Belgian Sample Research Articles

How are personality trait and profile agreement related?

It is argued that if we compute self-other agreement on some personality traits then we possess no or very little information about the individuals who are the targets of this judgment. This idea is largely based on two separate ways of computing self-other agreement: trait agreement (rT) and profile agreement (rP), which are typically associated with two different trait-centered and person-centered approaches in personality research. Personality traits of 4115 targets from Czech, Belgian, Estonian, and German samples were rated by themselves and knowledgeable informants. We demonstrate that trait agreement can be partialled into individual contributions so that it is possible to show how much each individual pair of judges contributes to agreement on a particular trait. Similarly, it is possible to decompose agreement between two personality profiles into the individual contributions of traits from which these profiles are assembled. If normativeness is separated from distinctiveness of personality scores and individual profiles are ipsatized, then mean profile agreement rP becomes identical to mean trait agreement rT. The views that trait-by-trait analysis does not provide information regarding accuracy level of a particular pair of judges and profile analysis does not permit assessment of the relative contributions of traits to overall accuracy are not supported.

An Extended Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict the Usage Intention of the Electric Car: A Multi-Group Comparison

An Extended Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) is developed that integrates emotions towards car driving and electric cars as well as car driving habits of the DTPB, and is empirically validated in a Belgian sample (n = 1023). Multi-group comparisons explore how the determinants of usage intention are different between groups of consumers differing in environmentally-friendly behaviour, environmental concern, innovativeness and personal values. Besides attitudes, media, perceived complexity, compatibility and relative advantage, emotions towards the electric car and reflective emotions towards car driving have a strong effect on usage intention. Car driving habits and perceived behavioural control (facilitators and constraints) do not substantially affect usage intention. Only people differing in personal values show a different motivational structure for a number of important drivers of usage intention.

Feeling right is feeling good: psychological well-being and emotional fit with culture in autonomy- versus relatedness-promoting situations.

The current research tested the idea that it is the cultural fit of emotions, rather than certain emotions per se, that predicts psychological well-being. We reasoned that emotional fit in the domains of life that afford the realization of central cultural mandates would be particularly important to psychological well-being. We tested this hypothesis with samples from three cultural contexts that are known to differ with respect to their main cultural mandates: a European American (N = 30), a Korean (N = 80), and a Belgian sample (N = 266). Cultural fit was measured by comparing an individual’s patterns of emotions to the average cultural pattern for the same type of situation on the Emotional Patterns Questionnaire (De Leersnyder et al., 2011). Consistent with our hypothesis, we found evidence for “universality without uniformity”: in each sample, psychological well-being was associated with emotional fit in the domain that was key to the cultural mandate. However, cultures varied with regard to the particular domain involved. Psychological well-being was predicted by emotional fit (a) in autonomy-promoting situations at work in the U.S., (b) in relatedness-promoting situations at home in Korea, and (c) in both autonomy-promoting and relatedness-promoting situations in Belgium. These findings show that the experience of culturally appropriate patterns of emotions contributes to psychological well-being. One interpretation is that experiencing appropriate emotions is itself a realization of the cultural mandates.

A study on the perception of the stigma related to drug use in a sample of Italians and Belgians

