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Copyright of Comparative Literature / Primerjalna Književnost is the property of Slovenian Comparative Literature Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are blood‐feeding insects that transmit the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and various arboviruses. The Balkan region, including the Republic of Kosovo, harbours a diverse sand fly fauna. Vector species of Leishmania infantum as well as phleboviruses are endemic; however, recent data are scarce. We performed a cross‐sectional study to update the current sand fly distribution in Kosovo and assess biological as well as environmental factors associated with sand fly presence. CDC light trapping was conducted at 46 locations in 2022 and 2023, specifically targeting understudied regions in Kosovo. Individual morphological species identification was supported by molecular barcoding. The occurrence data of sand flies was used to create distribution maps and perform environmental analyses, taking elevation, wind speed and climate‐related factors into account. In addition, PCR‐based blood meal analysis and pathogen screening were conducted. Overall, 303 specimens of six sand fly species were trapped, predominated by Phlebotomus neglectus (97%). Barcodes from eight of nine known endemic sand fly species were obtained. Combining our data with previous surveys, we mapped the currently known sand fly distribution based on more than 4000 specimens at 177 data points, identifying Ph. neglectus and Ph. perfiliewi as the predominant species. Environmental analyses depicted two geographical groups of sand flies in Kosovo, with notable differences between the species. In total, 223 blood meals of five sand fly species were analysed. Of seven identified host species, the predominant blood meal source was observed to be cattle, but the DNA of dogs and humans, among others, was also detected. This study assessed biological as well as ecological factors of sand fly occurrence, which should help better understand and evaluate potential hot spots of disease transmission in Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between Kosovo and Serbia has been characterized by hypertension for many years. This disagreement has led to ongoing political and diplomatic disputes between two sides. In a 20th century, contained by Yugoslavia but declared independence in 2008 because of conflicts with Serbians. Serbia never consents the decision and sees the Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia. Furthermore, Kosovo accepted as heart of Orthodox Church therefore the place is very significant according to Serbian’s national identity. In the background, the conflict took place and committed a war crime because of the independence of Kosovo unacceptable to Serbia. In addition that, ethnic tensions between the majority Albanian population in Kosovo and the minority Serb population have also contributed to the ongoing tensions. In the past, tensions have increased to violent conflicts. NATO’s intervention has virtually not stopped the violence and the UN Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK) established in Kosovo. After years, the observation does not change in Serbia, but in comparison the area has stabilized. Kosovo’s independence is recognized by more than 100 countries, including the United States and most of European nations. But Serbia, Russia, China and other several countries have never recognized. Nevertheless, Kosovo’s status remains an open question in international politics. However, related topics between two country seems as to normalize in recent years but tension rises again after Russia and Ukraine war started because most people liken Kosovo and Ukraine in fact their leaders. There was the same violence on the borders of Ukraine as the Serb soldiers in Yugoslavia before. Kosovo’s concerns will be understandable once the present situation in Ukraine has been analysed. The war sparked the tension in the Balkan region that already exists. Movement of Russia concerns the worry in Kosovo because Putin frankly said that; Ukraine belongs to Russia and never think separate. Keep in view the similar attitude of Serbia and Russia, Kosovo has begun to anticipate for any move.

The floristic richness of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been extensively studied, however urban flora has only recently garnered attention, but no systematic surveys of urban ecosystems have been carried out. To address this problem, a study of the seven urban floras in Bosnia and Herzegovina was conducted to determine the pattern of floristic diversity and correlation with anthropogenic factors: size of the urban area, ratio of green areas in the total urban area, number of inhabitants, and population density. The first finding of the study is that urban floras in Bosnia and Herzegovina are rich in plant species. The results have shown that the urban floristic diversity largely reflects the natural vegetation of the urban environment, compared to urban floras in other parts of Europe. Species structure reflects the geographical location as well, so are the urban areas in the Mediterranean biogeographical region, Mostar and Blagaj, floristically richer, but at the same time species richness correlates with the total urban area, as in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Moreover, the proportion of alien species is low and there is no pronounced process of floras homogenisation. Of the anthropogenisation factors, population density correlates most strongly with the richness of urban flora. From the results, we have concluded that urban plant diversity correlates with both environmental and anthropogenic factors, in a way that provides a basis for establishment of conservation programs in urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the depiction of the Balkans in two Slovenian translations of Karl May's Orientzyklus. This hexalogy was translated for the first time at a time when most of the Slovenian ethnic territory was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and it was later retranslated when Slovenia was a republic in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. A textual comparison of the originals and translations shows that in the first translations, numerous interventions were made to portray the Balkans in a more negative manner than in the originals, whereas in the retranslations, May's frequently negative depiction of the region was somewhat mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union, as a community, concept, and sui generis entity, is highly attractive to all Western Balkan countries. One of the strategic goals of all these countries is accession to and membership in the European Union. On the road to the European Union, there are many standards, criteria, and conditions that each candidate and potential candidate country must fulfil. The EU conditionality principles were established in 1993 at the Summit held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and amended at the Madrid, Luxembourg, and Helsinki summits in 1995, 1997, and 1999, respectively. Besides the general criteria for membership in the European Union, there are also specific criteria related to each country with candidate or potential candidate status for EU accession. In this paper, using descriptive, comparative, content analysis, historical, and other relevant methods, the authors will try to explain the EU's specific conditionality towards the Western Balkan countries by analysing the Macedonian case. The expected results of this paper will show whether these specific criteria for membership are justified and necessary or if they are merely political tools in the hands of the European Union that can often be misused and which can hinder the Euro-integration processes of the Western Balkan countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the discovery of Corythucha arcuata (Say), a species previously unrecorded in the Republic of Kosovo. Nine individuals of this species were collected from an Oak tree during the investigation. The findings presented in this study enhance our knowledge of the distribution of C. arcuata within the Balkan region. This discovery underscores the importance of further research to elucidate the factors governing the presence or absence of this species in specific areas. Also, herein we made a list of all known alien-invasive species to Kosovo.

