Macro Methods Research Articles

A New Method for Analyzing the Aero-Optical Effects of Hypersonic Vehicles Based on a Microscopic Mechanism

Aero-optical effects are the key factors that restrict the accuracy of the optical sensors of hypersonic vehicles, and the numerical simulation of aero-optical effects is a powerful tool with which to analyze aero-optical distortion. Most existing research focuses on the simulation analysis of refraction distortion based on the density field at the macro level via the ray-tracing method. In this paper, a method for analyzing aero-optical effects based on the interaction between photons and gas molecules is proposed and can explain the optical distortion and energy dissipation caused by aero-optical effects at the micro level. By establishing a transmission model of photons in turbulence, a simulation method of aero-optical effects based on a microscopic mechanism is designed and breaks through the limitations of a traditional macro method in energy analyses. The optical distortion parameters based on photonics are compared with the physical quantities of traditional aero-optical effects, which verifies the effectiveness of the micro analysis on the macro scale and provides a new idea for studying the microscopic mechanism of aero-optical effects.

The Influence of COVID-19-Induced Depression on Smartphone Usage Time among Multicultural Adolescents and the Moderated Mediation Effect of Gender through Anxiety

Background: This study aimed to verify the influence of COVID-19-induced depression on smartphone usage time among multicultural adolescents, as well as the moderated mediation effect of gender through anxiety.Methods: Using the raw data from the 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a sample of 1,161 multicultural adolescents was recruited for this study. Models 4 and 7 of the PROCESS macro method were used for data analysis.Results: COVID-19-induced depression among multicultural adolescents positively influenced their smartphone usage time. Moreover, their anxiety fully mediated the influence of COVID-19-induced depression on their smartphone usage time. The mediation effect of COVID-19-induced depression on smartphone usage time through anxiety was moderated by their gender.Conclusions: The results are significant in that they provide insights for addressing the problem of smartphone usage among multicultural adolescents amid a disaster like COVID-19.

The impact of FDI technology spillover on the innovation quality of Chinese enterprises: a microperspective based on geographic proximity

PurposePrevious studies have reached inconsistent conclusions on foreign direct investment (FDI) technology spillovers and corporate innovation. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the technological spillover effects of FDI from the microperspective of firm linkages induced by geographic distance. Further analysis is conducted on the impact and mechanism of this spillover on the innovation quality of Chinese enterprises. The conclusions drawn from this paper can guide Chinese enterprises' foreign capital utilization and innovation strategy choices.Design/methodology/approachUsing the data of China's A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2019, this paper explores the role of FDI technology spillover in enterprise innovation quality through a two-way fixed-effect model. The robustness of the results is proven by substituting variables, adding industry fixed effects and excluding high-profit groups, and further using the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method to alleviate the empirical endogeneity problem.FindingsThese findings indicate that FDI technology spillover based on geographic proximity has a positive impact on the innovation quality of Chinese enterprises. However, there are different impacts for different types of enterprises. FDI technology spillover has a positive impact on the innovation quality of non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while it has no effect on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and large enterprises. The authors also find that the degree of financing constraints and R&D investment are important transmission mechanisms between FDI technology spillover and enterprise innovation quality.Research limitations/implicationsThis study ignores industry characteristics when considering foreign enterprises around Chinese enterprises. In fact, technology spillover effects differ across industries. When the authors matched microdata to regions, only the provincial level was considered. Therefore, there is still room for further research. In future research, the authors should consider industry characteristics and group foreign enterprises and Chinese enterprises in the same industry and in different industries to explore industry differences in technology spillover. In addition, when matching corporate data to regions, the authors can match to the city level and draw city-level conclusions.Practical implicationsThis study is different from previous studies that focus on the quantity of enterprise innovation or innovation output. The authors focus on the role of technological spillovers in the quality of Chinese enterprise innovation, enriching research in the field of enterprise innovation quality. In addition, the current FDI technology spillover indicators are technically difficult to measure at the micro level. The authors draw inspiration from the theory of the geographical structure of financial supply and combine the creation methods of macro and micro indicators in existing articles in other fields. The authors ingeniously construct a new FDI technical spillover indicator. This indicator combines the commonly used regional FDI technology spillover with the geographic proximity of enterprises at the microlevel by constructing an interaction term between the two. This indicator not only alleviates the endogeneity problem to a certain extent but also has implications for future research in the field of FDI technology spillovers at the micro level.Social implications(1) FDI technology spillovers are an effective way to improve the innovation quality of local enterprises, especially for non-SOEs and SMEs. Therefore, The authors suggest that in the context of dual circulation, the Chinese government should continue to open wider to the outside world and encourage foreign enterprises to invest in China. (2) In future development, managers of SOEs and large enterprises should create an innovation incentive mechanism. Moreover, they should change their vertical management structure and make full use of their policy advantages and budget advantages to increase innovation activities. In the process of acquiring technology spillovers, enterprises need to solve their own financing constraints.Originality/valueFirst, this study solves a technical problem. It is technically difficult to measure the current FDI technical spillover indicators at the micro level. This study innovatively constructs a new FDI technology spillover indicator that combines regional FDI technology spillovers with the microperspective of the geographical proximity of enterprises. This approach not only alleviates certain endogeneity problems in the empirical evidence but also enriches relevant research in the field of technology spillover. In addition, this study focuses on the impact and mechanism of this spillover, which addresses the current research gap among previous studies that mainly focus on innovation quantity and ignore innovation quality.

