bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O λόγος των επαγγελματιών υγείας και εκπαίδευσης για την αναπηρία
Authors: Χουχούλη Βασιλική , Αθανασιάδου Χριστίνα , Γεωργάκα Ευγενία
Published: January 2021

Defining disability is a complex issue that has fuelled public debates between the scientific community and the representatives of organizations of people with disabilities. Within the above controversy, key persons are undoubtedly health and education professionals, who are responsible for the diagnosis, care and treatment of people with disabilities. The study aims to highlight the dominant discourses these professionals use when they talk about disability as well as the consequences these discourses have on their personal and professional lives. Overall, ten health and education professionals, working in different diagnostic, educational and rehabilitation centers fordisabled children in the wider region of Thessaloniki, were individually interviewed. Data analysis followed the qualitative method of post-structural discourse analysis. Three major discourses were found: the medical discourse, the humanitarian discourse and the stigmatization discourse. The above discourses have important implications (a) for the development of the participants’ professional identity and the way they manage the difficulties and rewards of their work, and (b) for the formation of the institutional practices on disability that are used within their work context.
O γάμος ως στόχος ζωής Προϋποθέσεις και λόγοι για την απόφαση γάμου
Authors: Αργυρούδη Ανθή , Κορδούτης Παναγιώτης
Published: January 2021

The goal of the present research was to investigate whether marriage is perceived in terms of the traditional western model that defines it as the framework for having a family and children or whether it is also perceived in terms of companionship dictating both marriage and alternative to marriage ways of organizing private life, such as cohabitation. For this purpose, we examined whether marriage is a personal life goal. We also investigated the preconditions and reasons people acknowledge in order to get married. Participants were sixty married individuals and sixty not-married ones (23-43 years old) who were involved in a dating relationship. They provided basic demographic information and responded to three open cognitive response questionnaires, specifically constructed for the purposes of the study. In the first one, without any mention of marriage, they were asked to list their personal life-goals. In the second one, they stated preconditions for getting married and in the third the reasons for their decision to get married. Employment was the most frequent life-goal, followed by thegoal of making a family and having relationships of good quality. Having a job and finding a good match for marriage were the most frequent preconditions. The most frequent reason for deciding to get married wasthe desire to have children and family. The traditional western model for marriage prevailed among participants’ perceptions. However, there was weak evidence suggesting views on long-term co-habitation (relationship quality, companionship) and on the traditional Greek perception of marriage (decision of marriage due to social pressure or social acceptance).
Το «τραύμα» του AIDS: προσεγγίσεις του προσωπικού, κοινωνικού και πολιτικού νοήματος που ενέχει η διάδοση του ιού HIV στην κοινότητα των ομοφυλόφιλων ανδρών
Authors: Καραγεωργίου Ελένη
Published: January 2021

The current article is based in psychological theories and researches and some anthropological approaches about the spreading of the HIV infection and AIDS in current west societies, in order to investigate the connections between the social and cultural representations and the personal meanings with which the disease is associated. It attempts tohighlight how these meanings affect the way by which the person experiences the diagnosis of AIDS. A constructionist and phenomenological approach is used in order to discuss the impact of the diagnosis as a traumatic event that stigmatizes the personal identity and sets forth a process of re-evaluation of the personal position and the position of the gay community to the world. In contrast to the dominant trend to assimilate the stigma and the perception of the disease as a punishment, which maintains the fear, the silence and the repression of the diversity, a political discourse that is developing internationally is presented, which views the trauma of AIDS as a catalyst for the empowerment of the victims.
Σεξουαλική επιθετικότητα νέων ανδρών και παράγοντες που την ενισχύουν
Authors: Παπαδακάκη Μαρία , Τσαλκάνης Αγγελος , Αραβαντινού Αντωνία , Ευτυχίδη Ρωξάνη , Ιωσηφίδης Ιωάννης , Χλιαουτάκης Ιωάννης
Published: January 2021

Objectives: The current study aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors for the perpetration of sexually aggressive behaviours, in men aged 18-30 years in the city of Heraklion, Crete. Methods: Stratified sampling was used to select the study sample. A total of 241 individuals accepted to participate in the study out of 335 initially found to meet the inclusion criteria (gender, age). For the needs of the current study a semi-structured questionnaire was used, including 4 sections and 43 items. The questionnaire examined the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, their past sexual activity and experiences, their attitudes towards the rape myths, and the prevalence of perpetrating sexually aggressive behaviours. Results: Participants were men (n=241) with a mean age of 23.9 years (SD 3.4) and had their first sexual intercourse at the age of 17.2 years (SD 2.0). Out of a total of 241 participants, 8 (3.3%) reported a history of sexual victimization without intercourse before the age of 14 years and 2 (.8%) reported sexual victimization with intercourse at the same age. Based on the results of the multiple regression analysis, higher acceptance of rape myths was found to be associated with increased likelihood of perpetrating sexually aggressive behaviours (p<.001; CI=.721;1.471) after controlling for the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and their past sexual activity and experiences. Conclusion: Future attempts to prevent or address the problem of sexual aggression could take into account the risk factors identified in the current study.
Test Development and Use Internationally
Authors: Oakland Thomas
Published: January 2021

