Past Habits Research Articles

Life with habit and expectation: A new explanation of equity premium puzzle

AbstractPrevious writers have attempted to resolve the equity premium puzzle by employing a utility function that depends on current consumption minus (or relative to) past habit consumption. This paper points out that an individual's current utility may also depend upon how well off in the recent past he or she had expected to be today. Hence we add the concept “expectation formation” to the utility modification term in a model with a habit‐formation utility function. We apply the model to the equity premium puzzle and find that it is able to fit the data with a relatively low coefficient of relative risk aversion. Furthermore, we introduce an updated data sample and apply different values of discounting factors, and find that in all circumstances, the model is able to generate coefficients of risk aversion that are consistent with theory. Hence we conclude that the model is able to resolve the equity premium puzzle.

Understanding household waste separation in South Africa

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine the motives behind the separation of household waste (or the lack of such separation) on the basis of the theory of interpersonal behaviour. The aim of this paper is to broaden and deepen the understanding of key determinants of household waste separation (or the lack of such separation). This study proposes a conceptual model based on the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative method was applied to investigate the views of 350 heads of households in the Johannesburg metropolitan area through an administered questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypothesised structural relationships in the proposed model.FindingsThe results indicate that household waste separation intention is influenced by cognition of the consequences and by injunctive and personal normative pressures. Separation intention and past habits were found to have a direct influence on actual separation behaviour.Originality/valueWhile the theory of planned behaviour is ubiquitous in the recycling literature, this study presents a different, broader framework for a better understanding of the drivers of household waste separation. This is achieved by applying the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct. The findings provide insights that could help municipalities in emerging markets to promote household waste separation for better management of the environment.

Can educational speech intervention improve visitors' hand hygiene compliance?

Hand hygiene, a simple and low-cost measure, remains the leading intervention for reducing the burden related to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While many interventions have been tested to improve staff hand hygiene compliance, hospital visitors continue to have low compliance rates, which increases the risk of HAIs and resistant organisms' transmission into hospitals and out to the community. To assess the effectiveness of educational speech intervention (ESI) for increasing hand hygiene compliance rate among hospital visitors. This interventional study was conducted from March to June 2019 in an inpatient unit of a large academic hospital. Visitor hand hygiene compliance was observed before and after implementation of ESI. The purpose of providing ESI to the visitors in the intervention phase was to remind them about the importance of hand hygiene and the proper method for cleaning hands. Post-intervention data were collected using the survey questionnaires. Unpaired t-test compared the hand hygiene compliance rate before and after the intervention. Baseline hand hygiene compliance rate was 9.73% while hand hygiene compliance rate post-intervention increased to 87.06% (P<0.001). Barriers to hand hygiene compliance included occupied hands, improper location of hand hygiene supplies, and past habit of not practising hand hygiene. Visitors preferred to be reminded about hand hygiene by verbal reminder (57%), followed by signage (38%), and wristband notices (5%). The ESI substantially increased visitors' hand hygiene compliance rate. Further studies are warranted to assess the sustainability of ESI and address other barriers to visitors' hand hygiene compliance.

Sources of Legitimacy in Global Governance

This article explores how, in the quest for new global order, global governance might acquire greater sociological legitimacy. What are the sources of legitimacy in global governance? In other words, what conditions generate confidence and trust in global-scale authorities? To explore this question, the article first elaborates on the general concept of legitimacy as it relates to global regulation. Thereafter the discussion considers, under three main headings, a broad range of possible drivers of legitimacy beliefs vis-à-vis global governance. First, some of these sources are institutional, relating to features of the global regulatory organisations, such as their procedural inputs and their performance outputs. Second, other sources of legitimacy are individual, relating to the characteristics of the subjects of global governance, such as their identity orientations and their levels of social trust. Third, further sources of legitimacy in global governance are societal, relating to the general ordering patterns of world politics, such as prevailing norms, capitalism, and a hegemonic state. The article concludes by urging that researchers break from past habits of treating institutional, individual and societal sources of legitimacy separately and in isolation from each other. Instead, legitimacy in global governance can be more fully understood – and more effectively promoted in practice – if one examines these various forces together, and in terms of their mutual constitution.

Aspects of nutrition for prevention and treatment of chronic neurological diseases

Chronic neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, such as idiopathic Parkinson's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, represent atherapeutic challenge. Their pathophysiology is not well understood and acure for any of these diseases is not possible. Over the past decades lifestyle and nutritional habits in modern industrial nations have changed and evidence is increasing that the prevalence of chronic diseases as well their clinical presentation are also changing. Epidemiological investigations indicate that nutritional components might have an impact on the pathogenesis of chronic neurological diseases. Aprofound understanding of these correlations could foster abetter prevention as well as treatment of such chronic disabling diseases. This continuing medical education article summarizes the current understanding of selected nutritional components and their effect on the development and clinical course of chronic neurological disorders.

