Abstract: Global climate change has become the preeminent
threat to human security in the 21st century. From mitigation perspective, this study aims to evaluate the performance of biogas
renewable project under clean development mechanism activities
(namely Korat-Waste-to-Energy) in Thailand and to assess local perceptions towards the significance of climate change mitigation and
sustainability of such project in their community. Questionnaire was
developed based on the national sustainable development criteria and
was distributed among systematically selected households within
project boundaries (n=260). Majority of the respondents strongly agreed with the reduction of odor problems (81%) and air pollution
(76%). However, they were unsure about greenhouse gas reduction from such project and ignorant about the key issues of climate change. A lesson learned suggested that there is a need to further
investigate the possible socio-psychological barriers may significantly shape public perception and understandings of climate
change in the local context.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to study in depth some
methodological aspects of social interventation, focusing on desirable
passage from social maternage method to peer advocacy method. For
this purpose, we intend analyze social and organizative components,
that affect operator-s professional action and that are part of his
psychological environment, besides the physical and social one. In
fact, operator-s interventation should not be limited to a pure supply
of techniques, nor to take shape as improvised action, but “full of
good purposes".
Abstract: The study investigates the relationship between
education level, workplace learning behaviors, psychological
empowerment and burnout in a sample of 191 teachers. We
hypothesized that education level will positively affect psychological
state of increased empowerment and decreased burnout, and we
purposed that these effects will be mediated by workplace learning
behaviors. We used multiple regression analyses to test the model
that included also the 6 following control variables: The teachers'
age, gender, and teaching tenure; the schools' religious level, the
pupils' needs: regular/ special needs, and the class level: elementary/
high school. The results support the purposed mediating model.
Abstract: As the Social network game(SNG) is rising
dramatically worldwide, an interesting aspect has appeared in the
demographic analysis. That is the ratio of the game users by gender.
Although the ratio of male and female users in online game was
60:40% previously, the ratio of male and female users in SNG stood at
47:53% which shows that the ratio of female users is higher than that
of male users. Here, it should be noted that 35% in those 53% female
users are the first-time users of game. This fact suggests that women
who were not interested in game previously has taken an interest in
SNG. Notwithstanding this issue, there have been little studies on the
female users of SNG although there are many studies that analyzed the
tendency of female users- online game play. This study conducted the
analyzed how the game-playing tendency of SNG gamers was
manifested in the game by gender. For that, this study will identify the
tendency of SNG users by gender based on the preceding studies that
analyzed the online game users by gender. The subject of this study
was confined to the farm and urban construction simulation games
which were offered based on the mobile application platform.
Regarding the methodology of study, the first focus group
interview(FGI) was conducted with the male and female users who
had played games on Social network service(SNS) until recently. Later,
the second one-on-one in-depth interview was conducted to gain an
insight into the psychological state of the subjects.
Abstract: The main purpose of the research is to address the role of psychological harassment behaviors (mobbing) to which employees are exposed and personality characteristics over work alienation. Research population was composed of the employees of Provincial Special Administration. A survey with four sections was created to measure variables and reach out the basic goals of the research. Correlation and step-wise regression analyses were performed to investigate the separate and overall effects of sub-dimensions of psychological harassment behaviors and personality characteristic on work alienation of employees. Correlation analysis revealed significant but weak relationships between work alienation and psychological harassment and personality characteristics. Step-wise regression analysis revealed also significant relationships between work alienation variable and assault to personality, direct negative behaviors (sub dimensions of mobbing) and openness (sub-dimension of personality characteristics). Each variable was introduced into the model step by step to investigate the effects of significant variables in explaining the variations in work alienation. While the explanation ratio of the first model was 13%, the last model including three variables had an explanation ratio of 24%.
Abstract: Although considerable amount of research has attested to the link between work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) and psychological strain and wellbeing, there is a paucity of research investigating the phenomenon in the context of social workers. Moreover, very little is known about the impact of WFC and FWC in developing countries. The present study investigated the mediating effect of psychological strain on the relationship between WFC and FWC with wellbeing of social workers in India. Our findings show that WFC and FWC are influential antecedents of wellbeing; their influence is both direct on psychological strain, and indirect on wellbeing transmitted through psychological strain. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Abstract: Well-being has been given special emphasis in quality
of life. It involves living a meaningful, life satisfaction, stability and
happiness in life. Well-being also concerns the satisfaction of
physical, psychological, social needs and demands of an individual.
The purpose of this study was to validate three-factor measurement
model of well-being using structural equation modeling (SEM). The
conceptions of well-being measured such dimensions as physical,
psychological and social well-being. This study was done based on a
total sample of 650 adolescents from east-coast of peninsular
Malaysia. The Well-Being Scales which was adapted from [1] was
used in this study. The items were hypothesized a priori to have nonzero
loadings on all dimensions in the model. The findings of the
SEM demonstrated that it is a good fitting model which the proposed
model fits the driving theory; (x2df = 1.268; GFI = .994; CFI = .998;
TLI= .996; p = .255; RMSEA = .021). Composite reliability (CR)
was .93 and average variance extracted (AVE) was 58%. The model
in this study fits with the sample of data and well-being is important
to bring sustainable development to the mainstream.
