Individual Resources Research Articles

Determinant of Qard: Evidence from Indonesian Islamic Rural Banks

This study was conducted to offer an assessment of the qard factors, concerning Indonesian Islamic Rural Banks. To conduct this analysis, data from Indonesian Rural Banks and macroeconomic panels were used. In addition, an approximated generalized method of the moment was also used to report qard determinants from 2012-2022. The results showed that Return on Assets (ROA), Bank Operational Costs to Operating Income (BOPO), and inflation negatively impacted the distribution of qard, while Non-Performing Financing (NPF) variable indicated a positive and significant impact. Valuable recommendations were formulated by comprehending the interplay between profitability ratios and macroeconomic conditions. These recommendations informed the development of products within the context of BPRS and Sharia banking, contributing to rural economic growth through qard financing. This study developed BPRS and Sharia banking products to increase rural economic growth. Qard financing served as an essential resource for individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria of conventional banks. The adoption and expansion also promoted financial inclusion for marginalized communities.

Tea plant β-1, 4-glucanase enhances the propagation of Camellia tachangensis F. C. Zhang by promoting graft wound healing

As a precious tea genetic resource in China, the ancient tea plant has a strong stress resistance and contains specific biochemical components. However, the ancient tea plant resources are vulnerable to human destruction and overuse. To better protect and utilize the individual resources of these ancient tea plants, Camellia tachangensis (Camellia tachangensis F. C. Zhang) was selected as the research object in this study, and it was grafted onto the rootstock of a cultivated tea plant (Fudingdabai) for breeding. As a glycosyl hydrolase, β-1, 4-glucanase plays a role in promoting graft wound healing in plant grafting, and can effectively break the incompatibility between different species. Therefore, a gene encoding β-1, 4 glucanase was cloned from the tea plant with a total length of 1578 bp and encodes 525 amino acids, and its expression is highest in the young leaves of the tea plant, followed by the stem. A large amount of purified β-1, 4 glucanase was obtained by yeast expression. Further analysis of this protein demonstrated that it could promote the healing of the grafted wound of Camellia tachangensis, thereby improving the grafting survival rate of Camellia tachangensis. The total catechin content, catechin index and theanine content of Camellia tachangensis after grafting with β-1,4 glucanase had no significant change compared with the no-enzyme group, and these quality components were significantly increased compared with the self-grafting of Camellia tachangensis, indicating that the quality of Camellia tachangensis could be improved by grafting with Fudingdabai as rootstock, and the use of β-1,4 glucanase not only improved the survival rate of grafted plants, but had little effect on the quality of Camellia tachangensis. In summary, in this study, a gene encoding β-1,4 glucanase was cloned from tea plant, and a large amount of purified β-1,4 glucanase was obtained. The quality and survival rate of Camellia tachangensis were improved after application of β-1,4 glucanase for grafting. This work provides new insights for the propagation of ancient tea plants.

Job Characteristics and Burnout: The Role of Self-Efficacy Among the Tunisian Police Officers

ABSTRACT Using the Job Demands-Resources Model as a theoretical framing, the paper aims to investigate the association between job characteristics and burnout of the Tunisian police officers, taking the potential moderating role of self-efficacy as a key individual resource. To ensure more parsimonious research, we conducted a pilot study as a preliminary step in order to identify job characteristics that are specific to police work in the Tunisian context (Delphi technique). To test our research hypotheses, we carried out a confirmatory quantitative study using data from a sample of 245 Tunisian police officers using Structural Equations Modeling. Contrary to the common assumption, the results indicated that police officers are more sensitive to the job resources than to the job demands. More importantly, burnout seems to be a matter of job characteristics (social phenomenon) rather than an individual issue. This study offers a better understanding of the burnout phenomenon among police officers in an African country and especially in the post-revolutionary Tunisian context.

