Social Sciences Research Articles

Homecoming: Returning to Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities after 50 Years

Abstract The articles in this special collection are a tribute to Italo Calvino and a work of fiction that has not lost its power to fascinate readers and scholars for over half a century. This special issue draws attention to how this very short work of fiction continues to serve as a source of inspiration for geographers, as well as for scholars all across the humanities and social sciences.

의사결정나무 분석에 대한 국내 연구 동향 탐색

This study explores the basic system and applicability of decision tree techniques by examining domestic research trends in this field. We analyzed 1,075 academic papers using domestic decision tree analysis from 2001 to 2023, categorized by year, journal, topic field, author, paper frequency, and frequency of algorithms used. Key findings reveal that the frequency of papers began with one in 2001, increasing to 87 in 2023. The distribution across fields was as follows: social science (377 papers, 35.07%), natural science (233 papers, 21.67%), and engineering (230 papers, 21.40%). Among the algorithms, CHAID was used most frequently (315 times, 36.42%), followed by CART (310 times, 35.84%), ensemble techniques like random forest (124 times, 14.34%), and C5.0 (94 times, 10.87%). The Quest algorithm was rarely used (10 times, 1.16%). The annual usage trends indicate a growing preference for ensemble techniques to enhance decision tree prediction rates. The paper's keywords included “decision trees” (687), “data mining” (239), “machine learning” (105), “logistic” (98), and “neural networks” (68). Notably, keywords related to health, such as “suicide,” “depression,” “high blood pressure,” and “health,” emerged prominently, signifying the extensive use of decision trees in medical research. Based on these findings, we propose implications and directions for follow-up studies.

Editorial: Carbon dioxide removal: perspectives from the social sciences and humanities

Editorial: Carbon dioxide removal: perspectives from the social sciences and humanities

Environmental Factors Affecting Growth of MSME’s Owned by Entrepreneurs with Disabilities in Rural Areas in Kenya: A Case of Meru County

Purpose: In the recent past, the government of Kenya has paid much attention to entrepreneurship primarily because of the positive relationship between entrepreneurship, job creation and economic growth. In Kenya, over 1.3 million Persons live with disabilities with most of them being generally economically deprived and over-represented among the poor. The aim of the study study was to investigate the external business factors affecting growth of MSME’s owned by entrepreneurs with disabilities in rural areas in Kenya: a case of Meru County. Methodology: The target population comprised of 2021 entrepreneurs with disabilities. The researcher used a combination of stratified sampling, census and purposive sampling method to select the respondents. Data was collected by administration of questionnaires designed based on the research objectives. The data collected was then coded, entered, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: The findings showed that if all factors; political-legal environment, social –cultural environment and technological environment had a positive and significant effect on growth of MSME’s. Political –legal factors had the greatest effect at 0,882, followed technological at 0.799 while social factors had 0.633. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that the government should provide adequate and timely funding to vocational and technical training institutions. Government funding programs such as Women, Youth and Uwezo fund should increase the minimum loan amount, simplify loan application process and ensure timely disbursement of funds as well as establish strategies of lending to individuals. Finally, a mentorship office should be established in every constituency to offer sector specific programs including activities geared towards exposing EwD’s to successful entrepreneurs.

The influence of physical activity, interpersonal intelligence, emotional intelligence on physical education academic achievement of elementary school students

Background and Study Aim. Physical Education not only develops physical aspects but also critical thinking, reasoning skills, and affective aspects, including social skills and personal traits like caring and cooperation. The study aims to examine the effect of physical activity, interpersonal intelligence, and emotional intelligence on the academic achievement of Physical Education Elementary School Students. Materials and Methods. The research uses a quantitative, correlational approach. The study population consisted of 102 elementary school students aged 9-12 years (54 males, 48 females). The physical activity instrument used was the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C). The interpersonal intelligence instrument was adapted from the Anderson Social Insight, Social Sensitivity, and Social Communication dimensions. The emotional intelligence instrument was the “Emotional Quotient Inventory: Young Version (EQ-i: YV). The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 21 software. The level of statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results. The results showed that: (1) physical activity has a significant effect on the physical education academic achievement of elementary school students (p-value 0.006 <0.05). (2) Interpersonal intelligence has a significant effect on the academic achievement of physical education elementary school students, (p-value 0.000 <0.05). (3) Emotional Intelligence has a significant effect on physical education academic achievement of elementary school students, (p-value 0.005 < 0.05). Conclusions. In particular, learners who exercise show greater intrapersonal and emotional intelligence, adaptability, and mood compared to those who do not exercise in an organized way. Physical education teachers are expected to assign physical activities for students to complete at home under parental supervision, with the results reported to the teacher for an additional assignment grade.

