Conflicts Worldwide Research Articles

Assessment of risks of post-traumatic stress disorder among Ukrainian military personnel as a component of public health preservation

The paper is focused on exploring the potential impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among combatants on the national public health system. It utilizes scientific statistical data on the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among military personnel who have participated in armed conflicts worldwide over the past 50 years. For a deeper analysis of PTSD's potential influence on Ukraine's public health system, the research examines scientific data on major somatic and mental health disorders triggered by PTSD among military personnel. The study highlights the association between PTSD in combatants and the development of comorbid conditions such as depression, substance dependency, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. PTSD is identified as a key risk factor that should be accounted for when planning medical and preventive measures for Ukraine's Defense Forces. The article also analyzes global trends in the declining quality of life among military personnel due to reduced material and functional capabilities. It provides data on the direct and indirect costs of treatment and rehabilitation for PTSD and its associated comorbidities. Furthermore, the article discusses PTSD's impact on self-actualization abilities, such as education, employment, job retention, and interpersonal communication. These effects, resulting from PTSD's disruption of various aspects of life, inevitably lead to negative consequences and a sharp decline in the quality of life for affected individuals.

Current Status of Man and Animal Conflict and e-Parihara in Different Forest Ranges of Karnataka

The increasing demand for forest land, habitat disturbance, and fodder shortages have intensified Man-Animal Conflicts (MAC) worldwide. This study analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the status of MAC in Karnataka, leveraging 2,03,297 geo-tagged conflict cases are reported by the Karnataka Forest Department's (KFD) since 2014 to 2024. Earlier all the MAC records were manually generated and stored as hardcopies, a traditional method of documentation. To implement advance technologies, which makes data tracking easier, KFD decided to design a digital platform, under e-Governance for timely response on conflict issue and its validation. As a result in 2019, a online database was generated, tested its functioning, and launched as e-Parihara website, and a mobile app for the management of MAC, helps to provide ex-gratia relief for various types of damages caused by wildlife. This paper comprehend the real-time data available since 2019, also digitised data from 2014. The e-Parihara mobile app allows forest officials to document geo-tagged conflict cases with photos and geo-stamped damage details. The limitation of this web portal is access restricted to forest officials for proper documentation. The platform ensures transparency and efficiency by integrating real-time SMS notification alerts for both Forest officials and the applicants about claim progress. The study employs a flowchart on automated workflows to process the ex-gratia compensation claims, based on government directives, and generate the official memorandums (OMs). Data analysis includes percentage calculations of compensation claims across species, litmaps supports the constant rise of MAC since 1928–2024. Majority of conflicts caused, involved in various damage types’ viz. crops, properties, livestock and human related issues are elephants. Elephants are responsible for 74.82% of claims and 68.18% of reported incidents, followed by wild boars (11.61% of claims, 10.86% of incidents) and leopards (10.30% of claims, 8.09% of incidents). Gaur (3.69% of claims, 3.27% of incidents), Tigers (3.41% of claims, 1.34% of incidents), and sloth bears (2.5% of claims, 1.18% of incidents), contributed less. This type of information on MAC indicates a pioneering approach to state-wide MAC management, facilitating targeted resource allocation and actionable strategies. It underscores the need for collaboration between local communities, wildlife experts, and policymakers to ensure sustainable wildlife conservation.

Characteristics of Wild Boar-Damaged Farmland and Assessment of Effectiveness of Prevention Measures in Northeast China.

