Casual Sex Research Articles

A Multi-Method Study Examining the Role of Swiping on Dating Apps: Mate Value Preferences, Sexual Satisfaction, and Need Satisfaction with Matches in Emerging Adults.

Intrinsic (i.e., personality traits) and extrinsic mate value (i.e., resources, physical attractiveness) preferences play a crucial role in (online) relationship formation. The role of mate values in dating applications was unclear and was addressed in a multi-method study. A first content analytical study examined the prevalence of mate values (MVs) on Tinder profiles (Study 1) and two subsequent cross-sectional studies explored the relationships between dating app use, various swiping behaviors, sexual satisfaction (Studies 2-3), need satisfaction with matches (Study 3), having a committed relationship versus casual sex motivation for using dating apps and users' gender. The content analysis of 307 Tinder profiles indicated that resources and physical attractiveness were most salient in biographies and pictures, respectively. The first cross-sectional study (nfullsample = 325, ndating app users = 133) revealed no significant relationships between dating app frequency/swiping frequency, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction. The second cross-sectional study (n = 323) showed no significant relationships between picture-based or biography-based swiping, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and need satisfaction with matches. Gender differences emerged in the presentation of MVs on Tinder (Study 1) and general MV preferences (Study 2-3), but not in the relationships between different types of dating app use/swiping and MV preferences (Study 2-3). A committed relationship and a casual sex motivation played a role in the relationships between different types of swiping behaviors and MV preferences, and between MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction/need satisfaction with matches.

Unveiling an additively manufactured open hardware pin-on-disc tribometer considering its high reproducibility

In recent years, the aspects of energy efficiency and durability have become increasingly important in the development of technical systems. From a tribological point of view, these are often linked to the reduction of wear and friction. When testing new materials, coating systems or lubricants, the underlying mechanisms and physical relationships are investigated by the deployment of simplified model tests. Advanced commercial test rigs allow high-resolution measurement of important friction and wear parameters, but also entail a considerable cost and thus a certain entry barrier to deal further with tribological aspects. In many research projects, therefore, self-developed test rigs are used, which at the same time, however, makes comparability and reproducibility with other systems considerably more difficult. For this reason, we have developed a pin-on-disc tribometer based on the open hardware approach, which can be completely additively manufactured by fused filament fabrication. In addition to presenting the customizable measurement system, we investigated the measurement capability using 50 repeated measurements on two different tribological test systems. The reproducibility of the measured values was 0.4 % and 1.1 % for friction and 0.6 % and 1.0 % for wear and was thus considerably lower than the standard deviation in the tests on a single tribometer, which was up to 7.7 % and 16.1 % for friction and wear, respectively. So, the presented tribometer can be used, for example, to perform high throughput tests and thus to detect systematic correlations, e.g., in combination with machine learning approaches. Another area of application is training and education of students and professionals.

Low-Level Liquid-Bearing Clouds Contribute to Seasonal Lower Atmosphere Stability and Surface Energy Forcing over a High-Mountain Watershed Environment

Abstract Measurements of atmospheric structure and surface energy budgets distributed along a high-altitude mountain watershed environment near Crested Butte, Colorado, from two separate, but coordinated, field campaigns, Surface Atmosphere Integrated field Laboratory (SAIL) and Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere, and Surface for Hydrometeorology (SPLASH), are analyzed. This study identifies similarities and differences in how clouds influence the radiative budget over one snow-free summer season (2022) and two snow-covered seasons (2021/22; 2022/23) for this alpine location. A relationship between lower-tropospheric stability stratification and longwave radiative flux from the presence or absence of clouds is identified. When low clouds persisted, often with signatures of supercooled liquid in winter, the lower troposphere experienced weaker stability, while radiatively clear skies that are less likely to be influenced by liquid droplets were associated with appreciably stronger lower-tropospheric stratification. Corresponding surface turbulent heat fluxes partitioned differently based upon the cloud–stability stratification regime derived from early morning radiosounding profiles. Combined with the differences in the radiative budget largely resulting from dramatic seasonal differences in surface albedo, the lower atmosphere stratification, surface energy budget, and near-surface thermodynamics are shown to be modified by the effective longwave radiative forcing of clouds. The diurnal evolution of thermodynamics and surface energy components varied depending on the early morning stratification state. Thus, the importance of quiescent versus synoptically active large-scale meteorology is hypothesized as a critical forcing for cloud properties and associated surface energy budget variations. The physical relationships between clouds, radiation, and stratification can provide a useful suite of metrics for process understanding and to evaluate numerical models in such an undersampled, highly complex terrain environment.

