bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A personalized approach to the assessment of nutrition biomarkers using the example of mining workers
Authors: Mazhaeva Tatyana V. , Dubenko Svetlana E. , Chernova Julia S. , Sutunkova Marina P. , Gurvich Vladimir B.
Published: February 2025

Introduction. The use of modern OMIC technologies and traditional research methods in personalized nutrition makes it possible to provide an integrated assessment of the nutrition and health of industrial workers in order to form individual dietary recommendations.
The study aims to develop a personalized approach to the assessment of nutrition biomarkers using the example of mining workers.
Materials and methods. The study included the results of a medical examination and a survey of 40 workers at a mining enterprise in the Sverdlovsk region, and an assessment of the individual nutritional phenotype and its clinical manifestations was carried out. The levels of 60 organic acids in the urine of these workers were studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (LLC Chromolab), and the polymorphism of 42 genes was evaluated (LLC Basis Genotech).
Results. The nutrition of all surveyed employees of the enterprise characterizes the European model using a large number of ultra-processed, high-calorie products with a low density of vitamins and minerals. The presence of deviations in the content of organic acids in urine indicates a change in the metabolic pathways associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, coenzyme Q10, B vitamins, and lipoic acid. According to the results of a genetic study, more than 60% of workers revealed high genetic risks of overeating, impaired carbohydrate metabolism, increased levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), blood pressure, metabolic disorders of vitamins D and A, lactose intolerance, and decreased detoxification. According to body mass index (BMI), waist size, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, more than a third of the surveyed have metabolic syndrome.
Limitations. A small sample and a frequency-based nutrition questionnaire reduces the accuracy of the results obtained.
Conclusion. The identified markers of unbalanced nutrition, as well as the studied genetic and metabolic (dietary) profiles of employees may indicate high risks of depletion of the body's energy resources, affect detoxification processes, functional capabilities, and increase individual risks of developing metabolic syndrome, which necessitates the development of personalized dietary recommendations and correction of corporate nutrition.
Ethics. The study received permission from the local Ethics Committee of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers of Rospotrebnadzor No. 5 dated 12.27.2021. All the surveyed gave voluntary informed consent.
Towards a decentralized geospatial web — risks and opportunities for GIScience
Authors: Hoopes John , Oshan Taylor M.
Published: February 2025

The application of decentralized web technologies and design principles within GIScience remains underexplored. We examine potential pitfalls and opportunities at their intersection, and propose three pillars for a decentralized geospatial web: Proof-of-Location, Verifiable Geocomputation, and Peer-to-Peer Spatial Data Management. These technologies offer cryptographically robust ways to validate location claims, ensure tamper-resistant geospatial analyses, and empower user-centric data ownership, with potential for wide-ranging impact for individuals, governments and the private sector across many application domains. Although challenges remain, from platform immaturity to reputational stigma, these pillars may pave the way for more resilient, fair, and trustworthy geospatial ecosystems.
Dramatic Productivity Improvements through AI in a Minimal-Budget Organization: A Case Study of a Minor Sport’s National Governing Body in Japan (Japanese)
Authors: Shinohara Hajime
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the potential and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in an organization with extremely limited financial and human resources, exemplified by the Japan Korfball Association (JKA). Despite operating on an annual budget of just 300,000 yen and overseeing a sport with only around 1,000 active participants, the JKA must fulfill strict compliance requirements akin to those expected of major corporations. Through a participant observation case study, we analyzed JKA’s work processes and organizational performance before and after AI implementation. Two highly cost-effective AI tools—Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Perplexity Pro—were strategically selected to address various organizational needs.The findings reveal five notable outcomes:Significant Improvement in Operational Efficiency: Major tasks experienced an average time reduction of approximately 90%.Dramatic Reduction in Human Error: For instance, typographical and clerical mistakes decreased by 98%, enhancing organizational credibility.Greater Focus on Strategic Tasks: Freed-up resources enabled an increase in new project proposals and more strategic initiatives.Rapid Development of New Services: AI-assisted coding cut app development times from weeks to mere hours, achieving over 99% in time savings.Organizational Ripple Effects: News postings increased by a factor of ten, signaling a broader revitalization of communication and outreach.These outcomes underscore AI’s remarkable capacity to boost operational efficiency and energize organizations burdened by resource constraints. Equally crucial is the delineation of appropriate responsibilities between AI and human staff: AI excels at routine or analytic tasks, while human members concentrate on strategic planning and creative activities. This study provides a practical model for resource-limited entities, including small and medium-sized enterprises, demonstrating how low-cost, high-impact AI solutions can foster sustainable growth and robust organizational performance.
Charting open science Landscapes: A Systematized Review of US Academic Libraries’ Engagement in Open Research Practices
Authors: Scotti Kristen L , Jiao Chenyue , Gainey Melanie , Bongiovanni Emily , Slayton Emma
Published: February 2025

