bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Abstract Concepts: Investigating the Relationship Between Deictic Time and Valence
Authors: Kaup Barbara , Scherer Nina , Ulrich Rolf
Published: February 2021

The present study examines whether deictic time and valence are mentally associated, with a link between future and positive valence and a link between past and negative valence. We employed a novel paradigm, the two-choice-sentence-completion paradigm, to address this issue. Participants were presented with an initial sentence fragment that referred to an event that was either located in time (future or past) or of different valence (positive or negative). Participants chose between two completion phrases. When the given dimension in the initial fragment was time, the two completion phrase alternatives differed in valence (positive vs. negative). However, when the given dimension in the initial fragment was valence, the two completion phrase alternatives differed in time (future vs. past). As expected, participants chose completion phrases consistent with the proposed association between time and valence. Additional analyses involving individual differences concerning optimism/pessimism revealed that this association is particularly pronounced for people with an optimistic attitude.
Neurobehavioral Correlates of Surprisal in Language Comprehension: A Neurocomputational Model
Authors: Brouwer Harm , Delogu Francesca , Venhuizen Noortje J. , Crocker Matthew W.
Published: February 2021

Expectation-based theories of language comprehension, in particular Surprisal Theory, go a long way in accounting for the behavioral correlates of word-by-word processing difficulty, such as reading times. An open question, however, is in which component(s) of the Event-Related brain Potential (ERP) signal Surprisal is reflected, and how these electrophysiological correlates relate to behavioral processing indices. Here, we address this question by instantiating an explicit neurocomputational model of incremental, word-by-word language comprehension that produces estimates of the N400 and the P600—the two most salient ERP components for language processing—as well as estimates of “comprehension-centric” Surprisal for each word in a sentence. We derive model predictions for a recent experimental design that directly investigates “world-knowledge”-induced Surprisal. By relating these predictions to both empirical electrophysiological and behavioral results, we establish a close link between Surprisal, as indexed by reading times, and the P600 component of the ERP signal. The resultant model thus offers an integrated neurobehavioral account of processing difficulty in language comprehension.
Decision-Making in the Human-Machine Interface
Authors: Falandays J. Benjamin , Spevack Samuel , Pärnamets Philip , Spivey Michael
Published: February 2021

If our choices make us who we are, then what does that mean when these choices are made in the human-machine interface? Developing a clear understanding of how human decision making is influenced by automated systems in the environment is critical because, as human-machine interfaces and assistive robotics become even more ubiquitous in everyday life, many daily decisions will be an emergent result of the interactions between the human and the machine – not stemming solely from the human. For example, choices can be influenced by the relative locations and motor costs of the response options, as well as by the timing of the response prompts. In drift diffusion model simulations of response-prompt timing manipulations, we find that it is only relatively equibiased choices that will be successfully influenced by this kind of perturbation. However, with drift diffusion model simulations of motor cost manipulations, we find that even relatively biased choices can still show some influence of the perturbation. We report the results of a two-alternative forced-choice experiment with a computer mouse modified to have a subtle velocity bias in a pre-determined direction for each trial, inducing an increased motor cost to move the cursor away from the pre-designated target direction. With queries that have each been normed in advance to be equibiased in people’s preferences, the participant will often begin their mouse movement before their cognitive choice has been finalized, and the directional bias in the mouse velocity exerts a small but significant influence on their final choice. With queries that are not equibiased, a similar influence is observed. By exploring the synergies that are developed between humans and machines and tracking their temporal dynamics, this work aims to provide insight into our evolving decisions.
Visitor Attitudes Toward Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Two Australian Zoos
Authors: Chiew Samantha J. , Hemsworth Paul H. , Melfi Vicky , Sherwen Sally L. , Burns Alicia , Coleman Grahame J.
Published: February 2021

