, as well as any previous traumatic child delivery experience. At the same time, other factors such as family finances, the woman’s/mother’s age and emotional maturity, the degree to which the gestation was desired, and the woman’s/mother’s education on labor and motherhood are also proven to significantly contribute to the gradual psychological construction of that specific type of phobia. The variety of the primary articles reviewed makes any further conclusions hard to draw. Nevertheless, these endless and unjustifiable vicious circles of fear of childbirth seem to be a major concern for scientists and psychologists to further investigate. The following factors should be investigated in future research for their potential impact on the development of fear of childbirth: 1) the neurobiology of pregnancy and childbirth, 2) the woman’s personality, 3) the hormonal and biochemical factors, and 4) the influence of social and mass media on fear of childbirth.
Psychological Determinants of the Trajectories of Self-quantification and Digitalization of Professional Cyclists’ Physical Activity: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations
Authors: Linossier Y. , Martinent G. , Quidu M.
Published: February 2025

Digitalization and self-quantification have permeated the field of high-level sport, particularly professional cycling. The data generated by connected objects and applications are used to improve riders' performance. However, no longitudinal study has documented the dynamics of the psychological determinants of professional cyclists' trajectories in digitization and self-quantification. To this end, the present research elaborates on the theoretical and methodological considerations regarding a longitudinal protocol, within the framework of a mixed research method.
Backward Design – An Innovative Instructional Model in Planning Higher Education Courses
Authors: Lungu Iuliana
Published: February 2025

This study explores the application of Backward Design, an instructional framework focused on active learning, and on curriculum development and course planning for higher education. Developed by Jay Grant Wiggins and McTighe in 1998, Backward Design encourages instructors to establish student learning outcomes before developing course content and assessments. This framework is applied here to the initial training of pre-service English teachers at Ovidius University of Constanta, aiming to equip them with outcome-driven teaching strategies. The findings are relevant and demonstrate that Backward Design can create more engaging, measurable, and impactful learning experiences, highlighting its potential to reshape traditional teaching practices.
Artificial Intimacy and Islamic Jurisprudence: Legal and Ethical Perspectives on Sex Robots
Authors: Hammad Hamza Abed Al-Karim
Published: February 2025

In light of the integration of artificial intelligence and the substantive progress in the robotics industry, a type of robots called sex robots has emerged, which some see as an alternative to natural sexual relations. A man finds a “female robot” as an alternative to a real woman and has a sexual relationship with the female robot, and the same applies to women. Therefore, this research aims to present the jurisprudential view on having sexual relations with robots. The research used the descriptive analytical method based on describing the nature of sex robots, then extrapolating the jurisprudential view of this sexual relationship from jurisprudential sources. As for the results and conclusions, the research concluded that the jurisprudential vision of this topic is represented in the prohibition of having sexual relations with robots in all their forms, and it is not permissible to use a robot for sexual purposes except when necessary; so that if a man or woman does not have to either use a robot or commit adultery, then use is permissible out of necessity; based on the opinion of the jurists of the Hanafi school, which sees masturbation as permissible in the event of fear of adultery, and the opinion of the jurists of the Hanbali school that masturbation is not permissible except when necessary, The scientific contribution of this study is evident as it deals with a realistic issue that has become widespread in contemporary times. This issue is not known to many researchers as well as the general public. Thus, it was necessary to present the jurisprudential perspective. Moreover, this study may be the first of its kind to address this topic.
RESEARCH OF CONTAINER MATERIAL AFTER LONG-TERM USAGE FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE
Authors: Диков Алексей
Published: February 2025

This article focuses on the research of the state of the container wall material made of ST-3 steel after long-term use (~50 years) for hydrogen storage. The features of the steel microstructure depending on the container wall thickness are shown. Signs of structure degradation near the inner surface of the container wall, caused by intense interaction with hydrogen, were revealed.
Digital Security for a Nonviolent Defence System
Authors: Martin Brian
Published: February 2025

