Strong Influence Research Articles

How gaming team participation fosters consumers’ social networks, communication and commitment

Online games are highly popular computer applications that generate enormous profits for companies that produce games. Online players actively participate and interact in gaming teams, but there is no study on how team participation leads to a commitment to gaming teams. Research that aims to fill this gap could elucidate practical solutions to strengthening the players' team commitment, contributing to the understanding of player behavior. Grounded in social capital theory and social exchange theory, in this paper a research model is developed, featuring an association between players' participation and players' team commitment. The data were gathered from 1352 online players, and structural equation modelling was employed as the data analysis technique. The results indicate that team participation is positively linked to network convergence and interdependence. They are, in turn, positively linked to social interaction and social presence, which significantly enhance the players' team commitment. We also find that, compared with social interaction, social presence has a stronger influence on such commitments. The research findings suggest that the game providers should encourage players to participate in gaming teams, thus strengthening the players’ team commitment.

Influence of local scour on the evolution of the failure envelope for suction caisson foundation

Local scouring significantly undermines the load-bearing capacity of suction caisson foundations and poses a daunting challenge to the integrity of offshore structures. This study numerically addresses the impact that the size and shape of the local scour hole have on both the monotonic bearing capacities and failure envelopes of suction caisson embedded in sandy soil. Different loading conditions - individually and combined - by integrating local scour parameters such as scour depth (Sd), scour width (Sw) and scour angle (φ) while maintaining realistic scour proportions are carefully evaluated. The obtained results show that (1) scour depth has a stronger influence on the ultimate bearing capacity than the influences of scour width and angle; (2) the horizontal bearing capacity shows increased sensitivity to variations in scour depth; and (3) both the horizontal bearing capacity and the moment bearing capacity reach a plateau and a steady state manifest itself when the relative scour depth exceeds a threshold value of 0.9. An empirical formulation to characterize the failure envelope within the horizontal force-moment (H-M) plane is finally proposed, which properly considers the effect of scour depth. These findings provide a valuable reference for ensuring structural resilience to local scour phenomena.

Innovation Policy Beyond Patents: A Case Study on the Development of Climate-Friendly Fertilizers

Abstract Nitrogen fertilizers have revolutionized agriculture since the early 20th century and made a decisive contribution to combating world hunger. Nevertheless, the technology is controversial today because production is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. In addition, conventional fertilizers pollute groundwater, rivers and coastal waters. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer is made from ammonia (NH3) produced by the Haber-Bosch process, for which a patent was filed with the German Imperial Patent Office in 1908 (DE235421). For the urgently needed development of modern climate-friendly fertilizers, patent law seems to have played a minor role so far. The large and patent-active agrochemical corporations in the industrialized countries are focusing on other technologies, leaving fertilizer production to companies with direct access to energy below the global market price. Another reason is the very generous regulation of nitrogen fertilizers. For farmers, the use of less climate-damaging fertilizers is not worthwhile. However, the disruption of supply chains in the wake of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the aggravation of climate change could lead to a rethink. In the US, the first support programs for the development of climate-friendly, innovative ‘next-generation’ fertilizers have been launched. This paper examines the interplay of patent law in concert with regulatory law and government funding tools in the area of innovative fertilizers. It starts from the hypothesis that other legal frameworks have a stronger influence on innovation activity than patent law at the moment. But this could change if the regulatory framework were to impose stricter requirements for the use of fertilizers.

Adolescent suicidal ideation: dissecting the role of sex in depression and NSSI predictors

BackgroundSuicidal ideation (SI) is increasingly prevalent among adolescents, often arising from depression and linked with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Previous studies have noted significant sex differences in the manifestation and predictors of SI, depression, and NSSI.AimThis study aims to analyze and compare the relationships between SI, depression, and NSSI among male and female adolescents, examining whether these associations differ based on sex.MethodsA total of 368 adolescents (M = 15.43, SD = 1.22, about 56.2% female participants), both from clinical and school settings, were assessed for SI, depression, NSSI, and other related variables. Network analysis was utilized to explore the interconnections among these variables, focusing on identifying sex-specific patterns. Logistic regression was used to confirm the findings from the network analysis.ResultsThe network analysis revealed significant sex differences in the relationships between SI, depression, and NSSI. In the female network, the edge weights between SI and NSSI (0.93) and between SI and depression (0.31) were much higher compared to the male network (0.29 and 0, respectively). Centrality indices (strength, betweenness, closeness, and expected influence) for SI, NSSI, and depression were also higher in the female network. Logistic regression confirmed these findings, with depression being a potential predictor of SI only in females (OR = 1.349, p = 0.001) and NSSI having a stronger influence on SI in females (OR = 13.673, p < 0.001) than in males (OR = 2.752, p = 0.037).ConclusionThe findings underscore the necessity of considering sex differences when predicting suicidal ideation from depression and NSSI in adolescents. Intervention and prevention strategies should be tailored to address these distinct patterns in male and female adolescents.

