Active Group Research Articles

CIVIL LAW RESULT AS A CRITERION FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF LEGAL STRUCTURES OF NOTARIAL ACTIONS

The author comprehensively analyzes the content of notary activity. Taking into account the content of the legal norms of the current legislation, it is established that all actions performed by a notary are differentiated into two groups: legally significant actions and auxiliary actions aimed at ensuring notarial activity. Notarial action is defined as a related system of legal facts, which represents the unity of notarial proceedings and the result of such proceedings. The article defines the technical and legally significant actions performed by a notary. The author combines groups of notarial actions according to the criterion of achieving a civil result by using the construction of classifications of notarial actions presented in the legal literature. The existence of three legal structures of notarial actions has been revealed: the first composition is to ensure the safety of property, the second composition is to ensure the fulfillment of obligations, the third composition is to ensure the realization of rights.

Intersectionality informed and narrative-shifting whole school approaches for LGBTQ+ secondary school student mental health: A UK qualitative study.

School is a key site for prevention and early intervention in public mental health, with sexual and gender minority students being a priority group for action. Context is important in understanding how school inclusion of sexual and gender minorities shapes mental health and well-being, with rapidly changing social and political forces necessitating ongoing research. This coproduced UK secondary school-based study aimed to understand (a) key components of mentally, socially and emotionally healthy school environments for LGBTQ+ students considerate of intersecting minoritised identities; (b) staff information, skills and capacity needs and (c) factors influencing uptake and implementation. Online interviews and focus groups were conducted with 63 participants (22 staff, 32 students (aged 13-19 years), and 9 training providers), diverse in relation to gender and sexual identity, ethnicity, religious and social context. Data were analysed thematically. One overarching theme captured the need for an intersectionality-informed, contextually adaptable, whole school approach which 'shifts the narrative' away from deficit thinking, challenging prevailing cis/heteronormative and White norms. This underpinned four themes: (1) 'Feeling safe, seen and celebrated: embedding intersectional signs, signals and symbols', (2) 'Everyone's business: the need for collaboration', (3) 'Embedding a culture of change', and (4) 'Re-locating the problem: challenging deficit thinking'. Contextually diverse research is needed which critically addresses ways in which social power enacted interpersonally and structurally serves to hinder schools from enacting LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Evidence to inform and develop implementation strategies for institutional changes and to advocate for wider socio-political support is also key to mitigate the potential for widening inequities linked to inequitable school environments.

Are LEADER principles achieved in Local Action Groups? A systematic assessment of local representatives' perception

Are LEADER principles achieved in Local Action Groups? A systematic assessment of local representatives' perception

СОЦІАЛЬНА ІНКЛЮЗІЯ ТА СТАЛИЙ СІЛЬСЬКИЙ РОЗВИТОК: НА ПЕРЕТИНІ ПОЛІТИК ЄС

The article presents the results of research into the conceptual foundations of social inclusion policy, identifies its principles, goals and subjects in accordance with modern world practice. It has been proven that social isolation is an urgent problem of modern times in countries regardless of their level of development and carries with it significant negative socio-economic consequences for individuals, countries and the world community in the form of increased social tension and conflict, loss of human capital and GDP. Methodological aspects of the social inclusion basic principles and ideas implementation in the policy of rural development in the European Union are determined. It has been established that social inclusion as a tool for ensuring sustainable rural development is implemented at the pan-European, national and local levels within the framework of various components of institutional support for rural areas. Promotion of social inclusion is carried out through the implementation of numerous programs focused on the support of certain socially vulnerable groups of the population – youth, women, migrants, disability people, etc. The institutional basis for the systematic implementation of the social inclusion policy in rural areas is formed by the European network for rural development, which includes government institutions of various levels and stakeholders of sustainable rural development, represented through local action groups. It has been proven that the systematic implementation of social inclusion initiatives has become a guarantee of progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development in rural areas, the basis of the formation of a comfortable and conflict-free environment for life without any social, economic or other discrimination.

Characteristics of Action Groups Engaged in Biodiversity Conservation Activities on Agricultural Land in Japan

Characteristics of Action Groups Engaged in Biodiversity Conservation Activities on Agricultural Land in Japan

The Review of Affirmative Action for the Inclusive Civil Service of Nepal

This article examines the executing effects of affirmative action for the inclusive civil service of Nepal. Affirmative action is part of a broader social inclusion agenda introduced after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2006. The reservation system as a tool of affirmative action has been performing its role, which has been adopted since 2007, after the second amendment of the Civil Service Act, 1993. This article employed the descriptive research design based on the systematic review of secondary data for the analysis. In a nation like Nepal, it can be challenging to implement affirmative action successfully since it includes challenging redistributive behaviors and welfare societal norms as well as centuries-old discrimination that is reinforcing every day. The construction of target groups in affirmative action based on social categories as indicators of discrimination leads to debate regarding its good intentions. Two unintended implications arise from this: firstly, affirmative action can foster inter-group differences and polarization between targeted and non-targeted groups, potentially fueling discrimination and resentment. Secondly, there is a risk of overlooking inequalities within social groups, as observed in Nepal's civil service positions, where reserved spots may be filled by relatively well-off families, neglecting economically disadvantaged individuals. These unintended consequences highlight the complexity of affirmative action and emphasize the need for careful consideration and evaluation to address potential drawbacks and ensure fairness and inclusivity.

Efektivitas Kegiatan Kelompok Kerja Kepala Sekolah Dasar Negeri dalam Penyusunan Rencana Kerja di Desa Lumpatan Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin

Tujuan utama yang hendak dicapai dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui Efektivitas Kegiatan Kelompok Kerja Kepala Sekolah Dasar Negeri di Desa Lumpatan Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin. Penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kualitatif. Pengumpulan data dilakukan pada natural setting (kondisi yang alamiah), sumber data primer, dan teknik pengumpulan data lebih banyak pada observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sumber daya manusia yang belum begitu memiliki kinerja dan kompetensi manajerial yang baik dalam mendukung penyusunan rencana kerja kegiatan Kegiatan Kelompok Kerja Kepala Sekolah serta sarana dan prasarana yang kurang memadai; penyusunan rencana Kegiatan Kelompok Kerja Kepala Sekolah dan indikator pendidikan dan pelatihan kurang berjalan dengan efektif; Rendahnya motivasi yang ditunjukkan kepala sekolah berdampak pada pengetahuan kepala sekolah terhadap penyusunan rencana kerja kurikulum sehingga kurang mampu meningkatkan mutu pendidikan disekolah yang di pimpinnya.

COGNITIVE FUNCTION, ACTIVITY MEANINGFULNESS, AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract Hess’s selective engagement theory (SET) suggests that individuals facing aging-related decline tend to selectively allocate cognitive resources in activity engagement. This selectivity can be mediated or moderated by motivational factors (e.g., activity meaningfulness). Yet, empirical research on SET and older adults with dementia is limited. This study aims to examine how cognitive function and activity meaningfulness affect social engagement among this population. Data is from the 2016 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N= 1,585 participants aged 65+ with dementia). Engagement in four social activities including visiting family or friends (VF), attending religious activities (RA), participating in group activities (GA), and going out for enjoyment (OE) were analyzed in separate multivariate logistic regression models with cognitive function, the corresponding meaningfulness (a mediator and a moderator), and covariates (age, gender, race, living alone, self-rated health, ADL, IADL, and depressive symptoms). Results showed that, of the four social activities, cognitive function was only significantly associated with RA and GA engagement. RA meaningfulness moderates the association between cognitive function and RA engagement, in that high RA meaningfulness shows high RA engagement, while low RA meaningfulness shows low RA engagement and in a negative association with cognitive function. GA meaningfulness partially mediates the relationship between cognitive function and GA engagement. These findings support SET by showing cognitive resources-related selection effects on activity engagement and the roles of activity meaningfulness in selectivity effects. The implication highlights the importance of sustaining both cognitive function and motivational factors to promote social engagement among older adults with dementia.

Classification of Urban Surface Elements by Combining Multisource Data and Ontology

The rapid pace of urbanization and increasing demands for urban functionalities have led to diversification and complexity in the types of urban surface elements. The conventional approach of relying solely on remote sensing imagery for urban surface element extraction faces emerging challenges. Data-driven techniques, including deep learning and machine learning, necessitate a substantial number of annotated samples as prerequisites. In response, our study proposes a knowledge-driven approach that integrates multisource data with ontology to achieve precise urban surface element extraction. Within this framework, components from the EIONET Action Group on Land Monitoring in Europe matrix serve as ontology primitives, forming a shared vocabulary. The semantics of surface elements are deconstructed using these primitives, enabling the creation of specific descriptions for various types of urban surface elements by combining these primitives. Our approach integrates multitemporal high-resolution remote sensing data, network big data, and other heterogeneous data sources. It segments high-resolution images into individual patches, and for each unit, urban surface element classification is accomplished through semantic rule-based inference. We conducted experiments in two regions with varying levels of urban scene complexity, achieving overall accuracies of 93.03% and 97.35%, respectively. Through this knowledge-driven approach, our proposed method significantly enhances the classification performance of urban surface elements in complex scenes, even in the absence of sample data, thereby presenting a novel approach to urban surface element extraction.

Optimising a co-production framework for developing public health interventions: application and testing of school-based Research Action Groups

Existing frameworks for developing public health interventions have limited guidance for researchers on how to work with stakeholders to co-produce context-specific interventions. To address this, a promising framework for the co-production of public health interventions was developed through a previous review of school-based co-production. The present study aimed to optimise this co-production framework through applying and testing it in real-world secondary school contexts. Within schools, Research Action Groups (RAGs) were established with multiple school stakeholders supported by an external facilitator to use school data to produce school-specific mental health and wellbeing interventions. A mixed method process evaluation of two contextually diverse case study secondary schools in the UK was used to optimise the co-production framework. The process evaluation sought the views of those involved (students, school staff, school Senior Management Team (SMT) members, and the external co-production facilitator/researcher) on the co-production functions they were involved in so they could be modified, if needed. Data collected for the process evaluation during co-production were a researcher diary (n = 45 entries), and observations of student photography (n = 21) and RAG meetings (n = 8). Post co-production, interviews, and surveys with RAG students (n = 18) and staff (n = 8), and two school-specific SMT focus groups (n = 10) were conducted. The study identified four recommendations to optimise and integrate co-production into real world practice. They include the need to: assess schools for their readiness to undertake co-production; more effectively communicate the necessity to have stakeholders from the whole system involved; work with SMTs throughout co-production functions; involve stakeholders outside the school to support producing solutions to change school mental health and wellbeing priorities. The framework is intended to be used by researchers to integrate stakeholders into a shared decision-making process to develop interventions that meet the needs and contexts of individual schools. It could be transferred to other settings to support the development of public health interventions for other health areas, and populations. Further evaluation to test its use in other settings is needed.

IMPROVING MANAGEMENT WITH THE HELP OF HIGH TECHNOLOGIES: THE EXPERIENCE OF ALIBABA GROUP COMPANY

The article discusses modern strategies for improving management in the corporate environment with an emphasis on the practical experience of the e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. The study highlights the implementation of high technology in various aspects of business, from the supply chain to e-marketing. Empirical methods, complex methods, and system analysis are used for analyzing the impact of high technologies on the company's development process. The article reveals specific technological solutions and innovations that Alibaba Group successfully uses to optimize internal processes and ensure a high level of management efficiency. The study also analyzes the positive results of the implementation of these technologies and their impact on the company's competitiveness in the market. Conclusions are drawn on the key aspects of successful optimization of management with the help of high technologies, taking into account the practical experience of Alibaba Group. This article is a valuable source of information for business leaders and managers who seek to introduce innovations in their organizations and increase the effectiveness of management processes. The article provides a theoretical analysis of the problems of organizational efficiency and features of the organizational structure of Alibaba Group. The main methods of building an organizational structure, management methods, distribution of responsibility between managers and staff motivation systems in Alibaba Group are considered. The key directions for improving the efficiency of the organization of Alibaba Group's activities in the near future have been determined. The author's definition of the process of improving the organization's management based on high technologies is formulated. The results of the study can be useful for managers and specialists of different organizations in the field of e-commerce and Internet technologies.

Information-sharing and cooperation in networked collective action groups

Abstract When people provide for large-scale public goods, they often do not know what each individual group member is contributing. Instead, they commonly have access to the behaviors of their ties, in a broader network of others whose decisions are unknown. But network ties also serve as channels of communication, allowing behaviors to reach a larger audience. Here, we ask how public good production is affected in networks when people can share information about their ties’ behaviors with their other connections—and what behaviors they tend to share. We predict that networked collective action groups demonstrate higher levels of cooperation when their members can share information about their ties’ decisions with their other connections, compared with when they cannot. Informed by prior work, we consider two pathways by which information-sharing opportunities might shape cooperation in networked collective action groups: (i) as a means of coordinating one's own decisions with those of the larger group, including those to whom one is not directly tied, and (ii) as a reminder of possible reputational consequences for selfishness. Across two exploratory experiments (combined n = 7,014 contribution decisions, 49 groups), we demonstrate that opportunities to share information about others’ decisions promote public good production. The benefits occur even though people tend to share information about relatively selfish behaviors that, at first blush, might seem detrimental to cooperation. Our results build on prior work by showing that information-sharing prevents selfishness from becoming contagious by raising reputational concerns.

OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENDITURE ON OUT-PATIENT CARE IN EAG STATES: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON NSSO 75TH ROUND DATA

Regardless of their socio-economic status, everyone has the human right to receive healthcare. Since the Indian government spends so little on health care, healthcare spending has been a major source of concern. However, most of the literature in India on determinants of health spending has focused on hospitalization, and there are relatively fewer separate studies on health-seeking behaviour and expenditure in outpatient departments. The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of health-care-seeking behaviour and the pattern of expenditure incurred by households during outpatient care in Empowered Action Group (EAG) States. The present study used secondary data from the latest 75th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) conducted from July 2017 to July 2018 on the key indicators of social consumption in India: Health. The finding suggest that the seeking behaviour of ailing persons as outpatients, across EAG states only limited population access to public sources of healthcare (36.8% in rural and 27.3% in urban). Rajasthan (46.7%), Madhya Pradesh (41.5%), Bihar (32.9% rural), and Uttar Pradesh (31.3%) have the highest percentage of outpatient who expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of public health services in rural areas. Among EAG states of urban areas, Uttar Pradesh (42.6%) have the highest percentage of not satisfied with the quality of care by government sources. Among EAG states, Significant inter-state variation was observed, with Rajasthan (Rs. 886) reporting the highest expenditure for outpatient treatment and Chhattisgarh (Rs. 350) reporting the lowest in rural areas. However, Uttar Pradesh (Rs. 1194) reported the highest and Odisha (Rs. 508) reported the lowest expenditure incurred on outpatient care by ailing persons in urban areas. The amount that each state spends on healthcare varies greatly, which causes inter-state differences in the cost of outpatient treatment in EAG states. As a result, the government needs to control the cost of medications and diagnostic tests and ensure that plans for outpatient care include coverage. KEYWORDS: Outpatient care, out-of-pockect expenditure, EAG states,

National Wound Community Think Tank: Mobilizing Canada’s Skin Health and Wound Care Community

With an aim toward leveraging and mobilizing the knowledge and experience of a diverse and representative group from across Canada’s skin health and wound care community, a National Wound Community Think Tank was launched in February2023 as an action and solutions-oriented working group of Wounds Canada. This article summarizes the creation, progress to date and future goals of the Think Tank.

Alfalfa weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the western United States are resistant to multiple type II pyrethroid insecticides.

The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)), a key pest of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. (Fabales: Fabacae)) across the US, has developed resistance to pyrethroids lambda-cyhalothrin and zeta-cypermethrin in at least 6 western US states. Unfortunately, 6 pyrethroid active ingredients represent most commercial insecticides registered for alfalfa weevil control in forage alfalfa systems. Thus, the loss of efficacy of this mode of action group due to multiple resistance represents a significant agricultural challenge because of a limited registered alternative mode of actions. To evaluate the extent and severity of resistance among pyrethroids around the United States, laboratory bioassays using larvae from Arizona, California, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, including both the Egyptian and western strains, were conducted. Results indicated that similar degrees of resistance among type II pyrethroids as determined by both laboratory bioassays and field trials exist. The LC50 values of alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin and zeta-cypermethrin produced significant correlations with the LC50 values of lambda-cyhalothrin. In contrast, resistance did not include type I pyrethroid, bifenthrin (registered for seed alfalfa production), whose LC50 values yielded a slope not significantly different from zero when correlated with lambda-cyhalothrin. Field trials conducted in Arizona, Montana, and Washington corroborated laboratory results, as commercial formulations with type II pyrethroid active ingredients failed to adequately control alfalfa weevils resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin. Integrated resistance management recommendations are discussed.

Organization of sensorimotor activity in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed individuals: an fMRI conjunction analysis.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is characterized by persistent involved limb functional deficits that persist for years despite rehabilitation. Previous research provides evidence of both peripheral and central nervous system adaptations following ACLR. However, no study has compared functional organization of the brain for involved limb motor control relative to the uninvolved limb and healthy controls. The purpose of this study was to examine sensorimotor cortex and cerebellar functional activity overlap and non-overlap during a knee motor control task between groups (ACLR and control), and to determine cortical organization of involved and uninvolved limb movement between groups. Eighteen participants with left knee ACLR and 18 control participants performed a knee flexion/extension motor control task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A conjunction analysis was conducted to determine the degree of overlap in brain activity for involved and uninvolved limb knee motor control between groups. The ACLR group had a statistically higher mean percent signal change in the sensorimotor cortex for the involved > uninvolved contrast compared to the control group. Brain activity between groups statistically overlapped in sensorimotor regions of the cortex and cerebellum for both group contrasts: involved > uninvolved and uninvolved > involved. Relative to the control group, the ACLR group uniquely activated superior parietal regions (precuneus, lateral occipital cortex) for involved limb motor control. Additionally, for involved limb motor control, the ACLR group displayed a medial and superior shift in peak voxel location in frontal regions; for parietal regions, the ACLR group had a more posterior and superior peak voxel location relative to the control group. ACLR may result in unique activation of the sensorimotor cortex via a cortically driven sensory integration strategy to maintain involved limb motor control. The ACLR group's unique brain activity was independent of strength, self-reported knee function, and time from surgery.

Enhancing adaptation to climate change by fostering collective action groups among smallholders in Punjab, Pakistan

Climate change adaptation is increasingly recognized by subsistence farmers in Pakistan. The problem of climate change is severe, and smallholders are often resource constrained when it comes to adapting to it. However, such constraints can be overcome through collective responses. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of collective action among smallholder farmers to determine how it influences local adaptation processes. This study explores the impact of farmer’s collective action groups (CAGs) on adopting climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices in poverty-stricken areas of rural Punjab, Pakistan. The data was collected through a cross-sectional survey, and for the analysis purpose, the Recursive bivariate probit regression (RBP) model was employed. The first stage estimates of RBP models suggest that the farmer’s decision to participate in CAGs is mainly influenced by factors such as education, credit access, climate change risk perception, and peer influence. The second stage estimates showed a positive and significant impact of farmers’ participation in collective action groups on adopting climate change adaptation strategies across all three models. The study concludes that the farmers participating in collective action groups have a higher climate change adaptation level. It is recommended that the pro-poor policies be designed to negate the entry barriers, facilitate the inclusion of the farmers in the collective action groups, and enhance climate change adaptation among smallholders.

Strategies for a Nonviolent Response to Perpetrator Actions: What Can Christianity Offer to Targets of Workplace Mobbing?

This study sought to identify what strategies Christianity can offer for a morally justifiable, nonviolent response to mobbing actions. A qualitative content analysis of the Gospel of Luke was performed, and Heinz Leymann’s action groups of workplace mobbing were used to create categories. Three strategies of nonviolent response to attacks on communication, personal and professional reputation as well as social exclusion and physical attacks were identified. Their set consists of active efforts to maintain the observers’ support, refusal to engage in a stubborn and destructive struggle, and cognitive reappraisal and making sense of negative experiences. The possibilities for using these strategies in different situations are discussed, and directions for further research are outlined, enabling us to evaluate the effectiveness of millennia-old religious coping practices in cases of workplace mobbing.

Decomposing Difficulty of Reading Literacy Test Items

The current study investigates the question of test difficulty decomposition depending on the characteristics of items (such as: format, belonging to the type of text to which the item belongs) and the reader's actions required to answer it (search for information in the text, simple conclusions, complex conclusions, critical interpretation of the text). The sample of the study consisted of fourth grade elementary school students in Krasnoyarsk, who completed the computerized test of reading literacy "Progress" in the spring of 2022. Research method: psychometric modeling using the LLTM+e model. Research hypothesis: the decomposition of item difficulties will help to prove that the reading actions required to complete the tasks will form a hierarchy of difficulties similar to traditional taxonomies (B. Bloom), that is, reading skills aimed at analyzing, synthesizing, interpreting information will give tasks greater difficulty than simple conclusions, and those, in turn, will make tasks more difficult than the reader's actions to find information in the text. The results show that the assignment of items to the group of reader's actions is a significant factor. The size of the effects does not allow us to speak of a strict hierarchy, but when other attributes are controlled, the tasks for information retrieval in an explicit form are easier for students than the tasks for complex conclusions and for critical understanding of the text.

Lifestyle intervention based on exercise and behavioural counselling and its effect on physical and psychological health in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. An exploratory, pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) often lead unhealthy lifestyles. This pragmatic trial evaluated the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention, consisting of a 12-week aerobic exercise program and behavioural counselling, in SSD outpatients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It also aimed to assess persistence of potential effects in a 24-month long-term follow-up. Effectiveness was measured in terms of a wide range of outcomes involving physical and psychological health, quality of life, physical activity and changes in motivation to exercise within the context of the self-determination theory. Our primary outcome was waist circumference change. Thirty-three out of 48 participants completed the study. No differences between groups were found in terms of BMI change or other metabolic parameters. However, the active group (AG) showed improvement regarding waist circumference, negative symptomatology and identified motivation to exercise during the study and follow-up. The AG exhibited changes toward a more active pattern of activity after intervention. Moreover, belonging to the AG was a significant predictor for achieving any degree of clinical improvement after 24-month follow-up. Combined interventions of exercise and behavioural counselling in SSD patients with MetS should be considered as an essential part of the integral treatment in the context of mental health services.