Exploring the spatiotemporal evolution of urban and rural settlements in African countries could provide critical insights into the patterns of urbanization, regional disparities, and sustainable development in the context of rapid socio-economic and demographic changes. Using global human settlement data alongside multi-source socio-economic and environmental datasets, this study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of human settlements in Tanzania from 1975 to 2020. A combination of methods, including hotspot analysis, standard deviation ellipse analysis, and geographic detectors, is employed to examine the characteristics of settlement evolution and the underlying factors contributing to regional differentiation. The findings reveal that over the past 45 years, the expansion of urban centers and urban clusters in Tanzania has significantly accelerated, while rural areas have experienced a corresponding decline, reflecting a shift from low-density to high-density settlements and a transformation from rural to urban landscapes. Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha have consistently been hotspots for urban center growth, while Kagera has emerged as a primary hotspot for urban clusters. The distribution of rural hotspots and coldspots generally mirrors that of urban clusters. The spatial distribution of urban centers, urban clusters, and rural areas follows a northwest–southeast orientation, with the spatial distribution of urban centers gradually stabilizing. However, the development gap between urban clusters in the northwest and rural areas in the southeast is widening and narrowing, respectively. Socio-economic factors exert a stronger influence on the development of settlements than natural environmental factors. Population density, GDP density, and road network density are significant drivers of settlement patterns, with their influence intensifying over time.
Concealed smartphone use while driving (CSUWD), a prevalent and covert form of distracted driving, poses significant threats to road safety. However, the psychological determinants underlying this illegal behavior remain underexplored. A two-wave longitudinal study based on the expanding theory of planned behavior (TPB) investigates the intention and prospective behavior of CSUWD in China. In the first wave, 256 respondents assessed the standard TPB constructs, alongside extended constructs of descriptive norms, moral norms, and perceived risks. Subsequently, 156 participants reported their actual behavior in the second wave. Hierarchical multiple regression results revealed that the traditional TPB variables accounted for 57.1% of intention variance and 45.2% of behavior variance, while extended variables contributed an additional 11.7% to intention variance. All variables, except perceived crash risk, emerged as significant determinants of intention. Notably, the perceived risk of being caught and fined inversely correlated with intention, suggesting a potential disinhibition effect. Both perceived behavioral control and intention were significant determinants of subsequent behavior. The findings underscore the validity of TPB in predicting CSUWD, informing the design of non-legal interventions (e.g., public education advertisement, road awareness campaigns, and technological interventions) to mitigate CSUWD-related distracted driving and promote sustainable transportation systems.
To explore the vibration transmission characteristics of jujube mechanical harvesting, and optimize the relationship between vibration input and dynamic response of jujube branches, the vibration characteristics simulation and layered vibration test of jujube branches were carried out. The jujube branch model was established by means of three-dimensional scanning and reverse reconstruction. The natural frequency and suitable vibration parameter range of the jujube branch model were obtained by simulation. Finally, the stratified vibration field experiment of jujube branch was carried out. The results show that there are multi-order natural frequencies of jujube branch in the range of 0–30 Hz. The typical vibration modes include the overall deformation of jujube branch, the deformation of unilateral branch and the deformation of the end of twigs. The resonance frequencies of the measuring points on different branches are mostly close, but the frequencies of the maximum peaks on different paths are different, which is often related to the branch path. The optimal working parameter combination under layered vibration is: the lower layer excitation frequency and amplitude are 5.80 Hz and 7.00 mm, the upper layer excitation frequency and amplitude are 15.60 Hz and 8.50 mm. Under this parameter combination, the acceleration of the measuring point on the fine branch is closest to the separation acceleration. Under this parameter combination, the average harvest rate is 88.74 %. The research can provide reference for the development of forest fruit vibration harvesting machinery.
Ayda Mussa Yousif Abdulrahman, Rafiduraida binti Abdul Rahman
This research aims to investigate the current operational status of the Ajman Police, focusing on identifying elements and issues that affect operational excellence. Using change management models, including Kotter's 8 Step Model and the ADKAR Model, the paper critically examines the hierarchical structure of the Ajman Police, its specialist groups, and their performance indicators. The problem statement highlights the negative impact of traditional and rigid organizational structures on innovation, responsiveness, and the limitations of implementing effective public safety measures, prevention, and community policing. The research design adopted is a qualitative methodology, and a sample of senior police officers was interviewed to record their views on the issues of operation and preparedness to change. In conducting the study, Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants. Results indicate that the Ajman Police has already ventured into technological advancements and civil policing. However, there are still gaps in continuous development, innovation, and the implementation of modern change management practices. The research proposes a culturally, operationally, and technologically oriented framework for change management, specifically tailored to the context of the Ajman Police. The study makes a significant research contribution to both the practice and theory fields by providing a guideline for a change management roadmap for the Ajman Police and other similar agencies, ensuring operational excellence in fast-changing environments.
