Advances in Social Sciences and Management

An Exploration of Gender, Interlocking Directorates, and Family Firms

Sean O'Hagan — 2025-03-15

This study examines the spatiality of interlocking directorates of Canadian companies, with specific focus on those connections that include female directors and family firms. The goal of this study was to explore the spatial relationship between headquarters location of the corporate boards on which they sit. First, it was found that a geographical relationship in the interlocking network of female directors exist. Female directors follow a similar urban hierarchy as previous research. Second, female directors interlock intra-regionally. The study also explored intra- and inter-city as well as intra- and inter-regional interlocking. It was found intra-regional interlocks dominated for each region across Canada except the West. Again, this is attributed to females sitting on FCFs and interlocking interregionally. Additionally, females of FCFs were more likely to interlock nonlocally than their male counterparts, but also more than females of nonFCFs.

Understanding Household Mobility: A Study of Exit Patterns in the 2021 American Household Survey

Elkanah Faux — 2025-03-05

Although considerable research has explored the impact of neighborhood change and demographic changes on housing exit decisions, factors such as age, education, household expenses, downsizing, upsizing, and lifestyle events have received limited attention despite their significant influence on household exit decisions. This study utilizes data from the 2021 American Household Survey, a period affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, to estimate a logit model that examines the relationship between lifecycle events like childbirth, marital status, and economic factors like income, costs, and government income and housing exits. The findings show that older individuals, families with children, and those with post-secondary education are less likely to exit their homes. Conversely, individuals facing higher housing costs are more likely to leave their homes. Furthermore, long-term changes in housing preferences and mobility, along with economic decline and health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased odds of housing exits, highlight the need for interventions to buffer incomes and support vulnerable groups.

The Role of Endowments in Academia

Joseph A Soares — 2025-03-15

Fiscal endowments are taken as foundational to academia. Economists have given us three models to explain endowment performance: institutions rely on endowments as an inter-generational compact that perpetually subsidizes current students with alumni bequests; institutions treat endowments as rainy-day reserves; institutions hoard their wealth. However, economists have been working with inadequate data and measuring the wrong outcomes. To evaluate the role of endowments, we need to use tax records. And the outcome questions previously explored by economists on the size of endowments and payout rates are uninformative in comparison to looking at the percentage of an institution’s total expenditures that are covered by its endowment. Furthermore, we need to see the percentage of endowment payouts that go to scholarships and academic programs. Doing so enables us to build a performance index that will transform our understanding of the role of endowments in US higher education.

China versus USA: A Game-theoretic Simulation Approach

Hardy Hanappi — 2025-03-18

This paper combines one of the central questions of contemporary political economy, id est the conflict between China and the USA, with one of the major methodological advances in modelling technique, id est game theory. Of course, such a task goes far beyond the possibilities of a single research paper, it thus remains a modest sketch of a possible approach. No formalisation attempt is independent of the content it tries to model. Therefore, the first part of the paper provides a very short synopsis of the envisaged global conflict between the two superpowers. Surprisingly, one of the historical contributors to this topic, John von Neumann, also is the scientist, which brought the methodological revolution of game theory to its full blossoming. The second part of the paper discusses von Neumann’s vision of game theory as a new formal language to describe human interaction - a somewhat different vision to the one that drove the mathematicians using his approach in the decades that followed. The third part of the paper presents a simple simulation exercise built on the ideas of the first two parts. The conclusion provides two lessons that can be learned from the paper, a methodological one and one concerning the mid-run development of the conflict between China and the USA.

