bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy in thyroid cancer
Authors: Yu Linzi
Published: January 2025

Thyroid cancer is among the most prevalent endocrine-related malignancies, with a significant rise in incidence observed in recent years. Based on the 2022 version of the thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment guidelines, some treatment methods for thyroid cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy. Surgical intervention remains effective for most cases of well-differentiated thyroid cancer, and postoperative radioiodine therapy enhances overall survival in high-risk patients; however, surgical options for advanced thyroid cancer are limited, and radioactive iodine therapy is ineffective for iodine-refractory cases. Consequently, targeted therapy and immunotherapy present promising alternative treatment strategies. Both targeted therapy and immunotherapy are rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer, with recent developments focusing on inhibiting well-characterized oncogenic pathways such as the MAPK pathway, the PI3K/Akt-mTOR pathway, and VEGF signaling. Although much progress has been made in the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer in recent years, effective treatments for advanced and metastatic iodine-resistant thyroid cancer are still lacking. This review aims to summarize the molecular mechanisms implicated in thyroid cancer, explore current drug-dependent therapeutic pathways, and discuss the latest advancements in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, while also outlining future directions for research and clinical application
Pathways to Sustainable Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from the Development of Digital Inclusive Finance in China
Authors: Zhang Erjiu , Li Songzhang , Wang Haibo
Published: January 2025

This study explores the digitalization of inclusive finance and the sustainable improvement of economic strength in China. The survey data is employed from the digitalization of inclusive finance index developed by Peking University and the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) database 2011-2023 to analyze the impacts of the digitalization of inclusive finance on provincial and national improvement of economic strength. Specifically, it reveals that the regional and national economic grows as well as the inclusive nature of finance. The sustainability of the improved economic level in China is influenced by the deviations of financial digitalization inclusion from the long-term balance and short-term changes. In summary, the bivariate long-run relationship suggests that adopting the inclusive nature of finance measures will be beneficial to the improvement of China's economic strength
Monitoring the current status of insecticide resistance of field and greenhouse-collected populations of tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Egypt
Authors: Taha Hanan Salah El-Din
Published: January 2025

In order to track changes in developments and the degree of insecticide resistance, some common insecticides used to control T. absoluta in Egyptian fields were examined for seasonal variations in resistance. Tests were designed and tested for a few years at various field sample and greenhouse locations. Ten pesticides were selected for testing, and insects were sampled from eight agricultural fields for the laboratory bioassay. The identification and measurement of resistance in various field populations, seasons, and greenhouses revealed that insects were highly vulnerable to the IGR insecticide tested and only mildly susceptible to OP, Py, carbamate, and nicotinoids. Kalubia and Menufia showed more resistance in terms of both distribution and intensity than Dakahlia, Sharkia, and Giza, which showed lower resistance levels, possibly due to less effective insecticide applications. However, lufenuron was the most effective insecticide, followed by chlorfenapyr (IGRs), methoxyfenzoid, chlorfluazuron, indoxacarb, imidacloprid, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos. Dimethoate and spinoteram were the least effective insecticides.
The Nomadic Lifestyle of the Blaan Tribe: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Mintal Louie Rodney M.
Published: January 2025

This research aimed to investigate the nomadic lifestyle of the Blaan tribe, focusing on the life situation of the Blaan people in Davao Occidental. It explored the lived experiences of these nomadic people, their coping mechanisms, and their insights into engaging in a nomadic way of life. The study employed a qualitative research approach, specifically a phenomenological study design. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants. The results yielded four essential themes reflecting the lived experiences of the nomadic people: Limited Access to Basic Needs, Environmental Vulnerability, Limited Economic Opportunities, and Social Marginalization. Three themes were identified regarding the coping mechanisms employed by the nomadic people: Embrace Flexibility, Practice Mindfulness in All Ways, and Set Goals. Regarding the insights of the nomadic people, three themes emerged: Cultural Awareness, Adaptability, and Goal Setting. The findings highlight the need for policymakers and organizations to address the basic needs of the Blaan tribe, including food, water, shelter, and healthcare. Environmental protection efforts are crucial to support their nomadic lifestyle, while sustainable livelihood opportunities could improve their economic situation. To combat social marginalization, initiatives should focus on raising awareness and understanding of nomadic cultures.
Perceptions of Sanctions and Their Effects
Authors:   , Yasrebi Franziska Maria
Published: January 2025

page 226 of the PDF
From hardware to software: An end-to-end side-channel attack surface analysis
Authors:   , Milburn Alyssa Anne
Published: January 2025

Computers are complicated, and the security of modern software often depends on programmers anticipating and mitigating a dizzying assortment of vulnerability classes. Both researchers and adversaries continue to add additional complications based on hardware behavior to this mix, such as data-dependant power consumption, fault injection, cache timing attacks and transient execution - adding new attack surface which needs to be taken into account when building secure systems. In this dissertation, we look beyond the traditional attack surface, and find that many mitigations - across a variety of layers, from hardware to software - are compromised by faulty assumptions about the actual behavior of hardware.