This study identified and compared the attitudes of visitors toward zoo-housed little penguins, their enclosure and visitor experience that may influence the way visitors behave toward little penguins at two Australian zoos. Visitor attitudes were assessed using an anonymous questionnaire, targeting visitor beliefs, and experiences, where visitors were randomly approached at the penguin exhibit after they had finished viewing the penguins. Visitors were given two options to complete the questionnaire, on an iPad during their zoo visit or online (URL sent via email) after their zoo visit. A total of 638 participants (495 at Melbourne Zoo and 143 at Taronga Zoo) completed the questionnaire, 42% were completed onsite during their zoo visit and 58% were completed online after their zoo visit. Most participants were living in Australia, non-zoo members, female, previously or currently owned a pet, aged between 26 and 35 years and had a University degree. Results showed that the attitude dimensions of visitors were consistent between the two zoos which indicates that these measures of attitudes were stable over time and location. Overall, visitors at both zoos had positive attitudes toward little penguins, penguin welfare, the enclosure, and visitor experience. However, whether these positive attitudes and positive visitor experience influenced the way visitors behaved toward the penguins remains unclear. There were some differences in visitor attitudes toward the perceived “aggressiveness” and “timidness” of little penguins, “negative penguin welfare”, “experience with the penguins”, “learning”, “visual barriers” and the way visitors rated their overall experience at the penguin enclosure. While the reasons for the differences in visitor attitudes and visitor experience between the zoos were not clear, some factors such as penguin behavior and enclosure design, may have been attributable to these differences. Also, a relationship was found between visitor attitudes and how visitors rated the welfare of penguins, the enclosure and visitor experience at the enclosure; more positive visitor attitudes were associated with higher ratings of penguin welfare, the enclosure and visitor experience. The practical implications of these results for zoos is unclear because the differences in visitor attitudes were numerically small. This requires further comparisons between zoos or enclosures that are more markedly different than the penguin enclosures in the present study and further research on how visitors assess zoo animals, enclosures and visitor experience.
The India Face Set: International and Cultural Boundaries Impact Face Impressions and Perceptions of Category Membership
Authors: Lakshmi Anjana , Wittenbrink Bernd , Correll Joshua , Ma Debbie S.
Published: February 2021

This paper serves three specific goals. First, it reports the development of an Indian Asian face set, to serve as a free resource for psychological research. Second, it examines whether the use of pre-tested U.S.-specific norms for stimulus selection or weighting may introduce experimental confounds in studies involving non-U.S. face stimuli and/or non-U.S. participants. Specifically, it examines whether subjective impressions of the face stimuli are culturally dependent, and the extent to which these impressions reflect social stereotypes and ingroup favoritism. Third, the paper investigates whether differences in face familiarity impact accuracy in identifying face ethnicity. To this end, face images drawn from volunteers in India as well as a subset of Caucasian face images from the Chicago Face Database were presented to Indian and U.S. participants, and rated on a range of measures, such as perceived attractiveness, warmth, and social status. Results show significant differences in the overall valence of ratings of ingroup and outgroup faces. In addition, the impression ratings show minor differentiation along two basic stereotype dimensions, competence and trustworthiness, but not warmth. We also find participants to show significantly greater accuracy in correctly identifying the ethnicity of ingroup faces, relative to outgroup faces. This effect is found to be mediated by ingroup-outgroup differences in perceived group typicality of the target faces. Implications for research on intergroup relations in a cross-cultural context are discussed.
Intervention Program to Improve Grief-Related Symptoms in Caregivers of Patients Diagnosed With Dementia
Authors: Bravo-Benítez Jorge , Cruz-Quintana Francisco , Fernández-Alcántara Manuel , Pérez-Marfil María Nieves
Published: February 2021

The objectives of the present study were to adapt a grief intervention program to family caregivers of patients with dementia, and assess its effectiveness in improving the symptoms of grief and other health-related variables. The intervention was based on Shear and Bloom's grief intervention program, with the necessary adaptations for use in the grieving process for a family member's illness. A total of 52 family caregivers of individuals with dementia participated. They were evaluated using a battery of self-report measures assessing grief, overload, resilience, post-traumatic growth, experiential avoidance, health-related quality of life, and benefits of care. The results suggest that the program is effective in improving grief symptoms, caregiver burden, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life of family caregivers. It is necessary to create and implement interventions targeting caregivers' feelings and manifestations of ambiguous grief, because there is a lack of programs providing an efficient solution for the mental and physical health of caregivers, and because of the human and socioeconomic cost involved in neglecting this group.
Sustaining Continuous Engagement in Value Co-creation Among Individuals in Universities Using Online Platforms: Role of Knowledge Self-Efficacy, Commitment and Perceived Benefits
Authors: Al-kumaim Nabil Hasan , Alhazmi Abdulsalam K. , Ramayah T. , Shabbir Muhammad Salman , Gazem Nadhmi A.
Published: February 2021

Value Co-Creation (VCC) plays a major role in engaging knowledgeable individuals in a community via innovation, problem solving, and new service/product development. This study investigates the personal factors that influence individuals’ engagement in value co-creation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through the use of online platforms. Some higher education institutions have successfully established or used appropriate online platforms, such as online forums, web applications, and mobile applications to engage their community in ideation or crowdsourcing as a part of the value co-creation process. On the other hand, some HEIs have failed to engage their community in value co-creation activities, and even if they managed to engage some individuals in value co-creation once, they failed to sustain these individuals’ engagement in value co-creation using online platforms. Using the Stimulus Organism Response (S-O-R) framework, this study examines the relationship between relevant personal factors (commitment and knowledge self-efficacy) and other motivational factors that provide perceived benefits with value co-creation engagement. Data was collected from 308 respondents at five Malaysian research universities. The software analysis tool Smart PLS is used for data analysis and validation. The results demonstrate that personal factors and perceived benefits as a motivational factor has a significant effect on individual engagement in value co-creation. However, the significance of these findings varies from one individual to another. The implications of these findings are discussed.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of Face-to-Face and Digital Training in Improving Child Mental Health Literacy Rates in Frontline Pediatric Hospital Staff
Authors: O'Connell Jennifer , Shafran Roz , Pote Helen
Published: February 2021

