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Digital games are one of the most engaging forms of media. Players can have a first-hand experience and the possibility of feeling immersed within a digital setting where agency is exerted. This paper seeks to understand the role of digital games as new means of communication and their potential to convey messages that may defy gamers to question the moral grand narratives that shape contemporary societies. In a moment when many countries have opted to close or limit the circulation in their borders, it is important to think about the role played by the border as a historic liminal entity for the representation of societies and communities, distinguishing those who belong from those who do not. The representation of the border in digital games have tended to follow one of the main tropes explored in other media: the border as a physical space that set boundaries between different nations and different regions of the world. In order to assert the potential of digital games to offer a more comprehensive representation of the border as a liminal space, the case of Papers, Please! (2013) will be analyzed. Based on a qualitative methodology, having content analysis as primary data collection method, the paper intends to contribute to the discussion on how history may narrativized and, eventually, reinterpreted in digital games. Papers, Please! analysis will be centered on the relationship that is set between player and border, that is presented as a liminal space where the game's action takes places entirely. Moreover, the paper intends to discuss the role that has been played by digital games in the representation of serious topics and how they have evolved as communication tools beyond their role as entertainment products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of modern society, the persistent challenge of narcotic drug trafficking and abuse remains a significant concern, profoundly impacting social adeptness and cognitive well-being. This study aims to devise innovative tools to mitigate the illicit movement of narcotic drugs across borders. Our approach utilises specific antibodies targeting cocaine antigens as the sensing element in a biosensor design. Employing an immunoassay framework, we operationalise an indirect ELISA based methodology, wherein cocaine antigens are immobilised onto a membrane and antibodies conjugated with Horse Radish Peroxidase (HRP) are introduced. Successful binding of the antibody to the antigen occurs exclusively in the presence of cocaine, leading to a colourimetric response whose intensity correlates with the cocaine concentration. Validation of this colour change is achieved through software analysis using ImageJ software. While our study focuses on qualitative analysis, our methodology paves the way for future quantitative assessments through dedicated reading devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic cannabinoids are one of the many substances of abuse widely spreading in modern society. Medical practitioners and law enforcement alike highly seek portable, efficient, and reliable tools for on-site detection and diagnostics. Here, we propose a colorimetric lateral flow assay (LFA) combined with dye-loaded polymersome to detect the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-073 efficiently. Rhodamine B–loaded polymersome was conjugated to antibodies and fully characterized. Two LFA were proposed (sandwich and competitive), showing a high level of sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) reaching 0.53 and 0.31 ng/mL, respectively. The competitive assay was further analyzed by fluorescence, where the LOD reached 0.16 ng/mL. The application of the LFA over spiked synthetic saliva or real human saliva demonstrated an overall response of 94% for the sandwich assay and 97% for the competitive LFA. The selectivity of the system was assessed in the presence of various interferents. The analytical performance of the LFA system showed a coefficient of variation below 6%. The current LFA system appears as a plausible system for non-invasive detection of substance abuse and shows promise for synthetic cannabinoid on-site sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a special issue of the American Journal of Psychoanalysis on the topic of truth and lies. The author discusses the prevalence of disinformation and fake studies in today's society and explores different psychoanalytic perspectives on truth and lies. The article provides a summary of each author's contribution to the special issue, highlighting their central themes and conclusions. The papers in the issue examine the intersection of psychoanalysis and liberalism, the role of truth and lies in psychoanalytic practice, and the interplay between reality and imagination. The authors emphasize the importance of emotional truth, mediation, and containment in distinguishing between reality and distorted perceptions. They also discuss the distortion of truth in contemporary society and the role of ideologies as defenses against uncertainty and anxiety. Overall, the papers provide valuable insights into the complex nature of truth and lies in psychoanalysis and aim to promote a culture of truth in society. [Extracted from the article]

In contemporary society, encountering individuals afflicted with various diseases is a common occurrence, emphasizing the critical need for accurate disease prediction as an integral facet of effective treatment. This paper focuses on leveraging classification algorithms such as Naive Bayes, Random Forest, Decision Tree, and KNN to predict diseases based on patient symptoms. This system enables users to input symptoms and, through meticulous analysis, accurately forecast the disease the patient may be suffering from. The prediction model extends to specific diseases like heart disease and diabetes, providing the outcome of the presence or absence of a particular ailment. The potential impact of such a predictive system on the future of medical treatment is substantial. Upon disease prediction, the system not only identifies the ailment but also recommends the appropriate type of doctor for consultation. This paper reviews recent advancements in utilizing machine learning for disease prediction and emphasizes the creation of an interactive interface as the front-end for user-friendly symptom input. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, this system extracts valuable insights from medical databases, aiding in early disease prediction, patient care, and community services. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using a dataset comprising 4920 patient records with 41 diseases. This integrated machine learning-based disease prediction system represents a significant step forward in leveraging advanced technologies for enhancing healthcare outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although globalization has allowed science and technology to reach every corner of the world, many contemporary Chinese people still tend to follow Traditional Chinese Medicine's (TCM) principles of self-care in their daily lives. This traditional discipline, as a foundational worldview for its people, has existed in China for more than 2,000 years and still seems to continually influence contemporary society. This paper will examine the impact of TCM on young Chinese people's understandings of self-care by examining their preferences and eating habits, especially among those who have lived and studied abroad for a significant period of time. This research mainly adopts the exploratory qualitative method, including interviews with three TCM physicians who practice in hospitals in China and fifteen interviews with Chinese graduate students who have overseas study experience. The findings reveal the indispensable role TCM plays in the contemporary Chinese diet. Young people apply TCM standards to their dietary practices and prefer TCM food-based treatments over biomedical solutions when dealing with illness. The feedback from participants also presents how Chinese traditions are constantly being absorbed and reinvented today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a discussion on the legal use of documents. Discussion and highlights are given on the utilization of documents in accomplishing social objects like citizenships, the issuance and preparation of documents in criminal or civil procedures, and the transformation of traditional documents into electronic data in the modern society.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in modern society as important energy storage devices due to their high energy density, rechargeable performance, and light weight. However, the capacity and performance of lithium-ion batteries gradually degrade with the number of charge or discharge cycles and environmental conditions, which can affect the reliability and lifetime of the batteries, so it is necessary to accurately evaluate their health. The belief rule base (BRB) model is an evaluation model constructed based on rules that can handle uncertainties in the operation of lithium-ion batteries. However, lithium-ion batteries may be affected by disturbances from internal or external sources during operation, which may affect the evaluation results. To prevent this problem, this paper proposes a disturbance-considering BRB modeling approach that considers the possible effects of disturbances on the battery in the operating environment and quantifies the disturbance-considering capability of the assessment model in combination with expert knowledge. Second, robustness and interpretability constraints are added in this paper, and an improved optimization algorithm is constructed that maintains or possibly improves the resistance of the model to disturbance. Finally, using the lithium-ion batteries provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Prediction Centre of Excellence and the University of Maryland as a case study, this paper verifies that the proposed modeling approach is capable of constructing robust models and demonstrates the effectiveness of the improved optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to address the convergence of boundaries in Tourism, Hospitality, Events, and Leisure (THEL) fields. We offer a synthesized definition of THEL and discuss a set of meta-concepts that define the core and knowledge structure of THEL. We argue that hospitality, experience, and place are unifying constructs upon which all THEL scholarship activities and practice fields are established. The paper invites a system-wide conversation to stimulate thinking regarding academic discipline building at a time when technological and societal forces are transforming work, life, and education. This research contributes to modernization of THEL and engenders new perspectives to guide future scholarship. This paper invites a reassessment of curricular structures to stay relevant and adaptive to changing needs of contemporary societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Trash or garbage is one of the most dangerous health and environmental problems that affect pollution. Pollution affects nature, human life, and wildlife. In this paper, we propose modern solutions for cleaning the environment of trash pollution by enforcing strict action against people who dump trash inappropriately on streets, outside the home, and in unnecessary places. Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Deep Learning (DL), has been used to automate and solve issues in the world. We availed this as an excellent opportunity to develop a system that identifies trash using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). This paper proposes a real-time garbage identification system based on a deep CNN architecture with eight distinct classes for the training dataset. After identifying the garbage, the CCTV camera captures a video of the individual placing the trash in the incorrect location and sends an alert notice to the relevant authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands" (dongtian and fudi, 洞天福地) is a unique concept of sacred space in China and even in East Asia, combining beautiful natural scenery, rich historical heritage, and diverse cultural heritage. This paper tries to explain Mount Jingfu's (jingfu shan, 靜福山) aesthetic representations. The results show that the landscape's physical environment projects the spatio-temporal system and the concept of the universe in Daoist aesthetic ideals. With the spatial evolution of divine immortals' abodes from imagination to reality, people's yearning for divine cave palaces is transformed into their connection with and their expression of the palaces in exploring space interests and aesthetic trends that are then integrated into the secular life of thousands of households through living religious rituals. Preserved by local religious believers, the ritual activities incorporated geographic, familial, and divine interactions, and characterised essential social aesthetics. By exploring a typical case of Lingnan Region (lingnan, 嶺南, an old term for South China), this paper aims to elucidate the significance of the Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands as living heritage in contemporary society across multiple dimensions, and to provide a theoretical basis for the protection of its system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic accident is an important problem in modern society. Vehicle collision prediction is one of the key technical points that must be broken through in the future driving system. However, due to the complexity of traffic environment and the difference of emergency ability of drivers, it is very difficult to predict vehicle collision. Although experts and scholars have tried to monitor and predict accidents in real time according to environmental conditions, overly agile warning or inaccurate prediction may cause serious consequences. Therefore, in order to more accurately predict the occurrence of vehicle collision, this paper analyses and models the driving mode of the vehicle based on transfer learning and