Test development and use constitute psychology’s most important contribution to applied psychology. This article summarizes the status of test development and use internationally. Country and regional differences in test development and use exist and are explained in reference to qualities needed to support test development and use. The relevanceof tests, like other technologies, should change in light of changing needs of those who rely on test data. Several somewhat prominent changes to which tests should respond are reviewed.
“Positive Relationships” and their impact on wellbeing: A review of current literature
Authors: Mertika Antigoni , Mitskidou Paschalia , Stalikas Anastassios
Published: January 2021

Positive relationships are widely considered to be one of the pillars of well-being. Their boosting effect on emotional and physical health has repeatedly been documented by experimental and longitudinal studies. Despite their instrumental role, the existing literature does not offer systematic observations of their nature and characteristics. In this paper, we aim to explore the specific characteristics of positive relationships. We conducted a thorough research of the existing most recent literature and grouped our findings according to the following two research questions: (a) the kind of relationships that are positive in people's lives and, (b) the way positive relationships relate and support well-being. Our findings suggested that specific relationships are examined with respect to different age groups, e.g. peer relationships in adolescence or marital relationships in adulthood. All relationships described as positive at each developmental stage are correlated with wellbeing in various ways. Beyond the characteristics of people and the way they relate, relationships seem to contribute to wellbeing by sharing positive moments and events, being supportive with respect to autonomy and showing an attitude of interest and emotional engagement. In conclusion, we argue that while relationships seem to contribute to wellbeing, there is not yet an exhaustive list of ingredients that make the relationship “positive”. We suggest new ways to enhance the study of positive relationships as well as possible variables that have not yet been examined and could possibly enhance our understanding of positive relationships and their influence on wellbeing.
Humor in aging: is it able to enhance wellbeing in community dwelling older adults?
Authors: Giapraki Maria , Moraitou Despina , Pezirkianidis Christos , Stalikas Anastassios
Published: January 2021

The present study aimed at examining the effects of humor on community-dwelling older adults’ wellbeing. A humor-based intervention was introduced to older adults - members of the Open Care Center for Older Adults, in order to enhance five components of wellbeing as psychological flourishing (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment). The sample consisted of 40 (20 male, 20 female) participants aged 65-91 years old, screened for depressive symptomatology and objective cognitive impairment. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (experimental / control group), matched in age, gender, and education, and were assigned two different researcher-administered tasks (recollection of humorous events / recollection of early memories) respectively. The Positive Psychological Intervention (PPI) of humor and the control condition lasted one month. Wellbeing was measured by the PERMA Profiler instrument at three times (pretest, posttest, follow-up). The results regarding the specific components of wellbeing as psychological flourishing showed that only the participants in the experimental condition tended to score higher in the posttest assessment compared to the pretest measurement and these results remained relatively unaffected one month after the intervention (follow-up). Hence a humor-based intervention could indeed contribute to the improvement of wellbeing as psychological flourishing in aging.
DISCUSSION - Positive Psychology: Small steps towards renewing and expanding the sound tradition of subjectivity
Authors: Kordoutis Panos
Published: January 2021

The basic tenets of Positive Psychology derive from the philosophical traditions of Utilitarianism, Virtues, and Eudaimonia theorizing, and Hedonism. However, its unique and original contribution to Psychology lies in empirically operationalizing the definition of well-being. Moreover, it has proposed a theoretical framework consisting of, also, operationally defined socio-psychological processes associated with well-being: (a) interacting within social relationships and contexts, (b) developing traits (e.g. personal strengths), (c) pursuing states of existence (happiness, pleasure) and (d) experiencing seamless functioning (e.g. meaning). These processes concern and render with theoretical cohesion most of the research and interventions within Positive Psychology. Nevertheless, and even though social and relational contexts have been an integral part of the cohesive model of Positive Psychology from the outset, rarely are they reflected in pertinent research in a way other than that of subjective representations. The six papers presented in this journal fall into the aforementioned fourfold cohesive theoretical approach of Positive Psychology and nearly all, respond to the above criticism by taking into account relational or social contextual factors and by employing different strategies for their representation or actual estimation..  All papers in this special issue are good examples of how evidence-based understanding can support and feed into effective intervention planning and applications, a goal that follows steadily Positive Psychology since its inception.
DISCUSSION - Positive psychology in Greece: latest developments
Authors: Malikiosi-Loizos Maria
Published: January 2021

Discussion of the Special Issue
The Integration of Positive Psychology in the Clinical Milieu: Conceptual, Empirical and Practical Implications in the Mental Health Care
Authors: Yotsidi Vasiliki
Published: January 2021

