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The use of YouTube videos as an alternative medium for informal learning has become increasingly prevalent among undergraduate and graduate students. The research, which employed a mixed methodology, sought to conduct a didactic analysis of the relevance of audiovisual content in YouTube videos in relation to the approach taken to the research problem. Descriptive and discourse analysis were used to this end, with the result that the audiovisual content of these videos was found to be of insufficient relevance in terms of structure (use of visual and conceptual elements, graphic organisers and animations), thematic content (prior knowledge, quotes and references, feedback), communication and methodology. This is because the content does not respond technically to the curricular planning of learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Africa Spectrum is the property of Sage Publications Inc. 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.)

Informal enterprises are prevalent in developing countries, and many of these are owned by women. Informally working women are vulnerable and face disadvantages in accessing government support. This study examines the relationship between local economic governance and formalisation of micro and small firms with a focus on gender dynamics. While we find a positive association between the quality of provincial economic governance and businesses' formalisation status, there is no gender differential effect of economic governance. However, gender disparities emerge when we explore the multidimensions of provincial economic governance separately. Notably, there is a higher probability of women-owned firms to be formal when reduced time cost and effective legal institutions are prevalent in local areas. In contrast, the formalisation of men-owned firms is closely tied to other facets of local governance, notably entry costs and labour training. Our findings will assist policymakers in designing better policy frameworks and implementing more effective institutional reforms to advance gender parity and stimulate the formalisation of women-owned businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology has become crucial for businesses of all scales, enhancing operational efficiency, customer experience, and overall performance. While many formal businesses have embraced technology, small and informal businesses, particularly in rural areas, often struggle with adoption due to resource constraints. This study examines the impact of technological capability (TC) on the performance of informal food service operators (IFO) in southwestern Nigeria. This study employed a quantitative approach whereby a closed-ended questionnaire was administered to 180 IFOs across different LGAs in Oyo State to elicit information about the effect of their activities on performance indicators. The response rate was 93.8%. Data was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. Findings revealed that the innovation capability (β—1.657; p—0.003*) and production capability (β—3.276; p—0.009*) of the IFOs significantly influenced their sales turnover and profit level is influenced by innovation capability (β—1.657; p—0.013*), investment capability (β—2.013; p—0.004*) and linkage capability (β—2.716; p—0.003*) within the study area. The study recommends that there should be strong linkages between the operators and technology-providing organisations to enhance their innovation capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid 19 pandemic requires critical re-evaluation of the way Higher Education can help students maximise their learning to adjust and adapt to a new reality. This requires a holistic approach which extends beyond consideration of student learning in formal settings to understanding the role informal learning can play. Whilst research exists on informal independent learning, less focus has been placed on how students collaborate informally as part of their learning process. In this study interviews with HE students in Spain and the UK offer insight into variable but beneficial informal collaborative learning (ICL) practices. The value attributed to ICL emphasises its potential contribution to the current educational landscape and the merit of recognising it as a distinct concept. Further, uneven access and the role of learner maturity signal the potential for universities to enhance learning and increase access by playing an active a role in developing ICL skills and personal networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a phenomenon that has acquired different meanings due to changing conditions. Contemporary approaches to poverty exhibit a perspective beyond merely meeting physical needs. In this context, the inclusiveness of human poverty, developed within the framework of Amartya Sen's "Capability Approach", can be emphasized. The research focuses on waste collectors working in one of the most challenging areas of the informal labor market and their experiences of poverty. The emphasis on "capabilities" in the areas of education, health, and economy is central to understanding these experiences of human poverty. The aim of the research is to interpret the poverty experiences of individuals engaged in waste collection within a sociological context. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 waste collectors in Antalya. The study discusses how these individuals experience poverty under themes such as demographic characteristics, socio-economic features, and working conditions. In the study, it was revealed that individuals engaged in waste collection face outcomes such as malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare services, the emergence of new health problems due to their work, exposure to or involvement in violence and crime, exposure to traffic and occupational accidents, inability to allocate time for any social activities due to long working hours and low income, and being in a position of inadequate consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Care partners of persons living with dementia perform significant financial planning in partnership with the person for whom they care. However, research is scarce on care partners' confidence and experiences with financial planning. The purpose of this study was, first, to quantify care partners' confidence across different financial planning topics. We sought to understand whether income, education, relationship type, and years of experience are related to care partners' level of confidence in financial planning. Second, we sought to better understand the reasons for these confidence ratings by examining care partners' experiences of financial planning. Methods: We conducted an online survey that asked a combination of quantitative and qualitative questions to understand care partners' confidence and experiences with financial planning. Participants were nationally recruited care partners of persons living with dementia. Multivariate linear regression was used to understand different subgroups' levels of confidence in each financial planning topic. Inductive thematic analysis was used to understand qualitative data. Results: The financial planning topics in which participants (N = 318) felt the least confident were: options when there is not enough money to provide care; tax deductions available to cut care costs; and sources of money from government programs for which the care recipient is eligible. Differences in confidence were observed among care partners with lower incomes, less experience, and caring for a parent. Qualitatively, participants described the challenges of care budgeting and protecting personal finances; confusion about long-term care insurance and accessing resources; and, among confident care partners, reasons for this sense of preparedness. Conclusions: These results underscore the need for tailored interventions and technologies that increase care partners' confidence in specific aspects of financial planning, including long-term care insurance, available financial support, and what to do when money runs out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Latin American Journal of Economic Developement (LAJED) is the property of Universidad Catolica Boliviana San Pablo 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.)

