bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TURBOMACHINERY DESIGN: CHECKING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS SUITABILITY FOR DESIGN AUTOMATION
Authors: Batini Niccolo' , Becattini Niccolo , Cascini Gaetano
Published: June 2023

This paper explores the suitability of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) as an enabler of Design Automation in the turbomachinery industry. Specifically, the paper provides 1) a preliminary estimation of the effectiveness of ANNs to define values for design variables of reciprocating compressors (RC) and 2) a comparison of ANNs performance with traditional and more computationally demanding methods like CFD. A tailored ANN trained on a dataset composed by 350+ Baker Hughes’ RC automatically assigns values to 8 geometrical variables belonging to multiple parts of the RC in order to satisfy two target conditions linked to their thermodynamic performance. The results highlight that the ANN-assigned parameters return an optimal solution for RC also when the target values do not belong to the training dataset. Their predictive capacity for RC thermodynamic performance, with respect to CFD, are comparable (i.e. less than 2% in terms of calculated absorbed power) and the approach enables a significant gain in terms of computational time (i.e. 2 minutes vs 10 hours). Future perspectives of this work may involve the integration of this tool in an advanced DA method to lead Design Engineers (DEs) during the whole design process.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES AROUND DESIGN ACTIVITIES THAT INCORPORATE BEHAVIORAL DATA
Authors: Gomez Ortega Alejandra , Bourgeois Jacky , Kortuem Gerd
Published: June 2023

Recently, methods and approaches such as Participatory Data Analysis, Data-Enabled Design, and Contextual Inquiry have highlighted how design activities can benefit from behavioral data. This data offers new ways to learn from what people do and how they do it, across time and space. However, behavioral data introduces changes and frictions to design activities and poses several challenges for designers to overcome. In this paper, we conduct two workshops with 18 expert designers, from industry and academia, to understand the nature of these challenges, beyond the technical aspects. We contribute by underlining the challenges and opportunities of incorporating behavioral data into design activities; including a design perspective on data, interacting with participants, and interacting with regulatory bodies. We translate our findings into opportunities for a better alignment between regulatory bodies, designers, and participants. We propose to harness the iterative nature of design activities and embedded it into a process that allows for continuous reflection, reassessment, and review of highly dynamic datasets.
USING DESIGN METHODS TO EXPLORE THE CONTEXT OF COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL DESIGN PROBLEMS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF BEHAVIOURAL DESIGN
Authors: Falcão Duarte Carolina , Daalhuizen Jaap
Published: June 2023

Behavioural design has been gaining momentum to address critical societal challenges such as elderly care. At the same time, it struggles to deal with complex challenges and integrate multiple contextual factors' influence in domains like healthcare. Behavioural design processes lack guidance on how to prevent this and instead define problems that are ecologically valid. Conventional design methods do guide designers to do this. Thus there is a need to investigate how design methods can support behavioural designers to explore the context and integrate multiple perspectives on the problem, resulting in context-sensitive problem definitions. To respond to this need, we present a case where designers used a combination of design methods to investigate the complex context of hygiene in nursing homes. We show how combining different design methods supported the designers in advancing their understanding of a complex context and the problematic behaviours that occurred in it. We conclude by discussing the importance of using design methods to reveal important insights at the early stages of the behavioural design process.
A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF STUDENTS’ DESIGN EXPERIENCES IN A WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING SETTING
Authors: Nickel Jordan , Rennick Chris , Litster Gregory , Hulls Carol C.W. , Hurst Ada
Published: June 2023

Work-integrated learning (WIL) – a pedagogy that integrates academic studies with workplace experiences – presents an excellent opportunity for students to “deliberately practice” their design skills. To date there has been little investigation into the effect(s) of WIL experiences on developing novice designers’ design skills.

We performed a series of longitudinal interview case studies following three engineering students through the course of a 4-month work term. Interviews were semi-structured to gather rich contextual descriptions of participant experiences designing in WIL settings. Transcripts were analysed using an iterative thematic analysis approach.

Results indicate specific areas where WIL helps develop novice designers’ engineering design skills and mindsets beyond their early experiences in the engineering classroom. These include their experiences interacting with clients/users, the importance of project transition considerations, resource coordination, teamwork/collaboration, and the design process. We discuss how the structure of design tasks and their environment differ from the classroom experience, highlighting how WIL can supplement traditional design education.
VR OR NOT? INVESTIGATING INTERFACE TYPE AND USER STRATEGIES FOR INTERACTIVE DESIGN SPACE EXPLORATION
Authors: Nandy Ananya , Smith James , Jennings Nicholas , Kuniavsky Mike , Hartmann Bjoern , Goucher-Lambert Kosa
Published: June 2023

