Enabling Meaningfulness with Young NEETs in the Nordic Region

This chapter focuses on diverse possibilities to engage in mobilizing young adults to meaningful activities within an ever larger and more varied group of marginalized youth in the Nordic countries. A pan Nordic study, commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers committee of officials for sustainable rural regional development in 2017–2019, was driven by the need to better understand the situation of these marginalized young adults. This chapter is based on this Nordic project and will present some local and regional processes with serious mismatch problems relating to youth education and validity in the local and regional labour market in the Nordic countries. We ask what characterizes the group of youth and rising number of young adults in the age 18–30 that seems to lose meaningfulness during their education and drop out, and who do not engage in training and have hard time becoming employed. What explanations do other studies on NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) provide? Which initiatives to mobilize young people have worked and in what context in the Nordic countries, so far

Fast Fashion: The Illusion of Choice for Modern-Day Slaves

The twenty-first century is characterized by the advent of peak consumerism, where the preferences of the global consumer take precedence over everything. For the fashion industry, a trend of creating, using, and discarding fast and cheaply made clothes and accessories have been booming, characterized aptly as ‘fast fashion’. However, this trend comes at a severe cost, as the brunt of the same is being borne by millions of workers, primarily women and children, employed at the sweatshops of the developing South Asian nations. Working at deplorable conditions for pennies per hour, without any formal employment benefits in place, the basic human rights of these workers are being violated daily. While several international human rights documents emphasize that every nation must provide basic human rights to all of its people, that remains nothing but a fever dream for millions of such workers. Against this backdrop, this chapter provides a background of the garment sweatshop industry, followed by an analysis of the human rights violations therein. Then, it moves on to an exploration of the international legal instruments that can be utilized to counter this issue. Finally, it suggests some practical ways out for the nations most affected by the same

The Genetic Algorithm and its Application in Calculating the Kinetic Parameters of the Thermoluminescence Curve

This chapter explores the use of genetic algorithms as a tool for calculating the kinetic parameters of the thermoluminescence curve. Genetic algorithm is a search algorithm inspired by the process of natural selection, and it has proven to be effective in solving optimization problems in various fields. Author used genetic algorithm to estimate the activation energy and frequency factor of the thermoluminescence curve, which are important parameters in determining the dosimetric properties of materials. The results showed that genetic algorithm could accurately estimate the kinetic parameters of the thermoluminescence curve with high precision and efficiency compared to conventional methods. This approach can also handle noisy data and reduce the impact of outliers on the estimation process. Furthermore, author demonstrated that genetic algorithm can be generalized to different types of the thermoluminescence curves, such as those generated by different materials or under different experimental conditions. The proposed method is fast, accurate, and robust, making it useful for researchers in the field of dosimetry who require precise estimations of these parameters

Humanizing CRM: Appealing to Intuition, the Senses and Emotions to Optimize Customer Relationships

Customers’ bonds with their preferred brands have been found to be highly emotional and intuitive, the product of learning and experience, subject to symbolism, trust and acquired meanings, and not necessarily reason-responsive, yet most marketing practices, including Customer Relationship Management or CRM, are heavily influenced by twentieth century’s models of consumer behavior which considered a rational decision-making process and even spoke about “the logic of consumption,” however, this logical approach may not be the most effective when we consider less objective criteria like trust and affection. Research has explored the combined roles of time and money, and rationality, intuition, the senses, peers and emotions on the consumer decision process and found that even in high-involvement purchase scenarios, where others may suggest that a central, argumentative line of persuasion would be called for, customer decisions are highly intuitive. This chapter will identify the gaps in current one-on-one marketing practices and explore the most proper application of rational, intuitive, sensory, social, and emotional cues in the CRM process, extending from B2C to B2B because, in the end, we are all human. A suggested Strategy Map and Balanced Score Card, and a Core Process Map are included in our recommendations for humanizing CRM

Biochar Application for Soil Quality Improvement: An Overview

Soil as a renewable resource has a key role to play in sustainable crop production, soil management, and combating food insecurity. The overapplication of fertilizers in this regard has resulted in decreased soil health and productivity. Biochar application in this respect has received increasing attention of the scientific community due to its role in soil quality improvement. This is especially true in the face of global climate change and to the nature of biochar being a carbon (C)-rich compound. In this chapter, the potential of biochar to enhance soil quality attributes, particularly those pertaining to soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, is comprehensively reviewed. Special attention is directed toward the distinctive properties of biochars sourced from various feedstocks, elucidating their subsequent effects on soil quality. This sheds light on potential directions for future studies in this field

