Voluntary Process Research Articles

From Frozen Ponds to Organized Competitions: The Growth of Skating and Ice Hockey in Korea, 1886–1938

The encounter of American Protestant evangelicalism and Japanese imperialism formed in Korean society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries became a steppingstone for the acceptance of modern winter sports in Korea. In particular, skates introduced by American Protestant missionaries and the Young Men’s Christian Association formed an imaginary space to counter Japanese imperialism in Korea during Japanese colonial era. Ice hockey introduced along with skating is a representative product that evolved in this process. The history of the introduction of American ice hockey to Korea also had a dual imperial influence between the United States and Japan, and in another direction, there was a voluntary acceptance process by Koreans who recognized ice hockey as a modern product.

Agreement for Recovery: First Spanish Consensus on the Concept of Alcohol Addiction Recovery.

Current literature does not dispose from a widely accepted definition of recovery in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and most proposals originate from anglophone countries. This study introduces a pioneering consensus in Spain on the definition of recovery in AUD. The Delphi method was used. The expert panel, comprising 54 multidisciplinary professionals from the Community of Madrid. A high level of consensus (≥80% agreement) was reached for 45% of the items and majority (≥60%) for 84%. Recovery is understood as a dynamic, personalized, and voluntary process, potentially enduring throughout one's lifespan. It entails a transformative lifestyle shift aimed at achieving a significant improvement in overall quality of life, encompassing physical and mental health, interpersonal relationships, and environmental factors. The journey of recovery is marked by heightened psychological well-being, is characterized by empowerment, personal growth, existential purpose, and positive identity reconstruction. Recovery is supported by substance use management, requires proactive individual agency and involves both personal and societal responsibilities. This study represents a milestone as it is the first consensus in the Community of Madrid on the meaning of recovery in AUD. The proposed definition of recovery could be a potential reference for similar regions within Spain or even for other countries with cultural similarities. The elucidation of a clear framework of recovery provides a solid basis for future research efforts and clinical interventions in the Spanish AUD landscape.

Prioritisation of indicators in SDG 4: Voluntary national reviews as a tool of soft governance

Voluntary national reviews (VNRs) are an important component of the follow-up and review process for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Presented by countries at the annual United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), VNRs detail a country’s self-reported progress to peers. This voluntary process has been criticised for its weak accountability. Global governance literature, however, points to an increase in these “soft” governance mechanisms as well as the potential strategic benefits of this approach. Using a mix of logistic regression and document analysis, this study examined VNRs as a soft governance tool and a reflection of the governance mechanism of the SDGs. The authors examined the scope and content of VNR submissions from 2016 to 2022, with a deeper review of 2022, which focused on the global goal for education (SDG 4). Three types of soft governance – governing by goal-setting, by numbers and by morality – were used as lenses to make sense of the results. The authors’ findings demonstrate the ability of soft governance tools to bring together diverse actors around a broad set of goals, and how the power of numbers can influence which indicators countries report on in their VNR.

Green Bonds as A New Investment Tool For Sustainable Development In India

The present paper conceptualizes the meaning, need and importance of green bonds as an initiative towards investment tool and sustainable development in India. A green bond is a type of investment that provides financial support for particular projects related to sustainability issue of climate change and control. Indian Companies have incorporated investment in green bonds as a part of climate finance strategy. The ICMA issued principles of green bonds investment and voluntary process guidelines for issuing green bonds in 2021. The four principles are: use of proceeds, process for project evaluation and selection, management of proceeds and reporting. The SEBI has issued several rules for green bonds securities in India including disclosure requirements, monitoring and third-party review. The private bank of India i.e. Yes bank was the first issuer of green bonds in India in the year 2015. Indian green bond issuance has grasped a total of $21 billion as on February 2023. The scenario of green bond market in India for the year 2021 shows that the Utilities sector has more share of green bonds followed by corporates, Renewable Energy sector and Financials. The least share is with local government in India.

A global neuronal workspace model of functional neurological disorders.