Computational design tools allow the generation of vast numbers of possible designs, entrusting the human designer with describing constraints or specifications to guide exploration of the design space. Designers can have many different decision considerations when conducting this type of exploration, including form, function, users, or context. In this work, we investigate strategies that emerge when people are tasked with exploring a large design space within either a non-immersive (2D) or immersive (VR) interface and equipped with action-based interactions to set or envision specifications related to their considerations. Results from a 28 participant user study uncovers that people have varying strategies to enact their decision considerations that are not unique to the type of interface. However, the interfaces differ in perceptions of enabling breadth or depth of exploration holistically, with preference towards 2D interfaces to compare options, and VR to understand single designs. These results have implications for the user experience of systems that allow designers to explore the outputs of large design spaces, both at the interaction and interface levels.
WHAT DO AN ANAESTHESIOLOGIST, A NURSE, TWO DESIGNERS, AND A PROFESSOR IN ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY DO TOGETHER IN A ROOM? CRAFTING INTERDISCIPLINARITY AS RESPONSE TO EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Authors: Nigra Marianna , Silenzi Anna , Di Marco Michele
Published: June 2023

The health sector in the humanitarian context is currently experiencing great pressure in delivering adequate care, due to a number of increasing emerging diseases. The World Health Organization (2022) reports that: '…since 2011, there have been more than 1200 outbreaks of epidemic-prone diseases in 188 countries around the world, causing widespread death and suffering…’. A key factor that can contribute to ensure high quality care is the possibility to rely on adequate infrastructure and products. This paper presents the interdisciplinary methodology deployed to design and develop an innovative infectious diseases treatment module that could be deployed and utilised in the very first phases of health emergencies. The methodology proposed is organised around a three-level approach to ensure both core disciplinary solidity, and holistic understanding of the complexity of the challenge. The contribution of this work is the definition of key aspects in the proposed methodology that can help overcome difficulties in delivering high quality interdisciplinary research and work, as well as highlighting behavioural patterns that can ensure successful delivery of innovative products and facilities for the humanitarian health sector.
A REVIEW ON REAL VEHICLE USAGE MODELLING OF DRIVERLESS MULTIPURPOSE VEHICLES IN VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEMS
Authors: Andreolli Raphael , Nybacka Mikael , O'Reilly Ciarán J. , Jenelius Erik , Falkgrim Eric
Published: June 2023

Real vehicle usage rarely matches the predictions made during early phases of vehicle development and sales processes at commercial road vehicle manufacturers. The automotive industry needs multidisciplinary vehicle design methods to predict real-world vehicle operations by considering the vehicle level and the transport system level simultaneously, in a more holistic approach. The aim of this study was to analyse how realistic vehicle usage of driverless multipurpose vehicles can be modelled in Vehicle Routing Problems (VRPs) by conducting a systematic literature review. We found that real vehicle usage modelling of driverless multipurpose vehicles in VRPs mainly depended on the following elements: VRP variant, energy consumption model, energy consumption rate class, number of vehicle-specific design variables and transport system-level factors. Furthermore, we identified in the literature five classes of energy consumption rate edge behaviour in VRPs. These findings can support decision-making in the modelling process to select the most suitable combination of elements, and their level of detail for the overall modelling aim and purpose.
ADAPTING A DASHBOARD-BASED APPROACH FOR FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS TO CIRCULAR PSS BUSINESS MODELS
Authors: Mahl Tobias , Petry Michelle , Köhler Christian
Published: June 2023

Sustainability and circular economy are currently some of the strongest trends in industry as well as in politics. They are seen as the best chance to tackle emissions, pollution and climate change while maintaining the prosperity of society. Product-Service System (PSS) business models are seen as an enabler of the circular economy. However, the development of such business models is a major challenge, especially for SMEs. Therefore, there is a need for support through a methodical approach in the development and decision-making. This paper combines and extends an existing approach for assessing the feasibility of PSS-driven business models and a decision-support matrix for recirculation strategies to provide support to practitioners in the early development phases of circular PSS business models. The existing approach for feasibility analysis was focused on PSS only. To include the perspective of circularity and sustainability a systematic literature review was conducted to identify necessary criteria. Combined with the decision-support matrix the improved method aims to be a lean method to support feasibility analysis and decision-making in circular PSS business model development.
ADJUSTING SCALED AGILE FOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Authors: Drutchas Jake Farlon , Eppinger Steven
Published: June 2023

Scaled agile development of large systems has primarily followed the approach used in traditional systems engineering – system decomposition and static teams assigned to subsystems. However, this arrangement may result in an inefficient allocation of resources and uneven progress. This paper presents an alternative approach in which problem-based decomposition replaces system-architecture-based decomposition, and resources are flexibly allocated to problems for each sprint using ad hoc teams. Using a field study approach, we examine a mechatronic system development project utilizing these agile adjustments and discuss situations in which these methods may be successfully utilized in other projects and organizations.
AI VS. HUMAN: THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTIONS OF THE DESIGN ABILITIES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Authors: Chong Leah , Yang Maria
Published: June 2023