Although wild boar invasion is a common human-wildlife conflict worldwide, it is difficult to solve. Understanding the characteristics of wild boar invasion into farmland, accurately predicting the areas where wild boar invasions will occur, and implementing effective prevention and control measures are key to effectively alleviating conflicts between humans and wild boars. From 2021 to 2023, we conducted field surveys and experimentally determined the effectiveness of prevention and control measures in the Huanan and Tonghe Counties in order to explore the landscape and farmland factors affecting wild boar invasion, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of prevention and control measures. The results indicate that the mean patch area, patch area coefficient of variation, and forest type edge density show positive linear correlations with the invaded area, which is positively associated with the presence of ditches and negatively correlated with the existence of electronic fences. Meanwhile, there are non-linear relationships between invasion and the edge density of farmland type, the proportion of forests, the Shannon uniformity index, the proportion of residential areas, the distance from the village, the distance from the forest, and the population density. In particular, the risk of wild boar invasion is higher in the border area between forest and farmland. The loss rate of farmland under the different control measures (compound) was significantly lower than that in the electronic fence group (single) (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we put forward the following suggestions for the prevention and control of wild boar: (1) widen and deepen the narrow landscape elements around farmland; (2) focus on the border area between forest and farmland; and (3) use compound prevention and control measures. This study provides a comprehensive foundation for future wild boar prevention and control research, and it contributes to the formulation of effective wild boar prevention and control policies worldwide.

The Image of the US Army in American movies: The Soft Power of American Cinema

The formation of the army's image has acquired newfound significance in our time. Paradoxically, alongside the spread of humanist ideology, the number of violent conflicts worldwide is increasing. These stimulates the need for propaganda aimed at shaping the image of the army and enhancing the attractiveness of service. As one of the world's largest military forces, the US army has engaged in a diverse array of conflicts with over 750 military bases in approximately 80 countries (Kohli 2020). A diverse range of tools is employed to shape the image of the US army, including media, recruitment campaigns, social media, public events, etc. Among these tools, movies have their specific role. While traditionally intended for entertainment, movies have been used for over a century as a means to shape public opinion. This article delves into the main attributes of the US Army as a social institution, analyzing its four fundamental characteristics: the Militia Tradition, Mobilization Miracles, Man-Mindedness, Maritime Influence, the weapon and the enemy as distinctive attributes. Additionally, it features the seven core values of the US Army: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. The article provides a detailed analysis of how various components of movie production tools communicate the attributes and core values of the US Army and contribute to shaping its image, examining a high-viewership movie “Interceptor” (2022). The goal of the study was to find out the image of the US Army that “Interceptor” projects and to identify the verbal and visual communicative means it uses for this purpose. The content analysis made it possible to distinguish verbal and visual elements of the movie, encompassing human voice, mise-en-scène, as well as film editing techniques, to identify and highlight the messages and ideas conveyed about the attributes of the US Army.

Navigating Media Landscapes in Conflict Zones: Journalism Amid Turmoil

In recent decades, ongoing armed conflicts worldwide have fueled global instability. This collection highlights the importance of understanding the evolving media landscape within the realm of conflicts. It delves into various research themes and future directions for examining news coverage amid unrest, featuring recent studies from Journalism &amp; Mass Communication Quarterly. These studies shed light on media dynamics in conflict zones, emphasizing the importance of comparative analyses and transnational journalism to address challenges in high-conflict environments.

“Hope dies last”: Children surviving captivity as conveyed in the interviews with the Israeli children who were held in Gaza

ObjectiveRecent armed conflicts worldwide have highlighted that child abduction and hostage-taking are pervasive and universal concerns in these contexts. However, little research exists on the phenomenon. The current study was designed to examine the question: How can a child survive captivity? MethodsThe study sample was gathered by searching popular Israeli news channels and conducting manual searches with systematic keywords on Google and YouTube. Fifty-seven recorded interviews conducted in Hebrew with 18 of the released child hostages, aged 8–18, were included and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsTwo main themes were generated: 1) The children’s emotional experiences in captivity and 2) The children’s coping strategies in captivity. ConclusionsThis study provides a unique glance into the way children survive captivity, as portrayed by 18 children who survived captivity in Gaza for over two months. The findings demonstrated the children’s incredible creativity and abilities to employ resilience from various sources. The current study is a crucial step for addressing the lacuna in research on child captivity during armed conflict. It makes vital contributions to the fields of trauma, child abuse, and resilience research. This study also recognizes the limitations in its methodology but demonstrates the viability of collecting children’s testimonies in the media when done in an ethical manner.

