bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hip Hop's Inheritance
Authors: Rabaka Reiland
Published: February 2025

Hip Hop's Inheritance arguably offers the first book-length treatment of what hip hop culture has, literally, 'inherited' from the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts movement, the Feminist Art movement, and 1980s and 1990s postmodern aesthetics. By comparing and contrasting the major motifs of the aforementioned cultural aesthetic traditions with those of hip hop culture, all the while critically exploring the origins and evolution of black popular culture from antebellum America through to 'Obama's America,' Hip Hop's Inheritance demonstrates that the hip hop generation is not the first generation of young black (and white) folk preoccupied with spirituality and sexuality, race and religion, entertainment and athletics, or ghetto culture and bourgeois culture. Taking interdisciplinarity and intersectionality seriously, Hip Hop's Inheritance employs the epistemologies and methodologies from a wide range of academic and organic intellectual/activist communities in its efforts to advance an intellectual history and critical theory of hip hop culture. Drawing from academic and organic intellectual/activist communities as diverse as African American studies and women's studies, postcolonial studies and sexuality studies, history and philosophy, politics and economics, and sociology and ethnomusicology, Hip Hop's Inheritance calls into question one-dimensional and monodisciplinary interpretations or, rather, misinterpretations, of a multidimensional and multivalent form of popular culture that has increasingly come to include cultural criticism, social commentary, and political analysis.
Closing Chapters
Authors: Welsh Thomas G.
Published: February 2025

Closing Chapters attempts to explain the disintegration of urban parochial schools in Youngstown, Ohio, a onetime industrial center that lost all but one of its eighteen Catholic parochial elementary schools between 1960 and 2006. Through this examination of Youngstown, Welsh sheds light on a significant national phenomenon: the fragmentation of American Catholic identity.
Emerging Traditions
Authors: Briault Manus Vicki
Published: February 2025

The monograph explores the linguistic impact of the colonial and postcolonial situations in South Africa on language policy, on literary production and especially on the stylistics of fiction by indigenous South Africans writing in English. A secondary concern is to investigate the present place of English in the multilingual spectrum of South African languages and to see how this worldly English relates to Global English, in the South African context. The introduction presents a socio-linguistic overview of South Africa from pre-historic times until the present, including language planning policies during and after the colonial era and a cursory review of how the difficulties encountered in implementing the Language Plan, provided for by the new South African constitution, impinge on the development of black South African English. Six chapters track the course of English in South Africa since the arrival of the British in 1795, considered from the point of view of the indigenous African population. The study focuses on ways in which indigenous authors 'indigenize' their writing, innovating and subverting stylistic conventions, including those of African orature, in order to bend language and genre towards their own culture and objectives. Each chapter corresponds to a briefly outlined historical period that is largely reflected in linguistic and literary developments. A small number of significant works for each period are discussed, one of which is selected for a case-study at the end of each chapter, where it is subjected to detailed stylistic analysis and appraised for the degree of indigenization or other linguistic or socio-historic influences on style. The methodology adopted is a linguistic approach to stylistics, focusing on indigenization of English, inspired by the work of Chantal Zabus in her book, <>The African Palimpsest: Indigenization of Language in the West African Europhone Novel (2007, (1991)). The conclusion reappraises the original hypothesis - that the specific characteristics of South African literary production, including styles of writing, can be related to the political, social and economic context - in the light of many fresh insights; and discusses the place occupied by English in the cultural struggle of the formerly colonized peoples of South Africa.
The Beauty of Balance
Authors: Ko Young Woon
Published: February 2025

These essays examine the significance of balance between the opposites in order to understand God and the world. The author argues that opposites-the subject and object, mind and nature, good and evil, truth and falsehood-are not separated from each other but interdependent in the relational paradigm. Each cannot exist without the other. Creative advancement is achieved by their dynamic tensions. The paradoxical relationship between the opposites is not posited in the mechanistic model in which opposites are recognized as separate entities and thereby antagonists; rather, they are dialectical and creative in the organic model. Based on this organic model, the relationship between God and the world is not hierarchical but interdependent. In the organic model, God is not described simply as a transcendent reality in a dualistic structure of God and the world. God reveals God-self in harmonious order and pattern as the ultimate principle formed in the world. In other words, God reveals God-self in the relative contexts of the opposites good and evil, true and false. Unlike Aristotle's Law of Contrast, God is both A (transcendent) and -A (immanent), which is the basic logic of the organic model. In this context, God is different from eternal reality such as Plato's Idea or the transcendent God developed in the Western tradition. In this text, the author explores how the complex of divine reality entails the dialogue of differences in a constructive way, using inter-religious dialogue and religion-nature dialogue as examples. The author also brings the theme of paradox into his discussion to connect the West with the East and explore how it can be a positive method of understanding God and the world in the organic model, which can in turn be a key to the understanding of the common good.
Partners in Wisdom and Grace
Authors: Kravatz Marylin T.
Published: February 2025

