Model simulation evaluation is crucial for selecting the best regional climate models, as their performance may vary across different locations or variables. This research aims to examine and correct potential biases in the CORDEX ensemble climate dataset over the period of 1987-2005 so as to establish trust in utilizing the CORDEX ensemble forecasts for climate change impact assessment focusing on the UTRB. The Pearson correlation coefficient is employed to assess the degree of correlation between CORDEX and observation data, and the applicability of the CORDEX ensemble data for the UTRB. The statistical analysis reveals a significant correlation between the monthly mean rainfall and temperature in the CORDEX-Africa ensemble simulation and the corresponding observation data for most of the 18 stations. The finding suggests that the CORDEX-Africa ensemble dataset holds promise for future climate projection in the UTRB. The statistical approaches of bias, RMSE, and MAE are employed to assess the adequacy of the CORDEX ensemble model in reproducing observed data. Various bias correction approaches are employed to enhance the accuracy of rainfall and temperature datasets, addressing discrepancies from over and under simulation. The reliability evaluation results indicate that the CORDEX-Africa ensemble precipitation and temperature data set has undergone bias adjustment in order to accurately reproduce the observed gridded dataset for the same period. This adjustment was performed using various methodologies across the 18 stations. Following the bias modifications, the CORDEX ensemble's precipitation and temperature dataset exhibited a high degree of concordance with the grid observation dataset across all 18 observation stations, for the corresponding time. The approaches utilized in this work possess the potential for practical applicability in generating dependable climate data that may be employed in evaluating and forecasting the consequences of climate change using globally accessible data resources. Received: 17 October 2023 | Revised: 25 December 2023 | Accepted: 5 January 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The data used to have the findings of this study are submitted as an additional file. Author Contribution Statement Ghrmawit Haile Gebrehiwot: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Project administration. Kassahun Ture Bekitie: Supervision, Funding acquisition. Fikru Abiko: Validation, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. Weldemariam Seifu: Writing - review & editing. Haftu Brhane Gebremichael: Writing - review & editing Supplementary Information Supplementary file

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Psychiatry.

Interpolation and extrapolation between the magnetic chiral states using autoencoder

A Review of Cognitive Therapy for Mental Disorders Based on Bias Modification

The thermoelectric properties of InSe/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) heterojunctions suitable for 3D nano-scale integration are investigated. A shielded pair through-via (SPTV) structure is manufactured in this paper, while methods for characterizing the dielectric effect and eddy current response of the heterojunction interface in the THz band are obtained. Experiments and co-simulations show that the proposed model can accurately capture the nonlinear electromagnetic coupling and thermal carrier relaxation properties in the ultra-wideband. Transient analysis indicates that vertical electrical stress bias and selenide modification can effectively improve the quantum admittance and carrier complexation efficiency at the SPTV interface, and suppress substrate thermal current accumulation. Depletion width sensitively depends on MWCNT layer number and doping concentration, while resistivity significantly effects on thermal electron collection and transient impulse response. By applying high-frequency electrical stress in the (111) direction, the heterojunction can maintain a high carrier mobility, while decrease of oxide charge helps to suppress electromagnetic coupling. This new InSe-MWCNT SPTV has great potential for 3D nano-scale optoelectronic integration.

Mesh misalignment in mating the gear tooth surface is common and difficult to be determined accurately because of system deformation and bearing clearances, as well as manufacturing and assembly errors. It is not appropriate to consider the mesh misalignment as a constant value or even completely ignore it in the tooth surface modification design. Aiming to minimize the expectation and variance of static transmission error (STE) fluctuations in consideration of mesh misalignment tolerance, a multiobjective optimization model of tooth surface modification parameters is proposed through coupling the NSGA‐II algorithm and an efficient loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA) model. The modified tooth flank of helical gear pairs is defined using 6 design variables which are related to profile modification, lead modification, and bias modification. The influences of mesh misalignment on time‐dependent meshing stiffness (TDMS) and STE of unmodified and modified helical gear pairs are investigated. Then, the dynamic transmission error (DTE) of modified helical gears in consideration of mesh misalignment is discussed. The results indicate that the designed modified tooth surface shows good robustness to mesh misalignment.