We begin close to the hardware, discovering that the relationship between two different forms of hardware attack - Fault Injection and Side-Channel Analysis - is so strong that we can find ways to apply power side-channel attack techniques directly to the results of voltage fault injection campaigns, without the need for an attacker to obtain power measurements.

Next, we move to microarchitectural attacks - which rely on hardware behavior, but can be performed by software. By combining transient execution with unexpected - and unintended - CPU pipeline behavior, we show that the scope of software side-channel attacks can be expanded far beyond previous work, allowing both in-flight and 'stale' data to be stolen from the pipeline by an attacker, bypassing software mitigations by ignoring security domains entirely.

Such attacks can be mitigated by isolating workloads on different cores - which do not share a pipeline. Unfortunately, we find that even this level of isolation can fail to prevent attackers from being able to leak critical data using side-channel attacks - such as random numbers used when generating cryptographic keys. Hence, these attacks must be mitigated in hardware.

Finally, we investigate defenses against transient execution attacks such as Spectre which depend only on well-understood hardware behavior, but require software mitigations. We show that we can build efficient and practical software-based defenses which not only mitigate many Spectre attacks, but even harden software against architectural information leaks.
Translating neuronal network hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's disease
Authors:   , van Nifterick Anne Minou
Published: January 2025

Despite recent advances in the efficacy of anti-amyloid therapies, no widely available disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently exist. Recent findings suggest that neuronal network dysfunction and hyperexcitability are early signs of AD, driven by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. This neuronal network hyperexcitability has been associated with accelerated cognitive decline and is a potentially modifiable risk factor. Hyperexcitability can in principle be detected using non-invasive, quantitative neurophysiological measures, however, robust macroscale quantitative markers of excitation-inhibition imbalance are not yet available and the neurophysiological changes in preclinical stages of human AD remain uncertain.
To address the need for early diagnosis and intervention in AD, we aimed to enhance our understanding of functional neuronal network changes in the preclinical stages of AD. We adopted a translational approach that integrates neurophysiological findings from various species, including Alzheimer patients and transgenic mice, as well as computational models. We investigated how quantitative measures, such as local oscillatory activity, interregional connectivity and hub vulnerability, could inform us about the underlying excitation-inhibition (im)balance.
This thesis provides evidence for abnormal neuronal function from very early stages of the disease in both AD mice and humans carrying mutations in the APP or PSEN1 gene, albeit with possible distinct underlying mechanisms. Quantitative measures like spectral power and a novel functional connectivity measure can infer excitation-inhibition ratios from short resting-state neurophysiological recordings when taking various factors into account, such as time-scale and relative importance of a region in the network. We observed similar spectral power and functional connectivity changes - possibly reflecting neuronal network hyperexcitability - in cognitively unimpaired mutation carriers and sporadic AD dementia patients. However, we found conflicting results in amyloid-positive mild cognitively impaired patients. To provide definitive conclusions regarding mechanisms and progression of neuronal network hyperexcitability in individuals with AD, future studies should validate the quantitative measures and examine them collectively in larger sample sizes and in longitudinal studies.
We conclude that neuronal network hyperexcitability is detectable in non-invasive resting-state neurophysiological activity and is a continuous and evolving feature throughout the progression of human AD. Ultimately, these insights pave the way for development of alternative early treatment targets to reduce the cognitive decline and manage the rising burden of AD on families and society.
Assessing the Techno-Economic Feasibility of Solar Photovoltaics
Authors:   , Wang Rong
Published: January 2025

In recent years, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has emerged as a crucial player in addressing climate change and accommodating the growing demand for sustainable electricity. Expanding and enhancing PV systems becomes crucial as the global sector moves towards more sustainable solutions. This thesis thoroughly evaluates PV technology’s economic and technical feasibility, essential for enhancing the energy market’s capacity to integrate PV technologies effectively. From an economic perspective, the widespread deployment of PV systems hinges on their cost competitiveness relative to other energy technologies within the electricity market and on understanding how PV costs evolve over time. From a technical perspective, the expected increase in PV system adoption raises significant questions concerning effective installation allocations. China, which accounts for the most CO2 emissions and energy consumption in the world, plays a crucial role in the global effort to mitigate climate change. The decarbonization strategy of electricity systems and PV implementation in China significantly impact the global prospects for reducing climate change. Therefore, the primary objective of this thesis is to answer the overarching research question: How to assess the techno-economic feasibility of solar photovoltaics (PV) for future development, and what are the outcomes of this assessment for China? Through four independent studies, this thesis provides a better understanding of the techno-economic feasibility of PV systems for the future sustainable electricity market, including evaluating PV cost competitiveness (Chapters 2 and 3), analyzing PV cost trend estimation (Chapter 4), optimizing PV installation planning (Chapter 5), and applying the assessment framework to case of PV development in China (Chapters 3, 4 and 5).
A Champion of the Industrialization of the Town of Troyan
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Kostov Hristo
Published: January 2025

