Early Stages Of Process Research Articles

Formation of Basson Classes at the Paris Conservatory

The object of the study was the origins and initial period of the formation of bassoon classes at the Paris Conservatory. The author analyzed the early stages of the training process involved in the French bassoon school. The role of maîtrise and military bands in the instruction of bassoon performers before the beginning of the revolutionary events in 1789 was revealed. The study exposed the influence of the church music-educational system on the professionalization of secular instrumental and vocal performance, as well as its importance in the creative development of prominent French bassoonists who were formed in the second half of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The author investigated the essence of the ideological and political factors of the French Revolution in the creation of a new democratic system that began to exist in professional musical education, which guaranteed its accessibility to the general population and free education on a competitive basis. The article provides a chronology of the beginning and development of bassoon classes on the path of professionalization of performance on wind instruments at the National Guard Music School, the National Institute of Music and the Paris Conservatory. The peculiarities of the implementation of the competitive system of professional training of instrumentalists, as well as the formation of didactic materials to ensure the educational process at the Paris Conservatory became the basis for further artistic education. This fact was carefully analyzed and became the basis for the conclusions of the article. The innovative guide of E. Ozi "School of Playing the Bassoon", was regarded as one of the first complete instructional materials for the bassoon. It was officially approved as a study guide for mastering the instrument, became a powerful impetus for the development of the conservatory students’ performance skills. The author emphasized and defined the role of E. Ozi in the creation of bassoon classes at the Paris Conservatory, as well as in the founding of the French performing school. It has been proven that an important factor in the development of French bassoon performance in the second half of the 18th century was the inclusion of the bassoon in the training programs of metris and its use in church ensembles to accompany choral singing during divine services

HYB-PARSIMONY: A hybrid approach combining Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithms to find parsimonious models in high-dimensional datasets

The PSO-PARSIMONY methodology (a heuristic for finding accurate and low-complexity models with particle swarm optimization (PSO)) allows obtaining machine learning models with a good balance between accuracy and complexity. However, when the datasets are of high dimensionality, the methodology does not sufficiently reduce the complexity of the models. This paper presents a new hybrid methodology, called HYB-PARSIMONY, that combines PSO with genetic algorithm (GA) based methods. In the early stages of the optimization process, GA methods have a preponderance to accelerate the search for parsimony. Later, PSO becomes more relevant to improve accuracy. This new methodology obtains significant improvements in the search for more accurate and low-complexity models in high-dimensional datasets.

Primary and secondary consolidation characteristics of a high plasticity overconsolidated clay in compression and swelling

For a reliable prediction of the time-development of soil deformations, a detailed characterization of both primary and secondary deformations is required. Nevertheless, in the current engineering practice the estimation of the primary and secondary deformations relies on the assumption of a constant coefficient of consolidation and a constant creep index respectively. However, high plasticity overconsolidated clays have reportedly complex stiffness and permeability relationships that challenge the validity of those assumptions. Analytical solutions of the one dimensional consolidation have been proposed, accounting for variation in permeability and oedometer modulus. Nevertheless, the methods assume a simplified log-linear and linear relationship with void ratio and effective stress for the two parameters, respectively. One-dimensional oedometer and constant rate of strain testing were employed to investigate the time-deformation development of a particular high plasticity overconsolidated clay. A dependency of the time until the end of primary deformations on the stress path was observed, with the majority of the unloading steps extending well beyond the 24 h typical duration of a load increment. It was revealed that the coefficient of consolidation generally increases during consolidation, and it may vary by more than one order of magnitude at the early stages of the consolidation process. This variation has been attributed to a transient effect noticed in the permeability, which has not been previously reported. The linear relationship between primary and secondary deformation indices was confirmed as an upper bound. In an effort to better characterize the time dependent behaviour a new index, the primary time deformation index, was defined as the slope at the inflection point of the time-curves. This parameter was found to be linearly related to the creep index, presenting thus a potential of better predictions of the duration and magnitude of consolidation deformations for the engineering practice.

Structural and Functional Development of Inhibitory Connections from the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body to the Superior Paraolivary Nucleus.

