Personal Interests Research Articles

Contradictions, dilemmas, views and motivations of volunteers in two community food support schemes in two London boroughs

The voluntary and charitable sector is responsible for much food support in the UK, in the absence of direct government action. A rise in food insecurity (FI) places additional importance on the work of unpaid volunteers, instrumental in food support schemes. Their perceptions, views and experiences are essential contributors to maintaining and enhancing such provision. Semi-structured interviews were held with 51 volunteers at two food support schemes in neighbouring London boroughs. Most volunteers were white and middle-aged and almost half were in paid work. Generally high levels of empathy towards clients were expressed, although some were concerned about possible abuse of the support. Contradictory views were expressed in relation to both personal responsibility for FI and the pay-as-you-feel model; training on both is needed. Major motivators for involvement in volunteering were the perceived value of the work and alignment of projects with personal interests, skills and beliefs. Benefits were viewed as wider than solely nutritional. Ethical difficulties described included the appropriateness of using surplus food to address FI, allowing supermarkets to effectively ‘greenwash’ and failing to address underlying drivers of both FI and food overproduction. Volunteers were also concerned that their involvement allowed the government to abdicate responsibility.

The business and moral image of the party officials of the "second echelon" of the Bashkir ASSR in the era of "Khrushchev's reformism"

The article examines the business and moral qualities of the party managers of the "second echelon" of the period of the "Khrushchev reforms" in the context of one of the major national republics of the RSFSR – the Bashkir ASSR. The authors reconstruct the appearance of middle-level party officials who adhered to double standards in their party management activities. The phenomenon of the formation of a "new-moral" communist party subject with a pronounced focus on wealth is also concretized, which contradicted the official discourse of a highly moral socialist personality, who is not only a party worker, but, above all, a disinterested communist. The new trend observed among the party officials of the "Khrushchev set" – industrial and moral emancipation, which did not entail the irreversibility of severe punishment, was one of the manifestations of the complex institutional process of the era of "Khrushchev reformism". We are talking about a change in the value paradigm in the form of the refusal of party officials from rigid stoicism and orientation towards satisfying their personal interests. The research methodology is based on the principles of critical research understanding of the activities of the BASSR party apparatus in 1953-1964. The structural and functional method made it possible to reconstruct the managerial and business portrait of the BASSR party members of the Khrushchev era.

Nursing students' experiences of digital learning in Chinese higher education institutions: A descriptive qualitative study

BackgroundAs digital learning is rapidly developing and being applied to almost all subjects in higher education nursing. Although digital learning has been shown to have a wide range of benefits, little is known about research into Chinese students' perceptions of digital learning, and there is a need to explore students' digital learning experiences. AimThis study aimed to explore the digital learning experiences of undergraduate nursing students in Chinese higher education institutions, with the aim of informing future improvements in digital teaching and learning. DesignA descriptive qualitative study. SettingsThis study was conducted at six universities in three cities in China. ParticipantsTwenty-six nursing students with at least one year's experience of digital learning. MethodSemi-structured online interviews were used to collect the data, and conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. FindingsNursing students' digital learning experiences were categorized into three themes: positive digital learning experience, negative digital learning experience, and barriers to digital learning perception of students. ConclusionsWith the help of advanced digital technology, students can access rich and diversified learning resources anytime and anywhere according to their personal learning pace and interests, which greatly enhances their autonomy and interest in learning. Open online courses have effectively compensated for regional differences in teachers' qualifications, enabling students in remote areas to enjoy high-quality teaching from top educational institutions and giving a solid impetus for improving nursing education in China. However, with the popularity of digital teaching, its design and innovation shortcomings have gradually emerged: students feel lonely and alienated when learning online, and long for more of the interaction and care found in traditional teaching. At the same time, the lack of regulation and assessment standards has created inequities in learning and affected student motivation.

