Group Size Research Articles

Keep it CooL! Results of a two-year CooL-intervention: a descriptive case series study

BackgroundCoaching on Lifestyle (CooL) is a two-year healthcare intervention for people with overweight or obesity, stimulating weight reduction by promoting sustained healthier behavior. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of CooL on participants’ anthropometrics, personal factors and behavioral factors over the two-year timeframe of CooL.MethodsA descriptive case series study, using a broad set of routinely collected data on anthropometrics, personal factors and behavioral factors of adults living across the Netherlands. The data were collected between November 2018 and December 2021 among participants of CooL (N = 746) at three moments during the intervention: at baseline (T0), at 8 months (T1) after completion of phase 1 and at 24 months (T2) after ending CooL. Changes over time were analyzed using paired t-tests comparing baseline to T1 and baseline to T2. In addition, potential differences on outcomes in subgroups based on education level, weight status and group size were examined using paired t-tests and ANOVA-tests.ResultsThe results showed positive changes on all outcomes at 24 months compared to baseline. The largest effects were on perceived health, attentiveness towards meal size and meal composition (large effect size). Mean weight loss was 4.13 kg (SD 7.54), and mean waist circumference decreased with 4.37 centimeters (SD 8.59), indicating a medium to large effect size. Changes were consistent across subgroups varying in educational level, BMI at baseline and group size.ConclusionThe study demonstrated sustained weight-related effects of CooL over 24 months supporting its two-year duration. The results indicate that CooL, though not for every individual, is in general appropriate and effective for different group sizes and for a wide variety of participants regardless of level of education, or BMI at baseline.Trial registrationDutch Trial Register NTRNL6061 (13-01-2017). Registered at Overview of Medical Research in the Netherlands (OMON), via https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/.

Motor adaptation to continuous lateral trunk support force during walking improves trunk postural control and walking in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study

PurposeTo determine whether the application of continuous lateral trunk support forces during walking would improve trunk postural control and improve gait performance in children with CP. Materials and methodsNineteen children with spastic CP participated in this study (8 boys; mean age 10.6 ± 3.4 years old). Fourteen of them were tested in the following sessions: 1) walking on a treadmill without force for 1-min (baseline), 2) with lateral trunk support force for 7-min (adaptation), and 3) without force for 1-min (post-adaptation). Overground walking pre/post treadmill walking. Five of them were tested using a similar protocol but without trunk support force (i.e., control). ResultsParticipants from the experimental group showed enhancement in gait phase dependent muscle activation of rectus abdominis in late adaptation period compared to baseline (P = 0.005), which was retained during the post-adaptation period (P = 0.036), reduced variability of the peak trunk oblique angle during the late post-adaptation period (P = 0.023), and increased overground walking speed after treadmill walking (P = 0.032). Participants from the control group showed modest changes in kinematics and EMG during treadmill and overground walking performance. These results suggest that applying continuous lateral trunk support during walking is likely to induce learning of improved trunk postural control in children with CP, which may partially transfer to overground walking, although we do not have a firm conclusion due to the small sample size in the control group.

Feeding Habits of Scomber japonicus Inferred by Stable Isotope and Fatty Acid Analyses

