Internal Factors Research Articles

Effects of different environmental factors on preservation of DNA in petrous bones: A comparative study of two Slovenian archaeological sites.

Effects of different environmental factors on preservation of DNA in petrous bones: A comparative study of two Slovenian archaeological sites.

Autism characteristics in young patients with first episode of schizophrenia spectrum disorder: findings from a 2-year longitudinal research.

The PANSS Autism Severity Score (PAUSS) is a recent popular measure of autistic characteristics in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). Evidence on its factor structure, longitudinal course, and treatment response is poor. The main aims of this investigation were: to examine its internal consistency and factor configuration in young patients with first-episode SSD treated in an Early Intervention (EI) service, and to compare clinical outcomes between SSD individuals with or without "autistic features" across 2 years of follow-up, as well as their treatment response. SSD participants completed the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) across the follow-up. Statistical tests included the α statistic, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis, mixed-design ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. 170 SSD individuals were enrolled (58 [34.1%] scoring above the PAUSS cut-off [PAUSS+]). Internal consistency of the PAUSS was acceptable (α=.792). EFA identified a 3-factor model. At baseline, PAUSS+individuals showed greater severity in psychopathology and social decline. Across the follow-up, PAUSS+individuals had lower incidence rates of symptomatic remission. No PAUSS long-term stability was found, but a significant reduction that was predicted by lower antipsychotic dosage and higher number of case management sessions offered along the follow-up. The PAUSS seems to capture a SSD subgroup characterized by higher baseline severity levels in psychopathology and poorer outcomes.

Kenakalan Remaja: Faktor Penyebab, Akibat, dan Solusi

Juvenile delinquency is a fairly complex social problem and is often a major concern in society. Adolescence, which is a transition period from childhood to adulthood, is often marked by various physical, emotional, and social changes that affect individual behavior. Juvenile delinquency arises as a result of a combination of internal and external factors that encourage adolescents to commit deviant acts from social, legal, and religious norms. This study aims to explore the factors causing juvenile delinquency, its impacts, and solutions to overcome this problem. In this study, a qualitative approach was used by analyzing data obtained from various sources, including literature, interviews, and observations. It is hoped that this study can provide deeper insight into how to prevent and handle juvenile delinquency by involving the roles of family, school, community, and government.

The Influence of Firm Reallocation on Cities: The Case of Tekirdağ Province of Türkiye

Firm reallocation refers to the process of altering a company’s geographic distribution. The drivers of this relocation can be divided into two main categories: internal push factors and external pull factors. Push factors are internal pressures that motivate a firm to leave its current location, while pull factors are external conditions that attract it to a new one. While large-scale firm relocation can bring considerable advantages to the cities where these businesses establish themselves, it may also present certain challenges. This study explores the factors that make Tekirdağ Province in Türkiye an attractive destination for firm relocation, as well as the broader impact of this relocation on the region. The findings reveal that both internal push factors and external pull factors have significantly contributed to Tekirdağ's emergence as a preferred location for firm relocation. Furthermore, the study identifies both positive and negative effects of firm relocation on the province.

Linkages in Production and Marketing of Medicinal Plants by Cooperatives in Tuyen Quang Province, Vietnam

Determining the development of medicinal plants is one of the new directions contributing to the transformation of crop structure, creating momentum in economic development, and increasing income for people. Tuyen Quang province has had orientations and plans to develop forms of production organisation, improve capacity for enterprises and subjects participating in the program, develop agricultural products according to linkage and chain models, in order to promote creativity and potential internal strength of localities. The study aimed to assess the level of linkages between cooperatives and actors in the value chain, such as farmers, traders, material suppliers, state agencies and other cooperatives. This paper presents the results of a survey and analysis of the current status of linkages in the production and trading of medicinal plants of 18 cooperatives in Tuyen Quang province. OLS linear regression analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting the linkage index in the production and business of cooperatives. Moreover, SWOT analysis was done to determine the advantages, difficulties, opportunities and challenges in the process of strengthening linkages of cooperatives. The research results show that 100% of cooperatives have linkages with farming households, traders and state agencies, but the main form is still informal (verbal). On average, each cooperative has linkages with 55 farming households and 4 traders, but the rate of signing written contracts is still low (~30%). Over 22% of cooperatives have had disputes, mainly over price, quality and payment methods. Internal factors such as management capacity, capital, technology, etc., are major barriers to building sustainable linkages. Only 27.8% of cooperatives surveyed have direct connections with experts and scientists to receive advice on planting, processing or product development techniques. Up to 61.1% of cooperatives surveyed said that they do not have a clear mechanism or have never been connected with scientists, research institutes or universities to support in improving product quality and value. OLS regression results show that variables that have a positive impact on the linkage index include: the qualifications of management staff, the rate of written contracts, support from state agencies and the level of linkage with enterprises. The study also identified the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges of cooperatives through the SWOT model and proposed a system of specific solutions, including: raising awareness, signing clear contracts, enhancing technical support and digital technology, connecting long-term sellers and accessing policies. This document is an important basis for policy planning and designing support programs for developing local medicinal value chains.

