bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
20 years of aberrant salience in psychosis: What have we learned?
Authors: Corlett Philip R. , Fraser Kurt
Published: June 2024

Twenty years ago Shitij Kapur’s “Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience” captured the attention of clinicians, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscientists. It has become the de facto way of talking about delusion formation in labs and clinics. Here, we critically evaluate the original theory considering evolving data since its publication. We examine its specific predictions, regarding the neural and behavioral loci of dopamine dysfunction in psychosis and find them lacking. Furthermore, we explore our ever-expanding knowledge of the dopamine system and its impacts on behavior following the explosion of new tools and probes for precise measurement and manipulation of dopaminergic circuits. We pay particular attention to theories that have developed since Kapur, which suggest a role for dopamine in belief formation, belief updating under uncertainty, and abductive inference to the best explanation for some set of circumstances – all of which we believe fit better with the work in patients with delusions and hallucinations, how they behave and what we know about their dopamine function. We admire the scope and vision of the original work, and we continue to follow its example by trying to unite neurochemical dysfunction to clinical phenomenology through computational cognitive neuroscience.
Children’s Development of Understanding Aha-experiences in Problem Solving
Authors: Haugen Josefine , Nilsen Ida Bekke Rønneberg , Reber Rolf
Published: June 2024

Little is known about children’s understanding of aha-experiences. On the one hand, there are indications that children experience them from infancy and thus may understand them early. On the other hand, this experience is complex because it comprises several epistemic emotions and insights, and therefore, aha-experiences may be understood later in childhood. The present study aims to examine how children’s understanding of aha-experiences develops. Using a scenario-based approach, 167 children aged 4 to 8 years revealed that at age 4, the children understood at an above-chance level that an aha-experience is about a new idea but attributed the experience to the situation. The oldest children understood even better that the aha-experience is about a new idea to solve a problem and attributed the aha-experience to the idea, not the situation. We discuss the results in terms of similar developmental trajectories in the development of understanding emotions and their relationship to cognition.
Flexible use of facial features supports face identity processing
Authors: Dunn James Daniel , Towler Alice , Popovic Bojana , de Courcey Ayden , Lee Na-Young , Kemp Richard , Miellet Sebastien , White David
Published: June 2024

People prioritise diagnostic features in classification tasks. However, it is not clear whether this priority is fixed or is flexibly applied depending on the specific classification decision, or how feature use behaviour contributes to individual differences in performance. Here we examined whether flexibility in features used in a face identification task supports face recognition ability. In Experiment 1, we show that the facial features most useful for identification vary – to a surprising degree – depending on the specific face identity comparison at hand. While the ears and eyes were most diagnostic for face identification in general, they were the most diagnostic feature for just 22% and 14% of identity decisions, respectively. In 3 subsequent experiments, we find that flexibility in feature use contributes to an individual’s face identity matching ability. Higher face identification accuracy was associated with being aware of (Experiments 2 & 4) and attending to (Experiments 3 & 4) the most diagnostic features for a specific facial comparison. This conferred an enhanced benefit relative to focusing on features that were diagnostic of face identity decisions in general (Experiment 4). We conclude that adaptability in information sampling supports face recognition ability and discuss theoretical and applied implications.
Do Large Language Models Understand Verbal Indicators of Romantic Attraction?
Authors: Matz Sandra , Peters Heinrich , Eastwick Paul Wolfe , Cerf Moran , Finkel Eli
Published: June 2024

What makes people “click” on a first date and become mutually attracted to one another? While understanding and predicting the dynamics of romantic interactions used to be exclusive to human judgment, we show that Large Language Models (LLMs) can detect romantic attraction during brief getting-to-know-you interactions. Examining data from 964 speed dates, we show that ChatGPT (and Claude 3) can predict both objective and subjective indicators of speed dating success (r=0.12-0.23). ChatGPT’s predictions of actual matching (i.e., the exchange of contact information) were not only on par with those of human judges who had access to the same information but incremental to speed daters’ own predictions. While some of the variance in ChatGPT’s predictions can be explained by common content dimensions – such as the valence of the conversations – the fact that there remains a substantial proportion of unexplained variance suggests that ChatGPT also picks up on conversational dynamics. In addition, ChatGPT’s judgments showed substantial overlap with those made by the human observers (mean r=0.29), highlighting similarities in their representation of romantic attraction that is, partially, independent of accuracy.
Overconfidence and Financial Risk Tolerance in Older Age
Authors: Frank Colleen C , Mottola Gary , Chen Melanie Meiru , Yu Lei , Boyle Patricia , Samanez-Larkin Gregory Russell , Seaman Kendra Leigh
Published: June 2024

Excessive financial risk taking in older age can have harmful consequences as opportunities to recover lost wealth are limited. Understanding financial risk taking in older age is important for identifying vulnerabilities and developing interventions to empower aging investors to make wise financial choices. In this paper, we explore how overconfidence in financial knowledge affects financial risk-taking among older adults aged 58-101 (N = 1242) using data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP). After controlling for demographics, overconfidence was associated with self-reported financial risk tolerance such that those who were more overconfident reported tolerating more financial risks. Moreover, this relationship emerged for both healthy older adults and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, overconfidence did not predict performance on a behavioral measure of risk aversion. The present results suggest that overconfidence may partially contribute to financial risk-taking in older adults, regardless of cognitive status. Thus, interventions aimed at calibrating confidence to actual levels of financial knowledge could be an impactful target for intervention.
Beyond Domestication and Hunting: Exploring Human-Animal Bonds in Medicine
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Singh shalini
Published: June 2024

