Negative Effects Research Articles

Am I safe around you? Attachment figure activation increases perceived security but does not reduce negative interpretations of neutral expressions.

Child maltreatment (CM) is associated with social problems, such as loneliness and isolation. One factor that might contribute to these problems is the tendency for individuals who have experienced CM to interpret neutral facial expressions as negative (i.e., negativity bias). Previous research has shown that mental representations of an attachment figure (AF) can lead to positive evaluations of neutral stimuli. We assessed whether such representations can also counteract negativity bias among individuals who experienced CM. Adults (N=159) with and without a CM history completed a facial emotion recognition task. Prior to that, 53 participants with a CM history imagined an AF, and the rest (n=49), as well as controls with no CM history (n=57), imagined a neutral person. Participants in the AF group, d=0.36, p<.001, but not the two other groups, demonstrated increased self-reported security in response to the imagination task. However, imagining an AF did not lead to stronger vagal responses to the imagination task than imagining a neutral person nor did it counteract negativity bias; compared to controls, individuals who experienced CM interpreted neutral expressions more often as contempt, βs.46-.48; ps=.016-.019, regardless of whether they imagined an AF or a neutral person. Thus, imagining an AF may be a helpful intervention to increase momentary feelings of security in individuals with a CM history. However, alternative-possibly body-oriented-interventions and their potential to reduce socially relevant alterations (e.g., negativity bias) on a behavioral level should be explored.

Highly Stable, Crystalline InGaO Thin-Film Transistors by 7% Lanthanum Incorporation.

The development of high-mobility metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) thin-film transistors (TFTs) is of increasing interest. It is well-known that increasing the indium (In) concentration in MOS enhances the crystal volume fraction and mobility. However, the high carrier concentration resulting from a high In content induces TFT depletion mode and degrades device stability. Here, we introduce the incorporation of lanthanum (La) cation into the high-In-containing indium-gallium oxide (InGaO) films grown by spray pyrolysis at a substrate temperature of 375 °C. As the La ratio increases from 3 to 20%, La-incorporated InGaO (LaInGaO) experiences an elevation in both mass density and optical bandgap, but its crystallinity degrades. The coplanar LaInGaO TFTs, optimized with a La ratio of 7%, exhibit an average threshold voltage (VTH) of 0.01 V, field-effect mobility of 30.63 cm2 V-1 s-1, and a subthreshold swing of 0.23 V dec-1. Moreover, compared to pristine InGaO TFTs, the bias temperature and photostability of 7% LaInGaO TFTs have been enhanced, resulting in shifts of VTH under positive and negative bias temperature stresses, as well as negative illumination bias stress conditions by 0.2, 0.1, and -1.6 V, respectively. Additionally, the gate driver circuit employing 7% LaInGaO TFTs demonstrates fast rising and falling times of 437.3 and 557.9 ns, respectively. Therefore, the highly reliable 7% LaInGaO TFTs grown by spray pyrolysis can be utilized for large-area, cost-effective TFT electronics.

Experimental insights on antisocial behavior: two meta-analyses

Abstract We report two meta-analyses on the determinants of antisocial behavior in experimental settings in which such behavior is not rationally motivated by pecuniary incentives. The first meta-analysis employs aggregate data from 95 published and unpublished studies (24,086 participants), using laboratory, field and online experiments carried out since 2000. We find that antisocial behavior depends significantly on the experimental setting, being highest in vendetta games and lowest in social dilemmas. As we find significant heterogeneity across the studies, including across game classes, in the second meta-analysis, we focus only on “Joy of Destruction” (JoD) and money-burning (MB) experiments, for which we have the most observations, 51 studies and around 16,784 participants. Overall, our findings suggest that procedural fairness and being observed by others reduce the frequency of antisocial behavior. Online and field experiments display more antisocial behavior than laboratory experiments. We also find that the strategy method biases antisocial behavior upward. However, we do not find evidence for a positive publication bias being correlated with higher destructive behavior, either in the general meta-analysis or in relation to JoD/MB experiments; if anything, there is evidence of a negative publication bias. The JoD/MB meta-analysis finds evidence of a price effect for destruction frequency, negative discrimination against outsiders, within-subject designs underestimating destructive behavior, and more antisocial behavior in one-shot interactions. Collectively, our results point to the value of more laboratory experiments that systematically build on paradigmatic experimental designs to enable comparability and the identification of key economic drivers of antisocial behavior.

