Specific Personal Characteristics Research Articles

One Size Does Not Fit All: An Overview of Personalized Treatment in Cancer

The last few decades have witnessed 'one size fits all' kind of conventional treatment strategy i.e. a similar line of treatment or usage of the same drug to treat a particular disease. This approach is not associated with specific personal characteristics but with individual genetic constitutions. Precision oncology holds great opportunities to improve prediction, treatment and follow-up care for the benefit of cancer patients. In this study, many pieces of literature and various clinical data have been surveyed to understand how multiple genes are responsible for a particular cancer type and tabulate them. Having the genetic information of a patient and knowing the genes that are susceptible to mutation can help in the diagnosis. That in turn help to get the most tailored medicines, which will decrease the chances of treatment failure, which is quite common in cancer therapies. This review focuses on providing an idea of the genes whose mutation directly or indirectly can lead to cancer and other diseases also, and hence might be helpful to design separate treatment strategies for each individual in future.

DIFFERENCE OF WOMEN’S AND MEN’S PERSONAL QUALITIES IMPORTANT FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS

The article presented theoretically and empirically personal qualities important for a professional career. Basing on analysed scientific literature and the experimental study, we identified the most significant qualities of women and men important for professional growth. We found that women and men had personal factors influencing the active development of stable, conscious ideas about themselves and their place in the professional area. The peculiarities of existing professional gender-role stereotype and their formation were substantiated. The peculiarities of research approaches to the problem of working women and men were revealed. All components of personal characteristics, assessment of one’s own personality as a professional one were closely related to professional development. The specific personal characteristics in the professional careers of women and men were analyzed. We also determined that career choosing is influenced by personal, social and psychological factors. The analysed personal qualities influencing an individual’s professional development showed that every person has their own individual concept, motivation, motives, values, desires, by which they guided at career choosing. The aspects of the study on an individual’s professional development were considered and the internal determinants determining further personal development were identified. The article determines that personal, business qualities and skills should be highlighted; it helps to understand people’s weaknesses, strengths and fairly assess professional goals; such approach is the most comprehensive and productive. Because personal qualities influence career building, there is reason to believe that there are some differences in the professional area of women and men: women are more focused on communication and interactions, they able to establish contacts with others and regulate relationships, while men have leadership qualities, showing independence in judgments, tend to focus on their own views and preferences, more courageous and independent. The integrative role of personal factors for a specialist’s professionalization was empirically clarified. Professional work evokes a tendency to continuously develop boundless creative potential in various areas of life.

Personal and professional factors influencing career choice regret during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Many healthcare workers (HCWs) have been subjected to additional workplace and personal stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some stressors may be more likely to contribute to career choice regret and the decision to leave the healthcare profession. Loss of critical numbers of personnel could leave healthcare systems without a ready, capable workforce. The purpose of this research was to determine which personal and professional characteristics increased frequency of career choice regret.Methods: An international, cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine if specific personal and professional characteristics were associated with career choice regret and intent to leave. One short-answer item was included in the 20-item survey. The sample consisted of 874 English-speaking HCWs from 18 countries with representation of various practice settings, disciplines, ages, and years in healthcare.Results: Significant correlations between pre- and intra-pandemic frequency of thoughts about leaving the healthcare profession were observed. Ordinal regression analyses were conducted, finding significant relationships between career regret thoughts and female gender, age, and death of a family member or friend. Death of a coworker was not associated with increased thoughts of leaving the healthcare profession. Themes from the short-answer item included fatigue, anger, doubt, fulfillment, and the pandemic as a journey.Conclusions: Healthcare systems may be vulnerable to a loss of HCWs due to the effects of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital and health system executives need to understand the current threats to the stability of the workforce and develop strategies to prevent attrition of skilled, capable professionals.

Shidu women—the historical, cultural, personality characteristics of their grief psychodynamic

Shidu women are mothers who have lost their only child and no longer have the chance to have another child. Most of them, born in the 1950s and 1960s, have experienced important historical events and social changes in recent decades of China. Through the case studies of several Shidu women, it is found that their grief process after losing the only child not only displays general characteristics of grief, but also presents specific historical, cultural, and personal characteristics: they suffered individual, family, and historical trauma after experiencing major social events, at the same time gaining post-traumatic growth and resilience. They received more care from relatives after losing their only child. We found qualities of traditional Chinese women that can bear hardships, be hard-working and tolerant, and demonstrate character of self-esteem and self-reliance, feminine characteristics that are good at expressing emotion and seeking help, and the personality characteristic of altruism. We show the historical, cultural, and personal characteristics that have formed the grief psychodynamic of Shidu women.

