bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment tools accuracy for classification and diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Authors: Ruiz-Garcia Ramiro , Matias-Guiu Jordi A , Grasso Stephanie , Ruiz-Rodríguez Orelli , Medina-Rioja Raúl , Finger Elizabeth , Pérez-Neri Iván
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a syndrome characterized by progressive decline in language function. There are three main PPA syndromes, each one features different language profiles and neuropathologic substrates. Although there are current clinical diagnostic criteria for PPA categorization, the utility of these requires evaluation(s) by specialized staff and the administration of extensive cognitive batteries. A diagnostic tool for PPA is not currently standardized, though some batteries have been developed and/or validated exclusively for PPA categorization. We aim to describe which cognitive/aphasia diagnostic tool has the best accuracy for PPA diagnosis and categorization.
Methods and Analysis. MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE and Web of Science databases will be searched using adequate search strategies. Studies including original data of possible, probable, and definite PPA cases according to current clinical diagnostic criteria for PPA will be included. Inclusion criteria will be 1) Studies describing data of a cognitive/aphasia clinical battery including at least one test measure (e.g., specificity, positive predictive values, etc.) and 2) PPA diagnosis according to current clinical criteria as the reference standard. Two reviewers will perform the screening and data extraction. Quality assessment will be performed according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) guidelines. This systematic review protocol is reported as stated by with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocol (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement.
Dissemination. Findings of this systematic review protocol will be disseminated through a publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Results will be helpful to improve the diagnosis and classification of PPA syndromes.
Uso de dexametasona en pacientes con hematoma subdural crónico: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Alcaraz López Daniela , Ayala Obeso Alondra , Reyes Pérez Narce Dalia
Published: February 2024

Introducción: El hematoma subdural crónico (HSDC) es una colección antigua de sangre y de productos de degradación de la sangre en el espacio subdural que ocurre por lo general en la vejez, afectando predominantemente a los varones. El tratamiento quirúrgico es el de elección en pacientes sintomáticos, siendo la craneotomía convencional la más utiliza, aunque trae consigo múltiples complicaciones. Es por ello, que en los últimos años se ha incrementado la búsqueda de terapias alternativas, destacando el interés por el uso de glucocorticoides, en especial de la dexametasona (DXM), como adyuvante perioperatorio o como monoterapia en el HSC al considerarse un antiinflamatorio con efectos anti angiogénicos y capaz de inhibir la formación de nuevos vasos sanguíneos. El objetivo es describir la eficiencia, eficacia y seguridad del uso de dexametasona en pacientes mayores de 18 años con hematoma subdural crónico en comparación con el drenaje quirúrgico o grupo placebo. Métodos: La presente revisión sistemática se realizó de acuerdo con las pautas PRISMA 2020. Se realizaron búsquedas avanzadas entre los meses de junio y julio del año 2023, en idioma inglés y español, en las bases de datos NEJM, PubMed y Embase a través de Cochrane Library utilizando los descriptores y operadores booleanos de la siguiente manera: "Dexamethasone” AND "Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic", y rango de años personalizado 2018 - 2023. Resultados: En las diferentes bases de datos se encontraron 44 artículos, de los que 12 eran duplicados, 32 artículos fueron revisados para lectura de título y resumen. Después de aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión solo 10 artículos fueron seleccionados para realizar una revisión de texto completo, finalmente en la revisión se lograron incluir cinco artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Discusión y conclusión: El uso de DXM en pacientes con HSDC incide positivamente solo en el riesgo de recurrencia, sin embargo, no se encontraron resultados concluyentes. Asimismo, el uso de DXM en pacientes con HSDC está asociada a un mayor riesgo de complicaciones y mortalidad, además no se demostró una diferencia significativa en los resultados funcionales y días de hospitalización en comparación con los que recibieron cirugía primaria o placebo.
Features of the evolution of student literary circles of Moscow University in the last quarter of the 18th – early 19th centuries
Authors: Kunts Evgeny
Published: February 2024

The article deals with the activities of student literary circles of Moscow University in the last quarter of the 18th - early 19th centuries. The goals, objectives, organizational structure, content of activities and the role of university associations are studied. The main trends in the development and internal evolution of literary societies are revealed.
International Training and Development
Authors:   Department of Political Economy, Public Policy, King‘s College London, London, United Kingdom, Pei Wenjia
Published: February 2024

It is widely accepted that effective management of human resources will bring about increased organizational and employee performance. Based on this, the area of international human resource management (IHRM) has gained increased interest, especially with the continued growth of multinational corporations and globalization. Many IHRM practices and theories have been developed since the emergence of international business. The boundaries of IHRM are established within the concepts of MNC management across diverse cultural work practices as well as comparative international HRM among organisations. In this paper, I will reflect on these concepts as applicable in the practices of international training and development and performance management and compensation. My reflective essay will explore these topics with a key interest in expatriates who are affected greatly
The Social Media Paradox or How Political Dialogue is Hard to Practice on Facebook: The Portuguese Case
Authors: Telles Alda Magalhães , Alexandre Ilo , Rosa Jorge Martins
Published: February 2024