The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the auditory brainstem is the principal source of synaptic inhibition to several functionally distinct auditory nuclei. Prominent projections of individual MNTB neurons comprise the major binaural nuclei that are involved in the early processing stages of sound localization as well as the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON), which contains monaural neurons that extract rapid changes in sound intensity to detect sound gaps and rhythmic oscillations that commonly occur in animal calls and human speech. While the processes that guide the development and refinement of MNTB axon collaterals to the binaural nuclei have become increasingly understood, little is known about the development of MNTB collaterals to the monaural SPON. In this study, we investigated the development of MNTB-SPON connections in mice of both sexes from shortly after birth to three weeks of age, which encompasses the time before and after hearing onset. Individual axon reconstructions and electrophysiological analysis of MNTB-SPON connectivity demonstrate a dramatic increase in the number of MNTB axonal boutons in the SPON before hearing onset. However, this proliferation was not accompanied by changes in the strength of MNTB-SPON connections or by changes in the structural or functional topographic precision. However, following hearing onset, the spread of single-axon boutons along the tonotopic axis increased, indicating an unexpected decrease in the tonotopic precision of the MNTB-SPON pathway. These results provide new insight into the development and organization of inhibition to SPON neurons and the regulation of developmental plasticity in diverging inhibitory pathways.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON) is a prominent auditory brainstem nucleus involved in the early detection of sound gaps and rhythmic oscillations. The ability of SPON neurons to fire at the offset of sound depends on strong and precise synaptic inhibition provided by glycinergic neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). Here, we investigated the anatomic and physiological maturation of MNTB-LSO connectivity in mice before and after the onset of hearing. We observed a period of bouton proliferation without accompanying changes in topographic precision before hearing onset. This was followed by bouton elimination and an unexpected decrease in the tonotopic precision after hearing onset. These results provide new insight into the development of inhibition to the SPON.

CRP, but not fibrinogen, is associated with gait speed as early as middle age, in females but not males

Low grade systemic inflammation and age-related gait speed decline are known to be related in older adults, but their relations in the early stages of the aging process are yet to be fully described. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between gait speed and two inflammation markers—c-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen—in a cohort of middle-aged adults in Israel. 326 healthy, middle-aged, Muslim-Arabs from three villages in northern Israel participated in this cross-sectional study. Serum CRP and fibrinogen were measured via blood tests, and gait speed was assessed with the 6-min walk test (6MWT). After adjusting for sex, age, height, BMI, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and triglycerides, executive function, smoking status and aerobic physical activity, gait speed was negatively and significantly associated with CRP (b = − 0.01, p = 0.029). When stratifying by gender, this link remained significant only among females (b = − 0.012, p = 0.041), such as that an increase of one SD unit of CRP was associated with a 0.047 m/s decrease in gait speed. No significant link was found between fibrinogen levels and gait speed. Blood CRP levels are associated with a slower walking speed already in middle age, independent of age, executive function and cardio-metabolic factors, among female Arab-Muslims in Israel. Future studies should examine this relationship longitudinally and investigate a broader array of inflammation markers. Systemic inflammation may serve as an early marker for people at risk of decreased walking or accelerated aging; Early identification and intervention among at-risk individuals may help prevent or slow gait speed decline, and promote healthier aging.

YAP and TAZ regulate remyelination in the central nervous system.

Myelinating cells are sensitive to mechanical stimuli from their extracellular matrix. Ablation of YAP and TAZ mechanotransducers in Schwann cells abolishes the axon-Schwann cell recognition, myelination, and remyelination in the peripheral nervous system. It was unknown if YAP and TAZ are also required for myelination and remyelination in the central nervous system. Here we define the importance of oligodendrocyte (OL) YAP and TAZ in vivo, by specific deletion in oligodendroglial cells in adult OLs during myelin repair. Blocking YAP and TAZ expression in OL lineage cells did not affect animal viability or any major defects on OL maturation and myelination. However, using a mouse model of demyelination/remyelination, we demonstrate that YAP and TAZ modulate the capacity of OLs to remyelinate axons, particularly during the early stage of the repair process, when OL proliferation is most important. These results indicate that YAP and TAZ signaling is necessary for effective remyelination of the mouse brain.

