Southwest State Research Articles

Factors Associated With Adolescents' Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

To examine relationships between hypothesized potential predictors of vaccination and adolescent's Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intention and whether these predictors differed by sex. We also investigated adolescents' experiences and preferences regarding learning about HPV through social media and other technology, to inform future tailored interventions. Cross-sectional research design. 119 adolescents ages 11-17 years who had not received any HPV vaccine were enrolled. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from community and clinical settings, with the majority of households located in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in a southwest state. Participants completed an anonymous survey. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression were conducted to describe the sample, examine relationships between potential predictors and HPV vaccination intention and investigate sex differences. The mean sample age was 13.76 years (SD = 2.03); 63% female; 42% Hispanic/Latino; 55.5% received free or reduced-price lunch. Compared to White adolescents, Hispanic/Latino adolescents reported higher HPV vaccination intention (AOR = 24.10, CI 95% [3.85-150.82]; p < 0.001). Adolescents who had higher perceived risk of contracting HPV (AOR = 1.89, CI 95% [1.23-2.91]; p = 0.004) and perceived more facilitators (AOR = 1.61, CI 95% [1.22-2.12]; p < 0.001) reported higher HPV vaccination intention. Compared to boys, girls (AOR = 0.28, CI 95% [0.08-0.97]; p = 0.045) had lower HPV vaccination intention. Adolescents also showed strong interest in learning HPV-related issues through digital education. Adolescent HPV vaccination rates in the United States are significantly below the targeted 80% completion goal. Nurses play a critical role in protecting adolescents from HPV infection and related cancers. Digital interventions addressing HPV vaccine-related risks and facilitators and engaging key personnel (adolescent, parent, healthcare provider, teacher) in different settings have the potential to increase adolescent's vaccination intention. Patients or the general public were not involved in the design, analysis or interpretation of the data in this study.

EFFECT OF TAX REVENUE ON EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION OF GOVERNMENT SECTORS IN SOUTHWEST STATE, NIGERIA

Taxation has been recognized as exerting a significant influence on government expenditures, which constitute a fundamental component of an economy, particularly in numerous developing and underdeveloped nations. Taxes stand out as the primary source of funding for government expenditures. The extent to which tax revenue affect expenditure allocation of government sectors in southwest state, has remained a subject of concern in the Nigerian context. Therefore the study examines the effect of tax revenue on expenditure allocation of government sectors in southwest state, Nigeria. The research design employed in this study is ex-post facto, and data were obtained from audited annual financial reports and budgets of the southwestern states governments spanning a period of forty years, from 1982 to 2022. The study encompassed all six states within the southwest region of Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were utilized for analysis. Descriptive statistics, such as minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation values, were computed. Variance Decomposition Analysis (VDA) and Impulse Response Function (IRF), integral components of time series regression analysis, were employed to assess all study variables at a significance level of 5%. Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of tax revenue on the allocation of government expenditures across various sectors in the southwest states of Nigeria. The study concluded that there is significant relationship between revenue and expenditure profile of state governments in southwest states, Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that government should explore avenues to diversify revenue sources beyond taxes.

EFFECT OF PAYE AND OTHER INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE TAXES ON EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST STATE, NIGERIA

A tax is a compulsory charge on income, consumption and production imposed upon an individual, Partnership or companies by the government of a nation in order to fund various public expenditures. The intricate relationship between the collection of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes and the allocation of funds towards public services, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs poses a complex challenge. The study therefore examines the tax revenue and government expenditure in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopts ex-post facto research design while data was sourced secondarily from the audited annual financial reports and budgets of southwestern states governments for the period of forty (40) years 1982-2022. The population of the study were the entire six (6) states of south west Nigeria. Analytical techniques used in the study involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics include minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation values. Variance Decomposition Analysis (VDA) and Impulse Response Function (IRF) as components of time series regression analysis was used in assessing all the study variables at 5% significant level. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes on expenditure. The result of the regression analysis implies that four explanatory variables INT and COT were significant in explaining variation on the effect of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes on expenditure of government in southwest state with p values of (0.0202 and 0.0116). The study concludes that Pay AsYou Earn (PAYE) and other internal generated revenue taxes has significant effect to government expenditure in southwest states, Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommends that Government in the southwestern states should develop and implement effective strategies to further boost revenue generation, especially from internal sources like Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and other internally generated taxes..

