bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic Development, Unemployment and Inflation in the Western Balkans
Authors: Kraja Gentiana , Dedej Denis , Prendi Llambi 
Published: June 2023

Economic security is one of the main challenges facing the Western Balkans. Poverty, unemployment and inequality threaten the everyday security of average citizens in the region. The Western Balkan economies have emerged from a serious economic recession and are in search of a new growth path on their way to eventual EU membership. However, they are beset by numerous economic and social problems that hinder their progress. The economic transition in the Western Balkans implicated a large structural change which has come through the processes of privatization and enterprise restructuring which caused the disappearance of many professions and jobs and have made the stock of skills inherited from the former system obsolete. All countries in the Western Balkans are striving to join the European Union. This transformation process presents enormous challenges and requires many changes and improvements in various fields especially when regards the economic development and employment. The Western Balkan (WB6) region, consisting in small emerging market economies, is aspiring to embark on an export-led growth and convergence path. After a late start in transition due to civil wars, the region experienced notable income growth nearly doubling its real GDP level in the last two decades. However, income convergence with advanced Europe has been less impressive when compared to new member states, partly reflecting lower exports. Western Balkan countries have the same problematics which regard widespread corruption, the presence of organized crime, the lack of freedom of legal functioning, and the deep politicization of public administration. The countries differ according to the importance and the sensibility of their problems, politics will treat them according to their platforms, legal frameworks in place and capacity for enforcement. These issues have a great impact for economic performance, generating employment, state revenue collection, and the development of small and medium enterprises. These problems are rooted in the general state of democracy and the political culture in the region, as well as diplomatic issues surrounding statehood. The main aim of this paper is to reflect and analyze the economic development through GDP in the Western Balkan in relation to unemployment and inflation. The analysis is based on the literature review, on the reports given form different structures and also based on quantitative data form the Worl Bank for Western Balkans’ countries on GDP, unemployment and inflation and testing their correlations through the e Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Model. At the end of this paper based on the theoretical and practical review are give the conclusions and the recommendation of the study.

Received: 10 September 2022 / Accepted: 21 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022
Building Economic Resilience in Western Balkans during COVID-19
Authors: Balla Anisa , Draçi Parashqevi 
Published: June 2023

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on global trade costs (WTO, 2021). Predicting, and managing risks is a necessary and difficult task for policymakers thus to minimize the negative effects coming from these unexpected incoming shocks. Natural disasters, health crisis and political conflicts over the recent decade, are pushing more pressure to developing countries to re-evaluate their trade partners in the international cooperation, as a way to prevent the direct impact of a probable shock on trade. The early stages of the pandemic exposed also how reliant Western Balkans had become on relatively few global producers of critical medical supplies, prompting widespread calls for greater supply chain diversification. This study attempts to answer the question: Did the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on regional trade policies revealed an increase or decrease of economic resilience? Travel restrictions and border closures, which were an important part of the initial policy response to the pandemic, disrupted freight transport, business travel and the supply of services that rely on the presence of individuals abroad. Trade facilitation measures taken at the border made it possible for supply chains to continue delivering and have been critical during the COVID-19 crisis. GDP recovery in the last year has been faster in economies with strong pre-pandemic trade ties to countries with fewer COVID-19 cases. In the post COVID-19 area, the Western Balkan countries are recommended to make sustainability and resilience a baseline requirement for every trade and investment decision.

Received: 10 September 2022 / Accepted: 21 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022
On the Inter-Regional Initiative: The Open Balkans Case study: Open Balkans, an Alternative to the European Union?
Authors: Laska Anxhela , Draçi Parashqevi 
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to present the main goals that the "Open Balkans" initiative aims to achieve, for regional cooperation, the first advantages and shortcomings from a civic perspective. The initiative system for regional cooperation is the free movement of women, without stopping at border crossings between Albania, Serbia and Northern Macedonia, the establishment of an illegal system for inter-company transfers, freedom other than the recognition of professional qualifications, freedom of goods and services . As part of this initiative, the EU member state, according to the media, is divided into two camps, congratulating this initiative, but also assessing it as a copy of the existing Berlin process. An objective of the study is to highlight its conclusion therefore, the benefits that make this country, their perceptions regarding the EU membership process. The guiding principle of the paper is that coordinating the initiative with intent for the region and not the individual country to have initiatives that want a faster, smoother communication of goods and others that are related to others.