An international research on Croatian and Hungarian architectural relations started with the cooperation of the HMA MPDC and the Zagreb IPU. Eszter Baldavári and Boris Dundović are examining Ernő Foerk’s architecture, they gave a presentation about the results in Split. Foerk designed buildings in Croatia such as the Palace of the Post Office in Zagreb or the Tüköry Mansion in Daruvar. The 6000-item heritage of Foerk is preserved at the HMA in Budapest, which contributes to the specification of the present-day Balkan research. This paper presents the circumstances and results of the expeditions of Ernő Foerk architect – a member of the National Commission of Historic Monuments and professor of the Hungarian Royal Public Higher Architectural School – achieved in 1917 and 1918.

Aims: Developing a hierarchical classification system for classes, orders and alliances of the diverse dry grasslands of the Central and Eastern Balkan Peninsula and translating this into an electronic expert system (ES) for the automatic assignment of plots. Location: Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and northern Greece. Methods: We extracted 5734 plots from the Balkan Dry Grassland Database corresponding to eight classes of dry grasslands reported from the region, using the EuroVegChecklist ES. This data set and later the plots within each derived subunit were subjected to a new numerical approach: starting with an initial partitioning (expert‐interpreted TWINSPAN classification), diagnostic species were determined based on their phi‐values for the target vegetation type and the differences in phi‐values to the next similar types. These diagnostic species were fed into an ES to create a new partitioning, a procedure which was iterated until diagnostic species and species of the ES converged. Then the same approach was applied within each of the derived units to define the units of the next‐lower level. Results: The iterative cluster optimisation (ICO) converged in all cases. The resulting hierarchical expert system (HES) classified 95% of all plots to alliances. We distinguished four classes with eight orders and 12 alliances: (1) Tuberarietea guttatae (Romuleion); (2) Stipo‐Brachypodietea distachyi (Clinopodio alpini‐Thymion striati); (3) Festuco‐Brometea with Brachypodietalia pinnati (Chrysopogono‐Danthonion calycinae and Cirsio‐Brachypodion pinnati), Festucetalia valesiacae (Festucion valesiacae), an unnamed order of rocky steppes (with Pimpinello‐Thymion zygioidis) and Koelerietalia splendentis (Centaureo‐Bromion fibrosi, Saturejion montanae and Diantho haematocalycis‐Festucion hirtovaginatae); (four) Koelerio‐Corynephoretea with Sedo acris‐Festucetalia (Festucion vaginatae) and Trifolio arvensis‐Festucetalia ovinae (Armerio rumelicae‐Potentillion and Minuartio montanae‐Poion molinerii all. nov.). Conclusions: We created a unified hierarchical classification with an electronic ES using diagnostic species defined by phi‐values. Our new approach (ICO‐HES: iterative cluster optimisation for hierarchical expert systems) allows dividing large data sets into meaningful units at several hierarchical levels, and thus has high potential for complex classifications. Importantly, it overcomes the divide between ES species and diagnostic species and re‐unites them into one concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prehistoric communities had strong ties with the animal world that surrounded them—animals were prey, sources of food, and raw materials, but also threats and mysteries, and certain animals often had an important place in the symbolic realm. With the process of domestication and the switch to animal husbandry as the main source of animal food, these relations changed considerably, and a certain dichotomy between "the domestic" and "the wild" may be noted in numerous past communities. When it comes to the Neolithic period in the Balkans, domestic animals had an important place in subsistence and economy, and it seems that cattle had a particularly prominent symbolic role. Wild species preserved some of their significance in both subsistence and symbolic realms, especially cervids (red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer). In this paper, the place of deer in the material culture of the Neolithic communities in the Balkans will be analysed: skeletal elements of deer were used for the production of diverse items, including non-utilitarian ones, or were part of ritual depositions, and deer representations are encountered in other materials, such as clay figurines. The symbolic meaning of deer cannot be reconstructed with certainty; however, it is probable that deer were tied with territoriality and the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to examine the healthcare preferences and perspectives of citizens in the Western Balkans (namely Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as their trust toward medical professionals of various genders and ages. Almost 4,000 citizens (N = 3,789) of six countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) were surveyed using a self-reported questionnaire in this inter-country cross-sectional study. Most of the participants state that their ethnicity (86%) or religion (89%) has no effect on receiving services in healthcare institutions when the doctor is from a different ethnicity or religion (p < 0.05). One-third of the study's participants stated that they don't necessarily prefer to be treated by medical doctors who approach all patients of different nationalities equally. Finally, this article demonstrates that the majority of Balkan citizens had no disparities when receiving medical care from a medical doctor of a different ethnicity or religion. About one-third of the research participants nurture tolerance and diversity as a behavior culture and do not want to be treated by a doctor who discriminates against patients of different nationalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish community living in Nort Macedonia has a deep-rooted historical background and this past dates back to before Ottoman Empire. The influence of Turkish societies in the region has been shaped throughout various historical processes arising from its geographical location and strategic importance. During the reign of Ottoman Empire, it embodied the cultural and social structure and feature of the empire. Today, Turks who are living scattered throughout North Macedonia are in an effort to preserve their historical and cultural ties. In this context, they maintain their cultural heritages and pass them on to future generations by means elements such as language, literature, traditional clothing, food culture, art and music. At the same time, Turkish community is integrated into a living Turkish Folk Literature in North Macedonia is hosting a comprehensive and cultural heritage. Turkish community which exists within this cultural richness, has a long-standing presence in the region that dates back to a long history and continues until today. Turkish Folk Literature has deep traces of the life style, emotional world and history of this community. "Turkish Folk Songs" have an important place in Turkish Literature and they have been transmitted by Northern Macedonia Turks from past to present. Beyond being a form of musical expression only, these folk songs have also assumed the function of reflecting and keeping alive the historical and cultural values of Turkish society. These folk songs which tell the emotional world of Turks, love, sadness and enthusiasm, also represent a time journey from the past to the present. In North Macedonia, this rich heritage of Turkish folk literature can be considered as a cultural treasure that aims to protect the identity of the community and pass it on to future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Language & Literature is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of Leishmania spp., the causative agents of leishmaniasis, as well as phleboviruses. In the Balkans, the endemicity and spreading of sand fly-borne diseases are evident, particularly in the Republic of Kosovo, a country with a predominantly humid continental climate. To date, understanding the drivers behind the spatial structure and diversity patterns of sand fly communities in humid continental regions remains limited. Therefore, elucidating the geographical and ecological factors contributing to the presence of potential vector species in the country is crucial. We aimed to enhance our understanding of factors influencing sand fly occurrence in cool and wet wintering humid continental areas, which could serve as a model for other countries with similar climatic conditions. Therefore, we assessed the currently known sand fly fauna through detailed environmental analyses, including Voronoi tessellation patterns, entropy calculations, Principal Coordinate and Component Analyses, Hierarchical Clustering, Random Trees, and climatic suitability patterns.Notable differences in the ecological tolerance of the species were detected, and the most important climatic features limiting sand fly presence were wind speed and temperature seasonality. Sand flies were observed to prefer topographical environments with little roughness, and the modelled climatic suitability values indicated that, dominantly, the western plain regions of Kosovo harbour the most diverse sand fly fauna; and are the most threatened by sand fly-borne diseases. Phlebotomus neglectus and P. perfiliewi, both confirmed vectors for L. infantum and phleboviruses, were identified as two main species with vast distribution in Kosovo. Contrary to this, most other present species are relatively sparse and restricted to temperate rather than humid continental regions.Our findings reveal a diverse potential sand fly fauna in Kosovo, indicating the need for tailored strategies to address varying risks across the country's western and eastern regions in relation to leishmaniasis control amidst changing environmental conditions.