Open Science aims to make research publicly accessible, transparent, and reusable, promoting collaboration across disciplines and fostering relationships among government, academia, industry, and society. International and regional reviews have explored the roles of academic libraries in promoting open science on both global and local scales. However, practices within U.S. academic libraries have not been examined comprehensively. This study addresses this gap. We employ a systematized literature review methodology to map U.S. academic library engagement in key areas of open science (e.g., open access, open data, open educational resources) and overlap analysis is used to assess shifts from discrete initiatives (e.g., open access, research data management) to holistic, integrated services that span the research lifecycle. Using a comprehensive search strategy, we identified 3,752 publications for inclusion in the study. We find that U.S. academic libraries are actively engaged in open science practices, with the most extensive involvement in open access and the provision of infrastructure to support open science. However, engagement in activities related to citizen science remains limited. Through thematic overlap analysis, we find that ~50% of publications report activities across two or more themes of open science, suggesting a possible shift toward more comprehensive practices. A key challenge reported by libraries is the need for continuous professional development to address technical skills gaps. As research needs and corresponding librarian responsibilities continue to evolve, maintaining librarian professional development opportunities will remain crucial for equipping librarians with the skills necessary to continue supporting and advancing open science initiatives.
Does healthy cooking leads to healthy choices? Exploring the impact of a virtual reality cooking game on healthy eating decisions
Authors: yang yilin , LiuMengying  , Huang Jianping
Published: February 2025

Objective: Cooking plays a crucial role in healthy eating, and food exposure during cooking significantly influences people’s health and well-being. Given the challenges faced by novice cooks and the general lack of interest in cooking, this research proposes utilizing a highly engaging cooking game as an alternative to real-life cooking, allowing individuals to achieve the same health-boosting benefits as traditional cooking while enjoying the game. Additionally, this study will examine the moderating role of food type and cooking manner in this process.Methods: Two pre-registered behavioral experiments (Nstudy1=60, Nstudy2=54) were conducted to examine how using different types of food (healthy vs. unhealthy) in a cooking game affects subsequent food choices, and how the cooking manner (neat vs. messy) moderates this effect. Results: Study 1 found that cooking healthy food led to healthier food choices after gaming. Study 2 revealed a significant moderating effect of cooking manner: When cooking healthy food, a neat cooking manner led individuals to subsequently choose fewer healthy foods, while a messy cooking manner led to an increase; conversely, when cooking unhealthy food, participants who cooked neatly chose more healthy food, while those who cooked messily chose less healthy food.Conclusion: These findings suggest that an engaging cooking game could replace real-life cooking as a direct and effective strategy to promote healthy eating. The results also highlight the importance of context-specific strategies in designing and implementing health interventions to prevent unintended consequences arising from excessive cues.
Cooperative Shadow Feeding: A Novel Hypothesis for the Feeding Ecology and Evolutionary Adaptations of Long-Necked Plesiosaurs
Authors: Iida Kurando
Published: February 2025

Plesiosaurs, a diverse group of Mesozoic marine reptiles, have intriguedpaleontologists with their unique morphologies and varied feeding strategies.Recent studies suggest that differences in body size and neck length have significantecological implications. In this paper, we present the cooperative shadow feedinghypothesis, proposing that large-bodied, long-necked plesiosaurs (e.g.,elasmosaurids) engaged in group feeding by casting shadows that attracted schoolsof small fish, which were captured by rapidly extending their necks. This strategywas likely supported by a highly flexible esophagus capable of storing largequantities of prey and by gastroliths that aided in prey processing. In contrast, smallbodied, short-necked forms, such as polycotylids, appear to have been solitaryhunters in deeper waters. We integrate fossil evidence, functional morphology, andcomparisons with modern marine animals to offer a comprehensive view ofplesiosaur feeding ecology and evolution. Our hypothesis not only provides insightsinto the adaptive significance of neck elongation but also suggests potential socialbehaviors in these marine reptiles. We further outline future research directionsincluding biomechanical analyses, taphonomic studies of gastrolith distribution,and paleoenvironmental investigations.
The Link between Delayed Affective Recovery from Daily Stressors and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth
Authors: Lachowicz Aleksandra Monika , Vaessen Thomas , Lafit Ginette , Achterhof Robin , Akcaoglu Zeynep , Bamps Eva , Hagemann Noëmi , Hiekkaranta Anu Pauliina , Hermans Karlijn Susanna Francisca Maria , Janssens Julie , Lecei Aleksandra , Kirtley Olivia J , Myin-Germeys Inez , Houben Marlies
Published: February 2025

