Current Theories Research Articles

Role, Needs, and State of Cognitive Assistants in Single-Pilot Operations

Commercial aviation crew sizes have historically shrunk and are only projected to shrink down further to a one-member crew, known as single-pilot operations. Single-pilot operations involve a redesign of the modern two-person flight deck, as the work of the second pilot is now displaced to either enhanced ground support or increased automation. This paper focuses on cognitive assistants, a solution for work displacement within the latter domain of increased automation, where artificial intelligence may take the role of the second pilot and provide crucial decision-making, planning, and flight support to the remaining pilot. Work within this area is numerous, but a complete survey of current theory and implementations for cognitive assistants has yet to be completed. Therefore, this paper reviews current analyses and implementations of cognitive assistants within aviation broadly and discusses their potential within single-pilot operations. Gaps and constraints that remain within cognitive assistants for single-pilot operations are also analyzed, and future pathways for the incorporation of cognitive assistants in commercial aviation are identified.

Morphology and photocurrent response of TiO2 nanotubes prepared in electrolytes containing different content of polyethylene glycol

In order to investigate the effect of organic electrolytes on the photocurrent performance of TiO2 nanotubes, four kinds of fluoride containing electrolyte were prepared. This work focuses on the effect of electrolyte on the photocurrent response of TiO2 nanotubes. The results show that the electrolyte is an important influence on the photocurrent response. Appropriate proportion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) organic solvent can improve the performance of photocurrent response. The addition of excessive organic solvent will make TiO2 nanotubes lose the ability of photocurrent response. Suitable surface porosity is a necessary condition for the sample to have photocurrent response. Too low porosity hinders the photoelectric property. The reason for the better photoelectric properties of the sample prepared in 50 wt% PEG electrolyte is explained by the ionic current and electronic current theory. The results show that a more stable ratio of accumulated charge by ionic and electronic currents per unit area creates a more stable photocurrent response when the voltage is increased from 40 V to 60 V.

Formation mechanism of nanopores in dense films of anodic alumina

Constant-current anodization of pure aluminum was carried out in non-corrosive capacitor working electrolytes to study the formation mechanism of nanopores in the anodic oxide films. Through comparative experiments, nanopores are found in the anodic films formed in the electrolytes after high-temperature storage (HTS) at 130 °C for 240 h. A comparison of the voltage−time curves suggests that the formation of nanopores results from the decrease in formation efficiency of anodic oxide films rather than the corrosion of the electrolytes. FT-IR and UV spectra analysis shows that carboxylate and ethylene glycol in electrolytes can easily react by esterification at high temperatures. Combining the electronic current theory and oxygen bubble mold effect, the change in electrolyte composition could increase the electronic current in the anodizing process. The electronic current decreases the formation efficiency of anodic oxide films, and oxygen bubbles accompanying electronic current lead to the formation of nanopores in the dense films. The continuous electronic current and oxygen bubbles are the prerequisites for the formation of porous anodic oxides rather than the traditional field-assisted dissolution model.

The steady-state solution of wave–current interaction based on the third-order Stokes wave theory

This manuscript reports on the interaction of a current-free monochromatic surface wave field with a wave-free uniform current field. The existing reasonable theories of wave–current interactions are primarily based on weak current assumptions and derived from linear theory, resulting in calculation bias in the analysis of nonlinear wave–current interactions. Moreover, experimental data on high-order wave–current interactions still need to be collected. Thus, steady-state solutions named the third-order wave–current theory based on the third-order wave dispersion relationship and the principle of wave–current energy conservation were derived. The wave–current interaction experiment was set up to cover 164 sets of experimental conditions, including 33 types of periodic waves from the second to the fifth order and six different current velocities. The effects of water depth, current velocity, wave period, and height on the wave height and wavelength in the wave–current interaction field were investigated. A comparison of the mean relative error (MRE) and the determination coefficient (R2) of the wavelength with the experimental data revealed that the third-order wave–current theory outperformed the traditional linear theory, with an optimal reduction of 75% and an enhancement of 25%, respectively. Additionally, the third-order wave–current theory reduces the MRE by 25%–40% in the wave height calculation, with R2 consistently outperforming the linear theory. The third-order wave–current theory can significantly improve the calculation accuracy of the theoretical method in solving nonlinear wave–current interactions.