Critical evaluation of the spatiotemporal behavior of UHI, through correlation analyses based on multi-city heterogeneous dataset

This study utilizes year-round temperature data observed in 15 cities around the United States (U.S.) to investigate the relationships between UHI and urban design attributes, and answer the following questions: (1) Whether and to what extent these relationships vary with the diurnal cycle and across seasons?, (2) What is the spatial extent within which UHI is affected by different urban variables?, and (3) Which climatic factors determine the correlations between UHI and urban variables? Our analysis revealed that while surface reflectance, vegetation and building height are more influential on winter UHI, the effect of anthropogenic heat and building density is independent of the season. Also, tree canopy cover, impervious area and built-up area were more dominant on nighttime UHI, and albedo, surface reflectance, vegetation and building height had stronger influence on daytime UHI. With regards to the spatial extent, while the effect of 3D urban variables and imperviousness was prominent in the immediate vicinity (250 m–1 km), the effect of vegetation, surface reflectance and anthropogenic factors extend to a larger surrounding area (4 km–8 km). Lastly, the relationships between UHI and urban variables were noted to be strongly driven by humidity in each location.

Micro and Small Enterprises’ Export Competencies and Cooperation in Indonesia

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have an important role in Indonesia to play not only as a source of employment but also growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and exports, specially manufactured goods such as garments, food, footwear, electronics, and crafts. To support MSME exports, the Indonesian government hopes to build stronger collaboration with them. Many journal articles regarding exports of MSMEs have been executed in developing countries. However, no research has been conducted concerning the cooperative role of MSMEs in supporting their exports. Therefore, this descriptive study filled the gap by analyzing the cooperation of MSMEs in supporting their exports in Indonesia by analyzing secondary data from the 2019 Profile of Micro and Small Industries (MSIs) in the Manufacturing Industry from the Indonesian Statistics (BPS) and online database from the Indonesian Minister of Cooperative and Small and Medium Enterprise. Although the data does not provide further information regarding how many MSEs are members of cooperatives who export, the scatter plot in this study shows that there is a positive relationship between the number of MSEs who export and the number of MSEs who are members of cooperatives. Even though other factors had a stronger influence on export competencies, cooperatives still supported MSEs to export their goods. This study contributes to more substantial empirical evidence on the relationship between cooperatives and MSMEs in Indonesia and developing countries.

Exploring Factors Influencing Medical Trainees’ Specialty Choice: Insights from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in Jordan

Phenomenon: Choosing a medical specialty is a critical decision that significantly impacts medical students’ future career. Understanding the factors influencing this decision-making process is important for medical educators, policymakers, and healthcare providers to develop effective strategies that support and guide students in making informed decisions. Approach: We distributed an online self-administered questionnaire to clinical-year medical students (Years 4 to 6) and interns from all medical faculties in Jordan. The questionnaire gathered demographic information, specialty preferences, and factors influencing specialty decision-making. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Findings: 1805 participants completed the questionnaire (51.7% women). General surgery was the most preferred specialty among both genders, followed by internal medicine. Women significantly preferred family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and dermatology, whereas men significantly preferred urology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, general surgery, and internal medicine. The factors that most strongly influenced respondents’ specialty preferences were the specialty’s perceived stress levels and working hours, whereas the least influential factors were the specialty’s perceived prestige and role models in the specialty. Women’s specialty preferences were significantly more influenced by their family than men’s. Men were substantially more influenced by specialties’ perceived action-orientation and stress levels than women. Insights: Gender significantly influences medical trainees’ specialty preferences in Jordan. Women tended to prefer specialties that provided greater work-life balance, such as family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and dermatology, while men were more drawn toward competitive and profitable surgical specialties like orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, urology, and general surgery. Additionally, family had a stronger influence on women’s decisions, likely due to cultural and social expectations prioritizing marriage and family for women. Career counseling and mentorship programs are needed to provide guidance, support, and networking opportunities that can help women overcome barriers and biases that may hinder their career advancement.

