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During the design, it is important to evaluate the user experience of representative users in many human product interactions. But, in some cases, it is difficult or even impossible to recruit representative users because they have disabilities that do not allow them to take part in such investigations. Thus, alternative populations are widely studied. The most common way to replace real blind people is to use sighted but blindfolded users when studying design solutions. To test whether such alternative or proxy users can be used to represent blind people in social interactions, we examined the communication quality of 20 blind-sighted pairs and 20 blindfolded-sighted pairs in two different experiments. A prototype named E-Gaze glasses was evaluated as the testing tool. Results clearly show that the blindfolded participants achieved significantly higher communication quality than the blind participants. In qualitative data analysis, the blindfolded participants also reported their user experience of being blindfolded in conversations. Our qualitative results strengthen the conclusion that blindfolded users' behaviour is different from real blind users' behaviour. We recommend that blind users should not be substituted for blindfolded users in human product evaluations when communication quality is measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loading screen is unavoidable to smartphone users, and the waiting experience influences the success of a mobile application. Providing visual feedback during waiting time is an effective way to increase the waiting experience. This study is the first to examine the effects of interactive loading screens on the waiting experience compared to a passive loading screen on mobile phones across varying waiting times. The rotating ring, which has been used in loading screens widely, was chosen in our experiments. Participants compared a passive animation with grey-scale and colour-changed interactive animations. The results indicated that the duration of waiting time has a significant impact on the selection of the loading screen type. The studies also demonstrate that colour can act as an essential design factor to improve the waiting experience when designing the interactive loading screen. Furthermore, it was found that perceived time was shorter when an interactive loading screen was used, leading to higher user satisfaction compared to a passive loading screen, especially for the long waiting time. The findings obtained in the experiments provide a reference and guidelines for loading screen design to improve users' waiting experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death anxiety arousal, provoked by anticipating self-nonexistence, may be used as a fraud tactic by scammers on older adults; however, little is known about how it affects older adults' decision making when confronted with a scam and the mechanisms underlying these effects. This study used a questionnaire survey and experimental design to examine them. In Study 1, 307 older adults in China completed questionnaires. The results showed a positive link between death anxiety and vulnerability to fraud, partially mediated by materialism. In Study 2, 82 older adults in China were randomly assigned to the mortality salience group and control group to examine whether death anxiety arousal can increase older adults' vulnerability to fraud and the mediating role of materialism. The results indicated that death anxiety and materialism increase the risk of consumer products and services fraud; therefore, targeting these risk factors might protect older adults from fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investing in the preparation of middle-aged individuals for healthy old age can empower them to surmount the challenges aging. This study was conducted to create and assess the reliability and validity of a scale designed to measure the readiness of middle-aged individuals for healthy aging, referred to as the Middle-Age Preparation Scale for Healthy Aging (MPHA). The research employed a mixed sequential exploratory design. During the qualitative phase, items for the questionnaire were generated by reviewing existing literature and conducting interviews with participants. Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated by analyzing its face validity, content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and stability. The reliability and validity of the MPHA were tested with a sample of 440 middle-aged individuals in Tehran, Iran, in 2020. The statistical analyses performed included exploratory factor analysis, measures of internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Initially, the item pool contained 80 items, which was narrowed down to 44 items during the face and content validation phase. The structural validity assessment resulted in a final 33-item scale, encompassing five factors associated with preparation for healthy aging: financial preparation, maintenance and promotion of physical and mental health, psychological preparation, sustaining communication, and planning productive leisure time. These factors explained 60.37% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall MPHA was 0.90, and ranged from 0.79 to 0.91 for the five subscales. The MPHA exhibited satisfactory validity and reliability for assessing preparation for healthy aging in the Iranian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility is a multidimensional problem, which negatively affects the mental health of couples, especially women. Therefore this study was conducted to determine the effect of positive psychotherapy (PPT)-based training on psychological well-being and hope level of women receiving infertility treatment. The research was carried out in two Research Hospitals OGPH between November 2019 and December 2020 as an experimental model with pre-test-post-test control groups. Sample size for the study was determined by using the G.Power 3.1.9.2 program. The study was completed with 104 women (62 in the control group, 42 in the experimental group) receiving infertility treatment. The infertile women who were included in the study were determined by using the computer-assisted simple random sampling method. 8-session PPT-based training was provided for the women in the experimental group while no intervention was applied to the women in the control group. The trainings were carried out as individual and face-to-face training with the women in the experimental group. After the PPT-based training, it was determined that the psychological well-being and hope levels of the women in the experimental group increased compared to the women in the control group. In the study, it was found out that PPT-based training has a positive effect on increased psychological well-being and hope levels of infertile women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine whether extended compared to standard level of physiotherapy is feasible and has beneficial effects on physical function in ICU survivors. This prospective pilot study with a before and after design included patients discharged from ICU to a surgical ward. The comparison group were recruited between January and April 2019 and received standard level of physiotherapy. The intervention group were recruited between May and December 2019 and received extended physiotherapy, corresponding to 50% additional physiotherapist, working 4 hours per weekday. The intervention participants received an individual rehabilitation plan developed in collaboration with a ward-based physiotherapist, and an extended number of sessions provided by the extra resource included practicing individualized exercises, for example walking and stair climbing. Physical function was measured with the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx) at ICU discharge, during hospital stay and discharge. Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U-test and Chi2 test. Out of 46 eligible patients, 39 (85%) fulfilled the study (comparison n = 12, intervention n = 27) and were included in the final analyses. No adverse events occurred, and the attendance rate was high (98.5%). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding physical function, hospital stay, and readmissions, but there were tendencies to better outcomes in all these parameters in favor of the intervention group. Additionally, patients in the intervention group had statistically significantly higher scores in the CPAx items "transferring from bed to chair" (median 5 vs 4, p =.039) and "stepping" (median 5 vs 4, p =.005) at hospital discharge. This pilot study indicates that extended physiotherapy after ICU discharge is feasible and does not entail patient safety risks. However, determining the potential beneficial effects for the patients remains to be evaluated in a larger trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grainger et al. examined flanker effects in an experiment where target words could be morphologically complex (e.g. farmer), have a pseudo-morphological structure (e.g. corner), or have no morphological structure (e.g. cashew). Target words were flanked on both sides by the left-aligned embedded word in the related flanker condition (e.g. farm farmer farm; corn corner corn; cash cashew cash). Effects of related flankers were compared with matched unrelated flankers (e.g. book farmer book). Significantly greater effects of flanker relatedness were found with morphologically related flankers compared with both pseudo-morphological flankers and non-morphological embedded word flankers. However, more recent work in Spanish has failed to replicate this specific pattern. We therefore sought to replicate our findings in French, while increasing experimental power and modifying the nonword targets. The results of the present study successfully replicate the findings of Grainger et al. [(2021). Morphological processing in the flankers task. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience, 36(3), 288–295. ]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender minorities disproportionately experience stigma and violence after coming out. This study was conducted to examine how individuals perceive characters identified with various gender identity labels (transgender man, transgender woman, genderfluid, non-binary, cisgender man, cisgender woman), to better understand the effects of these labels on people's perceptions. Student participants (N = 498) were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions and read six vignettes briefly describing characters with the aforementioned identities. Conditions included explicit labels (e.g. 'Mike is a transgender man'), implicit labels (e.g. 'Mike was assigned female at birth, but now identifies as a man'), and no gender labels. Participants then rated each character on 19 different traits/attributes (e.g. 'likable', 'perverted', 'masculine'). All characters were rated more positively when described with an explicit or implicit gender identity label in comparison to the no label control condition. The manipulation of gender labels had little influence on ratings of negative traits. These positive and encouraging results may be partially attributed to the sample which predominantly comprised young, liberal, women and may be indicative of a welcoming university environment for gender minorities. Future studies could further explore this topic by expanding the scope to the larger national population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy in sexual communication is essential for open conversations about sexual topics with partners, children, or medical providers. The Sexual Communication Self-Efficacy Scale was developed (SCSES) and validated in the Polish women population by analysing its reliability, validity, and factor structure. 204 Polish-speaking adult women were recruited to validate the tool. The reliability coefficient Cronbach's, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Moreover, the factor structure was investigated by combining it with the short version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6). The adaption of SCSES in the Polish women population revealed the five-factor structure of the tool. The reliability was α = 0.976.The construct validity was confirmed. The results showed a significant, positive, moderate correlation between FSFI scores in all SCSES subscales and its total score r = {0.439; 0.534}. Moreover, the education level and place of residence differentiated the SCSES scores. The SCSES is a valid and reliable tool for the Polish women population. The findings highlight the need of recognising the importance of sexual communication in sexual functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the applicability and process of change of Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) in the management of pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis who were offered knee replacement surgery and had risk factors for poor response to surgery. Single-case experimental design with a mixed-methods, repeated measures approach was used to investigate the process of change through CFT in four participants. Qualitative interviews investigated beliefs, behaviours and coping responses, and self-reported measures assessed pain, disability, psychological factors, and function at 25 timepoints. Study registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001491156). Qualitative data indicate that CFT promoted helpful changes in all participants, with two responses observed. One reflected a clear shift to a biopsychosocial conceptualisation of osteoarthritis, behavioural re-engagement and the view that a knee replacement was no longer necessary. The other response reflected a mixed conceptualisation with dissonant beliefs about osteoarthritis and its management. Psychological and social factors were identified as potential treatment barriers. Overall, quantitative measures supported the qualitative findings. The process of change varies between and within individuals over time. Psychological and social barriers to treatment have implications for future intervention studies for the management of knee osteoarthritis. Cognitive Functional Therapy is applicable in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Reconceptualisation of osteoarthritis reflected a helpful change. Psychological and social factors emerged as barriers to recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sophisticated machines at the workplace – e.g. robots equipped with artificial intelligence – is on the rise. Since humans tend to experience a threat to human uniqueness in response to machines with human-like mental capabilities, I explored whether the same holds true for status threat, a well-researched variable in the interpersonal workplace literature. Across two experiments (N1 = 104, N2 = 589), humans felt higher status threat towards a robot (Experiment 1, laboratory study) and an artificial intelligence (Experiment 2, online study) that outperformed a human in verbal-creative tasks, requiring agency and experience to solve. Contrary to results from human-human literature, higher status threat was linked with higher willingness to interact with the machine, which I trace back to its high perceived usefulness. I further interpret my findings as a hint that humans are open to using modern-day technology if they assume to benefit from the advantages the technology brings to their own work and therefore accept the feeling of status threat at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literacy skills can assist in the navigation and enjoyment of adult life. For individuals who have reached adulthood without strong literacy skills, opportunities for continued literacy learning are few. Redesigning AAC technologies to support literacy skill development could extend literacy learning opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities who have limited speech. The current preliminary study evaluated an AAC technology feature designed to support literacy development. The study used a multiple probe across participants design. Three adults with Down syndrome who had limited speech and only basic decoding skills