bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artistic practice of the national Chinese opera
Authors: Yun Liu
Published: March 2024

During the 20th and early 21st centuries, there has been a significant intensification of the cultural interaction of Chinese and European musical art in the context of the East West. The European musical tradition, in particular opera, plays a huge cultural role in the modern artistic space of Eastern civilizations. A striking consequence of the fruitful creative interaction of Chinese and Western opera art is the formation of a fundamentally new genre, which is defined by the author as “Chinese opera of the European type”.
On the history of the study of phraseological units of the Chinese language
Authors: Licheng Zhang
Published: March 2024

The article examines the history of the study of special linguistic units of the Chinese language -phraseological units. From the point of view of the intensity and features of the study of phraseological units in different periods, three stages can be distinguished: initial, developing and developed. Knowledge of the history of the study of phraseological units of the Chinese language helps Sinologists and foreign students to understand better these linguistic elements, their etymology, semantics and application, and thereby the national and cultural characteristics of China reflected in phraseological units.
Development of the traditional medicine discourse as one of the ways to promote Chinese culture abroad
Authors: Yunsheng Ju , Chao Jiang , Weidong Nie
Published: March 2024

The article is devoted to the development of traditional Chinese medicine in modern China as one of the main directions of culture. The author examines the formation of the modern status of traditional medicine, its popularity, effectiveness in the fight against coronavirus. Much attention in this article is also paid to the creation of such a scientific discipline as the discourse of traditional medicine, within which terminological bases should be systematized, as well as a system for teaching Chinese medicine in foreign languages, in particular in Russian, should be formed.
Sampul Jurnal MG
Authors: BMKG JMG
Published: March 2024

Sampul Jurnal MG Volume 18 Nomor 2 Tahun 2017
Sampul Jurnal MG
Authors: BMKG JMG
Published: March 2024

Sampul Jurnal MG Volume 18 Nomor 3 Tahun 2017
Prekursor MJO-Crossing (MJO-C) dan MJO-Blocking (MJO-B) di Benua Maritim Berdasarkan Transpor Kelembapan
Authors: Fahim Akhmad , Trilaksono Nurjanna Joko
Published: March 2024

Penelitian mengenai propagasi MJO yang terhalang saat melewati Benua Maritim merupakan permasalahan yang kompleks. Penelitian kali ini bermaksud untuk mengetahui prekursor kejadian MJO-Crossing (MJO-C) dan MJO-Blocking (MJO-B) ditinjau dari analisis transpor kelembapan. Analisis Hovmöller pada kejadian MJO-C dan MJO-B dilakukan menggunakan data curah hujan satelit TRMM (3B42v7) periode bulan ONDJFM tahun 1998-2015 untuk melihat karakteristik propagasi MJO-C dan MJO-B. Perbedaan propagasi MJO-C dan MJO-B, diinvestigasi lebih lanjut menggunakan data kelembapan spesifik dan medan angin ERA-Interim ECMWF untuk mengetahui kondisi sumber pasokan uap air serta struktur vertikal kelembapan spesifik MJO-C dan MJO-B. Selanjutnya, dilakukan analisis lebih rinci dengan melihat pola divergensi angin di ketinggian 700 hPa. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa pada kondisi prekursor tepatnya periode 15 hari hingga 5 hari sebelum kejadian MJO (day -15 hingga day -5), terdapat pelemahan suplai kelembapan pada kejadian MJO-B yang disebabkan oleh adanya anomali kering (dry anomaly) yang berpropagasi ke barat dari Samudra Pasifik menuju wilayah Benua Maritim Indonesia (BMI). Kondisi anomali kering ini bercampur dengan anomali lembap MJO (moist anomaly) yang berakibat pada pengurangan intensitas kelembapan sehingga menghambat propagasi MJO melintasi wilayah BMI. Fenomena anomali kering yang berpropagasi ke barat mengindikasikan adanya pengaruh gelombang Equatorial Rossby (ER) terhadap propagasi MJO melintasi BMI.
Perspektiva roditelja djece s teškoćama u razvoju o učincima pandemije bolesti Covid-19
Authors: Crnković Veronika , Leutar Zdravka
Published: March 2024

Cilj ovog istraživanja je dobivanje uvida u doživljaj roditelja djece s teškoćama u razvoju o učincima pandemije bolesti Covid-19 na svakodnevni život obitelji, pri čemu se ispituju čimbenici prilagodbe roditelja, uočene promjene u ponašanju djeteta te promjene u obiteljskoj dinamici. Prikupljeni podaci su pokazali da sudionici kao čimbenike prilagodbe na novonastalu promjenu procjenjuju: postojanje optimizma, formalna i neformalna podrška, preseljenje na selo i u veći prostor, osmišljavanje kreativnih aktivnosti, održavanje strukture dana i već postojeća navika oko skrbi za dijete, provođenje više vremena na otvorenom te stabilna financijska situacija. Drukčije dnevne svakodnevnice otežavaju djeci prilagodbu na novonastale promjene, što je uzrokovalo promjene u dječjem ponašanju. Roditelji su uočili i promjenu emocionalnog statusa djece, pri čemu su preinake na neku djecu imale pozitivne učinke, dok su druga djeca iskazivala negativne emocije. Roditelji su opazili da je nastala promjena u obiteljskoj dinamici prilikom čega je to kod nekih obitelji poboljšalo odnos unutar obitelji, dok je na pojedine obitelji pandemija djelovala negativno.
Online discrimination in Croatia
Authors: Grbeša Marijana , Gutgold Nichola D. , Bebić Domagoj
Published: March 2024

