bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissociating cognitive and affective empathy across psychopathy dimensions: The role of interoception and alexithymia
Authors: Campos Carlos , Rocha Nuno Barbosa , Barbosa Fernando
Published: June 2023

This study examined the associations between psychopathy dimensions (triarchic phenotypes and classical factors), empathy domains (cognitive and affective), and interoception (interoceptive attention and accuracy) while accounting for the putative role of alexithymia. A community sample (n = 515) completed an online survey encompassing: Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (boldness, meanness, disinhibition); Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (primary and secondary psychopathy); Body Perception Questionnaire (interoceptive attention); Interoceptive Accuracy Scale; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Hierarchical linear regression models were implemented for hypothesis-driven analyses examining the associations between psychopathy, empathy, and interoception while controlling for sex, age, and alexithymia. Exploratory path models were employed to investigate alexithymia and/or cognitive empathy as mediators between interoception and psychopathy. Our results largely confirmed the postulated empathy profiles across psychopathy dimensions, as meanness and primary psychopathy displayed a broad empathy impairment, while disinhibition and secondary psychopathy were only associated with diminished cognitive empathy. Importantly, boldness displayed a unique pattern (enhanced cognitive empathy and reduced affective empathy), further reinforcing its importance within the constellation of psychopathy traits. Contrary to our hypotheses, self-perceived interoceptive attention and accuracy were not associated with either psychopathy dimension after controlling for alexithymia. However, interoceptive accuracy and alexithymia were associated with cognitive empathy, while alexithymia was also positively related to all psychopathy dimensions (as expected), despite the unexpected strong and negative association with boldness. Exploratory analyses suggested significant indirect effects (mediation) between interoceptive accuracy and psychopathy via alexithymia and/or cognitive empathy. These mediating effects must be interpreted with caution and future studies should be designed to formally test this model.
The graded predictive pre-activation in Chinese sentence reading: evidence from eye movements
Authors: Chang Min , Zhang Kuo , Sun Yue , Li Sha , Wang Jingxin
Published: June 2023

Previous research has revealed that graded pre-activation rather than specific lexical prediction is more likely to be the mechanism for the word predictability effect in English. However, whether graded pre-activation underlies the predictability effect in Chinese reading is unknown. Accordingly, the present study tested the generality of the graded pre-activation account in Chinese reading. We manipulated the contextual constraint of sentences and the predictability of target words as independent variables. Readers’ eye movement behaviors were recorded via an eye tracker. We examined whether processing an unpredictable word in a solid constraining context incurs a prediction error cost when this unpredictable word has a predictable alternative. The results showed no cues of prediction error cost on the early eye movement measures, supported by the Bayes Factor analyses. The current research indicates that graded predictive pre-activation underlies the predictability effect in Chinese reading.
Using model texts as a type of feedback in EFL writing
Authors: Wu Zhixin , Qie Jiaxin , Wang Xuehua
Published: June 2023

Recent work has established that model texts could be employed as a useful feedback technique. However, few studies have employed argumentative writing tasks and analyzed draft quality, and little is known about the role played by the language analytic ability in using model texts. The current study aimed to investigate what Chinese EFL learners (n = 60) noticed at the composition and comparison (comparing their texts with model texts) processes in a four-stage argumentative writing task and explore to what degree model texts can enhance the learners’ subsequent writing. The four stages were: (1) writing (pre-test); (2) comparing (treatment); (3) rewriting (immediate post-test); (4) delayed writing (delayed post-test). The findings showed that learners primarily noticed lexical features in the composition and comparison stages. Higher language analytic ability (LAA) learners and guided noticing learners could notice and elicit more information from the model texts. Overall, the use of model texts was effective in improving learners’ writing by providing alternative elements associated with lexis, grammar, content, and organization. In addition, the beneficial effect of model texts on writing could be maintained after 1 week. Some pedagogical implications are put forward to help teachers make better use of model texts to improve learners’ writing. This study also provides new insights into how language analytic ability affects the effectiveness of using models and provides more information on the type of learner most likely to benefit from model texts.
Peculiarities of occupational mental health care in kindergarten teachers
Authors: Otarbayeva Zhansaya , Baizhumanova Bibianar , Tuyakova Ulbossyn , Mambetalina Aliya , Umirzakova Assem , Kulzhabayeva Lyazzat
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the factors that disrupt the mental health of kindergarten (KG) teachers. For this, the researchers conducted an electronic survey of preschool teachers (n = 587) on a popular educational platform with the Symptom Checklist-90-R and content analysis of interviews in practicing KG teachers (n = 105) with an open discussion of the main stressors during professional activities. Self-reports indicated that depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety were the main mental health symptoms. ANOVA has revealed that total teaching experience is a statistically significant factor for the mental health of KG teachers: F(2.60) = 5.99. According to respondents, the main stressors included concern for the children’s health, fear of injuries, and difficulties in communicating with parents. The synthesis of results allowed for proposing six specific steps for mental health care in KG teachers. The findings are important for administrators and officials of preschool education. The proposed approach can become a theoretical basis for finding ways of mental health care for practicing teachers in further research.
Capturing the impact employees have on their coworkers and leaders: a holistic approach on health-specific support behavior from employees
Authors: Gosch Nora , Schulte Eva-Maria , Kauffeld Simone
Published: June 2023