The paper presents the personality of Stoyu Kostov Marinov and his contribution to the industrial development of the town of Troyan in modern times. Marinov is remembered as a qualified craftsman shoemaker and a co-founder and first president of the first Producers’ cooperative in Troyan.
Bulgarian Ethnographic Maps from the National Revival Period
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Yordanov Dragomir
Published: January 2025

This article concerns three Bulgarian ethnographic maps drafted in the late 19th century – the closing decades of the historical period commonly referred to as the Bulgarian National Revival. The three maps in question belong to Vasil D. Stoyanov (circa 1867), the Chitalishte (a kind of community cultural center) of Tsarigrad (Istanbul) (in 1872), and the Bulgarian Exarchate (in 1876). They all depict the territorial distribution of the ethnic Bulgarian population in the Balkan Peninsula at the time (and in particular within the borders of what was then European Turkey). The maps are yet to be tracked down and published, and it is unclear whether they even survived until present day or not. It is possible they remain archived somewhere outside Bulgaria. The maps were drafted in response to non-Bulgarian publications (in the form of maps, statistics, etc.), which contained significant errors (intentionally or not) in regards to the territorial distribution of the Bulgarian population and its actual numbers. Each map is accompanied by supplementary statistics. The maps played an important role in connection to notable historical figures and events. The goal of this article is to revive the memory of the maps’ existence and give some fresh impetus for their discovery and publication, which would be of enormous benefit.
Captain Marin Ya. Marinov – a Life in the Name of the Fatherland
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Georgiev Dragomir
Published: January 2025

One of the main problem swhich the newly restored Bulgarian state faced in the first months of freedom was the issue of training officers of local origin, who had to replace gradually their Russian trainers in the guidance and command of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. During this period, Russia was the only Great Power that gave Bulgarians access to its military schools. Many young Bulgarians went to the Northern Empire to receive military education. Some of these officers later made glamorous military careers and their biographies are well known to the Bulgarian reader. Unfortunately, the names of another part of young Bulgarians who studied in Russia today are little known, although they gave their lives in defence of the country during the Serbian-Bulgarian war of the autumn of 1885, including the officer whose life and career are the subject of this publication. His name is Marin Yanakiev Marinov.
The Politics of the Byzantine Empire under the Rule of John II Komnenos against the Seljuks
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Ali Mesut
Published: January 2025

The change of rule in Constantinople in 1118 and the ascension to the throne of Emperor John II Komnenos did not lead to any changes in the primary goals of Byzantine foreign policy towards the East. The new basileus started immediately with great energy to realise the so called “Roman reconquest“ in Anatolia. It was no coincidence that the first march he organized in the spring of 1119 was against the war-torn Rum Seljuk Sultanate. The constant pillaging raids of the nomad Turkic hordes gave him a reason to do this, and he ended up not only countering the nomad hordes but also conquering the city of Laodicea on the Lycus. The next year, another very important urban centre was captured – Sozopolis. The Emperor did not limit himself to only military methods in his policy regarding the seljuks, and when presented with an opportunity, he also intervened in their home affairs. He responded to the appeal for military and financial help of one of the heirs of the late Kilij Arslan I, the future Sultan Mesud I, in the fight against his brother Malik Arap. The prolonged crisis brought to the weakening of the Sultanate and turned it into a secondary power in the region. The forces that took advantage of this were mainly the Byzantine Empire and the Beylik of the Danishmendids. The territory of the Sultanate was reduced to Konya and it’s hinterland. The decrease of the intensity of their relations did not bring to their end and the Empire, in every suitable moment, continued with the reconquering of their “old“ lands in Asia Minor.
New Data on the “Merger“ of the Army of the Principality of Bulgaria with the East Rumelia Militia (September 1885 – February 1886)
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Donchev Anton
Published: January 2025

The proclamation of the Union in 1885 and its military defense are widely known and researched issues. When and how the armies of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia actually merged is little known.
Haidouks and Brigands in the Bulgarian Lands (the 15th – the 17th century) through the Eyes of European Travellers
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Parvanov Ivan
Published: January 2025