Influence of the Mg/MoO<sub>3</sub> additive to diesel fuel on heat output

BACKGROUND: The study results of influence of the Mg/MoO3 composite nanoadditive on the combustion process in the 4Ch10.5/12 diesel engine are given. It is shown that the heat output process in diesel engines divides into two phases: kinetic and diffusive combustion. The review of simulation methods for the heat output process in a diesel engine considering kinetic and diffusive combustion based on the I.I. Vibes method is presented. The review of methods of indicator diagram processing helping to obtain parameters of the Vibes heat output law for the two-phase combustion for the sake of following simulation and working process analysis is made. The heat output analysis of the 4Ch10.5/12 diesel engine indicator diagram processing using the Mg/MoO3 composite nanoadditive is made.
 AIMS: Research of the influence of the Mg/MoO3 composite nanoadditive to fuel on the heat output process in a diesel engine.
 METHODS: The 4Ch10.5/12 air-cooled diesel engine with factory-built fuel supply system was tested at the engine test rig. During the research, influence of the Mg/MoO3 composite nanoadditive to fuel on the heat output process was studied.
 RESULTS: It is found that using the nanoadditive leads to decreasing hardness of combustion process, reduction of self-ignition time delay, increasing the maximal temperature of working body in a combustion chamber, reduction of amount of heat output at the kinetic combustion. Working body temperature increase and simultaneous maximal cycle pressure decrease testify the growth of pre-expansion degree. Parameters of diffusive combustion remain almost stable no matter of mass fraction of the nanoadditive in diesel fuel.
 CONCLUSIONS: It was revealed that nanoparticles of the Mg/MoO3 additive serve as a homogenizer helping to destroy drops of the sprayed fuel and to intensify the evaporation process. Moreover, the nanoparticles serve as self-ignition centers at early stages of the combustion process.

Fatigue crack growth prediction for shot-peened steel considering residual stress relaxation

The compressive residual stress field (CRSF) relaxes during the fatigue crack growth (FCG) process, and the pattern of this relaxation remains unclear. Residual stress (RS) relaxation leads to a change in residual stress intensity factor (RSIF), which significantly affects the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) and thus affects the assessment of fatigue crack growth rate. To this end, this work designed a series of experiments to explore the FCG behaviour in compressive residual stress fields (CRSFs) by considering RS relaxation. Firstly, shot peening(SP) treatments were conducted on the specimens. Then, residual stress fields (RSFs) at different crack propagation stages were measured to analyse the relationship between surface RS and inner RSF distribution. The derived weight function and the real-time RSF are combined to calculate the RSIF with/without considering RS relaxation. Finally, the effect of RS relaxation on the accuracy of FCGR assessment was investigated. The results show that the positive effect of CRS on the fatigue performance of the peened specimens is primarily embodied in the early stage of the FCG process. With the continuous relaxation of the CRSF, the difference in FCGR between the peened and unpeened specimens gradually decreases and tends to disappear. When the applied SIFs are large enough, the CRS would completely relax, and the inhibiting effect of CRSF on FCGR would fail. The proposed method in this work can effectively predict the FCGR of the peened specimen when considering the RS relaxation. This work could provide some meaningful insights for the assessment method of FCGR prediction in CRSF induced by surface strengthening treatment.

Electrophysiological correlates of semantic pain processing in the affective priming.

Pain plays a fundamental role in the well-being of the individual, and its semantic content may have specific properties compared to other negative domains (i.e., fear and anger) which allows the cognitive system to detect it with priority. Considering the influence of the affective context in which stimuli (targets) are evaluated, it is possible that their valence could be differentially processed if preceded by negative stimuli (primes) associated with pain than negative stimuli not associated with pain. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the electrophysiological correlates of the implicit processing of words with pain content by using an affective priming paradigm. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants were presented with positive and negative word targets (not associated with pain) that were preceded by positive, negative (not associated with pain), and pain word primes. Participants were asked to judge the valence of the target word. Results showed faster reaction times (RTs) in congruent conditions, especially when the negative target was preceded by a pain prime rather than a positive one. ERPs analyses showed no effect of pain at an early-stage processing (N400), but a larger waveform when the pain prime preceded the positive prime on the LPP. These results reaffirm the importance that valence has in establishing the priority with which stimuli are encoded in the environment and highlight the role that pain has in the processing of stimuli, supporting the hypothesis according to which the valence and the semantics of a stimulus interact with each other generating a specific response for each type of emotion.

