Substantive Effort Research Articles

Indigenous Perspectives on Strengths, Resilience, and Well-being

Indigenous communities consistently call for strengths-based, assets-driven approaches to promoting health equity. This includes efforts to expand well-being and resilience frameworks to reflect cultural understandings and perspectives. This study describes community-based participatory research (CBPR) involving focus groups with four diverse groups of Indigenous community members in a single reservation community in the United States. Data were analyzed using inductive and deductive multi-coder processes. Our collaborative efforts led to innovations in planned methods and focal areas of study, including a reframing of “resilience” as one that brings hearts and community together. This approach also yielded a unique, intensive qualitative coding structure that represents a substantive effort to democratize and Indigenize research methods. Community members who participated in focus groups identified Indigenous cultural practices, beliefs, and community as critical components to well-being.

Understanding compliance with safe work practices: The role of ‘can‐do’ and ‘reason‐to’ factors

This study addresses the psychological mechanisms that lead to compliance with safe work practices among electrical workers. Compliance with safe work practices can be challenging as it involves substantive cognitive effort and often takes place in the presence of multiple competing demands and situational constraints. Guided by expectancy‐value theory, we advance theorizing on compliance by conceptualizing it as a task choice. Our key proposition is that compliance is motivated by the unique and interactive effects of "can‐do" (i.e., self‐efficacy) and "reason‐to" (i.e., perceived usefulness and perceived low cost) psychological states. Distal individual (i.e., safety knowledge and sensation seeking personality) and organizational (i.e., psychological safety climate) antecedents also were considered. Data from a sample of 386 Australian electrical workers in which the focal variables were assessed at Time 1 and compliance with safe work practices was assessed three months later at Time 2 confirmed the hypothesized relationships. A compensating interactive effect between self‐efficacy and perceived usefulness also was found. When self‐efficacy was high, perceived usefulness no longer had a significant positive relationship with compliance. Overall, this study demonstrates that expectancy‐value theory provides a meaningful explanation for the underlying psychological mechanisms that lead to safety compliance. Managers and safety practitioners should focus on cultivating self‐efficacy and utility perceptions when enforcing compliance with safe work practices.Practitioner points This research examined psychological states of a cognitive nature that encourage electricians’ compliance with safe work practices. Self‐efficacy was found to have the strongest positive association with compliance, and to a lesser extent, perceived usefulness. When feelings of confidence in being compliant were high, perceived usefulness no longer had a significant positive relationship with compliance, suggesting a compensating effect.

A springboard for entrepreneurs? Gig and sharing economy and entrepreneurship in Russia

PurposeThe growing popularity of gig and sharing economy changes not only consumption models but also employment patterns. This study aims to analyze the potential entrepreneurial nature of gig and sharing economy initiatives. As such, the authors compare the entrepreneurial intentions of gig and sharing economy workers to the general population. Further, the authors consider commonalities and differences in terms of the driving forces of both intentions to start-up and participation in gig and sharing economy, treating them as connected phenomena. Finally, the authors look into gig and sharing economy experience as a direct antecedent to entrepreneurial intentions formation.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical settings for this study are derived from the sample of 1,257 individuals who participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Adult Population Survey 2018 in Russia. Methodologically, the authors rely on analysis of variance-test and binary logistic regression analysis to test the study hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that entrepreneurial intentions of gig and sharing economy workers are significantly higher when compared to the general population. In terms of antecedents to gig and sharing economy participation and startup intentions, similar effects of age, entrepreneurial social capital, prior entrepreneurial exit and intrapreneurial experience were revealed, while perceived self-efficacy was associated only with engagement into digital platforms. Finally, gig and sharing economy experience showed significant and positive effect on entrepreneurial intentions formation.Originality/valueThis study represents a first substantive effort to systematize antecedents to gig and sharing economy participation through an entrepreneurship perspective. Beyond that, this research adds to the contextualization of entrepreneurship literature stream, further defining the mechanism of entrepreneurial intentions formation in empirical settings of an emerging market with a relatively low propensity of population to develop intentions to start-up.

