Comparative Approach Research Articles

The Relationship Between Government Welfare Policies and Employment Rates: An In-Depth Analysis

This study examined the effects of social programs implemented by governments in China, the US, and Norway on employment rates. Welfare policies are essential for mitigating the problems of unemployment, poverty, and social inequality that the government faces and for fostering social stability. Using case studies and empirical data, this study uses a comparative analytical approach to investigate how various welfare regimes impact job results. According to the study’s findings, employment has decreased in China even while social spending has increased steadily. This might be because of a lag between the country’s economic transformation and the execution of its policies. Although welfare spending has expanded dramatically in the United States, employment growth has been modest, implying that welfare dependency may worsen rather than provide work prospects. Conversely, Norway’s welfare system is distinguished by substantial worker support and high social spending, both of which are positively connected with growth and stability in employment. The study concludes that, although welfare policies are essential to social security, their formulation and execution need to be carefully considered in order to encourage employment and prevent unforeseen outcomes like dependency or decreased labor force participation. The significance of welfare system optimization in promoting social justice and economic stability while attending to the needs of disadvantaged populations is emphasized by this study

Ecological Turn of Humanities, Science, and Technology with examples from Mexico's Conahcyt and China's Global Influence

This article emphasizes the importance of integrating humanistic knowledge into the ecological transformation within the fields of humanities, science, and technology, with a particular focus on how these ideas align with China's green development initiatives. The article critically explores the role of humanistic knowledge in fostering a sustainable relationship between humanity and nature, challenging the capitalist economic model that has historically alienated nature through the relentless exploitation of natural resources. This exploitation has prompted the development of new paradigms centered on sustainable growth, which prioritize environmental protection, the development of ecological industries, and the preservation of biodiversity. By using a comparative case study approach, the article analyzes the practices of Mexico's Conahcyt and China in global ecological governance, demonstrating how the adoption of these sustainable paradigms promotes a more inclusive approach to development. The ecological Marxism movement finds particular resonance in China's concept of Ecological Civilization, i.e., Eco-Marxism being Chinese in orientation. Additionally, the article examines how Mexico has integrated the humanities with science and technology through its Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, led by Conahcyt, to restore the balance between nature and society. The article further reviews the implications of these paradigms for global cooperation, highlighting China's Ecological Civilization Thinking as a guiding framework for global environmental governance, particularly during the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). This work underscores the need for innovative strategies that combine human knowledge with scientific and technological advancements to achieve sustainable development goals.

Germany’s approach to the functioning of NATO standing force groups in the mid-2010s and early 2020s

Western democracies have endowed NATO with the functions of “containment” of Russia and influential non-Western powers in general. This process is accompanied by a spasmodic growth of the Alliance’s military capabilities and changes in its internal structure. The principal responsibility for the implementation of the aforementioned measures falls upon the European member states, particularly those which have been members of the Alliance for a considerable length of time. Of these, Germany has demonstrated the most considerable commitment. Although some studies have examined the evolution of the Alliance’s military structures, there is a dearth of literature on Germany’s role in the Alliance within the field of Russian historiography. Nevertheless, an analysis of this topic is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Berlin’s strategic intentions. The objective of this article is to examine the role of the FRG in relation to the functioning of permanent NATO troops. In order to achieve this, the author employs two distinct theoretical frameworks, namely those of alliance theory and military capability building, in combination with a comparative analysis approach. The author illustrates the distinctive features of the evolution of permanent NATO force groups and elucidates the challenges, including a shortage of military personnel, and opportunities, including limited activity by other NATO member states, that have influenced the utilisation of the Bundeswehr in the functioning of the groups. In light of the aforementioned conceptual and operational documents, which serve as the foundation for Germany’s foreign policy, the article posits that the Federal Republic of Germany is prepared to assume a leading role within the European NATO member state contingent with regard to the operationalisation of multilateral troop groupings.