Creative tension calls for a dialogical conversation in order to find mutual ground that can be beneficial for both partners. Partners in Wisdom and Grace explores the possibility of such tension created by the absence of religious education as a dialogical partner in the National Directory for Catechesis published by the U.S. Bishops in 2005. These queries are central: Will catechesis take religious education as a conversation partner? And, will religious education return the favor? This book concludes that catechesis and religious education remain distinct enterprises that have their own specific identities and make their own particular contributions toward educating for a religious way of life. This is an invitation for catechesis and religious education to generate a continuous healthy dialogue and mutually enrich each other while maintaining their distinct identities.
The Andragogic Learning Center
Authors: Sonnheim Moshe , Lehman Shlomit
Published: February 2025

This publication was made possible by the Rector's Fund in support of publications and books, Bar Ilan University, Israel. The Andragogic Learning Center examines an eight-year study at the Bar Ilan School of Social Work, Israel (1989-1997). The study tested the efficacy of an innovative community-based teaching approach, combining field and class instruction. The efficacy of interaction between teaching and learning style in learning process and context was also examined. More than 400 B.S.W. students participated, divided each year into an experimental group of twelve students learning all three social work methods, and two control groups learning two social work methods. A number of hypotheses were tested, utilizing a detailed before/after questionnaire, which included a learning style questionnaire (TABS) and Middleman's Study Guide for ACSW Certification Exam. Role, Learning, and Andragogy Theories provided a framework for interpreting and understanding the process and results.
Finding and Confirming Truth
Authors: Pletz John S.
Published: February 2025

Is truth a word we use only to affirm a statement, or is it also something more? In Finding and Confirming Truth, John S. Pletz explains that truth is more than mere affirmation. It also is the conclusion reached when we have effectively confirmed that an assertion accurately depicts the facts that it describes. Following a delineation of the major types of inferences used in confirming the truth of statements and the justifications for each of them, Pletz discusses the process used in identifying and verifying factual truth. That process includes the critical step of assessing the degree of certainty we have in a confirmed assertion, which the author contends must be ascertained before we should conclude that any statement is true. Finally, Pletz employs this confirmation framework and process in seeking the truth of the concept of truth itself.
Stories from Novice Teachers
Authors: Scherff Lisa , Daria Mike
Published: February 2025

Why do new teachers change schools or leave the profession? Stories from Novice Teachers: This is Induction? attempts to address this question. In this book, we feature the stories of a dozen novice teachers and how they were, or were not, mentored or inducted by their schools. Using data collected over a three-year period-close to 1,000 emails and face-to-face interviews, the cases presented in this book can inform school principals and district-level administrators of the situations that promote or hinder new teacher growth so that we can lower attrition rates and foster student achievement. The cases presented in this book range from problems in the faculty lounge to unsupportive colleagues to 'too much' induction.
The 2008 Election in Florida
Authors: Crew Robert E.
Published: February 2025

During 2008, the Democrats achieved in Florida a goal that had eluded them in all but three of the national elections since 1964: victory in the presidential race. Despite this success, the Republicans retained their dominance in the U.S. Congress and in the Florida State Legislature. The 2008 Elections in Florida utilizes multiple types of data to provide an explanation for the disparate outcomes of these elections. The book chronicles changes in voter registration and turnout over time and compares the electoral behavior of groups in Florida to that in the nation as a whole. It examines the importance of legislative apportionment, term limits and incumbency to the outcome of congressional and state legislative races and provides important clues to the future of electoral behavior in one of the nation's most important states.
Disequilibrium, Polarization, and Crisis Model
Authors: Dierauer Isabelle
Published: February 2025

Different international relations theorists have studied political change, but all fall short of sufficiently integrating human reactions, feelings, and responses to change in their theories. This book adds a social psychological component to the analysis of why nations, politically organized groups, or states enter into armed conflict. The Disequilibrium, Polarization, and Crisis Model is introduced, which draws from prospect theory, realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The theory considers how humans react and respond to change in their social, political, and economic environment. Three case studies, the U.S. Civil War, the Yugoslav Wars (1991-1995), and the First World War are applied to illustrate the model’s six process stages: status quo, change creating shifts that lead to disequilibrium, realization of loss, hanging on to the old status quo, emergence of a rigid system, and risky decisions leading to violence and war.
Back to the Future
Authors: Besel Karl , Andreescu Viviana
Published: February 2025