P22.02.B RELATIVE REPRESENTATIVES IN RESEARCH: HOW TO APPLY PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION FACILITATING RELATIVE’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PATIENT’S CARE AND DISEASE TRAJECTORY

Abstract BACKGROUND The importance of engaging patients and the public in health research is gaining growing recognition. However, robust evidence of the process seems to be lacking. This study aims to apply Patient and Public Involvement as a panel of relatives from the development to implementation of a clinical tool, to systematically involve relatives of patients with acquired brain injury and a malignant brain tumor in the patient’s care and disease trajectory. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a descriptive study in the initial phase of applying Patient and Public Involvement in a current research project. Two national patient associations Brain Injury Association and Brain Tumor Association were contacted to recruit relatives of patients within these populations. An informational text with the aim of the overall project and purpose of the research panel was formulated and posted on the home page of- and by the patient associations on behalf of the research group. To enable a broad representation of the whole country, TEAMS was chosen as a communication platform. Preliminary interviews were conducted individually with the relatives and two researchers to align expectations and examine the motivation to participate in the panel. RESULTS Six relatives replied and were considered eligible by the research team, able to express both their own experiences, and representing relatives in general. The relative representatives comprised relatives of patients with acquired brain injury (n=3) and malignant brain tumor (n=3). The relatives were all women between the age of 44 to 66, all partners to the patients, and geographically representing four of the five regions in Denmark. Ethical considerations regarding the relatives were taken into account throughout the process. Two-panel meetings have until now been conducted where the relative representatives have been presented for and discussing findings from two scoping reviews. A pivotal finding is a perceived lack of involvement and systematic support for the children and young adults of the patients. CONCLUSION By including the relatives in the early stage of the research process, they can validate and nuance the research findings by applying their lived experiences and ensuring relevance to a national context. The perspectives and knowledge from the panel are an important foundation before the development of an intervention facilitating the relative’s involvement in the patient’s care and disease trajectory.

Natural and anthropogenic carbon input affect microbial activity in salt marsh sediment.

Salt marshes are dynamic, highly productive ecosystems positioned at the interface between terrestrial and marine systems. They are exposed to large quantities of both natural and anthropogenic carbon input, and their diverse sediment-hosted microbial communities play key roles in carbon cycling and remineralization. To better understand the effects of natural and anthropogenic carbon on sediment microbial ecology, several sediment cores were collected from Little Sippewissett Salt Marsh (LSSM) on Cape Cod, MA, USA and incubated with either Spartina alterniflora cordgrass or diesel fuel. Resulting shifts in microbial diversity and activity were assessed via bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Both Spartina and diesel amendments resulted in initial decreases of microbial diversity as well as clear, community-wide shifts in metabolic activity. Multi-stage degradative frameworks shaped by fermentation were inferred based on anabolically active lineages. In particular, the metabolically versatile Marinifilaceae were prominent under both treatments, as were the sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrionaceae, which may be attributable to their ability to utilize diverse forms of carbon under nutrient limited conditions. By identifying lineages most directly involved in the early stages of carbon processing, we offer potential targets for indicator species to assess ecosystem health and highlight key players for selective promotion of bioremediation or carbon sequestration pathways.

Shared and distinct neural correlates of first and second language morphological processing in bilingual brain

While morphology constitutes a crucial component of the human language system, the neural bases of morphological processing in the human brain remains to be elucidated. The current study aims at exploring the extent to which the second language (L2) morphological processing would resemble or differ from that of their first language (L1) in adult Chinese-English bilinguals. Bilingual participants were asked to complete a morphological priming lexical decision task drawing on derivational morphology, which is present for both Chinese and English, when their electrophysiological and optical responses were recorded concurrently. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) revealed a neural dissociation between morphological and semantic priming effects in the left fronto-temporal network, while L1 Chinese engaged enhanced activation in the left prefrontal cortex for morphological parsing relative to L2 English. In the early stage of lexical processing, cross-language morphological processing manifested a difference in degree, not in kind, as revealed by the early left anterior negativity (ELAN) effect. In addition, L1 and L2 shared both early and late structural parsing processes (P250 and 300 ~ 500 ms negativity, respectively). Therefore, the current results support a unified competition model for bilingual development, where bilinguals would primarily employ L1 neural resources for L2 morphological representation and processing.