FPFS: Filter-level pruning via distance weight measuring filter similarity

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) enjoy the welfare of convolution, while also bearing huge computational pressure. Therefore, model compression techniques are used to alleviate this problem, where filter-based neural network has received extensive attention as the research object of this paper. Common approaches treat filters as independent individuals and choose retrained filters by evaluating their performance, while more complex macro methods consider relationship between filters. Therefore, we propose a facile distance-based filter selection method, called FPFS, to visualize the similarity between filters from a global perspective. We calculate and sum the distance between filters to get filters’ “Distance Weight” which is applied as a metric to assess filters. We use four common and appropriate distances for filters evaluation. To verify the performance of our algorithm, we introduce FPFS to classical DCNNs and test it on general classification datasets CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100 and mageNet. For example, FPFS reduces Parameters and FLOPs of the lightweight model DenseNet-40 to about half of the original while maintain accuracy on CIFAR-10 by 94.40% (the original model is 94.80%). To ResNet-56 on CIFAR-100, FPFS compresses FLOPs to less than half of the original, while model accuracy reaches 71.46% (the original model is 71.44%). About ResNet-50 on ImageNet, FPFS achieves 60.3% FLOPs pruning rate accompanied by 0.96% top-1 accuracy loss. We also compare the experimental results with state-of-the-art filter pruning algorithms to highlight the effectiveness of FPFS.

A micro–macro method for evaluating progressive and direct tensile fractures in brittle rocks

A micro–macro method for evaluating the behaviors of direct tensile fractures during progressive loadings in brittle rocks is proposed in this study. The method consists of the suggested equation of the stress intensity factor of the mode-I crack that considers crack initiation, growth, and coalescence subjected to triaxial tensile loadings and the expression of axial strain relating to the extended length of the wing crack. The direct tensile correlation of stress and strain for depicting the complete initial elasticity, strain hardening, strain softening, and fracture stages is also studied. The reasonability of the presented method is proved by contrasting published results of experiment. Furthermore, the sensitivities of the density, inclination angle and size of the initial crack on the axial stress–strain curve, axial stress–crack length curve, tensile strength, crack initiation stress, and elastic modulus are determined. The tensile peak stress, tensile stress at crack initiation, and tensile elastic modulus descend with the increment of the inclination angle or size of the initial crack. The tensile peak stress initially descends and then remains constant, finally reaching a critical value with the increment of the density of the initial crack. The tensile elastic modulus descends with the increment of the density of the initial crack. The calculated results have a great significance for the safety evaluation of surrounding rocks in deep-buried underground engineering.