With the increasing implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the design process, it is crucial to understand how users will accept AI-designed products. This work studies how the public currently perceives an AI's design capability as compared to a human designer's capability by conducting an online survey of 205 people via Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey collects the respondents' perception on 16 specific bicycle design goals, demographic information, and self-reported level of design and AI/ML knowledge. Findings reveal that people think an AI would perform worse than a human designer on most design goals, particularly the goals that are user-dependent. This work also shows that the higher people's self-reported level of knowledge in design and the older they are, the more likely they are to think an AI's design capability would exceed a human designer's capability. The insights from this work add to the understanding of user acceptance of AI-designed products, as well as human designers' acceptance of AI input in human-AI teams.
AN EXPLORATION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERVICE DESIGN ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Mirafzal MohammadReza , Wadhera Piyush , Stal-Le Cardinal Julie
Published: June 2023

This study aims at revising the history of knowledge management in service design organizations to discover what sources, technologies, tools, and users have been used and how knowledge management may thus help to improve consultants’ performance. Also, this study sheds light on the importance of decomposing knowledge (knowledge-leveling being said in this article) before tackling knowledge management. Moreover, this study provides a real case study investigation of knowledge management in a service design organization. Through this investigation, the authors propose their knowledge-leveling classification model and how knowledge management activities satisfy each class. Thus, the authors showcase the essentiality of knowledge leveling in knowledge management.
AN INSTINCT APPROACH TO DESIGN
Authors: Fukuda Shuichi
Published: June 2023

The word “Design” is used in many ways. But most of them consider it from the standpoint of artificial or man-made. In other words, as “Human Intelligence”, But we should remember we are born to “Design”. That is “Instinct”. We are born with instinct to survive. “Instint” is “Natural Intelligence”. “Instinct” plays an important role for making decisions. In decision making, we need to prioritze them. If the first one fails to satisfy our expectation, we take the next one. But our world is increasing complexity and complicatedness, and our bodies and movements are different from person to person. To cope with such increasing diversification, “Instinct” is calling for support. Therefore,Mahalanobis Distance-Pattern (MDP) approach is proposed in this paper as one of the tools to support our “Instinct”. MDP combines ordinal Mahalanobis Distance and pattern which is a non-verbal communication tool.
ANALYSIS OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN AGILE TEAM MATURITY AND STANDARDISED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN AUTOMOTIVE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Scharold Franziska , Schrof Julian , Paetzold-Byhain Kristin
Published: June 2023

The application of agile development methods in response to increasing market dynamics and product complexity is a key lever in the automotive industry. Agile methods originally come from the software industry and enable fast, flexible and customer-oriented product development. These methods are also increasingly being used in hardware development. However, the evaluation of the benefits of agile methods in the context of automotive development has been primarily subjective. The publication aims to present a first data-based approach to objectify the benefits of agile methods in automotive development by highlighting the effects in the quality of collaboration within teams. A standardised procedure is therefore designed and presented. On the one hand, a model for measuring the agile maturity of teams is described. On the other hand, the quality of collaboration within a team is examined in different aspects using standardised key performance indicators. Based on the proposed procedure, a strong positive correlation was found between the considered key performance indicators of the quality of collaboration and the agile maturity of the development teams within the investigated organisation.
BARRIERS LEADING TO BUILDING SERVICES OVERDESIGN
Authors: Jones Darren Anthony , Eckert Claudia Margot
Published: June 2023

The research of this paper provides a useful insight into the many barriers leading to building services overdesign, within the context of NHS hospitals. The issue of overdesign in building services is a systemic problem, whereby numerous contributing factors manifest into an issue that inevitably leads to poor system performance and excess costs. A key factor leading to oversizing is the excessive and uncoordinated application of design margins across the various stages of a building services project. Poor communication between project stakeholders is another significant barrier that inhibits the distribution of information between design groups; unknown requirements, system redundancy and poor system specifications further add to the problem. There are many complex interrelationships associated with the building service design process in hospitals, with external stakeholders adding to the complexity. This points to the importance of effective communication between stakeholders and clear contractual terms between NHS Trusts and external private sector organisations. Many of the barriers identified within this paper are by no means limited to building service systems but also impact on a range of other engineering disciplines.
BRIDGING DESIGNER-USER GAP WITH A VIRTUAL REALITY-BASED EMPATHIC DESIGN APPROACH: CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION DETAILS
Authors: Hu Xinhui , Casakin Hernan , Georgiev Georgi V.
Published: June 2023