Support is a valuable resource for ensuring employee health in the workplace. However, research on health-specific support behavior (i.e., support specifically targeting concrete health aspects) has only concentrated on either leader behavior (e.g., healthy leadership styles) or support provided by employees for specific health issues (e.g., healthy eating or smoking cessation). Although the importance of employee health has been well established, the examination of a wider range of potential health-specific support behaviors from employees provided for their colleagues and leaders has been neglected. To understand employee health-specific support behavior, we adapted an existing health-oriented leadership questionnaire to cover support for colleagues (PeerCare) and their leaders (LeaderCare). Capturing the employee perspective with a sample of 347 employees, the results confirmed a delineation of health-oriented scales (factor, convergent, and discriminant validity). By testing health-specific support behavior processes at work, the positive effects of PeerCare on general health were demonstrated. Contrary to expectations, existing health effects are outweighed when leaders provide health-specific support behavior to their employees (StaffCare). However, the results imply that the health-specific support behavior practices of different actors reinforce each other: the effects of StaffCare and PeerCare enhance each other, and StaffCare has a strong influence on LeaderCare. Remarkably, SelfCare has a key role in this process. The open questions and implications regarding the effects of the different health-specific support behavior measurements are discussed.
Self-objectification and career aspirations among young Chinese women: the roles of self-esteem and career decision-making self-efficacy
Authors: Sun Qingqing
Published: June 2023

This study explored the relationship between self-objectification and career aspirations among young women from the perspective of objectification theory. A sample of 439 Chinese undergraduate women completed questionnaires on self-objectification, self-esteem, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career aspirations. The results revealed that self-objectification was negatively correlated with self-esteem, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career aspirations. Self-esteem and career decision-making self-efficacy, both independently and serially, mediated the association between self-objectification and career aspirations. These results provide a better understanding of the negative consequences of self-objectification for career aspirations.
Virtual reality psychological intervention helps reduce preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting: a single-blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Liu Yanhua , Wang Rui , Zhang Yang , Feng Ling , Huang Wenxia
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness and applicability of a psychological intervention using virtual reality (VR) to reduce preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Methods

A total of 114 patients aged 18–86 years who were scheduled to undergo CAS were randomized to the VR and control groups. Patients in the VR group used a VR headset to view a 16-min psychological intervention video, while those in the control group used a tablet for viewing. The primary assessment instrument was the State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI), which was given 20 min before and after the intervention and 24 h after surgery. Secondary assessment tools were the Self-efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD-6) scale, which was completed before the intervention and 24 h after the operation, a smart bracelet to assess sleep quality, monitored in the evening before the operation, and the VR Suitability and Satisfaction Questionnaire, completed 24 h after the operation.

Results

The two groups were similar in terms of demographic information, preintervention STAI scores and preintervention SEMCD-6 scores (p > 0.05). S-AI scores were lower in both groups after the intervention and surgery, and the scores of the VR group were lower than those of the control group (p = 0.036, p = 0.014). SEMCD-6 scores post-surgery had improved in both groups, but the VR group had significantly higher scores than the control group (p = 0.005). Smart bracelet measurements showed no significant differences in postintervention sleep quality between the two groups (p = 0.540). For satisfaction, the VR group scored higher in all aspects except scheduling. A total of 47 (85.45%) patients reported having a comfortable experience, and only 5 (9.09%) experienced mild adverse effects.

Conclusion

The use of a virtual reality psychological intervention was beneficial to reduce the anxiety of patients before CAS and improved their self-efficacy. As virtual reality devices evolve and demonstrate better comfort and safety, more comprehensive and in-depth research of the use of VR to reduce patient anxiety should be performed in the future.