Measuring credit union efficiency with undesirable outputs: evidence from India

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the technical efficiency of credit unions by taking into consideration not only desirable but also undesirable outputs and measure the contribution of individual inputs and outputs to efficiency scores.Design/methodology/approachData envelopment analysis is used to measure the relative performance of credit unions under different models, both with and without undesirable outputs, i.e. Banker–Charnes–Cooper, slacks-based measure and slacks-based measure extended to the case of undesirable outputs. Efficiency scores are compared between models using non-parametric statistical analyses. Implications are derived for credit union performance enhancement.FindingsCredit unions should focus on increasing the quantum of loans disbursed as well as the number of members served. The omission of undesirable outputs, i.e. NPLs from consideration, leads to a negative bias in efficiency scores due to the failure to reward credit unions for efforts to reduce NPLs. Although NPLs are high in Indian credit unions, they are not the main contributor to inefficiency. The major contributions of this study are to fill the void in studies on credit union efficiency in the presence of undesirable outputs and identify the specific problem areas for improvement in credit union operations by separately measuring the contribution of individual inputs and outputs to efficiency scores.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this study is the use of cross-sectional data. In future studies, data may be collected from multiple periods so that trends in efficiency as well as changes in contributors to efficiency over time may be identified.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies specific problem areas for improvement in Indian credit union operations, namely the quantum of loans disbursed as well as the number of members served.Originality/valueThis study fills the void in studies on credit union efficiency in the presence of undesirable outputs and measures the contribution of individual inputs and outputs to efficiency.

The interference of baicalein with uric acid detected by the enzymatic method and its correction method

In recent years, the frequency of clinical application and international recognition of Chinese herbal medicines have been increasing, but the effect of Chinese herbal medicines on common clinical biochemical tests is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of baicalein, a Chinese herbal medicine ingredient, on uric acid (UA), cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and to alleviate the interference of baicalein on these assays by improving the reagent. The interferences of baicalein during the detection of these five analytes were investigated on the Hitachi 7600 system. We prepared UA assay kit according to commercial standards to facilitate the improvement of the formulation and evaluated its performance. Tempol, which could eliminate the interference of baicalein, was found based on the chemical properties of the drug, and the optimum concentration for adding it to our UA reagent was determined. We found that the interference was concentration-dependent for five analytes, with the largest negative interference on UA determination. Self-prepared UA assay kit had a safe analysis performance. Our kit and the commercial kit showed a higher interference of - 71.75% and − 89.98% at 200 µg/mL baicalein, respectively. The addition of 5 mmol/L Tempol to the UA reagent could strongly resist the interference of baicalein. In Conclusion, baicalein has a negative interference effect on analysis based on the Trinder reaction, especially UA assay. With the increase in baicalein concentrations, the negative bias increased, and our improved UA reagent could resist the interference of baicalein on UA detection.

Validation of Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieved From CALIPSO Lidar Ocean Surface Backscatter

AbstractAerosol optical depth (AOD) from the new Ocean Derived Column Optical Depth (ODCOD) data product derived from the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) onboard the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) spacecraft is validated using the ground‐based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). Relative to AERONET, ODCOD is shown to provide an unbiased AOD and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 60%. This is in contrast to the performance of the “standard” CALIPSO AOD retrievals (which first detect/identify aerosol layers, retrieve their extinction profile, and then integrate to obtain AOD) that show a larger RMSE (93%) and a significant negative bias (−20%). ODCOD is also shown to provide a higher‐fidelity uncertainty estimate than the standard retrievals with the estimated uncertainties providing a good prediction of the true errors as diagnosed with AERONET. A perturbation analysis is performed to assess ODCOD as a retrieval constraint to improve the profiling capability of CALIOP. This analysis indicates that ODCOD has the potential to improve up to 40% of CALIOP retrievals globally.