EFFECT OF PAYE AND OTHER INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE TAXES ON EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST STATE, NIGERIA

A tax is a compulsory charge on income, consumption and production imposed upon an individual, Partnership or companies by the government of a nation in order to fund various public expenditures. The intricate relationship between the collection of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes and the allocation of funds towards public services, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs poses a complex challenge. The study therefore examines the tax revenue and government expenditure in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopts ex-post facto research design while data was sourced secondarily from the audited annual financial reports and budgets of southwestern states governments for the period of forty (40) years 1982-2022. The population of the study were the entire six (6) states of south west Nigeria. Analytical techniques used in the study involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics include minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation values. Variance Decomposition Analysis (VDA) and Impulse Response Function (IRF) as components of time series regression analysis was used in assessing all the study variables at 5% significant level. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes on expenditure. The result of the regression analysis implies that four explanatory variables INT and COT were significant in explaining variation on the effect of PAYE and other internally generated revenue taxes on expenditure of government in southwest state with p values of (0.0202 and 0.0116). The study concludes that Pay AsYou Earn (PAYE) and other internal generated revenue taxes has significant effect to government expenditure in southwest states, Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommends that Government in the southwestern states should develop and implement effective strategies to further boost revenue generation, especially from internal sources like Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and other internally generated taxes..

Do facilitators and barriers to community ambulation differ among stroke survivors in low resource settings? A cross-sectional study in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Purpose Stroke survivors (SSV) in many low- and middle-income countries experience frustrating participation restriction in community ambulation (CA), which impedes community life. This study assessed facilitators and barriers to CA among community-dwelling SSV in a southwest state of Nigeria. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 66 community-dwelling ambulating SSV, purposively recruited from physiotherapy out-patient clinics of selected hospitals in southwest Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaire containing physical and social environment elements of the ICF domains was administered on respondents. Mobility status at home and community, socio-demographic and clinical data of SSV were also obtained. Responses from open-ended questions were triangulated with appropriate close ended options. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at p < 0.05 Alpha value. Results Majority of the SSV were independent in their homes (59.1%), used mobility aids (87.9%) and assisted in CA (66.7%). They identified limited physical accessibility by crowds 25 (37.9%), lack of inclined surfaces 40 (95.2%), uneven floors 36 (87.8%), public seating arrangements 33 (78.6%), rain (73.8%) and inability to use services, systems and policies (77.3%) as barriers to CA. Built physical environment was a significant predictor of home (OR = 0.754, p = 0.001) and community mobility (OR = 0.850; p = 0.018), while post-stroke depression was a significant predictor of community mobility (OR = 1.038; p = 0.014). Conclusion Mobility aids, social attitudes and general support were identified as facilitators, whereas barriers to CA included built physical environment, services and policies, products and technology. Facilitators and barriers to CA are similar to some HIC contexts, perceived difficulties and experiences differ for infrastructural and social reasons among others.

Experience of Creation of Student Mass Media as a Means of Formation of Professional Competences

This article is devoted to the description of the experience of creating a student media on the model of collective blog, the editorial staff of which is made up of students of South-West State University studying in the direction of training "Journalism". The relevance of the work is determined by the need to generalise and analyse the experience of practical activities to form and develop professional competencies of future journalists.The aim of the study is to analyse the experience of creating student media as a means of forming professional competences.The tasks of the study include the study and analysis of theoretical works on the topic of the research, systematised description of the concepts of "competence" and "competence", generalisation and analysis of professional competences declared as the result of training in the direction of training 42.03.02 "Journalism", as well as the study of their formation and development in the course of work in the student media.The research methodology consists of general scientific methods of collecting and processing information (analytical and synthetic processing), classification and systematisation methods.The analysis of the three-year period of work of the Internet project "PALACE_MEDIA" shows that such a form of application of knowledge, skills and abilities obtained in the process of educational activities, predicts the development of student media.