Background: Given the rate at which the labour force in Zimbabwe's informal sector continues to evolve, steps need to be taken to promote a culture where employees contribute towards their social insurance. Social insurance is significant since it helps informal sector workers to prepare for life's predictable and unpredictable events, such as retirement, unemployment, old age, incapacity, death and health challenges. Objective: Motivated by the increasing number of workers in the informal sector in Zimbabwe, this study aimed to explore the attitudes and perceptions of this group of people towards social insurance coverage and investigate strategies for extending social insurance to informal sector workers. Method: To achieve the objectives, convenience sampling was employed, and 115 questionnaires from informal sector workers of Jerera Growth Point were analyzed. Data collection involved the use of a questionnaire. A convergent parallel research design was adopted, with quantitative and qualitative data being analyzed to gain insight into the perception of informal sector workers. Results: The study's findings demonstrate that workers in the informal economy have a negative attitude towards social insurance coverage. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the age of informal sector workers affects their intention to contribute towards social insurance coverage. The results also demonstrate that employees in the informal sector need more basic knowledge about social insurance and how to apply for social insurance coverage. Conclusion: The study concluded that workers in the informal economy lack faith and confidence in those who provide social insurance services, explaining why they perceive social insurance coverage negatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology has become crucial for businesses of all scales, enhancing operational efficiency, customer experience, and overall performance. While many formal businesses have embraced technology, small and informal businesses, particularly in rural areas, often struggle with adoption due to resource constraints. This study examines the impact of technological capability (TC) on the performance of informal food service operators (IFO) in southwestern Nigeria. This study employed a quantitative approach whereby a closed-ended questionnaire was administered to 180 IFOs across different LGAs in Oyo State to elicit information about the effect of their activities on performance indicators. The response rate was 93.8%. Data was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. Findings revealed that the innovation capability (β—1.657; p—0.003*) and production capability (β—3.276; p—0.009*) of the IFOs significantly influenced their sales turnover and profit level is influenced by innovation capability (β—1.657; p—0.013*), investment capability (β—2.013; p—0.004*) and linkage capability (β—2.716; p—0.003*) within the study area. The study recommends that there should be strong linkages between the operators and technology-providing organisations to enhance their innovation capability.

Informal enterprises are prevalent in developing countries, and many of these are owned by women. Informally working women are vulnerable and face disadvantages in accessing government support. This study examines the relationship between local economic governance and formalisation of micro and small firms with a focus on gender dynamics. While we find a positive association between the quality of provincial economic governance and businesses’ formalisation status, there is no gender differential effect of economic governance. However, gender disparities emerge when we explore the multidimensions of provincial economic governance separately. Notably, there is a higher probability of women-owned firms to be formal when reduced time cost and effective legal institutions are prevalent in local areas. In contrast, the formalisation of men-owned firms is closely tied to other facets of local governance, notably entry costs and labour training. Our findings will assist policymakers in designing better policy frameworks and implementing more effective institutional reforms to advance gender parity and stimulate the formalisation of women-owned businesses.