Management information systems, Economic history and conditions
The pervasive use of social media has raised concerns about its potential detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Others have demonstrated a relationship between social media use and anxiety, depression, and psychosocial stress. In light of these studies, we examined physiological indicators of stress (heart rate to measure autonomic nervous system activation and cortisol to assess activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) associated with social media use and investigated possible moderating influences of sex, age, and psychological parameters. We collected physiological data from 59 subjects ranging in age from 13 to 55 across two cell phone treatments: social media use and a pre-selected YouTube playlist. Heart rate was measured using arm-band heart rate monitors before and during cell phone treatments, and saliva was collected for later cortisol analysis (by enzyme immunoassay) before and after each of the two cell phone treatments. To disentangle the effects of cell phone treatment from order of treatment, we used a crossover design in which participants were randomized to treatment order. Our study uncovered a significant period effect suggesting that both heart rate and cortisol decreased over the duration of our experiment, irrespective of the type of cell phone activity or the order of treatments. There was no indication that age, sex, habits of social media use, or psychometric parameters moderated the physiological response to cell phone activities. Our data suggest that 20-minute bouts of social media use or YouTube viewing do not elicit a physiological stress response.
Le financement basé sur la performance (FBP) est un type de mécanisme de paiement du fournisseur où une incitation financière liée à la performance est accordée aux prestataires des soins. Cela implique le fait que les structures de santé sont considérées comme des organismes autonomes qui peuvent réaliser un bénéfice au profit d’objectifs de santé publique. Les études explorant la perception et l’expérience des personnels de santé sur la mise en œuvre du PBF demeurent rare en RDC et à Kinshasa en particulier. L’étude avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’expérience et la perception de personnels de santé dans l’implémentation du PBF dans les structures sanitaires au premier trimestre 2022 à Kinshasa.
Militsa Rakina, Irina Larionova, Julia Kzhyshkowska
M1/M2 paradigm of macrophage plasticity has existed for decades. Now it becomes clear that this dichotomy doesn't adequately reflect the diversity of macrophage phenotypes in tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major population of innate immune cells in the TME that promotes tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, invasion and metastatic niche formation, as well as response to anti-tumor therapy. However, the fundamental restriction in therapeutic TAM targeting is the limited knowledge about the specific TAM states in distinct human cancer types. Here we summarized the results of the most recent studies that use advanced technologies (e.g. single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics) allowing to decipher novel functional subsets of TAMs in numerous human cancers. The transcriptomic profiles of these TAM subsets and their clinical significance were described. We emphasized the characteristics of specific TAM subpopulations – TREM2+, SPP1+, MARCO+, FOLR2+, SIGLEC1+, APOC1+, C1QC+, and others, which have been most extensively characterized in several cancers, and are associated with cancer prognosis. Spatial transcriptomics technologies defined specific spatial interactions between TAMs and other cell types, especially fibroblasts, in tumors. Spatial transcriptomics methods were also applied to identify markers of immunotherapy response, which are expressed by macrophages or in the macrophage-abundant regions. We highlighted the perspectives for novel techniques that utilize spatial and single cell resolution in investigating new ligand-receptor interactions for effective immunotherapy based on TAM-targeting.
Ly Ngoc Yen Nhi* , Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, Pham Yen Linh, Pham Hoang Bao Vy, Pham Nguyen Ngoc Thu
Today, academic support services have become increasingly important to
universities because they can help students develop knowledge and skills to more easily achieve success during university studies, thereby contributing to developing the reputation of training institutions. Therefore, many universities around the world have increasingly focused on developing academic support services. In Vietnam, academic support services at universities have begun to receive attention but have not really reached the quality commensurate with learners' requirements. Through understanding the theoretical basis of the quality of academic support services in higher education, as well as
analyzing the current status of the quality of academic support services at a number of domestic and world universities, the study proposes a number of recommendations on improving the quality of academic support services to contribute to the innovation of Vietnamese higher education.
The aim of this article is to examine the role of Catholic political thought in relation to the history of European integration and show how the shift away from this communitarian tradition by mainstream social democratic and conservative parties can help explain the rise of populism. The idea of Europe as a unified entity has always been grounded in its Christian character, and this was the basis of the Christian Democratic pan-European project of the EU’s ‘founding fathers’ in the mid-twentieth century. The rise of both social and economic liberalism in the ensuing years led to a disconnect between the political establishment – who remain largely supportive of the project – and growing numbers of disaffected citizens. A refocusing of the political narrative in relation to European integration on the continent’s communitarian and Christian (and Social) Democratic traditions could halt the advance of populist-nationalism and Eurosceptic parties.