Craving modulates attentional bias towards alcohol in severe alcohol use disorder: An eye-tracking study.

Competing models disagree on three theoretical questions regarding alcohol-related attentional bias (AB), a key process in severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD): (1) is AB more of a trait (fixed, associated with alcohol use severity) or state (fluid, associated with momentary craving states) characteristic of SAUD; (2) does AB purely reflect the over-activation of the reflexive/reward system or is it also influenced by the activity of the reflective/control system and (3) does AB rely upon early or later processing stages? We addressed these issues by investigating the time-course of AB and its modulation by subjective craving and cognitive load in SAUD. A free-viewing eye-tracking task, presenting pictures of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, combined with a concurrent cognitive task with three difficulty levels. A laboratory setting in the detoxification units of three Belgian hospitals. We included 30 patients with SAUD self-reporting craving at testing time, 30 patients with SAUD reporting a total absence of craving and 30 controls matched on sex and age. All participants from SAUD groupsmet the DSM-5 criteria for SAUD. We assessed AB through early and late eye-tracking indices. We evaluated the modulation of AB by craving (comparison between patients with/without craving) and cognitive load (variation of AB with the difficulty level of the concurrent task). Dwell time measure indicated that SAUDpatients with craving allocated more attention towards alcohol-related stimuli than patients without craving (P < 0.001, d = 1.093), resulting in opposite approach/avoidance AB according to craving presence/absence. SAUD patients without craving showed a stronger avoidance AB than controls (P = 0.003, d = 0.806). AB did not vary according to cognitive load (P = 0.962, η2 p = 0.004). The direction of alcohol-related attentional bias (approach/avoidance) appears to be determined by patients' subjective craving at testing time and does not function as a stable trait of severe alcohol use disorder. Alcohol-related attentional bias appears to rely on later/controlled attentional stages but is not modulated by the saturation of the reflective/control system.

Impact of Surgical Rejuvenation on Visual Processing and Character Attribution of Faces.

This study considers observers' reflexive responses to the rejuvenated face, and how instinctive responses relate to subjective judgment. We investigated observers' reflexive perception of faces both pre and post surgical intervention during the early stages of visual processing. Subjective character attribution for all test images was also assessed by the same observers. Forty frontal facial images of 20 patients portraying the pre- and postoperative high superficial musculoaponeurotic system facelift along with variable concomitant procedures were studied. Nineteen lookzone regions were mapped post hoc onto each image. Forty observers examined the images, whereas an eye-tracking camera recorded their eye movements. Visual fixation data were recorded and analyzed. Observers also rated each image on the basis of five elemental positive character attributes. A statistically coherent but nonsignificant (P > 0.05) trend was identified with the surgical intervention resulting in greater attention being paid to the central triangle region of the face with reduction in attention to the facial periphery. Facial rejuvenation significantly increased the subjective character ratings of all five positively valenced attributes tested. Average age estimate of the photos decreased significantly from 54 to 48.6 years (true average age of 57.4 years). We provide data illustrating both reflexive and subjective responses to facial rejuvenation. Observers reported a more favorable impression of the treated faces and evaluated them as being younger than their true age. A trend was detected for increased visual fixation of the central facial region following rejuvenation. Interpretation of these findings and indication for further research is provided.

Listening to audiences to remain relevant: Audience research as a new production method for Scandinavian screen cultures in transition

This article explores the new production strategies for reaching audiences currently being put into practice in the Danish screen industry. Building on studies and theories of the changed audience–industry relation following the breakthrough of streaming, this qualitative case study investigates how audience research was implemented in the production framework behind the Danish youth film Smuk (Pretty Young Thing) () to increase the film’s relevance with young audiences. The analysis highlights the differences between traditional story research and audience research as well as the challenges and opportunities of involving audience feedback in the early stages of the creative process. Finally, I discuss the implications of this new approach for classical European film industries that consider film a cultural good rather than a strictly commercial product.