Estimating the Effect of a Universal Cash Transfer on Birth Outcomes

Babies in the United States fare worse than their peers in other high-income countries, and their well-being is starkly unequal along socioeconomic and racialized lines. Newborn health predicts adult well-being, making these inequalities consequential. Policymakers and scholars seeking to improve newborn health and reduce inequality have recently looked to direct cash transfers as a viable intervention. We examine the only unconditional cash transfer in the United States, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), to learn if giving pregnant people money improves their newborns’ health. Alaska has paid its residents a significant dividend annually since 1982. The dividend’s size varies yearly and is exogenous to Alaskans and the local economy, permitting us to make causal claims. After accounting for fertility selection, we find that receiving cash during pregnancy has no meaningful effect on newborn health. Current theory focuses on purchasing power and status mechanisms to delineate how money translates into health. It cannot illuminate this null finding. This case illustrates a weakness with current theory: it does not provide clear expectations for interventions. We propose four components that must be considered in tandem to predict whether proposed interventions will work.

The interplay of multiple unconditioned stimuli in evaluative conditioning: A weighted averaging framework for attitude formation via stimulus co-occurrences.

Evaluative conditioning (EC) is a key effect in attitude formation, leading to changes in the liking of neutral attitude objects due to their pairing with positive or negative stimuli. Despite EC's significance, current theories and most empirical findings are limited to stimulus pairings with a single affective stimulus at a time. In contrast, social environments often involve more complex combinations of affective stimuli. In this article, we introduce a novel framework grounded in information integration research to understand how conditioned attitudes develop in the presence of multiple affective stimuli. Through 10 experiments with different designs, measures, materials, and pairing procedures, we find that individuals' conditioned attitudes follow the average valence of all affective stimuli present with a stronger weighting of negative stimuli. This weighted averaging rule bears two implications for EC in more complex stimulus combinations. First, EC effects are nonmonotonous, such that additional stimuli of the same valence do not produce incremental EC effects. Second, EC effects are interdependent, such that the impact of one stimulus is weakest when accompanied by another negative stimulus and strongest when no other affective stimulus is present. We examine different cognitive processes underlying this weighted averaging rule, including potential differences in pairing memory or changes in the affective stimuli's valence when other stimuli are present. Our findings present a novel theoretical perspective on EC and offer valuable insights into attitude change from stimulus co-occurrences in stimulus-rich environments. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Top tips for promoting positive professionalism through medical education

Background Professionalism is a requirement across all healthcare disciplines yet remains challenging to teach and difficult to evidence. Professionalism, as a subject matter, is increasingly recognised in undergraduate and postgraduate formal curricula, where historically, it has sat in the hidden curriculum space. The learning of professionalism is often complicated by its association with negative connotations and focus only being given to the topic only when it lapses. Methods The authors have strong medical education interests and experience in the teaching, learning and assessment of professionalism in inter-professional settings. They have used their extensive experience, collaborative work and the current literature to develop practical top tips to promote professionalism in medical education. Results The practical tips offered are supported by current literature and educational theory and aim to support other institutions, educators and clinicians to embed and promote professionalism in a positive, constructive and pedagogical way. Conclusions The learning of professionalism in medical education remains challenging. The practical tips aim to guide educators to consider innovative strategies and modern educational thinking but also cautions readers to challenge preconceived ideas on how this topic is best presented and embedded in curriculums.

Experiential Avoidance Process Model: A Review of the Mechanism for the Generation and Maintenance of Avoidance Behavior.

Experiential avoidance refers to a phenomenon in which individuals exhibit an unwillingness to engage with certain personal experiences, including physical sensations, emotions, thoughts, memories, and behavioral tendencies. They employ cognition and emotions to avoid these experiences. Extensive research has linked experiential avoidance to various mental diseases, conduct disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. While the existing literature highlights the significance of understanding experiential avoidance as a central mechanism underlying psychological symptomatology development and maintenance, further investigation is required to comprehend its dimensions and mechanisms fully. Therefore, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current theories and empirical evidence on experiential avoidance while elucidating its association with psychopathology. We propose a model of experiential avoidance processes based on an extensive review and critical analysis of the previous emotion regulation model that integrates expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal during emotion regulation through experiential avoidance. This proposed model seeks to explain both the formation and maintenance aspects of experiential avoidance by offering valuable insights for future research. We also examined the association between experiential avoidance and various psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Elaborating on these mechanisms provides a roadmap for future research endeavors and clinical interventions.