Introducción: la competencia en creación de contenido digital ha caído en un nivel entre básico e intermedio que aparenta imposibilidad de pasar a un nivel avanzado. El propósito del presente estudio fue implementar un laboratorio H5P para el fortalecimiento de dicha competencia en el profesorado universitario UNAH. Metodología: mediante un enfoque cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo, se identificó el nivel de autopercepción que tiene el profesorado en torno a dos dimensiones: creación de contenido digital y reelaboración y creación de objetos virtuales de aprendizaje (OVA). Asimismo, el laboratorio H5P se construyó mediante un Modelo ADDIE y la fase de diseño con Modelo de Cascada. Resultados: se obtuvieron de una muestra de 25 docentes en la cual se observa para ambas dimensiones un nivel de desarrollo básico A1. No obstante, competencias específicas como los procesadores de texto y el uso de presentaciones poseen un nivel intermedio. Discusión: por otro lado, se determinó que el Modelo ADDIE es eficaz para el proceso de estructuración y organización de contenidos. Asimismo, el diseño bajo un Modelo de Cascada resultó ser eficiente para proyectos pequeños por su simplicidad y facilidad para identificar fortalezas y debilidades en los pasos secuenciales del Laboratorio H5P. Concluciones: al considerar la herramienta H5P para la creación de OVA en el marco de fortalecer la competencia en creación de contenido digital, se puede establecer un proceso de formación específico (teórico-práctico) que ayude a alcanzar los mejores niveles competenciales en el profesorado universitario.
Ebele, E. Nnadozie, Obinna O. Ike, Ngozi U. Chuke
et al.
The study investigated the influence of psychological ownership on the association between satisfaction with work-family balance and intention to stay in the profession in South-Eastern Nigerian public hospitals. An exploratory research design was adopted for a study that was conducted among 389 nurses recruited from public hospitals in South-eastern Nigeria (females: 373 (96 %); males: 16(4 %); mean age: 37.40 years; SD = 6.33). Participants completed self-report measures of satisfaction with work-family balance, psychological ownership, and intention to stay. Regression analyses showed that work-family balance and psychological ownership positively correlated with nurses' intention to stay. Psychological ownership also moderated the relationship between satisfaction with work-family balance and intention to stay. These findings indicated that psychological ownership and satisfaction with work-family balance are necessary preconditions for striking a balance between job demands and employees’ responsibilities to encourage intention to stay and improve commitment and productivity. Thus, the current findings help hospital managements comprehend and appreciate the critical roles of psychological ownership and satisfaction with work-family balance in enhancing nurses’ intention to stay.
The article is dedicated to the analysis of the Ukrainian society social cohesion challenges in the pandemic conditions of digitally mediated interactions. Based on the results of qualitative sociological research, as well as a secondary analysis of the results of other sociological studies and statistics data, the author explores the phenomenon of social cohesion in the unity of three social levels of its presence - macro, meso and micro. The study has shown the dialectical nature of social cohesion and the opposite tendencies of its reproduction at different social levels – inner circle, professional communities and society as a whole. In the macro-social perspective, the pandemic has become a «common challenge», intensifying social consolidation at the level of civil society institutions; on the other hand, it has created a new axis of social inequality, deepening local differences and awareness of the different degree of «protection» from crisis conditions. It is concluded that the digitally mediated everyday interactions, characterized by a lack of social actors' co-presence in space and time, contributes to the spread of systemic integration in those social systems for which it was previously uncharacteristic. This, in turn, leads to the «frozen» functioning of social systems. In contemporary digital age, social actors are increasingly beginning to experience «digital loneliness» due to the loss of coexistence in physical time and space and the weakening of binding social capital, making familiar identification patterns less stable and definite. The «shift» of the concentration of interactions from different social circles to the level of the inner circle – the family one sets a double scenario of its reproduction either as a space of cohesive values, the highest level of trust, participation and social security, or as an environment for everyday conflicts. The article emphasizes the urgency of further conceptualization of a new type of capital – digital, which in conditions of systemic integration of social systems «puts into action» the activation of other types of capital.
