Frequency Analysis Research Articles

Local maximum synchrosqueezing adaptive transformation for cross-instantaneous frequencies analysis

Abstract To overcome the shortcomings of existing time-frequency (TF) analysis (TFA) methods in analyzing signals containing cross-instantaneous frequencies (IFs), this paper proposes an adaptive TFA technique combined with image processing methods based on local maximum synchrosqueezing transform. The core idea of the proposed algorithm is to localize the filtering of signals containing several different IF components using kernel functions containing several different directions, respectively, to achieve energy separation at the crossing frequencies. In turn, the local maximum synchrosqueezing transform is used to rearrange the TF energy to the true IF ridges of the signal to improve the TF energy concentration. Simulation data demonstrates that the proposed algorithm has higher energy aggregation and better noise immunity, especially for signals with cross-IFs. Applying the proposed method to animal acoustic and radar wave signals of pedestrians can accurately describe the differences in the frequency change patterns and the temporal distribution of energy in the signals, thereby providing a judgment basis for effectively identifying and classifying the signals.

A hovering bubble with a spontaneous horizontal oscillation

Active matters, characterized by multi-mode motions, have been emerging for both engineering and biological applications. Generally, active objects rely on the symmetry-broken structures, compositions, or interfacial activities through a physical or chemical approach. Here, we report an active bubble spontaneously hovering with a horizontal oscillation at the solid/liquid interface by impacting a stationary laser beam into a liquid through a transparent solid cover. This spontaneous oscillation mode of the bubble synchronizes with that of the interfacial temperature and hydrodynamical flow. A physical mechanism is proposed, and the scaling analysis of the oscillation frequency agrees well with experiments in various liquids under different laser powers. Additionally, the bubble trajectory rotates azimuthally, arising from the symmetry breaking of the vortex pair accompanying the oscillation. Moreover, the double pendulum of oscillation bubbles has been demonstrated, achieving a preferable oscillation direction in a controllable way. These findings would not only advance our understanding of active matters but also shed light on the bubble-mediated technological applications, such as microrobots and drug deliveries.

The Role of Judicial Powers in Guaranteeing the Right to Education: A Systematic Study of Litigation in Mexico

Abstract This article aims to analyse the role of Mexican District Courts in cases related to the education sector and, specifically, the stance courts take on guaranteeing the right to education. The study is conducted through thematic and frequency analysis of judgments available from indirect amparo trials in administrative and labour matters across the 32 judicial circuits in Mexico during 2019, 2020 and the first semester of 2021. This study arises from the need to understand, from the perspective of judicialisation, the impact that the Mexican education sector has faced in the context of approved structural reforms in recent years, the problems of quality and equality experienced, and any exacerbations provoked by the covid-19 pandemic. The article’s discussion centres on certain paradigmatic and particularly relevant cases for the protection of children’s right to education in Mexico, including the examination of both the claims presented by the claimants and the arguments developed by the adjudicating institutions.

Spike by spike frequency analysis of amperometry traces provides statistical validation of observations in the time domain

Amperometry is a commonly used electrochemical method for studying the process of exocytosis in real-time. Given the high precision of recording that amperometry procedures offer, the volume of data generated can span over several hundreds of megabytes to a few gigabytes and therefore necessitates systematic and reproducible methods for analysis. Though the spike characteristics of amperometry traces in the time domain hold information about the dynamics of exocytosis, these biochemical signals are, more often than not, characterized by time-varying signal properties. Such signals with time-variant properties may occur at different frequencies and therefore analyzing them in the frequency domain may provide statistical validation for observations already established in the time domain. This necessitates the use of time-variant, frequency-selective signal processing methods as well, which can adeptly quantify the dominant or mean frequencies in the signal. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a well-established computational tool that is commonly used to find the frequency components of a signal buried in noise. In this work, we outline a method for spike-based frequency analysis of amperometry traces using FFT that also provides statistical validation of observations on spike characteristics in the time domain. We demonstrate the method by utilizing simulated signals and by subsequently testing it on diverse amperometry datasets generated from different experiments with various chemical stimulations. To our knowledge, this is the first fully automated open-source tool available dedicated to the analysis of spikes extracted from amperometry signals in the frequency domain.

