Material Benefits Research Articles

The making and taming of the veteran in 1950s Indonesia

Between 1950 and 1956, after a struggle for liberation from Dutch colonial rule, roughly half a million former freedom fighters returned to Indonesian society. Some of the freedom fighters turned into insurgents or joined politico-criminal bands; others sought recognition as veterans of the National Revolution collectively claiming material and immaterial benefits from the state. Given the militancy and political potency of former freedom fighters, the Indonesian state attempted to accommodate them through employment schemes and veteran legislation. In this co-option strategy, that was only partial successful, the central army command played a crucial political role. While the army leaders accommodated the major veteran associations, they also significantly reduced the room for formal political activity. This process of the making and taming of the veteran moved Indonesia into the direction of an authoritarian state with the army counterbalancing the President and a newly arrived political rival: the Indonesian Communist Party.

Women’s Daily Life in the Occupation: Sexual Violence in Documents and Soviet Propaganda

The problem of sexual violence in the occupied Soviet territories during the Great Patriotic War is an under-researched and taboo subject in the Russian public sphere. It is viewed either from the perspective of collaboration in prostitution and cohabitation, or from the perspective of gender discrimination and sexual violence. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to differentiate these features of women’s everyday life under the conditions of the “war of annihilation”. Based on the documents of the Extraordinary State Commission for the Investigation of the Atrocities of the German Fascist Invaders, partisan reports, and other documents, as well as articles from the wartime periodical press, the author compares images of sexual violence with the practices of women’s everyday life under occupation. In the propaganda of the warring countries, the image of the abused female body was actively used to incite hatred of the enemy. Rape and the forcing of women under occupation to work in brothels were presented in this light. A comparison of propaganda images and specific facts of violence presented in official and ego-documents shows the existence of discrepancies between images and practices. While rape was fairly accurately portrayed in official texts, the problem of prostitution was less accurately reflected in reality. Individual women used their bodies as a means of survival and received various material benefits in return. The population did not perceive legal prostitution in the categories of propaganda and interpreted it as a betrayal. Although some decrees were passed during the war in both Germany and the USSR that treated violence against women as a crime, women were not recognised as victims in the Soviet public trials or at the Nuremberg Tribunal and did not receive compensation. During the transition to peace, the problem of sexual violence lost its pragmatic propaganda function and was excluded from the collective memory. Nevertheless, the increase in violence against women during the Second World War led to the adoption of the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Victims of War in 1949, which was ratified by the Soviet Union in 1954.

The Tragedy of Humanity: Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta Revisited

Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta is a significant example of the transition from Morality Plays to a period of more developed and mature drama in the Elizabethan period. The themes that Marlowe handles and the protagonist he presents in the play emerge as aspects of a distinctive approach to dramatic representation and the concept of drama of that time. The play is set against the background of the struggle for economic, political, and military dominance between the Catholic Spain and Moslem Ottoman Empires and the Catholic administration and Jewish mercantile class in Malta. Religious conflicts and bigotry, intrigues, betrayals, and revenge plans committed by almost all characters representing different religious communities, ethnic prejudices that affect not only individuals but also the whole society, greed, and moral corruption emerge as the basic themes. Although the full title of the play was Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta, the play could not gain the status of a tragedy in the Aristotelian or Elizabethan sense of the word for many critics due to its dominant farcical characteristics. For a modern reader, however, The Jew of Malta can be considered as a satirical tragedy, the tragedy not of the protagonist Barabas, but of humanity that craves material benefits and political power, and for the sake of achieving these, commits all kinds of villanies including exploitation, theft, and murder, and as a result, socially experiences the fall of the tragic hero.