Optimal scheduling of energy routers based on distributed CAES systems

Abstract With the rise of renewable energy, distributed energy, and other different forms of energy, the architecture and function of the energy router are relatively perfect, for the topology of the energy router itself, different forms of energy in the energy router flow, conversion to realize the large-scale use of distributed energy equipment has also gradually become a hot spot of research. However, there are fewer studies on the energy router with a distributed CAES system to participate in the optimal scheduling of energy for integrated energy systems. Therefore, this paper is based on the operational domain model of an energy router with a distributed CAES system and analyzes the physical characteristics and coupling relationship of non-energy storage components, takes air pressure, temperature, and oil volume as state variables, takes charging, power generation, and heating power as external interfaces, and utilizes internal interface variables such as air quality and flow rate to realize energy storage, flow, and other internal interface variables to realize the communication between energy storage and non-energy storage elements, and finally determine the operation domain of the system. Secondly, the feasible domain of the energy router based on the distributed CAES system is portrayed, and the optimization of the system parameters is guided with the help of the relative distance by establishing the electric and thermal power constraints and the storage state constraints. Finally, the effectiveness of the feasible domain analysis method in the energy router of a distributed CAES system is verified by taking a northern region as an example.

HUBUNGAN SEKS BEBAS DENGAN KEJADIAN SIFILIS DI WILAYAH KERJA PUSKEMAS KOM YOS SUDARSO KOTA PONTIANAK

Syphilis, also known as "the lion king", is an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection), a disease caused by infection with the Treponema Pallidum bacteria. It is chronic and chronic. This is a dangerous disease because it can attack all organs of the body. This research was conducted at the Kom Yos Sudarso Pontianak Community Health Center because the Community Health Center is a referral health center for syphilis examinations and the respondents were people who were caught by field officers who allowed free sex. This study aims to find out who suffers from syphilis among respondents who engage in casual sex, as well as finding out the percentage of syphilis incidents in people who engage in casual sex and to find out the relationship between casual sex and the incidence of syphilis in the work area of the Kom Yos Sudarso Community Health Center, Pontianak City. This research design uses cross sectional with random sampling technique. The samples used were 123 patient blood samples using the TP Rapid method. Based on the results of the research conducted, casual sex and the incidence of syphilis were obtained. The results of analysis using the chi square test using Continuity Correctionb obtained a value of p = 0.021 < 0.05, so HA was accepted so that there was a significant relationship between casual sex and the incidence of syphilis in the work area of the Community Health Center. Yos Sudarso, Pontianak City.

Visualization display and exit fault diagnosis of secondary virtual real circuit in intelligent substation

Most communication in smart substations uses fiber optic connections to connect secondary equipment now. Due to the lack of intuitive connection between devices, it leads to difficulties in monitoring and relay protection. In order to solve the problems of visualizing, monitoring, and diagnosing secondary virtual circuits in the operation and maintenance of intelligent substations, a comprehensive monitoring technology system for secondary virtual circuits in intelligent substations is constructed. Firstly, a breadth first search algorithm is proposed to sort out the physical connection relationships between secondary devices, which achieves visual display of secondary virtual circuits. Then, based on deep search fault inference algorithms, it can diagnose and locate the fault area. Through the massive data source of intelligent substations, multiple information fusion can be achieved. By applying the D-S evidence theory, precise fault localization can be achieved. Finally, the proof table method is used to determine the type of fault and to meet the practical application requirements for the operation and maintenance of secondary equipment in intelligent substations.