Abstract: The psychological and physical trauma associated with the loss of a human limb can severely impact on the quality of life of an amputee rendering even the most basic of tasks very difficult. A prosthetic device can be of great benefit to the amputee in the performance of everyday human tasks. This paper outlines a proposed mechanical design of a 12 degree-of-freedom SMA actuated artificial hand. It is proposed that the SMA wires be embedded intrinsically within the hand structure which will allow for significant flexibility for use either as a prosthetic hand solution, or as part of a complete lower arm prosthetic solution. A modular approach is taken in the design facilitating ease of manufacture and assembly, and more importantly, also allows the end user to easily replace SMA wires in the event of failure. A biomimetric approach has been taken during the design process meaning that the artificial hand should replicate that of a human hand as far as is possible with due regard to functional requirements. The proposed design has been exposed to appropriate loading through the use of finite element analysis (FEA) to ensure that it is structurally sound. Theoretical analysis of the mechanical framework was also carried out to establish the limits of the angular displacement and velocity of the finger tip as well finger tip force generation. A combination of various polymers and Titanium, which are suitably lightweight, are proposed for the manufacture of the design.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to study in depth some methodological aspects of social interventation, focusing on desirable passage from social maternage method to peer advocacy method. For this purpose, we intend analyze social and organizative components, that affect operator's professional action and that are part of his psychological environment, besides the physical and social one. In fact, operator's interventation should not be limited to a pure supply of techniques, nor to take shape as improvised action, but “full of good purposes".
Abstract: This paper presents anapproach of hybridizing two or more artificial intelligence (AI) techniques which arebeing used to
fuzzify the workstress level ranking and categorize the rating accordingly. The use of two or more techniques (hybrid approach)
has been considered in this case, as combining different techniques may lead to neutralizing each other-s weaknesses generating a
superior hybrid solution. Recent researches have shown that there is a
need for a more valid and reliable tools, for assessing work stress. Thus artificial intelligence techniques have been applied in this
instance to provide a solution to a psychological application. An overview about the novel and autonomous interactive model for analysing work-stress that has been developedusing multi-agent
systems is also presented in this paper. The establishment of the intelligent multi-agent decision analyser (IMADA) using hybridized technique of neural networks and fuzzy logic within the multi-agent based framework is also described.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to research on thoughts transmitted from virtual fitting-room and to deduce discussion in an auxiliary narrative way. The research structure is based on 3D virtual fitting-room as the research subject. Initially, we will discuss the principles of narrate study, User Demand and so on by using a narrative design pattern to transmit their objective indications of “people-situation-reason-object", etc, and then to analyze the virtual fitting-room examples that are able to provide a new thinking for designers who engaged in clothing related industry – which comes in “story telling" and “user-centered design" forms. Clothing designs are not just to cover up the body to keep warm but to draw closer to people-s demand physiologically and psychologically through interactive designs so as to achieve cognition between people and environment. In the “outside" goal of clothing-s functional designs, we use tribal group-s behavior characteristics to “transform" the existing personal cultural stories, and “reform" them to design appropriate interactive products. Synthesizing the above matters, apart from being able to regard “narrate" as a kind of functional thinking process, we are also able to regard it as a kind of choice, arrangement and an activity of story expression, allowing interactive design-s spirit, product characteristics and experience ideas be transmitted to target tribal group in a visual image performance method. It is a far more confident and innovative attempt, and meanwhile, able to achieve entertainment, joyful and so forth fundamental interactive transmissions. Therefore, this study takes “user-centered design" thinking as a basis to establish a set of clothing designs with interactive experience patterns and to assist designers to examine the five sensual feeling of interactive demands in order to initiate a new value in textile industry.
Abstract: Asthma is a condition that causing chronic health problems in children. In addition to basic therapy against disease, we must try to reduce the impact of chronic health problems and also optimize their medical aspect of growth and development. A boy with mild asthma attack frequent episode did not showed any improvement with medical treatment and his asthma control test was 11. From radiologic examination he got hyperaerated lung and billateral sinusitis maxillaris; skin test results were house dust, food and pet allergy; an overweight body; bad school grades; psychological and environmental problem. We followed and evaluated this boy in 6 months, treated holistically. Even we could not do much on environmental but no more psychological and school problems, his on a good bodyweight and his asthma control test was 22. A case of a child with mild asthma attack frequent episode was reported. Asthma clinical course show no significant improvement when other predisposing factor is not well-controlled and a child’s growth and development may be affected. Improving condition of the patient can be created with the help of loving and caring way of nurturing from the parents and supportive peer group. Therefore, continuous and consistent monitoring is required because prognosis of asthma is generally good when regularly and properly controlled.
Abstract: Background: Regular physical activity contributes
positively to physical and psychological health. In the present study,
the stages of change of physical activity and the total physical
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of
adolescent girls in each stages of change and the causative factors
associated with physical activity such as the related social support
and self efficacy in a sample of the high school students.