Background: Children with chronic physical health conditions are up to six times more likely to develop a mental health condition than their physically well peers. Frontline pediatric hospital staff are in a good position to identify mental health problems and facilitate appropriate support for patients. To date, no evaluation of mental health literacy training has taken place with this professional group to enable early identification of difficulties. It is also not known whether face-to-face or digital training is more effective or preferable in this setting. To improve the skills of frontline hospital staff, a face-to-face and digital mental health literacy training course was delivered using MindEd content and evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

Method: Two-hundred and three frontline staff across different professions from a tertiary pediatric hospital were randomized to a face-to-face (n = 64), digital (n = 71), or waitlist control group (n = 68). Face-to-face training was two and a half hours and digital training took ~1 h. The effects of training were evaluated pre- and post-training and at two-week follow-up. Questionnaires assessed mental health knowledge, stigma, confidence in recognizing concerns and knowing what to do, actual helping behavior, as well as training delivery preference, completion rate, and satisfaction.

Results: Both face-to-face and digital training increased mental health knowledge, confidence in recognizing mental health problems and knowing what to do compared to waitlist controls. Digital training increased actual helping behavior relative to the waitlist controls and stigma decreased across all groups. Staff were satisfied with both delivery methods but preferred face-to-face training.

Conclusions: The results provide promising findings that digital content is an effective way of improving mental health literacy in frontline pediatric hospital staff. Providing digital training could be a time-efficient way of upskilling non-mental health professionals to identify mental health needs in a pediatric population and facilitate access to appropriate care.
Attitudes Toward Psychological Disorders and Alternative Medicine in Saudi Participants
Authors: Alegiry Mohamed H. , Hajrah Nahid H. , Alzahrani Nada A. Y , Shawki Hossam H. , Khan Muhammadh , Zrelli Houda , Atef Ahmed , Kim Youngil , Alsafari Ibrahim A. , Arfaoui Leila , Alharby Hesham F. , Hajar Abdulrahman S. , El-Seedi Hesham , Juneja Lekh Raj , Sabir Jamal S. M. , El Omri Abdelfatteh
Published: February 2021

Background: This study was designed to investigate Saudis' attitudes toward mental distress and psychotropic medication, attribution of causes, expected side effects, and to analyze participants' expectations toward alternative or complementary medicine using aromatic and medicinal plants, through a survey.

Method: The study included 674 participants (citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia) who were randomly contacted via email and social media and gave their consent to complete a questionnaire dealing with 39 items that can be clustered in six parts. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square for cross-tabulation were generated using SPSS.

Results: Among the 664 participants, 73.4% believed that there are some positive and negative outcomes of psychotropic medication. Participants (72.0%) think that the most important reason leading to psychological disorders is mainly due to the loss of a relative or beloved person, and 73.9% considered psychic session as one of the possible treatments of psychological disorders. Surprisingly, only 18.8% of the participants agreed that medicinal and aromatic plants could be a possible treatment of the psychological disorder. Participants (82%) consider that physicians are the most trustful and preferred source of information about alternative and complementary medicine.
Evaluation of the Implementation of a Well-being Promotion Program for College Students
Authors: Long Robyn , Kennedy Megan , Malloy Spink Katie , Lengua Liliana J.
Published: February 2021

Stress that undergraduate students experience is a growing public health concern, and there is increasing attention to programs that promote protective factors and skills to support resilience and well-being.Be REAL (REsilient Attitudes and Living)is a program that has been shown to increase students' use of effective coping strategies, mindfulness, and sense of well-being. This study examined whether the program would be effective when delivered by university staff who mentor or advise students.

Methods:Eleven university staff advising or mentoring students deliveredBe REALin a variety of campus settings to 271 students, and 116 students completed pre- and post-test assessments to evaluate potential changes in stress reduction, managing emotions, coping, social connections, well-being and mental health.

Results:Students who participated in Be REAL showed significant pre to post-test improvements in perceived stress, emotion dysregulation, coping, social connection, self-compassion, and symptoms of anxiety. There was also a trend toward improvements in symptoms of depression.

