Main Motivation Research Articles

Pseudovarieties of semigroups

The most developed aspect of the theory of finite semigroups is their classification in pseudovarieties. The main motivation for investigating such entities comes from their connection with the classification of regular languages via Eilenberg’s correspondence. This connection prompted the study of various natural operators on pseudovarieties and led to several important questions, both algebraic and algorithmic. The most important of these questions is decidability: given a finite semigroup is there an algorithm that tests whether it belongs to the pseudovariety? Since the most relevant operators on pseudovarieties do not preserve decidability, one often seeks to establish stronger properties. A key role is played by relatively free profinite semigroups, which is the counterpart of free algebras in universal algebra. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief survey of the state of the art, highlighting some of the main developments and problems.

Participant Satisfaction and Engagement With a Military Longitudinal Cohort Study: The U.S. Millennium Cohort Study.

Service members and veterans remain a challenging population for survey research. As the Millennium Cohort Study is the largest and longest running prospective cohort study in United States military history and has follow-up data collection planned through 2068, it is critical to determine factors that may help bolster participant retention. A satisfaction survey was administered in 2023 to obtain feedback for quality improvement efforts. Of the eligible Millennium Cohort Study participants, 27,224 (45%) completed the satisfaction survey. Chi-square tests were used to examine responses stratified by service status (active duty, Reserve/National Guard, and veterans). Natural language processing was utilized to uncover latent topics from open-text data. A majority of respondents (96%) were satisfied with their experience in the study. The main motivations for continued participation included helping fellow service members and veterans (96%) and learning about military health issues (82%). Major topics that emerged in open-ended feedback provided by 25% of the sample included the importance of tracking health outcomes related to military exposures, a desire to help service members and veterans, and a desire to see study results and impacts. Altruism toward the military community was a key motivation for continued participation and efforts to highlight these values may help to increase study recruitment and retention.

Brazilian Northern students’ foreign language preferences in Enem

This research article explores the foreign language (L2) choice of test-takers from a school in Pará, Northern Brazil, for the Enem exam, a government-administered entrance exam widely accepted by Brazilian universities. The study aims to investigate the reasons behind the students' choice of English or Spanish as their L2. A questionnaire survey was used to gather data, evaluating respondents' answers regarding their L2 choice and motivations. The findings revealed a significant preference for English, with the number of students choosing to answer questions in English exceeding those who chose Spanish by over 50%. The study also identified the main motivators for this choice, including students' contact with English-language media such as music, movies, games, series, and the internet. These results provide insight into the language learning preferences and motivations of Brazilian students, shedding light on the factors that influence their L2 choice for the Enem exam. The study's findings have implications for language teaching and learning in Brazil, highlighting the importance of considering students' interests and exposure to language in the design of language curricula and instruction.

Vaccination Adherence Among Parents of Preschool-Aged Children

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to vaccination in the general population poses a major obstacle to achieving epidemiological well-being. AIM: To assess vaccination adherence among parents of preschool-aged children in selected cities in Russia and Belarus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an anonymous online survey administered to parents whose children attended preschool institutions in Almetyevsk, Kazan, Makhachkala, Nizhny Novgorod, and Rybnoye in Russia and Gomel in Belarus. The questionnaire included 16 items with single or multiple response options. Overall, 801 participants were surveyed. Statistical analysis was performed using R 4.3.1 (RStudio). Proportions with 95% confidence intervals and standard errors (P ± p) were calculated. The independent-sample t-test was used for normally distributed variables and the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test for asymmetrically distributed variables. RESULTS: A positive attitude toward vaccination was reported by 76.2 ± 11.7% of respondents (range across cities: 56%–91%). The main motivations for vaccinating children were protection against serious infections (68.8% ± 7.3%), concern about access to educational institutions (16.2% ± 9.6%), and recommendations from healthcare providers (9.1% ± 5.8%). Negative attitudes were identified in some parents, including fear of adverse reactions (13.5%), concerns about vaccine safety (8.3%), and the belief that children should only be vaccinated against the most dangerous diseases (9.1%). Furthermore, 47.6% of the respondents expressed interest in receiving additional information about vaccination. The preferred sources of information were consultations with pediatricians (78.3%), printed educational materials (28.3%), dedicated websites (23.2%), lectures on clinic websites (17.2%), and hotline consultations (15%). Only 11.9% of the respondents favored information obtained through social media. CONCLUSION: Some parents of preschool-aged children in Russia and Belarus demonstrate negative attitudes toward vaccination. Parents show a strong willingness to receive information from healthcare professionals.