Received: 19 September 2022 / Accepted: 23 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022
European Union Integration - Perspectives and Challenges of Western Balkans
Authors: Aliaj Julejda , Sulmina Vanesa 
Published: June 2023

The European Union remains one of the most important unions on our continent and beyond. Its political-economic role is equally important in the international arena. Over the years, this union has been the target of most European countries. Integration enabled the free movement of goods and people, along with a number of other advantages that strengthened the political and economic position of each of the member states. Of course, just one article is not enough to talk about the development history of the European Union. What constitutes curiosity and reason to study is the current state of this union, its stability and the possibility of further enlargement, as has been discussed for years, including the countries of the Western Balkans, which since the fall of communist systems after the 90's they aspired to integration towards it. This article aims to give another critical perspective to these discussions, taking into account the current situation and economic and political developments within the European continent. We can not ignore the situation of the war between Ukraine and Russia in this discussion and the chain effects it has brought within the EU and beyond.

Received: 10 September 2022 / Accepted: 21 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022
Impact of Building's Thermal Insulation on Increasing Thermal Comfort and Reduction of Electricity Consumption
Authors: Cara Rezarta , Golgota Alma , Kodra Elma 
Published: June 2023

Recently, the construction sector in Albania has been developing rapidly when it comes to the variety of construction materials and the most advanced techniques of the time. The challenge for engineers, architects, and builders consists of using and combining them as effectively as possible to ensure maximum comfort at the lowest possible cost. When designing a building, one should bear in mind that the success or failure of the project is based primarily on ensuring internal environmental comfort, as it has been proven that residents who live in an environment that contributes to a healthy and comfortable lifestyle are more satisfied and productive. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked, as it is easier to focus on the initial cost of a project rather than to determine the value of the improved health and productivity of the user as well as the reduction of the subsequent costs. Through measurements performed in different seasons and periods, it has been proven that the thermal insulation of a building significantly increases its thermal comfort. Additionally, statistical tables obtained from Electricity Distribution Operator prove that thermal insulation is associated with a significant reduction in electricity consumption, from 15 - 28%, mainly in peak periods. If the Urban Sector of Local Units were to find stimulators, motivating entities to consider the thermal insulation of new buildings, it would make a substantial difference in this regard. The thermal insulation of the existing dwellings' stock, which can be realized through the coordination of the Local Units and the Electricity Distribution Operator policies, would also significantly impact the increase of thermal comfort and the reduction of electricity consumption.

Received: 20 September 2022 / Accepted: 26 November 2022 / Published: 20 December 2022
The European Union Response Against Covid-19 Pandemic on Maritime Transport
Authors: Dedej Arian , Metalla Osman 
Published: June 2023

The European Union joint maritime policy is a wide approach of all European Union policies linked with the sea. This policy is based upon the idea that by coordinating all activities linked with oceans, sea and coasts, the European Union would benefit higher rates of yields by its maritime space with a smaller mass of impact on environment. The joint maritime policy aims at strengthening the so-called ‘blue economy’, which includes all the economic maritime activities. The maritime transport plays a fundamental role and will continue to do so at world and European trade. In economic terms 77 percent of European foreign trade and 35 percent of that between European Union countries happen through the sea. This is the key reason because the maritime transport represents a core part in the international supply chain. Even with the decline of this activity in maritime sector due to Covid-19 Pandemic, a significant increase is foreseen in the next 10 years. To face challenges of Pandemic, the European Union took few measures that are linked with the health security, repatriation and maritime traveling ways of passengers and other persons on the boards. This article seeks to analyze the response that European Union and its institutions have provided to the situation through recommendations and regulations to normalize an important sector for the future of the Union.