Assessing Key Constraints in Cashew Production: Insights from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

India ranks among the world’s top cashew producers, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu serving as key contributors to the country's cashew production. Among the Plantation sector, specifically cashew cultivation plays a pivotal role in boosting farm economy in India. This particular study explores field constraints experienced by cashew growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which significantly impacts cashew cultivation. The key objective is to compare field challenges experienced by cashew growers among major producers in southern regions of India. The methodology involves a purposive multi-stage sampling approach to select regions, with an equal proportion of 80 respondents from each state selected through simple random sampling. Totally, 160 cashew growers were investigated for data collection through pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data sets were analysed using SPSS software, with frequency and percentage analysis employed to rank the identified constraints. The significant findings were pest and disease infestations, labour scarcity, unstable market price, lack of technical know-how and inadequate processing facilities. Notably, 100 per cent of growers reported that, Cashew Stem and Root Borer (CSRB) infestation as a most critical issue in both states. This paper highlights, region-specific and timely technical interventions, commodity-specific assured markets, proper pricing system and infrastructure development. The study's interpretation highlights the need to address high-priority and specialized constraints through targeted policy reforms and technical support systems, aiming to enhance the productivity and sustainability of cashew farming in India. These findings also provide valuable insights that can be applied to other cashew-producing regions and contribute to shaping national agricultural policies.

Inclusive education in Sweden

Background and aim: Teachers’ positive attitudes towards inclusive education are taken to be critical to providing education that better meets pupils’ learning. Studies have therefore tried to clarify interaction between teachers’ attitudes and inclusive education. The present study reports data on teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy and collaboration towards inclusive education in Sweden. Nation-wide data were collected from teachers before they joined a national professional development programme aimed at strengthening schools' competence in adapting teaching to the conditions and needs of pupils. Methods: Participants were 2,348 (51,6%) out of 4,553 targeted teachers that answered an online survey. The survey included three instruments: the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale (OSTES), the Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education – Revised (SACIE-R), and bespoke questions about teachers’ attitudes towards collegial learning (TACL). Mean values and correlations were assessed. Responses to an open question about teachers’ expectations ahead of starting their training programme were analyzed in NVivo, using word frequency analysis. Results: Three-quarters of respondents show overall positive responses towards adapting their teaching to the conditions and needs of pupils. However, almost two-thirds of teachers do also report significant concerns about their ability to do inclusive education well. Scores remained largely unaffected by public or private school ownership, nor did the affluence of school catchment areas affect teacher scores. Conclusions: The self-reported attitudes, self-efficacy and collaboration among teachers in Sweden towards adapting their teaching to the conditions and needs of pupils support positive research conclusions: although they do have concerns likely to be founded on professional considerations, teachers are by and large positive about meeting pupils’ learning needs.

Application Of the National Corpus Of The Kazakh Language In Linguistic Research

National corpora are essential tools in modern linguistics, offering valuable data for analyzing language structures and their connection to the world.The primary goal of this study is to enhance the perception and analysis of the Kazakh language. It introduces a methodological approach that deepens the understanding of the structure and features of Kazakh.The research utilizes frequency analysis, syntactic parsing, and statistical methods to examine Kazakh language texts. The results demonstrate that the National Corpus provides extensive data for studying linguistic patterns. Frequency analysis identifies the most common words and phrases, while syntactic analysis uncovers patterns and connections between words. The study also highlights the variation in word usage and constructions, showing the language's adaptability to modern communication.The findings are applicable to lexicography, semantics, and syntax studies of the Kazakh language. Additionally, they offer practical benefits in language teaching, lexicographic resource creation, machine translation, and natural language processing.In conclusion, the research provides valuable tools for in-depth analysis of the Kazakh language, with broad applications across linguistic studies and practical fields.