The Fast Response of Land Precipitation to Historical Anthropogenic Black Carbon and Sulfate Aerosols in the GFDL ESM4 Climate Model

Abstract Aerosol effects on precipitation are crucial factors in climate change, yet they remain poorly understood, representing a large source of uncertainty in climate models. In the GFDL Earth System Model 4 (ESM4), simulated historical century-scale trends of global land precipitation demonstrate significant drying biases compared to observations, even when imposing observed historical variations of sea surface temperature and sea ice concentrations (LongAMIP simulations). These biases manifest as overestimated decreasing trends in precipitation over tropical-subtropical land and underestimated increases in higher latitudes. In this study, we investigate the “fast response” of land precipitation to historical anthropogenic aerosol emissions and its contributions to the model trend biases, by conducting idealized ESM4 LongAMIP experiments with emissions of either black carbon (BC) or sulfate (SO4) aerosol precursors set to near-pre-industrial levels (1850). Local aerosol effects, occurring through alteration of atmospheric energy balance and circulation, emerge as critical drivers of excessive precipitation declines in the LongAMIP runs in some regions: (1) Over East Asia, a negative SO4 effect and a positive BC effect contribute to the simulated negative trend bias in LongAMIP. (2) For regions of Africa, the negative fast response to BC and SO4 partially contributes to the overestimated precipitation decline. (3) Over west-central North America, the negative fast response to BC in the model contributes toward underestimating a modest observed increasing precipitation trend. However, over South Asia, eastern North America and Northwest Eurasia, the fast responses of precipitation to aerosols cannot account for the LongAMIP model bias (in the opposite direction), indicating the dominant influence of other factors.

Research on Titanium Ion Etching Pretreatment Process on Cemented Carbide Before DLC Film Deposition

Before depositing a thin film, modifying the substrate surface was a crucial step in the film preparation process, having a decisive impact on the final properties of the film. In addition to additive methods such as preparing transition layers, subtractive methods such as etching treatment could also enhance the performance of the film. Using titanium ions to etch and pretreat the surface of cemented carbide was an effective optimization method for depositing DLC films. This paper investigated the influence of process parameters for titanium ion etching of cemented carbide on the substrate surface. By varying the substrate negative bias voltage, medium-frequency current, and argon gas flow rate, the etching rate, roughness, and elemental changes of the etched surface were studied. DLC films were then deposited on the etched surfaces to investigate the effect of the changes of surface characteristics on subsequent film deposition. The research revealed that the substrate negative bias voltage had the most significant impact on the etching rate, while the MF current affected the surface roughness. The increase in surface roughness can enhance the deposition rate. The changes in C/W ratio did not exhibit a clear impact pattern on the DLC film. However, an increase in Co element content improved the properties of the DLC film due to the diffusion of sub-surface Co element.

The initial stages of silver fluorination: a scanning tunneling microscopy investigation

We use low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (LT-STM) to characterize the early stages of silver fluorination. On Ag(100), we observe only one adsorbate species, which shows a bias-dependent STM topography. Notably, at negative bias voltages, VB < 0, the apparent shape can be described as a round protrusion surrounded by a moat-like depression (sombrero). As the voltage increases, the apparent shape changes, eventually evolving into a round depression. From the STM images, we determine the adsorption site to be the hollow position. On Ag(110) we find adsorbates with three distinct STM topographies. One type exhibits the same shape change with VB as observed on Ag(100), that is, from a sombrero shape to a round depression as the voltage changes from negative to positive values; the other two types are observed as round depressions regardless of VB. From the STM images, we find the three adsorbates to be sitting on the short-bridge, hollow and top position on the Ag(110) surface, with a relative abundance of 60%, 35% and 5.

