Group Behavior Research Articles

“Ich-Mupong”, a swollen stomach: an ethnographic study of the daily lived experiences of schoolchildren in schistosomiasis high transmission areas along Lake Albert, Hoima District

BackgroundOur primary focus was Schistosoma mansoni infection and schoolchildren. Within communities the social environment may promote individual risk of infection for the school-aged children. There will also be demographic groups who are not targeted or reached by preventive chemotherapy campaigns. The behaviours of these other groups will interact with those of school-aged children, resulting in further infection risk through exposure-related behaviours. Furthermore, perception of the disease may significantly influence the schoolchildren’s lived experience of the infection and associated disease. It is therefore crucial to document the daily experiences of schoolchildren living in schistosomiasis high transmission areas along Lake Albert, Hoima District.MethodsAn ethnographic study explored schoolchildren’s perspectives and daily life organisations that shape their risk of schistosomiaisis and their perceptions of the disease. The study was conducted between November 2022 and August 2023. It involved in-depth interviews with schoolchildren and their parents, key informant interviews, focus group discussions with schoolchildren, and participant observations. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Code reports were generated inductively using ATLAS.ti (Version 7).ResultsThe study revealed a significant level of knowledge and awareness about schistosomiasis among schoolchildren. They had understanding of the risk factors, continued exposure, and experiences of illness, though they had little autonomy to address these through their own behaviour as they were influenced by the behaviour of others and macro-factors such as WASH provision and economic need. Study participants experienced individual-level effects of schistosomiasis such as educational impacts and isolation as a significant form of stigma.ConclusionsThere is a need for continued community sensitisation and awareness campaigns to address social stigma, educational impact, and contamination and exposure-related behaviours. National and regional policies and programmes on WASH, livelihood and poverty eradication programmes need to be revisited in schistosomiasis high transmission areas to help provide alternatives and improve schoolchildren’s lived experiences.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Investigating the Effect of Human Factors on the Underground Mine Evacuation Process Using Agent-Based Simulation

Human factors play a critical role in underground mine evacuations, significantly impacting performance during emergencies. Traditional mine evacuation strategies rely on predetermined routes and static signs, but these methods do not account for the dynamic and unpredictable nature of real emergencies or the diverse behaviors of individuals. This research addresses these limitations by using agent-based simulations to explore evacuation behavior and performance in underground mines. The study involved three key steps. First, agent-based simulations were deployed to model both individual and group behaviors during emergencies. Second, evacuation performance was compared across three scenarios: miners following traditional passive signage, those making decisions in chaotic conditions, and miners equipped with smart evacuation devices. Finally, evacuation times were quantified to assess the effectiveness of each approach. The results revealed that miners using smart devices improved evacuation efficiency by 35% compared with those relying on passive signage and by 37% compared with chaotic decision-making scenarios. The median evacuation time was reduced from 10.8 min with passive signage to 7 min when using smart devices, taking varying stamina levels into account. These findings underscore the importance of integrating intelligent systems that account for pre-evacuation and wayfinding behaviors, offering new insights and setting a higher standard for emergency protocols in underground mining.

Cooperation Dynamics in Multiagent Systems: Modeling Vehicular Cooperation through Game Theory

<div>Cooperation lies at the core of multiagent systems (MAS) and multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL), where agents must navigate between individual interests and collective benefits. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), like collision avoidance systems and adaptive cruise control, exemplify agents striving to optimize personal and collective outcomes in multiagent environments. The study focuses on strategies aimed at fostering cooperation with the aid of game-theoretic scenarios, particularly the iterated prisoner’s dilemma, where agents aim to optimize personal and group outcomes. Existing cooperative strategies, such as tit-for-tat and win-stay lose-shift, while effective in certain contexts, often struggle with scalability and adaptability in dynamic, large-scale environments. The research investigates these limitations and proposes modifications to align individual gains with collective rewards, addressing real-world dilemmas in distributed systems. By analyzing existing cooperative strategies, the research investigates their effectiveness in encouraging group-oriented behavior in repeated games. It suggests modifications to align individual gains with collective rewards, addressing real-world dilemmas in distributed systems. Furthermore, it extends to scenarios with exponentially growing agent populations (<i>N</i> → +∞), addressing computational challenges using mean-field game theory to establish equilibrium solutions and reward structures tailored for infinitely large agent sets. Practical insights are provided by adapting simulation algorithms to create scenarios conducive to cooperation for group rewards. Additionally, the research advocates for incorporating vehicular behavior as a metric to assess the induction of cooperation, bridging theoretical constructs with real-world applications.</div>

