Trade Potential in Arab Nations: The Case of the GCC and PAFTA

We examine trade flows for Arab nations concentrating on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Pan-Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA) areas, to identify opportunities to enhance intra-Arab trade and facilitate regional integration. We employ panel data for the years 2003–2017 and a structural gravity model together with an “aggregate” trade potential measure that treats the GCC and PAFTA areas as single countries. Results suggest that, by 2015, intra-area trade had reached maximum capacity for both blocs. Potential to trade also reached capacity with many of the largest Free Trade Areas around the world, however, opportunities for trade expansion that still exist with the MERCOSUR and ASEAN, as well as many distinct destinations, can assist in strategic planning to enhance integration efforts.

The Implicit Association Test in Introductory Psychology Textbooks: Blind Spot for Controversy

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) has been widely discussed as a potential measure of “implicit bias.” Yet the IAT is controversial; research suggests that it is far from clear precisely what the instrument measures, and it does not appear to be a strong predictor of behavior. The presentation of this topic in Introductory Psychology texts is important as, for many students, it is their first introduction to scientific treatment of such issues. In the present study, we examined twenty current Introductory Psychology texts in terms of their coverage of the controversy and presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of the measure. Of the 17 texts that discussed the IAT, a minority presented any of the concerns including the lack of measurement clarity (29%), an automatic preference for White people among African Americans (12%), lack of predictive validity (12%), and lack of caution about the meaning of a score (0%); most provided students with a link to the Project Implicit website (65%). Overall, 82% of the texts were rated as biased or partially biased on their coverage of the IAT. The implications for the perceptions and self-perceptions of students, particularly when a link to Project Implicit is included, are discussed.

Hygrothermal performance of internally insulated masonry walls with embedded wooden beam heads: a field study on the impact of hydrophobisation

Internal insulation remains often the only option to thermally upgrade massive masonry. Unfortunately, internal insulation can significantly change the wall’s hygrothermal performance, resulting in a higher risk on frost damage, wood rot of embedded beam heads, etc. The application of hydrophobisation is often put forward as a potential measure to avoid moisture problems, though more research on the impact of hydrophobisation is still required. Thereto, the current paper presents the results of a field study on the hygrothermal performance of internally insulated masonry with embedded wooden beam heads, exposed to wind-driven rain. Both a vapour open capillary active and a vapour tight insulation system are studied. Mainly the moisture conditions near the back of the wooden beam head are found to be influenced by hydrophobisation, which lowers the relative humidity. Closer to the masonry’s interior surface, the choice of the insulation system also influences the results. In case of a well-applied hydrophobisation, overall, the vapour tight system shows a better performance than the capillary active vapour open system. An exception to this is found for the first months after applying the hydrophobisation and the insulation system, where a longer drying period is needed in case of the vapour tight system.

The green potential of occupations in Switzerland

We use a data-driven methodology to quantify the importance of different skills in performing green tasks, aiming to estimate the green potential of occupations in Switzerland. By this we mean the potential of an occupation to be able to perform green tasks on the basis of the skills attributed to it, whereby it is irrelevant whether the occupation already bundles green tasks or not. The results show that occupations with a high green potential are predominantly those with an engineering and technical background. In order to substantiate our green potential measure, we provide evidence of a positive association between demand of employment in occupations with high green potential and an increase in the implicit tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions. The share of employment in occupations with a green potential above a reasonable threshold in the total Swiss labour force is 16.7% (number of persons employed) and 18.8% (full-time equivalents). These employed persons are, on average, younger, more often men, have a higher level of educational attainment and a higher probability of having immigrated than employed persons in occupations with low green potential.