The article examines the topic of robbery and haiduty in the Bulgarian lands under Ottoman rule in the XV–XVII centuries. Based on the travel notes and diaries of European diplomats, merchants and travelers who passed through the Bulgarian lands, the answer to the questions is sought: Are robbers and hajduts the same category of persons? What is their social and national affiliation? What is their activity and against whom is it directed? What is the attitude of the official Ottoman government and the Bulgarian people towards the robbers and haiduts?
Typical Characteristics of Protected Area Kalinata, Nesebar Municipality
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Petrov Galin
Published: January 2025

A longos forest is under protection on the territory of the protected area. However, it has a number of specifics that distinguish it from the typical characteristics of this type of forest. In the natural complexes of the protected area interesting processes take place in terms of natural dynamics and development of landscapes. Along with this, there are some problems associated with their protection.
Formation and Structure of the Documentary Resource of the Bulgarian Historical Archives until September 9, 1944
Authors:   St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Bozhilova Radina
Published: January 2025

After the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878) the beginning was set of a purposeful search and publication of documents about the Bulgarian national revival. Until the middle of the twentieth century, Bulgaria lacked archival legislation, as well as specialized archival institutions, which caused irreparable damage to the Bulgarian archival heritage. During this period, archival collections of volumes were formed in cultural, scientific and other institutions. The largest of them were built at the National Library in Sofia.
TINGKAT EFISIENSI PENGGUNAAN SISTEM REKAM MEDIS ELEKTRONIK DI RSUP DR. KARIADI SEMARANG
Authors: Kharmi Juni Yanti  , Dasrun Hidayat  , Yani Restiani Widjaja
Published: January 2025

Implementasi Sistem Rekam Medis Elektronik (RME) di Rumah Sakit Umum Pusat (RSUP) Dr. Kariadi Semarang telah memberikan dampak signifikan terhadap efisiensi operasional rumah sakit. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif untuk menganalisis dampak implementasi RME, dengan melibatkan partisipasi dokter, perawat, dan personel operasional melalui wawancara semi- terstruktur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa RME secara substansial meningkatkan efisiensi dalam pencarian dan pengelolaan rekam medis, mengurangi biaya administrasi, dan meningkatkan produktivitas tenaga kesehatan. Namun, tantangan terkait dengan alokasi sumber daya, baik dalam aspek finansial maupun sumber daya manusia, masih menjadi kendala yang perlu diperhatikan. Penelitian ini menekankan bahwa pemahaman mendalam tentang kebutuhan dan tantangan implementasi, disertai dengan komitmen untuk meningkatkan infrastruktur serta pemberdayaan staf, dapat mendukung tercapainya manfaat jangka panjang dari sistem RME. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa keberhasilan implementasi RME tidak hanya bergantung pada aspek teknis, tetapi juga pada kesiapan organisasi dan sumber daya manusia. Institusi kesehatan harus memperhatikan kesiapan staf dalam mengadopsi teknologi baru dan mengalokasikan sumber daya yang cukup untuk mendukung implementasi serta pemeliharaan jangka panjang RME. Meskipun tantangan seperti resistensi terhadap perubahan dan kebutuhan infrastruktur teknologi masih ada, penghematan biaya operasional dan peningkatan efisiensi yang signifikan membuat penerapan RME layak untuk dipertahankan dan dikembangkan.
ANALISIS ORGANISASI PALANG MERAH INDONESIA (PMI) DI KOTA SAMARINDA SEBAGAI NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO’S): PERSPEKTIF SEJARAH DAN RUANG LINGKUP
Authors: Saputra Raka Roby , Helminasari Shorea , Eryani Trisna Waty Riza , Sarmiasih Mia
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini mendeskripsikan mengenai bagaimana ruang lingkup Palang Merah indonesia (PMI) sebagai Non Governmental Organization (NGO’S) di Kota Samarinda, sesuai dengan tujuan organisasi serta apa saja yang menjadi faktor pendukung dan faktor penghambat organisasi dalam menjalankan kegiatannya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dimana jenis penelitian yang menekankan pada peneliti yang harus aktif melakukan pengamatan (observasi), kemudian mencari data-data yang terkait dengan penelitian yang dilakukan, lalu menetapkan key informan dan informan serta mencari masyarakat yang menerima manfaat dari kegiatan Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) sebagai narasumber yang diwawancarai kemudian akan dijabarkan kedalam tema atau kesimpulan dari tujuan penelitian yang ada. Dari hasil analisis data maka ditemukan  bahwa organisasi Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) adalah organisasi swasta yang kegiatanya sangat bermanfaat bagi masyarakat tetapi pada kenyataanya masyarakat hanya tahu Palang Merah Indonesia(PMI) adalah badan yang melakukan pelayanan darah donor dan pengambilan darah  dan organisasi milik pemerintah padahal Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) adalah organisasi swasta yang ada di Indonesia bahkan mencangkup dunia, kegiatannya sendiri antara lain dalam bidang memberikan bantuan kepada korban konflik bersenjata dan gangguan keamanan, pelayanan darah pelestarian dan pengambilan darah donor, melakukan pembinaan relawan, melakukan Pendidikan dan pelatihan yang berkaitan dengan kepalangmerahan, melakukan penyebarluasan kegiatan kepalangmerahan penanganan musibah atau bencana, pelayanan kesehatan dan social, memberikan peran masyarakat dalam kegiatan kepalangmerahan kemudian untuk mengtahui Apa saja faktor pendukung dan penghambat Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) sebagai Non Governmental Organization (NGO’S) di Kota Samarinda.
How Unequal Are Their Vertical Equity Measures? A Comparison of Three Canadian Provinces
Authors: Li Xiaobin
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this study was to compare the foundation allocation and three special allocations for special-needs students, ESL students, and students with low socioeconomic status in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia to see what these special allocations look like as vertical equity measures. Because stronger measures are needed if educational equality of opportunity is the goal, measuring how strong vertical equity efforts are is a highly relevant topic. The data were obtained from ministries of education. The data were analyzed and compared to understand the similarities and differences in their equity measures. The results indicate that although Ontario provides the least in the pupil foundation allocation, it provides more assistance through two allocations: the ESL allocation and the allocation for low socioeconomic status students. The possible implications of the differences in the foundation allocation and the special allocations are discussed.
Community Revitalization Levy as a Municipal Financing Mechanism in Alberta
Authors: Spahlinger Marina , Wayne Nancy
Published: January 2025

