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Casasanto ( Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , 138 , 351–367, 2009 ) conceptualised the body-specificity hypothesis by empirically finding that right-handed people tend to associate a positive valence with the right side and a negative valence with the left side, whilst left-handed people tend to associate a positive valence with the left side and negative valence with the right side. Thus, this was the first paper that showed a body-specific space–valence mapping. These highly influential findings led to a substantial body of research and follow-up studies, which could confirm the original findings on a conceptual level. However, direct replications of the original study are scarce. Against this backdrop and given the replication crisis in psychology, we conducted a direct replication of Casasanto’s original study with 2,222 participants from 12 countries to examine the aforementioned effects in general and also in a cross-cultural comparison. Our results support Casasanto’s findings that right-handed people associate the right side with positivity and the left side with negativity and vice versa for left-handers.

The Wnt/β-Catenin pathway alterations present in colorectal cancer (CRC) are of special interest in the development of new therapeutic strategies to impact carcinogenesis and the progression of CRC. In this context, different polyphenols present in natural products have been reported to have modulatory effects against the Wnt pathway in CRC. In this study, we evaluate the effect of two polyphenol-rich coffee extracts and chlorogenic acid (CGA) against SW480 and HT-29 CRC cells. This involved the use of MTT and SRB techniques for cell viability; wound healing and invasion assay for the evaluation of the migration and invasion process; T cell factor (TCF) reporter plasmid for the evaluation of transciption factor (TCF) transcriptional activity; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of target genes and confocal fluorescence microscopy for β-Catenin and E-Cadherin protein fluorescence levels; and subcellular localization. Our results showed a potential modulatory effect of the Wnt pathway on CRC cells, and we observed a reduction in the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. All the results were prominent in SW480 cells, where the Wnt pathway deregulation has more relevance and implies a constitutive activation of the signaling pathway. These results establish a starting point for the discovery of a mechanism of action associated with these effects and corroborate the anticancer potential of polyphenols present in coffee, which could be explored as chemopreventive molecules or as adjunctive therapy in CRC.

Background: Standing work is common across a wide range of industries and service settings and has been associated with changes in leg volume. Objective: To analyze changes in leg volume across eight experimental scenarios integrating posture, flooring surface, insole use, and individual characteristics associated with standing work. Methods: A controlled (23) factorial experiment was conducted across eight experimental scenarios. Thirty volunteers participated in a 120 min simulation of standing work while performing a light manual task. Leg measurements were obtained, and leg volume was calculated. Results: Static posture and body weight increase leg volume, whereas greater height is associated with lower leg volume. Conclusions: Leg volume increased across all experimental scenarios during the 120 min exposure period. The results suggest that dynamic posture involving movement greater than 20 cm at least every 5 min, together with reducing uninterrupted standing time, may help reduce increases in leg volume.

Summary The investigation of the characteristics and attributes that make a brand prominent for shoppers is known as salience research. This line of study concentrates on influencing buying behaviors via the manipulation of shopping environments and food products. Such promotional strategies successfully attract massive food sales and therefore have been associated with changes in dietary patterns and the epidemic expansion of non-communicable diseases, like obesity. Marketers have empirically proven that global buying patterns are influenced by their salience strategies and techniques. However, despite the significance of such methods, empirical salience investigations have rarely been extended beyond their primary business focus to the field of health promotion. Therefore, this study is presenting a way of transferring the salience knowledge to the health promotion field in order to track dietary choices and possibly gain information to identify buying and eating behaviors connected to obesity. The salience literature from various disciplines permits to hypothesize that consumers are more likely to have unhealthy diets when food-choices and conditions are saliently manipulated. A quasi-experimental method (combining salience measures with Bayesian analysis) was used to test this proposition. The results support the hypothesis and endorse the introduced research tool. As predicted, data reflect the latest national overweight and obesity statistics and suggest that habitual unhealthy diets are more likely when salience strategies link food products to taste, social and emotional attributes. These preliminary findings encourage further investigation to enhance the method as a possible epidemiological tool.

