Sudden Shift Research Articles

A feature selection method based on Shapley values robust for concept shift in regression

Feature selection is one of the most relevant processes in any methodology for creating a statistical learning model. Usually, existing algorithms establish some criterion to select the most influential variables, discarding those that do not contribute to the model with any relevant information. This methodology makes sense in a static situation where the joint distribution of the data does not vary over time. However, when dealing with real data, it is common to encounter the problem of the dataset shift and, specifically, changes in the relationships between variables (concept shift). In this case, the influence of a variable cannot be the only indicator of its quality as a regressor of the model, since the relationship learned in the training phase may not correspond to the current situation. In tackling this problem, our approach establishes a direct relationship between the Shapley values and prediction errors, operating at a more local level to effectively detect the individual biases introduced by each variable. The proposed methodology is evaluated through various examples, including synthetic scenarios mimicking sudden and incremental shift situations, as well as two real-world cases characterized by concept shifts. Additionally, we perform three analyses of standard situations to assess the algorithm’s robustness in the absence of shifts. The results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm significantly outperforms state-of-the-art feature selection methods in concept shift scenarios, while matching the performance of existing methodologies in static situations.

Did plate tectonic changes lead to the emergence of hominid bipedalism?

When early hominids began walking upright around 6 Ma, their evolutionary course took a sharp turn. The new posture enabled physical and mental developments that had not been possible before. The factors driving the transition from quadrupedalism to bipedalism remain open. Most studies have linked this fundamental transition to environmental, topographical, geomorphological, and climatic changes that progressively transformed jungle- and forest-dominated areas of southern and eastern Africa into vast savannas, thus partitioning ecological niches. During the same timeframe, major tectonic events occurred worldwide within a relatively short geological period, due to a significant and sudden shift in the motion of the Pacific plate. In our previous work, we coined the term ripple tectonics to link a major tectonic impact to the short-term local events it caused worldwide. The ripple tectonic cascade in the Pacific around 6 Ma instigated significant environmental transformations in Africa, which ultimately catalyzed the biological evolution of early hominids towards a bipedal posture.

Perceptions of Medical Students on the Transition to and Impact of Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated a swift transition to online learning within medical education, disrupting traditional methods of teaching and learning. Objective This study aims to investigate the perceptions of medical students regarding the sudden shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemicand its impact on their education and personal development as future healthcare professionals. Methods A qualitative grounded theory approach was employed to collect and analyze data from semi-structured interviews with 23 medical students across all stages of their education at a university in Ajman, UAE. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure a diverse representation, and interviews were analyzed to identify emergent themes. Results The thematic analysis revealed multifaceted student experiences, highlighting challenges such as concentration difficulties (reported by students from all years), lack of hands-on experience (particularly for clinical year students), restricted communication with peers and faculty, and diminished interactivity leading to heightened stress levels and decreased motivation. The positive outcomes included increased independence as learners, improved time management, and the opportunity for flexible schedules. Additionally, students suggested future improvements like the continued recording of lectures, more frequent online quizzes, and the augmentation of session interactivity. Conclusions Medical students faced significant challenges with the transition to online learning, which prompted an evolution in their learning approaches, underscoring the need for a more blended educational model that combines the strengths of traditional and online methods. The recommendations derived from this study could inform about future educational strategies to better support medical students in similar situations.

CHIRAL SWITCHING CONTROL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCES

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that chiral switching should be recognized as a widespread phenomenon that extends beyond the production of pure enantiomeric drugs. Methods: To investigate the optical activity of substances from various chemical classes, enantiomers of chiral compounds (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) were chosen: valine and its racemic form (D-valine, L-valine, and racemic valine with optical purity ≥ 99%), L-ascorbic acid (content ≥ 99%), carbohydrates (D-glucose, D-galactose, L-galactose, contents ≥ 99.5%). Solutions were prepared using deuterium-depleted water (DDW–"light" water, D/H=4 ppm), natural deionized high-ohmic water (BD, D/H=140 ppm), and heavy water (99.9% D2O; Sigma-Aldrich). Optical activity was measured using the Atago POL-1/2 polarimeter. Results: One of the components in the racemic medication mixture can act as an inert agent, exhibit toxicity, or undergo undesirable biotransformation mechanisms, resulting in the formation of products with unknown properties. It has been established that a change in the deuterium/protium (D/H) ratio in water leads to a change in the equilibrium and kinetic characteristics of optically active compounds across various chemical classes, such as amino acids, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. An inequality was observed in the absolute values of the optical rotation of the L-and D-isomers of valine and galactose, depending on the D/H isotope ratio. The impact of chiral water clusters on optical rotation accounts for the sudden shift in the specific rotation of dilute solutions (less than 0.5%) of L-ascorbic acid in water, based on the D/H ratio. The influence of the isotopic composition of water was confirmed by studying the temperature-dependent mutarotation kinetics of D-glucose and L-and D-galactose in Arrhenius coordinates. The mutarotation process in natural high-resistivity water is characterized by an activation energy (Ea) of 40.8±1.4 kJ mol-1, while in deuterium-depleted water, Ea = 63.6±3.5 kJ mol-1. This results in a kinetic isotope effect for deuterium (KIED) of 1.6. Conclusion: Methodological approaches have been developed to control chiral switching based on the isotopic composition of water in vivo and in vitro. The study of changes in the optical activity of hierarchical structures in the human body, the influence of solvent properties on the mechanisms of optical rotation, as well as the use of KIED values, can be utilized to monitor various chiral transitions in vitro and living organisms.