There is widespread acknowledgement that social media platforms are strategically used by organizations to communicate and even engage with their stakeholders. It is also recognized in political communication studies that social networks can promote interaction between political actors and citizens, encouraging participation and direct communication. Introducing the dialogic communication principles into the analysis of political parties’ interactive behavior on social networks, this paper analyzes the level of interactivity between the public and the political parties that participated in the 2019 general elections in Portugal as they occurred on their institutional Facebook pages during the election campaign. The findings of the analysis, carried out based on an original set of metrics, conclude that the level of engagement and interactivity of political parties with their followers on Facebook is low or even null. This result is consistent with our first hypothesis of the existence of the so-called “social media paradox”, mirroring the interaction challenges and limitations in online political communication. Our second hypothesis, that the new or fringe parties show a higher level of interactivity with their Facebook followers, was confirmed. Another important finding of this study deepens the “paradoxical” behavior online: while social networking is mainly oriented to public engagement, political parties privilege the private communication options of Facebook that tend to favor a more deep and real dialogic exchange between political parties and citizens.
Using EEG to test if spoken image labels propel subliminal images into consciousness
Authors: Ching April Shi MIn , Kim Jeesun , Davis Chris
Published: February 2024

This preregistered study will investigate whether linguistic information is able to influence low-level visual perception. We claim that many pre-existing studies supporting this view have significant shortcomings: in brief, these studies confuse measures of objective performance with that of subjective experience, and cannot exclude the possibility that their observed effects might have been mediated by post-sensory processes instead (e.g., semantics, memory). Our proposed paradigm combines elements from two published studies by Sekar et al. (2011) and Lupyan and Ward (2013). Participants (N = 18) will observe and rate visual targets of fixed intensity corresponding to their 50% identification threshold; visual targets are preceded by matching and mismatched spoken verbal cues. For every target presented, participants carry out an identification task and rate their subjective experience (“didn’t see”, “couldn’t identify”, “unsure”, and “sure”). If verbal cues can influence subliminal visual information, we ought to observe improved identification of targets that were rated with “didn’t see”. In addition, we will record encephalographic (EEG) signals to target stimuli. We aim to replicate the consciousness related evoked potential identified by Sekar et al. (2011), which was originally observed in MEG and enhanced in trials associated with full/partial awareness (“couldn’t identify”, “unsure”, and “sure”). We will also test if matching verbal cues increase the amplitude of this potential in the same manner as conscious perception.
Sheer Difference Theory: conflicting worldviews may motivate social response adjustment
Authors: Deschrijver Eliane
Published: February 2024

Social neuroscience has often focused on how humans understand motives for others’ behavior through the concept of mental state inference or theory of mind. However, this concept does not fully explain how we select our own actions to achieve social success. Here, we propose the concept of sheer disagreement to guide how we adjust social responses: a dual conflict-signal may arise in the brain when perceiving another’s point of view as different (mental conflict) and wrong (cognitive conflict). Neural conflict often comes with negative emotions and can motivate increased response control. Humans may as such recognize interpersonal situations that bear a risk for actual conflict, and change initial response tendencies. Expressing views that follow others’ thinking (e.g., white lies), for instance, can defuse looming disagreement. A lesser sensitivity or use of the sheer disagreement signal, in contrast, lead autistic people to exert less social response control. Finally, we speculate how Dark Triad personalities may use understanding of the mechanism to control others’ behavior. Sheer disagreement theory brings an encompassing theory about how we manage everyday disagreement to achieve relational success, and may explain why humans coalesce in similarly-minded networks.
Tracing Truth Through Conceptual Scaling: Mapping People’s Understanding of Abstract Concepts
Authors: Huber Lukas Sebastian , Künstle David-Elias , Reuter Kevin
Published: February 2024

