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Background: Subjective wellbeing (SWB) and health are important facets of any person's life, and they tend to influence each other. This importance is reflected in the vastness of literature aiming to explore this association. However, most of this literature is based on sampling national population which may present different population characteristics to those of a province. Thus, the paper aims to investigate if the association between perceived health and SWB is moderated by population characteristics at a provincial level. We intend to add value to subjective wellbeing and health literature by reviewing the relationship between SWB and health in the Eastern Cape stratified by age, gender, rural and urban and different income classifications. Methods: Different population characteristics tend to associate to subjective wellbeing and health differently, therefore influencing how these two variables influence each other. Thus, the paper aims to investigate if the association between perceived health and SWB is moderated by population characteristics at a provincial level. Utilising the South African National Income Dynamics Survey from 2008 to 2017, this study examined the relationship between subjective wellbeing and health using a random effects model stratified according to aforementioned population characteristics. Results: A better perceived health status is associated with higher subjective wellbeing. A better subjective wellbeing is also associated with a higher health status. Determinants of subjective wellbeing and health associate with these variables differently besides income and employment which led to higher subjective wellbeing and health. Health associates to subjective wellbeing different across populations characteristics. Conclusion: Subjective wellbeing and health are interdependent as reflected in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nation (UN) statements. Higher income and level of education and being employed is associated with both higher SWB and health. Therefore, improving these economic outcomes maybe associated with an improvement in well-being and health as desired by WHO and UN. Provinces differ, and different population characteristics tend to associate with subjective wellbeing and health differently, therefore influencing how these two variables influence each other. Health improvement policies must consider subjective wellbeing. Well-being improvement policies need to be cognisant of the differences in provincial and population characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we mainly consider the direct solution of cyclic tridiagonal linear systems. By using the specific low-rank and Toeplitz-like structure, we derive a structure-preserving factorization of the coefficient matrix. Based on the combination of such matrix factorization and Sherman–Morrison–Woodbury formula, we then propose a cost-efficient algorithm for numerically solving cyclic tridiagonal linear systems, which requires less memory storage and data transmission. Furthermore, we show that the structure-preserving matrix factorization can provide us with an explicit formula for n-th order cyclic tridiagonal determinants. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the performance and efficiency of our algorithm. All of the experiments are performed on a computer with the aid of programs written in MATLAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credit union is considered as an alternative solution for global poverty and financial inclusiveness for social development. However, to achieve this goal, first and foremost a credit union must be sustainable. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review on the key determinants of sustainability of credit unions and its measurements through comprehensive literature search and assessment based on the PRISMA-P guidelines. The findings reveal standard quantitative measures such as operations of self-sufficiency ratio, financial sustainability score, return on assets and pearl index (two studies qualitatively assessed governance structure and membership rate as measures). Additionally, key factors such as efficiency, loan management factors, deposit mobilization, portfolio at risk, credit risk, regulatory environment, and asset factors are significant determinants of sustainability of credit unions. The findings suggest a great need for complementarity of role and responsible conduct of the key stakeholders (members), staff, management and enabling regulatory environment for sustainable credit union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the question as to whether Pakistan's fertility transition is stalling. The paper reviews the trajectories of fertility and its various determinants and compares Pakistan's trends with those of India and Bangladesh. Countries in the South Asia region share features such as cultural similarities (e.g. the low status of women and son preference) and high poverty levels. However, while Bangladesh and India are near replacement fertility today with modern contraceptive prevalence rates well above 50 per cent, Pakistan still has one of the highest fertility and lowest contraceptive prevalence levels in Asia. Our main conclusion is that Pakistan's fertility transition is close to stalling in mid-transition. The key causes of this stall are a high and unchanging desired family size, stalling demand for contraception and relatively low satisfaction of this demand. These are important obstacles to future decline in fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to study the happiness among youth by elaborating on the determinants of happiness among the youth in the Arab region. The paper relies on a probit model using novel and unique data at a micro-level extracted from the SAHWA Youth Survey (2016). The dependent variable in all of the models was derived from a question on self-satisfaction from the survey. We examined six models containing a diverse set of variables. The survey covers five main nations which are Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The paper studies the effect of the socio-economic, household, labor market, and value-based characteristics on happiness. The main findings show that being male and the age factor are associated negatively with the happiness of youth in the Arab region. In addition, education, income, democracy, and gender equality are factors associated positively with the happiness of youth in the Arab region. Furthermore, the results show that the Arab identity is associated negatively with happiness of youth in the Arab region. The paper suggests some policy implications to support policymakers in fostering policies that can promote happiness among the youth in the Arab region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lives of rural households are predominantly based on agriculture and its allied activities. However, there are signs of an agricultural crisis resulting in dependence on alternative sources of income. This paper analyzes the factors that influence the decision of farm households to participate in non-farm activities for alternative income. The official data for two years on the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households are explored and a pooled probit regression model is run to examine the determinants of income diversification. Our findings reveal that farm income and irrigated land negatively influence diversification. However, diversification of those having lower access to farm holdings, socioeconomic deprivation, and improved access to education, informal credit, and crop insurance point out positive participation in non-farm enterprises. In addition, the population belonging to hilly and coastal plain regions and the age group 30–64 years are more likely to diversify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove several conjectures raised by Zhi-Wei Sun on determinants and permanents by the eigenvectors-eigenvalues identity recently highlighted by Denton, Parke, Tao and Zhang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determinant lower bound of Lovász, Spencer, and Vesztergombi [European J. Combin., 7 (1986), pp. 151-160] is a general way to prove lower bounds on the hereditary discrepancy of a set system. In their paper, Lovász, Spencer, and Vesztergombi asked if hereditary discrepancy can also be bounded from above by a function of the determinant lower bound. This was answered in the negative by Hoffman, and the largest known multiplicative gap between the two quantities for a set system of m subsets of a universe of size n is on the order of max {log n, √log m}. On the other hand, building upon work of Matousek [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc., 141 (2013), pp. 451-460], Jiang and