Tracing the identity of Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” cheese using NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis

BackgroundNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the well-established tools for food metabolomic analysis, as it proved to be very effective in authenticity and quality control of dairy products, as well as to follow product evolution during processing and storage. The analytical assessment of the EU mountain denomination label, specifically for Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" (Mountain-CQ) cheese, has received limited attention. Although it was established in 2012 the EU mountain denomination label has not been much studied from an analytical point of view. Nonetheless, tracing a specific profile for the mountain products is essential to support the value chain of this specialty. ResultsThe aim of the study was to produce an identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” (Mountain-CQ) cheese, and to differentiate it from Parmigiano Reggiano PDO samples (conventional-PDO) using 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis. Three different approaches were applied and compared. First, the spectra-as-such were analysed after proper preprocessing. For the other two approaches, Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) was used for signals resolution and features extraction, either individually on manually-defined spectral intervals or by reapplying MCR-ALS on the whole spectra with selectivity constraints using the reconstructed “pure profiles” as initial estimates and targets. All approaches provided comparable information regarding the samples’ distribution, as in all three cases the separation between the two product categories conventional-PDO and Mountain-CQ could be highlighted. Moreover, a novel MATLAB toolbox for features extraction via MCR-ALS was developed and used in synergy with the Chenomx library, allowing for a putative identification of the selected features. SignificanceA first identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” obtained by interpreting the metabolites signals in NMR spectroscopy was obtained. Our workflow and toolbox for generating the features dataset allows a more straightforward interpretation of the results, to overcome the limitations due to dimensionality and to peaks overlapping, but also to include the signals assignment and matching since the early stages of the data processing and analysis.

Applicant attraction to new ventures: The combined effects of entrepreneurs’ physical attractiveness and gender

ABSTRACT We investigate the combined effects of entrepreneurs’ physical attractiveness and gender on applicant attraction to new ventures. Relying on stereotype-based theories and using unique primary data, we confirm that physical attractiveness and gender biases exist: Job seekers evaluate the new ventures presented by either physically attractive or male entrepreneurs as more attractive prospective employers. Moreover, physically attractive male entrepreneurs are best positioned to attract applicants. Interestingly, the strength of these biases varies depending on job seekers’ gender. A severe gender bias exists among male job seekers, while this bias is very weak among female job seekers. Conversely, the physical attractiveness bias is ubiquitous but stronger among female job seekers. We advance research at the intersection of human resource management and entrepreneurship by complementing prior studies on the drivers of applicant attraction to new ventures and suggesting that stereotypes play a critical role in the early stage of the recruitment process.

Dissociable Neural Mechanisms Underlie the Effects of Attention on Visual Appearance and Response Bias.

A prominent theoretical framework spanning philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience holds that selective attention penetrates early stages of perceptual processing to alter the subjective visual experience of behaviorally relevant stimuli. For example, searching for a red apple at the grocery store might make the relevant color appear brighter and more saturated compared with seeing the exact same red apple while searching for a yellow banana. In contrast, recent proposals argue that data supporting attention-related changes in appearance reflect decision- and motor-level response biases without concurrent changes in perceptual experience. Here, we tested these accounts by evaluating attentional modulations of EEG responses recorded from male and female human subjects while they compared the perceived contrast of attended and unattended visual stimuli rendered at different levels of physical contrast. We found that attention enhanced the amplitude of the P1 component, an early evoked potential measured over visual cortex. A linking model based on signal detection theory suggests that response gain modulations of the P1 component track attention-induced changes in perceived contrast as measured with behavior. In contrast, attentional cues induced changes in the baseline amplitude of posterior alpha band oscillations (∼9-12 Hz), an effect that best accounts for cue-induced response biases, particularly when no stimuli are presented or when competing stimuli are similar and decisional uncertainty is high. The observation of dissociable neural markers that are linked to changes in subjective appearance and response bias supports a more unified theoretical account and demonstrates an approach to isolate subjective aspects of selective information processing.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Does attention alter visual appearance, or does it simply induce response bias? In the present study, we examined these competing accounts using EEG and linking models based on signal detection theory. We found that response gain modulations of the visually evoked P1 component best accounted for attention-induced changes in visual appearance. In contrast, cue-induced baseline shifts in alpha band activity better explained response biases. Together, these results suggest that attention concurrently impacts visual appearance and response bias, and that these processes can be experimentally isolated.