Key symptoms of anxiety include experiencing unpleasant emotions and hyperarousal. Growing evidence suggests the role of delayed affective recovery from stress (DAR) in their maintenance and development on a day-to-day basis. We aimed to investigate whether DAR is linked to current and future anxiety symptoms, independently of depressive symptoms. Self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed twice: at Wave 1 (N=1031) and approximately 2.5 years later at Wave 2 (N=171) in a community sample of adolescents. Additionally, at Wave 1, Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used. Participants reported their momentary affect and stressful occurrences 10 times a day, for six days. Using ESM data and a subtraction method, we construed two variables, i.e., affective valence and arousal reflecting the (un)pleasantness and (hyper)arousal associated with emotions. The time interval for affective recovery was estimated using parametric survival analysis. Prospective associations were tested with multiple regression. Slower valence recovery was associated with higher concurrent anxiety symptoms (p<.05) and this association remained present when controlling for depressive symptoms (p<.05). The same association was present for the arousal recovery, however only when depressive symptoms were added to the model (p<.05). We found no prospective association between the speed of valence nor arousal recovery at Wave 1 and anxiety symptoms at Wave 2. Our results suggest that DAR may be a concomitant process contributing to the maintenance of key anxiety symptoms, but not to their development. Our findings help identify the moments in the daily lives of youth, where potential interventions could be implemented.
The narcissism of science denial
Authors: Golec Agnieszka
Published: February 2025

Amid historically low societal trust in science, four cross-sectional studies (N = 3,856) reveal a link between generic science denial and national narcissism. The findings support the pre-registered hypotheses that (1) national narcissism (a desire for national recognition) and ingroup satisfaction (pride in national value) have opposite unique associations with science denial (rejection of scientific consensus and generalized suspicion towards scientific experts) and (2) opposite indirect associations with specific outcomes of science denial during the COVID19 pandemic and beyond (climate change denial, anti-vaccination attitude, and support for unregulated ‘alternative’ medicine). After their common variance is controlled, national narcissism is positively associated with generic science denial and its outcomes, while national ingroup satisfaction is associated negatively. National narcissism was the strongest predictor of science denial, surpassing other established predictors such as low education and political conservatism. Studies 1 and 2 showed additionally, that vulnerable narcissistic personality was the second strongest predictor of generic science denial, demonstrating for the first time, that the narcissistic need to be recognized as better than others underlies generic science denial.
Heterogeneous Variance Models with Gaussian Processes
Authors: Baurne Yvette , Delmar Frédéric , Wallin Jonas
Published: February 2025

Understanding variability is a key focus in many areas of psychological research, with growing interest in modeling individual and group variability. While multilevel models such as heterogeneous variance models and Mixed-Effect Location Scale (MELS) models have been used to capture these dynamics, they typically rely on linear assumptions and temporal change of the variability is restricted to one level. Recent calls for nonlinear approaches in psychology highlight the need for more flexible models that can better account for complex, dynamic processes. This paper introduces the use of Gaussian Processes (GPs) within the framework of heterogeneous variance models to address these limitations. By incorporating GPs, we allow for the modeling of nonlinear variability across multiple levels, including temporal dynamics at both the individual and group levels. We demonstrate the benefits of this approach in two empirical applications. Our findings show that using GPs provide an improved model fit compared to traditional linear methods and highlight the utility of GPs in variance modeling, offering new possibilities for studying dynamic and emergent processes in psychological and social science research.
Adaptation and psychometric properties of the Disgust Scale Revised in a peruvian sample
Authors: Silva-Alegria Mauricio
Published: February 2025

The present study sought to adapt and validate the psychometric properties of the Disgust Scale Revised in Peruvian Adults. A non-probabilistic, snowball sample of 335 Peruvian adults was taken. For content validity, the clarity of the items were evaluated using Aiken's V. For internal structure validity, the fit indices of a series of confirmatory factor analyzes were evaluated for the one, two, and three-factor models. For validity with respect to other constructs, the SD-R constructs were correlated with the purity/sanctity subconstruct of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. For reliability, the ordinal alpha and the omega coefficient were used. Acceptable fit indices were obtained for the two and three oblique factor models, acceptable reliability indices for the core disgust and animal reminder scales was obtained, and small and significant positive correlations were obtained between the contamination and animal reminder factors with the purity/sanctity scale of the MFQ. The DS-R is an instrument with acceptable psychometric properties, although some adjustments must be made related to the reliability of the contamination scale, added to the exploration of other variables that correlate to each of its constructs to obtain greater validity in relation to other variables.
A Cross-National Analysis of Sociodemographic Variation in Educational Attainment
Authors: Padgett R. Noah , Le Pertel Noémie , Hinton Christina , Kettler Todd , Ho Andrew , Chen Ying , Bradshaw Matt , Johnson Byron R. , VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: February 2025

