External Influences Research Articles

The Iona Community and the ecumenical movement: External influences and internal changes

This article teases out the relationship between the Iona Community (founded 1938) and the ecumenical movement (both nationally – Scotland and the UK – and internationally), and the steps the Community took to enable itself internally to be more ecumenical. The first part of the article reviews the original brief of the Community – a missional ‘brotherhood’ that would work for the Church of Scotland’s Church Extension Scheme, using the base of the Iona Abbey as a training ground. Yet the Community quickly caught international missionary and ecumenical attention and the project was drawn beyond this original framework, becoming engaged in missional and ecumenical endeavours in and beyond Scotland. The second part of the article reflects on how these alternative engagements questioned the internal diversity of the Community, and how young people, lay people, ministers from other denominations and finally women pushed for their involvement in the originally male, clerical body. The article ends by drawing upon the work of Aruna Gnanadason who argues for a new paradigm of ecumenism that shakes the patriarchal, clerical powers of church boundaries and embraces realistic, messy, diversity in church bodies as the starting place for ecumenical endeavours.

Views and experiences of long-acting reversible contraception among ethnic minorities in high-income countries: a systematic review of qualitative studies

BackgroundEthnic minorities in high-income countries have higher rates of unintended pregnancies but are less likely to use highly efficacious long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). The reasons for this are unclear.AimTo understand...

External influences over Senegalese health financing policy: delaying universal health coverage?

Senegal has long sought solutions to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). However, in a context dependent on international aid, the country faces multiple external pressures to choose policy instruments. In this commentary, we propose an analysis of this influence. The empirical material comes from our involvement in analysing health reforms for 20 years and from many interviews and observations. While studies have shown that community-based health insurance (CBHI) was not an appropriate solution for UHC, some international actors have influenced their continued application. Another global partner proposed an alternative (professional and departmental CBHI), which was counteracted and delayed. These issues of powers and influences of international and national consultants, established in a neo-liberal approach to health, have lost at least a decade from UHC in Senegal. The alternative now appears to be acquired and is scaling up at the country level, witnessing a change in the current policy paradigm.

Cortical microstructural brain network mediates the association between personality trait of agreeableness and life satisfaction.

Personality traits are commonly regarded as relatively stable, whereas life satisfaction can fluctuate with time and circumstances, shaped by external influences and personal encounters. The correlation between personality traits and life satisfaction is well-established, yet the underlying neural mechanisms of the myelin-based microstructural brain network connecting them remain unclear. Here, we constructed individual-level whole-brain myelin microstructural networks from the MRI data of 1,043 healthy adults and performed correlation analysis to detect significant personality trait-related and life satisfaction-related subnetworks. A mediation analysis was used to verify whether the shared structural basis of personality traits and life satisfaction significantly mediated their association. The results showed that agreeableness positively correlated with life satisfaction. We identified a shared structural basis of the personality trait of agreeableness and life satisfaction. The regions comprising this overlapping network include the superior parietal lobule, inferior parietal lobule, and temporoparietal junction. Moreover, the shared microstructural connections mediate the association between the personality trait of agreeableness and life satisfaction. This large-scale neuroimaging investigation substantiates a mediation framework for understanding the microstructural connections between personality and life satisfaction, offering potential targets for assessment and interventions to promote human well-being.

Bifurcation Analysis and Chaotic Behavior of the Concatenation Model with Power-Law Nonlinearity

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the concatenation model with power-law nonlinearity. The research encompasses multiple key aspects, providing a detailed exploration of the model's behavior and implications within the context of nonlinear dynamics and optics. The study commences with an in-depth bifurcation analysis, aiming to unravel the intricate dynamics and transitions within the system. This analysis not only uncovers the system's behavior under varying conditions but also sheds light on its stability and the emergence of bifurcation phenomena. Our research delves into the retrieval of soliton solutions within the model. The exploration of solitons is of paramount significance, offering insights into localized, self-sustaining waveforms that often play a crucial role in nonlinear systems. These soliton solutions are identified, characterized, and their relevance to the model is established. The paper addresses the complex dynamics of the system in the presence of perturbation terms. By incorporating perturbations into the analysis, we elucidate how external influences impact the system's behavior and lead to chaotic phenomena. This analysis helps uncover the system's sensitivity to external factors and provides a deeper understanding of chaotic behavior.

Clinical case of treatment of complications of the use of plate dental implants on the maxilla

Relevance. According to the conclusion of the European Federation of Periodontology, late complications of dental implantation include inflammation of the tissues in the reimplantation zone after the completion of osseointegration in the form of periimplantation mucositis and reimplantitis. According to many authors, in the first two months after dental implantation, in the case of initial insufficiency of soft tissue thickness in the operation area, when a minimum volume of biological width (3 mm on average) is formed, bone tissue loss is provoked, this property is especially pronounced when using lamellar dental implants. In the maxilla, overimplantation of a massive plate implant can lead to the development of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The most traditional options for mucosal augmentation in the area of implantation in the maxilla are grafting with local tissues or autotransplantation of a free flap from a donor site. Also used are resorbable collagen matrices (Resorbable Collagen Matrix – RCM) or membranes that protect the underlying tissues from external influences, completely close the surgical wound, prevent pathological scarring and allow you to control the epithelialization process.The purpose of the study. To increase the effectiveness of complex treatment of complicated reimplantitis in the maxilla, sinusoethmoiditis, by sanitation and the use of a collagen membrane for the combined closure of the oro-antral fistula.Material and methods. The article is devoted to the clinical case of complications of the use of a lamellar dental implant in the maxilla, diagnosis and treatment by an interdisciplinary surgical team of the City Clinical Hospital N.I. Pirogov of the Department of Healthcare of Moscow. A staged surgical intervention for the removal of a detailed laminar implant, unilateral ethmoidotomy and maxillary sinusectomy, and combined closure of the oro-antral communication with the use of local tissue plasty with a flap from the cheek and the installation of a collagen membrane are described.Results. To close a large bone defect in the area of the alveolar part of the maxilla, the bioPLATE Contur membrane was used, which is characterized by increased extensibility up to 50% of the original dimensions and elasticity. The mucoperiosteal flap was laid without tension over the collagen membrane and fixed with two-row interrupted sutures. The sutures were removed on the 14th postoperative day, the wound was epithelialized throughout, without signs of inflammation.Conclusions. Complications of dental implantation in the maxilla are manifested in the form of a loss of bone volume and a defect in the alveolar margin of the maxilla, the development of inflammatory complications of adjacent tissues and anatomical structures. This requires a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and surgical treatment with a comprehensive planning of patient rehabilitation. The use of a combined method of closing a bone defect with a collagen resorbable membrane and a buccal mucoperiosteal flap with suturing with a double-row suture makes it possible to achieve a satisfactory course of the postoperative period, avoid recurrence of the oro-antral fistula, and prepare the patient for further dental rehabilitation.

The nature and nurture of network evolution

Although the origin of the fat-tail characteristic of the degree distribution in complex networks has been extensively researched, the underlying cause of the degree distribution characteristic across the complete range of degrees remains obscure. Here, we propose an evolution model that incorporates only two factors: the node’s weight, reflecting its innate attractiveness (nature), and the node’s degree, reflecting the external influences (nurture). The proposed model provides a good fit for degree distributions and degree ratio distributions of numerous real-world networks and reproduces their evolution processes. Our results indicate that the nurture factor plays a dominant role in the evolution of social networks. In contrast, the nature factor plays a dominant role in the evolution of non-social networks, suggesting that whether nodes are people determines the dominant factor influencing the evolution of real-world networks.

Towards an Authentic Self: Homo Technologicus and the Digital Literacy Journey

The prevalence of imitation behavior as a manifestation of inauthenticity has become increasingly ubiquitous in contemporary society. Such imitative behavior, irrespective of its consequential impacts, has permeated various domains, including the realm of education. This phenomenon can be largely attributed to the absence of well-established technology utilization. Furthermore, it is imperative to acknowledge that the erosion of individuals’ self-concept is a contributing factor in this context. Taking a perspective aligned with Ricouer’s philosophy, this paper introduces the concept of “homo technologicus” as an authentic representation of humanity, particularly in the context of digital literacy. This research adopts a qualitative approach, elucidating the pertinent literature regarding human self-concept and its relevance to the contemporary milieu. The findings underscore the prevailing sentiment among Indonesian human resources, where individuals tend to exhibit a sense of timidity and reticence when they fail to express their true selves. This apprehension often materializes as a tendency to imitate foreign cultures, prompted by the assimilation of external influences encountered while engaging with social media. Consequently, a fundamental loss of one’s identity ensues, exemplifying a pervasive state of inauthenticity.