Public Perception of Clinical Trials and Its Predictors Among Polish Adults

Background/Objectives: Public perception of clinical trials (CT) in Poland remains underexplored. This study aims to assess attitudes towards clinical trials, to identify key sociodemographic and health-related predictors of participation willingness, and to evaluate the perceived health impact (CT-PHI) associated with participants’ involvement in trials. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted (2–20 March 2022) among 2050 Polish adults who had benefited from medical care in the past 24 months. This study examined sociodemographic factors, health-related factors (self-perceived health, EQ-5D-5L, the level of awareness of patient rights, use of public vs. private healthcare, adherence), and motivations for participation in trials (health-related, financial, and altruistic). Multivariate logistic and generalized linear models identified predictors of participation willingness and CT-PHI variability. Results: Overall, 56.3% of the respondents expressed a willingness to participate in clinical trials. The main motivation was health improvement (45.8%), followed by financial incentives (23.2%) and altruism (22.7%). Those driven by health reasons showed the highest sensitivity to demographic and health-related factors. In this group, higher CT-PHI scores were associated with older age (66+: B = 1.24, p < 0.001), female gender (B = 0.41, p = 0.034), rural residence (B = 0.41, p = 0.033), dual use of public/private healthcare (B = 0.64, p = 0.001), adherence (B = 2.50, p < 0.001), and greater pain severity (moderate: B = 1.36, p < 0.001; severe: B = 0.91, p = 0.023). Socioeconomic factors played a greater role for financially motivated individuals, while altruistic participants showed the least variability in influencing factors. Conclusions: Willingness to participate in clinical trials in Poland is influenced by the motivation type. A patient-centered approach to recruitment strategies, considering diverse motivations and sociodemographic factors, is essential for optimizing participation in clinical trials.

What Makes Loyalty Programme Work: The Effectiveness of the Battle Pass System in Chinese MOBA Game in the Perspective of Consumer Perception

As the online video game industry becomes increasingly competitive, game marketers have introduced various loyalty programmes to keep player retention, the Battle Pass system is one of them. This work aimed to find the drivers influencing loyalty programme effectiveness. In other wordsother words, to understand how the loyalty program in online video games really works, especially in Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games. To answer this question, the Battle Pass system in the Honor of Kings, one of the most popular MOBA games in China, has been chosen to be studied. This paper conducted semi-structured interviews to obtain players' veritable feelings about this loyalty programme from multiple angles. The results of these in-depth conversations provide viable explanations of the research questions from which 5 main motivations have not been observed in other research and were summarized as factors affecting loyalty programme effectiveness. Overall, this work fills the research gaps using qualitative research methods; in addition, it provides the possible indicator for the research on consumer behavior in online video games and the value of guiding marketers to formulate practices that rely on the continuous engagement of their users.

Feasibility Analysis of the New Generation of Fuels in the Maritime Sector

The main motivation for this paper was the lack of studies and comparative analyses on the new generation of alternative fuels in the marine sector, such as methane, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. Firstly, a review of international legislation and the status of these new fuels was carried out, highlighting the current situation and the different existing alternatives for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, the status and evolution of the current order book for ships since the beginning of this decade were used for this analysis. Secondly, each fuel and its impact on the geometry and operation of the engine were evaluated in a theoretical engine called MW-1. Lastly, an economic analysis of the current situation of each fuel and its availability in the sector was carried out in order to select, using the indicated methodology, the most viable fuel at present to replace traditional fuels with a view to the decarbonization set for 2050.