Utilizing Waste Derived from <em>Elaeis guineensis</em> (African Oil Palm) for Partial Cement Replacement in Stabilizing Compressed Earth Blocks

The increasing demand for sustainable construction practices necessitates innovative approaches to reduce the environmental impact of conventional building materials like cement. African oil palm waste, abundant in palm-producing regions, represents a promising alternative material. This research explores the feasibility of utilizing waste materials derived from Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm) as a partial cement replacement in the stabilization of compressed earth blocks (CEBs). This study involves the collection and preparation of shells from oil palm waste for use in compressed earth block (CEB) production. Various proportions of these waste materials are mixed with conventional soil and cement to assess their impact on CEB properties. Compressive strength, durability, and environmental considerations are key parameters evaluated in this investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that incorporating oil palm waste in CEBs can enhance their compressive strength and reduce the carbon footprint associated with cement production. Moreover, this approach has the potential to address waste management issues in palm oil-producing regions while promoting sustainable construction practices. The research contributes to the development of eco-friendly building materials and aligns with global efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of the construction industry

Effect of Intra-Dialytic Physical Exercise on Depression in Hemodialysis Patients

In hemodialysis (HD) patients, depression is linked to morbidity, mortality, a worse quality of life, a shorter life expectancy, and even suicidal thoughts. Intradialytic exercise is regarded as a crucial part of the clinical care management of HD patients because it enhances the effectiveness of HD, lowers systemic inflammation, increases exercise tolerance, lowers depressive symptoms, and improves quality of life

Hybrid Energy Powered Smart Irrigation System for Smallholder Farmers: Installation Site and Crop Selection

In the context of food-energy-water nexus and uncertainties in climate change, hybrid energy powered smart irrigation system (HEPSIS) is an emerging solution for optimizing both energy and water to boost crop yield. In Pakistan, most of the farmers especially smallholder farmers are currently relying on conventional irrigation practices which result in high water consumptions, high energy consumptions (by means of pumping), low crop yields, and net profit. Prior to design/development, installation, and testing of the HEPSIS, it is essential to know a suitable site and potential food/cash crops which will be irrigated. In this regard, the study aims to select installation site and potential crops. Site suitability is explored for Sindh province from viewpoints of Indus Basin Irrigation System mapping, groundwater table depth/quality mapping, land use land cover, and soil classifications. Furthermore, crop selection analyses are performed by means of a screening matrix approach based on stars to identify two potential food and cash crops. As per the results, Badin, Ghotki, Khairpur, Sanghar, Shikarpur, Larkana, and Thatta are selected as some suitable sites for the proposed HEPSIS. Additionally, wheat and rice are selected as potential food crops whereas cotton and sugarcane are selected as potential cash crops

Role of Hormones over the Lifespan. How Hormone Balance Affects General Health and Well-Being at all Ages

Hormones define who we are. From puberty to late post-menopause, the changes in our sex hormones affect every other hormone in our body. This article will explore the state of the science and the clinical application of hormone therapies at various ages and during various periods of female lifespan. Literature review of hormone therapies, state of the science compared to clinical practice in areas of hormone therapies, the role of class effects, the public and medical training understanding of the role of hormone therapies, and the future possibilities for education and research in the areas related to hormone therapies. Clinical correlation and relationship between scientific data published in PubMed and Google Scholar and public and practitioner understanding of hormone therapies

Impact of Physical Activity on Physical and Cognition Function among Community-Living Older Adults

The aging population presents unique challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in terms of maintaining physical function and cognitive abilities in old age. Physical activity (PA) is emerging as a potent intervention to enhance the well-being and functional independence of older individuals. The current review chapter will focus on the effect of PA on physical and cognitive function to provide comprehensive understanding of the interplay among community-dwelling older adults. The review (1) overviews the positive impact of PA on physical functions, including muscle strength, endurance, balance, and cardiovascular health, elucidating how these benefits contribute to improved mobility and reduced risk of falls among older adults, and (2) explores also how regular PA is associated with the cognitive benefits, including its preventive or delaying effect of cognitive decline, enhancements in memory, attention, executive function, and overall cognitive vitality. It emphasizes the critical role of PA in enhancing the overall capacity on managing daily living of older adults and offers insights into effective strategies for promoting active and healthy aging. These knowledge and insights can also guide healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in developing and implementing effective strategies to promote PA and support healthy aging in older populations