Favorable Terms Research Articles

Gender features of social and psychological adaptation of migrants in the United States

In order to investigate the gender characteristics of migrants adaptation, we tested 60 married people who moved to the United States within one year. All respondents have higher education, are capable, belong to the middle class, have real estate and cars, at least one of the spouses works. All respondents moved to the United States on very favorable terms. The techniques we selected allowed us to conduct this research remotely via Google Form on the Internet. For our study, we chose the following techniques: Maskulinity-Femininity Test (S. Bem), Marriage Satisfaction Questionnaire (T. Romanov and G. Butenko), Socio-psychological Adaptation Questionnaire (C. Rogers and R. Diamond), SAN Test, "Big Five" Questionnaire. We found out that only masculinity correlates with adaptation: the higher is masculinity, the higher adaptation is. Further correlation analysis revealed that masculinity has the highest direct correlation with internality, that is, a person's belief in his/her power to determine his/her life abroad. Other masculine traits that have an impact on adaptation include self-acceptance, desire for domination, and emotional stability. We were surprised by the lack of correlation between masculinity and acceptance by others. Since the discovered correlation hasn’t shown a connection between masculinity and femininity, we can train masculinity without paying attention to gender. We have found that the masculine traits that enhance the adaptation process in the new country are internality, positive self-perception, desire for domination, and emotional stability. That is why we counted on our 3-day training. Our training is similar to personal growth training as it primarily develops self-regulation skills, emotional competence, self-perception, acceptance by others and will power. In addition, through mini-lectures, the participants can learn about the stages of adaptation, the concepts of cultural shock and acculturation, which will help them to understand those new processes they face in a new country and simplify such a complex and stressful process as adaptation.

The impact of digitalization on the formation and implementation of bank's deposit policy

The article considers the efficiency of banks in Ukraine, which in turn depends on sufficient volumes of resources. Given the rapid pace of innovation and unstable dynamics of investment, it is not enough to artificially reduce the cost of deposits and increase the cost of loans to sustain the successful operation of banking institutions. It is necessary to create an effective management system that will be able to develop a deposit policy and respond adequately to all events in society. Issues of deposit policy in banking, which is influenced by the complexity of financial relations, in particular in the context of globalization, are becoming increasingly relevant. Therefore, the article examines the peculiarities of the formation and implementation of deposit policy in terms of the digitalization of business processes. The authors analyzed the allocation and dynamics of deposits by volumes, currency, sectors of the economy and terms of repayment. The results of the study allow claiming that banks’ deposit policy needs constant improvement. To increase its efficiency, there are several ways, such as creating favourable conditions to meet customer needs in deposit services; ensuring the protection of depositors' interests, which, in turn, will increase the reliability of banks and the efficiency in the process of converting savings into investments; active digitalization of banks' relations with clients in solving all financial issues, including in the deposit sphere, which will simplify customer service processes and increase the banks’ resources by attracting new categories of customers due to innovative deposit products with favourable terms.

Restoring Land and Growing Renewable Energy: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future Steps

Primary energy demand in Indonesia has rapidly increased, i.e., 43.33% between 2005 and 2016, while domestic energy supply failed to fulfill these needs leading to the reliance on the energy import. Meanwhile, a vast area of degraded land in Indonesia also created an opportunity for biofuel production, fulfilling energy demand, as well as restoring the land with environmental and socio-economic benefits. This paper provides an overview of identified potential and challenges associated with biofuel production from degraded land in Indonesia. Our preliminary findings highlighted that some biofuel species in Indonesia are suitable to grow in degraded land and potentially restore the land that may not be suitable for current agricultural production and/or reforestation. The initial finding also shows that culturally familiar species and stable markets are favorable terms of biofuel-species selection for the landowners. Supportive agricultural-extension services such as knowledge and technology for honey production can provide an added value in this concept, in addition to social (e.g., strengthening social solidarity and employment opportunities) and environmental (e.g., carbon storage, soil moisture, erosion control, and biodiversity) benefits. Meanwhile, to create this overall initiative to be successful, a supportive measure from the policymakers is needed. Further research on the capacity of biofuel species to restore degraded lands in different biophysical profiles. Analysis of biofuel production feedstocks and potential co-benefits viable business models, and the stable market is necessary to maximize benefit from biofuel production and to restore the degraded lands in Indonesia. Keywords: biofuel production, renewable energy, restoring

