Strong Identity Research Articles

A Local-First Approach for Green Smart Contracts

Shared code in blockchains, known as smart contracts , stands to replace important parts of our digital governance and financial infrastructure. The permissionless execution of smart contracts is tightly coupled to cryptocurrencies and Proof-of-Work blockchains. As a result, smart contracts inherit the environmental impact of Proof-of-Work blockchains, such as its energy consumption, carbon footprint, and electronic waste. The four concepts of relaxed consistency, strong identities, probabilistic consensus, and the use of liabilities instead of assets may change the status quo. This work explores the integration of these concepts to decouple smart contracts from Proof-of-Work blockchains. By means of a local-first approach, which may expose users to inconsistent ephemeral contract states, the architecture of smart contracts can be transformed to become green. Because such contract states may be dropped, we base the interactions between users on liabilities. We propose a novel paradigm for smart contract architectures, named Green Smart Contracts, that is based on a local-first approach. Furthermore, we present and implement a prototype solution for this paradigm. We validate the need for a mechanism to resolve consistency violations by replaying the contract calls of a real smart contract. Our simulation shows that violations occur more often (13% of contract invocations) when using liabilities than when using a traditional blockchain (3% of contract invocations). However, we additionally validate that they can be avoided using a consensus mechanism, and our experiments show that a publish-subscribe messaging pattern uses the fewest messages to do so, though it may not be applicable for use cases that disallow the inherent imbalance in the messaging between peers. Our carbon emission estimation shows that a Green Smart Contract approach lowers carbon emissions by 52.31% when compared with the messaging behavior of a typical peer-to-peer blockchain with 1000 nodes.

Mengintegrasikan Nilai-nilai Pancasila dalam Pendidikan untuk Membentuk Pemimpin Masa Depan

The aim of this research is to find out how future leaders can apply Pancasila values in education, which include: 1. Belief in the One and Only God; 2. Just and civilized humanity; 3. The unity of Indonesia; 4. Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations among representatives; and 5. Social justice for all Indonesian people. Character education is an effort to realize the values of Pancasila and the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. However, the evolving conditions in educational institutions today hinder character education. Therefore, it is crucial to embed Pancasila principles in future leaders to ensure they uphold and promote these fundamental values, fostering a strong national identity and moral integrity.

EFL Teachers’ Professional Identity: Insights and Experiences in FYP in a Saudi Context

There has been significant increase in research on exploring and understanding EFL teachers’ professional identities in various contexts. The EFL teachers play an important role in developing Saudi EFL learners’ English language skills to facilitate in their academic endeavors. The current study aimed to explore EFL teachers’ professional identity construction and negotiation process. Also, it intended to investigate how contextual factors influence this process. To this end, five experienced EFL teachers were chosen through purposive sampling from English Language Institute (ELI) teaching at a public-university in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected through in depth standardized open-ended interviews. The data were analyzed thematically (Braun & Clarke, 2006) by reading and reading the interview transcripts, and developing codes, categories and themes. The findings revealed that the participants found a few factors quite motivating for them to sustain their professional identity. However, there were many contextual factors that caused conflict in their construction and negotiations process of their identities and resulted in significantly contributed to their weaker professional identities. The findings can have pedagogical implications for EFL teachers, and they can prepare themselves better to deal with contextual dilemmas to perform better in the current settings. For policy makers, it can be implied that they can provide conducive environment to teachers for developing their strong professional identities.

FACE AND POLITENESS IN JAVANESE MULTILINGUAL INTERACTION

Javanese culture is unique since its orientation is to group togetherness, but the language displays the social distance between the conversers. Using a sociolinguistic perspective, this study investigated how Javanese people manage their concerns about self-other and positive-negative face. Linguistic data from a Javanese culture webinar held by Yogyakarta Palace were analysed using the explanatory sequential mixed-method design. The results show that from the most frequent to the least frequent, Javanese people are concerned about enhancing other-positive face (44.34%), other-negative face (39.15%), self-negative face (11.32%), and self-positive face (5.19%). Complimenting, greeting, showing sympathy, and expressing gratitude are their ways to show their concern for the other-positive face. Meanwhile, employing indirect requests and honorifics in Javanese Krama are strategies to enhance the other-negative face. People’s tendency to please others, show respect, and avoid conflict is the underlying reason for their great concern for others’ positive and negative faces. Their reluctance to enhance their self-face is due to their inclination to shame and guilt. Such face management is highly influenced by the cultural norms and values upheld by society. In a forum delivered in Bahasa Indonesia, their strong Javanese identity is represented by the insertion of Javanese honorifics showing deference.