Conclusions:The findings suggest that training university staff who work with students to deliver well-being programs is a potential avenue for supporting college student mental health, and a more rigorous evaluation of theBe REALprogram is warranted.
Internet-Administered Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Somatic Symptom Disorder With Centralized Symptoms: A Preliminary Efficacy Trial
Authors: Maroti Daniel , Ek Josefine , Widlund Rose-Marie , Schubiner Howard , Lumley Mark A. , Lilliengren Peter , Bileviciute-Ljungar Indre , Ljótsson Brjánn , Johansson Robert
Published: February 2021

Background: There is growing evidence that trauma, psychosocial conflict, and difficulties with emotional processing contribute to centralized somatic symptoms. Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) was developed to address these factors and reduce symptoms, and EAET has shown efficacy in face-to-face formats. No trial of an internet-delivered EAET (I-EAET) exists, however, so we developed such an intervention and conducted an uncontrolled feasibility and potential efficacy trial of I-EAET for patients with Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) with centralized symptoms (SSD-CS).

Method: After screening potential participants, a sample of 52 patients (50 women, two men; age M = 49.6, SD = 11.9) diagnosed with SSD-CS initiated treatment. I-EAET consisted of nine weekly modules focused on psychoeducation, emotional awareness and exposure, and anxiety regulation with self-compassion. Therapists communicated with each patient by email for about 20 min per week during treatment, answering questions and giving feedback on homework assignments. Patients completed measures of somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and functional disability before treatment and again at post-treatment and 4-month follow-up.

Results: A large reduction in somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) occurred pre-to post-treatment (d = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.84–1.47) which was fully maintained at 4-month follow-up (d = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.88–1.56). Twenty-three percent of the patients at post-treatment and 27% at follow-up achieved a 50% or greater reduction in somatic symptoms, and about 70% achieved a minimally important clinical difference. In addition, at post-treatment, there were small to medium reductions (d's from 0.33 to 0.72) in anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), trauma-related symptoms (PCL-5), and functional disability (Sheehan Disability Scale). For all of these secondary outcomes, improvements were slightly to substantially larger at follow-up than at post-treatment (d's from 0.46 to 0.80).

Conclusion: I-EAET appears to be a feasible treatment for adults with SSD and centralized symptoms, resulting in substantial and durable improvement not only in somatic symptoms but in other psychiatric symptoms and functioning. Controlled trials are needed determine the effects of I-EAET specifically and how this approach compares to face-to-face EAET and to other internet-delivered treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral interventions. Research should also identify treatment responders and mechanisms of change in EAET.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04122846.
Pattern Unifies Autism
Authors: Crespi Bernard
Published: February 2021

Autism is a highly heterogeneous condition, genetically and phenotypically. This diversity of causation and presentation has impeded its definition, recognition, assessment, and treatment. Current diagnostic criteria for autism involve two domains, restricted interests and repetitive behavior (RRBs) and social deficits, whose relationship remains unclear. I suggest that the large suite of traits associated with autism can be usefully conceptualized under the single rubric of “pattern,” a term that connects autism with basic brain and cognitive functions and structures its phenotypes within a single theoretical framework. Autism thus involves increases and enhancements to pattern perception, pattern recognition, pattern maintenance, pattern generation, pattern processing, and pattern seeking. RRBs result from increased and imbalanced pattern-related perception and cognition, and social alterations result in part from the usual lack of clear pattern in social interactions, combined with the interference of RRBs with social development. This framework has strong implications for assessment of social and non-social autism-related traits, personalized therapy, and priorities for research.
Changes in Lifestyle, Behaviors, and Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment in Older Persons During the First Wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Finland: Results From the FINGER Study
Authors: Lehtisalo Jenni , Palmer Katie , Mangialasche Francesca , Solomon Alina , Kivipelto Miia , Ngandu Tiia
Published: February 2021

Aims: This study aimed to describe how the first phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected older persons from the general Finnish population who are at risk of developing or have cognitive impairment, specifically, to describe whether participants experienced a change in risk factors that are relevant for the prevention of cognitive decline including diet, physical activity, access to medical care, socially and cognitively stimulating activities, and emotional health and well-being.

Method: A postal survey was sent in June 2020 to 859 participants from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), an ongoing longitudinal study. The survey was developed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and related infection-control measures on daily life, specifically commitment to distancing measures, access to health care and social services, daily activities, and changes in cognitive and social activities.

Results: By September 2020, 613 (71%) participants responded (mean age = 77.7 years, 32% lived alone, and 80% had at least one chronic condition). Three quarters adopted some distancing practices during the first months of the pandemic. Older participants were more likely to practice total isolation than younger ones (29 vs. 19%; p = 0.003). Non-acute health-care visits were canceled for 5% of the participants who needed appointments, but cancellations in dental health care (43%), home aid (30%), and rehabilitative services (53%) were more common. Pandemic-related changes were reported in social engagements, for example, less contact with friends (55%) and family (31%), or less frequent attendance in cultural events (38%) or associations (25%), although remote contact with others increased for 40%. Feelings of loneliness increased for 21%, particularly those who were older (p = 0.023) or living alone (p < 0.001). Physical activity reduced for 34%, but dietary habits remained stable or improved. Pandemic-related changes in lifestyle and activities were more evident among those living alone.