Cancer Survivors’ and Care Partners’ Audio Diaries on Stress and Social Support Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesTo describe cancer survivors’ and care partners’ perceived stress and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the feasibility of audio diaries for assessing role-related needs and resources. MethodsParticipants (N = 51; n = 28 survivors, n = 23 care partners) recorded three monthly audio diaries reporting stress and support experiences. Diaries were transcribed and content-analyzed using a hybrid approach. Stress-related content was inductively coded, and social support content was deductively coded by type (instrumental, information, emotional, companionship, appraisal; κ = 0.75) then inductively coded. Descriptive statistics summarized sociodemographic data and compared coding frequencies by role. We developed narrative summaries of stress and support categories and selected quotes for contextual detail. ResultsCancer-related stressors were most prevalent (28.8%), followed by work (26.8%), family (23.1%), social isolation (13.4%), and finances (8.0%). While no significant difference in reporting frequency was observed between roles, cancer-related stress was more prevalent for survivors while work-related stress was mentioned more by care partners. Emotional support was the most prevalent support type (32.1%), followed by companionship (25.3%), appraisal (17.9%), instrumental (16.67%), and informational support (8%). Survivors reported more appraisal support than care partners (χ2 = 6.48, df = 1, P = .011) and more support for self-care, while care partners expressed more other-oriented concerns and focused more on managing responsibilities and interactions outside the household. ConclusionsThe pandemic complicated and intensified role-based stressors already present in the survivorship context. Our findings highlight the importance of informal social support networks, particularly when access to formal services is limited, and suggest that audio diaries can be an effective tool for assessing support needs and resources. Implications for Nursing PracticeNurses and healthcare providers should tailor social support assessments to address the distinct support needs and individual resources of cancer survivors and their care partners. This is especially critical in contexts that limit access to care and formal services.

Synthetic eco-evolutionary dynamics in simple molecular environment.

The understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics, and in particular the mechanism of coexistence of species, is still fragmentary and in need of test bench model systems. To this aim we developed a variant of SELEX in vitro selection to study the evolution of a population of ∼1015 single-strand DNA oligonucleotide 'individuals'. We begin with a seed of random sequences which we select via affinity capture from ∼1012 DNA oligomers of fixed sequence ('resources') over which they compete. At each cycle ('generation'), the ecosystem is replenished via PCR amplification of survivors. Massive parallel sequencing indicates that across generations the variety of sequences ('species') drastically decreases, while some of them become populous and dominate the ecosystem. The simplicity of our approach, in which survival is granted by hybridization, enables a quantitative investigation of fitness through a statistical analysis of binding energies. We find that the strength of individual resource binding dominates the selection in the first generations, while inter- and intra-individual interactions become important in later stages, in parallel with the emergence of prototypical forms of mutualism and parasitism.

Synthetic eco-evolutionary dynamics in simple molecular environment

The understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics, and in particular the mechanism of coexistence of species, is still fragmentary and in need of test bench model systems. To this aim we developed a variant of SELEX in vitro selection to study the evolution of a population of ∼1015 single-strand DNA oligonucleotide ‘individuals’. We begin with a seed of random sequences which we select via affinity capture from ∼1012 DNA oligomers of fixed sequence (‘resources’) over which they compete. At each cycle (‘generation’), the ecosystem is replenished via PCR amplification of survivors. Massive parallel sequencing indicates that across generations the variety of sequences (‘species’) drastically decreases, while some of them become populous and dominate the ecosystem. The simplicity of our approach, in which survival is granted by hybridization, enables a quantitative investigation of fitness through a statistical analysis of binding energies. We find that the strength of individual resource binding dominates the selection in the first generations, while inter- and intra-individual interactions become important in later stages, in parallel with the emergence of prototypical forms of mutualism and parasitism.

Employment Opportunities for Degree Holder in the Post-Pandemic Era: Basis for Manpower Recruitment and Selection Policy