using the previous performance data of the vehicle, so as to predict the future collision situation and even the collision time of the vehicle. Finally, using a real-world Internet of Vehicles data set, this paper implements a large number of experiments to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial for the Special Issue of Archaeometry 'Tackling Recycling in the Past'. The practice of recycling has undoubtedly become one of the most important strategies to build a long‐term sustainable society in the modern world. However, both the perception and practice of recycling can be traced back to prehistory through various archaeological records. Objects made of stone, jade, mortar, textiles, pottery and bones display evidence of physical reshaping and repair, as do objects of metal and glass. Metal and glass, moreover, are materials which can be melted and recast, freeing ancient people from the limitations of the physical form of the original object. Illustrating and understanding patterns of recycling and the underlying social organization can significantly advance our knowledge of ancient people, their economic, political and cultural motivations for recycling, as well as the broad interaction between the social and material world. Though the issue of recycling is not novel in the discussions and debates of the archaeological circle, new theoretical frameworks, methodologies and archaeometric data encourage us to revisit the topic in this special issue. In this editorial, we consider what recycling means in the past, and why these papers are vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examined the message of Amos against social injustice and its relevance to contemporary Nigerian society. His message centered on social injustices in the 8th century in the land of Israel which is similar to the present state of social injustices in Nigeria. Data was generated from existing literature and careful observation of the state of the nation, and subjected to critical and constructive analysis through secondary sources of library research method. The researcher discovered that the basic message of Prophet Amos was a call for social justice which was lacking in 8th Century Israel. In those days, the Israel of the Northern Kingdom was benched on perverting justice by the judges and oppressing the poor, The political system was corrupt by the kings and the leaders, the economics sector was corrupt as well and even the religious leaders and their adherent were hypocrite in their religiosity. The paper also discovered that the same social injustices that happened in Amos' time are also happening in contemporary Nigerian society. Therefore, the researcher recommended that pastors and religious leaders should rise and be bold enough just like Amos did, and warn against social injustices that are happening in the country. And for Nigeria to become a better place to live, Nigerians should practice social justice just as demanded in the book of Amos 5:24. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the photographic representation of former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, with the aim of understanding memories that were produced following his death in September 2019. Mugabe was in power for 37 years before being dethroned through a military coup in November 2017. His rule divided opinion with some viewing him as a liberator and African icon, while some view him a dictator and tyrant for his role in disregarding human rights. This paper seeks to explore the role of photography in memory with particular interest being on commemorating contesting figure like Mugabe. We analysed photographs used by The Herald and NewsDay to commemorate Mugabe's death. Photographs remain one of the under researched genres in communication, especially in the Global South, yet scholars have argued that contemporary societies have, through the use of photographs, turned their citizens into 'image junkies' and created 'the most irresistible form of mental pollution'. The findings demonstrate that photographs are being used to give a 'testimony' about the contested legacy of Mugabe. Mugabe is framed as a liberator, Pan-African. On the contrary, he is seen as a tyrant and ruled by an iron fist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Croatian Journal Educational / Hrvatski Casopis za Odgoj I Obrazovanje is the property of Uciteljski Fakultet u Zagrebu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This Special Issue includes sixteen (16) high-quality papers presented during the 2020 IEEE International Conference on High-Voltage Engineering and Application (ICHVE 2020) spanning the above research areas. The Special Issue was welcomed with great interest, as ICHVE attracts recent advancements in all fields of high-voltage engineering and applications. Electrical energy is polymorphic, with voltage levels varying between a few volts to MVs and frequencies from a few Hz to MHz. Closing Remarks The papers published in this Special Issue report on the progress made in various high-voltage applications. [Extracted from the article]

We report a study in which we systematically reviewed the recent literature dealing with human-environment interaction in prehistory. We first identified the 165 most highly cited papers published between 2005 and 2015. We then identified the major research themes covered in the sample of papers and assessed whether the themes fall into clusters and/or vary greatly in popularity. Subsequently, we identified potentially important lacunae. Our review identified dozens of themes and four major clusters: 1) improving our reconstructions of past environments; 2) the impact of climate change on past human societies; 3) human adaptation to past environmental conditions; and 4) human impacts on past environments. We also identified several gaps that led us to make a number of suggestions for future work. One is to pay more attention to the epistemology of causality. A second is to take into account nonlinearity when considering causal relationships. A third is to study the impact of chronological uncertainty on analyses. Lastly, our review revealed that there are differences between the aspects of human-environment interaction in prehistory that interest scholars and those that interest policy-makers and the general public. This needs to be addressed for obvious reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on four e-initiatives that were precipitated by the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. These experiences played a relevant role in developing multilevel solidarity (from the local to the global level) both online and offline. They are represented by the hashtags "#iorestoacasa" (I stay at home) and "#andràtuttobene" (everything will be alright), "performances on the balcony," "influencers' campaigns," and "altruism and e-parochialism." These experiences represent revealing examples essential to understand the benefits that a mediated form of solidarity can produce. This is particularly important given the challenges that