We introduce here a general model of Functional Neurological Disorders based on the following hypothesis: a Functional Neurological Disorder could correspond to a consciously initiated voluntary top-down process causing involuntary lasting consequences that are consciously experienced and subjectively interpreted by the patient as involuntary. We develop this central hypothesis according to Global Neuronal Workspace theory of consciousness, that is particularly suited to describe interactions between conscious and non-conscious cognitive processes. We then present a list of predictions defining a research program aimed at empirically testing their validity. Finally, this general model leads us to reinterpret the long-debated links between hypnotic suggestion and functional neurological disorders. Driven by both scientific and therapeutic goals, this theoretical paper aims at bringing closer the psychiatric and neurological worlds of functional neurological disorders with the latest developments of cognitive neuroscience of consciousness.

The role of interoceptive awareness in shaping the relationship between desire thinking and cigarette consumption

Interoception, the ability to sense and interpret bodily sensations, has recently emerged as a crucial factor in substance use disorders, including smoking. However, the role of interoceptive awareness in tobacco use remains poorly understood. The relationship between interoceptive ability and addictive behavior is complex, and attempting to conceptualize it as a linear association is unlikely to fully capture the complexity of the mechanisms underlying cravings and urges. We hypothesized that the role played by interoceptive awareness in tobacco use is deeply linked to desire thinking, that is, the conscious and voluntary cognitive process orienting to prefigure images, information, and memories about positive target-related experiences. Desire thinking is typically observed in addiction, where it may contribute to interpreting specific bodily sensations, such as the perceived need for a cigarette. From this perspective, the physiological impact and inclination toward desire thinking contribute to a higher daily cigarette consumption, particularly in situations of low interoceptive awareness. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the physiological activation, the tendency toward desire thinking about smoking, cigarette consumption, and the interoceptive abilities of smoking volunteers. Through a moderation analysis, we showed that desire thinking about smoking predicts a higher number of cigarettes per day in individuals with lower interoceptive awareness (p < .05). These findings suggest that the relationship between desire thinking and interoceptive awareness is a fundamental component of tobacco use, highlighting the importance of taking into account the bodily feedback deriving from the cognitive representation of smoking in addiction research and therapy.

The Impact of Forgiveness in Emotional Regulation and Resilience in The Face of Adversity Among Young Adults

This research paper investigates the relationship between forgiveness, emotional regulation, and resilience in young adults facing adversity. Forgiveness is conceptualized as a deliberate and voluntary process of freeing oneself from negative emotions towards the person who has caused harm. Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage and regulate one's emotions effectively, while resilience is defined as the ability to overcome adversity and maintain psychological well-being in challenging circumstances. The study employs a correlational research design and utilizes three main tools: the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ), and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS). A sample of 100 young adults aged 18 to 25 years is randomly selected to ensure representation across diverse demographics. The results indicate a significant moderate positive relationship between forgiveness and resilience, supporting the hypothesis that forgiveness contributes to resilience in young adults. However, the correlation between forgiveness and emotional regulation is found to be non-significant, suggesting that forgiveness may directly enhance resilience independent of its effects on emotional regulation. Emotional regulation emerges as a significant factor contributing to resilience, highlighting its importance in fostering psychological adaptation and coping mechanisms in the face of adversity among young adults. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge in positive psychology and inform interventions aimed at promoting forgiveness and resilience in individuals and communities facing adversity.

Conflicts Beyond Borders – Possibilities for International Alternative Conflict Resolution

Mediation is one kind of procedures to solve a conflict. Mediation is based on the voluntary participation of the parties. Mediation is a voluntary process in which an impartial person (the mediator) helps with communication and promotes reconciliation between the parties which will allow them to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. It is a procedure, in which an intermediary without adjudicatory powers systematically facilitates communication between the parties with the aim of enabling the parties themselves to take responsibility for resolving their dispute. The procedure has the character of confidentiality and the neutrality. Mediation is a negotiation procedure facilitated by a neutral third-party who assists the parties in moving to resolution. The neutral third party has no control over the outcome of the case and conflict, but controls and directs the process itself, he or she is responsible for the procedure. While court proceedings are authoritative, formalised and claim-oriented, mediation offers a flexible, self-determined approach in which all aspects of the conflict -independent of their legal relevance- may be considered. Against this background, mediation -in contrast to court proceedings- is described as alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The question is: to solve the conflict and find a solution or to transform a conflict and reshape the connection between the parties? What is the matter when the mediation process has to be conducted between parties, who live in different countries or when one person of the parents just want to go abroad with the common child or children. How can cross-border mediation help? This publication tries to show a possible answer.

