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Determinants of problematic online gaming in younger and older adults: emotional dysregulation, trait impulsivity and risk taking
Get PDFProblematic online gaming is a great concern among emerging adults. Although some cross-sectional studies suggest that problematic online gaming is associated with emotional difficulties, there is limited investigation into contribution of psychological risk factors among different age groups.The current study aimed to explore whether young emerging adults have significantly greater emotion dysregulation (ED), trait impulsivity, risk taking behaviours and problematic online gaming than older adults; and the predictive value of ED, urgency and risk taking behaviours on problematic online gaming. A total of 156 participants (Mage = 26.42) completed the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale (SUPPS-P), Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire Short-Form (POGQ-SF), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short-Form (DERS-SF) and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Younger adults (18 to 24 years) showed significantly greater ED and higher risk-taking behaviours than older adults (25-49 years), with males showing higher problematic online gaming and risk-taking. 18 to 24 years old adults had significantly greater ED for lack of goals (p < .01) and strategy (p < .01), and higher risk-taking behaviours (p < .01) than older adults. Positive urgency (PU) (p < .01) was the strongest predictor of problematic online gaming. Furthermore, there were significant indirect effects of positive urgency and negative urgency on problematic online gaming via difficulties in emotion regulation. Adult problematic online gaming is an emotion-driven problem behaviour that has similar associations to other internet addictions like online gambling disorder and that age-related changes during adulthood affect ED and risk taking behaviour. Limitations, future cyberpsychology research and implications including clinical and policy are discussed
A different future – How business can reduce inequality.
Get PDFThe responsibility for combating inequality is usually perceived as lying with the government. However, the deep-rooted nature of inequality in the UK means that addressing it requires a whole society and economy approach which includes the business sector. This report, supported by The Co-operative Group, outlines what role business has and could have in addressing inequality at the national and local levels. It draws upon discussions with 50 businesses and other stakeholders in the business sector. It includes case studies of initiatives that businesses are undertaking as well as an analysis of the structures and culture required to increase commitment to address inequality from the business sector. It also outlines recommendations for policymakers and businesses
Towards Development of Sustainable Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC)
Get PDFClimate change is one of the main problems that our planet faces. A challenging issue in the Civil Engineering field is to produce more sustainable materials and structures. Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) is cementitious material with advantageous mechanical properties. UHPFRC can be used in a number of applications that require high-strength, ductility and durability. In the production of UHPFRC large quantities of cement, aggregates and steel fibers are required. In this investigation, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) has been used as partial replacement of cement to produce a more sustainable UHPFRC. In addition, general purpose unprocessed recycled steel fibers have been used as an alternative to conventional new steel fibers. A comparison is made of the different types of fibers used. The results of the present study indicated that the compressive strength of HPFRC is not affected significantly for GGBS contents up to 30%. The addition of unprocessed recycled steel fibers resulted in an increase in the compressive strength of UHPFRC. In tension, the UHPFRC material presented strain softening and with an overall lower strength compared to using conventional fibers. As long fibers tend to become entangled, in the present study short recycled fibers have been used. Further study is required to investigate the use of suitably treated recycled fibers of various lengths
Intergenerational differences in walking for transportation between older men and women in six countries
No full textBackground
– Research on potential differences in walking between men and women have mixed and inconclusive results, and no study has examined differences in walking between men and women across multiple countries and generations (i.e., young-old, old-old, and oldest-old). This study aimed to compare older men and women with respect to their walking for transportation across three generations and among six countries (i.e., China, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Ghana, and India).
Methods
– This study adopted the cross-sectional design that utilised data from the World Health Organization Study on AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE – wave one). The sample included 12,125 older adults aged 60–114 years from the six countries. The participants were selected with a cluster random sampling method in each country. The data were analysed using three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Results
– There were significant differences in walking for transportation among countries. In only South Africa there was a significant difference in walking between men and women, as well as among the three older generations. South African men reported more walking than South African women, and younger-old South Africans reported more walking than older-old and the oldest South Africans.
