Motivated Helplessness in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence for a Curvilinear Relationship Between Perceived Ability to Avoid the Virus and Anxiety

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 479-497
Author(s):  
Uri Lifshin ◽  
Mario Mikulincer ◽  
Mabelle Kretchner
Keyword(s):  
State Anxiety ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Psychological Function ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Arousal ◽  
Adequate Power ◽  
Curvilinear Effect

Introduction: We tested the hypothesis that feelings of helplessness — i.e., the perception that one is unable to control and prevent negative events — may serve a protective psychological function against fear and anxiety arousal in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a large scale study with participants from different countries (N = 3,632) to examine if perceived helplessness to avoid being infected with COVID-19 relates to lower levels of fear of COVID-19, and state anxiety. Results: We found a curvilinear relationship between feeling helpless to avoid being infected with COVID-19 and self-reported anxiety. Individuals who reported either low or high degrees of helplessness reported less anxiety and fear of being infected with COVID-19 compared to those who reported moderate levels of helplessness. Additional analyses within countries with adequate power (N > 160) indicated that this curvilinear effect was found among participants from the USA, UK, Poland, Estonia, and the Netherlands, but not in Argentina and Germany. Discussion: We discuss the implications for research on the psychological function of helplessness and for understanding peoples' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Correcting Citizens’ Misperceptions about non-Western Immigrants: Corrective Information, Interpretations, and Policy Opinions

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Juhl Jørgensen ◽  
Mathias Osmundsen
Keyword(s):  
Immigration Policy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Correct Information ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Large Scale Survey ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Information Change ◽  
Corrective Information

Abstract Can corrective information change citizens’ misperceptions about immigrants and subsequently lead to favorable immigration opinions? While prior studies from the USA document how corrections about the size of minority populations fail to change citizens’ immigration-related opinions, they do not examine how other facts that speak to immigrants’ cultural or economic dependency rates can influence immigration policy opinions. To extend earlier work, we conducted a large-scale survey experiment fielded to a nationally representative sample of Danes. We randomly expose participants to information about non-Western immigrants’ (1) welfare dependency rate, (2) crime rate, and (3) proportion of the total population. We find that participants update their factual beliefs in light of correct information, but reinterpret the information in a highly selective fashion, ultimately failing to change their policy preferences.

scholarly journals The utility of self-rated health in population surveys: the role of bodyweight

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bozick
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Background Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the most commonly used summary measures of overall health and well-being available to population scientists due to its ease of administration in large-scale surveys and to its efficacy in predicting mortality. This paper assesses the extent to which SRH is affected by its placement before or after questions about bodyweight on a survey, and whether differences in placement on the questionnaire affects SRH’s predictive validity. Methods I assessed the validity of SRH in predicting the risk of mortality by comparing outcomes of sample members who were asked to rate their health before reporting on their bodyweight (the control group) and sample members who were asked to rate their health after reporting on their bodyweight (the treatment group). Both the control and treatment group were randomly assigned via an experiment administered as a module in a nationally representative sample of adults in the USA in 2019 (N = 2523). Results The odds of reporting a more favorable appraisal of health are 30% lower for sample members who were in the treatment group when compared with the control group. Additionally, the SRH of treatment group members is significantly associated with their risk of mortality, while the SRH of control group members is not. Conclusion The findings from this study suggest that for researchers to maximize the utility of SRH, closer attention needs to be paid to the context of the survey within which it asked. SRH is highly sensitive to the questions that precede it, and this sensitivity may in turn mischaracterize the true health of the population that the survey is intending to measure.

scholarly journals Untapped research opportunities in China: promising future avenues and potential concerns for aging companion animals

GeroScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Hoffman ◽  
Shanshan Song ◽  
Katharina Brugger ◽  
Teresa G. Valencak
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Companion Animal ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Agricultural Animal ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Laboratory Models

AbstractCompanion animals have recently been proposed as ideal translational models of human aging due to their shared susceptibility for certain diseases, similar environments, and sophisticated veterinary medicine diagnostics, all of which are not possible in rodent laboratory models. Here, we introduce and propose the study of companion animals in China as a largely untapped resource in academic and veterinary aging research. Pet ownership rates along with economic gains in the pet industry have skyrocketed over the last decade in China. Yet, the majority of research institutions still focus on agricultural animal research, not companion animals. In this perspective, we compare available pet ownership rates between the USA, the European Union, and China before focusing on the potential of companion animal aging research in China. In addition, we highlight some ethical considerations that must be addressed before large-scale companion animal aging research can be completed.