A comparative ensemble approach to bedload prediction using metaheuristic machine learning

An adequate bedload prediction is a challenging task in hydraulic engineering because of the complex sediment transport processes and corresponding environmental factors. The current study introduces a novel comparative ensemble approach using metaheuristic machine learning (ML) models to enhance the accuracy of bedload prediction using data from laboratory flume experiments. To uncover key insights in bedload transport prediction, several models are employed, such as K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Extra Trees Regressor (ETR), Linear Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Bagging Regressor (BR), and XGBoost (XGB). The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) values vary between various models; however, XGB showed R2 = 0.99 and RMSE = 0.11. The sensitivity analysis emphasizes the crucial role of the Shields parameter in bedload prediction, while the SHAP analysis highlights the substantial influence of the XGB model in enhancing predictive accuracy. The REC curves show that BR, XGB, and RF, outperformed KNN and LR models. Furthermore, a graphical user interface has also been developed to facilitate user interaction with the predictive models, allowing for easier visualization, analysis, and interpretation of bedload transport predictions. Additionally, k-fold cross-validation was performed to assess the performance, consistency and robustness of the ML models. Thus, it can be concluded from the current study that the utilization of ML algorithms can improve accuracy, providing valuable insights for hydraulic engineers and highlighting the importance of ML models in civil engineering practices, particularly in bedload transport prediction.

A perspective on restoration with foundation plants across anthropogenic dry forests of the Southern Cone and the Sahel

Rewilding is a flexible conservation approach that may be applicable to a wide variety of ecological, historical and socio-cultural contexts. We believe that comparative socio-ecological research on woodland habitat trajectories among contexts is an excellent opportunity to consider possible rewilding approaches. Here, we draw on a comparison between arid and seasonally dry woodlands of the Sahel region of Africa and the Southern Cone of South America. The two regions, while sharing a common Gondwanan floral origin, differ in terms of subsequent biogeographical processes and have different climatic gradients. Historically, both regions were colonised, although along different models, and the Southern Cone has experienced greater land-use change and agricultural modernisation. Culturally, both regions have indigenous populations with traditional management techniques and local ecological knowledge, although attention to these topics in research and conservation has had different emphases in each region. Rewilding, focusing on charismatic animals, has been proposed and implemented in some parts of the Southern Cone, but has hardly been mentioned for the Sahel. We discuss the applicability of potential rewilding models involving key plants for each region, and what a plant-focused rewilding practice could gain from a comparative approach in the two regions.

Penanganan Sengketa Pertanahan dalam Perspektif Agraria

Dispute is an inseparable part of conflict, which can occur in various aspects of daily life. Studying disputes is crucial to understand their nature and resolution methods. This research uses a normative research method with prescriptive research specifications and a comparative, conceptual, and historical approach. Data is collected through a bibliographic study from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources. Land conflicts are often caused by issues such as boundary disputes, inheritance, state land control, and legal uncertainty in land tenure, which fundamentally stem from the imbalance of land rights ownership and uncontrolled land conversion. Land dispute resolution can be carried out through litigation and non-litigation pathways. The litigation pathway offers legal certainty, execution power, and transparency but has weaknesses in terms of cost, time, and its confrontational nature. Conversely, the non-litigation pathway is more efficient in terms of cost, time, and its collaborative nature, but is limited in terms of execution and legal certainty. Therefore, the choice of dispute resolution method must consider the characteristics of the dispute and the needs of the parties involved.

The Analysis of Financial Rewards on Employee Engagement in the Public Sector: Cross-Cultural as a Moderating Variables

Cross-cultural research on the influence of individuality and collectivism on employee engagement is lacking. This study aims to analyse the impact of employee financial rewards on employee engagement with a focus on individualistic and collectivistic cultures as moderating variables in a public sector organisation. This research employed standardised face-to-face open-ended interviews. The research instrument is made from one theme and five open-ended questions to address the objectives of this study. The constant comparative data analysis approach was employed in conjunction with content analysis. The researcher categorized the data based on their disparities as well as their similarities. This study found that the municipality offers its employees financial rewards; however, due to inequality, unfairness, favouritism, and political influence, employees are not rewarded fairly, leading to employees being unhappy and disengaged from their work and the organisation. The municipality does not practice either a collectivistic or individualistic culture. A poor imbalance between individualistic and collectivistic cultures reduces the impact of financial rewards on employee engagement. This study's findings emphasise that the effectiveness of financial rewards on employee engagement depends on the organisation's practices and the equilibrium of individualistic and collectivistic cultures.