participated. Results suggest the participants made modest gains in decoding accuracy after interacting using the AAC app with the literacy supportive feature, though performance was highly variable. Results also offer emerging evidence that, for two participants, some generalization to encoding performance may have also been achieved. Results showed that, for all the participants, interacting using the literacy supportive feature increased their reading confidence. Altogether, the study's results show preliminary evidence that the feature can support adults with Down syndrome in their ongoing literacy learning, though access to formal instruction is still critical. Future research is needed to continue to explore this and other AAC technology redesigns to increase learning opportunities for the people who use the technology every day to communicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researchers' aims for this preliminary study was to develop an instrument, guided by the Theory of Health-related Family Quality of Life, to measure health-related family quality of life (HR-FQoL) as perceived by women with cancer. The researchers used a two phase design for instrument development: (1) establishing face validity of a 38-item instrument with an expert panel and patient review, and (2) focusing on the internal structure and construct validity of the instrument with responses from female patients (N = 236) with a cancer diagnosis (breast, gynecologic). The researchers identified a final 25-item HR-FQoL instrument with four sub-scales that each captured multiple concepts within the Theory of HR-FQoL. The resulting instrument maybe used by researchers and clinicians to assess various aspects of health-related family quality of life among female breast and gynecological cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the authors was to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing the status of privacy protection. This study was conducted methodologically. This scale was tested with 500 healthcare professionals who were employed in nine provinces in Turkey. The obtained data were used to test the scale's validity and reliability. In the level of awareness section, the variance explained 47.13% of the total variance. In the frequency of application section, the variance explained 49.12% of the total variance. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as the level of awareness 0.95 and frequency of application sections 0.96. The time invariance of the scale indicated its high reliability, and the concurrent -application validity was determined to be supported. This study prepared measurement tool of 5-point Likert-type consisting of two sections, two sub-scales, and 30 items was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Perceived Barriers of Mammography Scale (PBMS-23). Based on a mixed method design researchers generated item pool through qualitative data and literature review and next, 500 women ages 40 to 69 years completed the questionnaire. Based on exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analysis, 23 items, researchers revealed eight domains of fate and destiny, breast conflict, defense avoidance, inconveniences/difficulties of mammography screening, contrasting/competing priorities, fear, distrust of mammography, and lack of knowledge with appropriate fitness for the data. PBMS-23 is valid and reliable instrument for assessing perceived barriers of mammography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent, persistent, need for better biomarkers in clinical drug development. More informative biomarkers can increase the likelihood of drug advancement or approval, and implementing biomarkers increases the success rate in drug development. Biomarkers may guide decisions and allow resources to be directed to the projects most likely to succeed. However, biomarkers that are validated to high standards are needed, reflecting biological and pathological processes accurately. Such biomarkers are needed to develop treatments faster, and to improve and guide clinical trial design by selecting and de-selecting patients. In this review based on the authors' previous published experience and interaction with pharmaceutical- and biomarker stakeholders, we highlight the use and value of biomarkers in clinical development according to the BEST guidelines. We highlight the value of 3 types of biomarkers that may provide optimal value to stakeholders: diagnostic, prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. A more appropriate clinical trial design, increasing the ratio between benefits and side effects, may come from a more tailored biomarker-approach identifying suitable molecular endotypes of patients to treat. Biomarkers may guide drug developers in selecting the optimal projects to progress, when designing clinical studies and development paths. Biomarkers may aid in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of patients and assist in matching the molecular endotype to the selected treatment, which improves the success rate of clinical development progression. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive ideation framework for how to utilize biomarkers in clinical development, with a focus on utility for patients, payers and drug developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed the Counsellor Personal Wellness and Professional Wellbeing (CPW) assessment based on the integration of the Well-Being theory and the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-WEL). Our participants included 326 counsellors, counsellor educators, and counsellors-in-training in the United States. The participants primarily identified as White (77%), women (80%), and with a doctoral degree (42%). Based on our results, the CPW can be used as a self-assessment or an administered assessment among counselling professionals and clinical supervisors. We provide a rationale for developing the C-PW and the instrument development and validation procedure. Implications for counselling professionals and researchers are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the effect of visual art- and music-based interventions in the treatment of eating disorders. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020161503). Six databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, Lilacs, PsycINFO, PubMed and The Cochrane Library) were consulted. The searches were performed on 19 June 2019, and updated on 18 March 2022. No restriction on language, date, or publication status was applied. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's instruments. All steps were performed by two independent reviewers and a third participated in the event of disagreement. Eight studies were included. Few statistically significant results were found. Overall, both interventions might help to reduce negative emotional states. Visual art- and music-based interventions present limited and inconclusive scientific evidence in patients with eating disorders and therefore their effectiveness is currently unknown. A theoretical model is proposed to guide future research. Further studies are needed to clarify their clinical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer review offers benefits to post-secondary students and their instructors. In recent years, some instructors have shifted to virtual means of student peer review; however, face-to-face peer review is still a viable option. This mixed-methods study explored the substance of peer review conversations, as well as their impact on students' academic writing, in a graduate-level research design course. Discourse analyses revealed that all peer review conversations displayed high levels of engagement. Results demonstrated that all students provided substantive comments to their peers, regardless of their scores on pre-draft papers. Peers consistently used mitigating and empathetic language with one another, which may have afforded students a better conduit for sharing constructive feedback. Final analyses of post-drafts revealed that students made revisions that aligned directly with peer feedback, which collectively