Algorithm for Detecting Small Targets Based on Upgraded YOLOv5s

Small targets are discovered despite the challenges posed by the limited number of features, low resolution, difficulty in extracting discriminative characteristics, and ease of interference from external influences. A modest target detection technique based on enhanced YOLOv5s is suggested in this research. First, a test storey dedicated to tiny objects is appended to the characteristic fusion part of the algorithm to help the model efficiently acquire features with smaller sensory fields; second, to help the model find features more correctly, a cooperative attention method module is integrated into the characteristic extraction section to eliminate trait redundancy without sacrificing feature information; finally, the Bi-FPN network construction is combined to help the model to locate features more accurately. With the Bi-FPN construction, the characteristic combination process is modified to strengthen the examining capability of small objectives with a characteristic combination. The experimental results demonstrate that the enhanced algorithm increases average detection accuracy over the baseline YOLOv5s method by 6.3%, while also increasing small target detection accuracy and decreasing false and missed detection situations.

Kinematical Fluctuations Vary with Galaxy Surface Mass Density

The Galaxy inner parts are generally considered to be optically symmetric, as well as kinematically symmetric for most massive early-type galaxies. At the lower-mass end, many galaxies contain lots of small patches in their velocity maps, causing their kinematics to be nonsmooth in small scales and far from symmetry. These small patches can easily be mistaken for measurement uncertainties and have not been well discussed. We used the comparison of observations and numerical simulations to demonstrate the small patches existence beyond uncertainties. For the first time we have found that the fluctuation degrees have an approximate inverse loglinear relation with the galaxy stellar surface mass densities. This tight relation among galaxies that do not show obvious optical asymmetry that traces environmental perturbations indicates that stellar motion in galaxies has inherent asymmetry besides external environment influences. The degree of the kinetic asymmetry is closely related to and constrained by the intrinsic properties of the host galaxy.

Study of the Effect of Adding Nb2O5 on Calcium Titanate-Based Ferroelectric Ceramics

This paper considers the effect of adding niobium oxide (Nb2O5) to ferroelectric ceramics based on calcium titanate (CaTiO3), and establishes a connection between the observed alterations in strength and dielectric properties and the variation in the Nb2O5 dopant concentration in the ceramics’ composition. The method of mechanochemical solid-phase synthesis was used as the main method for obtaining the ceramics, followed by thermal sintering under specified conditions in order to form a stable phase composition of the ceramics, and to initialize phase transformations in the composition. Based on the assessment of the phase composition of the resulting ceramics, it was determined that a growth in the Nb2O5 dopant concentration beyond 0.10 mol results in the formation of an orthorhombic-phase CaNb2O4 of the Pbcm(57) spatial system, the weight contribution of which grows. A growth in the Nb2O5 additive concentration results in the formation of two-phase ceramics, the formation of which allows for an enhancement in the mechanical strength of ceramics and resistance to external influences. During the study of the dependence of the strength properties on the dopant concentration alteration, a three-stage change in hardness and crack resistance was established, regarding both structural ordering and phase transformations. The measurement of dielectric characteristics showed the direct dependence of dielectric losses and the dielectric constant on the phase composition of ceramics.

On investigations of radiation processes in media under external influences conducted at the IAPP

One of the areas of research conducted at the Institute of Applied Problems of Physics (IAPP) is the study of the influence of different media on the radiation processes generated by relativistic charged particles (channeling radiation, transition radiation, Cherenkov radiation, diffraction radiation, etc.). Additionally, many interesting phenomena arise when acoustic fields are excited in media. This is exactly the field of study of acoustophysics. The paper is devoted to the review of studies conducted in Lab. 3 of IAPP in these areas.

Unravelling diverse spatiotemporal orders in chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction-diffusion system through circularly polarized electric field and photo-illumination.

