Point Of View Research Articles

The Impact of Social Pressure on The Acceptability of Female Students' Dating Practices in Medan City

Objective: This research aims to determine the relationship between social pressure and the permissiveness of dating behavior of high school students in Medan City. This research also analyzes how much influence social pressure has on the permissiveness of dating behavior and analyzes the results based on the reality that occurs in society. Theoretical Framework: Many studies have been carried out regarding permissiveness from various points of view. However, there have not been many studies that specifically explore information related to social pressure as one of the causes of permissive teenage dating behavior. Method: This research uses a quantitative methodology, with linear regression model estimation and correlation analysis, using primary data obtained through questionnaires given to high school students in Medan City, Indonesia. Results and Discussion: The results of the study show that there is a strong relationship between social pressure and the permissiveness of adolescent dating behavior. This is proven by the correlation coefficient between the two variables, which is 0.698. Apart from that, social pressure has a positive influence on the permissiveness of teenagers' dating behavior. Research Implications: This research aims to prove the relationship and influence of social pressure on the permissiveness of adolescent dating behavior. The analysis carried out in this research was not only carried out mathematically but was also linked to theories that have been discussed in previous literature. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the literature by analyzing one of the factors that influence the permissiveness of adolescent behavior. The relevance and value of this research are proven by the testing of the assumption that social pressure is one of the factors causing permissive teenage dating behavior.

To(o) Queer the Analyst: Lesbiana, Junguiana and Sudamericana. Towards Woven Onto-Epistemologies.

This is a two-part paper: in the first one, a personal story serves as a conceptual prism through which I address the issue of how a queer analyst can be a problem for analytical psychology; in the second, I present some readings and images-mostly from decolonial feminisms-that have been of interest to me lately in my path to queer Jungian psychology, that is, to de-essentialize and de-individualize its theory and practice. By borrowing (and altering) the title from Gloria Anzaldúa's (1991/2009a) essay "To(o) queer the writer", this paper explores some themes she has elaborated there on solidarity, theorization and ways of writing and reading from othered points of view. In dialogue with Donna Haraway's (2016) Staying with the Trouble and Ursula K. Le Guin's (1989/2000) The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, together with the imagery of bags, weaving and string figures game, this paper aims to explore the potential of what I have called "woven onto-epistemologies". By imagining and developing this new condition of knowledge, other stories and theories in analytical psychology may have an opportunity to be told.

Characterization of nanostructure of naturally occurring disordered sp2 carbon by impedance spectroscopy

We analyzed main structural models of sp2 carbon with a structure similar to glassy carbon from the point of view of impedance spectroscopy in the range from hertz frequencies to 15 MHz. We used samples of natural carbon (shungites, anthraxolites) with a structure and properties close to synthetic glassy carbon. The impedance spectroscopy results were compared to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, which revealed a complex nanoscale structure including stacks of misoriented graphene layers, multilayer ribbons, and closed fullerene-like structures. The high locality of the HRTEM method often does not allow identifying the predominant nano-sized structure if two or more types of structural elements are observed in one sample. Using impedance spectroscopy, we found samples with an inductive type of resistance indicating predominant extended and tortuous elements (ribbons, fibrils), as well as samples with a capacitive type of resistance with a significant predominance of nano-sized stacks of graphene layers with impurities/dielectric gaps and micropores.

Opinions and Beliefs of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Visual Impairment about Research with Routine Care Data

Research with routine care data (RCD) is not always a transparent process to the people receiving care for disabilities or impairment. This study aimed to understand the point of view on secondary use of care data for research from the people with visual or intellectual disabilities themselves. In total 36 participants from the UK and the Netherlands were interviewed (20 with intellectual disabilities, 16 with visual impairment). Transcripts were analysed inductively using the Framework Approach. Interview results showed that people from both countries and disability groups assumed that RCD research took place and saw potential contributions to care quality as grounds for legitimacy. Their themes of concern were about inaccuracy and threats to anonymity of data. Interviewees made suggestions for improving conditions under which RCD research can happen with informed consent. In addition to informing data governance policies of organisations serving people with disabilities, findings underscore the contribution that people with disabilities can make to data governance.