Fast autoscaling algorithm for cost optimization of container clusters

Container clusters are widely used to execute containerized applications in cloud environments. An essential characteristic implemented by these clusters is autoscaling, which is the ability to automatically adapt the computing resources of a cluster to support variable workloads. Precise adjustment of cluster resources to its workload in each autoscaling operation is essential to control cluster deployment costs. Several resource allocation models have been developed with the objective of cost minimization. However, as the number of containers and virtual machines of the cluster increases, resource allocation problems become too complex, and cannot be solved in reasonable time by existing resource allocation models. In this paper we present FCMA (Fast Container to Machine Allocator), a resource allocation algorithm designed to calculate a suitable allocation of the resources of a cluster in autoscaling operations, to minimize cluster deployment costs. The main motivation for the development of FCMA has been to significantly reduce the solving time of the resource allocation problem compared to a previous state-of-the-art optimal Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model. In addition, FCMA addresses secondary objectives to improve fault tolerance and reduce container and virtual machine recycling costs, load-balancing overloads and container interference. We have conducted an experimental evaluation to assess the effectiveness of FCMA, using the ILP model and two heuristics as a baseline. The experiments show that FCMA is much faster than the ILP model, with an average solving time reduction of two orders of magnitude. This gain in speed does not compromise the quality of the solutions, which have a cost on par with those of the ILP model. In comparison to the heuristics, FCMA achieves similar solving times while consistently delivering more cost-effective solutions.

MOTIF DI BALIK KEANGGOTAAN: MENGAPA REMAJA MEMILIH BERGABUNG KE DALAM KOMUNITAS?

Community or social groups in schools are one way for adolescents to find their identity in the school environment. This study aims to uncover and understand the motives that drive adolescents to choose to join a community at school. The study used a qualitative approach with an in-depth interview method with three student members of the community representing grades 10, 11, and 12. The results showed that the main motives for adolescents to join the community were the need for a sense of belonging, search for identity, the influence of seniors and traditions, and the need for emotional support. The community functions as a place to fulfill social-emotional needs and a coping mechanism in dealing with academic and social pressures. This study provides important implications for schools and counselors in developing student development programs that accommodate adolescents' needs for a positive community. Keywords: adolescents, membership motive, school community

Influence of marketing on the consumption of ultra-processed foods in university environments

Ultra-processed foods are associated with obesity and chronic diseases. This study analyzes how marketing and the university food environment influence perceptions and preferences towards this type of food. The high availability of products considered as ultra-processed and the lack of healthy options near the different campuses, especially at night, generate an unfavorable food environment for university students. A quantitative-descriptive methodology with surveys was used. The results show that the most common advertising formats are posters and banners, while taste and price are the main motivators for consumption. In addition, there is a positive correlation between frequency of consumption and perception of benefits, evidencing the influence of marketing focused on ultra-processed products. The study highlights the need for educational interventions and advertising regulations in university environments to promote healthy habits, and counteract the prevention of catastrophic diseases.

Exploring the drivers of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure in an emerging market context using a mixed methods approach

With the economy evolving, business landscapes shifting, and regulations tightening, companies are increasingly integrating ESG criteria into their strategies and more transparent in their disclosures. The aim of this study is to explore the current state of ESG disclosure in an emerging economy (Morocco) and to identify the main motives and challenges faced by Moroccan companies and their impact on ESG disclosure practices. We used a mixed methods approach, based on a quantitative survey conducted among 66 experts, distributed equally between men and women and analyzed by PLS-SEM approach, as well as a qualitative method based on a series of semi-structured interviews with 19 experts in the field. We concluded that ESG reporting motives and challenges impact positively and significantly on ESG disclosure practices. Further, gender is moderating and strengthening the relationship between ESG reporting motives and practices. Indeed, ESG disclosure level is improving in the context of Moroccan companies and regulatory mechanisms provide effective framework for developing ESG disclosure practices. This study has important implications for policymakers, regulators, and companies operating in an emerging country context.