Received: 26 September 2022 / Accepted: 29 November 2022 / Published: 20 December 2022
Environmental Sustainability in the Cruise Industry
Authors: Kotrikla Anna Maria , Chortatsiani Evangelia 
Published: June 2023

Cruise shipping is currently one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism sector and creates a significant environmental impact. The aims of this study are a) to investigate what are the main environmental issues faced by the cruise ships and which measures are taken or foreseen to address the problems, b) to explore the passengers’ attitudes towards environmental protection and the companies’ drivers to adopt pro-environmental measures. Data were collected by reviewing the sustainability reports of the main cruise companies and by interviewing three environmental officers that work at the industry. The results showed that there is a trend in employing LNG to address climate change and air pollution. The energy efficiency is further improved with measures such as shore-side electricity, gas-turbines, waste-heat recovery, air lubrication etc. A substantial percentage of ships is equipped with EGCS to address SO2 and PM emissions. Campaigns to reduce single use plastics and saving water and the use of Advanced Wastewater System are also measures to reduce the environmental footprint of cruise shipping. The passengers are informed about the rules and regulations and generally comply with them. According to EO’s opinion, they probably would not pay more for a cruise to support a green program. Also, the companies adopt pro-environmental measures to fully comply with regulations but also to protect the local environment (i.e. flora, fauna), the health of the locals and the local economy.

Received: 21 September 2022 / Accepted: 19 November 2022 / Published: 20 December 2022
Performance of Gaensel Energy Group's Nikel Storage Cells: Case Study
Authors: Ndokaj Eduart , LaGatta Umberto 
Published: June 2023

Last January Gaensel Energy group acquired 30% of Protonstar, this acquisition allowed the further development of Nikel storage cells. The extraordinary property of this new generation of accumulators lies in the accumulation of energy and its releasing no longer depending upon electrochemical processes, but simply on the interaction at the metal lattice level, in this case the Nickel. To date, we are facing a third generation of accumulators, in fact from the Volta’s battery, called primary, the electrochemical cells called secondary, in use today, having the prerogative to be rechargeable. Any storage system currently used is based on three basic components showing electrochemical linkage, namely an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte.

Received: 23 September 2022 / Accepted: 28 November 2022 / Published: 20 December 2022
KÜÇÜK ADAMIN DÖNÜŞ HAYALİ: ORHAN KEMAL’DE UTANÇ VE İNTİKAM
Authors: BİÇER İsmail Alperen 
Published: June 2023

Toplumcu gerçekçi yazarlardan Orhan Kemal’in hikâye ve romanları ‘utanç’ ve
‘intikam’ bakımından da ele alınmaya değer metinlerdir. Betimsel analiz yönteminin
kullanıldığı ve René Girard’ın ‘üçgen’ arzu modelinin uygulandığı bu makalede yazarın
anlatma esasına dayalı edebî metinleri, utanç ve intikam kavramlarına yoğunlaşan bir
dikkatle okunmakta; bu duygu biçimlerinin sebepleri ve mahiyetlerinin yanı sıra utandıran
öznenin kimliği üzerinde durulmaktadır. Orhan Kemal’in inşa ettiği kurmaca dünyalarda
kişiler, genellikle yoksulluklarından ve çaresizliklerinden utanırlar; bununla beraber fiziksel
görünümlerinden ve aile üyelerinin toplumsal ahlak normlarına uymayan davranışlarından
utanan kişiler de görülür. Orhan Kemal’in ifadesiyle bu ‘küçük’ insanlar, mevcut durumu
tersine çevirmek için türlü ‘kurtuluş’ yolları ararlar. Bu kişiler, çekip gitmeyi içinde
bulundukları acı verici ve gurur kırıcı durumdan kurtulmanın yolu olarak görürler. Bilhassa
İstanbul’a gittiklerinde her şey tersine dönecek; kendilerini çaresiz bırakan yoksulluğu
yenecekler, para ve dolayısıyla itibar kazanacaklardır. Geri geldiklerinde ise vaktiyle
kendilerini utandıran ve değersiz gören arkadaşları, komşuları, toplumun her bir ferdi
şaşıracak; onlar da ‘intikam’ almanın hazzını tadacaklardır. Ancak bu ‘küçük insanların’
çekip gitme istekleri, kaçış/kurtuluş planları ve muhteşem dönüşleri gerçekleşmeyen birer
tasavvur, hayal olarak kalır. Ayrıca Orhan Kemal, yoksullukla mücadele eden ve bu
mücadelede pek çok şey yapmak zorunda kalan insanları idealize etmez; okurun karşısına
saf bir ‘mağdur’ çıkarmaz. Realist bir yazar olarak Orhan Kemal, karakterlerini bir birey
olarak tüm yönleriyle kavrar; onların zaaflarını ve çelişkilerini okurdan gizlemez.
FORMULASI KRIM ANTI JERAWAT EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN ALPUKAT DAN EFEKTIVITASNYA TERHADAP Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Admin  
Published: June 2023