Lnvestigation of the Effect of a Mechanical Stress Concentrator on the Processes of Occurrence and Development of Cracks in Structural Elements of Aviation Equipment

The purpose of the research is investigation of the patterns of crack development in structural elements of aviation equipment from a stress concentrator under the influence of a force stretching along the main axis, symmetrical alternating loads (vibrations) and combined effects in order to determine the criticality of operation of aircraft products with crack-type defects, substantiation or refutation of the need for research and operation of the processes of development of stress-strain states preceding the occurrence of a crack, in systems and complexes of periodic, preflight and operational control of the technical condition of aircraft products.Methods. Еxperimental study of the patterns of crack development from a stress concentrator in structural elements of two form factors: a cylindrical sample (GOSТ 25347-82) simulating a stringer or a load-bearing structural beam, and a plate sample (GOSТ 1497-84), simulating an aircraft skin element. Cylindrical samples were subjected to deformation caused by the kinetics of rotation, plate samples were subjected to uniaxial tensile stress and the effects of alternating loads (vibrations) individually and in combination.Results. Тhe patterns of near-surface and deep crack development, their relationship with the frequency of application of symmetric alternating loads, have been studied. Еxpressions are established for the approximate engineering calculation of the material endurance limit, fracture surface area and constant endurance with an approximation accuracy Proceedings of the Southwest State University. Series: Control, Computer Engineering, of about 0.8. For samples in the form of flat plates, a stress-strain diagram is constructed, clearly illustrating the decrease in the endurance of the material to the effects of combined loads in relation to the effects of static tensile stresses only. Тhe approximate number of residual cycles before the structural element is destroyed is estimated, taking into account the amplitude-frequency parameters of the acting vibration in the presence of a crack in the sample. Тhe estimation method using the load intensity coefficient and mathematical expressions for its calculation is given.Conclusion. /t is concluded that it is necessary to analyze the dynamics of the development of stress-strain states (fatigue) of the material as states preceding the appearance of cracks in order to carry out sufficient control of the technical condition of structural elements of aircraft products.

Метакогнитивные стратегии в текстовой деятельности (на примере англоязычных научных текстов)

Globalization on the one hand and border closure on the other hand spur communication process participants in all areas of human activities and especially young researchers into foreign language learning which is currently focused on foreign professionally-oriented texts. Traditional methods of teaching a foreign language based on grammatical approach are not effective in solving the problem of language competence development when working with professionally-oriented texts. The objective of this work is to assess the effectiveness of the method of legal texts concept analysis using a technique of metacognitive strategies in reading activity. Several groups of law students, Southwest State University (Kursk, Russia) took part in the experiment based on the above-mentioned method. Students performed both conventional (skimming, key words finding) and specially developed tasks (constructing a text compositional structure model, plotting a text graphical representation, etc.). Original criteria were used to evaluate the performance. The experiment showed a persistent significant difference in learning indicators and students’ behaviour in the control and experimental groups. The technique contributed to the development and enhancement of students’ skills improving their foreign language competence. The obtained skills facilitated communication and contributed to students’ satisfaction with the learning process, increased their creative and professional potential, students’ sustainable intrinsic motivation.

Teaching Foreign Speakers Algorithms for Working With a General Scientific Text: Initial Stage of Preparation

The article presents the technology of comprehensive work with general scientific text while studying the language of specialty by foreign students of engineering and technical field of preparation at the pre-university stage.The relevance of the study is determined by the scientific, theoretical and practical significance of the problems associated with the formation of competencies of foreigners necessary for communication in educational, scientific and professional spheres. The difficulty of foreign speakers’ perception of lexical and grammatical structures, understanding of an educational general scientific text and its production require teachers to use an effective methodological apparatus already at the stage of pre-university preparation.The novelty and scientific value of the research lies in the development of a system for working with the text in the language of specialty using tables and schemes that stimulate cognitive activity. The development and testing of a system for working with general scientific text using schemes that stimulate cognitive activity was carried out on the basis of Southwest State University as part of teaching the language of specialty to foreign students of e engineering and technical field of preparation at the pre-university stage.In the process of research, theoretical, empirical, pedagogical methods were used, such as analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, modeling, as well as observation of the educational process. The technology of comprehensive work with general scientific text is presented on the material of the text “Classification of inorganic substances”, studied in the topic “Classification of objects and phenomena” in the course of the discipline “Language of the educational and scientific sphere of communication” (engineering and technical field of preparation).The presented technology for working with general scientific text using tables and schemes contributes to the effective achievement of educational goals, development of student’s professional and communicative competence.

COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Student Efficacy in Jazz Performance and Improvisation in Secondary School Musicians

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary students' self-efficacy in jazz performance and improvisation. Students ( n = 38) from secondary-school jazz ensembles attending a jazz festival in a Southwest state participated in a questionnaire about their perception of achievement in jazz performance and improvisation during the 2020–2021 school year with COVID-19 restrictions in place and the year after when restrictions had been eased. Jazz ensemble directors ( n = 8) were interviewed about their experiences and positive and negative outcomes of the two years pertaining to students' self-efficacy. A paired two-tailed t-test revealed that students had a significantly higher self-efficacy perception after restrictions were lifted in jazz performance and improvisation. Directors reported increased competency with technology and a drop in enrollment in their jazz ensembles. Directors also experienced a shift in their educational philosophy, opting for a more empathetic as opposed to a results-based approach to student achievement.

Using Fuzzy Mathematical Model in the Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Lesions Using Ultrasonography and Echographic Texture Analysis.

Malignant tumors of the pancreas are the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This is mainly because they are often diagnosed at a late stage. One of the challenges in diagnosing focal lesions in the pancreas is the difficulty in distinguishing them from other conditions due to the unique location and anatomy of the organ, as well as the similarity in their ultrasound characteristics. One of the most sensitive imaging modalities of the pancreas is endoscopic ultrasonography. However, clinicians recognize that EUS is a difficult and highly operator-dependent method, while its results are highly dependent on the experience of the investigator. Hybrid technologies based on artificial intelligence methods can improve the accuracy and objectify the results of endosonographic diagnostics. Endoscopic ultrasonography was performed on 272 patients with focal lesions of the pancreatobiliary zone, who had been treated in the surgical section of the Kursk Regional Clinical Hospital in 2014-2023. The study utilized an Olympus EVIS EXERA II video information endoscopic system, along with an EU-ME1 ultrasound unit equipped with GF UM160 and GF UC140P-AL5 echo endoscopes. Out of the focal formations in the pancreatobiliary zone, pancreatic cancer was detected in 109 patients, accounting for 40.1% of the cases. Additionally, 40 patients (14.7%) were diagnosed with local forms of chronic pancreatitis. The reference sonograms displayed distinguishable focal pancreatic pathologies, leading to the development of hybrid fuzzy mathematical decision-making rules at the South-West State University in Kursk, Russian Federation. This research resulted in the creation of a fuzzy hybrid model for the differential diagnosis of chronic focal pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic ultrasonography, combined with hybrid fuzzy logic methodology, has made it possible to create a model for differentiating between chronic focal pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Statistical testing on control samples has shown that the diagnostic model, based on reference endosonograms of the echographic texture of pancreatic focal pathology, has a confidence level of 0.6 for the desired diagnosis. By incorporating additional information about the contours of focal formations obtained through endosonography, the reliability of the diagnosis can be increased to 0.9. This level of reliability is considered acceptable in clinical practice and allows for the use of the developed model, even with data that is not well-structured.

