RISK FACTORS OF INTERNET GAMING AMONG FILIPINO STUDENTS

Purpose of the study: The main objective of this study is to examine the risk factors for internet gaming disorder (IGD). Specifically, it aims to: measure the severity of internet gaming among Filipino students; describe their internet gaming characteristic; and, identify which among the risk factors predict IGD. Methodology: Students who displayed five or more symptoms in the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short Form (IGD9-SF) were identified. The internet gaming characteristics, Brief Self Control Scale (BSCS) to identify self-control levels, and Mini-IPIP for the personality of the participants were also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis to identify the significant risk factors for IGD using SPSS 17.0. Main Findings: Internet gaming characteristics such as time spent, money spent, and devices used were significant risk factors to IGD. Psychological factors such as self-control and personality traits (agreeableness and openness) were established and were also significant risk factors. The lower the self-control the higher the risk of developing IGD, as well as the more agreeable and open the gamers are the higher the risk to IGD. Applications of this study: Researchers and therapists should focus on developing intervention methods focusing on minimizing the device's exposure to lessen time and money spent in gaming as well as strengthening the self-control of the gamers.  Novelty/Originality of this study: This psychological inquiry contributed to the emerging psychological disorder IGD shedding light on its current debates and controversies. This established risk factors to IGD among Filipino students who are time spent, money spent, devices used, self-control, and personality factors such as agreeableness and openness

ROAD TO MYTHIC: CONCEPTUALIZATION OF INTERNET GAMING FROM THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SYMPTOMATIC FILIPINO YOUTH

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to capture the lived experiences of Filipino College Students excessively immersed in online gaming for a year or more with five or more symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder (I.G.D.). Methodology: This is a qualitative research using the phenomenological approach. Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short form (IGD9-SF) was used to identify participants. Using Paul Colaizzi’s Procedure, field text was carefully transcribed and analyzed to determine the statement verbalizations and musings, which collectively described the phenomenon. Main Findings: The conceptual model “E-Loop of I.G.D.” or the “Entertain-Engulfed-Entangle-Escape” has emerged. The findings of this study established the severity of the adverse effects of I.G.D. To students and the severe gaming dysregulation, this resulted in a vacuum in their personal development. Applications of this study: This model provided a clear picture of a vicious cycle of dysregulated internet gaming behaviour which would equip mental health experts’ richer understanding and analysis of action related to gaming. Ultimately, this inference offers an appropriate basis for intervention or treatment programs in assisting students with I.G.D. symptoms. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study provided a novel conceptual framework of internet gaming disorder based on the lived experiences of the symptomatic gamers. Further, it offered more definite conceptions on the vicious cycle of I.G.D

Synthetic Biology Biosensors for Global Health Challenges

Synthetic biologists seek to design, build and modify organisms at the genetic level. One category of engineered organisms, or devices, sense changes in the environment and respond by producing a change in state, such as colour. Two such ‘biosensors’ are in development within the Flowers Consortium, and both are envisaged to address threats to human health in the Global South. Biosensors are at an early stage in development, meaning that there is scope to shape their future trajectories. Accordingly, researchers at King’s College London convened a one-day interdisciplinary workshop with 30 experts working insynthetic biology, regulation, global health, international development and the social sciences. The workshop’s purpose was to investigate the two biosensors and draw lessons for researchers and policy makers working in synthetic biology, especially when intervening in global health contexts. Part one of the report summarises the discussions of the day. This executive summary outlines the overarching analytic themes from the workshop, which can be found in part two

A Measure of a Firm's Average Share Price

The present writers believe that they have found an alternative measure of average price which it is possible to use in econometric applications, is sufficiently accurate for many other purposes as well, and yet is easier to compute. It is described here in the hope that it may prove generally useful to other workers and, in particular, to those concerned with the behaviour of the firm

A Measure of a Firm's Average Share Price

The present writers believe that they have found an alternative measure of average price which it is possible to use in econometric applications, is sufficiently accurate for many other purposes as well, and yet is easier to compute. It is described here in the hope that it may prove generally useful to other workers and, in particular, to those concerned with the behaviour of the firm

A Generalized Diffusion Tensor for Fully Anisotropic Diffusion of Energetic Particles in the Heliospheric Magnetic Field

The spatial diffusion of cosmic rays in turbulent magnetic fields can, in the most general case, be fully anisotropic, i.e. one has to distinguish three diffusion axes in a local, field-aligned frame. We reexamine the transformation for the diffusion tensor from this local to a global frame, in which the Parker transport equation for energetic particles is usually formulated and solved. Particularly, we generalize the transformation formulas to allow for an explicit choice of two principal local perpendicular diffusion axes. This generalization includes the 'traditional' diffusion tensor in the special case of isotropic perpendicular diffusion. For the local frame, we motivate the choice of the Frenet-Serret trihedron which is related to the intrinsic magnetic field geometry. We directly compare the old and the new tensor elements for two heliospheric magnetic field configurations, namely the hybrid Fisk and the Parker field. Subsequently, we examine the significance of the different formulations for the diffusion tensor in a standard 3D model for the modulation of galactic protons. For this we utilize a numerical code to evaluate a system of stochastic differential equations equivalent to the Parker transport equation and present the resulting modulated spectra. The computed differential fluxes based on the new tensor formulation deviate from those obtained with the 'traditional' one (only valid for isotropic perpendicular diffusion) by up to 60% for energies below a few hundred MeV depending on heliocentric distance.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted in Ap

The declining representativeness of the British party system, and why it matters

In a recent article, Michael Laver has explained ‘Why Vote-Seeking Parties May Make Voters Miserable’. His model shows that, while ideological convergence may boost congruence between governments and the median voter, it can reduce congruence between the party system and the electorate as a whole. Specifically, convergence can increase the mean distance between voters and their nearest party. In this article we show that this captures the reality of today’s British party system. Policy scale placements in British Election Studies from 1987 to 2010 confirm that the pronounced convergence during the past decade has left the Conservatives and Labour closer together than would be optimal in terms of minimising the policy distance between the average voter and the nearest major party. We go on to demonstrate that this comes at a cost. Respondents who perceive themselves as further away from one of the major parties in the system tend to score lower on satisfaction with democracy. In short, vote-seeking parties have left the British party system less representative of the ideological diversity in the electorate, and thus made at least some British voters miserable