In light of growing research on online misogyny and sexism, this study investigates the online discrimination faced by the first woman president of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who served from 2015 to 2020. Specifically, it examines the Facebook communication of the three leading Croatian news sites, as well as related readers’ comments, pertaining to two events that got excessive media coverage: Grabar-Kitarović’s appearance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and an educational video of the President reading Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking to Croatian children in Sweden. In both cases, Grabar-Kitarović ventured beyond the safety of political discourse and entered what is often seen as a »slippery« territory for women politicians - a space of emotions and celebrity politics. An analysis of the media content established that the analyzed media outlets resorted to ridicule, sexism, and insults to report about Grabar-Kitarović on both occasions. A content analysis of related readers’ comments showed that she was the target of sexist discrimination and aggressive, even violent insults. However, discrimination was overall less present in the readers’ comments than in the media texts. Readers were generally less critical and more appreciative towards Grabar-Kitarović’s display of spontaneity and emotions than the media. This suggests that the informal setting of social media discussions may provide a less hostile environment for women to display their femininity, emotions and private persona compared to traditional media.
Analiza slučaja: što otkriva povlačenje udžbenika povijesti koji nije smio biti odobren
Authors: Jurčević Josip
Published: March 2024

U radu je analiziran slučaj udžbenika povijesti za četvrti razred gimnazije koji je duže od dvije godine bio u Katalogu odobrenih udžbenika, a potom je izbrisan iz kataloga. Analizom su obuhvaćene tri tematske cjeline (druga Jugoslavija, Republika Hrvatska, Domovinski rat), a analiza je provedena usporedbom sadržaja udžbenika s odredbama kurikuluma i drugih zakonskih i podzakonskih propisa koji su obvezujući za udžbenike povijesti. Uz to je pojašnjen i širi kontekst rasprava i sukoba koji u Hrvatskoj traju dva desetljeća glede problematike udžbenika i nastave povijesti. Analizom je zaključeno da sadržaj spornog udžbenika nije utemeljen ni na znanstvenim i obrazovnim standardima niti na propisanim vrijednosnim i etičkim zahtjevima, pa stoga ima iznimno razorne odgojne i obrazovne učinke. Na koncu je rad otvorio i ključno pitanje, kako je uopće bilo moguće da je takav udžbenik u ministarstvu uspio proći postupak stručne procjene i uvrštavanja u Katalog udžbenika.
A Study on Self-Regulatory Processes in EFL Academic Writing
Authors: Nikčević-Milković Anela , Balenović Katica
Published: March 2024

The process of academic writing is a highly demanding mental activity that presents a number of difficulties for students, especially when it comes to L2/FL (second/ foreign language) writing. The study employs the social-cognitive model of writing to explore the issue of students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) in English as a foreign language (EFL) writing, with a special emphasis on the most important processes and strategies that may influence the quality of writing performance. We also wanted to explore whether there is an improvement in the quality of writing performance due to regular students’ exposure to EFL learning at the university levels. The quantitative part of the study involved 104 students (53 undergraduates and 51 graduates), while the qualitative part focused on two groups of higher and lower proficiency writers. The quantitative part of the study pointed out a significant difference between the first and second measurement points in the quality of students’ writing performance both at the undergraduate and graduate levels of study. Students in second measurement point had a better writing performance compared to the ones in the first measurement point. The qualitative research results showed that higher proficiency writers exhibited better SRL processes compared to lower proficiency writers. The research findings suggest that the students’ writing proficiency benefits from incorporating more SRL processes in EFL learning/teaching in the Croatian educational context.
Narativne strategije poetike duhovnosti neprimijećenog dječjeg romana Vesne Krmpotić
Authors: Vrcić-Mataija Sanja
Published: March 2024

