Individual Desires Research Articles

Electoral Democracy: The Manifestation of Collective Will and Deliberation

This article examines the conditions under which elections can genuinely express the 'will of the people.' It argues that the establishment of a shared community and the engagement in genuine deliberation are fundamental to achieving this. Drawing on the philosophical concept of 'general will' as presented by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the article posits that a democratic society must first and foremost establish an effective social contract. This contract serves as a crucial mediator between conflicting individual desires, fostering harmony and collective wills. Furthermore, the article also notes that the establishment of a social contract is not a one-time event but rather, an ongoing process. It emphasizes the need for this contract to be consistently renewed and reevaluated through thoughtful deliberations. The article analyzes various election processes, highlighting the failures and successes of different countries. It underscores how different approaches to elections can either facilitate or hinder the formation of a representative general will. It finally concludes that elections, when conducted under the proper conditions of deliberation and a constantly evolving social contract, can indeed serve as authentic expressions of the will of the people.

Mendorong Motivasi Wirausaha UMKM untuk Memajukan Ekonomi Masyarakat di Kelurahan Joglo Kota Jakarta Barat

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are business entities managed by individuals, families, or small-scale business units, classified based on annual turnover, asset volume, and workforce. Effective human resource management is essential for MSMEs in systematically organizing finances, enabling business owners to understand their financial conditions and business developments. Easy access to information on assets, liabilities, equity, cash flow, and profit fluctuations provides crucial support for MSME entrepreneurs in making strategic business decisions. This activity not only motivates entrepreneurs to maintain business continuity but also guides them towards achieving desired business and economic goals. The drive to engage in entrepreneurship stems from a strong individual desire to realize self-potential through creative and innovative thinking, creating new products that have a social and economic impact on the local community. The courage to explore and implement new ideas is reinforced by strong entrepreneurial motivation, creating a positive cycle between motivation and action that strengthens the character of resilient and high-quality entrepreneurs.

Faktor-Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Persepsi Masyarakat terhadap Vaksin-19 di Kelurahan Remu Sorong, Papua Barat

Corona virus or corona virus is part of a large family of viruses that can cause infections in the upper respiratory tract with mild and moderate levels. The corona virus, also known as the novel corona virus (nCoV), was first discovered in the city of Wuhan, China in November 2019. Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Internal factors: feelings, attitudes and individual character, desires or expectations, prejudices, learning, attention (focus), physical condition, mental disorders, values, and needs as well as interests and motivation. External factors: family background, knowledge, information obtained and the needs of the surroundings, intensity, size, repetition of movements, resistance, new and familiar or unfamiliar objects. Efforts are needed to educate the public about the importance of vaccination and overcome problems that arise. Apart from that, education level and age also influence people's perceptions of vaccination. People who are more educated and older tend to have a more positive perception of vaccination, so there needs to be a special strategy that targets younger and less educated groups of people.

Living with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in the Netherlands: Patient and Family Perspective

IntroductionAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) poses a significant health challenge due to its rarity and severity within the spectrum of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Despite efforts to optimize and personalize health care for aHUS patients, understanding the individual experiences, needs and desires of aHUS patients and relatives remains limited. MethodsHere we present a nationwide, exploratory, qualitative interview study with a direct content analysis approach. In-depth interviews and a six-week evaluation were audio-recorded and conducted using a semi-structured topic guide, based on the Institute for Positive Health (IPH) model. ResultsAnalysis of ten interviews involving six aHUS patients and thirteen relatives revealed the prevalence of long-term disease symptoms in adult patients, notably fatigue, which significantly impacted daily functioning. Moreover, the resilience demonstrated by patients and their relatives was noteworthy, yet the acute phase of aHUS and the unpredictable nature of disease recurrence could profoundly affect mental well-being. The emotional toll of aHUS is pervasive, with feelings of fear, guilt and trauma persisting across disease phases in both patients and relatives. Challenges in medical care, including delays in diagnosis and the need for personalized and uniform protocols, were highlighted. Support was deemed crucial, indicating the necessity for enhancements in the accessibility of comprehensible disease information and psychological counselling. At last, complexities surrounding genetic testing and carriership were discussed. ConclusionThis study underscores the profound, enduring and multifaced impact of aHUS. The insights gleaned from the experiences and needs of aHUS patients and their relatives could lay the foundation for development and implementation of more personalized innovations in aHUS healthcare.