Reis [in Proceedings of the Symposium on Simplicity in Algorithms (SOSA), SIAM, Philadelphia, 2022, pp. 308-313] showed that this gap is always bounded up to constants by √log(m)log(n). This is tight when m is polynomial in n but leaves open the case of large m. We show that the bound of Jiang and Reis is tight for nearly the entire range of m. Our proof amplifies the discrepancy lower bounds of a set system derived from the discrete Haar basis via Kronecker products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries like Zimbabwe, the issue of private practice in social work is at a formative stage. This paper explored the opinion of social workers regarding the issue of private practice in social work in the country. Using quantitative research design, data was collected from randomly sampled social workers (n = 462) from various fields of practices. The study findings revealed that the majority (47%) of social workers (n = 218) strongly believed that they ought to venture into private practice. Based on the regression models, the following factors were statistically significant (ρ < .05) in predicting engagement in private practice: desire to expand resource base, quest to create employment, professional empowerment, professional autonomy, improved quality of services, influence from other professions, favorable regulatory environment, desire to reach new clients, existence of wider clientele base, improving professional identity, and knowledge base. The study recommends increased public debates, development of private practice legal framework, and inter-professional collaboration with other professions. The paper concluded that private practice in social work is a welcome initiative among Zimbabwean social workers and there is a need for increased publicity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the late 2000s, the concept of regional economic resilience has become the new buzzword in economic geography. Despite considerable attention, a common sentiment in the literature is that regional economic resilience is an underdeveloped and fuzzy concept. Therefore, this paper conducted a scoping review of 168 articles on the concept of regional economic resilience from 2000 to 2022 to assess its present conceptual state. The paper finds that the notion of regional economic resilience has become a well-developed concept and does not bear the markers of a fuzzy concept anymore. A conceptual framework is advanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handwashing with soap is a fundamental practice for preventing communicable diseases, particularly in resource-constrained settings like Nepal, where various factors influence maternal handwashing behaviours. A systematic search encompassing PubMed/Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and grey literature source was conducted. Extracted eligible articles underwent descriptive analysis and their quality assessment was carried out following STROBE guidelines. From the initial screening of 187 database articles and 18 from grey literature, a total of 120 full text articles and records were retrieved to evaluated for inclusion in the review, identifying nine articles meeting the inclusion criteria for the review. Maternal handwashing with soap frequencies varied during critical moments ranging from 6% to 100%, and a 47% availability of soap and water at the household level was reported. Factors influencing handwashing included education, wealth, ecology, and participation in health promotion campaigns. Barriers included knowledge gaps, contrary beliefs, unavailability of soap and water, financial constraints, maternal demotivation, and low participation in decision-making. Limitations include study design heterogeneity (cross-sectional, Randomized Controlled Trials-RCT, Cohort), sample size variability, and geographical bias, potentially limiting generalizability of this study, limited reporting on soap and water availability for mothers at the household level is noted, and temporal variability introduces study inconsistency. Availability of soap, water, and effective health education is crucial for promoting sustained handwashing practices. Community-based interventions involving mothers in decision making and policy initiatives are essential for overcoming barriers and promote behavioural change to improve public health outcomes. This paper aims to determine the rates of handwashing with soap among mothers in Nepalese households and explore the factors associated with the uptake of handwashing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In oestrogen‐receptor positive breast cancer, daily oral adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 5 years significantly reduces risks of recurrence and breast cancer‐specific mortality. However, many women are poorly adherent to ET. Development of effective adherence support requires comprehensive understanding of influences on adherence. We undertook an umbrella review to identify determinants of ET adherence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane and PROSPERO (inception to 08/2022) to identify systematic reviews on factors influencing ET adherence. Abstracted determinants were mapped to the World Health Organization's dimensions of adherence. Reviews were quality appraised and overlap assessed. Results: Of 5732 citations screened, 17 reviews were eligible (9 quantitative primary studies; 4 qualitative primary studies; 4 qualitative or quantitative studies) including 215 primary papers. All five WHO dimensions influenced ET non‐adherence: The most consistently identified non‐adherence determinants were patient‐related factors (e.g. lower perceived ET necessity, more treatment concerns, perceptions of ET 'cons' vs. 'pros'). Healthcare system/healthcare professional‐related factors (e.g. perceived lower quality health professional interaction/relationship) were also important and, to a somewhat lesser extent, socio‐economic factors (e.g. lower levels of social/economic/material support). Evidence was more mixed for medication‐related and condition‐related factors, but several may be relevant (e.g. experiencing side‐effects, cost). Potentially modifiable factors are more influential than non‐modifiable/fixed factors (e.g. patient characteristics). Conclusions: The evidence‐base on ET adherence determinants is extensive. Future empirical studies should focus on less well‐researched areas and settings. The determinants themselves are numerous and complex in indicating that adherence support should be multifaceted, addressing multiple determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrowhead matrices have attracted attention due to their rich algebraic structures and numerous applications. In this paper, we focus on the enumeration of n × n arrowhead matrices with prescribed determinant over a finite field Fq and over a finite commutative chain ring R. The number of n×n arrowhead matrices over Fq of a fixed determinant a is determined for all positive integers n and for all elements a ∈ Fq. As applications, this result is used in the enumeration of n × n non-singular arrowhead matrices with prescribed determinant over R. Subsequently, some bounds on the number of n × n singular arrowhead matrices over R of a fixed determinant are given. Finally, some open problems are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic effects of educational mismatch include its negative impact on economic growth, which is due to the inefficient allocation of resources it generates. The main causes of this phenomenon need to be determined to correctly implement policies to avoid such mismatches. This paper investigated the determinants of educational mismatch from a gender perspective by analysing its sectoral heterogeneity among the four key productive branches within the tourism sector. We employed a multinomial logit model using data from the 2018 Spanish Wage Structure Survey. The results highlight the higher probability of male overeducation in the hospitality industry and the predominance of female overeducation in the other services analysed. Likewise, there was a lower probability of male undereducation in the transport and other complementary services sectors. As a result of these findings, we propose various corrective measures to redirect specific training efforts for each of these groups, thus promoting gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Child oral health is a result of interactions between multilevel influences within a complex system. Understanding those interactions informs conceptualizing a socioecological framework of important influences on oral health. This paper aimed to present a scoping review on the determinants of dental caries and their interactions in childhood and adolescence. Methods: The two review questions were as follows: Which