Back to the Future explores new urbanism and urban revitalization within the context of public policy trends such as regional governance and the role of nonprofits. The purpose of this book is to provide students and professionals alike with a context for examining the beginnings of new urbanism, as well as to illustrate how this movement has become a nationwide trend in response to changing demographics and the real estate crisis. The book primarily utilizes comparative case studies within both inner city and suburban areas. While a growing number of articles have been written on both suburban and inner city new urbanist communities, few books have connected new urbanism to its roots in historical preservation communities. This book distinguishes itself from other works by assessing the commonalities between greenfield (suburban) new urbanist development and inner city (redevelopment) projects.
Journey of a Rabbi
Authors: Shechter Jack
Published: February 2025

This two-volume Journey of a Rabbi consists of essays describing ventures undertaken, events experienced, and ideas articulated that reflect the life work of a rabbi and Jewish educator. What threads its way throughout these writings is a persistent search for ways and means to revitalize Jewish life in our time.

Written in lucid and compelling fashion, the story portrays early family influences and mentoring of a searching youth, experiences of a rabbinical student, army chaplain, and pulpit rabbi that brought into focus the tasks ahead. The story proceeds to detail the work as a denominational executive, which broadened concern for the larger community and return to pulpit work devoted to fashioning a “Synagogue-Center.” It then segues into depiction of the comprehensive initiatives in education, the arts and community outreach as Dean at the University of Judaism. Interspersed throughout are “thought” essays about religious phenomena, faith, the personal life, the land of Israel, and “lessons learned” from a lifetime of experiences.
Getting Away with Murder
Authors: Holloway Vanessa  A.
Published: February 2025

Throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the US Congress engaged in bitter debates on whether to enact a federal law that would prosecute private citizens who lynched black Americans. In Getting Away with Murder, the fundamental question under scrutiny is whether Southern Democrats’ racist attitudes toward black Americans pardoned the atrocities of lynching. The book investigates underlying motives of opposition to Senate filibustering and invites an intellectual discussion on why Southern Democrats thought states’ rights were the remedy to lynching, when, in fact, the phenomenon was a baffling national crisis. A rebuttal to this query may include notions that congressional investigations into state-protected rights were deemed unconstitutional. In a unifying theme, the appeal ties into questions of the federalism-civil rights debate by noting intervals that warrant research and advancing new perspectives intended to accentuate the matrices of race-based politics. To examine the federalism-civil rights debate, this book asks three practical questions: (1) Would Southern Democrats suspend their friendships with private citizens and enact a federal law that would prosecute them for lynching? (2) Was the national government limited in its constitutional power to protect black Americans from private citizens who organized themselves as lynch mobs? (3) Were concerns for states’ rights the core reasons for Senate filibustering, or did Southern Democrats’ argument for states’ rights support the lie of racism?
Historical Dictionary of the Progressive Era
Authors: Cocks Catherine , Holloran Peter C. , Lessoff Alan
Published: February 2025

The Progressive Era, the period in the United States between 1898 and 1917, was a time of great social, political, and industrial change. Following the Spanish-American War of 1898, an event that signaled the emergence of the United States as a great power, the country soon was involved in its first overseas guerrilla war, in the Philippines. Vast changes in communications and transportation, immigration and migration patterns, social mores, gender roles, family structure, class structure, work patterns, business methods, education, intellectual life, religion, the professions, technology, science, medicine, and much else were transforming the scope and feel of people's lives and relationships. In many ways what happened in this era set the agenda for the rest of the 20th century. The Historical Dictionary of the Progressive Era is the most comprehensive and coherent reference work on the Progressive Era. Through its chronology, introductory essay, bibliography, appendixes, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on the key events, people, organizations, and ideas of the period, this resource is a lively, complete, and accessible overview of this significant era.
Historical Dictionary of the League of Nations
Authors: Ginneken Anique H.M. van
Published: February 2025

Created in 1919, shortly after World War I, the League of Nations was principally designed to put an end to war. But it went into hibernation when World War II broke out, and was formally wound up in 1946. Not having achieved its primary objective, it was deemed a failure. However, the many accomplishments it did realize certainly allows for arguments against this idea. During its two-decade existence, the League of Nations resolved and defused many conflicts and crises, as well as established a rapport among its members. It was also active in many other political, social, and technical fields, including minorities, refugees, human rights, labor, health, telecommunications, and supervision of former colonial territories, which had become mandates. Above all, the League of Nations proved to be training ground for the United Nations and the countless other organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, which now surround us. Just what the League of Nations was able to do during its brief but hectic career is summed up in this book. The dictionary section contains several hundred cross-referenced entries on its founders and supporters, its rather small staff and secretariat, the various subordinate or related organizations, and their overwhelming tasks. The historical background is described in the introduction and plotted year by year in the chronology while the bibliography points to further reading.
Historical Dictionary of International Organizations
Authors: Schechter Michael G.
Published: February 2025