Reduction of Interface State Density in 4H-SiC MOS Capacitors Modified by ALD-Deposited Interlayers.

This study proposed an innovative method for growing gate oxide on silicon carbide (SiC), where silicon oxide (SiO2) was fabricated on a deposited Al2O3 layer, achieving high quality gate oxide. A thin Al2O3 passivation layer was deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD), followed by Si deposition and reoxidation to fabricate a MOS structure. The effects of different ALD growth cycles on the interface chemical composition, trap density, breakdown characteristics, and bias stress stability of the MOS capacitors were systematically investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that an ALD Al2O3 passivation layer with 10 growth cycles effectively suppresses the formation of the proportion of Si-OxCy bonds. Additionally, the SiO2/Al2O3/SiC gate stack with 10 ALD growth cycles exhibited optimal electrical properties, including a minimum interface state density (Dit) value of 3 × 1011 cm-2 eV-1 and a breakdown field (Ebd) of 10.9 MV/cm. We also systematically analyzed the bias stress stability of the capacitors at room temperature and elevated temperatures. Analysis of flat-band voltage (ΔVfb) and midgap voltage (ΔVmg) hysteresis after high-temperature positive and negative bias stress demonstrated that incorporating a thin Al2O3 layer at the interface is the key factor in enhancing the stability of Vfb and midgap voltage Vmg.

Neural correlates of affective forecasting in individuals with high trait anxiety: evidence from resting-state functional connectivity.

Previous literature has indicated that individuals with high trait anxiety have negative bias in forecasting future emotions, but the neural mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. Individuals with high trait anxiety (HTA; n = 38) and individuals with low trait anxiety (LTA; n = 38) were recruited. All participants completed the Social Affective Forecasting task and underwent resting-state fMRI scanning. Compared with the LTA group, the HTA group anticipated lower levels of arousal for future positive events but showed comparable performance for anticipated valence for future positive events. Moreover, the HTA group demonstrated intact performance in reporting anticipated valence and anticipated arousal for future negative events. In addition, the HTA group demonstrated increased functional connectivity between the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and left lingual gyrus relative to the LTA group. Besides, the HTA group also showed increased functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior insula and right posterior cingulate cortex compared to the LTA group. No significant associations were found between the altered functional connectivity and affective forecasting performance. Increased functional connectivity observed in the HTA group suggested that HTA individuals may devote more efforts when anticipating future events, to maintain intact in anticipating valence for future events.

Childhood psychological maltreatment subtypes and depression among Chinese college students: the role of self-compassion and perceived negative attention bias

BackgroundResearch on childhood psychological maltreatment lags behind that on other forms of childhood maltreatment. While it has been identified as a significant predictor of depression, the specific underlying mechanisms linking its subtypes (emotional abuse and emotional neglect) to depression remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and its subtypes and depression from both emotional factors (self-compassion) and cognitive factors (perceived negative attention bias), as well as the gender differences.MethodsUsing a questionnaire survey, a total of 587 college students completed the self-report questionnaires, including childhood psychological maltreatment and its subtypes, self-compassion, perceived negative attention bias, and depression. This study used structural equation models to examine the serial mediating role and gender differences by Amos 24.0.ResultsChildhood psychological maltreatment and its subtypes positively predicted depression. Self-compassion played a mediating role between childhood psychological maltreatment and its subtypes and depression. Perceived negative attention bias played a mediating role between childhood psychological maltreatment and emotional abuse and depression, but not significantly between emotional neglect and depression. Self-compassion and perceived negative attention bias played a serial mediating role between childhood psychological maltreatment (including its subtypes) and depression. There were no gender differences in the mediating role.ConclusionSelf-compassion and perceived negative attention bias played distinct roles in the association between childhood psychological maltreatment, its subtypes, and depression. A serial mediating role of self-compassion and perceived negative attention bias was observed in the associations between overall psychological maltreatment, emotional abuse, and depression. In contrast, in the case of emotional neglect, only self-compassion served as a mediator. These findings enlighten us that psychological interventions enhancing self-compassion and reducing negative attention bias may help mitigate depression in college students exposed to childhood psychological maltreatment, particularly emotional abuse. Conversely, interventions focused on increasing self-compassion may be more effective in reducing depression in those exposed to emotional neglect.

