bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Welke gevolgen heeft ontkerkelijking?: een verkenning op het terrein van cultuur, demografie, economie, politiek en welzijn in Nederland tussen 1970 en 1995
Authors: te Grotenhuis Manfred , Scheepers Peer , Eisinga Rob
Published: May 2023

Since the 1920s but especially since the 1960s a process of apostasy has taken place in the Netherlands. Because investigators started to look for its possible causes at an early stage, we know quite a lot about this process nowadays. However, notwithstanding ample discussion in the field of philosophy and politics as well in the media, we know little about the consequences of apostasy. We therefore raised the following question: does the ongoing process of apostasy have consequences in the domains of culture, demography, economy, politics and well-being? To answer this question we used survey data from more than 25,000 individuals over the period 1970-1995. We applied the so-called 'purging-method' to this data to test for instance what divorce rates over time would have been if since 1970 no apostasy had occurred. To control for possible spurious effects of apostasy, we also took into account the increasing level of education in the Netherlands, another quite dominant trend that is related to apostasy and the domains of interest. The most important results show that apostasy is responsible for the increase in the number of people who approve of abortion and euthanasia (cultural domain), for the increase in female labour participation (economic domain) and divorce (demography), and for the decrease in confessional party voting (politics). The increasing level of education favours both female labour participation and the number of people who approve of abortion and euthanasia. In the domain of well-being the impact of apostasy and increasing level of education are either moderate or absent.
Sociaal kapitaal, levensbeschouwelijke betrokkenheid en maatschappelijke integratie in België
Authors: Billiet Jaak
Published: May 2023

This study analyses on an empirical way the relationship between the involvement in religious or ideological associations and a number of indicators of social integration from the viewpoint of social Capital. Social integration is understood as the maintenance of value orientations and attitudes that are favourable for the justification and the functioning of democracy. Social capital is studied on the individual level. It is analysed to what extent the religious involvement and the active participation in voluntary associations has a moderating effect on a number of indicators of social disintegration: distrust in others and in the future, feeling threatened by ethnic minorities, racist views, utilitarian individualism, political alienation, and the lack of political interest and participation in voting. As was expected, religious involvement and active participation in voluntary associations are negatively correlated with these indicators of social disintegration, but the net effects are rather weak. This is partially due to the defective measurement of the predictors. More extensive measurements of active participation in voluntary associations and other networks must be included in future studies.
Kwaliteit van leven en gezondheidszorg in verandering
Authors: Bruyninckx Eva , Mortelmans Dimitri
Published: May 2023

This articles explores the role of the concept of ‘quality of life’ within the current health perspective and its implications towards the organization of a health care system. First, the challenge of the classic biomedical paradigm within health sciences by the introduction of a holistic and integrative perspective is discussed. The traditional paradigm is critiqued for its shortcomings in coping with more complex problems like chronic diseases. Second, the introduction of the concept of ‘quality of life’ is placed within this evolution. Both the conceptual difficulties and the strengths of the concept in dealing with new health related problems are considered. Third, the implications of this evolution for the organization of a health care system are looked upon. Key question in this discussion is the health promoting capabilities of a system which is based upon multidisciplinarity. It is argued that a combination of professionalism and personal experiences is crucial for a modern health care system.
Schoolse en niet-schoolse participatie bij jongeren: het profiel en de houdingen van participerende jongeren
Authors: De Groof Saskia , Siongers Jessy
Published: May 2023

Raising democratic and civic attitudes with youngsters receives more and more attention. Evidence for a strong connection between participation and democratic attitudes has been found in earlier research. In this study, concerning the in and out of school participation of adolescents, we find a similar positive relation. Nevertheless, we see that young people do not participate equally in associations outside school. But when they do get the opportunity to participate in school, the barriers to participation are smaller, Furthermore we can conclude that participation has a cumulative character: students who join activities at school, are more often involved in associational life. Participation at school, although it should be open to all students, reaches only a specific number and kind of pupils. Students in technical and vocational schools have less opportunities to participate. Therefore, we have to question somewhat the assumptions about the democratic strength of schools.
De maatschappelijke evolutie van de moraal
Authors: Verschraegen Gert
Published: May 2023

This article describes the evolution of morality from the perspective of Niklas Luhmanns Systems theory (“Geselhchaflsstruktur und Semantik”). The author examines the connection between the specific historical-semantic form of morality and the dominant form of differentiation. Firstly, morality in segmentary differentiated societies is characterized by a principle of reciprocity. Secondly, the hierarchical morality of stratified societies is examined. Special attention is being paid to the coupling of the religious code and the moral code. Finally, the connection between functional differentiation and modern moral semantics is being looked at.
Overtuigingsstrategieën in telefonische surveys
Authors: Heerwegh Dirk
Published: May 2023