Hematopoietic Cell Transplant-Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) Score Predicts Non-Relapse Mortality (NRM) and Overall Survival (OS) in Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Intensive Preparative Regimen with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) Followed By Maintenance Therapy Using Novel Agents

Introduction: HCT-CI score was initially proposed to predict NRM and survival in allogeneic SCT patients. This was also validated for ASCT by CIBMTR and showed worse survival and NRM in high risk patients. Here, we report results of comorbidity score and its impact specifically in myeloma patients who received intensive preparative regimen consisting of bortezomib, dexamethasone and thalidomide in addition to standard dose Melphalan 200mg/m2 followed by maintenance therapy.Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients receiving autotransplants between March 2012 and December 2016. To investigate the association between HCT-CI patient, disease, and transplant characteristics, chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used. Survival probabilities were estimated and plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. For OS, time was calculated from transplant to death due to any cause. OS differences were evaluated using the log-rank test. NRM was defined as time from transplant to death due to any cause without prior relapse; relapse was defined as a competing event. Cumulative incidences of NRM were plotted and compared using Gray's test.Results: 242 patients were included; 88 were > 65 years; 94 were females. Low and intermediate HCT-CI groups were combined and compared against the high risk group. The majority (69 %) were high risk (HCT-CI score ≥3). Only KPS <to90% and male sex were significantly associated with high risk scores. In both low/intermediate and high risk groups high rates of CR, 67.6% and 69%, respectively, were achieved post-transplant. The 3 year OS was 77% (95% CI 63-86%) and 64% (95% CI 55-72%, p=0.04), respectively, while NRM was 14% (95% CI 6-25%) and 24% (95% CI 17-32%, p=0.04).Conclusion: This analysis shows that the HCT-CI score can predict worse NRM and OS in high risk myeloma patients receiving ASCT using intensive preparative regimen. Higher than expected rates of NRM in both groups are likely due to a high incidence of infections and other complications during maintenance therapy, but this treatment approach resulted in very high rates of CR in both groups. Therefore, these results and further analysis could help to better stratify and select patients prior to considering intense therapy that could derive favorable long term benefits from this approach. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

“A Style of Chinese Respect”: Lord Macartney’s Reply to the Imperial Edicts of Emperor Qianlong in 1793

Abstract In 1793, King George III of Great Britain sent an official embassy led by Lord George Macartney to China in the hope of getting more favourable trading terms. However, all the requests made by Lord Macartney were rejected flatly in two imperial edicts issued by the Chinese Emperor Qianlong when the embassy was about to leave China. The present paper focuses on Lord Macartney’s response to the two imperial edicts, in particular the official reply Macartney made to the Qing court in the form of a “note” to Heshen before the embassy left China. In the note, Macartney touched upon several important issues, including the sensitive one about the relative status of the two countries. To Macartney, these issues were so crucial that he felt obliged to make a response promptly. The tactful way adopted by Macartney to handle them deserves our special attention.

THE CORRELATES OF TERMS OF TRADE IN OIL EXPORTING COUNTRIES OF GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL REGION

Terms of trade is associated with the gains from trade and subsequent economic welfare for a nation. Previous studies on terms of trade for oil exporting countries particularly investigating for a favorable terms of trade are missing. The study applies the Fixed Effect model on a panel of six oil producing countries of Gulf Cooperation Council for the period 2008 to 2016 and find that oil price is negatively associated with terms of trade, albeit weakly. Terms of trade is positively associated with economic growth; hence this study refutes the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis for these countries. Moreover, terms of trade is positively associated with trade opens and are not significantly associated with institutions, exchange rate and inflation. The results imply that these oil exporting countries have to reduce their dependence on oil price to attain favorable terms of trade through diversification of the export basket. Also further integration with the world economy through higher trade openness will help these countries to improve their terms of trade. This examination of factors impacting the terms of trade of oil exporting countries of GCC happens to fill a gap in the existing literature.

