The Salience of Perceived Societal Conflict in Europe: A 27 Country Study on the Development of a Measure for Generalized Conflict Thinking

Over the last two decades, European countries have struggled with several crises (e.g., the Great Recession, the refugee crisis) which had a tremendous impact on (some) societies. Typically, these crises were accompanied by divisive public discourses that rely heavily on a sharp and moralistic us-them distinction. Especially extreme right- and left-wing parties have adopted such conflict discourses and have gained much electoral support. Against this background, this paper has two objectives. First, data from the European Quality of Life Survey from 2003 to 2016 in 27 countries are used to provide a comprehensive overview of the salience of perceived societal conflicts between seven pairs of groups between countries and across time. We find substantial differences between countries and longitudinal trend variation in the salience of perceived societal conflict. For example, in Eastern European countries more economic conflict is perceived, while in Western European countries people perceive more cultural conflict between different ethnic and religious groups. Second, multigroup confirmatory factor analyses reveal that specific perceptions of conflict are structured by an underlying general orientation, generalized conflict thinking: people’s tendency to perceive society through the lens of conflict regardless of the specificity of these groups. The measure for generalized conflict thinking is metric equivalent across a large sample of countries. This demonstrates that generalized conflict thinking can be used as a social indicator for comparative research. In the conclusion we elaborate on the implications of our findings and develop a research agenda regarding generalized conflict thinking.

Knowledge, attitude, motivation and planning of breastfeeding: A cross-sectional study among Jordanian women

Background In Jordan, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is declining. The trend variation in breastfeeding practice is determined by different factors including antenatal women’s attitude and planning which are affected by their awareness and the support they receive. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, support, and planning of breastfeeding among Jordanian women.Methods A face-to-face cross sectional semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted among healthy women in the antenatal clinic and postpartum ward at three hospitals in Northern Jordan during the period August 2019 to December 2019. Data were collected about demographic characteristics, women’s knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding, antenatal and postnatal support and counseling, and feeding planning. Customized scales were utilized to assess knowledge and attitude. Factors associated with planning to breastfeed were reported.Results 660 women completed the survey questionnaire. The majority were 20 to 35 years of age, 10% were primiparous, and 30% were employed. 78% were knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits and aware of WHO recommendations. 72% had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding. More than half received support from their husbands to breastfeed their infants, while less than 20% received any counseling from their obstetric providers. 97% reported their intention to breastfeed, and more than half indicated their willingness to breastfeed exclusively. With multilogistic regression modelling, predictors of EBF planning include: primiparity (AOR 1.79 95% C.I 1.1, 3.25), positive attitude (AOR 1.80 95% C.I 1.05, 3.1) and positive husband’s support (AOR 1.92 95% C.I. 1.18, 3.15). Barriers include women’s employment (AOR 0.43 95% C.I. 0.26, 0.70) and low birth weight (AOR 0.46 95% C.I. 0.25, 0.84)Conclusion Jordanian women are highly knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits, and they exhibit a positive attitude towards breastfeeding resulting in a very high percentage intending to breastfeed their infants. Limited counseling about breastfeeding is a major gap in antenatal care. As intentions might not reflect the actual practice after delivery, gaps and barriers affecting the determinants of successful breastfeeding should be identified, and corrective tools should be implemented accordingly. Allocating a specific time for antenatal or postnatal counseling and support is expected to promote breastfeeding practice in our population.

Knowledge, attitude, motivation and planning of breastfeeding; A cross sectional study among Jordanian women.

Background In Jordan, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is declining. The trend variation in breastfeeding practice is determined by different factors including antenatal women’s attitude and planning which are affected by their awareness and the support they receive. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, support, and planning of breastfeeding among Jordanian women.Methods A face-to-face cross sectional semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted among healthy women in the antenatal clinic and postpartum ward at three hospitals in Northern Jordan during the period August 2019 to December 2019. Data were collected about demographic characteristics, women’s knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding, antenatal and postnatal support and counseling, and feeding planning. Customized scales were utilized to assess knowledge and attitude. Factors associated with planning to breastfeed were reported.Results 660 women completed the survey questionnaire. The majority were 20 to 35 years of age. 10% were primiparous and 30% were employed. 78% were knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits and aware of WHO recommendations. 72% had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding. More than half received support from their husbands to breastfeed their infants, while less than 20% received any counseling from their obstetric providers. 97% reported their intention to breastfeed, and more than half indicated their willing to exclusively breastfeed. With multilogistic regression model, predictors of EBF planning include primiparty (AOR 1.79 95% C.I 1.1, 3.25), positive attitude (AOR 1.80 95% C.I 1.05, 3.1) and positive husband’s support (AOR 1.92 95% C.I. 1.18, 3.15). Barriers include women’s employment (AOR 0.43 95% C.I. 0.26, 0.70) and low birth weight (AOR 0.46 95% C.I. 0.25, 0.84)Conclusion Jordanian women are highly knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits, and they exhibit a positive attitude towards breastfeeding resulting in a very high percentage intending to breastfeed their infants. Limited counseling about breastfeeding is a major gap in antenatal care. As intentions might not reflect the actual practice after delivery, gaps and barriers affecting the determinants of successful breastfeeding should be identified, and corrective tools should be accordingly implemented. Assigning a specific time allotment for antenatal or postnatal counseling and support is expected to promote breastfeeding practice in our population.

Knowledge, Attitude, Motivation and Planning of Breastfeeding; A cross Sectional Study among Jordanian Women.