Reconnection and reflexivity in Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACTThis article explores the role of informal food spaces and flows in Islamabad, Pakistan. This paper aims to address two key questions in the areas of food and urbanism in Islamabad: How do the city’s residents perceive and experience the so-called “non-urban” food spaces and flows in their everyday lives? How do these spaces contribute to a nuanced understanding of global food systems? This paper considers that these spaces are critical in engendering nostalgia for past food habits and behaviours, a trigger for reflexive consumerism, and sites for reconnecting with different aspects of the country’s food system. The paper also explores how such spaces can be conceptualised within urbanism and geography, in the context of Islamabad’s unique spatial and socio-cultural identity. Informed by urbanism and food geography, this paper considers analytical and theoretical strategies for advancing the study of the urban in the global south, and specifically in Pakistan.

The risk of developing post-arthroscopic shoulder stiffness is increased by the presence of gastroesophageal disorders

Aim The aim of this study was to document the incidence of post-arthroscopic shoulder stiffness (SS) and evaluate the role of certain or supposed risk factors in the development of this pathology. Background Postoperative SS is a complication of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, which incidence has been reported variably in literature. Numerous risk factors have been described but gastroesophageal diseases have not yet been mentioned among them. Methods Two hundred and fourteen consecutive patients aged between 18 and 75 years with symptomatic degenerative posterosuperior rotator cuff tears that had failed conservative therapy and underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included. The incidence of post-operative SS and the presence of potential risk factors were documented prospectively. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was specifically investigated with the GERDq questionnaire. Results The incidence of post-arthroscopic SS in the included patients was 7.9%. All but two patients were women, and sex was significantly associated to the development of the pathology (P = 0.0007). Both the presence of a subjective digestive discomfort (P = 0.0042) and the diagnosis gastroesophageal reflux disease (P = 0.0004) were found to be significantly associated with the development of post-arthroscopic SS. A present or past smoking habit were significantly associated with the absence of post-arthroscopic SS (P = 0.0443). Conclusions A significant association between the occurrence of post-arthroscopic SS and the presence of gastroesophageal diseases was identified. This finding deserves investigations with further studies. The incidence of post-arthroscopic SS encountered in this study falls among previously reported ranges, with females being significantly more affected than men.

P-389 - The teas of Portuguese centenarians

Introduction Medicinal plants traditional consumption habits, can contribute to longevity. Methods A sample of 253 centenarian individuals in Portugal, both sexes, median age100 years, was studied, to verify past habits in relation to medicinal-interest plants use. It was compared with a control group median age 67 year, with a reduced theoretical probability of reaching 100 years. Results Among the 8 most cited plants, in decreasing frequency order, in centenarian's group: Lemon-balm, barley, lemon-verbena, orange (leaf-flower), linden, whig-plant, pennyroyal and mount-carqueja (Pterospartum-tridentatum); in the control group: Lemon-balm, lemon-verbena, chamomile, linden, prince-herb, green-tea, lemon-tea and mint-tea. Whereas 28% of the control subjects reported not using infusion plants, in the centennial group, only 9.1% reported not routinely use them (χ2=30,42, p Conclusion the high antioxidant power associated with the use of plants by centenarian individuals, determined by anti-free radical's activity, lipoperoxidation inhibition and antitumor potential, may have contributed to their exceptional longevity.

The Role of the Passive Voice Mindset in Regulating Healthy Eating

Talking about eating in the passive, as opposed to the active voice, (e.g., The cake will be eaten vs. I will eat the cake) can lead people to see the act of eating to be triggered by the food to a greater extent, leading to the continuation of past eating habits. Depending on whether or not the past habits are healthy, the motivation for healthy eating may change as a result. In study 1, writing passive sentences increased the motivation for healthy eating to the extent that people reported eating healthy in the past. Moreover, in study 2 across 127 languages spoken in 94 countries, when the acted-upons of actions (e.g., the food in the act of eating) became relatively more salient in a language, people became more likely to act on cultural habits that may be relatively healthier, decreasing unhealthy eating. The results are important for understanding the perceived role of food in starting eating as it impacts healthy eating across cultures.