Prior research documents strong associations between higher educational attainment and improved health and well-being outcomes. Studies on educational differences, such as those conducted by OECD and UNESCO, have focused on national trends in educational attainment. The current study builds on existing international surveys of educational attainment by providing supporting evidence for educational attainment in several countries and novel evidence for various other countries and territories. For example, results demonstrate that country-level aggregate estimates of the proportion of the population attaining a tertiary education from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS) aligns fairly well with existing estimates from the OECD, with a correlation of r=0.83 with 95% CI (0.57, 0.94), and the estimates for new countries may be a lower bound for the estimated proportion of the population attaining a tertiary education. A major additional contribution of this article is providing insights into the contexts of educational attainment across countries by reporting which sociodemographic groups tend to have attained higher levels of education and how these trends differ across countries. We examined these differences by evaluating the sociodemographic contexts (e.g., age, marital status, employment status) in which achieving more education is found using data from 202,898 participants across 22 countries that were post-stratified to be nationally representative within each country.
Gender expression varies within diverse gender identities in adolescents and adults
Authors: Kadel Brooke Elyse , Junkins Eleanor J , Briley D. A. , Derringer Jaime
Published: February 2025

Gender is typically considered in psychological science using limited categorical identities that do not necessarily capture the experiences of gender diverse people. Gender expression, in contrast to social identities, is generally understood as continuous, and even within a categorical gender identity, variation in gender typicality is well-established. Yet, the way individuals integrate identity, expression, and experiences is complex and likely subject to changing social norms. This study examines patterns of variance in dimensional measures of gender expression within and between diverse gender identity categories. We compare results across two data sets spanning adolescence and adulthood: a sample of diverse adolescents throughout the United States (N=10,120) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset, and a convenience sample of adults oversampled for diverse gender identities and sexual orientations (N=1,405). Across both samples, our results revealed variance in gender expression within categorical gender identities and overlap in gender expression between categories, with less pronounced differences between sexual orientation categories in adults than in adolescents. We find both variation and consistency in gender expression across age cohorts, potentially informing the development of gender expression over time. These results illustrate the importance of recognizing gender as complex spectra to better represent diverse personal experiences.
Особенности проведения диагностического обследования при консультировании семьи, воспитывающей ребенка с РАС
Authors: Pereverzeva Daria
Published: February 2025

Актуальность. Расстройства аутистического спектра представляют собой группу нарушений развития, которые объединяет наличие трудностей общения, социального взаимодействия и стереотипный характер интересов и активности. В последние годы отмечается существенный рост количества детей, имеющих проблемы, характерные для РАС: согласно исследованию 2022 года, медианная распространенность РАС по разным странам составляет 1%. Вне зависимости от причин роста распространенности крайне актуальной становится задача организации профессионального сопровождения этой категории детей. Целью настоящей статьи является анализ стратегий проведения диагностического обследования при консультировании семьи, воспитывающей ребенка с РАС. Методы исследования. Анализ и обобщение данных научной и методической литературы и практического опыта специалистов, задействованных в организации консультативного сопровождения семьи с ребенком с РАС. Результаты. В статье раскрываются наиболее частотные запросы, с которыми обращается семья, стратегии диагностического обследования, перечень диагностических инструментов, доступных на русском языке, и критерии их использования, в зависимости от возраста и целей диагностики. Выводы. Использование диагностических подходов, описанных в статье, позволит улучшить маршрутизацию детей с расстройствами аутистического спектра в системе образования.
Compositional processing in the recognition of Chinese compounds: Behavioural and computational studies
Authors: Hsieh Cheng-Yu , Marelli Marco , Rastle Kathleen
Published: February 2025

Recent research has shown that the compositional meaning of a compound is routinely constructed by combining meanings of constituents. However, this body of research has focused primarily on Germanic languages. It remains unclear whether this same computational process is also observed in Chinese, a writing system characterised by less systematicity of the meanings and functions of constituents across compounds. We quantified the ease of integrating the meanings of Chinese constituent characters into a compositional compound meaning using a computational model based on distributional semantics. We then showed that this metric predicted sensibility judgements on novel compounds (Study 1), lexical decision latencies for rejecting novel compounds (Study 2), and lexical decision latencies for recognising existing compounds (Study 3). These results suggest that a compositional process is routinely involved in Chinese compound processing, even in tasks that do not explicitly require meaning combination. Our results also suggest that a generic statistical learning framework is able to capture the meaningful functions of Chinese compound constituents. We conclude by discussing the advantages of routine meaning construction during compound processing in Chinese reading.
Expectation and Hope: Experiences of Time by Ecuadorian Returnees Envisioning a ‘Life Worth Living’
Authors: Voirol Jérémie , Simoni Valerio
Published: February 2025

