Interpretation Bias Research Articles

Pronoun interpretation in intermediate-advanced L2 English speakers: L2 to L1 cross-linguistic effects

Aims and objectives: L2 learners who speak a null subject (L1 Spanish) and a non-null subject language (L2 English) may experience cross-linguistic interference from the L2 on L1 pronoun interpretation. In this study, we test pronoun interpretation in the L1 and L2 of adult learners, in comparison with two groups of monolingual speakers, to assess if L1 pronoun interpretation can change as a result of L2 acquisition at intermediate-advanced levels of L2 proficiency and in the absence of long L2 immersion. Methodology: A group of L2 English speakers (L1 Spanish) participated in two offline sentence comprehension tasks where they interpreted pronouns in the L1 and L2. The results are compared with English and Spanish monolingual speakers. Data and analysis: We find that adult English learners comprehend pronouns in their L1 (Spanish) differently than Spanish monolingual speakers, demonstrating a strong subject bias for interpreting null and overt pronouns. In addition, we show that pronoun interpretation patterns acquired in the L2 explain the changes to L1 interpretation biases. Conclusions: The results of this study significantly advance the understanding of the factors that contribute to bilingual language comprehension, showing the permeability of the L1 comprehension system at the discourse level as soon as the L2 sets in.

Mitología Griega y Discurso Ecológico

This article explores the use of Greek mythology in current ecological discourse. In Classical Studies, specifically in Classical Tradition studies, the ecocritical revision of Greco-Latin texts and their survival is still in its infancy. The ecological question is usually approached as a reconstruction of notions and uses of nature, with little reference to the contemporary philosophical and cultural discourse that revolves around the cultural causes of the climate crisis, its historical paradoxes, and its future projections. This has led to a situation in which ancient mythology, especially Greek mythology, is used by ecological discourse representatives for argumentative, explanatory, or informative purposes without the required textual criticism and scientific rigor. This paper insists on the need to critically review the ecological readings of Greek mythology to avoid contradictions, paradoxes, or biased interpretations that could weaken the ecocritical debate. Specifically, two predominant tendencies are analyzed: the argumentative use of myth (e.g., in the case of the adamantine chains of Prometheus or the use of Platonic myths) and its resemanticization for a specific discursive purpose (e.g., the reductionist interpretations of Gaia and Medusa) in authors such as Timothy Morton, Jane Bennett, Ursula Heise, or Donna Haraway. The results show that the treatment of Greek myths in the ecological discourse is often subordinated to argumentative needs, avoiding alternative mythographic sources that relativize what has been exposed or venturing into biased interpretations that can lead to undesired contradictions concerning the postulates of the ecological discourse itself.

Comparative responses of renewable energy stock market to economic policy uncertainty and climate policy uncertainty shocks: Evidence from China

AbstractWith rising climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU), it is crucial to analyze the factors influencing the renewable energy stock market (RE) from a comprehensive perspective. Using data from January 2009 to May 2022, we use a time‐varying parameter vector autoregressive model with stochastic volatility (TVP‐VAR‐SV) to examine CPU, EPU, macroeconomic factors, and RE in a unified framework. We analyze the various responses of RE to CPU and EPU. Furthermore, we test for differences in the impact of the four classifications of EPU on RE. The findings are as follows. The time‐varying impact of CPU on RE is centered on the short term and is positive during non‐crisis periods. In contrast, the impact of EPU on RE is negative in the short term. In addition, causal identification at the micro level reveals that RE can increase by 0.932% on average after being affected by CPU. Further comparing the four classifications of EPU, we find that exchange rate policy uncertainty has the largest negative impact. Our study enriches the investment theory on RE. It avoids biased interpretations of various policy uncertainties and has a significant implication for policymakers, renewable energy firms, and investors.

