21st Century Research Articles

TEACHING ENGLISH IN 21st CENTURY AND THE IMPORTANCE 4 Cs

Second or foreign language learning/teaching has been in the curriculum of schools for centuries. It has gone through various stages up to the 21st century in which both teachers and learners have assumed different roles and responsibilities in various approaches, methods, and techniques of teaching English. For that reason, in this chapter, the roles, responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges of learners and teachers in the 21st century have been described in terms of various contexts by taking into account the learners' level and age in terms of 21st-century skills. This article discusses about the importance of 4 Cs p in educational settings especially in teaching English . It explores the ways of solving them and giving motivation to students and it’s effective sides for teaching. The author presents arguments supporting the process, overview real-world language use in curricula and highlights the impact of it for overall academic success. Additionally, the article acknowledges potential challenges and offers suggestions for overcoming them. Overall, it advocates for the significance of 4 Cs that refers to an approach in language teaching and learning that prioritizes the communication of meaning over that refers to an approach in language teaching and learning that emphasizes the explicit focus on linguistic forms such as communication ,critical thinking , collaboration ,creativity.

The satire of the meritocracy: foreclosed futures in Michael Young, Raymond Williams, and Muriel Spark

ABSTRACT The high summer of the post-war British consensus is often seen as a period of social promise, in which the opportunity for social mobility was made available to all through the technocratic basis of the new welfare state: empirical measurement of work and ability promised a perpetual dynamism of just social organisation. The demand for all relationships to pass through algorithmic validation is by now familiar; but roots of a more recent acceptance of arithmetic belonging date back to this reconstruction. By the late ‘40s the push for a new organicism had been adapted to the new productivity of the welfare state, to be subjected to critique, largely but not solely, by a post-Soviet, post-Suez, ‘New’ left. Here we look at a range of three stories of meritocracy from this critical period: Michael Young’s The Rise of the Meritocracy (1957), Muriel Spark’s The Ballad of Peckham Rye (1960), and Raymond Williams’s Border Country (1960). The evaluative logics picked apart by these fictions, whether comically or more darkly, are powerfully suggestive of ‘post-class’ ideologies familiar from the twenty-first century.

Gender Distribution of Leadership Positions in Global Environmental Politics

Abstract Many institutions have called for increasing the number of women in leadership positions in global environmental politics (GEP). Little information exists, however, regarding gender distributions in such positions. This brief report begins filling in elements of our collective data gap. Men currently lead 80 percent of the fifteen global intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) that are particularly important to GEP and have held 90 percent of these positions in the past. Men currently lead 70 percent of national environmental ministries and have held approximately 78 percent of those positions. Equal numbers of men and women currently lead the twenty most prominent environmental treaty secretariats, although men have held more than 70 percent of these positions in the past. During the twenty-first century, men received 69 percent of the appointments to lead the IGOs and treaty secretariats most important to GEP. These numbers raise a series of research, ethical, and political questions.

DOP011 Colectomy rates of newly diagnosed Finnish Ulcerative Colitis patients are decreasing

Abstract Background The effect of biological medication on colectomies is still unclear. Our aim was to determine colectomy risk in newly diagnosed Finnish ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and compare the risk of prebiological and biological era. Methods We used the registry of Social Insurance Institution of Finland to find newly diagnosed UC patients. Data on colectomies were collected from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Patients were stratified according to the UC diagnosis year and the availability of biological medication in Finland to three groups: 2000-2005 (prebiological), 2006-2012 (only infliximab available) and 2013-2020 (multiple advanced therapies available). We defined the subgroups as paediatric (aged <20), adults (aged 20-59), and the elderly (aged ≥60). Results We identified 32,108 UC patients and 2,195 colectomies performed on them. The 1-, 5- and 10-year cumulative colectomy risks were 1.0%, 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively. Throughout the study period, the risks were declining with the incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.98 (p=0.009) in 1-year, IRR 0.97 (p<0.001) in 5-year and IRR 0.97 (p<0.001) in 10-year colectomy risk. Colectomy rates were lower in advanced therapy era (IRR 0.76 (p = 0.048) in 1-year and IRR 0.70 (p <0.001) in 5-year risk) and the 10-year risk also in infliximab era (IRR 0.87 (p = 0.010)) . The paediatric population had lower risk of surgery in advanced therapy era (IRR 0.33 (p =0.021) in 1 and 0.43 (p <0.001) in 5 years) , whereas the risk of the elderly stayed constant (IRR 1.33 (p =0.400) in 1 and IRR 1.12 (p =0.553) in 5 years postdiagnosis). Conclusion The risk of colectomy among newly diagnosed UC patients has decreased along the 21st century. This could be due to the use of advanced therapy options and more active treatment strategies.