Ameliorative effect of Ononis natrix against chronic lead poisoning in mice: neurobehavioral, biochemical, and histological study.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common heavy metals with toxicological effects on many tissues in humans as well as animals. In order to counteract the toxic effects of this metal, the administration of synthetic or natural antioxidants is thus required. The aim of this study was to examine the beneficial effect of the aqueous extract of Ononis natrix (AEON) against lead acetate-induced damage from a behavioral, biochemical, and histological point of view. Forty-eight male mice were divided into four equal groups: Ctr (control); Pb (lead acetate 1g/l); Pb + On 100 mg/kg (lead acetate 1 g/l + AEON 100 mg/kg); Pb + On 500 mg/kg (lead acetate 1 g/l + AEON 500 mg/kg). AEON was administered orally from day 21 after the start of lead exposure up to the end of the experiment. The results revealed that lead induced behavioral disorders, increased serum levels of liver markers (AST, ALT, and bilirubin), as well as kidney markers (urea and creatinine). At the same time, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased significantly. Moreover, Pb caused structural changes in the liver and kidneys of Pb-exposed mice. However, AEON administration significantly improved all lead-induced brain, liver, and kidney dysfunctions. Our results suggest that AEON could be a source of molecules with therapeutic potential against brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities caused by lead exposure.

Group Cohesion and Workers' Diversity in Selected Manufacturing Companies in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria

In the current competitive and global conditions, it is assumed that organizations with a diverse staff outperform those without. Diversity in the workforce broadens the pool of talent available to a business and allows its individuals to benefit from each other's backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. The workforce is varied because of diversity. This study examined the effect of worker diversity on group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in the Enugu metropolis. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of the staff of two selected manufacturing companies in Enugu state namely; Innoson Group and Nigerian Breweries Plc. They are made up of two hundred and eighty-seven (287) respondents. Cochran sample size derivation statistic was used to derive the sample size of the study and the value yielded one hundred and sixty-four (164). A simple random sampling technique was used as the sampling technique for the reason that the method ensures an equal chance of selection among the respondents. The data for the study was collected with the aid of a questionnaire that is properly designed using the 5-scale Likert system. Data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed and interpreted accordingly with the aid of descriptive statistical techniques such as simple percentages and regression analysis. The major findings of the study showed that age diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in Enugu metropolis, ethnic diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in Enugu metropolis and gender diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion. It is the recommendation of the study that the management of companies should ensure there are no internal forms of discrimination based on the diversity of the workforce and sometimes, diverse groups will start forming cliques of sameness in the organization. The management of these companies should watch out for these developments.

Energetic Valorization of the Innovative Building Envelope: An Overview of Electric Production System Optimization

The world population increased from 1 billion in 1800 to around 8 billion today. The Population Division of the United Nations predicts a global population of approximately 10.4 billion people by the end of the century. That represents over 2 billion more people. Moreover, the global community is currently experiencing a precarious state due to the enduring repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic across all sectors, including energy. Given the rising global population and the limited availability of primary energy resources, we must reach a balance between the demands of a growing human population and the planet’s carrying capacity. The dreadful conflict in Ukraine has precipitated an enormous energy crisis. This crisis has served as a warning to the world population of how much it depends on this resource to survive. In France, the building sectors, specifically residential and tertiary, account for 45% of the total final energy consumption. It is the first energy consumer of the country and one of the most polluting (i.e., about 34% of CO2 emitted by France). Consequently, we must consider alternative energy resource forms (i.e., substitution energy forms). Harvesting energy from the building envelope may be a viable technique for partially satisfying the electricity demands of building users. In this context, scientific research offers considerable potential for developing more innovative and efficient systems. This article aims to review the state-of-the-art of advances on the subject to orient and further optimize energy production systems, particularly electricity. This work addresses several points of view: it discusses the overall backdrop of the present study and introduces the subject; details the research strategy and procedures used to produce this paper; develops the state-of-the-art on the potential for generating or recovering power from the building envelope; presents the SWOT analysis of the earlier-described systems. Finally, it concludes by offering findings and viewpoints.

Environmental injustice in the privatization of Brazilian sanitation: an empirical analysis

This study analyzes whether the low rate of universalizing water supply and sanitation services in Brazil is related to the low participation of private companies in the concession of these services in municipalities in the country. To this end, it discusses basic sanitation in Brazil and its current scenario, its problems from the point of view of environmental injustice, and the existing public/private conflicts. The empirical analysis conducted a data survey of eight municipalities defined in four population groups, comparing data from 13 operational, efficiency, quality, and cost indicators of the services provided. Each population group compared two municipalities providing water and sewerage services, one provided by a public company and the other by a private company. The compared data were from 2021, obtained through the Brazilian National Sanitation Information System (SNIS). As a result of the comparative analyses, it was shown that the performance of public companies was more positive for most indicators, compared to private companies. It is concluded that the main challenge to overcome the social and environmental injustice resulting from the deficit in basic sanitation coverage lies in the promotion of public management instruments that enable the articulation of public and private investments in the expansion of basic sanitation services, in the improvement of the quality of services with the inclusion of social control through popular participation.