Reliability and measurement error of a maximal voluntary toe plantarflexion measurement process

Despite the growing interest, information regarding the psychometric properties of maximal voluntary isometric toe plantarflexion force and rate of force development (RFD) is lacking. Hence, we investigate the test-retest reliability and measurement error of these outcome measurement instruments measured with a custom-built dynamometer. Twenty-six healthy adults participated in a crossed design with four sessions separated by 5–7 days. RFD was quantified using manual onset and calculating the impulse and the slope in the following time windows: 0–50 ms, 0–100 ms, 0–150 ms, 0–200 ms, 0–250 ms. We estimated the systematic bias of the mean, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) from the agreement and consistency models. The ICC and the SEM agreement for maximal voluntary isometric toe plantarflexion force along the perpendicular axis were respectively 0.87 (95%CI: 0.76, 0.93) and 27 N (22, 32), while along the resultant of the perpendicular and anterior posterior axis they were 0.85 (0.73, 0.92) and 29 N (23, 35). The results of the consistency model were similar as the estimated variance for session was closer to zero. A systematic bias of the mean between session 1 and 3 was found. For the RFD variables, the ICC agreement ranged from 0.35 to 0.65. The measurement process was found to be reliable to assess maximal voluntary isometric toe plantarflexion force but not RFD. However, a familiarization session is mandatory and these results need to be confirmed in less coordinated (e.g. aging population) individuals.

The Role of Desire Thinking and Craving in Problematic Smartphone Use

The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of desire and the metacognitive model of desire thinking posit that the intensification of craving centres on the initiation of a voluntary cognitive process named desire thinking (DT). The role of DT in eliciting craving has been studied extensively in substance use disorders and, more recently, in some behavioral addictions. The main aim of the current study was to test the mediating role of DT and craving in the association between psychological distress, boredom proneness, and problematic Smartphone use (PSU). Six hundred and forty-six participants (mean age = 27.57 ± 9.64; females = 74.8%) took part in the study and completed a battery of self-report measures. As evidenced by path analysis, psychological distress and boredom proneness were linked to PSU through (i) imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration components of DT’s serial mediation; and (ii) imaginal prefiguration and craving’s serial effect. The model accounted for 60% of PSU variance and showed good fit indices. The current findings highlight the role of DT, particularly the imaginal prefiguration, in craving for the Smartphone and provide evidence that DT is associated with PSU directly, supporting the distinction between DT and craving.

Assessment of Knowledge About Accreditation of Medical Schools Among Medical Students of school of medicine at Ahfad University for women 2021

Introduction: accreditation was defined by World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) as the certification of the suitability of medical education programs, and of the competence of medical schools in the delivery of medical education that ensures patient safety and competent practicing doctors. It’s extremely important that students understand the concept of accreditation, its nine criteria and six processes. Method: This study was an institutional based cross-sectional study, conducted in 2021.This study was carried out in one phase among 333 medical students in the university of Ahfad school of medicine, aged &lt;18 and &gt;21 were enrolled in the study. The questionnaires were formed in Google form which made data easy to collect and analyze, especially considering the obstacle of the Corona pandemic. These forms were formed to evaluate the knowledge and understanding of students toward accreditation of medical schools. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Result: Basically Concerning the medical students’ knowledge about accreditation, the results revealed that the majority of them (63.1%) mentioned they have information about accreditation, while the rest of them (36.9%) mentioned they have no information about accreditation. While accreditation is defined as the official approval given by an organization stating that a subject or thing has achieved a required standard. In medical education terminology, accreditation has numerous definitions. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO) accreditation is "a voluntary peer-review process designed to test the educational quality of new and established medical programs".(1) Conclusion: From the study findings it can be concluded that; while the general knowledge on accreditation was unsatisfactory, the students’ knowledge about standard of accreditation and accreditation process and their roles in it was rather poor