A Cursing Brain? The Histories of Tourette Syndrome, by Howard I. Kushner

SUMMARY Kushner's monograph (published in 2000) explores clinicians’ developing understanding of a syndrome first described 200 years ago. This article highlights changing concepts of the disorder, its aetiology and treatment over its long history, as described by Kushner, and considers the current differential diagnosis of DSM-5 ‘Tourette's disorder’. It points out Kushner's astute observation that the clinical syndrome originally described by Itard and Gilles de la Tourette as ‘maladie des tics’ is not what is defined in the 21st century as Tourette syndrome.

Transforming university through Africanised research: in search of the indigenous

ABSTRACT The 21st century has been an opportune time for building African universities by engendering innovative scholarship, teaching, and research. The complexity found in these universities, though, is reflected in the several ways in which intellectuals are dappling with knowledge production. This article focuses on why universities in Africa should employ what Wa Thiong’o refers to as ‘globalectics’ or interconnectedness as they enhance globally significant research. The interconnectedness of knowledge should help bring Africa’s marginalised knowledges to the centre. Research is generally, dominated by Western philosophies which tend to exclude indigenous and African philosophies. This study focuses on how African researchers can utilise concepts usually captured in the Ubuntu maxim, ‘I am because you are.’ This concept is endemic to all African cultures having been a way of life from precolonial times. Using the theory adaptation research methodology, the discussion examines how Ubuntu philosophy enhances indigenous African knowledges. The findings demonstrate that transformation in research should not be accidental; instead, researchers should use existing theory to envision new approaches. Major conclusions reveal that progressive intellectuals in Africa should use relevant approaches to advance African knowledge production. Ecologies of knowledge would be able to minimise the dominant epistemologies from the Global North.

Going Big in a Small Country: Fifty Years of Motorways in Portugal

Portugal’s motorway network experienced significant transformation in a relatively short period. Until the mid-1980s, the network counted less than 200 kilometers, reaching more than 3 000 kilometers in the end of this decade of the 21st century. As a result of this strong investment, the country now has one of the largest and densest motorway networks in the European Union. This paper describes the methodology developed for the construction of a longitudinal spatial database covering 50 years of road improvements in mainland Portugal using the Geographic Information Systems environment technology. Besides containing information for different road networks, the database also includes administrative, demographic, and socioeconomic information for Portugal’s mainland municipalities. Using the new database developed by the authors, the paper analyzes the evolution of the motorway network and the road-based accessibility to population and jobs over the period from 1971 to 2020. The new database is publicly available to other researchers and will, hopefully, be used in future studies on the socioeconomic impacts of road investments in Portugal, for example, to understand how improved road accessibility contributed to regional economic development or regional cohesion.

Soil Health Under Global Change and Human Impact

ABSTRACTSoil health is pivotal to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and ensure the health of plants, animals, and ultimately humans. Global changes—such as climate warming, elevated CO₂ atmospheric concentration, droughts, and floods—as well as human impacts like land‐use change, chemical contamination, and application of fertilizer and pesticides, threaten soil health. Protecting soil health and raising global awareness on this topic are now critical to ensure sustainable management of natural and agricultural ecosystems under global change. This Special Issue includes 19 studies in three thematic groups. The first group includes methodological advances in the assessment of soil health, exploring new tools, techniques, and approaches for accurate evaluation. The second group encompasses studies examining how soil health responds to land‐use change, agricultural and forestry practices. The third group addresses human‐induced pollution and its effects on soil health. Overall, these studies provide contemporary insight into soil health in managed and natural ecosystems and methods for soil health evaluation. These contributions will shape strategies to sustain soil functions and preserve healthy soils for future generations, including efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st century.

Bibliometrics of the current state of application of teletechnology in the rehabilitation of patients with heart and large blood vessel disease.