Does Discipline Selection Based on Personal Interest Matter in Higher Education? Reflecting Students’ Perceptions

This study examines students' perceptions of self-interest-based discipline choice and its effect on educational excellence in tertiary education. The main objective was to analyze the effect of self-interest-based discipline selection on educational excellence at the BS level program. A mixed-method approach was adopted. A phenomenological design was applied for the qualitative part while a survey research design was utilized for the quantitative part. The target population consisted of BS (7th & 8th semesters) students from 10 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Word Cloud and Thematic Analysis were used for qualitative data analysis, while Pearson (r) and Linear Regression were applied as inferential statistics for the quantitative part. The findings reveal a moderate positive association between self-interest-based discipline selection and academic success. Recommendations include encouraging learners to choose discipline aligned with their self-interest instead of relying on others. Parents, teachers, and other stakeholders should respect learners' interests.

The Impact of Housing Market Regulation Policies on the Housing Choice Behavior of Urban Residents

Abstract Housing is a social and developmental issue of public concern, which is related to the personal interests of every household and the people’s “living in a home”. The article quantifies the housing choice behavior of urban residents by the ring index of residential housing purchase price, and solves the problem of sample selection error by using the propensity to match score to match the experimental group and the control group. A double difference model is used to analyze the net effect of the implementation of housing market regulation policies on urban residents’ housing choice behavior. Parallel trend test in the experimental and control groups before and after the implementation of housing market regulation policies in 2018 shows significant differences, the ATT value of HSB after propensity score matching is positive, and the sample mean of the control group is 0.452 lower than that of the experimental group. The coefficient of the effect of housing market regulation policies on the behavior of urban residents’ housing choices is 0.351 and shows significance at the 1% level. The active implementation of housing market regulation policy can help optimize the housing purchase price index, which in turn stimulates the housing choice behavior of urban residents and promotes the stable and healthy development of the housing market.

Naruszenie dobra osobistego w postaci kultu pamięci osoby najbliższej wskutek pomylenia zwłok – omówienie wyroku Sądu Rejonowego w Toruniu z 22 maja 2019 r., sygn. akt I C 2277/18

This study concerns civil case in which an employee of the mortuary mistook the body given to the funeral home. The mistake was noticed by the member of the deceased family and the churchwarden just before the funeral ceremony began. As a result, the plaintiff felt a number of negative emotions like shame and shock. She felt responsible for the mistake and was afraid, if the „right” body which belonged to her beloved uncle had not been buried or cremated in the meantime. Because the deceased was considered the oldest Pole and the oldest veteran, many people were interested in his funeral, including the media and representatives of the Polish army. They were asking the plaintiff about the reason for the lack of her uncle’s body which increased her pain. After about an hour’s delay, the “right” body was brought to the ceremony. The situation was reported in the press, television and the Internet. In result, the plaintiff demanded payment of redress by the defendant hospital on the basis of infringement of personal interest in the form of cult of the memory of dearly departed. The allegations of the lawsuit were mostly supported by the evidence. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff stating that her personal right had been violated and – in consequence – awarded pecuniary redress.

Public Food Trees’ Usage and Perception, and Their Potential for Participatory Edible Cities: A Case Study in Birjand, Iran

Public food trees are increasingly popular among researchers, urban planners, and citizens for their diversity of social, provisional, and environmental benefits. However, more research is needed to determine how to overcome their barriers. Here we used a qualitative approach to explore the usage and perception of public fruit trees and attitudes towards public usage and participation in two urban green spaces harboring fruit trees in Birjand, Iran: Tohid Park and Akbarieh Garden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve visitors to both spaces, four administrators, and eight workers. Almost all visitors had great personal experience and interest in picking fruit; nevertheless, usage in these green spaces was low, partly due to social norms. Almost all visitors appreciated the public fruit trees for the diverse pleasures that they provide (sensory, emotional, cognitive, experiential, social). Ten also had a high interest in participating in their management, especially in Tohid Park due to its greater social impact. Education and access limitation were suggested by some as important to reduce tree damage and maximize production. Our findings expand our understanding of how citizens relate to public urban fruit trees and can be involved in co-management schemes, thereby contributing to building smart and participatory edible cities.