Conclusions
– There are differences in older adults' walking for transportation among countries. Differences in walking between men and women and among the three generations were only significant in South Africa
Performance and cryptographic evaluation of security protocols in distributed networks using applied pi calculus and Markov Chain
Get PDFThe development of cryptographic protocols goes through two stages, namely, security verification and performance analysis. The verification of the protocol’s security properties could be analytically achieved using threat modelling, or formally using formal methods and model checkers. The performance analysis could be mathematical or simulation-based. However, mathematical modelling is complicated and does not reflect the actual deployment environment of the protocol in the current state of the art. Simulation software provides scalability and can simulate complicated scenarios, however, there are times when it is not possible to use simulations due to a lack of support for new technologies or simulation scenarios. Therefore, this paper proposes a formal method and analytical model for evaluating the performance of security protocols using applied pi-calculus and Markov Chain processes. It interprets algebraic processes and associates cryptographic operatives with quantitative measures to estimate and evaluate cryptographic costs. With this approach, the protocols are presented as processes using applied pi-calculus, and their security properties are an approximate abstraction of protocol equivalence based on the verification from ProVerif and evaluated using analytical and simulation models for quantitative measures. The interpretation of the quantities is associated with process transitions, rates, and measures as a cost of using cryptographic primitives. This method supports users’ input in analysing the protocol’s activities and performance. As a proof of concept, we deploy this approach to assess the performance of security protocols designed to protect large-scale, 5G-based Device-to-Device communications. We also conducted a performance evaluation of the protocols based on analytical and network simulator results to compare the effectiveness of the proposed approach
Factors predicting birth satisfaction in Hungary
Get PDFBirth satisfaction is influenced by demographic, obstetric and cognitive factors. Little research exists on birth satisfaction in Hungary, despite this country displaying high rates of medical interventions during childbirth. A cross-sectional study was conducted online with 78 Hungarian women. Participants completed the Birth satisfaction and the Birth beliefs scales alongside a demographic and obstetric questionnaire. Birth satisfaction was associated with parity, place of birth, pain management methods, delivery mode and adherence to birth plan as well as beliefs in birth as a medical process, but not with self-efficacy or birth beliefs as a natural process. However, when considered together, none of the variables predicted birth satisfaction, implying that other factors may be at play. Given the limited research on birth satisfaction in Hungary, these results contribute important foundations for further research
‘They burn so bright whilst you can only wonder why’: Stories at the intersection of social class, capital and critical information literacy —a collaborative autoethnography.
Get PDFIn this article we connect critical librarianship and its practices of information literacy (IL) with working-class experiences of higher education(HE). Although the research literature and professional body of knowledge of critical information literacy (CIL), is one of the most theoretically-developed areas of wider critical librarianship (Critlib) movement, working-class knowledge and experiences remain underrepresented.One reason for this is that the values, behaviour and assumptions of library and HEworkers are shaped by a HEsystem which inculcates middle-class values and cultural capitals within students, and stigmatises working-class students as lacking or in deficit. Hegemonic, or non-critical, IL proselytises middle-class values and assumptions about academic practices and skills development including the notion of an ideal student with behaviour and markers of identity which reflect those most privileged by wider society. In contrast CIL, framed as thesocially-just practice of IL is theoretically well-placed to support working-class library workers in destabilising this alongside middle-class accomplices.Employing Yosso’s (2005) concept of community and cultural wealth (CCW), we analyse how library workers can recognise working-class cultural wealth within the context of CIL and wider working practices. As such narrative accounts are lacking in the literature, we utilise collaborative autoethnography (CAE) (Chang et al., 2013) to consider and interpretour own experiences of libraries when we were university students ourselves, and more recently as HEworkers of working-class heritage
Multi-Zonal Analysis of Indoor Air Quality in a Higher Educational Building in the UK
No full textThis study focuses on the indoor air quality (IAQ) in a higher educational building, the London College in the UK. In this regard, indoor CO2 levels, as well as three contaminants with detrimental effects on human health: NO2, PM2.5, and SARS-CoV-2, are investigated. Various IAQ enhancement strategies are analyzed, including increased ventilation, background ventilation, improved airflow through opened doors, and the use of HEPA air cleaners. Results revealed that background ventilation and open doors during occupied periods reduced CO2 concentrations to
around 1000 ppm. However, the effectiveness of background ventilation was influenced by outdoor
conditions, such as wind speed and direction. The most effective method for reducing PM2.5 levels
was installing an air cleaner alongside a commercial kitchen hood, resulting in a 15% greater reduction compared to background ventilation. To control the SARS-CoV-2 level, combining background ventilation or opening the doors with a 16,000 m3/h ventilation rate or using an air cleaner with baseline ventilation resulted in a basic reproductive number below 1. Overall, the research highlights the importance of background ventilation and open doors in enclosed spaces without operable windows for natural airflow. Additionally, the effectiveness of air purifiers in reducing particle and biological contaminant concentrations is demonstrated, providing valuable insights for improving IAQ in educational buildings