Religion and Animals: Lessons for Christians Drawn from African Traditional Practices in Zimbabwe

Collins Nhengu — 2025-03-29

This article will argue that since time immemorial biological diversity has been central to human survival. Indigenous peoples have developed stages of technology and culture appropriate for different environments of climate, vegetation and animals. African traditional religion practices and promotes peace for both human and non-human animals. Crises for survival in the environment such as drought removed the animals that people were hunting and this threatened sustainable development. The symbiotic relationship between human beings and animals was clearly recorded in paintings. Indigenous peoples in the past recorded their interrelationships with the natural world -particularly wildlife – in the form of paintings and carvings at many sites across Zimbabwe. The paintings tell us something about the lives of indigenous people and also about the types of animals, birds and fish that may have occurred in these areas many thousands of years ago. Traditional methods of resource utilisation were suitably adapted to conservation. Indigenous knowledge systems (IKSs), and in particular the Shona people (of Zimbabwe) IKSs created in specific geographical and historical situations in the country, have had a significant contribution to the maintenance of flora and fauna. Myths, folklores, legends, proverbs, riddles, rituals, symbols, traditions and beliefs are part of religious ideas which promoted animal rights. When the missionaries came in the 19^th century, various institutions were challenged hence the Shona reluctance to convert enmasse to Christianity. These community-governed controls shape social life, indirectly affect or even direct management of many concepts of the local ecosystem. IKSs are a reminder of the need to preserve the biodiversity heritage as a sacred duty. Matikiti (2007:221) states that “Resident animals such as lions, leopards, baboons, pangolins, and monkeys are generally seen as personifications of spiritual beings. Birds such as the hungwe (eagle) are perceived as conventional messengers from ancestors. People are required to refrain from taking life.” All this has changed. This article will argue that the earth is in peril, Zimbabwe is in pain and jeopardy, the country is at the precipice of self-destruction and must revert to IKSs to preserve biodiversity. Zimbabwe and the world need fervent environmentalists to resolve the intractable environmental crisis.

Promoting and Advertising the Hospital Library to the Nursing Staff

Eleni Semertzidou — 2025-03-22

Medical and nursing staff are, and should be, in constant interaction with a hospital library for immediate access to new, up-to-date and specialised knowledge for the performance of their tasks. Combining the knowledge and skills of nurses and clinical librarians in a hospital library can optimise the results of treatments and therapeutic techniques in general.

Thinking, a Diverse and Inclusive Process: An Epistemological Look

Jose Manuel Salum Tome — 2025-03-22

Contemporary education has taken on the challenge of promoting different programs aimed at promoting inclusive teaching-learning processes that facilitate attention to diversity. It is evident that the integration of students with special needs in regular educational centers has caused significant changes in the curriculum, infrastructure and training among teachers. In the last ten years, educational inclusion has made significant progress, but much remains to be done to expand inclusive spaces.

The Concept of Education of an Enlightened and a Spiritual Person in Didactic Works of Central Asian Thinkers

Gulchekhra Valerievna Izbullaeva — 2025-04-02

This article describes the didactic works of Central Asian thinkers of the late XII - the first half of the XIV century and the content of spiritual education in them. The concept of educating a spiritual person in didactic works is the formation and structure of the person in the didactic works, the qualities and vices of the person, quantitative and qualitative changes in the formation of the person, the teaching on the way to achieve spirituality, the spiritual and moral view of the person, It is classified as factors that increase spiritual and moral education, teacher and student relations, classification of education and training methods, criteria and factors of spiritual and moral education and the level of spiritual and moral formation of a person.

The Development Course, Current Situation, and Future Outlook of China–Somalia Relations: A China-Africa Community with a Shared Future

Abdilahi Ismail Abdilahi — 2025-04-10

Building a China–Africa community with a shared future is one of the strategic frameworks of China-Africa cooperation, aiming to promote common development through strengthening bilateral collaboration in economic, cultural, political, security, and other fields. China-Somalia relations, as an important component of China-Africa relations, have made significant progress in multiple areas in recent years. By reviewing the historical development, current achievements in political, economic, and cultural cooperation, and exploring future cooperation potential, this paper puts forward paths and strategies for further deepening cooperation.