U radu se interpretiraju narativne strategije romana Vesne Krmpotić, Troočica s planete Svjetlosti, radi određenja njegove poetike duhovnosti te (re)pozicioniranja statusa autorice i romana u kontekst poetike suvremenog hrvatskog dječjeg romana. Riječ je o tipološki složenom filozofsko-poetskom romanu fantastičnog pripovjednog modusa, duhovne poetike s nizom religioznih interdiskurzivnih i intertekstualnih aluzija, razlomljene romaneskne strukture, nelinearne kompozicije te vrlo kompleksnih (ne)dječjih likova. Pripovjedna strategija, obilježena informativno-scenskim početkom, krhkom fabulom s umetnutim pričama, čiji se lirizam i funkcionalnost iščitava kroz prizmu univerzalne duhovnosti, usložnjava subordinirani odnos pripovjednih razina i pripovjedača. Na takav način konstruirane, složene narativne figure, uklopljene u romaneskni narativ lelujavog odnosa između fikcije i fakcije, u okvirima predodžbe intuitivnog djeteta upućenog na popravljanje svijeta, sukreiraju poetiku duhovnosti suvremenog hrvatskog dječjeg romana. Pripovjedno poigravanje konstrukcijom vremena i prostora, autoreferencijalno potvrđivanje knjiškog identiteta junakinje neke su od narativnih strategija kojima se potvrđuje postmodernost oblikovnih postupaka ovog neprimijećenog romana u povijesti hrvatske dječje književnosti.
Prioritising future evidence needs for marine and freshwater mammal conservation action
Authors: Hordern Ella , White Thomas , Berthinussen Anna , Smith Rebecca K , Sutherland William J , Christie Alec Philip
Published: March 2024

Marine and freshwater mammals are increasingly threatened due to human activity. To improve conservation practice, decisions should be informed by the available evidence on the effectiveness of conservation actions. Using a systematically collated database of studies that test the effectiveness of actions to conserve marine and freshwater mammals, we investigated the gaps and biases in the available scientific evidence base. Whilst there is a growing evidence base covering actions to address key threats (e.g. fisheries and bycatch) to marine and freshwater mammal populations, we identified large geographic and taxonomic biases. There was no relationship between the number of studies and marine mammal species per ecoregion and we found biases towards coastal areas of the Global North, with many regions and species having little or no evidence available. The number of studies per species did not correlate with i) the threat level, ii) evolutionary distinctiveness, or iii) the public ‘popularity’ of the study species. We also found a mismatch between actions tested and the actions suggested as needed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Several of these gaps and biases likely reflect the feasibility of researching marine mammal populations; many species can be difficult to access, with limited baseline information on populations and threats, and testing actions can require costly long-term monitoring. Prioritising the most cost-effective conservation strategies for marine and freshwater mammal species will require a comprehensive evidence base on the effects of actions. Continuing to build the necessary baseline data, and focussing future research and funding towards the priority gaps identified in this study will be important to deliver this target.
Discriminatory bias (and how to prevent it) in the European Union: a review of the ethical and regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
Authors: Martínez Pablo Cerezo , Nicolás-Sánchez Alejandro , Castro-Toledo Francisco J.
Published: March 2024

The European Union and some of its institutions have taken significant steps to address the challenges posed by the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various contexts. The ubiquity of AI applications in everyday life, affecting both citizens and professionals, has made AI a common topic of discussion. However, alongside its progress, concerns have been raised about the potential negative consequences of AI, in particular discriminatory bias. This article aims to examine the challenges of defining, identifying and mitigating discriminatory bias in AI systems from two perspectives: 1) to conduct an ethical and normative review of European Commission documents from the last 8 years (from GDPR to AI Act proposal); and 2) to provide practical recommendations for key stakeholders, including designers, end-users and public authorities, to minimise/mitigate this risk. The documentary review has been conducted on 21 EU normative and ethical guidelines in the field of AI, noting first, that there is no clear conceptual framework on the issue at the European level, and second, that this lack of a clear conceptual framework may affect the concreteness and detail of the potential mitigation/mitigation measures proposed.
From Tired and Scared to Alert and Brave: Treatment and Prevention Effects of a Sleep Program for Young Children on Anxiety
Authors: Donovan Caroline , Shiels Amy
Published: March 2024

Background and Objectives: This brief report examined the comorbidity between sleep and anxiety symptoms in young children presenting for treatment of their sleep problems, and determined the ability of a parent-focused, group-based sleep program to a) produce a clinically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and b) prevent the emergence of later anxiety symptoms in children who were non-anxious at baseline. Design: The study was a single-blind RCT whereby parents were randomly assigned to either the intervention (Lights Out) or care as usual (CAU) conditions. Method: Participants were 128 parents aged 19-49 years (M = 37.2 years) of young children with sleep problems aged 3-5 years (M = 4.5 years). Sleep and anxiety measures were assessed at baseline and 8-month follow-up. Results: A significantly lower percentage of children in the Lights Out (21.5%) compared to CAU (38.8%) condition remained in the elevated anxiety range at follow-up. Of those in the non-elevated anxiety range at baseline, a greater percentage in the CAU (22.7%) compared to the Lights Out (3.7%) condition had moved into the elevated anxiety range by follow-up. Conclusions: Treating sleep problems in young children can lead to a reduction in comorbid anxiety and may prevent the later emergence of anxiety.
Latent Variable Interactions with Categorical Indicators: Continuous and Categorical Latent Moderated Structural Equations Approaches
Authors: Shen Zhiyuan , Chen Lihan , Somer Emma , Miocevic Milica , Falk Carl F.
Published: March 2024