Applying Personality Type Theory to Develop Individualized Wellness Plans for Reducing Chronic Diseases

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type (using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire) are associated with activities people prefer for getting adequate exercise, losing weight, managing stress, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and taking medications as prescribed.&#x0D; Methods: The data source for this study was the 2016 National Consumer Survey of the Medication Experience and Pharmacists’ Roles. Data were collected via an on-line, self-administered survey conducted from March 14-30, 2016. Data were obtained from 10,500 adults residing in the United States. Chi-square analysis was used for making comparisons between categories of personality types and how respondents believed they could best reach their personal goals. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. Practical significance was set at five or more percentage points above or below the overall mean.&#x0D; Results: Findings showed that (1) there are key differences between individuals that impact their behavior and (2) these differences can be easily and accurately identified using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire. The findings supported the notion that individuals are more likely to experience success in changing health-risk behaviors if they engage in activities that are consistent with (i) how they are energized, (ii) the kind of information they naturally notice, (iii) how they prefer to make decisions, and (iv) their preferences to live in a more structured way or in a more spontaneous way.&#x0D; Conclusions: Personality type characteristics can be used to develop and implement successful change strategies and intervention tools, such as individualized wellness plans (IWPTM) that help promote intention stability, create implementation intention, resist situational pressure, reduce the impact of past habits on future performances, and improve change maintenance.&#x0D; Conflict of Interest&#x0D; We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties.&#x0D; &#x0D; Type: Original Research

Editorial Impression on the Cardiology Section of Aged Human Suffering from Aortal Blockage by Heavy Smoking

Most of the aged and fatty person are going to be initialized in the open heart surgery because of their improper functioning of heart, arteries, valves etc… this kind of probability is seen in mainly smokers, junk food eaters, rarely genetic. BYPASS surgery for these type of people is not only risk but also endangerous in late ages, heavy bodies. After getting successful surgery reports, with in short time some of them are dying because they are not willing to with draw their past habits and habitats.

Applying Personality Type Theory to Develop Individualized Wellness Plans for Reducing Chronic Diseases

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type (using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire) are associated with activities people prefer for getting adequate exercise, losing weight, managing stress, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and taking medications as prescribed. Methods: The data source for this study was the 2016 National Consumer Survey of the Medication Experience and Pharmacists’ Roles. Data were collected via an on-line, self-administered survey conducted from March 14-30, 2016. Data were obtained from 10,500 adults residing in the United States. Chi-square analysis was used for making comparisons between categories of personality types and how respondents believed they could best reach their personal goals. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Practical significance was set at five or more percentage points above or below the overall mean. Results: Findings showed that (1) there are key differences between individuals that impact their behavior and (2) these differences can be easily and accurately identified using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire. The findings supported the notion that individuals are more likely to experience success in changing health-risk behaviors if they engage in activities that are consistent with (i) how they are energized, (ii) the kind of information they naturally notice, (iii) how they prefer to make decisions, and (iv) their preferences to live in a more structured way or in a more spontaneous way. Conclusions: Personality type characteristics can be used to develop and implement successful change strategies and intervention tools, such as individualized wellness plans (IWPTM) that help promote intention stability, create implementation intention, resist situational pressure, reduce the impact of past habits on future performances, and improve change maintenance. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties. Type: Original Research

The Barriers to Design Creativity

Background Scientific studies on creativity have been focused on the illumination and enhancement of creativity since the mid-20th century in various fields such as psychology, education, the arts, business, engineering, etc. However, relatively speaking, studies on the obstacles to creativity have stuck to a fragmented approach. Especially, there is a lack of studies on the inhibitory factors of creativity in the field of design, in which creative solutions are required as a core for the design process. Methods The purpose of this study is to draw out and interpret the barriers to design creativity in the design process. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the inhibitory factors of design creativity as a psychological pitfall in problem-solving activities through the use of an experiment and survey. This study employs qualitative research methods by using a deductive approach in order to extract the inhibitory factors based on references of creativity from the neighboring disciplines of psychology, engineering, etc. At the same time quantitative research was conducted by using a statistical analysis of experimental data. Results Lots of factors that hinder creativity come to end as a “fixation,” a “bias,” etc. which consist of inherent and dependent elements related to cognitive objects or existences. There are typical factors such as stereotypical ideas, obsessions, excessive knowledge & experience, overwhelming representatives, past habits and customs, fixed logical thinking, etc. Design is also not an exception. Based on the errors and problems that have occurred in the design process, the barriers to design creativity are divided into internal and external groups. However, personal inclinations like emotions and nature or uncontrollable factors like customs are excluded. The internal factors are “structured thinking,” “wrong problem statements” and “high expertise.” The external factors are “overwhelming influence,” “excessive information” and “representativeness.” This study found that “influences of existence (overwhelming influence)” and “adhesion of function & technology (high expertise)” are the primary barriers to design creativity. As noted in previous studies, design fixations such as existing products or cases (pictures, drawings, etc.) which could be potential solutions, are the obstacles to making a psychological transition to a new conceptual area both consciously and unconsciously. “Structured thinking” and “wrong problem statements” are also frequently experienced psychological. However, if it is taken into consideration that design activity in the context of a systematic process is broken down into a problem-solving process, “excessive information” and “representativeness” should not be excluded from being barriers to design creativity. Conclusions Discussions on the barriers to design creativity need to equally deal with creativity illumination for both individuals and groups in a variety of contexts. The results of this study show the psychological phenomenon of the inhibitory factors of design creativity and serve to construct the foundation of the platform of design creativity. In the near future, attempts should be made to find empirical cases and practical solutions for each inhibitory factor of design creativity presented in this study.