What do Edmonton’s glittering new Arena District and Calgary’s complete overhaul of its Rivers District have in common? Both cities pulled their projects off using a novel method of financing: the community revitalization levy (CRL). Because CRLs can cause economic harm when they are used incorrectly, there are general principles that cities should follow when using them. Unfortunately, these principles are not fully in place in Alberta. The result could be that, for all their charm, Calgary’s Rivers District and Edmonton’s Capital City Downtown Plan may not have lived up to be quite the deal citizens might have expected. A CRL should only be used if it is in fact the best financial tool available for the project. It must past certain tests. In the case of Calgary’s River District, it appears that those tests were not properly met, and so it is unclear whether the CRL really was the best financial tool available for the city to use in its effort to improve the area. While the property tax base in the Rivers District has grown more quickly than in the rest of the city, it is impossible to know how much more quickly it would have grown without the use of the CRL as a tool. There also seems to be a lack of clarity of whether new projects funded by the CRL will be in the public’s best interest or if the money would be better used if returned to the tax base. Edmonton, meanwhile, did not pre-define the scope and the cost of all the projects it expects for its Capital City Downtown Plan. While that provides flexibility to develop new project ideas as more revenue materializes, it also allows for scope creep, and the risk that revenues will continue to be spent, even beyond their need, rather than being returned to the tax base. It is also unclear whether the Edmonton plan has actually succeeded in inducing economic growth. It may be that it has only shifted where people spend their money away from other parts of the city and into the downtown district, potentially harming some residents and businesses. 1 CRLs are powerful tools, but they come with risks. They can lead to poor outcomes for taxpayers or businesses and residents in other areas, and they can divert tax revenues away from necessary infrastructure into subsidizing private infrastructure, as may be the case with the Edmonton arena. It is unclear whether the CRL plans in Calgary and Edmonton have turned out to be the best approach for revitalizing parts of the two cities’ downtowns. The province, and the two cities, should look at implementing new measures to better protect taxpayers, and ensure CRLs are being used correctly.
Bringing it All Together: Integrating Services to Address Homelessness
Authors: Turner Alina , Krecsy Diana
Published: January 2025

Homeless-serving systems are striving for greater impact and efficiency amidst austerity. Those with lived experience, governments, funders, and service providers have consistently and increasingly called for enhanced integration across services, organizations, systems, processes and policies as a means of maximizing existing resources. Here, the discourse of integration refers to ways of working better together across diverse internal and external organizational boundaries. At the heart of these efforts lies the assumption that integration is the desired state, an ideal that will result in improved outcomes at individual and population levels.

As actors actively engaged in homeless-serving system planning work, we draw from on-the-ground experiences in Calgary, Alberta to consider how a nuanced understanding of integration can shape the evolution of a systems planning response to homelessness. Our practical experience working in the homeless-serving system on diverse integration initiatives has prompted us to reconsider the evidence and critically probe the implicit link between systems integration efforts and improved individual and population outcomes. In some instances, we have experienced how integration efforts can result in the addition of new layers of complexity to the issue they were created to resolve in the first place. In other cases, integration efforts delivered marginal benefits given the amount of resources used as inputs into planning and implementation. Of course, there are also examples where integration spurs positive impacts at the system and target population levels.

