Groups Of Respondents Research Articles

Machine learning study using 2020 SDHS data to determine poverty determinants in Somalia

Extensive research has been conducted on poverty in developing countries using conventional regression analysis, which has limited prediction capability. This study aims to address this gap by applying advanced machine learning (ML) methods to predict poverty in Somalia. Utilizing data from the first-ever 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey (SDHS), a cross-sectional study design is considered. ML methods, including random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression, are tested and applied using R software version 4.1.2, while conventional methods are analyzed using STATA version 17. Evaluation metrics, such as confusion matrix, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, recall, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), are employed to assess the performance of predictive models. The prevalence of poverty in Somalia is notable, with approximately seven out of ten Somalis living in poverty, making it one of the highest rates in the region. Among nomadic pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), the poverty average stands at 69%, while urban areas have a lower poverty rate of 60%. The accuracy of prediction ranged between 67.21% and 98.36% for the advanced ML methods, with the RF model demonstrating the best performance. The results reveal geographical region, household size, respondent age group, husband employment status, age of household head, and place of residence as the top six predictors of poverty in Somalia. The findings highlight the potential of ML methods to predict poverty and uncover hidden information that traditional statistical methods cannot detect, with the RF model identified as the best classifier for predicting poverty in Somalia.

Flourishing through Prayer by Singing in a Liturgical Choir

Prayer in human life enables directing attention to God and a transcendent goal beyond Earthly life. Singing has been present in the life of Israel since the oldest times, which is proved on the pages of the Holy Scriptures, in the Books of Exodus and Psalms. In the New Testament, there is a lot of encouragement to sing the glory of God in psalms and songs, as well as praising God Most High in Revelation. The Catholic Church is concerned with the quality of liturgical music through a number of recommendations and requirements defining the pieces that may become a part of the liturgy. Liturgical choir singing is a special form of common prayer. The aim of the present paper is to examine the effect of prayer by choral singing on human flourishing. The aim was achieved by analyzing recommendations of the Church on liturgical music, presenting the assumptions of the theoretical model investigating the effect of art on human flourishing, and then conducting empirical studies. Sixteen in-depth interviews were carried out with members of fourteen choirs. There were four groups of respondents according to their gender and family status. All obtained codes were organized into five main themes with four subcategories. They confirmed the assumptions of the model presented in the theoretical part and made it possible to identify the effect of choral singing on the performers’ health and the improvement of their skills. In addition, they showed a direct relation between prayer and spiritual well-being when singing in a choir, a coherence of activities with values as well as the striving for happiness.

Digitized Printed Strategic Intervention Material in Science in District I of Antipolo City: Basis for Enhancement Model

Digitization, technology, and scientific education are strong educational reform drivers. Modern educational institutions use computers and the Internet for all their activities. It’s everywhere now. Thus, digitally printed science intervention material is crucial in schools and society. Today, digitalized printed materials are the main teaching and learning channel. The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) uses extracurricular activities to help students who struggle in science, technology, and other subjects. Educators, administrators, and curriculum planners use digitally enhanced printed materials and multimedia instructions to develop every aspect of teaching and learning. This study assessed the validity and acceptability of the Digitized Printed Strategic Intervention Material (DPSIM) in teaching Science as expected against evaluation. The respondents of the study were one (1) Technology Expert, five (5) Science Administrators, and one hundred (100) Science teachers who were described in terms of position, educational attainment, training attended in ICT, teaching experiences, and the ability to handle ICT. The validity is assessed in terms of content, manner of presentation, language and style, and evaluative tools. Acceptability is assessed in terms of clarity, usefulness, suitability, adequacy, and timeliness. Various resources such as books, published studies on the net, and other materials were gathered in the construction of the research questionnaire. Descriptive Statistics such as Mean and Frequency, T-test, and ANOVA were utilized to test the statistical significance of the variables presented. Results revealed that there is no significant difference in the assessment of the two groups (expected and evaluated responses) of respondents on the validity of the Digitized Printed Strategic Intervention Material (DPSIM), but there is a significant difference in the assessment of respondents in terms of acceptability of DPSIM. When respondents were grouped according to their profile in terms of position, educational attainment, training attended in Information Communication Technology (ICT), teaching experience, and the ability to handle ICT in Teaching, it was identified that differences in the responses for validity were brought about by the respondent’s difference in ICT training attended and their ability to handle ICT in teaching. The validity of DPSIM is perceived to be a high extent, with Application, Method of Presentation, Language and Style, and Evaluative Tools as the criteria that need further improvement. For the acceptability of DPSIM, there is a significant difference in the responses when grouped according to profile. However, it is worth noting that overall, no criteria were perceived to be needing improvement. Acceptability has also been categorized to a very high extent. It concluded that the Digitized Printed Strategic Intervention Material (DPSIM) is an effective tool in teaching Science. The study included that school administrators should evaluate the DPSIM whether its contents conform to the curriculum standards. Teachers should first examine the DPSIM use to determine the contents that align with the objective of the lesson. Parents should support children with technology materials that supplement the lesson; pupils can explore the DPSIM, which promotes independent learning; and future researchers can conduct similar studies that assess developed DPSIM if the same education will be conducted in the future. Keyword: Digitized Printed Strategic Intervention Material (DPSIM)

