Conflict Avoidance Research Articles

Individual and sex differences in frontloading behavior and approach- avoidance conflict preference predict addiction-like ethanol seeking in rats

Recent research has identified sex-dependent links between risk taking behaviors, approach-avoidance bias and alcohol intake. However, preclinical studies have typically assessed alcohol drinking using a singular dimension of intake (i.e. drinking level), failing to capture the multidimensional pattern of aberrant alcohol-seeking observed in alcohol use disorder. In this study, we sought to further explore individual and sex differences in the relationship between approach-avoidance bias, frontloading (bingeing and onset skew) and multiple addiction-like indices of ethanol seeking that included motivation for ethanol, persistence despite its absence (extinction), and ethanol-taking in the face of mild footshock. We found that female rats displayed more addiction-like phenotypes than males overall, and that frontloading patterns differed by sex, with females outdrinking males in the early part of access sessions (bingeing), but males strongly concentrating their lever pressing for ethanol in that period (onset skew). Multiple regression analyses revealed that bingeing was a strong positive predictor and onset skew a negative predictor of motivational breakpoint. Cued-conflict preference – a measure of approach-avoidance bias towards a mixed-valence conflict cue – was predictive of both extinction and footshock in males, but not females. Our data highlight key sex differences, and the relevance of both frontloading patterns and conflict preference in predicting future addiction-like phenotypes.

Exposure to Online Abuse of Politicians Does Not Scare Citizens Away From Politics

Abstract Recent studies suggest that online abuse directed at politicians can have negative effects on their public engagement and continued participation in politics. This article considers the broader consequences of such online abuse by testing whether exposure to online abuse of politicians also decreases the prospective political participation of ordinary citizens. In a preregistered survey experiment with 2,000 participants from Denmark, we find that exposing citizens to cases of online abuse of politicians does not have any statistically significant, or substantively meaningful, negative effects on citizens’ prospective political participation. This result holds across multiple measures of political participation and when distinguishing citizens by their gender and level of conflict avoidance. If anything, exploratory analyses indicate that online abuse of politicians may in some cases mobilize citizens who have been bystanders to such abuse.

The legitimation of private net zero emission building standards in the context of global decarbonization goals

Since the Paris Agreement – where nations committed to decarbonizing their economies – private net zero standards have proliferated. Yet, their limited scope and ability to deliver tangible change threatens their legitimacy. For some scholars, this reflects societies’ limited capacity to envision pathways towards a fossil-free future. This raises questions about how private net zero standards are legitimised. Combining insights from the literature on legitimation, discourse analysis, and sociotechnical transitions, we analyse the legitimation of Net Zero Carbon Buildings by the World Green Building Council, the strongest global sustainable construction network. We find that net zero standard legitimation is a dynamic multilevel, multistakeholder process based on three strategies: vertical nesting, ambivalence, and conflict avoidance. This process perpetuates assumptions about growth, authority, and appropriate scales of action. This incremental, emission-focused approach to decarbonization is shielded from critique through claims that it contributes to broader sustainability objectives. By reproducing institutionalized narratives, global standard setters create a sense of consensus. However, this perception of consensus fails to address the complexities of implementation, contextualization, and integration of broader environmental and social concerns. These findings raise doubts in both theory and practice about the capacity of the construction sector to decarbonize through current strategies.

Conflict‐free tow train routing in just‐in‐time assembly lines

AbstractConflicts among tow trains pose a significant challenge in just‐in‐time manufacturing systems, impacting both safety and efficiency. This paper proposes an innovative solution to achieve conflict‐free tow train routing. In our approach, the production layout is partitioned into “pixels.” The A‐star (A*) algorithm is then employed on this pixel‐based layout to create a distance matrix between workstations. Subsequently, a simulated annealing heuristic optimizes tow train routes to deliver parts demanded at the workstations. Additionally, a conflict detection algorithm identifies collisions among tow trains on the pixel layout, which are then resolved through two distinct conflict avoidance strategies. The algorithms are implemented and tested on a set of benchmark instances, demonstrating their effectiveness.