Congregation members’ response to worship and fellowship in the digital space during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article investigates the congregation members to the transition from face-to-face worship and fellowship to digital spaces amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with a sample of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP – Batak Protestant Christian Church), specifically in District Daerah Khusus Ibukota (DKI) Jakarta province, Indonesia. This study uses an empirical questionnaire method to assess the level of satisfaction, engagement and future preferences of the congregation regarding digital versus face-to-face worship practices. The questionnaire was built on current theories of encounter and fellowship and what the congregation members need in digital worship services. Data from 421 congregations with a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error showed a dominant 62.7% preference for returning to face-to-face worship services and a participation decline during the pandemic. Respondents also felt a 60%–90% difference in digital services from church services, especially related to the need for communal fellowship. Participation in digital services correlates with higher education levels, while older congregations preferred face-to-face worship.Contribution: This study highlights the importance of incorporating Batak cultural values into digital ministry strategies to increase community connectivity and engagement. This article suggests further research on integrating cultural elements into digital religious practices, aiming to provide insights for churches navigating the digital transformation of religious services.

The Determinants for Policy Implementation: A Study of Public Service Mall Program in Indonesia

Research on policy implementation altered from building meta-theory towards explaining concerted action across institutional boundaries, the diversity of actors, loci, and levels. Current theory about factors determining the success of public policy implementation includes managerial, organisational, resources, bureaucracy, and politics. The establishment of Public Service Malls (PSM) in Indonesia is used as a case study to carry out this assessment because it represents a considerable challenge in the implementation process. This study aims to provide new perspectives about the determinants of successful public policy implementation, especially in a highly diverse political context such as Indonesia. This policy implementation involves several ministries at the central level and 540 local governments. This study uses an exploratory qualitative approach, and the data was collected through FGDs and in-depth interviews conducted with relevant ministries and local governments. The data is then analysed using NVIVO to find the structure of the concepts and themes according to the conceptual framework used. This research suggests that factors in policy implementation should be placed in a hierarchical order because they are determinants that cause other factors to emerge. In the case of implementing the PSM policy in Indonesia, the political factor becomes the determining factor, which is the highest position, followed by the bureaucracy, managerial, resources, and the organisational at the end

Piecewise Linear Strength Models for Analyzing Multiple Failure Mechanisms in Rocks Materials.

Rock materials failures are accompanied by the co-existence of various failure mechanisms, including rock fracturing, shearing, and compaction yield. These mechanisms manifest macroscopically as multiple failure modes and nonlinear strength characteristics related to stress levels. Considering the limitations of current rock mechanics strength theories, which are primarily derived from single failure mechanisms, this study evaluates the applicability of alternative strength theories. Based on the extensional-strain criterion and the PMC (Paul-Mohr-Coulomb) model, a piecewise linear strength model was proposed that is suitable for analyzing multiple failure mechanisms in rocks, revealing the intrinsic mechanisms of multi-mechanism rock material failure. A multiple failure mechanism strength model in the form of inequalities was proposed, using the generalized shear stress, mean stress, and stress Lode angle as parameters. Strength tests conducted on sandstone and granite rock material samples under different stress conditions revealed distinct piecewise linear strength characteristics for both rock types, validating the rationality and applicability of the multiple failure mechanism model. The findings construct a multi-mechanism failure model for rocks, providing enhanced predictive capabilities and aiding in the prevention of rock structural failures.

Research on semi-active vibration reduction of offshore wind turbine structure combined eddy current theory with tuned mass dampers

At present, the offshore wind power gradually shows a development trend towards the profound ocean with characteristic of larger capacity, higher tower and longer blades. Therefore, the offshore wind turbine (OWT) is more vulnerable to extreme loads and may lead to the negative influence of structural vibration safety. In this research, a new semi-active eddy current tuned mass damper (SEC-TMD) was proposed for the vibration control of OWT structures and its vibration reduction effect under multiple kinds of dynamic loads was also discussed. Firstly, taking one actual 3.0 MW OWT supported by bucket foundation as object, the SEC-TMD was designed based on the linear quadratic optimal control (LQR) algorithm and bounded Hrovat optimal control algorithm in order to obtain the optimal control force of structural vibration systems. The relationship between damping coefficient and magnetic conductivity spacing was further fitted to achieve variable damping control of SEC-TMD. Secondly, the theoretical model of 3.0 MW OWT structure installed with SEC-TMD was established and the effectiveness of the established theoretical model was verified through the comparison on modal analysis between the theoretical calculations and measured data identification. Finally, the vibration reduction effect of SEC-TMD on the measured OWT structure under wind-wave, seismic and vibration amplification conditions was analyzed and compared with the results calculated from the other passive dampers including EC-TMD and TLCD. It is shown that the maximum reduction percentage of peak value for vibration displacement and acceleration on the tower top can respectively reach 31.93 %, 44.11 %, 30.20 % and 54.57 %, 33.94 %, 31.75 % under three above conditions. Comparing with EC-TMD and TLCD, the better vibration reduction effect indicates that the proposed SEC-TMD has good engineering application value for the vibration suppression of OWT.