Historically, archaeological studies of human-animal relationships have centred on domestication and hunting (for meat, clothing, or trophies). Domestication, beginning around 10,000 years ago with species such as dogs, cattle, and sheep, represented a transformative shift in human societies. It facilitated the development of agriculture, permanent settlements, and complex social structures. Hunting, conversely, has been a fundamental aspect of human survival since the Palaeolithic times, contributing to the development of tools, social cooperation, and symbolic practices.While these aspects are crucial, they only partially represent the breadth of human-animal interactions. Recent archaeological and ethnographic research underscores the need to explore beyond these traditional confines to uncover the diverse roles animals have played in human societies.This article explores the complexity of past human-animal interactions, emphasizing that these relationships extend beyond domestication and hunting for food. Applying a transdisciplinary approach, it examines the medicinal dimensions of human-animal interaction, using the Nilambur Valley tribes in Kerala, India, as a case study. This study uses contemporary ethnographic data from hunter-gatherer populations as heuristic tools to explore parallels and inform archaeological interpretations, while acknowledging the significant temporal, environmental, and cultural differences between ancient and modern groups.The Nilambur Valley, characterized by its rich biodiversity, is home to more than 30 tribes, including Cholanaickan, Kattunaickan, Kattupaniyan (Paniyan), and Aranadan tribes. These communities, traditionally foragers, exhibit complex and sustainable practices in their interactions with animals. Their use of animal by-products for medicinal purposes, such as elephant tooth for tooth pain and python fat for wound healing, demonstrates a deep knowledge of their environment. Moreover, animals hold significant spiritual and cultural importance, featuring prominently in rituals and traditional practices.This article combines archaeological methods, ethnographic fieldwork, ecological studies, and cultural analyses to offer a comprehensive understanding of human-animal relationships. It underscores the importance of expanding archaeological research to include medicinal and ecological dimensions of animals. By documenting indigenous knowledge and encouraging transdisciplinary collaborations, this article aims to enhance our understanding of past human-animal interactions and promote sustainable relationships with the natural world.
The Clashing Rocks: The Survey of the Data and the Dating of the Idea
Authors:   Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), RAS, Berezkin Yuri ,   European University at St Petersburg
Published: June 2024

Vladimir Propp interpreted the fairytale with all its episodes and images as a narrative correspondence to the initiation rites described in Africa, Australia, Melanesia and South America. For him, the motif of clashing rocks was the equivalent of monstrous jaws swallowing adolescent boys. For the authors of the Encyclopedia of Fairy Tales, this motif is a borderline inside the universal opposition between life and death, ours and others. Here we present the systematized data on the world distribution of the narratives that describe dangerous objects which, while remaining in the same place, constantly or occasionally produce rocking, swinging, spinning or other movements. The absence of such an image in Africa (outside the Maghreb) is an argument in favor of its emergence not in the African homeland but after the peopling of Eurasia, possibly in the Central Asian — Southern Siberian region. The most numerous and different versions are recorded in North America. In the Old World, many cases are known from the circumpontic region. In Australia and Melanesia, the motif is known but its versions there are rare. Its spread before the beginning of the peopling of America is beyond doubt. There is no correlation between the “clashing rocks” motif and forms of social organization or economy. Inside particular areas, the variants of the motifs easily replace each other. Most often, the motif is either an obstacle on the border of the supernatural world or a weapon controlled by a demonic person.
Justice for Children and Adolescents: Critical Theory and Anti-Ageist VK Web Communities
Authors:   European University at St Petersburg, Prus Irina
Published: June 2024

This article discusses the production of a critical anti-ageism project. In this case ‘anti-ageism’ is an emic name for a small-scale web community of several readerships and groups that emerged in 2012 in VK social media. Its participants aim to stand against ageism, meaning discrimination against children and adolescents based on their age. Anti-ageists identify themselves as innovators who produce new ways of imagining children’s roles and challenging the social order. In 2015 their rhetorical strategies changed from producing evidence about personal trauma to formulating texts in the technique of critical social theory. The last ones include condemning ageism as a total system, and various situations and social relations as oppression, exploitation, or domination of children and adolescents, whatever the forms in which they occur. With oppression as a key strategically deployed rhetorical trope the discourse of anti-ageist VK web communities invites comparison with the tendencies of the academic and activist critique of dominant and repressive categorical apparatus. At the same time, the anti-ageists redefine the collective understanding of justice by proposing new visions of children’s agency and scenarios of children’s behaviour. The mechanisms of transfer of interpretive techniques of critical theory, especially the choice of cultural allies of anti-ageism, are presented from the perspective of digital ethnography and placed in the context of sociopolitical changes with attention to the material or technological landscapes and the modes of sociality of specific web fragments. The second part of the article demonstrates how anti-ageism is not only articulated on the internet but also embodied in the social imagination of participants in anti-ageist web communities. Transferring the oppression of children and adolescents from a textual motif into a technique that anti-ageists use in imagining and representing themselves and others opens up the prospect for a discussion about the place of critical theory in the scenes of everyday life.
Anthropological Research in Soviet Prisoner-of-War Camps in the 1940s
Authors:   V. V. Vinogradov Russian Language Institute, RAS, Druzhinin Petr
Published: June 2024