The theology of the ethnocultural empathic turn, on the general level, encompasses ethnocultural empathy, which, as a branch of social psychology, strives for a thorough understanding of the life context of those ethnically and culturally different from ourselves. In the context of Christian theology, this turn also embraces the turn reflected in Mt 15:21–28 (Mk 7:24–30), in which Jesus expands his missionary work from the locally based "House of Israel" into the global realm to include the entire "inhabited world". In this essay, the theological discourse of ethnocultural empathic turn is embedded within a specific sociopolitical context, which brings us to the Balkans, i.e., the post-Yugoslav framework, where we discuss the legacy of Bishop Srećko Badurina and layperson Franjo Starčević. During the disintegration of the Yugoslav Federation, they vigorously resisted the dominant ethnonationalist-religious persuasions of the Croatian Catholic and Serbian Orthodox communities. They stood up for those who faced elimination due to the policy of ethnic cleansing. Today, both can serve as the foundation for the establishment of the theology in question, aiming at the development of the first post-Yugoslav contextual theology based on the political theology and the theology of liberation, capable of tackling the phenomenon of ethnoreligiosity as one of the most pressing problems plaguing this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menarche, as an important parameter in the assessment of scoliosis progression in girls, is proven to be dependent on geographical latitude. The aim of this study was to determine whether the age of menarche differs in scoliotic and non-scoliotic Balkan girls and the relationship between menarche and the laterality of scoliotic curves. Participants and Methods: This is a retrospective study with three groups: scoliotic, non-scoliotic, and control. Patient data collection and analysis were approved by the Ethical Committee of the Institute. Statistical Analysis: The SPSS 24 program was used, and we employed One-way ANOVA, Fisher's, and Chi-squared tests to compare different groups. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the age of menarche between the three groups (p = 0.168). In the scoliotic postmenarchal group, the primary right curve was dominant in 54.80%, while in the scoliotic premenarchal group, the primary left curve was dominant in 60.09% (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In Balkan girls from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, there was no significant difference in the age of menarche between scoliotic and non-scoliotic girls. A significant difference was found in the laterality of the primary curve in premenarchal and postmenarchal scoliotic girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the discovery of Corythucha arcuata (Say), a species previously unrecorded in the Republic of Kosovo. Nine individuals of this species were collected from an Oak tree during the investigation. The findings presented in this study enhance our knowledge of the distribution of C. arcuata within the Balkan region. This discovery underscores the importance of further research to elucidate the factors governing the presence or absence of this species in specific areas. Also, herein we made a list of all known alien-invasive species to Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Comparative Politics is the property of Journal of Comparative Politics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studies on Turkish Language & Literature in the Balkans is the property of Studies on Turkish Language & Literature in the Balkans and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Natura Croatica is the property of Natura Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Byzantine Greek "romantic epic" Digenis Akritis and the Venetian romance Buovo d'Antona , translated into different Slavic languages under different circumstances and traversing Slavic space by different routes, reached Muscovy in the sixteenth century – each undergoing significant editing there and ultimately becoming textually entangled. It has not been noticed before that the editor of a Muscovite redaction of Buovo borrowed a number of passages from an early redaction of the "formulaically styled" Slavic Digenis. The encounter of Buovo with Digenis may help explain the former work's subsequent popularity in Russia, as it transformed the courtly hero Buovo d'Antona into the Russian folk hero Bova Korolevich. It also helps sketch a context for the direct ancestor of the most important extant manuscript of the Slavic Digenis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Documenta Praehistorica is the property of Documenta Praehistorica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Documenta Praehistorica is the property of Documenta Praehistorica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Turkish community living in Nort Macedonia has a deep-rooted historical background and this past dates back to before Ottoman Empire. The influence of Turkish societies in the region has been shaped throughout various historical processes arising from its geographical location and strategic importance. During the reign of Ottoman Empire, it embodied the cultural and social structure and feature of the empire. Today, Turks who are living scattered throughout North Macedonia are in an effort to preserve their historical and cultural ties. In this context, they maintain their cultural heritages and pass them on to future generations by means elements such as language, literature, traditional clothing, food culture, art and music. At the same time, Turkish community is integrated into a living Turkish Folk Literature in North Macedonia is hosting a comprehensive and cultural heritage. Turkish community which exists within this cultural richness, has a long-standing presence in the region that dates back to a long history and continues until today. Turkish Folk Literature has deep traces of the life style, emotional world and history of this community. "Turkish Folk Songs" have an important place in Turkish Literature and they have been transmitted by Northern Macedonia Turks from past to present. Beyond being a form of musical expression only, these folk songs have also assumed the function of reflecting and keeping alive the historical and cultural values of Turkish society. These folk songs which tell the emotional world of Turks, love, sadness and enthusiasm, also represent a time journey from the past to the present. In North Macedonia, this rich heritage of Turkish folk literature can be considered as a cultural treasure that aims to protect the identity of the community and pass it on to future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic demographic characteristics of one society are tightly related to the youth's potential as the core for any future social development. The prospects in Balkan countries are jeopardized by low fertility and continued migration which intensified in the last decades. Migration in the past was generated by wars, political instability, and a lack of economic prospects. Today, a vast part of the region is integrated into the EU, and the rest is with clear aspirations to integrate in the near future. However, some open questions as dysfunctional political systems, corruption, not having a rule of law, and economic instability are some of the main reasons for future migration. A significant factor of migration is related to the possibility of continuation of education from high school to university level. This article is focused on the general motivation for migration in the Balkan countries, with a focus on Macedonian society. Two surveys are presented as an empirical basis for further analyses. The results reflect the general situation in the eastern and central regions of the Republic of N. Macedonia. Longitudinal aspects are included, comparing the data generated in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, the official statistics confirm the thesis and create a broader picture of the correlative relations between educational motivation and migration trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Language & Literature is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pottery is a complex archaeological material that is found ubiquitously in various spatial—temporal frameworks from all over the world; therefore, it is of great importance to archaeological research. The current paper aims to present and discuss the results obtained on a batch of Neolithic (ca. 6000–5000 BC) and Chalcolithic (ca. 5000–3900 BC) pottery sherds from Southern Romania through X-ray Computed Tomography, a non-destructive methodology that allows for the 3D reconstruction and precise measurement of inclusions and voids present within ceramic artefacts. Images from several potsherds were subsequently exported and analyzed by means of dedicated software (ImageJ 1.54p and GIMP) to extract quantitative information on the observed features. Grain size and morphometric analyses were performed on the particles, while the contour variability of the examined inclusions was characterized through the application of shape descriptors. Voids were analyzed in order to reveal specific orientation patterns through the examination of the aspect ratio of the holes and of the Rayleigh z test values. These analyses evidenced the general reliance of moderately and poorly sorted clays for ceramic production, accompanied by a gradual transition from organic to grog tempering, while conservative traditions remained prevalent in primary pottery-forming processes.

