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What did the Covid-19 pandemic reveal to deaf young people about their lives as young adults?
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic changed the structures of communication, interaction and daily life for everyone. In this study, we examine what those changed social circumstances revealed to deaf young people about their identity, opportunities, strengths and vulnerabilities. Forty-six deaf young people aged 16–19 during the pandemic were interviewed by either deaf co-inquirers or academic researchers with a strong background in working with deaf people. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings demonstrate that the mental health challenges of the times were not new to many participants but rather just more of the familiar experiences of limited contact with others. However, the circumstances spotlighted attributes deaf people had which had been hidden previously to others including resilience, digital skills and creativity. Improved educational access through digital media was positive eventually but required some self-advocacy to achieve parity.<br/
What we mean when we say semantic:Toward a multidisciplinary semantic glossary
Get PDFTulving (1972) characterized semantic memory as a vast repository of meaning that underlies language and many other cognitive processes. This perspective on lexical and conceptual knowledge galvanized a new era of research undertaken by numerous fields, each with their own idiosyncratic methods and terminology. For example, ‘concept’ has different meanings in philosophy, linguistics, and psychology. As such, many fundamental constructs used to delineate semantic theories remain underspecified and/or opaque. Weak construct specificity is among the leading causes of the replication crisis now facing psychology and related fields. Term ambiguity hinders cross-disciplinary communication, falsifiability, and incremental theory-building. Numerous cognitive subdisciplines (e.g., vision, affective neuroscience) have recently addressed these limitations via the development of consensus-based guidelines and definitions. The project to follow represents our effort to produce a multidisciplinary semantic glossary consisting of succinct definitions, background, principled dissenting views, ratings of agreement, and subjective confidence for 17 target constructs (e.g., abstractness, abstraction, concreteness, concept, embodied cognition, event semantics, lexical-semantic, modality, representation, semantic control, semantic feature, simulation, semantic distance, semantic dimension). We discuss potential benefits and pitfalls (e.g., implicit bias, prescriptiveness) of these efforts to specify a common nomenclature that other researchers might index in specifying their own theoretical perspectives (e.g., They said X, but I mean Y)
Quantifying the effects of the mitochondrial genome on milk production traits in dairy cows: empirical results and modelling challenges
Get PDFSubstantial advances in livestock traits have been achieved primarily through selection strategies targeting variation in the nuclear genome, with little attention given to mitogenome variation. We analyzed the influence of the mitogenome on milk production traits of Holstein cattle in Croatia based on strategically generated next-generation sequencing data for 109 cows pedigree-linked to 7,115 milk production records (milk, fat, and protein yield) from 3,006 cows (first 5 lactations). Because little is known about the biology of the relationship between mitogenome variation and production traits, our quantitative genetic modeling was complex. Thus, the proportion of total variance explained by mitogenome inheritance was estimated using 5 different models: (1) a cytoplasmic model with maternal lineages (CYTO), (2) a haplotypic model with mitogenome sequences (HAPLO), (3) an amino acid model with unique amino acid sequences (AMINO), (4) an evolutionary model based on a phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees phylogenetic analysis (EVOL), and (5) a mitogenome SNP model (SNPmt). The polygenic autosomal and X chromosome additive genetic effects based on pedigree were modeled, together with the effects of herd-year-season interaction, permanent environment, location, and age at first calving. The estimated proportions of phenotypic variance explained by mitogenome in 4 different models (CYTO, HAPLO, AMINO, and SNPmt) were found to be substantial given the size of mitogenome, ranging from 5% to 7% for all 3 milk traits. At the same time, a negligible proportion of the phenotypic variance was explained by mitogenome with the EVOL model. Similarly, in all models, no proportion of phenotypic variance was explained by the X chromosome. Although our results should be confirmed in other dairy cattle populations, including a large number of sequenced mitogenomes and nuclear genomes, the potential of utilizing mitogenome information in animal breeding is promising, especially as the acquisition of complete genome sequences becomes cost-effective.</p
Evaluation of the Animal Guardians programme:An intervention for children who have harmed animals
