Latest Articles
Cultural Conflict and Integration
Articles

The Debate in the Newspapers of the Young Enlightened of San Juan. An Ideological Struggle Through the Pen (1825–1861)

The written press in the Argentine province of San Juan is celebrating its bicentennial this year, having first appeared in 1825 when the printing press was introduced during the liberal government of Salvador María del Carril. This research project aims to investigate the influence of liberal ideology on the enlightened young members of the local elite. The study will cover the period from 1825 to the reissue of the newspaper El Zonda in 1861, just a few months before Domingo Faustino Sarmiento assumed the governorship. The ideological debate in the press is important for identifying the different factions within the provincial elite, as the aforementioned liberal sector was opposed by a more conservative faction that emphasized colonial traditions and the Roman Catholic religion. Likewise, the liberal and conservative sectors represented the Unitario and Federal parties respectively. During the first half of the 19th century, these parties engaged in a fierce struggle for political power throughout the Argentine Confederation. Liberal ideas were noticeably influenced by their counterparts in the United States and Europe. This ideology sought to modernize society and put an end to conservative ideas representing Spanish heritage, caudillos and backwardness. Therefore, this paper proposes to take a look at the print media in San Juan during the first half of the 19th century.

Cultural Arts Research and Development
Article

The Impact of Cultural and Artistic Extracurricular Activities on Student Engagement and Identity in Primary Education in Kosovo

This study examines the impact of cultural and artistic extracurricular activities on student engagement and identity development in primary education in Kosovo, drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, which highlights the interaction between cultural contexts and student growth. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, 500 participants—250 teachers and 250 parents—were selected through stratified sampling from ten public schools in both urban and rural areas, ensuring balanced representation by gender, teaching experience, and community background. Activities such as music, theater, visual arts, and heritage-based projects were analyzed for their influence on students’ motivation, sense of belonging, and cultural awareness. Quantitative data were gathered via structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights came from interviews with school principals and quality coordinators. Findings revealed a significant link between structured artistic programs and increased participation and emotional engagement. Teachers emphasized creativity and social cohesion as key benefits, while parents underscored the preservation of cultural identity. Folk music, traditional exhibitions, and theatrical performances emerged as the most influential in shaping students’ sense of self. Strong school–family partnerships correlated with higher community involvement and more effective program implementation, though urban–rural disparities persisted in institutional support and resources. The study recommends that national education policies formally integrate the arts into holistic learning, with targeted funding and teacher training to ensure sustainable implementation, particularly in underserved rural schools.

Food and Drug Safety
Article

The Nature of Respiration During the Storage of Grapes of Different Varieties

Losses of grapes during the period of cold storage consist of microbiological and physiological spoilage, water evaporation and the consumption of organic substances for respiration. The main objective of this experimental study was to determine the influence of the character of respiration of grape berries during storage on the storability of the variety. During the research, we determined the yield of grapes that met quality standards through commodity analysis. The amount of weight loss of grapes during storage was determined by weighing. Statistical analyses were carried out using a one-way ANOVA calculator and Tukey’s HSD test. The alcohol content in grapes was determined using the dichromate-iodometric method, and the respiration rate was determined by measuring carbon dioxide released by berries. We found that the amount of natural weight loss and the yield of standard products after the storage period differed sharply depending on the grape variety. The varieties with better shelf life (Agadai and Gara Shany) were distinguished by more uniform respiration during storage, and their climacteric peak occurred significantly later than that of the varieties with less shelf life (Ag Shany and Sarygila). Reaching the peak can serve as a signal for producers to swiftly sell the stored grapes. Thus, the intensity of grape berry respiration can serve as an indicator of the shelf life of the variety.

Cultural Conflict and Integration
Articles

Cultural Conflicts, Decolonization, and the Epistemological Framework of Cultural Integration in Africa

The history of post-colonial African studies is marked by enduring cultural conflicts between the cultures of the colonizers (typically Caucasoid Europeans) and those of the colonized. Today, this tension is associated with resentment, bias, identity crises, and underdevelopment. Unfortunately, many post-colonial African researchers tend to overlook this issue, making little or no effort to explore it further. Perhaps they simply follow in the footsteps of earlier nationalist African scholars and thought leaders who focused primarily on decolonization and political independence. Given that the decolonization movement has been ongoing for nearly a century in many regions, it is worthwhile to examine the dynamics of these cultural conflicts and develop a normative theoretical approach for more effective and constructive engagement. This paper aims to promote cultural integration within African societies. We draw on our novel concept of epistemic suicide as a theoretical tool for analysing cultural conflicts in post-colonial African contexts. The research findings suggest that many of these conflicts are unnecessary, as they are often epistemologically constructed through an over-rationalization of the African colonial experience from a victim-centric perspective. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the prerequisites for African development and the foundational conditions for cultural reconstruction.