Safety, Efficacy and Acute Angiographic Outcome of the New Everolimus Eluting Stent with Correlation to Short-Term Clinical Follow-up in Patient with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract Background: Drug-eluting stents are used in 80%. To 90% of revascularization procedures in the United States. Everolimus embedded in a durable polymer on a cobalt chromium Stent has shown superiority compared with Bare Metal Stents (BMS), and paclitaxel eluting stent for reduction of both late loss and binary restenosis. Aim of Study: To study the safety, efficacy and acute angiographic outcome of the new Everolimus Eluting Stent in correlation with short-term clinical follow-up in patient with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Patients and Methods: A prospective study in which ninety-five patients with (ACS), Scheduled for PCI in the cardiac catheterization laboratory in Cairo University Hospitals or NHI, using Everolimus DES, were enrolled from Jan. 2009 to June 2009. Their clinical, angiographic, interventional and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Results: Acute success was achieved in all the cases with no device failure, after six month of follow-up, patients (94.5%) had expressed no events or chest pain, 1 patient had stable angina and refused to redo the coronary angiography, 3 patients had redo the coronary angiography due to recurrent chest pain (two of them had redo PCI in remote vessel and the other had no significant lesion), and 1 patient died because of retroperitoneal hematoma. Conclusion: The everolimus eluting stent are a safe type of drug eluting stent in clinical Practice with favorable short term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ОСНОВНОГО ОБРОБІТКУ ҐРУНТУ ТА МІНЕРАЛЬНОГО ЖИВЛЕННЯ У ВИРОЩУВАННІ СОЇ НА ЗРОШЕННІ

In the article the brought results over of experimental researches of influence of different methods and depth of soil basic tillage and doses of mineral fertilization on agrophysical properties and productivity of soybean. A purpose of researches is establishment of the most effective methods of soil basic tillage and doses of application of mineral fertilizers at growing of soybean in row croprotation on the irrigation of south of Ukraine and their influence on a height and development of plants, forming of harvest and quality of seed. During an experiment used the field, in-gravimetric, visual, laboratory, calculation-comparative, mathematically-statistical methods with the use of confessedly methods and methodical recommendations. For determination of efficiency of action of soil basic tillage and doses of fertilizers on the productivity of soybean five variants of methods of basic tillage were stopped up and three variants of fertilizer systems: organic and two organo-mineral with doses bringing of mineral fertilizers - N30P60, N60P60 on a background of post harvesting bits and pieces of cultures of crop rotation and optimal mode of irrigation. Results. The changes of agrophysical properties happened under act of the systems of soil basic tillage, nourishing mode, that stipulated creation of different terms for a height and development of culture and forming of harvest. The productivity of seed of soybean at plowing on a 25-27 cm averaged for five years on a background the dose of fertilizers of N60P60 of 4,22 t/ha. At the combined tillage which united disk loosening on a 14-16 cm with slotting on a depth a 38-40 cm, 4,12 t/ha of seed of soybean is got in the system of differentiated-1 soil tillage. On the average on a factor B (system of fertilizer), the productivity of seed of soybean at organic system of fertilize made 2,38 t/ha. Bringing of dose N30P60 assisted the height of harvest on 0,84 t/ha, and N60P60 on 1,39 t/ha, or on 35,2 and 58,4% accordingly. Conclusion. In the short row crop rotation on the irrigated lands of south of Ukraine the most favorable terms for a height, development and forming of harvest of soybean on dark-chestnut soils are created in the systems of plowing basic soil tillage with the turn of layer or differentiated- 1 tillage with the deep loosening under soybean or shallow on a background slotting on a depth a 38-40 cm under a previous culture.

On the biopolitics of humane drug policies: What can we learn from 19th century sobriety boards?

Background:In accordance with recommendations from The United Nations’ Chief Executives Board of Coordination, several countries are in the process of reforming their punitive drug policies towards health-based approaches – from punishment to help. The Portuguese model of decriminalisation is generally seen as a good model for other countries and has been scientifically described in favourable terms, and not much scrutinised.Method:This article draws on foucauldian archaeological and genealogical approaches in order to understand and compare governance logics of the 19th century Norwegian sobriety boards and 21st century Portuguese commissions. In doing this, we problematize contemporary drug policy reform discussions that point to the “Portuguese model”, which aims to stop punishing and start helping drug-dependent people, are problematised.Findings:The Portuguese commissions investigate whether drug-using people are dependent or not. Dependency, circumstances of consumption and their economy are considered when the commission decides on penalising, assisting, or treating the person, or a combination of all this. This model was studied alongside the Norwegian sobriety boards mandated by the Sobriety Act that was implemented in 1932. Sobriety boards governed poor alcoholics. Authorities from the sobriety movement were central in creating sobriety policies that culminated in sobriety boards. The Portuguese commissions have similarities to Norwegian sobriety boards. They make use of sanctions and treatment to govern people who use illicit substances to make them abstain, with the view that this is emancipatory for these people. The different apparatuses have distinct and different ways of making up, and governing their subjects.Conclusion:This article contributes to debates on drug policy reforms and aims to investigate whether they might produce biopower effects of governance masked by an emancipatory language. There is a need for critical studies on drug policy reforms to avoid policies that maintain divisions and control marginalised populations.