As clinical psychology becomes a more integrative discipline, the introduction of positive psychology in the clinical realm has been a new promising trend. Several positive interventions to treat mental health difficulties have been recently developed, aiming to promote therapeutic change by facilitating increased well-being. The aim of this paper is to review the conceptual trajectories of positive psychology in the clinical domain throughout the last twenty years and to provide a comprehensive perspective toward a positive psychology-oriented psychotherapy. Current positive psychology theoretical, empirical, and practical insights are provided to illustrate how the integration of positive psychology in the clinical environment is theoretically and practically useful as well as scientifically valid. Clinical research evidence of the contemporary theories of well-being and self-determination is presented along with the most recent empirical findings on the efficacy of positive psychology interventions in the mental health system. Examples of evidence-based positive psychology interventions further exemplify the ways of integrating positive psychology treatments into clinical practice. Such a synthesis of the evidence regarding the outcomes of positive clinical interventions can expand the research and practice of clinical psychology and may contribute to broadening the role of clinical psychologists in promoting well-being along with treating distress.
Executive functions in French-Greek early bilinguals: In search of the suggested bilingual advantage
Authors: Chrysochoou Elisavet , Kanaki Styliani , Vivas Ana B.
Published: January 2021

Bilinguals must manage two languages on a daily basis, which requires, among other things, dealing with cross-linguistic interference. Such cognitive training is assumed to underlie better performance of bilinguals, relative to monolinguals, in non-verbal cognitive tasks. Ηowever, the suggested advantage has recently been questioned. The present study aimed at shedding light into this debate, focusing on French-Greek early bilingual adults. Exposure to two languages from the first few years of life has been suggested to favour the demonstration of an advantage. Bilinguals were compared to Greek-speaking monolingual adults (matched for age, gender, non-verbal intelligence, and SES) on executive function tasks, tapping switching, inhibition, and updating processes. Task demands were also manipulated. In line with the suggested advantage and as expected, in the switching paradigm, bilinguals performed faster overall and demonstrated a smaller mixing cost; this can be assumed to reflect better general monitoring and top-down processing for bilingual participants. In contrast, the groups did not differ on switching cost, neither on the inhibition and updating measures. Moreover, contrary to what was expected, the cognitive measures did not correlate with an index of how balanced bilingualism was. Findings do not support a general and robust cognitive advantage in a sample of early bilinguals. Factors that might influence its observation are discussed, along with lines of future research.
Πιλοτικό ομαδικό πρόγραμμα ψυχολογικής υποστήριξης για τη διακοπή καπνίσματος
Authors: Αγγελοπούλου Παρασκευή , Μαρόγλου Φωτεινή , Μακρογιάννη Χριστίνα
Published: January 2021

In the Prevention Center “Diktio Alpha”, a short-term group program of psychological support was developed to address the issue of smoking cessation at the local level in Thessaloniki. The aim of this study was to describe the application and effectiveness of the pilot psychological support group program as it was conducted by the Prevention Center. The program used an eclectic model, which was based on the Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Gestalt Therapy principles. Eight (8) two-hour focus group meetings were held from April until June 2016. The sample consisted of seven women (n=7) aged 37-59 years (M= 47.7 years). The participants’ level of nicotine dependence was measured through the use of Fagerström scale, where two people indicated low dependence, four medium dependence and one (person) high dependence. Data was codified and analyzed through the use of thematic analysis. According to the analysis, six broad thematic categories were formed: a) pre-thinking, how life was before the decision of cessation, b) thought or consideration of the decision to cease smoking, c) preparation for the cessation, d) action, e) maintaining of cessation, how life is after cigarette, and f) relapse. A follow-up call was conducted six months after the intervention, where three participants were found to having maintained smoking cessation. The results of this study could be used in the design and implementation of more intervention programs at a local level targeting vulnerable social groups.
Editorial
Authors: Das Rolla
Published: January 2021

In an excellent article, “Struggling with the uncertainty of life under coronavirus? How Kierkegaard’s philosophy can help”, published in The Conversation, Patrick Stokes, presents an analysis of life and uncertainty during COVID 19 in the world. The world, people, their lives, dreams and aspirations, the very possibility of a future, the nature and reality of it faced an enormous challenge – the challenge of presence, or the existence or being after the pandemic. This could be because many of us could not conceive what after meant. New vocabulary, newer appearances and still newer methods of communication alerted to a “new normal”. Many students, teachers, workers from all spheres of life, people in general, did not always felt jubilant with the attempted vibrancy of the term, “now normal”. People waited.
Tracing Russell’s Views on the Relationship between Culture and Science as Intrinsically Linked through the Method of Analysis
Authors: Deka Jahnabi
Published: January 2021

