Clustering Countries in the Context of the Pandemic and Underlying Conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the state of underlying conditions of countries in terms of health system, sanitary infrastructure, governance, among others. This study aims to classify countries using COVID-19-related variables such as the lethality rate, the contagion growth rate, the stringency index, and underlying conditions of countries directly related to COVID-19 such as access to clean water, hospital beds per 10000 inhabitants, government effectiveness index, population older than 65 years old and economic growth rate. To determine the clusters of a set of countries from all continents (29 from Africa, 35 from Asia, 35 from Europe, 11 from North America, 2 from Oceania and 8 from South America), the k-means partitioning method is used. This approach consists in constructing partitions and evaluate their intra-class and inter-class similarity. Based on the results, three clusters are identified: i. Severely affected countries with high stringency and moderate capacity, ii. Moderately affected countries with moderate stringency and high capacity and iii. Severely affected countries with low stringency but low capacity.

Traditional Piscicidal Knowledge along the Chakpi River and other Water Bodies in Chandel District, Manipur State : Past and Present Scenario

The present study was undertaken with an aim to expound the various indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) practices centring around the stagnant or semi-stagnant water bodies in Chandel district of Manipur. The prevailing indigenous practices were considered and only three groups of indigenous practices were found to be rational in the present scenario which could be further assessed, documented and propagated for the benefit of farming community. The three group of indigenous practices involve the age-old methods of stupefying the fish in ponds or rivers using tree barks, roots and leaves of specific trees or plants having ichthyotoxic properties. Two filters were applied to identify the ITKs. The first filter being rationality therein only ITK practices having rationality score more than 2.4 being explained in the study. The second filter was mean perceived effectiveness index (MPEI). Of the 17 practices evaluated, 3 were rational (42.08%) while the remaining 14 were rejected as irrational (57.92%). The perceived effectiveness and adoption rate analysis of these age-old ITKs indicated that, the traditional use of stupefying barks was rated as rational (3.01), perceived as highly effective (2.60) and adopted by 78 per cent of the respondents whereas on the lower end, the method incorporating the juice extract of ichthyotoxic leaves was rated as rational (2.48), perceived as effective (1.9) and adopted by 48 per cent of respondents.

Hedging Effectiveness of the VIX ETPs

This study introduces basic concepts about hedging and provides an overview of common hedging practices. This theoretical introduction is followed by an empirical application in which the hedging effectiveness of the VIX ETPs is evaluated. The iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETN (VXX) and the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) are taken for the empirical application. Dynamic conditional correlations between the VXX and SPY are obtained from DCC-GARCH framework. Based on the estimated conditional volatilities of the SPY and the hedged portfolio, a hedging effectiveness index is constructed. Results show that the hedging effectiveness of the VXX increases in turbulent periods such as the last three months of 2018 marked by the plummeting oil prices, increasing uncertainties about the Brexit deal, and rising federal funds rates and the month of March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic became a global concern.

Determining Forms of Expressions of Food Violence in Venezuela

In the present investigation, the existence of various forms of expression of food violence in Venezuela was determined, through the measurement of contextualized variables within the established classification. The existence and aggravation of forms of economic expression of food violence were determined, with a relative improvement in food availability but an increase in the difficulty of access: the basic food basket was located in December 2020 at $180.16, and the minimum wage at $6.35, which covers only 3.5% of the basic food basket. Additionally, a substantial increase in the use of the US dollar was determined, in parallel to the Venezuelan legal tender (Bolívar) as well as the introduction of the electronic currency “Petro”, which distorts the food access market and hinders the accessibility. Likewise, the effectiveness index for the delivery of food subsidies and the ability to satisfy the basic food basket through the food programs was determined. The existence of forms of moral expression of food violence was determined by observing in the respondents, high levels of dissatisfaction in the delivery criteria both in a general and community way and high levels of inappropriate perception of the use of propaganda or political advertising in the delivery of help with the no consulted use of the image of the beneficiaries. Forms of emotional expression of food violence were evidenced, showing high levels of dissatisfaction and uncertainty in the ability to purchase food, as well as high levels of anguish. Forms of cultural expression of food violence were determined, by determining changes in the ancestral and traditional eating pattern of the Venezuelan, as well as high measurements of dissatisfaction in the forced change in said pattern, as well as in the alteration of tastes and preferences expressed by the respondents have experienced. Sanitary forms of expression of food violence were evidenced, by determining considerable percentages in the consumption of basic products such as flour and sugar in bulk with ignorance of the brand and origin of the food and high levels of dissatisfaction with the realization of this type of consumption. No physical forms of expression of Food Violence were evidenced when the queues for food access were apparently stopped, and the use of body markings.