resulted in higher post-draft scores. Conclusions underline that face-to-face peer review can support students academically and emotionally and encourage them to improve their writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dialogic peer feedback has been recommended and increasingly used in English as a foreign language writing context, yet the specific effects of peer-to-peer written dialogue about feedback remain under-researched. Using a quasi-experimental design, this empirical study investigated the effects of the presence/absence of written dialogue between the peer feedback provider and receiver on students' provision of feedback, adoption of received feedback, improvements in writing quality, and attitudes towards feedback dialogue across a four-week writing program. The study drew on several data sources including feedback texts, revision texts, a questionnaire survey and monthly reflection journals of forty-one students. Results showed that students involved in the written dialogue demonstrated a generally positive attitude towards it and outperformed those without such a process by generating more accurate adoption, focusing comments to a greater extent on higher-order dimensions of writing (unity, support and coherence), and implementing better revisions. The dialogic process enhanced students' feedback literacy and engagement by improving their understanding of feedback, their linguistic and subject knowledge, and their agentic clarification and negotiation of revisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore the influence of transient pressure fluctuation inside high-speed trains passing throught tunnels on the fetal growth of Sprague – Dawley (SD) rats. A pressure variation simulation system was designed and exposure experiments were performed on SD rats. Forty-eight SD rats are divided into two control groups and two experimental groups, and are then exposed to transient pressure alternation (−1200 Pa ~1200 Pa) from gestation day 0 to gestation day 5 (GD 0–5). Fetal growth and development indicators on GD12 and GD18 between experimental and control groups were compared. Statistical results showed that, compared to the control group, the key indicators in the experimental group, including placental weight, placental diameter, fetal weight, and crown-to-rump length have decreased by 4.77%, 3.38%, 6.20%, and 3.75% respectively on GD18. The findings imply that the pressure fluctuation environment of high-speed trains has potential effects on the fetal growth of SD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship partners' impacts on health are not fully captured by existing measures. A measure that applies to a prevention context and accounts for both partners' perspectives is needed. This work developed and assessed the psychometric properties of the novel Partner Investment in Health scale (PI-H). A cross-sectional design assessed participants (N = 261) using an online survey. Exploratory factor analyses were used to determine the PI-H factor structure. Items assessed the person's investment in their partner's health and their perception of their partner's investment in their health. A 2 factor structure underlying 24 items on the PI-H scale was supported. Factors represented 1) the respondent's investment and 2) the respondent's perception of their partner's investment. The PI-H significantly correlated with related measures (e.g. relationship satisfaction, dyadic and communal coping; p <.05). A full PI-H scale, two subscales, and a short version of the scale (8 items) are presented. Correlations demonstrated convergent validity and suggested the PI-H is distinct from existing constructs. Theoretical implications and applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether, following a prolonged health crisis, the offer of a tourist destination coupled with the use of health and safety protocols at the destination, influences brand equity and intention to visit. Specifically, it (a) examines whether the indoor/outdoor activity offers influence brand equity and intention to visit, (b) demonstrates whether health and safety protocols influence brand equity and intention to visit, and (c) tests whether there is a moderating effect by the use of health and safety protocols in destinations specializing in indoor, rather than outdoor, activities. The study is based on an experimental design in which the type of offer (out/indoor activities) and the use of anti-covid protocols versus their non-use were manipulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumber-derived fungi have attracted much attention due to their capacity to produce an incredible variety of secondary metabolites. Genome-wide information on Aspergillus micronesiensis H39 obtained using third-generation sequencing technology (PacBio-SMRT) showed that the strain contains nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-like gene clusters, which aroused our interest in mining its secondary metabolites. 11 known compounds (1–11), including two γ-aromatic butenolides (γ-AB) and five cytochalasans, were isolated from A. micronesiensis H39. The structures of the compounds were determined by NMR and ESIMS, and comparison with those reported in the literature. From the perspective of biogenetic origins, the γ-butyrolactone core of compounds 1 and 2 was assembled by NRPS-like enzyme. All of the obtained compounds showed no inhibitory activity against drug-resistant bacteria and fungi, as well as compounds 1 and 2 had no anti-angiogenic activity against zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental study investigates the effects of several heuristic cues and systematic factors on users’ misinformation susceptibility in the context of health news. Specifically, it examines whether author credentials, writing style, and verification check flagging influence participants’ intent to follow article behavioral recommendations provided by the article, perceived article credibility, and sharing intent. Findings suggest that users rely only on verification checks (passing/failing) in assessing information credibility. Of the two antecedents to systematic processing, social media self-efficacy moderates the links between verification and participants’ susceptibility. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that patients consider empathy as a key factor contributing to the quality-of-care. However, ambiguities in the definition of this multidimensional construct complicate definite conclusions to-date. Addressing the challenges in the literature, and using a hypothetical physician-patient interaction which explored patient-perceived differences between expressions of affective empathy, cognitive empathy, compassion and no empathy, this study aimed to test whether lay participants’ evaluations of the quality-of-care depend on the type of empathic physician behavior, and on the physician’s gender. We conducted a randomized web-based experiment using a 4 (type of empathy) by 2 (physician gender) between-subjects design. Empathy was subdivided into three concepts: first, affective empathy (i.e. feeling with someone); second, cognitive empathy (i.e. understanding); and third, compassion (i.e. feeling for someone and offering support). Perceived quality-of-care was the primary outcome. Compared with non-empathic interactions, quality-of-care was rated higher when physicians reacted cognitively empathic or compassionate (d = 0.71; 0.43 to 1.00 and d = 0.68; 0.38 to 0.98). No significant difference was found between affective empathy and no empathy (d = 0.13; −0.14 to 0.42). The physician’s gender was not related with quality-of-care. Aspects of participants’ personality but not their age, gender or the number of physician visits were associated with quality-of-care. No interactions were observed. In showing that patients rated quality-of-care higher when physician reactions were described as cognitively empathic and compassionate, as compared with affectively empathic or non-empathic, our findings refine views about the kinds of empathy that are important in patient care with implications for clinical practice, education