factors are determinants of child dental caries? and, How do determinants interact within and across socioecological levels? The three main electronic databases for biomedical records, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched, followed by reference check. The search and screening/selection procedures followed an a priori strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria were specified in advance. The main components of the strategy were participants, concept and context. Following the final selection, eligible studies were assessed with quality appraisal tools for the risk of methodologic biases. Determinants reported in the included studies were then assigned to the micro‐, meso‐, exo‐ or macro‐systems levels in a socioecological framework. Interactions between determinants were also identified and reported. Results: A total of 100 studies were included after removal of duplicates, screening on the title/abstracts and full‐text assessment among 3313 records initially identified. A higher number of studies included were cross‐sectional studies published in recent years. The majority of determinants found to influence child dental health were assigned to microsystem level within the framework. However, determinants were found at all levels and interactions were reported within and between socioecological levels. Determinants identified in the scoping review represent factors at different socioecological levels that influence child oral health. Conclusion: Application of a socioecological model through a complex systems approach should lead to valid and robust progress towards practical solutions for better child oral health globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper investigates the factors influencing the decision to enrol in Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among people at risk of statelessness, with emphasis on the individual's demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: The study used data from a cross-sectional household survey undertaken in the Awutu Senya East Municipality and Gomoa East District of Ghana's Central Region between March 9 and June 26, 2021, on healthcare utilization culture among people at risk of statelessness. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used in analysing data from a sample of 384 people at risk of statelessness. Results: The results reveal that about 51% of the at-risk population have ever enrolled while 48% of the respondents were enrolled on the NHIS at the time of the survey (active members). The majority of the enrolled members acquired their membership through self-payment of the enrolment fee. Additionally, respondents aged 26–35 had higher odds of enrolling, whiles those within 56–65 years had lower odds of enrolling in health insurance. Also, persons who are married and have a high school education or an equivalent qualification were more likely to enrol, while persons with no employment were less likely to enrol. Conclusion: According to the paper, while the gap in coverage between rich and poor, married and single appears to have narrowed, these factors continue to determine NHIS coverage among people at risk of statelessness. The same is true for education. Efforts must be increased to ensure equal access to healthcare financing interventions for better access to health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The importance of tackling ongoing dental health inequities, observed both within and across countries, cannot be overstated. Alarmingly, health inequities in some areas are widening, resulting in an urgent need to act. The objective of this commentary is to explore oral health inequities through the lens of behavioral science and discuss adapting evidence based interventions for populations experiencing health inequities. Method/Results: The first section of this paper aims to describe the role of health disparities and inequities within oral health, with a specific focus on behaviours. The determinants, from upstream to downstream, and the interplay between these levels of intervention are discussed. This is followed by an overview of oral health promotion interventions, again with a focus on behaviours, which could potentially improve oral health while also taking into account oral health inequities. It is essential to translate evidence‐based interventions (EBIs) to populations that have the greatest burden of disease. The second section of this paper discusses the rationale for cultural adaption of EBIs, criteria to justify EBIs and considers different cultural adaptation strategies necessary for the development and testing of effective, engaging, equitable and culturally relevant interventions. Conclusions: We conclude with future directions for the development of theory‐based multi‐level interventions, guided by extent evidence‐based interventions, and transdisciplinary approaches to science and key stakeholders such as patients, providers and payers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police officers are society's first interveners in intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and are essential for victim safety. Despite IPVAW laws, police attitudes influence their real actions during IPVAW intervention. However, the fuzzy conceptualization of the construct deters the pursuit of conclusive evidence. This systematic review sought to identify the components of police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW and their determinants. A search was conducted through several databases (e.g., Web of Science). Papers were included if they (a) provided original empirical findings or were review studies, (b) were published between 1990 and 2019, (c) were written in Spanish or English, (d) alluded to police officers, and (e) focused on police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW or their determinants. Fifty-seven papers were included. The studied components of police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW extracted from the literature were tolerance of IPVAW, minimal police involvement, unsupportive and supportive attitudes toward the legal system and legislation against IPVAW, understanding of the complex nature of abuse, and IPVAW intervention as an important police task. Moreover, the central role of individual and situational determinants in police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW was confirmed, whereas organizational and societal determinants were studied scarcely. This review proposes a framework upon which to build operational definition of police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW and includes remarks on police backgrounds and the situational characteristics of IPVAW events that are essential in shaping police procedures for managing them. Empirical evidence should be transferred to police training and standard operating procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sustainability is concerned with the long-term delivery and subsequent benefits of evidence-based interventions. To further this field, we require a strong understanding and thus measurement of sustainability and what impacts sustainability (i.e., sustainability determinants). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the quality and empirical application of measures of sustainability and sustainability determinants for use in clinical, public health, and community settings. Methods: Seven electronic databases, reference lists of relevant reviews, online repositories of implementation measures, and the grey literature were searched. Publications were included if they reported on the development, psychometric evaluation, or empirical use of a multi-item, quantitative measure of sustainability, or sustainability determinants. Eligibility was not restricted by language or date. Eligibility screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two members of the research team. Content coverage of each measure was assessed by mapping measure items to relevant constructs of sustainability and sustainability determinants. The pragmatic and psychometric properties of included measures was assessed using the Psychometric and Pragmatic Evidence Rating Scale (PAPERS). The empirical use of each measure was descriptively analyzed. Results: A total of 32,782 articles were screened from the database search, of which 37 were eligible. An additional 186 publications were identified from the grey literature search. The 223 included articles represented 28 individual measures, of which two assessed sustainability as an outcome, 25 covered sustainability determinants and one explicitly assessed both. The psychometric and pragmatic quality was variable, with PAPERS scores ranging from 14 to 35, out of a possible 56 points. The Provider Report of Sustainment Scale had the highest PAPERS score