Perancangan Panduan Gaya Media Sosial Untuk Identitas Merek M-Knows Consulting

Rapid technological advancements force companies to explore new platforms and strategies to gain recognition from a wider community. Faced with increasingly fierce competition, companies need to develop the right strategy and a strong brand identity to stand out and survive in this sector. Social media is a key tool for building brand identity, which is why creating a social media style guide is essential. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach in the form of a project study. The aim is to provide clear guidelines and policies through a social media style guide, fostering consistency and building a strong brand identity on social media. The research begins by analyzing internal and external factors, followed by the creation of the social media style guide. The results demonstrate that a social media style guide can indeed increase consistency and contribute to a strong brand identity on social media platforms.

A Qualitative Investigation of Civic Engagement and Well-Being among Non-College-Bound Young Adults

Young adulthood is an important developmental milestone during which individuals could greatly benefit from health promotion tools. Civic engagement has been linked with positive mental health and well-being; however, little is known about civic behavior among young adults who do not attend college. We investigated the relationship between civic engagement and well-being among non-college-bound young adults (NCYAs). Investigators conducted semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 14 young adults (aged 18–25 years old) who were not enrolled in college. Using qualitative thematic analysis procedures, coders defined five key themes within the data pertaining to the intersection of civic engagement and mental health: (1) experiencing, witnessing, and believing in the fruits of civic engagement labor; (2) managing emotions and conflict; (3) balancing individual needs with those of the collective; (4) garnering social connectedness and support; and (5) acting in alignment with values. Participants described complex, bidirectional relationships between civic engagement and well-being. Participants experiencing empowerment and political efficacy resulting from their civic engagement experiences reported greater well-being. Some participants used civic engagement as a strategy to cope with distressing emotions, while others were civically disengaged to avoid conflict and negative affect. Participants described the need to attend to personal needs first before engaging in actions to help the collective. Connecting with others was a notable promoter of well-being among those who were civically active, although negative peer influence was also a notable detractor. Finally, participants described strong value systems and identities related to civic engagement. Civic engagement can elicit both positive and negative emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The results underscore potential mechanisms that mediate the civic engagement to well-being pathway, which can be used to inform efforts to engage and retain NCYAs in civic engagement. Interventionists should cultivate strong coping and conflict management skills among engagers to manage difficult emotions that arise before, during, and after civic activity if health outcomes are to be achieved.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS AND COMPANY PROFILE: ENHANCING MSMES CAPACITY TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Background: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in the economic landscape of a nation. A combination of support from multiple stakeholders can enhance the capacity of MSMEs to effectively fulfill their role. MSMEs have the potential to foster growth not only within local communities but also on a global scale. The ability of the firm's owner to analyze financial statements and build a comprehensive company profile may facilitate the start of internationalization efforts. Objective: The primary objective of this community service initiative is to enhance the knowledge and competencies of business owners in the areas of financial statement analysis and company profile preparation. Method: The training activities are conducted utilizing the pedagogical approach of lectures and interactive focus group discussions. Mentoring activities encompass practical exercises such as the analysis of financial reports and the preparation of business profiles. The data collection process involved the execution of pre-test and post-test, questions and answers, and the completion of activity evaluations by participants. Results: According to the findings, participants' knowledge and skills in assessing financial reports and developing business profiles improved. Conclusion: Financial statement analysis and the creation of company profiles are critical components that cannot be overlooked for MSMEs seeking to compete globally. Financial statement analysis is the fundamental instrument for making informed business decisions, whereas company profiles are visual representations and pictures that help a company develop a strong identity in the global market.

Is Time an Illusion? A Bootstrap Likelihood Ratio Test for Shock Transmission Delays in DSGE Models

AbstractSeveral business cycle models exhibit a recursive timing structure, which enforces delayed propagation of exogenous shocks driving short-run dynamics. We propose a bootstrap-based empirical strategy to test for the relevance of timing restrictions and ensuing shock transmission delays in DSGE environments. In the presence of strong identification, we document how likelihood-based tests in bootstrap-resamples can be used to empirically assess short-run restrictions placed by informational structures on a given model’s equilibrium representation, thereby enhancing coherence between theory and measurement. We evaluate the size properties of our procedure in short time series by conducting a number of numerical experiments on a popular New Keynesian model of the monetary transmission mechanism. An empirical application to U.S. data from the Great Moderation period allows us to revisit and qualify previous findings in the field by lending support to the conventional (unrestricted) timing protocol, whereby inflation and output gap do respond on impact to monetary policy innovations.