Innovation governance in Poland. Technological trends with an outlook to 2030

The research problem of the article concerns adapting current innovation governance theories to assess national innovation systems. The operationalization of this task in the Polish context translated into identifying the most promising trends and technological areas for the Polish economy in the 2030 perspective. The study included a horizon scanning and trend radar variant, identifying seven trends: nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, smart grids and energy storage, Food Tech, smart/precision farming, drone technologies, telemedicine, application of hydrogen in steel, and the technological areas included in them. Results were further assessed based on CAWI surveys conducted on a sample of experts representing the Łukasiewicz Research Network. Smart/precision farming, telemedicine, smart grids and Food Tech proved the most promising for the Polish economy. The small difference in results leads us to believe that nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, drone technologies and hydrogen applications in steel production should also be in the spotlight, but special attention should be paid to the accompanying challenges, such as development costs or insufficient R&D infrastructure. The size and scope of the research make it unique and, at the same time, support the significance of the results for Polish technology, economy and science.

Theories on the Etiology of Deviant Sexual Interests: A Systematic Review.

Not much is known about the etiology, or development, of deviant sexual interests. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a broad overview of current theories on the etiology of sexual deviance. We conducted a systematic search of the databases PubMed and APA PsycInfo (EBSCO). Studies were included when they discussed a theory regarding the etiology or development of sexual deviance. Included studies were assessed on quality criteria for good theories. Common etiological themes were extracted using thematic analysis. We included 47 theories explaining sexual deviance in general as well as various specific deviant sexual interests, such as pedophilia and sadism/masochism. Few theories (k = 7) were of acceptable quality as suggested by our systematic assessment of quality criteria for good theories (QUACGOT). These theories indicated that deviant sexual interests may develop as the result of an interplay of various factors: excitation transfer between emotions and sexual arousal, conditioning, problems with "normative" sexuality, and social learning. Neurobiological findings could not be included as no acceptable quality neurobiological theories could be retrieved. The important roles of excitation transfer and conditioning designate that dynamic, changeable processes take part in the etiology of sexual deviance. These same processes could potentially be deployed to diminish unwanted deviant sexual interests.

The New Era of Therapeutic Strategies for the Management of Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Narrative Review of the Pathomolecular Mechanism for Gene Therapies.

Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is a group of inherited retinal degenerations involving progressive loss of photoreceptor cells- rods and cones- ultimately causing severe vision loss and blindness. RP, although a very common ailment, continues to be an incurable disease with little to be done medically. However, with the breakthroughs in gene therapy and stem cell transplantation in recent years, a new door has been opened to the treatment of RP. This narrative review summarizes the pathomolecular mechanisms of RP, focusing on the genetic and molecular abnormalities that lead to the process of retinal degeneration. In this section, we talk about the current theories of how RP develops, gene mutations, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We also delve into new therapeutic approaches such as gene therapy, stem cell transplantation and genome surgery, which are designed to either replace or repair the damaged photoreceptors to restore vision and ultimately enhance the life of the RP patient. Another topic covered is the obstacles and research frontiers of these revolutionary treatments. This article is intended to give a complete overview of the molecular processes of RP and the promising treatment strategies that could change the way this devastating disease is treated.

Old wine in new wineskins: Christian nationalism, authoritarianism, and the problem of essentialism in explanations of religiopolitical conflict

AbstractIn 2001, John Levi Martin published a critique of authoritarianism scholarship, arguing that it was marred by fundamental biases of tautology, selective interpretation, and overtheorization of some research subjects but neglect of others. Drawing from this critique, I argue that Christian nationalism scholarship in sociology operates as a variant of authoritarianism research, exhibiting similar claims, strengths, and shortcomings. In a short span of time, the Christian nationalism research agenda has come to dominate the sociological study of religion and enjoyed a high profile in public discourse, presumably due to its relevance to matters of acute political concern. However, this literature interprets empirical results based on unverified assumptions of essentially authoritarian goals and motivations while ignoring plausible alternative explanations. It further neglects respondents who are low on Christian nationalism measures, despite evidence that these respondents play a role in religiopolitical conflict. The result is an essentialist account of Christian nationalism that is politically resonant but theoretically problematic. I propose that these issues can be addressed by a shift away from essentialist and toward social models of belief systems, which offer important advantages: greater consistency with current theories of political polarization, a stronger sociological element, and less susceptibility to researcher bias.