The Influence of the Think Talk Write Cooperative Learning Model on Social Studies Learning Outcomes for Class IV Elementary Schools

This research aims to see the effect of implementing the Think Talk Write (TTW) type cooperative learning model on learning outcomes in the material Benefits of Diversity and Preserving Cultural Diversity for Class IV Elementary School at SDN Gayungan II/423 Surabaya. This research is a quantitative experimental research with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The data collection technique used was a Pretest-Posttest activity in the form of a multiple choice test. This research used two groups, namely the experimental class and the control class. Class VI-A is an experimental class with 25 students, while class VI-B is a control class with 25 students. The data analysis technique using the T test obtained a Sig (2-tailed) result of 0.000 < 0.05 so that HO was rejected and Ha was accepted, which means it can be concluded that there is an influence of the Think Talk Write (TTW) type cooperative learning model on the learning outcomes of Social Science Class IV Elementary School.

PROBLEMS OF REALIZING THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF CITIZENS

It is indicated that the realization of rights and freedoms is the practical implementation by citizens and other participants of social life of the demands provided for by the constitutional norms to satisfy requests and needs or obtain the necessary material and spiritual benefits in the manner established by law. Therefore, the mechanism for the realization of rights and freedoms is, first of all, a complex procedural and legal order for the realization of rights, freedoms and obligations, in which the law establishes a certain algorithmic nature of the order of implementation, its procedure: the sequence of actions of the bearer of rights and freedoms and the obliged subjects rights, as well as the content of these actions, the implementation of which is aimed at the most complete and accurate use of the right or freedom. In the opinion of the authors, since the factors influencing the consolidation of the value guidelines of the constitutional system are usually found at each specific stage of the development of the state, and which certainly affect the content of the principles in general, and the principles of the constitutional system in particular, the above list should be supplemented, at least one is the level of ensuring national security of the state. Considering the above, according to the authors, it would be quite logical to take advantage of the situation of potential reform of the fundamental principles of the constitutional system. Within the scope of the research, taking into account the issue of violation of the state sovereignty of our country, the modernized Constitution of Ukraine is intended to become a nationwide political and legal treaty and a fundamental law of national law. At the same time, the amended Constitution of Ukraine must ensure the proper implementation of all value guidelines of the constitutional system: people’s sovereignty, human rights, the rule of law in relation to the universal principles of modern constitutionalism - legality, proportionality, legal certainty, responsibility and subsidiarity in the legal provision of rights and freedoms person and citizen, the independence and impartiality of the court, the prohibition of the retroactive effect of the law, etc. (which are now doctrinally considered as components of the principle of the rule of law).

Pendampingan BUMDes dan Usaha Mikro Melalui Program Membangun Kemitraan Untuk Akses Modal

Villages, as the smallest sphere of society in the country, are often forgotten as an effort to realize it. To improve the village economy, BUMDes should be a body that has an important role. However, this is not reflected because Kembahang II Village itself only has one operating BUMDes, namely BUMDes Sumber Maju. Therefore, counseling and training related to BUMDes is needed for the village community. The community service team of the Faculty of Economics, Sriwijaya University, has conducted training on micro-enterprises through a program to build partnerships for access to capital and business financing in Ulak Kembahang II Village. The results obtained from the service training are the provision of educational material on how to manage micro businesses through the development of village business proposal profiles through the development of BUMDes so that later it can encourage the economic growth of Ulak Kembahang II Village to run well. The level of understanding of the participants who attended the training was evidenced by the level of thinking about the objectives and benefits of the training material that had been provided by 64.0% answering strongly agree and 36.0% only answering agree from the total number of participants present of 25 participants.

Fast-Growing Bio-Based Construction Materials as an Approach to Accelerate United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) ensure future human well-being. However, they face challenges due to the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions, with nearly 40% originating from the construction sector. With the current global environmental and energy crisis, there is a pressing need to address building carbon emissions and prioritise investments in passive strategies for improving indoor thermal comfort. Exploring fast-growing bio-based materials like bamboo, straw, hemp, and flax directly addresses these concerns, fostering environmental sustainability. Material selection in construction is crucial for advancing the SDGs, for example, promoting sustainable cities and communities (SDG11) and responsible consumption and production (SDG12). This paper proposes a comparative analysis of conventional and bio-based construction materials, focusing on their production stages through life cycle analysis. Tools such as Building Emissions Accounting for Materials (BEAM) and the Methodology for Relative Assessment of Sustainability (MARS) enable a detailed comparison. The results highlight the benefits of bio-based materials in storing carbon more rapidly and their lower environmental impact compared to conventional alternatives. Moreover, bio-based materials contribute to indoor moisture regulation and a healthier indoor environment, underscoring their potential to accelerate progress towards the UN SDGs through informed material choices in design practices.