ABSTRACT: The goal of the present study has been to exploratorily analyse the possible differences in perceived stigma on drug use between a sample of students and health services workers from Italy and Belgium. The Perceived Stigma of Addiction Scale (PSAS) (Luoma, Hair, Kohlenberg, Hayes, and Fletcher, 2010) was used. A total of 277 participants took part in this study. Outcomes showed that the perceived stigma among Italians was signifi- cantly higher (M = 23.68) than that reported by Belgians (M = 20.26). Authors argued that many factors (e.g., social, cultural, etc.) may explain the differences obtained. On the other hand, the existence of a stigma circuit (Scioli and Paniccia), which would share some similarities with the anxiety circuit, seems to trap the person in a vicious cycle of events that would make the relapse from addiction harder. The limitations and scope of the obtained results in the frame of this ex- ploratory study is discussed.Un estudio sobre la percepción del estigma asociado al consumo de drogas en una muestra de italianos y no italianosRESUMEN: El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido analizar de manera exploratoria las posibles diferencias en el estigma percibido asociado al consumo de drogas entre una muestra de estudiantes y trabajadores de los servicios de salud procedentes de Italia y Bélgica. Para este propósito, se utilizó el Perceived Stigma of Addiction Scale (PSAS) (Luoma, Hair, Kohlenberg, Hayes, y Fletcher, 2010). Un total de 277 participantes tomaron parte en este estudio. Los resultados mostraron que el estigma percibido entre los italianos fue significativamente mayor (M = 23.68) que el informado por la muestra de Bélgica (M = 20.26). Los autores argumentan que varios factores (e.g., sociales, culturales, etc.) explicarían las diferencias obtenidas. Por otro lado, la existencia de un circuito del estigma (Scioli y Paniccia), el cual compartiría ciertas similitudes con el circuito de la ansiedad, parece atrapar a la persona en un círculo vicioso de eventos que haría más difícil la recuperación de la adicción. Se discuten las limitaciones y el alcance de los resultados obtenidos en el marco del presente estudio exploratorio.

Characterization of mandibular molar root and canal morphology using cone beam computed tomography and its variability in Belgian and Chilean population samples.

PurposeThis study used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to characterize mandibular molar root and canal morphology and its variability in Belgian and Chilean population samples.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed the CBCT images of 515 mandibular molars (257 from Belgium and 258 from Chile). Molars meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed to determine (1) the number of roots; (2) the root canal configuration; (3) the presence of a curved canal in the cross-sectional image of the distal root in the mandibular first molar and (4) the presence of a C-shaped canal in the second mandibular molar. A descriptive analysis was performed. The association between national origin and the presence of a curved or C-shaped canal was evaluated using the chi-squared test.ResultsThe most common configurations in the mesial root of both molars were type V and type III. In the distal root, type I canal configuration was the most common. Curvature in the cross-sectional image was found in 25% of the distal canals of the mandibular first molars in the Belgian population, compared to 11% in the Chilean population. The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 10% or less in both populations.ConclusionIn cases of unclear or complex root and canal morphology in the mandibular molars, CBCT imaging might assist endodontic specialists in making an accurate diagnosis and in treatment planning.

Parental Influences on Preschoolers' TV Viewing Time: Mediation Analyses on Australian and Belgian Data.

Television viewing is highly prevalent in preschoolers (3-5 years). Because of the adverse health outcomes related to this behavior, it is important to investigate associations and mediators of young children's television viewing time. This study investigated whether parental rules regarding television viewing time and parental concerns about screen viewing activities mediated the association between parents' and preschoolers' television viewing time. Mediation analyses were performed with the product-of-coefficient test on data derived from the Australian HAPPY study (n = 947) and the Belgian sample of the ToyBox-study (n = 1527). Parents reported their own and their child's television viewing time, their rules regarding television viewing and concerns about their child's screen viewing activities. Parents' television viewing time was directly associated with preschoolers' television viewing time and parental rule for television viewing time mediated this association in both samples (14.4% and 8.1% in the Australian and Belgian samples, respectively). This study is unique in examining the mediating pathway of parental television viewing and a rule limiting TV viewing time and whether this is consistent in different samples. Due to the consistent importance, both parents' television viewing time and rules should be targeted in interventions to decrease preschoolers' television viewing time.

Analysis of Audit Fees for Nonprofits

In contrast to the extensive research on audit fees of for-profit companies, literature on nonprofit audit fees is limited. In this article, audit fee determinants are tested using a Belgian sample of nonprofits. We find that Big4 auditors charge fee premiums, and that nonprofit expert auditors charge lower fees when expertise is measured at audit partner level (as opposed to audit firm level). These findings hold after controlling for self-selection by using propensity score matching. We also address the resource dependence and agency characteristics of nonprofit audit clients and find that both are relevant in explaining audit pricing.