and communication trainings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to solve the distributed hybrid flowshop scheduling problem (DHFSP) with the makespan criterion. First, a mixed-integer linear programming model for the DHFSP is formulated. Then, an improved iterated greedy (IIG) algorithm is developed to handle this DHFSP. In IIG, a new initialization strategy is designed to improve the quality of the initial solution. A hybrid operator, which combines the perturbation operator and destruction/construction operator, is proposed to enhance the global search ability. According to the characteristics of the DHFSP, a new local search method, which integrates four neighbourhood structures, is designed to strengthen the exploitation capability. The best parameter configuration of IIG is investigated through design of experiments, and the validity of each improved part of IIG is verified by performing extensive experiments. Finally, IIG is compared with other optimization algorithms on 100 large-scale instances. The experimental results show that IIG is effective in addressing this DHFSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tool was designed to evaluate the level of burden experienced by caregivers of children with intellectual disability (ID) in the northern Indian context. The instrument has been utilized to collect data from a sample of 100 participants from Rajasthan, India. The tool's overall relevancy was determined to be.98, while its clarity was established to be.99. Factor analysis was conducted for assessing the construct validity of the tool which resulted in nine dimensions. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient resulted in a value of.836. The tool, therefore, can be utilized by researchers to track the level of burden experienced by caregivers of children with ID, and to develop interventions aimed at this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with primary psychosis are among the most seen in inpatient psychiatry. Treatment guidelines recommend both pharmacological and psychological treatments. However, psychological treatments are not routinely offered in many settings. There is also a lack of research on psychological treatments for this vulnerable population in the inpatient setting. The first aim of the current study was to examine treatment effects of a brief form of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on outcomes valued by the treatment recipients. The second aim was to explore hypothetical processes of change in relation to outcomes over time. Three people with primary psychosis were treated for two to four sessions. A replicated single-case experimental design with multiple baselines across subjects (Clinical Trials registration number ID NCT04704973) was employed to examine treatment effects. The Personal Questionnaire (PQ) was used as primary outcome, symptom believability and preoccupation as proposed processes of change. Data were analyzed using visual inspection, calculation of Tau-U values, and cross-lagged correlation. All participants improved significantly on PQ and the symptom preoccupation measure. Two improved significantly on the symptom believability measure. Cross-lagged correlation analyses showed no clear mediation. Change in proposed processes of change and primary outcome predominantly happened concomitantly, although patterns of results reflected individual differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS) was developed more than 25 years ago as an instrument to monitor functional change over time in patients with ALS. It has since been revised and extended to meet the needs of high data quality in ALS trials (ALSFRS-R), however a full re-validation of the scale was not completed. Despite this, the scale has remained a primary outcome measure in clinical trials. We convened a group of clinical trialists to discuss and explore opportunities to improve the scale and propose alternative measures. In this meeting report, we present a call to action on the use of the ALSFRS-Revised scale in clinical trials, focusing on the need for (1) harmonization of the ALSFRS-R administration globally, (2) alignment on a set of recommendations for clinical trial design and statistical analysis plans (SAPs), and (3) use of additional outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The more than 600 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) throughout the U.S. are as diverse as the communities they serve, making it challenging to establish indicators of success that are not simply compliance-focused. This study builds agreement among AAAs to identify impactful, feasible, and measurable indicators of success. A mixed methods study was conducted with two surveys of AAA experts to identify indicators of success; assessments of those indicators' impact, feasibility, and measurability; and virtual focus groups to interpret findings. Most indicators that had the potential for high impact received low feasibility and measurability scores. AAAs want more technical assistance, funding, and staffing resources from their states and the Administration on Aging to make data collection and analysis less burdensome and more outcome-oriented. State Units on Aging and the Administration on Aging can use the study findings to improve assessments of AAAs without placing undue burdens on staff attempting to demonstrate their impact. This study can help to identify future priorities regarding AAA assessments and innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that people with nonfluent aphasia (PWNA) improve their language production after repeating personalized scripts, modeled by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). If PWNA could improve by using their own self-feedback, relying less on external feedback, barriers to aphasia treatment, such as a dearth of clinicians and mobility issues, can be overcome. Here we examine whether PWNA improve their language production through an automated procedure that exposes them to playbacks of their own speech, which are updated recursively, without any feedback from SLPs. We tested if recursive self-feedback could improve speech fluency in two persons with chronic nonfluent aphasia. We compared two treatments: script production with recursive self-feedback (a new technique) and a non-self-feedback training. We administered the treatments remotely to the participants through their smartphones using two versions of a mobile app we developed. Each participant engaged in each treatment for about three weeks. We estimated clinical improvements of script production through a quantitative trend analysis and nonoverlap of all pairs. Recursive self-feedback improved speaking rate and speech initiation latency of trained and untrained scripts in both participants. The control (non-self-feedback) training was also effective, but it induced a somewhat weaker improvement in speaking rate, and improved speech initiation latency in only one participant. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that PWNA can improve their speaking rate and speech initiation latency during production of scripts via fully automated recursive self-feedback. The beneficial effects of recursive self-feedback training suggest that speech unison and repeated exposures to written scripts may be optional ingredients of script-based treatments for aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are tools designed to help operators make effective choices in workplace environments where discernment and critical thinking are required for effective performance. Path planning in military operations and general logistics both require individuals to make complex and time-sensitive decisions. However, these decisions can be complex and involve the synthesis of numerous tradeoffs for various paths with dynamically changing conditions. Intelligence collection can vary in difficulty, specifically in terms of the disparity between locations of interest and timing restrictions for when and how information can be collected. Furthermore, plans may need to be changed adaptively mid-operation, as new collection requirements appear, increasing task difficulty. We tested participants in a path planning decision-making exercise with scenarios of varying difficulty in a series of two experiments. In the first experiment, each map displayed two paths simultaneously, relating to two possible routes for the two available trucks. Participants selected the optimal path plan, representing the best solution across multiple routes. In the second experiment, each map displayed a single path, and participants selected the best two paths sequentially. In the first experiment, utilizing the DSS was predictive of adoption of more heuristic decision strategies, and that strategic approach yielded more optimal route selection. In the second experiment, there was a direct effect of the DSS on increased decision performance and a decrease in perceived task workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multiple-comparison-with-the-best procedure to provide inference for the optimum from regression models with discrete inputs. Two applications are given to illustrate the methodology: two-level factorial designs to identify the best drug combination and order-of-addition experiments where the primary objective is to identify the sequence with the largest mean response. The methods easily accommodate restrictions limiting the inference set of conditions. We use simulation to determine the critical values. While the methods apply to any linear regression model, we identify cases that require just a single critical value, and we also show where approximations and upper bounds mitigate the need for intensive computation. We tabulate the required critical values for a variety of common applications: the main-effect model and two-factor interaction model estimated by certain two-level factorial designs, and the pairwise order model and several component-position models for estimation based on optimal order-of-addition designs. Our work greatly simplifies the problem of rigorous inference for the optimum from regression models with discrete inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation models of critical systems often have parameters that need to be calibrated using observed data. For expensive simulation models, calibration is done using an emulator of the simulation model built on simulation output at different parameter settings. Using intelligent and adaptive selection of parameters to build the emulator can drastically improve the efficiency of the calibration process. The article proposes a sequential framework with a novel criterion for parameter selection that targets learning the posterior density of the parameters. The emergent behavior from this criterion is that exploration happens by selecting parameters in uncertain posterior regions while simultaneously exploitation happens by selecting parameters in regions of high posterior density. The advantages of the proposed method are illustrated using several simulation experiments and a nuclear physics reaction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of 20% Intralipid Emulsion (ILE) treatment on Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury (CIRI) after reperfusion in acute ischemic stroke. In this experimental study, seven rats without any intervention (control group), seven rats (sham group) for which CIRI was created after the common carotid artery was ligated for 2 hours, and seven rats who were treated with 20% ILE after CIRI (CIRI + ILE group) were sacrificed after 24 hours, and histopathological findings were investigated. In rats that were not treated after CIRI, 52.7% had level-1, 32.7% had level-2. and 14.5% had level-3. histopathological findings. While 72.2% of the rats treated with ILE had level-1 and 27.8% had level-2 findings, no level-3 histopathological findings were detected in any of the rats. While no signs of coagulative necrosis, spongiosis of surrounding tissue and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were observed histopathological in any of the rats given ILE, there was no macrophages finding in 85.6% of the rats. ILE treatment also reduced the histopathological findings of eosinophilic neurons, astrogliosis, neovascularization, vascular thrombosis and mononuclear inflammatory cells. This study showed that 20% ILE treatment reduces the histopathological damage seen in cerebral ischemia and CIRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two highly powered studies (total N = 1617), we showed that individuals estimated that they would stop earlier than others in a Milgram-like biomedical task leading to the death of an animal, confirming the relevance of the Better than Average Effect (BTAE) in a new research setting. However, this effect was not magnified among participants displaying high self-esteem. We also showed that participants who already knew obedience studies expected that others would be more obedient and would administer more damaging treatment to the target. However, knowledge of Milgram's studies was unrelated to a higher estimate of their own behavior (study 1), and was even linked to the prediction that they would stop earlier (study 2, preregistered). Despite the wide educational use of Milgram's studies to increase people's awareness of the risks inherent to blind obedience, it may be that this knowledge only serves to evaluate other's behaviors, and not oneself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital fabrication, like 3D printing, is a new opportunity for rehabilitation professionals to produce customized assistive devices. It allows for empowerment and collaboration in device procurement, but practical implementations are scarcely described. We describe the workflow, discuss feasibility and propose directions for future work. We showcase a process of co-manufacturing a custom spoon handle together with two people with cerebral palsy. Our digital manufacturing process was centered around videoconferencing to remotely control the processes from design to final 3D printing. Device functionality and satisfaction were assessed using standard clinical questionnaires: the Individual Priority Problem Assessment Questionnaire (IPPA) and the Quebec User Satisfaction Assessment with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0). IPPA was instrumental in assessing user needs and device effectiveness. QUEST revealed where to focus future design efforts. Involving people with disabilities in co-creation of assistive devices opens for new opportunities for healthcare providers that should be explored in depth using the described methodology. There may also be therapeutic benefits and we envisage specific actions to take in order to make it clinically viable. Best practices for co-creation of assistive devices, cost and benefits should be investigated and documented further. Standard questionnaires are useful for measuring effectiveness and satisfaction of co-created devices as well as for guiding design efforts. Co-creation may be a valuable element in therapeutic interventions as an opportunity to unfold creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