Spatial variability of clay minerals in a semi-arid region of Turkiye

Clay minerals are the source of many chemical and physical properties that influence the provision of soil-based ecosystem services. This study aimed to identify the most significant soil characteristics contributing to the spatial variability of clay minerals in a semi-arid region of Turkiye. Additionally, the study assessed the predictive capabilities of Classification and Regression Tree (CART), Random Forest Regression (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting Regression (XGBoost) in estimating soil clay mineral content. Smectite+vermiculite (SMVR) was the most abundant clay mineral in the study area, followed by illite and kaolinite. Hyperparameter tuning significantly improved model accuracy, with root mean square error (RMSE) reductions ranging from 2.53% to 97.3%. The machine learning algorithms demonstrated varying performances in spatial prediction accuracy. The RF model achieved the lowest RMSE (8.587%) and the highest R2 values (0.796) for predicting SMVR. The XGBoost outperformed other models for kaolinite (RMSE: 4.814%, R2:0.713) and illite (RMSE:7.368%, R2:0.613). Exchangeable cations, particularly magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca), were identified as crucial factors influencing the spatial distribution of clay minerals. Among these, M concentration had the strongest influence on predicting both SMVR (38.1%) and illite (26.3%). Conversely, for kaolinite prediction, Ca concentration played the most significant role (38.7%), followed by Mg (19.93%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of machine learning models, particularly XGBoost which achieved the lowest RMSE for all clay minerals investigated. These models offer a valuable tool for predicting clay mineral content in the Kazova Plain. The findings highlight the importance of parent material, weathering processes, and specific soil properties, such as exchangeable cations, in shaping clay mineral distribution. This knowledge not only contributes to a deeper understanding of soil formation in semi-arid environments but also practical applications. For instance, by predicting the abundance of SVMR, known for its high cation exchange capacity land managers can develop targeted strategies for optimizing fertilizer application in the Kazova Plain.

Experimental study on the use of artificial meadows that mimic wave-vegetation interactions for coastal protection

A detailed experimental study was conducted on five artificial meadows made of structures that mimic wave-vegetation interactions. The meadows were of different lengths and leaf thicknesses under regular and random waves, such that the leaf thickness changed as the meadow length increased. Different wave heights, periods, and tidal conditions were examined. The results for regular and random waves were consistent. The meadow length had a stronger influence (30%–50%) on wave transmission than leaf thickness (5%–10%). A lower wave transmission was observed at higher wave energies due to enhanced wave-vegetation interaction, higher wave reflection, and effective energy dissipation. Compared with submerged conditions or when the top of the meadow was at still-water level, a lower wave transmission and higher wave reflection and energy dissipation were noted when the leaves emerged in the air. The longest meadow in the emerged condition reduced the wave height by more than 50% at mid meadow. Furthermore, a wave transmission coefficient of 0.3 was achieved by this model, which is desirable for the design of this wave barrier type. The model with the best overall hydrodynamic performance can be used alone or combined with existing natural vegetation for coastal protection.

Host ecotype and rearing environment are the main drivers of threespine stickleback gut microbiota diversity in a naturalistic experiment.

Host-microbiota interactions play a critical role in the hosts' biology, and thus, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms that shape gut microbial communities. We leveraged threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) as a model system to investigate the contribution of host and environmental factors to gut microbiota variation. These fish offer a unique opportunity for experiments in naturalistic conditions; we reared benthic and limnetic ecotypes from three different lakes in experimental ponds, allowing us to assess the relative effects of shared environment (pond), geographic origin (lake-of-origin), trophic ecology and genetics (ecotype) and biological sex on gut microbiota α- and β-diversity. Host ecotype had the strongest influence on α-diversity, with benthic fish exhibiting higher diversity than limnetic fish, followed by the rearing environment. β-diversity was primarily shaped by rearing environment, followed by host ecotype, indicating that environmental factors play a crucial role in determining gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, numerous bacterial orders were differentially abundant across ponds, underlining the substantial contribution of environmental factors to gut microbiota variation. Our study illustrates the complex interplay between environmental and host ecological or genetic factors in shaping the stickleback gut microbiota and highlights the value of experiments conducted under naturalistic conditions for understanding gut microbiota dynamics.