Rather than declaring a course of action, this paper is intended to spur discussion. We are posing questions we continue to grapple with at a praxis level, which may resonate with fellow policy makers, system planner organizations, service providers and researchers. We want to go beyond conventional wisdom to probe the merits of integration as a de facto answer to complex social issues by asking:

What exactly is integration?
When and how is integration appropriate?
What are the pitfalls of integration and how do we manage risks?
Findings suggest that while ventures to enhance integration remain important, they are not and cannot be the panacea to social challenges, including homelessness. If integration is an appropriate response, we must understand what makes it work, what environment it thrives in, and what success looks like. We maintain that no matter how system integration is implemented or delivered, a central focus on the person served must be maintained, rather than systems themselves.
Economy, demography and urbanization, The urban policy context in mid-sized metropolitan areas – Europe
Authors: Barati-Stec Izabella
Published: January 2025

The cases of four capitals, Budapest, Zagreb, Tbilisi and Belgrade presented in this paper help to understand the challenges faced by cities in the post-communist part of Europe. Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia are cities in member states of the European Union (EU). Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a candidate country for membership in the EU and Tbilisi in Georgia is a city in a Eastern Partnership Agreement (EaP). All cities are capitals and not only is their recent history similar, but their early development also shows similarities due to their geographical settings, forming gates between East and West and being melting pots of cultures, religions, and traditions. All inherited a strong vertical hierarchy of political and economic structures and experienced multiple transitions since 1990. The transition from planned to market economy, from one party politics to democratic elections prompted important changes that affected these capital cities. The FDI inflow strongly influenced their economic development after the transition. While their population is becoming older, large cities also started to shrink for several reasons. The fertility rate is falling below the replacement level and instead of people moving from rural areas to the cities, citizens started migrating in the opposite direction. In addition, the urban poor are not able to maintain expensive city housing. The first chapter gives an overview of the four countries’ governance systems and economic development levels. The following sections introduce the four capital cities. Each section follows the same structure, the introduction and history section is followed by the demographic data, then the economic power of the city, its position and relations within the public administration system, the public finances of the country, and of the capital, and finally a discussion of land use issues. Data collection was challenging in many cases. Some cities did not disclose laws or budget information, or only partially disclosed. Some provided all data but merged with abundant non-relevant information and in a format, that makes it impossible to research.
Updating an ODA policy in Canada: the Role of Global Remittances in Development
Authors: Bansak Cynthia , Simpson Nicole
Published: January 2025

The federal government has pledged to update Canada's development assistance (ODA) policy and this paper examines the important role of remittances in the development program. Remittances can serve as a significant form of cross-border capital flows and can have sizable effects on both the sending and receiving countries. This policy piece provides an overview of trends in global remittances and gives a context for the policy discussion on the relationship between remittances and ODA. The paper draws from the authors’ expertise and presents a background on the primary reasons behind global remittances and their impacts on other countries including the United States, Mexico, Nepal and Kenya. Within the context of Canada, the paper also examines how remittances have been able to complement and possibly drive other development reform efforts domestically and abroad. The goal of the analysis is to help inform the policy discussion in Canada and concludes with a set of policy recommendations for the Canadian federal government.
Two Different Conflicts in Federal Systems: An Application to Canada
Authors: Mintz Jack
Published: January 2025

The analysis contained in this paper focuses on two different forms of regional conflict in a federation: conflict of taste and conflict of claim. These conflicts may support each other but not necessarily – they are independent in concept and have different implications for regional tensions. Conflict of taste arises from differences in political preferences amongst populations arising from institutions, historical context and culture. Conflict of claim arises from one region having greater wealth than others and being expected to share it with others. The latter is particularly problematical when the rich region is small and has little influence in determining transfers as large per capita transfers from a small rich are needed to have any significant impact on large populated poor regions. While, both conflicts lead to regional stress and a possible break-up of a federation, conflict of claim can be divisive since it focuses on sharing the pie rather than creating the pie.
Urban Policy Trends: Understanding the Olympic Bid Plebiscite
Authors: Lucas Jack
Published: January 2025

On November 13, 2018, Calgarians voted 56-44 to terminate the city’s bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. To understand who supported and opposed the bid, The School of Public Policy partnered with the Canadian Municipal Election Study to survey Calgarians in the weeks that followed the vote. Here’s our first look at the data.
Provincial Public Infrastructure Spending and Financing in Alberta: Searching for a Better Course
Authors: McMillan Melville
Published: January 2025

