Social Advantages Research Articles

Preserving Coastal Treasures: Reversing Mangrove Degradation through Restoration. Review

Coastal mangrove forests are helpful ecosystems, supplying ecological, monetary, and social advantages. Despite their significance, these forest face numerous threats such as deforestation, pollutants, and climate trade. This study aims to investigate the various strategies to restore and reverse the loss of mangroves, emphasizing the need to protect these coastal ecosystems. The methodology of review research involved a thorough evaluation of the literature on mangrove recovery. This involved a thorough search across academic databases to select reliable, current resources from a wide range of regions. Important data were taken out, combined, and reliant on an ordered structure to direct the contents of the paper. In order to reduce adverse effects on mangrove environments, studies also highlight the necessity of sustainable methods in sectors such as shrimp farming. To tackle these issues, initiatives to restore mangroves and legislative changes are suggested in order to encourage preservation and strengthen the stamina of these essential ecosystems. By means of community participation and collaborative management techniques, scientists aim to devise efficacious strategies for managing obstacles like financing restrictions, invasive species, and climate change and reinstating ecological equilibrium. These results, highlight the significance of integrated management initiatives to protect mangroves and get rid of obstacles and guaranteeing the continuous provision of ecosystem services and promoting long-term growth in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LEISURE PARKS USING THE IPA-KANO INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SATISFACTION, CASE TITO PARK, ALGERIA

Leisure parks provide innumerable benefits in terms of social well-being and economic advantages, hence the importance for managers to assess their condition and determine the beneficial actions to be taken. The physical and functional attributes of parks are key indicators of quality; especially, if they are inspected from the perspective of user satisfaction. Although previous studies have incorporated satisfaction, few have used management tools together in developing countries. This paper proposes the simultaneous use of importance-performance analysis (IPA) and the Kano model as an integrative approach to satisfaction to assess the quality of recreational parks. Tito Park in Algiers used as a case study, was the subject of two methods: first qualitative-exploratory by 116 interviews (2016-2017) on the sociocultural variables of visitors, and quantitative-empirical by IPA-Kano statistical analysis against 36 attributes hierarchized in 7 families of quality criteria. The results reveal a divergence of visitors' opinions against these attributes within the same family of criteria; this is reinforced by a disparity between the degrees of importance and satisfaction that users allocate to them. This research offers a pragmatic tool to help with targeted and optimized decision-making and design as a means of requalification of the landscape. Because it elucidates the state of the recreational offer and points out the contextual characteristics to be promoted in order of priority by integrating the dimensions: perceptual and time. In the future, two or more parks can be compared using these or other tools by aggregating more attributes.

Impact of Organic Farming in Economic Development in Agriculture

Organic farming is valued for its self-sustaining, environmentally friendly methods that protect surrounding ecosystems of plants and animals. It reduces weed growth through techniques like crop rotation and integrates traditional knowledge alongside natural processes. This approach optimizes inputs, strengthens regenerative abilities, and ensures effective conservation of resources and nutrients. The cost-benefit ratio in sustainable agriculture is notably better, as it requires fewer primary inputs compared to conventional methods, which often incur high costs for fertilizers and pesticides, lowering profit margins. Additionally, conventional farming's heavy reliance on chemicals can lead to significant health risks, both mental and physical. Organic farming, by following natural principles and using non-synthetic, traditional practices, creates a balanced environment that allows crops to thrive. This approach helps counteract the negative impacts of chemical-dependent agriculture, increasing production sustainably and supporting population growth without harming the ecosystem. Core principles of organic farming include health, ecology, fairness, and care. The benefits range from natural pest and disease resistance, specialization potential, healthier soil, support for pollinators, no GMO concerns, safer work conditions for farmers, and on-farm input production. Farmers and companies must meet stringent, government-approved standards, undergo regular certification, and comply with inspections to ensure the high quality of organic products produced with renewable resources. This paper aims to delve into the origins of organic farming, its environmental, social, economic, and agricultural advantages, and underscore its importance for the future. Similarly, on a larger scale, it can provide rural populations with greater earnings, better resource management and more chances to generate revenue Keywords: Organic Farming, Sustainability, Farmers, Health, Ecology.