Copyright of Gümüshane Üniversitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Gumushane University, Faculty of Health Sciences 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.)

While there is a growing interest in citizen-led initiatives, there is still no consensus on how to situate them, especially in relation to state institutions. On the one hand, citizen-led initiatives are seen as being co-opted by formal institutions in a context of austerity. On the other hand, these initiatives are often presented as "spaces of resistance" to neoliberalism, or as political acts of reclaiming the city. Mapping and tracing urban gardening and dumpster diving from their grassroots emergence to their inclusion in the institutional world through a two-level analysis, we show that individuals and loosely organized collectives involved in such initiatives are embedded in complex relationships with local institutions and third sector organizations that do, in turn, structure their practice and its consequences. The two-level analysis we propose follows this process: it is through interactions and relationships with other "practitioners" and with their social and institutional environment that these urban social practices gradually institutionalize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the intricate relationship between economic growth and unemployment across multiple African countries, with a focus on estimating the Okun's coefficient. Data from the International Labour Office (ILO) and the World Bank's databases for 39 African nations were utilised. Two distinct methodological approaches, first differences and the Hodrick-Prescott (HP) filter, were employed to assess result robustness. Findings reveal that in most African countries, the link between GDP growth and unemployment is weak or non-existent, unlike advanced economies. This divergence underscores unique economic structures and labour dynamics in African nations, necessitating tailored approaches to address unemployment. The study also investigates factors contributing to Okun's coefficient variability in Africa, emphasising structural, demographic, and economic influences. Demographic trends, domestic market competition, and the rule of law are identified as key determinants. Consequently, policymakers are urged to prioritise measures targeting these factors to enhance job creation and economic stability. Additionally, the study highlights the role of growth volatility, particularly in Morocco, emphasising the need for policies to stabilise economic growth and mitigate unemployment fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for frail elderly (WEU) at home can be challenging and affects the needs of informal caregivers. In Malaysia, not many studies were focused on caregivers. Therefore, this study aims to explore the unmet needs (KTD) among frail elderly caregivers at home. The design of this study is qualitative with a phenomenological approach. This study was carried out in the district of Hulu Langat, Selangor using a sampling technique with inclusion criteria. A total of six frail elderly caregivers were successfully interviewed and identified through the UKM’s Pensioners Association, UKM’s Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) and the Local Residents' Associations. The data was analyzed thematically using manual analysis. The results of the study showed that five themes of KTD were experienced by caregivers in terms of emotional wellbeing, health problems, social needs, rest and sleep as well as work impact. All caregivers had at least one KTD and emotional well-being was the most frequently reported. There are caregivers who are so stressed and leave a negative impact on the WEU’s body. A few caregivers suffer from health problems including depression, anxiety, underweight, back pain and hand pain. Their social needs are also very limited and most caregivers are not involved in community activities. Caregivers also do not enjoy adequate rest and sleep. There are caregivers who quit their jobs to focus on caregiving. In conclusion, KTD among caregivers has a great impact on them selves and their WEUs. In fact, this problem has a high risk of contributing to more serious cases of abuse. Therefore, support for these caregivers needs to be paid attention to by all parties so that the KTD among caregivers can be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of rapid increase in urban population has triggered spatial densification. By taking a densely populated area in the Jatinegara station transit area, this research tries to explore the typology of density patterns in residential areas and public buildings. The use of space and the spatial pattern of cohabitation between the informal sector and urban space are investigated in this study. Participatory design, space syntax simulation, and space use pattern observation are the methods employed in this study to address the case. The findings indicate that inserting, pasting, and stretching are the three types of compactions. Settlements, public buildings, and pedestrian spaces all experience hybrid forms of compaction. The results demonstrate that the cohabitation of hybrid spaces is negotiated, and spatial, and results in synergistic governance. The three categories of hybrid coexisting spaces are defined as informal places that coexist with formal spaces through hybridization. From the results of spatial observation and perception mapping in the process of densification, the research produced recommendations in a guided participatory workshop. This research is expected to contribute to the concept of overcoming architectural design problems of density in framing public space.

