bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Το θρησκευτικό στοιχείο στη μεταπολεμική ποίηση (1945–1974)
Authors: Μώρος Μάριος-Κυπαρίσσης
Published: November 2023

Σκοπός της έρευνας είναι μέσα από τη διερεύνηση μιας σειράς ποιητικών έργων, γραμμένων στην τριακονταετία 1945-1974, ποιημάτων δηλαδή που οι δημιουργοί τους εντάσσονται στις δύο μεταπολεμικές γενιές της νεοελληνικής ποίησης, ή είναι παλαιότεροι που συνεχίζουν να δημοσιεύουν, να εντοπίσει τις αναφορές στο θρησκευτικό στοιχείο, να τις εντάξει αρχικά στο «ποιητικό σύμπαν» των δημιουργώντους και να οδηγηθεί σε γενικότερα συμπεράσματα για την παρουσία θρησκευτικών τόπων στην ελληνική μεταπολεμική ποίηση. Αυτό που φιλοδοξούμε να επιτύχουμε, είναι να δώσουμε μια πανοραμική εικόνα της παρουσίας του θρησκευτικού στοιχείου στην νεοελληνική ποίηση κατά την υπό εξέταση τριακονταετία, κάτι που, όπως προκύπτει από τη διερεύνηση της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας, η νεοελληνική φιλολογία στερείται. Έτσι, ορισμένα από τα ερωτήματα που θα μας απασχολήσουν θα είναι τα εξής: κατά πόσο το θρησκευτικό στοιχείο που εμφανίζεται στα ποιήματα απομακρύνεται από το βιβλικό υποκείμενό του; Ποιες είναι οι βιβλικές μορφές που προκρίνονται για ποιητική μετάπλαση; Με άλλα λόγια, μία πρώτη σειρά ερωτημάτων σχετίζεται με την απευθείας χρήση βιβλικών τόπων από τους ποιητές. Παράλληλα, ωστόσο, θα διερευνήσουμε την παρουσία θρησκευτικών τόπων σε συνάρτηση με την ιδεολογία των αριστερών ποιητών, αλλά και τη σχέση των θρησκευτικών τόπων με κειμενικά είδη, όπως οι, απευθείας καταγόμενες από την Παλαιά Διαθήκη, «ιερεμιάδες» ή οι ελεγείες.
Η φορολόγηση του bitcoin
Authors: Κωνσταντινίδου Δήμητρα
Published: November 2023

Η παρούσα διατριβή σκοπεί στη διερεύνηση του εντελώς νέου αλλά ραγδαία εξελισσόμενου πεδίου της φορολογίας των ψηφιακών νομισμάτων στα κράτη-μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, και επί το ειδικότερο της επιβολής των φόρων εισοδήματος και προστιθέμενης αξίας στις συναλλαγές και στο εισόδημα που προκύπτει από τις χρήσεις τους, ήτοι ως συνάλλαγμα, μέσο πληρωμής, επενδυτικό προϊόν, καθώς και μέσα από την οικονομική δραστηριότητα «εξόρυξής» τους. Πρόκειται για μια ιδιαίτερα επίκαιρη προβληματική, δεδομένων των τρέχουσων οικονομικών συγκυριών και συγκεκριμένα της πρόσφατης επιβολής περιορισμών στην κυκλοφορία κεφαλαίων στη χώρα μας, η οποία έχει ωθήσει την ψηφιακή οικονομία ως εναλλακτική έναντι της χρήσης παραδοσιακών μεθόδων πληρωμής. Το εν λόγω ζήτημα συνιστά πεδίο δόξης λαμπρό για πρωτότυπη διεξαγωγή έρευνας, με τις πρώτες σχετικές υποθέσεις να ανακύπτουν τώρα και την παντελή έλλειψη συνεκτικού νομικού πλαισίου. Εξάλλου, οι υπάρχουσες ευρωπαϊκές ρυθμίσεις στον χρηματοπιστωτικό τομέα αδυνατούν να εισφέρουν λύσεις στις αμφισβητήσεις που δημιουργούνται, διότι ο προορισμός τους δεν αφορούσε εξ αρχής τα ψηφιακά νομίσματα, με αποτέλεσμα πλήθος νομοθετικών κενών, στα οποία η παρούσα διατριβή επιχειρεί να δώσει απαντήσεις, με σύμφωνη προς τη φύση και τα χαρακτηριστικά των ψηφιακών νομισμάτων ερμηνεία των ισχύουσων διατάξεων, καθώς και με προτάσεις νέων ρυθμίσεων. Προς τον σκοπό αυτό, γίνεται ενδελεχής διερεύνηση του υφιστάμενου νομικού καθεστώτος, με παράλληλη ανάλυση της σχετικής νομολογίας του ΔΕΕ και των ευρωπαϊκών κρατών επί του ζητήματος και αξιοποιείται η συγκριτική μέθοδος και η οικονομική προσέγγιση του δικαίου προς εξαγωγή συμπερασμάτων και ανεύρεση λύσεων.
Immigrants, health, and the impact of COVID-19: A narrative review
Authors: Angawi Khadijah
Published: November 2023

