People In Countries Research Articles

The soft power cost of COVID-19 in OECD countries: a lose–lose outcome for China and the United States

One way in which many scholars of public opinion have operationalized a country’s soft power abroad is to measure how favorably that country is viewed by people in foreign countries. While earlier research has demonstrated the mechanisms and factors correlated with how foreigners perceive a country, much less is known about how sudden and unexpected global events may impact how favorably citizens of different countries view another country. Analyzing recent Pew Global Attitudes Survey data, we assess how the COVID-19 pandemic changed public opinions of China and the United States—with Russia as a reference—in 12 OECD countries. Our analysis reveals that COVID-19 led to a decline in favorability toward both the US and China—the ‘soft power cost’ of COVID-19. While the cost is larger for China than for the US in most countries, we observe exceptions in Germany, Italy, and South Korea. We also explore the heterogeneity of the soft power cost by respondents’ individual attributes and other attitudes such as how COVID-19 impacted their lives.

2CUZ-FM

This is a work of indigenous knowledge. It involves creating an experience into Country and culture. This experience is specifically linked to Gundabooka corroboree place, the Baarka river, to Bourke, and to the voices coming through 2CUZ-FM outback radio. The research aim is to see how Country speaks and what it says, which includes what it says through the cultural productions of Barkindji and other people in town. We are using a mass-media setting and technology – radio, and now print – to discuss and send out messages about Barkindjiness, Country, history and modernity. It’s about using the master’s tools to dismantle the master’s preconceptions. By bringing poets Jen Crawford and Paul Magee into the discussion and space, we are investigating communication between Barkindji Country and Barkindji people with white society. The discussion was broadcast live.

The Effect of Ozone Gas Change of Temperature Change Over Iraq

The ozone layer and the ozone gas it carries have become a global issue, and people in different countries of the world are concerned about it due to the dangers it entails and warns of due to its various effects on living organisms on the surface of the Earth, including humans, animals and plants. Given the effect of the ozone layer on temperature rates, which is considered one of the causes of climate change on planet Earth, it has become necessary to know the effect of ozone gas changes on temperature changes over Iraq by analyzing the relationship between ozone gas and temperature rates for selected cities, representing the regions of Iraq, namely Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Najaf, Wasit, Muthanna and finally Basra. For the period (1989-2022, it represents Iraq's northern, central, and southern regions.The study's objective is to determine the correlation between ozone gas concentrations and temperature rates for every month of the year. It has been discovered that there is a negative (inverse) relationship between ozone gas and temperature rates in all months. Higher temperatures are associated with lower ozone concentrations. Depending on the seasons of the year, the relationship also changed. Our observations indicate that the relationship is weak during most winter months, moderate during many spring and autumn months, and strong to very strong during most summer months.

Family and social networks among older people in selected European countries

ABSTRACT Family networks and significant relationships with other people are seen as sources of different types of support. Kinship and social networks differ between individuals, as they are shaped by family biographies and the survival of their members. The aim of the paper was to examine the size and the structure of family and social networks among older people in selected European countries, while taking into account differences by sex, age, parental status, and country. Data from the wave 6 of SHARE survey, carried out in 17 European countries, was used. The older people’s family networks were quite large (on average, 7.8 persons), while their social networks were much smaller (on average, 2.6 persons). The family and social networks differed slightly by sex and age group, but significantly between the analysed countries. Although the size and composition of family and social networks differed significantly by parental status, the differences in SN size were much smaller between older parents and people without surviving children. The study contributes to family demography research by estimation the size and the composition of family and social networks among older people in European countries.

Supermarkets, do they make the healthy choice the easy choice? A review of the healthfulness of the supermarket food environment.