This article contributes to anthropological reflections on ‘hope’ and ‘expectation’ by analysing the experiences of time of two Ecuadorian migrants who returned to their homeland from Spain and envision their future lives differently. Building on the migrants’ trajectories and reasonings, we propose a clearer conceptual delineation of the notions of hope and expectation than the ones that currently prevail in anthropology. We do so by showing their interrelations and articulations, particularly in one’s own experience (constituted by moments of expectation and moments of hope), and by drawing attention to our interlocutors’ temporalisation. As a future-orientation, ‘hope’ is directed toward change and constitutes an envisioning more open and creative than ‘expectation’, which builds on continuity and stability. The notion of ‘duration’ provides insight into the ways our interlocutors compartmentalise their time experience, constituting a sense of past-ness, present-ness, and future-ness, which impacts their future imaginings as ‘hoping’ versus ‘expecting’.
Enhancing Teacher Professional Development to Improve Curriculum Implementation in Sierra Leone’s Secondary Schools
Authors: Dumbuya Emmanuel
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the crucial role of teacher professional development (TPD) in the successful implementation of curriculum reforms in Sierra Leone's secondary schools. It critically examines how ongoing TPD initiatives influence teachers’ ability to adopt and effectively deliver newly designed curricula that align with global educational standards. The study evaluates the current state of TPD programs in Sierra Leone, including their strengths and weaknesses, and provides recommendations for improvement. Through interviews with educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers, the research highlights the impact of TPD on the quality of education and its contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) in Sierra Leone. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive, context-sensitive professional development programs to equip teachers with the skills necessary for successful curriculum implementation.
Identity Diversification and Homogenization: Evidence from Frequent Estimates of Similarity of Self-Authored, Self-Descriptive Text
Authors: Vahabli Danial , Jones Jason Jeffrey
Published: February 2025

For more than a decade, individuals composed and edited self-authored self-descriptions as social media biographies. Did these identities become more diverse over time because of a "rise in individualism" and increasing tolerance or did they become more homogenous through social learning, conformity, and fear of isolation? We analyzed longitudinal and cross-sectional Twitter bio samples with a variety of lexical and semantic methods for the 2012-2022 interval. We show that longitudinally, users diversified on lexical and semantic levels. On a cross-sectional sample - representing the state of the platform at any time point – we again observed a trend of diversification at the lexical level, but a trend of diversification reversed toward re-homogenization on the semantic level. Further, by focusing on local maxima and minima of identity similarity we identified “coordination shocks” - temporally confined intervals where similar users became overactive on the platform and drove short-term deviations from longer-term trends.
“People like me” – Introducing Group-Related Political Efficacy
Authors: Garritzmann Susanne , Roßteutscher Sigrid , Jansen Max P. , Becker Birgit
Published: February 2025

Political efficacy is a powerful predictor of political participation. Many traditional measures of efficacy in political science prompt survey respondent to think of “people like me”, thus evoking a group reference. However, without specifying which of multiple possible group memberships respondents ought to think of, answers may refer to completely different groups across respondents, resulting in imprecise measures. In this paper, we argue that political efficacy encompasses not only an internal and an external dimension, but that there also is a third dimension, group-related political efficacy, which reflects variation in degrees of political responsiveness to different groups. To empirically assess our argument, we developed new measures of political efficacy and conducted two large, register-based surveys among different age groups (adolescents and adults) in Germany. The results show that individuals have very different perceptions of group-related political efficacy depending on their educational, economic, and migration backgrounds. With around 30 percent, a significant share of respondents has opposing group-related and external efficacy, suggesting that theoretically and empirically differentiating between these dimensions is important. Based on our evidence, we conclude that a vague stimulus as “people like me” blur the differences between general external and group-related dimensions of political efficacy. Instead, to adequately assess political efficacy, we suggest to use our newly developed (short) scales, specifying the concrete group of reference that the researcher is interested in.
Entre ideología y política. Perspectivas críticas sobre legislación educativa en Chile y Venezuela
Authors: Miranda David G.
Published: February 2025