Gambaran Penyesuaian Diri Mahasiswa Anak Tunggal yang Merantau

This study aims to obtain a description of the adjustment of single-child students who migrate. The characteristics of an only child raises the assumption that single-child students experience greater challenges and are required to make greater efforts when they have to live in a new environment. This study uses a qualitative approach with thematic analysis to obtain descriptive results. This study involved three students who were only children who migrated to the Special Region of Yogyakarta and were in their first and second years of college. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect information, with core questions that explored the informan's experiences in making adjustment efforts as students who migrated. This study found six themes of adjustment of single-child students who migrated, namely 1) developing social skills, 2) carrying out self-regulation, 3) increasing involvement in campus activities, 4) developing learning skills, 5) exploring the environment, and 6) contributing to the surrounding community. The most dominant themes were developing social skills and showing involvement in campus activities. The three informants made great efforts related to these themes. There are a number of factors that influence the informants' adjustment efforts, which can be classified into internal and external factors. Internal factors found include motivation to achieve goals, the need to establish relationships, self-reflection skills, consumption behavior, self-discipline, and social conformity. External factors found include campus climate, parental care, level of demands from the surrounding community, demands of lectures, parental care and culture differences. The limitation of this study is the selection of respondents who come from one college and do not specify the minimum distance of the original residence from the location of the migration. In the discussion section, the results of this study are compared with the adjustment of migrant students in general and the comparison between the three respondents related to the context of their respective backgrounds.

Promotion of Special Interest Tourism (SIT) as a Strategic Option for Responsible Tourism Development in the North Eastern States of India

The North-eastern states of India, with their unique cultural diversity, beautiful landscapes, and rich history, have immense potential for responsible tourism development. A well-known strategic approach to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism in the region is special interest tourism or SIT. SIT provides a targeted and sustainable approach with extensive features that help preserve the unique biodiversity and culture of the area while also strengthening local communities. This paper examines the idea of responsible development for the states of North-East India. It demonstrates how it could promote the socioeconomic well-being of locals while protecting the area’s natural and cultural heritage. A SWOT(C) analysis of SIT investigates internal and external factors that may impact the strategy’s success. With proper management and the development of SITs, the region has great potential to be a unique and sustainable tourism destination, to the benefit of both locals and tourists interested in experiencing the exceptional beauty and special tourism it can offer.

The Influence of Macroeconomic Indicators and Bank Internal Factors on Credit Risk in Developing Countries

This study aims to analyze the determinants of credit risk in commercial banks in Indonesia as measured by Non-Performing Loans (NPL), as the main indicator of banking system stability. This study uses a quantitative method with a panel data regression approach to evaluate the influence of various factors on credit risk. Data were obtained from financial statements and annual reports of banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sample consisted of 36 banks during the period 2019–2023, resulting in 180 observations. The analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression with fixed and random effect models through EViews software. The results of the analysis show that variables such as interest rates, bank size, return on assets (ROA), loan loss provisions (LLP), capital adequacy ratio (CAR), and asset quality have a significant effect on NPL. In contrast, gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation do not show a significant effect. These findings indicate that interest rates and ROA are significant new contributors to NPL fluctuations in the Indonesian banking sector during the study period.

Centralized management of raw milk distribution network design considering sustainability and resiliency

ABSTRACT Traditionally, by centralization, economic aspects of decisions in supply chain were only intended, while today, by increasing attention to the environmental and social issues, the addressed aspects should also be considered in supply chain planning, as well. In this paper, two mathematical programming problems called basic and extended were studied. In the basic problem, the allocation of several dairy factories to some existing livestock farming centers was carried out via three separate models with economic, environmental and social objectives. Regarding the social aspect, due to the subsidy paid to the livestock farming companies, the amount of raw milk wasted is minimized. In the extended problem, the addressed allocation is done considering the occurrence of disruption due to internal or external risk factors. Some new candidate locations for new livestock farming centers are selected in order to compensate the capacity losses in the existing livestock farming centers. The raw milk shipping costs are reduced by up to 29%, carbon dioxide emission is reduced by up to 8.05%, and the raw milk wasted is reduced by up to 7.87%. Furthermore, by modeling and solving the extended problem, the total cost of the stochastic model is higher than that of a base-case as much as 0.67% which is insignificant.