This critical ethnographic study was conducted among 15 immigrants originally from Caucasian and Central Asian countries, each with more than 10 years of undocumented residence in Moscow. It focuses on the everyday experiences of undocumented immigrants in a non-Western context, illustrating how informal networks, alongside official migration policies, contribute to and exploit unequal capabilities. The study emphasises the thresholds of emotions, affiliation and control over a person’s environment, demonstrating power asymmetries between individuals. Given the participants’ prolonged undocumented stay in Moscow, the findings demonstrate how the socio-legal context of an undocumented status facilitates informal exploitation alongside institutional operating models, aligning with migration policies in practice.

This research investigates how formal versus informal supervisor support behaviours shape employees' affect‐ and cognition‐based trust across cultures of varying power distance. Using data from in‐depth interviews, Study 1 found that trust‐enhancing supervisor behaviours were more formal, status conscious and imposing in India (a high power distance culture) than in the Netherlands (a low power distance culture); unlike in India, supervisors acted more like friends or equals with their subordinates in the Netherlands. Using vignettes, Study 2 found that, compared to informal support behaviours, formal support behaviours increased both affect‐ and cognition‐based trust among Indian participants, but among US participants, formal support behaviours only increased cognition‐based trust. Study 3 conceptually replicated those findings by manipulating power distance in an organization. Together, the findings from these three studies suggest that supervisors' formal socio‐emotional support behaviours are particularly effective in increasing affect‐based trust in societal and organizational cultures that are high power distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the most prevalent category of disability served in the U.S. school system is specific learning disabilities (SLD), practitioners are often unfamiliar with the indicators associated with a specific LD such as dysgraphia and dyslexia. Misconceptions or an absence of understanding of the behavioral indicators related to dysgraphia and dyslexia puts children at risk for poor academic or social success due to a lack of intervention or late or missed diagnosis. Practitioners can utilize the Dysgraphia and Dyslexia Behavioral Indicator Checklist to identify these indicators in students' writing samples, design appropriate instructional intervention(s), and refer them for proper assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

ImportanceSocial media platforms have allowed the formation of informal professional healthcare networks. Transparency in funding, membership requirements, financial conflicts of interest (FCOI), and messaging are necessary to ensure best practices for similar networks in the future.ObjectiveTo analyze the FCOIs of US-based physician members of the OncoAlert Network and appraise the content of their public Twitter account.Design, setting, participantsThis cross-sectional study assessed the FCOIs among US-based physician members of the OncoAlert Network between 2015 and 2020. FCOI data were obtained through the Open Payments Database. Additionally, tweets were examined for content analysis.Main outcomes and measuresThe number of US-based physician members with FCOIs with the pharmaceutical industry; the amount of general, research, and associated research payments; and the perceived attitude of tweet content from the OncoAlert Network Twitter account.ResultsOf 34 US physician members of the OncoAlert Network, 31 (91.2%) received general payments from pharmaceutical companies according to the Open Payments Database. Between 2015 and 2020, US physician members of the OncoAlert Network received a median of $83,600 in general payments (interquartile range [IRQ], $7,200-$221,500). Fourteen members (41.1%) received more than $100,000 in general payments. Additionally, 480 (15.7 %) of 3064 tweets retrieved from the OncoAlert Twitter account mentioned a drug or clinical trial. Of these, 31.6 % (n = 152) had a positive disposition and 3.3 % (n = 16) were negative or critical.Conclusions and relevanceOver 90% of US physician members of the OncoAlert Network had FCOIs between 2015 and 2020. Despite the network's non-profit status, FCOIs amongst its members may influence content produced on the network's social media platforms, such as Twitter, where content discussing drugs and clinical trials are often positive and seldom negative or critical. For future informal professional networks, further research is required to establish best practices for issues such as membership requirements, funding, and FCOI disclosure.