Mobile Technologies for Supporting Mental Health in Youths: Scoping Review of Effectiveness, Limitations, and Inclusivity.

Over the past decade, there has been growing support for the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to improve the availability of mental health interventions. While mHealth is a promising tool for improving access to interventions, research on the effectiveness and efficacy of mHealth apps for youths is limited, particularly for underrepresented populations, including youths of color and economically marginalized youths. This scoping review study sought to evaluate the following research questions: (1) What is the extent of the current literature on mHealth apps that provide intervention for mental health problems in children and adolescents? (2) What is known from the existing literature about the effectiveness or efficacy of delivering mental health services via mHealth apps? (3) What are the gaps in the knowledge base in the fields of technology and mental health? (4) Do the reviewed mHealth apps address issues of cultural sensitivity or have they been tested with underrepresented groups (ie, youths of color or economically marginalized groups)? An electronic database search was conducted using relevant search terms. Seven independent reviewers screened identified studies, including title and abstract review to determine if studies met the following inclusion criteria: (1) targeted samples with mental health symptomology or disorders, (2) studied youth participants aged 6-17 years, and (3) examined the use of a mobile app-based platform for intervention. Relevant studies were subjected to full-text review to extract and chart relevant data based on a priori research questions. The initial database search yielded 304 papers published from 2010 to 2021. After screening and selection, the final review included 10 papers on the effectiveness and efficacy of mental health intervention apps for youths aged 8 to 17 years. Identified apps targeted a broad range of mental health challenges in youths (ie, depression, self-harm, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). Results identified only a small number of studies suggesting that current effectiveness and efficacy research in this area are limited. While some studies provided general support for the effectiveness of mHealth apps in improving mental health outcomes in youths, several notable limitations were present across the literature, reducing the generalizability of findings. Additionally, considerations around racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity were scarce across studies. Although some studies cited in this scoping review provide support for the effectiveness and efficacy of mHealth apps targeting mental health concerns in youths, the overall body of literature remains quite limited. Moreover, mHealth apps expressly developed to be culturally responsive are almost nonexistent. Further efforts are needed to recruit youths who are typically underrepresented in research and invite stakeholder participation and collaborative input in the early stages of the mHealth app development process.

An Eulerian multiphase frost model based on heat transfer measurements

In this paper, a laminar numerical model is developed to predict frost formation over a horizontal cold flat surface. An Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase approach is followed to model humid air and ice phases separately. Frost accumulation on the cold surface is modeled with an empirical mass source term. Model constants were tuned in a systematic way using experimental heat flux and frost thickness data. A velocity dependent model constant is introduced into the mass source term. The heat flux rise observed experimentally at the initial stages of the frosting could be captured with the use of the velocity dependent model constant and the addition of this term considerably improved the accuracy of the frost model at the initial stages of frosting. It was also observed that the selected particle diameter for the solid ice phase has a considerable effect on the velocity profile over the frost layer. This requires tuning of the velocity dependent model constant parameters according to the selected ice particle diameter. The developed numerical model was tested with three different frost thermal conductivity models. Using the thermal conductivity of solid ice for the frost thermal conductivity resulted in the most accurate prediction at the early stages of the frost growth process indicating a rather column-wise vertical growth of ice crystals with very low lateral branching. However, the overprediction of the numerical heat flux with the thermal conductivity of solid ice points out a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the newly added frost layers indicating a more pronounced lateral branching of ice crystals within the frost layer. The effect of the diffusion coefficient of the water vapor in humid air on frosting is also investigated. An artificial increase in the diffusion coefficient improved the accuracy of the heat flux prediction of the model at the initial stages of frosting which might indicate an eddy-driven enhanced mixing in the boundary layer which might not be captured in the laminar flow model. Finally, the developed numerical model is also tested on another scenario with the surface temperature held at -30 °C. Detailed analysis of the numerical simulations showed a more porous frost layer with the surface temperature at -30 °C as compared to the frost porosity formed on the surface at -20 °C.