AU types of survey research are increasingly plagued by high nonresponse rates. In this article the interaction between the interviewer and the recipient is regarded as crucial to the explanation of (non)response. Earlier research indicated the relevance of interviewer tactics labeled 'tailoring' and 'maintaining interaction'. Application of these tactics should lead to a higher likelihood of the recipient accepting the request to participate in the survey. When using these tactics, one should take into account that most recipients will process the request in a peripheral or heuristic manner. One heuristic is to count the number of arguments used in the message. More arguments are believed to be more persuasive than fewer arguments, regardless of their intrinsic value. This led to the hypothesis that the odds of gaining cooperation should increase as the interviewer utters more arguments than the recipient. The data confirmed the supposition when taking into account the nature of the arguments
De invloed van levensbeschouwelijke en maatschappelijke betrokkenheid op een positieve beoordeling van het Vlaams Blok
Authors: Coffé Hilde
Published: May 2023

The focus in this article lies on the influence of ideological and social involvement on a positive attitude towards extreme-right. Since ethnocentrism and individualism are linked to an appreciation of the “Vlaams Blok”, the Flemish extreme-right party, these attitudes are also included in our analysis, which is based on a modified Lisrel-model. Men who have a diploma of the last two years of secundary school and who have ethnocentric and individualistic attitudes have a sympathy for the “Vlaams Blok”. Ideological involvement proved to be more important than social involvement, For practising catholics, there is a positive correlation between ideology and ethnocentrism. The free-thinkers are the least ethnocentric, but they have a higher chance of being individualistic. The practising catholics take on this attitude the least. The influence of social involvement seems rather limited. Only intensive activity as a volunteer results in a less individualistic attitude and a disapproving attitude towards the “Vlaams Blok”.
Het meten van stress: de stress van het meten: de beoordeling van kwaliteit van de arbeid: een confrontatie van methodologische strategieën
Authors: Delarue Ann
Published: May 2023

This study examines the measurement of well-being at work. Two different methodological strategies with the same theoretical background - Sociotechnical Systems Theory - are empirically compared and submitted to a validity and reliability test. In the first methodological strategy, the WEBA-method, the assessment of well being at work is done by researchers/experts. In the second methodological strategy, the NOVA-WEBA method, the assessment is done by the research-subjects themselves. Both methods pretend to identify risks with respect to well-being at work and should generate identical results. The analysis of original data obtained from the same research population by means of the different two research-strategies shows no significant correlation between the scores of WEBA and NOVA-WEBA. As a result, the functional equivalence of both instruments is called into question.
Individualisering: waar het individu tekortschiet…: een onderzoek naar de sociale inbedding van waardeverandering m.b.t. primaire relaties
Authors: Vandecasteele Leen
Published: May 2023

The aim of this article is to investigate the change of the influence of social background variables on values with respect to primary relations. In the context of an individualising society, a weakening impact of social background on individual value orientations is often uttered. This research aims to empirically test this expectation. Multivariate regression analyses are pursued with the three waves of the European Value Studies dataset. Models which pool together the three waves of the survey, allow us to estimate the changing effect of social background over time, Additionally, effects of age, cohort and period can be distinguished. The main conclusion of the research is the unchanging influence of social background variables over time. The effects of social class, age, education level, church commitment and marital status on family values are found to persist during the last two decades of the 20th century.
Handelen onder druk: tijd en tijdsdruk in Vlaanderen
Authors: Moens Maarten
Published: May 2023

What are the relationships between time use and the feeling of time pressure? This research question goes into the relationship between objective and subjective definitions of time pressure. The workload, which is often used as an objective indicator of time pressure, correlates - as expected - positively with the feeling of time pressure. Nevertheless, apart form the workload; indicators for time allocation and co-ordination problems are also important in explaining the feeling of time pressure. Time use patterns characterised by activities in different life spheres, irregular working hours and a high level of time sovereignty cause severe feelings of time pressure. For dual earner families and those in the busy age the workload en the co-ordination between life spheres are the main mechanisms explaining feelings of time pressure. Among the higher educated, time pressure is a consequence of high levels of time sovereignty at the workplace.
Genetisch testen: fataliteit of nieuwe verantwoordelijkheid?: kwalitatieve studie naar de houding ten aanzien van pre-dispositietesten voor borstkanker
Authors: Adams Jill
Published: May 2023