Background Antenatal women’s attitude and planning for breastfeeding are affected by their awareness and the support they receive. These are key factors that contribute to the trend variation in breastfeeding practice. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, support, and planning of breastfeeding among Jordanian women. Methods A face-to-face cross sectional semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted among healthy women in the antenatal clinic and postpartum ward at three hospitals in Northern Jordan during the period August 2019 to December 2019. Data was collected about demographics, knowledge and attitude, support and counseling, and feeding planning. Factors associated with planning to breastfeed were reported. Results 660 women completed the survey questionnaires. 78% were knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits and aware of WHO recommendations. 72% had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding. More than half received support from their husbands to breastfeed their infants, while less than 20% received any counseling from their obstetric physicians. 97% reported their intention to breastfeed, and more than half indicated their willing to exclusively breastfeed. With Multilogistic regression model, predictors of EBF planning include primiparty (AOR 1.79 95% C.I 1.1, 3.25), positive attitude (AOR 1.80 95% C.I 1.05, 3.1) and positive husband’s support (AOR 1.92 95% C.I. 1.18, 3.15). Barriers include women’s employment (AOR 0.43 95% C.I. 0.26, 0.70) and low birth weight (AOR 0.46 95% C.I. 0.25, 0.84) Conclusion Jordanian women are highly knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits, and they exhibit a positive attitude towards breastfeeding resulting in a very high percentage intending to breastfeed their infants. Limited counseling about breastfeeding by obstetric physicians is a major gap in antenatal care. Assigning a specific time allotment for antenatal or postnatal counseling and support is expected to promote breastfeeding practice in our population.

Evaluating adherence to recommended diets in adults 1991–2015: revised China dietary guidelines index

Background The China Dietary Guidelines Index (CDGI) is a diet quality evaluation index that can present the overall diet quality and is comparable between individuals. The aim of this study was to revise CDGI for Chinese adults according to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2016 (CDG-2016), evaluate adherence to recommended diets between 1991 and 2015, and analyze the trend, variation, and determinants of diet quality. Methods Food, cooking oil, and condiment intakes were estimated based on twenty-four-hour dietary recalls over three consecutive days and the household weighing method. Based on the food and nutrients recommendations for people with different energy requirements in CDG-2016, CDGI was revised as China Dietary Guidelines Index (2019)-Adults (CDGI(2019)-A) by equal weight continuity scoring. Three-level random intercept-slope growth models were applied to analyze the trend, variation, and determinants at both the community and individual levels. Results CDGI(2019)-A, the sum of fourteen component scores with a range of 0–110 points, increased significantly from 38.2 in 1991 to 47.3 in 2015. Components with a score of less than half were milk (91.6%), fruits (72.0%), nuts (82.5%), other cereals and beans (82.6%), and seafood (77.7%). Between-individual accounted for 25.6% of the total score variation, of which 87.4% derived from the community level. CDGI(2019)-A score displayed a positive association with being female, having higher education, having higher income, living in an urban area, and knowing the CDG-2016 recommendations. The impact of income and awareness of CDG-2016 varied significantly across communities. Conclusions Although quality of diet has been improving in China, overall quality remains poor, primarily because of inadequate intake of milk and dairy products, nuts, fruits, other cereals and miscellaneous beans, and seafood. Intervention at the community level may improve diet quality more efficiently than at the individual level, and the most effective intervention should be selected in different communities according to local conditions.

Geochemical Characteristics and Paleoenvironmental Signi cance of the Ordovician Paleokarst Reservoir in the Maigaiti Slope of Tarim Basin

<p>The Ordovician carbonatites of the Maigaiti slope have formed the conditions for the development of large oil and gas fields with karst reservoirs. This study systematically analyzed the isotopic characteristics of carbon, oxygen, and strontium and enrichment trace elements regularity to examine the geochemical features of the paleo-karstification products, various periods of paleo-karstification, and paleoenvironmental conditions of the Ordovician. Affected by terrigenous clasts, the Lianglitage Formation is composed of limestone with a relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr value and a frequently fluctuating sea level, which exhibits an overall increasing-to-decreasing trend variation. Of all samples affected by the atmospheric freshwater leaching effect, δ¹⁸O values were negative, and δ¹³C values varied greatly toward both ends. The fissure/cave infills were rich in Fe and Mn but poor in Sr, and the Sr/Ba value was considerably less than 1, which confirms the existence of ancient weathered crust and the development of an atmospheric freshwater karst environment. Four different paleo-karstification periods were identified according to the carbon and oxygen isotopic characteristics of calcite. Combined with the trace element characteristics of the infills, the paleo-karstification in the Yingshan Formation was subdivided based on three hydrological environment conditions. Erosion modification of buried acid compaction-released water from late-period corrosion pores, caves, and fissures formed by syndiagenetic paleo-karstification and weathered crust bare paleo-karstification due to atmospheric freshwater leaching can significantly improve the reserving and permeability characteristics of the karst reservoir to develop a large paleokarst reservoir.</p>

Fuzzy Local Trend Transform based Fuzzy Time Series Forecasting Model

A fuzzy local trend transform based fuzzy time series forecasting model is proposed to improve practicability and forecast accuracy by providing forecast of local trend variation based on the linguistic representation of ratios between any two consecutive points in original time series. Local trend variation satisfies a wide range of real applications for the forecast, the practicability is thereby improved. Specific values based on the forecasted local trend variations that reflect fluctuations in historical data are calculated accordingly to enhance the forecast accuracy. Compared with conventional models, the proposed model is validated by about 50% and 60% average improvement in terms of MLTE (mean local trend error) and RMSE (root mean squared error), respectively, for three typical forecasting applications. The MLTE results indicate that the proposed model outperforms conventional models significantly in reflecting fluctuations in historical data, and the improved RMSE results confirm an inherent enhancement of reflection of fluctuations in historical data and hence a better forecast accuracy. The potential applications of the proposed fuzzy local trend transform include time series clustering, classification, and indexing.