Особенности правоприменительной практики законодательных актов в первой половине XIX века на примере Департамента уделов

Introduction. The article is devoted to the consideration of the revealed peculiarities in the law enforcement practice of the legislation of the first half of the XIXth century on the example of the highest state institution – the Department of Estates, which ensured the allowance of the members of the imperial family. In the history of the Department under consideration the contradictory nature of monarchist power was revealed. The emperor, being the supreme legislator, was faced with a difficult dilemma: how to keep a balance between national and personal interests. While managing his own economy, he adjusted the state law enforcement practice to the interests of the Department, clarifying it with his resolutions. Methods. The main research methods were structural-functional and hermeneutic ones. They made it possible not only to work with the text and its meanings, but also to understand the peculiarities that distinguished the Department of Estates in the state system of higher institutions of the Russian Empire of the first half of the XIXth century. Results. The author concluded that the peculiarities of the law enforcement activity of the Department of Estates were primarily determined by the specificity of its tasks. Law enforcement activity was blurred by the interests of the members of the imperial family and general state tasks. The absence of some managerial decisions in normative legal acts and their fixation only in the form of resolutions to documents created unclearness (ambiguity). It caused contradictions in law enforcement activities and complicated the interaction of the Department of Estates with other state institutions of the Russian Empire.

Crossing the disciplines - a starter toolkit for researchers who wish to explore early Irish literature

The inspiration behind this paper came from both authors’ long-term collaboration with our friend and colleague, Professor Ralph Kenna. This connection emerged initially through his interest in Rathcroghan and in our paper, ‘Exploring the Nature of the Fráoch Saga’, which we concluded with the statement that we believed it ‘presents a case that will hopefully ignite conversation between disciplines’. This led us to consider the potential value for researchers of compiling a template list of useful and reliable sources and resources to consult, in other words a type of starter toolkit or guide for any individual from an alternative discipline or background, who might possess, or, in time, develop a personal or professional interest in Early Ireland and Early Irish literature. In doing this, we decided for ease of illustration, to take the example of the location name Rathcroghan/Cruachan Aí, (the prehistoric Royal Site of Connacht in the west of Ireland and the place that we both work in and interact with on a daily basis), as a case study in order to demonstrate an initial methodological approach to not only the types of resources and information available, but also to highlight some potential pitfalls that may arise in the course of an investigation.

Особенности сотрудничества учащихся начальной школы в зависимости от характеристик образовательной среды

The relevance of the study is due to the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard for Primary General Education which records meta-subject learning outcomes. These results include the mastery of such cooperation skills as setting the goal of a collaborative activity and defining the ways to achieve it, role allocation, mutual control, self- and peer-assessment of students’ behavior, and constructive conflict resolution. The purpose of the study is to determine the characteristics of the learning environment in which students demonstrate a high level of cooperation skills. The study hypothesizes that students demonstrate a higher level of cooperation skills in the environment that provides opportunities for their free activity, independent choice, reliance on their personal interests, independence of judgments and actions, structured and psychologically safe competence, i.e. satisfying the child’s needs for autonomy, and connectedness with others. Participants: 1384 fourth-graders and management teams from 37 secondary schools in 21 regions of the Russian Federation. Methods (tools): to assess cooperation skills we used the monitoring tool “4C” (c ritical thinking, creativity, communication, cooperation) developed at the Center for Psychometrics and Measurements in Education at the HSE Institute of Education, which contains scenario-type tasks in a computer format; to determine the characteristics of the environment we used the vector modeling techniques and the evaluation of quantitative parameters of the educational environment (V. A. Yasvin). Results. The study shows the correlation between the level of students’ cooperation and the environment types identified on the basis of the ‘freedom-dependence’ and ‘activity-passivity’ scales, as well as on the basis of the quantitative parameters of the environment. Conclusions. The study has determined the environment characteristics associated with a high level of cooperation skills in primary school. They include predominance of active and free types of environment, structuring, safety, breadth, and intensity. Practical significance. Management and teaching teams of educational organizations may be recommended to take into account the results obtained when choosing priorities for designing and organizing the environment aimed at personal development.