Relationship between Social Networks, Support Patterns, and Health Problems among the General Hungarian Population during the Last Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Numerous research works prove that social relationships and the support they provide have particular importance in maintaining both mental and physical health: they help to deal with stressful life situations, overcome diseases, and maintain health. It is also known that certain periods of life and life events can be critical in terms of social support, as they involve the narrowing of possible sources of support, so the lack of a network of contacts and social support increases not only the risk of becoming lonely but also the occurrence or worsening of diseases. This study investigates the relationship between social network factors and support provided through networks and health problems, taking into account the perceived personal and general impact of COVID-19. The data came from a cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 5000 Hungarian participants was conducted during the dwindling period of the pandemic. We used a latent profile analysis to separate the different groups of respondents based on the support received from different sources of relationships, aiming at capturing the diversity of supported support combinations based on the type of relationships in the network, the form of support, and frequency. Multilevel regression was used to examine the impact of social connectivity factors, emerging patterns, and COVID-19-related perceived consequences on health conditions. Our results confirm that the “poorly supported network” plays a key role in the occurrence of chronic diseases and depression. It seems interesting, however, that the probability of poor physical and mental health was higher in the group of those receiving financial and in-kind support mainly from family compared to the group of those receiving support from multiple sources of relationships. The models also suggest that network integration plays a major role in maintaining mental and physical health during an epidemic crisis.

Paritas, Age, and Education Are Associated with the Level of Anxiety in Facing the Childbirth Period in PMB Komang Seni Rahayu, A.Md.Keb

Pregnancy-related anxiety is a condition that arises from the subjective experience of unsettling mental tension as a general reaction and the inability to deal with issues or feelings of insecurity that affect pregnant women and are related to the mother's concern for the welfare of herself and her fetus. The pregnant woman's age, education level, and prior pregnancies and deliveries are risk factors that contribute to anxiety in pregnant women. Particularly throughout the third trimester of pregnancy up until delivery, anxiety can strike pregnant women. Pregnant women experience anxiety during this time, including worry about having a healthy baby or worrying about the discomfort they are experiencing. These diseases can raise the risk of bleeding wounds and uterine atony, while also raising the likelihood of preterm birth and low birth weight in babies. This study's main goal was to find out how third-trimester pregnant women at PMB Komang Seni Rahayu, A.Md.Keb related to parity, age, and education. This study is quantitative and cross-sectional in nature. A questionnaire that was distributed to a specified group of respondents was used to collect data using the purposive sampling technique. 32 samples total were used in this study. Both univariate and bivariate data analysis are used in this study. Results of the correlations statistical test (= 0.05). The findings revealed a correlation between parity, age, and education with the degree of anxiety associated with giving birth in third-trimester pregnant women at PMB Komang Seni Rahayu, A.Md.Keb, with a significance of p = 0.139 at parity, age with p = 0.005, and level of education with 0.628.
 