Convergent and Construct Validity of a Conversation Difficulties Outcome Measure in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Cognition and language changes, and their impacts on functional communication, are central to many dementias. Thus, functional communication, including conversation difficulties, is an important endpoint for clinical trials. To develop robust outcomes in primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a dementia characterized by communication impairments, we examined the convergent and construct validity of the Perception of Conversation Difficulties-Dementia Alzheimer’s Type (PCI-DAT; Orange et al., 2009). The PCI-DAT is a care partner reported measure of conversation difficulties. Eighty-two care partners with a mean age of 64.8 years (SD=10.61; 85% spouses, 5% adult children, 10% friends/siblings) whose mean relationship duration to the person with PPA was 39.1 (SD=15.1) years completed the study. Pearson’s correlation indicated a significant, modest correlation (r=-0.54, p<0.0001) between the PCI-DAT Perception of Conversation Difficulties subscale and the Communication Effectiveness Index (Lomas et al., 1989) suggesting strong convergent validity. A Rasch analysis conducted on the same PCI-DAT subscale showed high person (0.92) and item (0.95) reliability indicating a robust overall scale structure that adequately evaluates various levels of conversation difficulty severity in PPA. Six items (27%) had minor ‘fit’ issues (defined by Wright and Linacre, 1994 as having infit statistics < 0.6 or > 1.4) relative to the underlying construct. Results suggest strong convergent and construct validity of the PCI-DAT in PPA and indicate items that will benefit from further development. Overall, our results suggest that the PCI-DAT holds promise for use as a functional communication endpoint in PPA clinical trials. Data for all five PCI-DAT subscales will be presented.

Evaluating Rumor Debunking Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: Utilizing User Stance in Comments on Sina Weibo

Background: The spread of rumors related to COVID-19 on social media has posed substantial challenges to public health governance, and thus exposing rumors and curbing their spread quickly and effectively has become an urgent task. This study aimed to assist in formulating effective strategies to debunk rumors and curb their spread on social media.Methods: A total of 2,053 original postings and 100,348 comments that replied to the postings of five false rumors related to COVID-19 (dated from January 20, 2020, to June 28, 2020) belonging to three categories, authoritative, social, and political, on Sina Weibo in China were randomly selected. To study the effectiveness of different debunking methods, a new annotation scheme was proposed that divides debunking methods into six categories: denial, further fact-checking, refutation, person response, organization response, and combination methods. Text classifiers using deep learning methods were built to automatically identify four user stances in comments that replied to debunking postings: supporting, denying, querying, and commenting stances. Then, based on stance responses, a debunking effectiveness index (DEI) was developed to measure the effectiveness of different debunking methods.Results: The refutation method with cited evidence has the best debunking effect, whether used alone or in combination with other debunking methods. For the social category of Car rumor and political category of Russia rumor, using the refutation method alone can achieve the optimal debunking effect. For authoritative rumors, a combination method has the optimal debunking effect, but the most effective combination method requires avoiding the use of a combination of a debunking method where the person or organization defamed by the authoritative rumor responds personally and the refutation method.Conclusion: The findings provide relevant insights into ways to debunk rumors effectively, support crisis management of false information, and take necessary actions in response to rumors amid public health emergencies.