Since January 2020, a new coronavirus has triggered a global outbreak. As the global economy has expanded outside China, it has grown increasingly unstable and unpredictable, making it challenging to find job and thrive economically and socially. As a result, graduates faced uncertainty in the employment market, particularly during the outbreak. "Employment" was used more than any other phrase in the government's 2020 strategy report. The study advocated for a concerted effort to sustain and grow employment, as well as a tried-and-true framework for stability, employment, and social security. Furthermore, employment was the main goal shared by the "six stable" and "six guaranteed" important works after the pandemic of 2021. The pandemic impacted students who had yet to apply to graduate school. Parallel to this, contemporary professional progression entailed some degree of uncertainty and unpredictability, making career changes necessary for personal development. Professional adaptation, defined as "the individual's preparedness and coping resources when confronting the uncertainty and complexity brought on by career transformation," has the potential to have a substantial influence on professional growth. Adaptability to changing situations and possibilities was essential for professional success. Academics provided proof that adaptability was necessary for professional achievement. Furthermore, to address the issue of employment, government and private sector job recruiting practices must be re-evaluated in order to tackle long-term unemployment problems. To fight unemployment, management must focus on job creation and vocational training, as well as enhancing the work environment, growing employment, and optimizing the economic structure. In addition, several research found that when respondents were categorized based on their profile, their estimate of the effect of adopting human resource management remained consistent. As a result, the researcher performed a study to better understand the issue and provide recommendations for potential remedies.

The Role of Individual Resource Capital, University Support Environment and Government Policy in Academic Entrepreneurship: Evidence from China

There is a growing understanding that professors worldwide are engaging in academic entrepreneurship. Still, many issues remain unresolved about the personal and institutional factors that influence professors' decisions to pursue such endeavours. This study aims to understand better the factors that influence academic entrepreneurship intentions in Chinese institutions. This work creates a model associating China's university context and academic researchers' psychological characteristics with establishing academic entrepreneurship using a classic entrepreneurial model and some studies on academic entrepreneurial intention. We use Smart PLS 4.0 software and a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach to evaluate the model on 364 samples from China's teaching and research universities, with the findings indicating: 1) personality, individual resource capital, and government policy can significantly affect academic entrepreneurship; 2) university support environment can both moderate the relation between government policy and academic entrepreneurship, but also university support environment can significantly affect the academic entrepreneurship directly. The findings have significant implications for China's goal to encourage more extraordinary academic entrepreneurship around universities, as well as the strategy to establish an entrepreneurial university.

Adapting to climate change through play? Didactically effective elements of a business simulation game

IntroductionThe negative consequences of climate change are widespread and have a global impact. An industrialized region of Germany must adapt to the effects of climate change and comply with political regulations. Previous studies indicate that economic actors who are not directly affected by climate change approach climate change mitigation and adaptation primarily based on legal requirements and often feel discouraged by the absence of data-based reports. Addressing this challenge, game-based learning emerges as a promising pathway.MethodsTo examine game-based learning’s applicability and potential for climate adaptation, we developed a business simulation game, simultaneously identifying didactically effective elements for managers who would participate in it. Using expert interviews and focus groups, we conducted a qualitative study with three HR developers from larger companies and nine managers and founders of startups to develop a business simulation game on climate adaptation. Based on the Grounded Theory methodology, theoretical coding was used to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsThe derived core categories indicate that personnel development in companies is evolving in response to economic changes. Individual resources such as motivation (especially for managers), personnel and time play a crucial role in establishing a business game as an educational offering. The identified game elements can also be used theoretically and practically in the development of other educational games.DiscussionWe discussed common human resource development measures in companies and compared them with more innovative approaches such as a simulation game. The study underscores the importance of innovative approaches, such as game-based learning, in fostering climate adaptation efforts among economic actors. By integrating theoretical insights with practical applications, our findings provide valuable guidance for the development of educational games aimed at addressing complex challenges like climate change. Further research and implementation of such approaches are essential for promoting proactive climate adaptation strategies within industrialized regions and beyond.

Elevated perceived stress in university students due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Potential contributing factors in a propensity-score-matched sample.

Onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID) pandemic has increased students' perceived burdens. The current study aimed to examine COVID-related changes and to identify potential factors that contribute to students' stress. Adopting a cross-sectional cohort-study design, we examined perceived stress and depressive and anxiety symptoms with a specific focus on the role of study-related variables such as perceived study-related demands, study-related resources, academic procrastination, and stress-enhancing beliefs. Two cohorts (Npre-COVID = 2,175; NCOVID = 959) were recruited at the same university and matched with regard to their propensity score (age, gender, semester). Compared with the pre-COVID cohort, university students in the COVID cohort reported more perceived stress, more depressive and anxiety symptoms, more academic procrastination due to fear of failure, more stress-enhancing beliefs, more distress due to the housing situation, and more perceived study-related challenges (Cohen's d = 0.15-0.45). A stepwise regression analysis identified depressive symptoms, procrastination due to fear of failure, general self-efficacy, increased study demands, perceived difficulties with self-organized learning, distress due to housing, and stress-enhancing beliefs as predictors of perceived stress in the COVID cohort. Findings suggest that the switch to online-only education increased the study-related burden for students, primarily due to exams being replaced by a greater amount of regular coursework and imposing demands on self-organized learning. Possibly, stress-enhancing beliefs and procrastination due to fear of failure might have been elevated due to less opportunity for social referencing and lack of felt social support by peer students. Experienced increased burden in students during the COVID pandemic was mostly accounted for by a lack of perceived individual resources rather than by an increase in objective study-related demands.

Examining sexual minority engagement in recovery community centers

IntroductionResearch indicates that sexual minority (SM) individuals with alcohol and other drug use disorders may underutilize recovery resources generally but be more likely to use recovery community centers (RCCs). To inform recovery supports, this study characterized SM and heterosexual RCC members by demographics and clinical and recovery support service utilization. MethodsCross-sectional secondary analyses compared SM and heterosexual RCC members in the northeastern U.S. (n = 337). Qualitative analyses coded the top three recovery facilitators. ResultsOf the 337 participants (Meanage[SD] = 40.98[12.38], 51.8 % female), SM RCC members were more likely than heterosexuals to endorse lifetime psychiatric diagnoses and emergency department mental health treatment (p < .01). RCC service utilization and qualitatively derived recovery facilitators were mostly consistent across groups. ConclusionsRCCs engaged SM individuals in recovery in ways consistent with heterosexuals. Despite otherwise vastly similar demographic characteristics across sexual identity, findings suggest a need for additional mental health resources for SM individuals in recovery.

Exploring correlations between economic indicators with natural and societal factors based on linear regression model

Existing research on the determinants of a nations economic development has predominantly centered on individual factors, including energy, land resources, education, taxes, employment, and healthcare. Regrettably, there is a paucity of studies that holistically examine these factors collectively and assess their respective contributions to economic development. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the interrelationships between economic indicators and various natural and societal factors. The article firstly uses the Pearsons correlation coefficient to filter out a portion of the higher degree of correlation from factors that may have an impact on the countrys economic development for further analysis. For the selected factors, using two linear regression models: Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method for preliminary modeling for the extent of affects between each factors and economy; and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) method, as an optimization model, further eliminating the less influential variables. After obtaining the final impact model of the linear correlation, the data is screened based on the variables within the model. A portion of the selected data is used as a training set for training the model and the remaining data is used as a test set for testing the performance. The results of the study show that factors including land area, army size, CO2 emissions, population, minimum wage, would have varying degrees of integrated impact on the economic development of the country.

SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN WARTIME (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ODESA CITY COUNCIL)

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that during a full-scale war, the social communications of the authorities acquire special importance. Communication between authorities and citizens takes place at different levels, and various tools are used. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, these communications links underwent a significant transformation, some were destroyed. Defending itself against aggression, the Ukrainian state has taken a number of steps in the information sphere. In particular, access to certain resources (state registers, etc.) was closed, as well as access to other open sources was restricted. Such actions caused concern among the active part of the society, because the legal grounds of state authorities and local self-government in this area are not clearly defined. Experts have also drawn attention to this problem. They defined the closure of access to some data posted on the website of the Odesa City Council as unfounded. The purpose of the author of the article was to investigate the methods of communication between representatives of the Odesa territorial community and the city council, its officials and officials during martial law, as well as to determine the level of effectiveness of such communication. The study made it possible to conclude that the remarks made by experts and public activists regarding the unfoundedness of restricting Internet users’ access to the resources of the Odesa City Council have generally been corrected. Most of the pages of the council’s web portal are available, in addition, employees of the relevant divisions of the local self-government body actively maintain social networks of the city council. Among the shortcomings should be attributed the non-working state of hyperlinks to individual resources of the authority, work with interruptions of some sources, as well as duplication of certain information on the Internet resources of the Odesa City Council and the Mayor of Odesa. The achieved results are planned to be developed through a more detailed study of social communications of the Odesa City Council in further scientific articles.