Based on qualitative interviews, this article examines how former breast cancer patients experience the possibility of predispositional testing. A literature review led us to expect that a considerable degree of interest in testing would emanate from the societal context of genetic testing. The central concept in this article is ‘genetic responsibility’, refening to the tendency to hold people responsible not only for voluntary risks, but also for genetic risks - i.e. passing on genetic mutations. In this study however, only few interest in genetic testing for breast cancer was found. Possible explanations are the nuanced perspective of the respondents on the etiology of breast cancer, and their sense of responsibility for the emotional well-being of relatives which appeared to be equally important as the concern for passing on genetic mutations.
Een genderbewuste samenstelling van kieslijsten?: verschillen tussen partijretoriek en lokale praktijk
Authors: Thijssen Peter , Jacobs Kristof
Published: May 2023

In this article we examine to what degree the national ideological positions with respect to gender equality on ballot lists are shared (subjective gender sensitivity) and implemented (objective gender sensitivity) by local party officials. Our analysis is based on ballot lists presented at the Antwerp district council elections of 8 October 2000. With respect to the objective gender sensitivity of local party officials we analyse both the gender proportions and the gender structure of the ranking order of the lists. To examine this last indica tor, we introduce a new statistic that is also suitable for other comparative research designs. We find that the leaders of the slating committees, the actual lists and the voters of the right-wing parties (VLD and Vlaams Blok) are all in all not less sensitive to gender issues than those of CVP and SP. This is remarkable since the latter played an important role in the installment of the national gender quota laws.
De onzichtbare rechteloze klasse: de leef- en belevingswereld van mensen zonder wettig verblijf in Vlaanderen en Brussel
Authors: Devillé Aleidis
Published: May 2023

The group of illegal immigrants has no official registration and therefore represents ‘an invisible rightless class’. To find out how undocumented immigrants perceive themselves in our society, we carried out a qualitative research. We did 65 in-depth interviews with undocumented immigrants. In our analysis, we chose an approach according to the ‘grounded theory’ as brought forward by Glaser and Strauss, because we wanted to build our theoretical findings on the immediate world of interpretation, as formulated by illegal residents themselves. When analysing the degree of integration in our society, it is remarkable that most of them create a world of their own, often in great solidarity with other undocumented immigrants, mostly fellow citizens originating from the same country. Together they represent an ‘outsider community’: a community relying on itself.
Van autoritaire schoolmeesters tot democratische leraren: de evolutie van autoritarisme bij Vlaamse leerkrachten over een halve eeuw beschouwd (1953-2002)
Authors: Kavadias Dimokritos , Siongers Jessy
Published: May 2023

Many views on democratic political culture presuppose the presence of competent citizens in the political system. Schools have the duty to educate children into responsible citizens. Teachers play a key-role in this process. Teachers’ attitudes have a distinct impact on the political attitudes of their pupils. Therefore, it is important to know if teachers are favorable to democracy. This article focuses on the evolution in authoritarianism of teachers in Flanders. To this end we use a Belgian sample of 400 primary and secondary school teachers from 1953, as well as a Flemish sample of 486 secondary school teachers from 2002. First we describe the evolution in teachers’ attitudes. Further on, we look at components of authoritarianism. Teachers seem to have evolved strongly on a political subdimension. The differences are smaller on the ‘educational’ sub-dimension.
Het geheim voorbij: sociaal kapitaal als hefboom in de strijd tegen HIV/AIDS in Zuid-Afrika
Authors: Wouters Edwin
Published: May 2023

HIV serostatus disclosure to community members has been shown to have potential public and personal health benefits. This study examined the impact of bonding and bridging social capital (i.e. close and distant ties) on public disclosure and described the complex relationship between bonding and bridging social capital in the context of serostatus disclosure among AIDS patients enrolled in South Africa’s public sector ART program. Data were collected from a cohort of patients enrolled in the public sector ART program in the Free State province of South Africa. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with a random sample of 268 patients at three points in time (6 months of ART, 12 months of ART, and 24 of months ART). The relationship between bonding and bridging social capital and the impact of different forms of social capital on public disclosure were determined using a fully cross-lagged regression model. The positive impact of bonding social capital (treatment and emotional buddy) on public disclosure was positive and invariant across time. The results from the cross-lagged regression indicated that bridging social capital (community health worker and support group) only encouraged public disclosure in the second year of treatment. At the start of treatment, bivariate analysis showed a strong negative association between bonding and bridging social capital, which diminished at follow-up and eventually disappeared in the second year of treatment. This study identified bonding social capital as a leverage to maximize potential benefits and minimize potential risks in order to shift the balance towards consistent public disclosure. Furthermore, the importance of bridging social capital initiatives is demonstrated, especially for the most vulnerable patients, those who cannot capitalize their bonding social capital by disclosing their HIV serostatus to family and friends at the start of treatment.
Europeanisering en betrokkenheid van werknemers: is er nog ruimte voor een sociaal Europa?
Authors: Pulignano Valeria , Kluge Norbert , Dekocker Vickie
Published: May 2023