Effect of Personal Characteristics on Social Accounting Initiatives: Evidence from Pakistan

The research works with two separate but closely connected themes of individual employee behavior and organization-wide initiatives that are further broken down into two dimensions of Social Entrepreneurship Profile and Social Accounting (SA). This research study seeks to identify the social entrepreneurship profile that highlights the specific personal characteristics of employees working in an organization; secondly, it attempts to understand how the broader initiatives that help today’s organizations become more socially responsible. Factors covered in Personal Characteristics included: 1. Sociality, 2. Innovativeness, 3. Market-orientation, and 4. The ability to Identifying New Opportunities (INO). Social Accounting Initiatives included Internal Attitude (IA), and Subjective norms (SN), each is classified as: 1.Pragmatic, 2. Moral, and 3. Cognitive, as well as Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC). For this purpose, A survey was conducted of 75 firms, and their decision-makers 306. were surveyed about their characteristics as well as the social accounting initiatives in their firms, using a close-ended questionnaire. A total of 306 decision-makers was surveyed about four employees per organization. Dataset was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modeling. The results suggested that innovativeness and INO seem to have a positive and significant impact on pragmatic and moral IA. As well as moral SN. Similarly, sociality and innovativeness positively affecting moral IA. Sociality also seems to be affecting moral IA, pragmatic SN, and PBC, however, it has a negative impact on cognitive SN. Market orientation also has a significant positive impact on cognitive IA and SN. Lastly, INO seems to affect Perceived Behavioral Control. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed

Coping strategies and perceived productivity in open-plan offices with noise problems

PurposeTo study effects of different sources of noise in office environments on perceived productivity, how different types of employees cope with different noise sources, and the perceived effect of different coping strategies on individual productivity.Design/methodology/approachData on coping behavior and noise perception was collected through a survey among 150 employees of 3 organizations with an office in the Netherlands. These were analyzed with X2-tests and the lift-ratio.FindingsWhen coping with noise, people are most inclined to either “Make even a greater effort” or “Discuss the noise problem with colleagues,” despite the expectation that this does not have a major positive effect on their productivity. Overall, approach coping strategies were chosen less often than the avoidance coping strategies. There are clear preferences for specific coping strategies when exposed to specific noise sources. Personal differences did not appear to relate to the perception of noise sources but did show differences in coping behavior as well.Originality/valueThis study adds insights about preferred coping strategies for specific noise sources, differences in these preferences related to specific personal characteristics, and how successful these strategies are perceived to be with regard to support of individual productivity.

The Influence of Refugee Students\u2019 Personal Characteristics on Study Success in Online Education

There is little research on the study success factors of refugee students in higher education. One approach to meeting the growing global demands is to provide online education specifically for refugees. This study examines specific personal characteristics of refugee students and their influence on success and retention in online education. Individual factors such as intrinsic motivation and language proficiency, cognitive functioning, and sociodemographic factors such as gender and country of residence influence retention of refugee students during online studies. The results indicate that sociodemographic factors (e.g., gender), cognitive factors (e.g., English proficiency), and external factors (e.g., country of residence) have a significant influence on study retention on refugee students.

Personomics – an innovative tool of precision medicine and its role in the individualized treatment of patients with breast cancer

Precision medicine considers specific biological characteristics of each individual patient to tailor diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to a given patient. This approach is particularly important for a growing number of patients with malignancies. Currently, some unique biological properties in the terms of different “omics” platforms (e.g., genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and pharmacogenomics) have been introduced to precision medicine. In addition, specific personal characteristics of the patients have been described as personomics. It should be highlighted that personomics include an individual patient’s personality type, set of personal values, priorities, preferences, health-related beliefs, goals, economical status, and different life circumstances, which influence when and how a certain disease (e.g., breast cancer (BC)) can be manifested in a given person. As a consequence, personomics are considered to be an innovative clinical tool that is crucial for making a connection between the existing and emerging, more individualized model of medical care. This is particularly important among patients suffering from the most difficult to treat cancers (e.g., BC subtypes, such as the triple-negative BC (TNBC), and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BC). This mini-review addresses some research concepts in personalized medicine, focusing on personomics, which apply individualized data of the patient to the therapeutic plan. In this light, personomics can facilitate the transition from standard medical treatment to personalized medical management of individual women with BC.

