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Adaptation and validation of the Youth Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Screener in Portugal: A unified psychological health screening tool
No full textResearch points to the importance of school-based universal screening focused on psychological health and well-being dimensions to reach a baseline that allows for the allocation of pupils on adequate interventions and supports, and monitors their response to intervention. When screening for mental health problems, it is recommended to screen for internalizing and externalizing behaviors. This study conducted an adaptation and validation of the Youth Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Screener (YIEPS) in the Portuguese context, following three main steps: translation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data was collected in 10 schools, with a final sample of 942 adolescents randomly split into two subsamples. Initially, EFA was conducted on one subsample and then CFA was conducted on the other. Results support a bifactor model with two specific factors (internalizing and conduct problems) and a general mental health problems factor, eliminating items pertaining to attention problems and hyperactivity-impulsivity. This adapted measurement model showed good internal consistency, reliability, concurrent and divergent validity with other measures of mental health problems, and psychosocial functioning. The YIEPS-Portuguese can be used in Portuguese schools to screen for psychological health difficulties, in addition to other measures to screen for the complete mental health of pupils
Broadband high-temperature metamaterial absorber and thermal emitter composed of fractal geometry
No full textFractal structures are natural patterns that repeat themselves. They have several unique features that make them ideal for solar energy absorption and sensing applications. In this study, we present a high-performance, polarization insensitive solar absorber comprises of a nickel (Ni)-made hash-shaped fractal geometry develop over a thin layer of gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) features a high absorption rate that covers the visible and near-infrared wavelengths of the spectrum. The results show that broadband aggregative absorptivity of 92% is attained between 380 nm and 3850 nm attributed to remarkable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) induced by the periodic array of Ni nano-resonators and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at the interface of GZO-SiO2 layers. Further, the absorptivity remains above 90% from 670 nm to 3850 nm over a bandwidth of 3180 nm. With the utility of high-temperature resilient materials in the developed metamaterial structure, it shows potential for the thermal applications; as the results indicate the maximum heat radiation efficiency is 92.88% at 1600 K. Aside from that, we provide insight into the broadband high solar light capturing characteristics of the proposed device with the support of surface current density and electric field distribution study at the selective wavelengths. Furthermore, the device’s parametric study revealed a minor impact on its absorptivity/emissivity characteristics while also suggesting its robustness, which could be useful in device manufacture process. The overall benefits of the proposed device show its potential for high-temperature solar energy harvesting applications and solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) cells.</p
Artificial Immune System Approaches to Classify Ambiguous Data on Device Quality
No full textSemiconductor devices must be characterised and measured to ensure that they perform in accordance with predefined specifications. The manual process of data-driven segregation of devices to detect anomalies is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, there is an unmet need to automate data classification tasks in order to reduce the extensive manual review process. In order to address the issue of classifying MOSFET device characteristics, this paper explores the real-valued negative selection algorithm (RNSA) and the conservative self-pattern recognition algorithm (CSPRA), and proposes a CSPRA-SHAP classifier based on Shapley Addition interpretation (SHAP The results demonstrate that the CSPRA-SHAP classifier achieves significantly higher recall rates and accuracy in detecting and classifying anomalies than the traditional model
Multiscale simulation of stratum corneum lipid mixtures: effects of ceramide headgroups on structural organization and hydrogen bonding networks
No full textThe barrier function of the outermost layer of human skin, the stratum corneum (SC), arises from its multilamellar lipid matrix composed primarily of ceramides (CERs), cholesterol (CHOL), and free fatty acids (FFAs). Coarse-grained (CG) and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study self-assembled multilayers comprising CERs NS, NP, AS, and AP, in pure CER systems and mixtures of CERs with CHOL and FFAs. Equilibrated CG configurations were reverse-mapped to recover atomistic details and analyzed to extract structures and hydrogen bonding. Simulations of pure CERs agreed with experimental trends: phytosphingosine CERs (NP and AP) exhibited more Cdouble bondO hydrogen bonds, consistent with lower amide I FTIR frequencies, than their sphingosine counterparts (NS and AS). Likewise, non-hydroxy CERs (NS and NP) exhibited more Cdouble bondO hydrogen bonding than their α-hydroxy analogs (AS and AP). CER mixtures with CHOL and FFA showed reduced Cdouble bondO hydrogen bonding compared to pure CERs, though this effect depended on water content. Hydroxyl location was critical: OH on the phytosphingosine base increased Cdouble bondO hydrogen bonding, whereas the α-hydroxy on the acyl chain reduced it. In CER NP:AP mixtures with CHOL and FFA, simulations reproduced the experimental repeat distances of the NP-rich and AP-rich systems despite differences in hydrogen bonding. Simulations of multicomponent mixtures resembling the SC model of Bouwstra demonstrated the dominant effect of chain-length distribution, rather than CER hydrogen bonding, on permeability. This work shows how multiscale modeling integrated with experiments can uncover molecular mechanisms linking composition and SC barrier structure to interpret experimental results
Do Predictors of Life Satisfaction Change in the Last Years Leading Up to Retirement? The Case of Job Satisfaction and Leisure Satisfaction
