Preprint of "Subjective Economic Inequality is Associated with Lower Well-Being through More Upward Comparison and Lower Trust"

Past studies on economic inequality and well-being have mostly relied on measures of objective inequality. However, individuals often misconstrue the actual degree of economic inequality, which might account for the ambiguity in the literature about the role that inequality plays in well-being. Instead of focusing on objective inequality, we propose a subjective-inequality approach by investigating the long-term association between subjective economic inequality and well-being, as well as the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between subjective inequality and well-being (N = 613). We found that subjective inequality predicted lower life satisfaction and higher depression one year later, which were accounted for by more upward socioeconomic comparison and lower trust. Furthermore, the negative association between subjective inequality and well-being remained the same, regardless of individuals’ objective socioeconomic status (SES), subjective SES, and mindset of SES. The effects of subjective inequality also remained robust after controlling for prior levels of well-being and multiple covariates. Our findings revealed that subjective inequality is detrimental to well-being and opens a new window into psychological research on economic inequality.

Born in the USA? A Comparison of “Inspired” Health Care Reforms in Germany and France

Context: Despite numerous examples of health policy transfer in Western health systems, the nature of such “inspired” reforms has received little detailed attention. The aim of this article is to apply and refine a specific theoretical angle for the analysis of these reforms, using the theoretical frameworks of transfer and translation. Methods: The design is based on a comparative case study: the introduction of disease management programs (DMPs) for diabetes in Germany in 2002 and in France in 2008, drawing on a literature review and semi-structured interviews. Findings: In introducing its DMP, Germany chose and combined several components in a process of selective borrowing, while France opted for copying a specific foreign program and adapting it. Such differences in process are linked to distinct system structures, in particular the setup of health insurance and the representation of physicians. Further, the displayed versus actual degree of inspiration varied significantly, with a branding strategy in Germany (high display of foreign influence) and the inverse picture in France (high degree of actual inspiration). Conclusions: This analysis has applied the dual perspective of transfer and translation. Both proved complementary and necessary, and translation appeared as a main determinant of implementation success.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN UZBEKISTAN

No human society can develop harmoniously, moving to a higher state, if it belittles the role of women and does not balance the ratio of two complementary principles -male and female, because the position of women like a litmus test reveals the actual degree of civilization of a particular social or religious community, as well as accurately reflects the degree of commitment of its members to the principles of humanism, equality and mercy. In this article deals with issues, current stage of general coefficient of coverage withhigher education, by gender and the share of women in teachers and professors in higher education institutions in Uzbekistan. Above all in this article given recommendation to avoid and solve negative effects of gender discrimination in development of science in conditions of The Republic of Uzbekistan

The Impact of Senior Mobility Funding on Hearing Aid Acquisition and Compliance to Hearing Aid Use in a Singapore Hospital

Background and Objectives: In 2013, the Singapore government reviewed and expanded the Senior Mobility Fund (SMF) to provide subsidy for assistive devices, including hearing aids (HA). While SMF has improved accessibility to HA, its impact on HA acquisition has not been determined. The study aims to elucidate the influence of SMF on HA acquisition and the relationship between financial funding and compliance to HA use.Subjects and Methods: Retrospective review of 643 patients seen between January 2017 to January 2018 at the earnose and throat specialist outpatient clinic, who were referred for a hearing aid evaluation. Of the 643 patients, 109 patients with baseline hearing handicap (HH) scores recorded, and no formal diagnosis of cognitive impairment were included. The patients were grouped according to SMF eligibility and clinical data were obtained.Results: The odds ratio for acquiring HA was significantly higher with SMF, regardless of HH scores. When looking at actual degree of hearing loss (DHL), HA uptake was significantly higher in the least severe of DHL categories. There is no relationship between SMF and compliance to HA use. However, HH score is positively correlated with data log in regression analyses.Conclusions: SMF appears to influence HA acquisition. Especially in financially funded patients with low self-perceived HH, the benefits of HA may be underappreciated given the few hours of HA use. Further studies are warranted to investigate the impact of financial funding on outcomes of HA users to help policy planners and clinicians be prudent in the utilization of SMF.