Laili Rahayuwati,1 Syahmida S Arsyad,2,* Rindang Ekawati,2,* Muhammad Dawam,2,* Rahmadewi Rahmadewi,2,* Septi Nurhayati,2,* Ikhsan Fahmi,3,* Sherllina Rizqi Fauziah4 1Department of Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 2Research Centre for Population, National Research and Innovation Agency, South Jakarta, Indonesia; 3Directorate of Population and Labour Statistics, BPS Statistics Indonesia, Central Jakarta, Indonesia; 4Nursing Science Study Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Laili Rahayuwati, Department of Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang, KM. 21., Jatinangor, Kabupaten Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia, Tel +62 812 213 8385, Fax +62 22 779 5596, Email laili.rahayuwati@unpad.ac.idAim: As individuals age, they are expected to experience a natural progression that usually involves a slight and permanent decrease in bodily functions and physical abilities. Despite this, many older people remain active in the workforce.Purpose: This study seeks to explore the correlation between the health conditions, disabilities, social factors, and demographic circumstances of elderly individuals engaged in both formal and informal employment sectors.Methods: This study utilizes an observational analytical method with a cross-sectional structure. The participants in the research involved all individuals aged 60 years and above who met the outlined criteria, totaling 15,034,946 respondents. The data analysis was conducted using multivariate logistic regression in Model II.Results: Overall, most older adults are working in informal jobs. Moreover, most respondents are 60– 69 years old, married, have a primary school certificate, own health insurance and a house, and live with family. In addition, the multivariate analysis shows the relationship between each variable and the informal sector working elderly. It is known that older women have a 1.45 times higher limited educational background, not having savings is 1.21 times, rural areas living 1.93 times, not being the head of the family is linked 1.34 times, poor health conditions are 1.01 times, and having a disability has a 1.20 times higher likelihood of informal-sector employment.Conclusion: Several variables are assigned as the determinants that increase the number of elderly working in informal sectors, including gender, education level, savings ownership, living areas, head of the family role, health status, and disability.Keywords: determinants, elderly, informal, sector, work

Portuguese Traditional Music is often overlooked in formal teaching at music schools in Portugal. Furthermore, there has been little research into its use in the classroom and the informal learning practices associated with it. Thus, an Educational Project was developed and implemented in 2021/2022, at the Regional Conservatory of Ponta Delgada (CRPD), involving 7 violin students aged between 9 and 14 years and focused on learning songs from the Traditional Music of the Azores. These songs were prepared in class using informal learning practices -- auditory learning and analysis, the use of recordings, memorisation without the use of sheet music, improvisation, etc. -- and presented at a concert. Additionally, a research study was conducted to analyse the effects of such intervention on the motivation, learning and attitudes of the students, as well as the perceptions developed by the students, their parents, the teachers, and the general public involved in this experience. The study also aimed to assess the feasibility of combining formal and informal learning practices in violin teaching at the CRPD and to evaluate its implications for the preservation of regional cultural identity. To this end, qualitative data were collected, through direct observation of classes with field notes, audiovisual recordings, semi-structured interviews with the students, anonymous questionnaires to the parents and the audience present at the concert, and 27 violin teachers. This data was subjected to content analysis, namely by organising it into categories and sub-categories. The results show that the inclusion of Azorean Traditional Music, using informal learning practices, had a positive effect on the students' motivation, enhancing the development of technical, musical, cognitive, and social skills. In addition, the Azorean Traditional Music concert proved to be an effective means of disseminating and valuing the region's cultural heritage, boosting the students' identity development, and preserving the region's cultural identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The private rental accommodation is a significant contributor to urban housing supply and is densely populated. Despite its prevalence, it has not received much attention in academic discussions. The rental housing market is like a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative aspects. Researchers have identified it as a problematic housing type that requires further investigation and intervention. A mixed research approach was employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 384 samples to understand the rental housing market better. The study found that the regulatory and interactional aspects of the private rental housing market have contributed to its problematic features. Although the market positively impacts housing shortages, private rental a source of unsuitable accommodation. To address these issues, the authors recommend regulatory and interactional dimensions of the private rental housing market be addressed through formal intervention and legislation.

Findings from research studies conducted on the informal participation of language learners on participatory websites have motivated language educators and practitioners to consider how opportunities for (inter)action on these sites could be used within the formal framework of language teaching and learning. This article presents a way to transpose these practices into the language classroom using "real-world tasks", i.e. tasks to be carried out on open participative websites within the social interactions that are specific to these websites. It also explores the perceptions of (prospective) language teachers enrolled in a Master’s degree in French as a foreign language (FLE) who were asked to carry out two real-world tasks. The results of a thematic content analysis of the students’ feedback show that they identified more benefits than obstacles. Many of the advantages that research has highlighted in studies on informal participation are also reflected in the students’ perceptions (awareness of the socio-interactional dimension, feeling of usefulness, motivation, etc.). Students also mention a number of challenges, which, in their opinion, are not insurmountable, and emphasize the need for teachers to seek solutions to these and to provide support to learners so that they can tame the digital wilds, which can be quite intimidating.

