Search

While research advancements have substantially improved concussion management efforts, consideration for the psychological and social aspects of concussive injuries have remained largely absent from concussion protocols. The present study was undertaken to identify elite athletes' psychological and social needs during the recovery process. Elite athletes with a history of concussion and mental performance consultants who work with concussed elite athletes participated in focus group interviews to shed light on these needs. A thematic analysis of these focus groups revealed six psychological and social needs: acceptance, normality, confidence, self-efficacy, trust in relationships, and social support. These themes are framed within concussion literature to help initiate a conversation on how psychological and social needs should be addressed as part of multifaceted efforts to improve concussion recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fact that community ownership increases the social acceptability of renewable energy projects is well established, but there is a lack of empirical evidence to explain why this is the case. This study examines whether energy justice factors (fair involvement, fair distribution of benefits and perceived impacts from wind turbines) can help explain this relationship, whether these factors are interrelated, and whether different ownership structures (community, shared or private ownership) change these associations. Using a postal survey of residents in Scotland (n = 320), the study employs a novel method, Multigroup-Structural Equation Modelling, to investigate these questions. This modelling reveals that acceptance of these projects was influenced by factors of energy justice (i.e. fair involvement, fair benefits and perceived impacts), but the influence from each factor depended on the ownership structure. Specifically, those near the community-owned project prioritised involvement, those near the privately-owned valued fair benefits, and those near the shared ownership prioritised both. By examining the relationships amongst energy justice factors, the real-life complexity of people's responses to wind energy projects is revealed, whereby factors can have knock-on effects. Importantly, this study finds that the community and shared ownership projects fostered greater community acceptance than the privately-owned because they had more instances where fair involvement influenced other factors, which led to greater overall acceptance. Although community involvement may seem time-consuming, a more inclusive approach can prevent long-term issues caused by local opposition. Community ownership of renewable energy projects leads to greater acceptance by local residents, as long as the projects meet their expectations. Energy justice plays a crucial role in acceptance of onshore wind energy projects, but residents prioritise different aspects depending on ownership. Policymakers and developers should take into account the preferences and concerns of local residents when designing renewable projects, especially in terms of fair involvement and fair distribution of benefits. Better support for communities and developers is essential if the Scottish Government want shared ownership offered on all new projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovations and progress in genome editing/new breeding technologies have revolutionized research in the field of functional genomics and crop improvement. This revolution has expanded the horizons of agricultural research, presenting fresh possibilities for creating novel plant varieties equipped with desired traits that can effectively combat the challenges posed by climate change. However, the regulation and social acceptance of genome-edited crops still remain as major barriers. Only a few countries considered the site-directed nuclease 1 (SDN1) approach-based genome-edited plants under less or no regulation. Hence, the present review aims to comprise information on the research work conducted using SDN1 in crops by various genome editing tools. It also elucidates the promising candidate genes that can be used for editing and has listed the studies on non-transgenic crops developed through SDN1 either by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or by ribo nucleoprotein (RNP) complex. The review also hoards the existing regulatory landscape of genome editing and provides an overview of globally commercialized genome-edited crops. These compilations will enable confidence in researchers and policymakers, across the globe, to recognize the full potential of this technology and reconsider the regulatory aspects associated with genome-edited crops. Furthermore, this compilation serves as a valuable resource for researchers embarking on the development of customized non-transgenic crops through the utilization of SDN1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne scarring results from a common inflammatory condition present in many people. These scars can have an impact on quality of life by influencing self-esteem and social acceptance. Current acne scarring treatments, such as chemical peels and laser treatments, often have limited success due to their time-consuming nature and the variability of acne scar types. The subcision technique has shown promise for the treatment of rolling acne scars. There are few studies to date that examine the effects of multiple subcision treatments on rolling acne scars. We evaluated whether the use of multiple subcision treatments improved the appearance of rolling acne scars compared to no treatment. Five patients with rolling acne scars on both sides of their face who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. One side of the face was randomized to receive treatment, while the contralateral side of the face received no treatment. Subjects underwent five sequential subcision treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart, with two follow-up visits at weeks 20 and 36 from the 1st treatment. Photographs were taken before and after the initial treatment visit and at each subsequent visit. Acne scar appearance was evaluated by the subject, a blinded live rater, and two double-blinded dermatologist raters. Evaluations of treatment outcomes involved overall acne scar appearance on a 5-point scale, acne scar improvement on a percentage scale, a modified quantitative global scarring grading system, and potential treatment side effects. There was a greater decrease in global scarring scores in the multiple subcision side compared to the control side. There was a greater difference in the average acne scar appearance scores between the Week 36 follow-up visit and baseline for the multiple subcision side compared to that of the control side. 50% of patients reported being more satisfied with the treatment side compared to the control side in regard to overall improvement. The study results suggest that multiple subcision treatments may improve the appearance of rolling acne scars compared to no treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The online phenomenon of social commerce (i.e., s‐commerce) platforms has emerged as a combination of online social networking and e‐commerce. On s‐commerce platforms, consumers can observe others' behavioural decisions and can distinguish those made by their friends from those