Otoacoustic emissions but not behavioral measurements predict cochlear-nerve frequency tuning in an avian vocal-communication specialist.

Frequency analysis by the cochlea forms a key foundation for all subsequent auditory processing. Stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) are a potentially powerful alternative to traditional behavioral experiments for estimating cochlear tuning without invasive testing, as is necessary in humans. Which methods accurately predict cochlear tuning remains controversial due to only a single animal study comparing SFOAE-based, behavioral, and cochlear frequency tuning in the same species. The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) is a parakeet species with human-like behavioral sensitivity to many sounds and the capacity to mimic speech. Multiple studies show that budgerigars exhibit a perceptual "auditory fovea" with sharpest behavioral frequency tuning at mid frequencies from 3.5-4 kHz, in contrast to the typical pattern of monotonically increasing tuning sharpness for higher characteristic frequencies. We measured SFOAE-based and cochlear-afferent tuning in budgerigars, for comparison to previously reported behavioral results. SFOAE-based and cochlear-afferent tuning sharpness both increased monotonically for higher frequencies, in contrast to the behavioral pattern. Thus, SFOAE-based tuning in budgerigars accurately predicted cochlear frequency tuning, and both measures aligned with typical patterns of cochlear tuning in other species. Given divergent behavioral tuning in budgerigars, which could reflect specializations for central processing of masked signals, these results highlight the value of SFOAEs for estimating cochlear tuning and caution against direct inference of cochlear tuning from behavioral results.

Gabor Transform Associated with the Dunkl–Bessel Transform and Spectrograms

Time–frequency (or space–phase) analysis plays a key role in signal analysis. In particular, signals that have a very concentrated time–frequency content are of great importance. However, the uncertainty principle sets a limitation to the possible simultaneous concentration of a function and its Dunkl–Bessel transform. For this purpose, we introduce and study a new transformation called Dunkl–Bessel Gabor transform. For this transformation, we define the Toeplitz-type (or time–frequency localization) operators, in order to localize signals on the time–frequency plane. We study these operators; in particular, we give criteria for their boundedness and Schatten class properties. Then, using the special class of concentration operators, which are compact and self-adjoint, we show that their eigenfunctions are maximally time–frequency-concentrated in the region of interest.

Gene Expression Profiling and Immune Pathway Dysregulation in Ribonucleoprotein Autoantibody-Positive Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation across various organ systems. While anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies are commonly associated with SLE, the presence of anti-RNP antibodies is often linked to unique gene expression profiles and immune responses. This study aims to investigate the gene expression profiles in ribonucleoprotein (RNP) autoantibody-positive SLE patients by analyzing publicly available transcriptomic data. Methods: This study analyzed transcriptomic data from the GEO dataset GSE61635, which includes gene expression profiles from 79 anti-RNP-positive SLE patients and 30 healthy controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the GEO2R tool with a p-value < 0.05 and |log2fold change| > 1. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed. Tissue-specific and cell-type enrichment analyses highlighted the involvement of immune tissues. Results: A total of 1891 DEGs were identified between anti-RNP-positive SLE patients and healthy controls. Among the identified DEGs, SLC4A1 and EPB42 were notably downregulated, while PIP4K2A was highly upregulated. Enrichment analyses revealed significant dysregulation in antiviral response and immune regulation pathways. PPI network analysis highlighted key hub genes, suggesting a heightened antiviral state in these patients. Tissue-specific enrichment and cell-type enrichment identified the bone marrow and immune tissues as being highly affected by the altered gene expression. Additionally, gene frequency analysis highlighted RASD2 as being recurrently significant across multiple studies. Conclusions: The findings suggest that anti-RNP-positive SLE patients exhibit distinct gene expression and immune dysregulation profiles, particularly in antiviral and immune regulation pathways. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms driving SLE in this patient subset and may guide future therapeutic interventions.