Personal identity and mental time travel

This paper examines the role of episodic memory, and the broader notion of “mental time travel” (MTT), in constituting personal identity. After arguing that the construal of memory’s role in personal identity found in traditional psychological continuity theories of personal identity is both unrealistic and unsatisfying, the paper endeavors to provide a better account. This begins with recent work in the science and philosophy of memory that sees episodic memory as part of a broader faculty for MTT (which also involves imagination and counterfactual thought). Some of the basic ideas expressed in this work are developed into an account of the connection between MTT with “strong identification” and personal identity. According to this alternative approach, we regularly “borrow affect” from our pasts and futures through forms of remembering, imagining, and counterfactual thinking that involve a particular form of identification with our past and future selves. This activity generates a strong diachronic experience of self, which contributes in important ways to diachronic personal identity. The sense of self generated through MTT is, however, only one piece of a more comprehensive account of personal identity. The paper concludes by describing its place in the larger picture.

“I want to have stories too”. Nursing students' views on nursing identity and reasons for choosing nursing as a career: A qualitative study

AimTo understand and interpret nursing students' views on nursing identity and their reasons for choosing nursing as a career after participating in a face-to-face storytelling panel by academics. BackgroundKnowing nursing students’ view of the profession and their thoughts about the profession, their roles and their future will guide nursing academics to develop evidence-based strategies that will enable participants to realize their own professional identities. Storytelling has an important role in creating and strengthening a strong professional identity among participants. DesignThis study is a sample case study. MethodsThis research was carried out in the fall semester of the 2023–2024 academic year with participants registered in nursing program at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a state university in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye. The study was completed with one hundred ten participants. Five academics were invited to the panel at the Faculty of Health Sciences to share their experiences, stories and reasons for choosing nursing as a career through storytelling. The data were collected using the surveys, which includes five structured open ended questions and analyzed using descriptive analysis. ResultsFive main themes emerged: 1. Participants’ views on nursing profession; 2. Awareness of positive/negative emotions related to the profession as a part of nursing stories and feeling that these emotions are experienced in the stories; 3. Changes in the perspective of the profession and sense of belonging to the profession as part of nursing stories; 4. Facilitators in choosing nursing as a career; and 5. Barriers to choosing nursing as a career. ConclusionProviding participants with the chance to both listen to the real stories of academic nurses and to reflect on themselves through writing was a dynamic experience that motivated participants to understand their perceptions of nurses and nursing profession.

Difference Ordered G􀀀 Semirings

Objectives: In this study, we generalize some of the difference ordered and weak uniquely difference ordered semirings results. Methods: To establish the results in semirings, we use conditions like commutativity, simple, multiplicative cancellative, additively idempotent on difference-ordered, and weak uniquely difference-ordered semirings. Findings: First, we give some examples of difference ordered semiring, and weak difference ordered semirings. Then generalize some of the results of semirings to semirings and discuss some of the properties of additive idempotent semifield. Novelty: We find that if is a non-zeroic difference ordered semiring then is a strong ideal of Let be a positive difference ordered Gel’fand semiring then every maximal non-unit of is prime. Further, we find that if is a simple difference ordered additively idempotent semiring and which is not a unit then is prime if and only if there exists a character : satisfying Moreover, if and are distinct prime elements of Then and are also distinct. Finally, we consider some properties of additive idempotent semifield and then introduce the concept of weak uniquely difference-ordered semirings. AMS Mathematics subject classification (2020): 16Y60. Keywords: Γ-semiring, Difference ordered Γ-semiring, Additively idempotent Γ- semiring, Strong identity, Weak uniquely difference-ordered Γ-semirings

Factors affecting professional identity formation of basic medical sciences teachers in Pakistan: a phenomenological analysis of interviews