Evaluating the perceptions and practices towards coronavirus and associated factors in metropolitan cities of Amhara region, Ethiopia

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, are increasing rapidly following improved testing. This study is aimed at assessing the perceptions and practices towards coronavirus among the metropolitan city population of Amhara region, Ethiopia, and examining the associated factors affecting public perceptions and practices regarding coronavirus among the population of metropolitan cities. A total of 1288 randomly selected participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess perceptions and practices towards coronavirus and associated factors. The statistical analysis involved fitting a binary logistic regression model and a chi-square test. Of 1288 study participants, 788 (61.2%) and 500 (38.8%) were male and female, respectively. Their average age and monthly income were 29.2 years and 2484 birr, respectively. Preventive measures followed by the participants involved washing hands with soap and water rubbing for at least 20 s (55.4%) and visiting a doctor when corona symptoms show up (49.5%). Permanent rural residents had lower odds of good perception and practices regarding coronavirus (aOR=0.505; 95% CI=0.15, 0.82) as compared to permanent urban resident participants. Due to misguided perceptions and practices, the prevalence of coronavirus in metropolitan city communities of Amhara region is high. The city of residence, marital status, educational level, permanent residence, and information sources were significantly associated with people's perceptions and practices towards the prevention of coronavirus. Perceptions and practices towards coronavirus had a significant positive correlation in terms of preventive measures against coronavirus. Therefore, the authors would like to recommend if substantive effort from the government and different stakeholders regarding to raising the perception and practices of communities in the cities towards the pandemic and reduce the collateral damage especially the lower income communities who cannot afford basic needs.

Learner Need Satisfaction and Effort in an Online English Language Learning Context

This study aims to explore learners’ need satisfaction and effort in an online English language learning setting, focusing on Korean college students. A total of seventy-seven participants were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-proficiency groups based on their English competence. Four major instruments were employed in the current study: a background questionnaire, an assessment of English competency, the Need Satisfaction in an Online English Learning (NSOEL) questionnaire, and the Online English Learning Effort (OELE) questionnaire. The results indicate that learners with high- and intermediate-levels showed significantly greater performance than those in the low-proficiency group in terms of need satisfaction for competence on the NSOEL and also substantive effort on the OELE. This study also reveals that there existed positive correlations among learners’ proficiency levels, factors on the NSOEL, and factors on the OELE. Based on the findings of the study, pedagogical implications and practical teaching methodologies are given for online English language learning instruction to help foster L2 learners’ need satisfaction and effort.

A Study Of Students’ Efforts To Improve The Ability In English

Non-English students need specific efforts to improve their English ability. Each student has a different effort in learning English. The research aims to find out the kinds of students’ efforts in improving their English ability and the dominant English skill practiced by the students. Besides, the level of students’ effort is also investigated in this research. The subjects of this research cover 35 students in the first semester of the Faculty Of Public Health. Qualitative method was used in this research by semi structured interviews as the primary tools of data collection. The result shows that students’ efforts to improve their English skills are varies. Students try to improve their ability in English aimed to the purpose of speaking or communication. The level students' efforts are categorized into the substantive effort.

Dutch shared savings program targeted at primary care: Reduced expenditures in its first year

In countries where GPs fulfill a central role in the health care system, like in the Netherlands, the lack of value-based incentives in GP payment systems may have negative consequences for value delivered in other parts of the health care spectrum. We evaluate an experiment in which GPs were allowed to share in savings in total health care expenditures, conditionally on achieving quality targets. At least in theory, these so-called ‘shared savings contracts’ incentivize GPs to become critical gatekeepers, coordinate the provision of care and substitute for specialist services when appropriate. This study evaluates a Dutch shared savings program targeted at GPs. This study employs a difference-in-differences design using a regional control group of non-participating GPs. We find that program participation led to savings in health care expenditures (-2%), while patient satisfaction was unaffected and while the results for other quality indicators were ambiguous. Additional analyses show that savings have been predominantly realized by lowering the volume of specialist care, and that almost every participating GP displayed cost-saving behavior. This finding suggests that shared savings contracts, even when added as a mere complemented to existing volume-based payment models, already elicit substantive effort to increase the value of health care provided.