made by their followees (i.e., the people a focal consumer follows but who do not follow that consumer back). Given this distinction, our study examines how consumers' behavioural decisions—regarding, for example, purchases, ratings, or "likes"—are made on s‐commerce platforms, with a focus on how they are influenced by prior decisions of friends and followees. Combining panel data from a large s‐commerce platform and two controlled experiments, we identify a strong normative social influence pattern in which consumers tend to follow others' prior decisions to gain social approval. Because the occurrence of normative social influence depends on both consumer behaviours with high public visibility and strong consumer needs to establish social ties, the unique information concerning behaviour visibility and consumers' social needs in the panel data allows us to identify normative social influence and to distinguish it from informational confounding mechanisms. Our panel data results show that on a friend network, where consumers' behavioural decisions are visible, females exhibit a greater tendency to follow others' prior decisions than males. We attribute this result to the stronger social needs of females. However, on a followee network, where behavioural decisions are invisible, these differences become less evident. Moreover, the two experiments demonstrate that making decision contexts private or activating social needs via a priming procedure can thwart (or even turn off) normative social influence. Our findings challenge prior research that identifies informational social influence as the predominant driver of conformity behaviours and thus have important implications for practice related to normative social influence, such as the development of techniques for satisfying consumers' different social needs depending on their gender or any other situational factors on s‐commerce platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the novelty of the format, web series have been little studied. To address this gap, this research identifies and compares the nature, experiences, and practices of professional and amateur web series filmmakers. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Colombian professionals (15) and amateurs (15) covering 1) their training and experience; 2) their working practices and routines; 3) their creative processes; and 4) the financial aspects of their productions (salaries and budgets). The main findings suggest that web series production is similar for both types of filmmakers in most of these aspects and has evolved from both television practices and media industry logics. Moreover, both groups of filmmakers only innovate in terms of the technological possibilities and distribution of their web series, and their creativity is regulated and dependent on the approval of influential social and industry actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-regional marriages in rural Haryana, driven by skewed sex ratios, have led to a pattern where women from distant regions and diverse cultural backgrounds, such as ethnic Assamese, Bengalis, or Biharis, are married into local Haryanvi families. This practice echoes broader trends witnessed across East and Southeast Asia. Transcending traditional notions of the family as a culturally sanctioned social network centred on biological and matrimonial ties, these cross-regional unions challenge conventional norms and societal fabric. This paper contends that the marginalization and stigma experienced by these migrant brides severely undermine their children’s future opportunities. Through semi-structured interviews with 24 migrant brides, the study identifies significant concerns related to their children’s educational attainment, social acceptance, marriage prospects, mental well-being, socialization, and overall life potential. The findings indicate that these children face substantial barriers to realizing their full potential due to inadequate familial support and pervasive societal biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new theoretical model to explain the acceptance/rejection of agents (co-workers) and various social groups (people with mental disorders or disabilities, the elderly, the unemployed/poor, ethnic minorities) in a given social system: the social utility-based acceptance/rejection (SUBAR) Model. Based on a social utility approach, it is proposed that human social cognition evaluates and reacts to agents/groups in a social system on the basis of the perceived strengths and significant contributions they bring to the system (upward forces; e.g., skills, resources, willingness) and the perceived weaknesses that may harm the system (downward forces; e.g., use of social benefits, dependence). While the perception of upward forces for the system (i.e., vital forces) is accompanied by acceptance (positive attitudes and behaviors), the perception of downward forces (i.e., burdens on the system) promotes rejection (negative attitudes and behaviors). The combination of the two indicators predicts that low vital forces/high burden targets will be the most rejected and high vital forces/low burden targets will be the most accepted. The high burden/high vital forces and low vital forces/low burden targets should be evaluated at an intermediate level between the other two. This naive calculation of the forces exerted by agents/groups in a social system is moderated by various variables (scarcity of economic resources, values) and responds to a functional attempt to regulate individual and collective interests, themselves dependent on the efficiency of given systems. Finally, the relationship of the SUBAR model to other relevant theories will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questionable research practices (QRP) are believed to be widespread, but empirical assessments are generally restricted to a few types of practices. Furthermore, conceptual confusion is rife with use and prevalence of QRPs often being confused as the same quantity. We present the hitherto most comprehensive study examining QRPs across scholarly fields and knowledge production modes. We survey perception, use, prevalence and predictors of QRPs among 3,402 researchers in Denmark and 1,307 in the UK, USA, Croatia and Austria. Results reveal remarkably similar response patterns among Danish and international respondents (τ = 0.85). Self-reported use indicates whether respondents have used a QRP in recent publications. 