El presente capítulo reflexiona sobre las tensiones entre ideologíay praxis política-educacional, tomando como ejes de análisislos casos de las reformas a la leyes generales de educación en Chiley Venezuela. Este contraste resulta especialmente interesante siconsideramos que ambos países generaron, desde el año 2009, importantesreformas educativas impulsadas por gobiernos herederosde la tradición socialista, que intervienen en contextos situadosdisímiles, y derivas ideológicas (Miranda, 2022) casi opuestas(Detsch, 2018)
Sequence Analysis
Authors: Struffolino Emanuela , Raab Marcel , Fasang Anette Eva
Published: February 2025

This chapter introduces Sequence Analysis (SA) as a set of tools for examining sequential categorical data, focusing on temporal processes. These processes are crucial in sociology and other social sciences, as they study how individuals, families, or organizations change over time or engage in different activities in one or more domains. SA allows for effectively describing and visualizing these temporal processes, helping identify regularities or anomalies in the number, duration, or timing of events and states. These patterns can be linked to units' characteristics (e.g., gender) or contextual factors (e.g., policy changes). The chapter outlines the main steps in conducting SA: coding and visualizing sequences, calculating dissimilarities, clustering similar sequences, and using cluster membership in regression models. This "core program" is demonstrated using data from the German pairfam survey. The chapter also provides references to recent advances and concludes with a discussion on challenges and open questions in the field.
Perceived Benefits and Harms of Child Marriage among Hausa Communities in Southwestern Nigeria: Views through the Lens of Theoretical Domains Framework
Authors: Omobowale Olubukola Christianah , Olaniyan Halimat Omowumi
Published: February 2025

This study explored perceived benefits and harms of child marriage among Hausa communities in Ibadan, Nigeria, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Through qualitative interviews with 42 affected stakeholders, we identified influences across ten TDF domains. Perceived benefits included early family completion, religious fulfillment, and prestige, while harms encompassed health complications, mental health issues, and social stigma. Domains influencing these perceptions were beliefs about consequences, social influences, environmental context, and social/professional identity. Parents emerged as primary decision-makers, influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors. Multiple domains of the TDF can be targeted to end child marriage among affected communities in Nigeria.
Not Social Welfare but Social Protection Planning: Adult Education as an Alternative for Older People's Wellbeing
Authors: Bhattarai Lok P. Sharma
Published: February 2025

The ever-increasing demands for the payment of old-age pensions have become a serious challenge to public finance in present time. The governments of different countries are looking for alternatives to tackle the problem; but well-accepted, sustainable, inclusive alternatives have remained as a debatable issue. In this article, the Author argues that older people's social security issue must not be dealt with by an exclusively welfare approach; instead, it should be taken as a matter of social protection planning. Adult education has been proposed and discussed as an alternative policy area to focus on which may have the potential to ease the burden of old-age pension in a sustainable way.
Global Warming and Its Impact on Indian Economy: An Assessment
Authors: Sarkar Sukanta , Chaudury Suman Kalyan
Published: February 2025

This paper attempts to highlight the impact of global warming on Indian economy. The results indicate that greenhouse gases are basically responsible for global warming. It is a worldwide problem. It will affect every sector of the economy i.e. agricultural, industrial and service sector. Employment generation in these sectors will be hampering. As a result of global warming poverty, unemployment, illegal activities, migration, slum areas, diseases, flood, drought will increase. Biodiversity and economic balance will be disturbed. Government will need more fund for disaster management purpose. Thus, the paper suggests that government should take proper steps for mitigating the effects of global warming on the economy.
Poverty in Nepal
Authors: Prasad Uma Shankar
Published: February 2025

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world with stratified society. Although the incidence has decreased, absolute number of poor living below the poverty line has increased sharply. The methodological adjustments has underestimated the poverty incidence under Nepal Living Standard Survey round second and third (NLSS II & III).Therefore, the study concludes thatthe population living below poverty line in Nepal is at increasing trend but the intention of the government seems to show decreasing trend by adjusting it in different ways. Adoption of the New Economic Polices is one of the major reasons for increasing the problem of poverty, rural-urban differences and social tension in Nepalese society.
Determinants of Rural Outmigration in India
Authors: Chimankar Digambar Abaji
Published: February 2025

Migration, the process of changing places from one geographical area to another, is more complex demographic phenomena of population change than fertility and mortality.The process is part and parcel of the human civilization. The present study, Bhandara district in Maharashtra, India is not exception to this phenomenon. The main objective of the study is to look into the determinants and patterns of migration in the district of Bhandara. From the different economic, social and demographic backgrounds, male and female both are migrating for marriage, education and employment. Female are migrating because of marriage and male migrating because of employment. The patterns of migration show that rural to rural to rural migration is more than the urban. It is dominated because of the marriage migration. Male migrants are migrating towards the urban places because of unemployment. Ever married, highly educated, low standard of living persons are migrating more irrespective of their caste, religion and type of family.
Impact of Economic Development Activities for Livelihood Security and Social Inclusion of Dalits: A Lesson from Ilisscon Project
Authors: Adhikari Sharad , Giri Chuda Raj , Lama Taralal
Published: February 2025