IntroductionTeachers can perceive themselves as a true teacher and act as one only if they have a strong professional identity. This study aimed to identify factors that shape the unique professional identity of basic medical sciences teachers in Pakistan.MethodsA qualitative study was performed using the concepts of phenomenology and purposive sampling. A 20-item text-based interview was conducted by sharing a Google Form link with basic medical sciences teachers from select institutions. Iterative data collection and analysis were performed until data saturation was attained.ResultsA total of 40 participants took part in the study. Nine categories were identified and grouped into two major themes: four personal and five environmental factors. Personal factors included characteristics, preferences, religious values, and professional development. Environmental factors included community of practice, students' feedback, administrative support, work environment, and societal apathy. Among these factors, aptitude, family preference or work-life balance, hard work, dedication, and effect on parenting were more evident in women. By contrast, passion, experience, complacency, and unique identity were the prominent factors.DiscussionCommunity of practice [31 (77%)], passion for teaching [21 (52%)], students' feedback [18 (45%)], work-life balance [16 (40%)], and religious values [13 (32%)] were the primary positive contributors to the identity of basic medical sciences teachers. By contrast, poor administrative support [8 (20%)], negative work environment [11 (27%)], job dissatisfaction [7 (17%)], societal apathy [4 (10%)], and lack of opportunities for professional growth [6 (15%)] negatively impact the professional identity of basic medical sciences teachers.

Reversion, Revival, Resistance

Both in Iran and India, Zoroastrian communities have traditionally possessed a strong and rigid ethno-religious identity. In recent decades, however, debates regarding the opening of the communities to converts have become increasingly significant. At the same time, a growing interest in religious conversion to Zoroastrianism can be observed among Kurds, Tajiks, Iranians, and other populations. This article analyses the autobiographical account of two Muslim-born Iranian converts to Neo-Zoroastrianism and discusses how such conversions can be adequately framed. It criticises previous works on Neo-Zoroastrians for framing its religious practice as “unauthentic.” As Zoroastrian religiosities transform, especially among urban Tehran Zoroastrians, one can observe a certain convergence of reformed ethic Zoroastrian and Neo-Zoroastrian religious discourses. Taking this trend into account, Iranian Neo-Zoroastrianism can be framed as a movement for religious revival and reform as well as a vehicle of resistance against the state-promoted Shi’ite Islam of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“What's Happening Baby?” Lessons with My First Teacher, Mrs. Mary M. Temple Rhodes

This article is an ethnographic telling rooted in Black feminisms and radical identity praxis. I center the life and labor of Mrs. Rhodes/Mama and name my experiences with her, growing up in Chicago and in Chicago public schools to historicize the legacy of Black liberatory practices. I ask the question: What can Mama teach us about how we engage Black youth in urban education? I conclude with four assignments she offers for personal and professional pedagogies: cultivating Village that reflects and affirms strong Black identities, listening & serving, maintaining joy, and looking beyond standardized metrics.

Structural systems as aesthetic drivers: Unveiling the influence of structural systems on building aesthetics

The primary purpose of the structural system is to support a building, to resist various forces, to transfer the loads safely to the ground, and to give stability. In addition to this primary function, the structural system can have secondary functions, such as influence on the functionality and impact on the overall aesthetics of the building presented in the interior and exterior design. The aesthetics of a building plays a vital role because it contributes to the character and identity of a place, creating a positive and welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and workers, and directly impacting the experience of people, helping in creation of a strong brand identity, establishing an image in the mind of the public. Therefore, in this study, analysis of the impact of the structural systems on the building’s aesthetics has been made. Specific structural systems will be presented and explained. In addition, some case studies will be added to show the influence of the structural system on the building’s aesthetics

Low Self-Esteem, Autism, and Co-occurring Symptoms: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

This article explores the co-occurring conditions associated with low self-esteem in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The social and communication impairments common in autism may hinder the formation of social identity and developmental processes. The study reveals that depression is a prevalent co-occurring symptom, identified in 4 out of 12 selected articles. Other associated symptoms include internalizing and externalizing issues, aggression, helplessness, stress, damaged personal identity, low sense of power, conduct problems, anxiety, low happiness levels, hyperactivity, behavioral disorders, and suicidal thoughts. The findings highlight the significance of self-esteem in the mental health of individuals with autism. The conclusion suggests that developing a strong social identity may contribute to psychological well-being in autism, emphasizing the need for therapists to identify the root causes of low self-esteem for targeted treatment. The article underscores the relevance of self-esteem concepts in the autistic population, opening avenues for therapeutic intervention.