Transforming learning outcomes: Impact of project-based learning on digestive system mastery

One of the learning models that is currently strongly advised to be used in the learning process is Project Based Learning (PJBL). The purpose of this study is to ascertain how PJBL affects students' learning outcomes in the digestive system. Students (n=61) from Muara Enim, Indonesia's class XI Science public senior high school served as the research subjects. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group is the study methodology employed. Project assignments, surveys, and observation sheets served as the tools. The independent sample t-test in the statistical program for social science 28 (SPSS version 28) was used to assess learning outcomes data. With a gain of 33.6 and n-gain of 0.63, the study's findings show that using the PjBL learning paradigm enhances students' learning outcomes. PjBl can increase motivation, and as it uses real-world challenges, strong curiosity will impact learning outcomes.

Mobile Banking: Drives Changes in The Consumptive Behavior of Generation Z in Batu Ampar Kramat Jati

AbstractThe rapid development of technology has led to various changes in the banking industry, including the rise of electronic payments such as mobile banking. This study aims to understand the impact of mobile banking on the consumption behavior of Generation Z in the Batu Ampar area of Kramat Jati. The study collected quantitative data through questionnaires distributed to 100 respondents with sampling techniques, namely non-probability sampling in the form of purposive sampling. The data was then analyzed using the SPSS 25 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) application. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between mobile banking and consumptive behavior. The regression test revealed that for every 1% increase in mobile banking usage, the value of consumption behavior increases by 1.471. Through the Product Moment Correlation Analysis, it is known that R count 0.05 ≥ 0.000 means that there is a significant relationship between Mobile Banking (X) and Consumptive Behavior (Y). In the F test, it is obtained that F count is 36.417> F table, namely 3.94, which can be seen that variable X (Mobile Banking) has an effect on variable Y (Consumptive Behavior) which means Hα is accepted and H0 is rejected by having an influence value of 27.1% of the consumption behavior can be attributed to mobile banking, while the remaining 72.9% is influenced by other factors not considered in this study. Overall, these findings highlight the influence of mobile banking on the consumption behavior of Generation Z.

Differences in Body Mass Index, Physical self-concept, and self-confidence in adolescent boys and girls

Background and Study Aim. Adolescence is characterized as a critical stage in the development of health-related habits, whose importance extends beyond this period, as they predict health-related behaviors in adulthood. The main objective of this study was to analyze differences in body mass index, physical self-concept, and self-confidence of adolescent boys and girls. Materials and Methods. This is a comparative research. The population in this study was adolescents aged 13-19 years with a random sampling technique of 94 people (male 53, female 41). Inclusion criteria for adolescent students in this study include the absence of any disease-related limitations. The instruments used were Body Mass Index, Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP), and a self-confidence questionnaire. The statistical analysis technique used the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21 software. The level of statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Results. The results of the analysis showed that: (1) Body Mass Index of adolescent girls is higher than boys (p-value < 0.05). (2) Physical Self-Concept of adolescent girls is higher than that of boys (p-value < 0.05). (3) Self-Confidence of adolescent boys is better than that of girls (p-value < 0.05). Conclusions. The results of this study are expected to be a guideline for schools and health agencies to pay attention to the psychological health conditions of adolescents. Adolescents are expected to improve their body image with a confident attitude in order to avoid psychological problems.

Analysis of the utilization rate of claimed dental implants and related factors.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the utilization of claimed dental implants and the related factors in South Korea using the Anderson behavioral model.Materials and Methods: This study used the Health Checkup Cohort DB, claimed data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), to identify changes in the utilization of dental implants and related factors. The study population was selected as 75 years old because they were covered by NHIS since the first year, 2014. Finally, the sample subjects in the analysis were 63,880. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 26.0. SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA).Results: The dental implant utilization rate of the study population increased continuously, from 3.4% in Phase 1 to 6.3% and 7.0% in Phase 2 and 3, respectively. The significant differences by region, insurance type, and disability were shown in Phases 1 and 2 (p<0.05), but it was insignificant in Phase 3 (p>0.05). In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, the probability of using dental implants was 1.9 times higher in the higher Phase than the others. The people who had annual oral examinations showed a two times higher possibility of having dental implant surgery.Conclusions: It is necessary to review the recent claiming trends and related factors before the decision-making for coverage, especially dental coverage with huge effects, such as dental implants.

