Specific Choice Research Articles

Barriers to Choosing Pediatrics as a Specialty: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

The pediatric field in South Korea is experiencing a significant workforce crisis due to a sharp decline in pediatricians, exacerbated by a decrease in pediatric residents and a series of distressing incidents in pediatric healthcare institutions. No prior studies have explored the waning interest in pediatrics among South Korea's medical students and interns, which our research seeks to address during a pediatric workforce decline. This study aimed to investigate the declining interest in pediatrics among medical students and interns in South Korea amidst decreasing birth rates. We conducted a comprehensive survey to identify the factors deterring young medical professionals from pursuing a career in pediatrics. In this cross-sectional study, in December 2023 we surveyed medical students and interns at Jeonbuk National University and Hospital using a 40-item electronically distributed questionnaire tailored to assess the factors influencing specialty choice, focusing on pediatrics. The participants were divided into the pre-clinical and clinical groups, allowing for analysis across educational stages. The survey covered demographics, perceptions of pediatrics, attitudes toward medical errors, and awareness of critical issues; it included a range of question types to ensure detailed and nuanced data collection. Our findings revealed a clear decrease in interest in pediatrics as medical students progressed through their education, with 86.69% displaying negative views. Although a sense of mission and emotional satisfaction from patient interactions were highlighted as positive influences, they were significantly countered by worries related to declining pediatric populations, legal challenges, and interactions with patient guardians. Additionally, 95.84% of the participants recognized the critical role of vital pediatric departments; however, litigation risks and psychological burdens substantially affected their willingness to specialize in these areas. The analysis also showed an increasing awareness of pediatric incidents as students advanced through their education; however, this did not directly correlate with their choice of specialty (P = 0.090). The results emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions to alleviate concerns and improve the attractiveness of pediatrics. These efforts are essential to counteract the declining interest and ensure a sustainable pediatric workforce for the future.

Understanding the factors that influence the choice of medical field specialization selection in Saudi Arabian medical students

Background: The career choice of specialization in the medical profession is very complex. This study aimed to observe the most popular specialty of medical specialization, factors influencing the student's choices, and future job features that would impact the choice of medical specialty and the career choice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 through a self-administered online survey, distributed by email, through the office of clinical affairs, to the final year (6th year) medical students and interns in seven different medical schools in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 294 participants completed the survey, of which 56.5% were 6th-year medical students. The gender distribution of the sample was almost 2:1 female to male ratio. The most common choice of field specialization was surgical subspecialty followed by emergency medicine at 16.0%, and 15.6%, respectively. The items that had the most impact on the medical students' choice for medical field specialty were: love of the specialty (57.0%), followed by attending a rotation in the chosen field (43.8%). Future job features that had a major impact in choosing the field of specialization were: wanting to work in a large city hospital (38.6%), followed by the ability to have time to pursue other non-medical interests (31.7%). Conclusion: The most popular specialty chosen was a surgical subspecialty, by both sexes, followed by emergency medicine. The most influencing personal factor was the love of the field, and the most influencing future job feature was to work in a large city hospital.

AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING INTRA-MAJOR SPECIALIZATION CHOICE AMONG SECOND-YEAR WOMEN ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Background: While extensive research has analyzed how engineering students select majors, less is known about how students choose to specialize within their majors (i.e., intra-major specialization), which may have implications for student career decisions and outcomes. Further, understanding intramajor specialization may be particularly important for shedding light on the chronic underrepresentation of women in engineering. Purpose: This study sought to understand factors that influence women students' decisions to specialize within their engineering disciplines early in their undergraduate careers. Design/Method: A comparative case study design included three engineering majors with varying program requirements and representation of women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 participants-30 second-year women students and nine faculty/staff. Thematic analysis, informed by social cognitive career theory, was used to identify factors that influence specialization decisions. Results: The analysis identified four main factors influencing intra-major specialization decisions: (1) interests shaped by curricular and extracurricular activities, (2) program structural choice constraints, (3) perceived fit with post-graduation career plans, and (4) peer influence. Conclusions: In light of the potential impact of intra-major specialization decisions on student career decisions, the factors related to specialization choice identified here should be considered by educators and advisors in developing engineering curricula and program structure. Moreover, future research should explore whether these factors change over time and how they impact career decisions.