No full textBackgroundPredictors of life satisfaction vary between people of different ages, but little is known about the role of specific life phases. We focused on the last years of work before retirement when it is often assumed that workers become less attached to their workplace and focus on other areas of life instead, such as leisure activity. Our aim was to test if the associations between domain satisfaction (job and leisure) and overall life satisfaction change in the years before retirement.MethodsWe applied a time-to-retirement metric in a latent growth curve analysis to longitudinal data from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (n = 2520) to investigate whether the within-person associations between (1) job and overall life satisfaction and (2) leisure and overall life satisfaction change in the 10 years preceding retirement.ResultsWe found that job satisfaction was positively associated with life satisfaction at the between-and within-person level, but the within-person association weakened as workers approached retirement. The positive within-person association between leisure and life satisfaction did not change significantly on the lead up to retirement.ConclusionsWe interpret the results as evidence for a potential preretirement work disengagement, either to support postretirement adjustment or to protect from negative work experiences, in line with lifespan theories on self-regulation
Understanding perceived COVID-19 changes, collectivism, and social exclusion: A cross-cultural study in 32 countries
No full textThis cross-cultural study examines the relationship between perceived COVID-19 changes due to the impacts on everyday life by the pandemic with social exclusion and across 32 cultures and their levels in collectivism. With data from the start of the first outbreak from March 2020 to June 2020 (N = 9245), multilevel analysis indicated that as individuals perceive greater daily life changes induced by the pandemic, they experience heightened levels of social exclusion, with this association being particularly pronounced in less collectivistic cultures. These findings underscore the importance of considering cultural context in understanding responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting social inclusion across diverse cultural contexts
Tunable Narrow Bandwidth of a Bandpass Filter combined Microstrip and Suspended substrate stripline
No full textThis paper introduces a narrow bandwidth tunable filter. The filter has been tuned electronically by using varactor diodes. A set of mechanically tuning screws have been utilized to overcome the manufacturing tolerance of the filter's resonators. In contrast to most the combline filters, which depend on the cross‐coupling approach to generate the transmission poles, the proposed filter has a pair of transmission zeros located on both sides of the passband, by employing two uncoupled microstrip resonators that have been electronically tuned independently. The proposed filter bandwidth tuning range is 59–88 MHz with 3 dB fractional bandwidth 1.94–2.76 respectively. A detailed demonstration of the suggested tunable filter is introduced based on a mathematical approach
The synergistic effects of demand-pull and supply-push policies on firm’s green innovation: Evidence from China
No full textAddressing escalating environmental challenges requires effective government intervention to guide firms toward green innovation. This study examines how such policies influence firms’ green innovation, focusing on the dual roles of supply-side (environmental subsidies) and demand-side (green public procurement) interventions. Using a dataset of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2015 to 2022, we find that the joint implementation of these policies generates a significant positive synergy, surpassing the additive effects of isolated interventions. The synergy effects are more pronounced in non-heavy-pollution industries, state-owned firms, and large-scale firms. Mechanism analysis reveals that this synergy operates by enhancing environmental strategic awareness, relaxing financing constraints, and mitigating the dual uncertainty of R&D and market returns. Additionally, green public procurement generates spillover effects at both industry and city levels, whereas environmental subsidies generate spillovers only within industries. Our study deepens the understanding of supply-side and demand-side green transformation support policies and provides important insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable development
Effect of belite-rich cement on the micro/macro properties and sustainability of slag–oyster powder–cement-based ternary materials
No full textAgainst the backdrop of global urbanization, the production of cement materials continues to increase. The need to meet development needs also raises concerns about environmental pollution. The cement industry is confronting an increasingly serious challenge of reducing carbon emissions. Using supplementary cementitious materials to replace part of the cement is a direct way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In this study, ternary blended cement (TBC) was prepared using blast furnace slag (BFS), oyster powder (OSP), and belite-rich cement on the micro/macroscale, and ternary slag–oyster powder–cement-based materials were prepared by partially or completely replacing the Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in TBC with more environmentally belite-rich cement (BRC).The surface resistivity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), mechanical properties of the hybrid samples were assessed through macroscopic experiments. Microscopic characterization of the samples included heat of hydration, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Finally, the sustainability of CO2 emissions per unit volume and strength of the mixed samples was assessed. The results indicate that substituting BRC for OPC can effectively reduce the cumulative hydration heat and surface resistivity of the mixed sample. At 90 d, a BRC substitution ratio of one-third yields the highest compressive strength, while complete replacement results in the lowest compressive strength. BRC substitution decreases the CO2 emissions per unit volume of the mixed sample. The lowest CO2 emissions per unit strength occur with a one-third BRC replacement ratio, which is identified as the optimal substitution level
Acylindrical hyperbolicity for Artin groups with a visual splitting
No full textWe establish a criterion that implies the acylindrical hyperbolicity of many Artin groups admitting a visual splitting. This gives a variety of new examples of acylindrical hyperbolic Artin groups, including many Artin groups of FC-type.Our approach relies on understanding when parabolic subgroups are weakly malnormal in a given Artin group. We formulate a conjecture for when this happens, and prove it for several classes of Artin groups, including all spherical-type, all two-dimensional, and all even FC-type Artin groups. In addition, we established some connections between several conjectures about Artin groups, related to questions of acylindrical hyperbolicity, weak malnormality of parabolic subgroups, and intersections of parabolic subgroups
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