While the COVID-19 pandemic has gravely challenged health systems globally, countries that host a large number of refugees are finding themselves even more burdened as providing preventive and curative services to refugees, and, migrants has proved to be a challenging task. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the impact COVID-19 pandemic on immigrants, and seek to understand how COVID-19 affects provision of health services, access to health care and the socioeconomic situation. Like any other health challenge, COVID-19 has also left migrants susceptible to adverse outcomes, both directly and indirectly. Several factors limit their ability to avoid infections, access healthcare, and cope with socio-psychological impacts. In addition, undocumented immigrants or people living on short-term visit visas do not have full access to healthcare services in most countries. It is evident that COVID-19 has also influenced these workers leaving them jobless or receiving low wages or no pay, hence, this has hugely impacted the remittance and economic situation in their country. Extending access to healthcare to the entire immigrant population, irrespective of their legal status, is the cornerstone of an effective response to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poor statistical reporting, inadequate data presentation and spin persist despite Journal awareness and updated Information for Authors
Authors: Héroux Martin , Diong Joanna , Bye Elizabeth , Fisher Georgia , Robertson Lucy , Butler Annie , Gandevia Simon
Published: November 2023

Sound reporting of research results is fundamental to good science. Unfortunately, poor reporting is common and does not improve with editorial educational strategies. We investigated whether publicly highlighting poor reporting at a journal can lead to improved reporting practices. We also investigated whether reporting practices that are required or strongly encouraged in journal Information for Authors are enforced by journal editors and staff. A 2016 audit highlighted poor reporting practices in the Journal of Neurophysiology. In August 2016 and 2018, the American Physiological Society updated the Information for Authors, which included the introduction of several required or strongly encouraged reporting practices. We audited Journal of Neurophysiology papers published in 2019 and 2020 (downloaded through the library of the University of New South Wales) on reporting items selected from the 2016 audit, the newly introduced reporting practices, and items from previous audits. Summary statistics (means, counts) were used to summarize audit results. In total, 580 papers were audited. Compared to results from the 2016 audit, several reporting practices remained unchanged or worsened. For example, 60% of papers erroneously reported standard errors of the mean, 23% of papers included undefined measures of variability, 40% of papers failed to define a statistical threshold for their tests, and when present, 64% of papers with p-values between 0.05 and 0.1 misinterpreted them as statistical trends. As for the newly introduced reporting practices, required practices were consistently adhered to by 34 to 37% of papers, while strongly encouraged practices were consistently adhered to by 9 to 26% of papers. Adherence to the other audited reporting practices was comparable to our previous audits. Publicly highlighting poor reporting practices did little to improve research reporting. Similarly, requiring or strongly encouraging reporting practices was only partly effective. Although the present audit focused on a single journal, this is likely not an isolated case. Stronger, more strategic measures are required to improve poor research reporting.
Using behavioural science to enhance use of core outcome sets in trials: protocol
Authors: Matvienko-Sikar Karen , Byrne Molly , Clarke Mike , Kirkham Jamie , Kottner Jan , Mellor Katie , Quirke Fiona , J. Saldanha Ian , Smith Valerie , Toomey Elaine , Williamson Paula
Published: November 2023

Background Core outcome sets (COS) represent agreed-upon sets of outcomes, which are the minimum that should be measured and reported in all trials in specific health areas. Use of COS can reduce outcome heterogeneity, selective outcome reporting, and research waste, and can facilitate evidence syntheses. Despite benefits of using COS, current use of COS in trials is low. COS use can be understood as a behaviour, in that it is something trialists do, or not do, adequately. The aim of this study is to identify strategies, informed by behaviour change theory, to increase COS use in trials. Methods The project will be conducted in two stages, informed by the behaviour change wheel (BCW). The BCW is a theoretically based framework that can be used to classify, identify, and develop behaviour change strategies. In Stage 1, barriers and enablers to COS use will be extracted from published studies that examined trialist’s use of COS. Barriers and facilitators will be mapped to the components of COM-B model (capability, opportunity, and motivation), which forms part of the BCW framework. Stage 2 will build on Stage 1 findings to identify and select intervention functions and behaviour change techniques to enhance COS use in trials. Discussion The findings of this study will provide an understanding of the behavioural factors that influence COS use in trials and what strategies might be used to target these factors to increase COS use in trials.
Prevalence, causes and contexts of childhood overweight and obesity in the Pacific region: a scoping review
Authors: Bertrand-Protat Solene , Chen Juliana , Jonquoy Aurélie , Frayon Stéphane , Thu Win Tin Si , Ravuvu Amerita , Caillaud Corinne , Galy Olivier
Published: November 2023