Clinical trial registration:https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=186412, identifier ChiCTR2200066219.
Purely positive or discriminatorily positive? The development of two-factor attitudes toward lesbians and gay men scales
Authors: Guo Lingfeng , Fang Shixin , Wen Hongbo
Published: June 2023

Unidimensional bipolar scales based on prejudice against homosexuality neglect the effect of preference for heterosexuality on attitudes toward homosexuality. Additionally, the term “homosexuality” used in these scales may compromise their validity. The current study uses person-centered and variable-centered approaches to examine the structure and classes of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. In Study 1, we developed the Two-factor Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scales, which have acceptable reliability and validity. The results obtained through variable-centered approaches suggested that a model comprising two factors (prejudice against homosexuality and preference for heterosexuality) was ideal. In Study 2, we explored the classes of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men through latent class analysis. The results supported a model containing three classes (purely positive, discriminatorily positive, and negative). This study validates a two-factor structure of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men and distinguishes between purely positive and discriminatorily positive attitudes, providing an important reference for future research and interventions to promote public attitudes toward lesbians and gay men.
Pathologies of imagination and affectivity: the genesis of the unconscious in Marc Richir
Authors: Senatore Mauro
Published: June 2023

In their recent work in phenomenological psychopathology, Andreas Rosén Rasmussen and Joseph Parnas argue that there is an expressive relationship between the anomalies of imagination reported in schizophrenic spectrum disorders (SSDs) and an underlying generative self- or ipseity disorder. The authors build their argument on an updated review of the phenomenological model of consciousness, by which each experience articulates itself in ipseity according to its modality. Therefore, they explain imagination as the figuration of an absent object mediated by the imaginary and accompanied by a sense of irreality. Finally, by drawing on patients' descriptions, Rasmussen and Parnas show that SSD imagination disorders testify to the breakdown of this model of consciousness. In this article, I aim to complexify the scenario summarized above by focusing on the contribution made by the phenomenologist Marc Richir in his late masterwork Phantasia, imagination et affectivité (2004). To this end, I examine the genetic analyses of the pathologies of the imaginary that Richir develops through a non-standard interpretation of Husserl's phenomenology of imagination (in particular, Hua XXIII, text n.16, 1912). In my examination, I aim to unfold an alternative model of consciousness that (a) is based on the gap between the architectonic registers of phantasia and imagination (and the corresponding stages of sense-making and the institution of sense), (b) takes account of the role of affectivity in those registers, (c) places the pathologies of the imaginary in the quasi-empathy that characterizes the missed encounter with the other, and (d) links the institution of these pathologies with the psychoanalytic account of the fixation of the phantasm.
Suicide prevention and ketamine: insights from computational modeling
Authors: Charlton Colleen E. , Karvelis Povilas , McIntyre Roger S. , Diaconescu Andreea O.
Published: June 2023

Suicide is a pressing public health issue, with over 700,000 individuals dying each year. Ketamine has emerged as a promising treatment for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), yet the complex mechanisms underlying ketamine’s anti-suicidal effect are not fully understood. Computational psychiatry provides a promising framework for exploring the dynamic interactions underlying suicidality and ketamine’s therapeutic action, offering insight into potential biomarkers, treatment targets, and the underlying mechanisms of both. This paper provides an overview of current computational theories of suicidality and ketamine’s mechanism of action, and discusses various computational modeling approaches that attempt to explain ketamine’s anti-suicidal effect. More specifically, the therapeutic potential of ketamine is explored in the context of the mismatch negativity and the predictive coding framework, by considering neurocircuits involved in learning and decision-making, and investigating altered connectivity strengths and receptor densities targeted by ketamine. Theory-driven computational models offer a promising approach to integrate existing knowledge of suicidality and ketamine, and for the extraction of model-derived mechanistic parameters that can be used to identify patient subgroups and personalized treatment approaches. Future computational studies on ketamine’s mechanism of action should optimize task design and modeling approaches to ensure parameter reliability, and external factors such as set and setting, as well as psychedelic-assisted therapy should be evaluated for their additional therapeutic value.
Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study
Authors: Leung Phil Wai Shun , Li Shirley Xin , Holroyd Eleanor Anne , Tsang Carmen Sze Oi , Wong William Chi Wai
Published: June 2023

Background

Autistic people are vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to their difficulties in managing social situations and interpersonal relationships. The popular online social media (OSM) can be a potential solution to these concerns for their social lives as it allows non-face-to-face social interactions, however it remained unclear how this group is using these online platforms. This study explored their experiences of using online social media, and their perceived benefits and risks associated with this use.

Method

Qualitative data was collected through in-depth face to face interviews. We recruited 13 autistic young adults who were with normal intelligence from two community centers in Hong Kong. Interviews were conducted in a semi-structured format by experienced clinical psychologist and social workers.

Results

Four themes were identified from the data, namely: (1) Paradox of using OSM to supplement social needs; (2) Unpleasant social interactions in the online environment; (3) Restricted and repetitive pattern of interest leading to troubles in OSM use, and; (4) Privacy and personal safety issues. The results suggested that while OSM could be a useful tool for our participants to connect with existing friends and to meet new ones, their limitations, such as difficulties in understanding languages and social interaction as well as restricted patterns of interests could potentially put them at risk, including interpersonal conflicts, cyber-bullying, financial scams, as well as unwanted sexual experiences. These experiences not only paradoxically increased their sense of loneliness and their distance from others, but also resulted in a negative impact on their mood and functioning.