Conclusions: Finnish older persons generally reported less negative changes in lifestyles and behaviors during the pandemic than expected. Older people and those living alone seemed more susceptible to negative changes. It is important to compare how coping strategies may compare with other European countries to identify factors that may help older individuals to maintain healthy lifestyles during future waves of COVID-19.
Interpersonal Relations Within the Context of Resource Groups for People With Severe Mental Illness: A Narrative Approach
Authors: Tjaden Cathelijn D. , Boumans Jenny , Mulder Cornelis L. , Kroon Hans
Published: February 2021

Objective:The resource group method intends to promote patients' agency and self-management and to organize meaningful partnerships between patients and their informal and formal support systems. The aim of this study was to enhance the understanding of interpersonal dynamics that arise within resource groups for people with severe mental illness. Insight into these unfolding processes would enable improved implementation of the resource group method so that it contributes to establishing a positive social environment, which can lead to more enduring recovery.

Methodology:We performed a narrative analysis of transcripts and field notes obtained in a longitudinal, qualitative study on the resource group method. The stories of four different resource groups were reconstructed and analyzed in depth. Data included a total of 36 interviews (with patients, significant others, and mental health professionals) and 18 observations of resource group meetings.

Results:The degree to which the resource group method actually contributes to recovery was based on the extent to which the existing roles of and patterns between the patient and his/her resource group members were altered. Breaking through old patterns of inequality and the joint search for a new balance in relationships proved to be crucial processes for establishing an empowering resource group. The four cases showed that it takes time, patience, and small steps back and forth to overcome the struggles and fears related to finding new ways of relating to each other. An honest and reflective atmosphere in which all participants are encouraged to participate and be curious about themselves and each other is essential for changes in interpersonal dynamics to emerge. Such changes pave the way for individuals with SMI to find their own voices and pursue their unique recovery journeys.

Conclusions:The functioning of the resource group and the ability of the involved members to respond in new ways are important when working toward the patient's recovery goals. The resource group method should therefore not be considered an intervention to organize informal support for the patient, but a platform to expose and adjust the functioning of the patient's social network as a whole.
The Association of Falls with Instability: An Analysis of Perceptions and Expectations toward the Use of Fall Detection Devices Among Older Adults in Malaysia
Authors: Abdul Rahman Kawthar , Ahmad Siti Anom , Che Soh Azura , Ashari Asmidawati , Wada Chikamune , Gopalai Alpha Agape
Published: February 2021

Background: Falls are a significant incident among older adults affecting one in every three individuals aged 65 and over. Fall risk increases with age and other factors, namely instability. Recent studies on the use of fall detection devices in the Malaysian community are scarce, despite the necessity to use them. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the prevalence of falls with instability. This study also presents a survey that explores older adults' perceptions and expectations toward fall detection devices.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 336 community-dwelling older adults aged 50 years and older; based on randomly selected participants. Data were analyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis. Chi-square test was conducted to investigate the associations between self-reported falls with instability, demographic and walking characteristics. Additionally, older adults' perceptions and expectations concerning the use of fall detection devices in their daily lives were explored.

Results: The prevalence of falls was 28.9%, where one-quarter of older adults fell at least once in the past 6 months. Participants aged 70 years and older have a higher fall percentage than other groups. The prevalence of falls was significantly associated with instability, age, and walking characteristics. Around 70% of the participants reported having instability issues, of which over half of them fell at least once within 6 months. Almost 65% of the participants have a definite interest in using a fall detection device. Survey results revealed that the most expected features for a fall detection device include: user-friendly, followed by affordably priced, and accurate.

Conclusions: The prevalence of falls in community-dwelling older adults is significantly associated with instability. Positive perceptions and informative expectations will be used to develop an enhanced fall detection incorporating balance monitoring system. Our findings demonstrate the need to extend the fall detection device features aiming for fall prevention intervention.
Mourning and Management of the COVID-19 Health Emergency in the Priestly Community: Qualitative Research in a Region of Northern Italy Severely Affected by the Pandemic
Authors: Testoni Ines , Zanellato Silvia , Iacona Erika , Marogna Cristina , Cottone Paolo , Bingaman Kirk
Published: February 2021

Background:The COVID-19 pandemic is causing major social changes to which significant psychological effects are linked. During the first phase of the pandemic wave in Italy, whilst there was insufficient information about the phenomenon and the strategies to safeguard the population against it, many categories of people, whose professions required constant contact with the public, were affected by the contagion.

