International Popularity Research Articles

From Clandestine to Certified: Shaping a Sustainable and Equitable Future for Bacanora Production in Sonora

The international popularity of traditional agave spirits, like bacanora, is growing. However, the Sonoran Council’s inaction in ensuring equity among producers and sustainable agriculture practices raises concerns about the product’s future. While bacanora production has transitioned from being outlawed in Mexico to being protected under a Denomination of Origin (DO), social and environmental issues persist due to the Council’s lack of proactive measures. Ensuring sustainable bacanora production is crucial for cultural and economic longevity within the industry. Herein, we recommend that the Sonoran Council implement a funded initiative to reduce small-scale producers' barriers: difficulties in qualifying for certification, overharvesting, and financial strife among small-scale producers. Additionally, policies should be in place to formally expand conservation efforts that support sustainable agricultural techniques. These recommendations seek to ensure the longevity of the bacanora industry and support the traditional knowledge that has persisted throughout history.

The International Popularization of Chinese Marxism and Development of Marxism in the 21st Century

The International Popularization of Chinese Marxism and Development of Marxism in the 21st Century

Leadership in international populism: How Viktor Orbán’s Hungary shows the way

Although a burgeoning literature explores the international dimensions of populism, we still know little about how populist leaders gain international popularity. This paper describes how Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has emerged as the role model of international right-wing populism. It demonstrates that Orbán actively supplied himself as an example that like-minded politicians should follow. We draw on the concept of legitimation strategies to illustrate why Orbán markets himself as the leader of an international movement against liberal ideologues (Wajner, 2022). At the same time, populists in many countries have searched abroad for a successful model to follow. Orbán’s anti-migration policies and his defense of conservative family values constitute chapters of an illiberal playbook that right-wing populists are eager to implement. We use the concept of authoritarian learning to develop this demand-side perspective (Hall and Ambrosio, 2017). Empirically, we demonstrate our argument through an analysis of speeches delivered at a leading gathering of right-wing populists and moral conservatives: the Hungarian editions of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that took place in Budapest in 2022 and 2023.

Promoting public engagement in interdisciplinary biological systems education by leveraging American sports-inspired bracket contests on social media and web.

The complexity of modern biology poses challenges in fostering interdisciplinary understanding, particularly between practicing scientists and the public. Furthermore, scientists often lack formal training in science communication, despite various motivations to engage the public. The science literacy of the public in the biological sciences can also vary across socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Leveraging popular culture and informal learning practices to promote active learning offers promising avenues to enhance public understanding of biological systems. Organized sports hold collective recognition across various communities and cultures, serving as a means to bring people together. Notably, the NCAA March Madness event holds widespread national and international popularity, presenting an opportunity to laterally apply this concept to promote science communication within STEM and biology education. An educational social media and web-based contest tool was developed integrating NCAA-inspired brackets with animal biological systems concepts. The tool featured tournament-style matchups based on animal biological systems, interesting animal facts, and a voting system, all housed within a user-friendly interface. To encourage regular user access to the tool, graphic designs were developed for all social media posts to aid in visual recruitment to the voting website. Based on online metrics, the use of social media garnered repeat users across both the public and educators. The latter noted the tool's simplicity and informative content. Application of this social media and web-based bracket contest tool, which leverages informal settings for active learning for use in biology education, can foster science communication to engage audiences, improve comprehension, and promote interdisciplinary biology education.

Understanding the patients' concept of the alliance-One step back to take two steps forward.