Prompt closure versus gradual weaning of external ventricular drain for hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a statistical analysis plan for the DRAIN randomised clinical trial

BackgroundInsertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is a first-line treatment of acute hydrocephalus caused by aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). Once the patient is clinically stable, the EVD is either removed or replaced by a permanent internal shunt. The optimal strategy for cessation of the EVD is unknown. Prompt closure carries a risk of acute hydrocephalus or redundant shunt implantations, whereas gradual weaning may increase the risk of EVD-related infections.MethodsDRAIN (Danish RAndomised Trial of External Ventricular Drainage Cessation IN Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage) is an international multicentre randomised clinical trial comparing prompt closure versus gradual weaning of the EVD after aSAH. The primary outcome is a composite of VP-shunt implantation, all-cause mortality, or EVD-related infection. Secondary outcomes are serious adverse events excluding mortality and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Exploratory outcomes are modified Rankin Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, and length of stay in the neurointensive care unit and hospital. Outcome assessment will be performed 6 months after ictus. Based on the sample size calculation (event proportion 80% in the gradual weaning group, relative risk reduction 20%, alpha 5%, power 80%), 122 participants are required in each intervention group. Outcome assessment for the primary outcome, statistical analyses, and conclusion drawing will be blinded. Two independent statistical analyses and reports will be tracked using a version control system, and both will be published. Based on the final statistical report, the blinded steering group will formulate two abstracts.ConclusionWe present a pre-defined statistical analysis plan for the randomised DRAIN trial, which limits bias, p-hacking, and data-driven interpretations. This statistical analysis plan is accompanied by tables with simulated data, which increases transparency and reproducibility.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03948256. Registered on May 13, 2019.

The Ambiguous Cue Task: Measurement reliability of an experimental paradigm for the assessment of interpretation bias and associations with mental health

Interpretation biases in the processing of ambiguous affective information are assumed to play an important role in the onset and maintenance of emotional disorders. Reports of low reliability for experimental measures of cognitive biases have called into question previous findings on the association of these measures with markers of mental health and demonstrated the need to systematically evaluate measurement reliability for measures of cognitive biases. We evaluated reliability and correlations with self-report measures of mental health for interpretation bias scores derived from the Ambiguous Cue Task (ACT), an experimental paradigm for the assessment of approach-avoidance behavior towards ambiguous affective stimuli. For a non-clinical sample, the measurement of an interpretation bias with the ACT showed high internal consistency (rSB = .91 – .96, N = 354) and acceptable 2-week test–retest correlations (rPearson = .61 – .65, n = 109). Correlations between the ACT interpretation bias scores and mental health-related self-report measures of personality and well-being were generally small (r ≤ |.11|) and statistically not significant when correcting for multiple comparisons. These findings suggest that in non-clinical populations, individual differences in the interpretation of ambiguous affective information as assessed with the ACT do not show a clear association with self-report markers of mental health. However, in allowing for a highly reliable measurement of interpretation bias, the ACT provides a valuable tool for studies considering potentially small effect sizes in non-clinical populations by studying bigger samples as well as for work on clinical populations, for which potentially greater effects can be expected.

Threat-Related Interpretation Biases and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Individuals Exposed to Trauma

Threat-Related Interpretation Biases and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Individuals Exposed to Trauma

Use of Natural Language Processing to understand users’ perspective on the Art Places/Places of Interest in Global Cities Singapore and Hong Kong

The Art Places/Places of Interest (POI) are increasingly important for Singapore and Hong Kong in their bid to be Global Cities. The design and operation of such Art Places are often led by the museum owners, city government and panel of experts from a top down approach, as well as funded by national governments for public benefit as part of long-term planning. The inputs from the actual users are often neglected. Public participation in Art Places/POI is often limited by individual visits and interactions. The diverse views and feedback on the design and operation of Art Places are difficult to capture accurately. In order to understand the perceptions of the users, extensive and expensive surveys and interviews need to be undertaken. Despite this, there is still a challenge of selection bias and interpretation bias. This paper explores the use of technology and big data to understand the similarities and differences between well-liked and disappointing areas of Art Places/POI in Singapore and Hong Kong. Public reviews on Art Places/POI in Singapore and Hong Kong will be examined using Natural Language Processing tools including the prevalent topic modelling method, namely Latent Dirichlet Allocation. The study revealed common strengths and weaknesses among artistic venues in Singapore and Hong Kong. “Place and experience” emerged as a common strength, while “price and content” were identified as a shared weakness. Singapore’s Art Places were distinguished by a unique strength in their “kid-friendly element,” whereas Hong Kong excelled in “food and shopping.” However, Singapore faced a unique weakness in “racial enclaves,” whereas Hong Kong’s distinctive weakness lay in “service.” These insights can aid urban planners and operators in comprehending and addressing areas of improvement highlighted by negative reviews, thereby enhancing overall performance.