Changes in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in 2000–2020 and their driving mechanisms in Tibetan alpine grasslands

Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and their ratios are important parts of global carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle, but their responses to climate change and human activities remain controversial in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we quantified the influences of climate change and human activities on SOC, TN, TP and their ratios at three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) during 2000–2020 across the Tibetan alpine grasslands. Under the combined influences of climate change and human activities, spatially average SOC, TN, TP, C:N, C:P and N:P at 0–10 cm, and C:N and C:P at 10–20 cm decreased by 3.42%, 1.35%, 0.99%, 0.39%, 1.75%, 0.51%, 0.03% and 0.88%, respectively, but the others increased by 0.01–3.26%. Under the single influence of climate change, spatially TP at 0–10 and 20–30 cm decreased by 0.30% and 1.05%, respectively, but the others increased by 0.14–4.35%. Under the single influence of human activities, spatially TN at 0–10 and 10–20 cm, C:P at 0–10 cm and N:P at 10–20 cm decreased by 15%, 1%, 7% and 4%, respectively, but the others increased by 1–157%. No matter under the double pressure of climate change and human activities or their individual pressure, the changes of SOC, TN, TP, C:N, C:P and N:P not always increased or decreased, but vary with longitude, latitude and elevation. The changes of SOC, TN, TP, C:N, C:P and N:P did not necessarily and linearly increase or decrease with their background values. Compared to precipitation change and warming, radiation change had a stronger influence on the change of SOC at 10–20 cm and TP at 20–30 cm under the double pressure of climate change and human activities, and the single pressure of human activities, respectively. Radiation change also had stronger influences on the change of SOC at 10–20 cm, TN at 0–10 cm, C:N at 20–30 cm, C:P at 0–10 and 10–20 cm, N:P at 0–10 and 10–20 cm under the single pressure of climate change. Therefore, in the past 20 years, the single effect of climate change or human activities on soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and their ratios underestimated or overestimated their interactive effects in the Tibetan grasslands. Climate change and human activities reconstructed the spatial distribution patterns of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and their ratios. Radiation change should be given the same importance as warming and precipitation change, at least for the change of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus of the Tibetan alpine grasslands.

Competing mechanisms in bacterial invasion of human colon mucus probed with agent-based modeling

The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a vast community of microorganisms, termed the gut microbiota. Large colonies can pose a health threat, but the gastrointestinal mucus system protects epithelial cells from microbiota invasion. The human colon features a bilayer of mucus lining. Due to imbalances in intestinal homeostasis, bacteria may successfully penetrate the inner mucus layer, which can lead to severe gut diseases. However, it is hard to tease apart the competing mechanisms that lead to this penetration. To probe the conditions that permit bacteria penetration into the inner mucus layer, we develop an agent-based model consisting of bacteria and an inner mucus layer subject to a constant flux of nutrient fields feeding the bacteria. We find that there are three important variables that determine bacterial invasion: the bacterial reproduction rate, the contact energy between bacteria and mucus, and the rate of bacteria degrading the mucus. Under healthy conditions, all bacteria are naturally eliminated by the constant removal of mucus. In diseased states, imbalances between the rates of bacterial degradation and mucus secretion lead to bacterial invasion at certain junctures. We conduct uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis to compare the relative impact between these parameters. The contact energy has the strongest influence on bacterial penetration, which, in combination with bacterial degradation rate and growth rate, greatly accelerates bacterial invasion of the human gut mucus lining. Our findings will serve as predictive indicators for the etiology of intestinal diseases and highlight important considerations when developing gut therapeutics.

The ADnet Bayesian belief network for alder decline: Integrating empirical data and expert knowledge