Foreign language learning effort levels of students in English for Specific Purposes

The study aims to investigate foreign language learning effort levels of students in English for Specific Purposes. In the study, quantitative research and survey method were applied. 385 students studying at a faculty of tourism and taking vocational English course at a state university in Turkey participated in the study voluntarily. Foreign Language Learning Effort Scale (FLLES) was used to collect data. At the end of the study, the students’ level of non-compliance was at “never” level, their procedural, focal and overall effort levels were at “often” level and their substantive effort level was at “sometimes” level. While there was no significant difference in non-compliance and overall effort levels of the students, there was a significant difference in their procedural, substantive and focal effort levels in terms of their gender and age. There was no significant difference in non-compliance, procedural, substantive and overall effort levels of the students but there was a significant difference in their focal effort levels in terms of their education type. There was not a significant difference in non-compliance, procedural and substantive effort levels of the students; however, there was a significant difference in their focal and overall language learning effort levels in terms of their department. There was a significant difference in non-compliance, procedural, substantive, focal and overall language learning effort levels of the students in terms of their achievement.

The Role of Third-Party Intervention in Trade Dispute in Nigeria: A Study of Selected Universities

The study investigated the role of third-party intervention in trade dispute. Litigation is one of the popular ways of disputes settlements. Hence, there are other appropriate pragmatic and adaptive models of resolving disputes apart from litigation, such as arbitration, mediation, and conciliation. The study examined the challenges before the third party by way of conciliation, mediation and arbitration and conclude that motives of the third parties in disputes resolution are to prevent disputes, resolve it if it has developed, or manage it from being dysfunctional. Again, the choice of alternation/appropriate dispute resolution (ADR) model(s) to be employed depends on the peculiarities of the disputes. A sample size of 631.7 was determined from a population of 2,021 employees using Taro Yamme’s approach. Data obtained from pilot survey were committed to test of reliability using Cronbach alpha statistic and computed using SPSS version 19 and the result reported a Cronbach alpha of 0.771. In analyzing the data, the descriptive statistics of simple percentage, mean, Variance and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were adopted to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses. To further this research, F- value was used to calculate the test statistics, treatment mean square (TRMS), Error mean Square (EMS), and Treatment Sum of Squares (TRSS) at 5% significant level. The study however concludes that the role of third Party and the resolution model(s) it uses have significant impact in dispute resolution. Thus, recommended these model(s) in settling disputes because it is convenient, cheap, flexible, adaptive, dignity-protecting, less time-consuming, friendly enhancing, among others. Immediate and remote causes of dispute should be properly addressed and substantive effort should be made towards reducing disputes in the institutions because of its negative consequences.

SYNERGISING INTERNATIONAL LABOUR LAWS AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PROTECTION OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS

Efforts in promoting international legal protection of Indonesian migrant workers can be explained that it has complete regulations. This situation cannot be separated from the facts that show the importance of granting Specific labour rights for migrant workers in the international community’s perspective. The purposes of this article are to encourage all people to consider seriously the applying of international human rights law in order to promote of human rights, especially, for Indonesia migrant workers (TKI) and create better migration management. In legal-formal matter, the applying of legal mechanisms has been recognized as human rights by Indonesia law. One of the best ways is trying to join the outside world in order to attain Economic development for the nation. Exploiting Opportunities of globalized world economy does not mean our sovereignty weakened but rather as an effort to achieve more substantive effort. This can be interpreted as a political commitment from the government - by learning and cooperating with Other States - to be more pragmatic by prioritizing the interests of the people as a form of democracy.

Blood Flow in the Pancreatic Islet: Not so Isolated Anymore.

