Social Background Research Articles

Determinants of household dependency on Buxa Tiger Reserve in India for fuelwood collection and livestock grazing

The present study examined the extent and pattern of households' dependency on forest for fuelwood and livestock grazing and identifies, analyzed the key factors that determined the level of households' dependency and access to forest resources, and explored the role of ecotourism development in reducing the same. The study used primary data collected randomly from 300 households residing in the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR). The study found that the majority of households (88%) engaged in fuelwood collection, and the annual average fuelwood collection was estimated to be 1,502.8 kg. About 56.67% of households were found to be engaged in grazing activities, and on average, 2.57 adult cattle units were brought inside the forest for grazing. The regression results suggested that the education of the household head, household income, liquefied petroleum gas availability, participation in ecotourism, livestock availability, social background (caste), and the number of household labour were the key determinants of household dependency on fuelwood, while the age of the household head, family size, land holding size, participation in ecotourism, and social background (caste) significantly influenced the level of household grazing dependency on the BTR. Most households were affected due to restrictions levied on access to forest resources. Income from forest, fuelwood collection, agricultural landholding size, household dependency ratio, and forest department awareness levels were the key determinants of households affected by protected area (PA) restrictions. Household participation in ecotourism was found to be effective in reducing household dependency on BTR, but it did not adequately alleviate the impact of PA restrictions on their livelihoods. Hence, sustainable ecotourism, along with the provision of smokeless stoves and renewable energy, such as solar, could go a long way in reducing pressure on the BTR and sustainable management of the reserve.

Study on the Construction of New Tea Drinking Consumption Space under the Symbolic Perspective

Under the dual background of urbanization and socialization, along with the rapid development of social media, the consumption orientation of China's consumer groups presents diversified characteristics, and new-style tea drinks are an important part of them. In this paper, we study the spatial production and business model of new-style tea drinks, and explore the construction of new-style tea drink consumption space under the symbolic perspective.

Based on the Coupling Model of the Rural Revitalization and the Urban Old-age Care

With the development of society, the core problem of the elderly care in China has changed from solving poverty and material scarcity to how to meet the spiritual needs of the elderly. Under the social background of the timely completion of poverty alleviation goals and tasks in the new era, the construction of a "win-win" mechanism for urban elderly care and rural revitalization, the use of the environmental advantages of beautiful villages and idle housing, help urban elderly care, while giving play to the intellectual advantages and knowledge and skills of urban elderly, add wings to rural revitalization, not only help solve the talent bottleneck of rural revitalization, Moreover, it can meet the high-level spiritual needs of the elderly such as self-realization and achieve the purpose of quality old-age care. Therefore, promoting the combination of rural areas and urban elderly care is one of the important ways of rural revitalization.

An African in Rome

Abstract At the end of the second century, Christianity in Rome existed as a federation of individual communities, despite the narrative provided in the fourth century by Eusebius. There was a multiplicity of leaders, of social backgrounds, of languages, of beliefs, and of practices among the Christians of Rome. How did the church of Rome maintain unity internally and externally in the presence of such diversity? By the end of the second century, with Victor, that forbearance came to a dramatic end. The best-known example is the Quartodeciman controversy over the dating of Easter. Other examples include his reaction to Monarchians, Montanists, and Valentinians. In itself, this is not evidence that Victor was attempting to act as sole bishop of Rome, but simply that he used the structures of the pluralist communities to push for greater theological conformity, which contributed to the centralisation of leadership in Rome. As a qualifier, it will be argued that he was not opposed to pluralism per se, but was opposed to it when he became aware of any particular threat divergence presented to Christian life and thought.

Diabetic Foot and Work Outcomes: A Review.

The aim of this review article was to discuss impact of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) on employment status and work productivity. We performed a literature search from 2000 to 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and in national repositories. The major work outcomes studied were presenteeism and absenteeism. Many DFUs patients had a poor social and educational background. Overall, DFUs patients experienced increased loss of productivity in their workplaces: either they had to be absent more working hours than average or they faced increased difficulty in meeting their daily requirements. The total loss in productivity is estimated to exceed almost one-third of anticipated working time, while 15 to 34.3% of DFUs patients expressed concerns about severe changes in their working environment, attributed directly to their condition. More than 1 out of 5 DFUs patients (ranging from 20 to 31.7%) were even confronted with overall job loss and unemployment. Amputations had an even more marked negative effect. In conclusion, DFUs negatively affect employment status and work productivity. Therefore, we need more studies with large participant numbers to increase our experience and to explore potential measures to mitigate these adverse effects.