Social science phenomena are often predicted by interactions between variables. When these variables cannot be directly observed, one option is to model them as latent variables that are measured by multiple indicators. When indicators are continuous, latent interactions can be modeled and estimated using the latent moderated structural equations (LMS) approach. A categorical LMS (LMS-cat) approach with full information estimation was more recently developed. While previous research suggests that ordered categorical indicators can sometimes be treated as continuous, LMS and LMS-cat have not yet been directly compared. In this study, we evaluate continuous and categorical LMS for the estimation of latent interactions under ordinal indicators with 2, 3, 5, and 7 categories. Further, we compared the performance of frequentist and Bayesian estimation for both LMS models. Results suggest that categorical approaches are a safer choice, and that frequentist and non-informative Bayesian estimation approaches perform similarly.
Problems with the Implementation of Parate Executie in Indonesia for Land as an Object for Debt Collateral
Authors: Dharmawan Jetha Tri , Chaidir Ellydar , Susilo Ibnu
Published: March 2024

When the debtor defaults on the agreed debt agreement, then legally the creditor has the right to the debt collateral object for payment of achievements that should be carried out by the debtor by executing it, but the implementation must of course be by applicable legal provisions. Execution of the debt guarantee object can be carried out by parate executie, by way of title executorial, or by way of a private sale. As for Parate Executie or direct execution on one's power, it is a practice of simplifying executions without having to involve the judiciary, which is quite simple, low cost, and relatively fast in time. Unfortunately, parate executives in Indonesia often cause problems in their applications. including because of its existence which currently exists or does not exist and is even considered the same as the concept of the executorial title, so its application becomes inconsistent. The existing problems cause the author to intend to conduct research that aims to find out what exactly is the cause of problems occurring in the implementation of parate executie and what are the solutions to overcome these problems. This research uses normative legal research methods using a statutory approach (statute approach) and a case approach (case approach) that are relevant to the object of the problem in this research. The results of the research from the author's research to find out what are the real problems in implementing parate executie in Indonesia are that there are inconsistent arrangements and implementation and there is confusion in the arrangement which originally regulated 3 (three) types of execution that can be taken by creditors against collateral objects of mortgage rights Also included here is the object of fiduciary guarantees if the debtor defaults (default), namely the exercise of executorial title, parate executie on his own power and underhanded execution, but in the end, it is no longer different and all must get fiat from the Chair of the District Court.
Design Patterns for Data-Driven News Articles
Authors: Hao Shan , Wang Zezhong , Bach Benjamin , Pschetz Larissa
Published: March 2024

Technological advancements have resulted in great shifts in the production and consumption of news articles. This, in turn, lead to the requirement of new educational and practical frameworks. In this paper, we present a classification of data-driven news articles and related design patterns defined to describe their visual and textual components. Through the analysis of 162 data-driven news articles collected from news media, we identified five types of articles based on the level of data involvement and narrative complexity: Quick Update, Briefing, Chart Description, Investigation, and In-depth Investigation. We then identified 72 design patterns to understand and construct data-driven news articles. To evaluate this approach, we conducted workshops with 23 students from journalism, design, and sociology who were newly introduced to the subject. Our findings suggest that our approach can be used as an out-of-box framework for the formulation of plans and consideration of details in the workflow of data-driven news creation.
Opinion Dynamics meet Agent-based Climate Economics: An Integrated Analysis of Carbon Taxation
Authors: Lackner Teresa , Fierro Luca Eduardo , Mellacher Patrick
Published: March 2024

The paper introduces an integrated approach, blending Opinion Dynamics with a Macroeconomic Agent-Based Model (OD-MABM). It aims to explore the co-evolution of climate change mitigation policy and public support. The OD-MABM links a novel opinion dynamics model that is calibrated for European countries using panel survey data to the Dystopian Schumpeter meeting Keynes model (DSK). Opinion dynamics regarding stringent climate policy arise from complex interactions among social, political, economic and climate systems where a household's opinion is affected by individual economic conditions, perception of climate change, industry-led (mis-)information and social influence. We examine 133 policy pathways in the EU, integrating various carbon tax schemes and revenue recycling mechanisms. Our findings reveal that while effective carbon tax policies initially lead to a decline in public support due to substantial macroeconomic transition costs, they concurrently drive a positive social tipping point in the future. This shift stems from the evolving economic and political influence associated with the fossil fuel-based industry, gradually diminishing as the transition unfolds. Second, hybrid revenue recycling strategies that combine green subsidies with climate dividends successfully address this intertemporal tradeoff, broadening public support right from the introduction of the carbon tax.
Transcranial Doppler Findings in Myeloproliferative Diseases (Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocytosis): A Systematic Review
Authors: Beltran Jeanie Allen Marie , Batino Laurence Kristoffer J. , Cinco Mark Timothy T. , Navarro Jose C.
Published: March 2024