The over consumption of high fat, sugar, and salt foods increases population risk of overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The food environment mediates consumer food choices and thus plays an important role in diet quality and related health outcomes. The built food environment, where most people in high income countries access their food, has been found to be obesogenic. The aim of this review was to investigate the healthfulness of the supermarket food environment. Supermarkets are an important source of healthy foods in the built food environment. However, there are disparities in access to supermarkets, and in several countries, supermarkets located in areas of higher deprivation have an unhealthier consumer food environment. This double burden limits access to healthy foods amongst lower socio-economic groups, contributing to widening disparities in food-related ill health. There is a strong body of evidence supporting improved purchase of healthy foods by increasing the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment. Voluntary measures co-designed with retailers to improve the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment through restriction of product placement and private label reformulation have led to an increase in healthier food purchases. However, evidence also shows that mandatory, structural changes are most effective for improving disparities in relation to access to healthy food and diet-related ill health. Future research and policy related to the supermarket food environment should consider equitable access to healthy sustainable foods in the context of growth in online supermarkets.

P1280 Gender identity and inflammatory bowel disease: estimates of prevalence across Europe

Abstract Background Societal trends in recent decades have led to greater expression and awareness of gender identity however little is known about the unique healthcare needs of people who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC) particularly with regards to the impact of also suffering from a chronic disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The duality of identifying as TGNC and also suffering from IBD (TGNC-IBD) is poorly understood with questions remaining about impact of IBD on gender-affirming hormones and vice versa, the mental health challenges and the impact of perianal disease on gender affirming surgery. Whilst some work has attempted to investigate the unique healthcare needs of this group of individuals,(1) there is still a significant gap in our knowledge including basic demographic data from this population. We therefore aimed to calculate for the first time the size of this under-researched population across Europe. Methods The global burden of disease study gathers data from various sources including censuses, household surveys, health service use and disease registries and uses a Bayesian meta-regression to provide prevalence estimates on a country-by-country basis. We used this data to generate estimates of the number of people suffering from IBD in each European country with available data.(2) The IPSOS Pride 2023 uses data from interviews of between 500 and 1000 people in each participant country and adjusts this data to reflect the demographics of that country.(3) Data from these two sources were then cross-referenced to calculate estimated numbers of TGNC-IBD individuals in each country. Any European country that did not have IPSOS data available was excluded. Results 11 European countries were included in the IPSOS report. The results of the prevalence estimates are summarised in table 1. Germany had the highest number of overall IBD cases whilst Switzerland has the highest percentage of people identifying as TGNC. The greatest number of TGNC-IBD individuals was found in Germany at 7081. Conclusion Our analysis provides for the first time an estimate of prevalence of the TGNC-IBD population across multiple European countries and builds on previous work performed in the United Kingdom using national census data. We have demonstrated significant population sizes across Europe reinforcing the need for both greater awareness of, and greater research into, the unique needs of this under-represented minority.

Foklor Negeri Rutong Dalam Tarian Dan Ritual

This research uses qualitative methods. Qualitative methods are more relevant to use in studying interviews which are structurally in the form of writing and oral speech. To obtain a deeper analysis, the author also examines the context using interview, observation and focus group discussion (FGD) methods and ethnographic methods which aim to describe culture from the perspective of the owner of that culture. Therefore, this method is the most important and dominant method applied In this research, interviews were conducted with traditional figures, in this case figures who have royal lineages, traditional leaders, local saniri. Based on the results of the data analysis that has been obtained, it can be concluded that the Folklore of the Rutong State Community has local wisdom values ​​in it. . This matter known starting from the value of prosperity in creating peace for the people of Rutong country. There are 9 types of local welfare wisdom consisting of Discipline, Work Culture, Education, Health, Cultural Preservation and Creativity, Environmental Care, Mutual Cooperation and Gender Management. These values ​​need and deserve to be applied in everyday life, especially for the younger generation as an effort to preserve and eco-tourism Rutong