ON PRICING IN THE GLOBAL OIL AND GAS MARKET

The article analyzes the key factors influencing pricing in the global oil market, conducted a retrospective analysis of its stages. It was noted that the vast majority of factors are closely interconnected, significantly correlated and dependent on each other. In this conditions, it became almost impossible to determine the actual degree of influence of each of them on the dynamics of oil quotations, which testified to the insufficient reliability of the factor analysis and the need to apply methods of technical analysis of securities at the index stage, in particular, analysis of time series with the isolation of trend, cycle and random components. A conclusion was made on the need to improve the quality of forecasting the dynamics of oil prices as an instrument to increase the efficiency of the functioning of the mechanism of the state regulation of the oil and gas complex, which made it possible to more reliably predict the oil and gas revenues of the budget, the main macroeconomic indicators, develop public programs, scenarios of long-term socio-economic development, etc.

Partycypacja polityczna imigrantów w Polsce. Na przykładzie aktywności cudzoziemców w wyborach samorządowych w 2014 r. i 2018 r.

Political participation of immigrants in Poland. The case of foreigners’ activity in the local government elections in 2014 and 2018 The issue of political participation of immigrants in Poland is becoming current and is worth reconsidering by the state authorities because of the growing number of immigrants settling in Poland. Due to the structure of immigration to Poland, characterized by the dominance of immigrants coming from outside the European Union, these issues are not subject to EU regulations that apply only to EU citizens. It is an open question whether the Polish authorities will take action to extend certain political rights to immigrants from third countries who have moved the center of their life activities to Poland. The article discusses the issue of political participation of immigrants in Poland on the example of their activity in local elections in 2014 and 2018. The research objective is to identify the key determinants of electoral participation of foreigners and to analyze the data of the National Electoral Commission, showing the actual degree of use by immigrants living in Poland of their electoral rights at the local level (the right to vote and the right to stand for election). The conducted analysis aims to reveal formal and practical possibilities as well as barriers and challenges, especially of a systemic nature, in the field of electoral participation of immigrants in Poland, both those who already have such rights and those who could obtain these rights. Streszczenie Zagadnienie partycypacji politycznej imigrantów w Polsce nabiera aktualności i warte jest ponownego rozważenia przez władze państwowe wraz z rosnącą liczbą imigrantów osiedlających się w Polsce. Z uwagi na strukturę imigracji do Polski, charakteryzującą się dominacją imigrantów pochodzących spoza Unii Europejskiej, kwestie te nie podlegają regulacjom unijnym, odnoszącym się wyłącznie do obywateli UE. Otwartym pozostaje pytanie czy polskie władze podejmą działania w kierunku obejmowania wybranymi prawami politycznymi także imigrantów z krajów trzecich, którzy przenieśli centrum swojej aktywności życiowej do Polski. W artykule podjęty został temat partycypacji politycznej imigrantów w Polsce na przykładzie ich aktywności w wyborach lokalnych w 2014 i 2018 r. Jego zasadniczym celem badawczym jest identyfikacja kluczowych uwarunkowań partycypacji wyborczej cudzoziemców oraz analiza danych Państwowej Komisji Wyborczej, ukazujących rzeczywisty stopień korzystania przez cudzoziemców mieszkających w Polsce z przysługujących im praw wyborczych na poziomie lokalnym (prawa wybierania i prawa do kandydowania). Przeprowadzone analizy posłużyły ujawnieniu możliwości, barier i wyzwań, formalnych i praktycznych, zwłaszcza natury systemowej, w zakresie partycypacji wyborczej imigrantów w Polsce, zarówno tych, którym takie prawa już przysługują, jak i tych, którzy prawa te mogliby uzyskać.

