bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coordinating Old-Growth Conservation Across Scales of Space, Time, and Biodiversity: Lessons from the US Policy Debate.
Authors: Carroll Carlos , Noon Barry , Masino Susan , Noss Reed F.
Published: September 2024

Conservation of old-growth forests along with their unique biodiversity and climate benefits requires coordinated actions across spatiotemporal scales, including immediate restrictions on harvest of old and mature trees and longer-term landscape planning for old-growth restoration and recovery. In 2024, the US government drafted a National Old-Growth Amendment to enhance consideration of old-growth in planning. Although the amendment was never finalized, the policy debate illustrates key questions that remain relevant for future initiatives, while highlighting limitations common to such initiatives in the US and elsewhere as nations work to implement the recently developed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. More attention must be paid to the policy implications of variation in the context in which old growth occurs across ecosystems. New initiatives must learn from previous efforts, such as the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan’s insights that landscape design including reserves is essential for effective conservation of species, services, and processes associated with old-growth ecosystems. Reserves, conceived as places where extractive uses are restricted but beneficial human activities are supported, are compatible with practical strategies for ecosystem restoration and Indigenous-led conservation. An approach that builds on the NOGA’s proposed adaptive strategies can form a foundation for long-term conservation of forest ecosystems by protecting climate and fire refugia, addressing barriers to connectivity, and enhancing monitoring capacity. Ecosystem-based standards are needed to ensure protection of mature forest so that recruitment into the old-growth stage shifts ecosystems towards historic proportions of old growth. In addition to clarifying goals regarding ecological integrity, comprehensive policy must incorporate specific goals for recovering at-risk species based on empirical relationships across scales of biodiversity between forest habitat and species viability. Land management agencies need to articulate a long-term vision for recovery of depleted ecosystem elements (including both old-growth and naturally disturbed younger stands) via designation of large areas anchored by remaining old-growth stands, surrounded by areas managed for restoration of ecological integrity, native biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Application of K-means Clustering Algorithm and RFM Model for Student Segmentation
Authors: Le Bach Viet , Nghiem The Phat  , Bach Ha Sy
Published: September 2024

In the rapidly evolving domain of online education, understanding student behavior is crucial for enhancing learning experiences and outcomes. This study examines the application of the K-means clustering algorithm alongside the Recency, Frequency, and Marksum (RFM) model to effectively segment students on an online educational platform. By analyzing data spanning from December 2009 to December 2011, we aim to identify distinct groups of students based on their interaction and performance metrics. This segmentation allows for targeted interventions designed to improve student engagement and retention. The dataset, comprising over a million records, includes variables such as exam codes, question descriptions, marks, exam dates, and student identifiers. Through detailed data preprocessing, including handling missing values and converting data types, we ensure the dataset's integrity. The RFM model is employed to calculate scores reflecting students' recent activity, frequency of tests taken, and total marks achieved. By applying K-means clustering, we categorize students into meaningful segments, enabling tailored strategies to boost participation and academic success. This approach not only enhances the personalization of educational content but also contributes to the broader goal of optimizing online learning environments for diverse student populations.
Enhancing Regional Jet Efficiency with Truss-Braced Wings: An Improvement on the Embraer ERJ145
Authors: Demandel Israel
Published: September 2024

The sustainability of aviation is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and the effects of climate change. This study examines the aerodynamic performance of Truss-Braced Wings (TBWs) and their potential applications in improving the L/D of incompressible and transonic aircraft. It is determined that adding a truss increases the pressure coefficient near the leading edge, which is reduced by increasing the aspect ratio. Moreover, optimal performance is achieved with truss location towards the quarter and mid-ST region at the transonic flight regime. The combination of truss location and aspect ratio optimizes performance in incompressible and transonic regimes. This study highlights the importance of balancing the aspect ratio and truss location to achieve the desired pressure coefficient values. These findings have implications for guiding aircraft design in both regimes, with potential benefits for electric aircraft and transonic regional aircraft performance.
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Distributed Learning: A Short Survey
Authors: Nkrumah Kwame
Published: September 2024

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Distributed Learning have gained significant attention in recent years, driven by their vast applications across various domains. This survey provides an overview of recent advancements in GenAI applications, particularly focusing on the integration of GenAI with distributed learning paradigms. We discuss the latest trends, challenges, and future directions, highlighting key contributions from recent literature. Our survey aims to provide researchers and practitioners with insights into the current state of GenAI and distributed learning, offering a comprehensive understanding of their potential to drive innovation in various fields.
Grammar and Expectation in Active Dependency Resolution: Experimental and Modeling Evidence from Norwegian
Authors: Kobzeva Anastasia , Kush Dave
Published: September 2024