A Bi-Objective Inventory Model for Strategic Items in a Stochastic Environment with Partial Shortage: A Base-Stock Approach

This paper suggests an ordering policy for strategic items. Based on the base stock policy, we modeled a bi-objective, multi-product inventory control system with partial back-ordering. The model aims to minimize total costs and maximize the average service level, considering stochastic constraints such as storage space, maximum allowable shortage, and maximum allowable lost sales to match real-world conditions. We used three Multi-Objective Decision-Making methods, namely Individual optimization, Desirability function, and Goal attainment, to solve the problem. TOPSIS method showed the Goal attainment method’s superiority over the others. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the mean of storage space had the most significant impact on objective functions. Also, increasing the back-order percentage can reduce the system’s total costs.

Neural signatures of imaginary motivational states: desire for music, movement and social play

The literature has demonstrated the potential for detecting accurate electrical signals that correspond to the will or intention to move, as well as decoding the thoughts of individuals who imagine houses, faces or objects. This investigation examines the presence of precise neural markers of imagined motivational states through the combining of electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. 20 participants were instructed to vividly imagine the desire to move, listen to music or engage in social activities. Their EEG was recorded from 128 scalp sites and analysed using individual standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomographies (LORETAs) in the N400 time window (400–600 ms). The activation of 1056 voxels was examined in relation to the 3 motivational states. The most active dipoles were grouped in eight regions of interest (ROI), including Occipital, Temporal, Fusiform, Premotor, Frontal, OBF/IF, Parietal, and Limbic areas. The statistical analysis revealed that all motivational imaginary states engaged the right hemisphere more than the left hemisphere. Distinct markers were identified for the three motivational states. Specifically, the right temporal area was more relevant for “Social Play”, the orbitofrontal/inferior frontal cortex for listening to music, and the left premotor cortex for the “Movement” desire. This outcome is encouraging in terms of the potential use of neural indicators in the realm of brain-computer interface, for interpreting the thoughts and desires of individuals with locked-in syndrome.

Beyond Words

Beyond Words

Hydrogen rich syngas production through sewage sludge pyrolysis: A comprehensive experimental investigation and performance optimisation using statistical analysis

Bioenergy is anticipated to play a significant role in the United Kingdom’s Net Zero 2050 scenario. This study aims to explore the possibility of producing hydrogen-rich syngas using sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant located in England, United Kingdom. The primary objective of this study is to experimentally produce hydrogen-rich syngas from sewage sludge through pre-treatment, drying, and pyrolysis. Furthermore, statistical methods have been employed to optimise the performance of the pyrolyser. The individual desirability scores for lower heating value (LHV) and cold gas efficiency (CGE) were estimated to be 0.83902 and 0.85307, respectively. Combining these scores, the overall desirability of the model reached 0.8460, indicating favourable predictive performance. The optimal operational conditions are reported to be a feed rate of 3.0488 revolutions per minute (rpm) and an operational temperature of 800°C. Under these conditions, the highest calculated CGE of 66.31% and the peak LHV value of 18.36 MJ/ m^3 were achieved.