The Mobility-Democracy Nexus Betrayed: When the European Commission’s Talks Fall Apart in the Mediterranean

In the aftermath of the Arab uprisings, the European Union’s (EU) relations with the Southern neighbour countries (SNCs) have been reframed in the light of a new élan of democracy promotion. The underlying logic of this approach was to leverage the building and consolidation of democracy and rule of law through enhanced cooperation in terms of more ‘markets, money and mobility’. A sort of mobility-democracy nexus has been assumed by the European Commission as a crucial dimension of the EU’s external relations with SNCs. Within this strategy, Mobility Partnerships (MPs) with SNCs have been identified as a key policy tool for EU democracy promotion. Via original qualitative analysis of European Commission’s documents, MPs, and other migration and mobility agreements that the EU has negotiated with SNCs since 2011, this paper explores how the mobility-democracy nexus has been defined in the Commission’s talks. We critically discuss the effectiveness of this nexus and demonstrate the inefficacy of MPs as a tool to promote democracy by fostering more mobility and regular migration flows. Looking at the content of MPs with three SNCs (Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan) allows to trace the transformation of EU external relations with SNCs from a principled approach into selective issue-oriented cooperation based on more specific and sectorial policy choices. European Union, Southern neighbourhood, EU external policies, post-Arab uprisings, mobility partnerships, democracy promotion, migration, content analysis

ОБРАЗ ГЕРОЯ В СУЧАСНОМУ УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ КІНЕМАТОГРАФІ: МОРАЛЬНІ ТА СОЦІОКУЛЬТУРНІ КОЛІЗІЇ ТВОРЕННЯ

Background. The relevance of research lies in the fact that a wide spectrum of characters created by contemporary cinema become symbols of their time and culture. Analyzing such heroes' images allows us to uncover the depth of their moral, sociocultural, and psychological aspects that reflect the trends and values of contemporary society. Methods. The method of interview is used in the research, and the optics of the texts by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell were used to conceptualize the material. Investigating the cinematic creation of hero's image reveals the methods and strategies used by authors to achieve depth and realism in their characters. Specifics of such processes are crucial for understanding how cinema shapes our consciousness and influences our perception of present-day reality. Unveiling the creation of heroic imagery in cinema is significant both for analyzing contemporary culture and for finding ways to resolve conflicts and build peace. In the current global transformations and turbulency, in the third year of russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cultural issues are extremely important, as they play a vital role in forming new meanings and connections, national self-identity, and intercultural understanding. Objective. To investigate the process of hero's image creation in cinema, including the methods, strategies, and techniques used by authors to achieve depth and realism in their characters; and to highlight the importance of studying film characters in the context of contemporary challenges such as wars, conflicts, and social changes. Results. The research identifies the main stages and methods of hero's image creation, reveals the influence of authorial decisions on the process of hero transformation/creation, and determines which specific filmmakers' choices affect the development and change of the hero's image throughout the film. The analysis uncovers the significance of moral, sociocultural, and psychological aspects in the process of hero's image transformation/creation. Presented analysis of cinematic masterpieces illustrates the process of hero's image transformation through the path of creation. Conclusions. The processes of hero's image creation and transformation in contemporary cinema have an important impact on culture and society, especially in challenging circumstances, and need further investigations by cultural studies.

Designing Digital Platforms for Social Justice: Empowering End-Users Through the Dataswyft Platform

Digital platforms have radically transformed how we work, shop, and socialize. Despite their numerous benefits, they may also threaten social justice due to unforeseen or unintended consequences of specific design choices, preventing end-users from participating equitably in the digital economy. As platform owners compete by leveraging personal data, it remains unclear how digital platforms can be designed to empower end-users to control, legally own, and benefit from their data in a privacy-preserving way. Integrating design science research with heuristic theorizing, this study proposes a design theory for end-user-centric digital platforms. We derive design theory components from over nine years of data regarding the Dataswyft platform, including five meta-requirements and eight design principles. They reveal how digital platforms can be designed for social justice to address distributive and procedural social injustices by empowering end-users, both technically and legally, to protect and control their data through a containerized microservice platform infrastructure. This platform design includes multiple data protection layers, end-user-driven data collection, reconfiguration, and exchange functionalities, safeguarding mechanisms, and semi-centralized ecosystem governance structures. By evaluating an expository instantiation of the proposed design principles, we demonstrate the applicability and utility of our design theory, paving the way for data self-sovereignty and social sustainability.