Filler-gap dependency resolution is often characterized as an active process. We probed the mechanisms that determine where and why comprehenders posit gaps during incremental processing using Norwegian as our test language. First, we investigated why active filler-gap dependency resolution is suspended inside island domains like embedded questions in some languages. Processing-based accounts hold that resource limitations prevent gap-filling in embedded questions across languages, while grammar-based accounts predict that active gap-filling is only blocked in languages where embedded questions are grammatical islands. In a self-paced reading study, we find that Norwegian participants exhibit filled-gap effects inside embedded questions, which are not islands in the language. The findings are consistent with grammar-based, but not processing, accounts. Second, we asked if active filler-gap processing can be understood as a special case of probabilistic ambiguity resolution within an expectation-based framework. To do so, we tested whether word-by-word surprisal values from a neural language model could predict the location and magnitude of filled-gap effects in our behavioral data. We find that surprisal accuratelytracks the location of filled-gap effects, but severely underestimates their magnitude. This suggests either that mechanisms above and beyond probabilistic ambiguity resolution are required to fully explain active gap-filling behavior or that surprisal values derived from LSTMs are not good proxies for humans' incremental expectations during filler-gap resolution.
It takes two to co-ruminate: Examining co-rumination as a dyadic and dynamic system
Authors: DiGiovanni Ana M. , Peters Brett J. , Li Xiaomei , Tudder Ashley , Gresham Abriana
Published: September 2024

Co-rumination, defined as when individuals perseverate on problems with each other, focus excessively on negative feelings, and cyclically discuss the causes and consequences of problems, is often examined from the perspective of the person seeking support about a problem or by averaging both dyad members’ individual ratings of co-rumination. This approach muddles how each dyad member contributes to the “co” of co-rumination and may have implications for understanding prior work that has shown associations between co-rumination and intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being. We leveraged state space grids to examine co-rumination as a dyadic and dynamic system, as constituted by the temporal unfolding of each dyad member’s self-rated social rumination throughout their discussion. From 2019-2020, 85 primarily White and female college-aged close friend dyads engaged in a support discussion. After, friends viewed their recorded discussion and rated their individual contributions to the co-rumination process (i.e., social rumination) every 30 seconds across the eight-minute conversation. Results revealed that the more both dyad members got “stuck” engaging in mutually high social rumination (i.e., co-rumination), the more they perceived each other as responsive and supportive and viewed the problem as more solved. In contrast, the more that only the person disclosing the problem was stuck in high levels of social rumination or when dyads more flexibly engaged in social rumination, the more individuals with the problem benefited from the conversation, but responders benefited less. Examining co-rumination dyadically and dynamically can reveal when and for whom co-rumination processes are associated with costs and benefits.
More actions in bimanual action sequences increase variability in hand preference: End-state comfort, beginning-state comfort, trade-offs, and pre-crastination in reaching movements in action sequences of varying complexity
Authors: Jaboori Zahra Alaa Latif , Lorås Håvard , Pedersen Arve Vorland
Published: September 2024

Hand preference is not a stable trait across tasks and may change depending on several variables, including the task’s context. In our study, we investigated how hand preference in a bimanual task varies depending on the task’s context, task complexity, and the proximity of the objects to be handled. Fifty right-handed participants performed action sequences of different complexity, defined as the number of actions in the sequence. They lifted a bottle from a table, either (a) to give it to the experimenter, (b) to screw off the cap, and place the bottle and cap back on the table or (c) to screw the cap off, drink from the bottle, screw the cap back on, and place the bottle back on the table. Each sequence was performed five times, in a counterbalanced manner, with the bottle placed on the table in one of five positions: far left, near left, central, near right, and far right. The results suggest that hand preference indeed fluctuates within and between action sequences. Given the impossibility of planning action sequences so that all actions are always performed with the hand usually preferred for the action, due to trade-offs individuals have to compromise by sacrificing either their end- or beginning-state comfort by performing some actions with the typically non-preferred hand. In such cases, individuals may shift the handled object between hands in order to facilitate the subsequent action, possibly owing to pre-crastination. In our study, the number of such shifts increased with the number of elements in the action sequence.
The curious U: Integrating theories linking knowledge and information-seeking behavior
Authors: Ten Alexandr , Oudeyer Pierre-Yves , Sakaki Michiko , Murayama Kou
Published: September 2024