9 out of 10 respondents admitted using at least one QRP. Median use is three out of nine QRP items. Self-reported prevalence reflects the frequency of use. On average, prevalence rates were roughly three times lower compared to self-reported use. Findings indicated that the perceived social acceptability of QRPs influenced self-report patterns. Results suggest that most researchers use different types of QRPs within a restricted time period. The prevalence estimates, however, do not suggest outright systematic use of specific QRPs. Perceived pressure was the strongest systemic predictor for prevalence. Conversely, more local attention to research cultures and academic age was negatively related to prevalence. Finally, the personality traits conscientiousness and, to a lesser degree, agreeableness were also inversely associated with self-reported prevalence. Findings suggest that explanations for engagement with QRPs are not only attributable to systemic factors, as hitherto suggested, but a complicated mixture of experience, systemic and individual factors, and motivated reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling carbon revenues as Equal Per Capita Carbon Dividends (ECDs) is thought to neutralise the two main objections to carbon pricing, namely that it is regressive and that it hinders the poor from meeting basic needs. This article focuses on the waste objection to carbon pricing plus ECDs. If the rationale for ECDs is to protect the consumption of the worst off, why pay carbon dividends to the rich as well? I examine three different normative arguments in favour of ECDs. First, the argument of common ownership of the atmosphere, which can be based on both libertarianism and isolationist egalitarianism. Second, the argument that the rich are net contributors to ECDs through their carbon taxes. Third, a consequentialist argument focusing on the pragmatic advantages of ECDs, especially in terms of social acceptability and low information costs. I conclude that none of these arguments can provide a normative justification for ECDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-cultural communication is difficult in any context due to conflicting worldviews, intellectual frameworks and cultural assumptions. It is even more difficult without sympathetic appreciation of the problem. Through acknowledgement, acceptance, appreciation and adaptation, it is possible to move to a posture of mutual enrichment in multicultural engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant immediate descendants (MIDs) raised in Italy are frequently socialized across different ethno-cultural environments and often experience being othered. Both conditions may influence the way they face intercultural interaction, but this topic remains largely unexplored. Through 15 semi-structured interviews and 5 focus groups with MID university students raised in Italy, this work examines how MIDs describe and give meaning to their intercultural competence. It shows that through a complex process of appreciation of their inner diversity, MIDs can develop a heightened critical reflection on intercultural communication and the willingness to challenge, through intercultural dialogue, the social representations that underpin their being othered. However, the way difference tends to be constructed in Italian society hampers the valuing of one's multiple ethno-cultural identifications, and encouraging social acceptance of diversity represents a heavy emotional burden for MIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of personnel in care institutions and high proportions of older people in need of care pose central challenges for today's aging society, often resulting in the hospitalization of geriatric patients. In many cases, these hospitalizations are not medically necessary and cause deterioration of health. Applying telemedicine in nursing homes represents one approach aimed at a reduction of unnecessary hospitalizations of geriatric patients and supporting care personnel in medically uncertain situations. For a sustainable and successful implementation of technical innovations such as telemedical consultations, the care personnel's perspectives and acceptance are especially essential. The Optimal@NRW project implemented telemedical consultations in 24 nursing homes in Germany, investigating medical and economic efficiency and in particular also the social acceptance of digital care in nursing homes. This paper presents quantitative results comparing the acceptance evaluations before (PRE: N = 130) and after (POST: N = 87) the implementation of the telemedical consultations in the nursing homes from the perspective of care professionals. The results showed positive evaluations of the telemedical consultations in both evaluation phases: POST evaluations especially showed a lower evaluation of perceived barriers of using telemedical consultations in nursing homes. This study's insights enable one to derive guidelines and recommendations regarding the communication and information of telemedical applications considering the needs and wishes of care personnel as a central user group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the importance of wind turbine design in achieving social acceptance. It examines the factors that determine the shape of wind turbines from two perspectives: engineering and aesthetics. Using the development of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization wind turbines for remote islands in Okinawa as an example, in collaboration with an aircraft manufacturer. This study explores the differences and issues between two aspects, namely engineering design and aesthetic design, and proposes solutions. The following conclusions were drawn regarding achieving an integrated and aesthetically pleasing shape: (1) Engineering and aesthetic designs employ different methods and criteria for shaping a product. (2) Respecting the methodologies and processes of both disciplines and engaging in early-stage discussions on design concepts and approaches can facilitate smooth development. (3) It is recommended to integrate the design processes of engineering and visual tasks and proceed concurrently under the same operational system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity in lying behaviors is well documented in previous studies. However, previous assessment tools mainly lack consideration of various types of lies that would substantially change the nature of lies. The study developed the LYin Lying Tendency Scale (LTS) to assess individuals' behavioral tendencies in telling selfish, altruistic, and social-acceptance lies. The test–retest reliability, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity were examined in Studies 1–3. Criterion validity was tested by conducting a lying game in Study 4 and measuring participants' moral decisions and speculations on three types of lying contexts in Studies 5 and 6. Study 5 with three substudies measured participants' personal decisions in hypothetical daily-life situations and their self-report lying frequency. Study 6 provided hypothetical daily-life situations and measured participants' speculations of others' choices. All six studies provided sufficient psychometric support for the LYin LTS. Our study provides a sound assessment tool to measure three types of lying tendencies and sheds light on how individuals' variations in honesty traits, self-centered, other-regarding, and need-to-belong characteristics link to variations in lying tendencies. Our findings suggest that an individual's honesty-associated characteristics are various in terms of the consideration of honesty as a moral virtue and the application of deception as a strategy to achieve diverse purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusions\nImplications for rehabilitationSocial robots have shown positive effects in treating children with autism spectrum disorder. The development of social robots in Indonesia has enabled their potential use in occupational therapy. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the acceptance of the potential use of social robots by Indonesian occupational therapists in clinical practice.This study employed a mixed methods explanatory sequential design. An adapted unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model was utilised for the quantitative phase. The questionnaire explored the acceptance of social robots. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with reflexive thematic analysis were conducted. The second phase aimed to explain the reasons behind the quantitative results and factors related to the acceptance of social robots in therapy.Occupational therapists showed high interest in using social robots in their sessions, as indicated by the significant positive relationship between performance expectancy and potential use. Three influential factors affecting acceptance emerged in the qualitative phase: occupational therapists’ characteristics and competencies, social robots and occupational therapy interventions, and environmental influence.Indonesian occupational therapists have shown interest in using social robots. However, there are challenges regarding the practical application of social robots concerning individual differences in the factors that influence acceptance.Social robots have been perceived as beneficial intervention tools for improving occupational therapists’ performance with children with autism spectrum disorder.Environmental factors significantly influence the acceptance of social robots.The attitudes of occupational therapists influence their acceptance towards the potential use of social robots.Social robots have been perceived as beneficial intervention tools for improving occupational therapists’ performance with children with autism spectrum disorder.Environmental factors significantly influence the acceptance of social robots.The attitudes of occupational therapists influence their acceptance towards the potential use of social robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking rationalisation beliefs are a huge barrier to quitting smoking. What types of rationalisations should be emphasised in smoking cessation interventions? Although past literature has confirmed the negative relationship between those beliefs and motivation to stop smoking, little is known regarding the importance and performance of those beliefs on motivation with varying cigarette dependence. The study aimed to ascertain rationalisations that are highly important for motivation yet perform poorly in different cigarette dependence groups. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 19 to December 9, 2023 in Guiyang City, China. Adult male current smokers were enrolled. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesis. The multi-group analysis was used to determine the moderating effect of cigarette dependence, and the importance-performance map analysis was utilised to assess the importance and performance of rationalisations. Results: A total of 616 adult male current smokers were analysed, and they were divided into the low cigarette dependence group (n = 297) and the high cigarette dependence group (n = 319). Except for risk generalisation beliefs, smoking functional beliefs (H1: -β = 0.131, P < 0.01), social acceptability beliefs (H3: β = -0.258, P < 0.001), safe smoking beliefs (H4: β = -0.078, P < 0.05), self-exempting beliefs (H5: β = -0.244, P < 0.001), and quitting is harmful beliefs (H6: β = -0.148, P < 0.01) all had a significant positive influence on motivation. Cigarette dependence moderated the correlation between rationalisations and motivation. In the high-dependence group, the social acceptability beliefs and smoking functional beliefs were located in the "Concentrate Here" area. In the low-dependence group, the social acceptability beliefs were also situated in there. Conclusions: Social acceptability beliefs and smoking functional beliefs showed great potential and value for improvement among high-dependence smokers, while only social acceptability beliefs had great potential and value for improvement among low-dependence smokers. Addressing these beliefs will be helpful for smoking cessation. The multi-group analysis and the importance-performance map analysis technique have practical implications and can be expanded to other domains of health education and intervention practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into the self-concept of students with an intellectual disability (ID) or social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) educated in special education is relatively scarce. This, whilst many students with ID or students with SEBD still reside in special rather than inclusive school settings. This study aimed to gain insight into the self-concept of students with either ID or SEBD in special education and examined variables that might relate to the self-concept of these students. A total of 171 students educated in special schools filled out the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC). T-tests utilising bootstrapping and variance analyses were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that girls with ID and boys with SEBD assess their self-concept more negatively than typically developing students. Gender, age and formally assessed classifications of ASD or ADHD yielded different self-concept scores in both groups of students on different dimensions of self-concept. The expected positive illusory bias was not found in this study. The results of the study are discussed in light of the educational setting of the students with ID or students with SEBD. This study demonstrates that interventions are needed to improve the self-concept of students with ID or students with SEBD in special education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine latent social wellbeing profiles and investigate differences between the profiles in terms of trust in managers and colleagues, job satisfaction, intention to leave, and demographic variables (age and service years). Methods: Permanently employed individuals of a South African utility organization participated in the study (N = 403). The Social Well-being Scale, Workplace Trust Survey, Job Satisfaction Scale, and Turnover Intention Scale were administered. Results: Four social wellbeing profiles were identified: socially disconnected (19.11%), socially challenged (31.27%), socially adequate (22.30%), and socially thriving (27.33%). Individuals in the socially thriving profile were significantly more inclined to experience job satisfaction and had lower intentions to leave than individuals in the other social wellbeing profiles. Two demographic variables, namely, age and service years, were associated with profile membership. Discussion: This study provided a nuanced understanding of social wellbeing by identifying patterns in which social contribution, social integration, social actualization, social coherence, and social acceptance interacted within individuals in a population, which might otherwise not have been evident. The differing levels of social wellbeing among these profiles have substantial implications for job satisfaction and staff retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To manage the transition from school to work, young people need to learn about occupations, explore their own (professional) interests, skills and values, and make career-related decisions. According to Gottfredson's Career Construction (CC) theory (1981), young people - influenced by their need for social approval - have already narrowed down their spectrum of acceptable occupations by the time they participate in school-based career orientation programs. Therefore, we focus on career guidance interventions that take into account their need for social approval. We present first results of an intervention study of a newly developed approval-sensitive workshop, "Logic of Career Choice." It challenges students' mostly unconscious need for social approval, raising awareness and prompting reflection and action on this aspect of their career choices. By analyzing a sample based on a quasi-experimental treatment-control group research design, we examine to what extent this workshop can contribute to reaching its objectives [n = 1236 students in secondary schools; treatment group (n = 766); control group (n = 470)]. Confirmatory factor analyses indicate the reliability of the new measurement instruments. The six examined constructs include (1) the relevance of social approval, (2) the feeling of autonomy, (3) interest in career choice, (4) reflection of needs, (5) intention to act, and (6) reported career choice activities. The results reveal partial confirmation of hypothesis (1) regarding the importance of social approval and (2) the feeling of autonomy. However, the constructs (4) reflection of needs and (5) intention to act show parallel developments in both the treatment and control groups, leading to the rejection of these hypotheses. The constructs (3) interest in career choice and (6) retrospectively reported activities regarding career choice show unexpected effects of the workshop. Interest in career choice decreases significantly more in the treatment group than in the control group, and the treatment group reports significantly more retrospective career choice activities. The discussion interprets the results in the context of their scientific and practical implications, with special attention given to the decrease in interest in career choice in the treatment group and the increased retrospective reporting of career choice activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspiracy theories are a constant feature of human society but have recently risen in prominence with the flurry of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and their public display in social media. Conspiracy theories should be studied not only because of their potential harm but also because they are related to other sources of misinformation such as folk theories, rumors, and fake news. Recent understanding of their spread has shifted the focus from investigating the believers to characteristics of the social processes that motivate and persuade, with a new view of the conspiracy theorist as a bricoleur dealing with threats through social (re)construction of reality. These tendencies are strengthened by the markets for attention and approval constructed by social media platforms, and bots also amplify them. We identify an agenda of multiple important and urgent paths for future research that will help understanding of conspiracy theories in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically founded on animal experimentation, behaviorism made withdrawal of parental attention--or 'time-out'--one of the instruments of its Parent management training programs. However, the question of the effectiveness, or even harmfulness, of this measure for children's psycho-affective development is still being debated. The aim of this first article is to take a closer look at the studies that behaviorists claim to justify 'time-out', and to clarify its theoretical and methodological foundations. A second article will examine the possible side-effects of 'time-out' for children, and the evolution of its social acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hindu law tradition grounds its social ethics on an ideological hierarchy of class or caste known as varṇa. The positive inculcation of this hierarchy is bolstered by a fear of social inversion, known as pratiloma, in every area of law and society. Through an examination of the concept of pratiloma, this article contends first that the central Hindu law principle of dharma, religious and legal duty, depends upon knowing and abiding by one's place in society. From this Hindu articulation of social rank as the foundation of ethics, the article then draws a comparison between classical Anglo-American conservatism and Hindu law to suggest that conservative traditions in general base moral action on social station and the fear of breaking social rank. Ethics in Hindu law, therefore, are derived from an acceptance of social station within the varṇa hierarchy and the constant cultivation of local expectations of proper behavior according to social position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy projects can help societies reduce climate change's negative impacts. In the present paper, published studies regarding European community energy schemes (CESs) were analysed to investigate CESs' barriers and drivers towards including community members and, more specifically, vulnerable groups. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines to ensure transparency. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were defined to select the proper articles and books that were aligned with the scope of this review. A total of 143 publications from 2019 to February 2024 were considered and selected. Content analysis was used to outline the various definitions of energy poverty, vulnerable groups, and CESs as well as the different strategies and approaches followed by European countries to tackle energy poverty and increase public engagement in CESs. This research suggests that environmental citizenship is a concept that can bring individuals and society together to promote changes in energy-related behaviours. The outcome reveals factors that enhance community energy acceptance and social cohesion such as providing energy education or education for sustainability to community members, financial support, increased prosocial culture, and the participation of vulnerable groups in CESs. This can be achieved through various interventions to help community members, including vulnerable groups, understand sustainable energy behaviour and thus reduce energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deploying onshore wind energy as a cornerstone of future global energy systems challenges societies and decision-makers worldwide. Expanding wind energy should contribute to a more sustainable electricity generation without harnessing humans and their environment. Opponents often highlight the negative environmental impacts of wind energy to impede its expansion. This study reviews 152 studies to synthesize, summarize, and discuss critically the current knowledge, research gaps, and mitigation strategies on the environmental impacts of onshore wind energy. The investigated effects comprise impacts on the abiotic and biotic environment, with birds and bats in particular, noise and visual impacts. Effects are discussed in the context of social acceptance, other energy technologies, and wind energy expansion in forests. This review illustrates that many effects are highly case-specific and must be more generalizable. Studies are biased regarding the research focus and areas, needing more standardized research methods and long-term measurements. Most studies focus on the direct