Determination of contamination pathways of phthalates in food products sold on the Belgian market

As numerous studies have indicated that food ingestion is the most important exposure pathway to several phthalates, this study aimed to determine possible contamination pathways of phthalates in food products sold on the Belgian market. To do this, concentrations of eight phthalates (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)) were determined in 591 foods and 30 packaging materials. In general, the four most prominent phthalates in Belgian food products were DEHP, DiBP, DnBP and BBP. Special attention was given to the origin of these phthalates in bread, since high phthalate concentrations (especially DEHP) were determined in this frequently consumed food product. Phthalates seemed to occur in Belgian bread samples due to the use of contaminated ingredients (i.e. use of contaminated flour) as well as due to migration from phthalate containing contact materials used during production (e.g. coated baking trays). Also the results of the conducted concentration profiles of apple, bread, salami and two cheese types revealed the important role of processing – and not packaging – on phthalate contents in foods.

Occurrence of volatile and non-volatile N-nitrosamines in processed meat products and the role of heat treatment

Most of the available data on the occurrence of N-nitrosamines (NA) in processed meat products have been generated in the 1980s and 1990s and especially data on the occurrence of non-volatile NA (NVNA) are scarce. Therefore we have studied the levels of volatile nitrosamines (VNA) and NVNA in processed meat products on the Danish market (N = 70) and for comparison also products on the Belgian market (N = 20). The effect of heat treatment on the NA levels, in selected samples, was also studied, in order to enable an evaluation of how preparation before consumption affects the levels of NA. For the Danish products the mean levels of the VNA were generally low (≤0.8 μg kg−1), whereas the mean levels of the NVNA were considerably higher (≤118 μg kg−1). Slightly higher mean levels were indicated for the Belgian products (i.e. VNA ≤1.5 μg kg−1 and NVNA ≤270 μg kg−1). The sums of VNA were higher than 10 μg kg−1 for one Danish sample and two Belgian samples. Levels of up to 2000 and 4000 μg kg−1 of N-nitroso-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NTCA) an NVNA occurred in the Danish and the Belgian samples, respectively. The majority of the Danish processed meat products contain NVNA but also VNA occur. The levels of NA are comparable with those reported in previous and recent studies; however the frequency in which they are found may be lower and thereby also the mean contents. The levels of N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) increased by frying and baking, whereas varying impacts were observed for N-nitrosoproline (NPRO), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitrosomethylaniline (NMA) depending on the type of product and/or the heat treatment. The levels of the NVNA, NTCA and N-nitroso-2-methyl-thiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid (NMTCA) decreased after frying and baking.

Influence of birth weight on calcaneal bone stiffness in Belgian pre-adolescent children

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between birth weight and calcaneal bone stiffness in a large sample of Belgian, healthy, preadolescent children. Participants were 827 children (3.6–11.2 years, 51.6 % boys) from the Belgian cohort of the IDEFICS study. Birth weight was obtained using a parental questionnaire, and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements were performed to determine calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and stiffness index (SI) using the Lunar Achilles device. Average birth weights were 3435.7 ± 512.0 g for boys and 3256.9 ± 471.1 g for girls. Average calcaneal QUS measurements were 89.6 ± 24.0 (23.3–153.9) dB/MHz for BUA, 1621.4 ± 49.6 (1516.3–1776.5) m/s for SOS, and 92.8 ± 15.6 (49.0–163.0) for SI. Birth weight was positively associated with BUA (r = 0.13, p = 0.002) and SOS (r = –0.16, p < 0.001). The associations remained after correcting for age and sex in multiple regression analyses but disappeared after correcting for anthropometric covariates. Our findings suggest that birth weight, as a rough proxy indicator for genetic and environmental influences during intrauterine life, is associated with BUA and SOS in preadolescent children and may therefore influence the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Further studies using QUS are needed to investigate the consistency of the results of this study.