and measured sustainability as an outcome. The School-wide Universal Behaviour Sustainability Index-School Teams had the highest PAPERS score (score=29) of the measure of sustainability determinants. Conclusions: This review can be used to guide selection of the most psychometrically robust, pragmatic, and relevant measure of sustainability and sustainability determinants. It also highlights that future research is needed to improve the psychometric and pragmatic quality of current measures in this field. Trial registration: This review was prospectively registered with Research Registry (reviewregistry1097), March 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block matrices play an important role in all branches of pure and applied mathematics. In this paper, we study the two fundamental concepts: inverses and determinants of general n × n block matrices. In the first part, the inverses of 2 × 2 block matrices are given, where one of the blocks is a non-singular matrix, a result which can be generalised to a block matrix of any size, by splitting it into four blocks. The second part focuses on the determinants, which is covered in two different methods. In the first approach, we revise a formula for the determinant of a block matrix A, with blocks elements of R; a commutative subring of M n × n (F) . The determinants of tensor products of two matrices are also given in this part. In the second method for computing the determinant, we give the general formula, which would work for any block matrix, regardless of the ring or the field under consideration. The individual formulas for determinants of 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 block matrices are also produced here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Innovativeness concerns various organisational aspects and manifests at different social life levels. Innovativeness has its source in the intensity of changes inside and outside the organisation. Many terms for innovativeness revolve around two keywords: ability and inclination. Research objectives: The paper aims to explain the concept of innovativeness and to recognise the conditions shaping it according to respondents. It also examines conditions affecting the implementation of personnel functions in the surveyed enterprises. Research design and methods: Empirical data were obtained using the survey technique using the author’s questionnaire survey form. Empirical research has been characterised by the object and subject of research and research time and space. Results: Most respondents generally understand innovativeness as the ability to introduce changes in the personnel area, which partially confirmed the first research hypothesis. No significant discrepancies were observed regarding the conditions that cause or even force the use of innovative ways of performing the personnel function and specific tools in this functional area of the enterprise. Conclusions: The theoretical considerations and empirical research presented on their basis allowed us to determine how the concept of „innovativeness” is understood in the personnel area. The respondents, representing enterprises of all sizes located in different parts of the Malopolska Region and with different scales of operations, also perceived innovativeness differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, first we present an elementary approach for evaluating the determinant of an n-by-n periodic tridiagonal matrix with Toeplitz structure, which is based on the use of a certain type of matrix reformulation and linear transformation. Then, we propose a more efficient numerical algorithm with the cost of 12 ⌊ n - 4 k ⌋ + 12 k + O (log n) for computing n-th order periodic tridiagonal Toeplitz determinants, where k is an integer that needs to be chosen at the beginning of the algorithm. Moreover, for periodic tridiagonal Toeplitz matrices with rational entries, we derive a fast and reliable algorithm to determine nonzero determinants via modular arithmetic. Some illustrative examples are provided, and the numerical results are compared with the ones obtained by Gaussian elimination algorithm and MATLAB built-in function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a specific kind of banded matrices, heptadiagonal matrices arise frequently in a variety of fields in theoretical and computational chemistry. In this paper, we present a fast and reliable algorithm for numerically evaluating the determinants of heptadiagonal Toeplitz matrices by a certain type of matrix reordering and partitioning, and linear transformation. In this algorithm, we show that the determinant of an n-by-n heptadiagonal Toeplitz matrix can be implicitly evaluated by computing the determinant of a 6-by-6 matrix which is obtained after the (n−6)th iteration of linear transformation of a 6-by-3 matrix. The results of some numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm and its competitiveness with Gaussian elimination algorithm and MATLAB built-in function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, water and air pollution, global warming, the decline of fauna and flora, eutrophication, correlated with the demands of the modern consumer, led to the formation of a new, much more complex approach regarding the sector of ecological products and its main determinants. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the factors that can influence the decision to buy organic products by consumers. In addition, this study provides recommendations that can be considered by consumers when increasing and reinforcing green behavior towards green products. The objectives of the study aim to evaluate the influence of different types of variables (related to person, environment, product and reference group) on the decision to purchase organic products. One of the concepts proposed in the management of environmental problems by involving consumer participation is sustainable consumption. The recommendations are hereby derived from the relevant academic research, theories and results of this research. Both purchasing and consumption behavior can be influenced by certain information received from internal or external sources manifested in the form of stimuli. Thus, the consumer becomes aware of the emergence of a need suggested by different internal stimuli, such as: hunger or thirst, stimuli that, at a given moment, reach a high enough level to become impulses. Knowing these ratios allows the anticipation of future market reactions, reactions that are difficult to predict without a full understanding of the economic and psychological processes underlying consumer behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically explores the impact of online social networks on information asymmetry, based on an international survey conducted in January - August 2021, with 930 respondents. The methodology follows cross-sectional multivariate regressions augmented by a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. The findings show that young people living in their origin country are more prone to check the veracity of information read, especially those who are Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) activists. Europeans are very sensitive regarding the veracity of posted information. The number of spoken languages facilitating both processes. Additionally, the information asymmetry is attenuated when the users spend more hours on online social networks or use more platforms. The core result is very interesting, showing that the posted information without serious filters during the reading stage is a serious source of asymmetry. Not least, the owner and government restrictions nonlinearly affect information asymmetry by inverted U-shape. This reinforces the idea that none of those characteristics can be absolutized to improve information asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to occur in Nigeria with a high mortality rate despite a wellestablished mode of transmission and the availability of a potent vaccine. This review is aimed at describing the epidemiology, determinants, and public health responses of yellow fever outbreaks in Nigeria from 1864 to 2020. Methodology: The guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were used to conduct the review from November 2020 to April 2021. PubMed database, WHO library databases, and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant published materials including original and reviewed articles, conference papers and case reports from 1864 to 2020. Results: Forty - eight articles and reports were included in the final reviews. Twenty - three outbreaks were described involving 33,830 suspected, presumptive, or confirmed cases of yellow fever and 8,355 deaths. The outbreaks occurred in every state of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory mostly during the rainy season. Low immunity in the population or low vaccination coverage, poor vector control, rainforest or savanna vegetation, rural-urban migration, and imported virus by travelers were common determinants noted. Public health responses have been through, centrally coordinated laboratory support, case management, emergency immunization, vector control, and surveillance. Conclusion: Yellow fever outbreaks have increased in frequency and geographical spread with associated mortality rates. To stem the tide, mass immunization with 17D vaccines is encouraged, planned urbanization with adequate vector control measures enforced, effective case definition, vector surveillance, and effective awareness campaigns should be emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let p be an odd prime. For b , c ∈ Z , Sun introduced the determinant D p (b , c) = (i 2 + b i j + c j 2) p - 2 1 ⩽ i , j ⩽ p - 1 and investigated the Legendre symbol ( D p (b , c) p) . Recently Wu, She and Ni proved that ( D p (1 , 1) p) = (- 2 p) if p ≡ 2 (mod 3) , which confirms a previous conjecture of Sun. In this paper, we determine ( D p (1 , 1) p) in the case p ≡ 1 (mod 3) . Sun proved that D p (2 , 2) ≡ 0 (mod p) if p ≡ 3 (mod 4) ; in contrast, we prove that ( D p (2 , 2) p) = 1 if p ≡ 1 (mod 8) , and ( D p (2 , 2) p) = 0 if p ≡ 5 (mod 8) . Our tools include generalized trinomial coefficients and Lucas sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Although cancer survivors may experience health benefits from favorable lifestyle changes, many cancer survivors do not adhere to lifestyle recommendations or make favorable lifestyle changes after cancer diagnosis. This systematic review of the literature aimed to provide an overview of the scientific literature on sociodemographic, psychological and social determinants that may facilitate or hamper lifestyle change after the diagnosis cancer. It provides a structured overview of the large variety of determinants of changes in different lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol, sun protection, and multiple lifestyle behaviors) derived from the 123 included papers (71 quantitative and 52 qualitative). Findings demonstrate the important role of oncology healthcare professionals in promoting healthy lifestyle changes in cancer survivors and inform researchers and healthcare professionals about the methods and strategies they can use to promote healthy lifestyle changes in cancer survivors. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic overview of the scientific literature on sociodemographic, psychological and social determinants that may facilitate or hamper lifestyle change after the diagnosis cancer. Four databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science) were searched for relevant papers up to October 2021. Of the 9586 references yielded by the literature search, 123 papers were included: 71 quantitative and 52 qualitative papers. Findings showed a large variety of determinants influencing lifestyle change after cancer diagnosis, with differences between lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol, sun protection, and multiple lifestyle behaviors) and findings from quantitative vs. qualitative studies. Findings demonstrate the important role of oncology healthcare professionals in promoting healthy lifestyle changes in cancer survivors. In addition, findings inform researchers involved in the development of health promotion programs about the methods and strategies they can use to promote healthy lifestyle changes in cancer survivors. Favorable lifestyle changes are expected to have beneficial effects on cancer risk and overall health in cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on analysing the current tax behaviour of Slovak citizens and their inclination to tax evasion. Inclination to tax evasion is defined in this research based on respondents' answers to questions focused on their tax morale. The data processed in this research was obtained from a questionnaire survey on a sample of 1067 respondents. Intentional sampling was used to ensure the same structure of respondents. In terms of tax evasion acceptance, we identified three groups of people: honest, dishonest, and unconscious. The research confirmed that 78% of the population is prone to tax evasion, and only 22% have never evaded paying taxes and would not do so knowingly or unconsciously. By applying the statistical hypothesis testing, we also found out that except for sex (women are less prone to tax evasion), inclination to tax evasion also depends on education, age, main source of income and experience. Finally, three types of logistic regression models to predict the inclination of a specific tax behaviour were constructed and evaluated based on the total accuracy metric and validated on the ex-post set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Outpatient services are crucial for strengthening primary healthcare and reducing out-of-pocket spending, which has been one of the major causes of impoverishment. So it is also critical to comprehend the people's preferences in accessing primary healthcare facilities, as government primary healthcare facilities in India are underutilized. The current paper explores the factors that construct the individual's decision to seek outpatient care in primary healthcare facilities in India's largest state Rajasthan. Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 72 primary sample units of 24 primary health centers in 11 districts of Rajasthan, India, from November 2019 to January 2020. The study selected 368 households through purposive sampling. Out of 368 households, 460 people reported any illness and 326 reported outpatient visit to any health facility in the last 30 days from the date of the survey. Analysis: The focus was on analyzing the data in the context of public and private health facilities to understand the factors influencing people's choice to access outpatient services. The principal component analysis is used to understand the relationship between facility preparedness and OPD uptake. Also, multivariate logistic regression is applied to assess the significant predictors in using primary health facility services. Result: Except for the 29% of patients who received no care, the proportion of patients attended public health facilities was 35%, and the rest were utilizing private health facilities. Those who sought care at PHCs were mostly over 45 years age, non-literate, and from the lowest wealth quintile. Logistic regression suggests that people belong to upper wealth quintile (OR = 0.298; 95% 0.118–0.753) are less likely to visit PHCs for treatment. Also, increase in distance of PHC (OR = 0.203; 95% CI 0.076–0.539) reduces the likelihood of their visit outpatient care. People are 9.7 times (OR = 9.740; 95% CI 2.856–33.217) more likely to visit a PHCs that are better equipped in terms of human resources, equipment, and medicine. Conclusion: The uptake of PHCs depends on several factors, which should be considered to ensure that all segments of society have equitable access to them. Through improved accessibility and quality of service, PHCs can be made more appealing to the larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial spillover of commercial housing price is a key issue in recent years. However, very few scholars quantitatively measured the spatial spillover and explored its difference among types of commercial real estate. Taking the Yangzte River Delta as the study area, this paper aims to quantitatively measure the spatial spillover of housing price and its determinants among three types of commercial house (new house, second-hand house, and renting house). The results indicate that, first, the price of commercial house in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing are rather higher than that in other cities, suggesting that the price is linked with the economic (administrative) hierarchy of cities. Second, the price decreases form the coast to the inland area, indicating a significant spatial hierarchy. Third, the spatial spillover of housing price continuously decreases from new house, to second-hand house, and to renting house. Fourth, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nantong, and Jiaxing appear in the agglomeration areas with higher price, indicating that the housing price of the four cities has a stronger linkage with that of other cities. In addition, economic foundation, consumption demand, and social (educational) resources play significant roles in the spatial spillover of housing prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The collaborative care model is a well‐known model to improve care quality for people with common mental disorders and physical conditions in primary care.The role of care manager is central to the collaborative care model, and primary care nurses are well‐positioned to play that role.Adopting the role of care manager by primary care nurses is challenging due to several contextual factors; however, few implementation studies examined the context and current practices before implementing the role of care manager and the collaborative care model. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: The paper contributes to the advancement of knowledge about the pre‐assessment of current practices before implementing the collaborative care model and the role of care manager.The paper offers a better understanding of the relationships between the context and the performance of care management activities by primary care nurses.The paper describes an innovative analysis technique to assess the gap between care management activities recommended in the collaborative care model and actual nursing activities. What are the implications for practice?: Primary care nurses would benefit from having timely access to clinical support from mental health nurse practitioners in order to build their competency.Determinants of practice and the analysis technique to assess current practices will help other researchers or quality improvement teams to develop their plan when implementing the role of care manager. Introduction: Few studies assessed current nursing practices before implementing the collaborative care model and the role of care manager for people with common mental disorders (CMDs) and physical conditions in primary care settings. Aim: Evaluate the main determinants of practice that influence the adoption of care management activities by primary care nurses for people with CMDs and physical conditions. Methods: A qualitative multiple case study was conducted in three primary care clinics. A total of 33 participants were recruited. Various data sources were combined: interviews (n = 32), nurse–patient encounters' observations (n = 7), documents and summaries of meetings with stakeholders (n = 8). Results: Seven determinants were identified (1) access to external mental health resources; (2) clarification of local CMD care trajectory; (3) compatibility between the coordination of nursing work and the role of care manager; (4) availability of mental health resources within the primary care clinic; (5) competency in care management and competency building; (6) responsibility sharing between the general practitioner and the primary care nurse; and (7) common understanding of the patient treatment plan. Implications for practice: To build their competency in care management for people with CMDs, primary care nurses would benefit from having clinical support from mental health nurse practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of road transport on fossil fuels and its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollutant emissions are main concerns leading to the need for shifting toward alternative energy sources and, namely, electromobility. The current paper aims to identify the key determinants affecting the consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), focusing on private passenger cars. Toward this purpose, a systematic review of recent international literature is conducted in order to identify motivators and barriers, which are then categorized following the PESTLE (Political–Economic–Social–Technological–Legal–Environmental) approach. Based on the review results, main policy implications and recommendations are discussed. A main conclusion is that the recent literature highlights a wide array of determinants, without converging as to which ones are the most influential regarding EV adoption by consumers. Another conclusion is that the environmental aspects are less important for consumers than anticipated, despite the concerns about climate change and renewable energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to use healthcare than their counterparts without disabilities, which imposes high medical costs to families and health systems. This study aimed to investigate healthcare costs and its determinants among individuals with ASD.Methods: In this systematic review, we searched online databases (Web of Science, Medline through PubMed and Scopus) for observational and experimental studies that included data on service use and costs associated with ASD and published between January 2000 and May 2021. Exclusion criteria included non-English language articles, duplicates, abstracts, qualitative studies, gray literature, and non-original papers (e.g., letters to editors, editorials, reviews, etc.).Results: Our searches yielded 4015 articles screened according to PRISMA guidelines. Of 4015 studies identified, 37 articles from 10 countries were eligible for final inclusion. Therapeutic interventions, outpatient visits and medications constituted the largest proportion of direct medical expenditure on individuals with ASD. Included studies suggest lack of health insurance, having associated morbidities, more severe symptoms, younger age groups and lower socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with higher medical expenditure in individuals with ASD.Conclusions: This systematic review identified a range of factors, including lower SES and lack of health insurance, which are associated with higher healthcare costs in people with ASD. Our study supports the formulation of policy options to reduce financial risks in families of individuals with ASD in countries which do not have a tax-based or universal health coverage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effect of a municipality being in the "Brazilian border" on its criminality rates, focusing mainly on twin cities and the different arcs. It also identifies determinants of criminality in those municipalities. Firstly, the Propensity Score Matching Method was used to identify the existence of overrepresentation of municipalities in border areas in criminality due to their location and, next, the Spatial Tobit model was applied aiming to identify the determinants of local criminality. Our results showed that, on average, there is no effect of "being in the border" when all the municipalities in border areas and their different arcs are considered. However, when twin cities were analyzed, such effect exists and intensifies the local criminality. Regarding determinants, a difference was found between the municipalities in the Brazilian border and the country as a whole, in which economic advantages were seen to be relevant in the latter context, while the presence of the State reducing social disadvantages is vital to decrease public safety issues in border areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knowing what facilitates and hinders physical activity behaviour across domains (leisure, travel, work or education, and household) is central for the development of actions for more active lifestyles. Thus, the aim of this systematic review of reviews was to summarize the evidence on barriers and facilitators of domain-specific physical activity.Methods: We included systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis that investigated the association between modifiable barriers and facilitators and levels of domain-specific physical activity. Reviews published until September 2020 were retrieved from PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Regional Library of Medicine (BIREME), and PsycNET, and from the reference list of selected articles. Each review was screened by two independent reviewers for eligibility. Data extracted from selected papers included methodological aspects (number of primary studies, study designs, and age groups); physical activity domains and barriers and facilitators investigated; and direction of association. For each pair of barrier/facilitator and domain-specific physical activity, we recorded the number of positive, negative, and null associations reported across reviews. Quality assessment of each systematic review was performed using the AMSTAR-2 tool.Results: Forty-four systematic reviews were selected. The evidence base was largest for leisure-time followed by travel-related physical activity. A very small number of reviews included physical activity in work, educational and domestic settings. Across all physical activity domains, factors related to the built environment were more abundant in the reviews than intra and interpersonal factors. Very consistent positive associations were observed between a range of intrapersonal factors and leisure-time physical activity, as well as moderately consistent evidence of positive association for general social support and support from family members. Evidence of moderate consistency was found for the positive association between transport-related physical activity and positive beliefs about consequences, walkability, and existence of facilities that support active travel. Evidence on barriers and facilitators for physical activity at work, educational, and domestic settings was limited in volume and consistency.Conclusions: Efforts and resources are required to diversify and strength the evidence base on barriers and facilitators of domain-specific physical activity, as it is still limited and biased towards the leisure domain and built environment factors.Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020209710. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent pregnancy increases the risk of disability and death due to unsafe abortion, prolonged labour and delivery, and complications after birth. Availability of accurate data is important to guide decision-making related to adolescent sexual reproductive health (ASRH). This study analyses the trends in prevalence and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Kenya using data from three national Demographic Health Surveys (2003, 2008/2009, 2014).Methods: Our analysis focused on a subsample of data collected from women aged 20 to 24 years. A trend analysis was performed to establish a change in the rate of adolescent pregnancy in 2003, 2008/2009, and 2014 survey data points. Binary Logistic regression and pooled regression analysis were used to explore factors associated with adolescent pregnancy.Results: The percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who reported their first pregnancy between ages 15 and 19 years was 42% in 2003 and 42.2% in 2009 but declined to 38.9% in 2014. Using regression analyses, we established that education status, marital status, religion and wealth quintile were associated with adolescent pregnancy. Trend analysis shows that there was an overall decreasing trend in adolescent pregnancy between 2003 and 2014.Conclusion: Although Kenya has made strides in reducing the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in the last decade, much more needs to be done to further reduce the burden, which remains high.Definition: Adolescents: Although WHO defines the adolescence period as being 10-19 years, this paper focuses on the late adolescent period, 15-19 years, here in referred to as adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of the global economy can be achieved with the help of renewable energy (RE). The paper investigates the determinants of RE development in order to boost its adoption. The determinants of RE deployment were analyzed using random-effects GLS regression for the panel data from 27 EU member states in 2011–2020.The results confirm that economic development and high employment in advanced technology manufacturing are drivers of the RE sector, whereas unemployment growth affects RE deployment negatively. Our results show that active political participation and economic freedom promote RE; however, the level of corruption and democracy does not have a statistically significant impact on it. Favorable geographical location was proved to be a determinant of RE development. The hypothesis that plenty of natural resources discourage countries to develop RE was disproved. The major policy implications for RE promotion include the importance of economy deregulation, open market development and educational transformations. Following the results, prospects for further research were outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tridiagonal matrices and quasi-tridiagonal matrices frequently arise in the numerical simulations of biosensors and electrochemical systems, and have attracted attention in the past few years. In this paper, we present a division-free algorithm for evaluating the determinants of a class of quasi-tridiagonal matrices that can be viewed as perturbations of general tridiagonal matrices. The algorithm is based on a three-term recurrence relation for the determinants of general tridiagonal matrices. Compared with other related algorithms, the main advantage of the proposed algorithm is that it will never suffer from breakdown, even though it is not a symbolic algorithm. In addition, our proposed algorithm has a potential for parallel processing. The results of some numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and its competitiveness with other related algorithms and MATLAB built-in function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrace abandonment in hilly and mountainous regions, particularly in China, has become a significant concern. However, comprehensive assessments of abandonment patterns and underlying causes are still lacking. This paper elucidates the patterns, determinants, and impacts of terraces abandonment in China by using data from a survey of 580 villages across 346 counties and employing spatial analysis and the Heckman two-stage model. Terrace abandonment, which began in the 1990s, has progressively intensified, peaking in 2015. Currently, 51.55% of surveyed villages experience terrace abandonment, affecting 21.17% of households and 8.37% of the total terrace area, with a distinct prevalence in the South and scarcity in the North. Key factors contributing to terrace abandonment include low returns compared to other options, wildlife damage, high engagement in non-farm labor, and substantial non-farm income. In 2021, terrace abandonment led to the loss of 9.36 million tons of grain production capacity, enough to fulfill the yearly consumption requirements of 23.4 million people. Moreover, terrace abandonment undermines the cultural importance of terraced agriculture, reduces tourism potential, and hinders rural rejuvenation. The challenge of terrace abandonment is anticipated to worsen with the increase in non-farm economic activities and ecological restoration projects in hilly and mountainous regions. It is crucial for the government to implement measures to enhance terrace management. These measures include reducing operational costs for large contiguous plots, promoting the cultivation of cash crops to increase revenues from extensive scattered plots, and advocating for the reforestation of agricultural land to enhance the ecological value of remote terraces at higher altitudes. Addressing these issues can achieve sustainable terrace use and management, contributing to broader rural development and ecological goals. [Display omitted] • Terrace abandonment has been observed across approximately 60 countries. • 21.17% of households and 8.37% of terrace areas have experienced abandonment. • Terrace abandonment has led to a decrease in China's grain production capacity by 9.36 million tons. • Terrace abandonment may intensify because of the expanding non-farm economy and ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of intra-continental air connectivity in Africa has long been criticized. This paper aims to understand the factors determining intra-regional air transportation in the Southern Africa region and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, we analyze the geospatial characteristics of the air transport network, airport connectivity, and market structure before and after the pandemic. We also examine the progress of air transport liberalization in Africa and its impact on market structure and airline privatization. We find that the liberalization facilitated market competition and the progress of privatization, but its influence didn't sustain long. Secondly, based on monthly data at the city level from April 2012 to December 2021, using monthly Total Night-time Light Intensity (TNLI) as a proxy of gross regional product (GRP), we develop a gravity model to empirically investigate the determinants of international air passenger flows within Southern Africa. The analysis shows that the factors promoting air traffic include GRP, air transport liberalization, the presence of low-cost carriers, and airline privatization, while high market concentration and diplomatic disagreements hinder air passenger flows. The pandemic and associated government restriction measures have severely impacted intra-regional air transport connectivity, while the vaccination program has significantly contributed to the recovery of air transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the patterns and incidence of child labour in India and to examine the magnitude of child labour across different social groups. It analyses the impact of the socio-economic background of the children on their participation in the labour market. Design/methodology/approach: The paper primarily relies on the data collected from secondary sources. The census of India data and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 66th round data (2009–2010) on employment and unemployment in India for the study. The dependent variable on child labour has been computed by the author for the analysis in the paper. Findings: The