Retrospective studies of intestinal yersiniosis in cats in the Chernihiv region

The work aims to conduct retrospective studies of intestinal yersiniosis in cats in the Chernihiv region. In order to establish the spread of intestinal yersiniosis among cats in the Chernihiv region, 225 animals were spontaneously selected for the study, which had a history of the various clinical picture, but the vast majority registered diarrhea. The animals were different in age, sex, breed, and outbred. Flushes from the mucous membranes of the mouth and intestines, as well as feces and urine, were examined. To isolate the pathogen of yersiniosis, the selected material (feces) before the study was subjected to “cold enrichment” followed by sowing on a yersiniosis nutrient medium. Incubation was carried out at 26 °C for two days. Studies on identifying the pathogen were performed following the “Determinant of Bergi bacteria.” Verifying intestinal yersiniosis diagnosis was done by detecting yersiniosis antibodies, which are used in RA standard yersiniosis antigens (O:3; O:6.30; O:9). RA production was performed by the macro method by the classical method. In order to determine the pathogenicity of isolates of Y. enterocolitica, white mice were infected according to standard procedures. The antibody titer of 1:200 and higher was considered significant concerning the diagnosis of the disease. Sowing of washes from the intestines of animals was carried out on a yersinic nutrient medium LLC “Pharmactive.” Additional general clinical blood and urine tests were performed on all animals in the cultures isolated from the causative agent of intestinal yersiniosis. In our study for 2019–2021, 87 animals with intestinal yersiniosis from specific territorial centers of the Chernihiv region were identified. The increase in the incidence rate of intestinal yersiniosis in cats in the Chernihiv region may be due to the landscape-climatic features of the region, which are changing the latter. Cats under one year and two to three years of age are more prone to intestinal yersiniosis than animals over nine, with a reasonably low incidence. Females were 2.6 times more likely to develop the disease than males. Most infections were caused in females of Y. enterocolitica by serovar O:3 and accounted for 32.5 %, and in males by serovar O:9 (20 %), or a combination thereof. Serovar O:6.30 caused the disease in only four cases (5 %), three of which were reported in females. However, more positive reactions were detected with O:3 antigens and accounted for 41.25 % of the total number of subjects. Clinical signs of intestinal yersiniosis are depression, anorexia, vomiting, dehydration, hyperthermia, enteritis, diarrhea, tenesmus, rarely otitis, paraproctitis, abdominal wall pain, bronchospasm, and nephritis, nephrosis, endometritis, infertility, lymphadenitis, lymphadenitis.

Computation of Natural Frequencies of Masonry Infilled RC Frames Validated with Modal Assurance Criterion

Contribution of infill walls to in-plane structural response of reinforced concrete (RC) frame is an important aspect that many researchers have studied using experimental and numerical methods. This paper presents the modeling of 3D RC unreinforced masonry infill (MI) frames using multiple nodes to one node constraint (MTOCO) with the independent node at the center of gravity of infill with mass and inertial properties of infill. This method of modeling is then compared with other macro and micro modeling methods. A macro model with equivalent diagonal strut using 1D element and two micro models, both with 8-noded brick elements with the interface between infill and RC frame modeled using node to surface tied interface in one and small sliding contact in another. All these four models are solved using a Virtual Performance Solution (VPS) implicit FE solver. Natural frequencies of the structure from these four numerical solutions are then compared with available experimental shake table [25] results. To assess the degree of consistency between the four numerical methods, Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC) [29] is used. The Modal Assurance Criterion is a statistical indicator that is most sensitive to large differences and relatively insensitive to small differences in the mode shapes. This yields a good statistical indicator and a degree of consistency between mode shapes. From a functional point of view, the openings in the infills are a significant parameter to consider because they influence the lateral stiffness and strength. Having established its validity as explained above, this new methodology is then extended to RC frames with openings and partial fillings. A comparison of the results of both micro and macro methods shows a very good correlation.

Morphology, Phase and Chemical Analysis of Leachate after Bioleaching Metals from Printed Circuit Boards.

The article presents the assessment of solutions and dried residues precipitated from solutions after the bioleaching process of Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) utilizing the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The obtained dried residues precipitated from bioleaching solution (leachate) and control solution were tested using morphology, phase, and chemical composition analysis, with particular emphasis on the assessment of crystalline and amorphous components. The analysis of the dried residues from leachate after bioleaching as well as those from the sterile control solution demonstrated a difference in the component oxidation—the leachate consisted of mainly amorphous spherical particles in diameter up to 200 nm, forming lacy aggregates. In the specimenform control solution larger particles (up to 500 nm) were observed with a hollow in the middle and crystalline outer part (probably Fe2O3, CuFeS2, and Cu2O). The X-ray diffraction phase analysis revealed that specimen obtained from leachate after bioleaching consisted mainly of an amorphous component and some content of Fe2O3 crystalline phase, while the dried residue from control solution showed more crystalline components. The share of the crystalline and amorphous components can be related to efficiency in dissolving metals during bioleaching. Obtained results of the investigation confirm the activity and participation of the A. ferrooxidans bacteria in the solubilization process of electro-waste components, with their visible degradation–acceleration of the reaction owing to a continuous regeneration of the leaching medium. The performed investigations allowed to characterize the specimen from leachate and showed that the application of complementary cross-check of the micro (SEM and S/TEM) and macro (ICP-OES and XRD) methods are of immense use for complete guidance assessment and obtained valuable data for the next stages of PCBs recycling.