Exploring gender norms in Neolithic Northern China: A GIS analysis of the Jiangzhai site

This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to analyze the Jiangzhai site, a significant Neolithic settlement in northern China. Our aim is to challenge existing biases in gender interpretations of this and similar sites. By examining the distribution of various types of burial goods across different areas of the cemetery, we reveal significant spatial heterogeneity, indicating that mortuary practices at Jiangzhai should not be considered a unified entity. Our findings highlight no universal correlation between gender and grave good distribution: various types of goods are present in both male and female graves. However, in certain areas of the cemetery, specific types of production tools exhibit clear gender preferences. This suggests that gender roles within the Jiangzhai community were flexible and gender was not the central aspect of funerary practices. At Jiangzhai, gender and gender norms were intertwined with other aspects of funerary practices and social identity, influenced by economic structural differences between households. We call for more case studies based on new methods and encourage scholars to continue critically examining past gender narratives.

Geotechnical Site Characterizations Using a Bayesian-Optimized Multi-Output Gaussian Process

Geotechnical site characterizations aim to determine site-specific subsurface profiles and provide a comprehensive understanding of associated soil properties, which are important for geotechnical engineering design. Traditional methods often neglect the inherent cross-correlations among different soil properties, leading to high bias in site characterization interpretations. This paper introduces a novel data-driven site characterization (DDSC) method that employs the Bayesian-optimized multi-output Gaussian process (BO-MOGP) to capture both the spatial correlations across different site locations and the cross-correlations among various soil properties. By considering the dual-correlation feature, the proposed BO-MOGP method enhances the accuracy of predictions of soil properties by leveraging information as much as possible across multiple soil properties. The superiority of the proposed method is demonstrated through a simulated example and the case study of a Taipei construction site. These examples illustrate that the proposed BO-MOGP method outperforms traditional methods that fail to consider both types of correlations, as evidenced by the reduced prediction uncertainty and the accurate identification of cross-correlations. Furthermore, the ability of the proposed BO-MOGP method to generate conditional random fields supports its effectiveness in geotechnical site characterizations.

The Association of Social Media Use and Eating Behaviour of Belgian Adolescent Girls Diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa-A Qualitative Approach.

Social media have become integral in adolescents' lives, presenting both opportunities and risks, especially concerning psychiatric issues like eating disorders, prevalent in this vulnerable age group. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with seven adolescent girls (aged 15-17) diagnosed with eating disorders. Interviews covered seven predefined topics, recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. Participants identified four key themes: exposure to selective content, biased interpretation, behavioural adaptation, and evolving perspectives during recovery. They highlighted social media's role in exacerbating body dissatisfaction and altering behaviours related to eating disorders. This research underscores the critical need for awareness and guidance in adolescents' social media use to mitigate negative impacts, emphasizing the potential link between exposure to specific content and cognitive-behavioural changes in those with eating disorders. Further investigation is warranted to deepen our comprehension of these dynamics.