Gömrük orqanlarının səlahiyyətinə aid olan cinayətlər kimi qaçaqmalçılıq

By the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 25, 2000 on the application of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, approved by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 14, 2000, after the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 14, 2000 "On the approval, entry into force of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and related issues of legal regulation". According to Article 215.5 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the Decree dated August 2000 On criminal cases provided for in articles 207-209 and on criminal cases provided for in article 206, preliminary investigation is planned to be carried out by the State Customs Committee when this case is started. The following are the crimes whose preliminary investigation is within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities: 1) smuggling; 2) non-return of the artistic, historical and archeological wealth of the people of Azerbaijan and the people of foreign countries to the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan; 3) evasion of payment of customs fees, non-return of currency valuables from abroad and illegal currency transactions

Convergences and Divergences in the Burden of Disease in Older People Across The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries

BackgroundThe Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states are heterogeneous in their social, economic, and health conditions. Aimsa) to analyze age-specific mortality rate (ASMR) and age-specific disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate among older people in countries by age groups (65–74 years and 75+ years) and sex, and b) to estimate the association between age-specific DALY rate with Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) and with Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQI). MethodsSecondary analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. The ASMR and the age-specific DALY rate were reported for the years 1990, 2005, and 2019. Correlation between age-specific DALY rate with SDI and HAQI was estimated. ResultsThere were differences in the level and change in ASMR and the age-specific DALY rates among OECD countries. Overall, men had a higher rate for both age groups in both indicators. Although the rates have been reduced between 1990 and 2019, some countries stand out for continuing to have higher rates than countries with better socioeconomic levels. The disease burden profile also differed between adults aged 65–74 years and those aged 75+ years. In almost all cases, there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between the age-specific DALY rate with SDI and HAQI. ConclusionsThe burden of mortality and DALY in OECD countries is convergent because they have decreased over time in all countries but diverge in the magnitude and speed of change.

The Impact of PTEN Status on Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Glial Cell Type-Specific Study Identifies Unique Prognostic Markers

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most invasive form of brain tumor, accounting for 5% of the cases per 100,000 people in various countries. The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a well-known tumor suppressor, and its alteration leads to a deleterious effect on GBM progression. The molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis in glial cell types, driven by PTEN status, is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed publicly available single-cell transcriptome profiles of PTEN wild-type (WT) and NULL GBM patients. We compared them with normal brain data to uncover many unique gene sets influenced by PTEN status. The co-expression network analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal brain and PTEN (WT and NULL) identified highly interconnected genes. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), based on the DESeq2 algorithm, identified glial cell-type-specific modules in PTEN status-dependent bulk RNA expression profiles. We overlapped network module gene sets from single-cell and bulk transcriptome profiles, and shared genes were considered for further analysis. The hallmark pathway enrichment analysis of the genes unique to PTEN-WT and NULL revealed various tumor growth-related pathways across the glial cell types. Further characterization of PTEN-WT and PTEN-NULL networks belonging to the single-cell and bulk RNA datasets revealed that PTEN status influences the network modules in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. An integrated influence value algorithm identified hub genes for each glial cell type. The prognostic analysis identified clinically relevant hub genes specific to the cell type in PTEN-WT: GLIPR2 (astrocytes), CFH, IL32, MXRA5 (microglia), and PTEN-NULL: ID1 (astrocytes) and LAT2 (microglia). Our glial cell type-level transcriptome analysis unearthed unique molecular pathways and prognostic markers in PTEN status-dependent GBM patients.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken carcasses and hygiene practises in informal urban markets in a low-income setting.