Personality and Health in Military Context: A Study of Combatants and Injured Servicemen

Introduction: The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has placed significant mental and physical health burdens on military personnel, including both elite combat troops and injured servicemen in rehabilitation. Understanding the factors that influence their health outcomes is crucial for developing effective support and intervention strategies. Purpose: This study aims to analyse the relationships between negative indicators of mental and physical health (PTSD symptoms and somatic complaints) and personal characteristics (resilience, self-efficacy, and Big Five personality traits) in two distinct samples of military personnel: elite combat troops and injured servicemen in rehabilitation. By comparing these groups, the study seeks to understand how personal characteristics influence health outcomes and whether the impact differs based on the context of military service. Methodology: The study involved 180 Ukrainian military personnel (all men) divided into two groups: 149 elite combat troops and 31 injured combatants in rehabilitation. Participants completed self-report measures assessing PTSD symptoms, physical complaints, resilience, self-efficacy, and personality traits. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, ranges, skewness, and kurtosis) were computed, and independent samples t-tests and Cohen’s d were calculated to determine differences between the groups. Pearson's bivariate correlations and Z-tests were conducted to examine relationships between health indicators and personal characteristics. Multiple linear regression analysis (using the forward method) was performed to construct prognostic models for mental and physical health outcomes. Results: Injured combatants exhibited significantly higher levels of PTSD symptoms, exhaustion, and various physical complaints compared to elite combat troops. In contrast, elite combat troops showed higher levels of resilience, self-efficacy, extraversion, and emotional stability. Regression models highlighted self-efficacy, resilience, and emotional stability as key predictors of reduced PTSD symptoms and physical complaints, with varying predictive values across the two groups. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of personal characteristics in mitigating the negative health impacts of combat exposure within the global mental health landscape. Tailored interventions enhancing resilience, self-efficacy, and emotional stability are crucial, particularly for injured combatants. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and larger samples to further understand the dynamics of these relationships and support the well-being of military personnel on a global scale. By addressing these critical areas, we can develop more effective strategies to support the mental health and recovery of those affected by combat and conflict worldwide.

A Future Beyond the Impasse? Exploring Post-Conflict Religious Heritage

ABSTRACT With the alarming rise in intercommunal conflicts worldwide, knowledge regarding post-conflict cultural heritage issues must advance to help formulate effective management systems and policies. Through an Actor-Network Theory-inspired approach, this paper explores the actors’ role in protecting religious heritage sites abandoned by displaced communities. Discourse analysis of relevant literature and empirical data from exhaustive fieldwork documenting and categorising the use-status and preservation state of church sites from Northern Cyprus has revealed multiple networks of human and non-human actors and actants. Through ANT concepts of fact-building and translation, a flat platform has been developed showing the positions and interests of the conflicting parties with a focus on the neglected or underestimated dimensions of heritage protection. This platform allows heritage conservation to be viewed from a broader perspective and, in a sense, helps dilute the conflicting parties’ positions and make their stakes less critical. It also emphasises the importance of compromise solutions, including pragmatically negotiating potential alternative uses and actively integrating the local community with the stakeholder group to protect the heritage of the displaced communities.

Ballistic impact wave and bulge profile propagation characteristics and blunt injury assessment of UHMWPE laminate composite

Amid escalating localized conflicts worldwide, the elucidation of the mechanisms and quantification blunt trauma the emergency services and military personnel confronted becomes imperatively. However, the understanding of bullet-induced bulge formation on the laminate's back face, impact wave propagation, and consequent trauma assessment methods remains incomplete. This study applies 3-dimension digital image correlation (3D-DIC) method to reveals these phenomena by utilizing a lead-core bullet traveling at 334.93 m/s to impact an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) laminate. The results show that the initial transverse propagation velocity of bulge profile is 24.79% smaller than the theoretical calculation, which indicates the reduction caused by cohesive matrix. The transverse wave demonstrates a double exponential attenuation pattern, which could be decomposed into two single exponential attenuation curves. The bulge profile shows hyperbolic pattern, which reveals the stability of the bulge shape and the temporal evolution pattern. Increasing the laminate-body gap leads to a decline in Blunt Criterion (BC) and the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) values reduce from 2 to 0 correspondingly. The numerical model confirms the compression wave velocity as 1447.77 ± 123.10 m/s in the thickness direction and 9542.86 ± 3087.75 m/s in the fiber direction. These findings reveals and quantified the propagation patterns of back bulge and compressive wave, and thus could provide data-driven insights to improve body armor performance and blunt trauma assessment for individual soldiers.