A study was carried out to measure the contribution of socioeconomic development activities for livelihood security and social inclusion of Dalits in ILISSCON project of LI-BIRD. Sample survey was used in the study for collecting the qualitative and quantitative data. Project results shows that average annual household income of the Dalits has been increased by Rs. 56,861.27 (increment 48.19%) from baseline and similar result was also observed in Janjati (Rs.57581.54) and Brahmin (Rs.66243.75) groups. Such increment on income of the beneficiaries was result of positive growth on the production and diversification of the livelihood sources. Majority of Dalits households (46.57%) have food sufficiency for more than 6 months as compare to baseline (10.47%). Participation of the Dalits and disadvantaged groupshas been remarkably increased in development activities, which shows important indication of the empowerment and inclusion of excluded groups. As a result, they are able to make meaningful exercise of their right with different service providers. Therefore, economic development activities have made significant contribution for social and economic empowerment, livelihood security and social inclusion.
Disaster induced Migration and Social Conflict: An Enquiry in the Light of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Bashir , Islam Mohammad Tarikul , Hasan A.S.M. Firoz-UL
Published: February 2025

Conflict induced internal displacement has been a burning problem worldwide as a result of increasing disaster due to clime change. Disaster induced migration has the potential to become a phenomenon of a scale and scope not experienced in human memory. Displacement due to disaster is considered to be a socio-economic and political problem, when it gets solved, the issue of displacement is also ignored. Bangladesh was struck by a category-4 cyclone (Sidr) on the evening of 15 November in 2007 which resulted in displacement of 650,000 people. Such migration posed a serious threat towards social stability and leads towards social conflict. Migration is generally considered as a source of social conflict. Over 3 million people live in slums and squatters of Dhaka city with very little utility service. Slums and squatters are the informal settlements of Dhaka city that accommodate the low-income group of people. Conflict (quarrel, clash, fight) in the slums and squatters is a regular phenomenon. The displaced persons are knowingly and unknowingly discriminated on various grounds and suffer as the survivors of various stigmas. The study reveals that, undue influence by the muscleman, discrimination between migrated and poor slum dwellers, and demand for money by the terrorist group, ignorance to the migrated people by the different quarters and sexual harassment to the migrated adolescent girls are responsible for slumping of social conflict. Their voices are ignored; theirple as are neglected and thus they are excluded from the mainstreamed section in the society.
Demand Creates Its Own Supply
Authors: Kanel Nav R.
Published: February 2025

One of the most important conclusions reached by the classical economists is the Say’s Law of Markets. According to this law, production (supply) generates income, which is used completely and instantaneously to purchase (demand) commodities, so supply creates its own demand at all times. To prove his thesis, Say took a macroeconomic approach. The objective of this paper is to prove another thesis that demand creates its own supply. The arguments presented in this paper are based purely on positive economics, and the thesis is proved with the help of a simple example, and in contrast to Say's macroeconomic approach, microeconomic approach is used to prove the thesis.
The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices and Employee Job Satisfaction on Organizational Commitment in IT Companies
Authors: Subedi Manoj , Bajracharya Iru
Published: February 2025

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to examine the role of human resource management practices such as recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, reward and recognition, compensation and benefit, and employee job satisfaction on organizational commitment, with a focus on employees of the IT companies in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.
Design/methodology/approach – The research paper used a quantitative approach and descriptive and causal research design to achieve the research objectives. Data collection was based on purposive sampling technique. The response was taken from 310 respondents through online survey. The variables under study were measured in a five-point Likert scale. Data were further evaluated using SPSS software version 26.0 and AMOS graphics.
Findings – The results illustrate that rewards and recognition, compensation & benefits, and performance management positively affect organizational commitment, while recruitment and selection have a smaller coefficient but has significant. Training and development does not significantly influence OC. Mediation analysis shows that job satisfaction partially mediates the effect of recruitment and selection and performance management on OC, while compensation and benefits effect on OC is fully mediated by job satisfaction.
Conclusion – The paper identified that the rewards and recognition and compensation and benefits are the strongest drivers of organizational commitment in IT companies in Kathmandu Valley. Performance management also plays a key role in enhancing OC, while recruitment and selection has a smaller, though still important, impact. Training and development did not show a significant direct effect on OC. The study further advocates that job satisfaction acts as an important mediator, strengthening the impact of HRM practices on OC, particularly in the case of compensation and benefits.
Implications – This paper advocates the role of HRM practices such as rewards, compensation, and performance management in fostering employee commitment through social exchange theory. It shows that job satisfaction plays a key role in mediating the impact of these practices on organizational commitment. Managers, especially in Nepal's competitive IT sector, can focus on fair reward systems, equitable compensation, and strong performance management which can improve job satisfaction and commitment.
Originality/value – This research brings originality to the field by examining the interrelationship between human resource management practices, employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment specifically within the IT companies of Kathmandu Valley.
Bank Regulations and Earnings Per Share of Commercial Banks in Nepal: An Observation
Authors: Bhattarai Dhundi Raj
Published: February 2025