One of the most pervasive phenomena that distinguish the early 21st century is the prevalence of international organizations (IOs). There are IOs in virtually every sector: political, economic, trade, social, educational, scientific, defense, and so forth. Some IOs are restricted to clearly defined activities and closely controlled by their members; others just grow and grow, moving into new sections and becoming more powerful in some ways than their members. The second edition of Historical Dictionary of International Organizations provides a comprehensive overview of the major international organizations, both intergovernmental and international intergovernmental, of the 20th and 21st centuries. While the emphasis is on organizations that continue to operate today, important organizations that have ceased to exist are also included. This reference includes a chronology, an introductory essay, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on the organizations, significant leaders, pioneers, founders and members.
A Woman's War
Authors: Harris Gail , McLaughlin Pam
Published: February 2025

When Gail Harris was assigned by the U.S. Navy to a combat intelligence job in 1973, she became the first African American female to hold such a position. Her 28-year career included hands on leadership in the intelligence community during every major conflict from the Cold War to Desert Storm to Kosovo, and most recently at the forefront of one of the Department of Defense's newest challenges: Cyber Warfare. At her retirement, she was the highest ranking African American female in the Navy. A Woman's War: The Professional and Personal Journey of the Navy's First African American Female Intelligence Officer is an inspirational memoir that follows Gail Harris's career as a naval intelligence officer, sharing her unique experience and perspective as she completed the complex task of providing intelligence support to military operations while also battling the status quo, office bullies, and politics. This book also looks at the way intelligence is used and misused in these perilous times.
Death and Dying
Authors: Szabo John F.
Published: February 2025

While it can be traced to the 1700s, the term thanatology has gained traction in recent decades to refer to the study of death. Because of the breadth of the published material and the challenges of discovery in large bibliographic databases and catalogs, finding and identifying monographic material on death, dying, grief, and bereavement can be extremely challenging. Although there have been several bibliographical resources published on thanatology, those titles were incomplete, limited in scope, or leaned heavily toward one area of the field.

In Death and Dying: An Annotated Bibliography of the Thanatological Literature, John F. Szabo provides more than 2,200 citations of monographs on the science and study of death and dying. Among the areas this volume addresses are the psychological, philosophical, and attitudinal aspects; coping and dealing with the burdens of caregiving and working in the helping professions; instructional and educational topics for practitioners, primarily health care providers; cultural differences in bereavement rituals; and grief, mourning, and loss. In addition, notable titles on or relating to death and dying in popular culture, death themes in literature, methods of death, or specific ethical, policy, or public issues are also included when they contribute important information to subject areas on which the book focuses. This book will be helpful to students, researchers, academics, caregivers, health care professionals, psychologists, social workers, and anyone with an interest in death, dying, bereavement, or the care of the terminally ill.
Literary Research and the British Renaissance and Early Modern Period
Authors: Bowers Jennifer , Keeran Peggy
Published: February 2025

Recognizing that every literary era presents scholars with particular challenges, this volume covers the best practices and describes important reference resources, both print and electronic, that can be used in conducting literary research of the British Renaissance and Early Modern period. Although the primary emphasis is on literature produced in England, the guide also covers literature from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. This book addresses specific research characteristics integral to studying the period, including a more inclusive canon and the predominance of Shakespeare, a dual environment of print and manuscript production, the challenges of reading early modern handwriting, a lack of reviewing media, the role of translations, and researching non-standardized genres, among others. Central to this volume and to literary research of the era are the equally valid approaches to studying this literature through the more traditional Renaissance lens or through the varying theoretical approaches falling under the rubric early modern.

Bowers and Keeran explore primary and secondary research resources of this era, including general literary research guides; union library catalogs; print and online bibliographies; scholarly journals; manuscripts and archives; microfilm and digitization projects; 17th-century periodicals; contemporary reception; translations and lexicons; genres; and electronic texts, journals, and Web resources. A final chapter, entitled "Researching a Thorny Problem," demonstrates how many of the research tools and strategies presented in the volume can be employed to explore a question that perhaps has no definitive answer. Each chapter addresses how research methods and tools are best used to extract relevant information and compare and evaluate sources. The strengths and weaknesses of core and specialized electronic and print research tools and standard search techniques are also examined, making this book an invaluable guide to any scholar of the Renaissance and early modern era.
Historical Dictionary of Calvinism
Authors: Picken Stuart D.B.
Published: February 2025

Calvinism is named after 16th century Reformer, John Calvin whose overall theology is contained in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). Calvin's theology and ecclesiology provided the foundation upon which the Reformed Churches of Europe were built. It was a comprehensive and carefully expounded alternative to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and was designed to expose their weaknesses and present a view of the Christian Faith that was a reformed version of the old faith.