Alberta’s provincial government investment and capital stocks have followed a rather varied and unusual path since 1961, a path characterized by large swings in both. This paper seeks to understand those developments better and suggest directions for improvement. Relative to other provinces, Alberta has a low level of provincial net capital stock relative to GDP but a high level of capital stock and investment per person. Investigation here shows that the reason for this seeming anomaly is that the Alberta economy is different in notable and generally unappreciated ways from the economies in other provinces. The results indicate that interprovincial comparisons to GDP can often be misleading. Also, household income, not GDP, appears to be the major determinant of public infrastructure. Since 2008, the Alberta government has relied increasingly on debt finance. There is a need for caution because what appear to be (inter-provincially) moderate levels of debt relative to GDP are large relative to provincial government revenue (which is argued to be a more meaningful comparator). Utilizing public investment to help stabilize the economy has been mixed in Alberta over the long term. However, the overall surplus/deficit pattern has been much more counter-cyclic. More emphasis has been placed on stabilization since 2000 and especially so during the 2009 and 2015 downturns. While both those downturns are linked to long-term resource revenue setbacks (the lasting drop in natural gas prices and the drop in oil prices that is expected to diminish the provincial government’s resource revenues for some time), they have been treated as if caused by cyclic rather than structural changes. The result is that reserve funds have been drained and the province has dramatically increased debt (largely it is argued to support capital investment) and continues to do so even as the economy gradually improves. Provincial finances need adjustment to the longer-term realities. More stable capital funding would be a component. Possibilities are noted and suggestions are offered.
Urban Policy Trends: The Policy Priorities of the Calgary Business Community
Authors: Lucas Jack
Published: January 2025

Many of Calgary’s most pressing municipal policy issues, from economic development to infrastructure to business recruitment, involve close relations between municipal government and the local business community. To understand the preferences and priorities of the Calgary business community, the School of Public Policy partnered with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to ask local businesses a series of questions identical to those in a simultaneous public opinion survey undertaken by Forum Research. We received a total of 214 responses to the survey of local businesses, along with 2,001 complete responses to the public opinion survey
Social Policy Trends: Global Refugee Resettlement and Canada
Authors: Falconer Robert
Published: January 2025

In 2018 Canada received more planned refugees than any other country, a first in 72 years of organized resettlement.
Urban Policy Trends: What do Calgarians think of their Local, Provincial, and National Economies?
Authors: Lucas Jack , Tombe Trevor
Published: January 2025

To answer this question, The School of Public Policy partnered with the Canadian Municipal Election Study (CMES) to ask Calgarians a series of questions about the economy. The survey was carried out by Forum Research between November 14 and December 13, 2018, and included 748 individuals who completed both the 2017 CMES survey and the 2018 Calgary Year in Review Survey. Each of the two surveys included an identical set of questions about the economy, providing a valuable look at how opinions about the local economy have changed in Calgary over time.
Urban Policy Trends: Where Should the City of Calgary Spend its Money?
Authors: Lucas Jack
Published: January 2025

The day after Calgarians voted to end the city’s bid for the 2026 Olympic Games, city council quietly began work on a much larger project, one whose price tag – $19 billion – dwarfed the cost of the Olympic games several times over. Unlike the Olympics, this project was not widely reported in the national newspapers, and there were no televised debates at the new Central Library. What was this enormous project? The city’s four-year budget.
Tax Policy Trends: Canadian Policy Makers Respond to U.S. Tax Overhaul
Authors: Bazel Philip , Mintz Jack
Published: January 2025

Following the 2017 overhaul of the U.S. corporate and personal tax system, 2018 has seen much discussion regarding Canada’s diminished tax advantage and its attractiveness as an investment destination in comparison to the U.S. In the November 21st 2018 Economic Update, the federal government’s response was finally unveiled. The central policy included a generous temporary accelerated capital cost allowance. This strategy largely follows a plan of action championed by the Canadian business community and emulates features of the U.S. corporate tax reform. However, as we point out below, tinkering with depreciation schedules distorts further the corporate tax system and fails to deal with other competitive issues that can only be addressed by changes to the statutory corporate income tax rates.
Social Policy Trends: Rents, Social Assistance and the Small Town Advantage
Authors: Wilkins Margarita
Published: January 2025

In many large municipalities, with the exception of those in Quebec, families earning low incomes are crowded out of most rental properties.
Energy and Environmental Policy Trends: Carbon Tax Costs Vary Widely Across Households
Authors: Tombe Trevor , Winter Jennifer
Published: January 2025

Since January 1, 2017, Albertans have paid a carbon tax on combustible fuels. The costs to households will be a central issue in the upcoming provincial election. Eliminating Alberta’s carbon tax will mean the federal government imposes its backstop. This has implications for the distribution of net costs to households.
Trade Policy Trends: Chinese Protectionism: Restriction on Canola Imports from Canada
Authors: Beaulieu Eugene , Klemen Dylan
Published: January 2025