Bertrand Russell, while expressing his deep concern for a prevailing negligence about an intrinsic aspect of science, which he terms culture, opines that culture is not to be understood as something divorced from science. His demarcation of old culture from young culture; and his claim that it is the young culture which is responsible for valuing science for its usefulness rather than its intrinsic aspect, i.e., prepares the stage for arguing in favour of endorsement of cultural intrinsicality of science. The paper argues that viewed from Russell’s perspective, understanding culture as something unrelated to science will be a mistake, because it will carry a message to the mankind which is detrimental to the entire fabric of social cohesion. The paper focuses on the inculcation of scientific habit, an intrinsic aspect of science, as culture. While doing so, the paper intends to stress on the point that the scientific habit, which is linked to the Russellian method of analysis, common to both science and philosophy, plays a significant role in enabling one to focus on the cultural aspect of science. Analysis, in the province of philosophy, is used by Russell primarily to analyze language.
Risk of Insolvency and Return of Shares: Empirical Analysis of Altman's Z-Score in the Peruvian Mining Sector Between 2008-2018
Authors: Lizarzaburu Bolaños Edmundo R , Burneo Kurt , Berggrun Luis
Published: January 2021

This research pretends to evaluate the significance of the insolvency risk, referred by Altman's Z-Score, in the explanation of the historical return of the 7 most liquid mining companies listed in the Lima Stock Exchange based on a Market Return Model (MRM) under a cross-sectional approach. In this sense, daily data was collected from the S&P/BVL Peru Select index and the Peruvian 10-year Sovereign Bond between 2008-2018, approximated quarterly by the geometric average to homogenize them with the frequency of the Z. Thus, two central results were obtained: 1) The Z-Score, as an estimator of insolvency risk, is not valid to explain the behavior of the historical return of the shares, and 2) The Market Premium is statistically significant within the yield analysis. Also, contrary to the common literature, the results suggest the validity of Sharpe's conventional CAPM.
Responsabilidad social corporativa y gobernanza: una revisión
Authors: García Salazar Angela , Echeverri Rubio Alejandro , Vieira Salazar Jaime Andrés
Published: January 2021

La responsabilidad social corporativa (RSC) y su relación con la gobernanza es una temática de creciente importancia, dada la responsabilidad de las corporaciones de contribuir con las problemáticas sociales y ambientales; si bien la presentación de informes de RSC es una práctica cada vez más común en las organizaciones, aún a nivel investigativo hay brechas de conocimiento. Este documento propone una revisión de literatura por medio del uso de la metodología ToS (Tree of Science); analizando las co-citaciones de los artículos publicados en Web of Science (WoS) entre 2001 y 2019, para así generar las tres perspectivas de mayor relevancia por medio de clústeres. Los resultados muestran que las perspectivas están orientadas a la presentación de informes RSC y la conformación de juntas directivas, efecto de la diversidad de género en las áreas de gobierno empresarial y la presentación de informes integrados y generación de valor económico. Finalmente se concluye; que es necesario implementar políticas en las corporaciones y empresas de economías emergentes, para promover una participación diversa en las juntas; así mismo es necesario continuar con la investigación, que permita analizar e identificar la evolución entre la Gobernanza y la RSC.
Fabricated or induced illness: The importance of health chronologies in recognising this form of abuse
Authors: Kean Melanie
Published: January 2021

Fabricated or induced illness is a rare form of child abuse and school nurses are well placed in the community to identify potential cases. They can interact with school age children over a long period of time and can more easily identify patterns and trends, or inconsistencies in a child's health. School nurses can be key to initiating a multi-agency approach, bringing relevant professionals together and helping to safeguard the child through early recognition of this condition. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of fabricated or induced illness and outline the importance of documentation and in particular the use of health chronologies to identify this rare form of child abuse.
Your next job is…
Authors: Hussain Alisha
Published: January 2021

…Only a step away. Alisha Hussain offers her top 10 tips to help you make your next move
Self-improvement as a team
Authors: Silver Rebecca
Published: January 2021

Critical reflection for mutual support has never been so important, suggests Rebecca Silver
New Advance study reveals hidden losses to BVD in milking herds
Authors: Schmitt Ellen
Published: January 2021

Discussing BVD with clients in terms of milk losses and economic impact is not always easy. The new Advance study aimed to contextualise losses related to unseen BVD in a milking herd, which is often one of the most difficult conversations to have with clients who believe that testing and screening alone will suffice. A milk loss and potential additional income calculator has been developed with the data from the study.
Veterinary advocacy and advice: promoting farmer resilience with evidence-based decisions
Authors: Brownlee George
Published: January 2021

During UK-Vet Healthy Herd 2020 George Brownlee, Founder & CEO of VetIMPRESS discussed the role of veterinary practitioners in using insights from data to help farmers become more resilient to challenges around farm gate price, animal welfare standards, environmental and ethical concerns. His talk explained how the VetIMPRESS platform provides the mechanism for veterinary surgeons to advocate for farmers using data.
Getting more out of farmer meetings: a practical guide for advisors
Authors: Morgans Lisa
Published: January 2021