Get PDFChildhood animal harm is associated with poor psychological outcomes and may co-occur with delinquency and violent behavior. Despite this, there are few established interventions for childhood animal harm and no research evaluating their effectiveness. This study is an evaluation of Animal Guardians, a targeted educational intervention delivered by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (Scottish SPCA) for children who have harmed animals or showing concerning behaviors toward animals. Animal Guardians is for primary school children in Scotland and is delivered one-to-one in the child’s school over a 6–10-week period targeting: (1) understanding of animal sentience and emotions, (2) knowledge of animal welfare needs, (3) care and empathy toward animals, and (4) correct handling and behavior around animals. Using a matched-control sample of 48 children (24 referred to Animal Guardians and 24 matched controls) we evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention through a pre- post-test assessment measuring targeted constructs. Mixed ANOVAs showed that children receiving the Animal Guardians program improved significantly more than controls on welfare knowledge, behavior toward animals, and cognitive and behavioral empathy. Furthermore, post-hoc tests showed that referred children improved significantly on belief in animal minds and affective empathy. The intervention was equally effective for girls and boys, and independent of animal harm-severity at referral. Younger children had a marginally greater improvement than older children. Animal Guardians is an effective program and demonstrates that educational interventions can reduce risk of childhood animal harm among high-risk children. More research is required on whether positive changes are maintained over long periods and whether educational interventions might complement psychological interventions
Global Nutrition and the Intersection of Human and Animal Health
Get PDFFor optimal health and wellbeing, the body needs to be nourished with a complement of essential macro and micronutrients, obtained from the habitual consumption of appropriate quantities of safe, affordable and culturally appropriate diverse foods. Nutrition security is dependent on food security, and together, they are defined as existing when “all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to food, which is safe and consumed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, and is supported by an environment of adequate sanitation, health services and care, allowing for a healthy and active life” (Committee on World Food Security, 2012)
Testicular self-examination:The role of anticipated relief and anticipated regret
Get PDFObjective: Anticipated regret has been implicated in health-related decision-making. Recent work on influenza vaccination has suggested that anticipated relief, too, may influence individuals' decisions to engage in positive health behaviours. To explore these affective components further and address the generality of possible mechanisms underlying these associations, we examined whether anticipated relief and anticipated regret independently predict testicular self-examination (TSE) intention and behaviour. Given claims about differences in their nature and function, we distinguished between counterfactual relief (relief that a worse outcome did not obtain) and temporal relief (relief that an unpleasant experience is over). Design: Prospective correlational. Methods: At Time 1 (July 2022), 567 cis-gendered males were asked to complete measures of anticipated regret, anticipated counterfactual and temporal relief, measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and measures of anxiety and shame. One month later, the same participants were recontacted and asked about their engagement in TSE in the previous month. Results: Anticipated counterfactual relief and anticipated regret are independent, positive, predictors of intention to engage in TSE and, indirectly, TSE behaviour itself. Interestingly, anticipated temporal relief was negatively associated with intention to engage in TSE and, indirectly, behaviour. Conclusions: Our results suggest that it may be the counterfactual nature of anticipated regret and anticipated relief that underlies their positive association with TSE and other health-promoting behaviours. Interventions designed to increase engagement in preventive health behaviours, such as TSE, may benefit from the consideration of both positively and negatively valenced counterfactual emotions
Virtuous victimhood as a dark triad resource transfer strategy
Get PDFVirtuous victim signals have been described as a resource transfer strategy motivated by dark traits of narcissism and Machiavellianism Ok et al. (2021). Here we report direct replication of key predictions of this claim, test robustness to alternative predictors, and explore possible roles for sadism within virtuous-victim signalling. Study 1 (N = 750, preregistered) replicated significant, large, associations of virtuous victim signalling with communal narcissism and Machiavellianism. Study 2 (N = 750, preregistered) tested robustness of the association using an alternative victim signalling measure. The results again replicated, this time with larger effects (β = 0.41 for narcissism and β = 0.22 for Machiavellianism). Virtuous-victim status releases resources to the claimant but also leaves the accused as targets for attack. We therefore explored (study 3) whether a further dark trait – sadism –predicted exploitation of this victimization opportunity. Sadism was significantly and specifically associated with engaging in and enjoying attacks on accused. The results provide independent support for virtuous victim signalling as narcissistic Machiavellianism. Dark traits may be adapted to exploit the resources released to victims, and opportunities for resource-capture provided by victimizing others under a righteous guise