The Special Region of Yogyakarta has a significant population engaged in the informal sector. This study aims to explore the relationship between educational level and participation in the informal sector. The data used in this study is from the August 2022 Sakernas (National Labor Force Survey) data. Descriptive analysis was employed to address the research objectives. The research findings reveal that over half of the population is employed in the informal sector. Workers with higher levels of education tend to transition to the formal sector, while less educated individuals dominate the informal sector. Education not only influences sectoral choices but also has an impact on conditions within the informal sector. Workers with higher education experience better conditions, regardless of the field of business, working hours, or income level. They engage in businesses that require capital, demonstrating organization, efficiency, and higher earnings. Some educated informal workers take part-time jobs while waiting for other opportunities.

This study focuses on how technical barriers to trade (TBT) are addressed in recent EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). We analyze the pre- and post-EPA trade policies and the contested issues in Japan from the viewpoint of European businesses. An eclectic theoretical approach is adopted to study the economic, political and social aspects of trade barriers. Whereas formal trade barriers, such as tariffs and codified non-tariff barriers are easily discernible, the subtler informal trade barriers derive from social norms that guide administrative practices and are hard to measure, and largely neglected in recent research. Based on expert interviews, policy documents, and European business surveys, we observe that the enforcement of EPA in Japan lags behind concerning certain TBTs such as standards, approvals and testing. The findings suggest that informal trade barriers, often linked with investment barriers, have a bearing in the theorization on trade policies and free trade agreements.