The Study Peculiarities of Market Valuation of Wheeled Vehicles in Operation

The article critically examines the common practice of wheeled vehicles valuation and substantiates complex forensic approaches and methods for determining their market value. Specific aspects of using a comparative approach to the valuation of wheeled vehicles are discussed, and the procedure for the calculation is substantiated.Basic framework of vehicles average price calculation reviewed in the article can be used in the set of forensic vehicle commodity examination methods, which are now under development.

Implementation of Independent Curriculum for Elementary Schools in Indonesian Schools Abroad

The curriculum is an important guideline in the learning process, especially the Independent Curriculum is a curriculum designed to recover post-pandemic learning. This study aims to determine the implementation of the independent curriculum in elementary schools in Indonesia and Indonesian schools abroad which includes planning, implementation, and constraints and strategies. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with a comparative approach. Data were collected using interviews, observations, document analysis, and literature studies. The data were analyzed using an interactive model of Miles & Huberman. The results of the study show that planning the implementation of the independent curriculum involves the preparation of learning tools such as learning outcomes (CP), learning objectives (TP), learning objectives (ATP), and teaching modules, as well as holding training, workshops, and In House Training (IHT) to improve teacher competence. The implementation of the curriculum in Indonesia has been running comprehensively since the 2023/2024 school year, while abroad it will start in 2022. The main obstacles include lack of teacher knowledge and training, teacher readiness, school support, and student diversity, as well as the lack of human resources and access to information abroad. To overcome these obstacles, ongoing training for teachers and adequate facilities and infrastructure are needed, along with innovative strategies such as the use of technology in learning.

Plasma Fibrinogen Level’s: A Comparative Study Between Newly Diagnosed Diabetics and Healthy Individuals

The study examines the plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) compared to healthy individuals at Aarupadai Veedu Medical College in Puducherry. Plasma fibrinogen, an essential protein involved in the process of blood clotting, also functions as a biomarker for cardiovascular and inflammatory illnesses. Employing a comparative cross-sectional approach, we assessed the levels of fibrinogen in a group of 57 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and a group of 57 healthy individuals who were in non-diabetic. The findings indicate a substantial increase in fibrinogen levels among individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at 384.66 mg/dL, in contrast to the control group at 287.24 mg/dL, with a p-value of less than 0.0001. The age distribution discrepancies were found to be statistically significant (p=0.007), indicating that age may be a confounding factor. The gender distribution was balanced, suggesting the absence of any gender-related prejudice. The results of our study emphasise the increased levels of fibrinogen in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and emphasise the necessity for additional investigation into its clinical significance and potential as a target for therapy.

Electricity Price Bubbles and Global Crisis: Does Financial Development Make a Difference?

The aim of this study is to investigate the existence of electricity price bubbles and identify the factors that contribute to their formation by conducting a comparative analysis between a developed country, Germany, and an emerging country, Romania. We employ the generalized sup ADF test, utilizing bi-annual data spanning from 2007 to 2022. Our findings reveal the presence of 2 distinct electricity price bubbles in both Germany and Romania. In Germany, the first bubble emerged in the second half of 2008, coinciding with the onset of the global economic crisis. Conversely, Romania did not experience a bubble as a result of the economic crisis during this period. The second electricity price bubble in both countries was primarily driven by Russia’s decision to halt gas supplies to Europe. Additionally, the surge in energy consumption following the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role. This research contributes to the broader discourse on energy economics by elucidating the mechanisms behind electricity price fluctuations in different economic contexts. The comparative approach underscores the importance of tailored policy responses that consider country-specific factors while addressing global challenges. As energy markets continue to evolve, such studies will be instrumental in guiding strategic decisions and fostering sustainable economic growth. JEL Classification: Q41, E31