An efficient intrusion detection model based on neutrosophic logic for optimal response from the arranged response set

While an Automated Intrusion Response System (AIRS) chooses and initiates a suitable reaction from the pool of response groups based on specific response choice requirements to reduce the intrusion immediately, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) finds the intrusions and generates alerts. The accurate assessment of the critical weight of all responses chosen and the prioritization of the incursion response set are the biggest hurdles when creating an AIRS. This study suggested a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method for ranking intrusion responses. The TOPSIS method is an MCDM method used to rank the alternatives. The TOPSIS method integrated with the single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) to overcome uncertainty. This study used 16 criteria and 10 alternatives to be evaluated by experts and decision-makers. The sensitivity analysis shows the rank of other options under different cases. The criteria weights are changed under 17 cases. The results of sensitivity analysis show the rank of alternatives is stable. The suggested method was compared with other MCDM methods to show its effectiveness and robustness.

Towards a more realistic MELCOR model for a dry cask for spent nuclear fuel. Part I: sensitivity studies.

The United States (US) Department Of Energy (DOE) has addressed the thermal analysis of the Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) stored within a dry cask system as a matter of high priority. In this regard, it is of utmost importance that simulation tools effectively reproduce the general thermal behavior of the modelled cask, including heat exchange and removal. Temperature distribution in the different components of the system is usually the focus of performed thermal analyses. In particular, attention is paid to the maximum temperature reached in the fuel cladding, namely the Peak Cladding Temperature (PCT). Within this framework, the present paper is the first of a two-paper series aimed at developing a more accurate model for the HI-STORM 100S cask. The dry cask in question is modelled and its behavior is simulated by means of the MELCOR code (version 2.2.18019). Stressing the need for a more realistic model rather than a conservative one, this paper reports the efforts undertaken to evaluate the influence of some specific modelling choices on the PCT. The study of the cask performance is therefore conducted taking into consideration three main factors: the axial power distribution in the Fuel Assembly (FA), the flow losses in the air gap between the internal canister and the external overpack, and the conductivity of the overpack concrete.

Налоговая нагрузка НДФЛ и страховых взносов в Российской Федерации

Introduction: the period between 2000 to 2020 was marked by serious changes in taxation in the Russian Federation. The consequences of these changes for both the budget system and residents of Russia are still poorly studied, in particular, with reference to the impact of changes in social contribution rates and the introduction of various tax benefits on reducing income inequality. Such studies are necessary for both determining the degree of distortion in various incentives by tax policy measures and evaluating the effectiveness of these measures. Objectives: to assess the tax burden on individuals and households in order to determine the degree to which tax reforms comply with the originally stated goals, primarily, in terms of fairness criteria. Methods: analysis of distribution curves, regression analysis. Results: the tax wedge assessments based on the survey data revealed the differences between the actual level of the tax burden and the formal tax burden as well as tax evasion typical for low-income groups of the population. At the same time, there were no significant differences found in the tax burden distribution in individuals and households. Conclusions: the taxation system for individuals in Russia is regressive. The results obtained turned out to be robust to the choice of specifications of the estimated equations. It is important to note that there is a relatively high degree of regressiveness of the taxation scale in terms of insurance premiums and, at the same time, a bell-shaped dependence of the tax burden on the size of the payroll.

The speciality choices of future physicians – A state university sample

The speciality choices of future physicians – A state university sample

Perception of post-MBBS interns toward their internship and skill developed during internship: A cross-sectional observational study in a tertiary care hospital

Background: In India, MBBS programs span 5½ years, with 1-year mandatory internship during which interns acquire essential medical skills. However, recent literature has highlighted that interns lack the knowledge and confidence to perform routine and emergency medical procedures. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of post-MBBS interns regarding their internship experience and the skills they developed during this period. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted with 100 participants. The study utilized a pre-validated questionnaire consisting of 13 questions related to attitudes and 30 questions related to skills acquired during internship. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data using SPSS version 24.0. Results: Among participants, 57 were male and 43 were female. The majority perceived the internship as a challenging phase, which significantly improved their skills and contributed to their development as independent practitioners. Internship experiences strongly influenced postgraduate specialization choices. The workload during the internship was considered high by most participants, with some postings deemed unnecessary. 94 participants reported performing menial tasks. While certain skills, such as blood pressure measurement, blood collection, intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous injections, and respiratory therapy insertion, were performed by over 80% of interns, other skills such as arterial blood gas interpretation, episiotomy, pleural tapping, and endotracheal intubation were only performed independently by very few participants. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the perceptions and skill development of post-MBBS interns during their internships, underscoring the importance of practical experiences for professional growth.

