Month: April 2024

Abstract

In recent years, immigrant entrepreneurship has experienced significant growth in Italy. Understanding the value of relational capital is crucial for studying the entrepreneurship of foreign-born individuals. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the quantitative dimension of foreign-owned entrepreneurship in Italy (RQ1), identify the drivers of this phenomenon (RQ2), and examine the value of relational capital for the creation and development of immigrant-owned enterprises (RQ3). This research contributes to expanding the literature on relational capital in the context of foreign entrepreneurship in Italy by contributing to two distinct fields: relational capital and immigrant entrepreneurship studies. Regarding practical implications, the paper emphasizes the significance of relational capital as an intangible asset in the development of foreign companies. It employs a qualitative methodology through a multiple case study to support its research. To achieve the objective of observing relationships, this study utilizes the C.A.O.S. model, an interpretative model that is valuable for analyzing relational capital within immigrant entrepreneurship, especially in the early stages. In fact, relational capital allows start-ups to overcome their main difficulties: the organizational aspect and financial capacity. The limitation of this study pertains to the number of pilot cases observed, which was limited to four. Future research endeavors will focus on studying additional firms to gather more comprehensive data on this topic.

Abstract

The cost and efficiency of an algal-BS treatment system are determined by the specific microalgal species and BS pretreatment method. This study examines the growth of a novel algae Chlorella sp. YSD-2 and the removal of nutrients from the BS using different pretreatment methods, including dilution ratio and sterilization. The highest biomass production (1.84 g L⁻¹) was achieved in the 1:2 unsterilized biogas slurry, which was 2.03 times higher than that in the sterilized group, as well as higher lipid productivity (17.29 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹). Nevertheless, the sterilized biogas slurry at a 1:1 dilution ratio exhibited the most notable nutrient-removal efficiency, with COD at 71.97%, TP at 91.32%, and TN at 88.80%. Additionally, the analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing revealed a significant alteration in the indigenous bacterial composition of the biogas slurry by microalgal treatment, with Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria emerging as the predominant phyla, and unidentified_Cyanobacteria as the primary genus. These findings suggest that Chlorella sp. YSD-2 exhibits favorable tolerance and nutrient-removal capabilities in unsterilized, high-strength biogas slurry, along with high productivity of biomass and lipids. Consequently, these results offer a theoretical foundation for the development of an efficient and economically viable treatment method for algal-BS.

Abstract

Objectives

Psychological distress is common among university students globally. A culturally relevant internet-based mindfulness intervention could be a potential solution for addressing students’ distress in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Indonesia. However, internet-based mindfulness interventions are new in Indonesia. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and mental health outcomes of a counsellor-guided, culturally adapted, internet-delivered mindfulness intervention for Indonesian university students experiencing psychological distress.

Method

This open pilot trial used a single-arm pre-post-test design. Indonesian university students with elevated distress (n = 40) enrolled in a 4-week counsellor-guided internet-delivered mindfulness intervention. Participants completed the Indonesian adaptation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) at screening, baseline, and post-treatment. They also completed the Indonesian version of Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) prior to each lesson, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Indonesian Well-Being Scale (IWBS) at baseline and post-treatment, and questionnaires to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and treatment satisfaction.

Results

Results showed the feasibility and acceptability of our guided culturally adapted Indonesian internet-delivered mindfulness intervention, with good completion rates (70%). We also found large and significant improvements in distress, mindfulness, and well-being (Hedges’ g = 0.85–1.68) from pre- to post-treatment. Participants reported that the program was satisfactory.

Conclusions

This study suggested that a counsellor-guided culturally adapted internet-based mindfulness intervention was feasible, acceptable, and associated with improvements in psychological distress, well-being, and mindfulness among university students in Indonesia. A randomized controlled trial with follow-up is needed to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness.

Preregistration

This trial was preregistered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12620000135910).

Abstract

Climate change is causing widespread impacts to hydrological systems and altering ecosystems across the circumpolar north. Indigenous peoples have a rich knowledge of environmental changes in their territories and the social-ecological impacts of shifting conditions, which can inform our understanding of how these systems are changing. In this study, we used a participatory, mixed methods approach (29 interviews, 32 questionnaires) to synthesize Gwich’in and Inuvialuit knowledge of hydrological changes observed in the Mackenzie Delta Region. There was a strong consensus among Indigenous knowledge holders that an observed reduction in water levels is linked to increases in permafrost mass wasting, riverbank erosion, and sandbar formation. Indigenous knowledge holders also noted that shifting hydrology has disrupted travel and fishing activities in ways that are likely to impact the health and well-being of Indigenous communities in the region. These findings demonstrate that collaborative partnerships with Indigenous knowledge holders are critical to effectively identify regional-scale environmental change, understand its socioecological impacts, and support local and regional decision-making. Interview participants also highlighted the importance of on-the-land education and intergenerational knowledge sharing to ensure youth can continue to care for the land in the face of rapid socio-ecological change.

Abstract

Forty-two ethnoculturally and gender-matched student focus groups in Nova Scotia Canada were convened at four predominantly white postsecondary institutions to discuss university sexual violence policies and services. We present qualitative data relating to participant perspectives on how campus sexual violence responses should address race, racism, ethnicity, or ethnocentrism shared by students belonging to five racialized cultural communities. All participants cited demonstrated concern about racial or ethnic bias, however their views about the institutional or interpersonal practices that would signal fair rather than biased treatment varied. Practices associated with cultural responsiveness, including ethnocultural matching, were widely advocated. Some participants favoured explicitly race-aware communication from sexual violence responders, consistent with currently dominant anti-racism. In contrast, others preferred that responders not introduce topics of race or racism, instead practicing what might be referred to as colour-blindness. Suggestions linked to the African philosophy of Ubuntu and to cultural humility were also advanced. In conclusion, to address students’ concerns about racism and ethnocentrism, we outline a toolkit approach to the intercultural communication that occurs in the implementation of campus sexual violence policy.