Without shared experiences, empathy gaps between designers and users are difficult to bridge. Advancing Virtual Reality (VR) has shed new light on this regard by enabling designers to simulate and experience their users' living scenarios in a virtual environment (VE). However, implementing VR-based empathetic design approach requires dealing with critical design questions, such as: (1) whether VR operators can develop empathy for unfamiliar user groups solely based on objective experience and (2) whether VR operators can utilize task-irrelevant contextual information in the VEs. To explore these issues, we designed an experiment based on two VEs with varying levels of detail that simulated the scenes viewed by people with red-green color vision deficiency (CVD). Participants were randomly assigned to either detail-rich or detail-simple VEs to complete neutral item-searching tasks. Results indicate that objective and neutral experience alone cannot elicit empathy towards users, and VR operating designers will utilize task-irrelevant contextual information.
A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF MIXED REALITY PROTOTYPING TO SUPPORT STUDIO DESIGN EDUCATION
Authors: Ranscombe Charlie , Zhang Wendy , Snider Chris , Hicks Ben
Published: June 2023

Mixed Reality (MR) technologies are widely available and applied in a variety of design and engineering applications. MR prototypes capture the respective benefits of physical and digital prototypes by merging these domains saving the time and resources required to create them. This advantage is compelling in the context of design education where tight time and resource constraints exist. However, it is known that new digital prototyping tools can cause problems for students applying appropriate prototyping tools during practice-based studio design projects. Our paper contributes a systematic appraisal of MR prototyping's proposed dimensions value against constraints and issues in design studio education. This highlights MR Visualisation and Knowledge Management dimensions as most readily realised in education. Recommendations are then reflected on via an illustrative case study into the implementation of MR prototyping via these dimensions. Reflections corroborate the value proposition, but also highlight a need for further research exploring activities to scaffold MR prototyping to further support reflective design thinking.
CIRCULAR VALUE PROPOSITION FOR THE COFFEE CAPSULE CHAIN FROM A SUSTAINABLE PSS SOLUTION DESIGN METHOD
Authors: Cannarozzo Tinoco Maria Auxiliadora , Lago Nicole Cecchele , Echeveste Márcia Elisa , Rodeghiero Neto Ítalo , Schwengber ten Caten Carla
Published: June 2023

Product-service systems (PSS) are one of the business models that can promote circular economy and sustainability; however, to design this kind of solution, holistic approaches must be used, integrating different areas of knowledge. Thus, this study proposes a conceptual solution based on the PSS business model to the problem of reverse logistics of coffee capsules, through the application of the Requirements Engineering method for Sustainable PSS design, with a focus on the initial phase. With an emphasis on the business model and value proposition, a conceptual solution was developed to promote the circularity of the capsule chain based on the analysis of the main stakeholders' needs. The value proposition of the PSS solution for the issue of coffee capsules was described as the “cocreation of sustainable value to stakeholders to foster the circularity of the chain”, considering consumer involvement through education and rewards in product disposal processes. The results reinforce the need to integrate critical stakeholders to add the desired value in creating a sustainable PSS solution and the need to pivot the business model during the solution development process.
CIRCULARITY OF PLASTICS THROUGH ECODESIGN: THE CASE OF FRENCH WEEE
Authors: Nève Nicolas , Charbuillet Carole , Pompidou Stéphane , Perry Nicolas
Published: June 2023

While innovation in waste treatment processes continue to advance, plastics are still often put aside in comparison to other materials. It is especially the case for WEEE-plastics: as they are included in complex equipment, their recovery is disregarded, in aid of critical metals and rare earths. The recycling of plastics is hindered by the low re-integration rate of these materials, due to concerns around their quality and their availability. Ecodesign of EEE thus seems to be a robust solution. This paper details two approaches to assess product design, by respectively evaluating the product recyclability and the implementation of predefined ecodesign guidelines. Based on these methods, the construction of a quality standard for recycled plastics in France is presented. The definition of the quality includes mechanical properties, but chemical, logistics, and regulatory aspects are also at stake. Eventually, ecodesign indexes and indicators are selected, and a method for their formal construction is proposed. The goal of this study is to provide ways to assess the overall quality and usability of recycled plastics, along with design for circularity methods to integrate them in new manufactured products.
Plastic Pulse of the Public: A review of survey-based research on how people use plastic
Authors: Walker Tony R. , Baechler Britta R. , Markley Laura , Grünzner Maja , Akuoko Ivy S.G. , Bowyer Cressida , Menzel Claudia , Muntaha Sidra T. , Macdonald Anna , Allen Deonie , Cowan Emily
Published: June 2023