Harnessing Free Sulfate Groups in Glycosylation Reactions

AbstractGeneral strategies for synthesizing sulfated oligosaccharides employ the protection of sulfate groups for glycosylation or post‐sulfation after the synthesis of oligosaccharides. However, the chemical behavior of free sulfate groups in glycosylation reactions has not been thoroughly studied. We examined several glycosyl donors with free sulfate groups, but neither glycosyl imidates nor thioglycosides achieved products. Conversely, activating 6‐sulfated GalNAc donors with either a 2‐NTroc group or 2‐O‐acetyl group using an ortho‐hexynylbenzoate group at the anomeric position yielded β‐glycosides in good yield. These results indicate that glycosylations with a free sulfate group can be performed and that the neighboring group participation of 2‐NHTroc and 2‐O‐acetyl groups works even with an unprotected sulfate group at the 6‐position. Ab initio calculations supported the formation of acyloxonium‐cation via 2‐O‐acyl participation. Additionally, glycosylation reactions under various counter cations of the sulfate group, such as Na+, Li+, K+, Ba2+, and pyridinium were examined. Results showed that sodium and lithium salt donors yielded the products in good yield. These results were also supported by ab initio calculations. Practical glycosylation reactions between disaccharide donor‐acceptor pairs with free sulfate groups successfully yielded the sulfated tetrasaccharides. This study also discusses how a sodium salt acts as a protecting group during glycosylation.

Interspecies Crosstalk via LuxI/LuxR-Type Quorum Sensing Pathways Contributes to Decreased Nematode Survival in Coinfections of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia multivorans.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a prominent chemical communication mechanism used by common bacteria to regulate group behaviors at high cell density, including many processes important in pathogenesis. There is growing evidence that certain bacteria can use QS to sense not only themselves but also other species and that this crosstalk could alter collective behaviors. In the current study, we report the results of culture-based and in vivo coinfection experiments that probe interspecies interactions between the opportunistic pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia multivorans involving their LuxI/LuxR-type QS circuits. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model, we show that infections with both species result in poorer host outcomes compared with monoinfections. We use genetic mutants and a transwell infection assay to establish that crosstalk via LuxR-type receptors and signals is important for this coinfection pathogenicity. Using laboratory cocultures with cell-based reporter systems, we show that the RhlR and CepR receptors in P. aeruginosa and B. multivorans, respectively, can each recognize a QS signal produced by the other species. Lastly, we apply chemical biology to complement our genetic approach and demonstrate the potential to regulate interspecies interactions between the wild-type strains of P. aeruginosa and B. multivorans through the application of synthetic compounds that modulate RhlR and CepR activities. Overall, this study reveals that interspecies interaction via QS networks is possible between P. aeruginosa and B. multivorans and that it can contribute to coinfection severity with these two species.