A U-Net architecture as a surrogate model combined with a geostatistical spectral algorithm for transient groundwater flow inverse problems

Characterizing groundwater flow parameters is crucial for understanding complex aquifer systems, and inverse techniques play a fundamental role in modeling hydrogeological parameters and assessing their uncertainties. Nonetheless, the use of a forward model in these methods can be highly time-consuming, especially with an increasing number of model parameters. To address this issue, we propose a surrogate model based on a U-Net architecture that replaces the transient groundwater flow model, reducing runtime and enabling a fast quantification of uncertainties related to key parameters, including heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity, boundary conditions, specific storage, and pumping rate. The surrogate is trained using limited evaluations of the forward model to learn the physical relationship between hydraulic conductivity fields and transient hydraulic heads measured on-site. The physical principles of the studied problem, including boundary conditions, specific storage, and source terms, are also mapped and introduced as inputs to the model to enhance its understanding of the governing equation of transient groundwater flow. To speed up learning using image–image regression, the previously predicted transient hydraulic heads also serve as an input to predict the transient heads at the current time step. Once the model is trained, we use a spectral geostatistical method to solve the inverse problem, a pumping test of 12 h, using the surrogate model in place of the forward model. Our study demonstrates that the trained U-Net accurately reproduces the state variables corresponding to a specific parameter field, and in terms of computational demand, using U-Net as a surrogate model reduces the required computational time by approximately an order of magnitude for the defined problem. The proposed approach offers an efficient and accurate method for groundwater flow parameter characterization and uncertainty quantification in complex aquifer systems.

Climate change impacts on child and adolescent health and well-being: A narrative review.

Worldwide, the climate is changing and affecting the health and well-being of children in many ways. In this review, we provided an overview of how climate change-related events may affect child and adolescent health and well-being, including children's mental and physical health, nutrition, safety and security, learning opportunities, and family caregiving and connectedness. In this narrative review, we highlighted and discussed peer-reviewed evidence from 2012-23, primarily from meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The search strategy used a large and varied number of search terms across three academic databases to identify relevant literature. There was consistent evidence across systematic reviews of impact on four themes. Climate-related events are associated with a) increases in posttraumatic stress and other mental health disorders in children and adolescents, b) increases in asthma, respiratory illnesses, diarrheal diseases and vector-borne diseases, c) increases in malnutrition and reduced growth and d) disruptions to responsive caregiving and family functioning, which can be linked to poor caregiver mental health, stress and loss of resources. Evidence of violence against children in climate-related disaster contexts is inconclusive. There is a lack of systematic review evidence on the associations between climate change and children's learning outcomes. Systematic review evidence consistently points to negative associations between climate change and children's physical and mental health, well-being, and family functioning. Yet, much remains unknown about the causal pathways linking climate-change-related events and mental and physical health, responsive relationships and connectedness, nutrition, and learning in children and adolescents. This evidence is urgently needed so that adverse health and other impacts from climate change can be prevented or minimised through well-timed and appropriate action.

Men's attitudes toward third party casual sex

AbstractThe reproductive self-interest model of morality (RSIMM) is a framework for understanding moral judgments associated with sexual behavior. This model posits that individual differences in sexual strategies, mediated by one's religiosity and political orientation, casually influence people's moral judgments toward social hot-button issues. Previous work on the RSIMM has explained individual differences in attitudes toward abortion, prostitution, and contraception. Individuals more interested in long-term mating judged these behaviors as morally wrong. In this preregistered study, we proposed the RSIMM would account for individual differences in rape myth acceptance (RMA). RMA is the phenomenon of endorsing beliefs or stereotypes about rape that diminish the severity of assaults or shift blame from perpetrators to victims. We examined the relationship between political orientation, attitudes toward third-party casual sex, and RMA in a convenience sample of 308 participants (137 women). We predicted that more negative attitudes toward third parties' casual sex would correlate with increased RMA. Our hypothesis was supported for men but not women: Men who condemned others' casual sex, had more unrestricted attitudes about their own casual sex, and desired more casual sex were statistically more likely to accept more rape myths. In the discussion, we speculate that sex differences in the relationship between attitudes towards casual sex and RMA may be due to the costs of rape incurred by women but not men.