Mothers’ Accessibility to ANC, and PNC Services: A Case Study in Baidoa, Southwest State of Somalia

Although there are several accessible healthcare services in hospitals and other designated healthcare facilities, there are studies that reveal mothers’ little or lack of utilization of the services to the full potential of the facilities. For instance, antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services are offered in many health facilities in the district of Baidoa in order to improve the healthcare of the mother and her baby, but mothers’ use of the services is assumed to be low, particularly after the first visit or two visits. Considering that assumption, this study attempts to explore how mothers access their ANC and PNC services; whether they complete the required visits, and reasons related to the completion or incompletion of the recommended visits. The study focuses on mothers registered for their ANC and PNC services at Darussalam Mother Child Health (MCH) Center in Baidoa, Southwest state of Somalia. A close-ended survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 50 mothers accessing ANC and PNC services at Darussalam MCH in Baidoa city. Where further explanation was needed, an open-ended question was asked for the participants to express their opinion and personal experiences. The results reveal that 64% of surveyed mothers were attending ANC services while 36% were visiting the health facility to receive PNC services. More than 56% were unemployed, 30% self-employed, and 14% were employed by the administration of the government of the Southwest State. Unlike other studies that demonstrate mothers’ low attendance and missing of scheduled appointments for their ANC and PNC visits, the current study reveals that a majority of 82% were visiting the MCH on schedule, expressing various reasons leading to their promptness. Despite most of the available literature supporting low-income mothers in underdeveloped countries’ low accessibility to health services such as ANC and PNC, this study provides a gleam of hope in that many women are attending their ANC and PNC appointments in order to realize the benefits of the services for themselves and their baby.

A Retrospective Study on Cholera: Problematizing the Plight of the IDPs in Baidoa, Southwest State of Somalia

Cholera outbreaks occur recurrently in Baidoa, taking away the lives of so many people most of whom are children and the elderly. An earlier study on the subject discussed several aspects of the disease and its fatal consequences to the people, creating a debate over whether cholera mostly affected the large communities in the IDPs in Baidoa district and its environs or whether the host community constituted the largest number of the victims of the epidemic. To come to the bottom of the problem, this study was carried out to understand some of the possible reasons leading to outbreak of the epidemic as well as collect evidence from relevant medical personnel involved in the operation during the outbreak. The study utilizes the qualitative method to demonstrate some the reasons behind the 2017 cholera outbreak and the most affected among the people in Baidoa consisting of the host community and the IDPs. It used unstructured, open-ended interviews with health personnel consisting of medical doctors and nurses who had participated in the containment of the cholera outbreak in 2017. The results revealed that the epidemic struck the IDP communities harder than the host community in Baidoa due to factors identified as: overcrowding in IDP Camps, poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, lack of (or improper) latrines, faesces/ rubbish/garbage in the IDPs camps, and unpreparedness on the side of the authorities, among other causes

Knowledge, perception and safety practices of monkeypox infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary health facility in southwest Nigeria

Background: Monkeypox is a self-limiting disease first reported in 1970 in Zaire. It is characterised with small pox like eruptions and presently there is no approved anti–viral drug yet, clinical management of human monkey pox cases is mainly by supportive treatment and symptomatic treatment. This study assessed the knowledge, perception and safety practices of monkey pox disease among healthcare workers in a tertiary facility in Southwest state, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, web-based conducted among 402 healthcare workers in a tertiary health centre in Southwestern Nigeria. The 38-item survey instrument for the quantitative study was adapted from a similar study on COVID-19 among healthcare workers. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 20.0. Level of significance was pre-determined at p value &lt;0.05 at a confidence level of 95%. Results: Female respondents constituted 241 (60%) while 161 (40%) were males. Mean age was 35.4±6.5 years with age group 26-35 years (49.0%) being the majority. Majority, 311 (77.4%) had poor knowledge of monkeypox while 69.9% had good perception. There was statistically significant association between age (α- 0.001), work experience (α- 0.001), tribe (α- 0.001), and average monthly income (α- 0.001) with perception about monkey pox infection among the respondents. Conclusions: Monkeypox is endemic in Nigeria and the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare workers towards the disease is a critical epidemiological determinant of its transmission rate, it is therefore imperative that intensive training be targeted among all cadres of healthcare professional including non-medical workers in healthcare setting.