mortality of birds and bats at wind farms and are concentrated in Europe and North America. Knowledge gaps persist for many impact categories, and the efficacy of mitigation strategies has yet to be proven. More targeted, unbiased research is required that allows for an objective evaluation of the environmental impacts of wind energy and strategies to mitigate them. Impacts, such as those on biodiversity, need to be addressed in the context of other anthropogenic influences and the benefits of wind energy. This forms the basis for a socially acceptable, efficient, and sustainable expansion of wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social impact assessment is a field of applied social research that is now over 50 years old. With its ongoing evolution in practice and thinking, social impact assessment is a valued part of project development and will continue to be so. Over time, there has been a shift in understanding, from social impact assessment being a regulatory tool to now being the process of managing social issues throughout the life of a project. The range of issues considered has become much wider, now also including human rights. More than a tool or approach, social impact assessment is a discourse, a body of scholars and practitioners, a paradigm, and a philosophy about development and the rights of affected communities. The proper consideration of social impacts is now expected by all project stakeholders and is a requirement of international standards and project financing. There is now recognition of the need for projects to gain and maintain social acceptance, or a social license to operate and grow. Key current issues include: human rights; doing good rather than just doing no harm; benefit-sharing arrangements; Indigenous-led social impact assessment and community-based social impact assessment; and gender, LGBTQI+, two-spirit people, and intersectionality. Social impact assessment is increasingly being used to assist communities in negotiating Impact and Benefit Agreements (or Community Development Agreements). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating renewable energy deployment is imperative to address the climate crisis, yet projects commonly face community resistance and local cancellation. Accordingly, interest has risen in social impact assessments (SIAs) to evaluate social viability and strengthen management. However, mainstream approaches overlook upstream political economy dynamics that shape projects and drive opposition. Analyzing renewable developments in Mexico reveals how international negotiations and national policies produce rushed, large-scale projects in marginalized territories, igniting rural social struggles. While SIA practices can be enhanced, upstream policies constrain their scope to reshape misaligned projects and performance to address complex sociocultural contexts. This prompts questioning why vulnerable regions bear concentrated impacts and the need to explore alternative development pathways, despite SIAs implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularisation of the Social Licence to Operate in measuring the acceptance of mining projects has stimulated the development of critical studies that question how the practical use of this management model has favoured the reduction of risks for the business without generating gains for the community. We propose in this article that the integration of Social Impact Assessment in Social Licence to Operate contributes to deepening the understanding of the social acceptance of mineral projects, especially in contexts of vulnerability. The objective of this research is to discuss the social acceptance of mining projects integrating the results of Social Licence to Operate and Social Impact Assessment approaches applied in a mineral project in the Brazilian Amazon. The methodological procedures of this research included document analysis, survey application, and interviews. The results show that Social Impact Assessment, by enabling the understanding of the local context and social impacts, serves as a complementary instrument to Social Licence to Operate measurement models. By giving voice to the local community, the use of Social Impact Assessment shows means that could effectively contribute to local development, based on actions involving the company and local government in order to act in the most sensitive areas that impact the community, such as its economic, social, environmental, and cultural challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany is the largest pig producer in the EU, and many German farmers earn their living in the pig production sector. Current pig husbandry is characterised by intensive production systems, which have been subject to increasing public criticism over the recent years. Criticism often refers to the increased economic efficiency of such production systems and the simultaneous negligence of animal welfare and other sustainability aspects. However, in order to ensure successful and sustainable pig production in the future, broad social acceptance of this sector is indispensable. In this context, the integration of different stakeholder groups into the development of new pig housing and management systems could be a promising approach. The present study provides results of a transdisciplinary, professionally moderated and scientifically supported multi-stakeholder disscourse that was organised as a future workshop to encourage new ideas for pig housing systems and management processes. Our study presents two types of results. On the one hand, it provides suggestions for pig housing and management systems that meet basic standards of animal welfare and farmers' needs as well as societal demands. On the other hand, it summarises the experiences of the discourse process that may inspire future planning and implementation of multi-stakeholder approaches in similar fields. All developed pig housing and management systems have been agreed upon by all stakeholders involved and are characterised by enhanced space and mobility, separated functional areas, outdoor areas, continuous roughage supply, and organic materials for rooting and manipulation, as well as showers for the pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Schriftenreihe Agrarwissenschaftliche Forschungsergebnisse is the property of Verlag Dr. Kovac GmbH 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 level of animal welfare in intensive pig production has been subject to increasing public criticism in recent years. Previous studies revealed a clear citizens' demand for more species-appropriate pig husbandry systems with various enriching housing elements that ensure adequate behaviour and animal welfare. However, despite intense public debates, to the best of our knowledge, no research has been done to examine a more differentiated rating by citizens of enriching housing elements that can potentially be integrated in farming systems and thus increase social acceptance. Against this background, 14 housing elements were selected that are known to potentially enrich the pigs' environment. We used a picture-based survey design to show participants what each element looks like. Participants were recruited through an online panel provider using quota sampling. 