Effects of House Fellowships on the Spiritual Growth of Members: A Case Study of Parklands Baptist Church, Westlands, Nairobi County

Abstract Purpose: In Kenya, the lack of knowledge on the importance of house group fellowship on spiritual development and growth has become very prominent despite the increasing number of denominations in the country. Guided by the biblical learning from the book of Hosea 4:6 which expounds that, “People perish due to lack of knowledge’, individuals have been affected by spiritual ignorance leaving society in an unsafe spot where the devil can easily deceive and manipulate them. Despite this increasing growth of house fellowships, there is also a notable increase in cases of inconsistency, lack of commitment; fear, sin, individual relationships, busyness, and ignorance of the things of God that have continued to escalate from time to time. The purpose of this research work was to assess the effects of house group fellowship on the spiritual growth of members of Parkland Baptist Church Westlands-Nairobi County. Methods: The study was conducted among various house groups within the church. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative research design. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and oral interviews with members and leaders of the various house groups as well as pastors. The interviews were guided by the research questions while secondary data was derived from online sources: Journals, books, and websites. The collected data was analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences. Results: The findings from the analyzed data were displayed using frequency distribution, percentage tables, and pie charts. The results established a positive relationship between good leadership, interpersonal relationships, communal worship, and spiritual development. Results indicated that there was a positive relationship between spiritual growth and common shared interest between the house fellowship members as well as the member’s culture. Implication: The study recommends that to boast spiritual growth, leaders in the house fellowship need to allow their members to express their views in a free environment. Further, house fellowship as well as church leadership should support and allow their members to use their talents, gifts, and skills to serve both in the church and house fellowship group’s gatherings. Also, the study recommends more emphasis to be given to the issues of culture and interpersonal growth as this will contribute to spiritual growth and development of the house fellowship church which will be a win for both the worshippers and the overall church at large.

Website-Based Learning Media Using Google Sites to Improve Student Learning Outcomes in Natural and Social Sciences Subjects on Biodiversity Material

Website-Based Learning Media Using Google Sites to Improve Student Learning Outcomes in Natural and Social Sciences Subjects on Biodiversity Material

Male partners’ involvement in antenatal care and its associated factors in West-central Ethiopia

BackgroundMale partner involvement in antenatal care is a key factor that cannot be ignored in the quest for improvement in maternal health and is recommended as an essential intervention to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, little attention has been given to male partners’ involvement in maternity care, particularly in developing countries.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess male partners’ involvement in antenatal care and its associated factors among male partners whose wives gave birth within the last one-year in Bichena town, Westcentral, Ethiopia, 2019.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from October 1/2018 to June 15/2019, in Bichena town, among 406 male partners. The data was collected by a simple random sampling technique and analyzed using the Statistical Package of the Social Science 23.0 version. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95% and a P-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsIn this study, 53.4% [95% CI: 48.3- 58.1%] of male partners had high involvement in antenatal care. The age group of 20–29 years [AOR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.04–4.38], having primary, secondary, and diploma and above educational level [AOR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.02–4.07], [AOR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.49–6.11] and [AOR = 4.03, 95% CI = 2.06–7.89] respectively, ≤ 10 years marriage length [AOR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.46–5.87], good knowledge of the services provided in antenatal care [AOR = 2.68, 95%, CI = 1.62–4.42], good awareness of the danger signs of pregnancy [AOR = 1.77, 95 CI = 1.10–2.85], favorable attitude towards antenatal care [AOR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.64–4.19], travel less than 15 min to reach a nearby health facility [AOR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.54–7.65] and making decision together to seek care in health facility [AOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.19–5.03] were associated with male partners involvement in antenatal care.ConclusionsMale partners' involvement in antenatal care was encouraging in the study area compared to previous studies done in Ethiopia. We suggest strengthening awareness among male partners about their shared responsibility during pregnancy. Male partners should be invited to attend the antenatal care. Policymakers and healthcare planners should design programs and plans that will encourage male partners’ involvement in maternal healthcare services utilization.

Analyzing the performance of metaheuristic algorithms in speed control of brushless DC motor: Implementation and statistical comparison.

A brushless DC (BLDC) motor is likewise called an electrically commutated motor; because of its long help life, high productivity, smaller size, and higher power output, it has numerous modern applications. These motors require precise rotor orientation for longevity, as they utilize a magnet at the shaft end, detected by sensors to maintain speed control for stability. In modern apparatuses, the corresponding, primary, and subsidiary (proportional-integral) regulator is broadly utilized in controlling the speed of modern machines; however, an ideal and effective controlling strategy is constantly invited. BLDC motor is a complex system having nonlinearity in its dynamic responses which makes primary controllers in efficient. Therefore, this paper implements metaheuristic optimization techniques such as Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Accelerated Particle Swarm Optimization (APSO), Levy Flight Trajectory-Based Whale Optimization Algorithm (LFWOA); moreover, a chaotic map and weight factor are also being applied to modify LFWOA (i.e., CMLFWOA) for optimizing the PI controller to control the speed of BLDC motor. Model of the brushless DC motor using a sensorless control strategy incorporated metaheuristic algorithms is simulated on MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory)/Simulink. The Integral Square Error (ISE) criteria is used to determine the efficiency of the algorithms-based controller. In the latter part of this article after implementing these mentioned techniques a comparative analysis of their results is presented through statistical tests using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software. The results of statistical and analytical tests show the significant supremacy of WOA on others.

The Role of Changes in the Redox Status in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a hemoblastosis of CD5+ B lymphocytes with lymphocytosis, damage to the lymphatic organs, occurring in the older age group, the etiology and pathogenesis of which are not fully understood. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the regulation of stem cells and the activation of intracellular survival signaling pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. The aim of the study was to analyze the current data on the role of redox status changes in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A review of published relevant studies 2018-2023, scientific articles in scientific electronic bibliographic databases PubMed and Social Sciences Citation Index, devoted to the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the role of free-radical oxidation processes in it was carried out. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, oxidative stress with a systemic excess of reactive oxygen species, an imbalance in the effectiveness of antioxidant defense is caused mainly by activation of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, low levels of NADPH-oxidase type 2, increased expression of heme oxygenase-1, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione recycling enzymes, superoxide dismutase-2, thioredoxins and decreased expression of catalase. One of the mechanisms of resistance to drug therapy and oxidative stress of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is the intracellular signaling pathway dependent on erythroid nuclear factor-2, due to the activation of expression in cells of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and-5, heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin-1 and -2, reduced glutathione, natural killer cell activity, which is associated with lifespan, chemotaxis, proliferation, and survival. FOXO family proteins are believed to suppress carcinogenesis. FOXO3a increases the expression of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and -5, and the activity of natural killer cells, which promotes the survival of tumor cells. The development of new targeted pharmacological agents that are capable of accumulating reactive oxygen species and reducing antioxidant protection due to the degradation of erythroid nuclear factor-2 and activation of NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 is underway, which modernizes the therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Is there any association between vitamin D status and PCOS disease?

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. The current study sought to assess vitamin D status in women with PCOS compared to the control group and to describe the association between vitamin D deficiency and the features of PCOS. Material and methodology A descriptive retrospective study about 176 women of reproductive age was conducted. The sample was divided into two groups: individuals with PCOS (82 women) and healthy individuals without PCOS (94 women). Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum concentration less than 10 ng/ml. We used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 for all analyses. Results In our study, vitamin D deficiency was observed in 40.2% PCOS patients and 24% controls. The 25(OH)D level was lower in PCOS women and the incidence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were significantly higher in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PCOS women with insulin resistance or obesity had lower 25(OH)D levels in comparison with PCOS individuals without IR or obesity. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)/body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D status. Discussion and conclusion Vitamin D deficiency could be one of the etiological mechanisms of PCOS. In fact, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in PCOS women is evident, principally in those with obesity or IR. Also, the serum 25(OH)D level was correlated with parameters of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, it is proposed that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for the management of PCOS patients.

Efficacy of Suprachoroidal versus Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide in Refractory Macular Edema; A Quasi-experimental study

Objective: To compare the efficacy of suprachoroidal vs intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in management of refractory macular edema. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jun to Nov 2022. Methodology: A total of three hundred and seventy-eight eyes of 189 patients were selected after approval from the Institutional Ethics Review Board. In this study, individuals were divided into two Groups using lottery method: Group-A, received suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide and Group-B, received intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. After intervention, both Groups were followed up at 1 and 3 months. Baseline central macular thickness was noted in each Group. Patients were also observed for complications. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 was utilized for data analysis. Results: No significant differences were noted between both Groups at baseline Central Macular Thickness (p-value =0.29), However, significant difference was noted at 3-month Central Macular Thickness (p-value as &lt;0.001). Very few compli-cations were observed in both Groups. Conclusion: This study revealed that both suprachoroidal and intravitreal routes of administering triamcinolone acetonide were equally effective. Significant reduction in Central Macular Thickness and no increase in Intraocular Pressure along with better tolerance for treatment were seen in suprachoroidal route in our research which indicated its safety.