Game jams for cultural safety training in Colombian medical education: a pilot randomised controlled trial

ObjectivesExplore the acceptability and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess game jams—participatory events to cocreate digital or board games in a time-constrained environment—in cultural safety training of...

ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES

ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES

Malate Dehydrogenase CUREs Community: A Model for the Development and Sustainability of a Protein Centric CURE Combining Pedagogical and Protein Science Research

The MDH CUREs Community (MCC) was launched in 2017 with the help of an NSF IUSE grant (NSF-1726932) with 15 faculty from 12 diverse institutions including Community Colleges, MSIs, PUIs, Comprehensive and Research intensive institutions. As of January 2021 the community has grown to 29 faculty from 25 institutions, with proportional increase of all types of institutions. Faculty surveys and interviews conducted by an external evaluation team attribute this growth to 1) a combination of developed and available biological resources that have broadened the range of scientific questions that can be addressed in CUREs. Clones and expression systems were created for various classes of malate dehydrogenase (human, plant, yeast, extremophile and several disease causing pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum). In addition constructs for several “metabolon” forming enzymes were created. These constructs allow CURE classes to be organized around a diverse array of scientific questions ranging from evolution and adaptation, to classic structure function relationships, to regulation (including post translational effects) and potential drug design. In addition several of the constructs have been developed for intracellular interaction work. 2) the sense of community and collegiality in the group, 3) developed written resources including protocols and teaching aids such as syllabi, background reviews and materials focusing on the seven common elements of MCC CUREs (Relevance, Scientific Background, Hypothesis Development, Proposal, Experiments/Teamwork to test hypothesis, Data Analysis and Conclusions, and Presentation) and 4) an annual meeting (either in person or virtual) of the group to discuss teaching approaches and plan upcoming CURE courses as well as evaluate the yearly external report and suggestions. The community investigated two pedagogical questions during the three year period, assessing the impact of CURE length, and CURE Collaboration on student outcomes. CURE length compared modular CUREs (6-7 weeks) with full semester CUREs using equivalent non CURE courses as controls. A series of validated assessments were administered pre- and post course and aggregated over the three year period. While both types of CUREs showed student gains, full semester CUREs outperformed modular CUREs in many criteria. The impact of Collaboration on student outcomes was more dramatic. Collaboration was defined as either, or, or a combination of, inter-institutional collaborations involving faculty and students from different institutions or student interactions from different institutions. While collaboration resulted in favorable outcomes in all institution types the impact was particularly noticeable in Community College student outcomes. Of the seven common elements of MCC CUREs, faculty discussion identified student hypothesis development as a key player in developing both student ownership of the projects and favorable long term outcomes. Finally, MCC CURE projects have generated significant new scientific knowledge on structure function relationships in MDHs and led to numerous presentations by students and are currently the focus of three manuscripts in preparation with multiple student authors.

The Ways of Corruption in Infrastructure: Lessons from the Odebrecht Case

In 2016, the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht was fined $2.6 billion by the US Department of Justice. It was the largest corruption case ever prosecuted under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Our examination of judicial documents and media reports on this case provides new insights on the workings of corruption in the infrastructure sector. Odebrecht paid bribes for two reasons: to tailor the terms of the auction in its favor, as well as to obtain favorable terms in contract renegotiations. In projects where Odebrecht paid bribes, costs increased by 70.8 percent on average, compared with 5.6 percent for projects with no bribes. We also find that bribes and profits made from bribing were smaller than documented in most previous studies, in the range of one to two percent of the cost of a project.