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major threat to health and development and account for 75% of deaths in the Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs). Childhood obesity has been identified as a main risk factor for NCDs later in life. This review compiled overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence (anthropometric data) for children aged six to 12 years old living in the Pacific region and identified possible related causes. Methods We conducted a systematic search using PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect for articles published between January 1980 and August 2022. We also searched for technical reports from Ministries of Health. Guided by the eligibility criteria, two authors independently read the selected articles and reports to extract and summarise relevant information related to overweight and obesity. Results We selected 25 articles, two worldwide analyses of population-based studies and four national reports. Information revealed that childhood OWOB prevalence reached 55% in some PICTs. This review also indicated that age, gender and ethnicity were linked to children’s weight status, while dietary practices, sleep time and level of physical activity played a role in OWOB development, as well as the living environment (socio-economic status and food availability), parenting practices and education level. Conclusion This review highlighted that anthropometric data are limited and that comparisons are difficult due to the paucity of surveys and non-standardized methodology. Main causes of overweight and obesity are attributed to individual characteristics of children and behavioural patterns, children’s socio-economic environment, parenting practices and educational level. Reinforcement of surveillance with standardised tools and metrics adapted to the Pacific region is crucial and further research is warranted to better understand root causes of childhood OWOB in the Pacific islands. More robust and standardized anthropometric data would enable improvements in national strategies, multisectoral responses and innovative interventions to prevent and control NCDs.
Open Problems in Computational Historical Linguistics
Authors: List Johann-Mattis
Published: November 2023

Problems constitute the starting point of all scientific research. The essay reflects on the different kinds of problems that scientists address in their research and discusses a list of 10 problems for the field of computational historical linguistics, that was proposed throughout 2019 in a series of blog posts. In contrast to problems identified in different contexts, these problems were considered to be solvable, but no solution could be proposed back then. By discussing the problems in the light of developments that have been made in the field during the past five years, a modified list is proposed that takes new insights into account but also finds that the majority of the problems has not yet been solved.
Baltic States Cyber Security Policy: Development of digital capabilities in 2017-2022
Authors: Górka Marek
Published: November 2023

Background The Baltic Sea region is currently one of the tensest areas in Europe, with Russia potentially challenging the international order by provoking a new confrontation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In this context, the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are developing their cyber security capabilities, which provides an intriguing example of how small states with an aggressive neighbour can operate. The perceived threat is driving the development of cyber capabilities, and policymakers are prioritizing efforts to strengthen their digital capabilities. Methods This article aims to examine the security challenges faced by the Baltic States in the digital environment and their strategies for enhancing digital capacity building competencies. Additionally, the article focuses on the Baltic States' efforts to build and strengthen cyber capabilities, which serve as the foundation for their cyber security policies. To accomplish this, data from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) was utilized, employing research methods including quantitative, qualitative, and comparative analyses. This approach aimed to evaluate and compare the progress in digital capabilities among the Baltic States. Additionally, an analysis of strategic documents was conducted to gain insight into each country's perspective on cyber security and to identify opportunities for the development of this field in consideration of available resources. Results The findings emphasize the Baltic states' dedication to bolstering their cyber resilience, primarily motivated by the perceived threat from Russia. The study underscores the intricate relationship between socioeconomic factors and a nation's cyber capabilities. Conclusions The conclusion drawn is that their endeavours to establish and enhance cyber capabilities constitute a pivotal component of their cybersecurity strategy, thus contributing to regional stability and NATO's collective defence.
Migration health ethics in Southeast Asia: a scoping review
Authors: Ng Shu Hui , Kaur Sharon , Cheah Phaik Yeong , Ong Zhen Ling , Lim Jane , Voo Teck Chuan
Published: November 2023

Background Asia hosts the second-largest international migrant population in the world. In Southeast Asia (SEA), key types of migration are labour migration, forced migration, and environmental migration. This scoping review seeks to identify key themes and gaps in current research on the ethics of healthcare for mobile and marginalised populations in SEA, and the ethics of research involving these populations. Methods We performed a scoping review using three broad concepts: population (stateless population, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people), issues (healthcare and ethics), and context (11 countries in SEA). Three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were searched from 2000 until May 2023 over a period of four months (February 2023 to May 2023). Other relevant publications were identified through citation searches, and six bioethics journals were hand searched. All searches were conducted in English, and relevant publications were screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were subsequently imported into NVivo 14, and thematic analysis was conducted. Results We identified 18 papers with substantial bioethical analysis. Ethical concepts that guide the analysis were ‘capability, agency, dignity’, ‘vulnerability’, ‘precarity, complicity, and structural violence’ (n=7). Ethical issues were discussed from the perspective of research ethics (n=9), clinical ethics (n=1) and public health ethics (n=1). All publications are from researchers based in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Research gaps identified include the need for more research involving migrant children, research from migrant-sending countries, studies on quality of migrant healthcare, participatory health research, and research with internal migrants. Conclusions More empirical research is necessary to better understand the ethical issues that exist in the domains of research, clinical care, and public health. Critical examination of the interplay between migration, health and ethics with consideration of the diverse factors and contexts involved is crucial for the advancement of migration health ethics in SEA.
Predictive Clinical Neuroscience Portal (PCNportal): instant online access to research-grade normative models for clinical neuroscientists.
Authors: Barkema Pieter , Rutherford Saige , Lee Hurng-Chun , Kia Seyed Mostafa , Savage Hannah , Beckmann Christian , Marquand Andre
Published: November 2023