solidarity faces due to the technological acceleration imposed by the pandemic, which is likely to influence social relationships even in the post-pandemic era. Four lessons can be learned from these expressions of e-solidarity related to the capacity of information and communication technologies to (1) promote unconditioned altruism; (2) fight "parochialism" when the same disadvantaged condition is shared; (3) their capacity to develop a multilevel sense of community by connecting the local experience to the global dimension; and (4) to mediate between institutional sources and people, and connect family members, friends, vulnerable people with neighbors, and the global community. This last point suggests that the pandemic has offered fertile ground for both mechanical and organic forms of solidarity to emerge. On the one hand, it created a collective conscience based on shared vulnerabilities and interdependence. On the other hand, it is based on individualization and diversity. Indeed, these examples of Durkheimian collective effervescence show the paradox of a form of collective individualized and mediated solidarity, which is typical of contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Central European Public Administration Review is the property of University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Public Administration and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to establish a series of links between some of the main religious formulas that arise in Judaism and Christianism and the romantic and confluent love characteristic of modern societies. To carry it out, firstly, we analyze love in historical Judaism, reflecting on the Ahavah formula, the predominant formula in this religious context. Secondly, to study the Christian drift of love, we first analyze how the emergence of this new religious faith (Christianism) provokes a change in the Jewish way of understanding it (love). Subsequently, we analyze some of the three main formulas in which love materializes in Christianism: Agape, Caritas, and Amor Sui. Regarding modern love, we first carry out a contextualization focused on the processes of secularization and individualization, and their impact on it. Afterwards, we present the main features that define both romantic and confluent love, and finally, we analyze the Judeo-Christian characters inherited for such types of love. The methodology used focused on a literature review and theoretical reflection based on this review. The research carried out allows us to establish sociological continuities between Judeo-Christian religious love and modern secular love in the terms used throughout the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City reputation is a valuable asset for the local economy and firms in the contemporary society. However, the impact of city reputation on micro-level firms has been largely overlooked by the literature. This paper uses the National Civilized City (NCC) policy in China as a quasi-natural experiment to enhance city reputation. We employ the DID approach to investigate the relationship between city reputation and corporate risk-taking. The result shows that corporate risk-taking significantly increases following the NCC policy adoption. Moreover, information asymmetry can strengthen the positive impact of city reputation on corporate risk-taking. Channel tests show that city reputation improves financial condition and decreases default risk, leading to improved risk-taking tolerance. Overall, our paper indicates that city reputation is an important mechanism to improve corporate financial performance, providing empirical evidence for local governments to pursue the NCC title. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Ablai Khan KazUIRandWL: Series 'International Relations & Regional Studies' is the property of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations & World Languages and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of identifying the scenario of the spread of misinformation in the second decade of the present century permeates the analysis of the work of the scientific community supported by technological, educational, and social demands. This issue has become even more relevant in a context of COIVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we investigate the most relevant research themes connected with misinformation addressed in Brazilian research in the field of information science, as well as data on the number of publications per analyzed journal, per year, main keywords, in addition to crossing different data collected in order to better understand this scenario, and the impact of the Pandemic on research about disinformation. This study used descriptive research in compliance with the proposed objective and bibliographic research as a procedural methodology, therefore, aimed at surveying articles in Brazilian journals on Information Science and areas of knowledge such as Library Science, Communication, and Journalism. We collected paper published in 28 Brazilian Journals of Information Science, with results between 2015 and 2021, giving a total of 114 papers. We have identified a number of core topics that are most frequent, allowing for an organization into thematic categories and subcategories. We understand that this phenomenon is not new and characteristic only of contemporary society, but must be investigated in light of recent facts that have driven the publicity of research on the subject. Allied to the misinformation scenario in the last decade, we registered the occurrence of events related to the infodemic and the pandemic responsible for changing the direction of politics, economy, health, and education worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to identify the impact of digitization on national identity, from the perspective of preserving cultural values and traditions of a nation. The continuous development of contemporary society has led to the emergence of the need to somehow preserve the most important elements of a people's culture, a fact that obviously also leads to the preservation of the national identity of that nation. Also, the paper aimed to analyze the effects of the concept of digitization worldwide, how its adoption has spread in almost all branches of activity and how an almost forced alignment of all nations to this phenomenon has been achieved in order to be able to stay connected to the latest information from all fields of activity. At the same time, the paper aimed to identify the main ways in which digitization intervenes in the cultural process of a state and how it influences the foreign perception of the culture and traditions of that state. The paper analyzes the degree of digitization existing at the national level in terms of the use of digital tools in the field of culture, but also their impact and importance on our national identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic graffiti offer new and interesting insights into late medieval and early modern English society. This paper will show