Campylobacteriosis is one of the most commonly reported foodborne diseases and is of particular importance in low-income countries. More data is needed to better understand the epidemiology of Campylobacter spp. in food sold at informal markets, where most people in low-income countries buy their food. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Campylobacter spp. among broiler chicken carcasses sold at informal urban markets in Uganda and to gain more knowledge about hygienic handling practices and awareness of foodborne bacterial diseases among the market vendors. In total, 120 broiler chicken carcasses from 30 different markets were analysed using ISO 10272 and confirmed by PCR. AMR analyses were performed using the disc diffusion test. Epidemiological data on food safety practices and awareness was collected from the vendors using a questionnaire. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 66% (79/120) of the carcasses; 32% were C. jejuni, 14% were C. coli and 54% comprised of a mixture of both species. All C. jejuni isolates showed resistance to tetracycline, 88% to ciprofloxacin and 28% to erythromycin. Of the C. coli isolates, 82% showed resistance to tetracycline, 73% to erythromycin and the quinolones ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. More than half of the vendors had heard about food-borne illnesses, but none knew about Campylobacter spp., and the knowledge regarding hygienic practices was low. These data calls for urgent interventions to improve food safety, protect the public from foodborne illness, and prevent the spreading of AMR.

Transnationalism in Joshi’s Shramatan

This article analyses how Bn Joshi’s nonfiction Shramatan presents the life of people in Gulf countries. The study is essential to understand about Nepali youths’ involvement in foreign employment and changes they have in themselves after they return the homeland from host land. This article inquires what compels Nepali youths to leave the country and how they get changes in themselves after transnational migration. The major objectives of the study are to trace the causes of transnational migration of Nepali youths, show the relationship between homeland and host land and record the various transformations that result from the transnational migration in the lives of migrants. The theoretical perspective on transnationalism by Levitt, Jaworsky, Vertovec and Faist and Fauser is the basis of research in the article. The major finding is that transnational migration results in economic, political, social, cultural and psychological transformation in the life of migrants. The study concludes that lack of opportunity is the major cause of transnational migration and transnationalism transforms the migrants’ life internally and externally. Similarly, transnational migrants develop some relationship with the society of host land. Further research is essential on this nonfiction that from the point of view of diaspora.

“I know – that’s the system. The system is wrong”: Allyship and social justice in community interpreting from a service-user perspective

Defined as the practice of gaining awareness and acting upon the oppression of marginalized groups, allyship can account for the power interpreters hold in systems of oppression and can contribute to social justice. This article reports on a study designed to explore allyship in spoken-language interpreting from the perspective of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) users of interpreting services. Involving CALD individuals – foreign-born people in English-speaking countries who do not speak English at home – from the Latin American community living in Aotearoa New Zealand, the study explored users’ perspectives on the role of interpreters, their perceptions of allyship and social justice, and the way these concepts inform interpreting practice. The study employed a culturally affirming horizontal methodology that relied on four one-on-one dialogues with users of Spanish-speaking interpreting services about their experiences in various community settings. This was followed by one group dialogue involving users, English–Spanish interpreters and a community representative. The findings suggest that users prefer humane and caring interpreters with a flexible understanding of their role. Aware that social marginalization is intrinsic to community interpreting, they highlighted the reality that mere message transfer and language proficiency are insufficient for CALD individuals to secure access to statutory services and that inadequate assistance can be (re-)traumatizing. The users’ perspective therefore conflicts with the prevailing rules-based approach to ethics in interpreting and its focus on accuracy in interpreting over social and relational skills. To overcome the disparity between users’ expectations and entrenched concepts of neutrality and non-intervention, allyship stands as a potential lens through which to develop a nuanced and flexible understanding of the community interpreter’s role, as well as culturally grounded redefinitions of ethicality and professionalism in the field.

Scale development and validation of green country image: focusing on Chinese consumers

PurposeThis study aims to develop and validate a new scale for measuring green country image (GCI). The current country image (CI) concept is recognized as limited in capturing the complexities of consumer perceptions today. By building a GCI scale, this study can provide a more nuanced understanding of how consumers evaluate a country’s image beyond traditional measures. This scale will be a valuable tool for international marketers to develop effective strategies in the 21st century’s dynamic global business landscape.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a mixed-methods approach to develop and validate a new scale for measuring GCI. This approach leverages the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the concept and develop a reliable measurement tool.FindingsA reliable and valid scale was developed to measure the six dimensions of GCI: social green country image (SOGCI), economic green country image (ECGCI), environmental green country image (ENGCI), technological green country image (TEGCI), leadership green country image (LEGCI) and people green country image (PEGCI). In results, the new GCI scale is a six-dimensional, 23-item, five-point scale. An important finding was that these six factors were statistically significant reflective scales.Originality/valueBy developing a validated GCI scale, this study offers valuable insights for international marketers navigating the evolving consumer perceptions of importing countries. This novel scale empowers the international marketers to tailor strategies and target specific markets based on GCI. The mixed-methods approach strengthens the GCI scale’s robustness, making it a significant contribution to both academic research and international marketing practice.