ObjectivesParanoia is known to be associated with insecure attachment, with negative self‐esteem as a mediator, but this pathway is insufficient to explain the paranoid individual’s beliefs about malevolent others. Mistrust is a likely additional factor as it is a core feature of paranoid thinking also associated with insecure attachment styles. In this study, we tested whether mistrust – operationalized as judgements about the trustworthiness of unfamiliar faces – constitutes a second pathway from insecure attachment to paranoia.DesignThe design of the study was cross‐sectional.MethodsA nationally representative British sample of 1,508 participants aged 18–86, 50.8% female, recruited through the survey company Qualtrics, completed measurements of attachment style, negative self‐esteem, and paranoid beliefs. Usable data were obtained from 1,121 participants. Participants were asked to make trustworthiness judgements about computer‐generated faces, and their outcomes were analysed by conducting signal detection analysis, which provided measures of bias (the tendency to assume untrustworthiness in conditions of uncertainty) and sensitivity (accuracy in distinguish between trustworthy and untrustworthy faces).ResultsResults using structural equation modelling revealed a good model fit (RMSEA = .071, 95% CI: 0.067–0.075, SRMR = .045, CFI = .93, TLI = .92). We observed indirect effects through bias towards mistrust both for the relationship between attachment anxiety and avoidance (β = .003, 95% CI: 0.001–0.005,p < .001) and attachment anxiety and paranoia (β = .003, 95% CI 0.002–0.006, p < .001). We observed an indirect effect through negative self‐esteem only for the relationship between attachment anxiety and paranoia (β = .064, 95% CI: 0.053–0.077, p < .001). Trust judgements and negative self‐esteem were not associated with each other.ConclusionsWe find that a bias towards mistrust is associated with greater paranoia. We also find indirect effects through bias towards mistrust between attachment styles and paranoia. Finally, we reaffirm the strong indirect effect through negative self‐esteem between attachment anxiety and paranoia. Limitations of the study are discussed.Practitioner pointsWhen working with individuals suffering from paranoia, clinicians should consider not only explicit, deliberative cognitive processes of the kind addressed in cognitive behaviour therapy (e.g. cognitive restructuring) but also the way in which their patients make perceptual judgements (e.g., their immediate reactions on encountering new people) and consider interventions targeted at these judgements, for example, bias modification training.Assessment and clinical interventions for people should consider the role of trust judgements and the way in which they combine with low self‐esteem to provoke paranoid beliefs.Psychological interventions targeting paranoid beliefs should focus on both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance.

The advances in experimental psychology have led to the discovery of unconscious, automatic biases (attentional and approach biases) that account for the lapse and relapses amongst individuals with addictive disorders. To date, there has been extensive investigation into the assessment and modification of attention biases amongst individuals with the highly prevalent substance use disorders. Alternative modalities, such as technology, has also been evaluated for the delivery of these interventions. Given this, the specific objectives of this perspective article are in highlighting the emerging knowledge that has accrued over the last three years, and in addressing several of the research gaps in the previous article. Firstly, this perspective article will examine the evidence for biases and bias modification amongst the highly prevalent substance use disorders. This article will also examine how such bias modification has been utilized clinically. Secondly, this perspective article will also examine how technology has been applied to these bias modification interventions. Thirdly, this article will also examine the literature to highlight the biological underpinnings following bias modification. Fourthly, this article also examines the limitations of existing bias modification paradigms and methods taken to better these conventional interventions. The article concludes with highlighting the outstanding gaps in the current knowledge. To date, there remains mixed evidence for the modification of attention biases; and there are a paucity of studies examining the effectiveness of mobile delivery of bias intervention. Only one study has considered patients’ perspective in the development of an intervention. There remained several gaps in the knowledge, which future research could address.

BackgroundRecent research has identified several cognitive biases in patients with eating disorders, such as a tendency to interpret ambiguous information about one’s own body in a negative way. The so-called “negative interpretation bias” is considered to be a key factor in maintaining maladaptive cognitions and behaviors in eating disorders. Studies on modification of the negative interpretation bias in eating disorders have yielded mixed results. This randomized controlled pilot study examined whether a specially adapted, computerized version of the Scrambled Sentences Task modifies negative interpretation bias in women with elevated body dissatisfaction.MethodsThe sample consisted of 40 normal-weight women with elevated body dissatisfaction, randomly assigned either to an intervention or a no-intervention control group (each n = 20). The intervention group received six sessions (within two weeks) of a newly-developed interpretation bias modification training that involved unscrambling positively valenced, body image-related sentences. The control group received no intervention. In both groups, body image-related negative interpretation bias (main outcome), trait body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal cue reactivity were assessed at baseline and two weeks later. Additionally, in the intervention condition, the trajectory of expected reductions in the thin-ideal internalization was measured during each training session.ResultsIn both conditions, body image-related negative interpretation bias and trait body dissatisfaction decreased significantly from pre- to post-assessment; however, a specific effect imparted by the interpretation bias modification training was not found. Groups did not differ in thin-ideal cue reactivity. In the intervention group, thin-ideal internalization decreased significantly over the training sessions.ConclusionsThe findings do not support use of body image-related interpretation bias modification in its current form in the treatment of body dissatisfaction. Further research involving different versions of the training and clinical samples is warranted.