the value of studying these inscriptions by discussing two churches constructed in the late medieval period in Suffolk, England, with drawings of two figures that potentially represent the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. These drawings are similar and yet quite different in their quality and execution, and they possibly relate to lost medieval imagery within the building. These images may also have been created in response to various iconoclastic movements that occurred as part of the Reformation as well as after it. This paper seeks to encourage further study on the relationship between historic graffiti and local history by observing the connection between the late medieval parish churches of Lidgate and Stradishall and their respective figural drawings by suggesting that graffiti serve a larger purpose than idle drawing or doodling and instead are valuable pieces of evidence about parish life and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the evolution of legislation on work-life balance in the European Union (EU), from its first initiative adoption in 2019 to its mandatory implementation by the member states in 2022 (or later). Our research begins with an overview of the intial steps taken towards the implementation of such policies since 2017, revealing the concepts and significance of work-life balance in contemporary society, and briefly discussing the historical context of relevant laws and acts that paved the way for the most recent one, the Directive EU 2019/1158 (also known the worklife balance directive). In this context, we outline the key provisions of the work-life balance Directive and highlight primary studies that have monitored its implementation across EU member states (such as those made by Coface, Deloitte, European Commission, etc.). The paper updates our previous work on this topic regarding the progress of the Directive's implementation in those EU member states where such information was available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread adoption of applications and IoT devices, modern society has come to rely on them in various aspects of daily life. These applications and devices cover a range of needs, including home appliances and even medical devices for body monitoring. Because a significant amount of data generated by IoT devices and applications must be transmitted over networks, particularly the Internet, there is an increased risk of cyber-attacks on this transmitted data. This data can be text, images, sound, or other forms, and it is critical to ensure its protection, especially if it contains valuable information. Extensive research has been conducted on various encryption algorithms to ensure the security of transmitted data, whether through block ciphers or stream ciphers. In addition, efforts have been made to increase encryption efficiency by securing the transmission channels. The question of this research is “what is the state of the art in the lightweight encryption in terms of strength and speed up the process?”. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of research related to two main categories of lightweight encryption, and work focused on secure authentication between entities. The paper includes an analysis of the techniques used in each surveyed paper and highlights their main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reconceptualisation of technology, as a vital component of modern society cutting across all its other aspects, is required to achieve social and environmental sustainability. This paper presents a convivial technology development framework using the concept of "cosmolocal" production. The latter captures the dynamic of dispersed technology initiatives, which exhibit conceptualisations of living, working and making around the commons. It is a structural framework for organising production by prioritising socio-ecological well-being over corporate profits, over-production and excess consumption. From the vantage point of Tzoumakers, a cosmolocal initiative in which the authors participate, this paper offers an empirical account of its conception and evolution. We further examine its relation and cooperation with various similar interconnected places in urban and rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a letter from the editors in which they discuss a call for papers on the topic of retirement in the 21st century. Topics include an overview of the challenges faced by organizations and governments worldwide as an increasing number of individuals reach retirement age and a list of questions for researchers' consideration when investigating the topic of retirement, such as whether or not governments and organizations are responding to the needs of an aging workforce, the novel ways individuals are navigating late career and retirement, and the role of relationships in the contemporary retirement process.

For a long period institutions were either ignored as a relevant economic growth factor or taken as given in standard economic growth theory. The new institutional theory identifies institutional quality as a fundamental factor for the difference in the level of economic development among the countries. Based on the relevant literature and the available data and empirical analysis, this theory seems to the point. The purpose of the paper is to review the characteristics of institutions and to identify their role in achieving economic growth and development in modern societies and economies. The paper is structured in several parts. The first part reviews the new theories, with the main focus on institutional theories, that are elaborating on the linkages between the quality and efficiency of the institutions and their role in sustaining economic growth, and at the same time, they are highlighting the primary importance of the institutions in achieving economic growth. The second part of the paper elaborates on the transmission mechanisms through which institutions impact economic growth. In the third part, a comparative analysis of the quality, capacity, and (in)/efficiency of the institutions in North Macedonia and selected countries from the Region is given. For the purpose of the paper, available data from relevant international organizations are used, such as the World Bank, and Transparency International, which are suitable for the identification of the quality, efficiency, and capacity of institutions. Based on the available data, qualitative and quantitative analyses are performed by the authors. At the end of the paper, a summary overview of the impact of institutions on sustaining economic growth in а long run, based on the conducted analysis within the paper, is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A list of publications received for the May 1, 2013 issue of "Contemporary Sociology" is presented, including "Rebuilding the News: Metropolitan Journalism in the Digital Age," by C. W. Anderson, "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life," by Adam Phillips and "Becoming Intimately Mobile," by Paul Bialski.