Proof of Concept: The Effectiveness of Disinfectant Tunnel as Potential Measure against COVID-19

Disinfectant tunnels have attracted attention as a potential measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but their safety and effectiveness are questionable. Disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite were used, yet no scientific evidence is available on its effectiveness to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 on the human body through spraying, although this chemical is effective in the elimination of the virus on inanimate surfaces. Since safety issues are of importance, countries have halted the operation of these tunnels. Available literature has suggested several effective disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2, including iodine-based solution, such as povidone-iodine (PVP-I). This report describes the evaluation of the bactericidal activity of PVP-I in comparison to sodium hypochlorite, both in vitro and following spraying under a model tunnel. Two bacteria strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600) were used as model microorganisms. The spraying pattern and droplets distribution from the tunnel are also being described and were correlated with the effectiveness of the disinfectant droplets to eliminate the model bacteria. Results showed that 0.5 % v/v PVP-I and 0.5% v/v sodium hypochlorite are bactericidal (> 5 log10 reduction) in vitro. However, sprayed disinfectants did not show similar activity. Bacterial growth was seen in all cloth samples for 0.5% v/v PVP-I and all cloth samples except right shoulder for 0.5 % v/v sodium hypochlorite. Hence, the design of any disinfectant tunnel is important, and with an effective disinfectant to justify its efficacy.

Responsibility utility and the difference between preference and desirance: implications for welfare evaluation

Actions can provide “responsibility utility” when they signal the actors’ identities or values to others or to themselves. This paper considers a novel implication of this responsibility utility for welfare analysis: fully informed incentive-compatible choice data can give a biased measure of the utility delivered by exogenously determined outcomes. A person’s choice of a policy outcome may be informed by responsibility utility that would be strictly absent if that same person were a passive recipient of that same policy outcome. We introduce the term “desirance” to describe a rank ordering over exogenously determined outcomes and present evidence that desirance captures the welfare consequences of exogenously determined outcomes more accurately than preference. We review literatures showing that preference is sensitive to contextual variations that influence responsibility utility and show experimentally that responsibility utility can explain discrepancies between welfare estimates derived from choice data and subjective well-being data. We close by discussing subjective well-being as a potential measure of desirance.

Autophagy: A Novel Horizon for Hair Cell Protection

As a general sensory disorder, hearing loss was a major concern worldwide. Autophagy is a common cellular reaction to stress that degrades cytoplasmic waste through the lysosome pathway. Autophagy not only plays major roles in maintaining intracellular homeostasis but is also involved in the development and pathogenesis of many diseases. In the auditory system, several studies revealed the link between autophagy and hearing protection. In this review, we aimed to establish the correlation between autophagy and hair cells (HCs) from the aspects of ototoxic drugs, aging, and acoustic trauma and discussed whether autophagy could serve as a potential measure in the protection of HCs.

Encapsulated Food Products as a Strategy to Strengthen Immunity Against COVID-19

In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—a novel coronavirus was identified which was quickly distributed to more than 100 countries around the world. There are currently no approved treatments available but only a few preventive measures are available. Among them, maintaining strong immunity through the intake of functional foods is a sustainable solution to resist the virus attack. For this, bioactive compounds (BACs) are delivered safely inside the body through encapsulated food items. Encapsulated food products have benefits such as high stability and bioavailability, sustained release of functional compounds; inhibit the undesired interaction, and high antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Several BACs such as ω-3 fatty acid, curcumin, vitamins, essential oils, antimicrobials, and probiotic bacteria can be encapsulated which exhibit immunological activity through different mechanisms. These encapsulated compounds can be recommended for use by various researchers, scientists, and industrial peoples to develop functional foods that can improve immunity to withstand the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the future. Encapsulated BACs, upon incorporation into food, offer increased functionality and facilitate their potential use as an immunity booster. This review paper aims to target various encapsulated food products and their role in improving the immunity system. The bioactive components like antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, polyphenols, omega (ω)-3 fatty acids, lycopene, probiotics, etc. which boost the immunity and may be a potential measure to prevent COVID-19 outbreak were comprehensively discussed. This article also highlights the potential mechanisms; a BAC undergoes, to improve the immune system.

A Blended Two-Sided Chain Sampling Plan Created on Process Potential Measure

This research article presents, a blended two-sided chain inspection plan with process potential measure. The Probability of acceptance and related measures are shown. Tables are prepared to find the parameters of the plan. In this plan the variable inspection sample size is obtained by using normal distribution and in the attribute inspection, two-sided chain sampling plan which yields small sample size is used the designed sampling plan is really used in production industries to study the product with respect to the specification measures and to defend the period and charge of inspection to impact on the end product.