The article develops a perspective on Europeanization and employee involve¬ ment centered on social agents. It assesses its contribution to the understand¬ ing of both the making of an EU political field at the top and the emergence of European social fields at the bottom. This perspective, intellectually informed by post-determinist institutional thinking, provides a way to deepen existing analy¬ sis on the variety of employee involvement’s practices and its contribution to Europeanization by embedding sociological aspects in European political-institutional study. By using an actor-centred approach of the European institutions, we examine the practices of European Works Councils (EWCs) in the light of the actions of the European actors operating within these European structures. The paper identifies a large variety of EWCs practices which contribute to different extent to Europeanization: practices determined by growing regime competition; practices which help to develop joint interests and commonalities; pro-active practices built on strong trade union structures.
Naar een onbegrensde verbeelding?: identiteits- en grensprocessen bij Belgisch-Marokkaanse moslimjongeren in Vlaanderen
Authors: Kostet Imane
Published: May 2023

Against the background of international conflicts and terrorist attacks ‘in the name of Allah’, many Flemish natives perceive the Muslim population as a threat to our society. At the same time, research shows that Islam serves as an important identity marker for Muslim youth. Despite the stigma, the Islam and the ‘ummah’ are crucial emblems in their identity construction. Hence, they engage in ‘identity’ and ‘boundary work’ to reduce this ‘spoiled identity’, as earlier studies have shown. Contributing to this research area, I show in this study how Moroccan- Belgian youth draw boundaries around their Muslim identity to rebut racist beliefs. Drawing on fourteen in-depth interviews, I describe how (1) they blur and expand boundaries by emphasizing a moral universalism; (2) contract boundaries by distinguishing ‘real’ Muslims from ‘unauthentic’ ones; and (3) try to re-evaluate their identity by showing off good behaviour. Additionally, (4) some of them claim the ‘Belgian identity’ while most others do not.
Navigeren tussen keuzebiografie en institutionele sturing: alleenstaand pleegouderschap als een gecontesteerde geïndividualiseerde gezinsvorm
Authors: Degroote Emma , Delcour Chloë , Hustinx Lesley
Published: May 2023

In recent decades, significant changes in terms of relationships and family are observed. Beck and Beck-Gernsheim argue that individuals increasingly shape their own biography and that who belongs to the family and who does not, in an individualized society has become an individual choice of the family members. An example of a late modern family with elective affinities is a single parent foster family, where singles choose to take in a child that they are not biologically related to. By connecting single foster parenthood to the process of individualization, we want to contribute to current research into (single) foster parent families, which is very problem-oriented and misses sociological depth. In this exploratory, qualitative study, single foster parents through in-depth interviews are asked about their experiences as a single foster parent and how they deal with the challenges of single foster parenting. Within the surveyed single foster mothers, a distinction can be made between individuals with and without a child wish, with both groups struggling in their own way with the tensions inherent to an individualized society.
The Power of Voice in Transforming Multilingual Societies
Authors: Korb Christina , Heiling Angelika , Erling Elizabeth J.
Published: May 2023

Drawing upon the framework of linguistic citizenship, the chapters in this book link questions of language to sociopolitical discourses of justice, rights and equity, as well as to issues of power and access. They present powerful evidence of how marginalized speakers reclaim their voices and challenge power relations.
Four Lessons Learned From Career Pivots in Academic Medicine
Authors: Allen Jay-Sheree , Oxentenko Amy
Published: May 2023

Women in the fields of medicine and science often consider career pivots to transition out or transition up; in this review, we offer 4 lessons learned to make those pivots maximally successful. These lessons emphasize the need to honor the feeling that it is time to pivot, especially if you develop a strong sense of restlessness indicating you are in a space that no longer serves you; they also emphasize the importance of seeking the guidance of a mentor, sponsor, or coach. Although flexibility is a substantial part of the transition, it is important to have a road map in the form of a career development plan, and it is of utmost importance to complete the transition professionally.
Using School-Based Teleconsultation Services to Make Community Health Services Accessible in Semirural Settings of Pakistan: Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Gulzar Saleema , Rahim Shirin , Dossa Khadija , Saeed Sana , Agha Insiyah , Khoja Shariq , Karmaliani Rozina
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