Most discussions of digital security assume a society’s defence system is based on military forces. If defence were organised differently, this would change digital security considerations. One alternative model for defence is organised popular nonviolent resistance to deter aggression and defend communities. This is called social defence, nonviolent defence, civilian-based defence or defence by civil resistance. Proponents have developed many ideas about how such a defence system would operate, but most of this work predates the Internet. A key element of nonviolent defence is communication. Resisters need to be able to communicate reliably with each other as well as communicate with aggressors, actual and potential. A centralised communication system that can be taken over by force is a serious vulnerability, so network systems like the phone system are preferable to broadcast media like television. However, many network systems enable surveillance, so nonviolent resistance would require a capacity to disable surveillance capabilities. Workers would be trained in taking control of systems and, if necessary, disabling them in ways that cannot be restored by enemy experts or threats to key personnel. Citizens from every walk of life would be expected to learn about digital security measures, and to practise using them in the manner of fire drills. Digital systems suited for nonviolent resistance to foreign aggression are also suited for resistance to authoritarian governments. Therefore, social defence planning provides a template for the agenda of digital activism to support peace and a different paradigm of security.
Creative Vision, Grief, and Memory in L.M. Montgomery’s The Blythes Are Quoted and Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse
Authors: Clark Catherine
Published: February 2025

L.M. Montgomery’s posthumously published book The Blythes Are Quoted and Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse are both divided into two parts that are interrupted by the First World War. The visions of hope and possibility in the first section of each book are replaced in the second halves by re-visions of nostalgia, grief, and growth. While Woolf and Montgomery are not often discussed together, a comparison of these novels highlights how, for both authors, aesthetic creations such as painting, writing, and storytelling become a means for their characters to process grief and remember lost loved ones.
Innováció és szabályozás párbeszéde: A kísérleti alapú szabályozási eszközök és a vállalati megfelelés kölcsönhatása
Authors: Firniksz Judit
Published: February 2025

Az elmúlt évtizedben mind nagyobb számban jelennek meg a digitális piacokat érintő kísérleti alapú szabályozási eszközök, amelyek a hatályos szabályokhoz képest átmeneti eltérést biztosítva ellenőrzött kockázatok és felügyelet keretein belül teszik lehetővé az innovációt, és egyszersmind az ehhez kapcsolódó párbeszéd révén lehetőséget adnak a szabályozási tanulásra, javítva a külső és belső szabályozási normák megalkotóinak új technológiákra vonatkozó ismereteit. A tanulmány a digitális vállalkozások compliance szempontjaiból kiindulva elhatárolja a vállalati megfelelés külső és belső dimenzióit, majd ebben az értelmezési keretben mozogva felvázolja a kísérleti alapú jogi szabályozási eszközök fogalmi és elméleti háttérét a minőségi jogalkotásra vonatkozó uniós jogalkotási fejleményeket is figyelembe véve. A szabályozási párbeszéden alapuló tanulási folyamat bemutatásával átvezet a vállalati megfelelési következtetések levonásához, a külső és belső szabályozásban megjelenő változás- és bizonytalanságkezelési mechanizmusok közötti interakciók szükségességére, és a nagy nyelvi modellek által generált úgynevezett árnyék-MI problémáján keresztül rámutat a belső vállalati homokozókban rejlő lehetőségekre is.
ТЕОРЕТИЧНІ ЗАСАДИ БУХГАЛТЕРСЬКОГО ОБЛІКУ ЗОВНІШНЬОЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ
Authors: Вакуленко В.Л.
Published: February 2025

Сучасний стан розвитку сільського господарства в Україні характеризується поступовим впровадженням інноваційних технологій, насамперед – інформаційних технологій, які є важливими для вдосконалення бізнес-процесів. У контексті автоматизації витрат використовується інформаційне забезпечення, що має важливе значення для того, щоб задовольнити виробничі потреби підприємства. Мета статті: теоретично обґрунтувати основні аспекти синергії інформаційного забезпечення та виробничих потреб аграрного підприємства у контексті автоматизації процесу управління витратами. З’ясовано сутність процесу управління витратами та структуру системи управління на аграрних підприємствах. Визначено основні переваги, які підприємство отримує завдяки автоматизації процесу управління витратами. Розглянуто основні процеси, автоматизація яких передбачається у даному контексті. Проаналізовано програмне забезпечення, яке застосовується сільськогосподарськими підприємствами для автоматизації процесу управління витратами. Визначено можливості інформаційного забезпечення як основи автоматизації управління витратам.