Impact of COVID-19 on women living with HIV who are survivors of intimate partner violence

BackgroundWomen living with HIV (WLWH) experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to women without HIV, but there has been minimal research to date on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lived experiences of WLWH who are IPV survivors.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of COVID-19 impact using baseline data from an ongoing, prospective, micro-longitudinal cohort study of HIV care engagement among WLWH who have experienced lifetime IPV. We measured the impact of COVID-19 along key domains (i.e., physical health, day-to-day life, sexual/relationship behavior, substance use, HIV care, mental health, financial status, and having conflict with partners). Using independent t-tests or Fisher’s exact tests, and Pearson’s chi-squared tests, we compared women with and without ongoing IPV across sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric disorders, substance use, and COVID-19 impact domains. We then built separate multivariate linear regression models for each of the different COVID-19 impact domains; ongoing IPV exposure was the primary explanatory variable of interest.ResultsEnrolled participants (n = 84) comprised a group of women (mean age 53.6y; SD = 9.9) who were living with HIV for a mean 23.3 years (SD = 10), all of whom had experienced lifetime IPV. Among 49 women who were currently partnered, 79.6% (n = 39) reported ongoing IPV. There were no statistically significant differences between those experiencing ongoing IPV and those who were not (or not partnered) in terms of demographic characteristics, substance use, or mental health. In multivariate models, ongoing IPV exposure was not associated with any COVID-19 impact domain. Anxiety and depression, however, were associated with COVID-19-related physical health, HIV care, and relationship conflict. Hispanic ethnicity was significantly associated with COVID-19-related physical health. More severe cocaine and opioid use were also significantly associated with COVID-19-related impact on day-to-day life.ConclusionsAmong this sample of WLWH who are all lifetime IPV-survivors, nearly half had ongoing IPV exposure. The COVID-19 public health emergency period affected WLWH in varied ways, but impacts were most profound for women experiencing concurrent mental health and substance use problems. Findings have important implications for future interventions to improve women’s health and social outcomes.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Recent Casual Sex among Urban College Students

Casual sex is one sexual health behavior reported by college students. The present study examined the extent of past 30-day casual sex behavior and risk and protective factors for casual sex among college students. Students were requested to complete a survey in classrooms. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the research questions. Results indicated that 39.2% of students engaged in casual sex in the past 30 days. Univariate analyses revealed grade level, risky behaviors, emotional connectedness, and individual stressors were significantly associated with past 30-day casual sex. Final logistic regression modeling found having sex while drunk and reporting depression as an individual stressor were significantly associated with casual sex among college students. Supporting students engaging in casual sex with alcohol education and mental health resources may be needed on college campuses.

Can hydraulic-energy-indices be effectively used to describe the saturated hydraulic conductivity?

The saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and water retention curve (SWRC) parameters are important properties for simulating soil hydrological processes and characterizing soil conservation around the world. Therefore, Ks and SWRC are related with the soil physical quality (SPQ) and several SPQ indices can be derived from SWRC, such as the pore size distribution, relative field capacity, plant available water, drainable porosity, and soil hydraulic-energy indices (SHEI). It is well known that the soil structure can be assessed by using SHEI, but a possible physical relationship between Ks and SHEI was not examined yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of Ks as function of SHEI for several soil textural classes. If this relationship be proved, then SHEI might be applied to improve the Ks prediction by PTF models. In this work, a data set of 395 measured SWRC's were fitted to the vG equation to obtain the SHEI to verify whether they are statistically correlated and physically dependent on Ks. The resulting parametric and non-parametric correlation results were split up according to six textural classes. The significant influence of Ks on at least one of the absolute SHEI (Aa or WRa) was verified on the numerical scale when all textures were grouped and on numerical and pF scales for clayey and silty textures. Ks showed significant impact on Aa and WRa indices in four textural classes. Furthermore, Ks had influence on the sum Aa + WRa denoted in pF scale for five of the six textural classes, with a significant linear correlation in the clayey texture when log (Aa + WRa) was applied. The significant and high correlation of Ks on the ratios WRa/AWC and Aa/φD was also observed in four of the six classes, and therefore the use of these indices is recommended for the development of PTFs for Ks prediction.