Many empirical studies have found a curvilinear (inverted U) relationship be- tween knowledge and curiosity, such that curiosity is induced when stimuli are neither unknown but nor too familiar. Various theoretical accounts have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. However, these theoretical accounts have been discussed independently, and researchers have failed to delineate a clear link between them. In this article, we review seven psychological and computa- tional accounts of the inverted-U relationship between knowledge and curiosity (”the U ”) and provide a single coherent framework to integrate them. According to this framework, the U emerges because it can enhance learning progress and thus maximize knowledge. We showed that some theories of curiosity address this issue by explicitly stipulating knowledge maximization as the goal of agents, and learning-progress maximization as an optimal means of achieving it (i.e., normative theories). Other theories of curiosity focus on psychological mecha- nisms or factors that drive curiosity (i.e., process theories). We demonstrated that these process-theoretic mechanisms also work in a manner that maximizes learning by signaling situations in which some relevant prior knowledge exists, but is incomplete. The implications of this framework for future theoretical work on curiosity and its connections to related phenomena are also discussed.
Evaluating a Hierarchical Structural Model of Psychopathology Symptoms Across Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
Authors: Brandes Cassandra M , Clark Hannah , Demers Catherine , Davis Elysia Poggi , Hankin Benjamin
Published: September 2024

Pregnancy and postpartum are times of increased risk for a variety of mental health problems. Historically, these symptoms have been conceptualized via ostensibly distinct, consensus-based diagnostic categories. However, applying an empirically-based, dimensional approach to psychiatric classification may significantly advance understanding of common and specific risk factors during this highly dynamic period. In the present study, we used exploratory psychometric methods to examine the structure of psychopathology symptoms from the “bottom-up” or using symptom-level co-occurrence to derive common factors in a sample of individuals (N = 347) across earlier pregnancy (M = 17.4 weeks gestation), later pregnancy (M = 34.6 weeks gestation), and postpartum (M = 25.3 weeks postpartum). We examined changes (or invariance) in symptom structure longitudinally and between distressed (N = 252) and euthymic (N = 96) pregnant individuals. Results demonstrated a hierarchical structure of symptoms including a robust Broad Distress factor at the highest level, followed by replicable Internalizing and Externalizing factors, all the way down to a nine-factor solution including Low Mood-Anhedonia, Pregnancy Anxiety, Fear-Worry-Tension, Social Anxiety-Dependence, Traumatic Stress, Somatic Problems, Detachment, Anger-Antagonism, and Inattention-Hyperactivity factors. Psychopathology structure was remarkably invariant from earlier to later pregnancy, but structure changed slightly into postpartum. Symptom structure also showed slight differences between distressed and euthymic individuals, indicating that while some factors (e.g., trauma and somatic symptoms) differ across time or clinical population, perinatal symptom factors are largely robust. Similarities and differences between the perinatal psychopathology structure recovered here and general population structure have important implications for empirically-based psychopathology classification.
वेदाङ्ज्योतिषसिद्धान्तज्योतिषयोस्तुलनात्मकमनुशीलम्
Authors: भट्टराईः Bhattarai कपिलदेव Kapildev
Published: September 2024

Available with Fulltext.
Issues on Tourism and Destination Management in Karnali Province, Nepal
Authors: Bishwakarma Kirpa Ram
Published: September 2024

This paper argues that numerous tourist destinations exist in the developing zone of Nepal, particularly in the Karnali province. Many florae and fauna are available in the zone that the panoramic tourist products ever tempt the visitors, which demand for intensive studies of culture, livelihood and public dynamics. Several hills, peaks and mountains in this zone attract tourists and create pressure to the concerned authority to take right actions on time. Several places of interests in different parts of the area still need appropriate management, which would produce the best income resources for the state to invest in the development sectors. This is the productive realm of medicinal herbs that the users still use it irrationally throughout the territory without appropriate workforce. The data were collected from 33 respondents with key informant interview, focus group discussion and personal communications. The invaluable resources available in this area are of multiple significance which export would bring huge amount for financial reservoir of a country. For comprehensive development of the region tourism, hydropower, medicinal herbs, rafting, paragliding, nature, ethnic tourism are the best means for knowledge creation there as well. The responsible state authorities must take appropriate steps in managing the multiple issues through public participation in order to convert the recent status of the territory.
Tourism Development in Lumbini Region: A Perspective of Domestic Tourists
Authors: Devkota Chiranjivi
Published: September 2024