Gambling on others' health: risky pro-social decision-making in the era of COVID-19.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals were asked to perform costly actions to reduce harm to strangers, even while the general population, including authorities and experts, grappled with the uncertainty surrounding thenovel virus. Many studies have examined health decision-making by experts, but the study of lay, non-expert, individual decision-making on a stranger's health has been left to the wayside, as ordinary citizens are usually not tasked with such decisions. We sought to capture a snapshot of this specific choice behavior by administering two surveys to the general population in the spring of 2020, when much of the global community was subject to COVID-19-related restrictions, as well as uncertainty surrounding the virus. We presented study participants with fictitious diseases varying in severity that threatened oneself, a loved one or a stranger. Participants were asked to choose between treatment options that could either provide a sure, but mild improvement (sure option) or cure the affected person at a given probability of success (risky option). Respondents preferred gambles overall, but risk-seeking decreased progressively with higher expected severity of disease. This pattern was observed regardless of the recipient's identity. Distinctions between targets emerged however whendecisions were conditioned on a treatment's monetary cost, with participants preferring cheaper options for strangers. Overall, these findings provide a descriptive model of individual decision-making under risk for others; and inform on the limits of what can be asked of an individual in service to a stranger.

Position-specific evolution in transcription factor binding sites, and a fast likelihood calculation for the F81 model.

Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS), like other DNA sequence, evolve via mutation and selection relating to their function. Models of nucleotide evolution describe DNA evolution via single-nucleotide mutation. A stationary vector of such a model is the long-term distribution of nucleotides, unchanging under the model. Neutrally evolving sites may have uniform stationary vectors, but one expects that sites within a TFBS instead have stationary vectors reflective of the fitness of various nucleotides at those positions. We introduce 'position-specific stationary vectors' (PSSVs), the collection of stationary vectors at each site in a TFBS locus, analogous to the position weight matrix (PWM) commonly used to describe TFBS. We infer PSSVs for human TFs using two evolutionary models (Felsenstein 1981 and Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano 1985). We find that PSSVs reflect the nucleotide distribution from PWMs, but with reduced specificity. We infer ancestral nucleotide distributions at individual positions and calculate 'conditional PSSVs' conditioned on specific choices of majority ancestral nucleotide. We find that certain ancestral nucleotides exert a strong evolutionary pressure on neighbouring sequence while others have a negligible effect. Finally, we present a fast likelihood calculation for the F81 model on moderate-sized trees that makes this approach feasible for large-scale studies along these lines.

Generalized nesterov’s algorithm for constrained minimization problems on closed convex sets

In this paper, we propose a generalized Nesterov algorithm for the constrained optimization problems on a closed convex set. We prove the convergence as well as the convergence rate of the proposed algorithm. First, we present a new algorithm based on the generalization of Nesterov’s algorithm. Then, we prove the convergence as well as the convergence rate of the new algorithm. With a specific choice of parameters, the new algorithm becomes Nesterov’s algorithm. Therefore, the convergence as well as the convergence rate of Nesterov’s algorithm are also followed. We illustrate the effectiveness of the new algorithm as well as compare it with Nesterov’s algorithm and the gradient descent algorithm through a specific example.

Triangular ideal relative convergence on modular spaces and Korovkin theorems

"In this paper, we introduce the concept of triangular ideal relative convergence for double sequences of functions defined on a modular space. Based upon this new convergence method, we prove Korovkin theorems. Then, we con- struct an example such that our new approximation results work. Finally, we discuss the reduced results which are obtained by special choices. Keywords: Positive linear operators, the double sequences, triangular ideal relative modular convergence, Korovkin theorem."

Semantic and Pragmatic Dynamics in Virtual Communication: Speech Act Analysis Hashtag #Julidfisabilillah on Twitter

This research explores the dynamics of semantics and pragmatics in virtual communication, particularly focusing on social media interactions. It examines how the meaning and usage of words and phrases (semantics) combined with the context of language use (pragmatics) significantly influence digital identity formation and online community building. The study highlights that language in social media serves not only as a communication tool but also as a means for expressing emotions, attitudes, and opinions. Notably, it observes how specific word choices and symbols often indicate membership in certain communities or stances on specific topics. Additionally, the research delves into the complex dynamics of speech acts in social media, illustrating how users tailor their expressions to specific online contexts. This tailoring involves both semantic content and pragmatic nuances, including word choice, sentence structure, and symbol usage, actively shaping and maintaining social identities in a virtual environment. A case study on the use of the hashtag #JulidFisabilillah on Twitter provides a concrete example of these findings. The hashtag functions as a communal identity marker and a reflection of the broader social and cultural context in which it is used. This case study underscores the interaction between semantics and pragmatics in shaping meaning and identity in virtual communication. Overall, the research concludes that a thorough understanding of social media communication requires an analysis that goes beyond what is said to how and in what context it is said. This study provides new insights into the complexities and depths of virtual communication, emphasizing the significance of context in analyzing communication in the digital era.