Traditionally, the investigation of truth has been anchored in a priori reasoning. Cognitive science deviates from this tradition by adding empirical data on how people understand and use concepts. Building on psychophysics and machine learning methods, we introduce conceptual scaling, an approach to map people's understanding of abstract concepts. This approach allows computing participant-specific conceptual maps from obtained ordinal comparison data, thereby quantifying perceived similarities among abstract concepts. Using this approach, we investigated individual's alignment with philosophical theories on truth and the predictive capacity of conceptual maps. Obtained results indicated that, while people's understanding of truth is multifaceted and encapsulates notions of coherence and authenticity, alignment is best for the correspondence theory of truth. Furthermore, conceptual maps allowed predicting individual outcomes with an accuracy of approximately 70%. This research demonstrates that conceptual scaling offers accurate descriptions of individual's understanding of abstract concepts, behavioral predictions, and quantification of alignment with theoretical perspectives.
Effects of inpatient, residential, and day-patient treatment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms in persons with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zisler Eva , Meule Adrian , Endres Dominique , Schennach Rebecca , Jelinek Lena , Voderholzer Ulrich
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Patients with severe or treatment-refractory OCD in particular often need an extensive treatment which cannot be provided by outpatient care. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the effects and their moderators of inpatient, residential, or day-patient treatment on obsessive–compulsive symptoms in patients with OCD. Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were systematically screened according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected if they were conducted in an inpatient, residential, or day-patient treatment setting, were using a number of pre-defined instruments for assessing OCD symptom severity, and had a sample size of at least 20 individuals. Results: We identified 43 eligible studies in which inpatient, residential, or day-patient treatment was administered. The means and standard deviations at admission, discharge, and—if available—at follow-up were extracted. All treatment programs included cognitive-behavioral treatment with exposure and response prevention. Only one study reported to not have used psychopharmacological medication. Obsessive–compulsive symptoms decreased from admission to discharge with large effect sizes (g = -1.41, 95%CI [-1.57; -1.26]) and did not change from discharge to follow-up (g = 0.13, 95%CI [-0.08; 0.33]). Length of stay, age, sex, and region did not moderate the treatment effect from admission to discharge but instrument used did: effects were larger for clinician-rated interviews than for self-report measures. Conclusions: Individuals with OCD can achieve considerable symptom reductions when undertaking inpatient, residential, or day- patient treatment and effects are—on average—maintained after discharge.
Belief in Belief: Even Atheists in Secular Countries Show Intuitive Preferences Favoring Religious Belief
Authors: Gervais Will M , McKay Ryan , Brown-Iannuzzi Jazmin Lati , Ross Robert M , Pennycook Gordon , Jong Jonathan , Lanman Jonathan Andrew
Published: February 2024

Religion is a cross-cultural human universal, yet explicit markers of religiosity have rapidly waned in large parts of the world in recent decades. In this paper, we explore whether intuitive religious influence lingers, even among nonbelievers in largely secular societies. We adapted a classic experimental philosophy task to test for lingering pro-religious intuitions among people in 8 comparatively nonreligious countries: Canada, China, Czechia, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and Viet Nam (total N = 3804). Our analyses revealed strong evidence that (1) people intuitively favor religious belief over atheism and that (2) this pattern was not moderated by participants’ own self-reported atheism. Indeed, (3) even atheists in relatively secular societies intuitively prefer belief to atheism. These inferences were robust across different analytic strategies, and across other measures of individual differences in religiosity and religious instruction. Although explicit religious belief has rapidly declined in these countries, it’s possible that belief in belief – an intuitive preference for religious belief over atheism – may still persist. These results speak to the complex psychological and cultural dynamics of secularization.
Target recognition and lure rejection: two sides of the same memorability coin?
Authors: Zhao Chong , Fukuda Keisuke , Woodman Geoffrey Forrest
Published: February 2024

The human brain has a massive storage capacity for remembering visual information, but certain objects appear to be more likely to be remembered than the others across observers. Here, we tested a new possible explanation for the differential memorability of objects. The explanation states that certain objects are more memorable due to sheer frequency of encounter. We had a group of observers provide subjective frequency estimates for the objects in our stimulus set. We found that items that observers judged as more frequently seen were easier to reject as new items, but did not correlate with which items were more likely to garner hit responses when they were old. In sum, our findings suggest that memorability may be a multifaceted construct, with different aspects of the memoranda driving different component judgements that observers make.
Trade Openness and Economic Growth of Nepal: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: Neupane Deepak
Published: February 2024

Background: The relationship between trade openness and economic growth has been a subject of empirical investigation- a multifaceted and evolving issue in the context of Nepal which is a highly import-based economy. In this background, the results of the exploration of the relationship between trade openness and economic growth would be relevant to suggest that policymakers in adopting the policies and boosting the available capital and labour to attain the benefits of trade openness.
Objectives: This study examines the impact of trade openness on the economic growth of Nepal considering GDP, human capital, real gross capital formation, and trade openness employing both descriptive and econometric methods.
Methods: This study incorporated the annual time series data published by the government of Nepal from the year 1990 to 2021 and analyzed employing the vector error correction model (VECM) along with the descriptive analysis.
Results: Descriptive statistics reveal that the model follows a normal distribution, as indicated by the results of JarqueBera, where the p-values of the variables exceed 0.05. The variables demonstrate stationary at the first order and are cointegrated as such vector error correction model (VECM) is employed. The presence of a negative and significant error correction term (ECT) indicates that the variables are adjusting towards long run equilibrium. Furthermore, the stability of the model is confirmed by the cumulative sum (CUSUM) test as the residual plots remain within acceptable boundaries of a 5 percent significance level. Finally, the results indicate that trade openness does not have a significant and pivotal influence on economic growth.
Conclusion: Trade openness does not have a significant influence on economic growth. Capital has a significant and positive relationship with stimulating economic growth, however, human capital has a significant but negative relationship with economic growth in the long run in Nepal.
Key Factors Influencing Adoption of Online Dispute Resolution in Banking Sector: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Amatya Salina , Basyal Devid Kumar , Lawaju Purnima , Paudel Udaya Raj , Bhandari Anil
Published: February 2024