Abstract

Movies have been important in our lives for many years. Movies provide entertainment, inspire, educate, and offer an escape from reality. Movie reviews help us choose better movies, but reading them all can be time-consuming and overwhelming. To make it easier, sentiment analysis can classify movie reviews into positive and negative categories. Opinion mining (OP), called sentiment analysis (SA), uses natural language processing to identify and extract opinions expressed through text. Naive Bayes, a supervised learning algorithm, offers simplicity, efficiency, and strong performance in classification tasks due to its feature independence assumption. This study evaluates the performance of four Naïve Bayes variations using two vectorization techniques, Count Vectorizer and Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF–IDF), on two movie review datasets: IMDb Movie Reviews Dataset and Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews. Bernoulli Naive Bayes achieved the highest accuracy using Count Vectorizer on the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes datasets. Multinomial Naive Bayes, on the other hand, achieved better accuracy on the IMDB dataset with TF–IDF. During preprocessing, we implemented different techniques to enhance the quality of our datasets. These included data cleaning, spelling correction, fixing chat words, lemmatization, and removing stop words. Additionally, we fine-tuned our models through hyperparameter tuning to achieve optimal results. Using TF–IDF, we observed a slight performance improvement compared to using the count vectorizer. The experiment highlights the significant role of sentiment analysis in understanding the attitudes and emotions expressed in movie reviews. By predicting the sentiments of each review and calculating the average sentiment of all reviews, it becomes possible to make an accurate prediction about a movie’s overall performance.

Abstract

Background

Considering that dementia is an international public health priority, several countries have developed national dementia strategies outlining initiatives to address challenges posed by the disease. These strategies aim to improve the care, support, and resources available to meet the needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners and communities. Despite the known impact of social determinants of health on dementia risk, care, and outcomes, it is unclear whether dementia strategies adequately address related inequities. This study aimed to describe whether and how national dementia strategies considered inequities associated with social determinants of health.

Methods

We conducted an environmental scan of the national dementia strategies of countries that are part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Included strategies had to be accessible in English or French. Sub-national or provincial plans were excluded. We synthesised information on strategies’ considerations of inequity through a thematic analysis.

Results

Of the 15 dementia strategies that met inclusion criteria, 13 mentioned at least one inequity (M = 2.4, median = 2, range:0–7) related to Race/Ethnicity; Religion; Age; Disability; Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity; Social Class; or Rurality. Age and disability were mentioned most frequently, and religion most infrequently. Eleven strategies included general inequity-focused objectives, while only 5 had specific inequity-focused objectives in the form of tangible percentage changes, deadlines, or allocated budgets for achieving equity-related goals outlined in their strategies.

Conclusions

Understanding if and how countries consider inequities in their dementia strategies enables the development of future strategies that adequately target inequities of concern. While most of the strategies mentioned inequities, few included tangible objectives to reduce them. Countries must not only consider inequities at a surface-level; rather, they must put forth actionable objectives that intend to lessen the impact of inequities in the care of all persons living with dementia.

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily associated with aging. This devastating condition is characterized by significant memory loss, abnormal behavior, personality shifts, and a decline in cognitive function. Despite extensive research, no cure for Alzheimer’s disease currently exists, and available treatment options have shown limited effectiveness. Developing therapeutic interventions to slow down or prevent the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease is crucial to address the growing burden of this condition. Ayurvedic medicinal herbs have emerged as a promising avenue for drug research, with numerous compounds derived from these herbs currently undergoing clinical trials. Scientific studies have explored the potential application of various Ayurvedic medicinal plants and their derivatives in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Although the precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown, extensive phytochemical investigations have identified a wide range of beneficial compounds within these plants. These compounds include lignans, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, and alkaloids, each exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities. These activities encompass anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloidogenic, anticholinesterase, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects. This review highlights the phytochemistry and ethnomedicinal applications of various plants, along with their bioactive compounds. It underscores the potential of Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems, in identifying effective therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. The promising pharmacological activities of Ayurvedic medicinal herbs and their constituents suggest their potential as novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. These findings offer hope for addressing the challenges posed by this debilitating condition.

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is posing major challenges for the healthcare systems of many countries, particularly in the Asia–Pacific Region, in which T2D can present at younger ages and lower body mass index when compared with Western nations. There is an important role for insulin therapy in the management of T2D in these nations, but available evidence suggests that insulin is under-utilized and often delayed, to the detriment of patient prognosis. The authors of this article gathered as an advisory panel (representative of some of the larger Asia–Pacific nations) to identify their local barriers to insulin use in T2D, and to discuss ways in which to address these barriers, with their outputs summarized herein. Many of the key barriers identified are well-documented issues of global significance, including a lack of healthcare resources or of an integrated structure, insufficient patient education, and patient misconceptions about insulin therapy. Barriers identified as more innate to Asian countries included local inabilities of patients to afford or gain access to insulin therapy, a tendency for some patients to be more influenced by social media and local traditions than by the medical profession, and a willingness to switch care providers and seek alternative therapies. Strategies to address some of these barriers are provided, with hypothetical illustrative case histories.