Plastics pollute all environmental compartments because of human activities and mismanagement. Public perceptions and knowledge about plastic pollution differ among individuals and across different jurisdictions. Targeted survey-based research tools can help measure consumer awareness about the impacts of mismanaged plastics and help identify trends and solutions to reduce plastic use and plastic pollution. This review primarily focused on survey-based research from presenters at the scientific track session TS-2.15 Plastic Pulse of the Public at the 7th International Marine Debris Conference (www.7imdc.org) and supplemented by contemporary literature. Survey-based research helps provide new insights about public opinions related to the pervasiveness of plastic pollution. This review includes results about consumer use and perceptions of plastic pollution impacts from diverse studies from nine countries including Ghana, Kenya, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United States, Canada, Norway, Germany, and United Kingdom. Overwhelmingly, public perceptions and consumer awareness of the negative impacts of plastic pollution were extremely high, regardless of geographic location. Awareness about the environmental impacts of plastic waste and plastic pollution was highest within younger, white, female, and well-educated demographic groups. However, differences were observed in public attitudes toward willingness to pay for sustainable alternatives, end-of-life plastic uses, unintended consequences, recycling, and mismanagement.
UPPER BOUNDS ON THE SEMITOTAL FORCING NUMBER OF GRAPHS
Authors: LIANG YI-PING , CHEN JIE , XU SHOU-JUN
Published: June 2023

Let G be a graph with no isolated vertex. A semitotal forcing set of G is a (zero) forcing set S such that every vertex in S is within distance 2 of another vertex of S. The semitotal forcing number
$F_{t2}(G)$
is the minimum cardinality of a semitotal forcing set in G. In this paper, we prove that it is NP-complete to determine the semitotal forcing number of a graph. We also prove that if
$G\neq K_n$
is a connected graph of order
$n\geq 4$
with maximum degree
$\Delta \geq 2$
, then
$F_{t2}(G)\leq (\Delta-1)n/\Delta$
, with equality if and only if either
$G=C_{4}$
or
$G=P_{4}$
or
$G=K_{\Delta ,\Delta }$
.
LEFT AND RIGHT EIGENVECTORS OF A VARIANT OF THE SYLVESTER–KAC MATRIX
Authors: CHU WENCHANG , KILIÇ EMRAH
Published: June 2023

As an extension of Sylvester’s matrix, a tridiagonal matrix is investigated by determining both left and right eigenvectors. Orthogonality relations between left and right eigenvectors are derived. Two determinants of the matrices constructed by the left and right eigenvectors are evaluated in closed form.
Decolonizing Research on the Carceral in Canadian Political Science
Authors: Mussell Linda
Published: June 2023

In Canada, there is renewed attention to the violence experienced by Indigenous peoples in residential schools, by police, through hyper-imprisonment and child removal, in hospitals, and in the contemporary education system. All of these issues are interlinked and outcomes of the carceral state—defined as the policing, monitoring, surveillance, criminalization and imprisonment of people, especially Indigenous and other racialized peoples. In this article, I define and illustrate what the carceral state looks like in Canada. I articulate the current approach to studying the carceral in political science, note the paucity of research in the Canadian context and show where attention has been cast previously. I describe an improved approach to studying the carceral, arguing that a decolonized approach to studying the carceral must be relational and abolitionist, seeking to reduce and eliminate the use of carceral interventions.
Frankfurt Cases and Alternate Deontic Categories
Authors: Kahn Samuel
Published: June 2023

In Harry Frankfurt’s seminal “Alternate Possibilities and Moral Responsibility,” he advances an argument against the Principle of Alternate Possibilities: if an agent is responsible for performing some action, then she is able to do otherwise. However, almost all of the Frankfurt cases in this literature involve impermissible actions. In this article, I argue that the failure to consider other deontic categories exposes a deep problem, one that threatens either to upend much current moral theorizing or to upend the relevance of Frankfurt cases.
A note on virtual duality and automorphism groups of right-angled Artin groups
Authors: Wade Richard D. , Brück Benjamin
Published: June 2023

A theorem of Brady and Meier states that a right-angled Artin group is a duality group if and only if the flag complex of the defining graph is Cohen–Macaulay. We use this to give an example of a RAAG with the property that its outer automorphism group is not a virtual duality group. This gives a partial answer to a question of Vogtmann. In an appendix, Brück describes how he used a computer-assisted search to find further examples.
Increased plane identification precision with stereo identification
Authors: Ji Junjie , Zhao Jing-Shan
Published: June 2023

Stereo vision allows machines to perceive their surroundings, with plane identification serving as a crucial aspect of perception. The accuracy of identification constrains the applicability of stereo systems. Some stereo vision cameras are cost-effective, compact, and user-friendly, resulting in widespread use in engineering applications. However, identification errors limit their effectiveness in quantitative scenarios. While certain calibration methods enhance identification accuracy using camera distortion models, they rely on specific models tailored to a camera’s unique structure. This article presents a calibration method that is not dependent on any particular distortion model, capable of correcting plane position and orientation identified by any algorithm, provided that the identification error is biased. A high-precision mechanical calibration platform is designed to acquire accurate calibration data while using the same detected material in real measurement scenarios. Experimental comparisons confirm the efficacy of plane pose correction on PCL-RANSAC, with the average relative error of distance reduced by 5.4 times and the average absolute error of angle decreasing by 41.2%.
Flexibility Conceiving Relationships between Timbres Revealed by Network Analysis
Authors: Dean Roger T. , Dobrowohl Felix , Leung Yvonne
Published: June 2023