Prosedur Penyelesaian Sengketa dalam Perbankan Syariah: Tinjauan Terhadap Kasus di Pengadilan Agama Tasikmalaya

Dispute resolution in sharia banking involves various methods, such as mediation, arbitration and court. Mediation is a voluntary process that allows the parties involved to reach an agreement with the help of a mediator. Arbitration is a method that results in a binding decision by a neutral arbitrator. Trial is a formal method that requires a longer process and higher costs, but produces binding decisions. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of method must consider the characteristics of the dispute, the preferences of the parties involved, and compliance with sharia principles in Islamic banking. In conclusion, it is important to choose the dispute resolution method that best suits the Islamic banking context and the desired resolution objectives.

Death was knocking on the door

Increasing violence and destruction in the world bring up new questions about theory and technique in the field of psychoanalysis. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of the meta-containing function of supervision groups while working with trauma victims. In order to illustrate this, examples will be given from a voluntary supervision group process which was established after a series of terrorist attacks in Turkey. Traumatic events, expressed in the outside world and witnessed during the sessions, may hinder the containing function of the therapist which may make it impossible to "think under fire" while "death is knocking on the door". By working through the conflicting feelings of the trauma victim, brought to the supervision group process through the mechanism of projective identification, a deeper understanding of the patient is achieved and the "blindspots" of the therapist are discovered. As the therapist-trauma victim dyad moves from "acting" to acquiring higher levels of symbolization, therapeutic process deepens, work of mourning is activated, and in some cases symptoms are eliminated and better adaptation to the outside world is observed.

Balancing Business Objectives and Shareholders’ Rights in Voluntary Delisting: a Comparative Analysis of Selected Legal Jurisdictions

Delisting a company from the stock market often negatively affects the interests of all related parties. For shareholders, the main detriment is their loss of the ability to trade and sell their shares on the open stock market. As voluntary delistings become a more prevalent market phenomenon worldwide, countries are seeking to implement regulatory protections during the process. The aim of this paper is to make a comparative analysis of the protection of shareholders during delisting across multiple jurisdictions including the United States, the UK, Germany, India, and Thailand that have adopted different regimes for protecting shareholders during a company’s voluntary delisting. The goal is to answer the question of which shareholder protection instruments in the covered jurisdictions have adopted to protect shareholder and company interests during delisting, and also to question the effectiveness of investor protection in voluntary delisting. The paper offers potential ways to better protect the rights of shareholders during the voluntary delisting process to achieve a balanced regulation of different corporate actors’ interests.

The Application of the Metacognitive Model of Desire Thinking and Craving in Problematic Social Networking Sites Use

Cognitive models of addictive behaviours have highlighted the central role of Desire Thinking (DT) – a conscious and voluntary cognitive process orienting to prefigure images and information about a positive target-related experience – in increasing craving and maintaining addictive behaviors. The metacognitive model of DT and craving posits that metacognition plays a central role in understanding dysregulation in DT. The current study aims to test the role of metacognitions about DT, DT, and craving in the relationship between Fear of Missing Out (FoMo), boredom proneness, negative emotional reactivity and Problematic Social Network Sites Use (PSNSU). A sample of 529 participants (Mage= 32.45 ± 13.33; F = 62.9%) completed an online survey. The hypothesised model produced an adequate fit to the data and accounted for 86% of PSNSU variance. FoMO predicted positive metacognitions about DT (PMDT), which predicted DT that, in association with craving, predicted PSNSU. Boredom proneness positively predicted PSNSU directly and indirectly through the serial mediation of PMDT, DT, and craving. A direct path between negative emotional reactivity and PSNSU was found. The current findings provide preliminary evidence for applying the metacognitive model of DT and craving in PSNSU. PMDT and DT may be central cognitive processes in craving and PSNSU for individuals who experience boredom proneness and FoMo.