Transport and social (dis)advantage in ride-hailing

ABSTRACT App-based mobility (ABM) is an umbrella term for several transport services enabled through a smartphone application. Ride-hailing is the most popular ABM service, and even more than a decade after its introduction, it continues to raise concerns about its impacts on urban mobility. Previous ride-hailing research has primarily focused on understanding such impacts. However, how ride-hailing affects accessibility and social exclusion remains an understudied topic. Prior research highlights this knowledge gap and proposes a framework linking ABM with transport poverty, (in)accessibility and the resulting transport-related social exclusion (TRSE). Yet, empirical evidence is lacking to test such a framework. This paper addresses this gap by providing empirical evidence on how ABM affects accessibility using survey data collected for three large metropolitan areas in Latin America. We follow three related lines of analysis. First, we compare ride-hailing to other transport modes based on the most regular trips reported in the survey. Second, we calculate novel social and transport (dis)advantage indices to extend the comparison of transport modes. Third, we shed light on why respondents have used ride-hailing services in the past.

Decentralized Clean Energy for Rural India: The Role of Small Modular Reactors

India's rapid development and expanding population have intensified the need for sustainable energy solutions. This is particularly significant in addressing the growing disparity in energy access between urban and rural communities. As the country shifts from traditional fossil-fuel-based power generation to cleaner technologies, nuclear energy is poised to play an increasingly vital role. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) represent a promising option to meet these energy demands in a decentralized and environmentally friendly manner, especially in rural regions. In this perspective article, we explore the technological, economic, social, and environmental advantages of deploying SMRs in rural India. SMRs offer the potential for faster and cheaper build, as well as stable and reliable power, which is essential for driving economic growth in underdeveloped areas. However, several challenges need to be addressed, including regulatory and legislative hurdles that could impede the integration of SMRs into the existing energy mix. This article also suggests solutions such as leveraging India’s existing reactor technology expertise, utilizing the mature supply chain framework, co-locating SMRs with renewable energy sources, and advocating for necessary regulatory and legislative reforms. These would help SMRs serve as a crucial bridge in facilitating a smoother transition from fossil fuel plants to clean energy technologies, particularly in underserved rural communities.

Yoga Education in the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Exploration of its Significance, Effect, and Connectivity in Modern Societal Contexts

Abstract: This paper aims to present a theoretical model based on a synthesis of ancient knowledge and contemporary research, as well as to argue for the integration of yoga with education in the present educational system. Resilience and overall well-being have become increasingly important in today's hectic and demanding environment. This abstract explores the value of yoga instruction as a transforming tool for dealing with the various issues people encounter nowadays. Yoga is an age-old Indian discipline that combines physical postures called asanas, breathing exercises called pranayama, meditation, and moral teachings to bring the mind, body, and spirit into balance. Regular yoga practice provides many physical, mental, and emotional benefits that have been confirmed by scientific studies. With the current state of affairs marked by high levels of stress, sedentary lifestyles, and rising mental health problems, it is essential to integrate yoga instruction into regular classroom instruction. This abstract explores how yoga's focus on self-awareness, stress reduction, and mindfulness corresponds with the modern world's need for coping strategies against life's stresses. The abstract also looks at how yoga instruction might help people develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and a positive outlook. The practice is a flexible strategy for improving general well-being because it may be applied to different age groups and fitness levels. A proactive approach to addressing the growing health concerns and fostering a culture of self-care is the incorporation of yoga into educational curricula, businesses, and healthcare systems. Additionally, by highlighting the preventative qualities of yoga in healthcare, the abstract underlines the social and economic advantages connected to a population that is healthier and more robust. The way this work compares and contrasts the results-driven current research with the process-driven old knowledge makes it special. This makes it possible to develop a more thorough theoretical model of yoga in education in the present scenario.