التعريف بجريمة الدخول غير المشروع إلى النظام المعلوماتي وجهود المملكة في مكافحتها

This research aims to study the definition of the crime of unauthorized access to information systems and to highlight the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in combating it. Since this crime is closely related to cybercrimes, and given the novelty and significant evolution of cybercrimes in the modern era with the development and spread of the Internet, the threat of cybercrimes in various forms and types has increased. This has led to a concerted international effort to combat these crimes and address their infiltration and spread in all countries of the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made intensive efforts to combat cybercrimes and has worked on developing legislative systems to keep pace with methods of combating all cybercrimes. The study adopted an analytical approach to the texts of the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law, as well as a comparative approach to similar laws and legislative systems, aiming to reach conclusions and recommendations related to the study. The research addressed the extent of the development of legislative systems and the efforts made to combat cybercrimes at the international level in general and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular. The research then discussed the definition of the crime of unauthorized access to information systems by dividing the study into two main sections. The first section focused on the development of legislative systems in combating cybercrimes, which the study addressed through two subsections: the first subsection provided an overview of international efforts to combat cybercrimes, and the second subsection discussed the development of the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in combating cybercrimes. The second section dealt with the definition of the crime of unauthorized access to information systems, divided into two subsections: the first subsection covered the concept and philosophy of the crime of unauthorized access to information systems, and the second subsection distinguished between the crime of unauthorized access and related offenses.

MSME Lending And Bank Efficiency: Comparison Between Indonesia And Malaysia

MSMEs are one of the pillars of the country's economy; banking has a role in facilitating financing for MSMEs so that they can proliferate. On the other hand, banks must consider the cost efficiency they produce, considering that MSMEs are one of the sectors with high credit risk. This study aims to prove that financing for MSMEs can increase bank efficiency and that there are differences between banking in Indonesia and Malaysia. This study uses quantitative with an associative and comparative approach. The population of this study is banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and Bursa Malaysia in the 2020-2023 period. The Indonesian sample technique uses the purposive sampling method, and Malaysia uses the saturated sample method. The analysis technique uses stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), multiple linear regression, and difference tests with the help of statistical tools like Stata 17. The findings of the study show that financing for MSMEs affects bank efficiency. There is no difference between bank efficiency in Malaysia and Indonesia, but there is a significant difference between MSME financing in Malaysia and Indonesia. The theoretical implications of this study complement the theory regarding the relationship between MSME financing and bank efficiency. The practical implications of this research can provide recommendations to regulators in Indonesia to boost banking by increasing the financing ratio to MSMEs.

Response assessment in pediatric neurooncology (RAPNO) criteria revisited: a practical navigation guide for neuroradiologists.

The Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) Working Group is an international, collaborative network of experts dedicated to pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors that was created in 2011. Since then, six RAPNO articles with imaging guidelines for response assessment in diverse pediatric tumor subgroups have been published, namely: 1) medulloblastomas and leptomeningeal seeding tumors (2018), 2) pediatric high-grade gliomas (2020), 3) pediatric low-grade gliomas (2020), 4) diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (2020), 5) pediatric intracranial ependymomas (2022) and 6) pediatric craniopharyngiomas (2023). The purpose of this article is to review all current available RAPNO criteria using a systematized and comparative approach centered on the role of neuroradiologists and supported by neuroimaging examples. Special emphasis will be placed on clarification of core concepts as well as practical adoption aspects of the RAPNO guidelines, namely how and when to image the brain and/or the spine; how to interpret the imaging findings; which other clinical, therapeutic and laboratory variables to consider; and finally how to apply the information to attribute the final appropriate response assessment classification.

FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN TOURISM IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

Purpose: To create a scientific and practical proposal based on the identification of promising areas of development taking into account today's rapid changes in world tourism and the impact of key tourist regions on the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Theoretical reference: Scientific and theoretical materials related to the development of mountain tourism were thoroughly studied and applied while writing the article. Method: Economic and statistical, monographic and comparative approaches were used for the research. Results and Conclusion: Although the mountainous region of the republic has a wide range of natural and recreational resources, tourism revenues have been low. To improve the situation, recommendations based on international experience and scientific research are proposed to improve the situation, which will help in the development of key areas of tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Implications of research: The results of this study can be used by government agencies to formulate policies for the development of mountain tourism, in particular to identify strategic directions and attract foreign investment in promising regional projects. Originality and value: The originality and value of the study is that the findings can be applied to the development of mountain tourism and in other mountain countries in the development of the main directions of this sphere.

Genesis of Polish Populism (1945–2023) and its Impact on the Transformation and Support of “Law and Justice”

The article analyzes the formation of Polish populism at the present stage represented by the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS, Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc) using the theoretical apparatus of neoinstitutionalism, as well as historical and comparative approaches. Both general features of populism and those specific to Eastern Europe are considered. The process of development of ideas, practices and results contributing to the rooting of populist values and a picture of the world in the Polish public consciousness is also studied within the framework of the path dependence concept. The final part describes the essential guidelines, ideology, program and electorate of PiS. The party is compared with its main competitor Civic Platform (PO, Platforma Obywatelska) in terms of its strategy, and specific results of PiS rule are also mentioned. Poland is characterized by weak and unstable connections between voters and parties, which leads to the absence of a stable social base and support for parties and, in turn, leads to their constant fragmentation and high party volatility. Parties in Poland have historically been organizations with the lowest level of public trust. In such a context, parties that can truly attract voters will immediately find themselves in a more advantageous position. One of the most suitable methods is therefore simple, often primitive slogans, intransigence of discourse, aggressive rhetoric, unrealistic promises of universal abundance, sharp opposition to everyone else and the rejection of democratic norms of representation in favor of strong leadership, that is, classic populism.

Toronto Heritage Italian (r): Maintaining homeland patterns

Contrary to experimental research, comparative variationist approaches find for heritage speakers many cases of maintenance of the homeland grammar. We analyze patterns of rhotic production in spontaneous speech of the heritage Calabrese Italian community of Toronto, Canada, and its homeland counterpart in Calabria, Italy. 1,555 tokens of word-internal, singleton /r/ were collected from the HLVC corpus and analyzed using mixed-effects models. Results show an ongoing pattern of lenition for both homeland and heritage speakers. Heritage speakers further develop this language internal trend, indicating grammar boosting. Homeland social constraints are maintained by heritage speakers. We find no evidence of transfer from English or simplification in the heritage language. Similar patterns of rhotic lenition are found in heritage Tagalog (Umbal & Nagy 2021) and Russian (Nagy 2024), though with different social constraints. Cross-linguistic comparison proves that variation in heritage languages is not necessarily caused by contact, and that change needn’t be related to indexicality.

The Solutions for The Conflict of Laws Relating to Copyright and Its Exploitation" A Comparative Study"

Determining the applicable law for copyright is a complex issue in the jurisprudence of private international law. This is because it is an intangible moral property, meaning that the nature of the subject to which the right is attributed differs from other material rights. In addition, most legislations have not established specific attribution rules for moral rights, making it difficult to determine the applicable law for copyright. Hence, the research problem is embodied in the absence of explicit and clear texts that address the issue of conflict of laws if it relates to the author’s topics moving between the scope of more than one law, which leads to an overlap in the scope of the applications of the law that related to those rights, raising the issue of which law should apply and which one is more accurate in achieving justice. The importance of this research is evident in raising the awareness among rights holders of the existence of a legal organization that protects the copyright, which may ease their minds due to their prior knowledge of the existence of a law that protects the product of their mind on the one hand and deters the aggressor on the other hand. Moreover, this study aimed to demonstrate the validity of the laws referred to by the traditional attribution rules to resolve conflicts of laws in matters related to copyright. It must be noted that the study adopted the analytical and descriptive comparative approach between Jordanian law and Iraqi law and the role of each in resolving problems arising from conflicts of laws.The study found that the Jordanian legislator specifically addressed unpublished works in Article 57 of the Copyright Protection Law, clarifying whether they fall under the law's provisions. However, we did not find an explicit provision in the Iraqi Copyright Protection Law regulating the issue of unpublished works. However, the researcher recommended that the Jordanian legislator conclude new bilateral or regional agreements in addition to joining international agreements due to the inadequacy or inappropriateness of traditional agreements related to judicial cooperation to rule on what arises from a conflict of legislative jurisdiction regarding copyright.