The central objective of every professional education is to incorporate knowledge and values into professional discipline to achieve a level of competence required for professional practices. A most significant feature of professional education is that it is always a response to society's demands. The social work profession is not an exception. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the existing education of professional social work on the scale of demands and needs of contemporary society. In the process of evaluation of education of professional social work, we should consider three dimensions, i.e. why train? what to train? and how to train? In social work, we can find good literature on the question of 'What to teach?'. This paper emphasises the concept of 'Why to train?' and 'How to train?' To answer, 'Why to train?' this paper delineates philosophical analysis of social work. However, to deal with 'How', this paper highlights its centre, i.e., Teacher in Social Work Education or Social Work Educator. In the part of 'How', this paper will explain the importance of teachers in the pedagogy of social work and portray the contemporary state of social work educators based on findings of unstructured interviews of educators. Further, based on philosophical analysis, it will discuss the prerequisites and roles of social work educators to make social work pedagogy more effective and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of modern human society needs effective leadership that should create a high performance organization. Leaders with high performance possess certain competencies that enable them to practice modern leadership styles. This paper focuses on the psychological factors and competencies that influence high performance leadership. The purpose of the paper is to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and leaders' personality and high performance leadership. The methodology of the research part includes a sample of 63 managers in whom emotional intelligence, personality structure and leadership effectiveness were measured, using standardized psychological tests with self-assessment and a 360-degree assessment by independent evaluators. Findings from correlation and regression analyzes show that a higher level of emotional intelligence is associated with higher leadership effectiveness. The paper confirms the findings of the significant impact of emotional intelligence on high performance leadership. They indicate the need to create and implement educational programs for the development of the competencies of emotional intelligence among leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, artificial intelligence is used everywhere in the world and is becoming a key factor for innovation and progress in many areas of human life. From medicine to industry to consumer electronics, its influence is ever-expanding and permeates all aspects of our modern society. This article presents the use of artificial intelligence (prediction) for the control of three motors used for effector control in a spherical parallel kinematic structure of a designed device. The kinematic model used was the "Agile eye" which can achieve high dynamics and has three degrees of freedom. A prototype of this device was designed and built, on which experiments were carried out in the framework of motor control. As the prototype was created through the means of the available equipment (3D printing and lathe), the clearances of the kinematic mechanism were made and then calibrated through prediction. The paper also presents a method for motor control calibration. On the one hand, using AI is an efficient way to achieve higher precision in positioning the optical axis of the effector. On the other hand, such calibration would be rendered unnecessary if the clearances and inaccuracies in the mechanism could be eliminated mechanically. The device was designed with imperfections such as clearances in mind so the effectiveness of the calibration could be tested and evaluated. The resulting control of the achieved movements of the axis of the device (effector) took place when obtaining the exact location of the tracked point. There are several methods for controlling the motors of mechatronic devices (e.g., Matlab-Simscape). This paper presents an experiment performed to verify the possibility of controlling the kinematic mechanism through neural networks and eliminating inaccuracies caused by imprecisely produced mechanical parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquity of digital technologies in citizen's lives marks a major qualitative shift where automated decisions taken by algorithms deeply affect the lived experience of ordinary people. But this is not just an action-oriented change as computational systems can also introduce epistemological transformations in the constitution of concepts and ideas. However, a lack of public understanding of how algorithms work also makes them a source of distrust, especially concerning the way in which they can be used to create frames or channels for social and individual behaviour. This public concern has been magnified by election hacking, social media disinformation, data extractivism, and a sense that Silicon Valley companies are out of control. The wide adoption of algorithms into so many aspects of peoples' lives, often without public debate, has meant that increasingly algorithms are seen as mysterious and opaque, when they are not seen as inequitable or biased. Up until recently it has been difficult to challenge algorithms or to question their functioning, especially with wide acceptance that software's inner workings were incomprehensible, proprietary or secret (cf. open source). Asking why an algorithm did what it did often was not thought particularly interesting outside of a strictly programming context. This meant that there has been a widening explanatory gap in relation to understanding algorithms and their effect on peoples' lived experiences. This paper argues that Critical Code Studies offers a novel field for developing theoretical and code-epistemological practices to reflect on the explanatory deficit in modern societies from a reliance on information technologies. The challenge of new forms of social obscurity from the implementation of technical systems is heightened by the example of machine learning systems that have emerged in the past decade. A key methodological contribution of this paper is to show how concept formation, in this case of the notion of toxicity, can be traced through key categories and classifications deployed in code structures (e.g. modularity and layering software) but also how these classifications can appear more stable than they actually are by