Conclusion

This qualitative study provided some insights into the OSM use among autistic young adults. OSM could be a useful tool to overcome potential limitations in social interactions, but at the same time it could potentially bring detrimental consequences. In order to maximize the benefits of online social networking, there is a need for timely guidance and support to use OSM among autists, and for psychoeducation to promote awareness, and enable adequate skills and behaviors attainment associated with safe OSM use.
Family functioning and suicidal ideation in college students: a moderated mediation model of depression and acceptance
Authors: Peng Biao , Hu Ningning , Guan Li , Chen Chao , Chen Zhu , Yu Huiying
Published: June 2023

Objective

To explore the mediating role of depression in the relationship between family functioning and suicidal ideation (SI) in college students, and to explore whether acceptance (It is one of the core components of psychological flexibility) plays a moderating role in this mediating model.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to college students during November and December 2022. The sample of Chinese college students (n = 592, 43.07% male, 56.93% female, mean age 19.40 years, SD = 1.24 years) completed the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III), the Center for Epidemiological Depression Scale (CES-D), the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (PANSI), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Second Edition (AAQ II). SPSS 25.0 for Windows and PROCESS 2.15 macros were used for data analysis.

Results

There was a significant negative correlation between family functioning and SI, and depression played a mediating role in this relationship. Acceptance moderated the indirect effects of depression and SI in college students. In college students with a lower acceptance level (i.e., higher experiential avoidance level), depression had more influence on SI, while the influence of depression on SI was less in college students with a higher acceptance level (i.e., lower experiential avoidance level). Family functioning indirectly influenced SI through the moderation of acceptance.

Conclusion

Mental health educators in colleges and universities should pay more attention to identifying and relieving depression in college students, thereby dealing with suicide risk more effectively. At the same time, college students should be discouraged from excessive use of experiential avoidance strategies, and instead taught to master effective emotional regulation strategies such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, and radical acceptance skills to improve their acceptance level and alleviate the influence of depression on SI.
Engaging community-dwelling older adults in fall prevention programs: a qualitative study on strategies promoting participation in fall prevention programs among community-dwelling older adults
Authors: van Scherpenseel Meike , van Veenendaal Lidia , Donné Lennie , te Velde Saskia , Ronteltap Amber
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Fall rates and fall-related injuries among community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) are expected to increase rapidly, due to the aging population worldwide. Fall prevention programs (FPPs), consisting of strength and balance exercises, have been proven effective in reducing fall rates among older adults. However, these FPPs have not reached their full potential as most programs are under-enrolled. Therefore, this study aims to identify promising strategies that promote participation in FPPs among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

This is an exploratory qualitative study. Previously, barriers and facilitators for participation in FPPs by older adults had been identified. Next, six strategies had been designed using the Intervention Mapping approach: (1) reframing; (2) informing about benefits; (3) raising awareness of risks; (4) involving social environment; (5) offering tailored intervention; (6) arranging practicalities. Strategies were validated during semi-structured interviews with community-dwelling older adults (n = 12) at risk of falling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed following a qualitative thematic methodology, with a hybrid approach.

Results

All strategies were considered important by at least some of the respondents. However, two strategies stood out: (1) reframing ‘aging’ and ‘fall prevention’: respondents preferred to be approached differently, taking a ‘life course’ perspective about falls, and avoiding confronting words; and (2) ‘informing about benefits’ (e.g., ‘living independently for longer’); which was mentioned to improve the understanding of the relevance of participating in FPPs. Other strategies were considered important to take into account too, but opinions varied more strongly.

Discussion

This study provides insight into potential strategies to stimulate older adults to participate in FPPs. Results suggest that reframing ‘aging’ and ‘fall prevention’ may facilitate the dialogue about fall prevention, by communicating differently about the topic, for example ‘staying fit and healthy’, while focusing on the benefits of participating in FPPs. Gaining insight into the strategies’ effectiveness and working mechanisms is an area for future research. This could lead to practical recommendations and help professionals to enhance older adults’ participation in FPPs. Currently, the strategies are further developed to be applied and evaluated for effectiveness in multiple field labs in a central Dutch region (Utrecht).
Association between neighborhood disadvantage and children's oral health outcomes in urban families in the Chicago area
Authors: Lee Helen H. , Dziak John J. , Avenetti David M. , Berbaum Michael L. , Edomwande Yuwa , Kliebhan Margaret , Zhang Tong , Licona-Martinez Karla , Martin Molly A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The prevalence of childhood caries in urban Chicago, compared with national and state data, indicates that neighborhood context influences oral health. Our objective was to delineate the influence of a child's neighborhood on oral health outcomes that are predictive of caries (toothbrushing frequency and plaque levels).

