Is Extract ERr731 from the Rheum Rhaponticum Effective in Relieving Menopausal Symptoms in Women Aged 45 to 55 Years of Age?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ERr 731 extract from the Rheum rhaponticum plant is effective in relieving symptoms of menopausal symptoms in women aged 45 to 55 years of ag

Consumer attitudes and preference exploration towards fresh-cut salads using best–worst scaling and latent class analysis

This research explored the preferences and buying habits of a sample of 620 consumers of fresh-cut, ready-to-eat salads. A best–worst scaling approach was used to measure the level of preference stated by individuals regarding 12 attributes for quality (intrinsic, extrinsic and credence) of fresh-cut salads. The experiment was carried out through direct interviews at several large-scale retail outlets in the Turin metropolitan area (north-west of Italy). Out of the total number of questioned consumers, 35% said they did not consume fresh-cut salads. On the contrary, the rest of the involved sample expressed the highest degree of preference towards the freshness/appearance attribute, followed by the expiration date and the brand. On the contrary, attributes such as price, organic certification and food safety did not emerge as discriminating factors in consumer choices. Additionally, five clusters of consumers were identified, whose preferences are related both to purchasing styles and socio-demographic variables. In conclusion, this research has highlighted the positive attitude of consumers towards quality products backed by a brand, providing ideas for companies to improve within this sector and implement strategies to answer the needs of a new segment of consumers, by determining market opportunities that aim to strengthen local brands

A new beach topography-based method for shoreline identification

The definition of shoreline is not the same for all contexts, and it is often a subjective matter. Various methods exist that are based on the use of different instruments that can determine and highlight a shoreline. In recent years, numerous studies have employed photogrammetric methods, based on different colours, to map the boundary between water and land. These works use images acquired by satellites, drones, or cameras, and differ mainly in terms of resolution. Such methods can identify a shoreline by means of automatic, semi-automatic, or manual procedures. The aim of this work is to find and promote a new and valid beach topography-based algorithm, able to identify the shoreline. We apply the Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques to reconstruct a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model by means of a drone for image acquisition. The algorithm is based on the variation of the topographic beach profile caused by the transition from water to sand. The SfM technique is not efficient when applied to reflecting surfaces like sea water resulting in a very irregular and unnatural profile over the sea. Taking advantage of this fact, the algorithm searches for the point in the space where a beach profile changes from irregular to regular, causing a transition from water to land. The algorithm is promoted by the release of a QGIS v3.x plugin, which allows the easy application and extraction of other shorelines

THE OLIGOCENE MOLLUSC FAUNA OF THE PIEDMONT BASIN (NORTH-WESTERN ITALY) I. SCAPHOPODA AND ARCHAEOGASTROPODA

The aim of the present work is to study the Oligocene Scaphopoda and Archaeogastropoda of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (T.P.B.), aiming towards an overall revision of the Oligocene mollusc fauna of this Basin. Five taxa of Scaphopoda and twenty-eight taxa of Archaeogastropoda have been analysed; among these a new species of Nerita (Theliostyla) is proposed.&nbsp

Investigating the Effects of Heteronormativity and Minority Stress on Mental Health, Well-being, Disclosure, and Concealment of Non-Gay Identifying and [Behaviorally] Bisexual Men

The purpose of this research was to explore social hardships of non-gay identifying, [behaviorally] bisexual, and “other” marginal LGBTQ+ men who are sexually intimate with men in a heteronormative and [toxic] masculine world. Relatedly, hegemonic masculinity dominates the patriarch through regulating behavioral norms that often stigmatize and discriminate opposing traits, ideologies, or groups, such as LGBTQ+. This has been known to affect and mediate health outcomes and “outness.” Therefore, this study explored how minority stressors impact self-concept, mental health, well-being, and motivations to disclose and/or conceal. Data collection involved survey and interview formats (mixed-methods cross-sectional design) that assessed internalized homophobia, conformity to masculine norms, subjective masculinity stress, disclosure, and concealment in relation to lifestyle and social context. While all variables had expected linear associations, not all were causal. Those who conformed to masculine norms significantly experienced internalized stigma/homophobia. Hence, it can be hypothesized that participants who conformed sought to conceal stigma under pressure of heteronormative culture and the patriarch. However, subjective masculinity stress was nonsignificant, exemplifying hegemonic influence as more defining to their self-concept than their own. Further, minority stress constructs (masculine norms, internalized stigma/homophobia, and subjective masculinity stress), when age, regional location, and faith were controlled, significantly predicted less disclosure and more concealment in social contexts. This reinforces the power of modern patriarchy/masculine norms/minority stress and its adverse effects on mental health, well-being, and outness in marginalized populations of LGBTQ+. Relatedly, qualitative data validated these quantitative findings but generally over the lifecycle of “coming out” as opposed to respondents’ current growth and development in outness, mental health, and well-being. However, to further affirm such quantitative findings, both survey and interview data did report distress regarding modern day masculinity and its ill standards that place unrealistic expectations on men, which continue to create disparities among and between many communities and humanity

Application of Keystroke Dynamics Modelling Techniques to Strengthen the User Identification in the Context of E-commerce

Keystroke dynamics is a biometric technique to identify users based on analysing habitual rhythm patterns in their typing behaviour. In e-commerce, this technique brings benefits to both security and the analysis of patterns of consumer behaviour. This paper focuses on analysing the keystroke dynamics against an e-commerce site for personal identification. This paper is an empirical reinforcement of previous works, with data extracted from realistic conditions that are of most interest for the practical application of modelling keystroke dynamics in free texts. It was a collaborative work with one of the leading e-commerce companies in Latin America. Experimental results showed that it was possible to identify typists with an accuracy of 89% from a sampling of 300 randomly selected users just by reading comment field keystrokes.VII Workshop Seguridad Informática (WSI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Application of Keystroke Dynamics Modelling Techniques to Strengthen the User Identification in the Context of E-commerce

Keystroke dynamics is a biometric technique to identify users based on analysing habitual rhythm patterns in their typing behaviour. In e-commerce, this technique brings benefits to both security and the analysis of patterns of consumer behaviour. This paper focuses on analysing the keystroke dynamics against an e-commerce site for personal identification. This paper is an empirical reinforcement of previous works, with data extracted from realistic conditions that are of most interest for the practical application of modelling keystroke dynamics in free texts. It was a collaborative work with one of the leading e-commerce companies in Latin America. Experimental results showed that it was possible to identify typists with an accuracy of 89% from a sampling of 300 randomly selected users just by reading comment field keystrokes.VII Workshop Seguridad Informática (WSI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI