Societal Activities Research Articles

The role of toilets in public spaces: An interview study with individuals experiencing gastrointestinal issues

This study, conducted in Norway, addresses the issue of inadequate access to toilets in public spaces and transportation systems, particularly concerning individuals with disabilities who have heightened needs of toilets. The study employed in-depth interviews with individuals experiencing various gastrointestinal issues, including bladder-related problems. Utilizing a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted via telephone to accommodate potential travel difficulties. This approach also leveraged previous successes with sensitive topics. A sample size of 10 interviews was chosen based on prior research indicating that key themes typically emerge within this range. Key findings indicate significant barriers to participation in societal activities due to insufficient toilet facilities. For transport in particular, boats and trains emerge as preferred modes over buses, trams and subways due to the presence of onboard toilets. Notably, urban areas and recreational spots like parks and beaches suffer from a lack of restroom facilities. In order to improve these facilities, informants highlighted measures such as provision of open, hygienic toilets with barrier-free access. These measures should be coupled with clear signage and awareness campaigns regarding toilet facilities tailored to individuals with diverse health needs. The study underscores the critical role of toilets in maintaining public health and acknowledges the right to access toilets as recognized by the United Nations. Testimonials from individuals with disabilities underscore the profound impact of toilet accessibility on their daily lives, revealing instances of social isolation and restricted activities due to inadequate facilities. Proposed interventions encompass improved hygiene standards, increased toilet availability, and enhanced staff training to cater to the diverse needs of users. The study advocates for legislative reforms and policy guidelines to address the pressing issue of toilet accessibility, aiming to foster inclusivity and equal participation in public life for individuals with disabilities.

CSR and the Constitutive Role of Law: Harnessing Social Norms for Labour Law Enforcement

Abstract This article explores how international labour law can harness social norms for the enforcement of international labour standards within private companies. By doing so, it provides a particular take on the ‘constitutive’ role of the law in shaping societal norms and economic activities. Such reliance on societal enforcement mechanisms gains particular relevance in the realm of global labour governance. With the dominance of private compliance initiatives, the law can regain influence by internalising its norms as social norms within companies, even when, strictly speaking, international law is not intended to oblige these actors. Accordingly, the article argues that international labour law holds unique cognitive and normative capacities that can shape actors’ beliefs and expectations, promoting a universal understanding of what shall be considered as the appropriate behaviour in the realm of labour. Once international labour standards become the social benchmark for evaluating companies’ codes of conduct, compliance with these norms becomes key to companies’ reputation and market access. At the same time, the transmission of legal norms to the company level is not straightforward. The article thus puts forward an evolutionary path where international labour law can induce desirable learning processes towards the gradual emergence of a social norm among companies on compliance with its legal requirements.

Approaches to inclusive foreign language instruction in higher education

Introduction: The rapid development trend in innovative technological solutions significantly impacts societal activities, stimulating global digital transformation processes in the educational environment. Objectives: The article analyses innovative tools within the concept of inclusive technologies for teaching foreign languages in higher education in the digital age. Methods: Several general scientific research methods were used to achieve the research objectives, including abstraction, analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction. Results: Attention is focused on exploring the potential of audio-lingual and audiovisual methods, didactic game solutions, case methods, reproductive methods, thematic studies, linguistic and sociocultural, and project methodologies. It has been proven that using digital educational platforms in educational programmes allows teaching foreign languages to be carried out at a high professional level, stimulating aspects of motivation and effectiveness. The study identifies that implementing innovative approaches in inclusive strategies for teaching foreign languages enables students to gain practical skills through active interaction with various non-standard methods and forms of work. Such methods include brainstorming, project work, role-playing, group work, and several others. It has been found that specific innovative approaches, such as random and cross-learning, learning through argumentation, or embodied learning, form a solid practical basis for the successful future application of acquired knowledge. Conclusions: The article proves that innovative methods of teaching foreign languages within the framework of inclusive educational technology programmes have the potential to create an effective learning environment, ensuring a significant improvement in the quality of higher education

Short-term power load forecasting based on hybrid feature extraction and parallel BiLSTM network

Electricity is a vital resource for societal and economic activities. Accurate electricity load forecasting can effectively reduce costs and enhance energy efficiency. Nevertheless, current research has limitations in effectively extracting and utilizing load forecasting information. This encompasses both undiscovered latent features and models that have not effectively captured long-term dependencies. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel network architecture, which utilizes a hybrid feature extraction strategy and integrates machine learning methods with deep learning techniques. This method employs a hybrid feature extraction strategy composed of gradient-boosted regression trees, Fisher Score, and mutual information to achieve comprehensive feature representation. The network architecture utilizes a multi-head convolutional neural network and a bi-directional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) with lag parameters. This architecture can simultaneously learn multiple levels and aspects of features, further enhancing the BiLSTM model’s ability to capture long-term dependencies. Through multiple experiments conducted on datasets from Maine, Singapore, New South Wales, Australia, and European countries, our method outperformed the comparison models in three out of the five datasets.

Modern history of hypoxia in Narragansett Bay: The geochemical record

Increased inputs of nitrogen from agricultural runoff, urbanization and suburbanization have resulted in degradation of water quality, including increased frequency and severity of hypoxia, in estuarine ecosystems. Much work has been conducted in recent years to characterize the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia in coastal systems, but the historical record of hypoxia in such systems is much less well known. The current work examines the history of hypoxia in upper Narragansett Bay, an urbanized estuary in the northeastern U.S., through vertical profiles of geochemical markers in sediment cores. Concentrations of authigenic molybdenum indicate more frequent/ longer periods of hypoxia that are related to changes in population and anthropogenic inputs to the Bay from the surrounding watersheds. Cores from the urbanized upper bay, greatly affected by wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), indicate greater duration of hypoxia in the 20th century, with periods of hypoxia decreasing through mid-century and recurring thereafter. Trends of hypoxia are closely related to improvements and failures of WWTFs in surrounding communities. In Greenwich Bay, with a suburban watershed and only one WWTF, hypoxia increased substantially in parallel with growth of population in the surrounding watershed. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations and isotope values reflect increased nitrogen enrichment and productivity in the Bay in the 2nd half of the 20th century. These results can help inform study of the environmental responses to societal activities that may affect water quality.

I KNOW THEREFORE I ACT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARENESS AS A PREDICTOR OF MINDFUL CONSUMPTION

The impact of non-sustainable lifestyle has increasedly being noticed and more attention are nowadays drawn toward the notion of establishing a more responsible consumption behaviour, mindful consumption is a form of that behaviour. The involvement of individuals, especially the younger generation, is much needed to meet the sustainable development goals of a nation, since it is not the responsibility of the government alone. People should have the notion that their independent participations in the areas of economic, societal and environmental activities will benefit the whole nation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to verify that individual awareness of their contribution to sustainable development will predict mindful consumption. A survey was conducted on 153 young adult participants who are university students, aged between 18 to 25 living in Jabodetabek area. The results show that sustainable development awareness in general significantly predicted mindful consumption, as individuals’ awareness of their role in sustainable development increase, so does their mindful consumption. Further analysis find that the economic dimension of sustainable development awareness is the strongest predictors of mindful consumption, followed with the society dimension. However, the environment dimension of sustainable development awareness does not seem to contribute as a significant predictor of mindful consumption. This study gives rise to an implication that sustainable development awareness should be included in the education of the public in general, specifically for young people, in the hope that it will encourage more mindful consumption pattern of the people to support sustainable development of a country.

Data-driven natural capital accounting model in Indonesia: Impacts of environmentally related economic activities on ecological processes and services

In this study, natural capital accounting (NCA) is enhanced by constructing a data-driven hierarchical model that can help improve policy decision-making. NCA enables the management and transparency of natural capital and ecological processes and services, resulting in better societal activities and well-being in Indonesia's regions; however, it does not account for environmentally related economic activities that may negatively influence natural capital, processes and services. In this study, a data-driven approach is used to address this issue. Valid attributes are identified, and a thorough NCA hierarchical model that incorporates synchronized accounting on ecology, environment-related economic activities and societal well-being is developed. This approach utilizes content and bibliographic analyses, the entropy weighted method (EWM) and the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM), which are used to validate the data-driven NCA measurements. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is utilized to cluster the measurements and assess their reliability. The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) is used to construct the NCA hierarchical structure by considering the cause-and-effect interrelationships among attributes. The valid prioritized attributes are determined, and a hierarchical structure is built to support government decision-making processes. The findings suggest that water resource accounting, forestry production, raw material extraction, resource allocation management and resource consumption management are the criteria that fluctuate the most for practitioners and governments.

Maatschappelijke doelgroepen en activiteiten van het project De Start van Veeteelt in Nederland

Societal target audiences and activities of the project the Emergence of Domesticated Animals in the Netherlands (EDAN)This contribution presents the societal outreach activities that are part of the 2020-2024 EDAN project. We present the ambition to have an impact on farmers because they play an important role as caretakers of archaeological values in the soil. To this end, we organized an exhibition in the Rundveemuseum in Aartswoud and produced a freely available module for students in animal husbandry.

Synthesizing Jakarta City’s Local Wisdom: Reimagining Sidewalks with an Emotional Design and Sustainability Approach

The research objective was to design sidewalks as walking facilities and public spaces, considering comfort, safety, cleanliness, and functionality for Jakarta’s residents. The city of Jakarta, as a megapolitan center, hosted various societal activities. The high mobility of Jakarta’s population led to busy sidewalk activities, especially walking, regulated by the Director General of Highways’ guidelines. Walking could help reduce pollution, with Jakarta having the worst pollution in 2023. The research problem, based on 360-degree Google Maps images of sidewalks, was that sidewalks serve not only as footpaths but also as public gathering spaces. The qualitative research method examined digital data on sidewalk use in Jakarta (west, central, south, east, and north). The design process incorporated emotional design (visceral, behavioral, reflective) and three dimensions of sustainability (The Overlapping Spheres Model of Triple Bottom Line/TBL). The result is a 3D sidewalk model using emotional and sustainability design approaches. Synthesis of emotional design interprets visceral (sensory), behavioral (habits), and reflective (values) levels. Synthesis of sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic dimensions, focusing on air quality, water management, and energy efficiency. Social and economic aspects aim to meet Jakarta residents’ basic needs. Ultimately, these recommendations aim to make cities and neighborhoods inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. However, the research is limited to design recommendations without direct implementation. Further research or implementation is needed to address these challenges and ensure Jakarta residents’ future well-being.

Impact of COVID-19 on e-government: a pilot study of Poland

ABSTRACT Catastrophic events like COVID-19 cause substantial material losses and significant harm to the public. However, such events may also accelerate socioeconomic developments such as increased digitalization of economic and societal activities, including e-government services. These services become especially critical in crisis situations , providing a vehicle for administrative responses and ensuring social and economic functioning. This paper reports on a pilot study on the impact of COVID-19 on the demand for and the provision of e-government services in a municipality in Poland. Interviews with city administrators and technical staff involved in providing e-government services during COVID-19 are the primary data sources. Issues identified relate to changes in work regulations, adjustments to operations, shifts in volume and types of services, and changes in employee attitudes and behaviors. Employing focusing event theory in interpreting the results, this paper contributes to the literature on information and communication technologies, especially e-government in local administrations.

“I am a very active person”: Disability organizations as platforms for participation in rural Sweden

The aim of the text is to discuss the role of disability organizations for participation in rural municipalities in Sweden. Disability organizations are places for social interactions and for the accumulation of knowledge about disabilities as lived experiences. They also form a platform for dialogues and political influence work in the local community. With help of Nancy Fraser's theory of social justice, the importance of disability organizations as respected contexts is emphasized. Participation means being included in societal activities in a way that suits the individual's capacities and ambitions. The redistributive role of the public sector also enables participation, as it both supports disability organizations and opens up for influence in local planning. Conclusions that can be drawn are that if more support is given and more disability-specific arenas are created, there will be more open arenas for possible participation, and that what counts as participation must take a starting point in individuals' own experiences and values of what they appreciate and need in their daily lives.