The Historical Dictionary of Calvinism relates the history of its founder John Calvin, the Reformed Church, and the impact that Calvinism has had in the modern world along with an account of modern and contemporary developments within the religious, political, and social culture it has created. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Calvinism.
Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming
Authors: Lohn John
Published: February 2025

Swimming has been an Olympic sport since the inception of the Games, with the 100, 400, and 1500 freestyles being the original events along with the 100 freestyle for sailors. While the spirit of the sport remains the same, the technology and the competitive formats have advanced tremendously through the years. The number of events contested in competition has increased to the point where the program for a typical international meet, such as the World Championships or Olympics, produces a true reflection of the best swimmers over various distances and in different strokes.

The Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming examines the sport of swimming since its inception as a competitive athletic event. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and appendixes that detail Olympic and World Championships medal winners. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on individuals, major competitions, and there are also entries for each of the competitive strokes and countries that have enjoyed significant success in the sport.
Privacy
Authors: Dowding Martin
Published: February 2025

Matters of privacy have profoundly changed since electronic storage of information has become the norm. Consequently, policy-makers and legislators are trying to keep up with privacy challenges in the workplace, in healthcare, in surveillance, and on social networking sites. With Privacy: Defending an Illusion, Martin Dowding fills a very important gap in policy analysis and the teaching of privacy issues at the senior undergraduate and early graduate student level.

In the first section of this book, Dowding recounts historical interpretations of privacy in a wide variety of socio-cultural circumstances. In the second section, the author addresses how information and communication technologies have changed our conceptions about privacy and redirected our focus from keeping information private to sharing it with many more people than we would have even a few years ago. Dowding also examines a variety of possible options for the future of privacy. The appendixes include seminal readings on relevant topics that should encourage debates about the nature of privacy and its problems. Overall, this book provides a solid background for defining and understanding privacy in a wide variety of contexts.
2024 CCCC Chair’s Address: Love, Hope, and Radical Imagination1
Authors: Condon Frankie
Published: February 2025

A chair’s address in four movements, dedicated to Mike Condon, from whom I have learned everything I know about kindness.
Inteligencia artificial y comunicación intercultural: Estrategias y herramientas para superar los retos de las organizaciones
Authors: Martín-Herrero José Manuel , Gárriz Oyarzun Álvaro
Published: February 2025

La inteligencia artificial (IA) está transformando la comunicación intercultural en las organizaciones, ya que permite superar barreras lingüísticas y culturales en un mundo globalizado. Así, se analizan las herramientas DeepL, Microsoft Translator, IBM Watson, Brandwatch y ChatGPT, que han demostrado su capacidad para personalizar mensajes, optimizar procesos de traducción y mejorar la conexión con audiencias diversas. La investigación adopta una metodología cualitativa basada en una revisión bibliográfica y el análisis de casos prácticos de empresas como SAP, Telefónica y Unilever, lo que permite identificar impactos reales en la cohesión interna y la comunicación externa.Los resultados muestran que estas herramientas han permitido mejorar la precisión en traducciones técnicas, facilitar la inclusión mediante subtítulos automáticos en tiempo real y ajustar campañas publicitarias para diferentes contextos culturales. Sin embargo, se identifican limitaciones como el sesgo algorítmico, la dependencia tecnológica y las dificultades para trabajar con idiomas menos representados. Así, se puede concluir que la IAIA se presenta como una solución estratégica para abordar los desafíos de la comunicación intercultural, ya que ofrece y potencia la eficiencia y la personalización. Sin embargo, su implementación requiere supervisión ética y sensibilidad cultural para maximizar su impacto positivo y mitigar riesgos. Al combinar tecnología avanzada con la experiencia humana, las organizaciones pueden construir relaciones más inclusivas y efectivas, fortaleciendo su posición en un entorno empresarial global y diverso.
Cómo revisar diccionarios económicos y jurídicos (inglés-español). Estudio cuantitativo de la distribución de la presencia y propagación de erratas
Authors: Rodríguez-Rubio Mediavilla Santiago
Published: February 2025