U ovom tekstu bavimo se Konstantinovićevim čitanjem Micićeve poezije i proze. Po Konstantinoviću, sav Micićev rad trebalo bi, uprkos glavnim strujama njegove dvadesetovekovne recepcije, sagledati kroz prizmu Barbarogenija. Jer, ne samo što se zamisao o tom jugobalkanskom, i potom srbobalkanskom, tipu čovekoheroja provlači od stranica "Zenita" (1922) do romana "Barbarogenije decivilizator" (1938), već ona, zapremajući po Konstantinoviću svaki atom Micićevog pisma, predstavlja osnov i suštinu Micićevog književnog poduhvata u celini. Ono što Konstantinović zapaža, to je da Micićevo ideološki opterećeno pisanje, čiji se ciljevi svode na tendenciju da se etablira izvesna mundana istina, zaklanja nedostatak poetskog nadahnuća. Tako, po Konstantinoviću, kada Micić ulazi u obračun s tradicijom, on to ne čini s avangardističkom željom za njenim prevrednovanjem, nego s negatorskom brutalnošću i pamfletski, što ga, uzeto kao tendencija čiji se vrhunac odigrava u "Barbarogeniju decivilizatoru" kad se glavni glavni lik obraća Musolinijevoj fotografiji i navodi Hitlera kao čitaoca “Zenit Manifesta”, srozava na participaciju u međuratnom fašizmu. S druge strane, figura Barbarogenija zadržava po Konstantinoviću simptomatsku vrednost, budući da ona, pronoseći lik balkanskog divljaka, odgovara raznim kolonijalnim predstavama o Balkanu kao svetu varvarske egzotike. Barbarogenije je utoliko bezopasan, on donosi tačno ono što se od njega unutar evrocentričnog prostora očekuje. Na unutrašnjem planu, pak, on nije bezazlen pošto simbolizuje i fiksira strah od spoljnih uticaja.

This study aims to evaluate the psychological and social aspects related to prolonged illness management among individuals diagnosed with chronic illness in the Balkans. Data were collected using self-report measures, including the Patient Activation Measure, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Family Support Scale (FSS), Zarit Burden Interview, Patient-Provider Communication Scale, Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS), and Perceived Discrimination Scale. The study involves 250 participants who completed surveys online and conducts multiple regression analysis to examine the interrelationships among the different factors. The results indicate moderate degrees of psychosocial suffering, with depression and anxiety being major factors. Effective coping strategies, familial support, and good communication with medical professionals are positively linked to improved overall results, while heavier burden placed on caregivers and perceived discrimination both exhibit negative correlations with health outcomes. The study emphasizes the need for specialized approaches that reflect a cultural sensibility related to chronic illness management struggles encountered by the population of the Balkans.

Pottery is a complex archaeological material that is found ubiquitously in various spatial—temporal frameworks from all over the world; therefore, it is of great importance to archaeological research. The current paper aims to present and discuss the results obtained on a batch of Neolithic (ca. 6000–5000 BC) and Chalcolithic (ca. 5000–3900 BC) pottery sherds from Southern Romania through X-ray Computed Tomography, a non-destructive methodology that allows for the 3D reconstruction and precise measurement of inclusions and voids present within ceramic artefacts. Images from several potsherds were subsequently exported and analyzed by means of dedicated software (ImageJ 1.54p and GIMP) to extract quantitative information on the observed features. Grain size and morphometric analyses were performed on the particles, while the contour variability of the examined inclusions was characterized through the application of shape descriptors. Voids were analyzed in order to reveal specific orientation patterns through the examination of the aspect ratio of the holes and of the Rayleigh z test values. These analyses evidenced the general reliance of moderately and poorly sorted clays for ceramic production, accompanied by a gradual transition from organic to grog tempering, while conservative traditions remained prevalent in primary pottery-forming processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of phleboviruses and Leishmania spp., the causative agents of leishmaniases. The Mediterranean sand fly fauna is diverse, and leishmaniasis, mainly caused by Leishmania infantum, is endemic in the Balkan countries. Despite recent entomological surveys, only some districts of Kosovo have been sampled for sand flies, with no proof/confirmation of L. infantum. This study aimed to gain further insights into the species composition of natural sand fly populations in previously unsampled districts and areas in Kosovo without reports of leishmaniasis and to detect Leishmania DNA in sand flies. A sand fly survey was conducted in 2022 in all seven districts of Kosovo. Collected females were screened for Leishmania DNA by PCR. Positive samples were sequenced and subjected to maximum likelihood analysis with reference sequences for further molecular characterization. The trapping activities at 114 different localities resulted in 3272 caught specimens, comprising seven sand fly species of two genera, namely Phlebotomus neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. tobbi, Ph. papatasi, Ph. simici, Ph. balcanicus and Sergentomyia minuta. Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in three individual sand flies of Ph. neglectus and Ph. perfiliewi. This study provides the most extensive sand fly survey in Kosovo and reports the first record of L. infantum DNA in sand flies, indicating autochthonous circulation of L. infantum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakebite incidence varies across Europe. However, there is limited research from Central and Southeastern Europe. These regions are notable for the presence of the common European adder (Vipera berus) and the more venomous nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes). No standard European antivenom protocol exists. The aim was to assess the epidemiology and treatment of viper bites in this region, focusing on a comparison of bites from Vipera berus and Vipera ammodytes. We conducted a prospective multicenter study in Central and Southeastern Europe from 2018 to 2020. This study included poison centres and toxicology-associated hospital wards in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. The following data were collected: age, gender, Vipera species, snakebite site, clinical picture, laboratory results, Audebert's clinical severity grading score, and antivenom therapy. The annual incidence of viper bites in Central and Southeast Europe was estimated at 2.55 bites per million population. Within their respective geographical distribution areas, the incidence of Vipera ammodytes bites (1.61 bites per million population) was higher than Vipera berus bites (1.00 bites per million population). Patients bitten by Vipera ammodytes more frequently reported local pain and developed thrombocytopenia. Antivenom treatment was more commonly administered in Vipera ammodytes bites (72%) compared to Vipera berus bites (39%). The incidence of Vipera ammodytes bites treated with antivenom within its geographical distribution area was three times higher than Vipera berus bites treated with antivenom (1.16 bites per million population versus 0.39 bites per million population). No deaths were reported. The estimated incidence of viper bites in Central and Southeastern Europe is at least 2.55 per million population. Vipera ammodytes bites are more common and severe, characterized by higher frequencies of pain and thrombocytopenia. Antivenom is needed more often for Vipera ammodytes bites. It is vital that enough European Medicines Agency-approved Vipera ammodytes antivenom is produced and offered affordably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The narrow-clawed crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus is a large native European astacid crayfish species distributed in the drainage area of the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas. The species shows immense morphological diversity across its range. Various species and subspecies have been described and, recently, eight species and two subspecies were confirmed in the updated classification of freshwater crayfishes. However, genetic diversity studies of the species are scarce, mostly from limited geographical areas. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the genetic diversity of this species using mtDNA and nuDNA from across their distributional range to verify the presence of described species. Analyses of individuals from 65 populations and 14 countries confirmed the existence of three divergent mtDNA phylogroups corresponding to the geographical area of Central and Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia, and Turkey. Analysis of ancestral ranges revealed the Black Sea basin as the most likely area of origin. The nuDNA analysis showed low diversity partially corresponding to the mtDNA pattern. All analyses showed mitonuclear discordance indicating the existence of a single species. Therefore, we point out the possibility of taxonomic inaccuracy with the current number of valid species within the P. leptodactylus species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Sloveniae: Revija za Terensko Biologijo / Journal of Field Biology is the property of Natura Sloveniae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prehistoric communities had strong ties with the animal world that surrounded them—animals were prey, sources of food, and raw materials, but also threats and mysteries, and certain animals often had an important place in the symbolic realm. With the process of domestication and the switch to animal husbandry as the main source of animal food, these relations changed considerably, and a certain dichotomy between “the domestic” and “the wild” may be noted in numerous past communities. When it comes to the Neolithic period in the Balkans, domestic animals had an important place in subsistence and economy, and it seems that cattle had a particularly prominent symbolic role. Wild species preserved some of their significance in both subsistence and symbolic realms, especially cervids (red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer). In this paper, the place of deer in the material culture of the Neolithic communities in the Balkans will be analysed: skeletal elements of deer were used for the production of diverse items, including non-utilitarian ones, or were part of ritual depositions, and deer representations are encountered in other materials, such as clay figurines. The symbolic meaning of deer cannot be reconstructed with certainty; however, it is probable that deer were tied with territoriality and the landscape.