 Keywords : Characteristics, Pregnant Women, Anxiety

Community perceptions and attitudes toward serious mental illness in Cambodia

BackgroundWorldwide, approximately 64 million people are living with serious mental illnesses (SMI), such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Because community perceptions and attitudes can impact help-seeking and the course of illness, understanding and incorporating these perspectives, and addressing misconceptions and harmful attitudes, is a critical component of comprehensive mental health support. These concepts are deeply rooted in local culture and belief systems, yet research to provide local understanding is often lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess relative caregivers' and other key community members’ perceptions and attitudes towards people with SMI in Cambodia. MethodsA brief survey that included open-ended assessment of mental health knowledge and beliefs was interviewer-administered to 115 relative caregivers of people with SMI. Additionally, 20 community members considered knowledgeable about mental health (e.g., traditional healers, local authorities, family caregivers) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews that explored perceptions and attitudes toward SMI in Cambodia. ResultsParticipants included 56 men and 79 women. While respondents were able to identify signs and symptoms of SMI, the most commonly perceived causes were spiritual (e.g., spells, ghosts); family crisis (e.g., domestic violence); and physical health problems. Both respondent groups showed empathy for people with SMI (e.g., pity) but also reported feelings of fear and shame (e.g., perceived tendency toward violence and not wanting to live with such a person). ConclusionBoth caregivers likely to seek help and respected local figures likely to be involved in initial help-seeking efforts demonstrated limited understanding of SMI as a medical disorder suitable for management within the formal healthcare system. Commonly reported misperceptions are likely to lead to delayed access to care and poorer treatment within the community. Strengthening mental health knowledge among caregivers and key community leaders may hold promise for improving peer support and community referral pathways.

EFFECTS OF FINE MOTOR TRAINING IN IMPROVING THE LEGIBILITY OF HANDWRITING OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The research aims to study the impact of fine motor training on improving handwriting legibility of students with special educational needs (SEN) in a Special Education Integrated Programme (SEIP) in the Pitas area. Besides, the study also aims to assess the existing level of handwriting legibility of students with special educational needs (SEN). Using a quantitative approach through quasi-experimental methods, the study involved pre-post testing of unbalanced groups that both groups of respondents had almost the same characteristics. The sample selection is purposefully sampled, i.e. the selected respondents have almost the same characteristics of handwriting skills and involve four students with special educational needs divided into two groups, the control group, and the treatment group. The instrument used is an adaptation of the Handwriting Legibility Scale (HLS) which has been translated into Bahasa and modified according to the study's relevance. Data obtained through pre, and post-tests were then analysed using descriptive analysis involving averages (min) through Microsoft Excel software. Findings show that fine motor training can improve handwriting legibility of students with special educational needs by an average of (min) 15 scores and indicate an increase in the level from very poor to moderate. Fine motor skills are important to master for all students with special educational needs as these skills have a huge positive impact on their quality of life in the future. Fine motor training was also seen to have an impact on handwriting skills as well as handwriting legibility of students with special educational needs.

Pilot study of musculoskeletal pain in ophthalmologists following participation in a fifteen-minute online Iyengar yoga program.

To evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints in ophthalmologists and to assess whether participation in an online Iyengar yoga video program improves the baseline pain scores and awareness of proper posture in the clinic and operating room. Ophthalmologists were recruited from online professional forums for this nonrandomized, prospective study. A pre-intervention survey, including demographics, office and procedure volumes, wellness activities, and baseline MSK pain scores, was completed. A fifteen-minute instructional video focusing on simple yoga poses for the neck, shoulder, and lower back created by one of the authors, who is both an ophthalmologist and a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, was provided to participants to complete three times weekly for a total of 4 weeks. A post-intervention survey collecting MSK pain scores and information about ergonomics and compliance was completed. Fifty ophthalmologists completed the pre-intervention survey, of whom 49 (98%) reported at least 1 episode of MSK discomfort in the preceding year. Of those, discomfort was cervical in 36 (72%), in the shoulder(s) in 15 (29%), thoracic spinal in 23 (46%), lumbar spinal in 23 (46%), and centered in the wrist, hand, or finger in 22 (44%). Of the 50 ophthalmologists, 22 submitted the post-intervention surveys. The post-intervention pain scores were decreased compared to baseline for cervical spine (P < 0.01), shoulder (P < 0.01), thoracic spine (P < 0.01), lumbar spine (P < 0.01) and wrist, hand, or finger (P < 0.01). 20 respondents (91%) reported improved awareness of their posture in the clinic and operating room, and 19 (86%) felt that this awareness would decrease their MSK symptoms. Among our small group of survey respondents, a fifteen-minute Iyengar yoga video program specifically designed for ophthalmologists reduced MSK pain and improving awareness of proper ergonomics for practicing ophthalmologists.

The Application of Information Technology in Physical Education Teaching and Training

This research determined the application strategy of information technology in the learning of physical education, and sports and training of Hunan Institute of Physical Education. The study conducted a parallel analysis of the assessment collected from both sports-student-respondents and physical education teacher-respondents. This research which used a purposive sampling technique adopted the descriptive-comparative-correlational research design. It was conducted during the second semester of school year 2022-2023. The results garnered from both group of respondents were compared, analyzed, and interpreted. Based from the findings, majority of the students are below 18 years old, mostly females, and were from grade 10. majority of the teachers are 31 -40 years and 41-50 years old; are females; and have up to 16-20 years of teaching experience. On the application of information technology in the learning of physical education in terms of learning experience, the assessment showed that the students and teachers agreed, denoting a high level of the use of technology for improved learning experience when it comes to increased flexibility as in virtual learning, providing individual-oriented experience, use of gaming systems in gym classes to enhance learning experience, etc. The assessment scores of the teachers on the use of IT for learning physical education were significantly higher compared to those of the students. From the perspective of the students and teachers, technology was used for analyzing sports performance at a high level because coaches apply information technology for visual feedback and replays, high-definition cameras are used to monitor players in the pitch, data analytics are used to study and understand the team, information technology is applied in sports to provide measurable training routines, for Live-tracking performances, etc. The assessment scores of the teachers on the use of information technology for sports and training were significantly lower compared to those of the students. The negative correlation between the use of information technology for sports and training and the learning experience of the students suggests that a low-level usage of information technology for sports and training was connected to a poor learning experience of the students. Lastly, the researcher proposed a plan to promote the use of information technology in physical education learning and sports training

Dragon Dance: Reintegrating a Traditional Chinese Sports Event in Physical Education Teaching

This study aimed to assess the status of using dragon dance as a tool in teaching physical education at the College of Science and Technology of Jiangxi Normal University. The output proposed a strategic plan for the integration of dragon dance into physical education. This study was be conducted in 2022/2023 academic year. The study purposively sampled two groups of respondents who are teachers and students belonging to the College of Science and Technology of the mentioned Chinese institution. The perceptions of both of the student-respondents on the integration of dragon dance in teaching physical education was assessed, with students’ information interpreted quantitatively through the gathering of the responses of the students using survey questionnaire. The teachers were interviewed about their perception pertaining to integrating the dragon dance in teaching physical education. Hence, the study utilized the descriptive-comparative correlational research design. Based on the study findings, The students perceived dragon dance to be useful at a high level in its cultural significance, usefulness for physical health and wellness, and for social entertainment and leisure. Students assessed dragon dance to be high-level useful for creative and cultural value, physical education, and for its collaborative use with technology. Female students have higher level of perception in terms of social entertainment and leisure compared to male students. There are no significant differences in the students’ assessment on the status of the use of dragon dance for teaching physical education among levels of age, sex, and year level in terms of usefulness to physical education, creative and cultural value, and collaborative use with technology. There are no significant relationships between the students’ perception on dragon dance during sports events and status of the use of dragon dance for teaching physical education. Finally, the strategic plan for the integration of dragon dance into physical education aimed to improve courses, stimulate students’ interest in dragon dance, adapt modern-day technology into dragon dance, use dragon dance to promote cultural value and significance, and to promote fitness and teamwork among students.