Designing and predicting self-organized pattern formation in out-of-equilibrium chemical and biochemical reactions holds fundamental significance. External perturbations like light and electric fields exert a crucial influence on reaction-diffusion systems involving ionic species. While the separate impacts of light and electric fields have been extensively studied, comprehending their combined effects on spatiotemporal dynamics is paramount for designing versatile spatial orders. Here, we theoretically investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction-diffusion system under photo-illumination and circularly polarized electric field (CPEF). By applying CPEF at varying intensities and frequencies, we observe the predominant emergence of oscillating hexagonal spot-like patterns from homogeneous stable steady states. Furthermore, our study unveils a spectrum of intriguing spatiotemporal instabilities, encompassing stripe-like patterns, oscillating dumbbell-shaped patterns, spot-like instabilities with square-based symmetry, and irregular chaotic patterns. However, when we introduce periodic photo-illumination to the hexagonal spot-like instabilities induced by CPEF in homogeneous steady states, we observe periodic size fluctuations. Additionally, the stripe-like instabilities undergo alternating transitions between hexagonal spots and stripes. Notably, within the Turing region, the interplay between these two external influences leads to the emergence of distinct superlattice patterns characterized by hexagonal-and square-based symmetry. These patterns include parallel lines of spots, target-like formations, black-eye patterns, and other captivating structures. Remarkably, the simple perturbation of the system through the application of these two external fields offers a versatile tool for generating a wide range of pattern-forming instabilities, thereby opening up exciting possibilities for future experimental validation.

Identifying the influence of basalt fiber reinforcement on the deformation and strength characteristics of cement stone

The object of the research is the quality of cementing oil and gas wells with increasing the strength and deformation capacity of cement stone using basalt fibers. Cement slurry used in cementing oil and gas wells faces the problem of failure under the influence of hydraulic fracturing and perforation procedures. This failure leads to the formation of cracks and may require remedial cementing, which increases operating costs and complicates the process of oil and gas production. Moreover, this problem can lead to premature well water breakthrough and cause serious damage such as oil and gas shows and blowouts, which poses a threat to the environment and safety. To solve the problem of the destruction of cement stone under external influences, the study proposed the approach of reinforcing with basalt fiber. During the study, a cementing material based on Portland cement, reinforced with various concentrations of basalt fibers (0.1 %, 0.5 %, 1 % and 2 %), was developed and tested. Cement strength tests at 2, 7, and 14 days, along with deformation monitoring under load, were performed. The addition of basalt fibers to cement stone significantly improved its strength characteristics. The most successful results were achieved with the addition of 0.5 % basalt fibers, resulting in an 11 % increase in compressive and flexural strength. Basalt fibers complement the structure of cement stone, increasing its ability to deform. One of the key features of the obtained results is the possibility of improving the strength of the cement stone without losing its fluidity as a cement slurry. The results obtained are applicable in the development and production of cement materials based on basalt fibers. This will improve the quality of well cementing and reduce the risks of complications

The Application of Clip in Short Videos - Take 5 Short Videos as an Example

The article describes five different short films and their editing techniques. Film 1 focuses on appearance anxiety of young women caused by external influences. The authors use black and white filming and sound montage to add a humorous effect. Film 2 shows the shadow of desire through a transfer student who turns to the dark side and uses flashbacks and j-cuts to add depth and intrigue to the story. Film 3 tells the story of a college student who receives an F on her transcript and uses flashbacks and internal monologues to reveal the cause and effect of the story. Film 4 is about a little girls day in high school and uses long shots, jump cuts, montage, and empty scenes to tell a story of loneliness and the importance of facing life. Film 5 is a story about family affection and uses continuous editing and montage to create an immersive cinematic narrative.

Provision and utilization of maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Maintaining provision and utilization of maternal healthcare services is susceptible to external influences. This study describes how maternity care was provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses patterns of service utilization and perinatal health outcomes in 16 referral hospitals (four each) in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. We used an embedded case-study design and two data sources. Responses to open-ended questions in a health-facility assessment survey were analyzed with content analysis. We described categories of adaptations and care provision modalities during the pandemic at the hospital and maternity ward levels. Aggregate monthly service statistics on antenatal care, delivery, caesarean section, maternal deaths, and stillbirths covering 24 months (2019 and 2020; pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19) were examined. Declines in the number of antenatal care consultations were documented in Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda in 2020 compared to 2019. Deliveries declined in 2020 compared to 2019 in Tanzania and Uganda. Caesarean section rates decreased in Benin and increased in Tanzania in 2020 compared to 2019. Increases in maternal mortality ratio and stillbirth rate were noted in some months of 2020 in Benin and Uganda, with variability noted between hospitals. At the hospital level, teams were assigned to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine meetings were cancelled, and maternal death reviews and quality improvement initiatives were interrupted. In maternity wards, staff shortages were reported during lockdowns in Uganda. Clinical guidelines and protocols were not updated formally; the number of allowed companions and visitors was reduced. Varying approaches within and between countries demonstrate the importance of a contextualized response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal care utilization and the ability to provide quality care fluctuated with lockdowns and travel bans. Women's and maternal health workers' needs should be prioritized to avoid interruptions in the continuum of care and prevent the deterioration of perinatal health outcomes.