findings of the paper suggest that poverty is not the only determinant of child labour, but gender and caste of a person is also a significant factor for child labour. The study found that children from lower-caste backgrounds in India seem to participate more in the labour market. In terms of gender, the study found that boys are more likely to engage in economic activities or paid jobs while girls are more likely to engage in household activities. Originality/value: Data used in this paper has been extracted by the author from unit level data provided by NSSO. The variables used for the analysis in the presented paper has been constructed by the author and the figures provided are the result of the author's estimation on data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the regularity and determinants of mobility is indispensable for the reasonable deployment of shared bicycles and urban planning. A spatial interaction network covering streets in Beijing's six main districts, using bike sharing data, is constructed and analyzed. as Additionally, the exponential random graph model (ERGM) is used to interpret the influencing factors of the network structure and the mobility regularity. The characteristics of the spatial interaction network structure and temporal characteristics between weekdays and weekends show the following: the network structure on weekdays is obvious; the flow edge is always between adjacent blocks; the traffic flow frequently changes and clusters; the network structure on weekends is more complex, showing scattering and seldom changing; and there is a stronger interaction between blocks. Additionally, the predicted result of the ERGM shows that the influencing factors selected in this paper are positively correlated with the spatial interaction network. Among them, the three most important determinants are building density, housing prices and the number of residential areas. Additionally, the determinant of financial services shows greater effects on weekdays than weekends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an efficient numerical algorithm for evaluating the determinants of general bordered k-tridiagonal matrices in linear time. The algorithm is based on a novel incomplete block-diagonalization (IBD) approach which preserves the low-rank structure and sparsity of the original matrix, and a reliable algorithm for the determinants of general bordered tridiagonal matrices. An advantage of the proposed algorithm is that there is no division operation involved and hence the algorithm will never suffer from breakdown. Moreover, the algorithm theoretically produces exact values of the determinants when all entries of the bordered k-tridiagonal matrix are given in integer. Some numerical results with simulations in Matlab implementation are provided in order to illustrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, and its competitiveness with Gaussian elimination algorithm and MATLAB built-in function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block tridiagonal matrices arise in applied mathematics, physics, and signal processing. Many applications require knowledge of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of block tridiagonal matrices. In this paper, we derive specific formulas for characteristic polynomials, and eigenvalues for a class of block tridiagonal matrices. We apply the results to determine the charactristic polynomial of some block Toeplitz symmetric tridiagonal matrices and give the explicit eigenvalues. Particularly, when the blocks are diagonal matrices, the eigenvalues are calculated explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study certain determinants over finite fields. Let F q be the finite field of q elements with q an odd prime power and q ≡ 2 (mod 3) . Let a 1 , a 2 , ⋯ , a q - 1 be all nonzero elements of F q and let T q = 1 a i 2 - a i a j + a j 2 1 ≤ i , j ≤ q - 1 be a matrix over F q . We obtain the explicit value of det (T q) . Also, as a consequence of our result, we confirm a conjecture posed by Zhi-Wei Sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk disclosures contribute to financial stability by providing stakeholders with a better understanding of companies' risk exposures and risk management practices. Presently, corporate risk has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the level of disclosure varies across industries, companies, and organizations. Due to the strategic importance of the energy industry, the paper aims to assess COVID-19-related risk disclosure in the biggest electricity companies in Central and Eastern European countries, and to identify the main determinants of the disclosure. For this purpose, risk disclosure was assessed based on publicly available data disclosed by the 10 biggest public electricity companies operating in this region. Our findings indicate that factors such as the company's size, leverage, and profitability do not significantly affect COVID-19-related risk disclosure in financial reports; nevertheless, COVID-19 risk disclosure in non-financial reports is significantly correlated with the company's assets and revenues. Moreover, there is a significantly strong positive relationship between the scope of COVID-19-related risk disclosure in the management reports and the number of women on the company's management board. COVID-19-related risk disclosure in management board's reports is significantly higher than disclosure in non-financial reports and explanatory notes of financial statements. Our results suggest that risk disclosure is needed to mitigate information asymmetry, especially in pandemic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a parametric type of Cauchy polynomials and study their characteristic and combinatorial properties. In particular, we show some determinant expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper aimed to describe acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and its determinants among Vietnamese teachers. Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional survey with a sample of 17,176 teachers from kindergarten to high school who currently reside in Vietnam. A participant who exhibited “acceptance” towards the vaccine gave the following response: “have the readiness to get COVID-19 vaccine”. Results: About 88% of all participants were accepting of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 70.4% were willing to pay (TTP) for it. The vaccine acceptance rate increased by age with odds ratios (OR) of 1.65 (1.41–1.93), 1.96 (1.67–2.29), and 2.4 (1.95–2.95) for the age groups 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59 respectively, when compared to the 18–29 age group. Male were found to be more likely to accept the vaccination than females (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02–1.31); teachers without a chronic disease were 4.13 times (95% CI: 2.67–6.37) more likely to accept the vaccine than those with an underlying condition. Tillingness to pay and beliefs about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine were major factors in driving participants’ responses. Conclusion: A high proportion of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is a promising indicator of high coverage among this priority group for vaccination. Communication campaigns should consider addressing determinants uncovered by this study to achieve better vaccine acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to identify the determinants of life satisfaction in the four regions of Asia. Because the determinants of life satisfaction may differ between people who are at a different level of life satisfaction, quantile regression was used to yield more accurate inferences. An earlier study using ordinary least square regression found that the standard of living, marital status, education and the role of government were the most significant determinants of life satisfaction in Asia. Results from the present study also show that these three factors were significant determinants of life satisfaction, but their effects varied considerably across the quantiles. Gender and age were significant determinants of life satisfaction only in Central & West Asia, but the education factor was relatively less significant here as compared to the other regions. In all the four Asia regions, the income variable was a less significant predictor of life satisfaction as compared to the standard of living. This paper further found that employment was more influential in South and Southeast Asia as compared to the other two regions. The effects of these variables varied substantially across the quantiles. Some of these variables had a positive effect on life satisfaction for some quantiles, but a negative effect for other quantiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]