Background: Online dispute resolution system helps banks to reduce expenses and time associated with dispute resolution while enhancing client satisfaction and loyalty However, it faces several challenges necessitating the establishment of standards to ensure consistency and security.
Objectives: Many online dispute resolution (ODR) services like email, chat, and video conferencing offer global grievance solutions, yet individuals face challenges due to diverse regulations, leading to security, privacy, and connectivity issues. Thus, this study aims to understand how customers perceive online dispute resolution for resolving banking issues.
Methods: The research adopts an explanatory research design and employs a convenient sampling method for data collection. It's grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology theory. A total of 403 data points were gathered using structured questionnaires and were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results: This study reveals that the trust placed in ODR technology, trust in the bank's services, and the perceived ease of use (effort expectancy) are crucial determinants shaping individuals' intentions to engage with ODR. The challenges of limited technology access, lack of awareness and trust, and inadequate infrastructure pose constraints on online dispute resolution's effectiveness. Addressing these limitations involves enhancing access to technology, and infrastructure and organizing awareness programs as managerial solutions.
Conclusion: Trust in ODR technology, trust in the bank's services, and perceived ease of use are key factors influencing individuals' intentions to utilize ODR. Challenges, including limited technology access, lack of awareness and trust, and inadequate infrastructure, pose significant constraints on the effectiveness of online dispute resolution. Managerial solutions should prioritize enhancing technology access, improving infrastructure, and implementing awareness programs to overcome these barriers and optimize the potential of ODR.
Business Student Satisfaction: The Role of Academic and Non-Academic Services in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Gurung Santosh Kumar , Chapagain Ramkrishna , Thapa Kabita
Published: February 2024

Background: Scholarly literature widely acknowledges the significance of academic and non-academic services in determining student satisfaction in higher education institutions. However, the opinion of students in determining various aspects of academic and non-academic services has not been considered, especially in developing nations.
Objectives: This study aims to examine business students’ satisfaction with academic and non-academic services.
Methods: 255 business students were purposively selected for this descriptive quantitative study. The reason for adopting purposive sampling in this study is that different people hold different and essential views about the issue and, therefore, must be included in the sample. Using the Higher Education Performance (HedPERFormance) measurement instrument, a 19-item structured survey was developed for self-administration. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 22.0 versions. The variables determining students' satisfaction levels with academic and non-academic services were examined using descriptive statistics. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to demonstrate the interrelationship of the three constructs and validate the hypothesis.
Results: The study revealed a significant positive relationship between student satisfaction and academic and non-academic services. However, the study results demonstrated a greater significance of academic services for students in higher education institutions.
Conclusion: The findings concluded that student satisfaction extends beyond academic services, encompassing nonacademic or administrative services. These aspects directly influence how students perceive and assess the educational institution. This indicates that the satisfaction students derive from their educational experience is not solely reliant on academic factors but is equally shaped by the quality of administrative services, contributing significantly to their overall evaluation of the institution.
Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Produktivitas Penyadap Tanaman Karet di PT. Atjeh Raya Corpindo Kebun Alur Buluh
Authors: Muhammad Hamdani  , Rozalina  , Basriwijaya Kiagus Muhammad Zain
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor apa saja yang mempengaruhi produktivitas kinerja karyawan penyadap tanaman karet di PT. Atjeh Raya Corpindo Kebun Alur Buluh, Kecamatan Birem Bayeun, Kabupaten Aceh Timur. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik Simple Random Sampling, dengan pertimbangan bahan sampel bersifat homogen atau rata-rata memiliki karakter yang sama. Untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor apa saja yang mempengaruhi produktivitas kinerja karyawan penyadap tanaman karet di PT. Atjeh Raya Corpindo Kebun Alur Buluh, Kecamatan Birem Bayeun, Kabupaten Aceh Timur digunakan analisis statistik dengan metode linear berganda. Pengolahan data dilakukan menggunakan software komputer SPSS versi 25. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa variabel lingkungan kerja (X1) berpengaruh nyata atau signifikan terhadap produktivitas, variabel pengawasan (X2) berpengaruh nyata atau signifikan terhadap produktivitas, variabel pengalaman (X3) tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap produktivitas, dan variabel premi (X4) berpengaruh nyata atau signifikan terhadap produktivitas kinerja karyawan penyadap tanaman karet di PT. Atjeh Raya Corpindo Kebun Alur Buluh, Kecamatan Birem Bayeun, Kabupaten Aceh Timur.Kata Kunci : Lingkungan Kerja; Pengalaman; Pengawasan; Premi; Produktivitas
Ketersediaan Modal Dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Pendapatan Usahatani Padi Sawah di Kecamatan Tilongkabila Kabupaten Bone Bolango
Authors: Umar Risti Fadilah , Yuliana Bakari  , Supriyo Imran  , Muhammad Zubair Hippy
Published: February 2024