Differences in gene expression patterns between parthenogenetically and sexually produced offspring during early development of Reticulitermes speratus

AbstractSocial insects exhibit reproductive division of labour, governed by both external and internal factors influencing caste determination. In termites with a unique reproductive system known as asexual queen succession (AQS), queens produce neotenic queens via parthenogenesis, while workers and alates arise through sexual reproduction. This inherent caste differentiation bias may have resulted from differences in gene expression potentially influenced by the parent‐of‐origin effect, as parthenogenetic daughters inherit only maternal genomes, while sexually produced daughters inherit both paternal and maternal genomes. Here, we show that gene expression patterns in developing embryos of the termite Reticulitermes speratus differ significantly between parthenogenetic and sexually produced offspring. However, SNP analysis indicated that these differences were not attributable to the parent‐of‐origin effect. Through RNA‐seq analysis of female embryos post‐katatrepsis, we identified 21 genes, including jhbp, nlk, and wge, which are known to be involved in caste differentiation and morphogenesis, with significant expression differences between parthenogenetic and sexually produced daughters. SNP analysis of sexually produced embryos did not reveal any parent‐of‐origin biased expression except for mitochondrial genes, though 12 genes exhibited colony‐specific expression patterns. These findings suggested that early developmental gene expression partly explained caste differentiation biases. Further research is essential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind these transgenerational effects, providing insight into the evolution of AQS and complex caste determination in social insects from a gene expression perspective.

Exploring the association between episodic future thinking and learning engagement under intrinsic motivation mediation and teacher support moderation

Episodic future thinking has become an emerging area of psychological research in recent years as an important factor in predicting learning behavioral engagement. Despite previous research has confirmed that episodic future thinking has a significant correlation with individuals’ behavior, the exploration of the association between episodic future thinking and learning engagement in conjunction with both internal factors (e.g. motivation) and external factors (e.g. teacher support) has been left unspecified. Informed by previous research, this study constructed a hypothesized model to explore the association between episodic future thinking and learning engagement, and to examine the roles of intrinsic motivation and teacher support. A questionnaire was administered to 361 undergraduates at a comprehensive university in Eastern China using the scales of Episodic Future Thinking, Learning Engagement, Intrinsic Motivation, and Teacher Support. The research results showed that episodic future thinking positively predicted learning engagement (β = 0.318, t = 3.635, P < 0.001). Intrinsic motivation was the mediating variable of the association between episodic future thinking and learning engagement (β = 0.484, SE = 0.077, CI [0.332, 0.634]) with a mediation effect size of 0.603. Teacher support moderated the relationship between intrinsic motivation and learning engagement (β = 0.292, t = 3.218, P < 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that undergraduates’ episodic future thinking is positively associated with learning engagement through intrinsic motivation, and teacher support plays a moderating role in this process. Based on the findings, this study proposed to give full play to the role of episodic future thinking in the learning process of undergraduates by making positive interventions to stimulate learners’ positive mental states and enhance learning engagement, and to construct an internal and external psychological regulation mechanism of intrinsic motivation and teacher support. This study contributes to revealing the psychological driving force behind students’ learning behaviors and providing more targeted guidance for educational practice.

Analysis of Halal Fashion Business Development Strategies in Medan City

The halal industry continues to be an important issue in Indonesia, including in Medan City. This study aims to analyze the development strategy of Umama Gallery Medan halal fashion and formulate effective alternative strategies by analyzing internal and external factors to face competition in the Halal Fashion industry in Medan City. This research uses mixed-method methodology by using SWOT analysis and QSPM approaches. The results of this study indicate that the SWOT analysis of Umama Gallery Medan is in quadrant I which supports aggressive strategies so that the suitable strategy used is the SO (Strength - Oppurtunity) strategy 1) Develop product variations in accordance with Muslim fashion trends to remain competitive, 2) Expand marketing through e-commerce platforms, and 3) Increase collaboration with influencers and hijabers communities to strengthen brand image. And QSPM analysis, obtained alternative strategies that are suitable for Umama Gallery Medan, namely ST (Strength - Threat) 1) Increase product innovation regularly to anticipate changes in fast fashion trends, 2) Maintain product quality to remain superior to competitors in the midst of intense market competition. The most appropriate alternative strategy for Umama Gallery Medan is the S-O (Strength-Opportunities) strategy with an aggressive growth approach. This strategy includes the development of product variations that align with Muslim fashion trends to maintain competitiveness in the market.