Intensity inhomogeneity is one of the main challenges in automatic medical image segmentation. In this paper, fuzzy local intensity clustering (FLIC), which is based on the combination of level set algorithm and fuzzy clustering, is proposed to mitigate the effect of intensity variation and noise contamination. For the FLIC method, the segmentation and bias modification are carried out in a fully automatic and simultaneous manner through the local clustering of intensity and selection of the initial contour by the fuzzy method. Besides, the local entropy is integrated into the FLIC function to improve the contour evolution. Experimental results on inhomogeneous medical images indicate the superiority of the FLIC model over the other state-of-the-art segmentation methods in terms of accuracy, robustness, and computational time.

ObjectivesMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based treatment to prevent relapse in individuals with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). It is not clear if MBCT is an effective therapy for current depression, and it is not clear what mechanisms are responsible for the effectiveness of MBCT. Theoretically, MBCT is believed to modify the processing of emotional information and reduce cognitive vulnerability to depression; however, it is not clear if MBCT leads to normalization of attentional biases in depressed individuals. The aim of the current study was to determine if MBCT can modify some of the attentional biases underlying depression in MDD.MethodsParticipants were 53 individuals with diagnosis of current MDD. They were randomly assigned to either MBCT (n = 25) or wait list control group (n = 28) condition. Before and after the 8-week MBCT intervention participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CESD), they viewed slides presenting sad, angry, happy, and neutral facial expressions, and their eye movements were recorded during the viewing task.ResultsAs expected, compared to participants in the control group, the CESD scores of participants who received MBCT decreased following treatment, their attention to sad faces decreased, and their attention to happy faces increased. Moreover, cross-lagged analysis suggested a causal link from changes in attentional bias to changes in depression.ConclusionsWe found that MBCT can modify the attentional processing of emotional facial stimuli and that attentional bias modification may translate into clinical improvement in currently depressed individuals.

Modification of cognitive biases in overweight and obesity

In this paper, we present a three-step methodological framework, including location identification, bias modification, and out-of-sample validation, so as to promote human mobility analysis with social media data. More specifically, we propose ways of identifying personal activity-specific places and commuting patterns in Beijing, China, based on Weibo (China's Twitter) check-in records, as well as modifying sample bias of check-in data with population synthesis technique. An independent citywide travel logistic survey is used as the benchmark for validating the results. Obvious differences are discerned from Weibo users' and survey respondents' activity-mobility patterns, while there is a large variation of population representativeness between data from the two sources. After bias modification, the similarity coefficient between commuting distance distributions of Weibo data and survey observations increases substantially from 23% to 63%. Synthetic data proves to be a satisfactory cost-effective alternative source of mobility information. The proposed framework can inform many applications related to human mobility, ranging from transportation, through urban planning to transport emission modelling.

SYNOPSISObjective. The aim of this study was to test whether and to what extent inducing attentional bias in mothers toward a child’s positive emotions using a micro-trial method would improve mothers’ emotional and behavioral reactions in parenting-related situations. Effects on children were also assessed. Design. Forty-two mothers of 4- to 5-year-old children participated. Half of the mothers were exposed to an attention bias modification task designed to elicit a transient bias toward positive stimuli. After the manipulation, they were observed during a free-play session and frustration laboratory tasks designed to elicit positive and negative emotions. Results. Mothers exposed to the attention bias modification task displayed more positive emotional and behavioral reactions toward their child during both free-play and frustration tasks. Their children also behaved better, especially during the free-play session. The influence of mothers’ attention allocation on children’s outcomes was mediated by mothers’ behavior. Conclusions. An attention bias modification program is useful in improving interactions between mothers and children.

BackgroundThe automatic tendency to attend to and focus on substance-related cues in the environment (attentional bias), has been found to contribute to the persistence of addiction. Attentional bias modification (ABM) interventions might, therefore, contribute to treatment outcome and the reduction of relapse rates. Based on some promising research findings, we designed a study to test the clinical relevance of ABM as an add-on component of regular intervention for alcohol and cannabis patients.Design/MethodsThe current protocol describes a study which will investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a newly developed home-delivered, multi-session, internet-based ABM (iABM) intervention as an add-on to treatment as usual (TAU). TAU consists of cognitive behavioural therapy-based treatment according to the Dutch guidelines for the treatment of addiction. Participants (N = 213) will be outpatients from specialized addiction care institutions diagnosed with alcohol or cannabis dependency who will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: TAU + iABM; TAU + placebo condition; TAU-only. Primary outcome measures are substance use, craving, and rates of relapse. Changes in attentional bias will be measured to investigate whether changes in primary outcome measures can be attributed to the modification of attentional bias. Indices of cost-effectiveness and secondary physical and psychological complaints (depression, anxiety, and stress) are assessed as secondary outcome measures.DiscussionThis randomized control trial will be the first to investigate whether a home-delivered, multi-session iABM intervention is (cost-) effective in reducing relapse rates in alcohol and cannabis dependency as an add-on to TAU, compared with an active and a waiting list control group. If proven effective, this ABM intervention could be easily implemented as a home-delivered component of current TAU.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register, NTR5497, registered on 18th September 2015.