Scomber japonicus is widely distributed off the coast of Japan and in the northwestern Pacific. It is an important target for fisheries. To reveal the differences in diet shifts and niche changes of S. japonicus, we collected samples in the high seas of the northwest Pacific (38°59′ N–43°00′ N, 150°30′ E–161°48′ E) from June to August 2021. We utilized stable isotope and fatty acid analyses to study the differences in body length and sex of S. japonicus. The results showed no significant differences in stable isotope values and fatty acid composition between male and female individuals (p > 0.05). Differences in δ13C and δ15N values among different body length groups were also not significant (p > 0.05). Both δ13C and δ15N values showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing across different body length groups. The niche width of S. japonicus in different body length groups first increased and then decreased, with niche overlap among the groups exceeding 60%. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that the main fatty acids in S. japonicus were C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9, C18:3n-6, C20:5n-3, C20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3. Except for C18:0 and C20:4n-6, the content of the other fatty acids showed significant differences among different body length groups (p < 0.05). The results of the similarity analysis (ANOSIM) indicated that the fatty acid compositions of the 100–130 mm length group were significantly different from those of the 131–160 mm and 161–190 mm length groups (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among the other size groups (p > 0.05). During the growth and development of S. japonicus, the proportion of krill in their diet gradually decreased. Meanwhile, their consumption of zooplankton, diatoms and fish significantly increased. Additionally, S. japonicus also consumed crustaceans, but their intakes of planktonic bacteria and green algae were relatively low. We suggested that there were no significant differences between male and female individuals of S. japonicus. As they grew and developed, the ecological niche and feeding habits of S. japonicus continuously changed.

Efficacy of Bisphosphonates in Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The scientific literature suggests that, if periprosthetic osteolysis (PPO) is not treated, it may have a negative impact on the results of a total hip replacement and possibly result in failure. This systematic review aimed to determine the efficacy of using bisphosphonates preventatively to limit PPO after a total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A PICOS template was developed to ensure a structured approach. A search for relevant studies was performed across four databases, including Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane. They were all last searched on March 1st and were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised studies. Results: The final analysis included seven studies with a total of 126 study group participants and 144 control group participants. The studies looked at Bony Mass Density in terms of bone loss on Gruen’s femoral zones after THA in a bisphosphonate (treatment) and control group (placebo/no treatment). The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in favour of the bisphosphonate group in many of the included studies at 6, 12, and 24 postoperative months. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis, using the most recent applicable studies, showed the efficacy of bisphosphonates in limiting periprosthetic osteolysis after THA in a period between 6 and 24 postoperative months. Future studies should focus increasing group sizes and collecting results beyond the 2-year mark.

Bright and early: artificial light affects arrival time, but not group size or vigilance in Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Coastal developments are ever‐expanding and increasing the use of artificial lights within marine environments. Yet there is conflicting research on the impact of artificial lights on seabirds. Here, we experimentally investigated the impacts of artificial white lights on the behaviours (arrival time, group size, number of groups and vigilance) of breeding Little Penguins Eudyptula minor. Little Penguins are central‐place foragers that spend daylight hours foraging at sea and return to their breeding colony after sunset to attend to their chicks or relieve their incubating partners. We exposed Little Penguins returning to their colony at night to either (1) a self‐sustaining white LED floodlight or (2) a control system with a decoy light turned ‘off’. We used two different landing sites (site 1, site 2) that differed in landscape characteristics to assess whether behavioural responses to light were site‐specific. Little Penguins arrived in larger groups at the landing site 2. Regardless of site, we observed fewer groups that arrived earlier when the light was ‘on’. The effects of artificial light (or ‘lack of artificial light’) on the vigilance of Little Penguins were site‐specific, with Little Penguins spending proportionally more time in vigilance when the light was ‘off’ at site 2 compared with site 1. Our results support the idea that artificial lights produced from coastal developments can alter penguin behaviours, but that the effects of artificial lights can be context‐dependent and need to be assessed on a case‐by‐case basis.

Blood Biomarkers of Long COVID: A Systematic Review.