Perceived relationships between timbres are critical in electroacoustic music. Most studies assume timbres have fixed inter-relationships, but we tested whether distinct tasks change these. Thirty short sounds were used, from five categories: acoustic instruments, impulse responses, convolutions of the preceding, environmental sounds and computer-manipulated instrumental sounds. In Task 1, 46 non-musicians formed a ‘cohesive’ sonic ordering of unlabelled icons (sounds attached). In Task 2, they categorised the icons into four boxes. In Task 3 listeners separately ordered the sounds from each of Task 2’s boxes using the approach of Task 1. Tasks 1 and 2/3 revealed distinct orderings, consistent with conceptual flexibility. To analyse the orderings, we replaced conventional distance by adjacency measures, and described each system as a network (rather than spatial positions), confirming that the two task outcomes were distinct. Network analyses also showed that the two systems were mechanistically distinct and allowed us to predict temporally changing networks, modelling the observed networks as successive perceptions. Further simulated networks generated with the temporal model readily encompassed all possible pairings between the sounds and not just those we observed. The temporal network model thus confirms conceptual flexibility even in untrained listeners, clearly suitable for a composer to use.
Experience of financial challenges, retirement concerns, and planning: evidence from representative samples of workers in 16 countries
Authors: Innocenti Stefania , Clark Gordon L. , McGill Sarah
Published: June 2023

We examine whether an individual's inability to save in the last 12 months affects the extent to which they are concerned about their future financial security and their propensity to plan for retirement. We use an original survey based upon representative samples of working individuals in 16 countries. We show that individuals who were unable to save over the 12-month period prior to the survey are less likely to consider well-being in retirement as their major financial concern. They are also less likely to invest in supplementary pension funds than those who were able to accumulate savings. We provide evidence that these findings are robust under several specifications and are mediated by respondents' perceived income prospects and assessment of their current financial situations.
Psychedelic medicines for end-of-life care: Pipeline clinical trial review 2022
Authors: Jing Xuepeng , Hoeh Nicholas R. , Menkes David B.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

People with terminal illnesses often experience psychological distress and associated disability. Recent clinical trial evidence has stimulated interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics at end of life. Much uncertainty remains, however, mainly due to methodological difficulties that beset existing trials. We conducted a scoping review of pipeline clinical trials of psychedelic treatment for depression, anxiety, and existential distress at end of life.

Methods

Proposed, registered, and ongoing trials were identified from 2 electronic databases (ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform). Recent reviews and both commercial and non-profit organization websites were used to identify additional unregistered trials.

Results

In total, 25 studies were eligible, including 13 randomized controlled trials and 12 open-label trials. Three trials made attempts beyond randomization to assess expectancy and blinding effectiveness. Investigational drugs included ketamine (n = 11), psilocybin (n = 10), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (n = 2), and lysergic acid diethylamide (n = 2). Three trials involved microdosing, and fifteen trials incorporated psychotherapy.

Significance of results

A variety of onging or upcoming clinical trials are expected to usefully extend evidence regarding psychedelic-assisted group therapy and microdosing in the end-of-life setting. Still needed are head-to-head comparisons of different psychedelics to identify those best suited to specific indications and clinical populations. More extensive and rigorous studies are also necessary to better control expectancy, confirm therapeutic findings and establish safety data to guide the clinical application of these novel therapies.
Gender differences in cancer spousal caregiving: A systematic review
Authors: Ng Janet H.Y. , Luk Bronya H.K. , Lee Natalie P.M.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Cancer does affect not only the lives of the patients but also that of their spouses. The aims of this systematic review are to (i) explore the gender differences in the impact of caregiving for cancer on spousal caregivers, (ii) facilitate the conceptual understanding of gender differences in caregiving, and (iii) identify directions for future research and clinical practice targeting spousal caregivers.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted of the electronic databases of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EBSCO, and CINAHL Plus for papers published in English between 2000 and 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify, select, appraise, and synthesize the studies.

Results

A total of 20 studies from seven countries were reviewed. Findings of the studies were presented using the biopsychosocial model. Spousal caregivers of cancer patients suffered from physical, psychological, and socioeconomic morbidities, with female spousal caregivers reporting a higher level of distress. The gendered positioning of spousal caregivers in the societal context had further brought about over-responsibility and self-sacrifice among women.