Ballistic impact wave and back bulge propagation mechanism and blunt trauma assessment of ceramic/UHMWPE composite body armor

With increasing local conflicts worldwide, studying the impact response of body armor is crucial for enhancing soldier survival rates. However, there is still insufficient understanding of the back bulge expansion patterns, the impact waves transmission features, and blunt injury assessing method of body armor. To investigate these problems deeply, the three-dimensional digital image correlation method and numerical models were employed to reveal the ballistic response mechanism of ceramic/ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite body armor impacted by 7.62 mm rifle bullet. This study built theoretical function for the bulge expansion, revealed the wave transmission mechanism and fractures in both materials and their interaction. Firstly, the experiment revealed that the back-face bulge transverse expansion velocity exhibits a double exponential decrease. Secondly, the contour of back-face bulges consistently demonstrated excellent hyperbolic characteristics at various moments. Thirdly, the average Viscous Criterion (VC) and Blunt Criterion (BC) values were 5.37 and 0.95, corresponding to Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) values of 6 and 4. Fourthly, the simulation revealed that the ceramics transverse and radial cracks seems primarily induced by shear stress xy; ceramics conical cracks occurring at the boundaries of equivalent stress seems primarily induced by stress in x and y directions. Fifthly, numerical results revealed that the velocity of compression waves within the laminate increases over time in the impact direction and consistent with ceramic velocity impacted on the laminate. These findings lead to experimental and theoretical advances in the impact response mechanism of composite body armor and provide index for improving the protective performance.

Mediating effect of depression and acute stress between exposure to Israel-Gaza war media coverage and insomnia: a multinational study from five arab countries

BackgroundIn the context of persistent wars and conflicts worldwide, the impact of acute, excessive and constant exposure to media coverage of such events on mental health outcomes becomes a serious problem for public health, and requires therefore urgent investigation to inform an effective prevention and management response. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that war-related media exposure is directly and indirectly associated with insomnia through depression and perceived stress among adults from the general population of different Arab countries.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried-out two weeks after the beginning of Israel-Gaza war on the 7th of October 2023. An anonymous online survey and a snowball sampling method were adopted to collect data. A sample of 2635 general population adults (mean age of 23.98 ± 7.55 years, 73.1% females) took part of this study.ResultsThe results of the mediation analysis showed that, after adjusting over potential confounders, depression and perceived stress fully mediated the association between war media exposure and insomnia; higher war media exposure was significantly associated with higher depression (Beta = 0.13; p < .001) and perceived stress (Beta = 0.07; p < .001), whereas higher depression (Beta = 0.43; p < .001) and perceived stress (Beta = 0.31; p < .001) were significantly associated with higher insomnia. It is of note that war media exposure was not significantly and directly associated with insomnia (Beta = − 0.01; p = .178 and Beta = 0.02; p = .098 respectively).ConclusionThe present study is the first to provide evidence that more time spent viewing the horrors of war is significantly associated with insomnia. In addition, symptoms of stress and depression were present as early as two weeks following the beginning of the war, and played a significant role in mediating the association between war media coverage and insomnia. These findings suggest that timely screening for, and management of depression and stress symptoms in clinical and preventive programs might be beneficial for community adults who have been heavily and indirectly exposed to war through media, and present with insomnia.

Genetic biomarkers related to the population risks of posttraumatic stress disorder development: single nucleotide variants, gene interactions, and haplotypes