Long coronavirus disease (COVID; LC) affects millions of people worldwide. The exact mechanisms which result in a broad, undulating and detrimental symptom profile remain unknown. Blood biomarkers associated with LC have been described; however, consensus on these remains elusive, in part due to a lack of continuity between studies on a universally accepted definition of LC. This systematic review aimed to consolidate current knowledge of blood biomarkers associated with the prevalence of LC on the basis of the World Health Organisation (WHO) clinical definition of this condition. Observational, cross-sectional, and randomised control studies published in the English language that studied blood biomarkers associated with the WHO definition of LC. All studies included participants who were ≥ 18 years old and group sizes ≥ 10 participants, and were compared against a control group without any known co-morbidities. A systematic literature search was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and prospectively registered on Prospero (ID: CRD42022373121). The Cochrane, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Search results were gathered using Rayyan software and data extracted using Microsoft Excel. The reporting recommendations for tumour markers prognostic studies (REMARK) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A total of 45 observational and one interventional study comprising 4415 participants were included in this review which identified 525 blood biomarkers thought to be associated with LC. Three blood biomarker subtypes were associated with the development of LC: (1) immunological and inflammatory dysfunction, (2) endothelial/vascular dysfunction and (3) metabolic and clotting abnormalities. Our data are consistent with previous findings; however, no single biomarker was sufficiently associated with LC prevalence and instead a profile of biomarkers across various physiological systems may be more clinically useful. In all, 196 studies were excluded due to a lack of an adequately healthy comparator group and/or failure to meet the WHO LC definition. This demonstrates a need for further research incorporating a universal LC definition across all disease severity groups and symptom profiles, and longitudinal data reflecting the relapsing and remitting nature of this condition. Further investigation into blood biomarkers of LC, including clear reporting of healthy comparator groups and the investigation of acute and chronic biomarker changes, within the context of medical practice, may support the development of curative/restorative approaches.

Intraspecific variation in group structure arises due to environmentally-mediated directional dispersal in a cooperative breeder.

Many cooperatively breeding species live in groups with complex structure-large group sizes, low and variable kin structure, and multiple breeding pairs. Since these mixed-kin groups typically form because of immigration of unrelated individuals of both sexes in addition to limited offspring dispersal, differences in patterns of dispersal can generate variation in group structure, even within the same species or population. Here, we examine how environmentally mediated dispersal patterns influence variation in group structure in the plural breeding superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus), an avian cooperative breeder that inhabits a spatiotemporally variable savanna environment and forms mixed-kin groups with variable group sizes and more than one breeding pair per group. Using 4068 genome-wide polymorphic loci and fine-scale, remotely sensed ecological data from 22 groups sampled across a nearly 200 km2 environmental gradient in central Kenya, we find evidence of not only frequent and long-distance dispersal in both sexes (low isolation-by-distance and weak genetic structure), but also directional dispersal from small groups in lower quality habitat with low normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) to large groups in higher quality habitat with high NDVI. Additionally, we find stronger genetic structure among groups in lower quality habitat, and higher genetic diversity and lower relatedness of groups in higher quality habitat. Previous work using long-term data from groups in the same population has shown that groups with lower relatedness are larger and have more breeding pairs. Long-distance, directional dispersal to maximise individual fitness can thus lead to smaller and simpler kin-based social groups in lower quality habitat, but larger and more complex mixed-kin groups in higher quality habitat. Such intraspecific, within-population variation in group structure, including variation in kin structure of social groups, could have profound implications for the relative importance of the evolutionary mechanisms (i.e. direct vs. indirect fitness benefits) underlying the formation of cooperative societies.

Food waste awareness among Italian university students: results of an online survey

IntroductionFood waste (FW) represents a significant social and environmental problem, with 1.3 billion tons of food wasted yearly worldwide. Even if consumers are increasingly aware of the phenomenon, it remains relevant, and understanding the behaviors of specific target audience segments appears instrumental to the planning of effective interventions. To this end, we designed an observational study to investigate, throughout an online questionnaire, FW-related habits of university students in a Southern Italian region.MethodsA representative sample of 431 students from the University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia completed an online survey aimed at investigate FW related behaviors. A descriptive analysis was performed on the whole cohort, and a formal statistical analysis was carried out after excluding responders who had not correctly followed the survey instructions (n = 85). Differences were assessed by chi square (χ2) tests. A food wasting score was generated, and differences in the score values were analyzed by Student T-test. Linear and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors contributing to the score.ResultsOverall, the results of our survey show a high prevalence of virtuous behaviors in the food purchasing phase; while, at home, less than 50% of respondents apply easy-to-implement waste prevention rules. The statistical analysis showed that the major determinants of FW were: no direct involvement in grocery shopping and male gender. Indeed, even if we observed several significant differences comparing subgroups based on established or putative determinants of FW behaviors, none survived matching for group size, gender and relevant food managing (shopping, storing, cooking) habits. The only exception was the more appropriate handling of “use by” products by respondents who received structured nutrition teaching, as opposed to students whose academic courses do not include this subject (adjusted p = 0.008).ConclusionOur data suggest that young adults are trying to implement strategies to reduce FW, even if there is room for improvement, particularly in the storage phase. Extending nutrition education to all university programs may be helpful in reaching this goal.