Analyzing the Variances in Perspectives on BIM Implementation among Korea AEC Participants

The goals and benefits of implementing building information modeling (BIM) in different facilities are comparable, although there are variations in the employed technologies. Nevertheless, when considering the practical aspects of BIM, the specific variations in implementing BIM across different facilities lack clarity. This study investigated the variations in viewpoints among participants in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry regarding the adoption of BIM. The objective was to assess the necessity of developing diverse BIM application strategies based on the specific needs of AEC facilities. The following outlines the investigative process: (1) The survey questions were structured as items that necessitate prior investigation and consultation of BIM execution plans from prominent countries. (2) Appropriate statistical tests were chosen to analyze the correlation between respondents’ information and the questions. (3) The findings of the analysis conducted on the group of respondents were deliberated. The survey revealed that strategic variations are essential for the implementation of space for meetings in a technical setting, the formulation of data standards and BIM team for a cooperative environment, and the assessment of subjects based on the type of facility. Specifically, client-specified common data environments exhibited variations in the responsibilities of participants, while the assignment of BIM coordinators also displayed differences in participant roles, depending on the type of facilities involved. Nevertheless, all participants were in complete agreement regarding the collaborative environment, technical environment, organizational structure, implementation guide, and the necessity for evaluation. Surveys of the perceptions of these AEC participants help identify factors that may hinder collaboration in advance and assist in adjusting communication and collaboration strategies. The BIM implementation strategy, which considers variations depending on the type of facility and the role of participants, facilitates seamless collaboration throughout the project and helps establish forward-thinking guidelines for BIM operations from the standpoint of the client and governance.

Association between degree centrality and neurocognitive impairments in patients with Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal rs-fMRI Study

BackgroundEvidence indicates that patients with schizophrenia (SZ) experience significant changes in their functional connectivity during antipsychotic treatment. Despite previous reports of changes in brain network degree centrality (DC) in patients with schizophrenia, the relationship between brain DC changes and neurocognitive improvement in patients with SZ after antipsychotic treatment remains elusive. MethodsA total of 74 patients with acute episodes of chronic SZ and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test, digital span test (DST), and verbal fluency test were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms and cognitive performance of the patients with SZ. Patients with SZ were treated with antipsychotics for six weeks starting at baseline and underwent MRI and clinical interviews at baseline and after six weeks, respectively. We then divided the patients with SZ into responding (RS) and non-responding (NRS) groups based on the PANSS scores (reduction rate of PANSS ≥50%). DC was calculated and analyzed to determine its correlation with clinical symptoms and cognitive performance. ResultsAfter antipsychotic treatment, the patients with SZ showed significant improvements in clinical symptoms, semantic fluency performance. Correlation analysis revealed that the degree of DC increase in the left anterior inferior parietal lobe (aIPL) after treatment was negatively correlated with changes in the excitement score (r = −0.256, p = 0.048, adjusted p = 0.080), but this correlation failed the multiple test correction. Patients with SZ showed a significant negative correlation between DC values in the left aIPL and DST scores after treatment, which was not observed at the baseline (r = −0.359, p = 0.005, adjusted p = 0.047). In addition, we did not find a significant difference in DC between the RS and NRS groups, neither at baseline nor after treatment. ConclusionsThe results suggested that DC changes in patients with SZ after antipsychotic treatment are correlated with neurocognitive performance. Our findings provide new insights into the neuropathological mechanisms underlying antipsychotic treatment of SZ.