En este trabajo, presentamos un modelo de revisión de erratas a través de tres destacados diccionarios económico-financieros y jurídicos (inglés-español). Partiendo de estudios anteriores (Autores, Autores), hemos cuantificado la presencia y la propagación de erratas en función de su ubicación en los componentes estructurales de las obras (equivalente-explicación, frase ilustrativa, remisión, etc.) y de las relaciones entre las subentradas (subentradas equivalentes, homólogas, etc.). Los resultados globales de la propagación en función de los componentes son muy similares a los de presencia de errata, lo que sugiere un patrón sobre el que cimentar futuros trabajos. Aunque el componente equivalente-explicación destaca tanto en términos de presencia como de propagación, las frases ilustrativas y remisiones tienen un peso específico. Además, un mayor número de ediciones de los diccionarios se asocia a una drástica disminución de la presencia de erratas en frases ilustrativas y a un aumento de la presencia en equivalentes o explicaciones. Esperamos contribuir a la mejora de la revisión de futuras obras lexicográficas, en un contexto en que la generación manual y automática de erratas hace más necesaria que nunca la intervención del revisor humano.
The interface between proficiency and pragmatics: A study on compliment responses
Authors: Botey Riaza Athenea , Barón Júlia , Martínez-Flor Alicia
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the interface between second language pragmatics and proficiency by focusing on pragmatic awareness of compliment responses (CRs). The participants were Spanish learners of English as a foreign language. Their perceptive pragmatic knowledge was tested via a pragmatic awareness video elicitation task where they had to rate the appropriateness of 15 CRs from 1 (inappropriate) to 6 (very appropriate). Learners were divided into high and low proficiency groups according to their vocabulary sizes to check in what ways their responses to the task differed. Their ratings were then compared to a native speaker benchmark to obtain a sameness score and results indicate a moderate inverse correlation between proficiency level and near-nativeness. Findings suggest that the first language plays an important role in pragmatic awareness and that proficiency alone is not a determinative factor to acquire pragmatic knowledge, as there are other factors that may influence pragmatic development.
Foreign Direct Investment, Exports and Large-Scale Manufacturing Sector Growth: Bound Test and ARDL Approach
Authors: Tariq Iqbal  , Saif Ur Rahman  , Sadia Idrees  , Samina Ijaz  , Muhammad Qasim Javaid
Published: February 2025

The aim of this research is to examine how foreign direct investment (FDI) contributes to the expansion of large-scale manufacturing in emerging nations such as Pakistan. The study made use of annual data from 1972 to 2023. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and the cointegration method known as the "bounds test" are used to determine the short-term and long-term effects of foreign direct investment on the growth of value added in large-scale manufacturing. In the meanwhile, both short- and long-term effects of exports and foreign direct investment on MAU have been substantial. Furthermore, long-term projections indicate that exports, employment, and foreign direct investment all have a positive impact on the expansion of Pakistan's large-scale manufacturing sector, while market size also has a significant negative sign for the coefficient value and employment has a negligible positive sign. According to our findings, Pakistan should think about implementing suitable, beneficial policies pertaining to exports, employment, and foreign direct investment in order to achieve high and steady growth in the large-scale manufacturing sector in the future. By critically examining and integrating current theory and research on FDI and the expansion of the large-scale manufacturing sector, as well as with the aid of advanced technology and knowledge transfer, this study advances the field of FDI and manufacturing sector grow.
The Effectiveness of AI-Powered Writing Assistants in Enhancing Essay Writing Skills at Undergraduate Level
Authors: Quratulain  , Dr. Saira Maqbool  , Sara Bilal
Published: February 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has its transformative function in education by providing AI writing assistants like ChatGPT and Grammarly. AI tools have emerged as a prominent resource for improving writing performance at the advanced levels of education, hence, this study seeks to explore the potential of these tools to improve the essay writing of undergraduate Pakistani students. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research investigates changes in grammar, coherence, vocabulary, and overall academic writing for students over the eight-week period. The population of the study is BS students of Management Sciences at University of Education and data were collected through pre- and post-test essays and instructor’s evaluations to evaluate the impact of AI-generated feedback versus human feedback on students' learning experience. The results show that the use of AI writing assistants has a positive impact on student writing in terms of accuracy, structural organization and self-revision, while challenges related to excessive dependence on AI and ethical concerns around academic integrity remain. The study also investigates students’ perceptions of AI-assisted learning and the implications for pedagogy within higher education. From the findings, there are suggestions made on how to best incorporate AI writing tools into the university curricula. This study adds to the continuing conversation about AI in education; it also informs the study of its role in enhancing writing skills in underdeveloped academic contexts like Pakistan.
Examining the relationship between Mindfulness and Self-Compassion among University Adults
Authors: Arooba Farooq  , Syeda Asma Gillani  , Shumaila Bibi  , Hajra Basharat  , Noreen Fatima  , Maryam Nisar
Published: February 2025