Deformation state of a graphene sheet within the framework of the continuum moment-membrane theory of elasticity

The paper proposes an approach to finding the stress-strain state (SSS) of structures containing graphene, a novel nanomaterial that has currently found а wide range of practical applications in nanoelectromechanical systems. Graphene is a 2D basic building block for other carbon structures such as membranes, sheets, nanotubes, etc. To describe the SSS of a graphene sheet, the phenomenological continuum moment-membrane theory of plates is used, from which, due to the fact that graphene is an ultrathin material, the concept of thickness is excluded. The physical elasticity relationships of a graphene sheet are expressed through its rigidity characteristics, determined using the harmonic potential of interatomic interactions in carbon. A differential formulation and the corresponding variational formulation are given for the problem of static deformation and determination of the natural frequencies and modes of vibration of a graphene sheet. The variational formulation is based on the Lagrange principle and is implemented numerically using the finite element method. Finite element relations are constructed taking into account moment effects of the behavior of a graphene sheet. For approximation, a 4-node rectangular finite element is used. Numerical solutions to several problems of static deformation of a graphene sheet under conditions of a plane stress state and transverse bending are presented, and the analysis of its natural vibrations is also performed. Good convergence of numerical simulation results in all considered problems is demonstrated. The obtained numerical solutions are essential in designing and calculating resonators in which ultrathin nanostructures are used. The establishment of the fact that a graphene sheet has a high intrinsic frequency falling in the GHz region (for example, quartz resonators are characterized by megahertz frequencies) opens up new prospects for using graphene itself as an ultrasensitive nanomechanical resonator for detecting small masses and ultrasmall displacements.

Vulnerability Assessment of Groundwater Influenced Ecosystems in the Northeastern United States

Groundwater-influenced ecosystems (GIEs) are increasingly vulnerable due to groundwater extraction, land-use practices, and climate change. These ecosystems receive groundwater inflow as a portion of their baseflow or water budget, which can maintain water levels, water temperature, and chemistry necessary to sustain the biodiversity that they support. In some systems (e.g., springs, seeps, fens), this connection with groundwater is central to the system’s integrity and persistence. Groundwater management decisions for human use often do not consider the ecological effects of those actions on GIEs. This disparity can be attributed, in part, to a lack of information regarding the physical relationships these systems have with the surrounding landscape and climate, which may influence the environmental conditions and associated biodiversity. We estimate the vulnerability of areas predicted to be highly suitable for the presence of GIEs based on watershed (U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Code 12 watersheds: 24–100 km2) and pixel (30 m × 30 m pixels) resolution in the Atlantic Highlands and Mixed Wood Plains EPA Level II Ecoregions in the northeastern United States. We represent vulnerability with variables describing adaptive capacity (topographic wetness index, hydric soil, physiographic diversity), exposure (climatic niche), and sensitivity (aquatic barriers, proportion urbanized or agriculture). Vulnerability scores indicate that ~26% of GIEs were within 30 m of areas with moderate vulnerability. Within these GIEs, climate exposure is an important contributor to vulnerability of 40% of the areas, followed by land use (19%, agriculture or urbanized). There are few areas predicted to be suitable for GIEs that are also predicted to be highly vulnerable, and of those, climate exposure is the most important contributor to their vulnerability. Persistence of GIEs in the northeastern United States may be challenged as changes in the amount and timing of precipitation and increasing air temperatures attributed to climate change affect the groundwater that sustains these systems.

The Relationship Between Men’s Sociosexuality, Drinking Intake, and Blackouts

Background: Sociosexuality—attitudes, behaviors, and desires related to casual sex—partly predicts drinking behavior in both men and women because drinking is thought to facilitate interactions that lead to casual sex. It follows that sociosexuality would predict drinking intake (e.g., quantity consumed)—but perhaps not drinking consequences (e.g., blacking out)—on the premise that drinking large quantities with high frequency (but not to such high degrees/levels of intoxication that negative consequences occur) would facilitate casual sex. Objectives: This set of studies evaluated whether baseline measures of sociosexuality predict drinking intake (i.e., frequency, quantity, and binge drinking) but not experiencing blacking out at follow-up in two samples (Study 1, N = 172; Study 2, N = 1,038) of college-aged men. Results: As predicted, men’s sociosexuality prospectively predicted drinking frequency, quantity, and binge drinking. Contrary to our predictions, men’s sociosexuality also predicted blacking out. Conclusions: College men’s drinking interventions should be tailored to high-risk groups and consider individual differences like sociosexuality.