The first publication on the use of teletechnology in heart and large blood vessels dates back to 1961. Since then, the study of teletechnology in heart and large blood vessels has become popular, and the number of publications has drastically increased. Hence, it is imperative to establish a comprehensive research framework that enables researchers and other stakeholders to understand the use of remote technologies in heart and large blood vessels. To bridge this gap, bibliometrics was used, a novel approach to determine the most prolific countries, institutions, journals, authors, source topics, funding agencies, and the most popular category of remote technologies and solutions for disease rehabilitation. The corpus was extracted from the WOS core database and analyzed using CiteSpace 6.2R7 and VOS Viewer 1.6.18 versions. The number of publications has grown since the start of the 21st century, with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy being the most productive nations. The most commonly used remote technology was a 24 h dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The most researched objective indicators were heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. The primary research focused on daily life, physical activity, exercise endurance, and quality of life. Moreover, heart failure and coronary artery disease were the most extensively researched diseases.

Diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with ischaemic heart disease and acute coronary syndromes - a review of evidence and recommendations.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major healthcare condition of the 21st century. It is characterised by persistently elevated blood glucose occurring as a result of peripheral insulin resistance and reduced insulin production which may lead to multiple long-term health conditions such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. The estimated number of individuals suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM) is expected to rise to 591 million by the year 2035 with 4.4 million in the United Kingdom (UK) alone, 90% of which is attributed to T2DM. Moreover, a significant proportion of individuals may have undetected diabetes mellitus, especially among those presenting with symptoms of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). This is particularly important in those individuals presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who are at the highest risk of complications and sudden cardiac death. Identifying abnormal levels of common biochemical markers of diabetes, such as capillary blood glucose or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in these patients is important for early diagnosis, which will then allow for timely intervention to improve outcomes. However, a significant proportion of individuals who meet the criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes remain undiagnosed, representing missed opportunities for early intervention. This may result in a prolonged period of untreated hyperglycaemia, which can result resulting in significant further microvascular and macrovascular complications. There is an increased risk of IHD, heart failure, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), and peripheral artery disease (PVD). These account accounting for 50% of deaths in patients with T2DM. Cardiovascular diseases in the context of diabetes particular represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality with a two to three times higher risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with T2DM than in those without the condition normo-glycaemia. In the United Kingdom UK alone, around 120 amputations, 770 CVA, 590 heart attacks, and more than 2300 presentations with heart failure per week are attributed to diabetes DM. with One 1 in six 6 hospital beds and around 10% of the healthcare budget may be being spent on managing diabetes DM or its complications. Therefore, it represents a significant burden on our healthcare system.

The Afterlives of Transitional Justice

ABSTRACT∞ Rising authoritarianism, far-right parties and violent political movements in the 21st century prompt scholars and practitioners to revisit two foundational assumptions in the transitional justice field, which was established in the 20th century amid the third wave of democratization. The first is that transitional justice is a consequence and a cause of democratic transition and consolidation. The second is that transitional justice has been a successful global project. Current political developments challenge us to take stock of the field and consider the implications for current and future scholarship and practice. In this introduction to the ‘Afterlives of Transitional Justice’ special issue of the International Journal of Transitional Justice (IJTJ), we first reflect on the many forms (‘lives’) that transitional justice has taken over the decades. The contributions address transitional justice’s life in three ways: as the transition to democracy, as the tools and processes themselves and as an academic and practice field. We then consider evolution and change in transitional justice (‘afterlives’). In increasingly perilous times for human rights, we hope that the insights gathered in these pages will help affected communities, activists, practitioners, policymakers and scholars look back in order to move forward and uphold the promise ‘Never again!’

Новая интеграция в многополярном мире

Currently, in the context of the UN crisis and significant transformation of bilateral interstate relations, there is a transition from a unipolar to a multipolar structure of the world order. At the same time, international institutions of regional integration are becoming the basic element of building a multipolar world. In the second decade of the 21st century, along with traditional, primarily economic forms of international integration that emerged in the 20th century, new models of integration are also emerging, based on interstate interaction in the areas of coun-teracting global and regional threats. The article examines new integration processes based on civilizational interaction, and considers the goals of new interstate associations of states that are part of the World Majority group. The thesis is substantiated that the paradigmatic basis for studying the new system of international rela-tions in a multipolar world is the concept of political will.