Abstract MP12: Educational Attainment and the Effect of Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction: A Post-Hoc Analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT)

Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) demonstrated that systolic blood pressure (SBP) <120 mm Hg reduced CVD risk and all-cause mortality among those with elevated SBP and high CVD risk. Educational attainment (EA) is associated with CV health, but whether EA modifies the effect of intensive SBP reduction remains unclear. Hypothesis: We predicted that SPRINT participants with lower EA would have greater CVD risk reduction with intensive SBP lowering than those with higher EA. Methods: We included 9,361 individuals recruited as part of the SPRINT study and categorized them by EA (<college, some college through college graduate, and >college degree). We examined the effect of intensive SBP lowering across EA strata in relation to the composite endpoint defined by SPRINT (myocardial infarction, other acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, or CV death) in multivariable proportional hazards models. Results: The cohort was age 67.9±9.4 years, 35.6% female, and 57.8% White race. Those with high EA were more likely to be older, male, and White race. Higher EA was associated in a dose-response manner with a larger reduction in the risk of developing the composite endpoint after intensive SBP lowering [highest to lowest EA: adjusted HR 0.48 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.70); 0.81 (0.63, 1.03); 0.90 (0.70, 1.15); P , interaction=0.01] ( Table ). The interaction between intensive SBP lowering and EA was limited to non-Black individuals; among Black participants, the association of SBP lowering with the endpoint did not differ significantly by EA. Conclusion: In the SPRINT cohort, higher EA was associated with a larger improvement in CV outcomes after intensive SBP reduction, with differences by race or ethnicity. This post-hoc SPRINT analysis suggests that the benefit of intensive SBP lowering varies by EA, and highlights a need for tailored approaches to optimize hypertension management for individuals with different social backgrounds.

The acquisition of intercultural competence among international and domestic students in China through an internationalisation at home programme

ABSTRACT Guided by a theoretical discussion on the effect of internationalisation at home (IaH) practices on students’ acquisition of intercultural competence, we used reflexive journals and semi-structured interviews to examine 10 international and 20 domestic students’ goals, progress, and challenges in their engagement in an IaH intercultural programme. Thematic data analysis revealed that challenges, including insufficient foreign language competence, social and cultural background knowledge, intercultural awareness, and intercultural communication skills impeded students’ intercultural engagement. Mutual sharing and support, collaborative discussion, and critical reflection provided them with more intercultural engagement and facilitated acquisition of intercultural competence. Comprehensive programme improvement suggestions are proposed.

Toward a humanist health and medicine education in Indonesia by reintegration of religion and science

Medical and health education in Indonesia has not been brave to put religion as a concept and principle in actualizing its scholarship. While the profession of social science background (health and medicine) will generate a scientists who come directly contact with human, the creatures of Allah Almighty who is the highest degree in the appeal of His other creatures. After finish their education, both professions will be a leaders in the table of counseling and action. Where they will inspect, palpate and auscult varied complaints. How to integrate religion with applying health and medical education? How does the history of Islam integrate religion with health and medicine education? Is religion as a metaphysical can be integrated health and medical education as a physic? The reintegration of religion and science in health and medicine is one of the methods to restore universal health and medical education. The application of religious and logic in medical and medical theories is the answer to the birth of a generation of health and medicine professions with logical, theological and humanist expertise. Azyumardi (Azra: 1999) states the difference of teaching and education lies in the emphasis of education in shaping the awareness and personality of students in addition to transmitting knowledge and expertise. Azra mentions the process of putting forward this form will produce nations and countries that inherit their generation of cultural values, thought and expertise so that they are ready to welcome life. (Hafhuddin: 2004) states the educational paradigm should row on two corals: namely spirituality and modernity because of the cruel social crisis lately. In the Qur'an An-Nisa Surah 65 is affirmed about education with Islamic principles of bringing people who have the skills and attitudes to be a person capable of realizing Divine skill. This paper describes the urgency of integrating religion with health and medicine education which is a balanced science between physical and metaphysical. The analysis will use Hegel's dialectics of the process to arrive at a truth. Religious science is represented by tawheed, tasawwuf and Islamic philosophy integrated with the science of health and medicine. The approach of religious integration with health and medicine education is one of the methods to balance people and nature. The separation of religion and science in education of health and medicine will only leave a generation who is materialism, anthropomorphism, secularism, exclusivism and other radicalism traits. Islam generate scientists to be the protector and sustainer of human beings, nature and His creatures.

Legal apprenticeships: Enhancing capabilities, wellbeing, and diversity in the profession?

AbstractThis original study presents findings from a study of members of the first cohort of legal degree apprentices. Introduced in the UK in 2016, legal degree apprenticeships (LAs) remove uncertainty towards legal qualification in an otherwise competitive graduate recruitment environment and could help to increase social mobility into the professions. We examine the impact of the LA pathway on the development of wellbeing and capabilities of apprentices and traditional law students through the following research questions: does it enhance wellbeing when instead of loans, debt and insecurity, aspiring lawyers have a salary, no debt and secure job prospects through an apprenticeship pathway to qualification; and does using a capability framework offer a meaningful lens for understanding the experiences on different pathways? The analysis adopts a capabilities approach, intersected with an inequalities lens, to explore interviews with 23 aspiring solicitors, from different social backgrounds and at different stages of progression on the traditional university and LA pathways in England. The interviews explored access to and experiences of both pathways, particularly how participants were able to develop and convert their social and cultural resources into key capabilities. This provided a meaningful way to make sense of participants’ experiences. Capabilities were enhanced for LA students by removing stress and uncertainty around employment. This wellbeing gain was corroded for some by long commutes into work—often centred in London. Future quantitative research could establish whether, on balance, the majority of LA students experience an overall wellbeing gain. The capability framework usefully showed how across the LA and university pathways, all participants valued agency and developing all capabilities. Social capital was a key resource for creating opportunity and a desired capability that participants sought to develop.

Welfare Elites and State Reconfiguration Evidence from the Transformation of French Social Security

AbstractStudying the transformation of France’s social security system between 1970 and 2020 reveals a recomposition of the power of unelected governmental elites. The institutionalization of a group of “welfare elites” characterized by a new sociological profile (social background and career paths) has led to a reshaping of policy governance (“Iron Triangle”). These High civil servants have carried out a program of “sustainable social welfare,” reinforcing state interventionism in health and social insurance policies. In the context of this program’s implementation, they have developed the role of custodians of state policies. This strengthening of the French state’s capacity sheds new light on the question of its reconfiguration.

Changes in the Recruitment of Transylvanian Local Government Representatives (Lord Lieutenants and Prefects) During and After the First World War

The study explores the changes in the Transylvanian Lord Lieutenants’ corps during and after the First World War, using a prosopographical approach. The comparative analysis of the Lord Lieutenants’ and prefects’ corps in 1918-1919 aims to examine the impact of various political and regime changes on the recruitment of these high officials. In the autumn of 1918, one can already talk of a partial change of the elite, since part of the newly appointed Lord Lieutenants had a very different social and family background than their predecessors. When the political status of Transylvania changed, at the end of 1918 and in 1919, it brought further, more radical changes atop the administrative elite: the Hungarian Lord Lieutenants were replaced by Romanian prefects, who did have the necessary qualifications, but who had no prior experience in local government. Keywords: Lord Lieutenant, prefect, elite change, Transylvania, 1918, First World War, recruitment

유아 STEAM교육과 비주얼 리터러시 활동 연계의 교육적 함의

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the need for visual literacy education in the field of early childhood education and to present the educational implications about linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities.
 Methods For this purpose, domestic and foreign academic journal papers, theses, research reports, and books related to visual literacy and STEAM education were analyzed. Through this, the social background of visual literacy and the concept of its components were understood, and the meaning of the link with early childhood visual literacy activities and STEAM education was explored.
 Results First, the concepts of visual literacy presented by various scholars were organized, the components were compared and analyzed, and the components were classified into six categories. Second, it has been confirmed that visual literacy education for young children in Korea is still at a basic level, and that visual literacy education is included in the school curriculum as part of media education in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Third, the need to provide visual literacy education from early childhood was confirmed, and the possibility of improving educational effectiveness through linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities was explored.
 Conclusions Through this study, the need for visual literacy education to proceed from early childhood was revealed, and the educational implications of visual literacy in early childhood education were presented from a philosophical and educational perspective. In addition, the educational meaning of linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities was presented from a social and educational perspective. This is meaningful in that it can contribute to cultivating the core competencies of convergence talent required in the future society.

The Influence of Soviet Films on Chinese Films in the 17-Year Period: An Analysis of the Film Zhang Ga the Soldier Boy

This paper presents a case study of the film Zhang Ga the Soldier Boy, focusing on how films released duringthe 17-year period are influenced by the theory of Soviet montage. A comparative analysis was carried out on four elements of the movie: Close-up shots, low/high-angle shots, shots of the Masses, and three montages of Pudovkin (metaphorical montage, contrast montage, and repeating montage). By comparing the similar social backgrounds and film techniques between Chinese and Soviet films, this paper aims to provide references for future film studies, especially the relationship between montage and politics.