Sexual behaviour and incidence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) using daily and event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): Four-year follow-up of the Amsterdam PrEP (AMPrEP) demonstration project cohort.

An increasing number of countries are currently implementing or scaling-up HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care. With the introduction of PrEP, there was apprehension that condom use would decline and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) would increase. To inform sexual health counselling and STI screening programmes, we aimed to study sexual behaviour and STI incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women who use long-term daily or event-driven PrEP. The Amsterdam PrEP demonstration project (AMPrEP) was a prospective, closed cohort study, providing oral daily PrEP and event-driven PrEP to MSM and transgender women from 2015 to 2020. Participants could choose their PrEP regimen and could switch at each three-monthly visit. STI testing occurred at and, upon request, in-between 3-monthly study visits. We assessed changes in numbers of sex partners and condomless anal sex (CAS) acts with casual partners over time using negative binomial regression, adjusted for age. We assessed HIV incidence and changes in incidence rates (IRs) of any STI (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or infectious syphilis) and individual STIs over time using Poisson regression, adjusted for age and testing frequency. A total of 367 participants (365 MSM) commenced PrEP and were followed for a median 3.9 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 3.4-4.0). Median age was 40 years (IQR = 32-48), 315 participants (85.8%) self-declared ethnicity as white and 280 (76.3%) had a university or university of applied sciences degree. Overall median number of sex partners (past 3 months) was 13 (IQR = 6-26) and decreased per additional year on PrEP (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] = 0.86/year, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83-0.88). Overall median number of CAS acts with casual partners (past 3 months) was 10 (IQR = 3-20.5) and also decreased (aRR = 0.92/year, 95% CI = 0.88-0.97). We diagnosed any STI in 1,092 consultations during 1,258 person years, resulting in an IR of 87/100 person years (95% CI = 82-92). IRs of any STI did not increase over time for daily PrEP or event-driven PrEP users. Two daily PrEP users, and no event-driven PrEP users, were diagnosed with HIV during their first year on PrEP. Study limitations include censoring follow-up due to COVID-19 measures and an underrepresentation of younger, non-white, practically educated, and transgender individuals. In this prospective cohort with a comparatively long follow-up period of 4 years, we observed very low HIV incidence and decreases in the numbers of casual sex partners and CAS acts over time. Although the STI incidence was high, it did not increase over time. The study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NL5413) https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/22706.

Taking on a new meaning of physics mathematization for teaching in teacher education processes

This is a documented reflection that seeks to characterize an alternative conception of the ‘mathematization of physics for teaching’. The reflection was made on the academic production of the research group ‘Teaching and learning of physics’. This group has posed a sequence of research questions has been raised to find out how physics teachers understand the relationship between physics and mathematics in the physics teaching process. In 2003 they studied the idea of ‘mathematical beauty’ in the early days of quantum mechanics, suggesting that there would be a difference between the way scientists assume the physical/mathematical relationship and the way physics is taught. In 2010, they wondered if there would be research in this field that would allow transformations in teaching focused on equations as the set of mathematical–physical relationships, finding that there are at least three trends. In 2019, they verified that despite the research in the literature, many students continue with the same reductionist idea about this relationship. In 2020, they made a proposal, showing a possibility of educating the teacher’s thinking for new understandings in this regard. The main conclusion is that it is possible to develop mathematization processes in the classroom from three specific phases that educate scientific thinking. The first phase tries to make the student aware of the existence of phenomenology and describe it. The second phase educates the study of nature in a systematic way, building the meaning of the organization of a physical system. The third phase promotes explanation and argument so that students achieve an explanatory model. These phases are configured as a criterion to guide the sequence of activities in a class, a set of classes or a complete course and have been worked on and tested in ‘physics didactics’ courses in a physics teacher training course.