EFFECT OF SIBLING RELATIONSHIP ON DEVELOPMENT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION STYLES IN YOUTH

A sibling connection is a special and intricate link that develops between siblings in a family. Sibling relationships can vary greatly in kind and quality, but they frequently have a significant impact on how people develop emotionally, socially, and as individuals. Sibling rivalry can stem from a variety of factors, including differences in personalities, interests, or achievements. A main factor could be perceived favoritism from parents or comparisons made by family members or society. The practice of discussing and amicably resolving conflicts or disagreements between people or organizations is known as conflict resolution. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of sibling relationships on the development of conflict resolution styles in young adults. Adult Sibling Relationship and Thomas-Kilman Conflict Resolution scale containing 15 items was used to collect the quantitative sample. The sample consisted of (N=80, Males=40 and Females=40 ranging) from 15-24 years with a mean age of 22 years. Results showed that females prefer collaborative conflict resolution while males tend to have competed or avoiding conflict resolution style. Accommodating conflict resolution is moderately higher in males while compromising conflict resolution is significantly higher in females. Female siblings show higher levels of warmth towards their siblings compared to males. Study also showed that higher warmth leads to lower tendency of avoiding conflict resolution style and lower conflict supports the development of harmonious conflict resolution styles. Lower rivalry may precipitate in the form of avoidant conflict resolution approach.

Characteristics of Nurse Managers' Conflict Management Competency. A Systematic Review.

To identify and describe the characteristics that constitute a nurse manager's conflict management competency. This study is a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024542605). A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases, covering literature published from 1 January 2014 to 1 April 2024. This review included 14 studies selected from an initial pool of 86 records. From the included articles, 71 characteristics associated with nurse manager conflict management competency were identified and categorised into seven distinct characteristics: Collaborative resolution (19.72%), collaborative support (18.31%), balanced compromise (14.08%), conflict avoidance (14.08%), supportive accommodation (14.08%), assertive dominance (12.68%) and leadership and resilience in conflict management (7.04%). The most frequent conflicts were interpersonal conflicts (22.22%), resource allocation issues (20.00%) and conflicts between personal values and organisational goals (17.78%). This review highlights the importance of developing characteristics, such as collaborative resolution, collaborative support and balanced compromise, for effective conflict management by nurse managers. Addressing interpersonal conflicts and aligning personal values with organisational goals is essential for maintaining team cohesion and reducing stress. Ethical leadership and emotional intelligence are crucial for managing conflicts and improving the work environment. Forward-looking healthcare organisations should prioritise the development of conflict management competencies to create healthy and efficient work environments capable of facing disruptive changes, such as those brought about by artificial intelligence. The characterisation of conflict management competency allows the creation of simulated scenarios that are free of associated risks. Additionally, the findings facilitate a comprehensive analysis of how conflict management competency influences leadership competency and ethical principles in nursing teams. This is particularly relevant in the context of profound and disruptive change. No patient or public involvement.

Pythagorean Philosophy and Theurgy on Friendship

In the Pythagorean tradition, friendship is elevated beyond a mere human relationship, serving as a means to transcend human frailty and attain immortality. This philosophy posits that humans are imprisoned and require liberation through the benevolence of the gods. The Pythagorean way of life is seen as a path to achieving immortality and freedom, where friendship with the gods is the highest form of association. The spiritual practice of theurgy is essential in this process, enabling humans to purify themselves and receive the gift of friendship from the gods. The Pythagoreans distinguished between various forms of friendship, including the highest and most noble understanding between gods and humans, which requires faith, knowledge, philosophy, and theurgy. True friendship is characterized by trust, piety, and scientific worship, and its pursuit necessitates the avoidance of jealousy and conflict, as well as careful judgment and reverence. Additionally, purification, self-control, and a healthy diet are crucial in the pursuit of wisdom and friendship. Ultimately, the Pythagorean philosophy on friendship offers a profound understanding of human relationships, emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth, self-transcendence, and the pursuit of wisdom, leading to the cultivation of true and lasting friendships that bring about wholeness, reconciliation, and harmony.

Associations Among Beliefs Supporting Patriarchal Principles, Conflict Avoidance, and Economic Violence in Intimate-Partner Relationships of Ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Beliefs that uphold patriarchal principles may influence individuals' willingness to avoid conflict in their intimate-partner relationships, which can, in turn, increase the likelihood of intimate-partner economic violence. However, these associations remain underexplored in current research. This study examines these dynamics within a sample of 321 adults from the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community-a patriarchal and traditional culture. Specifically, it examines associations among beliefs supporting patriarchal principles at the micro (gendered domestic roles), meso, and macro (institutional power of men and the inherent inferiority of women) levels; conflict avoidance; economic violence; and sex differences in these factors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sex differences in the study variables, and path analysis was used to examine the correlations between research variables for men and women. The findings indicate that beliefs in patriarchal ideologies were moderate across all levels but slightly higher among men. Men were significantly more likely than women to avoid conflict with their intimate partners. Beliefs in support of patriarchal ideologies were predictive of conflict avoidance, particularly among women. Contrary to prior research, this study revealed nonsignificant sex differences in the prevalence of economic-violence victimization. These findings, however, do not negate the role of sex-based dynamics in economic-violence victimization. We discuss the findings and the meanings assigned to conflict avoidance by men and women, while considering gender disparities of power and control. We suggest that men's tendency to avoid conflict likely moderated their likelihood of perpetrating economic violence.