Infertility: Experiences of Greek women undergoing in vitro fertilization

This study aims to explore the experiences of Greek women in the IVF process at the premedication stage, i.e. before the ova harvest and the embryo transfer. The sample consists of eight women with a history of infertility, diagnosed for at least a year. The study was qualitative, and the data collection was carried out through a one-to-one, face-to-face semi-structured interview, while a phenomenological approach to describe the women’s experience was adopted. According to the results, these women seem to be going through various stages of emotional distress and feel that they receive inadequate support from their families and social backgrounds. They want the social fabric and the medical staff to have a holistic approach that will include the particular psychosocial dimension of the issue. It is suggested that future research efforts take into account the socio-cultural background of the infertility experience and explore in-depth the experiences of couples undergoing IVF procedures. Finally, it is recommended that the support procedures for these couples include a broad range of counseling for the family and the couple, with emphasis on strategies for coping with stressful situations and handling the social environment.

The network resilience of safety confirmation and social capital during natural disasters: the comparison of the U.S. and Japan

This study discusses safety confirmation systems and how Social Capital (SC) affects the resilience of the safety confirmation network for natural disasters in the U.S. and Japanese society. When a large-scale disaster occurs, people desire to inform their loved ones of their safety status and search for their loved one’s status in a chaotic environment. Safety confirmation is the action of confirming the current status of people in disaster areas by collecting safety, injury, missing, and death information and sending the contact request. First, this study summarized the safety confirmation resources. The U.S. approach focuses on the missing and dead, while the Japanese approach focuses on the survivors and tries to define the remaining people who are missing and dead. Second, the social background that formed the SC was compared. Third, how SC affects the safety confirmation network in and between communities was analyzed. The case areas were Honolulu County in the U.S. and Aichi prefecture in Japan, and 1,324 samples were analyzed by ordinal logistic regression. The safety confirmation network reflected the social and SC structure for each country. The ethnic diversity in the network provided high resilience. Honolulu’s network was more open beyond the community and connected more with others. Residents’ economic network was linked to the safety confirmation network. Aichi’s network was more closed in the community and connected with kinship or neighbor ties. Trust and interaction with others shaped the foundation of the safety confirmation network. Finally, the integrated safety confirmation system was discussed.

Harvard Medical School Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Course: What is the Global Impact? Three Year’s Results

Purpose: This paper describes and documents an innovative blended learning Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course. This course combines a two-week face-to-face training in Orvieto, Italy with a five-month follow-up online virtual training as a learning experience for global health care practitioners. Continuing medical education (CME) accreditation is offered upon completion. This course utilized an innovative blended learning model with a community of practice approach, a combination of lectures and discussions, and online in-depth group case study discussions. Methodology: Data was collected by self-reported anonymous evaluation by participants of three continuous years of the CME Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course sponsored by Harvard Medical School. One hundred fifty-five participants (n= 39 in 2011; n = 57 in 2012; n=59 in 2013) underwent a pre- and post-course evaluation to determine sustained confidence in performing medical and psychiatric care to traumatized patients and communities, as well as to determine their learning of the Global Mental Health Action Plan (GMHAP). Results: Over the course of three independent years, a total of 155 participants were evaluated. There was evidence for significant improvement in their confidence levels in all clinical areas (diagnosis; treatment of trauma; use of psychotropic medication) when comparing baseline to completion of the six-month course. All ten dimensions of the GMHAP and nine medical and psychiatric aspects of treatment revealed significant improvement in confidence levels. Regression analysis also indicated similar results after the adjustment of demographic covariates. Physicians and participants with mental health and social work background had significantly higher confidence. Participants who were MD’s or psychiatrists had higher confidence in most of the categories of confidence except for self-care, understanding culture, collaboration, and policy and financing. The model showed no difference in learning based upon gender and level of development of country of origin. Conclusion: The evaluation of this blended learning CME program provides evidence of significant enhancement of clinical practice and planning skills in health care practitioners working with highly traumatized patients and communities worldwide. This successful training over the past 18 years has gone far to achieve the health and mental health capacity building as requested by the Ministers of Health from post-conflict societies in the historic Rome meeting in 2004.

Seeking employment during Japan's early industrialisation: new engineering graduates and their struggles before 1900

Abstract This article examines the social background of engineers in Meiji Japan by analysing their employment-seeking activities and their role in fostering industrial development. In particular, it focuses on the graduates from the Imperial College of Engineering (ICE) in Tokyo. One of the most prestigious schools for technical education, the ICE was established by the Meiji government in 1871 and opened in 1873. In traditional Japanese society, the handicraft manufacturing sector was held in low regard. The difficulties that graduates faced while the industry was still developing serve as a stark reminder of the widespread contempt and disdain for manufacturing that existed in Japan before the new profession of engineer gained traction. By scrutinising the memoirs of these engineers, this study shows that new engineering graduates faced barriers to employment in industry due to the low social prestige of those working in manufacturing in the private sector and the conflict with traditional workers, as well as the fact that private companies could not afford to employ engineers in the early years of industrialisation.

A quantitative exploration of management undergraduates’ readiness for diversity and inclusion in the university environment

ABSTRACT Promoting diversity and inclusion is crucial in today’s educational settings for the success of every student. This research delves into the important aspect of undergraduates’ readiness to embrace diversity within the academic sphere. Rooted in a positivist ideology with quantitative analysis, the study investigates the correlation between the attitudes of management undergraduates towards the inclusion of diverse groups and their readiness to accept diversity within the university environment. The data was collected from 324 participants using a structured questionnaire and the results reveal that the management undergraduates are generally receptive to diversity within the university context. One of the significant observations was that irrespective of the environment (urban or rural) of their upbringing, the undergraduates feel comfortable collaborating with peers from diverse social backgrounds. However, there appears to be a noticeable reluctance among undergraduates to involve individuals of different sexual orientations in university activities. Additionally, those who display high levels of inclusion concerning factors such as ability, gender, sexual orientation, rural/urban background, and ethnicity also demonstrate greater openness to accepting diversity. Beyond merely identifying prevailing opinions, the study carries implications that extend to practical measures for establishing a more inclusive university community. The findings underscore the need for targeted campaigns aimed at changing attitudes, especially concerning sexual minorities. This research contributes valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to cultivate inclusive and diverse learning environments, fostering a university community that is both harmonious and supportive.

The Social Embeddedness of School-Holiday Meals for Children Based on Discourses of Need and Deservingness

AbstractThe study examines the provision of school-holiday meals for children and shows how it is embedded in society. Proper nutrition is very important for children's physical and cognitive development. However, international research shows that children's social and cultural background has a significant impact on their nutrition. To reduce these disparities and ensure that all children have a healthy diet, effective government intervention is necessary. In Hungary, school canteens and free meals during school holidays for children in need serve this purpose. The latter service is of great importance for the children of families affected by food poverty. Yet, statistics show that some of these children are unable to use this service. This study examines the period before 2016 and highlights the social embeddedness of the service and its consequences on the provision. Whether child food poverty is perceived as a social issue and a common cause generating community intervention largely depends on the local actor's correct perception of the issue, the local appraisal of need, and the consideration of parents' “deservingness.” The study also makes some suggestions about areas where further interventions should focus to improve the nutrition of children affected by food poverty.

Ethical triage in public health emergency facilities: distributive justice – a decision model

PurposeA new triage method, MBCE (Medical Bio Social Ethics), is presented with social justice, bio, and medical ethics for critical resource distribution during a pandemic. Ethical triage is a complex and challenging process that requires careful consideration of medical, social, cultural, and ethical factors to guide the decision-making process and ensure fair and transparent allocation of resources. When assigning priorities to patients, a clinician would evaluate each patient’s medical condition, age, comorbidities, and prognosis, as well as their cultural and social background and ethical factors.Design/methodology/approachA statistical analysis shows no interactions among the ethical triage factors. It implies the ethical components have no moderation effect; hence, each is independent. The result also points out that medical and bioethics may have an affinity for interactions. In such cases, there seem to be some ethical factors related to bio and medical ethics that are correlated. Therefore, the triage team should be careful in evaluating patient cases. The algorithm is explained with case histories of the selected patient. A group of triage nurses and general medical practitioners assists with the triage.FindingsThe MBCE triage algorithm aims to allocate scarce resources fairly and equitably. Another ethical principle in this triage algorithm is the principle of utility. In a pandemic, the principle of utility may require prioritizing patients with a higher likelihood of survival or requiring less medical care. The research presents a sensitivity analysis of a patient’s triage score to show the algorithm’s robustness. A weighted score of ethical factors combined with an assessment of triage factors combines multiple objectives to assign a fair triage score. These distinctive features of the algorithm are reasonably easy to implement and a new direction for the unbiased triage principle.Originality/valueThe idea is to make decisions about distributing and using scarce medical resources. Triage algorithms raise ethical issues, such as discrimination and justice, guiding medical ethics in treating patients with terminal diseases or comorbidity. One of the main ethical principles in triage algorithms is the principle of distributive justice.