Background The neurobiology of mental disorders remains poorly understood despite substantial scientific efforts, due to large clinical heterogeneity and to a lack of tools suitable to map individual variability. Normative modeling is one recently successful framework that can address these problems by comparing individuals to a reference population. The methodological underpinnings of normative modelling are, however, relatively complex and computationally expensive. Our research group has developed the python-based normative modelling package Predictive Clinical Neuroscience toolkit (PCNtoolkit) which provides access to many validated algorithms for normative modelling. PCNtoolkit has since proven to be a strong foundation for large scale normative modelling, but still requires significant computation power, time and technical expertise to develop. Methods To address these problems, we introduce PCNportal. PCNportal is an online platform integrated with PCNtoolkit that offers access to pre-trained research-grade normative models estimated on tens of thousands of participants, without the need for computation power or programming abilities. PCNportal is an easy-to-use web interface that is highly scalable to large user bases as necessary. Finally, we demonstrate how the resulting normalized deviation scores can be used in a clinical application through a schizophrenia classification task applied to cortical thickness and volumetric data from the longitudinal Northwestern University Schizophrenia Data and Software Tool (NUSDAST) dataset. Results At each longitudinal timepoint, the transferred normative models achieved a mean[std. dev.] explained variance of 9.4[8.8]%, 9.2[9.2]%, 5.6[7.4]% respectively in the control group and 4.7[5.5]%, 6.0[6.2]%, 4.2[6.9]% in the schizophrenia group. Diagnostic classifiers achieved AUC of 0.78, 0.76 and 0.71 respectively. Conclusions This replicates the utility of normative models for diagnostic classification of schizophrenia and showcases the use of PCNportal for clinical neuroimaging. By facilitating and speeding up research with high-quality normative models, this work contributes to research in inter-individual variability, clinical heterogeneity and precision medicine.
Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in hospitalized children with pneumonia in Laos
Authors: Vilivong Keoudomphone , Mayxay Mayfong , Dance David A.B. , De Lamballerie Xavier , Newton Paul N. , Dubot-Pérès Audrey
Published: November 2023

Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been described worldwide as an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia. From December 2013 to December 2014, 461 children admitted to Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos, with acute respiratory infection were investigated for upper respiratory microorganisms using probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (FTD33).  M. pneumoniae was detected by FTD33 in the upper respiratory tract of three patients, two girls and one boy, 5.7 and 3.9 years old and 13.6 years old, respectively. They presented with clinical features compatible with M. pneumoniae infection. The two girls were also positive for other potential pathogens. The boy had abnormal pulmonary auscultation, and one of the girls had significant anaemia. These results suggest that enhancement of diagnostic systems for M. pneumoniae detection and analysis of its antibiotic resistance profile is needed to raise awareness and improve understanding of the epidemiology of M. pneumoniae infection in Laos, enable targeted therapy, and inform treatment guidelines.
The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Heteropelma amictum (Fabricius, 1775)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Broad Gavin R. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Heteropelma amictum (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 226.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.65 kilobases in length.
Philosophy of art and science
Authors:   Far Eastern State Institute of Arts, Mitina Natalia G.
Published: November 2023

Настоящее учебно-методическое пособие представляет курс философии искусства и науки. Отражены основные разделы и темы содержания дисциплины. Дан объём и виды учебных занятий, виды самостоятельной работы и требования к промежуточной аттестации, методические материалы для оптимальной организации процесса изучения дисциплины, а также выполнения различных форм самостоятельной работы, конспекты лекций по курсу и оценочные материалы для проведения текущей и промежуточной аттестации обучающихся по дисциплине. Учебное издание является результатом разработки курса философии искусства и науки для магистрантов по творческим специальностям.
Uneven Distribution Possibilities of Creative Capital Development in Rural Aareas (Case Study of the Podkarpackie Communes, Poland)
Authors: Szara Katarzyna
Published: November 2023

This paper presents the results of the research, which is an attempt to modify the assumptions of R. Florida’s theory regarding the creative class. The measurement is based on indices that are the basis for the measurement of three categories: talent, technology, tolerance is not always possible due to the lack of data.

The purpose of the study was to identify factors determining activation of creative capital in the areas of communes (local level). The objective results from the need to determine whether or not such conditions are present at the local level.