Modal yang besar dapat membuat pendapatan petani padi sawah meningkat, karena bisa menghasilkan produksi yang lebih efisien dan peningkatan pendapatan yang efektif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sumber modal dan ketersediaan modal juga pengaruh sumber modal terhadap pendapatan usahatani padi sawah yang ada di Kecamtan Tilongkabila Kabupaten Bone Bolango. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan Nomogram Harry King sehingga menghasilkan jumlah sampel sebanyak 120 responden dari jumlah populasi 629 orang, dengan menggunakan metode non probability sampling secara  accidental sampling. Jenis dan sumber data menggunakan data primer dan sekunder. Metode analisis yang digunakan analisis deskriptif dan analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ketersedian modal usahatani padi sawah adalah sebesar 93%. Selain itu, penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa sumber modal pribadi tidak berpengaruh positif terhadap pendapatan usahatani padi sawah. Sama halnya dengan sumber modal pinjaman yang tidak berdampak positif terhadap pendapatan usahatani sawah. Hasil R square berpengaruh terhadap pendapatan usahatani padi sawah di Kecamatan Tilongkabila sebesar 4,1%. Sebagai perbandingan, 95,9% lainnya dipengaruhi oleh variabel lain yang tidak termasuk dalam model regresi linier berganda.
Opportunities for Food waste Behavior at the Household Level in the Special Region of Yogyakarta
Authors: Cahyasita Dhika , Anggrasari Herdiana , Ridwan Muhamad
Published: February 2024

Food waste has become a serious concern due to the environmental damage and financial losses it causes. Leftover food at the consumption stage is a direct consequence of consumer buying behavior. Most of the food waste occurs at the household level. This makes analysis of the causes of food waste behavior at the household level an opportunity to prevent food waste problems. This study aims to determine the behavior of food waste at the household level in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Data of 203 respondents were obtained from online and offline surveys and analyzed descriptively. The findings show that households have a very positive attitude towards avoiding food waste which is supported by a high level of food management knowledge and skills. The level of household eating and shopping habits that support food waste is in the moderate category.
Multidimensional Well-Being of Remote Workers: A Qualitative Comparison Between Full-Remote and Hybrid Workers
Authors: Ayu Safira Nadia , Hanami Yuliana , Batubara Megawati
Published: February 2024

The implementation of full-remote and hybrid working systems continues to improve and be maintained now. In addition to the convenience, remote working affects the psychological condition of workers. Human Resource (HR) workers who perform remote working need to ensure their psychological condition because they become role models for employees in the company. This study aims to get a comprehensive overview of the well-being of HR workers who implement full-remote and hybrid systems. Qualitative research methods are used with thematic comparison analysis. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The characteristics of the respondents in this study are 1) HR employees; 2) Work for a minimum of 6 months; 3) Implement a remote working system (full remote or hybrid working). The research respondents consisted of four people, which are two full-remote workers and two hybrid workers. This study shows that overall remote working can simplify the work processes of employees because its flexibility. On the other hand, the differences were found between the two types of remote working, specifically full-remote work system gives employees more flexibility in managing their work, but workers tend to feel social isolation. Meanwhile, the hybrid work system makes it easier for workers to meet social needs, but workers tend to increase physical complaints. The results of this study can become practical suggestions at the individual, managerial and organizational levels in providing specific guidelines for remote working.
Service Quality Analysis of the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) Tirta Sejuk Against the Need for Clean Water in Blangkejeren
Authors: Ali Khaidir , Rizky Rafieqah Nalar , Ulayya Atikah
Published: February 2024

One of the BUMDs owned by the regional government is The Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM), which is responsible for developing and managing a clean water supply system to serve consumers at more affordable prices. The need for clean water is something that is of great concern because it is one of the primary human needs that cannot be avoided in everyday life. This research aims to determine the analysis of the service quality of PDAM Tirta Sejuk regarding the need for clean water in Blangkejeren. The method used is a qualitative method with descriptive analysis to obtain a systematic, factual and accurate picture of the problems studied. This research also uses Zeithaml's theory which consists of several main indicators, namely: tangibles, empathy, responsiveness, reliability and guarantee. The results of the research show that the service provided to consumers is quite good and satisfying, seen in its form, namely the existence of facilities and infrastructure to support service quality and meet community needs, prioritizing good communication in creating a sense of empathy for customers, and responsiveness in overcoming various problems that occur regarding clean water needs. Apart from that, reliability is also emphasized to fulfill promises of guarantees that will be given to customers.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT: OPPOSITION OR HARMONY?
Authors:   Uniwersytet Warszawski, Bach-Golecka Dobrochna
Published: February 2024