Methods

Our study population represents urban, Medicaid-enrolled families in the metropolitan Chicago area. Data were obtained from a cohort of participants (child–parent dyads) who participated in the Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) trial at 12 months of study participation (N = 362). Oral health outcomes included toothbrushing frequency and plaque levels. Participants' neighborhood resource levels were measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Linear and logistic regression models were used to measure the influence of ADI on plaque scores and toothbrushing frequency, respectively.

Results

Data from 362 child–parent dyads were analyzed. The mean child age was 33.6 months (SD 6.8). The majority of children were reported to brush at least twice daily (n = 228, 63%), but the mean plaque score was 1.9 (SD 0.7), classified as “poor.” In covariate-adjusted analyses, ADI was not associated with brushing frequency (0.94, 95% CI 0.84–1.06). ADI was associated with plaque scores (0.05, 95% CI 0.01–0.09, p value = 0.007).

Conclusions

Findings support the hypothesis that neighborhood-level factors influence children's plaque levels. Because excessive plaque places a child at high risk for cavities, we recommend the inclusion of neighborhood context in interventions and policies to reduce children's oral health disparities. Existing programs and clinics that serve disadvantaged communities are well-positioned to support caregivers of young children in maintaining recommended oral health behaviors.
Drug-resistant bacteria in the critically ill: patterns and mechanisms of resistance and potential remedies
Authors: Karukappadath Riaz M. , Sirbu Dumitru , Zaky Ahmed
Published: June 2023

Antimicrobial resistance in the intensive care unit is an ongoing global healthcare concern associated with high mortality and morbidity rates and high healthcare costs. Select groups of bacterial pathogens express different mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians face challenges in managing patients with multidrug-resistant bacteria in the form of a limited pool of available antibiotics, slow and potentially inaccurate conventional diagnostic microbial modalities, mimicry of non-infective conditions with infective syndromes, and the confounding of the clinical picture of organ dysfunction associated with sepsis with postoperative surgical complications such as hemorrhage and fluid shifts. Potential remedies for antimicrobial resistance include specific surveillance, adequate and systematic antibiotic stewardship, use of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic techniques of therapy, and antimicrobial monitoring and adequate employment of infection control policies. Novel techniques of combating antimicrobial resistance include the use of aerosolized antibiotics for lung infections, the restoration of gut microflora using fecal transplantation, and orally administered probiotics. Newer antibiotics are urgently needed as part of the armamentarium against multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this review we discuss mechanisms and patterns of microbial resistance in a select group of drug-resistant bacteria, and preventive and remedial measures for combating antibiotic resistance in the critically ill.
A multilevel dynamic model for documenting, reactivating and preserving interactive multimedia art
Authors: Fiordelmondo Alessandro , Russo Alessandro , Pizzato Mattia , Zecchinato Luca , Canazza Sergio
Published: June 2023

Preserving interactive multimedia artworks is a challenging research field due to their complex nature and technological obsolescence. Established preservation strategies are inadequate since they do not cover the complex relations between analogue and digital components, their short life expectancies, and the experience produced when the artworks are activated. The existence of many projects in this research area highlights the urgency to create a preservation practice focused on the new multimedia art forms. The paper introduces the Multilevel Dynamic Preservation (MDP) model, developed at the Centro di Sonologia Computazionale (CSC) of the University of Padova, which aims to preserve multimedia artworks through different levels of information (about the components, their relationship and the activated experiences) through various exhibitions and thus as a process or a dynamic object. The model has been developed through several case studies. This paper reports a specific and complex one: the “hybrid reactivation” of the Il caos delle sfere, a 1999 interactive installation by Italian composer Carlo De Pirro. The entire reactivation process aims at preserving its identity, rather than simply replicating the original installation, and consists of both the replacement of old and non-functioning components components (“adaptive/update approach”) and the reactivation of original parts (“purist approach“)-hence the name “hybrid reactivation”. Through this case study, it was possible to test and optimize the model in all aspects: from collecting old documentation and using it for reactivation to creating new documentation and archiving the entire artwork. The model allows us to preserve the artwork as a process of change, minimizing the loss of information about previous versions. Most importantly, it lets us rethink the concept of the authenticity of interactive multimedia art, shifting the focus from materiality to the experience and function that artworks activate. The model avoids recording both the last reactivation and the first exhibition as authentic. It records the process of transformation between reactivations. It is through this process that the authenticity of the artwork can be inferred.
Performance comparison of physics-based and machine learning assisted multi-fidelity methods for the management of coastal aquifer systems
Authors: Kopsiaftis George , Kaselimi Maria , Protopapadakis Eftychios , Voulodimos Athanasios , Doulamis Anastasios , Doulamis Nikolaos , Mantoglou Aristotelis
Published: June 2023