The recipe for success in creating frictionless customer journeys

Customers now demand seamless experiences across all points of contact. To deliver on this expectation, organisations need a reliable marketing architecture for accurate omnichannel customer journey analysis. This allows them to identify and eliminate friction points that hinder customer satisfaction. However, disparate channels of data often utilise different customer identifiers, creating a challenge in unifying data for comprehensive analysis. By focusing on a strong customer identity strategy and leveraging technological advancements to seamlessly combine data at the individual level, organisations gain an advantage in crafting consistent and frictionless customer experiences. This approach follows a specific recipe, with key steps to identify and remove friction points. Professionals involved in creating or measuring omnichannel experiences will find valuable insights and practical tips within this paper, along with learnings from renowned customer-centric companies like Uber, Netflix and Amazon. Delivering consistently exceptional customer experiences allows companies to command premium prices, build long-term brand loyalty and solidify their reputation as truly customer-focused organisations.

Psychiatric Comorbidities of Incarceration in a Patient With Gender Dysphoria: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition defines gender identity disorder (GID) as a strong and persistent identification with the opposite sex and the distress that may accompany the incongruence between one's experienced or expressed gender and one's assigned gender. The onset of GID commonly begins early in childhood. Gender dysphoria has a higher prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric illnesses, such as mood, anxiety, and adjustment disorders, with increased suicide incidence and self-harming behaviors than the general population. Studies show that some temperamental, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors play a role in developing GID. Approximately 16% of transgender people and 21% of transgender women get incarcerated compared with the general US population. During incarceration, they face many issues, such as victimization, severe verbal harassment, purposeful humiliation, unwanted sexual advances, physical assault, forcible sex, and unwanted strip searches. There is a need for a better understanding of the issues and needs of this population to promote positive outcomes.

Enhancing Plant Disease Recognition on Mobile Devices: A Hybrid Approach with CNNs, Rule-Based Systems, and Machine Learning

The food industry has significantly boosted the agricultural economy of India, historically known as the largest producing nation with a strong agricultural identity. The primary crops include grains, fruits (such as potatoes, oranges, tomatoes), sugarcane, and specially cultivated grains and cotton. Maharashtra, a state in India, has experienced substantial economic growth, particularly attributed to citrus and cotton industries. This growth has generated employment opportunities and holds significant potential for the state's economic advancement. To sustain the prosperity of these industries, the government is actively addressing concerns related to disease control, Labor costs, and global market dynamics. In recent times, citrus canker, citrus greening, and black spots on cotton have emerged as severe threats to citrus crops in Maharashtra. Farmers are troubled by the costs associated with tree loss, scouting efforts, and the use of chemicals to control diseases. An automated detection system could play a crucial role in preventing and minimizing these losses, thereby safeguarding the industries, farmers, and the overall economy. This research focuses on developing disease detection through pattern recognition methods for various crops. The image detection process has some main categories which are image acquisition, image processing, and pattern recognition. Image preprocessing is used to process the image in a clear and clean format. Pattern recognition methods are then utilized to classify samples into different crop conditions. To assess classification approaches, results will be compared across different crops for disease detection. The goal is to demonstrate a classification accuracy surpassing existing models, reaching the highest. The research primarily aims to showcase the feasibility of disease detection based on visible symptoms on fruits or leaves. Data collection and initial knowledge acquisition are planned through offline and online approaches. The overall motive is to have accurate detection of the fruits and leaves thereafter using those results for diseases detection. Keywords: Machine Learning Algorithms, Plant disease detection, Image Recognition, Rule-Based mechanism, CNN, Detection technologies, Color Grading

Who follows through? Different factors predict initial commitment vs. Following through in a national survey of organ donor registration.

Little research has investigated factors that determine whether people falter in the face of an obstacle or successfully follow through on an initial commitment to act. We integrated multiple theories (the Reasoned Action Approach [RAA], Prototype Willingness Model, and anticipated regret theory) to test which factors predict initial commitment to register as an organ donor and to discover whether different factors predict initial commitment vs. following through with registration. Participants from a nationally representative UK sample (N = 1,008) reported their beliefs about organ donation and indicated their decision to register. An obstacle that participants could not foresee was that they had to complete registration in a second survey 3 days after making their initial commitment. Findings showed that 14.8% of participants followed through, 19.7% demonstrated initial commitment, and 65.5% declined to register. Linear discriminant function analysis derived two functions that distinguished these registration patterns. The first function discriminated participants who declined to register from the other groups. The declined group had lower scores on RAA variables compared to their counterparts. The second function distinguished participants who made an initial commitment to register from those who followed through. Follow-through was associated with less anticipated negative affect, more favorable descriptive norms, and stronger identification with organ donors. The present findings indicate that even modest friction leads to a large reduction in follow-through. Moreover, different factors influence initial commitment vs. following through. Whereas RAA variables predicted initial commitment, following through was a function of anticipated negative affect and social processes.