the tendency of software layers to obscure even as they reveal. How a concept such as toxicity can be constituted through code and discourse and then used unproblematically is revealing in relation to both its technical deployment but also for a possible computational sociology of knowledge. By developing a broadened notion of explainability, this paper argues that critical code studies can make important theoretical, code-epistemological and methodological contributions to digital humanities, computer science and related disciplines. The software explanability deficit in modern societies can be addressed in part by tracing concept formation through code structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Religion & Tolerance / Religija & Tolerancija is the property of Center for the Empirical Researches of Religion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores how the busy mindset, a common mindset in modern society, affects consumers' evaluations of new products. It proposes that a busy mindset increases the consumer's evaluation of new products and outlines the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of perceived economic mobility. The study enriches the research on busy mindsets and new product evaluations and makes practical contributions to enterprises in management and marketing. The paper used three formal experiments (Ns = 196, 84, 277). Participants in studies 1 and 2 were students recruited from different colleges in Guangzhou city, China. The sample in study 3 were adults from all over China recruited from www.wjx.cn. This research shows that activating participants' busy mindsets will increase their evaluations of new products, with self-efficacy as the mediator and economic mobility as the moderator. There may still be other mediating explanations, such as a sense of control. Meanwhile, this study's current manipulation method of busyness mainly focuses on writing tasks; thus, researchers can adopt more new manipulation methods of busyness in a realistic context. Marketers can improve consumers' evaluations and attitudes to new products by stimulating their busy mindsets and briefly activating their highly perceived economic mobility. Unlike previous studies, this research distinguishes between time pressure and a busy mindset. Meanwhile, our results show that the effect of a busy mindset differs from the effect of time pressure on new product evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Existing literature points out that conventional educational modes are not sufficiently motivational for students. Concurrently, the contemporary society requires awareness of sustainability within project management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the use of simulations in project management education can positively impact students' awareness of sustainability and enhance their ability to navigate projects in a sustainable way. Design/methodology/approach: Experiment where 26 experienced professionals with different backgrounds engaged in three extensive project management simulations with sustainable aspects and participated in pre- and post-assessments. Findings: Our research shows that simulations have a high potential for enhancing learning on project management with sustainable aspects. We conclude that simulations can significantly contribute to enhancing student awareness of sustainability. This is through directly confronting them with three areas in which sustainability impacts project management, that is the management of environmental, social, and economic aspects; through handling opportunities, complexities, and adaptability; and by assuming responsibility for sustainable development in the simulation case. Practical implications: We have shown that simulations – as a part of project management education – are highly likely to augment students' capacity to navigate their projects in a sustainable way. Originality/value: This paper offers results of an empirical study on simulations as a means to create awareness of ability to navigate projects in a sustainable way. The paper provides extensive qualitative statements from participants, and thereby gives the reader insights into the raw data leading to insightful conclusions for the field of project management education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper interprets the changing traits of religiosity in modern and postmodern societies from the perspective of spatial turn. The analysis examines the impact of social experience and action on spatial structure and how changes in spatial structure have influenced individual actions and experiences over the past decade, with a specific emphasis on the relationship to transcendence. The analysis explores the impact of the interaction of social spaces and actions on religiosity, in order to provide new insights into the interpretation of religious phenomena through a novel approach to the study of religion. It focuses on the consequences of individualisation, hybridisation, and globalisation, and analyses how these transformations are shaping contemporary religiosity in the global north. The paper argues that spatial structural changes are reinforcing more individualised forms of religiosity, often separated from traditional institutionalised religiosity. This gives greater scope to subject-organised 'patchwork religiosity', which inevitably reinforces a new kind of religious syncretism. The reflection unravels the spatial aspects of this transformation in a novel way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bibliotekar (0006-1816) is the property of Serbian Library Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Social work, as a model of welfare practice in contemporary society, is based on the mutual aid principle of those in need or in a situation of vulnerability. Its historical foundations can be identified from the ancient writings, including the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments. This paper brings to the attention of the students from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, the Social Work specialization, but also of those concerned with a deep social-theological knowledge, the perspective of a theoretical analysis, but also that of a good practice model for contemporary social work based on the examples existing in Holy Scripture. Also, the focus is on developing, through study, professional skills that provide for the projection and elaboration of a discourse based on sacred texts (verbal and written exposure), but also the correct statement of the doctrine of the Church and the means transmitted by it for the perfecting of the person and of the world in the context of a constantly changing society. Thus, through this