Globally, domestic tourism has been emerging as an alternative to international tourism both in the normal and the hard times. This also has momentum in Nepal, where the Lumbini region is considered one of the ever-visited destinations among Nepali tourists. The paper is a typical case study of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, the birthplace of God Buddha. This paper assesses how domestic tourists perceive tourism development in Lumbini, why they visit the site, what potentials and challenges they feel, and from which region of Nepal they belong and why. Following a quantitative dominant mixed method approach, the researcher has employed a structured questionnaire survey tool among 174 domestic tourists. Besides, semi-structured interviews among the five key informants were also taken. The paper argues that the travel and tourism of visitors from different regions of Nepal increased in recent years despite the fact that the region is known as a worldwide hub of international tourism. Domestic tourists are also attracted to Lumbini for various reasons, but the religious attachment is the fundamental one where respect for Buddha and Buddhism as a national pride is manifested. Despite having different opportunities and explorations the study also reveals some hurdles and challenges in terms of policy intervention and infrastructure development for the proportion of domestic tourism in Lumbini.
संवृद्धिकालागि पर्यटन क्षेत्रको दीगो विकास आवश्यक छ {Sustainable Development of the Tourism Sector is necessary for Prosperity}
Authors: Sharma Prem
Published: September 2024

Not Available.
Impact of wildland fire smoke: Concern for Clinicians Worldwide
Authors: Sijapati Milesh Jung
Published: September 2024

Not Available
Evaluation of the diagnostic yield of lung cancer on various Bronchoscopic modalities
Authors: Shahi Rejina , Bhatta Narendra , Verma Avatar , Upreti Augraj , Gurung Kum Bahadur , Chaudhary Sabnam , Dhakal Nishchal , Mishra Deebya Raj
Published: September 2024

Background: The application of cytological techniques in identifying malignant respiratory tract lesions has been widely praised as a significant achievement. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy has greatly transformed respiratory cytology, making procedures such as bronchial brushings, broncho-alveolar lavage, and bronchial forceps biopsy more convenient, accessible, and popular.
Methodology: All the suspected cases of lung cancer from 1st Jan, 2020 - 31st Dec, 2022 fulfilling inclusion criteria who have undergone flexible bronchoscopy in our center have been analyzed and enrolled in the study.
Results: Out of 90 patients, 85 were found to be malignant. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common carcinoma (31.1%) followed by adenocarcinoma (26.7%), non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma (17.8%) and small cell carcinoma (12.2%), majority of the cases were of 6-7th decade of life and were smoker. Sensitivities of Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Bronchial brush, Endobronchial forceps Biopsy (EBB), Transbronchial Lung Biopsy (TBLB) and Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (TBNA) were found to be 32%, 87%, 83%, 55% and 69% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of BAL, bronchial brush, EBB, TBLB and TBNA were found to be 36%, 87%, 83%, 55% and 61% respectively.
Conclusion: With a greater sensitivity (87%) and diagnostic accuracy (87%), bronchial brushing shows great promise as a convenient cytological technique suitable for screening ambiguous cases and early detection of lung cancer, as it saves the time required for processing biopsy samples.
Amiodarone Induced Interstitial Lung Disease: An Enigma
Authors: Aryal Prakash , Pantha Srijan , Gurung Kum Bahadur , Uprety Augraj , Shah Nensi , Timsina Anup , Mandal Dipesh , Yadav Krishna Chandra , Adhikari Aarati , Shahi Rejina , Mishra Deebya Raj , Bhatta Narendra
Published: September 2024

Amiodarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug that has potential to cause Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) commonly non-specific Interistitial pneumonia. We present a 75-year male presenting with gradual onset progressive shortness of breath and dry cough after undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and was kept on amiodarone therapy post-surgery to control arrhythmias. The patient was diagnosed as amiodarone induced Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP) after excluding alternative diagnosis. Early recognition and stoppage of amiodarone, prompt treatment with corticosteroid and respiratory support had favorable clinical outcome in this case.
The Interplay of Language, Ideology, and Power
Authors: दाहाल Dahal युबराज Yubaraj
Published: September 2024

Language is a powerful vehicle for ideology, serving not only as a means to political ends but also as a fundamental ground for attaining and maintaining positions of power. This article explores the intricate relationship between language, ideology, politics, and power, examining how linguistic devices such as implicature are utilized to influence public perception and shape political discourse. By analyzing specific political statements, the article demonstrates how language can imply more than what is explicitly stated, subtly indoctrinating individuals or groups with certain ideological positions. It delves into the role of language in reinforcing dominant ideologies, highlighting the challenges faced by those who question these ideologies. Through this analysis, the article underscores the critical function of language in both reflecting and propagating power dynamics within society. The study also investigates the concept of linguistic determinism and its potential implications for thought control. By understanding these mechanisms, we gain insight into how language is employed to seek consent, legitimize authority, and perpetuate ideological beliefs, ultimately shaping social, political, and power structures.
To the World Majority through World Catholicism?
Authors:   Intern researcher, Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy, Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University-Higher School of Economics, Malyutin Pavel N.
Published: September 2024