scholarly journals Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production in the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7804
Author(s):  
Christoph Falter ◽  
Andreas Sizmann
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Fossil Energy ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Solar Thermochemical

Hydrogen produced from renewable energy has the potential to decarbonize parts of the transport sector and many other industries. For a sustainable replacement of fossil energy carriers, both the environmental and economic performance of its production are important. Here, the solar thermochemical hydrogen pathway is characterized with a techno-economic and life-cycle analysis. Assuming a further increase of conversion efficiency and a reduction of investment costs, it is found that hydrogen can be produced in the United States of America at costs of 2.1–3.2 EUR/kg (2.4–3.6 USD/kg) at specific greenhouse gas emissions of 1.4 kg CO2-eq/kg. A geographical potential analysis shows that a maximum of 8.4 × 1011 kg per year can be produced, which corresponds to about twelve times the current global and about 80 times the current US hydrogen production. The best locations are found in the Southwest of the US, which have a high solar irradiation and short distances to the sea, which is beneficial for access to desalinated water. Unlike for petrochemical products, the transport of hydrogen could potentially present an obstacle in terms of cost and emissions under unfavorable circumstances. Given a large-scale deployment, low-cost transport seems, however, feasible.

Events in Northern Africa and Middle East: Causes and Consequences

2011 ◽  
pp. 11-25
Author(s):  
I. Labinskaya
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Northern Africa ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Oriental Studies

Political developments in North Africa and the Middle East that have begun in January 2011 are gaining strength and involve an increasing number of Arab countries. The participants of the Roundtable – experts from IMEMO, Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), Institute of the USA and Canada (RAS) and Mrs. E. Suponina from “Moscow News” newspaper analyzed a wide range of issues associated with these events. Among them are: 1) the reasons for such a large-scale explosion, 2) the nature of the discussed developments (revolutions, riots?) and who are the subjects of the current “Arab drama”, 3) the role of Islam and political Islamism, 4) the role of external factors.

Research and industrialisation of Hermetia illucens L. in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
J.B. Zhang ◽  
J.K. Tomberlin ◽  
M.M. Cai ◽  
X.P. Xiao ◽  
L.Y. Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Method ◽  
Hermetia Illucens ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Government ◽  
Future Work

The larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens L., are commonly associated with decaying organic wastes. Over the past 15 years, investigators in China have conducted extensive research exploring the use of BSF larvae to recycle organic materials as a means to protect the environment, while producing products of value, such as protein and bioenergy. Initial efforts were based on a BSF strain from the USA. However, since then, H. illucens strains from specimens collected in Hubei and Guangdong Provinces have been established and used as models to explore the use of this species in sustainable agriculture. China has played an instrumental role in developing an in-door breeding method using a quartz-iodine lamp rather than depend on natural sunlight. This discovery has allowed the establishment of in-door BSF colonies in regions throughout the world where abiotic conditions (i.e. cold temperatures) are preventative. Researchers in China paved the way for using microbes as a means to enhance BSF production including, enhancing BSF egg-laying as well as waste reduction. Furthermore, bacteria from BSF gut or waste can be cultured and used to promote BSF growth, shorten conversion time, and enhanced conversion efficacy. Recent efforts have demonstrated BSF larvae can degrade antibiotics as well as suppress noxious odours in livestock manure. Due to the efforts of research on BSF in China, numerous companies that recycle organic waste at a large scale (>20 tonnes waste digested/day), have been established. Resulting products include insect powder, and live BSFL that can be used as animal feed ingredients for livestock (e.g. eels and frogs), while protecting the environment. Future work will decipher the mechanisms regulating BSF larval conversion of organic waste so that the system can be optimised. However, efforts are still needed at the government level to establish quality assurance standards if this process is truly to become established as an industry in China.