To win the war is not the same as to ‘win the peace’: the coming constitutional moment in Ukraine

Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine is exceptional both in terms of its scale and its global implications. A peaceful and prosperous future for Ukraine, neighbouring states and indeed the entire continent, depends upon two interrelated factors. The first is Ukraine’s ability to win, with Western support, the war initiated against it by the Russian Federation under Putin. This would bring about a new global opening, ending the Moscow-Beijing anti-Western axis in world politics. The second factor is Ukraine’s ability to take advantage of the constitutional moment that will present itself as attention shifts from the military effort toward the process of state reconstruction. Presenting the situation of Ukraine in regional, historical, and global context, we draw attention to specific challenges and choices that state elites will face post-war. We explain the internal and external implications of these choices to show why Ukraine should seize its upcoming constitutional moment. Drawing on both political theory and real world examples of constitutional revolutions, we explain the factors involved in the effective exploitation of the constitutional moment. We suggest that, channelled to constructive purposes, the demands and aspirations of Ukrainian citizens may help propel the political and economic reforms needed to secure social trust and a stable future. We conclude that multi-level political and civic engagement in a new constitutional process will be indispensable for reconstructing the institutional foundations for peace, democratic governance and the rule of law in post-conflict Ukraine.

Cosmic and thermodynamic analysis of parameterized torsion gravity

We examine the cosmic evolution of an accelerating universe within the framework of the Einstein–Cartan–Sciama–Kibble theory, employing a flat, homogeneous and isotropic model. In this context, various parameterizations of the equation of state parameter, denoted as ω, are considered with respect to the redshift function. We analyze the behavior of cosmological parameters such as deceleration, Om-diagnostic, statefinder and squared speed of sound. It is found that these cosmological parameters are consistent with the current cosmic scenario and recent Planck data from 2018. Additionally, we examine the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics at the apparent horizon, taking into account the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy and find it valid for specific choices of constants.

Medical malpractice stress syndrome in theory and practice - a narrative review

Accusations of medical malpractice, increasingly common among healthcare professionals, are a massive source of stress which can lead to the development of medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS). The symptoms of this syndrome are often compared to those in post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and the doctors are referred to as "second victims" of medical mistakes. The aim of the publication is to highlight MMSS, its symptoms, its similarity to PTSD, its consequences, and methods of prevention and management. In addition, attention was paid to the number of medical malpractice lawsuits among medical specialties mostly affected by this problem to illustrate the scale of the phenomenon. The publication is a narrative review. Medical databases (PubMed, ResearchGate, Biblioteka Nauki), termedia and Jurnals.viamedica service from the years 1988-2023 were reviewed. The MMSS manifests itself with symptoms such as anger, frustration, anxiety, guilt, sleeping disorders, loss of self-confidence, and depression. Later, somatic symptoms, such as cardiovascular, also appear. The MMSS may lead to unnecessary ordered examinations, delayed therapeutic processes, or premature retirement from the profession. Recently, patients have become more aware of their rights, resulting in an increase in malpractice lawsuits, particularly in specialties such as gynecology and obstetrics, neurosurgery, and radiology. Concerns about the legal consequences of medical errors may affect future specialization choices. Graduates tend to avoid specialties with a high risk of medical malpractice. Coping with MMSS requires social support and cooperation between doctors and lawyers or psychiatrists. Prevention of MMSS includes awareness of stress reactions and procedures decreasing the risk of committing medical malpractice. The prevalence of MMSS among physicians and the impact of the risk of medical malpractice lawsuits on the choice of medical specialty in Poland require further examinations. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(6):513-26.

Doradztwo zawodowe jako działanie wartościowe i pożądane społecznie

Vocational guidance can be very generally called a process of getting to know oneself. It is a lifelong process, inextricably linked to all the activities that an individual undertakes. Around the world, for almost a century, researchers have been trying to answer the question of why people make specific educational and professional choices. What determines success and what influences failure. The authors of the resulting theories not only answer those questions but create as well methodologies for working with a person in need of support, construct the necessary tools for this process. Over the years counseling has evolved from a very directive relationship to a partnership in which the vocational counselor has become a companion, a partner of the person being counseled. The article outlines what is career counseling, who is the counselor and why it is worthwhile to use this form of support, in an individual and social context.