After a nomenclatural revision of the available names for the order of rocky grasslands of the Balkan Peninsula within the class Festuco-Brometea, based on Article 52 ICPN we propose the conservation of the name Koelerietalia splendentis against the name Halacsyetalia sendtneri. In syntaxonomic concepts not combining the limestone and serpentine rocky grasslands of the Balkans in a single order, the latter name would still be available as it is based on a different nomenclatural type. (39) Koelerietalia splendentisHorvatić 1973 nom. cons. propos. Typus: Chrysopogono grylli-Koelerion splendentisHorvatić 1973 (holotypus) (=) Halacsyetalia sendtneriRitter-Studnička 1970 Typus: Potentillion visianiiRitter-Studnička 1970 (lectotypus: Kuzmanović et al. 2016) Taxonomic reference : Mucina et al. (2016). Abbreviations : ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature, 4th edition (Theurillat et al. 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new member of the subterranean family Niphargidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata) is discovered and described from the Maronia Cave, near Maronia town, Rhodopi district, NE Greece, Niphargus beroni, spec. nov., and its relation to some other members of genus Niphargus from adjacent regions of Balkan is discussed. By this way, the number of known members of the family Niphargidae in Greece is elevated to nearly 25 distinct taxa (genera, species and subspecies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This short communication presents first record of Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Diaperinae) in North Macedonia. The problem of the introduction of this non-native darkling beetle as alternative medicine is briefly discussed. Prior to this study, no data exist about the presence of U. dermestoides on the territory of the former Balkan countries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the development of the Orthodox Church institutions in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina during the de-Ottomanization process of Southeastern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I focus on the Muslim population's responses, primarily by institutions and intellectuals, to events that followed the autonomy of the Belgrade Metropolitanate gained in 1831. The Orthodoxy's increasing influence and the declining influence of Islam on social trends and the formation of political ideas and approaches are also detected. The 'Eastern question' still has significant protagonists in the Balkans, so these relations have their geopolitical implications. Given the holistic approach, attention is paid to this relationship in the wider Balkan and even global context due to clear links in social movements during the de-Ottomanization of the Balkans, beyond Bosniak-Serb relations. The analysis also includes the consequences of certain religious and popular teachings within these universal missions on the ideological and cultural conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Croatica is the property of Natura Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Ottoman Legacy Studies (OMAD) / Osmanlı Mirası Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Ottoman Legacy Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zbornik Radova Vizantološkog Instituta is the property of Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The latest Tesat report and statistical data analysis show that the individual exteremist actions are predominant in EU, mostly incentivized by social networks, especially Telegram groups after 2016. Consequently, French and German prime ministers took the inciative on 23rd August 2016 and induced legal regulations for Telegram group, especially concerning jihadist secret messages. Balkan as multiconfessional transitory area distinguishes itself by two-directional regrutations: towards Islamis State and toward EU, consenquently representing constant safety threat to EU countries. The latest regrutation statistical data analysis shows that the highest regrutation rate is in Kosovo and Metohija - 316 identified cases, Bosna and Hercegovina (240) and Albania (140). The highset returnee rate is also noticed in Kosovo and Metohija (37%), right behind Macedonia (60%). It is reasonable to assume regrutation and returnee numbers are higher in 2023, pointing out the necessity for the European legislative modelsconcering terroristic contents regulation introduction in Serbian legislative system. The Byzantine sources of the eight to the tenth century analysis gives better understaning of the contemporary situation theological background along with fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity outline. References from the patristic writings of Saint John Damascus, Nicetas of Byzanium and Theodore Abu Qurrah. Two main distinctive contemporary qualities between Islam and Christianity, namely, Islamic Monotheism vs. Christian Triadologic concept and Islamic jihad are recognized during early stages of the Byzantine-Islamic dialog. The necessity for theological education enabling concrete discerning between extremist and moderate Islamic belief is also emphasized along with the EU knowledge of Islamic desecularization process stenghtening in Balkan.