Linguodidactic Testing in the Digital Environment as a Tool for Teaching and Controlling the Formation of Language Competence of Foreign Speakers

The article analyzes the system of test tasks in Russian as a foreign language at the stage of pre-university training, designed to control the language competence of students.The aim of the study is to provide high-quality test technologies that contribute to the formation of language competencies of foreign speakers in the conditions of distance and blended learning formats, to analyze their effec-tiveness in study monitoring, self-control and corrective measures.The test materials and the results of the current, interim and final test control in Russian as a foreign language serve as the material of the study. The test materials were created by the authors on the Moodle platform for teaching foreign citizens at the stage of pre-university training at Southwest State University and were uploaded to SWSU’s electronic information educational environment.The Moodle platform has a wide range of tools for designing test tasks, statistical processing of test results, which allow teachers to get information about the quality of tests.The authors of the study conducted a selective statistical analysis of the tests for the current, interim and final control, followed by the adjustment of certain test questions. Statistical analysis took into account such parameters as ease index, standard deviation, random guess score, target weight, effective weight, discrimination index, discrimina-tion efficiency.Automated control at the initial stage of learning Russian as a foreign language is systematic and regular and makes it possible to check the knowledge and skills in vocabulary and grammar acquired in the process of learning, allows the teachers to objectively evaluate and compare the successes and shortcomings in the educational activities of foreign stu-dents, to identify the level of language proficiency, excluding the teacher’s subjective opinion of the student and provides for the possibility of feedback, significantly reduces the time spent on checking and analyzing the results.The authors came to the conclusion that the analyzed tests optimize the learning process and objectify control, give students the opportunity of self-control and teachers the opportunity of varying ways to control and manage stu-dents’ independent learning activity.

The Experimental Study of the Image of Russian Color Term Blue in the Consciousness of Russian Culture Bearers

The article is devoted to the study of the color term blue. This color occupies an important place in the color picture of the world of representatives of Russian culture, which determines the relevance of the empirical study of the image of this color term from the point of view of psycholinguistics. The theoretical basis of the study was the work of A.A. Zalevskaya, A.P. Vasilevich, E.I. Goroshko.When organizing and conducting the research, we assumed that individual and cultural knowledge about color are united in the linguistic consciousness. So, any image in the consciousness of an individual has its cultural and personal component. The main methods used in the work are associative experiment, semantic differential, factorial and definitional analyses. We used the data from related sciences in the process of analyzing the results of the study. The study was conducted on the basis of Southwest State University among full-time and part-time students.The work shows the structure of the associative field of the color term blue in different time periods, which al-lows us to clearly demonstrate the dynamics of changes in this field over the past thirty years.The article also examines the gender structure of the associative field of the color term blue, highlights general gender-neutral associations, as well as associations that are typically female or typically male. In addition, a factor analysis of the results of the semantic differential is carried out from the point of view of the gender characteristics of the perception of color term blue.The methodology of organizing and conducting experimental research described in the paper can be success-fully used for psycholinguistic research of images of various stimulus words. The data obtained during the experiment can be used not only in linguistics, but also in marketing, psychology and advertising.

Оценка социокультурных детерминант адаптации иностранных студентов в вузах Курской области

The article introduces the results of a study conducted by the Expert Analytical Center of the Kursk Academy of State and Municipal Service. The general respondents of this study were foreign students studying in higher education institutions of Kursk region, with a total number of more than 4,000 people. The sample population of respondents in 2022 was of 350 people, with a 95 % confidence interval for the survey (margin of error ±5 %). The sample was formed from the number of individuals studying in 2 major Kursk universities, the share of foreigners in which makes up the majority of the general population: Southwest State University, Kursk State Medical University. Non-repeat random quota sampling was carried out according to such socio-demographic characteristics as gender, age, year of study, field of study. Representative sociological survey of foreign citi-zens studying in higher education institutions of Kursk region over the age of 18 was used as the main quantita-tive method of research via personal formalised face-to-face interview at the respondent's place of residence using paper questionnaires (PAPI method).