Intelligent Diagnosis of Bearing Failures Based on Recurrence Quantification and Energy Difference

Bearing health is key for maintaining good performance and safety in rotating machinery. As the diagnosis of mechanical faults develops toward intelligence and automation, accurate and systematic fault diagnosis algorithms are imperative. Focusing on the diagnosis of rolling bearing failures, this study utilizes a sliding time window to extract essential data segments. A series of signal processing techniques, including filtering, amplitude–frequency analysis, Hilbert envelope analysis, and energy analysis, is applied to establish a comprehensive dataset. For extraction of the hidden properties of the data, the recurrence quantity spectrum is defined for the input of the neural network. The goal is to obtain a cleaner dataset with enhanced features. A convolution neural network is constructed. Different activation functions in the activation layer are compared for better fault diagnosis algorithms. The established feature matrices are specifically defined to accurately identify the subtlest defects of bearings, thereby facilitating early detection. The proposed procedure distinguishes various fault modes. As for the multidimensional complexities of fault signals, this study carries out a comprehensive comparison of energies, recurrence quantification, and amplitude–frequency characteristics of bearing fault detection to assess the accuracy, computational efficiency, and robustness of bearing fault diagnosis. The proposed method and bearing fault detection procedures have potential in practical applications.

Determinants of Caesarean Deliveries in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Survey

Caesarean section, a frequently conducted surgical procedure in obstetrics, is instrumental in safeguarding the well-being of both mothers and infants by addressing complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. While it significantly contributes to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, its overuse can pose serious health risks. The prevalence of caesarean deliveries has surged globally, including in Bangladesh. This rise in caesarean deliveries has prompted this research to investigate the prevalence and various associated factors in the country. To achieve the study objectives, data were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) conducted from 2017 to 2018. After preprocessing the data, a total of 4,884 women were included in the study. Frequency analysis was conducted to illustrate the distribution of sociodemographic characteristics among Bangladeshi women. Chi-square tests were performed to assess their association with caesarean delivery. Furthermore, multi-level logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the variables that have a significant impact on the likelihood of caesarean delivery. The study revealed that in Bangladesh, the prevalence of caesarean section deliveries was approximately 33.1%, with the majority of these occurring in the Dhaka division, accounting for approximately 25.3%. Women aged 20 or older were 1.62 times more likely to opt for a C-section during childbirth (OR 1.62, [1.38-1.89]) compared to those under 20. Overweight or obese women had twice the likelihood of delivering via C-section. Higher socioeconomic status also increased the probability of choosing a caesarean delivery. Women who had exposure to any form of media were 57% more likely to opt for a caesarean delivery (OR 1.57 [1.31-1.87]), while not working women had a 48% higher likelihood of having a C-section. Additionally, the study found that the use of caesarean delivery was positively associated with the husband's education level, the number of children previously born, and the number of antenatal care visits. The study revealed that the rate of C-sections in Bangladesh surpasses WHO recommendations significantly. It also identified various factors driving this trend, including women's education levels, socioeconomic status, media exposure, female obesity, age at first childbirth, and husband’s education. These insights may serve as a foundation for developing strategies to regulate the caesarean delivery rate. Urgent policy directives are essential within Bangladesh's healthcare system, coupled with vigilant monitoring of clinical indications for C-sections, to mitigate the adverse effects of unnecessary procedures. Jagannath University Journal of Science, Volume 11, Number 1, June 2024, pp. 31−44

Stochastic modeling of periodic beams under uncertain boundary conditions and environmental fluctuations