Excess acoustic and volumetric properties of polyethylene glycol 200 + methyl/ethyl methacrylate binary mixtures at different temperatures: An experimental and theoretical study

The excess and partial molar properties of binary liquid mixtures can be used to unveil the prevailing intermolecular interactions. The densities, ρ and speeds of sound, u for pure polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and their binaries (PEG 200 + methyl/ethyl methacrylate) have been measured over the entire composition range in the temperature range (293.15 to 323.15) K at 5 K intervals and at pressure, p = 100 kPa. The excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility, excess speed of sound, excess intermolecular free length, excess molar isentropic compressibility and excess acoustic impedance were evaluated using the experimental data. The partial and excess partial molar volumes/compressibilities of the components at each mole fraction and at infinite dilution have also been calculated. The results have been interpreted on the basis of prevailing intermolecular interactions as well as structural effects between like and unlike molecules. The results indicate the effect of the size of alkyl group on excess functions and interactions in these systems and the PEG-methacrylate interactions follow the order: methyl methacrylate > ethyl methacrylate. Scaled particle theory has also been used for the theoretical estimation of the speeds of sound and compared with experimental values. FT-IR spectra of pure PEG 200, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and equimolar PEG 200 + methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate mixtures were also recorded and analysed for better understanding of prevailing intermolecular interaction.

Electron-Beam-Induced Modification of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Carbon Nanomembrane Formation.

Electron irradiation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is a versatile tool for lithographic methods and the formation of new 2D materials such as carbon nanomembranes (CNMs). While the interaction between the electron beam and standard thiolate SAMs has been well studied, the effect of electron irradiation for chemically and thermally ultrastable N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) remains unknown. Here we analyze electron irradiation of NHC SAMs featuring different numbers of benzene moieties and different sizes of the nitrogen side groups to modify their structure. Our results provide design rules to optimize NHC SAMs for effective electron-beam modification that includes the formation of sulfur-free CNMs, which are more suitable for ultrafiltration applications. Considering that NHC monolayers exhibit up to 100 times higher stability of their bonding with the metal substrate toward electron-irradiation compared to standard SAMs, they offer a new alternative for chemical lithography where structural modification of SAMs should be limited to the functional group.

Cardamom (Amomum tsaoko) agroforest is important habitat for skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China

Understory plantation of cardamom (genus Amomum) is an ancient and widespread agroforestry practice in the eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia, an area that supports high regional biodiversity. Cardamom provides an important cash income to rural people, and governments encourage cardamom cultivation as a replacement for slash-and-burn agriculture to alleviate poverty, aligning with the principles of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program initiated by the FAO. This program recognizes and supports traditional agricultural practices that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In this context, cardamom agroforestry not only supports local economies but also provides crucial habitat for animals, including the newly described skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). Nearly half of the remnant population of the skywalker hoolock gibbon lives in cardamom agroforest. In order to evaluate if gibbons (group NA) could survive in cardamom agroforest for a relatively long term, we compared foraging behavior of gibbons (group BB) over a year living in cardamom agroforests and well-preserved forests in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China. In response to habitat degradation caused by cardamom plantation, group NA increased feeding time and spent more time feeding on leaves. Notably, they consumed nuts of Castanopsis hystrix which is an unusual food type for gibbons. On the contrary, members of group BB rarely ate nuts though Castanopsis hystrix is abundant within its home range. However, group NA did not occupy a large home range, or travel longer in time or distance than group BB. We also monitored female reproduction of five groups for 5-13 years. Two adult females living in agroforests successfully reared two or three offspring with an inter-birth interval of five years. In addition, we surveyed group size of 16 groups (9 in agroforest vs. 7 in well preserved forests) from 2017 to 2023, and we found no significant difference in group size between habitats. Our results suggested that cardamom agroforest can sustain skywalker hoolock gibbons provided it is not too fragmented and hunting is prohibited.