The ecological operation of ChiTan hydropower station based on hydrological alteration using the PCA method

ABSTRACT Water infrastructure affects the quantity, quality, and environment of water. During reservoir construction, only the social-economic benefits were considered and the health of the downstream river was neglected. Due to the severe downstream river system, the operators and managers faced the challenge of the downstream ecosystem. Many scholars are concerned with the reservoir's optimum functioning, which considers social and economic advantages. Numerous significant opinions and research findings are being presented on ecological scheduling at the moment, both in China and overseas, which surely deepen the connotations of ecological scheduling and serve as the research basis and critical reference of this work. The influence of hydropower development on hydrological conditions, the categorization and calculation of environmental runoff, and the building and solution of ecological scheduling models are all discussed and researched in this work. The study examined how the ChiTan hydropower project influenced the Jinxi River's flow. The total hydrologic alteration calculated using RVA is 50.53%. The component analysis is also utilized to eliminate the statistical redundancy in the hydrologic indicators. The indicators’ monthly flow for July and August's mean minimum flow for 7 days are relevant indicators for the Jinxi River basin's hydrologic modification regime.

Chimpanzees employ context-specific behavioral strategies within fission-fusion societies.

Fission-fusion social systems allow individuals to make flexible choices about where, with whom, and in what contexts to spend their time in response to competing social and ecological pressures. The ability for fission-fusion societies to support individual behavioral strategies that vary across contexts has been suggested, but the potential function of such context-specific social choices remains largely understudied. We adopted the concept of social niche construction to explore possible differences in social complexity at the individual and group level across feeding contexts. Specifically, we examined patterns of co-attendance across two common ecological contexts in wild Central African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. From data compiled over 6years, we used multidimensional social network analysis to study the patterns of co-attendance generated from 436 group scans at Ficus and 4527 visits to termite mounds. These two contexts were chosen, because they are both fixed spatial features across the landscape that serve as well-defined points to compare association patterns. We identified context-specific social niche construction in a fission-fusion chimpanzee society that produce different patterns of relationships and social complexity that are consistent in their expression over many years, and offer functional benefits. While enhancing our understanding of chimpanzee behavioral strategies, culture, and conservation, our investigation also indicates that the social niche construction framework aids in elucidating the evolutionary advantages of fission-fusion sociality by accounting for intra- and interindividual variability, cognition, and choice in newfound ways.

Measuring Teachers’ Motivation Toward Professional Development through Integration of Mobile Technology

The integration of technology in teacher training is an integral part of motivation in the 21st century. The integration of mobile technology in teacher training and professional development can bring about a meaningful change in their career. This study examines how, in the academic environment of Sindh, Pakistan, in-service training sessions contribute to the professional skill development and motivation of instructors. The study has two primary aims. The first involved examining how teacher training programs affected instructors’ willingness to continue in the classroom and to enroll in training programs. The second involved examining how these sessions affected teachers’ ability to advance their careers and develop their confidence and self-efficacy. Data for the study were gathered using a survey research approach. To gather information from 450 teachers in Sindh, Pakistan—both private and public—a structured questionnaire was created. The information gathered from the survey was examined using statistical analysis. The study’s findings demonstrate that in-service teachers are not as motivated or proficient in their professional development as they should be by training sessions through the integration of mobile technology. The main motivators for the instructors to attend these workshops are their financial and social advantages. According to the study, several essential elements of successful teacher preparation are absent from these in-service training sessions. As a result, the study suggests that training programs abandon their conventional methods and modernize to better meet the demands of teachers today through the use of technology, which most teachers avoid using. More than merely formal meetings, training sessions should be scheduled to prepare instructors for actual learning objectives. Future academics of teacher training programs may find value in the study’s conclusions with the application of mobile technology by providing appropriate pre-training sessions for the use of technology.

Effects of corporate social responsibility on sustained competitive advantage: a moderated mediation model

Purpose This study aims more than just assess the direct relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustained competitive advantage (SCA). It explores the subtleties of how these impacts might be amplified or altered by socially responsible leadership (SRL). The study emphasizes how important community service (CS) is mediating this complicated connection. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a survey instrument tailored for employees of Indian private multinational corporations (MNCs) and public sector undertakings/government organizations (PSU/Govt. Orgn.) was used. A total of 517 questionnaires were used for subsequent analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then carried out on four self-reported scales to assess the discriminant validity of both samples. Subsequently, regression analysis was performed to check the effect of CSR on SCA, with CS acting as a mediator and SRL serving as a moderator. Findings The findings affirm that CS mediates the relationship between CSR and SCA. Simultaneously, SRL is identified as a moderator in the association between CS and SCA. The mediating role of CS in connecting CSR to SCA holds for both private and public sectors, highlighting the importance of community engagement. A notable observation is the limited prevalence of SRL among PSU/Govt. Orgn. respondents. Research limitations/implications This study emphasizes the pivotal role of CSR in transforming companies into socially responsible entities, thereby augmenting corporate reputation and goodwill. Furthermore, the influence of SRL is highlighted as a moderator in the CSR−SCA relationship, impacting both private and public organizations. This research presents a conceptual framework of moderated mediation, shedding light on the complex relationship between CSR and SCA. Originality/value This study illuminates the importance of CS and SRL as critical elements in achieving SCA by recognizing a gap in current research. This distinctive perspective enhances the study's originality, providing novel insights into the intricate interplay between CSR, CS, SRL and SCA.

Individual differences in emotion prediction and implications for social success.

The social world requires people to predict others' thoughts, feelings, and actions. People who successfully predict others' emotions experience significant social advantages. What makes a person good at predicting emotions? To predict others' future emotional states, a person must know how one emotion transitions to the next. People learn how emotions transition from at least two sources: (a) internal information, or one's own emotion experiences, and (b) external information, such as the social cues detected in a person's face. Across five studies collected between 2018 and 2020, we find evidence that both sources of information are related to accurate emotion prediction: individuals with atypical personal emotion transitions, difficulty understanding their own emotional experiences, and impaired emotion perception displayed impaired emotion prediction. This ability to predict others' emotions has real-world social implications. Individuals who make accurate emotion predictions have better relationships with their friends and communities and experience less loneliness. In contrast, disruptions in both internal and external information sources explain prediction inaccuracy in individuals with social difficulties, specifically with social communication difficulties common in autism spectrum disorder. These findings provide evidence that successful emotion prediction, which relies on the perception of accurate internal and external data about how emotions transition, may be key to social success. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

What do men and women envy each other for?

IntroductionThis study explores the phenomenon of envy directed towards the opposite sex. Envy is a complex emotion that can manifest in various forms, often reflecting societal and biological influences. Previous research suggests a potential imbalance in the domains where men and women experience envy.MethodsThe research was conducted in the Czech Republic using a demographically representative sample of 1,769 individuals (867 men and 902 women). Respondents were asked what they envied about the opposite sex, and qualitative analysis was performed on their answers. A total of 32 distinct categories of envy were identified.ResultsThe analysis revealed significant differences between men and women in the nature of their envy. Women expressed envy towards men in domains linked to biological conditions and social advantages, such as salary, prestige, physical strength, and the absence of menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. Men, on the other hand, envied women for their physical attractiveness, ease of seduction, ability to perform traditionally female tasks, and motherhood. Some categories, such as safety and tolerance, were shared by both genders, but the underlying reasons differed. For instance, women envied men for not having to fear being alone, while men envied women for being protected by men.DiscussionThese findings confirm existing evidence of a gender imbalance in envy. The study also uncovered a novel form of envy, termed “ablative envy”, which refers to the desire for the absence of an unpleasant quality. This suggests that envy between the sexes is deeply rooted in both biological and social factors, offering new insights into gender dynamics.

Costos en la gestión ambiental: camino necesario a la sostenibilidad

Around the world, the importance of preserving the natural environment has been recognized, which has led to an increase in the expectations of various stakeholders involved. This process has driven the orientation that prioritizes sustainability. In this situation, the objective of this article is to promote environmental accounting as a necessary tool for environmental management, both in the business environment and on a global scale. The study consists of an exhaustive systematic review with a qualitative approach at a descriptive level through the review of scientific articles, consulted in databases such as: Scopus, Google academic, Scielo, Mendeley, among others. It is concluded that environmental management together with environmental accounting as a necessary tool to achieve sustainable development benefit society, the environment and the company in terms of promoting sustainability, corporate social responsibility, decision making, efficiency and competitive advantage.

Strategic decision-making for sustainable production and distribution in automotive industry: a machine learning enabled dynamic multi-objective optimisation

ABSTRACT Over the last decade, numerous researchers have disclosed that major automotive companies do not conform to regulatory or societal expectations regarding their environmental and social performances. This paper explores the dynamic capabilities of production distribution within the sustainability practices of automotive industries. It offers insights to better grasp and articulate the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable supply chains. The research framework encloses all supply chain phases, from raw material sourcing to retailing finished products. Three conflicting objective functions are identified: social advantages maximisation, cost minimisation, and emission minimisation. Specifically, the study tackles a dynamic multi-objective optimisation model where each automobile type faces a series of dynamic demands. The dynamic nature of the problem poses significant challenges to conventional evolutionary algorithms for detecting the optimal solutions over time. Therefore, we introduce an interconnected prediction-based dynamic non-dominated sorting algorithm (ICP-DNSGA-II). Finally, extensive computational experiments are conducted to assess the effectiveness of this holistic approach. The findings offer valuable insights for automotive industry stakeholders and policymakers, illustrating its potential to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability performance across the supply chain. Most importantly, this paper proposes an automated decision-making approach to generate optimal solutions with dynamic changes in market demands.

Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Kindergarten Children

Children who attend kindergarten are in the golden age for child development. During this period, children undergo significant advancements in various domains, such as physical, mental, and social development. Thus, outdoor activities are a crucial means to support development in these areas. The present literature review will examine the advantages of engaging children in outdoor activities during their kindergarten years. Our objective is to clarify the various benefits of outdoor activities for kindergarten children, including physical, cognitive, social, mental health, and sensory processing advantages.

Fear of nothing to hide? How do Chinese people feel about privacy when facing facial recognition cameras?

ABSTRACT Facial-recognition cameras are becoming increasingly important for governments around the world to help maintain public security and improve public services. Despite these benefits, previous studies have shown that facial-recognition cameras may also cause risks such as privacy violations. This study explores how citizens respond to government-sponsored facial-recognition cameras in terms of privacy concerns in China, which is a country with a well-established digital system. By using a national survey combined with facial-recognition camera data, this study reveals that the presence of government-sponsored facial-recognition cameras does not lead to increased information privacy concerns among Chinese citizens. Instead, citizens in China are generally very willing to accept facial-recognition cameras built by governments, and this acceptance increases when citizens’ trust in companies and government institutions is greater. Our study suggests that the application of facial-recognition cameras has probably been normalised because people are more likely to consider the social and economic advantages of such application over the downside, specifically that related to privacy intrusion.

Accessibility, (dis)advantage and everyday mobility practices and experiences: the cases of Maputo and Freetown

ABSTRACT This paper deconstructs everyday mobility practices from a perspective of accessibility and social and transport (dis)advantage in two capital port cities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) – Freetown, Sierra Leone and Maputo, Mozambique. The paper proposes a novel framework that interprets social and transport (dis)advantage conditions as critical drivers of mobility behaviours and the resulting (in)accessibility that circumscribes individuals’ experience. Building on its framework, the paper raises unique empirical qualitative evidence from eight neighbourhoods about mobility practices across populations facing different degrees of social and transport (dis)advantage. The study’s design is grounded in the in-depth understanding of accessibility using qualitative methods as a counterpoint to predominant quantitative and spatial approaches, filling critical data gaps in cities in SSA. The findings reveal a deep-seated aspiration for car ownership, tempered by the urgency of other immediate material needs, as well as the dynamic nature of travel behaviour due to changing conditions during the day and throughout the year. The findings also indicate informality plays a significant role in enabling access to critical opportunities and the need to strengthen trust in popular transport systems.