The increasing relevance of PTSD issues is associated with the escalation of military conflicts worldwide. Complex biological mechanisms also play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PTSD, including those changes observed in the hippocampus and other brain structures. Aim– to identify the most significant genetic markers predisposing the risk of PTSD manifestation, which could contribute to the development of targeted interventions focusing on the preventive measures and treatment strategies of this disorder. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using keywords related to the genetics of PTSD, with a publication time restriction from 2018 to 2023. Out of 623 papers, 20 articles met the inclusion criteria, describing molecular-genetic and statistical data, and the sample size of at least 60 patients with a verified PTSD diagnosis, were reviewed and analyzed in detail. The studies revealed significant associations between PTSD occurrence and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the FKBP5 and CRHR1 genes. Particular attention was paid to the interactions between SNVs of different genes and their association with the severity of PTSD clinical manifestations. Conclusions.Genetic markers, in particular, SNVs in the FKBP5 (rs9470080) and CRHR1 (rs1724402) genes, may play a key role as the risk factors for biological predisposition and the PTSD development. These findings would underlie the targeted interventions integrated into PTSD-related prevention measures and treatment strategies. However, further multicenter and consortium studies with unified design are required to confirm the significance of the identified associations and to specify the epigenetic aspects contributing to the PTSD manifestation and development.

A materialist reconsideration of international peace practice and its human and non-human constituents

Abstract The international community's sobering track record of sustainably reducing the number of armed conflicts worldwide, as well as the increasing involvement of non-human complexities in times of climate crisis suggest that current approaches to foster peace are too narrow and inflexible. So far, demands and calls for more flexible and adaptive peace practice made by policy-makers and researchers have not led to a related paradigm shift. In order to contribute to such a change of practice, this article advances a speculative analytical attempt that seeks to conceptually uncover new modes of engaging with the world for the purpose of peace. It builds on Baruch Spinoza's materialism and describes peace as intimately interrelated with the issue of political community. Following Spinoza, the article reconsiders the imaginary of political community as something that is constantly being rearticulated by a contingent complexity of human and non-human actors, and thus transcends the geographic scope of its formal borders as well as its epistemic scope across power hierarchies. Finally, the article introduces the human-non-human multitude as political subject that is able to detect and interpret the constituents of a political community, and therefore to maintain and sustain peace.

Bear deterrence with scare devices, a non‐lethal tool in the use‐of‐force continuum

AbstractWild animals eating agricultural products and coming close to people's residences are primary causes of human–wildlife conflict worldwide. When carnivores eat anthropogenic foods and cause human safety concerns, it often results in the removal of the animals and public demand for reduced wildlife populations. The use of remote methods, such as scare devices, to deter carnivores has been touted in the literature; however, efficacy evidence remains thin. I test the efficacy of a widely available motion‐activated solar alarm lamp to deter grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) from farms in Montana, USA. When scare devices were activated, there was a 46% reduction in the odds bears would access an attractant. For every additional scare device, there was an additional 44% reduction in the odds of a bear getting the food. Additionally, scare devices caused bears to be more vigilant and increase movement behavior. More bears in a group led to loss of deterrence efficacy, and there was no evidence for habituation to the aversive stimuli. This deterrence method was most effective in August and for fungicide‐treated wheat. Out of 21 farms, scare devices stopped bears from returning to 11 sites. Overall, scare devices can be a cheap and easy first step to preventing, or resolving, some grizzly bear issues in the use‐of‐force continuum, which hierarchically organizes conflict responses from non‐lethal to more severe.

Exploration of Trademark Conflict of Use on the Internet

The Internet has changed the traditional business model and become the main channel for enterprises to promote their goods and build up their goodwill, which has led to an increase in the number of trademark right conflicts worldwide. The resolution of trademark right conflicts has put forward new requirements for trademark law, and it seems that the traditional trademark coexistence system can be regarded as an effective way to solve the conflicts of trademark rights on the Internet.

Seni Mengelola Konflik Dalam Al-Qur’an: Kajian Atas Surah Al-Hujurat Ayat 9-10

Every human life, anytime and anywhere, will inevitably involve conflicts. These conflicts arise due to differences in opinions and feelings, cultural variations, interests, and social changes. These differences give rise to various conflicts worldwide, including political conflicts, racial conflicts, religious conflicts, mental conflicts, and more. In the Quran, there are broadly three types of conflicts, namely family conflicts, religious conflicts, and ethnic conflicts. Many of these conflicts are the stories of past communities with their prophets, from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad. In every conflict narrated in the Quran, Allah hints at different ways of resolution, always concluding with guidance to settle disputes peacefully (ash-shulh), through consultation, negotiation, and other means. This emphasizes that no conflict is impossible if both parties have good intentions and goodwill. The ultimate goal is to achieve peace, justice, and harmony within society and among individuals.&#x0D; This research employs a library research method, which falls under content analysis. The author adopts a qualitative approach drawing from classical, medieval, and contemporary exegesis. The findings reveal that the interpretation of Surah Al-Hujurat verses 9-10 instructs two conflicting groups of believers to reconcile by seeking common ground toward a fair agreement. Allah also emphasizes that peace should take precedence in tumultuous conflicts.