Inbreeding avoidance, competition and natal dispersal in a pair-living, genetically monogamous mammal, Azara's owl monkey (Aotus azarae).

Natal dispersal is an important life-history stage influencing individual fitness, social dynamics of groups and population structure. Understanding factors influencing dispersal is essential for evaluating explanations for the evolution and maintenance of social organization, including parental care and mating systems. The social and mating systems of Azara's owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) are infrequent among mammals; these primates are pair-living, serially and genetically monogamous and both sexes directly care for offspring. To evaluate the role that competition and inbreeding avoidance play in shaping dispersal patterns, we used 25 years of demographic and genetic data to examine how variation in timing of natal dispersal is related to social (adult replacements, step-parents, births and group size) and ecological factors (seasonal abundance of resources) in a wild population of A. azarae in Formosa, Argentina. We found that all males and females dispersed from their natal groups, but subadults delayed dispersal when a step-parent of the opposite sex joined the group, indicating that they may perceive these step-parents as potential mates. Dispersal was more probable when resource conditions were better, regardless of age. Overall, agonistic conflict over food and potential mates with adults in the natal group, as well as inbreeding avoidance, contribute to regulating dispersal.

Food abundance and group size influence the phenology of reproduction in communally breeding Octodon degus

Food abundance and group size influence the phenology of reproduction in communally breeding Octodon degus

Sex-specific social aging in wild African lions.

There is a growing interest in social behavior change with age,1,2,3,4,5 and the impacts of sociality on longevity,6,7,8 but current knowledge is broadly limited to primates, societies structured by dominance hierarchies, or single-sex studies. It is less clear how social aging patterns emerge in carnivores. The African lion (Panthera leo), a species that lives in egalitarian fission-fusion societies, presents an exceptional opportunity to examine social aging. Across felids, lions are unique in their dependence on conspecifics for many essential processes,9,10,11 and there is vast knowledge of lion behavioral ecology,10,11,12,13,14 including documented reproductive senescence in both sexes.14,15 Applying spatial-social network analyses across 30 years of data on the wild Serengeti lion population, we show that sex strongly modulates patterns of social aging and longevity. Group size increased with age for both sexes, but only males experienced significant changes in associate numbers (degree), specifically to females, which peaked in mid-life before declining. While aging females experienced declines in intra-sex connectivity (strength) and bond strength (mean strength), they peaked in both to males during mid-life. Male inter-sex strength also peaked in mid-life, while conversely their intra-sex strength and mean strength significantly dipped in mid-life. Although social associations were important for survival in both sexes, the investment diverged significantly: females' overall network connectivity was key for longevity, while the number of associates was important for males. These findings illustrate important potential effects of social aging in a wild carnivore and demonstrate how these diverge strongly between the sexes.

Evidence of age segregation behavior in Hypacrosaurus stebingeri (Hadrosauridae: Lambeosaurinae) based on the taphonomic comparison of bonebeds from the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian) Oldman Formation of southernmost Alberta (Canada) and Two Medicine Formation of Montana (USA)