Background and aims: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are rare hematologic diseases that require early diagnosis to prevent thrombotic events. Only a few studies have investigated transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography among these population groups. Following the PRISMA Guidelines, we reviewed the utility of TCD in Polycythemia vera (PV) and Essential Thrombocytosis (ET) patients in the context of cerebral blood flow and detection of microembolic signals (MES). Methods: This systematic review focuses on the application of TCD in MPN. By incorporating findings from one observational study, one prospective study, and three case reports, the review establishes that while TCD is not a primary tool for diagnosing PV and ET, it plays a crucial role in monitoring cerebrovascular complications, assessing thrombotic risk, evaluating treatment responses, and facilitating research related to these conditions. Results: This review incorporates findings from a total of 63 patients. 3.2% had ischemic stroke and 1.6% had transient ischemic attack with a total of 4.8% stroke risk. High-intensity transient signals (HITS) were common in 22% of patients wherein they had elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet values. Following treatment and normalization of blood panels, 31.7% had improved cerebral perfusion with normal flow velocities. 3.2% had elevated flow velocities linked to blood flow obstruction. There was significant clinical improvement among the study population, with 17.5% becoming asymptomatic with the disappearance of MES. Conclusions: The judicious use of TCD can enhance a comprehensive diagnostic and monitoring strategy, complementing traditional clinical and laboratory assessments in the management of MPN specifically PV and ET.
The Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender: Applications to Asian American Fathers
Authors: Wong Joel
Published: March 2024

In this chapter, the authors contend that the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity produce unique experiences for fathers of color that differ from those of White fathers and mothers of color. The authors elucidate the experiences of one racially minoritized group – Asian American fathers -- and explain how the intersectionality framework can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of their lives. The authors discuss three salient challenges that Asian American fathers encounter: namely, father-child relationships, paternal racial-ethnic socialization, and the representation of Asian American fathers. They conclude with a discussion of practical and policy implications to address the needs of Asian American fathers.
Autonomous vs. Controlling Communications about the Reduction of Heating Consumption at Home: Spillover to Energy-Saving Intentions and Beyond from a Self-Determination Perspective
Authors: Toussard Léo , Meyer Thierry
Published: March 2024

In the face of looming energy supply threats, public policy aims to minimize household energy consumption. Self-determination theory recommends emphasizing arguments that promote basic needs as opposed to control. Behaviors of others (i.e., descriptive norm) and autonomy support can motivate people to reduce their energy consumption. French participants (N = 853) exposed to a communication combining autonomy support and descriptive norm arguments showed a greater intention to reduce home heating consumption (targeted behavior) but also to implement other energy-saving behaviors (non-targeted behaviors). Autonomous motivation to adopt energy-saving behaviors mediated this positive spillover effect. Adherence to a national plan promoting energy-saving (i.e., spillover on policy support) also increased. Controlling communication based on threatening power cuts yielded no effect. No evidence of spillover between domains (energy and health) was found. Communications that support the basic needs of self-determination encourage energy-saving behaviors and compliance with policy measures within the same domain. These findings have implications for practitioners and public policies that aim to implement and tailor communication interventions with broader impacts within the same domain.
Como a governança de múltiplas partes interessadas pode moldar a IA responsável
Authors: Braga Juliao , Stiubiener Itana , Henriques Percival , Cananea Helena
Published: March 2024

Este artigo apresenta uma abordagem única para a governança da Inteligência Artificial (IA), inspirada no modelo multissetorial de governança da Internet. Este modelo equilibra inovação, acessibilidade e ética, fornecendo um valioso arcabouço para o desenvolvimento e implantação de IA. A governança da Internet promoveu uma paisagem digital diversificada, impulsionando a conectividade global, o crescimento econômico e o progresso social através da colaboração entre governos, líderes da indústria, sociedade civil e especialistas técnicos. Este artigo defende a adaptação desta abordagem para a governança da IA, priorizando o desenvolvimento responsável e o bem-estar humano. Assim como a governança da Internet, a governança da IA deve ir além dos algoritmos e dados para abordar preocupações éticas, impactos nos direitos humanos e sustentabilidade ambiental. O artigo explora como os princípios de governança da Internet podem mitigar os riscos da IA, incluindo viés algorítmico e discriminação. Ao aproveitar os sucessos e lições da governança da Internet, podemos navegar na complexa paisagem da IA em direção a um futuro onde a IA beneficia a humanidade. O artigo discute ainda mais o potencial de aplicar os arcabouços de governança da Internet à IA, destacando os desafios e oportunidades futuros. Propõe passos para estabelecer um modelo de governança de IA colaborativo e eficaz, garantindo que a IA continue a impulsionar o progresso e permaneça uma força para o progresso positivo nos anos vindouros.
Coral Ba/Ca reflected the past earthquake and tsunami on Kikai Island in 1911
Authors: Ito Saori , Watanabe Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2024

Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis significantly affect coral reefs and marine ecosystems. The Ryukyu Islands, including Kikai Island and the surrounding coral reefs, face the potential risk of experiencing a significant earthquake with Mw > 8. While historical records offer insights into past tsunami occurrences, there is scarce observation or quantitative data on the impacts of seismic events on the reef ecosystems. Here, we show the environmental impact of the 1911 Kikai Island Earthquake and Tsunami on coral reef ecosystems using coral skeletal geochemical proxies with weekly-to-bi-weekly temporal resolution, particularly focusing on the coral barium/calcium ratios (Ba/Ca). Analysis of a sub-fossil Porites coral specimen collected from Shiomichi Bay, eastern Kikai Island, revealed an anomalous peak in Ba/Ca ratios following the earthquake and tsunami event, indicating increased sediment load in seawater. This anomaly persisted for approximately two months post-earthquake, highlighting the prolonged effect of the tsunami on coral reef environments. Other coral geochemical proxies, such as coral strontium/calcium ratios (Sr/Ca), magnesium/calcium ratios (Mg/Ca), oxygen (δ18Ocoral) and carbon stable isotopes (δ13Ccoral) and oxygen isotopes in seawater (δ18Osw) showed no anomalous change corresponding to the event. Despite the disturbance, the coral growth rate did not show an exceptionally low value, suggesting that the event may not have been catastrophic enough to have a severe impact. Our findings underscore the utility of coral Ba/Ca ratios in assessing historical variations in sediment concentrations associated with seismic events and provide valuable insights into the environmental impacts of tsunamis on coastal ecosystems.
Design and Analysis of Modular Mechanisms for Flexible Reconfiguration in Robotics
Authors: Martinez-Garcia Edgar A. , Morales Alejandra , Magid Evgeni , Torres-Cordoba Rafael
Published: March 2024

Flexible reconfiguration in robotics pertains to a robotic system's capacity to dynamically adjust its configuration to meet diverse tasks, environmental demands, or operational specifications. This involves the deliberate design of robots with the capability to modify their physical structures, including joint arrangements, links, or components, to efficiently execute a spectrum of tasks. This study introduces the analysis and design of a modular mechanism aimed at morphological reconfiguration in robotic platforms. This adaptability enhances the versatility of robots, enabling them to adeptly handle a variety of tasks in diverse scenarios. The proposed mechanisms and technologies encompass modular designs, adjustable joints, and the capability to seamlessly switch between different end-effectors. The system comprises three gear systems and a joint featuring a convex-toothed sphere. These gears facilitate rotation along pitch and yaw axes, while an internal gear system, utilizing a planetary mechanism, propels a prismatic piston via a screw mechanism. The mathematical modeling, employing Lagrangian mechanics, illustrates globalized dynamics. Control models, grounded in a spherical coordinate model, are scrutinized by deducing the Jacobian matrix. Demonstrating diverse robotic platform configurations, this work exemplifies the concept of flexible reconfiguration, wherein robots adeptly manage varied and dynamic tasks without necessitating manual adjustments or reprogramming. Emphasizing the modeling and numerical simulations of motion analysis, this paper delves into the design of a joint mechanism contributing to the dynamic adaptability and reconfigurability of robots across various tasks.
Pretraining alpha rhythm enhancement by neurofeedback facilitates short-term perceptual learning and improves visual acuity by facili-tated consolidation
Authors: Chang Ming , Suzuki Shuntaro , Kurose Takahiro , Ibaraki Takuya
Published: March 2024

Learning through perceptual training using the Gabor patch (GP) has attracted attention as a new vision restoration technique for myopia and age-related deterioration of visual acuity (VA). However, the task itself is monotonous and painful and requires numerous training sessions and some time before being effective, which has been a challenge for its widespread application. One effective means of facilitating perceptual learning is the empowerment of EEG alpha rhythm in the sensory cortex before neurofeedback (NF) training; however, there is a lack of evidence for VA. We investigated whether four 30-min sessions of GP training, conducted over two weeks with/without EEG NF to increase alpha power (NF and control group, respectively), can improve vision in myopic subjects. Contrast sensitivity (CS) and VA were measured before and after each GP training. The NF group showed an improvement in CS at the fourth training session, not observed in the control group. In addition, VA improved only in the NF group at the third and fourth training sessions, this appears as a consolidation effect (maintenance of the previous training effect). Participants who produced stronger alpha power during the third training session showed greater VA recovery during the fourth training session. These results indicate that enhanced pretraining alpha empowerment strengthens the subsequent consolidation of perceptual learning and that even a short period of GP training can have a positive effect on VA recovery. This simple protocol may facilitate use of a training method to easily recover vision.
Dragons in action: Psychological barriers as mediators of the relationship between environmental value orientation and pro-environmental behaviour
Authors: Sobotova Beata , Šrol Jakub , Adamus Magdalena
Published: March 2024

This study investigates to what extent the 'green gap,' i.e., the disconnection between environmental values and pro-environmental behaviour, can be explained by various perceived psychological barriers. A large representative sample of Slovak participants (N = 1233) filled in several measures of environmental value orientation, perceived psychological barriers and self-reported pro-environmental behaviour. The parallel mediation models revealed that environmental value orientation predicts engagement in pro-environmental behaviour, and this relationship is partially mediated by certain psychological barriers, yet the role of the specific barriers varied substantially with different types of behaviour. Overall, however, the explained variance in pro-environmental behaviour was relatively modest (up to 31%), suggesting the presence of other important social, psychological, and structural variables as predictors in this regard. Our findings emphasize the intricate role of psychological barriers and demographic factors in shaping environmental actions. Understanding these complexities can help design targeted interventions to bridge the 'green gap' effectively.
The Impact of Response Type on Affordance and Spatial Compatibility Effects in Human and Object Interactions
Authors: Demir Pınar , Sandikci Melda , Demir Eda , Soyman Efe
Published: March 2024