Specific Features of National Upbringing Issues in the East

Umarova Sitora Mukhlisovna — 2025-04-10

This article discusses the concept of national education, its main components that constitute its national-spiritual essence. Through national education, a person develops patriotism, respect for the heritage of their ancestors, a sense of national pride and independence, and the generality and specific features of the concept of national education in Eastern and Western countries are compared. Information and comments on the concept of family in Uzbek national education, its importance, and tasks are analyzed.

Scientific and Theoretical Foundations of the Formation of Constructive Competence of Future Teachers

Kholikova Madina Komiljon Qizi — 2025-04-10

Constructive competence plays an important role in improving the professional skills of teachers in the modern education system. To form this competence, it is necessary to develop effective methods based on the principles of constructivism, activity approach and creative pedagogy. Training future teachers on the basis of an innovative and creative approach serves to improve the quality of the educational process. The formation of constructive competence, that is, the teacher's ability to think independently, create innovative approaches and effectively organize the educational process, is very important. This article analyzes the essence of constructive competence, the process of its formation and scientific and theoretical foundations. Today, the formation of the competencies of future teachers on the basis of the improvement of the education system and modern pedagogical approaches is of great importance.

Aloe Vera - Sustainable Building Material

Azim Causevic — 2025-04-15

Magical plants Aloe vera, known as the “queen of medicinal plants”1 even after several hundred years, was highly valued in numerous cultural areas for its medicinal and therapeutic properties, but was rarely used as a building material. Studies in this area are only known in the paint industry. Today it is mainly used for skin diseases, for cosmetic purposes and as a medicine with a laxative effect. In the course of the 20th century, this versatile plant was further observed. You can find many products on the market that are based on aloe vera. Juices and gels are offered, but Aloe Vera is almost only used in cosmetics and alternative medicine with “promising success”. You can read a lot about companies that are already dealing with aloe vera and selling such products. It is precisely because of its wide range of biological activities and physiological properties that aloe has received more and more attention in science, including here in this project. About fifteen years ago, over 5 million liters of aloe vera simple concentrate were produced and marketed annually in the United States alone. This project only uses 1 to 2 plants. From this American quantity, around 1,500 different aloe-containing products were manufactured and offered. In this project only 3 to a maximum of 5. In Europe there were a total of around 350 to 400 products that contained aloe vera extracts. In this project, not only the composition of the most important active ingredients and their applications are important, but also their bioactive effects and toxicological assessments were developed. In this study, aloe vera is not further investigated for its medical or pharmacological successes, but in a completely different direction. Success is not promised, but it is worth further investigation. Aloe vera is not only a plant with healing properties, but also a sustainable building material. An alternative to conventional building materials is discovered here.

The Impact of Swimming on Cognitive and Mental Health Among Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers

Ahmad Fahim Zulkifli — 2025-04-18

This study investigates the effects of a semester-long swimming intervention on the cognitive and mental well-being of pre-service physical education teachers. Recognising the growing concern over mental health issues, particularly among young adults, this research examines whether structured swimming lessons contribute to improved mental well-being and cognitive performance. A single-group experimental design was implemented, involving 30 undergraduate students enrolled in a 14-week swimming course. Participants' mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while cognitive performance was measured through the Stroop Color-Word Test, administered before and after the intervention. The findings indicated an overall improvement in participants' understanding of the relationship between swimming and mental health, particularly in areas such as concentration, sleep quality, and group belonging. However, statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed no significant differences in mental well-being or cognitive performance post-intervention. While basic cognitive processing showed slight improvements, more complex cognitive tasks exhibited mixed results, possibly due to cognitive fatigue or a speed-accuracy trade-off. Despite the lack of statistically significant changes, regular swimming may offer psychological and cognitive benefits through structured physical activity and social engagement. The findings emphasise the potential of swimming as a complementary approach to mental health promotion, highlighting the need for further research with larger sample sizes and controlled study designs to establish its long-term effects.