Football supporterism in Tunisia: facilitating participatory democracy through citizen education

ABSTRACT After the Arab Spring (early 2010's), the relationship between football supporterism and politics has been the subject of much debate. We attempted to describe, understand, and explain the modes of interaction between supporterism in post-revolution Tunisia, the ultras supporters’ (i) involvement in their club’_ affairs, and (ii) participation in the political life of the country. The case studied is that of ultras supporters of the Tunisian football team ”Club Africain” (CA). We opted for a constructivist-grounded methodology, using semi-structured interviews with 10 CA fans and 10 fans of the rival team from the same city (Tunis), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST), who represented the control group. A conceptual diagram was constructed to visualize the relationships between the items collected and the emerging theoretical dimensions. The results indicate an inclusive and autonomous commitment based on universal values. This persuasion experiment revealed a dynamic and creative model that led to positive changes in attitudes within the club and in the country's political life. During the club's crisis, this mobilisation led to the development of solidarity, mutual aid, and meaningful actions. As a result, it encouraged real involvement in the country's political events. The research model constructed visualizes a voluntary and autonomous educational process involving political participation that helps to regulate the country's democratic process. The study proposed pro-social alternatives, highlighting young people's spontaneous learning to participate in a dynamic and reflective political process. The results of the study should be verified with other types of supporters and in other Arab Spring countries.

Role of Local Authorities and Public Officials in Encouraging Citizen Participation in Development Planning in Murewa District

This study unpacks the role played by government authorities in stimulating citizen participation in local development. Citizen participation, being the core to sustainable development, has been of interest among development practitioners and scholars alike, with varying degrees of attention in its scope and how participation can actually occur. One of the observed trends is the critical role played by both local and national government authorities. Development planning is closely tied to citizen participation under clearly defined roles of the officials involved. The participation of citizens in local activities is not a voluntary process but a deliberate action of the authorities through various measures such as creating an environment in which everyone is equally important in contributing to change in the communities they live. The role of local and national officials has been on spotlight in developing countries, including Zimbabwe and in marginalised areas such as Murewa District of Zimbabwe. The Murewa District of Mashonaland East Province has been cited as an area in which citizen participation has remained low. The objective of this paper is to therefore examine the extent to which local authorities in Murewa District encourage citizen participation and the bottlenecks that undermine this process. Data were collected through primary data sources, including questionnaire surveys and interviews with selected local authority officials. The results of the study indicate that in Murewa District most citizens have never had the opportunity to propose policies to the council, individually or collectively as part of the local community due to the prohibitive role played by the local authorities. The study also established that citizen participation cannot be separated from the role of local and national public officials who should provide leadership and guidance to the development process and create the required democratic culture by implementing the decentralisation agenda, as stipulated in the Zimbabwe 2013 Constitution and through the adoption of participatory policy at all levels of government.

The Practice Accreditation Resident Reviewer Program (PARRP): A National Program to Educate Residents About Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Through Mentored Chart Review

