Search Results (13)

It is essential to comprehend the humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its vaccines to maximize the effectiveness of anti-SARSCoV-2 community immunization efforts. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG among newcomer students at Kafr Elsheikh University in Egypt, whether they had been vaccinated or not. Blood samples from 400 healthy newcomer students (200 non-vaccinated and 200 vaccinated) were evaluated for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG using colloidal gold immunochromatography lateral flow immunoassay cards, and then the results were confirmed by using specific ELISA tests. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among the participants (n = 400) was 56.3% for IgG and 13.3% for IgM. Regarding the non-vaccinated participants, 55.0% were females, the mean age was 18.2 years, and the mean BMI was 25.35. Regarding the vaccinated participants, 58.5% were females, the mean age was 18.1 years, and the mean BMI was 25.3. There were statistically non-significant correlations (p ˃ 0.05) between gender, BMI, and each of IgM- or IgG-positivity in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. In total, 41.5% and 48.5% of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM-positive and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive participants were non-vaccinated, respectively. Furthermore, 58.5% and 51.5% of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM-positive and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive participants were vaccinated, respectively. No statistically significant association (p ˃ 0.05) in immunoglobulins positivity between the anti-SARS-CoV-2 non-vaccinated, and vaccinated groups. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunological response of nonsmokers, people who exercise regularly, and those who take vitamin supplements, eat a balanced diet, and use certain herbs is noteworthy. Among the vaccinated subjects, 96.6%, 25.0%, 31.9%, 45.7%, and 7.8% of the IgG-positive group, versus 97.2%, 60.6%, 64.2%, 52.3%, and 6.4% of the IgG-positive non-vaccinated group, were nonsmokers, exercisers, and those taking vitamin supplements, eating a balanced diet, and using herbs, respectively. Furthermore, 93.5%, 32.3%, 35.5%, 48.4%, and 6.5% of the IgM-positive vaccinated group, versus 100.0%, 63.6%, 81.8%, 45.5%, and 4.5% of the IgM-positive non-vaccinated participants, were nonsmokers, physical exercisers, vitamin supplement users, balanced eaters, and herbalists, respectively. Persons who are free from comorbidities, young, non-obese, non-smokers, engage in physical exercise, take vitamins, eat a balanced diet, and use certain immunostimulant herbal supplements, all have a strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral immune response, even if they were not vaccinated. During pandemics, vaccination of this group should not be a priority to preserve vaccine doses for high-risk vulnerable people. Even if there is a lockdown during an anticipated future epidemic or pandemic, we should prioritize healthy eating and lifestyle choices, along with increasing physical activity. Full article

Young adults experiencing homelessness face multiple challenges and are often confronted with additional barriers stemming from adverse past experiences. Whereas youth homelessness rates appear to increase across Europe, our knowledge on its nature in Belgium remains limited. Based on recent local point-in-time counts on homelessness in Belgium (2020–2022) and a focus group (2022) to interpret these results, we examine the profiles of more than 2000 homeless young adults and distinguish between three distinct groups (youth care leavers, Belgians with no care history, and newcomers). Alongside the need for universal prevention, tailored interventions are crucial for each subgroup to address their unique needs. Full article

Lahpet-Ye-Hsain, commonly referred to as “tea shops” or teahouses, are versatile establishments that serve as both dining places and social gathering spots. These micro-institutions are fundamental to Myanmar society at the local level, playing a significant role in daily social interactions, economic activities, and political discourse. Operated as private businesses and informal meeting spots, tea shops are primarily staffed by women who serve tea and food to a predominantly male clientele at various times of the day. The size of tea shops can vary, from small snack shops to larger establishments offering a wide range of menu options. In a typical small village tea shop, customers sit on footstools around small square tables, creating a space for sharing tea and food, and exchanging ideas, opinions, problems, hopes, and aspirations. Tea shops attract a diverse range of individuals, as they are known for their inclusive nature that welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life, although women are often on the periphery. Historically dominated by men, we suggest that empowering women’s involvement in tea shops could positively impact their agency in other aspects of life, especially during political change. These micro-institutions serve as the initial connection point for residents in the village or neighborhood, traditionally catering to men but now increasingly broadened to women, newcomers, and young individuals exploring new opportunities. Full article

The present study addresses, for the first time, the difference between older and younger farmers (those aged over and under 40 years) and proposes a methodology to identify factors that affect generational renewal in the Italian agricultural sector in positive and negative ways. The study is carried out using data collected by the General Census of Agriculture of 2020. Firstly, a T-test is used to test the hypothesis of differences between farmers aged under 40 and those over 40. Secondly, linear regression models are constructed to address the factors that affect generational renewal in the Italian agricultural sector. The findings highlight some important initiatives that decision-makers can consider for further action in the Italian agricultural sector at a regional level. Large-scale farming is very likely to attract newcomers to Italian agriculture and has a strong impact on generational turnover. In contrast, sustainable agricultural practices are less attractive, as they require specific responsibilities, knowledge, and technical and organisational solutions that young people may not yet have. Similarly, educational attainment increases the probability that young farmers will move from rural to urban areas. Finally, older farmers, with respect to newcomers, have more capital for innovative investments in the agricultural sector and information technology for business management and have more experience with waste management. Full article