Temporal changes of neurobehavior in rats following varied blast magnitudes and screening of serum biomarkers in early stage of brain injury

Blast neurotrauma has been linked to impairments in higher-order cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and mood. Current literature is limited to a single overpressure exposure or repeated exposures at the same level of overpressure. In this study, a rodent model of primary blast neurotrauma was employed to determine the pressure at which acute and chronic neurological alterations occurred. Three pressure magnitudes (low, moderate and high) were used to evaluate injury thresholds. A biology shock tube (BST) was used to simulate shock waves with overpressures of 60 kPa, 90 kPa and 120 kPa respectively. Neurological behavior of the rats was assessed by the Multi-Conditioning System (MCS) at 1 d, 7 d, 28 d and 90 d after shock wave exposure. Serum dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured at the same time points. The proteomic analysis was conducted to identify potentially vulnerable cellular and molecule targets of serum in the immediate post-exposure period. Results revealed that: (1) Anxiety-like behavior increased significantly at 1 d post-exposure in the medium and high overpressure (90 kPa, 120 kPa) groups, returned to baseline at 7 days, and anxiety-like behavior in the high overpressure groups re-emerged at 28 d and 90 d. (2) High overpressure (120 kPa) impaired learning and memory in the immediate post-exposure period. (3) The serum DA levels decreased significantly at 1 d post-exposure in the medium and high overpressure groups; The 5-HT levels decreased significantly at 1 d and 90 d in the high overpressure groups; The BDNF levels decreased significantly at 90 d in the high overpressure groups. (4) Proteomic analysis identified 38, 306, and 57 differentially expressed proteins in serum following low, medium and high overpressure exposures, respectively. Two co-expressed proteins were validated. Functional analysis revealed significant enrichment of 1121, 2096, and 1121 Gene Ontology (GO) items and 33, 47, and 26 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, indicating extensive molecular responses to overpressure in the early phase. These findings suggest that exposure, even at moderate levels, can induce persistent neurobehavioral and molecular alterations, highlighting the need for further research into the long-term consequences of blast neurotrauma.

Return of Illiberalism: The Results of the 2023 General Election in Slovakia

After a general overview of the context of the 2023 general election in Slova- kia, the article provides a detailed analysis of the electoral results and support for political parties. Using both aggregate and individual level data, we show that the results were influenced by a combination of long-term features defin- ing electoral support and voting behaviour in Slovakia and a more recent trend including weaker ideological attachment and the increased importance of leadership personality for political party preference. Also, it seems that the illib- eral mobilization may be traced in the dynamic of electoral shifts in the context of different behaviour of various societal groups. Moreover, the return of illib- eral actors to power in Slovakia seems to have been characterized by a surge of votes for conservative or populist left-wing forces in the larger Slovak cities. Although this is not reflected in the turnout, at the individual level we can as- sume that liberal voters turned out in smaller numbers, while Smer voters may have been more mobilized, or some voters may have switched from other po- pulist parties such as OĽaNO

Cultural Competence in Dietetic Practice

In the European context shaped by migration, it is necessary to adapt dietitians to cultural diversity for effective professional practice. The objectives of the research are to analyze the cultural and ethnic diversity in Romania, highlighting the possible influence of acculturation on the dietary behaviors of different ethnic groups, and to formulate ways to apply the stages of cultural competence. The research methodology included the collection and use of data from the population census and other statistical sources to analyze the ethnic, linguistic, and religious composition in different regions of Romania, and the use of a cultural competence model that could be applied in the Romanian medical context for the formulation of health recommendations tailored to eating habits and influenced by acculturation and sociocultural factors. The study reveals the cultural diversity of the Romanian population, with more than 1.7 million inhabitants having a native language other than Romanian and with a wide ethnic and religious variety. We adapted a cultural competence model including methods to assess dietary acculturation, understand food preferences, and respect ethnic, religious, and generational diversity, ensuring its applicability in various multicultural contexts. This study emphasizes the importance of cultural competence in dietetic practice in a diverse health care setting and tailoring nutrition services according to cultural diversity to improve health and patient satisfaction.