Everyday social interactions or goal-directed actions towards objects activate action plans appropriate to their affordances. The spatial compatibility of a stimulus and a response might interfere with the activation of these action plans. In the present study, we examined how framing of interactions affects the interplay between affordance and spatial compatibility effects towards humans and objects in two separate experiments. In a motor priming task designed to simultaneously assess these two effects, participants were presented with interactive hand gestures and objects with a single handle. Participants responded either with their left or right hand according to the color mask of the stimulus, regardless of the spatial position or the affordance-related orientation of the stimulus. In Experiment 1, when responses were given by keypresses, we found independent affordance and spatial compatibility effects towards objects. Surprisingly, interactive hand gestures induced a reversed affordance effect, e.g., imitative action tendencies. Changing the responses from keypresses to the performance of grasping actions in Experiment 2 drastically altered these findings, resulting in enhancement of affordance and elimination of spatial compatibility effects for both human and object interactions. These findings highlight the importance of contextual influences on the emergence of automatic action tendencies governing our daily lives.
Environmental and neurodevelopmental contributors to youth mental illness
Authors: Whittle Sarah , Zhang Lu , Rakesh Divyangana
Published: March 2024

While a myriad of factors likely contribute to the development of mental illness in young people, the social environment (including early adverse experiences) in concert with neurodevelopmental alterations are undeniably important. A number of influential theories make predictions about how and why neurodevelopmental alterations may mediate or moderate the effects of the social environment on the emergence of mental illness. Here, we discuss current evidence supporting each of these theories. Although this area of research is rapidly growing, the body of evidence is still relatively limited. However, there exist some consistent findings, including increased striatal reactivity during positive affective processing and larger hippocampal volumes being associated with increased vulnerability or susceptibility to the effects of social environments on internalizing symptoms. Limited longitudinal work has investigated neurodevelopmental mechanisms linking the social environment with mental health. Drawing from human research and insights from animal studies, we propose an integrated mediation-moderation model and outline future research directions to advance the field.
Examining Limits of Small Multiples: Frame Quantity Impacts Judgments with Line Graphs
Authors: Hosseinpour Helia , Matzen Laura , Divis Kristin , Castro Spencer C. , Padilla Lace
Published: March 2024

Small multiples are a popular visualization method, displaying different views of a dataset using multiple frames, often with the same scale and axes. However, there is a need to address their potential constraints, especially in the context of human cognitive capacity limits. These limits dictate the maximum information our mind can process at once. We explore the issue of capacity limitation by testing competing theories that describe how the number of frames shown in a display, the scale of the frames, and time constraints impact user performance with small multiples of line charts in an energy grid scenario. In two online studies (Experiment 1 n = 141 and Experiment 2 n = 360) and a follow-up eye tracking analysis (n = 5), we found a linear decline in accuracy with increasing frames across seven tasks, which was not fully explained by differences in frame size, suggesting visual search challenges. Moreover, the studies demonstrate that highlighting specific frames can mitigate some visual search difficulties but, surprisingly, not eliminate them. This research offers insights into optimizing the utility of small multiples by aligning them with human limitations.
Anti-industry beliefs and attitudes mediate the effect of culturally tailored anti-smoking messages on quit intentions among young adult sexual minority women who smoke: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zulkiewicz Brittany A , Chen Jarvis T , Hanby Elaine , Ramanadhan Shoba , Obedin-Maliver Juno , Lunn Mitchell , Scout  , Gordon Bob , Applegate Julia , Machado Ana , Viswanath K. , Potter Jennifer , Liu Sixiao , Tan Andy SL
Published: March 2024

We conducted a longitudinal randomized controlled experiment between September 2021 and May 2022 to evaluate whether anti-tobacco industry beliefs and attitudes mediate the effect of culturally tailored anti-smoking messages on quit intentions among US young adult sexual minority women (SMW) ages 18-30 who smoke. Participants were randomized to view up to a total of 20 tailored versus non-tailored messages over one month. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and one month follow-up. We fit a structural equation model testing the effect of LGBTQ+ community-tailored, anti-smoking messages on quit intentions and mediating roles of anti-industry attitudes and beliefs (n=966). Anti-industry beliefs (indirect effect size = 0.024, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.040, 0.056]) and attitudes (indirect effect size = 0.034, 95% CI = [0.006, 0.077]) significantly mediated the effect of the tailored condition on quit intentions. These findings suggest that LGBTQ+ tailored cues in anti-smoking messaging may promote quit intentions indirectly through influencing young adult SMW’s beliefs and attitudes about the tobacco industry. Future campaigns to promote quitting among young adult SMW who smoke should consider incorporating themes to change their beliefs and attitudes about the tobacco industry.
Extracurricular activities as a way to foster development for youth living in an extreme context: a basic psychological needs perspective in Madagascar
Authors: Decarpentrie Laurie , Bélanger Claude , Leduc Hugues , Rakotomalala Olivier , Guirao José Luis , Gadais Tegwen
Published: March 2024