Beyond fame: online microcelebrity porn stars in the Twitter Alter Community in the Philippines

ABSTRACT This article explores the case of famous Filipino gay amateur pornographers on Twitter (now X) within the so-called ‘alter community’, a collective of anonymous Filipino Twitter/X users who produce and consume amateur pornography. Facing homophobia in their everyday lives, queer men seek intimacy, friendship, and self-expression in social media, even through extreme means such as producing pornography with which they are catapulted to fame. Using ethnographic and interview data gathered since 2019, this paper explores the motivations Filipino gay pornographers have for producing pornography and their experiences of dealing with fame and celebrity. It considers the experiences of celebrity among minorities whose issues never received adequate public attention. What does celebrity mean to sexual minorities where patriarchal and heteronormative structures are deeply entrenched? How do they manage their celebrity status within ‘networked sexual publics’ which competes against the gendered roles they assume outside the internet? While gay pornographers’ celebrity capital is contingent on the search for genuine acceptance and authentic self-expression, this article frames authenticity as faithfulness to hetero-patriarchal sexual scripts and pornoscripts. Authenticity emerges from the convergence of platform affordances, individual desires, and fan demands, and it gets complicated in the context of queer porn microcelebrities.

Urgensi Bimbingan Perkawinan Bagi Calon Pengantin Dalam Mewujudkan Keluarga Harmonis

One of the goals of marriage is to create a harmonious family. The process of realizing a harmonious family requires the attitude of the married couple in living a household life. So the need for marriage guidance for prospective brides. In this study, researchers describe that with the urgency of marriage guidance for prospective brides followed by prospective brides, it is hoped that it will make a harmonious family so that it can form a family that can realize the defense of its family and can face and solve problems in the mahligai household. The method in this research uses a qualitative approach to the literature study method. The result of this study is that from the marriage guidance of prospective brides conducted by the two prospective spouses has urgency in realizing the household mahligai that every individual desires, namely a harmonious family, where families can get peace, comfort, compassion, and love and others.

Urgensi Bimbingan Perkawinan Bagi Calon Pengantin Dalam Mewujudkan Keluarga Harmonis

One of the goals of marriage is to create a harmonious family. The process of realizing a harmonious family requires the attitude of the married couple in living a household life. So the need for marriage guidance for prospective brides. In this study, researchers describe that with the urgency of marriage guidance for prospective brides followed by prospective brides, it is hoped that it will make a harmonious family so that it can form a family that can realize the defense of its family and can face and solve problems in the mahligai household. The method in this research uses a qualitative approach to the literature study method. The result of this study is that from the marriage guidance of prospective brides conducted by the two prospective spouses has urgency in realizing the household mahligai that every individual desires, namely a harmonious family, where families can get peace, comfort, compassion, and love and others. Keywords: Marriage Guidance, Bride-to-be, Family, Harmony

Analisis Faktor Motivasi Membaca Teks Arab Bagi Mahasiswa Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Arab

Motivation has a very strong influence on the cognitive and affective aspects of reading. Motivation affects a person's thinking style. When a person is interested in the text he reads, his understanding will increase more than when reading a text he is not interested in. This study describes the factors influencing the motivation for Arabic Language Education at STAI Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan will read Arabic texts in the Qira'ah lesson. Data collection techniques are carried out through interviews, observation, and documentation using descriptive qualitative methods. The collected data was analyzed and validated by the triangulation method. The results showed that six factors influence students' motivation to read Arabic text: (1) Reading ability. (2) Individual interest or desire. (3) Reading needs. (4) Social support. (5) Technology and learning resources. and (6) Supportive conditions and facilities.

Food Demand and Nutritional Habits of Consumers During the Covid-19 Outbreak: A Case Study in Türkiye

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected the entire world, has caused changes in many areas of life worldwide. These changes have also influenced and continue to influence consumer behaviors. During the restrictions, people staying at home and only going out for essential needs such as grocery shopping has caused changes in their shopping and consumption habits. The changing consumer behaviors related to the process have brought about many studies. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, it has caused significant changes in the attitudes and behaviors of individuals in the world and in Türkiye. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand these changes. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the pandemic on the food demand and nutritional habits of individuals residing in Tekirdağ province. To achieve this, a survey was conducted with consumers living in Tekirdağ. According to the research's predicted 10% margin of error and 99% significance level, the sample size was calculated to be 166 people. Factor analysis was applied during the statistical analysis of the findings. Based on the results of the factor analysis, it was found that the desire of individuals to consume organic products and their awareness of healthy nutrition were high. The negative conditions that occurred during the pandemic increased the desire of individuals to eat. It has shown that consumers are more sensitive about healthy eating during the Covid-19 pandemic process. An increase in the consumption of food products that form the basis of a healthy diet, such as fruits, vegetables and eggs, and a corresponding decrease in the consumption of carbonated drinks and prepackaged food also support this finding. However, the high increase in the consumption of pastries and nuts can be given as examples of the negative effects of the need to stay at home and the restriction of physical activities due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In addition, their buying behavior changed, and the number of people who procure food products through online shopping increased. The aim of this study is to inform consumers and researchers working on this subject about how food consumption of consumers has changed after Covid-19.