The article fills an important gap in the history of Russian (Soviet) physical anthropology. Based on previously secret archival papers discovered by the author, the history of anthropological research in prisoner-of-war camps on the territory of the USSR in the 1940s is revealed. Following the example of anthropologists during World War I, Soviet anthropologists, led by Viktor Bunak, initiated and carried out an extensive research program under the auspices of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences in close cooperation with the NKVD authorities. The published archival materials strictly document the work of the scientists, who in 1943 proposed the idea of this large-scale study, and presented the project to the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, Andrey Vyshinsky. The immediate permission to conduct the expedition was personally given by Lavrentiy Beria. The project was carried out in 1944–1946 under strict secrecy, which also was extended to the publication of its results. Specific information is provided on the conduct of anthropological research in a number of prisoner-of-war camps, the composition of the expedition, instructions, and methodologies. The article analyzes the reasons why the entire history and results of this project remained classified as secret until the collapse of the USSR. The article is preceded by a review of anthropological research by Russian (Soviet) scientists involving special contingents as informants, explaining why special contingents (army conscripts, military personnel, mentally ill individuals, prisoners in prisons and camps) were actively used in anthropological research.
The Arkhangelsk Village of Lyavlya as a Place of Violence: Between History and Myth
Authors:   European University at St Petersburg, Drannikova Natalia
Published: June 2024

The article examines the narratives, ideas and cultural practices that exist in the Arkhangelsk cultural space and represent to an external observer the pages of the Soviet history of the village of Lyavlya associated with the mass extermination of people in the 1920s–1950s. The cultural memory of Lyavlya as a place of violence was created by parishioners of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the leadership of the Arkhangelsk diocese. The result of their activities was the formation of a narrative about the history of Lyavlya and the particularization of the memory of the victims of violence. For memory actors, the fate of modern Russia is inseparable from the fate of the Orthodox Church, and the people who died in Lyavlya appear as martyrs for the faith and “heroes of the spirit”. Processions of the cross to burial sites provide an opportunity for their participants to legitimize ideas about the special role of Russia in the Orthodox world and the exclusivity of the Russian people. The fate of the dead clergy and laity, according to memorial actors, serves as evidence of the uniqueness of the Russian nation and its special mission to preserve Orthodoxy. Recently, interest in the topic of the traumatic past has faded. The author shows how the memory of traumatic legacies is constructed through ceremonies, memorials and publications.
A Review of Sergei Kan, Lev Shternberg: etnolog, narodnik, borets za prava evreev [Lev Shternberg: Anthropologist, Russian Socialist, Jewish Activist], transl. from English by A. Glebovskaya. St Petersburg; Boston: Bibliorossika; Academic Studies Press, 2023, 694 pp. (Contemporary Jewish Studies)
Authors:   Institute of Linguistics, RAS, Kuznetsov Igor
Published: June 2024

This book written by Sergei Kan is dedicated to Lev Shternberg (1961–1927), who was a major Russian ethnographer and public figure, one of the founders of the so-called Leningrad school. The Russian translation of the book is reviewed. The large-scale study, rich in archival sources from all possible collections (American Philosophical Society, American Museum of Natural History, the Kunstkammer, RAS Archives, etc.), has been written in the best traditions of the prominent historian George Stocking’s approach. The reviewer notes several undoubted merits of Kan’s work. The main one is an attempt to place the Russian scholar’s research in the context of the Western anthropology of his time. One of the most profound ideas of the book concerns the assessment of Morgan’s influence on Sternberg’s work, and, in a broader perspective, on the development of the social sciences in Russia and the USSR, where, according to the author, social evolutionism played a much more progressive role than in Europe or the USA. That theory served rather to confirm the necessity of social reform, and neither then nor later was it associated with the reaction in the natural sciences, Eurocentrism, and white racism that Boas saw in it. At the same time, the edition under review contains a few inaccuracies and factual errors, some of which were already present in the original edition, while others have arisen due to a not entirely accurate translation.
Pismo is temnoty [Letter from the Darkness]: A Review of Sergei Kan, Lev Shternberg: etnolog, narodnik, borets za prava evreev [Lev Shternberg: Anthropologist, Russian Socialist, Jewish Activist], transl. from English by A. Glebovskaya. St Petersburg; Boston: Bibliorossika; Academic Studies Press, 2023, 694 pp. (Contemporary Jewish Studies)
Authors:   The Ohio State University, Arzyutov Dmitry
Published: June 2024