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to examine whether Nepal's commercial banks' earnings per share (EPS) are affected by the following banking regulations: bank capital (BC), loan loss provision (LLP), weighted average spread rate (SR), broad money supply (BMS), and base rate (BR).
Design/methodology/approach – This work uses a descriptive, correlational, and causal-comparative research design. The paper examined data from secondary sources. The information came from the yearly audit report that was gathered from each bank. The research examined the data of 26 (before merger) and 19 commercial banks (after merger) from the fiscal years 2012/13 to 2022/23. Rastriya Banijya Bank, which is completely owned by the government, is not included in the research. The mean, maximum value, minimum value, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation were among the descriptive statistics that were computed. Correlation analysis was used to measure relationship, and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the impact of the associations.
Findings and Conclusion – Based on coefficient of variation, the research has revealed that the highest dispersion was found in LLP, and the least was found in SR. The negative association has been found between EPS and BMS as well as EPS and BR. However, there has been positive association between SR and EPS. Also, there has been insignificant association between EPS with BC and LLP. The result showed that there has been positive impact of BC and SR on EPS but it is negatively influenced by BR, LLP, and BMS.
Implications – The findings offer new insights and directions for NRB regulation on EPS power of banking regulation on return on investment.
Dynamics of Sports Diplomacy in Promoting International Relations and Peace-Building
Authors: Acharya Abinav
Published: February 2025

In the ever-changing landscape of international relations, sports diplomacy is positioned to shine as a dynamic and influential tool, facilitating connections and nurturing mutual understanding among nations. This research aims in analyzing the relationship between sports and diplomacy, investigating how the unifying appeal of sports can cultivate cultural exchange, forge people-to-people connections, and foster peaceful coexistence. It evaluates the role of sports diplomacy in creating significant strides toward fortifying international stability. This research adopts a case study approach and comparative review to analyze sports diplomacy initiatives. It conducts qualitative assessments of key diplomatic events, all to gain a nuanced grasp of how sports can effectively drive positive international interactions. Historic events achieved through sports diplomacy are explored using qualitative analysis methods. The research is analytical and based on secondary sources of data. The scope of research includes contemporary developments and hurdles in sports diplomacy. The significance of this study lies in its potential contribution to the evolving landscape of diplomatic discourse, spotlighting the capacity of non-traditional actors and innovative approaches to diplomacy. Successful sports-driven case-studies are examined, illuminating the prospective value of sports diplomacy as a complementary force to conventional diplomatic endeavors. The research aims to emphasize the influence of sports diplomacy on shaping international relations and propelling peace-building initiatives forward.
An Analysis of the Impacts of Maoist Conflict in Nepal
Authors: Mallik Sabita Kumari
Published: February 2025

Conflict is a burning issue in the contemporary world. It creates major threat to world peace. The issues which are closely related to the social and economic condition of any country such as caste, ethnicity, gender, class, religion etc. are the precursor of the conflict. Conflict is the main cause of violence, fight, battle, war or even insurgencies and the terrorism. Human being and the society are greatly affected by conflict and they live under mental tension and terror. The development, peace and prosperity depends the peaceful condition of the society. An analytical and descriptive methodology is used in this study with reference to multicultural and liberal theory which is based on secondary sources of data. For the research, the information is gathered from books in libraries, the internet, and published materials on related topics that are gathered from newspapers, books, magazines, and archives on inclusion. In context of Nepal there are different variables of conflict overlapping on each other such as castes, religion, ethnicity, gender, language, region etc. As Nepal is declared Federal Republic by Interim Constitution of Nepal 2063 and it is in the process of restructuring the states. However, some hurdles on the path of development. This paper deals with the very important issues which are to be addressed for permanent peace. There are a lot of positive changes seen after Maoist conflict that brought remarkable impacts in the life of Nepalese people.