Using the available literature, a questionnaire was prepared. Its results obtained from a survey among the Podkarpackie residents, were presented in the paper. It was found, as in the case of the results of the work of other authors, that in municipal communes there were better conditions for the development of creative capital.
The Monographic Sociology of Dimitrie Gusti
Authors: Rostás Zoltán
Published: November 2023

This paper briefly presents the method of sociological monography conducted by the Romanian professor Dimitrie Gusti – from its emergence, through its theoretical foundation and application in field research, until its prohibition. The paper explores, step by step, the development of the specific monograph methodology, followed by its introduction in university studies and in the practice of social intervention.

The Bucharest Sociological School that was formed around the monographic field research in the 1930s later began to diversify, but its extinction was due to World War II and to the establishment of the communist regime.
The Legacy of the Monographic Method in Lithuania
Authors: Žvinklienė Alina , Kublickienė Lilija
Published: November 2023

This article attempted to overview the use of the monographic method in sociological research of Lithuania. Historically, the monographic method stimulated the development of rural sociology in Eastern European countries. The fulfilment of the aim is inevitably related to a question about institutionalisation and the development of sociology and such a sub-discipline as rural sociology in Lithuania.

The outcomes of the inquiry allow one to argue that the monographic method is in oblivion rather than in active use, belonging to the history of sociological research in Lithuania. However, the monographic method, often unnamed, is widely applied to contemporary local history research.

The geopolitical reasons had a significant impact on retardation in the institutionalisation and development of national sociology. The politics of national identity management, including those of science and education, can be among the important reasons for the absence of institutionalised rural sociology in Lithuania. However, a national social demographical context determining the permanent public and political need “to solve a peasant question” created the bulk of applied research in the Lithuanian countryside that can be considered as adequate data in the frame of rural sociology.
Are Peasant Households Feasible in Terms of Policy? The Debate on the Future of Semi-Subsistence Households in Ukraine
Authors: Koblianska Inna , Pasko Oleh , Hordiyenko Mykola , Yarova Inessa
Published: November 2023

The paper provides an analysis of semi-subsistence farming in Ukraine during the period 2008–2018, with a special focus on policy towards peasant households, and its feasibility.

Ukraine currently has several strategic documents that set the vectors for regulating the development of the industry. The current policy on the strategic development of agriculture, rural areas, and support for farming is found to be chaotic and inconsistent.

The paper confirms the thesis regarding the low economic efficiency of natural farming, and given the specific weight of households in the production of certain types of food, emphasises that public costs for ensuring the country's food security are thus fairly high. The overall identified trends in the Ukrainian countryside are a) the reduction of land size, naturalisation of economic activity and reduction of market activity (farms, as a rule, keep cattle, poultry and bees, although the safety and quality of livestock products produced in such farms is rather dubious); and b) the enlargement of individual peasant households and their focus on commodity production of agricultural products (mainly crops), with the simultaneous distortion of reported production volumes and, accordingly, tax evasion.

Thus, private peasant households (PPHs) appear as economic structures with a special status: on the one hand, they can be considered as full participants in the market of agri-food products (in terms of sales and production), but on the other hand they are not recognised as entrepreneurial structures. This has negative consequences for the local economy as a whole. PPHs are a legalised form of informal employment, an informal entrepreneurial activity. PPHs are, in our opinion, enjoying preferential status in comparison with that of farmers. Furthermore, existing measures (often patchy and haphazard) of political regulation only deepen the problematic functioning of semi-subsistence farms; and taking into account the peculiarities of tax regulation and the obligatory participation of household members in the pension system, in our opinion, they only intensify the crisis in the rural economy and related social problems.

We find that PPHs in their present form (we stress the last four words) are manifestly untenable, and policy-wise are not feasible for Ukraine. The long-term strategy of reforming this crucial part of Ukraine's agriculture should not include new innovations, but be wisely tailored to Ukraine's conditions within the EU. PPHs ought to be accommodated within and be part and parcel of the tax system, and then be an element of future balanced and sustainable rural development. To achieve the latter aim, the recalibration of tax and legal regulations, underpinned by solid strategic policy, is desperately needed.
Gentrified countryside and non-gentrified countryside: Spatial dimension of the rural gentrification process
Authors: Zwęglińska-Gałecka Dominika
Published: November 2023

The subject of the paper is the process of rural gentrification in Poland. In Poland, this process has a special character. It began later than in the West and intensified in the last decade of the twentieth century. It resulted from two parallel processes endogenous and exogenous to the countryside. The rural middle class grew due to an increase in the level of education of the rural population (resulting from the “educational boom” after 1989) since a higher level of education entitles one to occupy a higher position in the social and professional structure. It was accompanied by the settlement of the urban middle class in rural areas. The paper identifies (based on literature and earlier own research) the features of rural gentrification in Poland. Based on them, the level of gentrification of rural communities was indicated, and in turn, the spatial extent of the rural gentrification process in Poland was defined.
The rural linguistic landscape of Banat
Authors: Sorescu-Marinković Annemarie , Salamurović Aleksandra
Published: November 2023

While the main body of linguistic landscape (LL) research still focuses on urban areas, more recent works have broadened the scope and conceptualisation of LL to include rural spaces. However, these works almost exclusively examine the Global North or the Global South. Suspended somewhere between the Global North and the Global South, the so-called Global East, to which Southeast Europe belongs, is for the most part excluded not just from notions of globality, but also from LL studies. The aim of this paper is to redirect the focus of LL research to a rural area in the Global East, namely, the village Ečka in the Serbian Banat, a region with a specific and lengthy history of multilingualism. We hold that the typologies used for the study of urban LL cannot yield relevant results if applied to rural LL. Our study is based on data collected in 2020 and 2021 during six field trips to Ečka which resulted in more than 300 photographs containing inscriptions in different languages and scripts. Furthermore, we conducted participant observation by recording interviews and collecting walking narratives from locals in Serbian or Romanian. Our study confirmed that there is a gap between the official multiculturalism and multilingualism policy as declared and implemented by top-down agents and the gradual transition to monolingualism and monoscriptalism at the bottom-up level. Therefore, instead of the classical top-down and bottom-up distinction, we propose seeing the village space from a two-fold perspective: the synchronic LL, which mirrors the current use of languages, language prestige and language policies, and the memorial LL, which is a chronicle of the multilingualism of past generations and welcomes a diachronic perspective of LL.
Use of Mobile Technology-Based Library Services and Information Needs Satisfaction of Undergraduates in Universities in South-West Nigeria
Authors: Udem Obiora Kingsley , Ogungbeni John Igbekele
Published: November 2023

Aim: Users’ satisfaction has been a subject of research since the establishment of the first university library in 1984, which signalled the commencement of the provision of information services to academic library users in Nigeria. However, empirical studies on the use of mobile technology-based library services in relation to students’ information needs satisfaction are rare. Thus, there is a knowledge gap, and this study, therefore, sets out to fill this gap by investigating the use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction among undergraduates in universities in South-West Nigeria.
Methods: The research design for the study was a survey, involving a multistage sampling technique. Two questionnaires (on the level of use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction of undergraduates) were used to sample 1,086 undergraduates across three faculties at six universities in South-West Nigeria. 1,045 responses were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: The study found that some mobile technology-based library services were frequently used by undergraduates, while others were not. Most of the students expressed satisfaction with the services provided by their university libraries. The results of this study also showed that there is a highly positive relationship (Pearson r = 0.53) between the use of mobile technology-based library services and the information needs satisfaction of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria.
Conclusion: This study concluded that with a good deployment of infrastructure, the provision of mobile technology-based library services will encourage their effective use by undergraduates and, consequently, a higher level of information needs satisfaction. The study recommended, among other things, that university library management should subscribe regularly to mobile technology-based library services to overcome some of the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Copyright laws and information technology usage as factors influencing information services delivery in university libraries in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Okuonghae Nosakhare , ADENEKAN Tolulope  E.
Published: November 2023

The study examined copyright laws and information technology usage as factors influencing information services delivery in universities in Edo State. The research design employed was a descriptive survey. The population comprised 43 respondents. Considering the controllable size of the population, the total enumeration sampling technique was adopted. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire, which was converted to a google online questionnaire form. It was administered to the respondents via the WhatsApp platforms. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The finding from the study revealed that copyright laws have a significant effect on information service delivery in these institutions. Similarly, it was also revealed that the use of information technology by library staff in information service delivery in universities libraries in Edo State is very high. The study also include recommendations and its limitations.
African Librarians and the Future of Learning: Reflections from the 5thAfLIA Conference and 7th African Library Summit in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Igbinovia Magnus Osahon , Okuonghae Omorodion
Published: November 2023

Innovations in the 21st century have reshaped learning among people of different age, educational qualification, race, gender and geographical location. As a lifelong behaviour, it is predicted that the future of learning will transcend the conventional learning pattern and walls of the classroom with the introduction of open practices (such as the open educational resources) and the decolonization of educational content for both formal and informal learning. This discussion and many more characterized the 5thAfLIA conference and 7th African Library Summit in Accra, Ghana, as Librarians in Africa gathered to discuss the future of learning, libraries and sustainable development in Africa. The conference provided opportunity for Librarians in Africa to re-think their place in the future of learning and help achieve sustainable development. This paper, therefore, highlights the key activities and issues discussed during the 5th AfLIA Conference and 7th African Library Summit held in Accra, Ghana, from 22nd to 26th May, 2023.
Comparison of the Western and Traditional African Methods of Conflict Resolution on the Example of International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR) and Gacaca Method in the Context of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide
Authors: Chaggu Brian John
Published: November 2023