Aggressive propaganda of morals contrary to the Christian worldview prompts the Catholic Church to resist as much as possible the Euro-Atlanticists’ attempts to impose their views and beliefs upon it.
Cross-Country Marathon
Authors:   Professor, National Research University-Higher School of Economics, Tsyplakov Sergey S. ,   leading researcher at the Center for Socio-Economic Research of China, Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: September 2024

Circumstances require a correction of trade and economic relations between Russia and China, which necessitates an in-depth expert discussion and practical study of new forms and mechanisms of long-term cooperation.
THE CONCEPT OF DIFFERENTIATED METHOD OF TAXATION OF CORPORATE PRO TS
Authors: DUBKOVA V.B.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this article is to present the concept of the differentiated method of corporate profit taxation developed by the author. The article reveals its regulations and elements. The definitions of economic categories and principles of differentiated method are proposed. The possibilities of tax control and management of tax basis, tax burden, it compensation, financial stability of enterprises and the economy as a whole, transition of sectoral enterprises from group to group in conditions of this concept are considered.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MAP OF DIGITAL TOOLS TO PROMOTE PAID EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OF UNIVERSITIES IN RUSSIA
Authors:   Kuban State University, KOCHIEVA A.K. , SCHRADER D.V. ,   Kuban State University
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to the development of a map of digital tools in order to promote paid educational services by higher educational institutions in Russia. The article analyzes the individual branches of the map, including desktop search, direct marketing via smartphones, websites, including the university website, online media and others. The variety of forms of digital tools for promoting the services of a university and creating its attractive image for applicants is shown. Based on the study, recommendations regarding university marketing are formulated.
PERFORMANCE COMO INTERVENÇÃO ARTE/EDUCATIVA NAS AULAS DE CIÊNCIAS EXATAS E DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL
Authors: Araújo Marcelo Miguel de , Lobato Iolene Mesquita
Published: September 2024

Este estudo é resultado de uma pesquisa qualitativa e de campo,  realizada em duas escolas da rede pública em Aparecida de Goiânia em Goiás, entre os meses de outubro a novembro de 2014 e fevereiro a junho de 2015, com os alunos do ensino médio da 2ª série, alunos de 1º ao 5º ano do ensino fundamental.  O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar como a intervenção arte/educativa pautada em ferramentas pedagógicas - performance  e tecnologia -  podem fomentar aprendizagem significativa e promover aulas de ciências exatas e outras diferenciadas, criativas que estimulem e promovam a participação, o interesse do discente e ainda, a criticidade naquilo que estudam. Para alicerçar a referida investigação os teóricos estão pautados na Abordagem Triangular sistematizada pela arte/educadora Ana Mae Barbosa (1995), nos estudos de Fernanda Pereira da Cunha (2014), Paulo Freire (2006) e outros. Como parte dos resultados, a pesquisa revelou que a partir de intentos pedagógicos promovidos pelo professor, as aulas tomam outra roupagem, direcionando a uma nova representação na aprendizagem do alunado. E evidenciou como a arte promove a interdisciplinaridade, fomenta a aprendizagem ao considerar a realidade sociocultural do discente, ao articular atividades pautadas no ler, no fazer e no contextualizar.
Impact of balanced cantilever construction on cast-in-place posttensioned concrete bridges
Authors:   , Jurišić Marino
Published: September 2024

In this dissertation the impact of balanced cantilever bridge construction method on the deformations and stresses of prestressed concrete bridges built on site is investigated. The specific scientific contribution of the dissertation is the preparation and execution of measurements on bridges, carried out on site and on real structures during stage construction, which are rare in the world. The measurements were carried out on the Vranduk 1 and Vranduk 2 bridges, located on the Vc corridor, on the base segments above the piers, and all phases of the balanced cantilever construction were monitored, from the first segment to the final connection of the bridges. Apart from the execution of measurements on bridges during construction, numerical simulations based on measured results can also be considered as a valuable scientific contribution of this dissertation. In these simulations, the deformations and stresses in different cross section points measured during construction were compared with the results obtained by numerical analysis on a complex spatial model. Very good matching between measured and numerical results, as well as observed deviations which were commented and explained, confirmed the basic assumption that a good material model of the building that includes the socalled long-term effects in concrete and steel, can accurately simulate the real state of the structure. Long-term effects in concrete and steel, as well as temperature taken during construction stages, are incorporated into the model, and compared to data obtained on completed bridges, provide a better match with real behaviour, which can also be considered a valuable scientific contribution. Also, the results of experimental and numerical research presented in this doctoral thesis provide valuable data, which can be used in the creation of new numerical models and the refinement of existing ones. Finally, the presented results and conclusions offer practical guidelines for designers, contractors and project managers involved in balanced cantilever bridge construction, as well as valuable knowledge for optimizing construction methods and increasing the safety and efficiency of bridge projects.
Disruptive Emotions and Affective Injustice Within an African-Inspired Relational Ethics:
Authors: Carman Mary
Published: September 2024