Assessing the achievement of sustainable development in the Maghreb countries

Aim. Comparative analysis of the progress of achieving sustainable development by Maghreb countries (among them Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania) according to the indices developed by international organizations and scientific institutions, as well as ranking the countries according to the level of sustainable development in the region.Objectives. To analyze the regulatory framework governing sustainable development in the Maghreb countries; to assess the level of sustainable development of the countries under consideration according to international environmental, social and economic indices in 2018–2023; to apply a universal methodology for assessing sustainable development based on basic statistical data of each country; to identify common achievements and unique challenges faced by countries in the process of implementing sustainable development programs.Methods. The analysis is based on the comparison of statistical data, publications and reports of international organizations on the success of the implementation of sustainable development programs in the Maghreb countries. Comparative and analytical approaches to assessing the level of sustainable development were applied, and attention was paid to factors affecting successes and obstacles to achieving sustainable development.Results. Maghreb countries are at different levels of sustainable development. The article traces the differences in the countries’ strategies for implementing national sustainable development programs. The analysis of the level of sustainable development in Maghreb countries showed that Morocco has the highest position. Libya has the lowest level of sustainable development. The poverty rate in the region is decreasing, although in Libya, it remains high. Countries are showing progress in renewable energy development, with Morocco in particular implementing solar energy programs. Despite the successes, the countries face significant challenges. Inequality in access to resources and income, along with high unemployment, especially among youth, remains a pressing problem in the region. Political instability in Libya, non-cooperation between Morocco and Algeria hinder economic development and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.Conclusions. Regular monitoring of the level of sustainable development in the Maghreb countries, as well as timely adjustment of actions, serves as a necessary step to achieve prosperity and well-being in the region. Despite many challenges, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania have great potential for sustainable development. However, realizing the Aim. requires considerable effort, political will and effective cooperation, both within the region and internationally. It is necessary to continue to invest in development, strengthen regional cooperation and utilize innovative technologies to achieve a sustainable future.

ILMCNet: A Deep Neural Network Model That Uses PLM to Process Features and Employs CRF to Predict Protein Secondary Structure.

Protein secondary structure prediction (PSSP) is a critical task in computational biology, pivotal for understanding protein function and advancing medical diagnostics. Recently, approaches that integrate multiple amino acid sequence features have gained significant attention in PSSP research. We aim to automatically extract additional features represented by evolutionary information from a large number of sequences while simultaneously incorporating positional information for more comprehensive sequence features. Additionally, we consider the interdependence between secondary structures during the prediction stage. To this end, we propose a deep neural network model, ILMCNet, which utilizes a language model and Conditional Random Field (CRF). Protein language models (PLMs) pre-trained on sequences from multiple large databases can provide sequence features that incorporate evolutionary information. ILMCNet uses positional encoding to ensure that the input features include positional information. To better utilize these features, we propose a hybrid network architecture that employs a Transformer Encoder to enhance features and integrates a feature extraction module combining a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (BiLSTM). This design enables deep extraction of localized features while capturing global bidirectional information. In the prediction stage, ILMCNet employs CRF to capture the interdependencies between secondary structures. Experimental results on benchmark datasets such as CB513, TS115, NEW364, CASP11, and CASP12 demonstrate that the prediction performance of our method surpasses that of comparable approaches. This study proposes a new approach to PSSP research and is expected to play an important role in other protein-related research fields, such as protein tertiary structure prediction.