Characterization and Modeling of Marine Bacillus cereus Strain MSS1 Exopolysaccharide and Its Antagonistic Effect on Colon Cancer.

Microbial polysaccharides are a significant group of functional phytochemicals. Numerous studies have shown the advantageous pharmacological impacts of polysaccharides, including their effectiveness against cancer. A halophilic bacterial strain obtained from coastal sediments produced exopolysaccharides (EPS). The strain was morphologically recognized and further confirmed as Bacillus cereus strain MSS1 using 16S rDNA analysis, with accession number OR133726. The heteropolysaccharides were purified and fractionated with a DEAE-cellulose column, and the preliminary chemical analysis of the most potent fraction (EPSMSS1) indicated that the four different monosaccharides were mannuronic acid, xylose, fructose, and glucuronic acid, with a molar ratio of 1:1:2:0.5, respectively. The highest production was 12.76 g/l using a Box-Behnken design. It showed antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, and antibiofilm activity. The 3D architecture of the EPSMSS1 of Bacillus cereus strain MSS1 is being described, predicted, and aligned against other bacterial species. These studies offer valuable insights into optimizing efficiency. Therefore, the EPSMSS1 fraction was shown to have anticancer activity and significant anticancer activities in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 20.1 µg/ml. Subsequently, various apoptotic markers, such as cytochrome c, BAX, BCl2, and the BAX/BCL2 ratio, were assessed. Our findings demonstrate that EPSMSS1 triggers the activation of apoptotic protein BAX, enhances the generation of cytochrome c, reduces the expression of antiapoptotic protein BCl2, and distorts the BAX/BCL2 ratio in EPSMSS1-treated HCT-116 cells relative to untreated cells. The anticancer efficacy of EPSMSS1 was verified through the assessment of cell cycle progression using flow cytometry. It has been found that EPSMSS1 pauses the cell cycle in the G1/S phase, causing apoptosis. The main motivation behind this study was EPSMSS1, an innovative marine polysaccharide with remarkable biological activity, especially anti-cancer properties.

The diaspora of Filipino teachers leaving their home country for work in the United States

This study aimed to investigate the Filipino public school teachers' diaspora to the United States, focusing on the factors influencing their migration and the challenges they encountered in adapting to their new environments. To achieve this, a parallel convergent mixed-methods approach was employed. The study conducted qualitative interviews with five participants and surveyed 69 former DepEd teachers across various states in the United States, covering the academic years 2018–2019 to 2023–2024. The results showed that the main motivators were improved living conditions and higher income. They also acknowledged difficulties with personal sacrifices, student conduct, and cultural adjustment. Teachers who were relocating encountered many challenges that required resilience, even though they had access to better resources. As systemic constraints in the Philippines drive highly trained instructors abroad, the study highlights a global education dilemma. It is, therefore, essential to strengthen institutional support and policy coordination to ensure that teacher migration remains a choice rather than a necessity in order to preserve the Philippine educational system and the well-being of its instructors overseas.

Acquisitions as catalysts for inventor departures in the biotechnology industry

In high-tech industries, where intellectual property is crucial, the acquisition of intangible assets and tacit knowledge of employees is one of the main motivations for Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As). The takeover wave in the biotechnology industry in the 1990s following the molecular biology revolution is a well-known example of how M&As were used to absorb new knowledge. However, after an M&A, it is uncertain whether key R&D employees who embody valuable knowledge and potential future innovations can be retained. Even if not all employees are relevant to the success of the acquisition, inventors are among the most valuable. This is especially true when acquiring an innovative startup. In this paper, we estimate how likely it is that an inventor working for an acquired biotechnology company will leave. Using a difference-in-differences approach with matching for both firms and inventors. We find that inventors affected by acquisitions are 20% more likely to leave the company. Our results contribute to the current debate on acqui-hiring of high-tech startups.