The present review of the Russian translation of Sergei Kan’s book Lev Shternberg: Anthropologist, Russian Socialist, Jewish Activist constitutes a literary experiment. It endeavors to engage in a dialogue, presented in the form of a letter, with the central figure of the book, Lev Shternberg, the co-founder of Soviet and Russian anthropology, regarding the significant transformations it has undergone throughout the 20th century and the first two decades of the 21st. The author pays close attention to the social and political contexts of these changes and how they affected the interpretations of Shternberg’s persona and ideas in Soviet times and today. This experiment extends the author’s reflections on the necessity of revisiting the history of anthropology and reintegrating it into the field itself. As American anthropologist Alfred Irving Hallowell suggested in the 1960s, we should conceptualize “the history of anthropology as an anthropological problem.” By this, the author intends to reconstruct a dialogue between the history of anthropology and the communities with whom anthropologists have engaged, as well as to foster connections between the history of anthropological ideas and ongoing discussions both within and beyond the discipline. These changes, as the author argues, have the potential to significantly expand the styles of anthropological writing and reveal new genealogies of anthropological knowledge.
A Review of Marina Balina, Sergei Oushakine (eds.), The Pedagogy of Images: Depicting Communism for Children. Toronto; Buffalo, NY; London: University of Toronto Press, 2021, XX+548 pp.
Authors:   Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), RAS, Boitsova Olga
Published: June 2024

The reviewed book The Pedagogy of Images: Depicting Communism for Children, edited by Marina Balina and Sergei Oushakine, is dedicated to Soviet children’s book illustrations of the 1920s–1930s, which had an ideological function. The introduction and sixteen chapters written by different authors demonstrate a variegated picture in which there is a place for avant-garde artistic experiments, educational projects and discussions about children’s books. Illustrations for books that were not related to politics did not come into the focus of attention of the authors of the collection, but nevertheless the coverage of the material is very wide. Different chapters examine how paper, nature, electricity, vezdekhodnost (goeverywhereness), time, the death of Lenin, the Red Army, the proletariat, and “Americanism” were represented in children’s illustrations. Due to involvement of many researchers, the book presents different approaches and methods of visual analysis borrowed from visual studies, art criticism, and history. Not all the authors are convincing in their analysis, but the publication of this collection is undoubtedly an important event in this field of study, even though illustrations for children of the 1920s and 1930s are well-studied.
A Review of James Ferguson, Presence and Social Obligation: An Essay of Share. Chicago, IL: Prickly Paradigm Press, 2021, 85 pp.
Authors:   European University at St Petersburg, Zakharova Aleksandra
Published: June 2024

Developing an idea of his previous book Give a Man a Fish (2015), the new publication by James Ferguson deepens the theoretical basis for such a distributive policy as universal basic income. The author considers it necessary to review the prevailing grounds for the distribution of resources, namely labor and citizenship. Referring to materials from southern Africa and scholarly works about huntergatherer societies, Ferguson introduces yet another ground for distribution — presence. A rather open-ended “Being here, among us” in a literal sense of the word can be enough to guarantee the rightful share. Providing anthropological arguments Ferguson not only explains the necessity and possibility of a new global distributive policy, but also declares that the analytical potential of the presence concept should be developed. In the review this approach is associated with the theory from the south by John and Jean Comaroff. Besides, from the reviewer’s point of view, in Presence and Social Obligation Ferguson creates one possible theoretical ground for anarchism. Therefore it is noted that the book under review could be a starting point for rethinking the place and the role of anthropology in political projects.
Beyond “Rabota” and “Otdykh”: Indeterminacy in the Wild Berry Industry in Karelia
Authors:   European University at St Petersburg, Petryakov Stepan
Published: June 2024

How do contemporary Russian workers, caught up in the mechanisms of the seasonal labor market, conceptualize work and leisure? Fieldwork among seasonal berry pickers in Karelia shows how commercial picking, through which some Russians make a living, escapes from the field of definitions available to them: “rabota” as employment and “otdykh” as time free from employment. The article attempts to find out what causes such classificational indeterminacy. The author shows how these causes are not only to be found in the specific organization of seasonal labor relations, but also the opposition of commercial picking to “rabota” and “otdykh” on the basis of the hierarchy of experiences of labor relations from the past and present. In such a case, the definition of “rabota” and “otdykh” is almost always defined through images of wage labor. Such images are linked in this article to what might be called a mode of perception of the mode of production. The author concludes that the dichotomy of “rabota” and “otdykh” becomes an instrument of vernacular critique through which workers navigate the labor market.
The Indian Tea Sector: Exploring Production, Export Dynamics, and Domestic Consumption Patterns
Authors: Paul Haripada
Published: June 2024

This research paper explores the comprehensive trends in tea production, export dynamics, and domestic consumption patterns in India. As the second-largest producer and the highest consumer of tea globally, India's tea industry plays a crucial role in its economy. Using secondary data from the Tea Board of India, this study provides an in-depth analysis of production trends, export statistics, and consumption behaviors across different regions. The findings reveal significant regional variations in consumption, shifting consumer preferences, and emerging trends in both domestic and international markets. The paper concludes with recommendations for stakeholders to enhance the growth and sustainability of the Indian tea industry.
Yoga and Mental Health: A Brief Exposition
Authors: Yesmin Nilufa
Published: June 2024