UK agriculture is full of examples of farmer meetings, discussion groups, workshops and knowledge transfer. Farming advisors run many events and workshops to help farmers improve and progress, however, the true potential of holding farmer meetings is not being realised. Facilitation can be a valuable addition to an otherwise ‘business as usual’ meeting. It can help groups to share ideas and challenges and ensure everyone has an equal voice. Facilitators and their array of tools and activities harness the available expertise at meetings to support change. By adopting a more facilitatory communication style and various discussion tool activities, advisors can improve the outcomes from existing farmer meetings and discussion groups.
Iceberg diseases in uk goats
Authors: Harwood David
Published: January 2021

Iceberg diseases are recognised across ruminant species, and their impact on individual animal health and welfare, and their economic impact at herd or flock level should not be underestimated. This group of diseases are characterised by the variety of stages of infection present when disease is established from clinically obvious cases (the ‘tip’ of the iceberg) through differing stages of early clinical disease to those infected yet clinically healthy. This article will explore iceberg diseases that can be identified in goats whether kept for profit, hobby, or pleasure.
Activities for resident wellbeing
Authors: Hong Chia Swee
Published: January 2021

Keeping residents active is critical to overall health, especially in times where their freedom of movement might be restricted. Chia Swee Hong provides the seventh instalment of his series on resident engagement.
Parkinson's disease: beyond motor symptoms
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: January 2021

Motor symptoms—such as tremor, slow movements and poor balance—are the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. However, people with PD also experience numerous nonmotor symptoms, which sometimes pose more of a problem and cause more distress than the movement disorders. Mark Greener summarises some recent studies that offer new insights into PD's nonmotor symptoms.
Softly, softly: care and soft skills training
Authors: Bernstein Adam
Published: January 2021

Competence in a role is one thing, but a successful employee needs more than that; they also need what are termed ‘soft skills’. Adam Bernstein details what these might be and how employers might address skills gaps in their organisations.
High School Principals’ Ability to Estimate Work Time
Authors: Ongaga Kennedy O. , Stallings Rebecca Y.
Published: January 2021

Time management for educational leaders has remained highly relevant to scholars, policymakers and practitioners. We analyzed survey responses from 98 public high school principals to examine the congruency between average total hours they worked per week against the sum total of the average hours worked per week in each of five distinct categories of leadership tasks. The observed congruence was 0.32, while Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.10. Female principals tended to underreport, and male principals tended to overreport, total work time. Principals with doctorate degrees exhibited higher congruence than those without, and overreporting was inversely related to highest degree. Principals in charge of large teaching staffs were more likely than their counterparts to be congruent and less likely to overreport total work time. Self-report appears to be an inaccurate method to measure time use among high school principals. If time use is a key component of the quality of principal leadership, more detailed and robust techniques for collecting time use data should be utilized in future studies.
Estimates of Victim Surface Area and Associated Extraction Force for Partial Entrapment in Grain
Authors: Schwab Charles V. , Schwab Lauren E. , Schwab Pamela J.
Published: January 2021

Highlights

Eight selected anthropometric landmarks were useful for estimating victim surface area and entrapment depth.

Surface area estimates for a partially entrapped male victim ranged from 0.0716 to 2.7296 m2.

Partial extraction force estimates for a male victim ranged from 0.29 to 3,693 N.

Partial extraction force estimates were 18% greater on average when including the arm surface area than when not including the arms.

Abstract. A prediction model for estimating extraction forces on entrapped victims was enhanced and modernized in 2018 from the original 1985 model. The prediction model was divided into two conditions based on the victim’s relative position to the grain surface. The first condition was when the victim is completely below the grain surface. The second condition was when the victim’s shoulders are above the grain surface; this condition is the focus of this research. A variable in the prediction model that changes with the depth of entrapment is the surface area of the victim. A sample of 60 male models was used to approximate the human surface area at optimal discrete positions selected based on visually identifiable anthropometric landmarks. The surface area estimates for those 60 partially entrapped male models ranged from 0.0716 to 2.7296 m2. Extraction forces for twelve partially entrapped male body types with various combinations of stature and body mass index were calculated. The extraction forces were calculated for conditions when the victim’s arms were raised (above the grain) and lowered (in the grain). Results from the prediction model showed that surface area contributed less to the partial extraction force for short underweight bodies than for tall extremely obese bodies. At the lower landmarks, i.e., medial malleolus (MM) and knee crease (KN), surface area did not contribute noticeably to the partial extraction force. The contribution of surface area was not noticeable until the victim was buried up to the crotch (landmark CR). Keywords: Farm safety, Grain entrapment, Prediction model, Rescue, Safety.
Approximation of a melting plateau of large area HTFP cells used for
spectral irradiance realization
Authors: Xie Yihang , Dai Caihong , Wang Yanfei , Wu Zhifeng , Li Ling , Khlevnoy Boris , Grigoryeva Irina , He Shufang , Lin Yandong
Published: January 2021