This article describes Picasso’s first visit to the French capital in 1900, and the events that led to his first major exhibition at the acclaimed Galerie Ambroise Vollard in Paris in 1901. The first section provides a narrative of his early experiences abroad as a young unknown artist, his influences, and the contacts he established with friends, artists and dealers during this important period of his career; the second section traces the histories of the sixty-five artworks that were exhibited, identifying the collections those items went through after they were exhibited, their current locations, as well as the exhibitions in which they have been featured since Vollard first displayed them in his gallery. The last section elaborates on some of the immediate repercussions of the exhibition. The reported findings are the result of extensive research on hundreds of books and catalogs published on Pablo Picasso from 1901 to the present. The new facts we have uncovered are published here for the first time. Readers of the article will learn that the works included in Picasso’s first exhibition in France have been part of the most prestigious art collections, such as those of Justin K. Thannhauser, Gertrude Stein, Chester Dale, Paul Guillaume, Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., Paul Mellon, Helena Rubinstein, Alfred Flechtheim, Walter C. Arensberg, among others. The works have also been featured in such important overviews of his career as “Picasso, 75th Anniversary” 1957–1958, and “Picasso: An American Tribute”, 1962. Thus, while Vollard claimed that the exhibition at his gallery had no major impact, the facts show that it not only played an important role in Picasso’s acceptance as a groundbreaking newcomer, but also left a significant mark on the rest of his career, as evidenced by the works’ inclusion in the retrospectives held in Paris and Zürich in 1932, and New York in 1980. Full article

While translanguaging occurs in the homes of deaf people and their hearing family members who do not sign or possess limited signing skills, in this article we argue that translanguaging alone does not explain the complex, domestic-sphere language experiences of three young, newcomer artists in Saskatchewan, Canada. We frame our inquiry around the “dinner table experience” phenomenon, wherein deaf family members receive partial or little access to conversational exchanges. At the dinner table, which is both a literal setting and a metaphor for exclusion experienced by deaf people in audiocentric cultures, many deaf family members report feeling loved yet disconnected. However, translanguaging serves to expand linguistic repertoires among hearing and deaf interlocutors amidst the dinner table experience. We draw from three interviews with deaf youth who describe the dinner table experience through both dialogue and art making, including descriptions of ways in which communication is facilitated or not facilitated, thereby highlighting available and unavailable translanguaging practices in the domestic sphere. The interview data suggest that the dinner table experience is a significant setting for translanguaging, and that promoting accessible and equitable translanguaging practices in the home remains a significant challenge, especially when combined with newcomer lived experience that does not always match current descriptions of translanguaging. We posit that translanguaging is a necessary practice among hearing and deaf persons at the table that can and should be expanded to consider the intersectional experiences of communicators in this literal and metaphorical setting. Full article

The concept of a Lean Business Model (LBM) is derived from the Business Model Canvas (BMC), which is primarily focused on well-established businesses. However, in a competitive environment typified by Schumpeterian waves of creative destruction, new businesses in the entrepreneurial ecosystem face the strategic challenge of constantly adapting and evolving alongside well-established companies. This proposes that the threat of newcomer disruption may affect all types of organisations, including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly small and young businesses. The presence of SMEs is one of the most crucial factors in the growth of Malaysia’s economy. Although SMEs contribute significantly to the economy, do they provide a better entrepreneurial ecosystem? This study aims to conceptualise how the integration of lean business and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) might improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Malaysia. The development of this model will be conducted using a triangulation of qualitative data sources comprising document analysis, interviews, and archival records. The validity of the findings will be examined based on the dimensions of trustworthiness to ensure that data obtained are accurate and reliable. The anticipated results of this study may show the impact of a new hybrid between lean business and the TRIZ model on the Malaysian SMEs entrepreneurial ecosystem. This new model will provide fresh insights into ways to transform the entrepreneurial ecosystem in line with the National Entrepreneurial Policy (NEP) 2030. Furthermore, the SMEs can be strengthened for the purpose of expanding their proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports, not just locally but also globally. Full article

Due to an array of individual, institutional and structural factors, several constraints hinder the access of migrant youth to education, training and employment in Catalonia. In this article, we explore the conditions in which young migrants access the education and training system in Catalonia (Spain). Drawing on the theory of opportunity structures, we highlight three constraints that narrow their education and training opportunities. Our approach runs away from individualistic explanations of success or failure. The research draws on 5 focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews with young migrants who were participating in a training scheme in 2019 and 2020. Our results point out three types of conditioning factors that constrain opportunities and sometimes become unsurmountable barriers. Firstly, their migrant status narrows their opportunities for education, training and employment. Secondly, current administrative procedures eventually disrupt the ways in which certain young newcomers follow the mainstream education and training pathways. Finally, certain circumstances have inflicted socio-emotional wounds on young newcomers, not only because they have left their country and suffered from socio-economic deprivation, but also because they have been compelled to suddenly adjust their expectations. Full article