The phrase “Indian Philosophy” designates philosophical schools that have their roots in the Indian subcontinent. There has been consistency in expanding this field of philosophical inquiry across time, which has given rise to a diverse array of texts and philosophical systems. The Samkhya, whose epistemology and metaphysics Patanjali brought in the second century BC, was a close ally of the Yoga School, which was established by him. Since ancient times, yoga has been practised as a discipline. But, as a result of its association with the Samkhya, it made an effort to create a unique philosophy that would be compatible with the Samkhya Philosophy. There are eight phases to practising yoga, despite the common misconception that it consists just of asanas. These steps stress internal and external cleaning, self-discipline, physical health, and meditation, which promotes alertness and mental power. A method of abstract meditation or mental abstraction is known as yoga. Yogi or yogini is a term used to describe someone who does yoga or adheres to the yoga philosophy with a high level of dedication. Almost everyone can benefit physically from yoga, and the practise can also have psychological and spiritual effects, including feelings of transcendence or connectivity to God or the Spirit as well as stress reduction and health. Stress on the mind has a significant role in our lives. Living a stress-free existence and maintaining mental tranquilly is the toughest difficulty. This essay aims to examine yoga philosophy in the context of contemporary intellectual thought as well as how it may be used to uphold human wellbeing.
Stability Analysis of the Impact of Vaccination on Swine Flu Transmission: A Mathematical Model
Authors: Marthak Rutu Dilipbhai , Prajapati M.B.
Published: June 2024

To determine how vaccination affects the spread of swine flu, this study develops and analyses a deterministic model of the disease. The parameters of the model pertaining to the swine flu are thoroughly examined. After determining the model's equilibrium and threshold points, an examination of its stabilities is conducted. Global stability of the swine flu-free equilibrium has been demonstrated. Local stability of endemic equilibrium is established using centre manifold theory; global stability is demonstrated via the Lyapunov function. A numerical simulation reveals that members of the population of an unvaccinated society are susceptible to contracting swine flu. The outcome indicates that immunisation should be promoted in order to diminish the disease's vitality.
Dhua Kund Waterfall - A Destination of Eco Tourism of South Bihar
Authors: Akhtar Md Nazir
Published: June 2024

Lofty peaks, lush green valleys, chirping birds, mighty rivers and fallings now have been attracting for human beings since ancient time. Waterfall is one of the beautiful landscapes of the Earth. Dhua Kund, plunging 180 m, a destination of eco- tourism is situated 05 km away from NH-02 and 7 km from Sasaram in district of Rohtas, Bihar. The objective of the research paper is to propagate the beauty of Dhua Kund in tourism domain. The research work is based on both primary and secondary data. If the state government facilitate the infrastructure of the study area, a day will come Dhua Kund would be an eco- tourist hub of Bihar.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Transmission and Stability Analysis Using a Mathematical Model
Authors: Marthak Rutu Dilipbhai , Prajapati M.B.
Published: June 2024

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an infectious disease transmitted by ticks that has a high fatality rate in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. The CCHF virus is believed to be spread by the hard tick genus Hyalomma. In addition, ticks and animals contribute to the virus's natural transmission cycle, allowing it to persist in the wild. This virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick or through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected animal. In this study, a compartmental model is utilised to develop a dynamical system of non-linear ordinary differential equations that accounts for all possible situations of virus transmission. This viral hemorrhagic outbreak's rate of spread can be approximated using the basic reproduction number. Adjusting the global stability of the model facilitates multi-group pandemic study. To visually observe the model's dynamics, numerical simulation is utilised.
Deconstructing the Alternative Modalities of Law in the context of Legal Pluralism
Authors: Ahmed Faiz
Published: June 2024

This paper discusses the concept of legal pluralism, which is the coexistence of different legal orders, rules, and regulations derived from various sources in a single legal system. It explores the historical roots of legal pluralism and how it has evolved through different societies and civilisations. The concept has been around for ages, including customary laws, uniform civil laws, geographical laws, international laws, personal laws, colonial laws, tribal laws, and indigenous laws. Legal pluralism allows for a balance of law and order, allowing for the evolution of social norms and the coexistence of various legal systems. This paper is a good illustration of the complexities and the stakes of legal pluralism. It does more specifically, put the question of legal reforms in the light of legal pluralism.
Despite the complexity of legal pluralism, it is an effective means of maintaining social order and resolving disputes in many societies. This is because it allows people to live according to their own customs and beliefs, while also providing a framework for resolving conflicts and enforcing laws. However, legal pluralism also has its drawbacks, such as the potential for conflicting legal norms to create confusion and uncertainty. Overall, legal pluralism is a fascinating concept that highlights the diversity and complexity of legal systems worldwide. While it has its challenges, it also has the potential to promote social harmony and provide a framework for resolving disputes in a way that is fair and just for all.
Growth and Spatial Pattern of Social Well Being: Medical and Educational Facilities in Dharwad District, Karnataka
Authors: Sheeli GN
Published: June 2024