Las especies de aves en el mundo han sido amenazadas por factores humanos o naturales que afectan su hábitat. Algunos de estos factores generan fragmentaciones en los bosques, lo que impacta directamente en su biodiversidad. Por lo tanto, se requiere la estimación de la riqueza y abundancia de aves para disponer de herramientas matemáticas que permitan evaluar el impacto ambiental, diseñar proyectos sostenibles y monitorear la salud de los ecosistemas. En este estudio, se evaluó mediante el uso de los índices de Hill la riqueza y abundancia de aves en fragmentos de bosque Andino ubicados en el municipio de Belmira, Antioquia, Colombia, con el objetivo de identificar su potencial para el aviturismo. La metodología incluyó un muestreo de especies utilizando transectos como método principal para la recolección y análisis de datos. Posteriormente, se llevaron a cabo modelamientos de curvas de acumulación, curvas enrarecidas y extrapolación, junto con el cálculo del potencial de aviturismo en el área de estudio. Además, se exploraron correlaciones entre variables paisajísticas y las estimaciones de los índices de Hill. Los resultados revelaron índices de diversidad de Hill con valores medios y altos en los fragmentos de bosque examinados, concluyendo que especialmente el fragmento 3 mostró un mayor potencial para la observación de aves según las tendencias observadas en las curvas de acumulación. Se observó una correlación negativa significativa entre los índices de diversidad calculados y la distancia a los cuerpos de agua, indicando que la riqueza y abundancia de especies aumentan a medida que el punto de observación se acerca a cuerpos de agua. Además, se identificó un potencial para el aviturismo superior a 24 puntos para más de 23 especies en la zona de estudio, señalando un alto atractivo para la práctica del aviturismo según la metodología empleada. The bird species worldwide have faced threats from human or natural factors affecting their habitat. Some of these factors result in forest fragmentation, directly impacting biodiversity. Therefore, estimating bird richness and abundance is necessary to have mathematical tools for assessing environmental impact, designing sustainable projects, and monitoring ecosystem health. This study used Hill indices to evaluate bird richness and abundance in Andean forest fragments located in the municipality of Belmira, Antioquia, Colombia, aiming to identify their potential for birdwatching. The methodology included species sampling using transects as the main method for data collection and analysis. Subsequently, models of accumulation curves, rarefaction curves, and extrapolation were carried out, along with the calculation of birdwatching potential in the study area. Additionally, correlations between landscape variables and Hill index estimates were explored. The results revealed Hill diversity indices with medium to high values in the examined forest fragments, concluding that especially fragment 3 showed a higher potential for birdwatching based on observed trends in accumulation curves. A significant negative correlation was observed between calculated diversity indices and the distance to water bodies, indicating that species richness and abundance increase as the observation point gets closer to water bodies. Furthermore, a potential for birdwatching exceeding 24 points for more than 23 species in the study area was identified, indicating high attractiveness for birdwatching according to the employed methodology.

The social–ecological system of the Mar Menor located in southeastern Spain is facing serious environmental degradation which is generating important economic and social impacts. This article analyzes the local community perception in the Mar Menor area about the causes, consequences and possible solutions to current problems, especially the eutrophic crisis in the Mar Menor lagoon. For this research, a survey based on a questionnaire was conducted in 2017 and answered by 498 people. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and principal component analysis. Results showed significant differences among the groups of respondents, according to their profession and main economic activity, but the results also point to an important consensus in the group of respondents. It is worth noting that the broad consensus was that agricultural activities are the main causes of the entry of nutrients into the lagoon, and the respondents indicated that the priority should be given to measures to reduce nutrient inputs. This consensus, which is very different from the results obtained in previous studies, represents a very recent change of perception in relation to the role of agriculture in the Mar Menor. However, the broad consensus in the diagnosis of the current problem is not reflected in the varying opinions regarding the possible solutions or management options. Survey responses regarding solutions varied greatly across groups: There were important differences between (a) the respondents’ perceptions of the best solutions, and (b) the main management practices undertaken by the public administration at this point. This finding highlights a potential conflict that should be considered in any decision-making processes.