온라인 수업에서 간호대학생의 문제해결적극성과 자기주도학습능력의 관계

Objectives This study is a descriptive study that sought to investigate the mediating effects of a growth mindset and a fixed mindset on the relationship between proactivity of problem-solving and self-directed learning ability of nursing students in an online learning environment. Methods The subjects of this study were 307 nursing students attending two universities in J-do. Data analysis was performed with descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the parallel mediation model analysis of PROCESS macro and Bootstrap method were used for mediating effect analysis. Results As a result of the study, the average self-directed learning ability of the subjects was 3.73 out of 5. There was a significant positive relationship between proactivity of problem-solving, growth mindset, and selfdirected learning ability. Also, growth mindset were partially mediated in the relationship between proactivity of problem-solving and self-directed learning ability of nursing students. In other words, the direct route from the proactivity of problem-solving of nursing students to self-directed learning ability and the indirect route to self-directed learning ability by medium of growth mind set were noted. but the mediating effect of the fixed mindset was not significant. Conclusions Based on the results of this study, it is strongly recommended to implement measures that can improve the proactivity of problem-solving and growth mindset to enhance the self-directed learning capabilities of nursing students.

The effect of supply chain learning on flexibility performance: an empirical study

Today’s intensely competitive business is undergoing significant shifts, which render it a challenging environment to compete in. Production processes are evolving as customer demands change, which leads to greater variability. Firms must respond to changing environmental conditions to remain sustainable. Companies today look for ways to overcome their problems not only on their own but also with their supply chains. Reduced cost and improved performance are two significant benefits of supply chain management. Because companies can work together in the face of challenging market conditions throughout their supply chains, it makes sense for them to collaborate. When companies work together, they can collaborate to produce better-designed products and more efficient manufacturing processes. Learning, supply chain integration, and flexibility throughout the supply chain are critical to successful supply chain management. In this study, the effect of supply chain learning on supply chain integration and production flexibility has been investigated. The mediating role of supply chain integration on the impact of supply-chain learning on production flexibility has been tested. For this purpose, survey data was collected from the 144 companies selected out of Turkey's largest exporting companies. The data were analyzed via structural equation modeling and process macro methods. As a result of the structural equation model analysis, it was found that supply chain learning significantly affects the chain’s integration and its production flexibility. As a result of the intermediation test, it was determined that the integration of the supply chain has a vital intermediary role regarding the effect of supply chain learning on the flexibility of production.

Methodology for assessing the criterion of sustainability of the Investment potential of the Southern Federal District Regions, as a tool for managing their Potential

Currently, the regulation of investment flows is an integral part of managing the socio-economic development of the region. At the same time, the investment potential of any Russian region is determined by the effectiveness of the implementation by regional territorial authorities of their social, economic, environmental policies for the development of the Russian region. The analysis of investment opportunities of Russian regions is one of the tools of the monitoring component of the mechanism for managing the investment potential of the studied Russian regions of the Southern Federal District. In this regard, one of the most urgent problems of managing sustainable socio-economic development of the studied Russian regions is the problem of assessing the sustainability of the investment potential of the regions of the analyzed macro-region. The purpose of this publication is to consider the problems of forming a regional mechanism for managing the totality of investment resources of the Southern Federal District. Methodological approaches to the analysis of investment opportunities of Russian regions and the analysis of the criterion indicator of the sustainability of the potential of investment resources of the regions of the analyzed macro-region have been studied. In order to achieve the goal, the problems of formation and functioning of the mechanism for managing the regional potential of investment resources, the analysis of regional investment opportunities and the criterion for the stability of the investment potential of the analyzed regions of the macro region and methods of its calculation have been analyzed. The methodological basis of the study includes a systematic method, methods of statistical analysis, expert methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was the work of domestic and foreign authors in the field of assessing the investment potential of the region, its management. The result of the conducted research is a methodology for assessing the criterion of sustainability of the potential of investment resources of the Russian regions of the studied federal district. The proposed methodology allows regional authorities to assess the sustainability of the potential of investment resources of the Russian regions of the Southern Federal District, to predict the amount of investments in fixed assets of economic entities of the analyzed regions, their labor, financial, innovation, production, infrastructure, consumer potential. In particular, the proposed methodological approach makes it possible to form a system of measures to increase the potential of investment resources, both in the regions of the Southern Federal District of Russia in particular, and in the Federal District as a whole.