This research paper investigates the complex relationship between social well-being and the distribution of medical and educational facilities in Dharwad District, Karnataka. The study formulates and confirms hypotheses to achieve its objectives, focusing on the impact of primary healthcare availability on population and settlement size, the influence of geographical accessibility on facility utilization, and the role of health workforce in meeting the actual medical requirements. The analysis relies predominantly on secondary data from sources such as the district Census Handbook, District at a Glance, Dharwad District Health Office, DDPI, and village and town directories. The study utilizes the nearest neighbor analysis to discern the spatial patterns of education and medical facilities, with a specific emphasis on government services. Findings from this research contribute valuable insights into the correlation between social well-being and the provision of healthcare and education. By confirming hypotheses related to healthcare availability, accessibility, and the role of health workforce, the study sheds light on the dynamics influencing the growth and spatial distribution of social well-being indicators in Dharwad District.
Subaltern Studies: An Historical Study
Authors: Naulakha Jitendra Singh
Published: June 2024

A people's recorded fight for greater freedom and a more profound understanding of the human condition is history. Everyone has the potential to be a hero. Indeed, societal cataclysms that have altered the course of history have occurred on multiple occasions as a result of popular initiative. Because human beings are the driving force behind all historical events, the subaltern perspective revolves around them. Opponents of the dominant, elitist approach to studying and understanding the past argue that subaltern studies of history provide a better alternative. This approach to historical analysis, sometimes called "history from below," seeks to build the paradigm of subaltern consciousness as it has existed in many forms, locations, and eras.  History is being rewritten with the new "subaltern studies" movement.
Awareness on dyslexia among government primary school teachers of Dimapur (Nagaland)
Authors: Singh Riya , . Mamta
Published: June 2024

The present study intends to explore the awareness level of learning disorder called dyslexia among the government primary school teachers of Dimapur district of Nagaland. This study deals with the issues related to children suffering from dyslexia. Dyslexia is one of the learning disabilities and is directly related to children. It can be diagnosed at early age in an appropriate environment. Few studies like Shukla & Agarwal (2015) and Shetty and Rai (2014) have shown that the awareness level among teachers were either very low or medium. The present study was conducted for gathering information on teacher’s awareness level on dyslexia. Number of subjects was 75 government primary school teachers of Dimapur. Result of the study was that only 1 out of 12-13 primary teachers had adequate knowledge and awareness level about this issue. It concluded that only 8% primary school teachers had high level of awareness and knowledge about Dyslexia as well as learning disabilities whereas maximum participants (primary school teachers) had medium level of awareness. It has been suggested that training programs and workshops should be organized so, they can easily diagnose this problem and proper measure can be taken at early age of the child.
Promoting Interreligious Understanding: Strategies, Challenges, and a Path Forward
Authors: Khatun Rojina
Published: June 2024

With almost all nations now having multireligious civilizations, the world of today may be a very diverse and challenging place to live. Multireligious societies are now even more feasible thanks to increasing mobility and shorter travel times. Although other parts of the world may be experiencing this for the first time, India has always been a multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural country. Although it has struggled between religions throughout its history despite this diversity, it occasionally seems as though it lacks interreligious understanding. But we have always worked to foster and advance a mutually respectful knowledge of the various religions that people worship. This has frequently been accomplished through hosting interreligious discussions or by authoring scholarly studies on the areas where different religions have similarities. The reason “Interreligious Understanding” is preferred lexicographically over the currently popular nomenclature of “Interfaith” is because “Interfaith” has a definite orientalism undertone. There is always a chance to disregard other world faiths because, in its precise definition, it largely refers to Semitic religions. We must go over the idea’s unmistakable oriental imitative phase in order to begin a discussion that is more substantial and pertinent to India’s multireligious community.
COVID-19, Migration and Reverse Migration – Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Bisht Manoj Singh
Published: June 2024