Self-concealment predicts use of secrecy and attitude toward secrecy, not subjective ability to keep secrets

Abstract Self-concealment and secrecy, although conceptually distinct, are often conflated or inadequately distinguished in existing literature. In this correlational study, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between self-concealment and three dimensions of secrecy: the use of secrecy, the ability to keep secrets, and attitude toward secrecy. The sample consisted of 220 individuals (76% identified as female), between the ages of 18 to 78 (M = 24.27, SD = 8.88). Participants completed an online survey which included the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS), the Common Secrecy Questionnaire (CSQ) and the newly developed Secrecy Ability Scale (SAB) and Secrecy Attitude Scale (SAT). Data were screened to mitigate both positive and negative response biases. The results revealed that high self-concealers tend to keep more secrets and have a more positive attitude toward secrecy compared to low self-concealers. No significant group difference emerged concerning the subjective ability to keep secrets. Limitations and future implications of the findings are discussed.

Investigating the effects of different herbal preparations, 5-hydroxytryptophan and involuntary exercise on affective bias modification in male Lister Hooded rats.

Mood disorders are a prevalent global health concern with natural health products, including herbal supplements, an increasingly popular choice as an alternative or complementary therapy. Despite their widespread use, few studies have tested the clinical efficacy of natural health products or explored their underlying mechanisms in animal models. Modification of affective biases has been linked to mood in humans and animal models and may provide insights into potential antidepressant effects. In this study, we used a translational rodent model of affective bias modification to investigate the effects of five commonly used supplements: Hypericum perforatum, that is, St. John's Wort (SJW), Mucuna pruriens, Rhodiola rosea root extract, Valerian root extract and 5-hydroxytryptophan. Exercise is also thought to improve mood disorders, but clinical studies reveal mixed results therefore we also tested the effect of involuntary exercise on affective biases. In separate experiments, male Lister Hooded rats were acutely treated with SJW, Mucuna pruriens, Rhodiola rosea root extract, Valerian root extract and 5-hydroxytryptophan, or underwent an involuntary exercise manipulation. Our results showed a significant positive affective bias following treatment with SJW, whilst the involuntary exercise induced a negative affective bias in rats. No effects were found following the other acute treatments. These data suggest SJW has similar effects in terms of affective bias modification as conventional antidepressants. The negative affective bias observed with involuntary exercise suggests the animals experience a negative affective state and suggests exercise-based therapy may be less effective if the patient perceives this as involuntary.

Evaluation of HRRR Wind Speed Forecast and WindNinja Downscaling Accuracy during Santa Ana Wind Events in Southern California

Abstract Santa Ana winds are dry offshore downslope windstorms, commonly observed during autumn and winter across southwestern California in the United States. The accuracy of real-time Santa Ana wind forecasts is crucial for wildfire-related emergency management and decision-making. This research utilizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s diagnostic wind flow model WindNinja (WN) and evaluates 1) the accuracy of 10-m sustained wind speed from an operational coarse resolution mesoscale forecast model and 2) the relative accuracy of high spatial resolution WN downscaled simulations during six Santa Ana wind events. NOAA High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) 6-h forecasts with 3-km grid spacing were used as inputs to WN to downscale sustained wind speeds to 500-m horizontal grids. Validation with weather stations shows that WN improved the overall forecast accuracy by 13%, on average, relative to HRRR forecasts. Improvements were also recorded in 71.6% of all weather stations used. However, overall WN skill scores declined at higher observed wind speeds. HRRR wind speed forecasts have an overall tendency to overpredict at lower observed wind speeds but underpredict at higher wind speeds. Downscaling increased negative wind speed biases of input HRRR forecasts even more at stations located in wind-prone lee-slope canyons. In contrast, stations located at well-exposed ridgetop sites benefitted from downscaling when the stations had negative input HRRR forecast biases, given that the ridgetops were sufficiently resolved in WN.