Microbial diversity in dry-cured Iberian ham: an approach to the concept of microbial terroir

Microbial terroir has been scarcely studied in the dry-cured ham industry. The microbial population and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination in two Spanish facilities located in a specific geographical region (Salamanca) with differences in the environmental conditions used for the ham processing were evaluated for establishing the microbial terroir. Differences between the levels of Gram-positive catalase-positive cocci (GCC+), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts and moulds were found at the processing stage (post-salting, drying and cellar) and facility levels. Such variations could be responsible for the development of different flavour profiles, which indicate their potential functionality for determining the microbial terroir in the artisan dry-cured Iberian ham industry, despite the fact that this work constitutes a preliminary study. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the differences in the microbial population throughout the processing of both sampled facilities could directly impact on one of the main concerns of the meat industry from the food safety point of view consisting of the accumulation of OTA, since differences in its levels were detected between both checked facilities. These findings could lead to the enforcement of the terroir concept in artisan dry-cured Iberian ham elaboration, resulting in a value enhancement that might be reflected in economic and social positive results for the territory. Nevertheless, microbial terroir in the dry-cured Iberian ham must be further explored by the increase of the number of studied facilities.

Counter-ion adsorption and electrostatic potential in sodium and choline dodecyl sulfate micelles - a molecular dynamics simulation study.

Choline-based surfactants are interesting both from the practical point of view to obtaining environmental-friendly surfactants as well as from the theoretical side since the interactions between the choline and surfactants can help to understand self-assembly phenomena in deep eutectic solvents. Although no significant change was noticed in the micelle size and shape due to the exchange of the sodium counter-ion by choline in our simulations, the adsorption of the choline cation over the micelle surface is stronger than the adsorption of the sodium, which leads to a reduction of the exposed surface area of the micelle and remarkable effects over the electrostatic potential. The choline neutralizes the surface charge of the surfactant better than sodium; however, this is partially compensated by a stronger water orientation around the SDS micelle. The balance between the contributions from the surfactant, the counter-ion, and water to the electrostatic potential leads to a complex pattern with alternate regions of positive and negative potential at the micelle/water interface which can be important to the incorporation of other charged species at the micelle surface as well as for the interaction between micelles in solution. To evaluate the effects of the counter-ion substitution, micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and choline dodecyl sulfate (ChDS) were studied and compared by means of molecular dynamics simulations in aqueous solution. In both cases, the simulations started from pre-assembled micelles with 60 dodecyl sulfate ions and 240-ns simulations were performed at NPT ensemble at T = 323.15K and P = 1bar using the Gromacs software with the OPLS-AA force field to describe dodecyl sulfate and choline, Åqvist parameters for sodium, and SPC model for water molecules.

Analysis of Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Energy Consumption of Fractured Sandstone under Dynamic–Static Combination Conditions

Under dynamic loads, such as blasting, excavation, or quarrying, rocks with fissures are the first to sustain damage, leading to instability in the engineering rock mass. To investigate the kinetic properties of fractured rocks, fractured coal mine sandstone specimens underwent impact compression tests using a dynamic–static combination SHPB (split Hopkinson pressure bar) test device at different loading rates under combined dynamic and static conditions. The damage characteristics of the specimens were analyzed from an energy point of view. The results show that under the dynamic and static combined condition, when five impact loading air pressures are used for loading at different impact rates, the trends of the dynamic stress–strain curves of prefabricated fissured rock samples under various impact pressures were discovered to be similar and were mainly categorized into three main stages of elasticity, yield, and destruction; the specimen’s dynamic compressive strength increases according to a power function relationship; as the average strain rate increases, the dynamic strain increases linearly and the dynamic modulus of elasticity increases in a quadratic relationship, all of which show a significant strain rate effect. The incident energy is a power function of the loading rate. The reflected, transmitted, and absorbed energies by the sample increase with the incident energy. The degree of the sandstone specimen fragmentation gradually grows with increasing impact loading rate and incident energy, as evidenced by a decrease in the scale of the fragments. The absorbed energy in the sample is mainly used for the deformation damage of the rock, and the more intense the fragmentation of the specimen, the more absorbed energy is required.