In this work we investigate the performance of various lower-fidelity models of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifer management problems. The variable density model is considered as the high-fidelity model and a pumping optimization framework is applied on a hypothetical coastal aquifer system in order to calculate the optimal pumping rates which are used as a benchmark for the lower-fidelity approaches. The examined lower-fidelity models could be classified in two categories: (1) physics-based models, which include several widely used variations of the sharp-interface approximation and (2) machine learning assisted models, which aim to improve the efficiency of the SI approach. The Random Forest method was utilized to create a spatially adaptive correction factor for the original sharp-interface model, which improves its accuracy without compromising its efficiency as a lower-fidelity model. Both the original sharp-interface and Machine Learning assisted model are then tested in a single-fidelity optimization method. The optimal pumping rated which were calculated using the Machine Learning based SI model sufficiently approximate the solution from the variable density model. The Machine Learning assisted approximation seems to be a promising surrogate for the high-fidelity, variable density model and could be utilized in multi-fidelity groundwater management frameworks.
Forecasting bacteriological presence in treated drinking water using machine learning
Authors: Kyritsakas Grigorios , Boxall Joby , Speight Vanessa
Published: June 2023

A novel data-driven model for the prediction of bacteriological presence, in the form of total cell counts, in treated water exiting drinking water treatment plants is presented. The model was developed and validated using a year of hourly online flow cytometer data from an operational drinking water treatment plant. Various machine learning methods are compared (random forest, support vector machines, k-Nearest Neighbors, Feed-forward Artificial Neural Network, Long Short Term Memory and RusBoost) and different variables selection approaches are used to improve the model's accuracy. Results indicate that the model could accurately predict total cell counts 12 h ahead for both regression and classification-based forecasts—NSE = 0.96 for the best regression model, using the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm, and Accuracy = 89.33% for the best classification model, using the combined random forest, K-neighbors and RusBoost algorithms. This forecasting horizon is sufficient to enable proactive operational interventions to improve the treatment processes, thereby helping to ensure safe drinking water.
How Do We Recognize the Same Object From Different Angles?
Authors: Truong Brittney , Murray David , Kankipati Anila , Collins Breyanna , Hegdé Jay
Published: June 2023

Visual constancy is the crucial mental ability by which we recognize an object as the same even when it may look different. If we did not have visual constancy, we would not recognize the objects around us if we saw them from a different angle, in different lighting, or from a distance. Because of visual constancy, we know an animal is an elephant whether we see it from the front or from the side. Do you think a computer could do the same? Many types of smart computers, such as smartphones and self-driving cars, also use a version of visual constancy to function in the real world. Many cybersecurity tools, like CAPTCHA, take advantage of the fact that humans are much better than robots are at tasks requiring visual constancy. Visual constancy is a learned skill, and understanding it better helps us create smarter machines, including cell phones.
Serological and molecular surveillance of West Nile virus in domesticated mammals of peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Mohammed Mohammed Nma , Yasmin Abd Rahaman , Ramanoon Siti Zubaidah , Noraniza Mohd Adzahan , Ooi Peck Toung , Ain-Najwa Mohd Yuseri , Natasha Jafar Ali , Nur-Fazila Saulol Hamid , Arshad Siti Suri , Mohammed Hussni Omar
Published: June 2023

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne neurotropic pathogen with a wide host range that constitutes a significant risk to public and animal health. There is limited information on WNV infection in domesticated mammals in Malaysia; however, current reports indicate infections in birds, macaques, bats and pigs from Malaysia. In this study, 203 serum samples from cattle, goats, and horses were tested for the presence of anti-WNV IgG using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). Additionally, using one-step RT-PCR, nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed for WNV RNA from all 203 animals in this study. The WNV seroprevalence was 32.53% (27/83) at 95% CI (0.2342–0.4319) in cattle, 48.27% (14/29) at 95% CI (0.3139–0.6557) in goats and 53.84% (49/91) at 95% CI (0.4366–0.6373) in horses. Cross-reactive JEV antibodies were detected in two cattle and 34 horses. None of the cattle or goats tested positive for WNV RT-PCR. Seven horses were positive for WNV RT-PCR, a molecular prevalence of 7.69% (7/91) at 95% CI (0.0353–0.1528). This is the first reported detection of WNV in domesticated mammals of Malaysia, a significant addition to the growing evidence that WNV is being transmitted from vectors to susceptible hosts in Malaysia.
Effects of substituting wheat by rye in diets for young fattening pigs on nutrient digestibility, performance, products of intestinal fermentation, and fecal characteristics
Authors: Wilke Volker , Kamphues Josef
Published: June 2023