Forms of African relational ethics that prioritise the value of harmony struggle to accommodate arguably valuable disharmony, such as disruptive emotions like anger. A wider literature on political emotions has defended the value of such emotions and even proposed that a particular form of injustice, affective injustice, can arise if we fail to create space for them. While it has recently been proposed that Thaddeus Metz's African-inspired relational moral theory can accommodate disruptive emotions and address affective injustice, in this philosophical article I argue that any success that Metz's account has in this regard is superficial. This critique has important implications: either we need to engage further with disruptive emotions and affective injustice within an African relational ethics, or it may be the case that we instead need to return to how we conceptualise affective injustice to ensure that it does the justice-promoting work that we want it to do.
Realist Perspective on US-Cuba Relations: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Rehman Jazab-ur- , Islam Tooba , Mustafa Ghulam
Published: September 2024

The United States of America emerged as a dominant state in the world in the aftermath of WW II along with the USSR. Where the USSR fell and disintegrated in 1991, the USA kept its dominance and control over the world, especially across the American continent. The USA and Cuba had a long co-existing history, things took a strange turn after Fidel Castro took power by throwing Batista out. The USA's trade embargo on Cuba after the event added more fuel to the fire. With the disintegration of the USSR, the American foreign policy towards Cuba remained the same. Although in the 21st century, the Obama administration reviewed the US policy towards Cuba and showed some softness towards the island nation, it didn't make much difference. The main idea behind this research is to explore the theoretical Perspective on US-Cuba relations and give some policy recommendations for improved relations.
The Global State of Democracy Indices Methodology: Conceptualization and Measurement Framework, Version 8 (2024)
Authors: Skaaning Svend-Erik , Hudson Alexander
Published: September 2024

The Global State of Democracy is a Report that aims to provide policymakers with an evidence-based analysis of the state of global democracy, supported by the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices, in order to inform policy interventions and identify problem-solving approaches to trends affecting the quality of democracy around the world. This document revises and updates the conceptual and measurement framework that guided the construction of Version 8 of the GSoD Indices, which depicts democratic trends at the country, regional and global levels across a broad range of different attributes of democracy in the period 1975–2023. The data underlying the GSoD Indices is based on a total of 165 indicators developed by various scholars and organizations using different types of source, including expert surveys, standards-based coding by research groups and analysts, observational data and composite measures.
STUDY OF INTERACTION COMPONENTS IN THE OBTAINING OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING FERTILIZERS
Authors: Yulbarsova M.V. , Kucharov B.X. , Smailov B.M. , Erkayev A.U.
Published: September 2024

The article studies the system urea - nitric acid - water using the polythermal method in the production of nitrogencontaining fertilizers, the data obtained are confirmed by the results of electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, IRspectral, and thermogrammetric.
Stabilization of a Chain of Three Integrators Subject to a Phase Constraint
Authors:   Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Pesterev A. V. , Morozov Yu. V. ,   Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Published: September 2024

The problem of stabilizing a chain of three integrators subject to a phase constraint is studied. Continuous constrained control in the form of nested sigmoids, which guarantees the fulfillment of the phase constraint, is synthesized. A Lyapunov function is constructed, and necessary and sufficient conditions of global stability of the closed-loop system are established. The discussion is illustrated by numerical examples.
Computer Vision Based Areal Photographic Rocket Detection using YOLOv8 Models
Authors: Jovanovic Luka , Antonijevic Milos , Perisic Jasmina , Milovanovic Marina , Miodrag Zivkovic , Budimirovic Nebojsa , Bacanin Nebojsa
Published: September 2024