Factors Associated with the Incident of Diarrhea among Children

Diarrhea is still a global problem with high levels of morbidity and mortality in various countries, especially in developing countries, and is one of the main causes of high rates of child morbidity and mortality in the world. The number of diarrhea sufferers found in Indonesia is estimated to be around 60 million cases every year. The number of diarrhea incidents in Dr. M. Yunus in Bengkulu Province in 2017 there were still 193 toddlers (13.3%). To determine the factors associated with the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers at RSUD Dr. M. Yunus Hospital Bengkulu Province in 2017. This research is an analytical survey with a cross sectional design. The sampling technique was carried out using a total sampling of 150 toddlers. The research instrument consisted of a questionnaire about socio-economic status and rotavirus immunization. Meanwhile, the questionnaire contains knowledge about the incidence of diarrhea. This questionnaire has been tested for validity and reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient value of 0.752. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analysis. From 150 samples, it was found that the largest group of respondents did not suffer from diarrhea, 113 respondents (75.3%), with 111 respondents (98.2%) having good knowledge, 81 respondents (98.8%) who had good socio-economic status. good nutritional status of 84 respondents (96.6%) and rotavirus immunization of 112 respondents (97.4%). The results of analysis using the chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge (P= 0.000), socio-economic status (P= 0.000), nutritional status (P= 0.000), and rotavirus immunization (P= 0.000) with the incidence of diarrhea. in toddlers at RSUD Dr. M. Yunus Hospital Bengkulu Province 2017. There is a relationship between the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers at Dr. M. Yunus Hospital Bengkulu Province with maternal knowledge, socio-economic status, nutritional status, and rotavirus immunization. It is hoped that health workers can provide more education in the community to increase mothers' knowledge about diarrhea so that it can help prevent diarrhea incidents.

Rural Mental Health and Psychological Myths

Background of the Research: According to twentieth century psychiatrist Carl Jung, myth is a necessary aspect of the human psyche which needs to find meaning and order in a world. Human health is in the hands of self-believing about his/her health strongly that everyone who came to this earth will be alive with blessings of god/goddess when time comes, Eman the god will be with his rope to take the breath of human being which is stated as an etiology myth. This basic beliefs leads in every one mind set up to hope on each individual life ahead and to do their socio economic activities on daily basis. This leads to consumerism and an indirectly positive belief on life creates demand for goods and service from household economy to a national economy. So, basically good health of human being is the prime factor for every walk of their life to reach their desired socio economic destination. Aim of the Study: Here, in this paper, the researcher made an attempt to find the nexus between mental health of rural inhabitants and their psychological myth. Research Methodology: The methodology adopted for the research fact was field study by using an interview schedule as a tool for collecting the data from a district named Theni in Tamil Nadu. The sample size taken was 300. Targeted population was rural inhabitants in Theni district. A Purposive non random sampling was used in this study. Findings and Discussions: The obtained results from the field level study categorized that 36.6 percentages of rural respondents who were in the age group of fifty to sixty had a strong belief in witchcraft or psychological myths like destroying a person’s health and putting that person in bed with not able to do functioning of leg or hand by witchcraft (seivenai) and black magic. The same percentage or the same group of respondents had a belief in existing of ghost; Persons who died in accidents, suicide will penetrate into other body and exploit the health of host body. It’s very hard to change the psychological myths because of strong beliefs in existing of unknown energy known as god of all religion. As a result of beliefs, a good amount of economic time and money is spent for their mental satisfaction by 36.6 percentages of sample respondents in the study area. Hence, Myths always exist in a corner of human psychology in rural population but a degree of variation in accepting the myths. The remaining percentage of rural respondents in the age group of below fifty were the believe in advancement of science and technology, for example increasing subscribers in smart mobile phone and using internet, sending their sons and daughters to higher education for the sake of individual family betterment in micro level and as in macro nation’s betterment which is an another feature of the interviewed respondents. Among the ten respondents strongly three were believe in myths that were exclamatory to the artificial intelligence era. The aspects of money and time spend towards the myths may be taken as scope for further research in any geographical area if it exist.