This paper focuses on the recent diachronic evolution of two warm-address forms, buey and cabrón, which originally designated animals 'ox' and 'mail goat' and rapidly extended as offensive forms of stupidity and evilness. An array of changes involving semantic bleaching led these forms develop pragmatic values as vocative address forms and, further, as discourse markers. The current use of these forms is proposed to be interpreted as symbols of crucial social changes in Mexican society that emerged around the 1960s. The social meaning of the emergence of these forms is explored. Moreover, based on the comparison of three oral corpora representing different degrees of formality, the analysis shows how lexical forms gradually lost semantic properties to adopt new pragmatic values. Phonemic erosion [buey] > [guéi] > [wei] > [we] // [kabrón] > [kabrón] > [kaón] is seen as a reflex of crucial semantic bleaching steps leading to address forms of familiarity and to discourse marking functions in a recurrent pragmaticalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Electronic devices consumption, especially smartphones for communication, has increased significantly, causing the potential for electronic waste (e-waste) to increase, too. However, the high potential of this flow has yet to be matched by good waste management. This study aims to develop a management network for e-waste that collaborates formal and informal channels to provide optimal supply chain benefits in terms of economic and environmental aspects Design/methodology/approach: This research designs an e-waste management network and builds a single-objective mathematical model considering economic and environmental aspects. This model was solved using Mixed Integer Linear Programming. Findings: The supply chain will benefit from the proposed management network by collaborating formal and informal channels. With an incentive of 10,000 IDR, it will invite consumers and informal collectors to collect waste in formal channels. The total profit from managing e-waste supply every month from Yogyakarta Province is 5.529 x 1010 IDR with the composition, consumers 81.2%, 13.3% obtained from informal channel (collectors and repairing centers) and 2.1% for formal channels. There is an intangible profit of 3.4%. The formal channel provides more significant benefits than the informal but one requires a significant investment. This formal channel is feasible if at least 33% of the total supply goes to this channel. Research limitations/implications: The model designed is deterministic. Therefore, it can be developed into a probabilistic model for further research to represent more real cases in the field. Practical implications: Regulation is the factor that most influences consumers' intentions and behavior to participate in e-waste management programs. It will be able to change consumer behavior by forcing consumers to participate in e-waste collection programs. Therefore, a government regulation that organizes and supervises the implementation of the proposed management model is needed. Social implications: Currently, the practice developing in the community is that the informal sector carries out smartphone waste management, therefore in the designs made, informal actors are still given space in waste management for the repair process and the secondhand market. Meanwhile, further processing, such as recycling, must be done through formal channels, considering the environmental impact. Originality/value: Few studies have developed an electronic waste management model by collaborating informal and formal channels that consider economic and environmental aspects, and its implementation is organized and supervised by government regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about help seeking behaviors of male victims of intimate partner violence. This systematic review intends to summarize the help seeking experiences of male victims in terms of the usefulness of the existing services following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews recommendations. Twelve studies from five countries and with 3245 participants were selected. The results indicated that male victims mostly seek informal help (e.g., family and friends), and are satisfied with this source of support. Regarding formal services (e.g., police), male victims evaluate these services as not useful. As a result, men seem to become further (re)victimized by the system and penalized for trying to seek formal help. In order to provide better services to male victims, it urges a focus on the training of frontline professionals, in primary and secondary prevention, and in awareness campaigns. The suggestions for future research are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of e-waste recycling activities on the prevalence of metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in soil was assessed for four e-waste sites in Ghana. Samples of top- and subsoil were collected from dismantling and burning sections, and the prevalence and the distribution of selected metals were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of the metals analyzed were above the background concentrations except for Cd, which was detected at a comparable level to the background levels. Levels of Cu and Pb increased with increasing soil depth. Cd, Zn, As, and Ni levels decreased with increasing soil depth. However, Hg levels showed no recognizable trend in its distribution relative to soil depth. The pollution indices evaluated revealed deterioration of the soil quality at the e-waste sites. Pollution indices are used to categorize soil pollution levels based on cut-off values. Geo-accumulation indices suggested that the soil was very highly polluted with Pb, highly polluted with Cu, and moderately polluted with As, Hg, Cd, and Zn. The enrichment factor values indicated that soil from the studied sites was very highly enriched with Pb (i.e., EF of 9.60 to 63.14; median being 28.51) and significantly enriched with Cu and Hg (i.e., EF of 3.09 to 21.86; median 7.72 for Cu and EF of 1.48 to 25.5; median 10.57 for Hg). The contamination factor analysis revealed very high contamination of soils with Pb. The metals Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Cd, and Hg exhibited moderate to considerable contamination. This study is part of the continuous effort to assist policymakers with scientific information needed to influence policy decisions on environmental management in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a report from the field, where an immigrant mother journaled about her Yemeni American daughters (ages 7 and 13, born and raised in the U.S.) visiting museums for the first time. Her diary documented how mother–child and sibling interactions in museum education contributed to building cognitive and affective skills required for academic success in formal schooling. Her diary entries included: (1) anecdotal observations, (2) interviews of her daughters and her immigrant father, and (3) reflective and photographic journaling. Her daughters’ journaling and photo documentations further supported their mother’s entries. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory is the conceptual framework for this project. The mother promoted her daughters’ immigrant identity via visits to museums and activities related to the museum and the family’s immigrant identity offered before, during, and after the museum visits. The project culminated with her daughters creating their unique family museum and dramatizing as docents. We recommend (1) museum-related interactive literacy activities, and (2) creating and dramatizing a family museum.We buttress these recommendations with research, Vygotsky’s theory, and our evidence-based practice. We conclude that the daughters demonstrated the cognitive and affective skills required for academic success in formal schooling while simultaneously developing their immigrant identity. We suggest replicating this project to promote immigrant identity among other cultural groups. We lastly present an educational case study of the grandfather’s immigrant experiences in the appendix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Special Region of Yogyakarta has a significant population engaged in the informal sector. This study aims to explore the relationship between educational level and participation in the informal sector. The data used in this study is from the August 2022 Sakernas (National Labor Force Survey) data. Descriptive analysis was employed to address the research objectives. The research findings reveal that over half of the population is employed in the informal sector. Workers with higher levels of education tend to transition to the formal sector, while less educated individuals dominate the informal sector. Education not only influences sectoral choices but also has an impact on conditions within the informal sector. Workers with higher education experience better conditions, regardless of the field of business, working hours, or income level. They engage in businesses that require capital, demonstrating organization, efficiency, and higher earnings. Some educated informal workers take part-time jobs while waiting for other opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying ordinary housing types in Quito for a design studio activity led me to question the limitations of local theoretical accounts of incorporating non-canonical works in the literature. This essay develops this idea and analyzes how housing designs by Sixto Durán Ballén and Diego Ponce Bueno are portrayed in important architectural publications by employing diverse uses of the notion of type, allowing the way coloniality is reproduced in domestic spaces to be obliterated. The essay concludes by positing a speculative decolonial type, focused on communal spaces as the basis for experimentation rather than type as a pre-existing image or prejudiced model.