Experimental study on loading combination of filling body and surrounding rock

To investigate the deterioration characteristics of filling body combinations and surrounding rock in excavating technology without coal pillars in the original roadway filling, uniaxial loading destructive tests and cyclic loading and unloading tests were conducted with various combinations of two, three, and four lithologies to analyze strength characteristics, energy storage, and dissipation laws. The results indicate that when the filling is combined with another lithology, strengthening degree of the filling is negatively correlated with the height of other lithology; the higher the strength of the material combined with the filling, the greater the amplitude of the weakening. The filling exhibits a faster speed and higher upper limit of elastic energy storage compared to mudstone. When filling is combined with two or three lithologies, the strength weakening degree is negatively correlated with their height ratio. However, under same cycles, elastic energy of coal-free combinations has a faster storage speed and a higher upper limit, while coal-containing combinations exhibit higher energy dissipation. During tests, the elastic energy of different lithological combinations is linearly related to the number of cycles, and the energy is divided into four stages. The damage variable is exponentially related to the height of the roof and floor. The intrinsic model was modified using the stress-strain relationship considering the internal damage factor in front of the peak and verified to accurately simulate the deformation damage of the combined body.

Investigating the Potential interventions and policy Recommendations for Reducing Criminal Recidivism: Qualitative study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Purpose: the purpose of this paper is to identify potential interventions and policy recommendation for criminal recidivism in Chris Hani community, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This paper endeavors to combat re-offending whilst affording offenders the opportunity to prove that they are worthy of the trust of the community. Containment theory: The study is grounded in Containment. This theory uses two reinforcing structures such as inner containment and outer containment, which posits that both internal and external factors influence an individual's ability to resist criminal behaviour. Provides a basis for designing interventions that strengthen personal and social containment mechanisms to minimize the likelihood of re-offending. These two structures also act as buffer or insulator between the individual and deviant behavior. Sample size: Sample size of 30 respondents of which 15 are males and 15 females was carefully selected from Chris Hani X-convicts to represent the whole population. Data collection method: semi-structured interviews were used as primary data collection method for the study. Research design: the study adopted observational research design which allows the researcher to study and measure variables of interest in their natural settings without directly intervening in participant’s lives. Delimitations to the study: Delimitations of the study involve geographic scope, timeframe, participant demographics and ethical considerations.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Hazard Risk Control Strategies in Construction Projects: A Literature Review

The construction industry is one of the sectors with the highest rate of work accidents, mainly due to the failure to identify and control risks effectively. This study aims to examine the Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) risk control strategy in piling work in the Section IV construction project using the HIRARC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control) method. The identification results show that there are 55 potential hazards classified into three risk categories: high, medium, and low, with the dominance of non-technical internal risk factors such as HR behavior and completeness of project information. The control strategy is implemented in stages based on the risk control hierarchy, including engineering, administrative control, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and is supported by ongoing training and the use of technology such as Virtual Reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Obstacles in implementing this strategy are mainly found in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector which has limited resources. Therefore, managerial commitment, policy support, and adequate funding are needed to ensure the effectiveness of OHS management and the achievement of the zero accident target.

The Impact of Political Stability, Profitability, and Liquidity on Financial Distress of Non-Bank State-owned Enterprises in Indonesia

Political stability in a country can have an impact on state-owned companies because state-owned companies are often used as cash cows by politicians, which can cause financial distress in state-owned companies. Financial difficulties or financial distress in companies can be influenced by internal and external factors. This study aims to analyze the effect of political stability, profitability and liquidity on financial distress in non-bank state-owned companies (SOE) in Indonesia. The dependent variable in this study is financial distress which is measured using the Altman Z Score. While the independent variable consists of external factors in the form of political stability and internal variables represented by profitability and liquidity, with sales growth and company age as control variables. The population in this study were non-bank state-owned companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This study uses a quantitative approach with a causal associative research design. A total of 33 companies and a sample of 15 companies with an observation period of five years were taken. To test the hypothesis, panel data logistic regression was used. Data analysis was carried out with the help of Eviews 12 and SPSS software. The results of the study showed that there were two outcome variables in accordance with the hypothesis, namely political stability and liquidity had a significant negative effect on financial distress. While profitability did not have a significant effect on financial distress. For instance, political stability (SP) has a minimum value of -0.170 (2019) and a maximum of -0.004 (2023), with an average of -0.0846 and a standard deviation of 0.0551. Profitability (PF) shows a minimum value of -4.11 (WSBP 2020) and a maximum of 5.30 (INAF 2022), with an average of 0.079 and a standard deviation of 0.804. This finding confirms that high political stability and optimal liquidity reduce the risk of financial difficulties, while profitability is not a determinant of SOE financial distress.