Social Assessment of the Effect of Construction of the Southern Warsaw Ring Road on the Quality of Life and Residential Real Estate Market in the Wilanów District

Abstract Every road investment has both positive and negative consequences in spatial, economic, environmental, and social terms. The objective of the article is the social assessment of the effect of construction of the Southern Warsaw Ring Road (WRR) on: (i) the quality of life of the local community, and (ii) the residential real estate market. The analyses employed the method of quantitative analysis with the application of the survey technique. The questionnaire was made publicly available to residents of the Wilanów district in Warsaw. Results obtained in the scope of the study render decision making models of respondents depending on the distance of the place of residence from the WRR. The results reveal that responses given by the group of respondents living nearer the ring road are the most variable, particularly in the context of assessing the effect of the investment on the quality of life, including nuisance related to the express road and plans to change the place of residence. The same group of respondents provided the highest share of responses supporting the claim that housing prices increased due to the construction of the ring road.

FaceReader as a neuromarketing tool to compare the olfactory preferences of customers in selected markets

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine FaceReader as a tool to compare the olfactory preferences of two selected countries. This paper examines the olfactory preferences of customers in the bakery department of a grocery store in the Slovak and the Spanish market. Design/methodology/approach The aim of this study is to examine subconscious/unconscious preferences in the selection of aromas suitable for the bakery department in the Slovak and the Spanish market. In this case, it is not a classical qualitative sensory testing of the perception of fragrances. The aim is to identify the associations of scents related to the selected sales department through images of the selected aromas. A special platform is used to obtain subconscious/unconscious feedback, which allows online collection of implicit feedback using the software FaceReader 7. Findings The authors noticed the different moods of the two groups of respondents when they answered the question about what they associate with the smell of bakery products. The Spanish respondents were slightly pleasantly disposed, while the Slovak respondents were slightly unpleasantly disposed. The smell of bakery products evoked more memories and emotions in the Spanish respondents than in the Slovak respondents, which can be explained by the higher pleasant mood. The main contribution of this work lies in the new opportunities to obtain feedback that can be used in marketing research and that rely not only on explicit but also implicit data. The extension of the methodological apparatus to implicit feedback presupposes some form of control of the data collected by the questionnaire. The use of biometric tools can represent an efficient alternative in terms of time and money to the use of neuroimaging tools in the selection/research of aromas for specific stores/departments. Research limitations/implications It must be noted that the sample is small, and adequate conclusions cannot be made about entire population. Based on empirical findings and pandemic-related limitations, the authors plan to conduct similar research with real aroma samples and with even larger sample of tested respondents, considering weather, season, olfactory sensitivity (anosmia, hyposmia and normosmia) and participant fatigue (beginning and end of the week). Originality/value Today, marketers are facing the greatest challenge of how to attract consumers’ attention. Every individual has a different perception of the shopping environment based on his own experience, beliefs and attitudes. This is why new marketing techniques and approaches are becoming increasingly popular in the marketing environment.

Deconcentration strategies as tools for preventing gentrification as perceived by residents of tourism destinations

Abstract Purpose The issue of residents' attitudes is essential in the context of phenomena such as overtourism, tourismphobia, gentrification, and touristification at destinations. An important operation is the management of tourism flows (deconcentration strategies) to counteract negative phenomena. The purpose of this article is to assess the attitudes of residents of destinations of different sizes toward the activities of local government in regulating tourist traffic, which are understood as deconcentration strategies. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research method using the focus group interview method (focus study) was applied. The survey was conducted with six groups of respondents from cities experiencing the effects of overtourism and small towns and villages where these effects are not apparent. Findings The survey showed that not all residents of large and well-known cities (Krakow and Tricity) and smaller towns are optimistic about the deconcentration strategy. In particular, residents of areas outside the centers of large cities do not want the dispersion of tourists. Practical implications There is a fundamental conclusion to be drawn about the need for sustainable management, in which citizens are active players at the planning level. Social implications This study has shown the need for public consultation before introducing deconcentration strategies, as residents of large well-known cities and smaller towns are not always favorably disposed toward the tourism management solutions implemented by local authorities. Originality/value Despite managing tourism and teasing out deconcentration strategies, the effectiveness of these measures is an emerging fundamental problem, particularly regarding the perceptions of residents.