Advances in aerospace engineering and aerodynamics have pioneered space exploration and helped support telecommunication infrastructure. But these same developments have also aided in the creation of weapons of devastating impact. This necessitates the development of ways for detecting and tracking rockets. While several methods, mostly based on Doppler radar exist, the need for active radio emissions limits the applicability of these systems. A passive system has several advantages over traditional techniques, however their potential is largely unexplored. This work seeks to tackle this research gap by exploring the potential of emerging computer vision townies applied to rocket detection and tracking. The advantages of such a system are the relatively low cost as well as passive nature making observation stations harder to detect and easier to deploy. This work explores the potential of pre-trained, lightweight YOLOv8 architectures for rocket detection in real-world situations. A publicly available dataset is utilized and a comparative analysis is carried out between nano and small models. Both models demonstrate favorable outcomes with an accuracy of 0.90 for rocket body detection and 0.93 for engine flame detection. Nevertheless, rocket detection into space is still difficult, with a precision of 0.64 for this class. This paper indicates areas for additional refinement and demonstrates the potential of computer vision technology in passive rocket detection.
The use of planar and three-dimensional calculation models for the numerical modeling of retaining walls in conditions of dense urban construction
Authors: NOSENKO Viktor , MALAMAN Artur
Published: September 2024

In modern realities, the construction of multi-story buildings increasingly has to be carried out in the conditions of dense urban development. Since high-rise buildings are characterized by the presence of deep pits, there is a need to select the parameters of the enclosing structures (retaining walls) and take into account the influence of the pit arrangement and enclosing structures on the existing building.
Numerical simulation of the stress-strain state (SSS) of the elements "soil base - existing structures - pit enclosure" was performed to assess the impact of choosing the dimensions of the calculation scheme when designing a deep pit and assessing its impact on existing buildings and selecting effective parameters of enclosing structures. with different dimension options (flat two-dimensional and spatial three-dimensional) calculation scheme.
Modeling was performed using the finite element method using a nonlinear model of soil deformation in the Plaxis software package.
Since the soil conditions within the construction site are complex (the presence of a significant layer of plastic and flowing clay soils and powerful aquifers), the level of groundwater within the construction site was taken into account in the modeling and the effect of water lowering during the development of the pit was modeled accordingly for a more correct assessment of the stress-strained state of pit enclosure elements and the impact on existing structures.
Numerical calculations of retaining walls provide for taking into account the technological sequence of the construction of retaining walls and modeling of the step-by-step development of the pit.
Studies have shown that the use of a spatial finite-element model of the system "soil base - existing structures - pit enclosure" provides an opportunity to more correctly and effectively assess the stress-deformed state of system elements due to taking into account the spatial rigidity of the elements of the pit enclosure and the foundations of existing structures.
The values of the displacements of the retaining walls obtained by the calculation of the spatial finite element model (FEM) are 20% smaller than the values obtained using the plane FEM. The values of the bending moments obtained by the calculation of the spatial FEM are 10% smaller than the values obtained using the plane FEM.
Cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea in the environmental sphere and its impact on the East Asian region
Authors:   L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kabirova A.Zh. , Kilybaeva P.K. ,   L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Koshanova S.E. ,   L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Published: September 2024

In this article, the authors consider the issues of cooperation between China and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of Ecology. Recently, severe air pollution in China is becoming a serious environmental problem in East Asia. Air pollutants from China are becoming the main external factor in the deterioration of air quality in the Republic of Korea. Fine dust is transported over long distances, and under conditions of high concentration in the air, it looks like fog. Over the past few years, the Korean government and the PRC government have actively promoted policies to reduce "fine dust" and improve the air in the region. The solution of air pollution problems between South Korea and China involves the consideration of the issue of reducing air emissions by the PRC, expanding cooperation between the two states in the field of Environmental Policy. The study of environmental cooperation between the PRC and the Republic of Korea, the analysis of current issues in the field of Ecology on the basis of fine dust and the results of bilateral cooperation will determine the outcome of the environmental problem in the region. The main approach and method of studying this topic of research is"case studies", empirical methods of content analysis and information collection. In the article, the authors tried to use the most relevant data to help future readers conduct research. In conclusion, the authors conclude that the need to create conditions for the unhindered promotion of cooperation in the field of the air environment and the development of environmental cooperation between Korea and China is the priority task of the two states.
Bepattanó kötések helye, szerepe, valamint 3D-nyomtatási technikával történő előállításának lehetősége a haditechnikában
Authors: Vég Róbert , Kálmán Dénes , Daruka Norbert , Kovács Zoltán , Ember István
Published: September 2024