Study of the characteristics of broadband matching antennas for fifth-generation mobile communications based on new composite materials

The presented research aims to analyze in detail the characteristics of broadband matching antennas specifically designed for 5G mobile communications applications, with an emphasis on innovative composite materials. The study focuses on a compact planar loop antenna designed for use on smartphones, covering the LTE/WWAN frequency bands 824 to 960 MHz, 1,710 to 2,690 MHz, and 3,300 to 3,600 MHz for full coverage of modern 5G networks. Experimental and numerical methods are used to broadly analyze the frequency range associated with 5G networks. The features of the use of composite materials in the implementation of antenna devices in 5G technologies are noted. A broadband matching circuit (BMC) with elements with lumped parameters and a reduced sensitivity invariant has been synthesized. A 3D model of the adaptive selective surface controller (SSC) was developed using CST Studio. The study results highlight the benefits of new composite materials in improving the performance of 5G antennas. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of 5G technologies by optimizing antenna design for efficient data transmission in modern mobile networks and can be a valuable resource for engineers and designers working in this field.

Interaction between females and males grapevine moth Lobesia botrana modifies further mating preference

During reproduction, females may boost their fitness by being selective based on direct material benefits provided by the males, such as nuptial gifts. In Lepidoptera, male provides a spermatophore containing nutrients. However, virgin males produce a bigger spermatophore, containing spermatozoa and nutrients, allowing higher female fertility. Lepidoptera females that could detect the sexual status of males may thus prefer a male without previous mating experience (i.e. a virgin male). This mate selection could be achieved by the use of chemical indices, such as sexual pheromones and cuticular compounds, known to be possibly exchanged during reproduction, and which can be indicators of a previous mating experience and known to be possibly sources of information exchanged. In this study, we experimentally presented Lobesia botrana virgin males with females in order for them to be exposed to females’ natural sexual pheromones or cuticular compounds. 12 or 48 h after the exposure of males to either females’ sexual pheromones or cuticular compounds, these males were confronted to naïve females, which have a choice between them or a virgin non-exposed males. We highlighted that, despite producing a spermatophore of similar volume, all exposed virgin males were less likely to mate with females 12 h after exposure, while after 48 h of exposure this is only the case for virgin males exposed to sexual pheromones. L. botrana females may thus discriminate male sexual experience based on chemical cues (either from cues transferred directly from females to males, or from changes in the cuticular or pheromone males’ profile) indicating past mating experiences. Mating duration was longer for males exposed to sexual pheromones after 12 h only, and for males exposed to cuticular compounds after 48 h only. Pheromones signal might be more persistent over time and seems to more easily gather information for males. The physiological reasoning behind this result still needs to be investigated.

New Age Beliefs in Türkiye

This study aims to analyze institutions in Türkiye that offer training and practices based on New Age beliefs and understand the main reasons leading individuals to join these institutions. This research was conducted using qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and participant observation techniques. The field research began in August 2022 and lasted over a year. During this time, more than 15 training sessions were attended, over 250 people were met, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 76 participants. In addition to studying institutions, this research also aims to comprehend the personal approaches and feedback from participants and trainers to shed light on the overall perspective of these institutions as a "community." The results indicated that most participants were between the ages of 35-45, had middle to upper-income levels, were well-educated, and women outnumbered men. Participants were seeking meaning in their lives, searching for answers to their questions, and looking for solutions to their problems to achieve spiritual and material benefits. On the other hand, group participation allowed individuals to socialize and be a part of a circle where they could express themselves open-heartedly. When considering institutions promoting New Age beliefs, many of them had commercial aspects, with a corporate identity and management approach like. With an increasing number of institutions and participants, New Age Beliefs seem to be a part of the contemporary world. Thus, resarches with the perspective of different disciplines should be conducted to understand all the aspects of the concept thoroughly.

Do political affiliation and economic wellbeing thwart religious identification in China?

Abstract While the Chinese government's stated position is to support religious freedom, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is officially atheist. Individuals who profess faith are typically unable to join and members who practice a religion face expulsion and a loss of benefits. This paper analyzes the extent to which the CCP's policies regarding religion may influence religious identification over the life cycle in China. To do so, we contrast changes in religious affiliation before and after retirement for CCP members and non-CCP members. We find a significant increase of religious activities and religious faith in CCP members after retirement – suggesting: (1) people's acknowledgment of religious belief is significantly influenced by CCP regulations and (2) the biggest influence from a material benefits perspective occurs for those CCP members employed in the Chinese government system.

Deliberately ignoring inequality to avoid rejecting unfair offers

Why do people punish experienced unfairness if it induces costs for both the punisher and punished person(s) without any direct material benefits for the punisher? Economic theories of fairness propose that punishers experience disutility from disadvantageous inequality and punish in order to establish equality in outcomes. We tested these theories in a modified Ultimatum Game (N = 1370) by examining whether people avoid the urge to reject unfair offers, and thereby punish the proposer, by deliberately blinding themselves to unfairness. We found that 53% of participants deliberately ignored whether they had received an unfair offer. Among these participants, only 6% of offers were rejected. As expected, participants who actively sought information rejected significantly more unfair offers (39%). Averaging these rejection rates to 21%, no significant difference to the rejection rate by participants who were directly informed about unfairness was found, contrary to our hypothesis. We interpret these findings as evidence for sorting behavior: People who punish experienced unfairness seek information about it, while those who do not punish deliberately ignore it.

Ценностные ориентации регионального студенчества: социологический анализ

The article analyzes the value orientations of regional students as a social group that has its own special evaluative attitude to the totality of material and spiritual benefits, expressed through cognitive, emotive and behavioral aspects of life. The article pays special attention to the theoretical approaches to the consideration of value orientations given in the works of E. Durkheim, T. Parsons, T. Lukman, K. Klakhonoma, P. Sorokin, J. Toshchenko and others. Understanding value orientations as one of the regulators of personality behavior allowed to identify the motivation of actions and ways to achieve the goals of regional student youth. In the course of the author's sociological research, a survey of the student youth of Balakovo was conducted (n= 332) – people selected according to a probabilistic quota sample. It was found out that a significant part of the respondents are guided by traditional values such as family (82.2%), health (49.3%), money (34.0%), friends (29.5%). However, students have new dominant forms of value orientations, namely, «to live in prosperity», «to open their own business». According to more than half of the respondents (50.3%), the formation of their value orientations depends on the educational system, while the family plays the largest role in shaping the value picture of the world (69.2%). The article concludes that the value orientations of students of the Saratov region (Balakovo city) are specific and contradictory. On the one hand, they express young people's own activity and understanding of the need for self-development, and on the other hand, they reflect the trends of the industrial economy, which is based on material capital and consumerism.