Methods: In this study, Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the
Transtheorical Model (TTM) guided instrument development. The
data regarding the demographics, psychosocial determinants of
physical activity, stage of change and physical activity was gathered
by questionnaires. Several measures of psychosocial determinants of
physical activity were translated from English into Persian using the
back-translation technique. These translated measures were
administered to 512 ninth and tenth-grade Iranian high school
students for factor analysis.
Results: The distribution of the stage of change for physical activity
was as follow: 18/5% in precontemplation, 23.4% in contemplation,
38.2% in preparation, 4.6% in action and 15.3% in maintenance.
They were in 80.1% pre-adoption stages (precontemplation stage,
contemplation stage and preparation stage) and 19.9% post-adoption
stages (action stage and maintenance stage) of physical activity.
There was a significant relate between age and physical activity in
adolescent girls (age-related decline of physical activity) p
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to discuss the effect of the
intervention of exercise behavior change plan for high school students
on study subjects- social and psychological factors and exercise
stages. This research uses the transtheoretical model as the research
framework. One experiment group and one control group were used in
a quasi-experimental design research. The experimental group
accepted health-related physical fitness course and the traditional
course; the control group accepted traditional physical education
course. There is a significant difference before and after the
intervention in the experimental group. Karl-s test shows the
experimental group gained a better improvement than that in the
control group. The Analysis of Covariance had shown the exercise
stages (F=7.62, p
Abstract: The paper structures research approaches to the crisis
and its management. It focuses on approaches – psychological,
sociological, economic, ethical and technological. Furthermore, it
describes the basic features of models chosen according to those
approaches. By their comparison it shows how the crisis influences
organizations and individuals, and their mutual interaction.
Abstract: As the remedy used music becomes active and
meditation effect through the music is verified, people take a growing
interest about psychological balance or remedy given by music. From
traditional studies, it is verified that the music of which spectral
envelop varies approximately as 1/f (f is frequency) down to a
frequency of low frequency bandwidth gives psychological balance.
In this paper, we researched signal properties of music which gives
psychological balance. In order to find this, we derived the property
from voice. Music composed by voice shows large value in NCSD.
We confirmed the degree of deference between music by curvature of
normalized cumulative spectral distribution. In the music that gives
psychological balance, the curvature shows high value, otherwise, the
curvature shows low value.
Abstract: The Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming increasingly
important for business, education, and entertainment, therefore VR
technology have been applied for training purposes in the areas of
military, safety training and flying simulators. In particular, the
superior and high reliability VR training system is very important in
immersion. Manipulation training in immersive virtual environments
is difficult partly because users must do without the hap contact with
real objects they rely on in the real world to orient themselves and
their manipulated.
In this paper, we create a convincing questionnaire of immersion
and an experiment to assess the influence of immersion on
performance in VR training system. The Immersion Questionnaire
(IQ) included spatial immersion, Psychological immersion, and
Sensory immersion. We show that users with a training system
complete visual attention and detection of signals. Twenty subjects
were allocated to a factorial design consisting of two different VR
systems (Desktop VR and Projector VR). The results indicated that
different VR representation methods significantly affected the
participants- Immersion dimensions.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is: a) to investigate how
the HR practices influence psychological contracts, b) to examine the
influence of psychological contracts to individual behavior and to
contribute individually, c) to study the psychological contact through
leadership. This research using mixed methods, qualitative and
quantitative research methods were utilized to gather the data
collected using a qualitative method by the HR Manager who is in
charge of the trainings from the staffs and quantitative method
(survey) by using questionnaire was utilized to draw upon and to
elaborate on the recurring themes present during the interviews. The
survey was done to 400 staffs of the company. The study found that
leadership styles supporting the firm’s HR strategy is the key in
making psychological contracts that benefit both the firm and its
members.
Abstract: Security issue and the importance of the function of
police to provide practical and psychological contexts in the
community has been the main topics among researchers , police and
security circles and this subject require to review and analysis
mechanisms within the police and its interaction with other parts of
the system for providing community safety. This paper examine
national and social security in the Internet.
Abstract: Deaths from cardiovascular diseases have decreased substantially over the past two decades, largely as a result of advances in acute care and cardiac surgery. These developments have produced a growing population of patients who have survived a myocardial infarction. These patients need to be continuously monitored so that the initiation of treatment can be given within the crucial golden hour. The available conventional methods of monitoring mostly perform offline analysis and restrict the mobility of these patients within a hospital or room. Hence the aim of this paper is to design a Portable Cardiac Telemedicine System to aid the patients to regain their independence and return to an active work schedule, there by improving the psychological well being. The portable telemedicine system consists of a Wearable ECG Transmitter (WET) and a slightly modified mobile phone, which has an inbuilt ECG analyzer. The WET is placed on the body of the patient that continuously acquires the ECG signals from the high-risk cardiac patients who can move around anywhere. This WET transmits the ECG to the patient-s Bluetooth enabled mobile phone using blue tooth technology. The ECG analyzer inbuilt in the mobile phone continuously analyzes the heartbeats derived from the received ECG signals. In case of any panic condition, the mobile phone alerts the patients care taker by an SMS and initiates the transmission of a sample ECG signal to the doctor, via the mobile network.