Application of the multi-grid modelling method to pedestrian social group dynamics through a bottleneck

There is a high proportion of social groups in crowds. The influence of social groups on crowd mobility is particularly evident in emergency situations and in confined movement environments. However, studies on the characteristics of social group movement through a bottleneck with different widths are limited. Therefore, the computation and simulation are performed in a corridor with a bottleneck involving individuals and three types of groups (namely two-person, three-person and four-person groups) using a modified multi-grid model. The original multi-grid model is modified by introducing interactions between pedestrians, avoidance behavior and group behavior, and validated by data from a controlled experiment. It is found that the group configuration can be adjusted to the changing scenarios during the passing movement. The movement efficiency and level of walking comfort for pedestrians are significantly improved in wider bottlenecks. Passing efficiency is evidently increased and congestion is reduced, when social groups occupy a large proportion of the crowd in a narrow bottleneck. These numerical findings may provide new insights for analyzing nonlinear pedestrian social group dynamics.

An evacuation model considering pedestrian group behavior under violent attacks

In recent years, violent attacks have garnered significant attention from the international community and gradually evolved into a global issue. In responding to such emergencies, effective emergency evacuation is an essential means to ensure public safety. In order to explore the pedestrian evacuation dynamics in violent attacks and understand the behavioral characteristics of individuals and the dynamic interactions of groups during the evacuation process, this paper proposes an agent-based cellular automata evacuation model. First, each agent is assigned several internal attributes such as life value, panic value, and movement speed, and the assignments fully take into account the heterogeneity of individuals. Next, by setting the attack strategy of attackers and the evacuation mechanism of pedestrians, the complex system is modeled from a microscopic perspective. Finally, the effects of critical factors on the pedestrian evacuation process, such as panic coefficient, crowd structure, group ratio, attack distance and intensity, attacker location and number, and counterattack probability, are discussed through simulation. The results show that the tension caused by moderate panic is beneficial, but excessive panic will lead to increased evacuation time and fatalities. Meanwhile, the group behavior among pedestrians causes them to move relatively lagging, and the evacuation efficiency decreases as the group scale increases. Additionally, increases in attack intensity, attack distance, and attacker number all result in more casualties, and the consequences are most severe when multiple attackers operate separately, but counterattacks by pedestrians can significantly improve the overall safety of evacuation. Our study can provide some reference and basis for emergency management under violent attacks.

Influence of extreme light/dark cycles on monoamine levels, physiological indices, and emotional behaviors in rats

ABSTRACT Aberrant light/dark (LD) cycles are prevalent in modern society due to electric light usage, leading to mood disorders from circadian disruption or misalignment. However, research on the physiological and behavioral effects of LD variations on brain neurotransmitters is limited. We investigated the effects of extreme LD cycles on body weight (BW), core body temperature (Tcore), locomotor activity (ACT), emotional behaviors, and monoamine levels (noradrenaline [NA], dopamine [DA], and serotonin [5-HT]) in male Wistar rats that were exposed to 1 month of either long light phase (20 L:4D), long dark phase (4 L:20D), or normal (12 L:12D) LD cycles. The 20 L:4D rats exhibited blunted rhythms, with decreased amplitude and advanced/delayed acrophase in Tcore and ACT, alongside increased BW. The 4 L:20D rats showed circadian misalignment, with increased/decreased amplitude in Tcore or ACT and delayed acrophase in Tcore and ACT, also gaining BW. In the 20 L:4D group, NA and 5-HT levels decreased in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and amygdala, respectively, while the 4 L:20D group had increased DA and 5-HT levels in the caudate putamen and dorsomedial hypothalamus, respectively. Open field and social interaction tests indicated anxiety-like behaviors in both test groups. Overall, each extreme LD cycle affected Tcore, ACT amplitude, acrophase, and monoamine levels differently, inducing anxiogenic responses.