Current health care systems emphasize consensual collaboration between clinicians and patients to reduce symptoms and improve well-being (e.g., World Health Organization, 2023). The alliance is the internationally best-studied collaborative process characteristic in psychotherapy research. Recent empirical studies on the alliance have tripled in comparison to the entire 20th century. This increase in empirical data illustrates the cumulative outstanding scientific activities in this field (e.g., Wampold & Flückiger, 2023). The reasons for the international popularity of the pantheoretical alliance concept may lie in the practical experience of many practitioners that a balanced collaborative quality is a central ethical and conceptual premise for treatment progress (Horvath, 2018). The aim of a "Viewpoint" article is to provide thought-provoking notes on the current state of research, innovations, weaknesses in the field, and current debates. This article is limited to three aspects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

UGALI AND UBUNTU: A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH BELONGING IN THE SELECT WORKS OF NGUGI WA THIONGO

Ubuntu emphasises the value of interpersonal relationships, group accountability, and interdependence. Ubuntu essentially represents the ideas that a person's identity is shaped by their relationships with other people and that a community's health is a prerequisite for a person's personal health. It is a tenet that fosters compassion, empathy, and teamwork in order to advance social cohesiveness and peace. Ubuntu is a prominent African philosophical idea that has received international popularity, especially in relation to debates over social fairness, leadership, and how to resolve conflicts. Ngugi wa Thiong'o explores deep themes of identity, community, and belonging in her chosen works by deftly combining the ideas of Ugali and Ubuntu. A common dish in many African cultures, ugali signifies more than just sustenance, it is a symbol of community, nourishment, and the shared experiences of meals spent together. The African ideology of Ubuntu, which states, "I am because we are," emphasises the interconnectedness and shared humanity of communities. This culinary tradition symbolises this principle. In the context of Kenya's sociopolitical environment, Ngugi's stories explore the lives of people who struggle with colonial tyranny, cultural upheaval, and the desire for autonomy. Ngugi highlights the value of community values and solidarity as crucial for overcoming adversity and restoring cultural identity through his moving stories.

The Impact of the High-speed Rail Industry and Its Possibility of Popularization-case of China

With the consensus and goals of reducing carbon emissions in various countries, energy transformation and sustainable development in various industry fields have attracted increasing attention, among which the transportation industry has great development potential. This article takes the case of the China high-speed rail industry's development to conduct research. Its advantages in using electricity as the main energy source have brought many positive impacts in China. China's case may be worthy of international popularization, thereby helping other regions achieve carbon emission reduction goals by combining various papers and data to examine the progress and effect of the high-speed railroad industry in China, as well as the main factors that had driven the improvement of the industry. Then analyze whether other regions could develop the industry from the potential condition to achieve the carbon emission goal, or even improve the regional economics. This study found that the early stages of industry construction were mainly promoted by policy promotion, and subsequent development relied on huge market demand to support development. The benefits of the high-speed rail industry are diverse, but it also involves certain risks, which reduces the possibility of its popularization.

Umiędzynarodowiona praktyka flamenco w perspektywie socjologicznej. O książce Jadwigi Romanowskiej Transkulturujący, transkulturowani. Obcokrajowcy w sewilskiej społeczności flamenco

The article is a review of a publication dedicated to the sociological analysis of the international flamenco community in Seville. Chapters of the book are presented and described, along with a critical analysis of the applied methodology. The introduction, the chapter on the history of flamenco, the research discipline of flamencology, the applied theory and methodology of the author’s research, as well as the results of the conducted research are all discussed. The reviewed publication provides basic knowledge about the history and practice of flamenco, attempting to explain the phenomenon of its international popularity and the related model of how foreigners function in Seville’s flamenco community.

Frames of Learning: Privileging Teacher Perspectives for Decolonizing Lesson Study for Mathematics Teaching

Lesson study’s international popularity spread as a unique, agency-oriented model of teacher professional development that is context-rich and deeply rooted in teacher subjectivities. This project aimed to answer the question, what do mathematics teacher education researchers learn about teacher learning by focusing on uncertainties as they arise when the group is trying to construct new knowledge in lesson study? Using ethnographic case study, this article explores the ways one community of practice in a Chilean school negotiated evolving objectives over the course of one school year and how I as the lesson study facilitator took up roles to support collaborative meaning-making and decolonize lesson study as a professional development tool through the use of framing.

Strategies for launching streaming content: Assessing movie-country relatedness and its impact on international popularity.