Формування навичок емоційної стійкості учасників освітнього процесу в умовах надзвичайних ситуацій

The article emphasizes that organizing the educational process during a state of war fosters collective hope for social change and improvements in life. It also alleviates people's fears of the future and the unknown, aiding educators and students in utilizing education as a tool for building a peaceful and just world in the future. The authors analyzed available informational resources in Ukraine and abroad concerning the development of emotional resilience skills among participants in the educational process amid emergencies. It's highlighted that despite a significant increase in natural disasters, technological catastrophes, social and military conflicts worldwide, issues related to organizing education in emergencies haven't become a priority in scientific research. In the context of ongoing and integrated manifestations of extraordinary situations—be it natural (COVID-19 pandemic), technological (power outages, lack of communication, accidents in heating stations, fires), social (cyberattacks, population evacuations, false alerts in institutions), or military (rocket attacks, drone strikes, territorial threats, etc.)—the Ukrainian education system strives to continue functioning. This demands considerable physical and, more importantly, psychological efforts from educational participants, given that they all work under constant stress. However, the problems related to organizing education in emergencies of a military nature have yet to find proper reflection in Ukrainian pedagogical science. One of the significant psychological factors for effective performance in emergency situations is emotional resilience, which reduces the negative impact of strong emotions, maintains readiness for action, and prevents severe stress. Therefore, the authors conclude that further scientific research on the emotional resilience of educational participants in situations of war, characterized by frequent occurrences of various emergencies, is crucial for Ukraine. Developing methodologies for fostering and enhancing emotional resilience skills is essential.

Wars in Gaza and Beyond

This Viewpoint discusses the importance of safeguarding health access in times armed conflict worldwide and the need to bolster compliance with international humanitarian law.

Human and Non-Human Primate Coexistence in Argentina: Conflicts and Solutions.

There are five different primate species inhabiting widely distinct ecoregions in Argentina. Each of them faces various threats in terms of conservation and conflicts that hamper their ability to coexist with human populations. We present here some of the drivers known to be the causes of conflicts between humans and primates in the southernmost area of distribution of Latin American primates. We focus our synthesis on two of the biggest sources of conflict: the effects of different anthropogenic disturbances, and human misconceptions concerning the role of primates in the ecosystem. In each section, we briefly characterize the conflicts worldwide and then provide specific cases and examples from Argentina. In the last part of the manuscript, we further describe some ongoing national and regional educational, research, and conservation approaches to mitigate those effects.

Less Equality and More Risks: The Global COVID-19 Impact on Women and Girls

Before the global COVID-19 pandemic, women and girls faced significant inequalities. Result of the pandemics fast spread, increasing variables widened the gender gap and affected gender equality. It has increased disputes, crises, and barriers for women and girls, including imbalanced house-care work, severe gender-based violence, and the digital gender divide. This article illustrates the global gender inequality during the pandemic to highlight the severity of the gender gap and the importance of ensuring equal rights for women and girls. According to the articles findings, the protection of womens and girls rights was greatly affected by the blockade policy, school closures, and the reduction of NGO services due to COVID-19. In addition, the shortage of digital knowledge and development resources further exposed women and girls to higher social risks. As a result, gender gaps and inequalities are aggregated, creating social conflict worldwide. Through this papers further exploration of the key issues that led to the reversal of gender equality during COVID-19, the study aims to bring attention to the relevant backlashes of this particular period of gender equality and also targets to provide insightful reflections on those problems the world still face in future normalization society. This will allow researchers to intervene in the future in relation to each of the main priorities presented in this article to improve gender inequality in many ways.