Life with Habit and Expectation: A New Explanation of the Equity Premium Puzzle

Previous writers have attempted to resolve the equity premium puzzle by employing a utility function that depends on current consumption minus (or relative to) past habit consumption. This paper points out that an individual’s current utility may also depend upon how well off in the recent past he or she had expected to be today. Hence we add the concept "expectation formation" to the utility modification term in a model with a habit-formation utility function. We apply the model to the equity premium puzzle and find that it is able to fit the data with a relatively low coefficient of relative risk aversion. Furthermore we fit the model to 40-year rolling samples and find that the estimated coefficient of risk aversion does not vary much as the sample changes. Hence we conclude that the model is able to resolve the equity premium puzzle.

Serum Ferritin: Is It an Independent Predictor of Reduced Bone Mineral Density among Elderly Women?

Aim: In vitro studies have shown that iron promotes osteoclast differentiation and bone-resorbing activity by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, whereas it suppresses osteoblastogenesis. In postmenopausal women, serum ferritin increases by 2 - 3 times due to the lack of a major mechanism of iron excretion, while menstrual blood decreases. Based on this observation, it has been hypothesized that in addition to estrogen deficiency, increased iron as a result of menopause could contribute to bone loss in postmenopausal women. So our aim was to investigate the association between serum ferritin levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women at various skeletal sites. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 71 postmenopausal women having a mean age of (66 ± 7) years (range 60 - 83 years) was done. The collected data included age of menopause, past medical history, smoking habits, physical activity, and medication use. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and other biochemical markers including, serum ferritin, 25 hydroxyvitamin D3, serum alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were assayed. Results: We found that serum ferritin levels are significantly related to BMD of the total hip and lumbar vertebrae [with a p value of (0.01) and (<0.001) respectively] and T scores for the total hip, femur neck and lumber vertebrae [with a p value of (0.004), (0.036) and (<0.001) respectively] and their major determinants are age of menopause, menopause duration, weight, BMI and physical activity. Conclusion: This study suggests a positive association between serum ferritin levels and BMD in elderly women without hematologic disorders. Further study is warranted to verify the effects of iron on bone metabolism.

Scurvy in the Postoperative Oropharyngeal Cancer Patient

Scurvy is now an almost forgotten disease, but it hasn’t yet disappeared entirely. Here, we report the case of a patient with scurvy who presented with multiple hemorrhages about 5 years after undergoing pharyngeal surgery and radiochemotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer. This 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of sudden onset of dyspnea and purpura. A physical examination and computed tomography revealed multifocal hemorrhages, namely, purpuras and petechiae on the legs and intramuscular and alveolar hemorrhages. Coagulation tests indicated a normal bleeding time and mild extension of the activated partial thromboplastin time. The coagulation factor activities were not low enough to account for such severe hemorrhages. No new hemorrhages were observed after admission. On questioning about his past eating habits, the patient reported having long had an extremely unbalanced diet, namely, a diet that was composed largely of carbohydrates with few fresh fruits and vegetables. This was due to the development of mechanical dysphagia after the operation. Since his vitamin C level was 0.5 μg/mL (normal range: 5.5 - 16.8 μg/mL), a diagnosis of scurvy was established. Thus, scurvy can still occur in modern times due to poor eating habits that arise from unusual settings. We must keep in mind that scurvy may be the cause when a patient presents with an apparently inexplicable tendency to hemorrhage.