CRCP Performance Patterns Gleaned from Texas Pavement Management Data

Performance management is increasingly emphasized at the state and national levels. This is evident in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and performance targets set by individual state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). This management approach requires the establishment of performance goals, measures, and metrics for pavement networks, and systematic measurement of progress towards achieving the goals. This paper evaluates the performance of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) in the Houston, Texas area based on the performance management criteria outlined in MAP-21 and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) statewide pavement performance goal. The performance metrics used in this analysis are the International Roughness Index (IRI), punchouts per mile, and TxDOT’s Condition Score (CS). The data for conducting this analysis was obtained from TxDOT’s Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) database. Despite approaching or exceeding the end of its design life, the performance of CRCP in the Houston District has been consistently successful over the past nine years based on the performance management criteria outlined in MAP-21 and TxDOT’s statewide pavement performance target.

Development of per Capita GDP Forecasting Model Using Deep Learning: Including Consumer Goods Index and Unemployment Rate

In the 21st century, the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the global economy have heightened the need for accurate economic forecasting. Per capita GDP, a critical indicator of living standards, economic growth, and productivity, plays a key role in government policy-making, corporate strategy, and investor decisions. However, predicting per capita GDP poses significant challenges due to its sensitivity to various economic and social factors. Traditional methods such as statistical analysis, regression, and time-series models have shown limitations in capturing nonlinear interactions and volatility of economic data. To address these limitations, this study develops a per capita GDP forecasting model based on deep learning, incorporating key macroeconomic variables—the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and unemployment rate (UR)—to enhance predictive accuracy. This study employs five deep-learning regression models (RNN, LSTM, GRU, TCN, and Transformer) applied to real and placebo datasets, each incorporating combinations of CPI and UR. The results demonstrate that deep learning models can effectively capture complex, nonlinear relationships in economic data, significantly improving predictive accuracy compared to traditional models. Among the models, the Transformer consistently achieves the highest R-squared and lowest error values across various metrics (MSE, RMSE, and MSLE), indicating its superior ability to model intricate economic patterns. In addition, including CPI and UR as additional predictors enhances model robustness, with the TCN and Transformer models showing particularly strong performance in capturing short-term economic fluctuations. The findings suggest that the deep learning models, especially the Transformer, offer valuable tools for policymakers and business leaders, providing reliable GDP forecasts that support economic decision-making, resource allocation, and strategic planning. Academically, this study advances the understanding of deep learning applications in economic forecasting, particularly in integrating significant macroeconomic variables for enhanced predictive performance. The developed model is a foundation for informed economic policy and strategic decisions, offering a robust and actionable framework for managing economic uncertainties. This research contributes to theoretical and applied economics, providing insights that bridge academic innovation with practical utility in economic forecasting.

CSSCI literature Research on Cultural Heritage Related Topics Based on Knowledge Graph

Cultural heritage is the wealth left by history to mankind, and the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage is the necessary meaning for a country to retain its cultural roots and keep the soul of the nation. By using the bibliometric software CiteSpace, this paper makes a visual analysis of the knowledge map of CSSCI research literature generation on Chinese cultural heritage-related topics since the 21st century, and sorts out and studies its research status and evolution context. Through the analysis of keyword clustering, Timeline chart and emergence chart, this paper believes that the current research in the field of Chinese cultural heritage is biased towards cultural and tourism integration, rural revitalization, cultural self-confidence and digital humanities, and predicts that the development of digital cultural heritage and the related topics of rural revitalization enabled by cultural heritage will become the key frontier of future research.

Performance Measurement of Digitalisation Strategies by 21st Century Businesses: An Empirical Study

The current business scenario is a buzz with the concept of digitalization, influence companies to undergo quick transformations. However, it is essential to understand that every business progresses at its own pace and yield varied outcomes. The focus of technological transformation must revolve around optimization of operational processes, enrichment of customer experiences, and reshaping business models. Effective business transformation requires strong leadership from management. Digitalization plays an essential role in enhancement of performance of Indian businesses and overcoming financial difficulties as it offers alternate options of financing. The increased convenience to alternate finance has significantly elevated the operational performance, profitability, and productivity of SMEs in India. It's vital to note that digitalizing a business doesn't mean creating an entirely new entity. Rather, it involves remodelling present business to leverage present assets in novel ways. Companies worldwide aspire to invest in Digital India, recognizing it as a growth opportunity in the 21st century. A sample of 219 respondents was collected from different business sectors.