Periodic structures have been attracting a great deal of academic and industrial interest lately, due to their distinctive vibration and wave propagation behavior, which can be explored for the development of innovative solutions to structural dynamics and vibroacoustic problems. Although such a potential has been demonstrated in a large number of studies, the investigation of detrimental effects, which can be present in practical applications, is still necessary. This paper reports investigations on the combined influence of uncertainties affecting ambient temperature — which alters material properties and induces stress-stiffening due to constrained thermal dilatation — and boundary conditions (BCs) on the bandgap characteristics of periodic beams. The space-dependent temperature fluctuations are represented as a one-dimensional stationary Gaussian random field, discretized using the Karhunen-Loève expansion, while non-ideal BCs, represented as springs, are modeled as discrete random variables. Sampling-based stochastic analyses of the central frequency and bandwidth of the beam’s attenuation bands are performed using Monte Carlo simulations. The results demonstrate that the variability in the attenuation band features is influenced not only by the coefficients of variation (CVs) of the input random quantities, but also by the correlation length of the random temperature fluctuations. Numerical simulations reveal that the bandgap central frequency is primarily affected by the temperature random field, while the BCs govern the bandwidth. Although low CV and standard deviation values are obtained for the dispersion of the bandgap features, reliability analyses indicate that some designs exhibit low reliability. Increased variability in both the bandgap central frequency and bandwidth is observed for greater temperature correlation lengths and CVs. The contributions of the study include the proposal of a comprehensive stochastic modeling procedure duly accounting for relevant random influences, and evidencing that those influences can be significant, requiring consideration in the design of robust periodic structures.

Image of Social World in Metaphors and Narratives of Adults

The image of the social world is a predictor of social behavior and its development during stable social transitivity, i.e., COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, local military conflicts, etc. It can also be interpreted as a variable linguistic phenomenon. However, very little empirical research has featured its integral structural and content characteristics through the prism of narratives, metaphors, and social representations. The author used the methods of thematic narrative analysis and content analysis of metaphors to identify the narrative constructions used by adult subjects to describe their image of the social world. The data obtained were subjected to frequency analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The experiment involved 193 respondents aged 35–49 years old, employed in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. In their metaphors and narratives, they described the social world as balancing between stability and dynamism, predictability and stochasticity, as well as endowed it with differentiation in the absence of universal laws. The rationality of the metaphors reflected the age identity while the subject of biographical narratives reflected the subjective adaptation to current social processes.

Adaptive responses of heart rate regulation during functional tests with breath holding

BACKGROUND: Synchronization of biorhythms in living organisms is of particular interest to researchers from the standpoint of adaptation theory. AIM: To study the characteristics of the response of regulatory influences on heart rhythm during tests with voluntary breath holding during inhalation and exhalation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample included 21 randomly selected students (9 males, 12 females) aged 20.64±1.14 years with body weight 67.19±12.98 kg, height 172.29±7.63 cm. All subjects were divided into three groups (I, II, III) according to the classification by N.I. Shlyk (2009), which is based on the predominance of central or autonomic circuits of heart rhythm regulation. A fivefold sequential ECG recording was conducted using the hardware-software complex “Varicard 3.0” with the subject seated after a five-minute rest: 1 — baseline state; 2 — voluntary breath holding during inhalation; 3 — resting state; 4 — voluntary breath holding during exhalation; 5 — resting state. Using the “Varicard 3.0” system, a mathematical analysis of heart rhythm was performed, taking into account statistical parameters of heart rhythm and indices of spectral frequency analysis. RESULTS: During the period of breath holding, heart rate variability decreased, while at rest it increased in all groups. In group I, after a breath-hold test during the rest period, eutonia was observed according to spectral analysis (HF=LF). Statistical analysis in this group demonstrated an increase in the contribution of the parasympathetic component to heart rate variability (RMSSD, pNN50, SDNN, CV), signifying the prerequisites for increased heart rate variability. In group II, after breath-holding tests, a slight decrease in sympathetic activity was observed. A tense pattern of autonomic regulation was observed during the exhalation breath-hold test, which may indicate a reduced functional state of the regulatory systems. Group III was characterized by a sharp increase in sympathetic activation in the test with breath holding during inhalation, followed by a soft correction during breath holding during exhalation, which can be regarded as an adequate response of the body to the load. At rest, after the test, the regulation pattern returned to the original one with a moderate predominance of parasympathetic activity and, accordingly, a more favorable level of heart rate variability for the body. CONCLUSION: Adaptive reactions of the heart rate variability are manifested by an increase in sympathetic activation, which, subsequently, during normal breathing, is replaced by a compensatory activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomous nervous system. Although reactions are unidirectional, the severity can vary across the groups.