Aims:The literature has shown how religiousness can support the management of stress due to diseases and health risks. In relation to this, the current study wanted to investigate how priests managed the early stages of the pandemic. This work, therefore, aimed to investigate the psychological experiences related to the contagion and the eventual death of colleagues as well as the resilience strategies activated by the priests during the process.

Participants:The research involved 12 Catholic priests, all male and aged between 42 and 63 years. They came from the same pastoral community in one of the regions in Northern Italy that were most affected during the first phase of the pandemic. Those ministers had been constantly in contact with the faithful of their parishes since the breakout of the virus.

Methodology:A qualitative research design was adopted, and in-depth interviews were conducted. The dialogues aimed at investigating the deep, personal and relational experiences of the priests, together with their concerns and the tools they adopted to manage anxiety. The texts obtained from the interviews were subjected to thematic analysis.

Results:The areas studied concerned the experiences of the participants during the lockdown, the implications of social distancing and lack of funeral rituality and, finally, the importance of prayer as a resilience factor.

Conclusions:In the current scenario dominated by the pandemic, it is significant and stimulating to understand and reflect on the functions and roles of the experiences of faith, particularly the act of elaborating the process of mourning due to COVID-19.
“The Tragedy of the Commons”: How Individualism and Collectivism Affected the Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Maaravi Yossi , Levy Aharon , Gur Tamar , Confino Dan , Segal Sandra
Published: February 2021

Why did COVID-19 hit some countries harder than others? While this question is usually answered based on demographics (e. g., population age), health policy (e.g., quarantine), or economic factors, we argue that cultural variance across countries is just as crucial in understanding how susceptible a society is to the COVID-19 outbreak. To test this hypothesis, we first analyzed data collected across 69 countries and examined the relationship between culture and the impact of COVID. Next, we conducted two studies to validate our findings further and explore the mechanism at hand. As expected, we found that the more individualistic (vs. collectivistic) a country was, the more COVID-19 cases and mortalities it had. We also found that the more individualistic participants were, the higher the chances they would not adhere to epidemic prevention measures. These findings are important in understanding the spread of the pandemic, devising optimal exit strategies from lockdowns, and persuading the population to get the new vaccine against the virus.
On the Adaptability of Recurrent Neural Networks for Real-Time Jazz Improvisation Accompaniment
Authors: Kritsis Kosmas , Kylafi Theatina , Kaliakatsos-Papakostas Maximos , Pikrakis Aggelos , Katsouros Vassilis
Published: February 2021

Jazz improvisation on a given lead sheet with chords is an interesting scenario for studying the behaviour of artificial agents when they collaborate with humans. Specifically in jazz improvisation, the role of the accompanist is crucial for reflecting the harmonic and metric characteristics of a jazz standard, while identifying in real-time the intentions of the soloist and adapt the accompanying performance parameters accordingly. This paper presents a study on a basic implementation of an artificial jazz accompanist, which provides accompanying chord voicings to a human soloist that is conditioned by the soloing input and the harmonic and metric information provided in a lead sheet chart. The model of the artificial agent includes a separate model for predicting the intentions of the human soloist, towards providing proper accompaniment to the human performer in real-time. Simple implementations of Recurrent Neural Networks are employed both for modeling the predictions of the artificial agent and for modeling the expectations of human intention. A publicly available dataset is modified with a probabilistic refinement process for including all the necessary information for the task at hand and test-case compositions on two jazz standards show the ability of the system to comply with the harmonic constraints within the chart. Furthermore, the system is indicated to be able to provide varying output with different soloing conditions, while there is no significant sacrifice of “musicality” in generated music, as shown in subjective evaluations. Some important limitations that need to be addressed for obtaining more informative results on the potential of the examined approach are also discussed.
Learning Optimal Fin-Ray Finger Design for Soft Grasping
Authors: Deng Zhifeng , Li Miao
Published: February 2021

The development of soft hands is an important progress to empower robotic grasping with passive compliance while greatly decreasing the complexity of control. Despite the advances during the past decades, it is still not clear how to design optimal hands or fingers given the task requirements. In this paper, we propose a framework to learn the optimal design parameter for a fin-ray finger in order to achieve stable grasping. First, the pseudo-kinematics of the soft finger is learned in simulation. Second, the task constraints are encoded as a combination of desired grasping force and the empirical grasping quality function in terms of winding number. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated with experiments in simulation and using real-world examples as well.
Wear Behavior and Surface Quality of Dental Bioactive Ions-Releasing Resins Under Simulated Chewing Conditions
Authors: Garcia Isadora Martini , Balhaddad Abdulrahman A. , Aljuboori Noorhan , Ibrahim Maria Salem , Mokeem Lamia , Ogubunka Akudo , Collares Fabrício Mezzomo , Melo Mary Anne Sampaio de
Published: February 2021