Cultural Conflict and Integration
Articles

The Crisis of African (Nigeria) Leadership and Development: A Trans-colonial Analysis

This essay contends that poor leadership results in poor development outcomes, whereas ethical leadership facilitates sustainable development, the hallmark of forward-thinking nations. The crisis of leadership in Africa remains central to understanding the continent’s developmental challenges. Too often, leadership has produced individuals lacking agential integrity, thereby weakening the continent’s global standing. Historically, African development has been analyzed through colonial and postcolonial lenses; however, this essay adopts a trans-colonial approach as a constructive framework for leadership transformation and societal advancement. We argue that development is not a passive invitation but an intentional and conscious commitment driven by visionary leadership. This work contends that leadership either ignites or cripples national development. To support this claim, a case study of Nigeria’s leadership trajectory since 1999 will be used to demonstrate how poor leadership results in a disjointed and fragile developmental structure. From a trans-colonial standpoint, leadership must become the spark that activates a zealous love for Africa, expressed in creative and critical ways. We conclude that Africa needs visionary leaders who will catapult and pilot her affairs to the next level. Thus, this essay reimagines leadership as the foundation upon which transformative, humane, and sustainable development must be built.

Urban Planning and Construction
Article

Smart City Construction and Urban Green Development: An Analysis from the Perspectives of Industrial Structure and Technological Progress

As an innovative urban development model, smart cities have become a pivotal strategy for fostering green, efficient, and sustainable urban growth, epitomizing efficiency, intelligence, and sustainability. Investigating the impact of the smart city pilot policy on urban green development not only deepens our understanding of smart city construction but also further supports urban green development. This study utilizes panel data from 191 Chinese cities (2008-2022) and employs a DID model and a mediating effect model to analyze the influence of smart city construction on urban green development. The smart city pilot policy significantly and positively impacts urban green development, a finding that remains robust across various tests. The direct influence of the smart city pilot policy on urban green development is seen in three key areas: resources, environment, and technology. Mechanism tests indicate that the smart city pilot policy promotes urban green development via two primary pathways: industrial structure upgrading and technological progress. The impact shows clear heterogeneity, having a significant effect on non-resource-based cities and small cities. The study proposes several policy recommendations, including promoting the digitalization and informatization level of industries, strengthening the guidance and regulation of smart city construction and technological innovation, and establishing a regional coordination mechanism.

Cultural Conflict and Integration
Review

Ethnic-Cultural Bullying Among Adolescents: Key Insights from Global Evidence

Ethnic-cultural bullying is based on perceived differences such as country of origin, cultural background, or skin color, and is rooted in broader dynamics of discrimination and social exclusion. However, despite the growing body of literature, its visibility and understanding remain relatively limited. This narrative review examines the current state of knowledge on ethnic-cultural bullying among adolescents, focusing on its defining features, associated factors, dynamics, and consequences. In addition, it places special emphasis on two underexplored associated areas of pivotal significance: humiliation as a potential key emotional outcome and digital technologies as a contextual amplifier of its occurrence and progression. Finally, this review also discusses the implications of these insights for the development of effective interventions and policy measures. Ethnic-cultural bullying constitutes a global phenomenon that is driven by explicit racial and cultural discrimination, involving both direct aggression and subtle exclusion. Protective factors such as empathy, teacher tolerance, and inclusive peer norms can reduce the risk, while migrant status and visible ethnic markers increase vulnerability. Victims of ethnic-cultural bullying often face stigma, secondary victimization, mental health issues, increased substance use, and higher suicide risk. Humiliation is an emotion closely related to bullying dynamics, but also a culturally charged phenomenon that perpetuates intergroup divisions and stigmatization. Digital technologies potentially contribute to increased dynamics of ethnic-cultural bullying, especially among minority youth. Effective interventions against ethnic-cultural bullying must be identity-aware and grounded in scientific evidence. Ultimately, comprehensive, intersectional, and culturally informed approaches are necessary to address its complex social and psychological impacts.

Transportation Development Research
Article

Structural Design and Geotechnical Analysis of the Atal Tunnel: Engineering Solutions for High-Altitude Challenges

The Atal Tunnel, located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, India, is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) with a length of 9.02 kilometers. This study details the tunnel’s structural components, safety features, and innovative engineering solutions, supported by data on geotechnical challenges, construction timelines, and performance metrics. This study analyzes the structural design, construction methodologies, and geotechnical challenges of the Atal Tunnel, a 9.02−km highway tunnel in the Himalayas, to evaluate its engineering solutions and impacts. Using geotechnical surveys, construction records, and performance metrics, the study employs the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) framework to assess design adaptations, safety systems, and operational outcomes. The tunnel, constructed under high overburden (up to 1.9 km) and poor rock mass quality (RMR 21–40), achieved stability through adaptive NATM, with a cost escalation from ₹500 crore to ₹3,300 crore. It reduced travel distance by 46 km and time by 4–5 hours, enhancing connectivity and military logistics proving to be a great boon for the development of the country. The Atal Tunnel demonstrates innovative solutions for high-altitude tunneling, offering a model for future infrastructure projects in complex geological settings, with significant socioeconomic and strategic benefits.