Can Green Consumption Be "Learned"? A Study on the Impact of Reference Group Type on Green Consumption Intentions

Green consumption represents the fundamental driving force behind the development of an ecologically sustainable society. Consequently, the analysis of green consumption behavior patterns has attracted significant attention from scholars. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research addressing the impact of reference group type on consumers' intentions to consume in an environmentally responsible way. Building on previous reports, this study presents the concept of individual perceived efficacy and examines distinctions among the impacts of three reference groups on consumers' intentions to consume green products: member, secondary, and aspirational groups. Findings from our experimental analysis demonstrate that the reference group type has a notable effect on consumers' green consumption intentions. Additionally, the green consumption behaviors of different reference groups positively influence consumers' green product consumption intentions by affecting individual perceived efficacy. Moreover, the size of the reference group exerts a moderating influence on the effect of reference group type on green consumption intentions. Specifically, a larger group size exerts a greater positive effect on green consumption intentions. This study advances the theoretical research framework of green consumption and offers insights for manufacturers to refine their marketing strategies for green products. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for environmental organizations and governmental bodies to enhance the promotion of green consumption.

The hidden impact of sleep disorders in the post-pandemic world

Studying sleep disorders is crucial due to their substantial influence on behavior and health in all age groups. The complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, including hormonal fluctuations, stress, and ozone exposure, is the cause of these disorders, which include insomnia, parasomnia, central hypersomnolence disorder, sleep-disordered breathing, and circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders. They impact behavior, deteriorate social connections, and impair cognitive abilities, physical well-being, and emotional stability. The complex relationship between sleep and mental health frequently eludes attention, with approximately 17% of adults experiencing mental disorders during their lifetime. Frequently, insomnia is associated with anxiety and depression, indicating a bidirectional relationship. Conversely, individuals with mental health issues are susceptible to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea. Treatment modalities such as relaxation therapy, stimulus control, and cognitive-behavioral therapy provide prospects for improvement, along with preventive measures such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule and exercising daily. The pandemic’s effect on sleep health has led to the introduction of terms such as “coronasomnia” and “COVID-somnia,” urging further studies on post-COVID-19 conditions. This review examines various sleep disorders, their effects, treatments, and the pandemic’s impact on sleep patterns, aiming to guide readers through the evolving landscape of sleep health during this global upheaval.

Thermal-mechanical behavior of deeply buried pipe energy pile group in sand obtained from model test

One practical and effective method for shallow geothermal development is energy piling. This research presents the deeply buried pipe energy pile (DBP-EP), which has a wide range of potential applications and can collect deeper geothermal heat from the pile toe. This work conducts a model test investigation of the thermal–mechanical behavior of the DBP-EP group in sandy soil because the construction of the former differs from that of the common inside buried pipe energy piles (IBP-EP). The findings indicate that the heat exchanger tube at the pile toe of DBP-EP will be extended outward for heat exchange with the soil, in contrast to IBP-EP, and that the temperature change at the pile toe is greater than that of the whole. The pile cross-section strain decreases gradually from inside to outside along the radial direction. The axial earth pressure change rule around the pile is larger at both ends and small in the middle. For every 1℃ that the inlet temperature raises, the pile top’s final displacement increases by roughly 0.11‰D. At various inlet temperatures, the DBP-EP group heat transfer rate per meter drops by 8% − 23% when compared to the single pile’s. The average axial earth pressure difference surrounding the pile gradually rises when the pile top is not loaded, while the pile side friction difference of the pile group reduces in comparison to that of the single pile. The variations in pile side friction, axial earth pressure surrounding the pile, and pile top displacement of the pile group are reduced when the pile top is loaded because of the dense effect between the pile and the soil. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of the design and practical implementation of DBP-EP structures.

AMBWO: An Augmented Multi-Strategy Beluga Whale Optimization for Numerical Optimization Problems

Beluga whale optimization (BWO) is a swarm-based metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the group behavior of beluga whales. BWO suffers from drawbacks such as an insufficient exploration capability and the tendency to fall into local optima. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes augmented multi-strategy beluga optimization (AMBWO). The adaptive population learning strategy is proposed to improve the global exploration capability of BWO. The introduction of the roulette equilibrium selection strategy allows BWO to have more reference points to choose among during the exploitation phase, which enhances the flexibility of the algorithm. In addition, the adaptive avoidance strategy improves the algorithm’s ability to escape from local optima and enriches the population quality. In order to validate the performance of the proposed AMBWO, extensive evaluation comparisons with other state-of-the-art improved algorithms were conducted on the CEC2017 and CEC2022 test sets. Statistical tests, convergence analysis, and stability analysis show that the AMBWO exhibits a superior overall performance. Finally, the applicability and superiority of the AMBWO was further verified by several engineering optimization problems.