Economic Aspects of Operating Condo Hotels: Qualitative Research in Poland

The aim of the article is to identify the key economic aspects of the operation of condo hotels. The paper considers the Polish condo hotel market. The research hypothesis is as follows: condo hotels are a noteworthy and at the same time risky form of investing spare funds. Three main research methods used in the work are the following: criticism of literature, analysis of existing data and direct interview technique with managers of selected condo hotels in Poland. The results of the study indicate that, in the long term, this type of investment involves a growing and difficult to fully assess uncertainty. This is due to the fact that the hotel market is particularly sensitive to unfavourable changes in the economic environment, economic downturn or unexpected fortuitous or pandemic events. The passage of years and the gradual decapitalization of facilities are also among the factors that increase this uncertainty. The motivation to write the article resulted from the author’s long-term personal scientific interests related to the hotel industry and the revealed cognitive gap in the latest research on the economic aspects of housing, as well as, especially during the war in Ukraine.

Priorities and Incentives for the Mobility of Russian IT Specialists

Introduction. The mobility of IT specialists differs from the mobility of all other socioprofessional groups. The study of mobility is relevant, since the movement of IT specialists significantly affects the peculiarities of the formation of the digital space, the success of many types of activities of modern society, and its prospects. Sociology has accumulated a scientific foundation for covering mobility based on new research principles, which makes it possible to identify specific characteristics of the mobility of IT specialists.Methodology and sources. The conceptual theoretical and methodological positions of the study are represented by a complex of ideas, the basis of which is the work of P.A. Sorokin and his followers a bout the essence of mobility. The article is based on ideas a bout the mobile society formulated in the works of D. Urry, M. Castells, B. Latour, K. Knorr-Cetina, and the provisions of the works of D.V. Ivanov about new forms of integration of the digital and streaming society, where the mobility of IT specialists begins to play a new, more important role. A number of sources were used, where attention was paid to the analysis of the mobility of Russian IT specialists as a phenomenon reflecting the characteristics of their movements in the conditions of modern Russian society.Results and discussion. Two main results of the study show, firstly, that the professional component of the mobility of IT specialists is an active beginning of movements and changes – their mobility. Ultimately, the professional mobility of IT specialists is aimed at finding the most suitable social environment that allows them to successfully implement their professional activities. Secondly, it was revealed that the specifics of the work activities of IT specialists form the motivation for changes and movements, where personal interests can be very significant and do not always coincide with the interests of IT organizations.Conclusion. Analysis of the generalized materials allows us to characterize some prospects and incentives for the mobility of Russian IT specialists, to formulate the author’s definition of mobility as a phenomenon determined by the social and professional attributes of the digital space, as well as the goals of mobility, as achieving the most adequate conditions for professional self-realization, as well as ensuring preservation and correction professional identity in the IT space.

Duties of the Advocates in the Administration of Justice

Abstract Advocates prime duty is to work for the best interest of their clients. They must not prioritize their client’s rights, interests, and instructions, for their personal interest. Advocates must act with reliability, honesty, and professionalism in advancing their client’s case. it is the duty of the Advocates to access justice to all. They have a duty to promote legal education and awareness among the common public. They must do their effort to educate the public about their legal rights, obligations, and remedies. Advocates must also contribute to legal research, writing, and publications to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the law in society.