The globalization in plant material trading has caused the emergence of invasive pests in many ecosystems, such as the alder pathogen Phytophthora ×alni in European riparian forests. Due to the ecological importance of alder to the functioning of rivers and the increasing incidence of P. ×alni-induced alder decline, effective and accessible decision tools are required to help managers and stakeholders control the disease. This study proposes a Bayesian belief network methodology to integrate diverse information on the factors affecting the survival and infection ability of P. ×alni in riparian habitats to help predict and manage disease incidence. The resulting Alder Decline Network (ADnet) management tool integrates information about alder decline from scientific literature, expert knowledge and empirical data. Expert knowledge was gathered through elicitation techniques that included 19 experts from 12 institutions and 8 countries. An original dataset was created covering 1189 European locations, from which P. ×alni occurrence was modeled based on bioclimatic variables. ADnet uncertainty was evaluated through its sensitivity to changes in states and three scenario analyses. The ADnet tool indicated that mild temperatures and high precipitation are key factors favoring pathogen survival. Flood timing, water velocity, and soil type have the strongest influence on disease incidence. ADnet can support ecosystem management decisions and knowledge transfer to address P. ×alni-induced alder decline at local or regional levels across Europe. Management actions such as avoiding the planting of potentially infected trees or removing man-made structures that increase the flooding period in disease-affected sites could decrease the incidence of alder disease in riparian forests and limit its spread. The coverage of the ADnet tool can be expanded by updating data on the pathogen's occurrence, particularly from its distributional limits. Research on the role of genetic variability in alder susceptibility and pathogen virulence may also help improve future ADnet versions.

Analysis of the evolution and influencing factors of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities based on GEE and RSEI: a case study of Xuzhou City, China

ABSTRACT This study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to get and process Landsat images of Xuzhou from 2008 to 2020, and built remote sensing ecological indices (RSEI). This study analyzed the spatiotemporal features and drivers of ecological environment quality after Xuzhou’s transformation using landscape pattern index, spatial autocorrelation, and geographic detector methods. The results showed that: (1) The ecological environment quality of Xuzhou improved steadily but unevenly from 2008 to 2020; the west and central urban areas had poor but improving quality, while the east had the opposite trend; (2) The landscape pattern indices of ecological environment quality in different regions of Xuzhou did not change consistently from 2008 to 2020; (3) The spatial distribution of ecological environment quality had significant autocorrelation, with high-high clusters in the east and low-low clusters in the center and the urban areas of each district and county; (4) NDVI is the component index that has the greatest impact on the changes in the RSEI. Among the single factors, land use conditions have the strongest influence on ecological environmental quality. After the interaction of dual factors, the explanatory power is stronger than that of any single factor. The research results can support urban planning and design, ecological environment protection, etc. in Xuzhou, and offer insights for monitoring and evaluation of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities.

A subiculum-hypothalamic pathway functions in dynamic threat detection and memory updating

Animals need to detect threats, initiate defensive responses, and, in parallel, remember where the threat occurred to avoid the possibility of re-encountering it. By probing animals capable of detecting and avoiding a shock-related threatening location, we were able to reveal a septo-hippocampal-hypothalamic circuit that is also engaged in ethological threats, including predatory and social threats. Photometry analysis focusing on the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd), a critical interface of this circuit, showed that in freely tested animals, the nucleus appears ideal to work as a threat detector to sense dynamic changes under threatening conditions as the animal approaches and avoids the threatening source. We also found that PMd chemogenetic silencing impaired defensive responses by causing a failure of threat detection rather than a direct influence on any behavioral responses and, at the same time, updated fear memory to a low-threat condition. Optogenetic silencing of the main PMd targets, namely the periaqueductal gray and anterior medial thalamus, showed that the projection to the periaqueductal gray influences both defensive responses and, to a lesser degree, contextual memory, whereas the projection to the anterior medial thalamus has a stronger influence on memory processes. Our results are important for understanding how animals deal with the threat imminence continuum, revealing a circuit that is engaged in threat detection and that, at the same time, serves to update the memory process to accommodate changes under threatening conditions.

The social stratification of internal migration and daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study leverages mobile data for 5.4 million users to unveil the complex dynamics of daily mobility and longer-term relocations in and from Santiago, Chile, during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on socioeconomic differentials. We estimated a relative increase in daily mobility, in 2020, for lower-income compared to higher-income regions. In contrast, longer-term relocation rose primarily among higher-income groups. These shifts indicate nuanced responses to the pandemic across socioeconomic classes. Compared to 2017, economic factors in 2020 had a stronger influence on the decision to relocate and the selection of destinations, suggesting transformations in mobility behaviors. Contrary to previously held beliefs, there was no evidence supporting a preference for rural over urban destinations, despite the surge in emigration from Santiago during the pandemic. This study enhances our understanding of how varying socioeconomic conditions interact with mobility decisions during crises and provides insights for policymakers aiming to enact fair and evidence-based measures in rapidly changing circumstances.