Paradox of Taxing the Rich

America does not tax its richest citizens, such as Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, at all. This Article argues that part of the reason is the paradox that under current income tax law and theory, taxing the rich would cost resources that could be made available to benefit the not-rich. The Article explores the paradox in theory and practice, then points to ways to move beyond it. Taxing the rich will mean accepting compelling justifications for doing so other than providing resources to the not-rich. We must either pay the price or reset the terms of the debate to move society forward by breaking up large concentrations of private wealth.

The visual statistical learning overcomes scene dissimilarity through an independent clustering process.

Contextual cueing is a phenomenon of visual statistical learning observed in visual search tasks. Previous research has found that the degree of deviation of items from its centroid, known as variability, determines the extent of generalization for that repeated scene. Introducing variability increases dissimilarity between multiple occurrences of the same repeated layout significantly. However, current theories do not explain the mechanisms that help to overcome this dissimilarity during contextual cue learning. We propose that the cognitive system initially abstracts specific scenes into scene layouts through an automatic clustering unrelated to specific repeated scenes, and subsequently uses these abstracted scene layouts for contextual cue learning. Experiment 1 indicates that introducing greater variability in search scenes leads to a hindering in the contextual cue learning. Experiment 2 further establishes that conducting extensive visual searches involving spatial variability in entirely novel scenes facilitates subsequent contextual cue learning involving corresponding scene variability, confirming that learning clustering knowledge precedes the contextual cue learning and is independent of specific repeated scenes. Overall, this study demonstrates the existence of multiple levels of learning in visual statistical learning, where item-level learning can serve as material for layout-level learning, and the generalization reflects the constraining role of item-level knowledge on layout-level knowledge.

Simultaneous Manipulation of Membrane Enthalpy and Entropy Barriers towards Superior Ion Separations

AbstractSub‐nanoporous membranes with ion selective transport functions are important for energy utilization, environmental remediation, and fundamental bioinspired engineering. Although mono/multivalent ions can be separated by monovalent ion selective membranes (MISMs), the current theory fails to inspire rapid advances in MISMs. Here, we apply transition state theory (TST) by regulating the enthalpy barrier (ΔH) and entropy barrier (ΔS) for designing next‐generation monovalent cation exchange membranes (MCEMs) with great improvement in ion selective separation. Using a molecule‐absorbed porous material as an interlayer to construct a denser selective layer can achieve a greater absolute value of ΔS for Li+ and Mg2+ transport, greater ΔH for Mg2+ transport and lower ΔH for Li+ transport. This recorded performance with a Li+/Mg2+ perm‐selectivity of 25.50 and a Li+ flux of 1.86 mol ⋅ m−2 ⋅ h−1 surpasses the contemporary “upper bound” plot for Li+/Mg2+ separations. Most importantly, our synthesized MCEM also demonstrates excellent operational stability during the selective electrodialysis (S‐ED) processes for realizing scalability in practical applications.

Simultaneous Manipulation of Membrane Enthalpy and Entropy Barriers towards Superior Ion Separations.

Sub-nanoporous membranes with ion selective transport functions are important for energy utilization, environmental remediation, and fundamental bioinspired engineering. Although mono/multivalent ions can be separated by monovalent ion selective membranes (MISMs), the current theory fails to inspire rapid advances in MISMs. Here, we apply transition state theory (TST) by regulating the enthalpy barrier (ΔH) and entropy barrier (ΔS) for designing next-generation monovalent cation exchange membranes (MCEMs) with great improvement in ion selective separation. Using a molecule-absorbed porous material as an interlayer to construct a denser selective layer can achieve a greater absolute value of ΔS for Li+ and Mg2+ transport, greater ΔH for Mg2+ transport and lower ΔH for Li+ transport. This recorded performance with a Li+/Mg2+ perm-selectivity of 25.50 and a Li+ flux of 1.86 mol ⋅ m-2 ⋅ h-1 surpasses the contemporary "upper bound" plot for Li+/Mg2+ separations. Most importantly, our synthesized MCEM also demonstrates excellent operational stability during the selective electrodialysis (S-ED) processes for realizing scalability in practical applications.