The Concept of COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors from Iranian Men’s Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has directly and indirectly affected people in different countries. Recognizing individual and social patterns of behavior among communities is very effective in designing and implementing prevention models. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify individual and social preventive behaviors associated with COVID-19 in Iranian men in 2022. Methods: Data were collected using in-depth unstructured interviews with 15 Iranian men in 2022. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. The qualitative data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results: In total, 939 primary codes were extracted from the interviews upon analysis. Overall, 5 themes, 13 categories, and 38 sub-categories were obtained after analyzing the collected codes. The themes included emotional perception of COVID-19, COVID-19 awareness, perceived barriers to COVID-19 prevention, perceived social measures for COVID-19 prevention, and individual actions taken to prevent COVID-19. Categories included negative feelings toward COVID-19, no worries about COVID-19, nature of the disease, disease recovery, disease symptoms, routes of transmission, diagnostic methods, individual barriers to COVID-19 prevention, social barriers to COVID-19 prevention, improving social skills and behaviors, revising the rules and reforming infrastructure, using personal protective equipment, and prevention by following healthcare programs. Conclusions: Certain recommendations and challenges for COVID-19 prevention were reported by Iranian men. Some of the barriers to COVID-19 prevention were related to social behaviors, and others were related to managerial policies and infrastructure reform. Understanding People’s experiences and opinions about COVID-19 can provide potential benefits for preventing this disease.

Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 for Older Persons (SCORE2-OP): 10 years risk validation, clinical utility and potential improvement.

European Systematic Coronary Risk Assessment 2 for Older Persons (SCORE2-OP) model has shown modest performance when externally validated in selected cohorts. We aim to investigate its predictive performance and clinical utility for 10-years cardiovascular (CV) risk in an unbiased and representative cohort of older people of a low CV risk country. Furthermore, we explore whether other clinical or echocardiographic features could improve its performance. A cohort of randomly selected individuals ≥ 65 years from a primary care population of Barcelona without established cardiovascular disease included 791 patients (63.1% female, median age 76 years, median follow-up 11.8 years). The model's performance yielded a Harrell's C-statistic of 0.706 (95% CI 0.659-0.753) for the primary endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) and 0.692 (95% CI 0.649-0.734) for the secondary endpoint (primary endpoint plus heart failure hospitalization), with better discrimination in females. SCORE2-OP underestimated the risk of primary endpoint in women (Expected[E]/Observed[O]=0.77), slightly overestimated in men (E/O=1.06), and systematically underestimated the risk of the secondary endpoint (E/O=0.52). Decision curve analysis showed net clinical benefit across a 7.5-30% risk range for primary endpoint. Valvular calcification was the only variable that significantly improved 10-year SCORE2-OP risk performance for both primary and secondary endpoints, with a change in Harrell's C of 0.028 (P=0.017). In a low CV risk country, SCORE2-OP showed notable discrimination and excellent calibration to predict 10-year cardiovascular risk, with better performance in females. Incorporating valvular calcification in a future revised score may enhance accuracy and reduce unnecessary treatments.

Рецензия на сборник статей и материалов международных научно-практических конференций: Народное творчество в современном культурном пространстве. М.: Государственный музыкально-педагогический институт имени М. М. Ипполитова-Иванова, 2024. Вып. 1 / сост. Е. А. Михайлова. 200 с.