In Pakistan’s remote areas, quality health care and experienced professionals are scarce. Telehealth can bridge this gap by offering innovative services like teleconsultations. Schools can serve as effective platforms for introducing these services, significantly improving health service access in semirural communities.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the feasibility of introducing school-based teleconsultation services (TCS) to strengthen community health in a semirural area of Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODS

This study used a mixed methods design. A total of 393 students were enrolled for the quantitative component, while 35 parents, teachers, and community stakeholders participated in the qualitative arm (focused group discussion). Proportional computation for the quantitative data was done using SPSS (version 24; IBM Corp), while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1046 successful teleconsultations were provided for 393 students over 28 months. The demographic data showed that the mean age of the students availing TCS was 9.24 (SD 3.25) years, with the majority being males (59.3%, 233/393). Only 1.24% (13/1046) of cases required referrals. The qualitative analysis yielded three themes: (1) transformation of the health care experience, (2) escalating demands for teleconsultation, and (3) the psychological aspect of care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the efficacy of integrating TCS in a semiurban school in Karachi to address health care accessibility gaps. Implementing TCS through the school platform improved the overall health status of school children while reducing school absences and financial burdens on families. The study highlighted TCS’s cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, and quality, with community support for 24/7 availability, expansion to adults, and a reimbursement model. School health nurse-led TCS offers a scalable solution to health care challenges, enhancing health outcomes for school-going children in Pakistan and globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where accessibility is a major issue.

CLINICALTRIAL
A cross-sectional study evaluating digital health literacy amongst patients attending general surgery clinics (Preprint)
Authors: Farag Soma , Chidambaram Swathikan , Normahani Pasha , Sounderajah Viknesh , Darzi Ara
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

The ability to understand health information from electronic sources and apply this knowledge to address a health issue is termed digital health literacy (DHL). With the increasing use of digital technology such as smartphones, DHL has become important in the delivery of healthcare services.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the mobile device proficiency and DHL amongst patients in a tertiary center, and identify possible social determinants that influence patients’ DHL.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of 100 patients attending general surgery clinics from January-March 2022. All patients completed two questionnaires, namely the MDPQ-16 and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) tools to quantify mobile phone proficiency and DHL, respectively. Data related to age, gender, educational status and income level was collected to establish relationships between these factors and scores on MDPQ-16 and eHEALS tools.

RESULTS

52% of the 100 patients in our cohort were male. The median age was 62 (42-72) years. 85% owned a smartphone as opposed to a standard mobile device. Mobile phone ownership was lower in older patients and lower educational status (p<0.002). The average score on the MDPQ was lower for patients who were older, had a lower income or a lower educational status (p=0.001). The combined average score on the eHEALS was also lower for older patients (p=0.034) and patients with a lower educational qualification (p=0.01), indicating a lower DHL in using mobile phones.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual socio-economic factors such as age, income level and educational status are important social determinants of digital health literacy regardless of the broader geographical setting. Further work should focus on understanding the challenges within specific factions of society, and how these can be overcome with the collaboration between service providers.

CLINICALTRIAL

N/A
User-Centered Design and Usability of a Culturally Adapted Virtual Survivorship Care App for Chinese Canadian Prostate Cancer Survivors: Qualitative Descriptive Study (Preprint)
Authors: Young Karen , Xiong Ting , Lee Rachel , Banerjee Ananya Tina , Leslie Myles , Ko Wellam Yu , Pham Quynh
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Cultural adaptations of digital health innovations are a growing field. However, digital health innovations can increase health inequities. While completing exploratory work for the cultural adaptation of the Ned Clinic virtual survivorship app, we identified structural considerations that provided a space to design digitally connected and collective care.

OBJECTIVE

This study used a community-based participatory research and user-centered design process to develop a cultural adaptation of the Ned Clinic app while designing to intervene in structural inequities.

METHODS

The design process included primary data collection and qualitative analysis to explore and distill design principles, an iterative design phase with a multidisciplinary team, and a final evaluation phase with participants throughout the design process as a form of member checking and validation.

RESULTS

Participants indicated that they found the final adapted prototype to be acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for their use. The changes made to adapt the prototype were not specifically culturally Chinese. Instead, we identified ways to strengthen connections between the survivor and their providers; improve accessibility to resources; and honor participants’ desires for relationality, accountability, and care.