comprehensive analysis, the paper highlights the relevance and sustainable impact of the teachings and practices of social work in the Old and New Testaments on contemporary issues solvable through social justice, christian love, solidarity and community responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent technologies permeate all aspects of contemporary society and urban life. It is essential to educate the workforce of smart cities in order to effectively meet emerging technological demands. In this paper, we present an e-course that focuses on discrete competencies associated with different smart city roles. Initially, we present the conceptual learning framework for the development of the competency-based learning course and we define the objectives of the research. The paper continues with a discussion of the model's application steps and an examination of the course's skills, competencies, and roles. The acquired knowledge was measured using pre- and post-course tests, and questionnaires were used to investigate the relevance and quality of the learning material and the learning acquisition of the participants. Evaluation results showed that the course was relevant to the concept of smart cities, useful for their work duties, while participation in the course resulted in increased overall competency in all three smart city job profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Loneliness is widely prevalent in modern society. Despite the growth in studies, very limited studies so far have attempted to systematically review the literature. This study aims to consolidate the antecedents of loneliness by reviewing the literature. Design/methodology/approach: The systematic literature review method is adopted to identify the antecedents. Full texts of each article were taken for analysis which was published from 2002 to 2022. Multiple databases were examined and total of 60 articles were included for systematic literature review. Findings: The study presents the descriptive analysis of the articles. Also, the paper thematically presents the key antecedents of loneliness in three themes (a) Loss of love, (b) Individual cognitive and personal factors and (c) Childhood experiences and parenting practices. The study also highlights the moderating effect of demographic factors and lifestyle changes. Originality/value: The current study is the first systematic literature review to present the antecedents of loneliness. The study contributes by offering an enhanced understanding of loneliness. Also, the study presents contemporary understanding of loneliness and proposes a conceptual framework. The findings are useful to academicians as well as policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the research into the participation of scouts and scouting associations present in three countries. Three Baltic states (BS) - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have been chosen as the subject of the research. The goal of this paper was to answer the questions of how the scouts perceive their role in the national defensive education system, and what the older scouts want to teach the youth. Based on this, we have attempted an appraisal of whether - and to what degree - scouting organizations contribute to increasing the level of defensive education in a given community. The paper has avoided strictly system-wide solutions, as the latter form a mere backdrop for the results of the research. In order to achieve the goal of the current research, the following research questions were formulated: Does participation in a scouting association represent a form of defensive education? Are the skills obtained from one's membership in them helping increase the mentioned indicators? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instrumentality and standardization of education may be important for functioning in contemporary societies. However, reducing education to measurable competencies may result in the loss of human value. Indeed, education becomes real when it relates to the reality of individuals. Existentialist education focuses on students' freedom and agency; however, it is criticized for not having coherent and convincing educational guides. This analytical comparison paper argues that the premises of Existentialism and the components of metacognition may interact. While metacognitive awareness and thinking for essence lays the ground for individuality and autonomy, metacognitive knowledge relates to self-knowledge and not accepting ready-made concepts through self-questioning and dialogic encounters. Also, metacognitive experiences might mimic existential crises where individuals engage in highly conscious thinking during which metacognitive knowledge and regulation simultaneously help the individual deal with failure or anxiety. During such experiences, metacognitive regulation might facilitate individuals' free choices and responsible engagement when building the self or handling difficulties. In this sense, enhancing metacognition may help individuals' transition to the existing phase by building adequate self-knowledge and regulating thinking. This paper, finally, describes a set of pedagogies for fostering metacognition that could potentially facilitate existential attitudes or behaviors in mainstream classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper approaches from a historical perspective the development of the accounting profession in Romania. We aim to present, through an interpretivism methodological approach, using descriptive narrative research, the phenomena of the accounting profession in Romania and its evolution throughout history. The paper captures various stages of development, but also elements that have contributed to the development of this profession in Romania, and the role it had throughout time and the role that it fulfills today. The article highlights the fact that the development of higher education in economics was and is still essential in the existence and development of the accounting profession. By fulfilling such objectives and such performance standards, it will be possible to achieve the goal of this professional organization in terms of adapting quickly and efficiently to changes in the socio-economic environment, ensuring a high level of professionalism of members who will be constantly trained for the future, providing strategic consulting for the business environment, and finally affiliation to the position of reliable business partners. However, if we think about the way the accountant was perceived in the 19th century and the status he benefits in contemporary society, we can say with certainty that it was a battle won. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]