Bioactive materials can reduce caries lesions on the marginal sealed teeth by providing the release of ions, such as calcium, phosphate, fluoride, zinc, magnesium, and strontium. The presence of such ions affects the dissolution balance of hydroxyapatite, nucleation, and epitaxial growth of its crystals. Previous studies mostly focused on the ion-releasing behavior of bioactive materials. Little is known about their wear behavior sealed tooth under mastication. This study aimed to evaluate the wear behavior and surface quality of dental bioactive resins under a simulated chewing model and compare them with a resin without bioactive agents. Three bioactive resins (Activa, BioCoat, and Beautifil Flow-Plus) were investigated. A resin composite without bioactive agents was used as a control group. Each resin was applied to the occlusal surface of extracted molars and subjected to in vitro chewing simulation model. We have assessed the average surface roughness (Ra), maximum high of the profile (Rt), and maximum valley depth (Rv) before and after the chewing simulation model. Vickers hardness and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also analyzed the final material surface quality). Overall, all groups had increased surface roughness after chewing simulation. SEM analysis revealed a similar pattern among the materials. However, the resin with polymeric microcapsules doped with bioactive agents (BioCoat) showed increased surface roughness parameters. The material with Surface Pre-reacted Glass Ionomer (Beautifil Flow-Plus) showed no differences compared to the control group and improved microhardness. The addition of bioactive agents may influence surface properties, impairing resin composites' functional and biological properties. Future studies are encouraged to analyze bioactive resin composites under high chemical and biological challenges in vitro with pH cycles or in situ models.
The Impact and Management of Gynaecomastia in Klinefelter Syndrome
Authors: Raheem Amr Abdel , Zaghloul Ahmed Said , Sadek Ahmed M. G. , Rayes Bilal , Abdel-Raheem Tarek M.
Published: February 2021

Gynecomastia is defined as a palpable enlargement of the male breast, secondary to an increase in the glandular and stromal breast tissue. Gynecomastia is encountered in up to 80% of Klinefelter syndrome cases. The pathophysiology involves testosterone/estrogen imbalance. This review article will further explore the pathophysiology of gynecomastia along with the different lines of management.
Cross-Sectional Study Using Virtual Reality to Measure Cognition
Authors: Jung Yeonhak , Dingwell Jonathan B. , Baker Brett , Chopra Preeti , Castelli Darla M.
Published: February 2021

Dual-task research is limited in its transferability to authentic contexts because laboratory conditions do not replicate real-world physical activity and decision-making scenarios. Creating valid, reliable methodologies to assess physiological and behavioral responses under varying physical and cognitive demands using virtual reality (VR) environment addresses this limitation. This study determined the feasibility of using VR to investigate the effects of dual-tasking on healthy young adults' cognitive performance. Three dual-tasking conditions (i.e., standing, preferred-paced walking, and fast-paced walking, each with blocked congruent and incongruent tasks) were developed. Using a within-subjects, randomized design, thirty-two young adults (17 female, mean age = 21.03 ± 2.86) were randomly assigned to a starting condition but experienced all three conditions. Physiological responses of heart rate (HR) and accelerometry data measured energy expenditure as the physical demand. Behavioral responses of reaction time and error rate quantified cognitive performance. Results indicated that (a) each condition verified independent physiological and behavioral responses; (b) reaction time and error rate during preferred walking or fast-paced walking dual-tasking conditions was significantly lower than standing condition; and surprisingly, (c) congruent tasks showed lower reaction time than the incongruent tasks. These findings suggest that it is feasible to use VR to assess the effects of dual-task conditions. Specifically, walking can optimize the motor-cognitive dual-task performance, compared to standing. These findings may be attributed to the dose-response effects of exercise intensity. Future studies should incorporate advanced technology such as the VR exercise.
Evaluation of a Novel Mucosal Administered Subunit Vaccine on Colostrum IgA and Serum IgG in Sows and Control of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Neonatal and Weanling Piglets: Proof of Concept
Authors: Jabif Maria Fernanda , Gumina Emanuel , Hall Jeffrey W. , Hernandez-Velasco Xochitl , Layton Sherry
Published: February 2021