Climate change and increasing demands to reduce the environmental impact of feed production are major challenges for animal nutritionists. Compared to wheat, which is commonly used in high levels in European piglet diets, rye is more efficient in using limited resources, most importantly, water and phosphorus. As a result, its cultivation has a relatively low carbon footprint. The high amounts of non-starch polysaccharides of rye might lead to an increased intestinal fermentation with potential beneficial effects on gut health. However, the high levels of non-starch polysaccharides in rye, which have a major impact on the physico-chemical conditions of the digesta, might affect digestibility and performance especially in young animals. It was therefore of interest to compare the effects of isoenergetic diets with increasing levels of rye as a replacement for wheat fed to young fattening pigs (bodyweight: 16–40 kg). The control diet contained 69% of wheat, while in the other three experimental diets, the amount of wheat was gradually replaced (by a third in each case) with rye. Thus, the experimental diets contained 23, 46, and 69% of rye. A total of 40 young pigs were housed individually in four dietary treatment groups. During a 4 week trial, effects on performance, digestibility, products of intestinal fermentation, and fecal characteristics were evaluated. There were no negative effects on feed intake and gains, even though the feed conversion ratio increased with the highest dietary rye level (69%). Digestibility rates of organic matter and crude protein did not differ significantly. Without affecting the characteristics of the feces, numerically higher amounts of intestinal fermentation products and higher colonic digesta mass were observed.
Pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of cannabidiol in dogs: an update of current knowledge
Authors: Di Salvo Alessandra , Conti Maria Beatrice , della Rocca Giorgia
Published: June 2023

In the last 5 years, interest has grown in using phytocannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol (CBD), in veterinary medicine to treat several pathologies, including pain, epilepsy, anxiety, nausea, anorexia, skin lesions, and even some types of cancer, among others. Indeed, due to a positive perception of CBD use, many pet owners are increasingly requesting this option to relieve their pets, and many veterinarians are exploring this possibility for their patients. Besides the widespread empiric use of CBD in pets, the research is trying to obtain proof of its efficacy and lack of adverse effects and to know its pharmacokinetics to define an appropriate posology. This review summarizes all data published so far about the canine pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of CBD and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Despite a certain number of available pharmacokinetic studies, the kinetic profile of CBD has yet to be fully known, probably because of the very different experimental conditions. In terms of efficacy, most studies have tested CBD’ ability to relieve osteoarthritic pain. In contrast, few studies have evaluated its role in epilepsy, behavioral disorders, and skin lesions. From obtained results, some evidence exists supporting the beneficial role of CBD. Nevertheless, the limited number of published studies and the occurrence of bias in almost all require caution in interpreting findings. From tolerability studies, CBD’ side effects can be classified as mild or unremarkable. However, studies were prevalently focused on short- to medium-term treatment, while CBD is usually employed for long-term treatment. Further studies are warranted to define better whether CBD could be a valid adjunct in canine treatment.
N2 Use in Perennial Swards Intercropped with Young Poplars, Clone I-214 (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier), in the Mediterranean Area under Rainfed Conditions
Authors: Tramacere Lorenzo Gabriele , Sbrana Massimo , Antichi Daniele
Published: June 2023

Intercropping perennial legumes with trees can reduce Nitrogen (N) losses, due to the high amount of N accumulated in stable forms in the soil and permanent soil cover during the whole year. Although N cycling improvement in mature agroforestry systems (AFS) was well documented, there is a lack of knowledge regarding systems in transition to AF. In this work, we studied the association of two perennial forage crops, namely ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), with 1-year old poplars, to evaluate: (i) the agronomic performance of sulla and ryegrass with vs. without intercropped poplar trees; (ii) the N-fixing ability of sulla in association with trees; (iii) the N transfer effect from sulla and growth promoting effect on poplar; and finally (iv) the nitrate leaching reduction due to the presence of poplar trees associated to forage crops. The layout was arranged in a two-factor randomized complete blocks design (RCB) with three replicates. The first factor tested (crop species) implied two different swards, namely sulla and ryegrass. The second factor (cropping system) included two different systems: PAST i.e., a pastoral system without trees, and SIPAST, i.e., a silvo-pastoral system with one poplar tree row beside the sward. Sulla resulted more productive than ryegrass when associated with trees (+35%). No clear trend was observed about the tree influence on N-fixation in sulla, but the amount of N fixed resulted higher in in sulla grown in the SIPAST near the trees (+35%). Poplar plants, even in the first year after planting, resulted effective yet in reducing the nitrate flux from the crops towards ditches. Further investigations are needed to study other swards in young AF and better understand the N dynamics; in particular, it could be worth to assess the nutrient flux in the soil solution.
Impact of Tillage and Straw Management on Soil Properties and Rice Yield in a Rice-Ratoon Rice System
Authors: Yang Di , Wang Youning , Wu Qixia
Published: June 2023