Біхевіористичні підходи до процесів машинного навчання у контексті вирішення проблем сучасного публічного управління

The article discusses the possibilities of applying a behavioral approach when creating machine learning models of artificial intelligence mechanisms, taking into account the possibilities of tracking the behavioral reactions of users of digital tools, collecting and analyzing the information received and identifying hidden dependencies, and, as a result, developing management decisions based on the correct interpretation of the data obtained by AI algorithms based on the results of the above analysis. It has been established that when building machine learning models, it is advisable to track the behavioral reactions of users of digital tools, collect and analyze the information received, in order to identify hidden dependencies, since this contributes to increasing the efficiency of prediction and modeling by artificial intelligence of various scenarios of behavior of social groups and ensures an increase in the level of personalization of administrative services. Specific examples of the application of the behavioral approach in fields other than public administration, including economics, mass communications, sociology, and others, are presented. The author analyzes the experience of popular social networks in the current conditions of digital development, which use artificial intelligence tools to adjust the behavior of social groups. It is determined that artificial intelligence is able to quickly process large amounts of data and build certain predictive models on their basis and correct the behavior of controlled systems. However, the correctness of the interpretation of the obtained data by artificial intelligence algorithms depends on the conceptual framework used by the developer in the process of machine learning. It is emphasized that the study of the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence mechanisms based on the use of behavioral approaches is already being actively carried out by leading innovative companies, in particular Netflix, Meta, Google and others, to ensure internal management and other business processes. It has been proven that the use of behavioral approaches to machine learning, which focus on the study of behavioral patterns, can provide more effective methods for predicting and modeling user reactions to various scenarios in the field of public administration and contribute to the development of the most effective solutions without the use of coercion and administrative levers

'The effect of neuropeptide Y1 receptor agonist on hypothalamic neurogenesis in rat experimental depression model'.

Depression is responsible for neuropathies such as decreased neurogenesis and increased dendritic atrophy. There is information that antidepressant treatments have an effect by increasing hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophic factor expression. The neuropeptide Y1 (NPY1R) receptor agonist has been suggested to have anxiolytic effects. Based on this information, it was aimed to investigate the effect of NPY1R agonist on depression in rats with depression using the CMS model and to determine how depression affects cell proliferation in the hypothalamus and hypothalamic peptide levels. Forty-eight adult, male Wistar albino rats were divided into groups as Control, Depression (D), Depression + NPY1R and NPY1R. Various stressors were applied to D for 30 days. An open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST) were performed to check whether the animals were depressed. On the 16th day, an osmotic mini pump was placed under the skin and NPY1R (130 ul/kg/day) was applied for 15 days. Behavioral tests were performed, hypothalamic peptide gene expression levels were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and statistical evaluations were made using ANOVA. A decrease in the percentage of movement in the D and control groups were noted in the OFT, an increase in the immobility time in the D group in the FST, and an increase in swimming behavior in the DNPY1R group. The animals did not display any anxiety behavior based on the elevated plus maze test results. It caused a decrease in IGF1R, FGF2, POMC, NPY and GLUT2 gene expression in the hypothalamus of depression group animals, and an increase in NPY gene expression in NPY1R treatment. This study compellingly demonstrated that exposure to chronic mild stress simultaneously downregulates gene expression in the hypothalamus; we observed that NPY receptor NPY1R treatment increased the effect of NPY. Therefore, adjunctive treatments with appropriate molecules such as NPY, Y1 receptor agonists or pharmacological derivatives may have significant potential in the treatment of depression.

Environmental Effects on the Interfacial Chemical Reactions at RTV Silicone-Silica Interfaces.