Structural changes in the nociceptive system induced by long-term conventional spinal cord stimulation in experimental painful diabetic polyneuropathy

BackgroundClinical studies suggest that long-term conventional spinal cord stimulation (LT-SCS) for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is initially effective but may decline in efficacy over time. Preclinical studies indicate that...

Conflict Management in Vector Register Files

The instruction set architecture (ISA) of vector processors operates on vectors stored in the vector register file (VRF) which needs to handle several concurrent accesses by functional units (FUs) with multiple ports. When the vector processor is running with high utilization, access conflicts become a major source of performance degradation. With a software model of a vector processor, we take a deep dive into the runtime impact of conflicts, their characteristics, and on ways to manage them, i.e., avoidance, resolution, and mitigation. For conflict avoidance, we study the existing approaches of banking with different static bank layouts and propose a dynamic bank layout to overcome their shortcomings. Our approach assigns newly written registers a temporarily unique starting bank. For conflict resolution, we compare different arbitration algorithms and optimize round-robin arbitration for mixed-width arithmetics by prioritizing wide operands. For conflict mitigation, operand queues (OPQs) of varying depths are studied. Our inventions are likely to increase the area efficiency of vector processors. Either, because they allow to use shallower operand queues (OPQs) while keeping the same performance, or reduce the area even further by using less banks, albeit at a performance impairment of 10 % or less. The insights of the study can further be applied to other shared-memory systems.

Towards coordinating self-healing instances: Policy-based and non-cooperative game theory-based approaches with location awareness

Self-healing is an essential functionality in Self-Organizing cellular Network (SON). It aims to ensure service continuity by detecting, diagnosing, and compensating network outage after triggering appropriate Cell Outage Compensation (COC) functions according to the outage case. The role of self-healing is increasingly become indispensable, especially in high density network as in 5 G and beyond, in order to maintain the availability and retainability of mobile service and save revenues. However, the essence of COC entails modifications of different Network Control Parameters (NCP) which are under control of SON Functions (SONF) that are related to other self-x functionalities. In addition, it can request different types of compensation functions according to the outage case. Moreover, it requires to harmonize the objectives of the requested stand-alone SONFs over the involved Candidate Cells (CC) in order to re-build a consistent coverage model. Thus, the need for self-coordination is mandatory to guarantee conflict-free outage compensation procedure. In this paper, we propose a novel integrated coordination scheme in order to coordinate Antenna Tilt (AT)-based and Transmission Power (TXP)-based COC functions. Beside their primary targets of conflict avoidance and resolution, we prove that our location-aware coordination mechanisms, which are based on policies and Non-Cooperative Zero-Sum Game (NCZSG) theory, can collaboratively guide greedy stand-alone single-objective COC functions to reach a stable coverage model. The coordination is done even when there is no prior knowledge of the environment or the compensatory algorithms themselves. The choice of optimal Network Control Parameters Values (NCV) is determined according to the function after the coordinator's verification.

Extended Floor Field Cellular Automata Model for Pedestrian Emergency Evacuation Considering Panic Emotion

Panic emotion appears frequently in an emergency evacuation, affecting evacuation efficiency and pedestrian safety. Individual diversity in emotion propagation causes pedestrians to behave differently. To better describe the emotion propagation in the movement of pedestrians, we analyze the characteristics of the emotions of different pedestrians in emergencies. Considering pedestrian heterogeneity, we divide pedestrians into three types (conservative, moderate, and radical) according to the strength of the expression of individual emotions. Based on an analysis of the characteristics of the three types of pedestrian, an improved susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model is built to describe the pedestrian emotion propagation process. In addition, a conflict avoidance method that considers pedestrian speed is proposed to demonstrate pedestrian motion more realistically. Based on this foundation, a cellular automata (CA) model that integrates emotion propagation and conflict avoidance techniques is employed to replicate the process of pedestrian emergency evacuation. The simulation results suggest that a higher proportion of pedestrians with initial panic emotions and a radical behavior type leads to a prolonged evacuation time. Many pedestrians in emergency evacuations gather at the exit in a short time (approximately 37 time steps), the density then reaches a high-level (approximately 5.5 pedestrians/m2) for a period of time, and the duration increases with the increase in the number of pedestrians. Methods for guiding pedestrians to evacuate in a rational manner are worthy of promotion and research.