Mindfulness and Self-Compassion are two interrelated psychological constructs that are essential to emotional health. The act of showing kindness and understanding to oneself, particularly when one is feeling inadequate or hurt, is known as Self-Compassion. Mindfulness involves learning to examine one’s thoughts, feelings and other present moments. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between Mindfulness and Self-Compassion among university adults. By using the sample of 200 students taken from different department of University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Mindfulness (MAAS_15) by Brown and Ryan (2003) and Self-Compassion (SCS_ 12) by Neff were used in the study. Pearson correlational and regression analysis were used to assess the impact of mindfulness on self-compassion. The results showed a significant positive relationship between Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. Future researches should investigate this relationship across diverse populations and look at potential mediating factors.
Assessing Income Inequality in Rural and Urban Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Comparative Analysis Using Lorenz Curve and Gini Index Approaches
Authors: Zaheer Ahmed Qureshi  , Muhammad Tayyab ul Rahman  , Dr. Khuram Nawaz Sadozai  , Dr. Muhammad Ishaq  , Fida Muhammad Khan  , Tajala Ahmad
Published: February 2025

Income inequality remains a substantial issue for both developed and developing economies, as it has correlation with poverty and economic growth. This central theme of research study is to assess the income disparities between rural and urban areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, using the Lorenz Curve and Gini Index approaches. The major analysis encompasses a comparative assessment of income and expenditure patterns to compute the extent of inequality in the region. Data was gleaned from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), which included with a specific focus on 1,352 households in KP. The findings reveal significant income disparities in KP, with a Gini Coefficient of 0.38 through the income approach, indicating a 38% income inequality level. In contrast, the expenditure approach yielded a lower Gini Coefficient of 0.32, suggesting that expenditure data may provide a more accurate reflection of economic disparities in KP, where individuals are often hesitant to disclose actual income levels. The Lorenz Curve analysis further corroborates these findings, showing a pronounced deviation from the line of equality, particularly in urban areas. The research also underscores the interlinkage between income inequality and poverty, emphasizing that reducing income disparities can lead to poverty alleviation and enhanced economic development. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at addressing to policymakers who should prioritize increasing access to quality education for the lower-income population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to enhance their skill sets and job prospects. This study recommends that the government may introduce targeted economic policies and social safety nets, such as conditional cash transfers and subsidized healthcare, to bridge the rural-urban income gap and ensure more equitable development across the KP province.
Rekontruksi Wajah Pasien Dengan Kecelakaan Traumatik : Evaluasi Komplikasi Dini Dan Lanjut Terhadap Hasil Operasi Dan Fungsionalnya
Authors: Ayuarianti Ayuarianti , fibrini Dewi , Dalimunthe Anita rosari
Published: February 2025

Trauma wajah merupakan cedera yang sering terjadi akibat kecelakaan lalu lintas, jatuh, atau kecelakaan kerja, yang dapat berdampak pada aspek fisik maupun psikologis pasien. Penanganan yang cepat dan tepat sangat penting untuk meminimalkan komplikasi serta mencapai hasil fungsional dan estetika yang optimal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi komplikasi dini dan lanjut setelah rekonstruksi wajah pada pasien dengan cedera traumatik. Studi ini melibatkan 28 responden, terdiri dari 20 laki-laki (71,4%) dan 8 perempuan (28,6%), dengan mayoritas berusia di bawah 20 tahun (50,0%). Fraktur mandibula menjadi jenis cedera yang paling umum (28,6%), diikuti oleh fraktur maxilla (25,0%), dengan etiologi utama kecelakaan lalu lintas (64,3%). Dari total pasien, 26 orang (92,9%) menjalani tindakan rekonstruksi, sementara 2 pasien menolak tindakan. Komplikasi dini dan lanjut terjadi pada 1 pasien (3,6%), sedangkan komplikasi lanjut terjadi pada 3 pasien (10,7%). Sebanyak 24 pasien (85,7%) tidak mengalami komplikasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa meskipun terdapat risiko komplikasi, sebagian besar pasien berhasil menjalani prosedur dengan baik. Komplikasi lanjut yang ditemukan antara lain nyeri persisten dengan skala 6, abses, serta malunion akibat fiksasi tulang yang tidak memadai atau infeksi. Studi sebelumnya juga mencatat bahwa infeksi merupakan salah satu risiko signifikan pascaoperasi orif, yang dapat menyebabkan osteomyelitis dan memperlambat proses penyembuhan tulang. Oleh karena itu, deteksi dini infeksi serta manajemen nyeri yang optimal menjadi aspek penting dalam mencegah komplikasi lebih lanjut. Penelitian ini menegaskan pentingnya pendekatan multidisiplin dan evaluasi menyeluruh dalam strategi rekonstruksi wajah guna meningkatkan keberhasilan terapi dan mengurangi risiko komplikasi pascaoperasi.
Rural Health Challenges: Innovative Solutions for Access and Care
Authors:   Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda, Zimbuga M Kagambira .
Published: February 2025

