The persistence of cognitive biases in financial decisions across economic groups

Data availability: All data will be posted open access via https://psyarxiv.com/mrxy6/ and in interactive form via https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/kai.ruggeri. We will post these only once an accepted version of all analyses is possible to avoid confusion based on version control.While economic inequality continues to rise within countries, efforts to address it have been largely ineffective, particularly those involving behavioral approaches. It is often implied but not tested that choice patterns among low-income individuals may be a factor impeding behavioral interventions aimed at improving upward economic mobility. To test this, we assessed rates of ten cognitive biases across nearly 5000 participants from 27 countries. Our analyses were primarily focused on 1458 individuals that were either low-income adults or individuals who grew up in disadvantaged households but had above-average financial well-being as adults, known as positive deviants. Using discrete and complex models, we find evidence of no differences within or between groups or countries. We therefore conclude that choices impeded by cognitive biases alone cannot explain why some individuals do not experience upward economic mobility. Policies must combine both behavioral and structural interventions to improve financial well-being across populations.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (#2218595) and by Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University. Additional support was provided to individual researchers from the Columbia University Office of the Provost, Masaryk University Centre for International Cooperation, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Fund from the United States Department of State. This research was funded in part, by the UKRI [MR/N013468/1]

The psychology and policy of overcoming economic inequality

Data and materials’ availability: All data are publicly available for the survey data used (https://osf.io/njd62/) and from the UN Gender Inequality Index (https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads). Financial transaction data were provided through an agreement with Columbia Business School.Recent arguments claim that behavioral science has focused – to its detriment – on the individual over the system when construing behavioral interventions. In this commentary, we argue that tackling economic inequality using both framings in tandem is invaluable. By studying individuals who have overcome inequality, “positive deviants,” and the system limitations they navigate, we offer potentially greater policy solutions.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (no. 2218595) and by Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University. Additional support was provided to individual researchers from the Columbia University Office of the Provost, Masaryk University Centre for International Cooperation, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Fund from the United States Department of State

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatments for biomass valorisation : a critical review

The sustainable conversion of biomass into biofuels, chemicals and biomaterials has gained increasing attention to ensure the well-being of present and future generations. Among the different technologies available to date for the valorisation of biomass, microwave-assisted hydrothermal conversion has recently appeared as a state-of-the-art technology, capable of furnishing a wide range of reaction products for the energy, pharmaceutical and chemistry sectors. This emerging technology combines the inherent benefits of microwave heating and the sustainable features of biomass hydrothermal valorisation. Herein, for the first time, this critical review summarises and analyses all the work conducted to date on the use of microwave-assisted hydrothermal processes (including microwave-assisted carbonisation, liquefaction and treatment/hydrolysis) for the conversion of biomass into hydrochar, bio-crude (bio-oil) and valuable chemicals. In particular, this work has put together vital information addressing the influences of the reaction conditions (temperature, time, amount and type of catalyst, biomass loading and type, and microwave power) on the yields and key properties of the reaction products. The relationships between these processing parameters and the chemical transformations involved in the processes (hydrolysis, dehydration, decarboxylation, condensation and re-polymerisation) have been described in detail, and reliable comparisons have also been established between microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal technologies when data were available. As a result, this critical review collects essential information on the use of this cutting-edge, recently appeared microwave-assisted hydrothermal technology, and paves the way for its expansion and future development and commercialisation

Selective glucose oxidation to glucaric acid using bimetallic catalysts : lattice expansion or electronic structure effect

Our study presents a comprehensive approach for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid (GA) by heterogeneous catalysis. We have synthesized and characterized Au/ZrO2, AuCu/ZrO2 and AuPt/ZrO2 catalysts using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and oxygen pulse chemisorption (OPS) techniques. Combining experimental observations with in-depth density functional theory (DFT) studies, we found that bimetallic catalysts form alloys, which exhibit different characteristics than monometallic counterparts for the given reaction. We performed batch reactions, varying temperature and oxygen pressure, and used the data to construct a predictive microkinetic model. As it turned out, AuPt/ZrO2 showed the highest selectivity, yielding 32 % of GA at 100 °C and 30 barg O2. Our results provide valuable insights for the developing of efficient catalysts and point out the bottlenecks for the oxidation of glucose to GA

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): A bottom-up and One Health approach

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results: EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions: A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve

How to: Surveillance of Clostridium difficile infections

The survey contributors: INSA - M. Oleastro (National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal)Supplementary data related to this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2017.12.008.Background: The increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in healthcare settings in Europe since 2003 has affected both patients and healthcare systems. The implementation of effective CDI surveillance is key to enable monitoring of the occurrence and spread of C. difficile in healthcare and the timely detection of outbreaks. Aims: The aim of this review is to provide a summary of key components of effective CDI surveillance and to provide some practical recommendations. We also summarize the recent and current national CDI surveillance activities, to illustrate strengths and weaknesses of CDI surveillance in Europe. Sources: For the definition of key components of CDI surveillance, we consulted the current European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) CDI-related guidance documents and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) protocol for CDI surveillance in acute care hospitals. To summarize the recent and current national CDI surveillance activities, we discussed international multicentre CDI surveillance studies performed in 2005e13. In 2017, we also performed a new survey of existing CDI surveillance systems in 33 European countries. Content: Key components for CDI surveillance are appropriate case definitions of CDI, standardized CDI diagnostics, agreement on CDI case origin definition, and the presentation of CDI rates with well-defined numerators and denominators. Incorporation of microbiological data is required to provide information on prevailing PCR ribotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility to first-line CDI treatment drugs. In 2017, 20 European countries had a national CDI surveillance system and 21 countries participated in ECDCcoordinated CDI surveillance. Since 2014, the number of centres with capacity for C. difficile typing has increased to 35 reference or central laboratories in 26 European countries. Implications: Incidence rates of CDI, obtained from a standardized CDI surveillance system, can be used as an important quality indicator of healthcare at hospital as well as country level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio