Holiday Season Research Articles

Gift Gratitude This Holiday Season

Gift Gratitude This Holiday Season

Health risks of environmentally persistent free radicals in atmospheric particulate matter during the spring festival travel season in Tainan, Taiwan.

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent pollutants in atmospheric particulate matter that are detrimental to human health. This study collected atmospheric particulate matter during and after the spring festival travel season in Tainan, Taiwan, from various locations and analyzed the carbon composition and PAH isomeric ratios to identify the sources. In this study, EPFR concentrations were measured using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, with the highest concentration found to be 3.04 × 10(12) spins/m3. EPFRs contained predominantly oxygen-centered radicals in PM2.5, which are mainly existed in PM1. The results show that EPFR concentrations on PM, measured per unit volume (spins/m3) or mass (spins/g), were highest during the spring festival travel season. The daily inhalation exposure to the sum of EPFRs and PAHs in PM2.5 was estimated to be equivalent to inhaling 0.11-0.15 cigarette tar EPFRs per day. This report is the first to document EPFRs in environmental atmospheric particulate matters in Taiwan, which has significantly contributed to local air pollution control and reduced exposure risks to public health in Tainan.

Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration, Myofascial Release, & Neuro-Developmental Treatment In Children With Cerebral Palsy Athetoid Diplegi: Case Report

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder caused by brain damage that results in impaired motor and intelligence function. The causes of CP can be divided into three parts: prenatal, natal, and postnatal. The causes of the Prenatal period are maternal infections, hypoxia or ischemia, and placental abnormalities. The causes of the Christmas period are Birth Trauma, Birth Asphyxia, and premature birth. The causes of the postnatal period are neonatal infections, head trauma, and ongoing medical conditions. Measurements were carried out by palpating muscle tone and primitive reflexes with blank gross motor ability reflexes of children with GMFM. The therapy administration for 4 times has not significantly affected muscle tone with muscle palpation at T1, T2, T3, T4 with hypertonic results. Pathological primitive reflexes with reflex blanks on T1, T2, T3, T4 with positive results of ATNR, Cross extensors, graps, Neck righting, Body righting, Optical righting, Labiryn Righting. Gross motor ability with GMFM at T1, T2, T3, T4 with a yield of 34.4%

Is Click Fading the Brick Experience of Buyers During Festivities?

This study explores the impact of technology and e-commerce on the festive shopping experience of Indian consumers. It highlights the shift from traditional in-store shopping to digital interactions and analyzes how brands enhance physical store experiences to increase foot traffic during the festive season. Findings suggest that while online shopping offers unparalleled convenience and a broad product selection, retailers must innovate and adapt to retain the charm and emotional connection associated with in-store shopping. This research aims to provide insights for both retailers and consumers regarding the evolving shopping landscape.

Метано- и сульфидогенез в озерах полуострова Абрау (Краснодарский край)

The geographical position, tectonic and geological-hydrogeological structure of the basin of the Malyy Liman and Abrau lakes, their landscape features as natural monuments of regional importance located on the territory of the Abrau peninsula of the Krasnodar Territory are described. Using the example of the aquatic landscapes of the Malyy Liman and Abrau lakes and the river of the same name, water and bottom sediments were studied. Hydrochemical parameters, the content of methane and sulfide sulfur in bottom sediments and methane in water as components of aquatic landscapes were studied. The results of the determination of sulfides, as well as the characteristic odor and color of bottom sediments, indicate the presence of free H2S and hydrotroilite (FeS ∙ nH2O) in them. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of hollow spheres in the bottom sediments, which indicates their possible gas saturation. Microinclusions of biogenic pyrite (FeS2), which was formed on fragments of plant and organism residues, were found under an electron microscope. In aerobic-anaerobic conditions of the upper layer of bottom sediments of lakes, pyrite formation occurs both directly through a one-stage process of pyritization of reactive iron, but also through a multi-stage process of pyrite formation from iron monosulfide. It has been established that lakes are exposed to anthropogenic influences, which can increase many times during the holiday season. This leads to their eutrophication and increased meanogenesis, which in turn contributes to the activation of methane emissions into the atmosphere. Specific methane fluxes from the water surface of the Malyy Liman and Abrau lakes have been determined.

Self-organisation and megaregional transport planning along the North Coast of Java

This article explores the intricate relationship between self-organisation and planning in megaregional transportation dynamics, using the North Coast of Java as a case study. Focusing on circular migration during the Eid holiday season, the study identifies the crucial roles of symmetry breaks, feedback loops and interventions in shaping transportation patterns. Specifically, the article employs qualitative methods, including interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of transportation data, to investigate the dynamics of circular migration. The findings reveal how planning interventions influence outcomes, emphasise the importance of multilevel governance, and offer insights for planning in complex systems. This work enhances our understanding of self-organisation and planning, providing valuable guidance for urban practitioners dealing with complex socio-spatial systems.

Street Puppet Theatre Shows on the Façades of Commercial Buildings as a Novel Stimulator for Social Gatherings in Smart Cities

This study investigates the innovative use of street puppet theatre performances on the façades of commercial buildings to stimulate social gatherings in smart cities. This research investigates the impact of a unique musical puppet show held throughout the 2024 holiday season in the well-known shopping mall El Corte Inglés in Madrid, Spain. This study utilises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, such as space syntax analysis and empirical observations. It uses the UCL Depthmap 10 software program to assess urban morphology and identify integrated and segregated areas. Observations and video recordings were conducted to analyse social gatherings and behaviours during the performances. The findings reveal that these performances attract diverse audiences and foster social engagement, transforming commercial façades into vibrant public spaces. The study concludes that such innovative uses of urban architecture can significantly enhance the sociability of detached and segregated urban spaces. The research demonstrates that this particular dynamic façade not only fosters social sustainability by creating lively urban spaces but also contributes to economic sustainability by attracting potential customers to commercial centres. This research advances the discourse on smart city development and public space utilisation, offering valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers on leveraging interactive urban façades to enhance public engagement and revitalise underutilised spaces.

Domestic Violence in Nyeri County, Kenya: What and When?

Domestic violence is a worldwide problem affecting many households. Nyeri County, one of the 47 counties in Kenya has, according to reports, experienced a steep increase. Nyeri County has experienced tremendous development, and therefore, changes in terms of education, occupation, and economic activities, making it one of the richest counties in Kenya. With these changes in levels of education, strong cultural adjustments, and increased economic endowment, the expectation is that there should be harmony in the homes. Contrary to that, there is a lot of domestic violence as captured by scholars and the media. This study sought to investigate three things namely; when the violence takes place, the types of violence, and why the violence tales place. The study was underpinned by the frustration-aggression theory and the social learning theory, where descriptive and evaluative research designs were used. The following respondents were sampled to participate in the study: 384 household heads, 12 assistant chiefs, 15 police officers, 30 religious leaders, 12 NGOs/CBOs, 3 Sub-county administrators, and 20 village elders. Primary methods of data collection were questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 to give frequency distribution, means and percentages, and findings were presented using tables, graphs, and charts. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic narrations, with findings presented using narrations and descriptions. The study found out that the cases increase when the farmers receive the coffee bonuses, when learners are going back to school and fees is needed, during the festive seasons and traditional festivities, as well as during the drought season. The study concludes that domestic violence is evident throughout the year, but there are times when the cases increase as a result of conflict in the gender roles. In this case, therefore, the study recommends that there should be a social talk on the gender roles in the study area so as to ease the adamant rise and spread of domestic conflicts related to the various sets of culturally defined and allocated sex roles. Further, there is need to empower both men and women in Nyeri county so that no gender feels threatened by the other. This will go a long way in ensuring that there is peace and stability in families and social relationships.

Digital Marketing and Consumer Behavior: Shanker Dev Campus Youth Perception

The objective of this research was to access the digital marketing landscape from students of SDC. The factor that were taken to consideration for this study were convenience, time saving, website design, motivation, cost , security/trust, communication, social media. This study finds that the emergence of digital marketing is at its peak in current business world. Thus, it is important for organizations to understand the importance of digital marketing from various perspectives to sustain in today’s digital world. The outcomes of the study reflect that the digital platform such as facebook, instagram, snapchat, tiktok and so on has a great influence in attracting customers through their online advertisement. This has made easier for the customer to find and compare all the relevant information about the product they want to purchase. And they find it more convenient and time saving to make online purchase. It has been observed through the study that customers tend to shop more through online platforms during sales, offers and festive seasons.

Be inclusive with holiday‐season fundraising campaigns

With the holiday season fast approaching, most nonprofits are gearing up for end‐of‐year fundraising campaigns that try to leverage the spirit and generosity of the season to drum up donations.

‘Urban, modern and Islamic’: The politics of muslim Men's fashion in Malaysia

This article focuses on the cultural politics of contemporary urban Muslim men's fashion in Malaysia. By looking at the debates surrounding these Muslim men's fashion trends and based on my observation in Muslim men's fashion boutiques and other urban spaces, this article explores how masculinity, ethnicity and Islam implicate each other. Most Malay Muslim men wear baju Melayu (traditional Malay clothing) during the festive seasons. However, there have been evolving trends in Malay men's fashion. The jubah (a long Arabic robe) and kurta (a long upper garment which many South Asians wear) have become popular, especially among segments of young Muslim men in urban Malaysia. The popularity of jubah a decade ago prompted some observers to worry about an ‘Arabisation’ or the perceived growth of Islamic conservatism. However, as I observe, the jubah in Malaysian fashion industries has been adapted to the local taste and fashion trends; hence, it is a modern and creative adaptation of ‘Arabness’ instead of a form of sweeping ‘Arabisation’. Since 2018, there has been a trend of wearing tanjak (traditional Malay headgear) to assert Malay political power and cultural identity. From modern appropriation of ‘Arabness’ to the contemporary reinvention of traditional Malay costume, urban Malay Muslim men's aesthetic expressions reveal the mediation of religious and ethnic identities amidst rapid urbanisation and socio-political change in contemporary Malaysia. How should an ideal Malay Muslim man dress? This debate reveals the politics of different versions of Islamic piety and Malay identity in Malaysia today.

Air Quality Monitoring with Low-Cost Sensors: A Record of the Increase of PM2.5 during Christmas and New Year’s Eve Celebrations in the City of Queretaro, Mexico

The high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere have adverse effects on both the environment and human health, as well as on urban and faunal biodiversity. Short-term events, such as the burning of fireworks, attributable to human activity, result in a significant and rapid increase in PM concentration levels within the atmosphere. We present findings derived from observations made using low-cost PM sensors deployed as part of the Environmental Monitoring Network in Querétaro, Mexico. These sensors utilize the Environmental Geo Monitoring Stations (EMGA) device, developed by the Institute of Geosciences at UNAM. The observation period spanned from 10 December 2023 to 10 January 2024, encompassed the Christmas and New Year holidays, and focused on PM2.5 concentrations, and a comparison with a similar period from 10 February 2024 to 10 March 2024 considered a typical activity period in the area. The results reveal two substantial increases in PM2.5 concentrations (from less than 50 µg/m3 to more than 340 µg/m3) over time and spatial distribution during this period, with notable increases observed during the festive season coincident with the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Specifically, prolonged periods exceeding up to 6 h were noted on festivity days. This research offers insight into the effects, trends, and spatial–temporal distribution of pollutants within the city of Queretaro, which may be used as a reference for other cities around the world.

Assessing The Impact of Festive Seasons and Historical Significance on Tourism in Udupi Region: A Study of Udupi Shree Krishna Matta

Assessing The Impact of Festive Seasons and Historical Significance on Tourism in Udupi Region: A Study of Udupi Shree Krishna Matta

A Wonderful (After) Life: Public Domain Works and Television Discourse

The story of how Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life accidentally became a holiday classic has become a standard ‘fun fact’ to include when discussing the movie – a chance oversight in paperwork resulted in its copyright expiring in 1974, thus local television broadcasters seized the opportunity to air the film free of charge throughout the Christmas season. This article more closely examines the industrial and legal dealings which determined the fate of the Frank Capra film for nearly four decades, and how those twists and turns were discussed in forums ranging from the popular press to the halls of the U.S. Congress. I investigate the ways in which the prestige that is now associated with the film was only later brought into play as a means of arguing for it to come back under traditional corporate ownership. Using this film as a particular example allows us to clearly see the longstanding discourses of quality that media scholars argue has been associated with the cinematic medium. Meanwhile, the television broadcast format – arguably how Wonderful Life was kept in the public consciousness, growing the film’s fanbase over the years – became tagged as ‘devaluing’ the movie’s status.

Primary care monitoring of HbA1c tests in type 2 diabetic patients in Northern France and impact of the successive COVID-19 pandemic containments

BackgroundFrench health authorities recommend the testing of HbA1c every 3 to 6 months in patients with diabetes. The successive containments linked to the SARSCoV-2 pandemic may have had a profound impact on the follow-up of diabetic patients in primary care. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of containments on the volume of HbA1c assays and on HbA1c values of type 2 diabetic patients monitored in primary care in Northern France compared to usual seasonal variations. MethodsEpidemiological study of a multicentre retrospective cohort, collecting the number and the value of HbA1c assays from type 2 diabetic patients, carried out in 73 private medical analysis laboratories in Northern France region between October 1, 2018 and October 31, 2022. ResultsA total of 196,744 patients and 828,037 tests were included. The first and third containments were associated with a significant decrease in the mean number of performed HbA1c tests, the decrease in the 2nd containment did not reach significance. We observed a significant decrease in HbA1c testing during the winter holiday season and the summer months. The variations in HbA1c values were not substantial compared to seasonal variations.

Groundwater quality evaluation for drinking and agricultural purposes. A case study in semi-arid region (Zab El-gharbi SE-Algeria)

The current research delved into the geochemical attributes of groundwater and assessed compliance with drinking water standards. 35 samples of Zab El Gharbi region groundwater in the province of Biskra were analyzed to evaluate the physico-chemical quality. The obtained results were compared to World Health Organization drinking water standards as well as Algerian Standards. It appears that nitrate concentrations in all samples were acceptable since they were less than 50 mg/L. The results of the WQI classification showed that WQI values ranged from 95 to 269; only 3 % of samples had good quality, 80 % had poor quality, and 17.14 % had very poor water, indicating the need for treatment before use for human consumption. Two main hydrochemical facies were dominated and predominated, Ca-SO4 type and Mixed Ca–Mg–Cl-SO4 type, respectively. Q mode hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was employed for partitioning the water samples into hydrochemical facies, revealed the presence of two distinct water types based on principal ion concentrations. Hydrochemically, group 1 was characterized by two primary facies, with 90.32 % categorized as Ca-SO4 type and 9.67 % as Mixed Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 type. While group 2 was characterized by a Ca-SO4 type. The estimated values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (Na%), permeability index (PI), Kelly's ratio (KR) and Magnesium hazard (MH), averages for the study area is reported to be in the range of 0.90 to 5.60, 4.46 % to 41.26 %, 12.50 % to 44.47 %, 0.10 to 0.73 % and 9.69 % to 75.06 % respectively. Parameters such as Permeability Index (PI), Kelly's Ratio (KR), and Magnesium Hazard (MH) indicated that 37.14 % of groundwater samples were in the excellent category, while the remaining 62.85 % were in the good category, making them suitable for irrigation across various soil types. They indicated that the considered water exhibits favorable characteristics for agricultural irrigation applications, ranging from excellent to good. These findings are encouraging for agriculture and land-use planning. This study lies in addressing the water quality in this promontory area, where no prior research has been published. We assessed water quality using statistical, geostatistical, and cartographic methods to estimate quality in unsampled areas. Additionally, we examined how climatic conditions, particularly high evapotranspiration during the festive season, affect water and soil quality. This study will help farmers and scientists in the region make informed decisions to protect natural resources. This work is meant to highlight the issues and also provide practical solutions to optimize the management of natural resources.

December doldrums, investor distraction, and the stock market reaction to unscheduled news events

We examine how investor distraction during the December holiday season impacts the stock market’s reaction to salient firm-specific news. We find that both retail and institutional investor attention is significantly lower in December. Importantly, only unscheduled credit rating downgrades and 8-K filings experience lower investor attention in December; we find no equivalent effect for pre-scheduled earnings announcements. Consistently, we document significantly weaker market responses in December toward unscheduled firm news only. Firm prominence mitigates this December distraction effect. Our results highlight how investor distraction in December can lead to a muted market reaction to unscheduled, but salient, firm-specific news.

Behind Closed Doors: The Human Remains Trade within Private Facebook Groups

The existence of a thriving trade in human remains online is facilitated by social media platforms. While much of this trade is conducted in fully public forums such as e-commerce platforms, the retail website of bricks-and-mortar stores, public personal and business pages on social media, etc., there also exist numerous private groups using the affordances of various social media platforms to buy, sell, and share photographs of human remains. This article describes a case study of four private Facebook groups featuring people who buy and sell human remains, to explore how the discourses of the trade may be different when not made in public. Using a close-reading approach on the text of posts and threaded conversations, and associated visual similarity analysis of the accompanying photographs, we observe, among other things, a strikingly 'more professional' approach, shibboleths and patterns of behaviour that serve to create group identities. We analyse posts made over a seven-week period across the selected private groups in the run-up to the 2023 holiday season. Given the issues of privacy raised by studying private groups, we also experiment with a locally hosted large language model to see if it could classify discourses meaningfully without the intervention of a researcher having to read the original posts. This case study might also serve as a model for other kinds of research investigating the reception of various archaeological topics that might be discussed and understood differently in private versus public venues.

GENESIS OF RECREATIONAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The article examines the phenomena of the emergence and spontaneous evolution of a new type of recreational facilities for the Ukrainian Carpathians region – multi-format recreational settlements that combine private rental residential units with their partial functioning, in the form of rental recreational housing, in the structure of a management company. The prerequisite for the emergence of this type of recreational facilities was the construction of a large ski complex in Bukovel. Accommodation in this complex offered both traditional hotels and comfortable single-family cottages. And these cottages turned out to be the most popular among vacationers and it were they that became a clear example for residents of surrounding villages and towns, who quickly adapted their own surroundings “for tourists.” After russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014, a significant number of the Ukrainian population redirected their holidays to the Carpathian region. The summer holiday season in the mountains has become as widespread and crowded as the winter season. Consequently, recreational facilities in the Ukrainian Carpathians over the course of 1- 2 years were transformed from single-season to year-round establishments, and the summer season surpassed the traditional winter season in terms of profitability. The global Covid 19 pandemic with strict long-term quarantine, psychological stress, and total remote work became the next strong impetus for popularizing the idea of owning a single-family cottage in the environmentally friendly, safe Carpathians. At that time, quarantined Europe and open Ukraine, a visa-free regime and the opening of a number of low-cost airlines to the Gulf countries also resulted in the appearance of a huge number of tourists from the Arab world in the Carpathians.The desire to own a single-family cottage in the Carpathians grew stronger after the large-scale russian invasion in February 2022, as all the delights of the Carpathians added to the feeling of safety from bombings and missile attacks. The response to this demand was the offer of private estates, apart-hotels, small cottage communities, and entire recreational settlements with developed internal infrastructure. The owner of such a building in a recreational settlement can live in it all the time. However, during absence, the management company of a recreational settlement has the right to rent out its building to third parties under the terms of a preliminary agreement with its owner. Thus, this property passively generates income for the owner during the period when he and his family are in another place. Technical issues of maintaining or repairing a building, providing energy resources, developing the territory, landscaping, etc. provided by the management company. Taking this into account, investing capital in exactly this type of real estate in the Ukrainian Carpathians is quite promising and relevant in our time.

Exploring the Trends and Reasons for Chinese Mainland Consumers' Extra Consumption of Western Festivals Take Christmas in Shanghai as an Example

This study focuses on the consumption patterns of Chinese mainland consumers during Western festivals, using the Christmas shopping habits of Shanghai residents as a case study. The aim is to explore the impact of Western festivals on consumer spending trends and habits and identify the factors driving these changes. Drawing on a comprehensive review of relevant literature and employing a questionnaire analysis method, the findings reveal that some Shanghai consumers significantly increase their spending in comparison to everyday life during Western holidays, exemplified by Christmas. However, a considerable number of consumers choose to allocate minimal or no funds for expenditures during the holiday season, with no significant difference between the two groups. Consumers are more willing to allocate their funds towards cultural products, including holiday-related items. In the context of cultural exchange, the influence of new cultural elements and commercial marketing strategies play a crucial role in shaping the consumption trends associated with Christmas.