This paper adopted an approximation of a melting plateau to solve the
problem that temperature data cannot be monitored continuously when
measuring the spectral irradiance of a large area tungsten
carbide–carbon high-temperature fixed-point blackbody at each measured
wavelength. Tests with fully measured curves showed that the method
has a rather small deviation from the measured data of 0.017 K
maximum, which corresponds to the spectral irradiance deviation of
0.005% at 500 nm. The maximum relative deviation between the Akima
fitting method and the measured temperature in terms of spectral
irradiance was 0.002%, which was better than

−

0.067

%

of a single temperature of 3020.11 K
method and 0.026% of a linear interpolation method.
Influence of the lateral size of a hologram on the reconstructed image in digital light-in-flight recording by holography
Authors: Inoue Tomoyoshi , Sasaki Mika , Nishio Kenzo , Kubota Toshihiro , Awatsuji Yasuhiro
Published: January 2021

Digital light-in-flight recording by holography is a promising technique for observing a propagating ultrashort light pulse as a motion picture. A typical reconstruction process of digital light-in-flight recording by holography, we extract holograms without considering the relationship between the lateral size of the extracted hologram (sub-hologram) and the size of an area where the propagating ultrashort light pulse and an image sensor overlap. The area records the image of the ultrashort light pulse at a certain moment. In this study, by considering the size of the small interference fringe image, we assessed the influence of the lateral size of the hologram on the reconstructed image. We defined the size of the area in which the interference fringe image at a moment is recorded. Then, we examined the reconstructed images by changing the lateral size of the sub-hologram. As a result, we found that the lateral size of the hologram does not affect the size of the reconstructed image but the spatial resolution of the reconstructed images.
Suitability of DIALux for designing UVC disinfection cabins
Authors: Arines Justo
Published: January 2021

During the present Sars-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been an increase in
the development of UVC disinfection systems. Researchers and members
of the lighting community shifted their interests to this new field to
help develop systems for disinfecting facemasks and other small
equipment. In this paper we show that it is possible to use DIALux to
simulate the irradiance distribution provided by a lamp emitting in
the UVC range. We will compare the results provided by DIALux with
those obtained from Zemax OpticStudio in three different scenarios. We
compared the minimum, maximum, and mean irradiance at the detection
plane. The differences between the two software were less than 12%,
2%, and 6%, respectively. We also compared the contour maps of
isoirradiance lines. We conclude that DIALux is well suited for UVC
lighting design in the UVC range. We think that this finding will
contribute to increasing the design and manufacturing of new UVC
disinfection systems needed to fight against the Sars-CoV-2
pandemic.
Solutions for single-scattered radiance in the semi-infinite medium based on radiative transport theory
Authors: Liemert André , Geiger Simeon , Kienle Alwin
Published: January 2021

In this paper, some explicit analytical solutions for single-scattered radiance in a half-space medium under consideration of a reflecting boundary are derived. We consider both a unidirectional beam source as well as an isotropic point source. In addition to direct applications within optical tomography and computer graphics, the obtained solutions are also needed when solving the radiative transport equation after the separation of the unscattered and single-scattered contribution. Comparisons between the derived analytical solutions and the Monte Carlo method display excellent agreement.
Large-angle two-dimensional grating with hybrid mechanisms
Authors: Zou Junyu , He Ziqian , Yang Qian , Yin Kun , Li Kun , Wu Shin-Tson
Published: January 2021

We demonstrate a large-diffraction-angle two-dimensional (2D) grating based on cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC). One dimension is a polarization volume grating (PVG) working in the Bragg regime, which is produced by a patterned photoalignment layer. The other dimension is a CLC grating working in the Raman–Nath regime, which is introduced by CLC self-assembly under a weak anchoring energy condition. The condition for the coexistence of the CLC Raman–Nath grating (RNG) and PVG is analyzed, and the efficiency and grating period of the CLC RNG are also characterized. Potential application of this 2D grating for enlarging the eyebox of augmented reality displays is discussed.
Microwave controlled ground state coherence in an atom-based optical amplifier
Authors: Adwaith K. V. , Pradosh K. N. , Saaswath J. K. , Bretenaker Fabien , Narayanan Andal
Published: January 2021

We experimentally investigate and theoretically analyze the effect of microwave controlled atomic ground state coherence on the phase-dependent amplification (PDA) of an optical probe field. We use three hyperfine levels in room temperature 85Rb atoms, which are cyclically connected by two optical and one microwave electromagnetic field. We show that a simultaneous fulfilment of a two-photon resonance condition that creates ground state coherence and a three-photon resonance condition leads to a significantly higher amplification of 7.5 dB of the optical probe field with a visibility of 98.8 %. By selectively breaking the ground state coherence using microwaves, we show that the amplification reduces with a bandwidth of 5 MHz. Nevertheless, the system shows non-zero PDA for large two-photon detunings of 15 MHz with high visibility of 66.8 %. This novel, controllable hybrid-PDA can be potentially used to trade-off amplification for bandwidth during the transmission of phase coherent classical and quantum information.
The effect of baseline serum uric acid on chronic kidney disease in normotensive, normoglycemic, and non-obese individuals: A health checkup cohort study
Authors: Son Young-Bin , Yang Ji Hyun , Kim Myung-Gyu , Jo Sang Kyung , Cho Won Yong , Oh Se Won
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The independent role of serum uric acid (SUA) on kidney disease is controversial due to its association with metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of baseline SUA with development of chronic kidney disease and eGFR decline in normotensive, normoglycemic and non-obese individuals during follow up period.