A Critical Review of Anti-Bullying Strategies: Analyzing Survey Results Across Regions

Survey participants were asked to rate the effectiveness of different strategies for dealing with bullying on a scale from 1 to 5. The results of the survey, which were checked for reliability and accuracy, indicate that social support and avoidance of aggression are the preferred methods. An analysis of responses from adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 shows that many of them turn to their friends for comfort and support. The correlation coefficient is highest at age 14 (13.044), while the coefficients for ages 12, 15, and 16 (7.593, 12.497, 12.167 respectively) are closer to the average and suggest a moderate relationship between the variables. The lowest correlation coefficient is at age 17 (8.308), indicating a weaker connection between that age group and the ability to seek comfort and support. People have different ways of responding to bullying and defending themselves. Not everyone chooses to confront the bully directly; some seek support and try to avoid conflict. Adolescents who are 14 years old (7.598) seem to be the most willing and able to respond to bullying, likely due to their stronger sense of social support and conflict avoidance strategies. On the other hand, those who are 12, 16, and 17 years old (4.438, 6.021, 5.029) may struggle more with showing empathy and support, possibly because they are more inclined to avoid conflict or lack the necessary skills in this area.

Shared decision-making with older people on TReatment Escalation planning for Acute deterioration in the emergency Medical Setting: a qualitative study of Clinicians' perspectives (STREAMS-C).

Shared decision-making (SDM) is increasingly expected in healthcare systems prioritising patient autonomy. Treatment escalation plans (TEPs) outline contingency for medical intervention in the event of patient deterioration. This study aimed to understand clinicians' perspectives on SDM in TEP for older patients in the acute medical setting. This was a qualitative study following a constructivist approach. Semistructured interviews with vignettes were conducted with 26 consultant and registrar doctors working in emergency medicine, general internal medicine, intensive care medicine and palliative care medicine. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed. There were three themes: 'An unequal partnership', 'Options without equipoise' and 'Decisions with shared understanding'. Clinicians' expertise in synthesising complex, uncertain clinical information was contrasted with perceived patient unfamiliarity with future health planning and medical intervention. There was a strong sense of morality underpinning decision-making and little equipoise about appropriate TEP decisions. Communication around the TEP was important, and clinicians sought control over the high-stakes decision whilst avoiding conflict and achieving shared understanding. Clinicians take responsibility for securing a 'good' TEP decision for older patients in the acute medical setting. They synthesise clinical data with implicit ethical reasoning according to their professional predictions of qualitative and quantitative success following medical intervention. SDM is seldom considered a priority for this context. Nonetheless, avoidance of conflict, preserving the clinical relationship and shared understanding with the patient and family are important.

Enhanced Conflict Avoidance and Dynamic Path Replanning for Multi-UAVs through MILP with Real-time Speed and Heading Angle Control

Enhanced Conflict Avoidance and Dynamic Path Replanning for Multi-UAVs through MILP with Real-time Speed and Heading Angle Control

Conflict Avoidance & Resolution: New Approaches through Conversations and Decision-Making Processes

Conflict Avoidance & Resolution: New Approaches through Conversations and Decision-Making Processes

The holding pattern of the worker Bs: how bifurcation of consciousness impacts female academic career progression

PurposeThis paper examines an identified but unexplored career gap evidenced at a mid-level classification in the academic career path for women in Australia. This career-stalling effect or holding pattern, is examined to determine underlying causes of career trajectory interruption.Design/methodology/approachGuided by the epistemological stance of standpoint theory, this exploratory abductive study employs a novel arts-based method, draw, write, reflect, to access experiences that may be difficult to convey verbally. The obtained drawings and reflections were thematically analysed.FindingsDrawing on Bourdieu’s concept of illusio this article finds support for female academics’ bifurcated consciousness. Results demonstrate how opposing social role prescriptions result in the deliberate avoidance of work-life conflict, a nuanced lack of confidence in work tasks in combination with other, often competing responsibilities, and the uneven distribution of administrative duties known as “academic housework”, which combine to stall careers. Female academics feel pressure to prioritise their domestic role and eschew career progression.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the small sample size, the findings provide rich career narratives and experiences of female academics in Australia providing additional impetus for increased gender equity efforts.Originality/valueThis study is the first to explore the previously unidentified holding pattern for female academics in Australia. Findings suggest there is a range of previously unexplored impediments resulting in a gendered stalling at a mid-level classification interrupting female academic career progression.