Asymptomatic infection and antibody prevalence to co-occurring avian influenza viruses vary substantially between sympatric seabird species following H5N1 outbreaks
No full textEmerging infectious diseases are of major concern to animal and human health. Recent emergence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) led to substantial global mortality across a range of host species. Co-occurring species showed marked differences in mortality, generating an urgent need for better epidemiological understanding within affected populations. We therefore tested for antibodies, indicative of previous exposure and recovery, and for active viral infection in apparently healthy individuals (n = 350) across five co-occurring seabird species on the Isle of May, Scotland, during 2023, following H5N1 HPAIV associated mortality in the preceding summer. Antibody prevalence to AIV subtypes varied substantially between species, ranging from 1.1% in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) (to H5) to 78.7% in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) (to H16 or both H13 and H16), and between 31 and 41% for three auk species (H5, H16 or both). At least 20.4% of auks had antibodies to an as yet unidentified subtype, suggesting further subtypes circulating in the population. We found low levels of active, but asymptomatic, AIV infection in individuals (1.6–4.5%), but excluded this as H5N1. Our results emphasise the importance of testing healthy individuals to understand the prevalence of co-circulating AIV subtypes in wild populations, and the potential for future reassortment events which could alter virus behaviour and impact.</p
Advances in hybrid icing and frosting protection strategies for optics, lens, and photonics in cold environments using thin film acoustic waves
Get PDFFogging, icing, or frosting on optical lenses, optics/photonics, windshields, vehicle/ airplane windows, and solar panel surfaces have often shown serious safety concerns with hazardous conditions and impaired sight. Various active techniques, such as resistive heating, and passive techniques, such as icephobic treatments, are widely employed for their prevention and elimination. However, these methods are not always suitable, effective, or efficient. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and recent advances of transparent thin film surface acoustic wave (SAW) technologies on glass substrates for monitoring and prevention/elimination of fogging, frosting, and icing. Key challenges related to fogging and icing on glass substrates are discussed, along with fundamental mechanisms that establish thin film surface acoustic waves (SAWs) as optimal solutions for these issues. Various types of thin film acoustic wave technologies are discussed, including recent wearable and flexible SAW devices integrated onto glass substrates for expanding future applications. The focus of this review are the principles and strategies for hybrid or integrated de-fogging/de-icing and sensing/monitoring functions. Finally, critical issues and future outlooks for thin film-based SAW technology on glass substrates in industry applications are presented
Plant breeding simulations with AlphaSimR
No full textPlant breeding plays a crucial role in the development of high-performing crop varieties that meet the demands of society. Emerging breeding techniques offer the potential to improve the precision and efficiency of plant breeding programs; however, their optimal implementation requires refinement of existing breeding programs or the design of new ones. Stochastic simulations are a cost-effective solution for testing and optimizing new breeding strategies. The aim of this paper is to provide an introduction to stochastic simulation with software AlphaSimR for plant breeding students, researchers, and experienced breeders. We present an overview of how to use the software and provide an introductory AlphaSimR vignette as well as complete AlphaSimR scripts of breeding programs for self-pollinated, clonal, and hybrid crops, including relevant breeding techniques, such as backcrossing, speed breeding, genomic selection, index selection, and others. Our objective is to provide a foundation for understanding and utilizing simulation software, enabling readers to adapt the provided scripts for their own use or even develop completely new plant breeding programs. By incorporating simulation software into plant breeding education and practice, the next generation of plant breeders will have a valuable tool in their quest to provide sustainable and nutritious food sources for a growing population.</p
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