A Review of Anatomical Terminology Variation for the Bony Pelvis

Introduction There is a history of attempting to standardize anatomical terminology; primarily to create a link between clinical and anatomical terminology. However, differences in anatomical terminology between disciplines and over time have not been well explored. The objective of this study was to perform a thorough literature review, using multiple databases to examine the variation in anatomical terminology relating to the pelvis, a complex bony structure often referred to with multiple anatomical terms. Method Searches for scientific articles were conducted from PubMed, JSTOR, and EBSCO using six search terms: “innominate bone,” “os coxa,” “os coxae,” “ossa coxae,” “os innominatum,” and “coxal bone.” All journal articles, review articles, and conference proceedings available on these databases were examined from their earliest inclusions through December 2020. Initial search results were individually screened, duplicated entries were removed, and the remaining results were analyzed (n=1255). Descriptive statistics and plots were created in order to examine trends in term usage over time and between disciplines. A Random Forest Model (RFM; k=1000) was also used to examine the ability to correctly classify term using year, journal title, and journal audience. Results There were clear differences in terminology used to describe the bony pelvis. The term “innominate bone” (n=468) was the most commonly used term, followed by “os coxae” (n=366). The other terms were used less frequently: “os innominatum” (n=129), “os coxa” (n=124), “coxal bone” (n=106), and “ossa coxae” (n=62). Trends related to the usage of certain terms over time were also observed. For example, use of the term “coxal bone” began recently, while the term “innominate bone” has been the primarily favored term, steadily increasing overtime since the late 1800s. The term “os innominatum” was used relatively infrequently, with its peak usage in the late 1800s. The main disciplinary audiences were medicine (n=374), anthropology and archaeology (n=236), forensic science (n=155), general science (n=115), and biology (n=83). Forensic science began using these terms with high frequency beginning in the early 2000s, while medicine, anthropology, and archaeology have longer, more steady usage histories. Publications related to medicine (to include anatomy) were the most frequent users of innominate (46%), “coxal bone” (36%), “os innominatum” (30%), and “ossa coxae” (21%) while forensic science most commonly used “os coxa” (38%) and “os coxae” (21%). Due to the large variability in term usage over time, between journals, and journal audience, the RFM did not perform well (accuracy of 35%). Importantly, this was largely due to misclassifying other terms as either “innominate bone”; “os coxae”; or to a lesser extent “os innominatum”. Conclusions Variation in the terminology used to describe the bony pelvis exists both within and between disciplines, as well as over time. Significance and implications The language used to refer to the bony pelvis reflects a lack of consistency within and between disciplines, as well as shifts in term usage over time. Due to the often-interdisciplinary nature of research, it is important to standardize terminology.

Analysis of the Effect of Cross Border Investments on the Nigerian Capital Market

This dissertation discussed the Analysis of effect of Cross Border Investment on the Nigeria Capital Market between the period 1980-2018. In order to realize the research objectives, secondary data on Market capitalization of the Nigeria Capital Market obtained from CBN Statistical Bulletin, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) were used to investigate the research. The Error Correction Econometrics Model was used in the estimation using Stata 15 Econometrics package. The findings of this research showed that a positive and significant relationship exists between Market Capitalization in the Nigerian Capital Market and Foreign Portfolio Investment while a negative and significant relationship exists between market capitalization, degree of openness and exchange rate. A change in Foreign Portfolio Investment will cause an increase in Market Capitalization and a change in degree of openness of the economy and exchange rate will cause a decrease in Market Capitalization. Based on these findings, the study proffers the following recommendations: that intensive effort should be made by policy makers to create conducive environment that will attract more foreign investment into our capital market which will increase the level of investment and economic growth in Nigeria. Monetary and Fiscal policy measures that will keep the naira exchange rate low and stabilise the financial sector should be instituted to boost market capitalization and investment in Nigeria. Government policies on trade liberalization should be regulated to achieve favourable terms of trade that will enhance growth.

Credit risk spillovers and cash holdings

This paper examines how credit risk spillovers affect corporate financial flexibility. We construct separate empirical proxies to disentangle the two channels of credit risk spillovers—credit risk contagion (CRC), where one firm's default increases the distress likelihood of another; and product market rivalry (PMR), where the same default strengthens the position of a competitor. We show that firms facing greater CRC have weaker subsequent operating performance and must contend with less favorable bank loan terms. Meanwhile, they accumulate more cash by issuing equity, selling assets, and reducing investment and payout. In contrast, PMR generally has opposite, albeit weaker, effects. Our findings suggest that credit risk spillovers, especially CRC, play an important role in corporate liquidity management.