Significance of results

The gendered positions of cancer spousal caregivers further illustrated the gender differences in the caregiving experiences and consequences. Health-care professionals in routine clinical practice should be proactive in identifying physical, mental, and social morbidities among cancer spousal caregivers, particularly female ones, and providing timely interventions. Health-care professionals should recognize the pressing need for empirical research, political engagement, and action plans to address the health status and health-related behaviors of patients’ spouses along the cancer trajectory.
The Cumulative and Damaging Effects of Discrimination
Authors: Spencer Breauna Marie
Published: June 2023

This study examines the racialized and gendered experiences of Black men (N = 20) from elementary school through graduate school. The Black men featured in this article are current STEM doctoral students and were asked to reflect on their K-12 and undergraduate STEM experiences as well as their current experiences as graduate students. Findings conclude that Black men, as children and teens, experienced gendered racism in their STEM courses, which included a severe lack of racial representation of Black scientists, leading them to believe that they could not become scientists in their respective disciplines. At the undergraduate level, Black men encountered racial stereotyping and were self-conscious of their gender and race due to being underrepresented in their STEM courses. And at the doctoral level, Black men deal with psychological health issues due to the racism-related stressors they experience on campus, along with feeling compelled to be the spokesperson for Black students at their respective college campuses.
Energy Justice and the Principles of Article 194(1) TFEU Governing EU Energy Policy
Authors: Kaschny Laura
Published: June 2023

Recent geopolitical and environmental events have created a new urgency for a just energy transition and a socially inclusive modernization of the energy sector. This article critically evaluates the extent to which Article 194(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as the competence provision of EU energy law, is congruent with the energy justice framework emerging from social sciences. It establishes the substantive scope and justiciability of Article 194(1) TFEU, including the legal principles and so-called ‘guiding principles’ of the provision relating to the internal market, environmental protection, and energy solidarity. The article analyzes the potential and shortcomings of Article 194(1) TFEU in contributing to more equitable decision-making processes in EU energy law. It concludes by evaluating the provision as a regulatory instrument that facilitates the (re)balancing of competing interests of the energy sector. This research further concludes that social considerations of energy justice cannot be sufficiently addressed through Article 194(1) TFEU.
Adaptation of a Thermorheological Lava Flow Model for Venus Conditions
Authors: Flynn Ian. T. W. , Chevrel Magdalena. O. , Ramsey Michael. S.
Published: June 2023

Active volcanism was (and potentially still is) an important process that shapes the Venus surface and its detection is a primary goal for the planned VERITAS and EnVision missions. Therefore, understanding lava flow emplacement and timing on Venus is important. We adapt the terrestrial PyFLOWGO thermorheological model to Venus conditions to assess the effects on channelized lava flow propagation. We first initiate the model with terrestrial basaltic parameters and progressively adapt it to Venusian conditions in five steps: (a) gravity, (b) ambient atmospheric temperature, (c) specific heat capacity and wind speed, (d) atmospheric density, and (e) coupled convective and radiative heat flux. Compared to Earth, the slightly lower gravity on Venus resulted in a lower flow velocity, a higher crust coverage, and a very minor increase in flow length (0.1%). Increasing the ambient atmospheric temperature reduced heat loss and produced a (77%) longer flow; whereas next accounting for the atmospheric specific heat capacity and wind speed increased the flow length slightly more (81%). However, increasing the atmospheric density resulted in a shorter lava flow (13%) due to more efficient cooling. Finally, accounting for coupled convective and radiative heat loss due to the strong CO2 infrared absorption resulted in an increase of the flow length (∼75%). Although the model applies only to channelized, cooling‐limited flows, these results reveal that for the same effective effusion rate and topography, a Venusian lava flow travels a longer distance than the equivalent flow on Earth and its cooling should be detectable by future orbital instruments.
“Ionospheric Drizzle” Observed in the Pre‐Dawn E‐F Valley Over Sanya
Authors: Zhou Xu , Yue Xinan , Wang Junyi , Cai Yihui , Ding Feng , Ning Baiqi , Jin Yuyan , Li Mingyuan , Wang Yonghui , Zhang Ning , Wang Zhongqiu , Luo Junhao
Published: June 2023

A new incoherent scattering radar established at Sanya (18.3°N, 109.6°E; SYISR) has made it possible to directly measure the fine structure of the ionospheric E‐F valley. An intriguing phenomenon termed “ionospheric drizzle” was revealed by the month‐long continuous observation of complete ionospheric profiles with a temporal and vertical resolution of 0.8 s and 4.5 km. It manifests as weak plasma “streaks” in the strength of ∼103–104 cm−3 that detach from the F‐layer base and extends downward to the sporadic E (Es) layer during pre‐dawn hours, with an apparent descent speed of ∼10–20 m/s. The frequently observed “ionospheric drizzle” provides additional plasma to enhance the Es layer. Subsequent testing particle simulations were performed, revealing the critical role of the neutral winds in the plasma descent. This downward coupling process enhancing the Es layer is thus supposed to be important in communication and navigation.
Impacts of Initial Zonal Current Errors on the Predictions of Two Types of El Niño Events
Authors: Tao Lingjiang , Mu Mu , Wang Lei , Fang Xianghui , Duan Wansuo , Zhang Rong‐Hua
Published: June 2023