Co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in dry chilli (Capsicum annum L.) samples from the markets of Sri Lanka and Belgium

In this study a multi-mycotoxin method was applied to screen seventeen chemically divergent mycotoxins from dry chilli samples (Capsicum annum L.) collected from the markets in Sri Lanka (n = 86) and Belgium (n = 35) using a high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer. In addition to aflatoxins (<LOQ–687 μg/kg) and ochratoxin A (OTA; <LOQ–282 μg/kg), the chilli samples were also found to be contaminated with sterigmatocystin (STERIG; <LOQ–32 μg/kg), fumonisin B2 (FB2; <LOQ–87 μg/kg), citrinin (<LOQ–2.1 mg/kg) and alternariol methyl ether (70 and 222 μg/kg). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was the predominant mycotoxin contaminating almost 77% of the Sri Lankan samples. While OTA was found in 41% of the samples notably, 38% of them were contaminated with STERIG. Overall, 87% and 63% of the Sri Lankan and Belgian samples, respectively were contaminated at least with one mycotoxin. Remarkably, 67% of the Sri Lankan samples exceeded EU maximum level (ML) of 5 μg/kg for AFB1 and 44% of the samples exceeded the EU ML of 10 μg/kg for total aflatoxins. One third of the Sri Lankan chillies were contaminated with more than three different mycotoxins. Co-occurrence of different mycotoxins, AFB1–OTA (36%), AFB1–STERIG (28%), OTA–AFB1–STERIG (17%) and AFB1–FB2 (14%) was found in different forms of chillies. Higher frequency of mycotoxins co-occurrence found in the processed chillies such as flakes and powder could be due to the fraudulent usage of low quality grade chilli pods for processing. Noticeably, 9 of the 11 positive chilli samples from Belgium exceeded the EU ML for AFB1.

Dog mitochondrial genome sequencing to enhance dog mtDNA discrimination power in forensic casework.

A Belgian dog population sample and several population studies worldwide have confirmed that only a limited number of mtDNA control region haplotypes is observed in the majority of dogs. The high population frequency of these haplotypes negatively impacts both the exclusion probability of dog mtDNA analysis and the evidential value of a match with one of these haplotypes in casework. Variation within the mtDNA coding region was explored to improve the discrimination power of dog mtDNA analysis. In the current study, the entire mitochondrial genome of 161 dogs was sequenced applying a quality assured strategy and resulted in a total of 119 different mitochondrial genome sequences. Our research was focused on those dogs with the six most common control region haplotypes from a previous Belgian population study. We identified 33 informative SNPs that successfully divide the six most common control region haplotypes into 32 clusters of mitochondrial genome sequences. Determining the identity of these 33 polymorphic sites in addition to control region sequencing in case of a match with one of these 6 control region haplotypes could augment the exclusion probability of forensic dog mtDNA analysis from 92.5% to 97.5%.

Classification of Juniper-Flavoured Spirit Drinks by Multivariate Analysis of Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Data

This study compares the use of UV absorption, excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and HPLC with fluorescence detection combined with principal component analysis (PCA), parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) for distinguishing between commercial samples of Slovak, Belgian, German, Czech and British juniper-flavoured spirit drinks. Overall, 97 %, 88 % and 79 % of samples were properly classified by applying the LDA to the first five principal components of the PCA performed on the synchronous fluorescence spectra (constant wavelength difference 10 nm, 250–450 nm), UV absorption spectra (250–325 nm) and the areas of eight common HPLC peaks, respectively. EEM fluorescence spectroscopy could not discriminate British drinks, while HPLC failed to discriminate Belgian samples. When the areas of eight common HPLC peaks were used as model parameters instead of the five PCs initially used in LDA, the method accuracy was enhanced significantly and 97 % of predicting samples were properly classified.