Strategic entrepreneurship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics and personal values of a successful entrepreneur in order to understand the quality of such characteristics. Thus, this paper aims to investigate how these characteristics and personal values impact strategic decision-making and outcomes driving the success and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThe research question is answered through a single case study approach based on the case of the charismatic and flourishing entrepreneur and owner of Gemar Balloons, a balloon-manufacturing company established in the centre of Italy a century ago.FindingsThe paper shows how the success of SMEs in a dynamic environment is influenced by the central resource, “the entrepreneur”, whose entrepreneurial mindset, culture and leadership are essential and partially replicable. They allow strategic management to seek opportunities and develop innovation, achieving competitive advantages and creating wealth.Practical implicationsThis paper contributes to an understanding of how values and specific personal characteristics establish an entrepreneurial mindset, culture and leadership, and whether and how these factors are exportable and repeatable. In this way, it allows a better understanding of how possible it is to establish an entrepreneurial mindset and culture by working on a younger generation's values and characteristics. Moreover, it explains why and how entrepreneurial SME leaders are best able to make decisions and manage resources strategically to create competitive advantages.Originality/valueThe paper is new because it shows the distinctive values and characteristics influencing the emerging strategic decision-making model and corporate outcomes.

The determinants of corruption at the individual level: evidence from Bosnia-Herzegovina

This article uses data from the National Survey of Citizens’ Perceptions in Bosnia-Herzegovina to investigate the determinants of offering a bribe in the form of money, gifts or services to medical personnel, professors, judicial personnel, police officers and public servants. We presented evidence about the spread of corruption in these five sectors of the economy in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and analysed the effects of determinants at the individual level on the likelihood of engaging in bribery. Our results confirmed that specific personal characteristics predicted corrupt behaviour, but results varied across sectors. Logistic regression was used to generate models from which predictions could be made about the likelihood of an individual engaging in corrupt behaviour. Our research shows that corruption is a widespread phenomenon in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and more educated people, people living in urban areas, and individuals with higher incomes are more likely to engage in bribery in several sectors. Measures and policies aimed at reducing corrupt behaviour should be designed in a way that considers the specific characteristics of these individuals.

Impact of meteorological parameters on suicide mortality rates: A case-crossover analysis in Southern Germany (1990–2006)

BackgroundThere is evidence for a seasonal pattern of suicides with peaks in spring and early summer; however, only a limited number of studies has investigated whether daily changes in meteorological variables may trigger suicides. MethodsDaily fatal suicide (N = 10,595) and meteorological data were available for four Bavarian cities and ten counties (Germany) for 1990–2006. City/county-specific immediate, delayed and cumulative effects of air temperature, sunshine duration, and cloud cover on suicides were analyzed using a time-stratified case-crossover approach; city/county-specific effects were then combined using random effects meta-analysis. Potential effect modifiers were specific weather conditions, personal or regional characteristics, and season. ResultsA 5 °C increase in air temperature on the day before a suicide compared to the control days was associated with a 5.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6; 11.0) higher suicide risk. Further, the suicide risk was 6.5% (95% CI: 0.2; 13.3) higher on days with low/medium cloud cover (0–6 oktas) compared to days with high cloud cover (7–8 oktas). While daily changes in temperature were not associated with suicides in spring, we found a higher suicide risk in summer, autumn, and winter in association with temperature increases. The effects of cloud cover were strongest in summer and autumn and on days with temperature above the median (>8.8 °C). Sunshine duration was not associated with suicides. ConclusionWe found a higher risk for suicides in association with short-term increases in air temperature on the day before the event compared to the control days and on days with low to medium cloud cover. This may highlight times when people are more likely to commit suicide.

Not so right after all? Making sense of the progressive rhetoric of Europe’s far-right parties

Several newly successful far-right European populist parties have deviated from traditional conservative stances by embracing progressive values such as gender equality, gay rights, religious freedoms, and the provision of generous social services. With what logic have they articulated such a counterintuitive ideological mix? Scholarship on this question is still in its early phases and does not extend across countries and multiple parties. This article argues that the parties, when stating their resolute commitment to their nations or Western civilization more generally, have pitted the tolerance and inclusiveness of their societies against the threats of backward immigrants – especially Muslim ones. In this context, all citizens, regardless of specific personal characteristics, are described as worthy of support and protection. Underlying such logic are two deeper ideas: nationalism (with its principles of equality, secularism, and sovereignty for members of the community) and European superiority vis-a-vis other cultures. The rhetoric can vary subtly. Evidence comes from the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, the National Rally in France, and the Sweden Democrats in Sweden. In the conclusion, we reflect on the broader implications of the findings for the ideological and political landscapes of Europe.