we present a preliminary set of experimental studies that demonstrates device-aided echolocation enabling in blind and visually impaired individuals. The proposed device emits a click-like sound into the surrounding space and returning sound is perceived by participants to infer the surrounding environment. two sets of experiments were set up to evaluate the echolocation abilities of nine blind participants. The first setup was designed to identify four material types based on the sound reflection properties of materials, such as glass, metal, wood, and ceramics. The second setup was navigation through a basic maze with the device. experimental data demonstrate that the use of the proposed device enables active echolocation abilities in blind participants, particularly for material identification and spatial mobility. the proposed device can potentially be used to rehabilitate disabled blind and visually impaired individuals in terms of spatial mobility and orientation. Device helps rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired individuals Rehabilitation in terms of spatial mobility and orientation Enables active echolocation in blind and visually impaired individuals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study was intended to investigate the design and feasibility of using a web virtual reality based social learning space for autistic children at home. The researchers of the current study developed and implemented an open-source, web virtual reality based learning program for children with autism. Endorsing mixed-method convergent parallel design, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data from four autistic children, including repeated measures of social skills performance, self- and parent-reported social and communication competence, observation notes, and individual interviews. The study found preliminary evidence for a positive impact of deploying a virtual reality-based social sandbox on the practice and development of complex social skills for autistic children. All participants showed significant reduced social communication impairments from the pre- to the post-intervention phases. Nevertheless, participants' social skills performance in the virtual world was mediated by two social task design features—external goal structure and individualization. Play- and design-oriented social tasks in the three-dimensional virtual world framed meaningful social experiences or the naturalistic intervention for social skills development. Positive impacts of using a virtual reality-based social sandbox on complex social skills development for autistic children. Social task design features mediate social skills performance of autistic children. Purposeful environment arrangement creates a naturalistic intervention for autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive Technologies encompass a wide array of products, services, healthcare standards, and the systems that support them. Product/market fit is necessary for a technology to be transferred successfully. Current tools lack variables that are key to technology transfer, and current trainings do not have a validated tool to assess the effectiveness of a training, increasing innovators' readiness for technology transfer. The goal was to develop a tool to evaluate the readiness of a technology by incorporating other models and focusing beyond just commercialization. The development involved five stages: 1. Review of current tools used in technology transfer in academic, government, and industry settings; 2. Development of the draft version of the tool with internal review; 3. Alpha version review and refinement, 4. Content validation of the tool's beta version; 5. Assessment of the readiness tool for reliability and preparedness for wide-use dissemination. The tool was revised and validated to 6 subscales and 25 items. The assistive technology subscale was removed from the final version to eliminate repetitive questions and taking into consideration that the tool could be used across technologies. We developed a flexible assessment tool that looked beyond just commercial success and considered the problem being solved, implications on or input from stakeholders, and sustainability of a technology. The resulting product, the Technology Translation Readiness Assessment Tool (TTRAT)TM, has the potential to be used to evaluate a broad range of technologies and assess the success of training programs. Quality of life can be substantially impacted when an assistive technology does not meet the needs of an end-user. Thus, effective Assistive Technology Tech Transfer (ATTT) is needed. The use of the TTRAT may help to inform NIDILRR and other funding agencies that invest in rehabilitation technology development on the overall readiness of a technology, but also the impact of the funding on technology readiness. The TTRAT may help to educate novice rehabilitation technology innovators on appropriate considerations for not only technology readiness, but also general translation best practices like assembling a diverse team with appropriate skillsets, understanding of the market and its size, and sustainability strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reflexive referentially depends on another NP. Long-standing inquiries in sentence processing literature revolve around whether and how forming this coreference relation during online sentence processing is susceptible to similarity-based interference. To address these questions, we conducted four experiments using L-maze tasks. The results revealed (delayed) interference in ungrammatical sentences, indicating facilitatory interference. We also found that structural information associated with a distractor and related to clause finiteness may influence memory retrieval. Interference effects were not observed in grammatical sentences across all experiments. These results suggest that online reflexive resolution may be susceptible to interference only when the reflexive mismatches its structurally accessible antecedent in features, and that structural information may influence how a distractor interferes with memory retrieval during online sentence processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speakers have been shown to find sentences with erroneous agreement acceptable under certain conditions. This so-called agreement attraction effect has also been found in genitive-possessive structures such as "the teacher's brother" in Turkish [Lago et al. (2019). Straight from the horsefs mouth: Agreement attraction effects with Turkish possessors. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 9(3), 398–426. ], which is in contrast to its absence in similar constructions in English [Nicol et al. (2016). Minimal interference from possessor phrases in the production of subject-verb agreement. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 548. ]. It has been hypothesised that this discrepancy is a result of the association between genitive case marking and being a controller in Turkish. We test an alternative explanation according to which Lago et al.'s findings are due to a potential confound in their experiment, as the morphology on all agreement controllers were locally ambiguous between possessive and accusative case. The results of our speeded acceptability judgment experiment suggest that the presence of case syncretism does not affect agreement attraction contrary to previous findings in the literature. Abbreviations: ACC, accusative; DAT, dative; GEN, genitive; NMLZ, nominaliser; PASS , passive; PL, plural; POSS, possessive; PST, past; SG, singular; WHEN, when. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most language use occurs in face-to-face conversation, which involves rapid turn-taking. Seeing communicative bodily signals in addition to hearing speech may facilitate such fast responding. We tested whether this holds for co-speech hand gestures by investigating whether these gestures speed up button press responses to questions. Sixty native speakers of Dutch viewed videos in which an actress asked yes/no-questions, either with or without a corresponding iconic hand gesture. Participants answered the questions as quickly and accurately as possible via button press. Gestures did not impact response accuracy, but crucially, gestures sped up responses, suggesting that response planning may be finished earlier when gestures are seen. How much gestures sped up responses was not related to their timing in the question or their timing with respect to the corresponding information in speech. Overall, these results are in line with the idea that multimodality may facilitate fast responding during face-to-face conversation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the problem of evaluating designs for a small-sample two-arm randomized experiment using the power of the one-sided randomization test as a criterion. Our evaluation assumes a linear response in one observed covariate, an unobserved component and an additive treatment effect where the model's randomness is due to different treatment allocations. It is well-known that the power depends on the allocations' imbalance