Nâsırüddin el-Elbânî, 1914 yılında Arnavutluk'un İşkodra şehrinde doğmuştur. Kral Ahmet Zogu’nun Müslümanları sindirmeye yönelik politikalar uygulaması dolayısıyla, Elbânî’nin babası Nuh Necati Suriye’ye göçmüştür. Suriye bu dönemde Fransız mandası altında sömürgecilikten etkilenen bir ülkeydi. Bundan dolayı Nuh Necati oğlunu devlet okuluna değil Medresetu Cem‘iyyeti’l-İs‘afi’l-Hayriyye ismiyle özel bir okulda yazdırır. İlkokulu bitirdiğinde hem baba mesleğini saat tamirciliğini öğrenir hem de Şam’da bulunan Dârü’l-Kütübi’z-Zâhiriyye kütüphanesine giderek oradaki hadis yazmalarını incelemeye başlamıştır. Onun kütüphanede bulunan hadis yazmalarının fihristlerini hazırlaması, ilim ehlinin varlığından haberdar olmadığı bazı yazmaları keşfetmesi ve bazı özel kütüphanelerdeki yazma eserleri de ortaya çıkarmasıyla dikkat çekmiştir. Onun bu çabası önemli bir hadis alimi olmasını sağlamıştır. Elbânî, düzenli olarak bir rahle-i tedristâttan geçmemiş ve hocasız olarak kendini yetiştirmiştir. Herhangi bir akademik kariyere sahip olmamasına rağmen Medine İslam Üniversitesinde ders vermesine engel olmamıştır. Ancak üniversitede onun görüşleri hızla tartışmalara yol açmış ve kariyerinin 1961'den 1963'e kadar kısa sürede bitmesine neden olmuştur.Elbânî, dini anlamak için mezhep imamlarının fetvaları değil, Kur'an ve sünnet esas alınmalı gerektiğini savunmuştur. Mezhebi hükümleri din haline getirmek, mezhepleri İslam’ın kendisi olarak kabul etmek doğru değildir. Fıkhi mezheplere bağlılık zorunlu değildir. Elbânî, birçok konuda mezheplerin görüşlerini eleştirdikten sonra “bu konu hakkında sahih sünnette şöyle bir hüküm bulunmaktadır”, şeklinde açıklama yapmaktadır. Ayrıca, fıkhu’s-sunne kavramını kullanırken fıkhi mezheplerin hadislerle birçok konuda ihtilafa düştüklerini zikreder. O, mezheplerin usulünden ziyade doğrudan hadislere dayalı bir fıkıh yöntemi benimsenmesi gerektiğini ifade eder. Elbânî’nin, fıkhu'l-hadis veya fıkhu’s-sunne kavramlarını kullanırken mezheplere alternatif bir fıkıh çıkarmaya çalıştığı görülmektedir. Elbânî, Hanbeli mezhebinin metodolojisi yerine Hadis’i esas alması nedeniyle Suud alimleri tarafından da eleştirmiştir. Çünkü Elbânî’nin bu yaklaşımı, onlara göre Suud alimlerinin otoritesine tehdittir. Ancak Elbânî’ye göre bir mezhebe bağlı kalmak, Hadis’ten ayrılmanın nedeni olur. Elbânî, koyu bir Hanefi mezhebi taraftarı olan babası Nuh Necati’yle de mezhebi anlaşmazlıklar yaşamıştır. Elbânî’ye göre babasının mutaassıp Hanefi olmasının nedeni onun bazı hadisleri terk etmesinden kaynaklanmıştır. Ona göre hiçbir koşulda Hadisi terk etmek caiz değildir. Elbânî'nin, 1980 yılında Ürdün’e taşınması onun Selefîlik anlayışını tutarlı bir biçime dönüştürmeye başladı. Pek çok genç tâlebetü’lü ilmi’ş-şerî adıyla onun etrafında toplanmaya başladılar. Elbânî'nin, Ürdün’e taşınması genç öğrenciler için önemli bir başlangıç noktası olmuş ve Selefîlerin sayısı çarpıcı bir şekilde artmıştır. İşte bu öğrencilerin yaptıkları faaliyetlerle Elbânî’nin Selefîlik anlayışı kökleşmeye başlamıştır. Bu öğrencilerin en önemli faaliyetlerinden biri de Elbânî’nin konuşmaları kayıt altında almalarıdır. Çünkü Ürdün’de yaşadığı dönemde kamuya açık alanlarda ve camilerde vaaz etmesi yasaklanmıştır. Bundan dolayı ev toplantılarında veya farklı platformlarda küçük gruplara yönelik yaptığı konuşmaları kaydedilmiştir. Bu da Elbânî’yi çağdaş alimlerden ayıran en önemli hususlardan biri olmuştur. Konuşma kayıtlarının büyük kısmı, soru-cevap formatındadır. Diğer kısmı ise konferanslar, sohbetler, vaazlardan oluşmaktadır. Bütün bu konuşma kayıtları Silsiletu’l-Hudâ ve’n-Nûr başlığı altında toplanmıştır. Bunlar Siyer, Hadis Tarihi, Hadis Usulü, davet, cihad, iman ve tekfir gibi konulardan oluşmaktadır. Elbânî’nin konuşma kayıtları Arapça ve Arnavutça dilinde olmuştur. Çalışmada, Elbânî’nin Arnavutça’da yaptığı konuşma kayıtlarından hareketle onun Selefîlik anlayışı ve Balkan öğrenciler üzerindeki etkisi ele alınacaktır. Elbânî’nin yetiştirdiği talebeler arasında Balkanlardan Ürdün’e giden öğrenciler de bulunmaktadır. Öğrenciler onun kitaplarını tercüme etmiş, adına web siteleri kurmuş, tartışma forumları ve sosyal platformlar oluşturarak fikirlerini yaymışlardır. Ancak Elbânî’nin fikirlerinin yayılmasındaki en etkili yöntemin onun Arnavutça yaptığı konuşmaları içeren ses kayıtları olduğu söylenebilir. Bu nedenle çalışmada Elbânî’nin düşüncelerini ve gençler üzerindeki etkisini anlamak üzere daha çok ses kayıtlarına başvurulacaktır. Bunun yanında kitap ve makale gibi yazılı kaynaklardan da istifade edilecektir. Bize ulaşan en eski Arnavutça konuşma kaydı 1993’e aittir. Bu konuşma kayıtları Elbânî’nin öğrencileri tarafından sosyal medyada farklı platformlarda paylaşılmıştır. Ses kayıtları haftalık veya aylık sohbetlerinden yapılan konuşmalarından oluşmaktadır. Kitap ve makale gibi yazılı kaynaklara yer verilmişse de çalışmanın kapsamı Şeyh Elbânî’nin ses kayıtları ile sınırlı tutulacaktır.