Background While instruction in patient safety and quality improvement is a core requirement for radiation oncology graduate medical education, many residents feel their training in this domain is inadequate. To address this discrepancy, we developed a mentorship program that allows residents to serve as junior chart reviewers within the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) practice accreditation program. Practice accreditation is a voluntary process by which a radiation oncology facility's adherence to quality treatment standards is assessed through comprehensive evaluation of their equipment, personal, and treatment records. We hypothesize that hands-on training in practice accreditation will increase resident knowledge of quality care standards. Methods This prospective study will be open to PGY-4 and PGY-5 radiation oncology residents nationally. Residents will initially undergo a self-administered didactic curriculum - consisting of readings and webinars - on the principles of practice accreditation, quality standards, and documentation review. Subsequently, residents will serve as junior reviewers within the ACRO accreditation program. During each chart review cycle, residents will be paired 1:1 with an experienced accreditation faculty mentor. Both resident and faculty will independently review the same set of charts/treatment records and score documentation quality using a pre-specified rubric. After chart evaluation, faculty will meet with residents via videoconference to discuss scoring and provide feedback. To graduate the program, residents must complete 3 chart review cycles and evaluate at least 10 charts. Results Primary endpoint is improvement in resident understanding of quality care standards, practice accreditation, and documentation review, which will be assessed through pre- and post- program surveys. At the end of each chart review cycle, surveys will be used to assess secondary endpoints including residents' time to complete chart review, confidence in chart review, and perceptions of faculty mentorship. Faculty mentors will also evaluate resident competence in chart review at the end of each chart review cycle. Discussion This is the first program to teach radiation oncology residents about practice accreditation. By providing mentorship and hands-on experience, we aim to better equip residents with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain care and documentation standards as an attending physician. In doing so, this program highlights how patient safety and quality improvement can be incorporated into every day practice. While instruction in patient safety and quality improvement is a core requirement for radiation oncology graduate medical education, many residents feel their training in this domain is inadequate. To address this discrepancy, we developed a mentorship program that allows residents to serve as junior chart reviewers within the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) practice accreditation program. Practice accreditation is a voluntary process by which a radiation oncology facility's adherence to quality treatment standards is assessed through comprehensive evaluation of their equipment, personal, and treatment records. We hypothesize that hands-on training in practice accreditation will increase resident knowledge of quality care standards. This prospective study will be open to PGY-4 and PGY-5 radiation oncology residents nationally. Residents will initially undergo a self-administered didactic curriculum - consisting of readings and webinars - on the principles of practice accreditation, quality standards, and documentation review. Subsequently, residents will serve as junior reviewers within the ACRO accreditation program. During each chart review cycle, residents will be paired 1:1 with an experienced accreditation faculty mentor. Both resident and faculty will independently review the same set of charts/treatment records and score documentation quality using a pre-specified rubric. After chart evaluation, faculty will meet with residents via videoconference to discuss scoring and provide feedback. To graduate the program, residents must complete 3 chart review cycles and evaluate at least 10 charts. Primary endpoint is improvement in resident understanding of quality care standards, practice accreditation, and documentation review, which will be assessed through pre- and post- program surveys. At the end of each chart review cycle, surveys will be used to assess secondary endpoints including residents' time to complete chart review, confidence in chart review, and perceptions of faculty mentorship. Faculty mentors will also evaluate resident competence in chart review at the end of each chart review cycle. This is the first program to teach radiation oncology residents about practice accreditation. By providing mentorship and hands-on experience, we aim to better equip residents with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain care and documentation standards as an attending physician. In doing so, this program highlights how patient safety and quality improvement can be incorporated into every day practice.

Achieving Improving Quality in Liver Services (IQILS) accreditation – lessons learned from one unit's experience

In 2017 the Royal College of Physicians launched a voluntary accreditation process supported by British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) and the British Society of Gastroenterologists (BSG) to improve the quality and consistency of liver services across the UK and Ireland. This article describes the approach that we took and the challenges that we met on the way to achieving accreditation.

Contributions of the voluntary local review process to policy integration: evidence from frontrunner cities

The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relies on effective policy integration at all levels of government. However, integration across policy domains remains challenging for local authorities, particularly when it comes to articulating policies that recognise trade-offs and interactions between different SDGs. This study explores how the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process—a tool to localise the 2030 Agenda—contributes to policy integration by thematically analysing interviews with city officials in 12 frontrunner cities that conducted a VLR between 2019 and 2020. Our results suggest three main ways in which the VLR process affects policy integration: (1) by facilitating cooperation and interdependencies between different policy sectors; (2) by creating new instruments to mainstream SDGs; and (3) by enhancing sustainability competencies. Hence, our study suggests that conducting a VLR has the transformative potential to achieve greater policy integration and further the 2030 Agenda.