Numerous studies have highlighted the links between involvement in extracurricular activities and positive outcomes for youth. Nevertheless, studies documenting those links have been conducted primarily in the global North. Little is known about the effect of participating in extracurricular activities for youth developing in extreme contexts (i.e. extreme poverty, refugee camps, conflicted areas, areas affected by climate changes, sexual exploitation or child soldiers). This research is testing if the participation in extracurricular activities of youth (N=96; Mage= 15.07) developing in an extreme context had an effect over time on their psychological well-being as well as the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness). Youth were recruited through a partnership with a local NGO in southern Madagascar, which offers art and sports activities. A control group was recruited in a neighboring public school. Participants had never participated in NGO’s extracurricular activities before entering the study. Four data collection sessions were carried out over a span of 16 months. 96 participants engaged throughout the four data collection sessions. Mixed factorial Analyses of Variance were employed to test the objective. Results show that participation in extracurricular activities for youth developing in an extreme context had positive effects on the satisfaction of the need for autonomy (p=.037) and on the frustration of the basic psychological needs overall (p=.019). Also, the study results show that there was a protective effect of participating in extracurricular activities against the decrease of the needs' satisfaction as this reduction was observed in the control group (p=.038) and not in the youth involved in extracurricular activities. Participation in art, music and sport extracurricular activities seems to have positive outcomes for youth living in an extreme context of development.
The algorithmic agent perspective and computational neuropsychiatry: from etiology to advanced therapy in major depressive disorder
Authors: Ruffini Giulio , Castaldo Francesca , Lopez-Sola Edmundo , Sanchez-Todo Roser , Vohryzek Jakub
Published: March 2024

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex, heterogeneous condition affecting millions worldwide. Computational neuropsychiatry offers potential breakthroughs through mechanistic modeling of this disorder. Using the Kolmogorov Theory of consciousness (KT), we develop a foundational model where algorithmic agents interact with the world to maximize an Objective Function evaluating affective \textit{valence}. Depression, defined in this context by a state of persistently low valence, may arise from various factors---including inaccurate world models (cognitive biases), a dysfunctional Objective Function (anhedonia, anxiety), deficient planning (executive deficits), or unfavorable environments. Integrating algorithmic, dynamical systems, and neurobiological concepts, we map the agent model to brain circuits and functional networks, framing potential etiological routes and linking with depression biotypes. Finally, we explore how brain stimulation, psychotherapy, and plasticity-enhancing compounds such as psychedelics can synergistically repair neural circuits and optimize therapies using personalized computational models.
Mary Main’s Written Legacy: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Schuengel Carlo , Bakkum Lianne , Madigan Sheri , Fearon Pasco
Published: March 2024

Mary Main’s written work profoundly changed the direction of attachment research. She disseminated her ideas partly through her publications and partly through her teachings in which she circulated both published and unpublished materials. The aim of the current study was to describe the scientific impact of her writings through her published and unpublished work. Based on existing bibliographies and systematic searching, we identified k = 86 works. Citation analysis found k = 7,571 citing published sources, written by 13,398 unique authors. The topics of citing work clustered around clinical psychological research, early dyadic relationships, romantic attachment, traumatic experiences, and the adult attachment interview itself. Based on co-citation patterns, Main occupied an intellectual space shared with authors known for work on developmental psychopathology and child development, parent-child relationships, adult attachment, psychodynamic theorizing, and reciprocity in interaction and infant mental health. We conclude by discussing the impact of the ‘move to the level of representation’ and how forging new ties with researchers unfamiliar with these ideas will be important to realize some of the remaining unused potential in the ideas and methods given to the field by Mary Main.
The properties of mental experience evince its communicative function
Authors: Kaifosh Patrick
Published: March 2024

The biological function of mental experience has remained enigmatic. Since conscious experiences are distinguished by their availability for verbal report, this work explores the hypothesis that mental experience functions in service of communication. By examining a system of communicating agents, I argue that agents with complex behavior and conflicting payoffs can benefit by influencing how they are perceived by others, and that this influence is achieved by communicating about the computational system controlling their behavior. It is impractical for biological or artificial computational systems to provide mechanistic models of themselves; instead, they can construct a mind: a simplifying — and sometimes misleading — model that accounts for behavior in terms of intentions, desires, goals, and emotions. Such a mind model can plausibly be implemented with typical neural mechanisms for computation and learning, and is remarkably consistent with human mental experience: a sparse and simplified account that prioritizes socially relevant information and distorts toward self-interest. The content of mental experience is proposed to be that which may be worth communicating about, and voluntary behaviors to be those whose motivations are worth communicating about. The social utility, feasibility of implementation, and consistency with mental experience together provide strong support for the hypothesis that the mind functions to communicate internal state.