THE ENTROPIC EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION AND THE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE: TOWARDS A BIFURCATION

The entropic effect of globalisation and the challenge of sustainability provide an opportunity for a critical exploration of the interplay between life, order and social change. Drawing on the principles of self-organisation observed in living beings, we delve into the continuous exchange of energy and resources, the general connectedness of all that is alive. Organisms, through their interaction with the environment, renew themselves by dissipating entropy, a process essential to maintaining internal order. Life (physical, biological, psychic or social) is a (dynamic) balance between entropic and neghentropic forces and tends towards greater complexity and organisation. Conversely, when entropy grows and prevails, life moves towards disorganisation, fragmentation, de-differentiation, chaos and death. Human beings are able to extend their reach through technology and socio-political institutions. These exosomatic extensions redefine their relationship with the environment, expanding the possibilities of life. Industrialisation has further catalysed this process, liberating individual desire and increasing productive capacity. As a result, billions of people have witnessed unprecedented improvements in their life possibilities. But all this has greatly increased entropy. To improve neghentropy beyond the individualisation/totalisation model favoured by digitisation, towards true sustainability, a paradigm shift from individualism to interdependence (based on scientific, rather than ethical, evidence) is required. In sum, our exploration reveals how the inherent interconnectedness of life can be a starting point for addressing the unexpected consequences of globalisation, challenging entropy and promoting resilience in the face of new global challenges.

VALUE AND MOTIVATIONAL GUIDANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMAGE OF THE PROJECT TEAM LEAD

The article is devoted to the study of value guidelines that prevail among project team leaders, as well as their motivational dominance in the context of management activities.
 In the process of managing a team, a manager forms his professional «I-concept», which, in turn, serves as the foundation for making career decisions, reflecting the individual's desire for growth, achievements in work and development of himself as a professional.
 Of course, it is worth taking into account socialization, during which career orientations and adaptive processes to the environment manifest themselves in the life of a manager as an individual.
 The authors, using the test methodology «Career Anchors» by Edgar Schein, analyze the leading career orientations of managers whose activities are carried out in various areas of the economy of the Altai Territory.
 Based on the respondents' responses to diagnostic scales of E. Schein's test, the authors compiled a pool of managers’ leading values and drew a parallel with their management style, thereby identifying the degree of influence of the leading categories.
 Regarding the motivation of project team leaders, this technique is able to show as a result what exactly motivates the manager when carrying out his activities.

Multiobjective optimization of process parameters of AZ91D/AgNPs/TiO2 composite fabricated by friction stir processing using response surface methodology and desirability