Ecological and geographical assessment of natural geosystems of the Pacific Russia

В статье рассматриваются результаты оценки фактической степени сохранности природных геосистем Тихоокеанской России. Научный подход в данной работе основан на ведущем принципе рекомендуемого структурами ООН экосистемного подхода к управлению живой природой. Утверждается, что Тихоокеанский регион России (Тихоокеанская Россия) в соответствии с ее географическим положением, свойствами, геополитической спецификой и биоресурсным потенциалом обеспечивает высокий уровень самоорганизации пространственного развития, значимого в масштабах всей России. Выявлено, что специфичный характер дальневосточной региональной границы между морем и сушей, обширные переходные зоны между низменными участками и горными ландшафтами, многообразный характер сочетаний видов природопользования обеспечивают одновременно разделение и слияние пространственных элементов как природного, так и антропогенного происхождения, что позволяет рассматривать весь дальневосточный регион как особую контактную зону, важную для сохранения биоразнообразия и осуществления устойчивого природопользования в пределах всей Евразии. Авторами показывается, что природные экосистемы, местообитания животных и растений, биотические сообщества и популяции на всей территории Тихоокеанской России испытывают влияние ряда негативных факторов, которые имеют как природное, так и антропогенное происхождение. На базе геоинформационных оценок антропогенной нарушенности биомов были сделаны расчеты для стратегического зонирования регионального природопользования, выделены на основе интегрального картографирования крупные природные районы Тихоокеанской России. Предложено нормативно-природоохранное зонирование к исполнению в административных субъектах Дальневосточного федерального округа (ДФО) Российской Федерации. Предложен к обсуждению тезис о том, что эколого-географическое районирование может представлять собой особый вид природоохранной классификации, базирующейся на сопоставлении природно-территориальных комплексов с различной степенью антропогенной нарушенности. Сделаны количественные площадные сопоставления официально сохраняемой (система особо охраняемых природных территорий) и неохраняемой (дикой) природы в пределах территории Тихоокеанской России, сформулированы рекомендации по эффективному осуществлению региональной практики сохранения живой природы. Авторами используется геоинформационный алгоритм определения природоохранных приоритетов, действующий на базе сопоставления, визуализации и картографического сложения пространственной неоднородности природных ценностей, описанный ранее в ряде авторских работ эколого-географической направленности. The article is concerned with the results of estimating the actual degree of preservation of the natural geosystems of the Pacific Russia. The scientific approach in this work is based on the guiding principle of the ecosystem approach to wildlife management recommended by the UNO structures. It is said that the Pacific region of Russia (Pacific Russia), in accordance with its geographical position, characteristics, geopolitical specificity and bioresource potential provides the high level of the self-organization of spatial development crucial on a nationwide scale of Russia. It is determined that the specific character of the Far-Eastern regional boundary between the sea and land, extensive transition zones between the low-level sections and mountain landscapes and multivarious character of combinations of the nature management types provide simultaneously division and mergence of the special elements of both natural and anthropogenic origin which allows to consider the whole Far-Eastern region as the special contact area important to conservation of biodiversity and realization of the sustainable nature management within the limits of the whole Eurasia. The authors demonstrate that the natural ecosystems, habitats o animals and plants, biotic communities and populations on the whole territory of the Pacific Russia are under the influence of a number of negative factors which are characterized by both natural and anthropogenic origin. On the basis of geo-information estimates of the anthropogenic dislocation of the biomes, the calculations for strategic zonation pf the regional nature management were carried out and, based on integral mapping, the large natural areas of the Pacific Russia were identified. The regulatory-nature conservation zoning was proposed for action in the administrative subjects of the Far-Eastern Federal District (FEFD) of Russian Federation. The statement whereby the ecologo-geographical zonation can represent the specific type of the conservational classification resting on the comparison of the natural-territorial complexes with different degree of anthropogenic dislocation was proposed for consideration. The quantitative areal comparisons of the officially preserved (system of the specially protected natural reservations) and unprotected (wildness) areas were performed within the Pacific Russia territory and recommendations on the effective implementation of the regional practice and preservation of wild life were formulated. The authors use the geo-informational algorithm for determining the conservational priorities acting on the base of comparison, visualization and cartographic addition of spatial nonuniformity of natural values described earlier in a number of own works of ecologo-geographical subject-matter.