in the observed covariate. We show that power is additionally affected by two other design choices: the number of allocations and the degree of the allocations' dependence. We prove that the more allocations, the higher the power and the lower the variability in power. Our theoretical findings and simulation studies show that the designs with the highest power provide thousands of highly independent allocations each providing nominal imbalance in the observed covariates. These high-powered designs exhibit less randomness than complete randomization and more randomness than recently proposed designs that employ numerical optimization. This advantage of high power is easily accessible to practicing experimenters via the popular rerandomization design and a greedy pair switching design, where both outperform complete randomization and numerical optimization. The tradeoff we find also provides a means to specify rerandomization's imbalance threshold parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8/20 µs lightning pulse current generators (LPCG) used in testing surge arresters require a laborious production process that needs a high budget. An easily repairable, portable, and affordable test system with a maximum energy of 2.9 kJ and a voltage level of 24 kV that can alter its parameter values was described in this work. Simulation and experimental studies were carried out to investigate the effects of the resistor and coil elements in the Pulse Current Generator (PCG) circuit on the amplitude, front, and tail time of the pulse current. Most components of the experimental system were created using 3D printing technology with polylactic acid (PLA) material. The production costs were significantly reduced, according to equivalent pulse generators. Tests at different pulse currents and voltage levels were performed with the experimental system. Power capacitors may often fail due to overvoltage, switching, and partial discharge reasons. The high voltage (HV) power capacitors used in the pulse generator introduced in the study were obtained with the help of low voltage capacitor stacks. As a result, a less expensive, high-capacity capacitor system that is easily and quickly repairable in case of failure was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the construct of resilience from a systems perspective and developed a new Social Ecological Resilience Scale measuring resilience in Hong Kong families. A total of 506 service users were recruited using convenience sampling. Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to uncover the factor structures, while Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to test the scale's internal reliability and validity. A 44-item scale with a six-factor structure comprising emotional flexibility, coping, self-kindness, common humanity, family support and social support was revealed. The implications for conceptualizing resilience from a broader socio-cultural perspective and developing interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the development of an observational video coding tool, the Rehabilitation Observation Measure of Engagement (ROME), to quantify engagement in rehabilitative settings at the person (internal state of an individual) and between-system (interaction between individuals) level. Forty-nine children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (29 males; Age: M = 9.28 yrs, SD = 3.08 yrs) and their interventionists were videotaped during different activities. Construct validity was examined by correlating the ROME with the Engagement vs. Disaffection with Learning Survey and the Pediatric Rehabilitation Intervention Measure of Engagement – Observation questionnaire. Inter- and intra-rater reliability were examined using two independent raters. The ROME's responsiveness to change was examined by comparing scores across activities. For construct validity, results showed a positive correlation for person-level engagement (r = 0.444, p = 0.003). No relationship was found between-system-level engagement. High intrarater (91.8%) and interrater (96.1%) reliability was found. The ROME's responsiveness to change was supported by children exhibiting lower engagement scores during repetitive shaping activities. These findings provide evidence that the ROME is a reliable tool to objectively examine the construct of engagement within rehabilitation and is valid for quantifying person-level engagement. It provides information that cannot be extracted from questionnaires and can help guide intervention decisions. Behavioral characteristics, including engagement, of the agents involved in rehabilitation are largely unstudied, although engagement is expected to benefit motor learning. The Rehabilitation Observation Measure of Engagement (ROME) is an observation measure that uses predefined codes and can be used universally, as it is not limited to specific language or cognitive levels. The ROME is a reliable tool for objectively measuring the role of the construct of behavioral engagement during rehabilitation and valid for examining person-level engagement. The ROME may be used as a measure of client and service provider process, of intervention quality, or as a decision guide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop and explore the factor structure of university faculty-focused bystander attitude and behavior measures regarding gender-based violence and to expand on the inclusion of oppressive behaviors in these measures. An online survey was administered to a convenience sample of 167 faculty from a university in the US. Two scales, Faculty Bystander Attitude Scale (FBAS) and Faculty Bystander Behavior Scale (FBBS), were developed to assess faculty bystander attitudes and behaviors. After exploratory factor analysis, the 27-item FBBS successfully loaded on three factors and, after eliminating two items, the 25-item FBAS successfully loaded on three factors. A confirmatory factor analysis will be a useful next step in confirming the factor structure of the modified measures. Faculty specific bystander attitude and behavior scales are necessary to assess the efficacy of violence prevention programming for faculty. These scales can also be incorporated into campus climate surveys to determine faculty's willingness to intervene when they witness behaviors along the continuum of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) has turned into a critical way of addressing the interrelationships between L2 pedagogy and technology. This autobiographical narrative inquiry aimed to investigate CALL researchers' strategies to conduct genuine CALL research (Colpaert, 2020). To that end, the autobiographical narratives of 24 CALL researchers were collected and analyzed using a deductive-inductive thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the researchers addressed the research needs of the CALL community of practice by focusing on contexts and conditions, CALL research streams, future directions, and creating academic knowledge. Moreover, the researchers addressed their CALL research identification through addressing local, global, and real-world audiences for authentic communication topics. Furthermore, to show their competence in their CALL studies, they attempted to review CALL literature comprehensively, cite papers from experienced CALL researchers, use comprehensive research designs, and publish/present CALL research in academic journals/conferences. Additionally, the findings showed that they tried to build relatedness in their studies by citing academic articles and books, using methodologies implemented by experienced CALL researchers, and having research collaboration locally and globally. Finally, CALL researchers attempted to become autonomous in selecting research methods, academic writing styles, and addressing CALL materials and applications in CALL research to show their autonomy in their CALL research. Therefore, it can be concluded that the role of the CALL community of practice is rather critical in leading the types and qualities of the strategies used by CALL researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]