A royal visit revisited: Mackenzie King and the British royal visit to the USA, June 1939

In June 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were on a tour of Canada that included a brief visit to the United States. The timing of this visit proved to be fortuitous from the British point of view as it came soon after the controversial Munich agreement in September 1938, which ceded the Czech Sudetenland to Germany, and the subsequent occupation of the remainder of the Czech state by German troops in March 1939 – both of which had damaged Britain’s image in America. The royal visit to the USA was a great public-relations success, as was the visit to Canada, and its significance for relations between Britain, Canada, and the United States has been discussed by a number of historians from all three countries. However, very little attention has been paid to the key role of the Canadian prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, regarding the American phase of the royal visit. Indeed, a recent film about the Royal Visit and the weekend spent by the king and queen at President Franklin Roosevelt’s family home in upstate New York omitted any mention of Mackenzie King, despite the fact that he was their official escort. This article seeks to fill this gap by assessing Mackenzie King’s involvement in the origins and conduct of the royal visit. It also reflects upon what the royal visit reveals about Canada’s relations with Britain and the United States on the eve of the war and, in particular, Mackenzie King’s relationship with President Franklin Roosevelt and his contribution to the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’.

Practical Development of Artistic and Creative Activity of Students: from Work Experience

Introduction. In this study, the author addresses the problem of the development of modern innovative educational technologies in the context of artistic and creative activity. The purpose of the study is to reveal the features of the implementation of modern innovative pedagogical approaches in pedagogical artistic and creative practice. Methodology. Artistic and creative activity is studied from the perspective of a personal activity approach as a leading type of pedagogical activity. From the point of view of the competence approach, the main competencies of students are determined within the framework of continuous multi-level specialized education (artistic, aesthetic and socio-pedagogical). The Childrenʼs Academy of Artistic Creativity and Design became a research site. Results. The study shows that the project method is currently in demand in the context of the development of modern innovative educational technologies. The importance for pedagogical artistic and creative practice is particularly noted. It is shown that during the implementation of the project, the student acquires certain artistic and creative competencies necessary for further training in professional artistic and creative activities. Conclusion. In conclusion, the main aspects of the application of the project method in pedagogical artistic and creative practice are shown.

Differentiation populations of the saffron cod Eleginus gracilis (Gadidae) of the cape Terpeniya, south-east and north-west of Sakhalin island using biological tags

To differentiate Sakhalin saffron cod, 3 types of parasites can be used: Pyramicocephalus phocarum pl., Nybelinia surmenicola pl. and Echinorhynchus gadi. From a practical point of view, as a biological label for the differentiation of the navaga hall. It is advisable to use indicators of infection with Nybelinia surmenicola l in the south-east of Sakhalin and the north-west of the island. To determine the location of the catch of the navaga (applicable only for the areas of the north-west, south-east of Sakhalin and zal. Patience) it is necessary to examine at least 100 specimens of fish.

Pinning Event-Triggered Scheme for Synchronization of Delayed Uncertain Memristive Neural Networks

To reduce the communication and computation overhead of neural networks, a novel pinning event-triggered scheme (PETS) is developed in this paper, which enables pinning synchronization of uncertain coupled memristive neural networks (CMNNs) under limited resources. Time-varying delays, uncertainties, and mismatched parameters are all considered, which makes the system more interpretable. In addition, from the low energy cost point of view, an algorithm for pinned node selection is designed to further investigate the newly event-triggered function under limited communication resources. Meanwhile, based on the PETS and following the Lyapunov functional method, sufficient conditions for the pinning exponential stability of the proposed coupled error system are formulated, and the analysis of the self-triggered method shows that our method can efficiently avoid Zeno behavior under the newly determined triggered conditions, which contribute to better PETS performance. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the PETS significantly outperforms the existing schemes in terms of solution quality.

DECORATIVE COATINGS AND METALS IN JEWELLERY AND ART PRODUCTS

The article considers the classification of precious and non-precious alloys used in the manufacture of jewellery and art articles. Alloys are considered from the point of view of necessity of using protective and decorative coatings both for protection from environmental impact during operation of articles and colour surface decoration. A diverse nomenclature of various metallic, non-metallic and conversion coatings formed by different technological methods is shown. It is shown that the use of a certain coating is largely determined by the designer at the stage of creating a rendering of the product. Necessity to take into account the colouristic characteristics of alloys and coatings at the design stage and the existence of an inseparable connection between the product design, materials used, technologies of their shaping and decoration is pointed.