The pandemic has forced organizations to find new ways of working. In fact, we are seeing an increase in remote working and this has inevitably impacted onboarding processes. In this respect, the aim of this study was to understand how young graduates under 30 experienced digital onboarding (in terms of emotions and cognitions) when joining organizations with structured Human Resources processes. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in which participants were asked to fill in ethnographic sheets in order to understand the barriers and facilitators that organizations can implement to improve the digital onboarding experience. We used thematic analysis. What emerged from our study is that newcomers struggled, in digital contexts, to find the right information, to be proactive and to receive immediate feedback in order to understand the context and to understand their fit with the company: it is important not to lose sight of the importance of socialization, but rather to find effective and structured practices that facilitate it and make it last over time. In our study, we argue that a structured digital onboarding program could be a relevant step in order to implement an effective transition towards remote working cultures and an attention to socialization processes. Full article

Gen Z, people born in the Internet age, are entering the labour market and soon will be responsible for public administration. Such a situation creates the need to study their professional motivations and competencies. We aim to determine: (1) What are the motivating factors of Gen Z representatives? (2) What is the factor’s structure of competencies of Gen Z employees? (3) Do Gen Z’s interest in public administration result from their needs to realise the public interest? These questions are fundamental for the strategy of hiring and training newcomers. This original paper’s insights have emerged iteratively based on a systematic literature searching method and data obtained from the surveys (n = 335). Research of Polish representatives of Gen Z showed that their expectations are similar to those found in other countries. However, their responses suggest that ethical issues are not the most important for them. The presence of generation G on the labor market will generate a paradigm shift in the activity of companies and public institutions that will be the employers of these young people. Reconfiguration of the principles of human resource management is necessary so that organizations benefit from the qualities of generation Z—they gravitate towards gamified processes because of mobile-centricity; they are natives of global communication, self-learners, and self-motivators; they appreciate transparency. Full article

In the last ten years, the settlement and integration of refugee families and asylum seekers have represented some of the main challenges faced by European territories. People in need of international protection can face challenges in being settled and integrated into rural areas where it is often difficult to find co-ethnic support networks. This case study provides relevant data on how the settlement of young asylum seekers is carried out in the main town of a rural area in Catalunya. It explores the impact of a mentoring programme which consists of providing informal support to newcomers in language acquisition (Catalan), as well as inclusion in the job market and social capital. We interviewed almost all participants of that programme in this rural area, gathering in-depth interviews with mentees (with eight young asylum seekers) and two discussion groups with their mentors (living in the main town of the region). Our findings showed that whereas the main objectives of the programme are providing linguistic support, social capital and inclusion to the job market, mentoring is more focused on providing emotional support and cultivating a sense of belonging. Various outcomes will be discussed which consider the types of support that were present in mentoring relationships and how bonding and bridging social capital were fostered, namely the elements that can promote a more inclusive and welcoming rural community. Full article

The poor generational renewal has been identified as a key issue for the EU policy that undermines the restructuring of the agricultural sector and the revitalisation of rural areas. The start-up aid for young farmers is one of the main EU-driven policy measures that try to mitigate this trend, by facilitating the initial investment of young newcomers in agriculture. At the same time, innovative crops with appealing characteristics are proposed as promising alternatives with high socioeconomic and low environmental impacts. Recently, a draft new call of the start-up aid for young farmers measure has been set under public consultation in Greece, which significantly alters the requirements and the level of support of the beneficiaries, compared to the previous one. The aim of this study is to explore the consequences of this change to the desirability to invest in the organic aloe vera crop, one of the leading innovating crops in Greece. In this study, taking into consideration the embedded risk and uncertainty, we utilise a stochastic version of the Net Present Value (NPV) analysis, a common discount cash flows method to detect the desirability of an investment. Results indicate that the potential alteration of the start-up aid for young farmers deteriorates the desirability of this investment and thus prevents farmers from its adoption. The analysis provides useful insights by highlighting risk factors and the possible impacts of policy measures on the desirability of innovative crops; thus, it can be useful both for investors and policymakers. Full article

After the 2007–08 global financial crisis, research flourished on entrepreneurship through digital innovation in the financial market as well as on investors’ influence on digital technology-based entrepreneurs’ funding decisions. This study combines these two research streams to analyze the decision-making criteria for funding financial technology companies (fintechs), hybrid companies that combine digital entrepreneurship, technology, and banking. The study first uses prior literature to derive important characteristics to define fintechs and then uses 12 expert interviews to elaborate on decision-making criteria in funding. Except for smaller peculiarities, fintech funding does not appear to differ from that of other digital entrepreneurship in different markets, and—as with most digital business models—scalability was identified as a key criterion. Additionally, by serving as a major provider of money for young companies, banks have changed their role and positioning in funding new financial technology entrepreneurs. Through developments in digital technology, banks have shifted from traditional money-lending activities (i.e., debt-financing) to becoming stakeholders in fintechs and, hence, equity investors. We also describe how these formerly distinct fields have converged due to regulatory requirements, digital newcomers, and a need for constant innovation, with their future sustainable development dependent on sharing and collaboration. Full article