The state of TURP through a historical lens.

In 1926 Maximilian Stern introduced a new instrument to treat obstructions at the vesical orifice and baptized it resectoscope. With reference to astonishing historical statements about the new instrument and surgical technique made by the pioneers and their critics we will value why transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remains the gold standard for most men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic enlargement. TURP is currently challenged by recently introduced new instruments and techniques claiming advantages over TURP. However, TURP offers an excellent balance between high efficacy in symptom relieve and low morbidity along with low costs and favorable long term outcome compared to other treatment options. We will outline these arguments demonstrating that even after a century has elapsed, since its introduction into the urologists armamentarium, TURP continues to stand the passage of time.

Market integration and agricultural development: The case of Tibet's ruminant livestock industries

AbstractExpanding livestock production is widely promoted as a way of improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers. However the rudimentary, insular and relatively small size of markets in which many smallholders operate means that rapid livestock industry expansion can have an adverse impact on prices and livelihoods. The link between market integration, livestock industry development and smallholder livelihoods is examined in the case of ruminant livestock industry expansion in Tibet. The analysis finds some transmission between Chinese and Tibetan sheepmeat prices and that this integration with the broader Chinese market and its favourable medium term outlook is crucial to any livestock industry expansion given the current low margins for sheep for Tibetan farmers. While Tibet milk prices exceed eastern China prices, and evidence of transmission is less pronounced, the outcome for smallholder Tibetan dairy farmers in doubling their cow numbers is better in an integrated market than in an insular market. Thus the analysis highlights the importance for ruminant livestock industry expansion in Tibet of integration with broader Chinese markets while also highlighting the need to consider market integration when assessing livestock industry development strategies for smallholder farmers. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q13]

Higher Education Teaching Practices Experience in Mexico, During the Emergency Remote Teaching Implementation due to COVID-19

Higher education teaching practices experience in Mexico changed from face-to-face teaching to the emergency remote teaching derived from the health contingency by COVID-19. The change from face-to-face to an online modality in the Mexican education system represented a great challenge for teachers of all educational levels. In Mexico, the federal government declared on Tuesday March 24, 2020, Phase 2 of the plan to address the country’s Covid 19 pandemic. Governments in at least ten states decided to suspend their activities and services as of March 17, including the education system. On April 13, the Mexican education system began activities in the online modality exclusively; however, derived from the country’s technical adequacy and digital connectivity conditions, a large proportion of the educational campuses, academic programs, and the teaching staff were not prepared for this situation. This cross-sectional study was carried out to analyze the faculty members experiences about the change from face-to-face to an online modality in the health emergency context due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We designed a study to gather information on practice in the new online learning scenario. For this purpose, we collected data on the previous experience in the conduct of online courses, the technological tools used, the barriers faced while driving online courses, the current conditions of use of educational and technological tools, the vision for the future, and some indicators of physical and mental health.In a sample of 341 faculty members, those working in public institutions were on less favorable terms than their peers attached to private universities. In contrast, lecturers recorded better conditions for dealing with modality change than full-time teachers. Likewise, lecturers more often mentioned having their infrastructure to teach courses from their homes than full-time teachers, which indeed responds to less access to the universities facilities in which they teach. Another important aspect to highlight is the increased proportion of teachers in public institutions and lecturers who have other jobs, so their workload can be more intense than those of their peers.

The Contribution of Common Interest Groups (CIGs) to Rural Livelihoods Development in Afghanistan: A Case Study of Bamiyan and Herat Provinces

Common Interest Group (CIG) as a farmer organization is a small voluntary association of poor people and small-scale farmers, usually from the same socio-economic background, who come together on the bases of some mutual interest or common objective. The main objective of this case study, conducted in 2020, was to examine the situation of CIGs in terms of their performance and to assess their role in improving rural livelihoods in Afghanistan. The analysis of data, collected through stratified random sampling technique from 160 CIG members of Bamiyan and Herat provinces, shows that CIG model is one of the successful models for improving the socio-economic status of small-scale famers and rural poverty-stricken population in Afghanistan. CIGs provide agricultural inputs and trainings on improved agricultural technologies to its members on favorable terms and time.