CONCLUSIONS

We grounded the use of user-centered design to develop a prototype design that supports the acts of caring through digital technology by identifying and designing to resist structures that create health inequities in the lives of this community of survivors. By designing for collective justice, we can provide accessible, feasible, and relational care with digital health through the application of Indigenous and Black feminist ways of being and knowing.
Risk Assessment of Local Government Debt: Evidence from China
Authors: Hu Fang , Jiang Zidong
Published: May 2023

The risk of local government debt has been a robust indicator of regional economic development and the smooth operation of local government. The promulgation and implementation of the new Budget Law in 2014 also reflect the determination of China to control government debt risk. Based on the DPSIR model, this paper defines the logical relationship among the driving force, pressure, debt status, influence, debt repayment ability, and local government debt risk. Combined with the entropy method, this paper analyzes the debt risk level of 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2013 to 2019. The results show that there are apparent regional differences in the debt risk of local governments in China. The debt risk evaluation of the southwest region is higher than the average level in other regions. Overall, we show a downward and upward trend through further analysis of the internal structure and causes of local government debt risk. We offer implications for countermeasures and suggestions.
The I.T. Industry Perception of Computer Professional (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) as a Regulatory Agency for I.T. Profession in Nigeria
Authors: EFUNBOADE Ayodeji O. , SARUMI Olusegun A. , AKINRINMADE Victor A. , ADENIRAN Abigeal O.
Published: May 2023

Abstract: Information Technology (I.T.) is very pivotal for sustaining economic, social and political development of any nation in the world. Many developed countries such as United States of America, United Kingdom, China and South Africa have I.T. professions regulated in their countries. Computer Professional (Registration Council) of Nigeria is the monitoring agency for I.T. profession in Nigeria. This study therefore examined the role and contributions of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) towards the development of I.T. profession in Nigeria. A survey was conducted to gauge the feelings of I.T. professionals on impact of CPN on I.T. profession. A total number of 60 questionnaires were administered and results show that CPN performed effectively but certain critical areas were not yet captured for overall development of I.T, sector.
Predicting Career Path using ML
Authors: Magar Sujit , Parulekar Siddharth , Patel Mohammad Kaif , Kandalkar Prasad , Kadam Prof. Dipali
Published: May 2023

Abstract: When you choose a career, you are choosing an industry of employment where you are likely to gain expertise over time through your education and experience. You will probably work in this field for at least a few years. One of the most important decisions you can make is choosing and focusing on your career path. Finding the career path you want can be difficult, and you can be at a loss as to where to start and find the career path that’s right for you. This includes endless Google searches that lead to various websites, giving you a list of different things you can do, such as talking to a career advisor or taking a professional aptitude test. You can enter anything that interests you. Also, curiosity-pumping paragraphs are much more effective and time-saving. Our website uses text analysis to extract keywords from user input and match them to potential career paths. This saves you time and effort compared to spending hours searching Google for job options based on your interests with unsatisfactory results. In this way, you can clear up the confusion that many people have about their careers and future prospects.
Kalyantra: A Voice Assistant Well-being Robot
Authors: Palaskar Atharva
Published: May 2023

Abstract: Kalyantra is an intelligent-robotic assistant that can speak, understand, and process natural language, and interact with users to provide practical assistance, entertainment and be useful in day-to-day life. The aim of the project is to develop a system that can provide future-oriented solutions for homes, hospitals, schools, and workplaces, and make people more comfortable, safe and convenient in their daily life. Under the guidance of IoT technologies, the system can act and effectively automate remote environments.
Neuro-Cognitive Correlates of Sexual Offences - A Systematic Review
Authors: Rodrigues Hansel Chris , M.K. Dr. Rema
Published: May 2023

Abstract: The study aimed to identify the neurocognitive correlates of sexual offences. A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken and the design of Systematic Review was used. A total of 1856 researches were initially identified and were brought down to 76 following the criteria and finally 9 papers were undertaken after manually assessing them. The results showed a significantly high relationship between cognitive deficits and commission of sexual offences. A relationship was also found between frontal cortex especially the prefrontal pathology and commission of sexual offences. Executive functioning, verbal reasoning and cognitive control were very high in sexual offenders. Sexual offenders of adults and non-offenders had similar cognitive functioning compared to offenders of children who scored lower in neurocognitive tests. The use of forensic neuroscience in the criminal evaluation set up needs to be increased for successful identification of such cases and further studies of structural changes and functional changes of the brain are required to conclusively prove the role of neural systems in commission of sexual offences.
3D Modelling of double elbow pipeline erosion in methane – water – sand multiphase medium
Authors: Taherifard Alireza , Elistratov Victor V.
Published: May 2023

Introduction. In gas industry, predicting sand erosion damage of pipelines by sand particles is a difficult task because this process is strongly influenced by many factors. Particulate matter carried away by the multiphase product during production can seriously compromise the integrity of fluid handling structures such as pipelines and elbows.