Long-term measurement and characterization of boundary layer optical turbulence

The United States Naval Academy long-term scintillation measurement campaign was a multi-year effort to characterize optical turbulence in the near-maritime atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). At its core, the field experiment consists of in situ measurements of bulk atmospheric and oceanographic parameters, as well as path-averaged measurements of the refractive index structure parameter, C n 2, collected using a large-aperture scintillometer. The field experiment ran from January 1st, 2020, through September 26th, 2023, representing the most comprehensive collection of optical turbulence measurements in the near-maritime ABL to date. Long-term measurements enable researchers to evaluate existing theory and develop new models applicable to this environment. The present study characterizes some of the physical relationships that affect optical turbulence. This characterization focuses on the relationship between local optical turbulence and select atmospheric and oceanographic parameters. The impact of temperature gradients on the extent of optical turbulence was analyzed, along with its interactions with relative humidity and wind speed. The diurnal and seasonal variations in measured C n 2 were examined, with comparisons drawn against other environments. Further information and the full dataset are publicly available through the optical turbulence benchmark repository [Jellen et al., GitHub, 2023].

Development and Validation of the Resilience Scale for Kidney Transplantation (RS-KTPL)

PurposeThis study developed a resilience scale for kidney transplantation (RS-KTPL) and assessed its reliability and validity. MethodsThe tool was developed based on Devellis’ (2017) guidelines. During the tool development phase, the concept of resilience in 10 patients who had undergone a kidney transplant was analyzed by integrating results from the theoretical and field research stages. Initial tool items were then derived. These items underwent content validity verification, item review, and a preliminary survey. The validation phase involved two main surveys, conducted using the preliminary 59 items derived from the development phase for data gathering. The first survey had 266 participants, and the second had 205 participants. Using the collected data, the structural validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion validity, and reliability of the tool items were verified, ultimately establishing the final items. ResultsThe RS-KTPL comprises six factors with 27 items confirmed through EFA and CFA on a 4-point Likert scale: positive thought transition through recovery belief, supportive relationships with others, self-awareness of negative psychological reactions, physical health control, homeostasis control, and supportive relationships with medical staff. The cumulative explanation of the tool was 50.71%. The model fit of the RS-KTPL was represented as follows: GFI .88, CFI .93, TLI .91, RMSEA .04, and SRMRI .06. Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity were also secured. The reliability of the tool, measured by Cronbach’s α was .87. ConclusionThe RS-KTPL can be used to identify the level of resilience in patients who have undergone a kidney transplant, enabling them to recognize their strengths and areas of improvement for enhanced resilience. This tool can be applied in clinical nursing practices to comprehensively assess the resilience of patients with a kidney transplant, providing direction for nursing intervention plans to enhance patient resilience.

DeepOTF: Learning Equations-constrained Prediction for Electromagnetic Behavior

High-quality passive devices are becoming increasingly important for the development of mobile devices and telecommunications, but obtaining such devices through simulation and analysis of electromagnetic (EM) behavior is time-consuming. To address this challenge, artificial neural network (ANN) models have emerged as an effective tool for modeling EM behavior, with NeuroTF being a representative example. However, these models are limited by the specific form of the transfer function, leading to discontinuity issues and high sensitivities. Moreover, previous methods have overlooked the physical relationship between distributed parameters, resulting in unacceptable numeric errors in the conversion results. To overcome these limitations, we propose two different neural network architectures: DeepOTF and ComplexTF. DeepOTF is a data-driven deep operator network for automatically learning feasible transfer functions for different geometric parameters. ComplexTF utilizes complex-valued neural networks to fit feasible transfer functions for different geometric parameters in the complex domain while maintaining causality and passivity. Our approach also employs an Equations-constraint Learning scheme to ensure the strict consistency of predictions and a dynamic weighting strategy to balance optimization objectives. The experimental results demonstrate that our framework shows superior performance than baseline methods, achieving up to 1700 × higher accuracy.