Local traditions of conflict resolution have been overlooked since the dominant methods of dealing with these issues are often centered on Western approaches to conflict resolution. This highlights the urgent need to prioritize engagement with indigenous knowledge and processes, particularly in conflict resolution and broadening our perspectives. While conflicts continue to rise in Africa(post-independence), we need to revisit the conflict resolution approaches that incorporate local traditions embedded in various African communities. The article highlights African approaches towards conflict resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa, e.g., such methods as Gacaca, in comparison with the Western concepts of conflict resolution. The author’s extensive experience and fascination with African traditions also makes it possible to introduce readers to various issues of peace studies of African origins. The qualitative methods with a reliance on various reports from Western and African peace and security experts as well as subject literature discourses on African indigenous conflict resolution methods have been used for the purposes of the article. The author’s analysis is also based on the interviews. Interviews were conducted to evaluate Gacaca courts and the procedures which included confessions, punishment or forgiveness then followed by reconciliation and integration into the society. The interviews included the victims of the genocide, a retired journalist, a former member of the Rwandan government, and a former employee of a non-governmental organization.
Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Research on Social and Cultural Processes in the Environment of the Titular Nation of the Ukrainian SSR during the 1960s and 1970s
Authors: Kindrachuk Nadia
Published: November 2023

The article considers the сonceptual and theoretical foundations of research on social and cultural processes in the environment of the titular nation of the Ukrainian SSR during the 1960s and 1970s. It is characterized by the semantic content of concepts of “titular nation” and “indigenous people” in the Ukrainian SSR, identified primarily with Ukrainians, who were united by a single language, faith, spirituality, national traditions, customs, culture, ethnic origin and ancient residence on the territory of Ukraine, the official name of which was determined by their nationality. The conceptual components of the research are interpretation of the following concepts of: “Ukrainian ethnos”, “Ukrainian ethnic territory” or “Ukrainian ethnic land”, “national majority”, “national minority”, “nation-state”, “nonconformism”, “counterculture”, “sixties”, “dissidence”, “Ukrainian diaspora”, etc.

Research of the conceptual and theoretical foundations of the outlined topic makes it possible to resolve controversial issues which have not been adequately covered in historical science, also makes it possible to specify the process of national self-expression of Ukrainians through cultural space, and allows to get new assessments, judgments and conclusions.
Causes and Effects of the Economic Crisis in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957–1958
Authors: Klimiuk Zbigniew
Published: November 2023

The economic crisis of 1957–1958 brought to an end the first and started the second post-war business cycle in the West Germany’s economy. The long-term growth trend of the 1958–1970 period was interlaced with two downturns in the economic development, in the 1962–1963 and 1965–1967 periods, respectively. As in the entire period following the World War II, the downturn in economic activity did not lead to an absolute decline in industrial production and gross domestic product (GDP) on the year to year basis, but only to a reduction in the economic growth rate, or in other words – negative deviation of the growth rate from the long-term development trend.
Military Security in the Baltic Sea during Cold War: Analysis Based on the Materials of the Naval Reconnaissance Unit of the Polish People’s Republic
Authors: Będźmirowski Jerzy , Gac Miłosz
Published: November 2023

The purpose of the article was to present, in the proverbial nutshell, the issues related to the military situation in the 1950s and 1960s during the so-called Cold War in the Baltic Sea, based on the materials of the Naval Reconnaissance Unit of the Polish People’s Republic. These materials were very important for analytical teams preparing concepts for operations in the Northern European Theater of Operations, as well as ensuring the security of the maritime borders of the Warsaw Pact countries.

The 1950s and 1960s were characterized by a wide range of reconnaissance activities as a consequence of the changing reality in the Baltic Sea. The naval potential of both NATO countries, especially Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), was expanded, thus the other side began to create the People’s Navy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), as well as to strengthen the combat potential of the naval forces of the People’s Republic of Poland. At the same time, the cooperation of allied fleets of the Warsaw Pact countries was improved, and for this purpose, staff exercises were conducted on maps and in the Baltic Sea.

In retrospect, both NATO and the Warsaw Pact appreciated the military importance of the Danish Straits and the Baltic Sea. In the following years, efforts were made to improve the concepts of naval forces in these waters.
Voters’ Attitudes towards the Gender Quota System in Elections in Poland and the Possibility of Its Modification
Authors: Tomczak Łukasz , Iwański Rafał , Zawadzka Katarzyna
Published: November 2023

The article concerns the support for the gender quota system in the elections in Poland. The research was conducted on a double sample of adults for a representative national research, by means of quota sampling method (n = 2119). The respondents who believed that there is insufficient representation of women in parliament outnumbered those with the opposite opinion. We have observed a reluctance among the respondents to introduce solutions aimed at strengthening women’s representation. The difference in views were determined by political preferences, gender, age, domicile, and education. Women and leftist supporters more frequently believed that there are too few women in parliament and supported quotas, as opposed to men and persons with right-wing views. The differences were observed in the youngest age category, where women more often opted for quotas than men.
Krzysztof Lipiński (1957-2013) – wrażliwy poeta i wnikliwy obserwator spraw ludzkich, mistrz słowa i przekładu
Authors: Zieliński Lech , Muzioł-Zielińska Joanna
Published: November 2023