The war in Yemen, which escalated in March 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened, with comprehensive blockade and air campaign has turned a poor country into a humanitarian catastrophe. The impacts of the conflict in Yemen are devastating—with nearly a quarter of a million people killed directly by fighting and indirectly through lack of access to food, health services, and infrastructure. The economy has collapsed, and fighting has ravaged the country’s infrastructure. The reconstruction and recovery of Yemen will demand rebuilding the economy, restoring state institutions and infrastructure and repairing the social fabric. Good governance plays a key role in rebuilding Yemen as a post-conflict state. The task is thus to build transparent, efficient and participative governance structures that can help to stabilise the volatile transformation of post-conflict society. This paper intends to clarify how good governance can be promoted in Yemen as conflict / post-conflict country and which role the political and administrative system could play in this context. This paper is based on a literature review of the main theories and issues involved in post-conflict reconstruction, coupled with an analysis of relevant case studies and good practices from different countries. The main recommendations most urgently needed are; establishing safety and security, strengthening constitutional government, reconstructing infrastructure and restoring services, stabilizing and growing the economy, and strengthening justice and reconciliation organizations.
This article presents two inquiries directed to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts by canonists from Cracow. The presentation in question was preceded by synthetic indication of rules for performing interpretation of the Church’s law, specifically the role of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. This special Dicastery of the Roman Curia also provides answers to numerous inquiries, thus providing assistance to various authorities and individual people of faith in interpreting norms that are, basically obvious, but that raise doubts. In such cases it is used to clarify the arose doubt and contributes to correct interpretation of the existing law in practice. It arises from the provided answers that the institution of parish priest is regarded as stable, which is clearly stated in can. 522 of the Code of Canon Law. One of the elements that are a guarantor of the parish priest institution, though not listed outright by the general legislator, is a possibility to remain in the position until one reaches seventy five years of age. This also confirms that this age, that is determined in the Code, cannot be changed by the particular legislator in any valid manner. Thus, also the possible customs in a given Diocese that were introduced after John Paul II promulgated the post-conciliar code in 1983 that are in contradiction to provisions included in that Code must be regarded as erroneous, as they are not in line with can. 26. Explanation provided by the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in regards to the arose doubt of a possibility to grant delegation by a personal parish priest to bless canonical marriage also occurred to be important in practice. Likewise territorial parish priest, personal parish priest has identical authorizations in this matter. As it can be observed, the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts provides very useful and competent help in solving various legal doubts that are of great importance for functioning of the Church. If even before getting competent answers a large number of canonist had similar views to those presented in explanations, which was actually demonstrated, then the answers provided by the Vatican indicate a definitive solutions to the arose doubts and at the same time encourage those who – assuredly not out of ill will –succumbed to very subjective and erroneous interpretation, to correct it.
Today in the new economic and geopolitical circumstances, in the era of globalization with which the world is affected, each individual country has the difficult task to allocate for something and on this basis quality economic and political positions. The Republic of Serbia, as well as any other small country, can and must offer only the best that it has. The people who are coming out as a product of an educational system, which for decades has graced these space are definitely the best of all what this country has always had. However, the situation in the Europe and in the international scene is constantly changing, many other countries our's competitors saw that to big countries may be in the field of interest only if they offer two things: either work or knowledge, or preferably both. Therefore, national education policy makers must continually take attention, except the needs of economic actors which are now present on the Serbian market, on the supply and demand in the domestic and international labor market. It takes ever greater speed and flexibility in creating new educational profiles that will monitor dynamic changes in the economic environment caused by information technology innovation and meet the needs of innovative companies for new human resources. Because, in this way the Republic of Serbia will be interesting in the economically and politically sphare and through this work we want to show the importance of qualified human factor to create a comparative marketing advantages of the Republic of Serbia, in the Europe and in the world market too.
History (General) and history of Europe, Social sciences (General)
Introduction. A notable trend in modern society is the transformation of family institution, which has long been considered the most important social and personal value. The change of attitudes of young people towards marriage in Russia is slower than in Europe; however, this process is becoming more obvious today and there is an urgent need to study it. So far, very little research has been carried out. In psychology and other social sciences, it is widely believed that the family formation is hampered by a hedonistic worldview. However, it is well known that the family provides the opportunities to meet many important human needs. This contradiction has prompted the direction of the present research.The aim of this research is to empirically investigate whether there is the conflict of the perceptions of the Russian young people about family values and hedonic and eudemonic orientations.Methodology and research methods. The empirical research was conducted using K. Peterson’s questionnaire “Happiness Orientations”. 173 students (49% female) took part in the research project. To assess the importance of family and different family values, the authors of the present research elaborated a special questionnaire, the reliability of which was confirmed in the course of approbation. The information obtained was processed through the means of correlation, regression analysis and nonparametric statistics in Statistica 10; confirmatory factor analysis of questionnaires was performed in Mplus 7.Results. The results of path analysis of interrelations between hedonism, eudemonia and family values indicated that family values were correlated not only with the orientation to meaningful and dignified life (eudemonia), but also with the orientation to pleasure (hedonism). The orientation hedonism was higher in young women; therefore, multiple regression analysis of the relationship between the studied phenomena was conducted in separate male and female groups of respondents. The results demonstrated that the value of birth and child-rearing in women is correlated with hedonism; the general value of family in male respondents is related with eudemonia.Scientific novelty. This investigation confirms that there is no contradiction between hedonism and family values. The research findings deduce that both eudemonic and hedonic orientations support family values, although the system of relationships between these orientations may vary according to gender. This finding expands our knowledge about hedonism and its role in modern society.Practical significance. The research results expand the understanding of hedonism and its role in modern society, clarifying the content of activities to prepare young people for family life. In order to enhance the effectiveness of such psychological and pedagogical support, one should take into account the hedonic tendencies of young people, revealing the importance of family formation in the context of personal happiness.