WORK MOTIVATION IN THE MILLENNIAL ERA: EXPLORING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DRIVERS IN A COLOMBIAN SAMPLE

This research studies the characteristics of millennials’ work motivation and differences in internal and external drivers as a function of sociodemographic variables, such as gender and educational level. A total of 142 employees from Colombian companies, born between 1982 and 1999, completed the Work Motivation Questionnaire. Participants' work motivation characteristics were found to be associated with recognition as the main internal motivator and salary as the main external motivator. Differences were found in the internal motivational conditions (affiliation, self-realisation, and recognition), external factors (work content), and preferred means of obtaining desired rewards at work (acceptance of authority) as a function of the sex of the participants. Differences were found in affiliation, supervision, workgroup, and work content drivers as a function of educational level. It is concluded that millennial employees mainly value recognition and economic retribution for their work and are willing to persuade or directly request desired work, and that variables such as gender and educational level can impact differences in work motivation. The implications of these findings for human talent management processes are discussed.

Acceptability of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as malaria intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women living with HIV in Southern Mozambique

BackgroundHIV-infected pregnant women (HIVPW) are especially susceptible to malaria infection. However, HIVPW cannot receive the recommended malaria Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine due to potential adverse reactions with cotrimoxazole, which is given to HIV-infected individuals to prevent opportunistic infections. Within the scope of a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) as IPTp in HIVPW, we aimed to explore pregnant women’s acceptability of DHA-PPQ in the Manhiça District Hospital, Mozambique.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted from December-2019 to October-2020 including 44 HIVPW participating in the clinical trial, 35 HIV-uninfected pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic and eight health care providers (HCPs). Information was obtained through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and a combination of content and thematic analysis was performed.ResultsAll the HIVPW took monthly doses of DHA-PPQ until delivery. They stated that the main motivation for accepting DHA-PPQ was the belief that guidance from healthcare providers should not be refused. Despite some HIVPW reporting vertigo, vomiting, and malaise after taking DHA-PPQ, they expressed willingness to use it in a future pregnancy, believing it contributed to a healthy outcome. Pregnant women and HCPs indicated that factors supporting DHA-PPQ acceptability include information on the benefits of IPTp, testimonials from women who have previously taken DHA-PPQ, and home delivery of DHA-PPQ by HCPs. The perception that home dispensing of DHA-PPQ (a medication administered only for HIVPW) could affect measures taken to ensure HIV-infection confidentiality was not found to be a potential barrier to DHA-PPQ acceptability when delivered in HIVPW’s homes.ConclusionThe acceptability of DHA-PPQ among HIVPW appears to be influenced more by trust in healthcare providers rather than by the perceived benefits of the medication itself. Leveraging this trust to enhance awareness and understanding of DHA-PPQ’s benefits could further improve its acceptability. Moreover, further implementation research focused on acceptability in a real-world environment is essential to deepen the understanding of DHA-PPQ acceptability beyond the clinical trial setting, and inform policy decisions accordingly.

New Spice Road, Regional Rival to the New Silk Road

With the Belt and Road Initiative, China is at the forefront of players seeking regional links and connectivity between Asia and Europe. However, China’s presence in this arena is not exclusive, and the competition for infrastructure across Eurasia is multifaceted. India is another Asian giant that has quietly entered the mega-infrastructure projects of this supercontinent, seeking to revive the dormant plan for a north-south international transport corridor. The New Spice Road is a metaphor that narrates India’s resurgence and its competition with China for control of the routes for the movement and transportation of goods and energy. The aim of this article is to explore India’s main motivations and objectives for the revival of the North-South International Transport Corridor (New Drug Route) after nearly 15 years of its inception. The article shows that India’s efforts to rebuild the North-South International Corridor and promote the New Drug Route are primarily focused on security goals and motivations, including confronting the changing situation in Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan’s favor; denying opportunities for China's geopolitics-geostrategy in the Indian Ocean region; creating a gap between Pakistan and its neighbors, especially Afghanistan; and geopolitical linkage with its new partners in Central Asia and the South Caucasus through Iran.