A technika fejlődésével együtt jár az alkalmazott anyagok körének változása is. A gépjárműtechnikában egyre jobban elterjedtek a műanyag alkatrészek, amelyeket valamilyen módon egymáshoz vagy más anyagból készült elemekhez kell rögzíteni. A kötőelemek és kötési módok széleskörűsége biztosítja, hogy az elemeket oldhatóan vagy oldhatatlan módon kössük egymáshoz. A bepattanó kötések ismertek mindenki számára, mivel sok megvalósulási formája a háztartásokban is megtalálható, például a távirányító elemtartójának fedele, gyorskötöző vagy pedig táska- és övcsat. A gépjárműtechnikában a műanyag alkatrészek elterjedésével párhuzamosan a bepattanó kötések is terjednek és fejlődnek. A cikk ismerteti és bemutatja a különböző kötési módokat, főbb jellemzőiket és ezen kötésmódok között a bepattanó kötések helyét és szerepét. A 3D-nyomtatás mind nagyobb mértékben van jelen az alkatrész előállításban a haditechnikai eszközök vonatkozásában is. A cikk megvizsgálja a 3D-nyomtatással készült bepattanó kötések előállítási lehetőségeit.
Dynamics of speech and language competencies formation while the level-based approach to teaching the discipline ‘foreign language’ is being implemented
Authors:   Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov, Beloshitskaya Natalya N. , Zhemchugova Svetlana A. ,   Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov, Astakhova Tatyana N. ,   Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov
Published: September 2024

Introduction. The level-based approach to organizing foreign language teaching at the university is designed to take into account a number of objective factors: heterogeneity of the degree of foreign language proficiency of students in non-linguistic areas of training entering the university, higher requirements for the quality of mastering the discipline ‘Foreign Language’, and a limited number of academic hours allocated for mastering this discipline in the curriculum. The study aims to identify the dynamics of foreign language teaching when the level-based approach is being implemented. Materials and methods. The study was based on first-year students of non-linguistic areas of training at two higher schools of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (236 people). The research methods were the entrance and final diagnostic tests, differentiation of teaching a foreign language (English) and statistical processing methods (the Shapiro-Wilk test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Statistical data were processed using the IBM SPSS 23.0 computer software package. Research results. The data obtained allows assessing the qualitative growth of speech formation (reading and listening) and language (vocabulary and grammar) competencies. The differences between the entrance and final tests (p <0.001) are statistically significant and in all the aspects tested are in favor of the final test. Conclusion. The level approach proved effective for speech and language competencies formation in students of non-linguistic areas of training when studying the discipline ‘Foreign Language’, which is confirmed by statistical processing of the final test results. The level approach reduced the impact of such negative factors as heterogeneity of the initial language training of first-year students, psychological barriers, and short terms of teaching a foreign language to students of non-linguistic areas of training. Prospects for further research into the implementation of level-based teaching may be associated with analyzing how other components of foreign language communicative competence are formed.
Organizing physical education and sports within the framework of a school sports club based on the trainees’ needs and interests
Authors:   Chechen State Pedagogical University, Aslakhanov Said-Ali M. , Akhmedov Askhab O. ,   Chechen State Pedagogical University, Umarov Aslanbek A-K. ,   Chechen State Pedagogical University, Julagov Sayd-Magomed M. ,   Chechen State Pedagogical University
Published: September 2024

Introduction. The report of the latest study of the World Health Organization ‘Health Behavior in School-Aged Children’, aimed to gain an understanding of the adolescents’ health in Europe and North America, presents the results on the health and well-being of adolescents from 45 countries and regions; it revealed that only 19% of adolescents comply with recommendations regarding one-hour daily physical activity. The study aims to practically substantiate the organization of physical education and sports within the framework of a school sports club based on the trainees’ needs and interests. Materials and methods. The experiment involved 78 students aged 10-17. The research was carried out at the Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution ‘P.P. Balyuk Secondary School No. 56’ in Grozny, Chechen Republic (Russian Federation). From the students of 3 experimental groups (13 people each), educational and training groups were formed, which (in addition to the school PE program) attended sections at the school sports club. Methods of mathematical statistics were: arithmetic mean, Student's t-test. Research results. The experimental methodology was developed as programs of educational and training sessions for football, volleyball and basketball as the most popular and attractive sports for schoolchildren. Comparative analysis and mathematical processing of the experimental results showed statistically significant changes in the indicators of younger schoolchildren in agility (t=3; p <0.05), speed (t=5.9; p <0.05), strength (t=2.9; p <0.05) and flexibility (t=8.9; p <0.05), in middle school students in agility (t=10.2; p <0.05), speed (t=7.3; p <0.05), strength (t=4.9; p <0.05) and flexibility (t=9.4; p <0.05), and in high school students in agility (t=7.3; p <0.05), speed (t=7.3; p <0.05), strength (t=4.3; p <0.05) and flexibility (t=9.3; p <0.05). Conclusion. The obtained data demonstrate the positive dynamics provided by the methodology of organizing PE and sports within the framework of a school sports club based on the trainees’ needs and interests. This proves the chosen method effective, namely, in increasing the scope of physical activity and developing the physical qualities of schoolchildren – the most reliable indicators of their involvement in PE and sports.