Silicone sealants and adhesives are extensively used in construction, automotive, industrial, and electronic applications because they exhibit excellent mechanical properties, strong adhesion, and good weather resistance. Room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicones develop good adhesion to many substrates and do not require heat for curing, which leads to flexible use in many applications. Although it is known that various factors such as relative humidity and temperature affect the curing of the RTV silicone adhesives, the interfacial chemistry that occurs during the curing process is still poorly understood but critical for success in adhesive applications. To address this, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to probe the molecular details of the buried interface of the RTV silicone adhesive in situ. Time-dependent SFG experiments were conducted on two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrices, at three humidity levels, and with two kinds of silica surfaces to investigate the behavior of the methoxy groups at the interface and the impact of environmental conditions on the adhesion mechanism. It was found that both the methoxy groups from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and methoxy-terminated PDMS could segregate to the interface. The diffusion of MTMS and bulk rearrangement of methoxy-terminated PDMS lead to the segregation and ordering of methoxy groups at the interface. After comparing eight samples cured under different environmental conditions, the reactions of the interfacial methoxy groups were found to be facilitated by both the surface water on silica and moisture from the environment. The silylation treatment on the silica slows the reactions of the interfacial methoxy groups, while the high environmental humidity accelerates the consumption of the interfacial methoxy groups. These findings provide insightful information about the adhesion mechanism of RTV silicone adhesives and accelerate new product development.

Levene's Test for Verifying Homoscedasticity Between Groups in Quasi-Experiments in Social Sciences

One of the most used quantitative research designs in the social sciences field is the quasi-experiment with an experimental group and a control group. Its widespread use can be explained, on one hand, by the fact that this design offers greater internal control than pre-experimental designs, which lack a control group. On the other hand, it poses fewer methodological challenges compared to true experiments, whose operational demands often exceed or do not align with the natural behavior of groups in educational populations. Given its prevalence in research studies, it is important to highlight that one of the weaknesses of this design lies precisely in the determination of the treatment and control groups. These groups are often selected based on the researcher's convenience or even inferred through common sense, that is, without a scientifically valid criterion. To address this issue, this article presents Levene's test as an option for verifying homoscedasticity between these two groups, which can contribute to methodological rigor in this aspect that substantially impacts the internal validity of the research findings.

Factors influencing luxury consumption and the moderating role of debt attitude amongst Generation Z in China

In recent years, China’s economy has undergone rapid development. Increased disposable income and the rapid expansion of Internet-based financial services have positioned China as the largest market for luxury goods. Gen Z, the youngest demographic within emerging markets, is expected to play a pivotal role as the primary driver of the luxury market. However, while China’s luxury market continues to exhibit a high growth rate, this growth has gradually decelerated in comparison to the previous two years according to researchers. This presents a significant challenge for the luxury industry, as maintaining and enhancing the global growth trend has become a pressing concern where consumer behavior is concerned. The second key issue addressed in this study revolves around the concepts of compulsive buying and brand addiction, which can lead individuals, particularly Gen Z, to develop an addiction to luxury consumption. This study is based on an integrated model of conspicuous consumption, social comparison, and impression management theory. The key variables are materialism, brand consciousness, status-seeking, peer pressure, and collectivism to predict the luxury consumption model with debt attitude introduced as a moderating variable to study consumer behaviour in this age group. A non-probability sampling method and 480 people were selected as research samples. Quantitative analysis was used in this study, and SPSS and Smart PLS were used as data analysis tools. Structural equation model (SEM) using partial least squares method was used to determine the relationship of the variables and the moderating effect of debt attitude. The results showed that brand consciousness, status seeking, debt attitude and materialism had the strongest relationship with luxury consumption. Debt attitude as a moderating factor has a significant impact on the hypothesized relationship of the model. This paper provides empirical evidence for research on Gen Z’s luxury consumption, which has practical implications to marketers, luxury companies, local luxury brands and credit institutions.