Materials and methods. A three-dimensional numerical modelling approach in three-phase gas – liquid – solid flows was used to analyze erosion processes in pipe elbows. A key advantage of using CFD is that it can provide a wealth of information such as the effect of various parameters on erosion, maximum erosion rate, and erosion-prone areas. A variation of the Euler method for multiphase fluids was used to simulate three-dimensional unsteady gas-water annular flows with the presence of sand particles.

Results. The results showed that a vertical pipe with two elbows is more prone to erosion at the second elbow than atthe first elbow. However, in a horizontal pipe with two elbows, it can be concluded that the first elbow is more proneto erosion. On the other hand, erosion at L/D = 0 showed the maximum erosion rate among all the geometries studied.

Conclusions. In a vertical pipe, the second elbow of the pipeline is more susceptible to erosion. In addition, the erosion rate at the second elbow of vertical and horizontal pipes is the same for all studied geometries. The pipeline with L/D = 10 showed the optimal layout choice for vertical and horizontal pipe with an average erosion rate of 57.9 mm/year, which representsthe lowest erosion rate among the options studied.
Theoretical foundations of strategic motivation in the works of Nobel laureates
Authors: Fesyanova O. A.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of the article is to expand the existing theoretical and applied understanding of strategic motivation by identifying certain aspects of this issue in the scientific works of Laureates of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (officially known as The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel) in the period from 2000 to 2022.

The introduction discusses the differences in the understanding of the terms “strategic motivation” and “motivation” in the works of domestic and foreign scientists and practitioners, notes a long-term, future-oriented understanding of strategic motivation and its difference from the predominantly operational nature of motivation in the understanding of the classics of management science. The main part of the article sequentially analyzes the lectures and additional materials of the award committee, scientific articles, books and monographs of the laureates related to the research topics for which the award was awarded. The analysis highlights the main aspects of scientists’ research related to strategic motivation, its place and significance in the process of developing and implementing a strategy. Intermediate conclusions are made about the views and positions on the topic under consideration of each laureate, whose work was analyzed in the article. At the end of the article a general conclusion is formulated about the relevance and interdisciplinary (at the intersection of the natural sciences and liberal arts) nature of the issue of strategic motivation, emphasis is placed on the emerging trend towards considering predominantly non-material, psychological and behavioral aspects of the subject under study, the role of innovation in stimulating micro- and macro-levels. The conclusion is made about how it is possible to expand and supplement the existing understanding of strategic motivation taking into account the considered materials. It is noted that the conclusions made on the basis of the analysis can be applied in further research, as well as in practice when creating a system of strategic motivation in enterprises.

The analysis is based on the theory of strategy and methodology of strategizing of the Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Life-time), Dr. Sc. (Econ.), Vladimir L. Kvint.
Leningrad — St. Petersburg: the History of Overcoming Geography
Authors: Shamakhov V. A.
Published: May 2023

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Activities of Force Structure Military-Political Bodies: Historical Retrospective and Modern Priorities
Authors: Marchenko G. V. , Chimarov S. Yu. , Bjalt V. S.
Published: May 2023

The article examines the historical and legal aspect of the origin and development of militarypolitical bodies, traces changes in the content of their functioning during the February and October revolutions, during the Civil (1917–1922) and Great Patriotic Wars (1941–1945), during the post-war and post-Soviet stages of national history.

The conducted analysis of the current regulatory documents of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Russian Guard, allowed the authors to conclude that the military-political (political) and moral-psychological factors are strengthening in the organization of personnel education in the new geopolitical conditions. The article highlights such priority spheres of activity of officials as the formation of a statepatriotic worldview within the framework of modern informational narratives and the protection of military personnel and employees from the negative informational impact of internal and external destructive forces.