Technology Leadership of Educational Institution Administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office

Background and Aims: Nowadays, technology play an important role in the management of educational institutions. Educational institution administrators need to have technological leadership to be able to manage education effectively. Using existing technology in the management process, promoting and supporting personnel under the organization. It will greatly increase the usefulness and efficiency of work in today's era. Therefore, it is necessary to develop, improve and modernize the existing education system. and consistent with technological changes this research has the following objectives: (1) Study the level of technological leadership of educational institution administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office. (2) Compare the technological leadership of educational institution administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office classified by position education level and work experience. (3) Study guidelines for developing technological leadership of educational institution administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office. Methodology: The sample group used in the research included 127 school administrators and teachers under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office. The sample size was determined according to Krejci and Morgan's table. and the sample was selected using stratified random sampling. The research instrument consisted of a questionnaire using a 5-level rating scale with a consistency index between 0.80-1.00 and the reliability of the entire questionnaire was 0.96. In addition, interviews were used as additional tools. In data analysis use a variety of statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, T-test, F-test, and Scheffe's Method analysis. Results: The results of the research found that: (1) Technology leadership of school administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office overall and in each aspect, it is at a "very" level. (2) Technology leadership comparison results of administrators of educational institutions under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office classified by position Education level and work experience It was found that overall and, in each aspect, there were no differences. However, when classified according to work experience It was found that overall, there were no differences. But in terms of supporting the use of technology in measurement and evaluation. There is a statistically significant difference at the 0.05 level. (3) Guidelines for developing technology leadership of educational institution administrators under the Lopburi Provincial Learning Promotion Office, it consists of 5 main areas: 1) Having leadership and technology vision, 2) supporting teaching and learning using technology, 3) ethics in using technology, 4) supporting the use of technology in administration, 5) supporting the use of technology in measurement and evaluate. Conclusion: Technology leadership of educational institution administrators’ emphasis should be placed on appropriate management and application of technology in educational institutions. To achieve maximum efficiency in operations and development of educational quality.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Household Access to HIV/AIDS Healthcare in Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya

This study examined the impact of social and economic factors on the uptake of HIV/AIDS care in Kibra Sub County, Nairobi. The research was grounded in Behavioral theory and focused on how household income, literacy levels, and access to health information influenced the adoption of HIV/AIDS treatment. A descriptive survey design approach was employed, involving a sample of 365 households chosen through simple random and stratified sampling techniques from target population of 61,690 households, as outlined by Krejcie and Morgan's formula. Data collection was carried out using key informant interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive techniques, such as frequency and median analysis, as well as inferential techniques, such as bivariate correlation analysis, chi-square testing, and binomial logistic regression, were used. The results were displayed using tables, graphs, and percentages. Thematic analysis was also used to examine qualitative data in order to find new topics. The analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between access to health information and the likelihood of seeking treatment. Households with higher income and literacy levels were more likely to pursue HIV/AIDS care. Quantitative results showed that access to HIV-related information increased the likelihood of treatment uptake by 6.666 times. Additionally, increased household income and higher literacy levels were linked to a 7.434-fold and 3.554-fold rise, respectively, in the probability of seeking care. The study concluded that socio-economic factors, particularly income, literacy, and information access, significantly influenced healthcare-seeking behaviors in Kibra. To enhance access to HIV/AIDS treatment, it is recommended that policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders implement targeted interventions, including income-generating programs and comprehensive health education, to address the socio-economic barriers that hinder healthcare uptake.