Perturbations in the thermocline and surface zonal current (ZC) play crucial roles in the evolutions of the eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events, respectively. Whereas numerous studies have examined the influence of initial uncertainties in ocean temperature on the predictability of El Niño, only a few studies investigated the impact of the initial ZC. Using an air‐sea coupling model, the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) approach was employed to investigate the maximum impact of initial ZC errors on the El Niño prediction. The optimal initial ZC errors (denoted as CNOP‐Us) that have the severest impact on the El Niño prediction are found to mainly concentrate in the western and central tropical Pacific. The CNOP‐Us cause larger errors in the CP El Niño prediction than in the EP El Niño prediction. Additionally, CNOP‐Us cause rapid sea surface temperature error growth in spring in the EP El Niño prediction but in summer in the CP El Niño prediction. Dynamically, the former is related to the large uncertainties in the meridional current in spring caused by CNOP‐Us, while the latter is related to the strong ZC errors in summer. According to the distributions of CNOP‐Us, reducing the initial ZC errors in the western and central tropical Pacific may be vital in weakening the predictability barrier phenomena and improving the predictions of El Niño diversity.
Effects of Lower Troposphere Vertical Mixing on Simulated Clouds and Precipitation Over the Amazon During the Wet Season
Authors: Hu Xiao‐Ming , Huang Yongjie , Xue Ming , Martin Elinor , Hong Yang , Chen Mengye , Novoa Hector Mayol , McPherson Renee , Perez Andres , Morales Isaac Yanqui , Luna Auria Julieta Flores
Published: June 2023

Planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes parameterize unresolved turbulent mixing within the PBL and free troposphere (FT). Previous studies reported that precipitation simulation over the Amazon in South America is quite sensitive to PBL schemes and the exact relationship between the turbulent mixing and precipitation processes is, however, not disentangled. In this study, regional climate simulations over the Amazon in January–February 2019 are examined at process level to understand the precipitation sensitivity to PBL scheme. The focus is on two PBL schemes, the Yonsei University (YSU) scheme, and the asymmetric convective model v2 (ACM2) scheme, which show the largest difference in the simulated precipitation. During daytime, while the FT clouds simulated by YSU dissipate, clouds simulated by ACM2 maintain because of enhanced moisture supply due to the enhanced vertical moisture relay transport process: (a) vertical mixing within PBL transports surface moisture to the PBL top, and (b) FT mixing feeds the moisture into the FT cloud deck. Due to the thick cloud deck over Amazon simulated by ACM2, surface radiative heating is reduced and consequently the convective available potential energy is reduced. As a result, precipitation is weaker from ACM2. Two key parameters dictating the vertical mixing are identified, p, an exponent determining boundary layer mixing and λ, a scale dictating FT mixing. Sensitivity simulations with altered p, λ, and other treatments within YSU and ACM2 confirm the precipitation sensitivity. The FT mixing in the presence of clouds appears most critical to explain the sensitivity between YSU and ACM2.
Metasurface-enabled polarization-independent LCoS spatial light modulator for 4K resolution and beyond
Authors: Zhu Zhaoxiang , Wen Yuanhui , Li Jiaqi , Chen Yujie , Peng Zenghui , Li Jianxiong , Zhu Lei , Wu Yunfei , Zhou Lidan , Liu Lin , Zong Liangjia , Yu Siyuan
Published: June 2023

With the distinct advantages of high resolution, small pixel size, and multi-level pure phase modulation, liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) devices afford precise and reconfigurable spatial light modulation that enables versatile applications ranging from micro-displays to optical communications. However, LCoS devices suffer from a long-standing problem of polarization-dependent response in that they only perform phase modulation on one linear polarization of light, and polarization-independent phase modulation—essential for most applications—have had to use complicated polarization-diversity optics. We propose and demonstrate, for the first time, an LCoS device that directly achieves high-performance polarization-independent phase modulation at telecommunication wavelengths with 4K resolution and beyond by embedding a polarization-rotating metasurface between the LCoS backplane and the liquid crystal phase-modulating layer. We verify the device with a number of typical polarization-independent application functions including beam steering, holographical display, and in a key optical switching element - wavelength selective switch (WSS), demonstrating the significant benefits in terms of both configuration simplification and performance improvement.