Leadership Potential of Professional Teacher Associations in Russia: Formation of Middle Leaders

This research study is aimed at investigating distributed leadership practices in the Russian school system, of which professional teacher associations (PTA) constitute a distinct feature. In particular, we set out to investigate the PTA leadership potential, as well as the role and specific personal characteristics of middle leaders in the Russian school education system. These associations are formed by the school administration on the basis of subject areas, bringing together teachers of maths, history, etc. Teachers join PTAs on a voluntarily basis. The key function of such organisations consists in the implementation of innovative educational approaches and techniques. In order to analyse their leadership potential, we carried out a sociological survey among the employees of high-profile secondary schools (gymnasiums and lyceums) situated in the major Russian city of Ekaterinburg. The research methodology comprised structured interviews with 110 respondents, along with in-depth interviews with 2 school directors, 4 school deputy directors and 6 heads of professional teacher associations. Our results show that the fundamentals and principles of distributed leadership are actively implemented in Ekaterinburg schools. The school administrations encourage the creation of professional teacher associations grouped around subject areas, delegating to these structural units the functions of improving the quality of teaching the respective subjects and disseminating educational innovations, at the same time as fulfilling the requirements of the state and regional education authorities. Such associations are headed by middle leaders, who are nominated by their colleagues and whose candidacy is approved by school seniors, taking into account their professional achievements, experience of leading pedagogical innovations and the presence of the right personal qualities necessary for productive collaborative work. These people perform the role of mediators, operating at the interface between various levels within the school. Although viewed as a school’s personnel reserve for the positions of principals and head teachers, our respondents consider themselves to be ‘more teachers’ or ‘innovators in education’ than administrators. The development of the leadership qualities of such professionals in the Russian school system is shown to be hindered by a ‘glass ceiling’ – a certain limit in their career growth. This discouraging factor results in some middle school leaders searching for professional self-realization opportunities outside the school system, in the spheres of business, science or culture that are believed to provide more opportunities for self-advancement.

From good to great: learners’ perceptions of the qualities of effective medical teachers and clinical supervisors in psychiatry

The shift in postgraduate medical training towards a competency-based medical education framework has inspired research focused on medical educator competencies. This research has rarely considered the importance of the learning environment in terms of both setting and specialty-specific factors. The current study attempted to fill this gap by examining narrative comments from psychiatry faculty evaluations to understand learners' perceptions of educator effectiveness. Data consisted of psychiatry faculty evaluations completed in 2015-2016 by undergraduate and postgraduate learners (N = 324) from McMaster University. Evaluations were provided for medical teachers and clinical supervisors in classroom and clinical settings. Narrative comments were analyzed using descriptive qualitative methodology by three independent reviewers to answer: "What do undergraduate and postgraduate medical learners perceive about educator effectiveness in psychiatry?" Narrative comments were provided on 270/324 (83%) faculty evaluation forms. Four themes and two sub- themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. Effective psychiatry educators demonstrated specific personal characteristics that aligned with previous research on educator effectiveness. Novel themes included the importance of relationships and affective factors, including learner security and inspiration through role modeling. Contemporary discussions about educator effectiveness in psychiatry have excluded the dynamic, relational and affective components of the educational exchange highlighted in the current study. This may be an important focus for future educational research.

The correlation of sociopsychological characteristics and self-stigmatization of patients with mental disorders (Result of original study)

The investigation studies the relationship between narcissistic self-regulation with the features and expression of self-stigmatization in patients with endogenous mental disorders. The study involved 131 people, including patients with schizophrenia — 66.8% and individuals with affective disorders — 33.2%. The survey was conducted by using the following methods: «Index of Self-system functioning» and questionnaire of self-stigmatization by Mikhailova-Yastrebov. Data on correlation of strength personality reducing with selfstigmatization, the specifics of Self-regulation structure in various inner stigma forms, and the absence of IFSS significant differences in patient’s groups with different nosological forms of mental disorders, disease’s duration and number of hospitalizations — were obtained. The specific personal characteristics underlying premorbid changes in the Self-regulation system that determine the vulnerability of patients to the formation of stigma are discussed.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: The Blossoming Art of Teaching and Learning Required to Prepare Students for the 4th Industrial Revolution