With the development of civilization, man became accustomed to permanent residential life and adapted to his local conditions. Nevertheless, population migration continues to occur due to various reasons in different periods of history. Such reasons can be both natural and man-made. Natural causes include famine, flood, earthquake and lack of means of subsistence in a particular place, etc., whereas man-made social factors include the settlement of displaced people from one country as destitute refugees in another country due to war etc. Is. Migration for livelihood, colonial migration and migration due to other social, political and cultural reasons etc. can be included. This phenomenon is an important phenomenon of demography because it immediately affects the size distribution and formation of the population. Fertility and death cycles affect the population very slowly and their changes can be predicted. Whereas migration is a sudden event which creates disturbance in the entire demographic system. According to a recent report by Ndapajamak Chhanjapavad, about three percent of the world's population (about 26 crores) is living in some other country from their country of origin.
Abstract in Hindi Language:
सभ्यता के विकास के साथ मनुष्य स्थायी आवासीय जीवन का आदी हुआ और उसने अपनी स्थानीय परिस्थितियों से अनुकूलन किया। फिर भी जनसंख्या का स्थान परिवर्तन इतिहास के विभिन्न काल खण्डों में विविध कारणों से होता रहता है। ऐसे कारण प्राकृतिक और मानव निर्मित दोनों हो सकते हैं। प्राकृतिक कारणों में अकाल, बाढ, भूकम्प तथा किसी स्थान विशेष में जीवन-निर्वाह के साधनों का अभाव हो जाना आदि है, जबकि मानव निर्मित सामाजिक कारकों में युद्व आदि के कारण एक देश से विस्थापित जनसमूह का दूसरे देश में निराश्रित शरणार्थियों के रूप में बसना है। आजीविका के लिए देशान्तरण, औपनिवेशिक देशान्तरण तथा अन्य सामाजिक राजनैतिक एवं सांस्कृतिक कारणों से होने वाले देशान्तरण आदि को सम्मिलित किया जा सकता है। यह घटना जनांकिकी की एक महत्वपूर्ण घटना है क्योंकि यह जनसंख्या के आकार वितरण एवं गठन को तुरन्त प्रभावित कर देती है। प्रजननता व मृत्यु-क्रम जनसंख्या को बहुत ही धीमी गति से प्रभावित करते हैं तथा इनके परिवर्तनों का पूर्वानुमान लगाया जा सकता है। जबकि प्रवास एक आकस्मिक घटना है जो सम्पूर्ण जनांकिकीय व्यवस्था में खलबली मचा देती है। न्दपजमक छंजपवद की एक ताजा रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दुनिया की लगभग तीन प्रतिशत आबादी (लगभग 26 करोड़) अपने मूल निवास देश से किसी दूसरे देश में जीवनयापन कर रही है।
Keywords: कोविड-19, प्रवास, अकाल, आजीविका, सांस्कृतिक
Rural life in post-independence Hindi novels
Authors: Swami Almesha
Published: June 2024

After independence, the novel genre has developed rapidly. Novelists have depicted both Indian village and urban life. Indian culture is basically an agricultural culture, the background of which is eternal village life, but the rural environment, influenced by capitalism, industrialization, consumerist culture, technology and technology, is losing its original form. Today's common man, wearing the cloak of post-modernity, is eager to adopt urban ways. Urbanism has entered rural life. The sub-culture affecting the values of typical rural life can be seen even in the fields, barns and footpaths. Due to urbanization, industrialization and liberalization, rapid changes are taking place in rural life. Due to the open thoughts of today's generation coming of age in the open air of modernity, the atmosphere of the village is also changing. Due to new ideas, new ways of life are being adopted. As a result, today's village is taking a new shape.
Abstract in Hindi Language:
स्वतंत्रता पश्चात् स्वतंत्रता उपन्यास विधा का तेजी से विकास हुआ है। भारतीय ग्राम एवं नगरीय दोनों जीवन का उपन्यासकारों ने चित्रण किया है। भारतीय संस्कृति मूलतः कृषि संस्कृति है जिसकी पृष्ठभूमि सनातन ग्राम जीवन है किन्तु पूँजीवाद, औद्योगीकरण, उपभोक्तावादी संस्कृति, तकनीकि एवं प्रौद्योगिकी से प्रभावित ग्रामीण परिवेश अपना मूल स्वरूप खोता जा रहा है। उत्तर आधुनिकता  का लबादा ओढ़े आज का आम आदमी नगरीय तौर-तरीके अपनाने को आकुल है। ग्राम्य जीवन में शहरीपन समा चुका है। ठेठ देहाती जीवन मूल्यों पर चोट करती अपसंस्कृति का दर्शन खेत-खलिहानों व पगडंडियों तक में हो जाता है। शहरीकरण, औद्योगीकरण, उदारीकरण के कारण ग्रामीण जनजीवन में तेजी से बदलाव हो रहे हैं। आधुनिकता की खुली हवा में जवान होती आज की पीढ़ी के खुले विचारों के कारण गांव की आबो-हवा भी बदल रही है। नये विचारों के कारण नयी जीवन पद्धतियां अपनायी जा रही हैं। परिणामस्वरूप आज का गांव नये रूप में आकार ले रहा है।
Keywords: स्वतंत्रता, ग्रामीण, उपन्यास, स्वतंत्रता।
Beyond Retribution: Exploring Theories of Punishment in Ethics and Philosophy
Authors: Mandal Sanjay
Published: June 2024

This research paper delves into the intricate realm of punishment theories within the frameworks of ethics and philosophy, transcending conventional notions of retribution. It embarks on a journey to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of punishment, shedding light on its philosophical underpinnings, ethical implications, and societal ramifications. Departing from traditional retributive paradigms that prioritize vengeance and deterrence, this study navigates through alternative perspectives that advocate for rehabilitation, restoration, and moral transformation. Drawing upon a diverse array of philosophical insights and ethical considerations, this paper critically evaluates various theories of punishment, including consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. It examines how these theories conceptualize the purpose and justification of punishment, contemplating their compatibility with principles of justice, fairness, and human dignity. Moreover, it scrutinizes the practical applications of these theories within contemporary legal systems, assessing their effectiveness in promoting social harmony, individual accountability, and communal well-being. By exploring the complexities of punishment beyond retribution, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the moral and philosophical frameworks that shape our attitudes towards justice and punishment. It advocates for a nuanced approach that acknowledges the inherent complexities of human behaviour, the potential for redemption, and the imperative of fostering a more compassionate and rehabilitative justice system. Ultimately, this paper endeavours to provoke critical reflection and stimulate discourse on the ethical foundations of punishment, paving the way for a more enlightened and humane approach to justice in society.
Embracing Oneness: Exploring Ramkrishna’s Syncretic Philosophy and its Role in Shaping a Universal Religion for the Modern World
Authors: Garai Sutanwi
Published: June 2024