CANONICAL CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The paper discusses the relationship between economic growth and the unemployment rate in Indonesia in each province in 2021. Both variables are considered as the dependent variable and there are 5 independent variables used in this research such as human index development, wage minimum region, poor citizens percentage, investment, and farmer rate value in each province. The method used to analyze is canonical correlation analysis, which is one of the dependent methods that are used for multivariate analysis. This method was used to determine which variable had the most significant relationship between dependent and independent variables, the data was taken from the Center of Statistics Bureau Indonesia in 2021. The result shows that among independent variables the human index development had the strongest relation it had 79%, while the correlation between the dependent and independent variable the unemployment rate gives the strongest influence it is 68%.

Enhancing the continuing willingness of Chinese college students to engage in volunteer services for older adults

BackgroundThe ageing population presents a substantial challenge to conventional care services for older adults in China. College students' voluntary service constitutes an integral component of youth volunteerism, and investigating their continuing willingness to engage in volunteer services to benefit older adults holds immense importance for fostering a stable and enduring framework for China's older adults' care team. MethodDrawing on the extended theory of reasoned action, this study establishes an analytical framework to examine the willingness of Chinese college students to engage in volunteer services for older adults. Using micro-survey data, we employ structural equation modelling and the bootstrap mediation effect test method to empirically investigate the influencing mechanism behind this willingness. Results(1) Attitude has the strongest influence on the continuing willingness of Chinese college students to engage in volunteer services for older adults, and plays a mediating role between subjective norms and continuing willingness to engage in volunteer services, which reveals the special role of attitude in the continuing engagement of Chinese college students in volunteer services for older adults. (2) Personality trait has a substantial positive impact on Chinese college students’ willingness to engage continuously in volunteer service for older adults, and subjective norms and attitudes have a chain mediating effect in this influence relationship. (3) The theoretical model constructed in this study is reasonable, reliable and robust. ConclusionThis study elucidates the potential relationship between attitude, subjective norms, personality traits and the willingness to engage in volunteer services, offering a novel perspective for understanding the continuing willingness of Chinese college students to engage in volunteer services for older adults. Furthermore, it highlights the value of incorporating the extended theory of reasoned action into the policy design of college students’ engagement in such services.

Pengaruh Karakteristik Individu Terhadap Minat Kunjungan Ulang Pemeriksaan Antenatal Care (ANC) Di Rumah Sakit Umum Ridos Medan Tahun 2024

Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations are an important strategy in reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which are currently still high. Ridos Medan General Hospital is one of the hospitals that provides Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations with a low percentage of pregnant women who make repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations, namely 889 pregnant women who carry out Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations while those who do There will only be 498 pregnant women repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations in 2022. This type of research is a survey with an explanatory research type, which aims to explain the influence of individual characteristics (age, education, occupation, parity, health condition, pregnancy interval, income). , distance, attitude, knowledge, husband's support, and satisfaction with health workers) on interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations at Ridos Medan General Hospital in 2023. The research was conducted at Ridos Medan General Hospital. The population in this study were pregnant women. The sampling technique was Accidental Sampling as many as 89 people. The data analysis used is multiple linear regression. The results of the study show that the variables that influence interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations are education, knowledge, attitudes and satisfaction with health workers. The contribution of these four variables to interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations was 57%. Of the four variables, the one with the strongest influence on interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations is knowledge (B=0.475). Respondents' interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations was generally in the low category, namely 40.4%, medium at 32.6%, and high interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations at 27.0%. In an effort to increase interest in repeat visits for Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations, efforts must be made, namely advocacy and socialization about Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations, carrying out Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations according to standards, training related health workers and it is hoped that health workers will improve the quality of service by being friendlier, more alert, attentive and clear in conveying information.

Pengaruh Pengetahuan Syariah, Independensi Auditor Dan Keterampilan Teknis Dalam Meningkatkan Efektivitas Audit Syariah

The aim of this research is to analyze the influence of sharia knowledge, auditor independence, and technical skills on the effectiveness of sharia audits. Data comes from previous research and library research. The research results show that sharia knowledge, auditor independence, and technical skills have a significant influence on the effectiveness of sharia audits. Sharia knowledge has the strongest influence, followed by examiner independence and technical skills. This research provides important implications for sharia audit practice. First, it is important for Sharia auditors to have sufficient Sharia knowledge to properly understand the Sharia transactions and activities being audited. Second, auditor independence must be maintained so that auditors can provide objective and impartial audit opinions. Third, sharia auditors must have sufficient technical skills to carry out audits effectively.