A systematic conceptual review of financial access

AbstractFinancial access is used in practice and research as an important concept relevant to financial capability and financial well‐being. This study examines the literature on individual financial access and develops a conceptualization, definition, domains, and proposed items. Following a systematic conceptual review method, the review is based on 171 articles published during January 2012–August 2022 retrieved from Scopus and Dissertation and Thesis Global. Using grounded theory, data were coded related to financial access definition, concepts, measurement, and associated content. The domains identified were Mainstream Financial Products and Services, Institutional Practices of Available Mainstream Financial Service Providers, Individual Resources and Intrinsic Qualities and Abilities, and Individual Financial Action and Perceptions. Financial Products or Services Utilized by Social Programs to Provide Benefits was added. Study implications include the need to broaden the focus of policies and practices beyond ownership of financial products and services. Directions for future research are discussed.

Financial Oracle: Unlocking Credit Scores

This paper provides individuals with a reliable tool for predicting their credit scores based on various financial attributes. Leveraging ML models, specifically a Random Forest classifier, our system analyzes features such as yearly income, salary, bank accounts, credit card usage, loan history, and payment behavior. Users can input their financial information, and the system generates a predicted credit score. This predictive tool empowers individuals to gain insights into their creditworthiness, enabling better financial planning and decision-making. By offering a user-friendly interface and accurate predictions, our project seeks to assist users in understanding the factors influencing their credit scores and ultimately improving their financial well-being. With the increasing importance of credit scores in financial transactions and lending decisions, our tool serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to manage their finances more effectively.

Household size and transport carbon emissions in China: Direct, heterogeneity and mediating effects

Shrinking household sizes presents a significant sustainable challenge by reducing the sharing of means of transportation and increasing individual resource consumption and carbon emissions. Research from the historical literature reveals that larger households generally exhibit lower per capita energy consumption and carbon emissions. However, it remains uncertain how widely these trends extend and their implications for carbon emissions within the expanding transportation industry. This paper employs inter-provincial data from China spanning 2003–2021 to investigate the effects, regional heterogeneity, and mechanisms by which household size influences carbon emissions from the transport sector. The findings show that the expansion of household size in China significantly reduces carbon emissions from transport by 0.2805 %. Households with 2 to 4 members are more effective in achieving transport carbon emission reductions, with an average reduction level of 0.1853 %. Moreover, in terms of geographic factors, reducing transport carbon emissions is more effective in low-density areas than in high-density areas. At the income and carbon emissions level, household size significantly reduces transport carbon emissions in high-income and low-emission regions, and to a lesser extent in low-income and high-emission regions. Additionally, the study revealed that transport consumption expenditure and energy consumption indirectly strengthen the effect of household size on reducing transport carbon emissions. Future sustainable development strategies should focus on regulating household size and promoting moderate household size to decrease personal resource consumption and transportation carbon emissions, and to achieve the objective of sustainable development.

Exploring Seed Production Techniques for Flowering Annuals: A Comprehensive Overview

This comprehensive overview delves into the intricate techniques involved in seed production for flowering annuals. From selecting suitable varieties to understanding pollination dynamics, harvesting, and storage, this review provides valuable insights into the complex process of seed production. Drawing upon the latest research and practical considerations, it highlights the importance of proper management practices for maintaining genetic purity and seed viability. By exploring the various methodologies and considerations, this abstract aims to provide a foundational understanding for both home gardeners and commercial growers seeking to optimize seed production in flowering annuals. This paper presents a thorough examination of seed production methodologies tailored for flowering annuals. By addressing key aspects such as variety selection, pollination strategies, harvesting techniques, and storage protocols, it offers a comprehensive guide for both novice gardeners and seasoned professionals. Through a synthesis of empirical research and practical insights, it underscores the significance of meticulous management in ensuring the quality and sustainability of seed stocks. With a focus on enhancing understanding and proficiency, this abstract serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to maximize the yield and diversity of flowering annuals in their cultivation endeavors.