The peer-reviewed publication highlights a wide range of issues related to the traditional values of national artistic, musical and song creativity of the peoples of different countries. The research of the authors of the articles focuses on the understanding of creative processes in traditional culture and on the problems of adaptation of folklore in modern conditions. The collection of articles will be useful to anyone who is interested in folk art and cares about preserving the intangible cultural heritage of their country.

Still eating like there's no tomorrow? A qualitative study to revisit attitudes and awareness around sustainable diets after 10 years

There is growing realisation that changes to the food system are needed to prevent the worst scenarios for future climatic change. One of these changes is for people to consume sustainable diets, which are healthy, do not place overwhelming strain on the environment, and are culturally and socially acceptable and economically attainable. One facet of such diets is that people in countries where meat is consumed in large quantities may need to reduce their intake. A 2013/14 study suggested that people were unaware of the link between diet and climate change, the need to change diets for environmental reasons and were reluctant to reduce meat eating. We sought to investigate whether people's views on the topic had changed since then by repeating focus groups with 60 participants, revisiting the same geographic areas as the original study, and ensuring rural/urban areas and levels of deprivation remained constant. We solicited people's understanding of sustainable diets and their willingness to adopt them. We found that awareness had increased, albeit not evenly among socioeconomic groups. During the intervening period greater media coverage linking environment and food was observed. There was more apparent willingness to reduce meat consumption, but many of the perceived and experienced barriers persisted that people claimed impeded them from doing so. Acknowledging the differing experiences and perceived barriers and facilitators from different groups is necessary to create interventions that address specific obstacles, making it easier for individuals to adopt more sustainable dietary practices and ultimately contributing to achieving environmental and public health goals.

Comparison of vitamin D status in healthy Bangladeshi urban and rural individuals and their association with serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase: A pilot study.

Vitamin D insufficiency is a worldwide problem that is likely underestimated since physical symptoms may only be apparent in individuals with severe deficiencies. Previously, people in South Asian countries were thought to be vitamin D sufficient because of plentiful sunshine, but vitamin D insufficiency has also been reported in these countries. In a South Asian country like Bangladesh, people living in the rural and urban parts of the country can have considerable differences in their sun exposure, types of clothing worn, and levels of air pollution. This pilot study aimed to explore the vitamin D status (measured by serum 25[OH]D) of healthy urban and rural Bangladeshi people and to examine the association of serum 25(OH)D concentration with calcium and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. A total of 101 apparently healthy adult individuals, aged 20-58 years, were enrolled from both urban and rural areas. The participants were selected from students, staff and patient attendants from the outpatient department (OPD) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Mirsarai Upazila Health Complex, Chittagong. The overall rate of vitamin D insufficiency was 39.6% and of vitamin D deficiency was 51.5%. However, it was observed that the proportion of vitamin D-deficient participants in urban areas (70.6%) was more than double that of participants living in rural areas (32%) and that serum 25(OH)D concentrations were higher in rural compared to urban participants with similar sunlight exposure times. However, participants aged 50 years or more showed similar concentrations of serum vitamin D levels irrespective of their habitat. This pilot study highlights the need for further larger-scale studies in Bangladesh to determine the reasons for the high rates of vitamin D inadequacy overall and the differences between rural and urban populations.

Strategies for Applying a Multi-Country Sport Education Approach in Elementary Schools

The implementation of projects that go beyond the boundaries of schools can connect people in different countries and enhance the development of the well-known objectives of physical education (e.g., health development, teamwork, or responsibility), with the addition of specific skills (e.g., intercultural awareness, language learning, or technological skills). Specifically, Sport Education, designed under the premises of a sport season, is a suitable model to promote the development of the above-mentioned skills due to its main purpose being based on developing competent, literate, and enthusiastic sportspersons. This article provides strategies for designing and implementing a multi-country Sport Education approach among different countries, with the purpose of developing students’ intercultural competence through the knowledge of other cultures and the interaction with other countries through the practice of EduCrossfit.