Vibration of protein microtubules within the elastic medium along with electromagnetic and gravitational forces by using orthotropic elastic shell model

In the present study, author analyses the vibration of protein microtubules and its interaction with the surrounding elastic medium and electromagnetic and gravitational forces. Protein microtubules are dynamic Nano fibers found inside the cell’s cytoplasm, strengthening the cytoskeleton and gives shape to the cell. When the cell undergoes deformation microtubules vibrate. Understanding the vibration of these Nano fibers within the elastic medium and along with the body forces as electromagnetic and gravitational forces is crucial. The main purpose of this study is to explore the effects of surrounding elastic medium and electromagnetic and gravitational forces on the vibration of protein microtubules. The findings reveal that the effects of surrounding medium and the external influences on the vibration of these Nano fibers are significant. The study presents the numerical values in the form of table associated with microtubules in various conditions: free, embedded, and in the presence of electromagnetic and gravitational forces.

An Editorial View on the Possible Connections Between the Human Microbiome and Most of the Neuropsychiatric Disorders – As Viewed from the Perspective of Biodiversity in the Living Environment

The connection between mental health, the human microbiome and biodiversity in the living environment must be viewed in an interdisciplinary way, thus resulting in the fact that macrobiodiversity in the external environment influences, in a defining way, human well-being, immune functions and last but not least ethology and mood swings. Therefore, this complex interaction between several fields leads to the definition of an innovative concept called bio-eco-psychological medicine. Our present mini-editorial view here is focusing on the possible connections between the human microbiome and most of the neuropsychiatric disorders – as viewed from the perspective of biodiversity in the living environment. Thus, these aspects are fitting quite well in the theory referent to the fact that lately there is an increase interest in the connections that might appear between most of the neuropsychiatric disorders and the general and specific biodiversity, as our group demonstrated on several recent occasions.

Analisis Aspek yang Mempengaruhi Ketertarikan Siswa SMA dalam Pembelajaran Biologi

Interest in learning is important in supporting student academic achievement. This often happens in biology subjects in the classroom. Many students expressed boredom in the lesson. Therefore, researchers will dig deeper related to aspects of student's interest in biology learning. The method used is literature study, which analyzes previous research. The results obtained are factors that influence student learning interest in biology subjects depends on student interest in teachers when teaching, interest in biology subjects, feeling happy with the way teachers teach and delivering material, attention to biology subjects, and being involved in the learning process and student tenacity when learning. In addition, internal factors (physical health, drive, arousal, and grasping ability) and external influences (environment, parents, teachers, learning styles, etc.) can affect students' interest in learning, the most important in interest in learning biology in the classroom is the initial and strong intention that students have when learning biology begins in class

Application of Migrating Optimization Algorithms in Problems of Optimal Control of Discrete-Time Stochastic Dynamical Systems

The problem of finding the optimal open-loop control for discrete-time stochastic dynamical systems is considered. It is assumed that the initial conditions and external influences are random. The average value of the Bolza functional defined on individual trajectories is minimized. It is proposed to solve the problem by means of classical and modified migrating optimization algorithms. The modification of the migrating algorithm consists of cloning the members of the initial population and choosing different strategies of migratory behavior for the main population and for populations formed by clones. At the final stage of the search for an extremum, an intensively clarifying migration cycle is implemented with the participation of three leaders of the populations participating in the search process. Problems of optimal control of bundles of trajectories of deterministic discrete dynamical systems, as well as individual trajectories, are considered as special cases. Seven model examples illustrating the performance of the proposed approach are solved.