The scientific novelty of the article is provided by the recommendations proposed by the authors for the activities of state authorities on information and military-political support for a special military operation in the territory of Donbass and priority areas for professional and moral and psychological training of personnel of law enforcement agencies, taking into account the military-historical heritage of the Past.
The role of biodiversity in the development of asthma and allergic sensitization: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jaakkola Jouni , Paciência Inês , Sharma Needhi , Hugg Timo , Rantala Aino K. , Heibati Behzad , Al-Delaimy Wael K. , Jaakkola Maritta
Published: May 2023

Changes in land use and climate change have been reported to reduce
biodiversity of the environment and human microbiota. This may lead to
inadequate and unbalanced stimulation of immunoregulatory circuits and
ultimately, to clinical diseases, such as asthma and allergies. We
summarised available empirical evidence on the role of inner and outer
layers of biodiversity in the development of asthma, asthma-like
symptoms, and allergic sensitization. We conducted a systematic search
in SciVerse Scopus, PubMed MEDLINE, and Web of Science up to 5 December
2022 to identify relevant studies assessing the relations between inner
and outer layers of biodiversity and the risk of asthma, wheezing and/or
allergic sensitization. We applied random-effects models to calculate
summary effect estimates. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO
(CRD42022381725). Of 75 studies, 20 provided effect estimates for the
meta-analysis showing an association between high outer layer
biodiversity and a low risk of asthma development (Shannon diversity
index: OR (95% CI) = 0.77 (0.55; 1.06); bacterial richness: OR (95%
CI) = 0.74 (0.57; 0.96)). Although the evidence on the effect of inner
layer biodiversity suggested that bacterial diversity was slightly
higher among individuals with asthma, there was no clear evidence of a
significant association between inner layer biodiversity and the risk of
asthma, wheezing or allergic sensitization. The weight of evidence
suggests that environmental exposure to high biodiversity may protect
from the development of asthma, whereas there was no consistent evidence
on any association between inner layer biodiversity and asthma, wheezing
or allergic sensitization.
Multiple urinary peptides display distinct sex-specific distribution
Authors: Mina Ioanna , Mavrogeorgis Emmanouil , Siwy Justyna , Stojanov Riste , Mischak Harald , Latosinska Agnieszka , Jankowski Vera
Published: May 2023

Previous studies have established the association of sex with gene and
protein expression. This study investigated the association of sex with
the abundance of endogenous urinary peptides, using capillary
electrophoresis-coupled to mass spectrometry datasets from 2008 healthy
individuals and patients with type II diabetes, divided in one discovery
and two validation cohorts. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney
test, adjusted for multiple testing, revealed 143 sex-associated
peptides in the discovery cohort. Of these, 90 peptides were associated
with sex in at least one of the validation cohorts and showed agreement
in their regulation trends across all cohorts. The 90 sex-associated
peptides were fragments of 29 parental proteins. Comparison with
previously published transcriptomics data demonstrated that the genes
encoding 16 of these parental proteins had sex-biased expression. The
143 sex-associated peptides were combined into a support vector
machine-based classifier that could discriminate males from females in
two independent sets of healthy individuals and patients with type II
diabetes, with an AUC of 89% and 81%, respectively. Collectively, the
urinary peptidome contains multiple sex-associated differences, which
may enable a better understanding of sex-biased molecular mechanisms and
the development of more accurate diagnostic, prognostic or predictive
classifiers for each individual sex.
On skunk rabies and its prevention in North America
Authors: Velasco-Villa Andres
Published: May 2023

The case report by Navarro-Lopez et al., (2023) in this issue describes
a thorough differential diagnosis in an equine with acute neurological
disease. Rabies was confirmed by direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA).
Rabies virus (RABV) was isolated from brain tissue of the ill mare by
intracerebral inoculation in sucking mice. Sequencing and phylogenetic
inference allowed the identification of the rabies virus variant (RVV)
associated with this case. Thus, Navarro-Lopez et al., reported that the
rabid mare got infected with a rabies virus variant associated with
skunks. This clinical commentary elaborates on the seemingly rare skunk
rabies across North America (NA) highlighting its relevance in human and
animal health that have remained somehow neglected
Research on familial defect attribution technology of measurement assets based on improved hierarchical clustering algorithm and knowledge graph
Authors: Zhang xiang , Qi Men , Yang Jun
Published: May 2023

A large amount of data has been accumulated in the technical supervision
work of power grid enterprises for many years. Considering that the
family defects of power equipment have a great influence on equipment
condition assessment, this paper introduces an improved hierarchical
clustering method based on the analysis of the traditional hierarchical
clustering method to automatically identify and cluster the family
status data of power equipment. The quantitative assessment of the
family defect factor is then given. The family defect assessment is
combined with the MMS communication network equipment in the substation
communication network, which effectively and reasonably reflects the
impact of various types of family defects on the health status of the
equipment and provides a strong basis for maintenance decision making.