The pancreatic islet is a highly vascularized endocrine mini-organ that depends on blood supply to function efficiently. As blood flows through islet capillaries reaching different endocrine cell types, it significantly impacts nutrient sensing, paracrine communication, and the final hormonal output. Thus, any change in blood flow, either induced physiologically (e.g., nervous input) or as a result of pathological changes (e.g., fibrosis), could affect islet function. It is not a stretch to state that the way the islet vasculature is arranged anatomically and regulated functionally must have consequences for glucose homeostasis. Despite its potential impact for islet function, interest in the islet vasculature has been sporadic and is certainly not equal to that professed to the cells it serves. Still, there has been a substantive research effort in this arena. From beautiful scanning electron images of corrosion casts (1) to creative physiological experiments using perfused pancreases (2) and microbeads (3), investigators have employed various approaches to study the microcirculation of the islet. The results of these studies provided structural and functional insight but also raised questions. To settle a debate that had started in the mid-1960s, a group of prominent islet biologists decided to meet in 1996 to review existing notions about islet blood flow and “agreed to disagree” that there were three models (4). In model 1, non–β-cells are perfused before β-cells, allowing other endocrine cells to influence β-cells located downstream. In model 2, β-cells are perfused before the other endocrine cells and thus dominate islet function. In model 3, there is no apparent order of perfusion, but blood …

The effort of partnership: Capacity development and moral capital in partnership for mutual gains

The article discusses the enactment of a strategic partnership undertaken by a large, multi-site company and several trade unions. The enterprise aimed to institute highly engaged practices of employee and management voice to create a collaborative culture throughout the organization. The study finds that five years since the inception of the project of institutional change, considerable challenges to its embedding and effectiveness remain. It also finds that particular characteristics of the partnership propose resource generation for addressing those challenges and progressing collaborative relations to mutual benefit. Substantive actor effort and organizational learning generate capacity for new relationships. That includes activation of moral capital including toleration, patience, mutual respect, reciprocity and trust.

The advent of double-entry-based costing practices in the British engineering industry: Ransomes of Ipswich, 1856–1863

ABSTRACTThe history of accounting in all countries is punctuated by significant gaps in our knowledge. For Britain, where topics such as cost accounting have been the subject of a substantive research effort, there is still much we do not know. It has been suggested that engineers played an important role in the development of costing during the nineteenth century but that such activity occurred outside the double-entry bookkeeping system. The lack of relevant contemporary literature and surviving business records has made it difficult to examine the validity of such claims. This study reviews the surviving evidence from the agricultural implement manufacturer, Ransomes of Ipswich, in an attempt to provide a better understanding of the emergence of costing within the engineering sector during the 1850s and 1860s.

The Strategic Effects of Auditing Standard No. 5 in a Multi-Location Setting

SUMMARY Auditing Standard No. (AS) 5 provides guidance in the required audit of internal control over financial reporting and its integration into the financial statement audit. AS 5 advocates a “top-down” approach, in which control testing helps the auditor assess the risk of financial misstatement across multiple locations. We consider a manager who oversees two locations and who has private information about internal control strength in each location. Only when controls are weak can the manager commit fraud. We show how the manager's opportunity to commit fraud and informational characteristics of internal control tests impact the manager's probability choice of fraud and the auditor's choice of substantive test effort.

Assessment of Biomimetic Modification on a Novel Low Elastic Modulus Ti–Nb–Hf Alloy for Dental Implants

A simple review of research literature and Research and Development trends (R&D) in the field of dental implants shows an exponential increase in their quantity. The impressive growth in the contributions of nanoscience, in general and nanotechnology/nanomaterials applied to dental care, in particular, also shows the priorities investments and substantive effort of the global research community in this area. Nevertheless, there are still many research challenges and huge opportunities to optimize dental implants. The essential purpose of this study is to assess biomimetic modifications on a novel low elastic modulus TiHfNb Alloy Ni-free. For the mimic surface samples were initially bioactive with Oxygen Plasma (OP) or Piranha etching (Pi). Later three different silanes were used (CPTES, GPTES or APTES+CL) and finally RGD or mixtures 1:1 of RGD:FHRRIKA or RGD:PHSRN were immobilized on the surface. To evaluate the biomimetic modification, cells adhesion studies were performed. For the chemical characterization different techniques were used, including, inter alia: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Zinc-substitution complex technique (ZC), and immunofluorescence. Experimental results showed that the best activation method was the OP, and the biomimetic, modification is a well-grounded research strategy to improve the cell adhesion.