Artykuł stanowi krótkie przedstawienie sylwetki Krzysztofa Lipińskiego, wybitnego germanisty, literaturoznawcy, przekładoznawcy  i tłumacza z uwypukleniem subiektywnie wybranych obszarów, w któych zbiegały się zainteresowania przedstawionego mistrza i autorów artykułu.
Sesamoid arthritis with locked metacarpophalangeal joint misdiagnosed as trigger finger: a case report
Authors: Oh Sang Ho , Kang Jae Hoon
Published: November 2023

Locked metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) is mainly caused by joint pathologies, although tendinopathy is also a possible cause. Furthermore, it can be misdiagnosed as tendinopathy with triggering symptoms. Herein, we present a 60-year-old housewife with thumb flexion inability lasting for 4 months. Three weeks previously, she visited another clinic and was misdiagnosed with trigger thumb. Her symptoms did not resolve after trigger thumb surgery. At our clinic, physical examination and imaging studies were conducted. Sesamoid arthritic change with entrapment in the MCPJ was found, and the entrapped sesamoid bone inhibited flexion of the MCPJ of the thumb. Based on the examinations, radial sesamoidectomy was planned. After surgery, the patient recovered a passive full range of motion immediately. Despite a rehabilitation program, at 6 months postoperatively, severe stiffness and contracture at the MCPJ were noted. Therefore, a second operation with tenolysis and volar plate release was conducted under wide-awake anesthesia. Intraoperatively, severe adhesion was observed in flexor tendon, volar plate release was performed, and small defects were found in the volar plate when thumb was fully extended. To prevent secondary healing of the volar plate defect, a dorsoradial adipofascial flap was used. At 6 months after the second surgery, the patient’s range of motion in the MCPJ had improved, and she resumed activities of daily living without other complications. Hand surgeons frequently misdiagnose conditions as trigger finger if there is triggering or locked-joint symptoms. An accurate preoperative diagnosis with a detailed physical examination and imaging studies are essential for better operative results.
The usefulness of bioabsorbable magnesium implants in addition to metal plates in the treatment of complex distal radius fractures
Authors: An Ki Yong , Park Tae Gyu , Kim Young Jae
Published: November 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether normal plating yields comparable outcomes to plating using additional bioabsorbable screws or wires for complex distal radial fractures.Methods: Among 80 patients with complex distal radius fractures treated between January 2018 and March 2021, 45 were studied retrospectively and divided into two groups as follows: group A (n=23) received a plate, and group B (n=22) received a plate with a bioresorbable screw or wire. Radiological studies evaluated the period of bone union, radial length, inclination, and resorption of the bioresorbable screws or wires after surgery. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score was examined for clinical evaluation, and complications were compared between the two groups.Results: The two groups showed similar distributions in sex, age, injury mechanism, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and mean follow-up period; however, there were no statistically significant differences in the period of bone union and maintenance of reduction (radial length, inclination, and volar tilt). The DASH score averaged 14.8 and 13.2 points in groups A and B, respectively, showing no significant difference in complications (nonunion, malunion, infection, and arthritis).Conclusion: Regardless of the use of additional bioresorbable screws or wires, reduction in distal radius fractures in both groups yielded good results. Plating with additional bioresorbable screws or wires may be a suitable fixation method to compensate for the shortcomings of metal implants in complex distal radius fractures.
Treatment of true superficial femoral artery aneurysms: the 15-year experience of a single centre
Authors: Zenunaj G , Baldazzi G , Acciarri P , Gasbarro V , Cosacco AM , Serra R , Traina L
Published: November 2023

Objective

True superficial femoral artery aneurysms (SFAAs) are rare and traditionally treated by open repair. However, the endovascular approach excluding the aneurysm sac with a covered stent may be an alternative. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the open and endovascular repair of SFAAs.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational, monocentric study. The main endpoints were: technical success, limb salvage and primary patency rate, and hospitalisation time.

Results

We identified 49 SFAAs in 40 patients; the mean age was 73.3±10.1 years, the mean diameter of SFAAs was 5.41±3.64cm, and 61.2% were symptomatic for ischaemic or compression-related signs. The indication for open repair was given mainly for complex SFAAs involving the distal third of the superficial femoral artery and with an ipsilateral popliteal aneurysm. Among the 36 open-repair patients, 33 underwent ligation and revascularisation via bypass or graft interposition, and 3 patients underwent simple ligation without revascularisation. The endovascular approach was adopted mainly for aneurysms located in the medial third of the SFAA, which underwent covered stenting in 12 patients and coil embolisation in 1 patient. The technical success was 100% in all cases. There were no statistical differences in terms of primary patency and limb salvage rate between groups at two and four years. The mean hospitalisation time was 10±4 and 3±1 days after open and endovascular treatment, respectively.

Conclusions

The endovascular approach may be a valid alternative for isolating SFAAs offering good results and shorter hospitalisation. Open repair remains a valid approach, particularly in complex aneurysms.