Announcements
  • Editor-in-Chief Communication Meeting Successfully Held to Shape the Future of Urban Planning and Construction

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    11 September 2025
  • Editor-in-Chief Recruitment Notice

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    Dear Colleagues in the Academic Community,   Transportation Development Research is a newly established academic journal aimed at providing scholars with a platform for exchanging and sharing research achievements. Currently, we are seeking an experienced and dedicated scholar to serve as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of our journal.   Responsibilities and Expectations:   Lead the academic direction and development strategy of the journal. Oversee the review process and select suitable reviewers to ensure the quality of submitted manuscripts. Collaborate with the editorial team to drive the day-to-day operations and development of the journal. Actively engage with the academic community to enhance the visibility and impact of the journal.   Qualifications:   Demonstrated excellence in the relevant field with a strong academic track record. Substantial academic and peer-review experience. Enthusiasm for advancing the development of the journal and the ability to lead a team. Active participation in academic discourse with a strong academic reputation.   Application Process:   Interested individuals are invited to submit their resumes and a letter of application for the Editor-in-Chief position to tdr@bilpub.com.   We look forward to your contributions in building Transportation Development Research into an outstanding academic journal. Thank you for your attention and support.   Best Regards,   Editorial Team Transportation Development Research

    29 December 2023
  • New Journal Alert: Urban Planning and Construction

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    We are excited to announce the launch of our new journal, "Urban Planning and Construction," dedicated to exploring the dynamic field of urban planning and construction. As we embark on this exciting endeavor, we invite scholars and researchers to join us as esteemed editorial board members and editors-in-chief. If you are passionate about urban planning and construction and would like to contribute to this scholarly platform, we welcome you to apply as a self-nominee or recommend suitable candidates for the positions. Kindly download the Scholar Information Form, fill it out, and submit it to the editorial department. For the inaugural issue, we are offering a special opportunity to submit manuscripts free of charge. Yes, you read that right! We are waiving all article processing fees for the first edition. To maintain consistency, please refer to our author's guidelines for formatting details, available at: https://ojs.bilpub.com/index.php/upc/about/submissions. Feel free to contact our editorial department at upc@bilpub.com for any queries, suggestions, or submissions. Join us on this exciting journey as we delve into the realms of urban planning and construction together! Urban Planning and Construction Editorial Team

    14 September 2023
  • Transport Development Study Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023): Inprogress

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    New Journal Launch! Transportation Development Research is excited to announce the launch of our inaugural issue! As we embark on this journey, we are searching for dedicated individuals to join our esteemed editorial board as editors and chief editors. Whether you would like to self-nominate or recommend someone, we welcome your participation. To express your interest, please download the Scholar Information Form, complete it, and submit it to our editorial office. Call for Manuscripts For the first issue, we are offering free manuscript processing. All article processing fees are waived! To ensure your submission meets our guidelines, please refer to the Author's Guide:https://ojs.bilpub.com/index.php/tdr/about/submissions. Contact Information For any inquiries or submission of the Scholar Information Form, kindly direct your emails to tdr@bilpub.com. Join us in shaping the future of transportation research! Transportation Development Research Editorial Team

    14 September 2023
  • Pre-publication of the first issue of Food and Drug Safety

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    We are excited to announce the launch of a new journal, Food and Drug Safety, dedicated to the exploration of topics related to the safety of food and drugs. We are currently seeking qualified individuals to join our editorial board and serve as the chief editor. If you have expertise in this field, both self-recommendations and recommendations of others are welcome. To apply, please download the Scholar Information Form, fill it out, and submit it to the editorial office. For the inaugural issue, we are offering free manuscript handling and waiving all article processing fees. Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Author's Guide: https://ojs.bilpub.com/index.php/fds/about/submissions. For any inquiries or submissions, please contact the editorial office via email at: fds@bilpub.com. We look forward to your participation and contributions in promoting food and drug safety research! Food and Drug Safety Editorial Team

    14 September 2023
  • Classical Literature First Publication (Issue 1, 2023): Inprogress

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    Welcome to our newly created journal! We are looking for editorial board members and editors-in-chief, and we invite scholars to nominate themselves or suggest suitable candidates. If you are interested, please download the Scholar Information Form, fill it out and submit it to the editorial office. It is worth mentioning that we will process manuscripts for the first issue of the journal free of charge and completely waive the article processing fee. Authors are kindly requested to refer to our author guidelines to ensure proper and consistent article formatting, the link to the guidelines is here: https://ojs.bilpub.com/index.php/cl/about/submissions . If you have any questions or need further advice, please send them to the editorial office at: cl@bilpub.com. Classical Literature Editorial Team

    14 September 2023
  • Congratulations on the success of 'MIRAI 2.0 R&I Week 2022' activity!

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    02 December 2022
  • Welcome Prof. Dr. Pablo Froimowicz to be the Editor-in-Chief of New Environmentally-Friendly Materials

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    26 October 2022