PENGARUH BAHAN PENGENYAL KOMERSIAL FOOD GRADE DAN TEPUNG KORO PEDANG PRA GERMINASI TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KUALITAS TIWUL INSTAN TINGGI PROTEIN

The aim of the research was to make high protein instant tiwul from mocaf which was substituted with jack bean flour and given a food grade commercial thickener to improve its sensory aspect. The study used a randomized block design. The factors studied were germination treatment on jack bean (G), without pre germination (G1) and with pre germination (G2); Proportion of mocaf: jack bean flour : tapioca (w/w) (F), P1 = 75:15:10, P2 = 70:20:10 and P3 = 65:25:10 and Addition of Commercial food grade thickening agent (w/w; % to flour weight) (K), K1 = 0.5%, K2 = 0.75% and K3 = 1.0%. The variables studied were physicochemical properties (moisture content, ash content, formol value, rehydration ability, for the best treatment, protein and fat content were tested) and sensory properties. Data were analyzed by F test (ANOVA) and continued with DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range Test). Based on the effectiveness index test, the best instant tiwul was G2P3K3 (with pre germination; proportion of mocaf-jack bean flour-tapioca w/w 65:25:10; commercial food grade thickening agent 1%). This instant tiwul has a water content of 4.39% wb; protein 7.05%db (6.74%wb), fat 6.39% db (6.11%wb), ash 0.98%db (0.93%wb) and carbohydrates (by difference) 85.54% db (81.78% wb), coefficient rehydration 3,67 and formol value 0,0383 ml NaOH 0,1N/g bk.

INVOLVEMENT LOAD HYPOTHESIS PLUS

The present meta-analysis aimed to improve on Involvement Load Hypothesis (ILH) by incorporating it into a broader framework that predicts incidental vocabulary learning. Studies testing the ILH were systematically collected and 42 studies meeting our inclusion criteria were analyzed. The model-selection approach was used to determine the optimal statistical model (i.e., a set of predictor variables) that best predicts learning gains. Following previous findings, we investigated whether the prediction of the ILH improved by (a) examining the influence of each level of individual ILH components (need, search, and evaluation), (b) adopting optimal operationalization of the ILH components and test format grouping, and (c) including other empirically motivated variables. Results showed that the resulting models explained a greater variance in learning gains. Based on the models, we created incidental vocabulary learning formulas. Using these formulas, one can calculate the effectiveness index of activities to predict their relative effectiveness more accurately on incidental vocabulary learning.

Concerning effective and safe dosages of vitamin D3: mega-analysis of clinically effective studies as a basis for actual evidence

The negative effects of hypovitaminosis D3 and vitamin D3 deficiency in 80% of Russians make eliminating vitamin D deficiency an issue of state concern. Hundreds of effective clinical studies showed realistic opportunities of vitamin D3 to help patients with disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, high levels of nonspecific inflammation, tuberculosis, and women with a higher risk of complications and pregnancy losses. Vitamin D3 supplements are essential for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of “bone” and “extraosseous” diseases. One of the most important aspects of the clinical uses of vitamin D3 is the dosage and dosage regimen of the vitamin. This paper presents the results of a “mega-analysis” of 3965 clinical studies of vitamin D3 in terms of the effectiveness of different dosages in achieving different clinical outcomes. It was shown that dosages of 2000 IU/day and 4000 IU/day correspond to the peak values of the effectiveness index, regardless of the diagnoses studied (mega-analysis of 420 randomized trials). Some effectiveness in the treatment of rickets, gestational diabetes, calcium metabolism disorders, disorders of bone density and structure, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue can be achieved using weekly dosages of 50,000 IU/week (mega-analysis of 196 studies). It has been shown that dosages of 100,000-1,000,000 IU, intended for a single dose once a month, are almost always found only among studies with a negative result (mega-analysis of 368 studies).

The board effectiveness index and stock price crash risk

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to use a new broad board effectiveness index, which has been created from several internal attributes of board of directors and to investigate the association of the overall index regarding stock price crash risk.Design/methodology/approachThe authors create a new board effectiveness index from a comprehensive set of board attributes, including the number of board meetings, the number of board attendances, the expertise of the directors, the size of the board and the number of independent directors, in order to test with the stock price crash risk by using panel regression models with fixed effects. The two-stage least squared regression ensures endogeneity issues.FindingsAn increase in board effectiveness index lowers firm-specific crash risk. Moreover, female directors enhance the board effectiveness.Originality/valueWith a new broad board effectiveness index, this paper is unique from other studies as the authors focus on the overall index rather than on a single dimension of board attributes.