Czechoslovak Support for the Founding of Israel in the Late 1940s: the Myth of Everlasting Friendship?

The war between Israel and Hamas that began in October 2023 deeply polarized public and political opinion worldwide. In contrast to many EU countries, the Czech Republic adopted a position of unwavering support for Israel, referencing their shared values and long-standing friendship grounded in the historical ties between the Czech and Jewish peoples. This article explores this narrative by examining the commonly cited example of Czechoslovakia's support for the establishment of Israel in the late 1940s, which included providing arms supplies, military training, and diplomatic backup. However, such reflections on history often overlook important international and domestic factors of the time, including the Eastern Bloc’s efforts to expand communism into the newly decolonized Third World countries and its pursuit of financial gain. As a result, Czechoslovakia’s pro-Israeli position during the Cold War was short-lived, and was quickly reversed when the political circumstances changed. Ignoring these facts leads to distorted historical interpretations and even the development of some historical myths.

Primary School Teacher’ Views on the Learning Motivation of Gifted Students

The study aims to identify the internal and external factors that influence the learning motivation of gifted students from primary school teachers’ points of view. The study was conducted between February 2023 and September 2024 and involved 70 (n =70) primary school teachers. The study addresses two research questions: RQ1: What internal factors enhance the learning motivation of gifted students from primary school teachers’ points of view? RQ2: What external factors influence the learning motivation of gifted students from primary school teachers’ points of view? The study was conducted based on a qualitative research design to achieve the aim of the study and answer the research questions. The collected data were analysed using content analysis consisting of three stages - open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The study revealed that curiosity, achievement, and enjoying the experience are internal factors affecting gifted students’ motivation to learn. Curiosity is mainly driven by interest, and achievements depend on goal setting and participation in various activities, but environment, engagement, and autonomy are significant for enjoying the experience. The main external factors influencing learning motivation are recognition and support. Primary school teachers believe gifted students can be motivated to learn through praise and that teachers and parents can support them more effectively. The study develops a learning motivation model to identify the factors and sub-factors influencing gifted students’ learning motivation. The findings help primary school teachers to identify the internal and external factors affecting the learning motivation of gifted students.

Impulsive Buying Behavior, Emotional Impact and Frugality Among Youth Psychological and Demographic Analysis

In India’s rapidly transforming retail landscape, impulse buying has emerged as a significant consumer behavior, driven by modern shopping environments such as malls, megamarts, and online platforms. With increasing disposable income, changing lifestyles, and exposure to global trends, Indian consumers are more susceptible to unplanned purchases. Impulse buying is defined as a sudden, strong urge to purchase without prior planning, often triggered by emotional or sensory stimuli. Marketing strategies such as store displays, discounts, promotional offers, and targeted digital advertisements on platforms like Shopee and social media significantly influence such buying decisions. The growth of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality (VR) in retail has further enhanced the shopping experience, making it more immersive and emotionally engaging. Moreover, factors such as the store environment, ambient smells, lighting, and music—collectively referred to as "atmospherics"—can provoke emotional responses that lead to impulsive decisions. Psychological elements, including fear of missing out (FOMO), self-control, personality traits, and social norms, also contribute to impulse buying. Research highlights that both external factors (e.g., promotional tactics) and internal factors (e.g., personal preferences, mood) jointly shape impulsive consumer behavior. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for retailers aiming to boost sales and customer engagement in competitive markets.

A Conceptional Element of the Relationship between Organizational Innovation and Organizational Performance from the Perspective of Pet Market

The purpose of this study aimed to explore the relationship between organizational innovation and organizational performance which has been a critical topic of interest in both academia and practice. Organizational innovation encompasses product, process, technological, and managerial innovations, all of which contribute to resource efficiency, enhanced market competitiveness, and long-term organizational value creation. The impact of innovation on performance is moderated by various internal and external factors. Additionally, the relationship between innovation and performance often exhibits nonlinear characteristics, including staged changes and delayed effects. The research method of this study is reviewing literature and the main concepts of organizational innovation and performance are revealed by literature review and the relationship in between is discussed. The findings indicate that organizations can maximize performance outcomes when innovation aligns with strategic goals and is supported by a strong culture of innovation. The conclusion is that understanding this interplay is more valuable for organizations’ future as well as the ability to organize innovation, and the introduction of technological innovation is the key element to develop effective innovation management strategies to achieve sustainable development and exceptional performance of pet products industry. Three suggestions are updating technological equipment, introducing appropriate technologies for organization performance, and keeping a reasonable budget on technological products or services.