The study proposes a way to measure the relatedness between countries and movies (movie-country relatedness density) and to test whether this relatedness is an important factor in predicting the popularity of a movie in a certain country. The results show that both movie-country relatedness density and movie ubiquity (i.e., popularity across many countries) are positively associated with a movie appearing in a country's top 20 list even after considering other covariates. Based on these findings, we suggest an OTT (Over-the-tops) movie launching strategy with regard to movie-country relatedness density for both global and local OTT companies. Our study contributes to a growing body of research on movie consumption patterns and provides insights into the factors that determine a movie's success on a global scale. The importance of cultural similarity in adopting films and television shows is widely recognized, but the concept of movie-country compatibility is introduced to take into account the content attributes that cannot be explained by cultural differences. The results suggest that movies that are related to other popular movies in a given country and movies that are popular across many countries are more likely to appear in a country's top 20 list.

HIGH-EDUCATED WORKFORCE MIGRATION: CASE STUDY OF NEW ZEALAND

Research and education opportunities in New Zealand are very high. The country has educational institutions of international popularity with a wide variety of world-class programs. The appeal of New Zealand's education system is further enhanced by scholarships and funding options for overseas students. Highly educated individuals seeking to advance their academic and professional goals are invited to the stimulating research environment created by collaborative research initiatives, alliances with industry, and access to cutting-edge facilities and resources. Because of these attractive factors, New Zealand has become a desirable destination for highly educated workers. First of all, the country's high quality of life and work-life balance is a major attraction for professionals. New Zealand offers a unique lifestyle due to its stunning natural scenery, energetic cities and strong focus on leisure activities. The aim of this study is to examine the phenomenon of highly educated workers migrating, sometimes called brain gain or brain drain, in relation to New Zealand. It examines the pull factors from their home country, the pull factors that attract highly educated people to New Zealand, and the effects of this migration on both their homeland and New Zealand. The research also looks at the idea of brain gain through return migration and how overseas students impact the local labour market. Government actions and initiatives aimed at retaining highly educated workers and maximizing the advantages of migration are also covered. By assessing these factors, the research provides insight into the dynamics of highly educated worker migration in New Zealand.

Surfing the Korean Wave

Abstract Watched Squid Game, heard BTS or eaten ramyeon? You might be “Kontagious”. In her winning entry for our 2023 Statistical Excellence Award for Early Career Writing, Robyn Goldsmith takes a statistician's view of Korean culture's astonishing recent rise in international popularity

Aesthetic Analysis of Wong Kar-wais Films and Reasons for Western Popularity: A Case Study of Chungking Express

Wong Kar-wais films are characterized by his unique filming techniques and captivating script dialogues, showcasing his distinctive cinematic style. Through personalized expressions, Wong introduces Eastern aesthetics and philosophical thinking to international audiences, resulting in enthusiastic reception. Taking Chungking Express as an example, this film is one of Wongs masterpieces, vividly portraying the urban landscape of 1980s Hong Kong. Despite its short production cycle, the movie has garnered numerous awards on the international stage. This paper delves into the reasons behind the international popularity of Wongs films, using Chungking Express as a case study. It analyzes foreign reviews of the film and explores Wong Kar-wais personal experiences, focusing on his filming techniques and scriptwriting style. Through personalized expressions, Wong presents Eastern aesthetics and philosophical thinking to international audiences, leaving a profound impression of Chinese elements in his films and contributing to their enthusiastic reception.