The long-term development of Russian biotech sector

foresight ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Grebenyuk ◽  
Nikolai Ravin
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Plant Biotechnology ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Usa

Purpose To define strategic directions for the Russia’s social, economic, scientific and technological development in 2011-2013, a large-scale foresight study including the deep analysis of prospects of biotechnology development there was undertaken (Russia 2030: Science and Technology Foresight). This paper aims to present results of this research. Design/methodology/approach The study was based on a combination of technology-push and market-pull approaches that aimed not only to identify most promising science and technology (S&T) areas but also to understand how they can be realized in practice. Representatives from federal authorities, science and business were involved in the project to create future visions of technological directions; analyze grand challenges, weak signals and wild cards; and set research and development (R&D) priorities. Findings According to results of the study, Russia has a potential for biotech sector development, although the level of R&D in the majority of areas is lagging behind that in the USA and leading EU countries. However, there are several advanced applied research areas where efforts can be focused. Among them are high-performance genomics and post-genomics research platforms, systems and structural biology, microbial metabolic engineering, plant biotechnology and microbial strains and consortia for development of symbiotic plant–microbial communities. Originality/value Concentration of available resources of government and business on biotechnological sector development can help to find answers for challenges that Russia faces today or will face tomorrow. It will help to pick up on the current level of research activities, improve the quality of personnel training, make this area the engine of the economy and carry out the so-called new industrialization of the country, building a new, high-tech device industry.

scholarly journals Technology Acceptance in Healthcare: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 10537
Author(s):  
Adi A. AlQudah ◽  
Mostafa Al-Emran ◽  
Khaled Shaalan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Healthcare Technologies

Understanding the factors affecting the use of healthcare technologies is a crucial topic that has been extensively studied, specifically during the last decade. These factors were studied using different technology acceptance models and theories. However, a systematic review that offers extensive understanding into what affects healthcare technologies and services and covers distinctive trends in large-scale research remains lacking. Therefore, this review aims to systematically review the articles published on technology acceptance in healthcare. From a yield of 1768 studies collected, 142 empirical studies have met the eligibility criteria and were extensively analyzed. The key findings confirmed that TAM and UTAUT are the most prevailing models in explaining what affects the acceptance of various healthcare technologies through different user groups, settings, and countries. Apart from the core constructs of TAM and UTAUT, the results showed that anxiety, computer self-efficacy, innovativeness, and trust are the most influential factors affecting various healthcare technologies. The results also revealed that Taiwan and the USA are leading the research of technology acceptance in healthcare, with a remarkable increase in studies focusing on telemedicine and electronic medical records solutions. This review is believed to enhance our understanding through a number of theoretical contributions and practical implications by unveiling the full potential of technology acceptance in healthcare and opening the door for further research opportunities.

scholarly journals Adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer

2002 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
J.A. Wils
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Adjuvant Treatment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Usa

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with approximately 300,000 new cases and 200,000 related deaths in Europe and the USA each year. Adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer is now widely accepted and can reduce mortality with approximately 10%. This can be considered as one of the major achievements in oncology from the past decade. Current results will be discussed and strategies for the future will be outlined, including on-going or planned large-scale trials with new drugs and approaches.

scholarly journals Recent update on COVID-19 in India: Is locking down the country enough?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitender Singh Virk ◽  
Syed Azmal Ali ◽  
Gurjeet Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Inflection Point ◽  
Indian Population ◽  
Lasso Regression ◽  
Logistic Curve ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa

AbstractBackgroundIndia is the second-largest population in the world, and it is not well equipped, hitherto, in the scenario of the global pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 could impart a devastating impact on the Indian population. Only way to respond against this critical condition is by practicing large-scale social distancing. India lock down for 21 days, however, till 7 April 2020, SARS- CoV-2 positive cases were growing exponentially, which raises the concerns if the number of reported and actual cases are similar.MethodsWe use Lasso Regression with α = 0.12 and Polynomial features of degree 2 to predict the growth factor. Also, we predicted Logistic curve using the Prophet Python. Further, using the growth rate to logistic, and carrying capacity is 20000 allowed us to calculate the maximum cases and new cases per day.ResultsWe found the predicted growth factor with a standard deviation of 0.3443 for the upcoming days. When the growth factor becomes 1.0, which is known as Inflection point, it will be safe to state that the rate is no longer exponential. The estimated time to reach the inflection point is between 15-20 April. At that time, the estimated number of total positive cases will be over 12500, if lockdown remains continue.ConclusionsOur analysis suggests that there is an urgent need to take action to extend the period of lockdown and allocate enough resources, including personnel, beds, and intensive care facilities, to manage the situation in the next few days and weeks. Otherwise, the outbreak in India can reach the level of the USA or Italy or could be worse than these countries within a few days or weeks, given the size of the population and lack of resources.

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