In this study, numerical simulations for winds and waves were carried out using WRF and WW3 and the predicted wind speed, wave height and wave period were validated with measurement. Annual average values of absolute monthly error of wind speed, wave height and wave period were 4.30%, 12.3% and 7.8%. The prediction accuracy were improved by bias modification in the region of low wave height and short wave period. Predicted seasonal frequency distributions showed good agreement with measurements. The criteria of experienced construction methods were investigated at Choshi and Kitakyushu wind farm and the sensitivity of environmental conditions on weather downtime were clarified. At Choshi, the weather downtime was predicted by using wind and wave simulations and showed good agreement with the actual weather downtime.

ABSTRACT Ding, X. L.; Chen, Y. P.; Pan, Y., and Reeve, D., 2016. Fast Ensemble Forecast of Storm Surge along the Coast of China. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1077–1081. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The uncertainties in typhoon wind field forecasts may introduce significant errors in storm surge forecasts. The common method to tackle this problem is based on ensemble forecasting of a typhoon wind field by using different initial and/or boundary conditions in the adopted weather forecast model. However, this method demands very high computational costs and therefore may not always be acceptable for operational use. In order to improve time efficiency, this paper introduces a new method which mainly relies on the forecast results from different weather forecast centres. With the bias modification, the control typhoon fo...

Research has demonstrated that the impact of childhood abuse often outlasts the initial abuse experiences, paving the way for a myriad of psychological difficulties in adulthood. Attentional bias might serve as a pathway from childhood abuse to negative outcomes associated with such experiences. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the impact of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) experiences on the presence of attentional bias in a sample of college women by comparing performance on a modified Stroop task between CEA survivors (n = 28) and a nonabused control group (n = 31). Results suggest that for CEA survivors, psychological symptoms moderated the relationship between CEA severity and attentional bias to specific word types. Results underscore the importance in continued exploration of the relationship among childhood emotional abuse, attentional bias, and concurrent psychopathology. Results also suggest that modification of attentional biases, via cognitive bias modification procedures, could help mitigate the impact of childhood abuse experiences on psychological well-being in adult survivors.

Tooth surface modifications are small, micron-level intentional deviations from perfect involute geometries of spur and helical gears. Such modifications are aimed at improving contact pressure distribution, while minimizing the motion transmission error to reduce noise excitations. In actual practice, optimal modification requirements vary with the operating torque level, misalignments, and manufacturing variance. However, most gear literature has been concerned with determining optimal flank form modifications at a single design point, represented by fixed, single load and misalignment values. A new approach to the design of tooth surface modifications is proposed to handle such conditions. The problem is formulated as a robust design optimization problem, and it is solved, in conjunction with an efficient gear contact solver (Load Distribution Program (LDP)), by a direct search, global optimization algorithm aimed at guaranteeing global optimality of the obtained microgeometry solutions. Several tooth surface modifications can be used as microgeometry design variables, including profile, lead, and bias modifications. Depending on the contact solver capabilities, multiple performance metrics can be considered. The proposed method includes the capability of simultaneously and robustly handling several conflicting design objectives. In the present paper, peak contact stress and loaded transmission error amplitude are used as objective functions (to be minimized). At the end, two example optimizations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to investigate (meta)cognitive beliefs related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of individuals displaced as children at the end of the Second World War as well as transgenerational effects of trauma and PTSD on the offspring.MethodsDisplaced individuals with (n=20) and without PTSD (n=24) and nondisplaced healthy controls (n=11), as well as one of their adult offspring, were assessed with the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30). Older adults, formerly displaced in childhood, were additionally assessed with the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI).ResultsDysfunctional beliefs (MCQ-30, PTCI) were particularly pronounced in formerly displaced individuals with PTSD, but not in the offspring generation.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that in an aging group of displaced individuals with PTSD dysfunctional beliefs are associated with the disorder. Bias modification may help to attenuate symptomatology. No evidence was found for a transgenerational effect.