A presente resenha visa apresentar o livro de Cameron Thies e Mark Newman cuja singularidade em tratar o processo de formação da política externa dos países emergentes a partir de uma perspectiva construtivista torna o livro uma leitura importante para pesquisadores de tais países, sobretudo os BRICS. Apresenta-se o livro e descreve como acontece o processo de pesquisa é apresentado e suas principais conclusões.
ABSTRACT
This review aims to present Cameron Thies and Mark Newman’s book which is singular in the sense that it treats the process of emerging countries’ foreign policy formation from a constructivist perspective. This makes the book an important read for researches of emerging countries, especially the BRICS. The review presents the book and describes how the research process is presented and its main conclusions.
Palavras-chave: Poderes Emergente; Teoria dos Papeis; Política Externa
Keywords: Emerging Powers; Role Theory; Foreign Policy
Recebido em 28 de Novembro de 2018 | Received on November 28, 2018
Aceito em 3 de Dezembro de 2018 | Accepted on December 3, 2018
DOI: 10.12957/rmi.2018.38526
International relations, Social sciences (General)
How do the Internet and social media technology affect our romantic lives? Critics of the Internet's effect on social life identify the overabundance of choice of potential partners online as a likely source of relationship instability. This study examines longitudinal data showing that meeting online does not predict couple breakup. Meeting online (and particularly meeting through online dating websites) predicts faster transitions to marriage for heterosexual couples. I do not claim to measure any causal effect of Internet technology on relationship longevity or marriage formation. Rather, I suggest that the data are more consistent with a positive or neutral association between Internet technology and relationships than with a negative association between the Internet and romantic relationships.
In the past two decades policy-makers have highlighted the need for societies to use energy in a more sustainable way. In support of a general trend towards evidence based, policy-making academic research in sustainable energy related fields has gathered pace. In particular, research has concentrated largely on technologies, energy economics and broad concepts of smart energy system. Research focusing on the social sciences of sustainable energy, including topics such as human behaviour change, gender impacts, household scale studies etc. – have tended to receive limited attention from research sponsors and until recently assumed to have limited impact on a transition to a sustainable energy future. Yet recent research in these topics has shown to have great potential in achieving positive social and environmental impact. In line with increasing interest in the social science of sustainable energy transitions, this study examines social behaviour and energy practices of rural communities without access to twenty-four hour electricity in Sarawak, East Malaysia. The research aims to understand the impact of modernity in influencing rural communities’ energy transition with a particular focus on the role women play in energy behaviour at the household level. Five case studies was undertaken in the villages of Kampung Sibu Laut, Mersan, Telaga Air, Boyan and Gersik. Through purposive sampling 25 households in total were selected from these five villages. Consistent with triangulation methodological approaches the fieldwork involved a number of research methods such as a household energy survey, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and ethnographic style methods (i.e. participant observation). Investigating multiple data sources allows a deeper understanding and increased reliability of findings. Initial findings reveals women across the village play a key role in managing the household’s energy needs, and specifically, energy efficiency and energy conservation aspects. Household income also influenced the behaviour of householders with regards to energy saving. For instance, wealthier families owned more electric goods and gadgets as compared with poorer families; thus, energy demand is assumed higher in the former households. Meanwhile, villages without twenty-four hour access to affordable electricity have less energy demand while it is also noted that many of the younger generation have migrated to the town. The research also reveals that besides geographical challenges in rural Sarawak, villages close to protected ecosystems, such as Ramsar sites, have limited development. In this way, electrical appliances were far fewer as compared with villages where there is more consistent electricity supply.
Chemical engineering, Computer engineering. Computer hardware