414 German citizens were asked to rate the selected enrichment elements. In addition to compare the rating of enrichment elements, we conducted a cluster analysis based on the participants' attitudes towards animal welfare. Participants believed nine out of the 14 housing elements to have a positive influence on animal welfare and to be an important element in a pigsty. Wallows were appreciated the most, closely followed by straw as bedding and enrichment material in a separate rooting area. Showers, tubs, and straw as enrichment material in containers were rated positively as well, although to a lesser extent. In contrast, the slatted outdoor area and all four enriching objects (toys) performed comparatively poorly. Overall, costs associated with the installation/usage of the respective housing elements were rated rather low, and practicability issues were mostly rated as negligible. We identified two citizen segments that showed different ratings of the housing elements and which also differed in gender, meat consumption patterns, interest in agricultural topics, and self-perceived knowledge of animal husbandry. The findings are valuable for farmers to adapt their production systems. Wallows, straw bedding and rooting areas can improve the animal welfare perception from a citizens' point of view, although there seem to be different citizen segments. Simple toys and slatted areas, even outdoors, seem to be less appropriate when communicating improved husbandry systems to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from improving husbandry conditions and animal welfare, there is a clear public demand to increase transparency in agricultural activities. Personal farm tours have shown to be appreciated by citizens but are limited in their impact because of hygiene requirements and accessibility. Virtual farm tours are a promising approach to overcome these limitations but evidence on their perceptions is missing. This study analyzes how a virtual farm tour is perceived by showing participants (n = 17) a 360- degree video of a conventional pig fattening pen on a tablet and via virtual reality (VR) glasses. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to analyze perceptions and level of immersion and to elicit differences between media devices. Participants' perception of the pig fattening pen was rather poor and depended on the recording perspective as well as on the media device. However, housing conditions were perceived more positively compared to the image participants had in mind prior to the study, and thus the stable was considered as a rather positive example. Participants described virtual farm tours as suitable tool to improve transparency and information transfer and to gain insights into husbandry conditions. They appreciated the comfortable and entertaining character of both media devices and named various possibilities for implementation. However, VR glasses were favored regarding the higher realistic and entertaining value, while the tablet was considered beneficial in terms of usability. The presentation of video sequences without additional explanations about the farm or the housing conditions were claimed insufficient to give an adequate understanding of the seen content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extends pain-driven dual envy theory to explain why emerging adults who do not attend college might experience uplifting or hostile reactions to the social media posts of their college-attending peers. Employing a 2 × 2 experiment (N  =   233; M age   =   21.87), we examined how deservingness perceptions (deserving versus undeserving) and social approval cues (high versus low) affect the type of envy emerging adults experience from viewing college success posts on social media. Results indicated that the more participants perceived the college success of their peers to be deserved, the more they experienced benign envy. Conversely, the more participants appraised the college success of their peers to be undeserved, the more they experienced malicious envy. Results also indicated that posts with higher social approval indirectly triggered more pain for participants. Overall, findings help clarify why social media users can experience both positive and negative effects from online social comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess labour productivity in the bioeconomy and the significance of this sector to the labour market in the member states of the European Union. Design/methodology/approach: The surveys were based on data retrieved from the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System developed by the European Commission9s Joint Research Center for the years 2010-2020. The official classification of economic activity in Europe (NACE) was used. The analysis took into account the size and structure of employment, the percentage share of bioeconomy workers in the total workforce, and labour productivity. Findings: The study showed that in 2020 bioeconomy employed 16.5 million people in 27 EU member states, but in comparison to the year 2010, the rate of employment decreased by almost 14%. The agricultural and food sector, which from 2010 to 2020 employed 78.5% of bioeconomy workers, plays a predominant role in the market. Member states differ in the number and structure of bioeconomy workers, but also in labour productivity. Labour productivity leaders in the bioeconomy were Ireland, Belgium and Sweden, while the bio-based electricity sector was the most productive one. Agriculture achieved the lowest efficiency in utilising the labour factor, so countries with a high level of employment in agriculture also featured relatively low labour productivity in the bioeconomy. Practical and social implications: New conditions to which the European economy needs to adapt imply a need for the development and social acceptance of the bioeconomy. This also provides a rationale for further research taking into account new socio-economic conditions, including labour market conditions. Originality/value: The study fills the research gap in the assessment of the bioeconomy from the perspective of the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for safe, predictable, and reliable robot navigation is fundamental for mobile robots to move around in home and office environments. Shortest-path navigation is a popular robot navigation method that uses the most efficient path to get to the desired goal. This behaviour is not always easy to interpret, understand, and avoid in a congested hallway. Instead, more predictable navigation methods, such as a robot following a wall, can help increase social acceptance and help avoid the robot crossing the pedestrian path. If a robot follows along a wall, a key variable to consider is the preferred driving side of the robot (left or right) in areas such as in narrow passages, and its perceived impact on social acceptance. This international user study (n = 143) involved an online video-based test to compare robot evaluation and social acceptance for two types of mobile navigation (Wall-Following and Shortest Path), including the preferred driving side for Wall-Following. A Fetch robot navigated from start to goal position in a series of indoor scenarios with a pedestrian. Select scenarios included a hallway, doorway, and intersection. Independent Sample T-Tests results found that Wall-Following was rated significantly higher than Shortest Path for being perceived