Методологічне підґрунтя дослідження відповідальності держав за міжнародним правом

The complexity of modern political and legal relations that arise with the onset of international responsibility significantly increases the importance of developing a methodological basis for the concept of state responsibility under international law. The article highlights the methodological basis of the study of the sphere of international responsibility of states. The article reveals the content of civilizational, axiological, historical-legal and conceptual-comparative approaches, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature of international law and the essence of international responsibility, the patterns of functioning and the development of norms on the international responsibility of states. It has been established that the main principles of the civilizational approach contribute to considering the peculiarities of understanding and applying the main categories of international responsibility through the prism of the interaction of civilizations and their dialogue. From the standpoint of the axiological approach, the value of a number of categories significant for the sphere of international legal responsibility is revealed, in particular, the term "responsibility" itself, as well as such political and legal values as freedom, equality, justice, solidarity, tolerance, respect for all human rights. The application of the historical-legal approach allows, among others, to investigate of the development of international legal opinion regarding the concept of "responsibility" in international law from the earliest times; to analyze the stages of the UN International Law Commission's work on the codification of norms on the international responsibility of states; to trace the evolution of the concept of an internationally wrongful act of the state and highlight the issue of its normative consolidation, to investigate the development of the concept of the responsibility of states for lawful activity. The toolkit of the conceptual-comparative approach with its methods of macro- and micro-comparison, synchronic and diachronic, normative, textual, and doctrinal comparisons is helpful in comparing the studied phenomena. The application of the approaches analyzed in the article allows for a comprehensive study of the issues of state responsibility, to develop an international legal concept of state responsibility in international law, to consider the specifics of state responsibility for the illegal conduct of state and non-state actors in conditions of modern political and legal processes.

Machining of elliptical curve profile for application in manufacturing industries

Manufacture of products with freeform curves is the need of the day in manufacturing industries like turbine blades, automobile bodies, aerofoils etc. Such profiles are usually manufactured on high precision machines. High precision (CNC) machines are required to enhance product quality at a reasonable cost. CNC programs with preparatory codes (G01, G02, or G03) provide automation, but the machines are restricted to the ability of linear and circular interpolators. Hence, due to the unavailability of appropriate preparatory function, machining of these curved shaped components causes difficulty on CNC machines. The CAD / CAM software divides the profile into the numbers of small linear segments. The transmission of the linear segments from software to CNC machine is subjected to errors. It results in noise and lost data. The discontinuity of the freeform toolpath deteriorates the surface quality and shape accuracy due to linear segments. To enhance the shape accuracy and surface quality, the numbers of linear segments are to be increased. Each linear segment to be machined is adding a single block in the part program. It will increase the size of the part program and program memory size at the cost of the surface quality. To achieve better surface quality and shape accuracy, MACRO programming is required. In the present work, the freeform regular axis-symmetrical profile (i.e. ellipse) is machined on mild steel (MS) and aluminum material using NURBS as well as Hermite interpolators. The curved profiles machined by MACRO and conventional programming methods are examined to measure surface quality using surface roughness tester (i.e., Mitutoyo SJ-210®), while toolpath deviation is examined with the actual profile plotted with CAD software (i.e., AutoCAD®). Radial and chordal errors are the least in the case of NURBS interpolation compared to Hermite interpolation. A better surface finish is observed while the elliptical profile is machined on mild steel and aluminium with MACRO programming

Distance between the center of the FAZ measured automatically and the highest foveal bulge using OCT-angiography in elderly healthy eyes