Materials and methods

We included non-hypertensitive, non-diabetic, and non-obese 13,133 adults with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60ml/min/1.73m2 who had a voluntary health check-up during 2004–2017.

Results

SUA was positively related to adjusted means of systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride, body mass index, and body fat percent. SUA was inversely associated with high density lipoprotein HDL (P for trend ≤0.001). SUA was an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. During 45.0 [24.0–76.0] months of median follow up, the highest quartiles of SUA showed significant risks of 30% eGFR decline compared than the lowest quartile (RR:3.701; 95% CI: 1.504–9.108). The highest quartile had a 2.2 fold (95% CI: 1.182–4.177) increase in risk for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Conclusions

SUA is an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in the healthy population. High SUA is associated with increased risk of CKD development and eGFR decline in participants with intact renal function.
Unequal treatment toward copartisans versus non-copartisans is reduced when partisanship can be falsified
Authors: Abascal Maria , Makovi Kinga , Sargsyan Anahit
Published: January 2021

Studies show that Democrats and Republicans treat copartisans better than they do non-copartisans. However, party affiliation is different from other identities associated with unequal treatment. Compared to race or gender, people can more easily falsify, i.e., lie about, their party affiliation. We use a behavioral experiment to study how people allocate resources to copartisan and non-copartisan partners when partners are allowed to falsify their affiliation and may have incentives to do so. When affiliation can be falsified, the gap between contributions to signaled copartisans and signaled non-copartisans is eliminated. This happens in part because some participants—especially strong partisans—suspect that partners who signal a copartisan affiliation are, in fact, non-copartisans. Suspected non-copartisans earn less than both partners who signal that they are non-copartisans and partners who withhold their affiliation. The findings reveal an unexpected upside to the availability of falsification: at the aggregate level, it reduces unequal treatment across groups. At the individual-level, however, falsification is risky.
The significance of anxiety symptoms in predicting psychosocial functioning across borderline personality traits
Authors: Howard Jacqueline , De Jesu´s-Romero Robinson , Peipert Allison , Riley Tennisha , Rutter Lauren A. , Lorenzo-Luaces Lorenzo
Published: January 2021

Emotion regulation is a central task of daily life. Difficulty regulating emotions is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD), one of the most common and impairing personality disorder diagnoses. While anger and symptoms of depression are instantiated in the criteria for BPD, anxiety is not, despite being among the most common psychiatric symptoms. In a sample of online respondents (N = 471), we explored the interactions between anxiety symptoms and BPD traits in predicting well-being (WHO-5) as well as poorer work and social adjustment (WSAS), while controlling for anger and depression. We hypothesized that anxiety would lead to more impairment (i.e., lower well-being and poorer work and more difficulties with work and social adjustment) as BPD traits increased. BPD traits and symptoms of anxiety both contributed to overall lower levels well-being and higher levels of psychosocial dysfunction. However, contrary to our expectations, at higher (vs. lower) levels of BPD traits, symptoms of anxiety were less conducive to lower well-being on the WHO-5. For the WSAS, there was no consistent evidence for an interaction between BPD traits and anxiety in predicting functioning. By and large, our results do not support the idea that anxiety contributes to more impairment at higher levels of BPD traits.
Bronze Age innovations and impact on human diet: A multi-isotopic and multi-proxy study of western Switzerland
Authors: Varalli Alessandra , Desideri Jocelyne , David-Elbiali Mireille , Goude Gwenaëlle , Honegger Matthieu , Besse Marie
Published: January 2021