Handling of Household Flammables by Elderly Dwelling in the Community: General Survey on Actual Status; The Kurihara Project

Background: Handling errors with household flammables, such as pan burning, may result in serious accidents. However, there have only been a few reports on the actual status of fire accidents, regardless of whether they were small or serious. Methods: 590 residents aged 75 years or older in Kurihara, northern Japan, consisted of 223 Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0 (healthy), 294 CDR 0.5 (very mild dementia), and 73 CDR 1+ (dementia) participants. The family members living with the subject were asked about the actual status over the past 3 years: Handling of a heating appliance in winter, handling of household flammable items other than a heating appliance in daily life, and accidents and failures related to fire. Results: We found that 93.1% of the subjects operated heating appliances by themselves. The rate was high in all CDR groups, and that in the CDR 1+group was 79.7%. Furthermore, the use rate of IH (Induction Heating) appliance was quite low. According to the free descriptions, the accidents were caused by a decrease in attention/ executive function and the ability to predict risks. Conclusion: Their preference of a cooking stove rather than IH was probably due to easier switch system. The risk of rubbish burning has not been well established. Rubbish collection is quite a new service in some regions, and there may be a big gap between the service and their memory of the past habit.

Investigation of educational intervention based on Theory of Planned Behavior on breakfast consumption among middle school students of Qom City in 2012.

Background:Eating breakfast is crucial for adolescents to be healthy. It also improves students’ capacity of learning and doing school homework. Although healthy habits such as eating breakfast, weight control, and regular sleep increase the lifespan in adults, the effects of healthy habits on school-age children have not been studied much. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of an educational program based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on eating breakfast among middle school students.Materials and Methods:This interventional study was conducted on sixth-grade students in Qom City during the academic year 2012–2013. First, 97 students were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 97 other students were assigned to the control group. Then, a questionnaire was developed on eating breakfast by the researchers according to the TPB. A pilot study was conducted to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. To assess the validity of the questionnaire, advice by a panel of experts was sought. To carry out a pre-test, both groups answered the questions. After analyzing the pre-test results, the required content was developed for the experimental group. Educational methods included delivering speech, discussion groups, pamphlets, and posters. The required educationalcontent was provided for students during five sessions and for parents in one session. To determine the effect of educational intervention, a post-test study was carried out 2 months after the intervention. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-test, χ,[2] and repeated measures.Results:In the experimental group, 36.7% of students were eating breakfast at least in a day of a week, before educational intervention. After implementation of the educational program, only 32.7% of them were continuing their past habit. There was a significant difference between themean scores of attitudes, perceived behavioral control, intention, and practice of eating breakfast in the experimental and control groups (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the mean scores of subjective norms after implementing the educational program in both groups (P < 0.26).Conclusion:Using the TPB improved students’ intentions and behavior of eating breakfast. Thus, it seems necessary to consider all effective environmental factors on the subjective norms in the education of healthy eating behaviors or improving breakfast-eating practice among students.

Reconstructing past media ecologies: The 1960s generation in Sweden

This article examines how an analysis of a broader media ecology of a particular generation can offer a more complex account of past audience habits than the ones we gain from quantitative audience ratings based on one medium alone. It also shows how past surveys can be put to use anew within new theoretical frameworks. The main argument is based on a cultural studies–inspired interpretation of a home electronics survey, conducted by the Swedish public service radio’s research unit in 1985. The main focus is on members of the cohort born during the 1960s, who grew up with television and quickly became avid television users. The longitudinal analysis of television preferences within the broader media ecology of this generation sheds new light on the relationships between different media, but also on the long-term impact that a particular media ecology may have on one’s engagement with the media at later stages of life.

"Governing without judges": The politics of the Constitutional Court in Serbia

This article deals with judicial irrelevance in democratic consolidation, on the basis of the Serbian example. It surveys the politics of the Constitutional Court in post-Milosevic Serbia, and shows that the Court has failed to become a significant veto player or an important mechanism for facilitating the transition to democracy. To explain this conclusion, this article turns to the play-it-safe strategy the Court applied in the most controversial political cases, in which it would have been possible to initiate changes in public policy, including cases concerning constitution-making, the state of emergency, judicial reform, and political decentralization. The analysis will demonstrate that the roots of judicial dormancy in political disputes derive from deferential ideology, the anti-politics approach and institutional insecurity. In addition, an approach from legal culture perspective will indicate that the Court’s latent incapacity to contribute to democratic consolidation also stems from judges’ past habits and extensive ideology of legal formalism. For this argument, militant-democracy cases will provide a good illustration. Finally, from a more theoretical perspective, the article suggests that the passive role to which courts are consigned in authoritarian regimes may decrease the probability for the judges to play an influential role in the transitional phase, and casts doubt on the thesis that an environment of highly divided politics generates robust constitutional review, at least in absence of “insurance thesis” and in societies where sham constitutional courts existed in the previous authoritarian regime.