Exploratory Data Analyses Indicate an Overuse of Dietary Supplements among Male Gym Users in Germany

Background: Dietary supplements (DS) are very popular with the general population, physically active people and professional athletes are often taken without professional advice. Adverse effects on consumer health are increasingly being reported and there are concerns about overdoses of certain nutrients. There are initial indications that some groups of people have a higher affinity to DS than others. It appears that the type of sport and possibly gym membership could have an influence on consumer behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to identify high consumer groups of DS among the general population in Germany. Methods: The consumption of DS was assessed using an online questionnaire including information about physical activity, gym membership and the consumption and intake doses of DS. Completed questionnaires were returned by 244 participants (m=153, f=91; 30.7±10.4 years SD). The answer options were valued, and subjects were categorized in low, average and high consumers (indicating overdosing). A configural frequency analysis was performed using the independent variables gender, gym membership, consumption. The configurations were tested with an exact binomial test and the p-value was corrected according to Bonferroni (0.05/12=0.0042). Results: Three significant configurations were found (p≤0.0042). The configuration, ‘male-gym member-average consumption’ as well as ‘male-gym member-high consumption’ were significantly overrepresented. Male gym members with low consumption behaviour were significantly underrepresented. Conclusion: This analysis suggests that male gym users in the German population have a higher risk of excessive DS consumption than other subgroups. Awareness campaigns regarding the risk of intake and overconsumption of DS can be targeted to high-risk groups. Due to the small sample size and the different types of fitness gyms, further studies are needed to make clearer statements and identify more precise risk groups.

The Impact of Psychological Empowerment on Individual Performance in Balloon Companies: Is Justice Perception a Mediator?

Today’s organizations inevitably experience rapid changes at every moment. One factor that plays an important role in the success of organizations in this change is their employees. This study aims to examine the intermediary role of justice in the impact of psychological empowerment perceptions of employees working in balloon businesses belonging to the private aviation industry on individual performance. The study used a convenience sampling method, and the data were obtained from 454 employees by questionnaire. The study used the SPSS 25.0 Program and Process Macro v 4.0 application. Frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability analysis were conducted. In addition, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression, and mediating effects were analyzed using the bootstrap method developed by Hayes (2013). In addition, the Sobel test was used to examine the significance of the mediating effect. As a result of the study, the relationship between competence and interactional justice (r =.550; p =.000) is higher than other variables. Moreover, psychological empowerment has a significant and positive impact on individual performance (95% CI [.37; .59]; ß=.4553; p=.000). In addition, psychological empowerment has a significant and positive impact on the justice perception (95% CI [.31; .32]; ß=0.191; p=.000). Justice perception has a significant and positive impact on individual performance (95% CI [.32; .47]; ß=.4052; p=.000). Finally, justice perception has a semi-intermediary impact on psychological empowerment and individual performance (ß=.7892) and (95% CI [.1431, .1488]).

Hidden in plain text: Uncovering hidden heterogeneity and social stratification in Ireland AD 1150-1800.

Between the Irish late medieval (AD 1150-c.1550) (LMP) and post-medieval (AD c.1550-1800) (PMP) periods, colonial practices changed land ownership. Contextualizing these periods within a biocultural political economy framework supports increasing social inequality in the PMP, which we expect to be reflected in different skeletal markers of longevity and stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that widespread exposure to stressors and resource deprivation contributed to lower longevity in the PMP compared to the LMP, and that there would be greater variation between sites in the frequency of linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) in the PMP. We estimated age and counted matched pairs of LEH on 526 adult skeletons from the Irish counties of Dublin, Kildare, Louth, and Meath. Age-at-death was compared through Kaplan-Meier survival functions and non-parametric tests. Linear enamel hypoplasias prevalences were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U tests and Generalized Linear Models. Age-at-death distribution changed between the LMP and PMP for males, with males experiencing an increase in median-age-at-death. The same was untrue for females, who show no changes in median age-at-death. Analysis of LEH frequency per individual showed that variation between sites was significant in the post-medieval period but not in the late medieval period. These results suggest that social organization contributed to embodied health experiences that varied across time periods. Specifically, populations from the PMP appear to have embodied greater social inequality in their more varied susceptibility to stress. Our work demonstrates the strength of pairing historical texts with the analysis of skeletal remains to evaluate the impact of social structures on biological frailty.