Food security in Nigeria amidst globalization, economic expansion, and population growth: A wavelet coherence and QARDL analysis

Food security is crucial on a global scale as it provides essential health, social, and economic advantages to the human population. Therefore, to achieve the sustainable development goal of zero hunger (Goal 2), it is imperative to assess the progress of food security, particularly in developing countries. Thus, this reflects on the relative factors affecting food security in Nigeria from 1980 to 2022. The study utilized advanced econometrics approaches such as Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) and Wavelet Coherence (WTC) to analyze the data. Food security is measured using the food production index (FPI), while other variables such as globalization (GLOB), population growth (POP), gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of economic growth, and inflation are considered. The results of the Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag analysis indicate that in the short-term, globalization has a beneficial impact on FPI at the 0.25 quantile, but it has a detrimental effect on food security at the 0.50 and 0.75 quantiles. Nevertheless, over a prolonged period, the effect is detrimental in all quantiles. Additionally, in the short-term, FPI experiences a beneficial effect from GDP in all quantiles. Over time, GDP has a positive effect on all levels of income distribution. However, in the short-term, the size of the POP has a negative effect on FPI for the 0.25 to 0.75 quantiles. Further discussion is dedicated to policy options and their implications.

Exploring Critical Success Factors in Agritourism: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Agritourism is an alternative approach to distributing economic and social advantages and fostering sustainable development in rural regions. This research aims to identify critical success factors of agritourism to comprehend the obstacles and problems associated with Thailand and examine the essential factors of achieving success. The research adopts a mixed-method approach to collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative and quantitative aspects. The data was collected by reviewing documents, conducting in-depth interviews, conducting questionnaires, making onsite observations, and conducting focus group discussions. The questionnaires were sent to a panel of experts from educational institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the tour operators. The data analysis involved paired t-tests and factor analysis to provide a comprehensive analytical output. The findings revealed four critical success factors in the Thai agritourism industry: geographical location, the entrepreneurial mindset of the farm operators, the quality of products and stories, and social media and publicity strategies. Agritourism sites in famous areas were found to have more potential for success, and an entrepreneurial mindset allows farmers to create attractions and diversify products. Therefore, knowing how to use new communication channels helps farmers deal with customers and better understand customer needs. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-08 Full Text: PDF

Modelling the impacts of future climate change on mixed farming system in southeastern Australia

Mixed farming systems play a crucial role in Australian agriculture, offering economic, social, and environmental advantages. However, these systems are vulnerable to climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and increased rainfall variability. We utilized the pre-calibrated AusFarm model, forced with daily climate data downscaled from 27 Global Climate Models, to simulate how climate change would affect mixed-farming systems at two sites, Condobolin and Wagga Wagga located in southeastern Australia. The results indicated that climate change had diverse effects on crop yields. The simulated yield for some crops, such as canola, was projected to decrease, while others, like field peas, were expected to increase. Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels were anticipated to boost pasture production, but the overall outcome would depend on how these changes interact with rising temperatures and changed rainfall patterns. The increase in pastures was associated with higher live sheep weights and increased fleece growth, with a more significant impact observed at the drier Condobolin site. Furthermore, we found that the gross margin was projected to rise at both sites, with Condobolin experiencing more variability under the influence of climate change. These modelling findings highlight the capacity of mixed-farming systems, which integrate both crops and livestock, to uphold or even improve farm profitability in the context of impending climate change. This underscores the crucial significance of mixed-farming systems in southeastern Australia.