Aspects of implementation of models of interaction between career centers of universities and industrial enterprises in the conditions of labor market transformation

Today universities are creating all conditions for successful training, improving the graduates’ competitiveness at the labour market and employment according to the qualification received. In the conditions of social and economic transformations a significant number of young specialists are not able to adapt to the labor market. This is caused by lack of practical experience and the resulting low professional status. The balance between the labor market needs for young specialists and the universities’ ability to educate them can be achieved by close interaction between the professional educational institutions and potential employers. To coordinate the interests of both experts apply various interaction models able to ensure harmonization of the process.The article in hand deals with four models of interaction between the university career centres and partner companies which use two models of such interaction in the Southwest State University. The authors analyzed the level of integration of the career centres with other structural departments of the university showing the link between the interaction model implemented in the university and the level of integration. The research allowed to make a conclusion about sufficient influence the university career centres’ activities on the graduates’ competitiveness at the labour market.Cooperation of universities and employers is aimed at implementing a complex of measures, means and methods which ensure providing the appropriate level of professional education. Also it contributes to solving the following tasks: engagement of the companies in the graduates’ employment according to their qualifications, participation of the university staff in scientific research activity within the topics suggested by the companies, involvement of the partner companies to career guidance activities and events aimed at developing the information environment in the labour market and increasing the attractiveness of the employer’s brand in the eyes of graduates.Regional universities are facing the problem of the graduates’ employment in the city – forming enterprises and companies operating in the region. Taking into account that young specialists tend to migrate to the regional centres, it is essential to take measures to increase the attractiveness of work conditions with the emerging trend of staff outflow. Promotion of employment of young specialists can be effective only in case of establishing long-term “university-student-employer” partnership.

Environmental impacts assessment of maize, soybean, and wheat production in the Southwest of São Paulo state: alternative scenarios for the substitution of chemical fertilization

Mineral fertilizers are highly impactful in the agricultural sector, and animal manure can be an alternative to mitigate its impacts. The goal of this research was to estimate the potential environmental impacts on the production of soybean, maize, and wheat at the Lagoa do Sino Farm School from the Federal University of Sao Carlos, contemplating the 2016/2017 cropping season and testing the replacement of 100%, 50%, and 30% of chemical fertilization by composted cow manure. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was the methodology used. The functional unit was one ton of each crop produced on farm. Impacts were also assessed for one hectare of production for each agricultural product investigated and the system boundary was a cradle-to-farm gate. Impacts were assessed using the CML 2000 world+ method for abiotic depletion, global warming, acidification, and eutrophication. Chemical fertilization was the main hotspot for all crops produced. Soybean showed a potential impact of 1489 MJ, 125 kg CO2 eq., 0.6 kg SO2 eq., and 0.4 kg PO4 eq.; the production of maize 1497 MJ, 197 kg CO2 eq., 1 kg SO2 eq., and 0.8 kg PO4 eq.; and the production of wheat 5863 MJ, 632 kg CO2 eq., 3.3 kg SO2 eq., and 2.4 kg PO4 eq. The 30% substitution scenario was the most efficient observed since there is an increase in fuel consumption if distribution of larger amounts of manure are needed. Enriching the manure and investing in fossil fuel substitution will improve the environmental profile of the crops produced under intensive systems in the Southwest state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Incomplete Exclusive Breastfeeding among Women: A Case Study of Darussalam MCH Center in Baidoa, Southwest State of Somalia

This study explores the prevalence of incomplete exclusive breastfeeding (IEBF) in the district city of Baidoa in Bay Region, SWSS. The aim of the study is to get insights into the practice and prevalence of incomplete exclusive breastfeeding among mothers, especially a group selected from women who visit the Darussalam MCH center. A mixed methods design was used to collect and analyze questionnaire data. Purposive sampling was employed to obtain data from 25 mothers who had stopped breastfeeding by the time the study was conducted. The study found that the practice is common among internally displaced women living in the IDP camps and their counterpart mothers from the host community in Baidoa. Each of the mothers in the survey has undergone the experience of IEBF with at least one child while one woman admitted that 4 of her babies had experienced termination of breastfeeding before the recommended period of six months. A variety of reasons including illness, divorce, and economic factors were expressed as contributing factors to the occurrences of IEBF among women. A high level of awareness is needed to educate women in particular and society in general about the effect of IEBF on child health in order to avoid the occurrences of preventable diseases caused as a result of the practice.