Suspect screening and target quantification of multi-class pharmaceuticals in surface water based on large-volume injection liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The ever-growing number of emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals requests rapid and sensitive full-spectrum analytical techniques. Time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (TOF-HRMS) is a promising alternative for the state-of-the-art tandem mass spectrometry instruments because of its ability to simultaneously screen for a virtually unlimited number of suspect analytes and to perform target quantification. The challenge for such suspect screening is to develop a strategy, which minimizes the false-negative rate without restraining numerous false-positives. At the same time, omitting laborious sample enrichment through large-volume injection ultra-performance liquid chromatography (LVI-UPLC) avoids selective preconcentration. A suspect screening strategy was developed using LVI-UPLC-TOF-MS aiming the detection of 69 multi-class pharmaceuticals in surface water without the a priori availability of analytical standards. As a novel approach, the screening takes into account the signal-intensity-dependent accurate mass error of TOF-MS, hereby restraining 95 % of the measured suspect pharmaceuticals present in surface water. Application on five Belgian river water samples showed the potential of the suspect screening approach, as exemplified by a false-positive rate not higher than 15 % and given that 30 out of 37 restrained suspect compounds were confirmed by the retention time of analytical standards. Subsequently, this paper discusses the validation and applicability of the LVI-UPLC full-spectrum HRMS method for target quantification of the 69 pharmaceuticals in surface water. Analysis of five Belgian river water samples revealed the occurrence of 17 pharmaceuticals in a concentration range of 17 ng L(-1) up to 3.1 μg L(-1).

The effect of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention on objectively measured physical activity in Belgian preschool boys and girls of high and low SES: the ToyBox-study

BackgroundThe ToyBox-study developed an evidence- and theory-based intervention to improve preschoolers’ energy balance-related behaviours – including physical activity (PA) – by targeting the kindergarten environment and involving their parents/caregivers. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the ToyBox-intervention on increasing Belgian preschoolers’ objectively measured PA levels.MethodsA sample of 472 preschoolers (4.43 ± 0.55 years; 55.1% boys) from 27 kindergartens (15 intervention, 12 control kindergartens) in Flanders, Belgium were included in the data analyses. Preschoolers wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for six consecutive days and were included in the data analyses if they had a minimum of two weekdays and one weekend day, both at baseline and follow-up (one year later). Preschoolers’ PA outcomes were estimated for an average day, weekday, weekend day, during school hours, and during after school hours. To assess intervention effects, multilevel repeated measures analyses were conducted for the total sample, and for sub-groups (according to sex, kindergarten levels of socio-economic status (SES) and risk groups (low levels of PA at baseline)) of preschoolers.ResultsSmall intervention effects were found in the total sample. Most intervention effects were found in boys and in preschoolers from high SES kindergartens. Boys from the intervention group had an increase in vigorous PA (ß = 1.47, p = 0.03) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (ß = 1.27, p = 0.03) from baseline to follow-up, whereas PA levels in boys from the control group stagnated or decreased. In preschoolers from high SES kindergartens, the largest effects were found for PA outcomes during school hours and during after school hours.ConclusionThe results from the Belgian sample demonstrate that effects of the PA-component of the ToyBox-intervention on objectively measured PA were found in preschool boys and in preschoolers from high SES kindergartens, which means that the ToyBox-intervention was mainly effective in those sub-groups. Future interventions should search for alternative strategies to increase preschoolers’ PA levels in preschool girls and preschoolers from low SES kindergartens, as these are the most important at-risk groups regarding PA.

Does Change in Self-reported Mindfulness Mediate the Clinical Benefits of Mindfulness Training? A Controlled Study Using the French Translation of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire

Mindfulness training improves mental health and psychological functioning. Although several questionnaires have been developed to measure mindfulness, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is currently one of the most widely used scales. However, uncertainty remains about whether the effects of mindfulness training can be unambiguously attributed to change in self-reported mindfulness. The present study was designed to answer three major questions: First, relative to a wait-list group, does participation in mindfulness training lead to changes in self-reported mindfulness among a mixed sample of individuals presenting stress-related problems, illness, anxiety, and chronic pain? Second, are changes in mindfulness associated with changes in psychological distress? Third, do changes in mindfulness mediate the effects of mindfulness training on the decrease in psychological distress? We used the French translation of the FFMQ in a Belgian sample. Relative to a wait-list control, mindfulness training led to a change in self-reported mindfulness and psychological distress. Further, changes in mindfulness mediated the effects of mindfulness training on a decrease in psychological distress.