Purpose The concept of sustainable development (SD) is a popular response to society’s need to preserve and extend the life span of natural resources. One of the 17 goals of the SD is “education quality” (Fourth Goal of Sustainable Development [SDG-4]). Education quality is an important goal because education is a powerful force that can influence social policies and social change. The SDG-4 must be measured in different contexts, and the tools to quantify its effects require exploration. So, this study aims to propose a statistical model to measure the impact of higher education online courses on SD and a structural equation model (SEM) to find constructs or factors that help us explain a sustainability benefits rate. These proposed models integrate the three areas of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. Design/methodology/approach A beta regression model suggests features that include the academic and economic opportunities offered by the institution, the involvement in research activities and the quality of the online courses. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis allowed selecting the key variables and constructs that are strongly linked to the SD. Findings One of the key findings showed that the benefit provided by online courses in terms of SD is 62.99% higher than that of offline courses in aspects such as transportation, photocopies, printouts, books, food, clothing, enrolment fees and connectivity. Research limitations/implications The SEM model needs large sample sizes to have consistent estimations. Thus, despite the obtained estimations in the proposed SEM model being reliable, the authors consider that a limitation of this study was the required time to collect data corresponding to the estimated sample size. Originality/value This study proposes two novel and different ways to estimate the sustainability benefits rate focused on SDG-4, and machine learning tools are implemented to validate and gain robustness in the estimations of the beta model. Additionally, the SEM model allows us to identify new constructs associated with SDG-4.

Birnbaum Saunders (1969b) used a probability distribution to explain the lifetime data and stress produced in materials. Based on this distribution, we propose a generalization of the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, referred to as the proportional hazard Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, which includes a new parameter that provides more flexibility in terms of skewness and kurtosis than existing models. We derive the main properties of the model. We discuss maximum likelihood estimation of the model parameters. As a natural step, we define the log-linear proportional hazard Birnbaum-Saunders regression model. An empirical application to a real data set is presented in order to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model. The results showed that the proportional hazard Birnbaum-Saunders model can be used quite effectively in analyzing survival data, reliability problems and fatigue life studies.

In problems involving binary classification, researchers often encounter data suitable for modeling dichotomous responses. These scenarios include medical diagnostics, where outcomes are classified as “disease” or “no disease”, and credit scoring in finance, determining whether a loan applicant is “high risk” or “low risk”. Dichotomous response models are also useful in many other areas for estimating binary responses. The logistic regression model is one option for modeling dichotomous responses; however, other statistical models may be required to improve the quality of fits. In this paper, a new regression model is proposed for cases where the response variable is dichotomous. This novel, non-linear model is derived from the cumulative distribution function of the proportional hazard distribution, and is suitable for modeling binary responses. Statistical inference is performed using a classical approach with the maximum likelihood method for the proposed model. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the introduced model has a non-singular information matrix. The results of a simulation study, along with an application to student dropout data, show the great potential of the proposed model in practical and everyday situations.

  Estimating the parameters of a multiple linear model is a common task in all areas of sciences. In order to obtain conjugate distributions, the Bayesian estimation of these parameters is usually carried out using noninformative priors. When informative priors are considered in the Bayesian estimation an important problem arises because techniques arerequired to extract information from experts and represent it in an informative prior distribution. Elicitation techniques can be used for suchpurpose even though they are more complex than the traditional methods. In this paper, we propose a technique to construct an informative prior distribution from expert knowledge using hypothetical samples. Our proposal involves building a mental picture of the population of responses at several specific points of the explanatory variables of a given model andindirectly eliciting the mean and the variance at each of these points. In addition, this proposal consists of two steps: the first step describes the elicitation process and the second step shows a simulation process to estimate the model parameters.