P-255 Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation during germinal vesicle (GV) rescue could increase the total number of mature oocytes available in women of advanced maternal age (AMA)

Abstract Study question Does NMN supplementation improve nuclear and cytoplasmic competence of AMA oocytes during GV-rescue? Summary answer NMN supplementation enhances GV-rescue efficiency in AMA oocytes by improving nuclear competence and slightly ameliorating cytoplasmic competence. What is known already Oocyte competence drastically declines from the age of 35 onwards. With age, organism NAD+ levels also drop, and NAD+ depletion at the oocyte level is associated with lower oocyte and embryo quality. Over the past years, supplementation with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has been showed to recover oocyte quality and reproductive potential in aged mice due to NAD+ repletion. Thus, we propose the GV-rescue strategy to assess the impact of NMN in vitro supplementation on rescued-oocyte competence, according to maternal age. Study design, size, duration Experimental, prospective study performed on GVs collected after controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), oocyte pick-up (OPU) and denudation; from November 2023 to January 2024. After signed informed consent, GVs were randomized into the control and study (NMN) groups, in a ratio 1:1. A total of two or four GVs were collected from each cycle, in order to avoid any cycle-related potential bias. Participants/materials, setting, methods Young (≤35y.o) or AMA (>35y.o.) women from an infertility clinic (Spain) donated their GVs. They were cultured in time-lapsed, CSCM-NXC medium with or without 100µM-NMN (37oC,6%CO2,5%O2). Nuclear dynamics (tGVBD, tMI and tMII) were described, using “denudation” as zero-time (t0). Rescued metaphase-II (rMII) were artificially activated (≤2.8h post-rMII; 8uM A23187,5min; 10ug/ml puromycin,5h). Normal oocyte activation (NOA) was assessed: 2ndpolar body (PB) extrusion, one pronucleus. Continuous and categorical variables were compared by paired-samples and χ2 tests, respectively. Main results and the role of chance Two hundred and 82 GVs were collected in the young (n = 73 women) and aged groups (n = 35 women), respectively. In the young group, NMN supplementation did not affect the rescue rate (RR=rMII/GV; 54.0%; p = 0.21) but in the AMA-NMN group RR significantly increased (24.4% vs. 48.8%; p = 0.04). Indeed, rMII from both AMA-NMN and young-control groups showed comparable RR (53.1%; p = 0.37) and nuclear dynamics (tGVBD: 5.4±2.8h [95%CI:4.9-5.9], p = 0.10; tMI: 14.8±2.5h [95%CI:14.3-15.2], p = 0.55; t1PB: 20.1±3.2h [95%CI:19.6-20.7], p = 0.33). In contrast, rMII from AMA-control group extruded the 1PB earlier (18.4±2.6h [95%CI: 16.6-20.2) than young-control rMII (p = 0.02). Concerning artificial activation, a slightly non-significant detrimental effect of NMN was observed on NOA rate (rMII with NOA/incubated rMII) in the young group (69.2% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.17). In contrast, NMN-supplement seems to improve the NOA rate in AMA women (33.3% vs. 42.9%; p = 0.78). Limitations, reasons for caution Recruitment rate is lower in AMA than in younger women. Hence, the number of GVs included was lower in the AMA group, providing a potential bias in data interpretation. Results from this preliminary analysis should be tested in further studies with a larger sample size. Wider implications of the findings GV-rescue strategy might increase the number of MII available. In the particular case of women >35, NMN-GV-rescue protocol improves quantitative and qualitative the rMIIs, which become closer to those from young women. Since GV has not undergone any chromosome segregation, to validate whether NMN-supplementation could assist reliable meiosis are urged. Trial registration number 2303-VLC-047-ME

Bias in artificial intelligence for medical imaging: fundamentals, detection, avoidance, mitigation, challenges, ethics, and prospects.

Although artificial intelligence (AI) methods hold promise for medical imaging-based prediction tasks, their integration into medical practice may present a double-edged sword due to bias (i.e., systematic errors). AI algorithms have the potential to mitigate cognitive biases in human interpretation, but extensive research has highlighted the tendency of AI systems to internalize biases within their model. This fact, whether intentional or not, may ultimately lead to unintentional consequences in the clinical setting, potentially compromising patient outcomes. This concern is particularly important in medical imaging, where AI has been more progressively and widely embraced than any other medical field. A comprehensive understanding of bias at each stage of the AI pipeline is therefore essential to contribute to developing AI solutions that are not only less biased but also widely applicable. This international collaborative review effort aims to increase awareness within the medical imaging community about the importance of proactively identifying and addressing AI bias to prevent its negative consequences from being realized later. The authors began with the fundamentals of bias by explaining its different definitions and delineating various potential sources. Strategies for detecting and identifying bias were then outlined, followed by a review of techniques for its avoidance and mitigation. Moreover, ethical dimensions, challenges encountered, and prospects were discussed.

