Styling the Self: Clothing Practices, Personality Traits, and Body Image Among Israeli Women

Research has shown that women tend to use clothes to present or disguise their bodies and that clothing practices can be predicted by body image. This study explored the relationships between clothing practices, personality traits, and body image among Israeli women, using the Big Five personality traits model (NEO-FFI) and a body image measure (MBSRQ) to explore clothing styles and practices among Israeli women (N = 792, Mean age = 42.19). It found that women with are more openness to experience (OR = 1.8; IC 95%: 1.05–3.0), who seek fashion (OR = 2.05; IC 95%: 1.37–3.05) and individuality (OR = 3.96; IC 95%: 2.46–6.3) are more likely to exhibit a urban, sophisticated style of dress. These women are less motivated by comfort (OR = 0.49; IC 95%: 0.31–0.77) and camouflage (OR = 2.05; IC 95%: 1.37–3.05), that are associated with casual, minimalist style of dress. This study indicates that openness to experience may foster body-positive clothing practices. In this way, their choice of clothing can help women overcome objectification and cultural body-ideal pressures, promoting self-validation and mastery.

Preprint

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of the Male Genital Self-Image Scale (MGSIS-5) and the Groin and Lower Limb Lymphedema questionnaire (G3L-20) for routine use within the care of men diagnosed with penile cancer. Psychometric measures can give patients tacit approval to discuss embarrassing topics in a healthcare interaction. When used in routine clinical practice, such measures also feed into a virtuous evidence-based-practice-based evidence cycle. In this study, we used a pen and paper cross sectional non-experimental open audit design to administer a male genital body image measure (the MGSIS-5) and a groin and lower limb lymphedema questionnaire (G3L-20). These were complemented by the inclusion of measures specific to sexual function (International Index of Erectile Function)) and global cancer-related quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30 version 3) as well as the recently developed modified Lymphoedema Genitourinary Cancer Questionnaire (mLGUCQ). Twenty patients returned questionnaires. Validity and reliability analyses are presented but low participant numbers mean that results need treating with caution. Results show sufficient feasibility for the MGSIS-5 and the G3L-20 to warrant further study to attract larger numbers of participants, either over a longer time frame or at multiple sites. In these further studies, we would recommend adding 1) more Likert responses and 2) the time-frame to the MGIS and 3) exploring either the use of sexual desire psychometric measures or the addition of sexual desire items to the MGSIS for this patient group.

Image Compression Using Permanent Neural Networks for Predicting Compact Discrete Cosine Transform Coefficients

This study proposes a new image compression technique that produces a high compression ratio yet consumes low execution times. Since many of the current image compression algorithms consume high execution times, this technique speeds up the execution time of image compression. The technique is based on permanent neural networks to predict the discrete cosine transform partial coefficients. This can eliminate the need to generate the discrete cosine transformation every time an image is compressed. A compression ratio of 94% is achieved while the average decompressed image peak signal to noise ratio and structure similarity image measure are 22.25 and 0.65 respectively. The compression time can be neglected when compared to other reported techniques because the only needed process in the compression stage is to use the generated neural network model to predict the few discrete cosine transform coefficients.

Extreme Value Theory for Observations

<p>We study the properties of recurrence of a smooth observable computed along a trajectory of a chaotic system near a particular value of interest .  Using the framework of Extreme Value Theory, we are able to derive a limit law which is a Gumbel  distribution whose parameters relate to the dimensions of the image measure. We show that this approach allows to have access to the fine structure of the attractor, by using directly observational data. In particular, we are able to compute local dimensions associated to the underlying attractor whenever the dimensionality of the observable is larger than the dimension of the attractor. </p>

Subadditive Pre-Image Variational Principle for Bundle Random Dynamical Systems

A central role in the variational principle of the measure preserving transformations is played by the topological pressure. We introduce subadditive pre-image topological pressure and pre-image measure-theoretic entropy properly for the random bundle transformations on a class of measurable subsets. On the basis of these notions, we are able to complete the subadditive pre-image variational principle under relatively weak conditions for the bundle random dynamical systems.

Experimental Study on Wet Skid Resistance of Asphalt Pavements in Icy Conditions

In this research, the durability of skid resistance during the ice melting process with temperature increasing from −5 °C to 10 °C was characterized by means of a British Pendulum Skid Tester. Four types of pavement surfaces were prepared and tested. The difference between two antiskid layers prepared with bitumen emulsion was the aggregate. The detailed angularity and form 2D index of fine aggregates used for antiskid surfaces, characterized by means of the Aggregate Image Measure System (AIMS) with micro image analysis methods, were then correlated with British Pendulum Number (BPN) values. Results indicate that skid resistance has the lowest value during the ice-melting process. The investigated antiskid layers can increase the surface friction during icy seasons. In icy conditions, the skid resistance behavior first worsens until reaches the lowest value, and then increases gradually with increasing temperature. Results from ice-melting conditions on four investigated pavement surfaces give the same temperature range where there will be lowest skid resistance. That temperature range is from 3 °C to 5 °C. A thicker ice layer will result in a lower skid resistance property and smaller “lowest BPN”.