Effects of different contents yttrium doping on the electrical performance and stability of bilayer IZO/IYZO thin-film transistors

In this study, the effects of doping with different contents of the rare-earth element yttrium (Y) on the electrical performance of indium zinc oxide (IZO) and bilayer IZO/IYZO thin-film transistors (TFTs) were investigated. Through a rational design, the bilayer IZO/IYZO TFT exhibits the best performance with a Vth of 0.2 V and μFE of 32.6 cm2/V s. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy band structure analysis demonstrated that, in the IZO/IYZO TFT, a 6-nm highly conductive ultrathin IZO provided free electrons and electron transfer from the IZO layer to the IYZO layer with the formation of band bending, thus increased the carrier mobility of devices. In addition, the 20-nm-thick IYZO layer controlled Ne and Vth by forming a potential barrier (0.38 eV), thereby increasing stability. Moreover, the experimental characterization revealed that Y doping can reduce the carrier concentration, oxygen vacancies, surface defects, and other trap densities of devices. Therefore, the IZO/IYZO TFT demonstrated the best stability with small Vth shifts of −0.9, 0.8, −1.1, and 1.0 V under negative gate bias stress, positive gate bias stress, negative gate bias light illumination stress, and positive gate bias light illumination stress measurements. Overall, the designed IZO/IYZO TFTs open effective pathways for achieving high-performance oxide TFTs.

Biased information-seeking and information-integration in social anxiety.

Biased information-seeking and information-integration in social anxiety.

THOR: inclusion of charge carriers’ creation and transport in semiconductor detectors in the PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code

THOR: inclusion of charge carriers’ creation and transport in semiconductor detectors in the PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code

A comparison of objective and subjective measures of physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviors between persons with and without depressive symptoms.

A comparison of objective and subjective measures of physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviors between persons with and without depressive symptoms.

Copeptin Hormone Concentrations in Dogs with Heart Disease and Relationship with Antidiuretic Hormone.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is upregulated in dogs with cardiac disease. However, measurement of ADH is impractical in a clinical setting. Copeptin is co-secreted with ADH, making it a potential biomarker of ADH secretion. We hypothesized that dogs with cardiac disease would upregulate copeptin concentrations and that copeptin would positively correlate with ADH, serum chloride ([Cl-]), and degree of mathematical [Cl-] correction. The study population comprised 19 healthy, 20 preclinical (Stage B), and 20 congestive heart failure (CHF, Stage C or D) dogs. Groups were compared with Kruskal-Wallis tests. The agreement between ADH and copeptin was assessed with Bland-Altman analysis. Relationships between copeptin and clinical variables were explored using multivariable linear regression. There were no significant differences in copeptin concentrations among healthy (median 54.9 pg/mL; range 0.5-196.1), preclinical (median 43.6 pg/mL; range 0.5-131.4), and CHF (median 60.5 pg/mL; range 0.5-997.8) dogs (p = 0.76). Relative to ADH, copeptin showed a negative proportional bias of -87.8 pg/mL with wide limits of agreement (-421.8 to 246.2). Linear regression showed a significant influence of age on copeptin concentration. Copeptin measured by ELISA does not reflect the ADH concentration in healthy dogs or in dogs with cardiac disease. Copeptin concentrations are, however, inversely associated with age.