Jerawat merupakan suatu keadaan dimana pori-pori kulit tersumbat sehingga menimbulkan peradangan. Jerawat dapat dipicu oleh bakteri Propionibacterium acne, Staphylococcus epidermidis dan Staphylococcus aureus. Salah satu cara untuk mengatasi jerawat dari bahan alami yaitu daun alpukat. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui konsentrasi ekstrak etanolik daun alpukat sebagai antibakteri Staphylococcus aureus dalam sediaan krim wajah. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah true experiment. Daun alpukat diekstraksi dengan cara remaserasi menggunakan etanol 96 %. Pada uji antibakteri digunakan metode disc diffusion, dengan menggunakan kontrol positif tetrasiklin dan kontrol negatif basis krim. Konsentrasi ekstrak etanolik daun alpukat yang digunakan dalam krim anti jerawat adalah 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%. Data dianalisis secara kuantitatif dan kualitatif meliputi zona hambat dan asebtabilitas krim. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tidak ada perbedaan aktivitas anti bakteri ekstrak etanol daun alpukat sebelum dan setelah diformulasi menjadi krim. Krim anti jerawat ekstrak etanol daun alpukat pada konsentrasi 15 % mampu memberikan zona hambat terhadap pertumbuhan Staphylococcus aureus dan mempunyai nilai asebtabilitas paling baik.
PERBANDINGAN DETEKSI OOKISTA Cryptosporidium sp. PADA SAMPEL TINJA DENGAN METODE PEWARNAAN MODIFIKASI TAHAN ASAM DAN AURAMIN FENOL
Authors: Admin  
Published: June 2023

Cryptosporidium sp. is intestinal protozoa parasite intracellular which infect widely vertebrata include human and cause cryptosporidiosis disease, also opportunistic agent for diarrhea. Reinfection and high transmission can decrease quality of life patient, so it needs a quick diagnostic with microscopy analysis to stain fecal smears. The objective of this study is to investigate the comparison of the modified acid fast (MAF) and auramine phenol (APh) staining method in order to detecting Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts from concentrated fecal sample with Water-Eter method. The sensitivity and specificity of each method from concentrated fecal sample was determined with PCR* as the gold standard. The result of the screening test and the levels of agreement were quantified. This research is qualitative interpretation with cross sectional design study which using diagnostic test. Of the 130 fecal samples that has examined, 10%, 19,2% and 32,3% were positive Cryptosporidium sp. by the MAF, APh and PCR* method respectively. The majority of positive Cryptosporidium sp. samples were found in stain fecal smears with APh method. The results have a significant differences (p=0,00) between MAF and APh method to PCR, with kappa score = 0,378 and 0,587. In comparison with PCR* results, the sensitivities of MAF and APh methods were 30,9% and 54,8%; the specificities were 100% and 97,7% respectively. The APh staining method apparently has more sensitivity than MAF staining method, but has the same specificity. The APh staining method proved to be a valuable alternative to MAF staining for detection of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts in fecal sample.
JORNADA INAUGURAL PRIMER CONGRESO ESTUDIANTIL DE LA ALIANZA ANTICORRUPCIÓN UNCAC
Authors: Bermúdez Jorge , De la Fuente Gloria , Egaña Rodrigo , Vial María Teresa , Montecinos Espinoza Daniela , Braga-Orillard Georgiana 
Published: June 2023