The archaeological Bronze Age record in Europe reveals unprecedented changes in subsistence strategies due to innovative farming techniques and new crop cultivation. Increasing cultural exchanges affected the economic system. The inhabitants of Switzerland played a pivotal role in this European context through relationships with the Mediterranean, the High and Middle Danube regions and the Alps thanks to the area’s central position. This research aims to reconstruct, for the first time in Switzerland, human socio-economic systems through the study of human diet, herding and farming practices and their changes throughout the Bronze Age (2200–800 BCE) by means of biochemical markers. The study includes 41 human, 22 terrestrial and aquatic animal specimens and 30 charred seeds and chaff samples from sites in western Switzerland. Stable isotope analyses were performed on cereal and legume seeds (δ13C, δ15N), animal bone collagen (δ13Ccoll, δ15N, δ34S), human bone and tooth dentine collagen (δ13Ccoll, δ15N,) and human tooth enamel (δ13Cenamel). The isotopic data suggest a) an intensification of soil fertilization and no hydric stress throughout the Bronze Age, b) a human diet mainly composed of terrestrial resources despite the proximity of Lake Geneva and the Rhone river, c) a diet based on C3plants during the Early and Middle Bronze Age as opposed to the significant consumption of13C-enriched resources (probably millet) by individuals from the Final Bronze Age, d) no important changes in dietary patterns throughout an individual’s lifespan but a more varied diet in childhood compared to adulthood, e) no differences in diet according to biological criteria (age, sex) or funerary behavior (burial architecture, grave goods).
Fatty acid-binding protein 4 is an independent factor in the pathogenesis of retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Hikage Fumihito , Furuhashi Masato , Ida Yosuke , Ohguro Hiroshi , Watanabe Megumi , Suzuki Soma , Itoh Kaku
Published: January 2021

The main objective of current study was to identify the fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) expressed in both adipocytes and macrophages in vitreous fluid from patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Patients with RVO (n = 14, CRVO; central RVO n = 5, BRVO; branch RVO n = 9) and non-RVO (macular hole or epiretinal membrane, n = 18) were surgically treated by a 25 or 27G vitrectomy. Undiluted vitreous fluid samples obtained as the result of surgery were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure the levels of FABP4 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA).Data including ocular blood flow by laser speckle flow graphy (LSFG), height and weight, systemic blood pressures and several blood biochemistry values were collected. Among the LSFG mean blur rate (MBR) values of the optic nerve head (ONH) at baseline, MA (MBR of all area), MV (MBR of the vascular area), and MV-MT (MBR of the tissue area) were significantly decreased in patients with CRVO. The levels of V-FABP4 and V-VEGFA were relatively or significantly (P< 0.05) higher in the BRVO or CRVO patients compared to the non-RVO patients, respectively. A positive correlation (r = 0.36, P = 0.045) or a negative correlation (r = -0.51, P = 0.006) was observed between Log V-FABP4 and Log V-VEGF, or Log V-FABP4 and MV-MT at post-operative 1-week, respectively. Furthermore, neither of these factors were affected with respect to sex, body mass index and several clinical parameters that were collected, except that a positive correlation was observed for Log V-FABP4 with blood urea nitrogen. Stepwise multivariable regression analyses indicated that MV-MT at post-operative 1week was independently associated with Log V-FABP4 after adjustment for age and gender, and gender and Log V-FABP4 were independently associated with Log V-VEGFA after adjustment for age. The findings reported herein suggest that an independent factor, FABP4 may be synergistically involved in the pathogenesis of RVO with VEGFA.
Psychological outcomes, knowledge and preferences of pregnant women on first-trimester screening for fetal structural abnormalities: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Bardi Francesca , Bakker Merel , Kenkhuis Monique J. A. , Ranchor Adelita V. , Bakker Marian K. , Elvan Ayten , Birnie Erwin , Bilardo Caterina M.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a 13-week anomaly scan on the experienced levels of maternal anxiety and well-being. Secondly, to explore women’s knowledge on the possibilities and limitations of the scan and the preferred timing of screening for structural abnormalities.

Material and methods

In a prospective-cohort study conducted between 2013–2015, pregnant women in the North-Netherlands underwent a 13-week anomaly scan. Four online-questionnaires (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4) were completed before and after the 13- and the 20-week anomaly scans. In total, 1512 women consented to participate in the study and 1118 (74%) completed the questionnaires at Q1, 941 (64%) at Q2, 807 (55%) at Q3 and 535 (37%) at Q4. Psychological outcomes were measured by the state-trait inventory-scale (STAI), the patient’s positive-negative affect (PANAS) and ad-hoc designed questionnaires.

Results

Nine-nine percent of women wished to be informed as early as possible in pregnancy about the absence/presence of structural abnormalities. In 87% of women levels of knowledge on the goals and limitations of the 13-week anomaly scan were moderate-to-high. In women with a normal 13-week scan result, anxiety levels decreased (P < .001) and well-being increased over time (P < .001). In women with false-positive results (n = 26), anxiety levels initially increased (STAI-Q1: 39.8 vs. STAI-Q2: 48.6, P = 0.025), but later decreased around the 20-week anomaly scan (STAI-Q3: 36.4 vs. STAI-Q4: 34.2, P = 0.36).

Conclusions

The 13-week scan did not negatively impact the psychological well-being of pregnant women. The small number of women with screen-positive results temporarily experienced higher anxiety after the scan but, in false-positive cases, anxiety levels normalized again when the abnormality was not confirmed at follow-up scans. Finally, most pregnant women have moderate-to-high levels of knowledge and strongly prefer early screening for fetal structural abnormalities.