PurposeThis paper aims to determine the optimum parametric settings for yielding superior mechanical properties, namely, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and percentage elongation (EL) of AZ91D/AgNPs/TiO2 hybrid composite fabricated by friction stir processing.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical model has been developed to govern crucial influencing parameters, namely, rotation speed (RS), tool transverse speed (TS), number of passes (NPS) and reinforcement fraction (RF) or weight percentage. Box Behnken design (BBD) with four input parameters and three levels of each parameter was used to design the experimental work, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check the acceptability of the developed model. Desirability function analysis (DFA) for a multiresponse optimization approach is integrated with response surface methodology (RSM). The individual desirability index (IDI) was calculated for each response, and a composite desirability index (CDI) was obtained. The optimal parametric settings were determined based on maximum CDI values. A confirmation test is also performed to compare the actual and predicted values of responses.FindingsThe relationship between input parameters and output responses (UTS, YS, and EL) was investigated using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) enhanced the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength. It was observed that the inclusion of AgNPs led to an increase in ductility, while the increase in the weight fraction of TiO2 resulted in a decrease in ductility.Practical implicationsAZ91D/AgNPs/TiO2 hybrid composite finds enormous applications in biomedical implants, aerospace, sports and aerospace industries, especially where lightweight materials with high strength are critical.Originality/valueIn terms of optimum value through desirability, the experimental trials yield the following results: maximum value of UTS (318.369 MPa), maximum value of YS (200.120 MPa) and EL (7.610) at 1,021 rpm of RS, 70 mm/min of TS, 4 NPS and level 3 of RF.

The curator’s cure – Curing visual stupidity in the age of symbolic misery

Bernard Stiegler diagnoses that we live in societies of control under an aesthetic conditioning. Marketing emerges as the foundational force in societies of control, adept at shaping individual desires and cultivating them into consumerism. Capturing our attention, particularly through audiovisual mediums, dictates our behaviour. In essence, the industrial exploitation of consciousness diminishes our noetic abilities, turning us into stupid and docile individuals. Stiegler rehearses different ways to recover the capacity of attention and thus overcome the ‘visual stupidity’ in which we find ourselves, what he calls ‘therapeutic practices’. These practices range from more traditional institutions like schools and universities to the practice of meditation. Drawing from some of Stiegler’s insights, this paper suggests contemplating visual curatorship as another possible therapeutic practice. I strongly believe that we require an education of our gaze to truly comprehend what we observe and surpass aesthetic conditioning. The role of the art curator is crucial, as they can help deconstruct our habitual ways of seeing, enabling us to recognize how media and images operate as mechanisms of control over individuals.

Is ‘hybrid work’ the new high-flying policy? insights from the aviation industry

AbstractThe return to working at the office after two years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic entails challenges for employees and organizations alike. Organizations strive to create a pull towards working at the office—first and foremost to strengthen organizational culture, cohesiveness, and related outcomes. Employees do not want to give up on working from home (WFH) to maintain the newly gained autonomy and flexibility. The answer to unite organizational and individual needs seems to be a hybrid work policy, i.e., a fixed weekly or monthly ratio of working at the office and WFH. However, we know little about two things so far: the effects of a hybrid work model and how it should be designed to achieve its goals. This study takes a qualitative approach to investigate individual and organizational outcomes of a 50/50 hybrid work policy in an aviation industry IT company. Results indicate that while employees generally appreciate the policy, individual WFH desires also depend on the task structure of employees. The fixed 50% ratio also raised resistance among employees not being considered flexible enough to meet the needs of individual teams and team members. Primary recommendations for the design of hybrid work policies are given that underline the persisting importance of employee autonomy and flexibility concerns and the rising role of creating the office as a ‘social hub’.

(031) Effects of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy vs. Puberty Blockers on Sexual Function and Desire

Abstract Introduction Many transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals seek out puberty blockers (PB) to stop the progression of unwanted changes from endogenous puberty and/or gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to aid in their medical transition. There has been limited research assessing the effect of these hormone therapies on sexual function and desire, especially in comparing GAHT and PB+GAHT. Objective Our aim was to compare the effect of GAHT and PB+GAHT on sexual function and desire of TGNB individuals during or following hormone therapy. Methods We performed an IRB approved two institutional study on the effect of GAHT and/or PB on sexual function and desire in adults. The GAHT group (n=12) included individuals who started GAHT (estrogen or testosterone) >18 years old. The PB group (n=10) included subjects with current or past history of GnRH agonist use (>10 years old). Enrolled subjects completed the validated Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ). The CSFQ was validated in adults to assess medication-related changes in sexual functioning. The questionnaire is specific to sex assigned at birth with a male and female version. The answers were scored in total and separated into sexual function and sexual desire subscales. Scores in each group were compared using unpaired t-tests. Results A total of 22 TGNB (16 assigned male at birth and 6 assigned female at birth: 14 transgender women, 5 transgender men, 3 non-binary) subjects ages 18-25 completed the CSFQ about the effect hormone therapy had on sexual function and desire. There was no difference between groups in total scores (t = 0.8, p = 0.05) or in categories of sexual function (t = 0.3, p = 0.05) and desire (t = 0.8, p = 0.05). There were an equal number of participants in both groups whose results showed sexual dysfunction in total (n=2 per group) and in categories of sexual function (n=7 per group) and desire (n=3 per group). The cause of their dysfunction is unclear at this time and is to be investigated in the future. Interestingly, despite meeting quantitative criteria for sexual dysfunction, 6 participants answered that their sexual life brings them “much” or “great” enjoyment or pleasure. Conclusions Based on our results, while there were >70% of subjects in each group with impaired sexual function, there were no differences in effect on sexual function and desire between subjects on GAHT vs. PB+GAHT. Additionally, the scores for both groups did not differ substantially from scores of cisgender individuals (Keller, et al 2006). In fact, both the GAHT and PB+GAHT groups scored higher on average in the sexual desire category compared to cisgender individuals. Prospective data collection will help us clarify further whether starting age of pubertal blockers and hormone therapy affects sexual function and desire. Disclosure No.

(306) Physician Infertility: A Growing Problem

Abstract Introduction Physician infertility has become a growing concern, documented by the high rates of infertility physicians experience as a result of their strenuous work schedules, environmental exposures, and delayed childbirth due to their extensive years of training. The implications in fertility extend beyond an individual's desire to have children, as it can impact their physical, emotional, and social well-being; furthermore, the inability to conceive can cause significant emotional distress, resulting in depression, anxiety, and a decrease in overall quality of life. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are a viable, although imperfect, option for both male and female physicians who have had to postpone starting a family due to career-related concerns. We seek to explore the magnitude of this problem, including the pros and cons of assisted reproduction techniques in aiding physicians’ family planning. Objective To understand and document the complex issue of the prevalence of physician infertility, as well as current barriers and proposed solutions from an in-depth organized literature review. Methods We compiled and synthesized available data to better understand the role of infertility in physician family planning using 49 articles regarding various aspects of the current state of physician infertility. We included specific analyses for surgeons and comparisons of both male and female physicians. Further, we assessed the existing barriers to correcting this issue as well as prominent proposed solutions for alleviating this complex phenomenon. Results Infertility has been documented to affect 24.1-32.0% of physicians in studies surveying 3153 physicians across various specialties, starkly contrasting with the national rate of infertility of 13.4%. Compared to physicians in non-surgical specialties, surgeons tend to have fewer children, be older at first pregnancy, work longer hours, experience more pregnancy complications, and have more preterm births. The data further reveals even greater disparities in examining just female surgeons, showing how gender plays a role in this problem. Physicians both seek the help of ART (18%-28% vs 5.2-12% in non-physician populations) and conceive through ART (8%-13% vs 1.7%) at higher rates than the general population. Given these threatening realities of infertility for physicians, we have compiled corrective suggestions in the literature, including executing changes to residency programs regarding insurance coverage and work flexibility, implementing longitudinal family planning educational initiatives geared toward trainees, and a need for greater support for family planning. Conclusions Physicians' reproductive health is crucial to their well-being, and policy and advocacy should address their specific infertility risks and management. While ART advances offer opportunities for infertility treatment, their high costs and arduous processes make them challenging for physicians to use. There's a need for more education, research, and support to allow young physicians to freely choose a medical career without overwhelming concerns about future family growth. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Larry Lipshultz: AbbVie (Consultant), American Medical Systems/Boston Scientific (Speaker), Augmenta LLC (Stockholder), Aytu BioScience (Consultant), Contraline, Inc. (Consultant), Endo Pharmaceuticals (Consultant/Speaker), Inherent Biosciences (Advisor), Lipocine (Consultant).