The relationship between qualitative job insecurity and OCB: Differences across age groups

Qualitative job insecurity may be associated with less (hindrance effect) and more (challenge effect) organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). This article disentangles both effects by introducing an intermediate variable. The authors test whether basic need satisfaction explains the hindrance effect (i.e. less intrinsically motivated OCB); and whether there is a remaining, direct positive path to OCB reflecting the challenge effect (i.e. more instrumentally motivated OCB). In addition, they investigate whether these relationships vary with age. Multi-group path analysis on a Belgian sample ( N = 3243) of young (18–30 years), prime age (31–49 years) and mature age workers (50 +) reveals that qualitative job insecurity frustrates basic needs across all age groups, but most strongly among mature age workers (i.e. hindrance effect). The authors find a remaining positive path (i.e. challenge effect) that is equally strong across all age groups. In sum, qualitative job insecurity is more hindering than challenging, in particular for older workers.

ABO histo-blood group might modulate predisposition to Crohn's disease and affect disease behavior

Background and aimsABO encodes a glycosyltranferase which determines the major human histo-blood group. The FUT2 fucosyltransferase allows expression of ABO antigens on the gastrointestinal mucosa and in bodily secretions (secretor phenotype). A nonsense allele in FUT2 represents a susceptibility variant for Crohn's disease, and both the secretor and ABO blood group status affect the composition of the gut microbiota. Thus, we evaluated if variants in ABO might represent good candidates as Crohn's disease susceptibility loci. MethodsWe recruited two case–control cohorts, from Italy (n=1301) and Belgium (n=2331). Subjects were genotyped for one SNP in FUT2 and two variants in ABO. ResultsNo effect on Crohn's disease risk was detected for ABO variants, whereas an association was observed between the FUT2 polymorphism and Crohn's disease susceptibility in the Belgian sample, but not in the Italian cohort. The effect of histo-blood groups was evaluated using group O as the reference. Most non-O groups had odds ratios (ORs) higher than 1 in both cohorts, and combined analysis of the two samples indicated a predisposing effect for the A and B groups (OR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.02–1.32 and OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.09–1.58, respectively). In Crohn's disease patients, the non-O blood group and the non-secretor status were associated with higher risk of developing a stricturing or penetrating disease. ConclusionsABO histo-blood group might confer susceptibility to Crohn's disease and modulate disease severity.

Optimal Dental Age Estimation Practice in United Arab Emirates’ Children

The aim of the study was to detect whether the Willems model, developed on a Belgian reference sample, can be used for age estimations in United Arab Emirates (UAE) children. Furthermore, it was verified that if added third molars development information in children provided more accurate age predictions. On 1900 panoramic radiographs, the development of left mandibular permanent teeth (PT) and third molars (TM) was registered according the Demirjian and the Kohler technique, respectively. The PT data were used to verify the Willems model and to develop a UAE model and to verify it. Multiple regression models with PT, TM, and PT+TM scores as independent and age as dependent factor were developed. Comparing the verified Willems- and the UAE model revealed differences in mean error of -0.01year, mean absolute error of 0.01year and root mean squared error of 0.90year. Neglectable overall decrease in RMSE was detected combining PM and TM developmental information.

Factorial Validity of the Personality Adjective Checklist in a Dutch-Speaking Sample

We examined the factorial structure of the Dutch version of the Personality Adjective Checklist (PACL–D) in a Belgian sample of 3,012 community-dwelling adults. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a 5-factor structure (Neurotic, Aggressive/Dominant, Introverted vs. Extraverted, Conscientious, and Cooperative), that showed considerable overlap with 3 of the Big Five factors (i.e., Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness). Moreover, the 5-factor structure closely resembled the structure found in the original American PACL and was equivalent across gender and age.