Transdisciplinary method for exploration and visualization of neuroimaging papers and databases: Application to PTSD

A major improvement in MRI techniques has led to an exponential increase in data acquisition and, consequently, in the number of published articles reporting brain impairments and cognitive deficits underlying a disorder. Meta-analysis offers a means of synthesizing the available literature, testing existing models in the light of scientific advances, and revealing unexpected information. However, article selection, author specialization and top-down hypotheses can mask some results and introduce bias into interpretations. LinkRdata is a platform for automated, data-driven, meta-analytical methods suitable for processing large numbers of MRI articles, that can reduce selection and interpretation biases, thereby allowing scientists to review neurocognitive correlates of disorders in relation to their own corpus of articles. To validate our method, we applied it to fMRI studies of post-traumatic stress disorder. Results confirmed LinkRdata's power to uncover findings hidden by the top-down hypothesis approach.

Associations of state and chronic loneliness with interpretation bias: The role of internalizing symptoms

Loneliness is common and, while generally transient, persists in up to 22% of the population. The rising prevalence and adverse impacts of chronic loneliness highlight the need to understand its underlying mechanisms. Evolutionary models of loneliness suggest that chronically lonely individuals demonstrate negative interpretation biases towards social information. It may also be that such biases are exacerbated by momentary increases in state loneliness, or elevated anxiety or depression. Yet, little research has tested these possibilities. The current study aimed to advance understandings of loneliness by examining associations of chronic loneliness with individual differences in negative interpretation bias for social (relative to non-social) stimuli, and testing whether these associations change in the context of increased state loneliness and current levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. These aims were explored in 591 participants who completed an interpretation bias task before and after undergoing a state loneliness induction. Participants also self-reported chronic loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Linear mixed models indicated that only state (but not chronic) loneliness was associated with more positive interpretations of non-social stimuli, with greater anxiety and depressive symptoms predicting more negative interpretations. Implications of these findings for present theoretical models of loneliness are discussed.

Literasi Keuangan dan Pilihan Investasi Masyarakat Aceh

This study examines the relationship between financial knowledge and attitudes towards finance with individual financial behavior within the framework of the Lacanian perspective. The research defines financial knowledge as the symbolic dimension of an individual's mind encompassing concepts of finance, investment, and debt management. Attitudes towards finance are described as the imaginative aspect of an individual's personality involving views, preferences, and emotions related to money and financial management. Utilizing a statistical analysis approach, the study uncovers a significant correlation between financial knowledge, attitudes towards finance, and financial behavior. However, the research outcomes must be interpreted cautiously due to potential confirmation bias and heuristic effects in data interpretation. Managerial implications of this study involve the development of financial education programs aimed at shaping prudent and responsible financial behavior.

Splice_sim: a nucleotide conversion-enabled RNA-seq simulation and evaluation framework

Nucleotide conversion RNA sequencing techniques interrogate chemical RNA modifications in cellular transcripts, resulting in mismatch-containing reads. Biases in mapping the resulting reads to reference genomes remain poorly understood. We present splice_sim, a splice-aware RNA-seq simulation and evaluation pipeline that introduces user-defined nucleotide conversions at set frequencies, creates mixture models of converted and unconverted reads, and calculates mapping accuracies per genomic annotation. By simulating nucleotide conversion RNA-seq datasets under realistic experimental conditions, including metabolic RNA labeling and RNA bisulfite sequencing, we measure mapping accuracies of state-of-the-art spliced-read mappers for mouse and human transcripts and derive strategies to prevent biases in the data interpretation.