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that may cause neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal and dermatological illnesses. Previously described neurological manifestations of mercury toxicity are symmetrical, and include a pancerebellar syndrome, generalised seizures and encephalopathy. Mercury is used in the gold mining process, and in artisanal or illicit gold mining, often without necessary protection. Here we describe the cases of two artisanal gold miners from western Johannesburg, South Africa, who presented with atypical neurological manifestations of mercury toxicity. Patient 1 presented with focal seizures, an asymmetrical cerebellar syndrome and an acute encephalopathy. Patient 2 had unilateral cerebellar ataxia. Both patients had toxic mercury levels, with no other cause identified for their symptoms. Patient 1 responded well to chelation therapy, but patient 2 refused admission and further medical treatment. The neurological manifestations of mercury toxicity are typically symmetrical, whereas our two patients presented with markedly asymmetrical features. It is important to maintain a high index of suspicion for mercury poisoning, even in patients with atypical and unilateral or asymmetrical presentations. A prompt diagnosis and the commencement of early chelation therapy have the potential to produce good outcomes.

In recent decades, informal project-based learning (PjBL) for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has gained immense significance. Though some meta-analytical studies have reported the effectiveness of PjBL models, none of them has been explicit for informal PjBL models executed for school students in STEM education. Therefore, this meta-analytical study sought to investigate the effect of the informal PjBL model on students' learning gains when compared to the traditional classroom setting. The study also intends to explore the effect of potential moderator variables that might impact the effectiveness of the model. For this, a systematic review aligning to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology has been employed, by incorporating 26 peer-reviewed empirical studies, encompassing data from 3202 students from eight countries. The meta-analytical results revealed overall moderate effectiveness (d = 0.248, p < 0.001), indicating that informal PjBL has moderately significant effects on students' gains when compared to the traditional classroom setting. Correspondingly the moderator analysis revealed that the overall effectiveness of informal PjBL was influenced by the teaching model, assessment method, students' group size, and course duration. However, the participants' educational level and study location (country) did not emerge as being significant. This study contributes to the bulk of literature that can help academicians to design, develop and implement effective STEM-based informal PjBL models, with special consideration for influential variables (teaching method, assessment method, grade, location, course duration, group size, and subject area). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles have emerged as the template for e-waste policies, centered on establishing regulated collection and recycling channels. Originating in the global North, these policies are increasingly adopted in the global South where e-waste is primarily 'managed' by the informal sector, centered in spatially defined hubs. These formal systems fail to achieve collection quotas, while further marginalizing informal recyclers by delegitimizing their access to e-waste. We suggest an alternative hub-centered approach to e-waste reform based on eight years of research and advocacy within the Israel-West Bank e-waste system. We offer several converging rationales for centralizing hubs in e-waste policies and a case study demonstrating an integrated hub-driven package of business, enforcement, and cleanup measures. While the unique complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian case offer an exceptional window into the dynamics of a hub-driven approach, similar packages might shape e-waste policy reform throughout the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the vexed issues of the challenges of domestic resource mobilization, especially in West Africa where tax expenditures have consistently eroded the revenue base of these countries making them susceptible to borrowing. The authors discuss the role of customs in securing trade revenues and preventing loss of domestic revenue, as well as examining the challenges ofrevenue mobilisation from the natural resources sector. The challenges of taxing the informal sector, which forms a significant part of taxpayers in West Africa are also discussed. The findings of the paper include the need for extensive taxpayer education to enhance voluntary tax compliance if domestic resource mobilisation is to be improved to enable governments of West African states build the needed state-citizen relationship by the state providing for the welfare of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]