The aim of this article is to focus on women’s rights and how these rights correlate with pro-life stance: Are those in opposition to one another or in harmony? In order to answer this question, an analysis of the notion of women’s rights has been performed. Moreover, the categories of the rights of pregnant women and reproductive rights are also examined. The normative analysis of human rights provisions concerning the scope of the protection of the right to life in the pre-natal phase is made, alongside the examination of relevant judicial decisions, namely: the Court of Justice of the European Union in the "Grogan" case (1991), the Supreme Court of the United States judgments in "Roe v. Wade" (1973) and "Dobbs" case (2022), the European Court of Human Rights in "Bouton v. France" (2022) and the Polish Constitutional Tribunal judgment on prohibition of eugenic abortion (2020). In conclusion, the arguments concerning the mutual relationship between women’s rights and the pro-life and pro-abortion movements are presented, with a final standpoint on the noble character of the pro-life stance, based on human rights protection due to solidarity, altruism and cosmopolitan values.
WOMEN’S EQUALITY: THE FINAL REDEMPTION
Authors:   Franciscan University of Steubenville, Savage Deborah
Published: February 2024

The aim of this paper is to correct a historical error, one that I will argue is at the heart of the contemporary feminist movement: the ancient claim, grounded in a flawed understanding of the reproductive act, that woman is inferior to man. I will show that the lineage of this can be traced as far back as the pre-Socratic philosophers, finally finding its earliest concrete expression in a claim most have either dismissed, forgotten, or never heard: Aristotle’s argument that women are merely “malformed males” and are therefore “inferior to man”. The theory found support in the first century with a historical interpretation of Genesis 2:18-23, traceable in particular to the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, Philo (BC 13-AD 54). Philo’s own theory about woman echoed that of Aristotle’s; his legacy includes the vague feeling that Scripture itself declares that, since woman is created after man, she is necessarily subservient to him. She becomes, as it were, the “second sex”. The combination of Aristotle and Philo proved too persuasive even for the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas and the theory accelerated and then spread through the university system inaugurated during the Middle Ages, subsequently informing the social structures and norms of Western civilization, going mostly unchallenged throughout human history, silently persisting even into the present time. This error represents what can be called a chronic “wound” in our intellectual tradition. And it is a wound that must be healed. I argue that the antidote is to correct this account and that it can be defeated on its own terms. Through the lens of Hebraic and Aristotelian-Thomistic anthropology, and building on the insights of St. John Paul II, I provide a robust, philosophically and theologically grounded account of man and woman from within the Catholic exegetical tradition, showing that man and woman are both equally human, equally endowed with intellect, will, and freedom while at the same time reflecting two different ways of being in the world.
PREPARING THE BRIDE TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM: REFLECTIONS ON THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARY
Authors:   University of Fribourg, Schumacher Michele M.
Published: February 2024

Within the context of arguing for the continuity of the natural and sacramental significance of sexual complementarity, this contribution calls upon various qualities of the Marian faith, beginning with its primacy with respect to all other forms of ecclesial faith, including that of the apostles. Because her assent to God is given for all humankind, Mary is said to be the Bride of Christ par excellence. Far from exempting others from their own personal consent to Christ, however, Mary’s universal faith is presented as rendering every other act of faith possible. In virtue, moreover, of her unique personal mission as the Mother of Christians, Mary exercises an ecclesial faith: a faith that is shared. As complementary to the mission of the apostles and their successors, whom Christ employs as instruments for dispensing of his salvific graces, Mary’s mission entails preparing the self-giving faith of each of us in view of our unique, personal and salvific encounters with her Son. Because these encounters bear fruit in the form of a personal mission, the Christian might be said to thereby continue Mary’s mission of preparing others for their own “sponsal” union with Christ. Such is the fulness of the Christian life to which all are called as “brides” in the one Bride of Christ, the Church, who in Mary, already exists in the sinless splendor of perfect union with the divine Bridegroom.
(UN)RECOGNISED CLIMATE MIGRANTS. THE CASE OF NEW ZEALAND
Authors:   Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Adamczyk Anita , Mrozowska Sylwia ,   University of Gdańsk
Published: February 2024

The subject of the study are formal and legal challenges posed by migration caused by climate change. The main reason for consideration is the growing phenomenon of resettlement induced by this process, with the simultaneous lack of regulations protecting incomers. The authors present the current state of protection of climate migrants, initiatives to provide such protection, and the example of New Zealand, which has made an attempt to look for solutions safeguarding climate migrants. The recommendation of the authors of the article clearly points to the need to adopt a definition of a climate migrant in international law.
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MERCOSUR’S TRADE AGREEMENT
Authors:   University of Łódź, Król Monika A.
Published: February 2024