The rice-ratoon system has long been considered an important economic, time-saving, and labor-saving planting method. Optimal tillage and straw management are beneficial to increasing the growth and yield of recycled rice. However, there is little research on the physical and chemical properties of soil under tillage and straw management, and its effects on the yield and fertilizer utilization of recycled rice. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of four types of tillage and straw management on rice yield and soil properties in central China during 2020–2021. The types of management were no-till with residues retained (NT+S); plow tillage with residue retention (PT+S); no-till with residues removed (NT-S); and plow tillage with residue removed (PT-S). Compared with PT, yield decreased by 38.8% in NT, while straw returning effectively increased the yield of regenerated rice. NT+S increased the yield of main season rice by 37.0% and ratoon rice by 45.3%. Compared with non-returning straw, straw returning increased soil total porosity, soil organic carbon, and activity of β-glucosidase and urease, among which TP and SOC were increased by 8.8% and 27.8%, respectively. The results showed that returning straw to the field could significantly reduce the yield loss caused by no-tillage and improve the soil structure. No-tillage combined with returning straw to the field of regenerative rice is a green, light, and simplified cultivation mode worthy of further exploration.
Productivity of Nitrogen Accumulated in Alfalfa–Grass Sward Cultivated on Soil Depleted in Basic Nutrients: A Case Study
Authors: Zielewicz Waldemar , Grzebisz Witold , Przygocka-Cyna Katarzyna , Goliński Piotr
Published: June 2023

The productivity of fodder legumes, based on internal sources of N, may be limited due to an insufficient supply of nutrients responsible for the efficient use of N accumulated by the crop during the growing season. Production risk occurs on soils that are naturally poor or depleted in nutrients that are decisive for the fixation and utilization of N2 by alfalfa. This hypothesis was validated on the basis of a field experiment with an alfalfa–grass mixture carried out over three main seasons (2012−2014) on soil low in available potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S). The experiment involved two factors that contained two levels of applied gypsum (GYP: 0, 500 kg ha−1) fertilized with P and K (POT: absolute control—AC, P60K0, P60K30, P60K60, and P60K120). In each main season of the alfalfa–grass mixture, the sward was mowed three times (three cuts). The total sward yield (TY) reached its maximum in the second main season (15.6 t DW ha−1), then it significantly decreased. The sward yield of the third cut was the main driver of the TY. The content of P in the first cut, and especially P and S in the third cut of the sward, affected the N:P and P:S ratios, which, in turn, determined the productivity of the alfalfa–grass mixture. The total amount of accumulated N (TN) in the sward significantly responded to gypsum and PK fertilizers. In the first and third main seasons, the highest TN was found on the plot fertilized with both gypsum and 120 kg K2O ha−1. In the second main season, the TY was determined by PK dose, being variable in successive years. The highest total N accumulation (TN) was recorded in the second main season. It reached 504 kg N ha−1 on the plots with GYP−0 and 436 kg N ha−1 for GYP−500. However, the corresponding TY was 16.7 and 17.3 t DW ha−1. This apparent discrepancy was due to the much higher productivity of N, which was 33.2 and 39.6 kg fodder DW ha−1 TN, respectively. These two characteristics clearly indicate that the productivity of the accumulated N by the alfalfa–grass sward was significantly restricted by the shortage of P and S. The studies clearly emphasized that the sward of the alfalfa–grass mixture grown on soil depleted in available K, Ca, and S responds significantly to the combined application of gypsum and potassium, but provides effective control of the P supply, even on soil rich in available P.
Mobile Robot System for Selective Asparagus Harvesting
Authors: Šlajpah Sebastjan , Munih Marko , Mihelj Matjaž
Published: June 2023

Asparagus harvesting presents unique challenges, due to the variability in spear growth, which makes large-scale automated harvesting difficult. This paper describes the development of an asparagus harvesting robot system. The system consists of a delta robot mounted on a mobile track-based platform. It employs a real-time asparagus detection algorithm and a sensory system to determine optimal harvesting points. Low-level control and high-level control are separated in the robot control. The performance of the system was evaluated in a laboratory field mock-up and in the open field, using asparagus spears of various shapes. The results demonstrate that the system detected and harvested 88% of the ready-to-harvest spears, with an average harvesting cycle cost of 3.44s±0.14s. In addition, outdoor testing in an open field demonstrated a 77% success rate in identifying and harvesting asparagus spears.