Preface: 5th International Conference on Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS 2024)

5th International Conference on Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS 2024) was held from October 19-20, 2024 in New York, United States. The conference is co-organized by Guangzhou College of Commerce and Asian Union of Information Technology. This HASS welcomes the sociologists, artists, designers, humanists, educators, teachers, policy makers, scholars, and graduate students, etc. from different cultural backgrounds to present and discuss research, developments and innovations in all fields of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. The aim of HASS 2024 is to provide a platform for sociologists, artists, designers, humanists, educators, teachers, policy makers, scholars, and graduate students, etc. from different cultural backgrounds to present and discuss research, developments and innovations in all fields of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. It provides opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas and application experiences, to establish business or research relations and to find global partners for future collaboration. All papers were reviewed using a double-blind review process: authors declared their names and affiliations in the manuscript for the reviewers to see, but reviewers did not know each other’s identities, nor did the authors receive information about who had reviewed their manuscript. Many thanks go as well to all of the reviewers who helped us maintain the high quality of manuscripts. Lastly, sincere thanks to the members of the conference committees and organizing team for their hard work. HASS 2024 Organizing Committee

Looking to see, listening to hear, learning to understand: centring Indigenous relationality to pursue a more-than-disciplinary academy

Indigenous scholars argue that the reciprocal relationality of life should be taken more seriously in scholarship responding to environmental crisis; however, much of orthodox academia analyses the environment as a separate category through the physical and social science disciplines. This article shows how human exceptionalism, human centrism, racial discrimination, and Euro-American centric privilege interweave in academic institutions and practices, often invisibly and thus insidiously, to dismiss Indigenous scholarship and lived experiences. We explore how to meaningfully address these problematics, presenting examples from our academic practices to overturn colonial and imperial privilege. We present a more-than-disciplinary approach to undiscipline nature, knowledge, and peoples. We argue that this paradigm shift is best led by Indigenous leaders in relationality, whose expert knowledge inheritance already holds nature with society. We present an Indigenous, pedological approach, to help destabilise orthodox academic disciplinary approaches and organisational structures through foregrounding Indigenous learning and knowledge systems.

Causal Mediation Analysis for Integrating Exposure, Genomic, and Phenotype Data

Causal mediation analysis provides an attractive framework for integrating diverse types of exposure, genomic, and phenotype data. Recently, this field has seen a surge of interest, largely driven by the increasing need for causal mediation analyses in health and social sciences. This article aims to provide a review of recent developments in mediation analysis, encompassing mediation analysis of a single mediator and a large number of mediators, as well as mediation analysis with multiple exposures and mediators. Our review focuses on the recent advancements in statistical inference for causal mediation analysis, especially in the context of high-dimensional mediation analysis. We delve into the complexities of testing mediation effects, especially addressing the challenge of testing a large number of composite null hypotheses. Through extensive simulation studies, we compare the existing methods across a range of scenarios. We also include an analysis of data from the Normative Aging Study, which examines DNA methylation CpG sites as potential mediators of the effect of smoking status on lung function. We discuss the pros and cons of these methods and future research directions.

Bibliometric Analysis Of Studies On The Concept Of Fear Of Missing Out With VOSsviewer

This study aims to map the studies on the concept of Fear of Missing Out. Within the scope of quantitative data in the study, it is aimed to examine the existing literature on the concept of Fear of Missing Out, which has become one of the main problems of our age, using bibliometric analysis. The unit of analysis is based on the bibliometric data of various types of studies scanned in the Web of Science database and published between 2013 and 2023. When we look at the distribution of 648 studies on Fear of Missing Out according to the years of publication, we see that there is the highest concentration in 2023 (148 studies) and 2022 (134 studies), the most cited researchers are Andrew K. Przybylski, Kou Murayama, Cody R. DeHaan and Valerie Gladwell, the type of publication is mostly journal articles (563), the fields of research are psychology (264), business economics (88), computer science (51) and social sciences (30), and there are more publications indexed in SSCI (468), SCI (185) and ESCI (114).