«ЦИФРОВИЙ ПОВОРОТ» В ОСВІТІ У КОНТЕКСТІ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ СУСПІЛЬСТВА

The presented article explores the integration of digital education into the concept of sustainable societal development and education relation to the formation of the "information society" and "knowledge society" processes. The term "knowledge society" is defined, emphasizing its relevance in the 2020s context. The article demonstrates that the spread of digital education is a manifestation of the "digital turn," driven by the transformation of information into a primary resource that sustains societal activities. The temporal boundaries of this phenomenon are also outlined, emphasizing that the "digital turn" represents both a quantitative and qualitative expression of the ongoing development of technologies. The main challenges associated with implementing the "digital turn" are identified, impacting the effectiveness of achieving sustainable development goals – a dynamic state of society, characterized by the rational use of resources. The significance of education in ensuring such rationality is elaborated upon. The pivotal moment marking revolutionary changes in the dissemination of digital education is identified as the onset of global quarantine measures in 2019. Digital technologies increases the speed and volume of information exchange. Simultaneously, educational information, as one of the most crucial forms, requires heightened attention in terms of quality and accessibility. The article identifies the main positive and negative manifestations of the "digital turn," critical for the construction of a "knowledge society" and the achievement of "sustainable development" goals. It is demonstrated that the attainment of the "knowledge society" and "sustainable development" states share common conditions associated with the development of digital technologies. Digital education, in particular, plays a crucial role as a condition for building a safe and predictable environment for the evolving of contemporary individual. Alongside global trends in digital education, specific features within the educational environment of Ukraine are addressed.

Introducing Time and Space

Time is an essential element in today’s world, spreading over multiple applications that range from societal activities up to those requiring the highest precision for scientific purposes [...]

SCENOGRAPHIC IDEA AND CONCEPT IN CONTEMPORARY THEATER OF ANIMATION, FROM TRADITION TO ARTISTIC EXPERIMENT

In the era of accelerated digitization of all societal activities, artistic fields are also significantly affected by new technologies, which have a positive or negative influence on education as well. Visual arts have known surprising transformations and are increasingly faced with detachment and even delimitation from tradition. Puppetry, nowadays called theater of animation, has been favorable since ancient times to the constant mixtures specific to the language of visual arts, music and dance, since it relies on both tradition and modernity, on syncretism and functionality. The versatility of the language specific to the theater of animation largely appeals to the intellect of its audience, from the simple to the complex. The current superficiality of the artistic act is a consequence of the speed triggered by the alert rhythm of the search for new means of expression of the artist’s ideas and concepts, and also by people’s expectations. The transition from tradition to modernity can only be achieved through practice and experimentation. Unlike drama, the art of animation no longer preserves many constraints, this being a case-specific process. Various scenographers, puppeteers or companies, actors full of courage and vision such as Serghei Obrazțov, Yves Joly, Michael Meschke, Margareta Niculescu, Cristina and Cristian Pepino etc. made puppetry history for the new generations of artists passionate about puppetry. From scenographic idea to concept, the essential tool of the final perception’s shaping the message may be the actor’s stage improvisation, the scenographer’s spontaneous vision and the director’s openness to the present. The novelties brought about by numerous experiences contribute to the regeneration of the means, to the verticality of the evolution and the crystallization of the autonomy of the field.

Penggunaan Mobile Banking di Denpasar Bali: Perspektif Digital Divide

The development of digital technology in the era of Industry 4.0 has facilitated societal activities. The internet penetration rate in Indonesia has reached 72.02 percent, indicating high internet access. The innovation of mobile banking by Bank Indonesia has helped simplify transactions, although the value of mobile banking transactions is still lower compared to conventional banks. In Bali, a region with rapid economic growth and high internet access, coupled with the increasing use of e-money, however, the level of digital literacy in Bali is still low, with a score of 47.48, which needs to be improved. The use of mobile banking needs to be balanced with efforts to bridge the digital divide. The research utilizes a quantitative method with data analysis techniques using PLS-SEM through WarpPLS 7.0 software. Nonprobability purposive sampling is used as the sampling technique. Data collection involves primary and secondary data through the distribution of questionnaires. The sample size in this research is 302 respondents from the population of mobile banking users in Denpasar. The findings indicate that motivation, physical and material access, mobile banking skills, and usage significantly and positively influence the use of mobile banking in Denpasar.

Prospect, Legal, and Socio-economic Implication of Metaverse Operation in Nigeria

The metaverse, a digital realm blending virtual environments with reality, holds immense potential across sectors. In Nigeria, understanding its implications necessitates exploration from various angles. Firstly, the legal landscape demands scrutiny, with existing regulations evaluated for their applicability and efficacy. Secondly, socio-economic considerations assume paramount importance, given the metaverse's potential to reshape societal norms and economic activities. Concerning this, the employ a hybrid research methodology that focus on the potentials of metaverse's emergence, legal framework, and socio-economic effects within Nigeria. 308 questionnaire were distribute to respondents residing in Nigeria. The collected data underwent descriptive and analytical analysis. The findings underscore that permitting the operation of the metaverse in Nigeria holds promise for enhancing the nation's economy and facilitating digital interactions. However, the study also reveals potential pitfalls notably that the existing legal framework may prove insufficient in addressing the unique challenges posed by the metaverse. Moreover, the metaverse's transformative impact on the Nigerian economy may carry adverse consequences. Consequently, the study concludes by recommending the imperative need for a novel legal framework tailored to address the distinctive intricacies presented by the metaverse for its effective operation in Nigeria.

Are boys and girls in rural areas equal in terms of gross motor skills?

Proficiency in gross motor skills serves as the foundational groundwork for children as they navigate through life. Fundamental competence in gross motor skills is particularly essential for elementary school students, enabling them to engage in play, sports, and societal activities, while also reaping health benefits through a consistently active lifestyle. Inadequate competency in gross motor skills may potentially limit the prospects of leading an active life. This research seeks to explore potential disparities in gross motor skills between male and female students in rural areas. The study sample encompasses 96 elementary school students spanning grades 4 to 6, with an even distribution of 48 boys and 48 girls. The measurement of gross motor skills is conducted using Ulrich's TGMD-2, and the data is subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The results of the gender difference test reveal a significance level of 0.259 (p > 0.05), indicating similar basic movement skills. Both boys and girls fall within the average ability category on a scale of 91-110, with mean scores of 98.43 for boys and 94.87 for girls. In grade 4, both genders start at the same level, experience an increase in grade 5, and a decrease in grade 6. However, these fluctuations are statistically insignificant, as affirmed by the t-test results, indicating comparable motor skills in both groups. The outcomes of this study aim to provide valuable insights into the nuances of motor skill development in rural settings, offering input for strategies to foster equitable physical development among boys and girls in such environments. Keywords: Gross motor, boys and girls, rural students, primary school

Greenhouse gas emissions in Danish environmental assessments: a critical review

ABSTRACT Climate change is a key focus in society, and environmental assessments (EAs) are seen as key instruments to inform decision-makers about climate consequences of plans and projects. Previous research has, however, identified shortcomings of practice of assessing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their significance, and this paper aims to unfold current practices with a focus on Denmark. From an initial set of 762 Danish EA reports published between 2017 and 2021, researchers scrutinized 102 of them to assess their handling of GHG emissions. The findings show that climate change mitigation receives continuous sparse attention and is only to a limited extent included in the scope of the EA. Moreover, analysis of GHG emissions only involves few phases in a life-cycle perspective, GHG emissions are seldomly deemed significant, and justifications provided are varied and frequently inadequate. The results contrast with the increasing focus in society on climate change as a pivotal concern across numerous societal activities. The repercussions of this current practice are discussed. Finally, a research agenda to support better practice is outlined.

The determinants of the communication of societal accounting data within companies in Tunisia

The objective of this research is to study the reasons for the communication of societal accounting information in Tunisian companies. In fact, we have discussed the questions of the convergence of sustainability accounting models, the questions of the communication of accounting data or even questions of the participation of the actors. The results of qualitative research on a sample of 16 companies show a certain homogeneity in the assessment of the communication policy of societal accounting information of each type of company. It turns out that the social and societal activities identified come under the initiative of companies, their organizational culture and their extra-economic concerns. The social and societal concerns of these companies remain at the heart of the concerns of managers.

New missions for universities in the era of innovation: European and global perspectives for excellence and sustainability

Analyzing the evolving landscape of higher education, the article looks at historical, political, and contemporary challenges. It highlights the global impact of innovation doctrines over the last fifty years, and their influence on public policy and societal structures, and especially higher education. It highlights the major shift in the dominant regime of knowledge production that has taken place over the same period, leading to the dominance of the entrepreneurial university, utilitarian knowledge and “strategic research”. This transformative paradigm has led to the conceptualization of the “third mission” of economic and societal development. By examining European and national programs such as the Excellence Initiatives, the article shows how universities are adapting while contributing to national innovation systems. The analysis reveals different perspectives on knowledge production, emphasizing rationalization and productivity while highlighting the complex consequences of societal activities on their production and environment.