A Study on the Characteristics and Interventions of Interpretation Bias in College Students with Depression Tendency Under Different Emotional Priming Conditions

A Study on the Characteristics and Interventions of Interpretation Bias in College Students with Depression Tendency Under Different Emotional Priming Conditions

Clarifying supply chain disruption and operational resilience relationship from a threat-rigidity perspective: Evidence from small and medium-sized enterprises

Given the significant risk supply chain disruptions pose to businesses, scholars and experts presume such events encourage resilience-building efforts. This study uses the threat-rigidity theory to question this normative assumption by proposing that supply chain disruption can trigger threat interpretation bias, which undermines operational resilience. Specifically, the study contends that threat interpretation bias negatively mediates the relationship between supply chain disruption and operational resilience, particularly in low disruption orientation circumstances. An empirical analysis of survey data from 259 small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana using covariance-based structural equation modeling supports these theoretical predictions. The results indicate that supply chain disruption increases threat interpretation bias, which in turn reduces operational resilience. The negative effect of threat interpretation bias on operational resilience is stronger when disruption orientation is low than when it is high. These results offer an enhanced understanding of the supply chain disruption–resilience link while shedding light on how firms can manage threat interpretation bias to improve operational resilience.

Sixty Years of Tinbergen’s Four Questions and Their Continued Relevance to Applied Behaviour and Welfare Research in Zoo Animals: A Commentary

Understanding animal behaviour can feel like deciphering a foreign language. In 1963, pioneering ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen offered a key: four fundamental questions to dissect behaviour’s complexities and reduce interpretive bias. These “Four Questions” fall into two categories: Proximate (how?) and Ultimate (why?). The Proximate questions ask how the behaviour is triggered (Causation) and develops over time (Ontogeny). The Ultimate questions delve into its evolutionary history (Phylogeny) and purpose (Function). Traditionally used in behavioural ecology, Tinbergen’s framework finds new relevance in fields like sentience, welfare, conservation, and animal management. This paper illustrates how further integration of these Questions into applied research can improve outcomes. For example, captive animals can receive enrichment seemingly “unnatural” in origin and form. Does such enrichment trigger species-typical behaviours, fulfilling the same adaptive function as natural stimuli would? Understanding a species’ natural behaviour patterns and how the performance of such activities promotes positive welfare states is key to biologically relevant population management. Tinbergen’s Four Questions can help scientists to decipher the relevance of natural behaviour, and how a species’ responses to their environment indicate what individuals need and want at a specific time or place. By applying the Four Questions, we can answer this question and, in turn, refine husbandry practices and conserve behavioural diversity in managed populations. Sixty years after their conception, Tinbergen’s Four Questions remain a powerful tool for behavioural research. By embracing different biological disciplines within a unified framework, applied animal zoo science will continue to advance and provide credible evidence-based outputs.

Energy security governance and its adaptive capacity

PurposeThis study aims to introduce the Adaptive Capacity Wheel (ACW) Framework to assess the adaptive capacity of local institutions to address energy security issues. This study used two comparative cases, representing Indonesia's city level (Palembang) and the province level (South Sumatra Province).Design/methodology/approachData used in the analysis were from face-to-face interviews, site observation and document review. This study conducted a set of semi-structured interviews with the key interviewees.FindingsThe two government institutions (city and province) report the challenges in dealing with energy security. The results found that the stakeholders at the city level are less adaptive than those at the province level. This challenge is substantially visible regarding variety, resources, room for autonomous change and leadership. On the other hand, South Sumatra Province is quite adaptive in terms of variety, resources and leadership. This study offers a potential adoption of the ACW framework as an analytical instrument to review the adaptive capacity of local institutions in addressing energy security.Research limitations/implicationsTransforming data from the qualitative to the quantitative form can lead to a biased interpretation of data.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to explore the adaptive capacity of local institutions to address the energy security agenda through the lens of the ACW framework.