as more comfortable and predictable, regardless of robot driving side. The preference for the driver side of the robot did not match the country of residence, nor did it have a significant impact on robot ratings. There were significant interaction effects for comfort, safety and predictable scores across two timepoints. Given the popularity of Shortest Path navigation, the findings indicate that this approach might not be the most appropriate for human settings. Additional investigation into Wall-Following behaviours is recommended for social acceptance, even if the method compromises the efficiency of the robot to acheive its objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring sustainability of agricultural is imperative for Egypt's modest national income, with a focus on improving land production and conserving natural resources. The urgency arises due to population growth and new land reclamation, posing sustainability challenges such as soil characteristics, alkalinity, salinity limitations, socio-economic factors, and environmental hazards. This study evaluates the sustainability of agricultural status of some soils in Qena Governorate, integrating biophysical, economic viability, and social acceptability aspects, and examining their correlation with landform types. The sustainability framework encompasses five factors: productivity, security, protection, economic viability, and social acceptability. The productivity index ranges from 0.29 to 0.43, protection factors exhibit values from 0.49 to 0.90, security factors range between 0.56 and 0.90, economic viability index spans from 0.45 to 0.80, and social acceptability varies from 0.47 to 1.00. The study classifies the investigated area into two classes (S3 and S4) based on the sustainable agricultural framework. The region faces challenges in local infrastructure, health facilities, and education. The results underscore a distinct correlation between sustainability indices and geomorphological units, with the Plain Valley consistently displaying the highest values, followed by the Low River terraces, Moderate River terraces, and High River terraces, while the Overflow basin consistently exhibits the lowest values. The findings emphasize that decision-makers can enhance land sustainability in the study area by focusing on two key factors: social and economic considerations, while also accounting for the impact of landform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the umbrella of sustainable development, the bioeconomy presents one vision for overcoming complex sustainability challenges, such as climate change, by replacing non-renewable resources with renewable biological resources. But how will the efforts to implement this transition be received by the general public? Among Norwegians, the acceptance of a bioeconomic transition appears to be relatively high, and this study identifies critical enabling conditions in Norway that may be necessary to foster social acceptance in other countries as well. We employed a theoretical framework of social acceptance to demonstrate the complexity of this social phenomenon as a basis for an open and qualitative methodological approach. The study finds that trust, extinguished hopes of a pure life and intrepidness are enabling conditions that make people more receptive to new developments and future cultural adaption. As these fear averse conditions are not experienced globally, lower social acceptance of a bioeconomic transition can be expected elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Claiming spaces as homes indexes hierarchies. I focus on the home/away (deplasman) binary in football (soccer) where through the case of Turkey, I show how affective football fandom layers the normative charge of home versus deplasman. Home attachments and away antagonisms are formed and solidified as fans connect emotionally to stadiums and to neighbourhoods. This carries over to the national scale when (footballing) home is conceptualized as homeland. The emotionality and power-laden implications of the home/away binary leads to (the acceptance of) social exclusion but this acceptance is challenged through the very spaces of football. I refer to migrant experiences in Istanbul and to the cases of stereotypically nationalist Trabzonspor and Kurdish Amedspor to offer a novel way to conceptualize exclusion vis-à-vis the emotionality of home/away. This article is based on over a decade of ethnographic research on football in Turkey including men's professional football, women's football, and migrant footballers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) features in global scale assessments of climate mitigation, but with limited exploration of how and where the technology could be deployed. BECCS is unlikely to perform a major role in national strategies whilst key aspects of deployment and public concerns are unaddressed, as happened with fracking. Since public understanding of the technology is limited, there is a crucial role for the news media in facilitating greater public discussion and understanding of BECCS. Here, a news media analysis of both national and regional newspapers explores the ‘storylines’ which frame the public debate on BECCS in the UK, and the coalitions of actors involved in presenting them. Several storylines present a positive framing of BECCS as Necessary and an Opportunity, particularly in regional newspapers of Yorkshire and the Humber where Drax's biomass power station is located. The Anchor for transition storyline describes the regional socio-economic opportunity of Drax's proposed BECCS project. However, this pro-BECCS coalition is undermined by other storylines that frame BECCS as Dangerous and Overhyped. To achieve discursive dominance, facilitating social acceptance and legitimacy for the technology, the positive framing of BECCS will require disarming storylines labelling BECCS as Worse than coal, No silver bullet, an Environmental disaster, and a Distraction. Our results suggest storyline resonance varies according to context, with notable differences between the public discourse at national and regional level; the Anchor for transition storyline resonates in an industrial community facing the socio-economic challenges of decarbonisation.

Expanding debate surrounds the impacts the rapidly increasing volume of cruise ships to the Arctic region are having on local ports and communities. This debate largely centres on the influx of visitors and concern about cultural interaction. This paper evaluates the feasibility of using the concept of Social License to Operate (SLO) in Arctic cruise tourism by identifying how attitudes and perceptions pertain to acceptance and trust. Insights are gathered from both passengers and local stakeholders in Iceland and Faroe Islands. Results reveal cruise companies’ dominance in itinerary planning, with minimal communication among destinations. Economic concerns overshadow collaborative planning, leading to varying levels of acceptance among the diverse stakeholders of cruise tourism. While those benefiting economically support the industry, others express reservations. This dichotomy in opinion regarding acceptance and trust highlights the SLO’s challenges within tourism in general. For SLO to have relevance and legitimacy within cruise tourism, flow and circulation of perspectives is critical.