An evaluation of potential inbreeding depression in wild Mexican wolves

AbstractEstimates of the influence of inbreeding on the fitness of wild animals can guide genetic conservation in rare species. Conservation genetics is important in Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) because the current population descended from 7 founders and mean inbreeding is relatively high. As an endangered subspecies, Mexican wolves are actively managed using select conflict avoidance measures and by placing captive‐born foster pups into wild litters. We obtained data on inbreeding coefficients of wolf pups and adults based on a pedigree dating to 1957 and data on reproduction for wild wolf packs during 1998–2022. We estimated trends in inbreeding coefficients and the associations between dam, sire, and pup inbreeding coefficients and pup recruitment to age 9 months, and assessed 3 components of recruitment: probability of producing a litter, number of pups produced, and recruitment conditional on successful reproduction. We generated estimates using generalized linear mixed models and bootstrapped estimates of confidence intervals. Mean inbreeding coefficients were high (0.227, SD = 0.047) in the wild population, but we detected no significant evidence of an increase during 2010–2022. Overall, the net associations of dam, sire, and pup inbreeding coefficients with our primary fitness metric, pup recruitment to age 9 months, did not differ from zero. While high inbreeding coefficients are a concern for the long‐term recovery of the subspecies, the stable level of inbreeding, lack of evidence for inbreeding depression, high pup production (5.1 pups/litter, SD = 1.64), and rapid population growth (384% increase from 2010–2022) indicate that inbreeding has not prevented rapid progress towards recovery goals under current management practices.

Social antagonism, identity-driven beliefs, and loss avoidance: Evidence from Guinea

We use a lab-in-the-field experiment to study identity preferences, other-regarding beliefs, and conflict behavior among the Fulani and Malinke in Guinea, Sub-Saharan Africa. In a hawk-dove game, we explore the existence of out-group hostility and ingroup cooperation compared to the baseline where pairs are uninformed of each other's region of origin. We observe that ethnic identity, especially among the Malinke, encourages loss aversion in situations where negative earnings are possible. Identitydriven beliefs, i.e. expectations of others, lead to either reciprocity among homogeneous pairs or materialism in diverse pairs. Using complementary survey data, we also find that high out-group trust and less linguistic diversity are correlated with conflict avoidance.

Monitoring of the BEPs actions plan implementation in the context of fiscal regulation: scientific substantiation of the methodology

Since January 2017, Ukraine has joined the OECD's Inclusive Framework and committed itself to implementing the BEPS Minimum Standard. The national tax system is similar in structure to the tax systems of developed countries. At the same time, the country's recognition of generally accepted standards for combating aggressive tax planning requires significant adaptation of the legal framework. Monitoring of the legislative process of implementing the BEPS Action Plan is an important area of further development of state regulation in the tax area and an effective means of achieving the proper quality of tax legislation and creating a modern and efficient tax system. The regulatory assessment of the state of national legislation will facilitate a detailed understanding and analysis of possible positive effects, achievement of results in the fight against tax evasion and base erosion, and avoidance of legal conflicts and contradictions. Monitoring the legislative process of implementing the BEPS Action Plan measures allows us to identify the necessary areas for improving the national legislative system and track the positive and negative effects of the application of legislative norms. Monitoring of regulatory legal acts is a tool for the development of future-oriented legislation, as it involves the study of legislation to obtain information necessary for assessing, forecasting, controlling and formulating recommendations for improving the regulatory framework and ensuring its optimal condition. As a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework, Ukraine has implemented the BEPS Action Plan Minimum Standard through significant adaptation of the national tax legislation and its approximation to the provisions of international tax instruments. Monitoring of the legislative process of implementing the BEPS Action Plan is an important area of development of state regulation in the tax area and an effective means of achieving the proper quality of national tax legislation and further development of an effective tax system.