On March 3, 2019, China revoked the import licence for canola from Richardson International Ltd. (a large Canadian processor of grain based in Winnipeg). Chinese officials have cited pests as the reason for their action. The licence revocation occurs amid a conflict between Canada and China over the arrest in Canada of Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. Some see this as a retaliatory measure on the part of China, which has a history of using trade policy in political disputes.
Social Policy Trends: The Depth and Prevalence of Poverty
Authors: Kneebone Ronald
Published: January 2025

In 2017, the prevalence of poverty fell in all provinces relative to 2007, however the measured depth of poverty increased.
Social Policy Trends: Financial Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Authors: Falconer Robert
Published: January 2025

Resettled refugees and asylum seekers receive financial support from federal and provincial governments, however they face costs and barriers unique to their circumstances.
Generic Drug Pricing and Procurement: A Policy for Alberta
Authors: Hollis Aidan
Published: January 2025

Canadians pay very high prices for generic drugs compared to international norms. The reason is not ineﬃcient or uncompetitive generic drug companies, but provincial government pricing and insurance policies that are distorting the market. This paper by Professor Aidan Hollis, an expert in the economics of pharmaceutical markets, evaluates provincial government policies regarding generic drugs and proposes a new approach which could save governments and private insurers tens of millions of dollars a year.
The Fiscal Sustainability of Alberta's Public Health Care System
Authors: Di Matteo Livio , Di Matteo Rosanna
Published: January 2025

From 1975 to 2007, Alberta’s real per capita government health expenditures grew from $1,679 to $3,696 (in 2007 dollars), at a median annual growth rate of 3.5%. Over the same period, Alberta’s real per capita gross domestic product and real per capita total government revenues grew at median annual rates of 2.2% and 1.7%, respectively. This difference between the growth rates of health care spending on the one hand and government revenues and the economy on the other gives rise to concern about the fiscal sustainability of the province’s public health care system.
This study presents projections of real per capita spending on public health care in Alberta over the medium term out to 2030. They suggest that, by then, real per capita spending could reach anywhere between $5,339 and $14,215, soaking up between 32% and 87% of total government revenues; more worrying, the high end of these ranges reflects a continuation of the policy settings that guide current provincial public health spending.
Alberta is fortunate to have a wealthy economy that can support a high level of public health spending. But that support is precarious given the cyclical nature of non-renewable natural resource revenues and Alberta’s past tendency to experience periods of boom and bust. Basing the financing of key spending programs such as health care on a volatile revenue base is not advisable, for it puts them at risk should economic conditions turn unfavourable, as they have recently. Indeed, adjusting government revenues in our projections to match a more reasonable measure of what might be relied upon with a degree of certainty simply enhances the precariousness of the fiscal sustainability of the public health care system.
Not all categories of provincial government health care spending — in particular, the traditional core medicare areas of physician services and hospitals — are growing faster than either the revenue base or the economy. The growth of spending on non-medicare categories such as drugs, capital, and all other health expenditures, however, is a particular source of concern.
Options for sustaining provincial government health expenditures include choosing what other government programs could be allowed to grow more slowly over time, what tax rates could be increased to cause the revenue base to grow more quickly, and what health programs currently provided by the public sector instead could be provided privately. These approaches need not exist in watertight compartments, however, and a portfolio of policies that combines these solutions likely would be a pragmatic policy outcome. Such a strategy would help to ensure the fiscal sustainability of Alberta’s public health care system and responsibly provide for the future welfare of its citizens.
Saving NORAD: Should Ottawa Seize the Obama Moment?
Authors: Jockel Joseph T.
Published: January 2025

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) is heading for obsolescence. Saving it would require reversing the Martin government’s 2005 “no” on missile defence. The Obama presidency provides the Harper government with some political cover to do so. Ottawa could also seize the opportunity to reconsider the Chrétien government’s 2002 decision not to consider broadly expanding NORAD’s roles.
While it will be tempting to try to save NORAD for symbolic reasons,it should be let go. The U.S. and Canada no longer need a binational aerospace command. The focus should be on air defence cooperation, especially for special events such as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Transmission Policy in Alberta and Bill 50
Authors: Church Jeffrey , Rosehart William , MacCormack John
Published: January 2025

We would like to express our appreciation to participants at the “Electricity Transmission Policies: Issues and Alternatives” workshop sponsored by the School of Public Policy for comments and suggestions and, in particular, Marcy Cochlan, Randy Stubbings, Joseph Doucet, Larry Ruff, Richard Tabors, Steven Stoft, Dan Levson, Bob Baer, Aidan Hollis, Carl Fuchshuber, Tom Cottrell, Cory Temple and Evan Bahry. The graciousness and spirit with which they provided comments does not of course imply endorsement of our approach or conclusions. In addition, we benefited from the comments of an anonymous referee.
The views expressed in these publications are those of the authors' alone and should not be interpreted as the views of the School of Public Policy or of its supporters, staff or boards.