The center of the fovea, termed the foveola, is the area of highest visual acuity, has the highest density of cone photoreceptors. We investigated the distance between the automatically-determined center of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the manually-determined highest foveal bulge (FB) point using single swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) instrument. This cross-sectional study included 49 eyes of 49 individuals (34 women and 15 men; median age: 68 years) with no history of ocular disorders. The FAZ in the superficial capillary plexus was automatically determined using the Kanno–Saitama macro method, and the center of the FAZ was automatically determined using ellipse approximation. Another candidate foveal center, the highest FB point, was determined manually on the serial cross-sectional B-scan images. As a result, the foveal center was manually identified as the highest FB point on B-scan OCTA images. The center of the FAZ was more likely to be located inferior to the highest FB point (p = 0.031). In participants with a total (linear) distance of more than 50 μm between the center of the FAZ and the highest FB point, the displacement was significantly more in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction (p = 0.017). These results can be applicable to further studies regarding the spatial relationships between the center of the FAZ and the highest FB point in various macular diseases or previously-treated eyes.

Dynamic forecasting performance and liquidity evaluation of financial market by Econophysics and Bayesian methods

In a complex financial system, what is the forecasting performance of macro and micro evolution models of Econophysics on asset prices? For this problem, from the perspective of machine learning, we study the dynamic forecasting and liquidity assessment of financial markets, based on econophysics and Bayesian methods. We establish eight dynamic prediction methods, based on our proposed likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation methods of macro and micro evolution models of econophysics. Combined machine learning thinking and real data, we empirically study and simulate the out-of-sample dynamic forecasting analysis of eight proposed methods and compare with the benchmark GARCH model. A variety of loss functions, superior predictive ability test (SPA), Akaike and Bayesian information criterion (AIC and BIC) methods are introduced to further evaluate the forecasting performance of our proposed methods. The research of out of sample prediction shows that (1) the method of the simplified stochastic model with Bayesian method for only sample return has the best forecasting performance; (2) the method of the stochastic model with Bayesian method for only return samples has the worst forecasting performance. For the liquidity assessment problem, there is a strong correlation between the trading probability evaluated by the proposed eight methods and the real turnover rate, and an increase of liquidity is correspond to the increase of asset risk. In other words, it suggests that all proposed methods can well evaluate market liquidity.

Pain and health-related quality of life in adolescents and the mediating role of self-esteem and self-efficacy: a cross-sectional study including adolescents and parents

BackgroundTo promote health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents with pain, it is important to study factors associated with pain. This study aimed to describe selected factors and pain in 14–15-year-old adolescents and their parents, to assess how these factors are associated with adolescent pain groups, and to explore whether the relationship between pain intensity and HRQOL in adolescents with persistent pain is mediated by self-esteem and self-efficacy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed among 508 dyads of adolescents (14–15 years) and parents in a school-based setting. Among these, 148 adolescents had persistent pain. We explored the following variables: HRQOL, pain, self-efficacy, self-esteem, sleep, loneliness, stress and sociodemographic variables. All variables were assessed with well-validated instruments. HRQOL was measured with KIDSCREEN-27. Analyses included Chi-square, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis and the PROCESS macro method for mediation analyses.ResultsAdolescents with pain reported significantly higher levels of stress, loneliness and lack of sleep and lower levels of self-efficacy, self-esteem and HRQOL compared to adolescents without pain. More girls than boys reported pain. Adolescents with persistent pain scored significantly worse on self-esteem, stress, loneliness, lack of sleep, school absence, pain and HRQOL compared to adolescents with shorter pain duration. Adolescent pain groups did not differ significantly considering parental factors. However, more adolescents with persistent pain reported that someone in their family had pain. The associations between pain intensity and the HRQOL subscales in adolescents with persistent pain were completely mediated by self-esteem, but not by self-efficacy. The highest degree of mediation was estimated for the HRQOL subscale school environment (indirect effect = 73.5%).ConclusionsOur findings highlight the complexity within adolescent pain, demonstrating that adolescents with pain differ from adolescents without pain when it comes to gender, school absence, factors within-person and between-persons. Longer pain duration makes adolescents more vulnerable. We confirm the importance of resilience factors for HRQOL but indicate that self-esteem is more important than self-efficacy. To promote HRQOL in adolescents with persistent pain, a strengthening of both their self-esteem and self-efficacy is recommended. We highlight the need for an individual, holistic approach to adolescent pain.