Epidemiological behavior of childhood obesity: A continental point of view

Weight excess during the childhood has been one of the most critical public health problems worldwide in the past few decades. It is considered a significant predictor of adulthood obesity, increased cardiometabolic diseases, and premature mortality. Since the Industrial Revolution, childhood obesity has risen due to sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits, contributing to the development of obesogenic environments around children in different parts of the world. In this regard, Oceania is positioned as the continent with the highest prevalence globally; however, these results did not consider Australia and New Zealand’s data, probably due to the significant differences in population sizes. America has the second highest percentage of children under five who are overweight. Curiously, Asia’s obesity rates are more significant in higher socioeconomic statuses and urban areas than in children aged 2-4 years. Likewise, Africa displays similar epidemiologic behaviour. Qatar and Kuwait are the countries with the highest obesity prevalence on the continent. Moreover, Europe exhibits a notable South-North gradient, which establishes a higher prevalence of obesity in Mediterranean countries than the Nordic ones. In this regard, various prevention and interventional programs have been developed to combat this silent epidemic, focusing their efforts on nutritional education, improving children’s and parents’ lifestyles, and fighting the influence of the media on their behaviour, and decisions. Therefore, the objective of this review was to describe the epidemiological behaviour of childhood obesity from a continental perspective.

How Ukraine’s Just War Challenges Just Peace Theory

Theologians from various religious traditions have spoken out recently in favor of the just peace theory as a replacement for the traditional just war theory. This new theory severely limits the possibilities for nations to wage just wars. However, since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing conflict, the academic debate on just peace theory has fallen silent. The necessary self-defense of Ukraine shows how replacement of just war with just peace faces major problems. Besides pragmatic problems, the just peace theory has important theoretical problems from a Roman Catholic point of view. This essay deals with those problems and offers an alternative.

Biochemical Characterization of the Seed Quality of a Collection of White Lupin Landraces from Southern Italy

Lupin species provide essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. Within pulses, they have one of the highest contents of proteins and fibers and are among the poorest in carbohydrates. The Mediterranean region is an important cradle area of the origin and domestication of cultivated white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). In this work, we present the characterization of 19 white lupin landraces collected from several sites in southern Italy, characterized by different pedoclimatic conditions. The protein contents and electrophoretic patterns, total polyphenols, phytic acid, lipids and phosphorous content, and reducing and anti-tryptic activities have been determined for each landrace. The relationships of the compositional characteristics, the area of origin of landraces and between compositional characteristics and thermo-pluviometric trends that occurred in the genotype comparison field during the two-year period between 2019 and 2020 are compared and discussed. From a nutritional point of view, some of the analyzed landraces differ from the commercial reference. The panel of molecular analyses performed can help in building an identity card for the grain to rapidly identify those varieties with the desired characteristics.

Can the Merdeka Belajar curriculum really improve students’ reading literacy?

Merdeka Belajar curriculum is the brand-new curriculum implemented in Indonesia in response to the low reading literacy of students. Many discussed the features and the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum and claim that implementing the current curriculum is effective in improving students' reading literacy due to its features, such as simpler yet in-depth materials and flexible time for learning outcome accomplishment; however, there is not yet any empirical evidence provided to prove the claim. This descriptive research was undertaken to provide empirical evidence of that claim as the curriculum has just been implemented. Twelve teachers across senior high schools in West Sumatera were willingly involved in this study. The data were collected through a written interview, in which the teachers answered ten relevant questions. Their responses about the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum were analyzed qualitatively. The findings established new facts that answered the research question from the teachers' point of view. First, compared to the 2013 curriculum implementation, they did not only see the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum as advantageous but also disadvantageous. Even few of them found it run-of-the-mill. Second, when implementing the current curriculum, the teacher developed strategies to increase students' reading literacy and interest. They began by supplying multiple materials, designing fun but exhaustive learning instructional activities, varying the assessments, and building reading corners with captivating books to read. Third, after a year of implementation, the students' reading literacy tended to stay the same, even though it did improve a little for some students. These were because the teachers still experienced problems regarding curriculum, school, and time. In summary, implementing the Merdeka Belajar curriculum cannot improve students' reading literacy.