The American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare

Conceptualized by social work deans and actualized with the support of major social work organizations, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare was established in 2009. This article describes the historical context and creation of the Academy, whose objectives include recognizing outstanding social work scholars and practitioners; informing social policy by serving as a signal scientific source of information for the social work profession and agencies seeking information; promoting the examination of social policy and the application of research to the design and development of more effective public policies, social welfare programs, and social work practice; and celebrating excellence in research, education, and practice. The Academy’s 72 members have been selected using the methods of the National Academy of Science. The Academy’s first substantive effort is the Grand Challenges of Social Work Initiative, designed to help transform social work science, education, and practice around visionary and achievable challenges.

High drama on the high seas

A review of the literature indicates a plethora of studies examining the coverage of Middle Eastern conflicts, but hardly any research has been explicitly framed as being developed from a peace/war journalism perspective. The current study, therefore, represents a substantive effort to remedy this deficiency. It examines the extent to which the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident is framed based on Johan Galtung’s classification of peace/war journalism. A content analysis of 156 online stories from Haaretz , The Guardian, and The New York Times suggests that overall differences exist among the war/peace narratives published in the three newspapers. The validity of few peace indicators used also was noted. The authors strongly advocate for the need to redefine indicators for peace journalism to reflect the concept as distinct from objective, and factual reporting.

Advancing US public acceptance of spent fuel storage and transport: proposed outreach services for ionising radiation education support

Expansion of commercial nuclear energy could be one of the future US sources for clean, safe, reliable and economic electricity. However, no federal policy has effectively achieved wide acceptance of nuclear energy, with such policies having fallen victim to the politics of public radiation fears from nuclear energy usage and from spent fuel storage and transport. Many experts have described the foundation of public fear as not so much nuclear technology, but the ionising radiation to which people fear they might be exposed, and this issue has been talked and written about, yet gone substantially unaddressed with respect to public education for more than three decades. In the USA, the Blue Ribbon Commission Final Report is just the latest of clear statements where such an educational need is firmly asserted. The lamentable fact is that no one has made that substantive and concerted effort to do anything about it. Indeed, the only effort seems to have been talk about ‘better communication’, with a focus on...

Book review: Federal Dynamics: Continuity, Change and the Varieties of Federalism

Federal systems are praised for creating political stability, but they are also blamed for causing rigidity. They are said to balance powers, but apparently they are also threatened by instability due to drifts in power. Federalism should support democratization, but it can also constrain the power of the demos and strengthen the executive. In short, there is widespread agreement that federal systems are dynamic. The forces, mechanisms and consequences of federal dynamics, however, are not sufficiently understood so far. This book brings together leading experts in the field of comparative federalism to highlight how the interplay of continuity and change systematically generates and reinforces varieties of federalism and varieties of federal dynamics. Federal Dynamics: Continuity, Change and Varieties of Federalism investigates mechanisms and resulting patterns of federal development. It offers new analytical concepts and discusses different theoretical propositions to systematically compare convergent and divergent trends in federal systems. Acknowledging the theoretical pluralism that dominates the field, the book is organized around four sections: Models, Varieties and Dimensions of Federalism; Timing, Sequencing and Historical Evolution; Social Change and Political Structuring; and Actors, Institutions and Internal Dynamics. The contributions to this volume are variously concerned with three guiding questions: What changes within federal systems, how and why? The focus provided by these three guiding questions allows for a dialogue between strands of the literature that have not talked to each other in a sufficient manner. In this way, the book makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on continuity and change in federal systems. Ultimately, it represents a substantive effort in advancing research on comparative federalism.

Highlights from Recent Cancer Literature

Highlights from Recent Cancer Literature