The future is not what it used to be. It is more complex than ever, and it changes faster than ever. Traditional educational institutions do not teach the skills sets students need to be future ready. Most of them still follow the industrial model that focuses on content and testing answers about known questions. Research reports point to ways in which higher education needs to change to meet the challenges, such as teaching abilities instead of content, becoming network universities, my-universities, or life-long universities. The time frame expected to change the current systems and structures are between 5 and 10 years. That is too long. The future is now. Distance Education, though, can make an immediate difference. Departing from the premise that “I learn for a reason”, grounded in the Golden Spiral for Life-Long Learning model, the way Distance Education teaches may become sufficient to engender future readiness. The future requires students with specific personal characteristics and abilities, linked to effective mastery strategies, and being open to the future and change. A lesson structure and flow is suggested, based on a combination of tried-and-tested teaching and current mind, brain, and education research. Using the Brunfelsia Pauciflora “Floribunda” plant as metaphor, also called the Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow plant, the past, the present and the future are juxtaposed in an organic whole. In this way, a balanced approach is reached, that still attends to indispensable past knowledge and current application, but adding a required future ready perspective.

A competency framework for domestic violence counselling

ABSTRACT Domestic violence (DV) affects around 20% of the population globally and is linked with complex mental health conditions and difficulties in client therapeutic engagement. Developing therapeutic competency to meet the standards for independent, professional practice is a significant part of counsellor training. A competency framework for DV is a useful addition to the literature. This framework has been systematically developed from a client-informed DV counselling model (grounded theory) and integrates well with existing international publications. It highlights high level and wide-ranging counselling skills, specialist knowledge and specific personal characteristics for working with this client group, beyond the level required for independent practice. This framework could be used as a basis for pre- and post-qualification counsellor training, recruitment and assessment.

Rural and Small School Principal Candidates

This article reports the results of an inquiry into the dynamics of principal selection in rural school districts in two mid-American states with high numbers of rural schools. The study focuses on two questions: (1) are rural school districts experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for vacant principal’s positions; and (2) what professional and personal characteristics do superintendents seek in selecting principals for rural schools? Data for the study were collected through a review of the relevant research literature and interviews with superintendents of rural school districts. The study confirmed that rural school districts in these two states are in fact not experiencing a shortage of qualified principal applicants and delineates specific professional and personal characteristics superintendents seek in the principals who lead rural schools.

Impact of Meteorological Parameters on Suicide Rates: A Case-Crossover Study in Southern Germany

Background. Researchers worldwide reported a seasonal pattern of suicides with peaks in spring and early summer; however, only a limited number of studies has investigated the association of meteorological variables and suicides.Methods. Daily suicides (N=10,595) and meteorological data from 1990 to 2006 were available for four Bavarian cities and ten counties. Immediate, delayed and cumulative effects of air temperature, sunshine duration, cloud cover, relative humidity as well as precipitation on suicide rates were analyzed using a confounder-adjusted time-stratified case-crossover approach. Potential effect modifiers were specific weather conditions, personal or regional characteristics, and season.Results. A 5°C increase in air temperature was associated with a 4.1% (95%-confidence interval: 0.97; 7.4%) and 5.1% (2.0; 8.4%) higher suicide risk on the same day and with a delay of one day, respectively. Further, the suicide risk was 6.2% (0.6; 12.2%) higher on days with low/medium cloud cover (0-6 oktas) compared to days with high cloud cover (7-8 oktas). Temperature effects with a lag of one day were more pronounced in individuals older than 65 years (9.9% (4.3; 15.8%)). While temperature was not associated with suicides in spring we found positive associations in summer, autumn, and winter. The effects of cloud cover were strongest in summer and autumn and on days with air temperature above the median (>8.8°C). The other meteorological variables were not significantly associated with suicide.Discussion. We found a higher risk for suicides in association with short-term increases in air temperature and on days with low to medium cloud cover. This may highlight time periods when people are more likely to commit suicide.

The antecedents of job involvement: An exploratory study among Chinese prison staff

Staff are an obvious and important resource for correctional organizations across the globe. One important area that concerns staff is job involvement (i.e., the psychosocial bonds between staff members and their jobs). The majority of the limited research on how work environment factors affect correctional personnel has examined U.S. staff. To fill this void, the current study used the job demands-resource model to explore how various personal characteristics and work environment variables affected the job involvement of staff at two prisons in southern China. The specific personal characteristics were age, tenure, gender, educational level, and assigned prison. The job demand variables were fear of victimization and role overload, and the job resource variables were instrumental communication, job autonomy, transactional justice, procedural justice, distributive justice, job variety, and supervision. Tenure, fear of victimization, transactional justice, distributive justice, job variety, and supervision had significant effects on job involvement in a multivariate regression analysis, while the other variables did not. Except for fear of victimization, which had a negative association, the other significant variables had positive associations with job involvement.