Achieving ultrahigh energy storage performance of PBLZST-based antiferroelectric composite ceramics via interfacial polarization engineering

Antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics can be used in pulse power devices for high power density and fast discharge. Composites are recognized as an effective strategy to combine the benefits of different materials but suffer from interfacial mismatch and interfacial polarization. In this work, a combination of high-breakdown Pb0.94La0.04(Zr0.99-xSnxTi0.01)O3 (PLZST) with high-efficiency Pb0.8925Ba0.04La0.045(Zr0.65Sn0.3Ti0.05)O3 (PBLZST) is explored to enhance energy storage performance. Via adjusting Sn content in PLZST, the difference in lattice and dielectric properties between two phases are reduced, decreasing interfacial polarization. The breakdown strength of PBLZST-PLZST is boosted from 285 kV cm−1 to 345 kV cm−1, with maximum polarization strength decreasing from 44 μC cm−2 to 36 μC cm−2. An recoverable energy density (Wre ∼ 7.152 J cm−3) and discharged efficiency (η ∼ 90.5%) has been achieved in Pb0.8925Ba0.04La0.045(Zr0.65Sn0.3Ti0.05)O3-Pb0.94La0.04(Zr0.69Sn0.3Ti0.01)O3 (x = 0.3) composite ceramics. These findings highlight the potential of interfacial polarization engineering for developing composite ceramics with high-energy storage performance.

Nickel-Induced Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoribbon Formation on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite for Electronic and Magnetic Applications.

The development of nanoribbon-like structures is an effective strategy to harness the potential benefits of graphenic materials due to their excellent electrical properties, advantageous edge sites, rapid electron transport, and large specific area. Herein, parallel and connected magnetic nanostructured nanoribbons are obtained through the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using NiCl2 as a precursor with potential applications in nascent electronic and magnetic devices. Several analytical techniques have been used for the thorough characterization of the modified surfaces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows the characteristic topographical features of the nanoribbons. While X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy provided information on the chemical state of Ni and graphene-like structures, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPFM) confirmed the preferential concentration of Ni onto rGO nanoribbons. These results indicate that the synthesized material shows 1D ordering of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs)-decorating tiny rGO flakes into thin threads and the subsequent 2D arrangement of the latter into parallel ribbons following the topography of the HOPG basal plane.

Understanding non-participation in local governance institutions in Indonesia

Community-centered approaches are crucial and impactful strategies for the global climate and biodiversity crisis. However, these approaches hinge upon participation for both pragmatic and ethical reasons. While there is a growing body of research in this field, most studies focus on those who opt in to these community-based approaches. Research focuses on how interventions do or do not achieve the intended cross-sectoral outcomes that are flagship among these strategies. Few studies seek to understand the objective and subjective constraints of non-participants. We investigated why community members chose not to participate in a community-centered conservation approach in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. We used snowball saturation sampling and semi-structured interviews across nine villages, surveying both non-participants and key informants. Our results show that non-material factors such as time, lack of understanding, and feeling uninvited drove non-participation. Non-participants did not identify a lack of interest in program activities or services as a primary reason for opting out. Key informants suggested that participation could be improved with better outreach around objectives, potential benefits, and data feedback loops that quickly communicated results to community members. These results have implications for conservation strategies around the globe as findings suggest investing in non-material factors (e.g., improved messaging and considerations of time burdens) are significant constraints to participation. Payment for ecosystem services and carbon finance schemes often invest considerable time and money in incentivizing participation with material benefits, and our results suggest a more significant consideration should be placed on time requirements, messaging/outreach, adaptive feedback loops, and democratizing data ownership.

Geographies of wealth: the materiality of an elite school in Switzerland

ABSTRACT Elite schools, long tasked with creating a future national elite, often now find themselves competing in a global education market. This article explores how one such school, in Switzerland, articulates with the global imaginary of its local geography – in particular, with images of luxury tourism and safety – to appeal to a globally wealthy clientele. It unpacks the material benefits derived from this articulation, for both the institution itself and the individuals who attend it. The school, I argue, fostered a ‘club effect’ that enhanced the social and symbolic capital of (most of) its students, brought into relief by the scholarship students who were excluded from it. This article thus explores what kind of work is being done when a particular vision – that of wealth – is attached to a school, and for whom that work is done. It closes by pointing to ways in which this educational landscape is shifting.

Hybrid Materials for Vascular Applications: A Preliminary In Vitro Assessment.