Comparative analysis of factors and barriers intervening in research participation among romanian and international medical graduates from one romanian medical faculty across three generations

Abstract Objectives This study focuses on the factors that encouraged engagement in research activities, as well as the barriers that restricted their involvement, until the final year of study at Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Medicine. The main objectives of this study are to investigate potential disparities in research culture and student engagement in various research opportunities between Romanian and international medical graduates, as well as to conduct an examination of the observed patterns across various graduating years (2021–2023). Materials and methods A cross-sectional investigation was conducted among graduate students of the Faculty of Medicine at the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. From 2021 to 2023, all graduate students from the Romanian and international programs of the faculty were asked to participate in the study by filling out an anonymous online questionnaire. The final sample included 572 participants, of whom 392 were students from the Romanian section and 180 were students from international programs. Results Motivation and personal interest drive research engagement, according to over half of graduates. For over one-third of graduates, institutional elements like financial support and education also play a major role, as does the desire to enhance their curriculum vitae. More than 25% of graduates value community influence, 70% of graduates attended medical congresses, 12–15% presented papers at medical conferences, 23% wrote medical articles, 10–15% published at least one scientific paper in medical journals, and 20% participated in medical school research projects. Comparative analysis showed that Romanian students start research earlier, attend more medical conferences, present posters, collect data for studies, and are more interested in publishing graduation thesis data in scientific journals. To encourage international students to participate in research, the study found that colleagues’ examples were more important, and both time and funds were key barriers. The research also shows that 2022 and 2023 graduates will organize more scientific conferences. According to the study, 2022 graduates began their research earlier than others. Conclusions To increase student engagement in research activities, medical schools should prioritize the promotion of positive factors, minimize common barriers, offer customized support and resources, encourage collaborative research activities, and facilitate cross-cultural learning.

Multilevel factors associated with HIV-related stigma among women living with HIV in Guangdong Province, China: a social-ecological model-informed study

BackgroundHIV-related stigma continues to hinder optimal HIV care, and its determinants should be understood at multiple levels. Based on the social-ecological model, this study aimed to explore factors associated with HIV-related stigma among women living with HIV in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2022 to recruit newly reported women living with HIV with a history of pregnancy or current pregnancy in 2021 in 21 cities in Guangdong Province. HIV-related stigma was assessed using an abbreviated Chinese version of Berger's HIV Stigma Scale. Univariate and multivariable hierarchical regression analyses based on the social-ecological model were conducted to explore factors associated with HIV-related stigma and its four dimensions (personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image and concerns about public attitudes) at the community/hospital, interpersonal, and individual levels.ResultsA moderate level of HIV-related stigma was found among the 360 participants included, with a mean score of 45.26. Multivariable hierarchical regression analysis showed that at the community/hospital-level, individuals were more likely to experience high levels of HIV-related stigma if they had experienced the discriminatory behaviors from health care workers (aOR = 2.34, 95%CI: 1.48–3.70) and if they rated serostatus disclosure services as less helpful (aOR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.48–0.98). At the interpersonal-level, individuals with an HIV-positive partner (aOR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.01–2.90) were more likely to experience high levels of HIV-related stigma than those with an HIV-negative or unknown partner. Individuals with high resilience (aOR = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.13–0.35) had lower levels of HIV-related stigma at the individual-level. In addition, ever experiencing discriminatory behaviors from health care workers, thinking serostatus disclosure services helpful, having ever seen publicity about personal interest protection services and complaint channels for people living with HIV(PLHIV), knowing about care and support services for PLHIV from social organizations at the community/hospital-level, partner notification and support at the interpersonal-level, and violations of personal interests, resilience at the individual-level were also associated with different dimensions of HIV-related stigma.ConclusionsHIV-related stigma was moderate among women living with HIV. The social-ecological model can facilitate a better understanding of factors associated with HIV-related stigma. Multilevel intervention strategies need to be tailored to reduce HIV-related stigma.

ИЗ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ БИОГРАФИИ Х. А. ПАЭСА: КОНФЛИКТ БОЛИВАРИАНСКОЙ ИДЕОЛОГИИ И ЛАТИНОАМЕРИКАНСКИХ ЛАТИФУНДИСТОВ В 1826–1827 гг.