Rural communities face significant healthcare disparities due to geographical, economic, and sociocultural barriers. These challenges contribute to reduced access to healthcare, lower service utilization, and poorer health outcomes compared to urban counterparts. This paper examines these barriers and explores innovative strategies to address them, including telehealth, mobile clinics, community health workers, and tailored public health initiatives. Case studies of successful programs, such as Wyoming’s Good Life Senior Center and Montana’s Apsáalooke Nation transportation initiative, highlight the importance of community-driven solutions and collaborative approaches. Future directions emphasize increasing funding, leveraging technology, expanding workforce training, and fostering partnerships among stakeholders to improve rural health outcomes and reduce disparities.

Keywords: Rural healthcare, telehealth, health disparities, community health workers, mobile clinics, healthcare access.
Rehabilitation Robotics: Enhancing Patient Recovery
Authors:   Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda, Nfukwe W Bamuraza .
Published: February 2025

Rehabilitation robotics has emerged as a transformative field that integrates engineering, medicine, and artificial intelligence to assist individuals in recovering motor functions after injuries or neurological impairments. This paper investigates the evolution of rehabilitation robotics, key technological advancements, and its clinical applications in stroke recovery, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and pediatric therapy. The discussion highlights challenges such as cost, accessibility, patient acceptability, and regulatory barriers that hinder widespread adoption. Future directions emphasize innovations in soft robotics, personalized rehabilitation, virtual reality, and gamification to enhance patient engagement. The integration of robotics into teletherapy and neuroscience-based interventions offers promising avenues for improving therapeutic outcomes and patient autonomy. A collaborative approach involving healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry stakeholders is essential to drive advancements and ensure equitable access to rehabilitation robotics.

Keywords: Rehabilitation robotics, patient recovery, robotic therapy, stroke rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, artificial intelligence.
Patient Advocacy: Empowering Voices in Healthcare Decision-Making
Authors:   School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda, Jeanne N. Alberta
Published: February 2025

Patient advocacy plays a critical role in ensuring individuals have a voice in healthcare decision-making, fostering patient-centered care, and improving health outcomes. This paper examines the historical development of patient advocacy, the essential roles and responsibilities of patient advocates, and the challenges they face in navigating healthcare systems. It examines the impact of advocacy on patient engagement, shared decision-making, and access to necessary healthcare services. Additionally, best practices and strategies for effective advocacy are outlined, highlighting the need for patient education, professional training, and policy support. Finally, the paper discusses the future directions of patient advocacy, emphasizing the role of technology and interdisciplinary collaboration in enhancing advocacy efforts. By empowering patients and their advocates, healthcare systems can become more equitable, responsive, and effective in addressing diverse patient needs.

Keywords: Patient Advocacy, Patient-Centered Care, Healthcare Decision-Making, Patient Rights, Health Disparities, Shared Decision-Making, Healthcare Policy.
Autonomous Robots in Surgery: The Future of Precision Medicine
Authors:   Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda, Francis I. Omeye
Published: February 2025

The integration of autonomous robotic systems into surgery represents a paradigm shift in precision medicine, offering the potential to enhance surgical accuracy, reduce complications, and minimize surgeon fatigue. This paper investigates the historical evolution of surgical robotics, current applications, challenges, and future directions. The discussion examines how autonomous robotic systems have transitioned from telesurgery to AI-assisted procedures in minimally invasive, orthopedic, and cardiovascular surgeries. Despite their promise, issues such as cost, reliability, ethical considerations, and cybersecurity concerns remain barriers to full automation. Future advancements in artificial intelligence, haptic feedback, and augmented reality are expected to drive further innovations, potentially reshaping surgical practice and patient care.

Keywords: Autonomous surgical robots, robotic-assisted surgery, precision medicine, minimally invasive surgery, artificial intelligence in healthcare, robotic telesurgery.
Legal Helpdesk für Berliner Wissenschafts- und Kulturerbe-Einrichtungen im Aufbau
Authors: Fischer Georg
Published: February 2025

Im Rahmen einer dreijährigen Projektförderung durch die VolkswagenStiftung wird am Open Research Office Berlin, angesiedelt an der Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin, ein „Legal Helpdesk“ aufgebaut und erprobt. Der Helpdesk stellt eine niedrigschwellige Anlaufstelle für Forschende aus Berliner Wissenschafts- und Kulturerbe-Einrichtungen dar, die dort bei rechtlichen Fragestellungen Hilfe und Unterstützung erhalten können.