The production of biomedical devices able to appropriately interact with the biological environment is still a great challenge. Synthetic materials are often employed, but they fail to replicate the biological and functional properties of native tissues, leading to a variety of adverse effects. Several commercial products are based on chemically treated xenogeneic tissues: their principal drawback is due to weak mechanical stability and low durability. Recently, decellularization has been proposed to bypass the drawbacks of both synthetic and biological materials. Acellular materials can integrate with host tissues avoiding/mitigating any foreign body response, but they often lack sufficient patency and impermeability. The present paper investigates an innovative approach to the realization of hybrid materials that combine decellularized bovine pericardium with polycarbonate urethanes. These hybrid materials benefit from the superior biocompatibility of the biological tissue and the mechanical properties of the synthetic polymers. They were assessed from physicochemical, structural, mechanical, and biological points of view; their ability to promote cell growth was also investigated. The decellularized pericardium and the polymer appeared to well adhere to each other, and the two sides were distinguishable. The maximum elongation of hybrid materials was mainly affected by the pericardium, which allows for lower elongation than the polymer; this latter, in turn, influenced the maximum strength achieved. The results confirmed the promising features of hybrid materials for the production of vascular grafts able to be repopulated by circulating cells, thus, improving blood compatibility.

Nanotechnology applications in interior design of hospitals to enhance thermal comfort and decrease the infection spread for the occupants

Background In healthcare facilities, the significance of sensitive architecture cannot be overstated. In regions facing challenges such as Egypt, the healthcare sector is grappling with deteriorating conditions. The design of hospitals is crucial for addressing the needs of patients with varying illnesses and for creating an environment that fosters psychological well-being. The interior design process, especially the selection of materials, plays a pivotal role in ensuring a hygienic and safe environment within healthcare facilities. Walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture materials are key elements that contribute to the overall design. A study was conducted to investigate the application of nano materials in healthcare facility interior design in Egypt. Methods The study involved first a literature review on nano technology and its application in healthcare interior spaces. It culminated in a framework and guidelines for nano materials in different hospital zones. The analytical part of the study analysed successful international examples, leading to a checklist of nanomaterials categorized by hospital zones. The third part involved a base case study in Alexandria, Egypt, simulating the impact of nano coatings on air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity using the DesignBuilder software. Results The results demonstrated a positive impact on patient health and thermal comfort with nano materials. The use of nano coatings in interior design finishes resulted in decreases in air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity. There was an average decrease of 12.3%-16.7% in air temperature, 3%-4.2% in radiant temperature, and 7%-12% in relative humidity throughout the year. Conclusions The study highlighted the effectiveness of nano technology in enhancing the interior finishes of healthcare buildings, leading to improved patient health, thermal comfort, and decreased infection spread rate. We provide valuable recommendations for optimizing material selection in existing hospital buildings in emphasizing potential benefits of nano materials in healthcare facility design.

The material and the moral: contradictory imperatives and the production of trafficking narratives in South India

ABSTRACT Transnational anti-trafficking networks seek to ‘rescue’ cisgender women who sell sex in India. This article puzzles out why cis female sex workers might narrate themselves as victims of trafficking in need of rescue despite making comfortable livings as independent sex workers who control their own labour. I draw data from my own ethnographic observations, interviews with 130 Telugu-speaking sex workers, as well as publicly circulating media clips, all from fieldwork conducted in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between 2009 and 2018. The victim narratives analysed here were told by sex workers familiar with arguments in favour of decriminalising and destigmatizing sex work. My research suggests that many women who sell sex value the material goals of the sex workers’ rights movement while nevertheless longing for the immaterial moral security touted by anti-traffickers. I argue that publicly performing trafficking narratives allows women who sell sex to disavow moral agency in participating in what they often refer to as tappudu pani (bad work) while nevertheless accessing the material benefits of sex work. Participating in what Lindquist has called the aesthetic of trafficking, therefore, enables them to plead for sympathy from not only faceless donors but their own moral communities.