Development of Novel Makeup Concept: A Blush For Beauty Glow

To enhance the attractiveness of our beauty we use makeup. There are several products in makeup which help to enhance appearance of beauty. The blush or cheek tints are used to make our cheeks look naturally pink. Cheek tints are easy to use and spread, also they are very lightweight for the skin. The main objective is to formulate cheek tint in liquid form that it is totally safe for use and penetrate easily and gives desire benefits to skin. This cheek tint also helps to improve skin appearance. Nowadays various synthetic pigments and colorants use to formulate color cosmetics for better results and appearance. But synthetic colors have side effects as they are obtained in an artificial way. However, nowadays people are becoming aware of selecting active ingredients of products they use, so natural colorants Beetroot extract (Beta Vulgarise) and Red sandalwood extract (Pterocarpus santalinus) have been used to formulate cheek tint. The main motive of this paper is using natural color in cheek tint helps to achieve sustainability or to provide an eco-friendly touch to makeup products. It helps to improve skin appearance and help the skin to get comedones and blemishes free by just applying cheek tint.

Inappropriate use of propranolol among medical students in Palestine: cross-sectional study

IntroductionMedical students’ inappropriate propranolol use, driven by exam stress, is a developing concern. This study examined propranolol misuse among Palestinian medical students at An-Najah National University.MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional study that included second to sixth-year medical students at An-Najah National University in Palestine. An online self-administrated Arabic questionnaire was developed by researchers. This 29-question, three-section questionnaire was sent to eligible participants via university email and student Facebook groups. The data collection period extended from August to September 2023.ResultsA total of 401 students participated in the survey. The majority of the respondents were females (227, 57%) and final-year medical students (137, 34%). The utilization of propranolol was identified in 12% in our study. About 60% engaged in self-prescribing doses ranging between 10 and 20 mg, with 56% falling within this range. The main motivation for self-prescribing was to alleviate anxiety symptoms (88%), particularly before objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) (89%) or presentations (39%). 68% of students expressed awareness of the potential side effects. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between propranolol use and factors such as age (p < 0.001), academic year (p < 0.001), the presence of chronic diseases (p = 0.011), and psychoactive drug use (p = 0.045).ConclusionPropranolol was used by 12% of the surveyed medical students, with 89% of its users taking it before OSCEs. Despite being aware of its potential side effects, many students still chose to self-medicate, highlighting the role of stress-induced behavior. This emphasizes the importance of stress management strategies before difficult occasions in medical students’ journey.

Формирование цифровых компетенций студенческой молодежи Республики Мордовии: результаты социологического исследования

Digital technologies are continuously evolving and adapting, becoming an integral part of human life. In the current reality, the demands on the digital skills of young professionals in the labor market are increasing. In this regard, there is a need for a sociological study of the level of formation of student youth competencies, identification of barriers to their acquisition, as well as factors that contribute to the graduates’ competitiveness in the labor market. The aim of the study is to identify differences among students in the possession of digital skills, to determine their self-assessment of their own level of formation of specific digital competencies, to establish the barriers to their development and the motivational basis for this. The relevant research object is the student youth of the Republic of Mordovia. The article analyzes the self-assessment of the possession of digital skills and competencies, the ways of their further development, which is the subject of research. The assessments are analyzed by age, gender, and profile criteria. Based on the results of the analysis, conclu-sions were drawn about the difference in access to technical means, and the stereotype of using PCs and smartphones only for games and entertainment was refuted. The main motivations for learning digital skills were also identified – remote work, higher wages, acceleration of work and daily processes. In addition, a ten-dency of “dissatisfaction” with one’s own level of proficiency in professional digital skills, such as understand-ing professional work programs and software packages, was revealed. The main obstacle to mastering digital competencies is the lack of time, the high price of training courses and the lack of opportunities for independ-ent study.