ONLINE SHOPPING PREFERENCES OF POLISH AND CHINESE CONSUMER – COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the level of satisfaction of e-service customers from Poland and China through identification of gaps between customer expectations and the degree to which such expectations are met by providers of online services. Towards this end the E-Servqual method was employed, which enabled the measurement of customer expectations as to the quality of key aspects of online services relative to the actual degree to which customer expectations were met. This survey shows how respondents perceive the quality of online services and their preferences in this respect. Based on the seven dimensions of the E-Servqual scale, i.e. contact, efficiency, reliability, fulfilment, privacy, responsiveness, compensation, the present author proposed her own measures of e-services quality.

Inter- and Intra-individual Variations in Foveal Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness and Their Associations with Clinical Characteristics in a Healthy Chinese Population

Purpose. To evaluate foveal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and the difference thereof between bilateral eyes and their possible associations with clinical characteristics in a healthy Chinese population. Materials and Methods. Normal subjects were enrolled. Generalized linear models were used to assess the associations of foveal ONL thickness with sex, age, and spherical equivalents (SEs) and the associations of the difference in foveal ONL thickness between bilateral eyes with sex, age, and difference in SEs between bilateral eyes. Results. Totally, 304 subjects were included. The average foveal ONL thickness was 103.19 ± 14.25 (range 70–151) μm in the right eye and 103.90 ± 14.63 (range 69–155) μm in the left eye. The mean difference in foveal ONL thickness between right and left eyes was −0.71 ± 4.36 (range −13 to +12) μm. Men had slightly greater foveal ONL thickness values in both right and left eyes compared with women (both P<0.05); however, some women had a thicker foveal ONL than that of men (85/198 vs. 46/106 in the right eye; 79/198 vs. 52/106in the left eye). Age and SEs were not associated with foveal ONL thickness in either eye (all P>0.05). Sex, age, and difference in SEs between bilateral eyes were not associated with the difference in foveal ONL thickness between bilateral eyes (all P>0.05). Conclusions. Foveal ONL thickness showed wide variation in a normal Chinese population but little difference between bilateral eyes. Both these parameters could not be adjusted by sex, age, SEs, or the SEs difference between bilateral eyes. Thus, in those diseases involving only one eye, the difference or ratio of foveal ONL thickness between the affected eye and normal fellow eye may reflect the actual degree of the disease, rather than the foveal ONL thickness in the affected eye alone.

Seismogenic behaviour in the Lesser Antilles: Insights from geodetic observations

&lt;p&gt;The Lesser Antilles subduction zone is a challenging region when it comes to unravelling its seismogenic behaviour. Over the last century, it has been seismically quiet, with no large thrust events recorded, leading to the question whether this subduction zone is able to produce large interplate earthquakes or not. The slow subduction velocity of ~20 mm/yr complicates this even further, as mega-earthquake recurrence times would be up to many hundreds of years in the case of a fully locked subduction interface, and up to several thousands of years for a partially locked interface. The record of two large historical earthquakes, a M ~8 in 1839 and M ~8.5 in 1843, is often referred to as evidence supporting the seismic character of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone. It remains, however, questionable whether these events actually occurred along the subduction interface.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we use GPS data acquired on various islands within the Antilles to infer interseismic coupling along the Lesser Antilles Arc. Previous block models have suggested low coupling of the subduction interface, making the occurrence of large megathrust earthquakes less likely. However, the non-uniqueness of these inversions, as well as uncertainties related to the distance between GPS stations and the subduction trench, cast doubts on how well the inferred coupling represents the actual degree of locking along the subduction interface. In this study, we attempt to improve these estimates, by using a Bayesian approach to derive a meaningful set of uncertainties on the distribution of interseismic coupling. By exploring the entire range of model parameters, we are able to provide a probabilistic estimate of interseismic coupling. To further improve our analysis with respect to previous models, we incorporate a layered elastic structure, as well as a more realistic fault geometry, testing two different slab models.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our results suggest that the subduction interface of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone is most likely to be uncoupled. A sensitivity analysis highlights the deeper part of the interface (i.e., 30-60 km depth) as the region with higher sensitivity, since the GPS stations are distributed mostly above that portion of the subduction. A test regarding the proposed 1843 rupture contour reveals that this area is very unlikely to be locked. This apparent aseismic character of the Lesser Antilles raises questions about the role of slow slip along the interface. We therefore also analyse GPS time series to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of transient deformation signals in the region.&lt;/p&gt;