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ability of a novel experimental subunit vaccine (ESV), induce colostrum IgA and serum IgG in sows, and to control enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) disease in neonatal and weanling piglets. The vaccine was tested in three experiments. Experiment 1 consisted of two independent trials. In each trial, 20 pregnant sows/groups were vaccinated intramuscularly (IM) with a commercial E. coli vaccine or intranasally with ESV at weeks 11 and 13 of pregnancy. Blood and serum samples were obtained within 12 h post-partum. In Experiment 1, intranasal vaccination with ESV significantly increased the sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio of secretory IgA in the colostrum of sows (P < 0.01, trial 1; P < 0.05, trial 2) compared to the IM vaccine. In Experiment 2, twenty-five 3-day old piglets were randomly allocated into two groups, control (n = 13) or ESV (n = 12) and were oral gavaged with the respective treatments on days 3 and 14 of life. On days 17–19, all piglets were challenged using a mixed ETEC culture via oral gavage. Within 72 h, all control group animals developed disease consistent with colibacillosis. Conversely, the ESV treated group remained disease free over the 7-day observation period and had significant increases in body weight gain compared to the control group piglets. In Experiment 3, thirty 28-day old piglets were randomly allocated, control (n = 15) or ESV (n = 15), and on days 33 and 43 of life, piglets were either given by oral gavage 2.0 mL saline (control group) or 2.0 mL ESV. At days 46 and 47 of life, all pigs were challenged with a mixed culture of ETEC and observed for clinical signs of disease. Results of Experiment 3 were similar to those observed in Experiment 2. This study indicates the ESV can induce better levels of colostrum secretory IgA in pregnant sows than IM vaccination, which may be protective to neonatal piglets. Further, the vaccine can protect piglets as early as 3 days of age from an ETEC infection. Importantly, the data suggest a single vaccine could be used across the farrowing, suckling, and weaning program to protect against pathogenic E. coli.
Expression of Caspases in the Pig Endometrium Throughout the Estrous Cycle and at the Maternal-Conceptus Interface During Pregnancy and Regulation by Steroid Hormones and Cytokines
Authors: Jung Wonchul , Yoo Inkyu , Han Jisoo , Kim Minjeong , Lee Soohyung , Cheon Yugeong , Hong Minsun , Jeon Bo-Young , Ka Hakhyun
Published: February 2021

Caspases, a family of cysteine protease enzymes, are a critical component of apoptotic cell death, but they are also involved in cellular differentiation. The expression of caspases during apoptotic processes in reproductive tissues has been shown in some species; however, the expression and regulation of caspases in the endometrium and placental tissues of pigs has not been fully understood. Therefore, we determined the expression of caspases CASP3, CASP6, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, and CASP10 in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy. During the estrous cycle, the expression of all caspases and during pregnancy, the expression of CASP3, CASP6, and CASP7 in the endometrium changed in a stage-specific manner. Conceptus and chorioallantoic tissues also expressed caspases during pregnancy. CASP3, cleaved-CASP3, and CASP7 proteins were localized to endometrial cells, with increased levels in luminal and glandular epithelial cells during early pregnancy, whereas apoptotic cells in the endometrium were limited to some scattered stromal cells with increased numbers on Day 15 of pregnancy. In endometrial explant cultures, the expression of some caspases was affected by steroid hormones (estradiol-17β and/or progesterone), and the cytokines interleukin-1β and interferon-γ induced the expression of CASP3 and CASP7, respectively. These results indicate that caspases are dynamically expressed in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface during pregnancy in response to steroid hormones and conceptus signals. Thus, caspase action could be important in regulating endometrial and placental function and epithelial cell function during the implantation period in pigs.
Emamectin Benzoate Treatment of Hybrid Grouper Infected With Sea Lice in Hong Kong
Authors: St-Hilaire Sophie , Cheng Tzu Hsuan , Chan Stephen Chi Ho , Leung Chi Fai , Chan Ka Man , Lim Kwok Zu , Furtado William , Bastos Gomes Giana
Published: February 2021

Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) are ectoparasites which negatively impact marine aquaculture species around the world. There are a limited number of treatments licensed for use against sea lice in tropical and semi-tropical farmed fish species. Emamectin benzoate (EB) was an effective pharmaceutical drug against sea lice infestations in several salmon industries before resistance to the product developed. This drug has not been extensively tested in marine fish within Asia. The objective of this study was to determine whether this drug could be used to treat oral infections with sea lice in hybrid grouper (Mycteroperca tigris × Epinephelus lanceolatus) cultured in saltwater net-pen sites in Hong Kong. We observed an overall reduction in sea lice infections over time, starting on the last day of the treatment up to the end of our study (i.e., 14 days after the last EB treatment). We also observed a large variation in concentrations of EB in fish on the last day of the treatment, which provides an explanation for the variation in response to the treatment. It also suggests that distribution of the medication to fish in saltwater net-pens is difficult, especially when medication is hand-mixed in the feed and possibly unevenly distributed in the daily rations. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that EB could be used to treat sea lice found in Hong Kong and potentially in other regions of SE Asia.