Increasing Social Work Students’ Participation in Macro Specializations

Much effort has been made to increase the number of social work students in macro practice specializations in graduate school. Despite the development of pedagogical techniques which have shown to increase interest in and appreciation for macro practice, the proportion of macro students has stayed low and stable over time. Using survey data collected from 474 Master of Social Work students and graduates, this exploratory study identified both structural and attitudinal barriers which impede specialization in macro practice. Data reveals that despite exposure to these methods, those whose original motivation to enter the profession was based on a desire to do clinical work are unlikely to concentrate on macro practice. Structural barriers such as the lack of availability of macro programs also prevented increased specialization in macro practice. Social workers who are Black/African American are more likely to concentrate in macro practice, perhaps due to a recognition of the need for systems change in the United States to promote equal opportunities and rights for those who have historically been marginalized. Findings indicate that current efforts to increase the number of graduates with macro specializations may not be effective. Treatment of macro methods as a specialization, rather than integral to social work education, should be revisited if the profession wants to ensure enough graduates are able to make system-level changes to rectify current societal inequities.

Are We Putting Human Rights into Social Work Practice in Kosovo?

Abstract In this article, we explore how social workers are putting human rights into practice in Kosovo. We present a snapshot of the current human rights context in Kosovo; we discuss frameworks for rights-based practice within social work; and we explain the evolution of Kosovar social work education and the role of human rights within it. Ultimately, we focus on the results of a new survey that uses Albanian translations of the Human Rights Methods in Social Work scales to explore the use of eight rights-based practice methods by 100 social workers situated in Kosovo’s Centres for Social Work. In our sample, social workers endorsed the four micro (individually focused) practice methods—accountability, strengths perspective, anti-discrimination and participation—at higher rates than the four more macro (community/policy)-focused methods—capacity-building, micro/macro, collaboration and activism. We use these results to call for further training to support rights-based practice, emphasising the interdependence of micro and macro methods in advancing human rights as well as social work ethics. In conclusion, we offer suggestions that will allow social work to act as an agent of transformative change and social justice in Kosovo.

« Perspectives »Global Regionalization Processes and (Macro)-Regional Integration. In Favor of Generalization in Geography

Many researchers concur in observing that globalization has abolished neither distance, nor the usefulness of geographical proximity. Spatial constraints continue to shape exchanges, as well as the density and quality of interactions between societies. Even in a globalized world, pervaded with networks that disrupt traditional territorialities, it can be useful and even inevitable to build relationships with one’s neighbors. In this context, the notion of (macro)regional (or multi-state) integration deserves to be exploited. In particular, geographical research has so far eluded this concept, despite this discipline’s recognized expertise on the notions of region, distance, territory and territorial development, which are at the heart of the understanding of regional integration, both theoretically and empirically. This contribution aims to clarify the words, objects and methods of (macro)regional integration from the point of view of geographical semantics, as well as the evolution of theoretical approaches to the notion of region.

Institutional Quality and Shadow Economy: An Investment Potential Evaluation Model

The article summarizes some arguments as regards the scientific challenge on improving approaches to evaluating the country’s investment potential. The main objective of the research is to identify the features and perspectives of applying the variables such as the shadow economy and the integrated institutional quality index into a model evaluating the country’s investment potential. To solve this task, systematization of the related theoretical and methodological materials has been done. The methodological tools of the research are carried out in the following logical sequence: systematization of existing statistical methods for estimating the shadow economy; time data series analysis; and regression analysis. The scope of the shadow economy could be estimated as a dependent variable, with both its determinants and indicators detected and measured. The macro methods, such as Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) are suitable approaches from an econometric standpoint to evaluate the shadow economy. Institutional quality is crucially an important variable for empirical studies related to evaluating the country’s investment potential. The proposed approach considers significance and direction of the six Worldwide Government Indicators’ (WGI) impact on foreign direct investment net inflow, eliminating the issue of their multicollinearity. However, political instability and high frequency of foreign and domestic policy changes during the last decades distort statistical significance of the results obtained. FDI inflow, as well as the quality of governance, and the shadow economy, is influenced by many other factors, both internal and external, so to build a qualitative model for evaluating the country’s investment potential of the national economy it is necessary to expand the set of factors for analysis. The results of the research can be useful for a more accurate investment potential evaluation on the macroeconomic level, and forecasting foreign direct investment inflows for the following time periods.