Hadrosaurid social structure is still poorly understood. Evidence from bonebeds suggests that juvenile individuals of some species lived apart from herds of older individuals, a phenomenon called age segregation. However, the timing at which juvenile individuals became segregated and later rejoined a multigenerational herd is unknown. Three monodominant bonebeds that preserve the remains of multiple individuals of the lambeosaurine hadrosaurid Hypacrosaurus stebingeri at different ontogenetic stages offer an opportunity to better understand the social structure of this species: the Devil's Coulee juvenile hadrosaur bonebed (JBB) from the Oldman Formation of Alberta (Canada) preserves a minimum of four similar-sized late juvenile individuals; the Blacktail Creek North (BCNB) bonebed from the Two Medicine Formation of Montana (USA) preserves a minimum of 23 early juvenile (previously referred to as “nestling”) individuals; and the Lambeosite (LB) bonebed preserves four similar-sized late juvenile individuals and one adult individual. These bonebeds show uniform taphonomic signatures throughout their respective bone assemblages, characterized by little to no weathering and abrasion, uniform style of fracturing, and rare tooth marks on bones. All three bonebeds are interpreted as mass-mortality assemblages. Histological data indicate that the late juvenile individuals from the JBB were three years old at the time of death, similar to the slightly larger late juvenile individuals from the LB, whereas the early juveniles from the BCNB had not yet reached 1 year of age. A taphonomic comparison of the three bonebeds reveal that H. stebingeri individuals lived in age-segregated groups, likely cohorts, until into their fourth year of life when, after having reached sexual maturity, they rejoined a multigenerational herd. The smaller number of individuals preserved in bonebeds representing later ontogenetic stages could reflect a decrease in group size due to high juvenile mortality rate or to higher metabolic needs.

Association Between Uveal Melanoma and Allostatic Load.

Allostatic load (AL) is a measure of chronic stress that is associated with worse cancer outcomes. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between AL and uveal melanoma (UM) clinical features. AL score was calculated as a composite of ten biomarkers in 111 patients with UM from the University of Illinois Hospital. One point was assigned to an AL score for each biomarker based on predetermined cutoff values. Linear and logistic regression analyses evaluated the relationship between AL score and several tumor clinical characteristics. High AL score had a significant relationship with extraocular extension (p=0.015). There was also a significant difference in mean blood glucose levels between the different tumor size groups (p=0.029). Higher AL scores also had a trend of being associated with a smaller tumor size (p=0.069). AL score was significantly associated with the presence of extraocular extension for uveal melanoma, while the smallest tumor size group was associated with the highest blood glucose level. No other significant correlations were found between AL and other clinical features of UM. The relationship between AL score and extraocular extension warrants further investigation. Additional research is needed to evaluate socioeconomic factors and their effect on the relationship between chronic stress and the clinical features of UM.

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: The Power and Damage of AI-assisted Tools on Academic English Reading Skills

The research explores the impact of AI-assisted tools on academic English reading skills in the classroom and personalized learning among university students regarding how AI tools complement students’ assessments. To conduct this research, 24 students were divided into two groups of equal size: a control and an experimental group, which will be involved in an experimental study: one group using solely conventional methods and another group using AI-assisted tools in addition to conventional methods. The goal is to gain evidence on the effectiveness of AI-powered tools in enhancing reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and critical thinking while identifying potential damage, such as overreliance on AI and ethical implications. It employed a mixed-methods approach, which involved an experimental study, survey, and semi-structured interview with students who either have or have not utilized AI for English reading learning. In the experimental research, pre-and post-tests were used to compare the differences in English academic reading scores between two groups of students. The survey was used to determine the students’ opinions on the effectiveness of AI tools, and individual semi-structured interviews were employed to obtain more detailed information. The findings posit that the involvement of AI tools in facilitating traditional teaching and learning methods has a more significant positive effect on improving academic English reading skills in educational settings, offering better convenience and effectiveness for students. However, challenges such as overreliance on AI and ethical implications were emphasized. The research provides invaluable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of evolving AI tools to enhance higher education English reading skills in educational settings.