Instagram as a Digital Marketing Tool of a Hotel Brand

Social media marketing is increasingly seen as one of the main ways of communicating with consumers, platforms where visual content is the main form of communication, such as Instagram. The human brain is programmed to not only pay attention to individual resources, but also to the stories that these resources tell. Stories allow humans to relate, inspire, motivate, and often be persuaded, because they mix information with emotion. In marketing, this concept of storytelling focuses mainly on details of a brand's branding. Therefore, although content shared on social networks can reach a large audience, that same content can be abandoned in the same instant, and so marketers must consciously create content that is relevant and interesting to their target audience, that tells the story of the brand and that engage the target audience with the brand. The presence of hotel units on social media, particularly Instagram, is increasingly seen as one of the main tools in the hotel industry's digital strategy. This exploratory study evaluates the role of visual marketing by analyzing how it can impact the performance of Instagram posts from a five-star hotel group brand in the city of Porto, Portugal. 77 Instagram posts were analyzed according to the following categories: day of the week of publication, content creator, engagement dimensions (number of likes, number of comments and number of hashtags), presence of people, topic, visual content analysis method (objects identified and predominant tone), color (description of color and tone) and finally, storytelling (the presence of storytelling in the publication and the type of story). The Google Vision API platform was used to analyze the visual content and color of all the publications collected. This study reveals that hotels should analyze the colors, type of stories, photographic content and topics that have the most positive effect on consumers - making the most of the interaction with consumers, leading them to make a reservation at the hotel. In this sense, the main aspects of visual marketing that are most effective are suggested, in terms of color, topic and storytelling, as well as identifying good visual marketing practices.

Coping with old-age poverty – the role of agency and different forms of societal support

Abstract Across Europe, there is a substantial but varying number of older people struggling to make ends meet. We examine how older people with a low income make use of their individual resources and those that are available from their family and community as well as public support (in cash and in kind) when coping with poverty. This article is based on the experience of old-age poverty, drawing on 59 life-course interviews with low-income older people in Norway, Germany, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. We introduce a typology of coping strategies with two main dimensions: the capacity for agency and the capacity for transformation. We show that coping strategies vary not only based on individual factors and appropriate social policy support, but also on further societal support provided by civil society, families or social networks that supplements or compensates for gaps in social policy provision.

The role of the nursing work environment, head nurse leadership and presenteeism in job embeddedness among new nurses: a cross-sectional multicentre study

BackgroundThe retention of new nurses has become a major challenge for medical institutions. Job embeddedness has been seen as a valuable lens for examining nurse turnover, but greater details about job embeddedness are rarely disclosed, especially among new nurses. This study aimed to reveal how the nursing work environment, head nurse leadership and presenteeism shape job embeddedness in this population from the perspective of conservation of resources (COR) theory.MethodA cross-sectional multicentre study involving 436 participants from 10 cities and 33 hospitals was conducted over 4 months. Samples were selected using a two-stage convenience sampling method. A sequential multiple mediation model performed with SPSS-PROCESS was used to analyse the relationships among the nursing work environment, head nurse leadership, presenteeism and job embeddedness.ResultsThe nursing work environment not only directly affects the job embeddedness of new nurses (β = 0.480, p < 0.001) but also indirectly affects it through the sequential multiple mediating effects of head nurse leadership and presenteeism (R2 = 0.535, F = 82.160, p < 0.001).ConclusionsNew nurses’ job embeddedness needs to be improved. These results suggest that preserving adequate resources for new nurses, such as work environment resources, head nurse leadership resources, and individual productivity resources, is an effective way to shape their job embeddedness. In addition, when a certain resource is insufficient, fully considering the principles of investment and buffering between resources and providing reciprocal, alternative, or buffer resources in a timely manner are necessary to improve new nurses’ job embeddedness.Large language modelsLarge language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, were not used during the writing of this article. An expert native English speaker performed language revision.