Creemos ciertamente que uno de los roles más relevantes de la Alianza Anticorrupción es el de cocrear y promover una cooperación y espacios de trabajo con diferentes actores, con el sector público, el sector privado, la sociedad civil, el sector académico y las organizaciones internacionales, porque sabemos que la prevención y la lucha contra la corrupción constituyen un propósito fundamental para todas las personas, donde tenemos la corresponsabilidad de trabajar para prevenirla y promover buenas prácticas en las diferentes instituciones en la que somos parte y en las que los miembros de la comunidad estudiantil serán parte en un futuro.
VARIABLES PSICOLÓGICAS Y PSICOSOCIALES INTERVINIENTES EN CASOS DE CORRUPCIÓN PÚBLICA DETECTADOS POR LA APLICACIÓN DE LA LEY DE TRANSPARENCIA. UN ANÁLISIS DESDE LA PSICOLOGÍA SOCIAL
Authors: Möller Pardo Natalia , Pavez Paula 
Published: June 2023

«Si la corrupción es una enfermedad, la transparencia es una parte medular de su tratamiento». Kofi Annan.
Este artículo tiene por objetivo hacer una aproximación a las variables psicológicas y psicosociales intervinientes en tres casos de corrupción pública, detectados en el estudio realizado por el Consejo de la Transparencia en 2018, que fue denominado «Diez años, diez casos ¿cómo la Ley de Transparencia ha permitido detectar casos de corrupción e irregularidades en el Estado chileno?». Del análisis se desprende que las variables psicológicas que afectaron estos hechos de corrupción pública fueron la falta de ética organizacional, jerarquía rígida, una moral y normas disminuidas, entre otras. El respeto a las variables psicosociales se encuentra en el modelo anglófono, al igual que la falta de ética del observador, que varía según el contexto. Por su parte, en el modelo latinoamericano, se confirma la existencia de corrupción estructural en dos de las instituciones públicas analizadas: municipalidades y Gendarmería de Chile. En este contexto, es relevante estudiar, investigar y generar espacios de discusión técnica, sobre los actos de corrupción pública o gubernamental en el país, desde un enfoque novedoso y una visión multidisciplinaria.
The discovery of two new species in the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group highlights that hidden diversity remains in the largest clade of the mega-diverse genus Cyrtodactylus
Authors: Ngo Hanh Thi , Hormann Helene , Le Minh Duc , Pham Cuong The , Phung Trung My , Do Dang Trong , Ostrowski Sabrina , Nguyen Truong Quang , Ziegler Thomas 
Published: June 2023

The Cyrtodactylus irregularis group, originally considered to consist of only one taxon, has been split into 26 species. We herein present the distribution of all species within the group in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and describe two new species based on integrative analyses. Cyrtodactylus chumuensis sp. nov. is discovered from Dak Lak Province and distinguished from the remaining taxa by more than 11.86% genetic divergence and by the following distinct morphological characters: size medium (SVL 67.5 mm); enlarged femoral scales on each thigh 4–5, femoral pores 0–2 in males; precloacal pores 6–7 in males; ventral scale rows 43–45; lamellae under toe IV 17–21. Cyrtodactylus arndti sp. nov. is described from Binh Dinh Province and genetically differentiated from its congeners by a minimum of 11.42% and by the following characters: adult size medium (SVL 73.4–80.8 mm); enlarged femoral scales on each thigh 5–11; femoral pores 0–2 in males; 6 precloacal pores in males, females with 6 pitted precloacal pores; ventral scale rows 26–38; lamellae under toe IV 17–22; subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. Additionally, we highlight the potential cryptic diversity with the taxon currently regarded as C. pseudoquadrivirgatus and understudied areas in Vietnam where new species will likely be discovered.