The subject of the study is the external trade relations of the EU as a subject of international law, concluded with organisations of states and individual countries within the framework of the EU Common Commercial Policy. The aim of the study is to assess the provisions of the EU-Mercosur Agreement made in terms of the choice of legal instruments for the association of the two regions in terms of sustainable socio-economic growth and trade, while ensuring environmental protection and consumer food safety. The essential considerations are preceded by a demonstration of the evolutionary changes in the approach to food safety and environmental protection in the EU’s external trade agreements and Mercosur’s internal regulations. The analysis carried out mandates a number of conclusions relating to the two chapters of the agreement governing food safety of imported food products and environmental protection. The norms as negotiated in the agreement do not implement the objective of sustainable development and should be renegotiated. The exclusion of the precautionary principle only confirms the thesis that has been put forward.
CONTRACT FARMING AS AN INSTRUMENT AGAINST FOOD WASTAGE
Authors:   University of Silesia in Katowice, Łobos-Kotowska Dorota
Published: February 2024

The subject of the paper is the problem of prevention of food wastage at the production stage. A contract farming agreement is the legal instrument that performs the function of prevention of food wastage at this stage. The conclusion of a contract farming agreement affects the food wastage caused by both natural and climate related and economic causes. The primary function of this agreement is to plan and organize production by providing the agricultural producer with the ability to sell his agricultural products and the contracting party with access to feedstocks of a specified quantity and quality. Other functions of this agreement, such as modernizing the production process and providing economic support to the producer, also contribute to a reduction of food wastage.
FREEDOM OF INDEPENDENT SPEECH AND DEBATE – VANISHING POINT IN AN ALGORITHMIC DEMOCRACY
Authors:   Uniwersytet Warszawski, Piotrowski Ryszard
Published: February 2024

The new technologies are fundamentally changing the culture of human rights, including the right to freedom of speech, by lowering the level of sensitivity to their violation and making people gradually accustomed to systemic restrictions not only on the right to privacy but also on the sovereignty of the nation. The dependence on new information and communication technologies is transforming the constitutional identity of the democratic state ruled by law, without formally changing the existing constitution. In a situation where any kind of fictitious reality may be fashioned using AI algorithms, the freedom of speech, as a reflection of freedom of thought, comes under acute threats.
Indigenous-Driven Youth Consultations: Reclaiming the Process through Meaningful Participation
Authors: Quintal-Marineau Magalie , Blanchet-Cohen Natasha , Ibarra-Lemay Alicia
Published: February 2024

La participation authentique des jeunes Autochtones s’inscrit dans le contexte historique plus large des consultations avec les peuples autochtones du Canada, qui reproduisent souvent la dynamique du pouvoir colonial. Cet article décrit une consultation qui, menée par des Autochtones au Québec, offrait des espaces adaptés à la culture où les priorités étaient établies par les jeunes. Les formats des consultations entreprises par quatre organisations autochtones reposaient sur (a) la mobilisation et la représentation des réalités diverses des jeunes, (b) la réappropriation du processus, (c) le soutien des voix et des identités des jeunes, et (d) les effets multiniveaux. Des approches appropriées et inclusives en matière de consultation favorisent la participation significative des jeunes, leur sentiment d’identité et d’appartenance, ainsi que leur autonomie. Ces pratiques novatrices illustrent la manière dont les jeunes autochtones se réapproprient les espaces politiques marginalisés.
Uralsky, M. Zinaida Gippius. The Warrior Maiden of Russian symbolism. 1869–1920
Authors: Egorova L. V.
Published: February 2024

The review discusses a biography of Zinaida Gippius that covers the events of her life from 1869 to the 1920s. The author chooses to dwell on her role as the ‘Warrior Maiden of Russian symbolism,’ consequently omitting the last 25 years of her life from the study. Mark Uralsky utilizes an extensive range of documents to show Zinaida Gippius’s significance as a poet, literary critic, philosopher, and activist in the shaping of Russian symbolism and the so-called ‘new religious consciousness.’ The book particularly explores the psychophysical aspects of her personality that largely predetermined her often scandalous public appearances. The sheer wealth of information in combination with a frequent lack of in-depth analysis creates a superficial impression, which is reinforced by the book’s many repetitions. It would be satisfying to see more in-depth research and more skill and scholarship in exploring the extensive material garnered from various sources, as well as more convergence between biography and poetics. At the same time, the collected material and bibliography will be useful for subsequent research of the topic.
Improving the Processes of Modeling Customs Activities at the Present Stage
Authors: Kruglov Vladimir Nikolaevich
Published: February 2024