This research paper delves into the profound philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, a revered mystic and spiritual luminary of 19th-century India, known for his message of universal harmony and spiritual oneness. The paper examines the syncretic nature of Ramakrishna’s teachings, which seamlessly integrated various religious traditions, emphasizing the underlying unity of all faiths. Through an exploration of Ramakrishna’s life, spiritual practices, and encounters with diverse religious paths, this study seeks to elucidate the essence of his philosophy and its relevance in shaping a universal religion for the modern world. By analysing key aspects of Ramakrishna’s syncretic approach, such as his belief in the essential unity of all religions, his experiential realization of the divine through multiple spiritual paths, and his advocacy for tolerance and acceptance of diverse faith traditions, this paper aims to underscore the transformative potential of his teachings in fostering interfaith understanding and global unity. Furthermore, it investigates the practical implications of Ramakrishna’s philosophy in addressing contemporary challenges of religious intolerance, cultural divisions, and spiritual alienation in the modern world. Through a comprehensive examination of primary sources, scholarly interpretations, and comparative religious studies, this research paper strives to illuminate the enduring significance of Ramakrishna’s syncretic philosophy as a beacon of hope and inspiration for building a more inclusive, harmonious, and interconnected world. By embracing the profound wisdom of oneness advocated by Sri Ramakrishna, this study envisions a vision of a universal religion that transcends boundaries, fosters mutual respect, and nurtures a deep sense of spiritual interconnectedness among all beings.
Living document of globalization and marketism ‘Rehan Par Ragghu’
Authors: Ambawat Amol
Published: June 2024

‘Rehan Par Ragghu’ is an important novel by Sahitya Akademi awardee Kashinath Singh, which tells the story of the changing times of the 21st century. In this story, there is a city adjacent to the village where the neo-rich class of the village has reached. Urban life has attracted this community in terms of children's education, health and other public facilities. The ambitions, attraction of capital and gradually declining sensitivity of the next generation of the novel's hero Raghunath, i.e. his children, have made him lonely and miserable. Not only his children are responsible for the ironic life of Raghunath, our social system is also responsible. Raghunath's daughter Sarla is separated from her father because he is against her inter-caste marriage with a Dalit man and she fears that their laborer Ganpat, who plows their fields, will become their relative and will sit equal to them. The boy Sarla loves is a gentleman with a good position but his caste is not acceptable to the upper caste Raghunath and his society. In the presented novel, keeping Paharpur village at the center, a systematic portrayal of the farmer torn between the two legs of modernization and capitalism has been given.
Abstract in Hindi Language:
‘रेहन पर रग्घू’ साहित्य अकादमी से सम्मानित काशीनाथ सिंह का महत्त्वपूर्ण उपन्यास है जिसमें 21वीं सदी के बदलते दौर की कथा है। इस कथा में गाँव से सटा शहर है जहाँ पर गाँव के नवधनाढ्य वर्ग की पहुँच हो चुकी है। बच्चों की शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य एवं अन्य जन सुविधाओं की दृष्टि से शहरी जीवन ने इस समुदाय को आकर्षित किया है। उपन्यास के नायक रग्घूनाथ की अगली पीढ़ी यानी उनकी संतानों की महत्वाकांक्षाओं, पूँजी आकर्षण तथा उत्तरोत्तर क्षय होती संवेदनशीलता ने उन्हें अकेला और दयनीय बना दिया है। रग्घूनाथ के विडंबनात्मक जीवन के लिए  सिर्फ उनकी संतानें जिम्मेदार नहीं हैं हमारी सामाजिक व्यवस्था भी जिम्मेदार है। रग्घूनाथ की पुत्री सरला  अपने पिता से इसलिए अलग होती है क्योंकि वे उसके दलित व्यक्ति से अंतर्जातीय विवाह के खिलाफ होते हैं और उन्हें यह डर होता है कि उनका मजदूर गनपत जो उनके खेतों में हल चलाता है वह उनका संबंधी हो जायेगा और उनके बराबर बैठेगा। सरला जिस लड़के से प्रेम करती है वह अच्छे पद पर कार्यरत एक सज्जन व्यक्ति है परन्तु उसकी जाति उच्च जाति के रग्घूनाथ और उनके समाज को मंज़ूर नहीं है। प्रस्तुत उपन्यास में पहाड़पुर गाँव को केंद्र में रखकर आधुनिकीकरण और पूँजीवाद के दो पाटों में पिसते किसान का व्यवस्थित चित्रण किया गया है।
Keywords: भूमंडलीकरण, बाजारवाद, पूँजीवाद, संवेदनशीलता, संबंध, सामाजिक व्यवस्था।