The article examines the contradictions that arose in the political leadership of the independent state of Greater Colombia after liberation of Latin America territory from Spain. After Simon Bolivar, the leader of revolution movement, organized the administration of Greater Colombia, disagreements began among the regional leaders of the federation, backed by local landowning and trading elites and caudillos, mainly due to contradictions between personal interests and attempts at state centralization of land question by the new power. Also the leaders of Venezuela and Columbia didn’t agree with the Bolivar wishes to unite all newly free territories in one confederate state – And confederation – following the United States of America. The main struggle unfolded between the appointed Vice-President of the Great Columbia Francisco de Paula Santander and Venezuelan military leader Jose Antonio Paez. This led Paez to a request sent to Bolivar to assume, as the leader of the nation and the entire liberation movement, full power in Greater Colombia, and as a result of this Bolivar reconciled rival powers.

A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Engagement in and Influencing Factors of Population-Based OT Practice for Older Adults

Introduction Occupational therapy has recently begun promoting population-based practice (PBP), which would allow them to address the myriad of factors impacting older adults’ health. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe occupational therapists’ engagement in PBP and factors they perceive influence engagement. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 occupational therapists. Results Qualitative content analysis revealed PBP was facilitated by personal interests and volunteerism or by employer-provided opportunities. Therapists’ knowledge and skills, understanding of OT, employer support, resources, and features of the US healthcare system all influence engagement. Discussion There is limited understanding of PBP among occupational therapists. These professionals have the foundational knowledge and skills to participate, but additional education and employer support is needed to increase engagement. Barriers must be overcome, and facilitators of engagement promoted, to enable the incorporation of PBP in everyday OT practice, and subsequently, improve health outcomes for the older adult population.

Female travel archives: cultural and social itineraries in Beatrice Lanza Branciforti diaries

Beatrice Lanza Branciforti was a sicilian countess who lived throughout the 19th century. She traveled extensively, managed her patrimonial and personal interests and, together with Lucio Mastrogiovanni Tasca, established the house of the Counts of Almerita. Her 13 diaries, along with the other documents that constitute her travel archive, provide a window into 19th-century trends: destinations, itineraries, encounters, and leisure activities are central to this narrative through text and images.

Students’ Personal Experience vis-à-vis Personal Interest Towards Philippine Traditional Dances with Respect to Dance Steps, Music, Costume, and Dance History for Preservation Endeavors: Does it Matter?

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the immediate influence of students’ personal experiences and their degree of interest in traditional dances of the Philippines in relation to preservation efforts. Respondents for the study are students from a higher education institution in the Philippines. After obtaining data and performing multiple regression analysis, it was observed that overall personal experience has a direct influence to level of interest. Moreover, students’ personal experience has a direct influence to their interest towards dance steps and costumes, except music and dance history. Therefore, offering a wide range of varied and substantial activities students is imperative, commencing from early education through to their tertiary education years, to enhance enthusiasm and involvement in the safeguarding of these intangible cultural heritages. Limitations and recommendations for physical education teachers in the higher education sector, institutional projects and collaborative efforts, and future research directions are also presented.

Why Students Participate (Or Not) in Dual Enrollment: Results from an Evaluation of North Carolina’s Career and College Promise

ABSTRACT Dual enrollment (DE), or college courses taken in high school, is becoming an increasingly common strategy to expand college access. While much of the research on DE participation focuses on student outcomes, few studies have identified the reasons why students choose to participate (or not) in DE. Drawing on student focus groups and interviews with high school staff from four public high schools, as well as focus groups with community college staff representing 12 school districts in North Carolina, we report findings on the motivations behind student participation (or lack thereof) in North Carolina’s Career and College Promise DE program. Our findings suggest that participation is influenced by several factors, including financial reasons, the opportunity to earn college credits to get ahead, personal interest or reward, and a desire to prepare for careers and college. Eligible non-participants often cited a lack of awareness, concerns over transferability of credits, and logistical challenges as reasons for not participating. Results from this study can assist educational leaders in devising strategies to expand access to DE programs and services.