PERCEPTION OF THE WORKS OF ABAI KUNANBAYEV IN FOREIGN EASTERN COUNTRIES

The creative writings of Abai Kunanbayev occupies an important place in the history of Kazakhliterature’s international relations formation and development. In the article, based on the example of thecreativity of the great Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev, literary ties of Kazakhstan with such foreign easterncountries as Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Mongolia, China, India have been analyzed. The process of translating hisworks into Oriental languages is presented. Abai’s poetry collections have been published in Urdu, Persian,Turkish and Mongolian. The prose work “Words of Edification” has been translated into Chinese and Korean.Thanks to these translations, Abai’s creative heritage became available to a wide range of Eastern readers,scientists and literary critics, who evaluated Abai’s creativity in newspapers, journals and introductory articlesto the published books. Important aspects of foreign literary reception include speeches by foreign participantsin the international conferences. The article discusses the reports of the researchers from foreign easterncountries. Most Eastern poets and writers, literary critics and literary historians have made comparisons of theirown literary traditions with the poets. Eastern literary figures, showing respect for the spiritual national leaders,unconditionally raised Abai to the rank of the Teachers of the East. The relevance of the research topic is dueto the fact that the perception of Abai’s creative writings by Eastern literary critics, who recognize the specialrole and place of the Kazakh poet in the life of their people, contributes to the international popularization ofKazakh literature.

THE ‘CAST’ING CONVENTION: IMPACT OF INDIAN FILM MUSIC ON REINFORCING GENDER STEREOTYPES

The impact of Bollywood (the Indian Hindi film industry) on the national psyche as well as its international popularity cannot be overrated. So is the music that is an integral part of it. It outlives the movie and then becomes a part of the everyday life of people, being played in public places, at religious festivals, in personal and professional functions and interestingly being even adapted to other forms of expression (like bhajans/devotional music). At a more dangerous level, it surreptitiously births, embeds and reinforces stereotypes becoming the palimpsest that serves to define standards expected and exacted from women. This not only thus shapes the approach towards women but also significantly impacts women’s approach towards themselves. By referring to some of the popular and oft recalled Bollywood Hindi songs across the decades, this researcher would like to unearth the palimpsest and decode how it results in the ‘cast’ing convention and becomes the kaleidoscope through which Indian womanhood is viewed.

Перстективи за развитие на зимния туризъм в България

The purpose of the report is to present prospects for the development of winter tourism in combination with other types of tourism for the sustainable development of the state's economy. Bulgarian winter resorts are gaining international popularity with their favorable conditions for sports, the modern facilities with which the resorts are equipped and the mountainous nature that creates conditions for holding competitions on the tracks. Bulgaria has numerous mineral springs and is a popular spa and wellness destination. In almost all winter resorts there are spa centers that offer a variety of procedures, and in combination with the rich cultural heritage, conditions are created for the development of several types of tourism. The state's sports centers are located near various cultural and natural attractions, which provide opportunities for a variety of activities for visitors.

Assessment of toxicity and anti-plasmodial activities of chloroform fractions of Carapa procera and Alchornea cordifolia in murine models.

Background: Plant as a source of medicine has gained international popularity in recent times because of its natural origin, availability in local communities, cheaper to purchase, ease of administration, and its usefulness as an alternative treatment in case of numerous side effects and drug resistance. However, the use of herbal formulations can also result in short-term and long-term organ damage or dysfunction to the host. In this study, chloroform fractions of the leaves of two medicinal plants, Alchornea cordifolia (ACL) and Carapa procera (CPL), were investigated for their toxicological and anti-malarial effects in murine models. Method: Acute (14-day) and sub-acute (28-day) studies were conducted based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines in Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats respectively. A dosage of 2000mg/kg body weight was administered orally to each ICR mouse during the acute study and 100, 300, and 1000mg/kg body weight to each SD rat during the sub-acute study. A 5-day curative anti-plasmodial activity was assessed in ICR mouse model. Results: The assessment of toxicity revealed that all three fractions did not influence mortality, clinical appearance, body weight gain, or necropsy at the various doses. Hematological and serum biochemical analysis indicated no significant elevations in liver and renal function parameters. Histopathological examinations of the liver indicated reversible liver degeneration with the chloroform fraction of the 100% ethanol extract of Carapa procera leaves (CPL100%) at 1000mg/kg. Anti-plasmodial assessments showed CPL100% exhibiting dose-dependent anti-plasmodial activity from 16% to 26.67%. On the other hand, chloroform fraction of the 100% ethanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves (ACL100%) showed declining anti-plasmodial activity from 21.1% to 15.1%. Conclusion: These preliminary findings demonstrate that chloroform fractions of the leaves of Carapa procera and Alchornea cordifolia may be safe agents for treating malaria hence further development for drug discovery must be pursued.