In modern conditions of market economic activity, the process of integration and cooperative interaction often becomes crucial for the country to conduct an effective foreign economic policy. However, it is the very time that this trend has been subjected to numerous challenges and threats from the perspective of multiple packages of unjustified sanctions against the Russian Federation from a number of Western unfriendly states. As a result, along with threats and challenges, strengths and weaknesses of the process, new opportunities for optimizing the trade balance with foreign partners have appeared. The logistics flows of Russian trade have changed the vector of orientation from the western to the eastern sector. The algorithm of trade relations itself is changing. And one of the main parts in this restructuring mechanism is played by the apparatus of the Federal Customs Service (FCS), without whose thorough work success in this matter is simply impossible. In turn, the customs industry, in order to activate innovative management imperatives, urgently needs numerous initial assets and resources to fully ensure daily operations. This means that the role of the logistics support structure responsible for this area is immeasurably increasing. It is the activity of the latter that is the focus of the study. The author sees the improvement of the procurement model and its algorithm as a very effective opportunity. Based on the accumulated statistical information and scientific research, the forecast change in a number of procurement functions in various directions is analyzed. Specific conclusions and recommendations are given.
Formulation High Energy and Rich Iron of Granola Snackbar as a Nutritional Supplementary Feeding to Prevent Malnutrition in Pregnant Women
Authors: Hayudanti Dewinta , Kurnia Ethasari Rossa , Mundiastuti Luki
Published: February 2024

Background: Providing supplementary feeding from local food is one strategy to address the nutritional problems of pregnant women in Indonesia. Improper eating habits of pregnant women are one of the causes of nutritional disorders, one of which is anemia and chronic lack of energy. The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate high-energy and rich-iron granola snackbars as a nutritional supplementary feeding to prevent malnutrition in pregnant women. Granola snackbars (formulas P1, P2, P3, and P4) were prepared using the same ratios of seaweed, moringa leaves, beetroot oats, nuts (peanuts, walnuts, and almonds), cornstarch, peanut butter, fish oil, salt, sugar, and water, in addition to chicken liver formulation and snakehead fish (P1: 0 gr, 75 gr), (P2: 10 gr, 65 gr), (P3: 20 gr, 55 gr), and (P4: 30 gr, 45 gr). Methods: The method employed a fully randomized design in a pure experimental setting. Proximate testing involved determining the snackbars' color, texture, taste, and aroma, as well as their energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and Fe contents. Organoleptic testing covered these aspects as well. Results: Formula P2 had the highest energy (521.01 kcal), and Formula P4 had the highest Fe value at 4.34%. The organoleptic test showed that the most preferred formulation was the formulation with a proportion of Formula P2. Conclusion: This study recommends using Formula P2 as a source of energy to prevent malnutrition in pregnant women and Formula P4, which has a high iron content, to improve the hemoglobin level in pregnant women.
Possibility of using amphibolites of the Ingulets deposit (Kryvyi Rih) for the production of decorative and ordinary crushed stone.
Authors:   State Commission of Ukraine on Mineral Reserves, Strutynska K.S.
Published: February 2024

The suitability and degree of utilisation of amphibolites of Ingulets iron ore deposit (Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin) as a raw material for crushed stone production has been estimated.
ЕКСПОРТ ЗЕРНА УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ
Authors: БЕЗСМЕРТНА Оксана , МУЗИКА Євгеній
Published: February 2024

The article examines and analyzes the changes that have occurred in the grain market of Ukraine, in particular in the process of its export. An analysis of the dynamics of grain and leguminous export volumes for 2010-2023 was carried out, and a structural analysis of grain exports in 2023 was carried out. A study of the geography of grain export was conducted and trends were revealed regarding the provision of Ukrainian grain to the importing countries that need it most.
Since February 2022, the Ukrainian grain market has undergone irreversible changes, the impact of which was not only national, but also international. In the first year of the Black Sea Grain Agreement, grain exports through the humanitarian corridor partially resumed, but many importing countries that previously supplied grain to Ukraine did not receive grain on time and sought alternative supplies.
It was found that by July 2023, exports of cereals and pulses had returned to 2014 levels. At the same time, the dominant crop was corn, which accounted for more than 50% of the export structure. Corn had to be sold quickly to make room in the granaries for wheat from the summer harvest.
The article also emphasizes that the geography of exports changed significantly during the war. In the conditions of limited supplies through Ukrainian seaports, the neighboring countries of Poland and Romania came to the rescue, allowing the transit of Ukrainian grain. Thus, the share of Ukraine in grain exports to Europe increased from 19.5% in 2020 to 52.2% in 2022.
Turkey has also become an important participant in international trade, allowing goods to be transshipped to countries in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, as stated in the article, Turkey, as a grain hub, sent a part of Ukrainian wheat flour in finished form to the African region Since the long-term survival of the concluded Black Sea Grain Initiative was not fully guaranteed, grain-importing countries bought grain during periods of falling export prices and built up stocks to prevent a worsening of the global food crisis.