HGSHS-5:G—First results with the short version of the test for the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and a comparison with the full version

IntroductionThe HGSHS:A is one of the most commonly used measures of hypnotic suggestibility. However, this test suffers from low feasibility due to a time requirement exceeding 1 h, and from a questionable representation of the normal population. Recently, a short version of HGSHS-5:G was developed and published, and now the first results are available. The scope of this investigation was to verify the assumption of equally positioned and normally distributed scores, resulting in equally sized suggestibility groups in a number of different studies with full or short versions of HGSHS, and to compare the results of the 11-item score with the 5-item score, the latter being calculated from either the full version or the short version test.MethodsData from 21 studies with testing for HGSHS were analyzed, 15 using the HGSHS:A full version and six using the HGSHS-5:G short version, for a total of 2,529 data sets. Position and distribution of both the 11-item score and the 5-item score were tested. Linear regression analysis was used to compare the two scores, as well as cross-table and weighted Cohen’s kappa to determine the match of grouping into low and high suggestibility. To evaluate contributing factors to the observed differences in the study results, a multifactorial analysis of variance was performed.ResultsIn the different studies, position and distribution of scores, as well as group sizes for low and high suggestibles, varied. All score distributions were found to be non-normal and shifted to the right from the middle score; the shift was more extensive with the 11-item score. The correlation between both scores calculated from full version tests was moderate (R2 = 0.69), as was the match of suggestibility grouping (κ = 0.58). Studies using the short version involving less student-dominated populations showed sufficient agreement with the full version, but lower scores were caused by an increase in the zero score.ConclusionA normal population is not represented in most applications of HGSHS, and grouping into low and high suggestibles varies, mainly due to different positions of score distributions. A direct comparison of full and short versions of HGSHS tested in the same subjects is still missing.

Retailer processes centred on the food market as the main determinate of business models in the context of retail size

In today's competitive environment, retail food outlets need to keep pace with changing consumer behaviour and technological change. Due to the impact of digitalisation, they are gradually starting to use new forms of interaction with consumers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders, which affects the food retail business in many ways. Many digitization-related activities are well known but are slow to be implemented in the practice of food retail operations, depending on the specific size type of retail format. The paper aims to provide an overview of business models based on the size of food retail operations and on the identification of selected activities aimed at increasing competitiveness and creating value for customers. The survey sample comprised 250 stores whose managers were questioned by means of a semi-structured interview in March–April 2022. The authors discuss 30 identified components of 40 purposes in this study which could increase the efficiency of retailers' business models. A number of philosophical (a comprehensive examination of the criteria for selecting a theory and processing the theory) as well as mathematical statistical methods are used in the model, such as reliability rate estimation, factor analysis of binary data, cluster analysis, and the like. The study provides an overview of the application of selected digitalisation-related components in the business models of established food retail outlets of different size groups in the Slovak capital Bratislava.

Tracking Census Online Self-Completion Using Twitter Posts

From the start of data collection for the 2020 US Census, official and celebrity users tweeted about the importance of everyone being counted in the Census and urged followers to complete the questionnaire (so-called social media campaign.) At the same time, social media posts expressing skepticism about the Census became increasingly common. This study distinguishes between different prototypical Twitter user groups and investigates their possible impact on (online) self-completion rate for the 2020 Census, according to Census Bureau data. Using a network analysis method, Community Detection, and a clustering algorithm, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), three prototypical user groups were identified: “Official Government Agency,” “Census Advocate,” and “Census Skeptic.” The prototypical Census Skeptic user was motivated by events about which an influential person had tweeted (e.g., “Republicans in Congress signal Census cannot take extra time to count”). This group became the largest one over the study period. The prototypical Census Advocate was motivated more by official tweets and was more active than the prototypical Census Skeptic. The Official Government Agency user group was the smallest of the three, but their messages—primarily promoting completion of the Census—seemed to have been amplified by Census Advocate, especially celebrities and politicians. We found that the daily size of the Census Advocate user group—but not the other two—predicted the 2020 Census online self-completion rate within five days after a tweet was posted. This finding suggests that the Census social media campaign was successful in promoting completion, apparently due to the help of Census Advocate users who encouraged people to fill out the Census and amplified official tweets. This finding demonstrates that a social media campaign can positively affect public behavior regarding an essential national project like the Decennial Census.