THE IMPACTS OF CASH WAQF LINKED SUKUK EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA

This study analyzes the impact of Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS) empowerment programs on beneficiaries’ welfare, financial inclusion, social participation, and spirituality. Using questionnaires administered to the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the empowerment programs in Central Lampung, South Tangerang, Trenggalek East Java, and Bima Nusa Tenggara Indonesia, the study constructs three impact indicators: the welfare index, financial inclusion index, and social and spiritual index. The data are analyzed using the difference-in-difference (DiD) method, where the three impact indices are compared between the two groups of respondents in 2021 and 2022. We find that the CWLS empowerment programs improve the welfare and financial inclusion of beneficiaries but have no discernible effect on social and spiritual participation. However, the DID analysis reveals that the overall impacts of welfare, financial inclusion, and social and spiritual participation are not statistically different between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022. This study provides significant implications for policymakers and nadzir to enhance the impacts of CWLS on socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation.

The effectiveness of case-based concept map to improve pathophysiology knowledge and critical thinking among first-year nursing students: a quasi-experimental study

Introduction: Improving pathophysiology knowledge and critical thinking skills of nursing students remains as a challenge faced by nursing educators. Thus, an innovative learning method is required. Concept map by adding cases might assist increasing students’ pathophysiology knowledge and critical thinking skills. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test with control group design involved 104 first-year nursing students of Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Central Java in April-June 2023. Participants were divided into two classes at the beginning of the first semester and randomly allocated into the intervention (54 respondents) and the control (50 respondents) group. The intervention group was provided typical learning added with a case-based concept map development weekly for 7 weeks, while the control group underwent regular lectures based on the syllabus. Pathophysiology knowledge was measured by using Multiple Choice Questions, while critical thinking was evaluated by using the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory questionnaire. Independent-t test and paired test were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the case-based concept map. Results: The mean score for knowledge the pathophysiology of the disease in the intervention group was significantly higher than the those in the control group (t=5.24, p=0.000). However, there was no difference in the average scores of critical thinking between two groups discovered in the study (t=0.90, p=0.37). Conclusions: Case-based concept map can be recommended as an innovative and effective learning method for teaching disease pathophysiology to nursing students. However, the case-based concept map in this study is still not consistent in improving students' critical thinking skills.

Transformation of Parameters of Volitional Self-regulation and Dominant Mental State in Servicemen with Amputations as a Result of an Incident Situation

Introduction. Participation in a special military operation is a challenging test for each serviceman in terms of many parameters. Its detailed study is of particular importance for providing psychological assistance to servicemen with physiological defects resulting from an incident situation. Such a situation is considered by us as a variant of a difficult life situation that the subject has not experienced before. For this group of respondents, under the incident situation, we will consider surgical intervention in the form of amputation of a body part that resulted from a wound incurred during participation in a special military operation. In the course of the study, an attempt was made to compare the features of volitional self-regulation and the dominant mental state in servicemen immediately after the amputation operation and after 6 months of rehabilitation measures.Objective. The study aimed to investigate the peculiarities of the transformation of parameters of volitional self-regulation and dominant mental state in servicemen who had experienced amputation as a result of an incident situation.Materials and Methods. The study utilized the methodology of diagnosing the dominant mental state, specifically the “Dominant State” technique (L. V. Kulikov, version 2), and the DPS-1 questionnaire “Study of Volitional Self-Regulation” (A. Zverkov, E. V. Eidman). The significance of differences was tested using the Mann-Whitney U test.Results. The results obtained in the study of the transformation of parameters of volitional self-regulation and dominant mental state in servicemen with amputations as a result of an incident situation indicated a decrease in self-esteem, tonus, activity, and calmness in the structure of the dominant mental state. There was also a decrease in calmness, emotional stability, and life satisfaction in the structure of volitional self-regulation.Discussion. The conducted study confirms the necessity of developing targeted psychological assistance for servicemen with amputations, as well as the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation program for servicemen with various injuries and amputations.