Millennial managers and determinants of management practices in organizations: Insights from Nigeria

Transitioning from one generation of leaders to another for organizational effectiveness has been discussed among academics and professionals. Obtaining empirical evidence on managerial and leadership approaches of managers in the 21st century has been considered necessary, especially in the digital era. This paper investigates the managerial approaches and establishes factors that enhance the performance of millennial managers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed, leveraging primary data from a survey questionnaire designed to elicit information from a cross-section of 235 millennial managers across different sectors in Nigeria. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to measure the constructs around the subject matter using Smart PLS. Findings revealed that technological advancement and cooperation from organizational members are essential factors supporting the productive performance of millennial managers. Results further showed that millennial management is a transformational leadership style. There is a need to design a blueprint at the organizational level to motivate and develop the appropriate leadership culture among millennial managers to drive the 21st-century organization for better performance.

Donat Semenovich Sarkisov: on Pathological Anatomy, Experimental Medicine and Philosophy

D.S. Sarkisov is an outstanding pathologist, scientist, researcher and philosopher. The works of D.S. Sarkisov do not lose their relevance in the 21st century, when medicine is moving far forward thanks to modern high-tech techniques. However, turning to the yellowed pages of D.S. Sarkisov’s works, one can find discussions on topical topics in medicine, such as the formulation of a diagnosis, which is impossible not to argue about today. Thanks to his philosophical approach to the organization of work, D.S. Sarkisov was able to create generalizing works, for example, in the field of experimental medicine, as a result of which we can, after reading one of his books, get a general idea of the current state of the issue. This rare ability to rise above all pressingmedical issues and the scientific data accumulated on them allowed Donat Semenovich to win the true respect and love of fellow clinicians and pathologists. I.V. Davydovsky had another equally extraordinary approach to work, the similarity of opinions with whom the authors discuss within the article. The desire for a comprehensive discussion of medical and scientific problems brought D.S. Sarkisov not only to face-to-face conferences, but also to the pages of well-deserved scientific publications. The discussions of D.S. Sarkisov and colleagues serve as a brilliant example of scientific dialogue. In personal and work relationships, D.S. Sarkisov also left an indelible impression on people who were lucky enough to communicate with him in person, as evidenced by touching articles dedicated to his memory.

Insights from a century of data reveal global trends in ex situ living plant collections.

Ex situ living plant collections play a crucial role in providing nature-based solutions to twenty-first century global challenges. However, the complex dynamics of these artificial ecosystems are poorly quantified and understood, affecting biodiversity storage, conservation and utilization. To evaluate the management of ex situ plant diversity, we analysed a century of data comprising 2.2 million records, from a meta-collection currently holding ~500,000 accessions and 41% of global ex situ species diversity. Our study provides critical insights into the historical evolution, current state and future trajectory of global living collections. We reveal sigmoidal growth of a meta-collection that has reached capacity in both total accessions and total diversity, and identify intrinsic constraints on biodiversity management, including a median survival probability of 15 years. We explore the impact of external constraints and quantify the influence of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which we link to reduced acquisition of wild-origin and internationally sourced material by 44% and 38%, respectively. We further define the impact of these constraints on ex situ conservation but highlight targeted initiatives that successfully mitigate these challenges. Ultimately, our study underscores the urgent need for strategic prioritization and the re-evaluation of ex situ biodiversity management to achieve both scientific and conservation goals.

Analysis Of Biology Problems In Grade X Science Textbooks Based On Bloom's Taxonomy On Anderson's Revision And Communication Skills

Study This analyze problem biology in class X science book based on Anderson's revised Bloom's Taxonomy and skills communication students. Challenges learning the 21st century demands development think critical and communication, but majority question in book text Still focuses on Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS). Research aiming evaluate conformity question with dimensions cognitive Bloom's Taxonomy and identifying support to skills communication. Research This use approach quantitative descriptive with analyze question in book text based on LOTS and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) categories, as well as supporting elements? communication scientific. Research result show that 66.32% of the questions in virus chapter and 72.29% of questions in chapter diversity creature life is at in LOTS category, with domination level cognitive remembering (C1) and understanding (C2). The proportion of HOTS, such as analysis (C4) and creation (C6), very low, indicating limitations in facilitate think critical. Support to skills communication is also minimal, limited to discussion simple without strengthening presentation or debate. Study This highlight the need improvement amount question HOTS based and enrichment element communication in book text For support learning holistic. Findings This give implications important for development more teaching materials balanced and relevant with demands Independent Curriculum. Books text expected can push student For think critical, creative, and communicative, supporting scientific literacy in the era of modern learning.