Reading to Dogs in schools: a controlled feasibility study of an online Reading to Dogs intervention

This study evaluated an online multi-component Reading to Dogs (RTD) intervention named Paws and Learn (PAL). Designed as a controlled feasibility study (i.e., comparing an intervention and a control group, as well as evaluating the intervention's practicality for the classroom), this research examined the intervention's impact on children's wellbeing, reading affect and frequency (RAF), children and teachers’ perceptions and experiences of PAL; and implementation considerations for the classroom. PAL consists of five components, one of which is RTD, complemented by four additional components designed to increase connection to the dog (whom they only meet virtually) and increase and consolidate benefits. RTD in schools is growing in international popularity and prevalence yet concerns about the practice exist. Online PAL was informed by a survey of teachers’ perspectives of RTD, and a co-design process combining research and practice. A pre-post-test control group design, with a mixed method evaluation was adopted. In total, N=106 pupils (aged 9) and their teachers from 3 schools participated in the 4-week study. Measures included wellbeing and RAF questionnaires, and interviews with intervention class teachers (N = 3) and a sub-sample of children (n = 33). In general, no statistically significant differences were found in wellbeing, reading affect or frequency, however qualitative insights revealed positive perceptions and experiences of online PAL, specifically in relation to wellbeing and reading affect. Online PAL was deemed feasible for classroom use, particularly if technological challenges can be overcome. Implications for the delivery of RTD interventions are discussed.

Zainab Fasiki’s Feminist Artistic Practice: A Semiotic Study of the Exhibition Hshouma at Le Cube – Independent Art Room

Moroccan feminist activist Zainab Fasiki has become a prominent contemporary artist. After the publication and success of her graphic novel Hshouma, Fasiki has gained international popularity. Nevertheless, Fasiki 's artistic practice is seldom thoroughly explored and analyzed. This article attempts to conduct a deep-level analysis of her work utilizing a Moroccan repertoire of symbolism. To reach this aim, this paper provides a semiotic analysis of Hshouma, Fasiki’s first exhibition in Morocco. The analysis of the different components of the exhibition is undergirded by the artist’s own statements and comments. The article introduces the artist and deconstructs her approach. It also provides background information on the female nudes in Moroccan art history and defines the Moroccan concept ‘hshouma’. Then, it describes the artworks showcased in the exhibition prior to a thorough examination.

An Ultra-Short Instrument to Assess Sensation Seeking: Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4)

The personality trait of sensation seeking (SS) plays a prominent role in health-related risk behaviors and is associated with psychopathology, emotion regulation, and delinquency. Despite this high relevance, hardly any ultra-short self-report measures optimized for test duration exist for the assessment of SS. An exception is the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4) consisting of four items, which is gaining international popularity. In this study, the German version of the BSSS-4 was psychometrically evaluated for the first time in a student sample (N=419). A unidimensional confirmatory measurement model showed adequate goodness of fit and internal consistency was in the satisfactory range (ω=0,73). As first evidence for adequate construct validity and in line with the hypotheses, associations of the BSSS-4 with male gender, self-reported risk-taking, and risk-taking behavior (operationalized via a lottery-based behavioral paradigm) but not with current depression were found. An examination of measurement invariance across men and women using multigroup CFA suggested that partial scalar measurement invariance can be assumed for the BSSS-4, when equality constraints for loadings and intercepts of Item 1 are relaxed. Considering its increasing international use, the German version of the BSSS-4 can be recommended overall: For an ultra-short instrument, it is sufficiently internally consistent and rather suitable for gender comparisons. In this regard, the facet of experience seeking may be problematic in terms of gender-dependent differences in measurement properties. In light of insufficiently rigorous tests of instruments for the assessment of SS, the results of comparisons between women and men may thus be interpreted with caution.