The Differential Nature of Remote Learning Among University Students

One of the many drastic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 was a sudden shift to remote learning for post-secondary students. This study aims to build a foundation for that understanding, with a particular focus on addressing the effects on students who were working concurrently with their studies through the pandemic. A survey was conducted, gathering 181 responses from undergraduate computing students attending Mount Royal University. The survey queries the students’ experience with work-school balance during the pandemic, their feelings about online classes, the perceived positive and negative aspects of learning online, and whether they would opt into online classes in the future in the absence of any pandemic-related concerns. The results show a clear perception of increased flexibility (88%) coupled with an increase in the students’ ability to manage their time (61%). Given that 74% of the respondents report that online classes are more convenient than in-person classes while only 22% report a negative impact on their performance, this study concludes that online learning opportunities may correlate with an easing of stress on post-secondary students without significantly impacting academic performance for certain personality types, while others report significantly negative experiences with respect to their mental health.

From the table to the sofa: The remote work revolution in a context of crises and its consequences on work attitudes and behaviors

AbstractIn recent years educational professionals experienced a sudden shift to online work requiring them to adapt rapidly to the new digital landscape. This shift has raised concerns about employees’ health issues and the role of organizational support, as they can have a profound effect on employees’ attitudes to work. However, despite their importance, there is a dearth of empirical evidence to ascertain whether or to what extent they impact educational professionals’ job satisfaction, work engagement and turnover intention. This paper aims to address this deficit. A sample of 288 remote working education professionals in Brazil was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques. We found that health complaints and organizational support have distinct effects on education professionals’ job satisfaction, engagement and turnover intention. In addition, our results reveal that job satisfaction and engagement have an impact on turnover intention. The results emphasize the importance of providing adequate support to education professionals who work remotely to cultivate a healthier and more productive work environment. These findings contribute valuable insights that may assist organizations in enabling effective remote work practices and ensure a positive work experience for education professionals.

Co-Constructing A Praxis for Critical Pedagogies of Care in Postdigital Tertiary Education

Like others in 2020, we found ourselves grappling with the sudden shift to fully online teaching and learning during COVID19 and the very pronounced negative impact of the sudden shift on students and faculty alike (Authors and colleague, 2022). In Aotearoa New Zealand emerging research revealed how tertiary students’ experiences of online learning during COVID19 were characterized by stress and anxiety, compounded by difficulties in communication between students, instructors, and support staff as well as by loss of income and limited access to campus resources. These challenges were even more pronounced among already marginalized students, such as Māori tertiary students. Simultaneously, messaging from ‘managers’ in our neoliberal university context was increasingly about ‘pastoral care for students,’ a message which we struggled to make sense of given the nature of the very real socio-political challenges our students faced. Confronting the uncertainties of COVID and related future crises we set out to explore how we could better plan for and accommodate increased flexibility and adaptability in instruction that is responsive to both students and current social contexts–given that, a) throughout the COVID19 pandemic, students and instructors were frequently absent due to illness even when on campus instruction resumed in New Zealand, and b) periodic lockdowns were part of the COVID19 management strategy in NZ, which meant sudden shifts to fully online instruction throughout the 2020-2022 academic years. Our premise was that the crisis required thoughtful deliberation on how we, as tertiary educators, might collectively address such a significant global challenge in our local context. We (authors) applied for and were awarded a 2-year leadership in teaching fellowship, a new fellowship program that aimed to support faculty innovation in teaching. The fellowship allowed us time to slow down and interrogate our approach to postdigital education during the period of Covid19, as well as beyond it. We sought out to ask critical questions of ourselves, such as those related to the form/manner in which we were using digital tools, what was meant by ‘pastoral care’ for students and what that should/could look like in postdigital pandemic times, questioning the discourses and aspirations around a post-pandemic ‘return to normal’.

Effects of different hydrological conditions on the taxonomic structure and functional traits of mollusk communities in a large floodplain wetland.

Floodplain wetlands are critical to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the ecological integrity of river networks. However, increasing drought severity and frequency caused by climate change can reduce floodplain wetlands' resistance and recovery capacities. Mollusks, which are common inhabitants of floodplain wetlands, are among the most vulnerable species to drought. However, the response of mollusk communities to drought has received little attention. Here, we investigated how the structure and functional traits of mollusk communities changed in response to varying hydrological conditions, including a flash drought (FD) in the Poyang Lake floodplain wetland. Our findings showed that FD strongly reduced mollusk abundance and biomass, decreased both α- and β-diversity, and resulted in the extinction of bivalve taxa. A sudden shift in community trait structure was discovered due to the extinction of many species. These traits, which include deposit feeding, crawling, scraping, aerial respiration, and dormancy, help mollusks survive in FD and tolerate completely dry out of their Changhuchi habitat. Finally, we discovered that dissolved oxygen was an important controlling variable for mollusk communities during drought. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the management and conservation of floodplain wetland biodiversity in the context of increasing drought frequency and intensity.

E-Learning Instructional Management For Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Online teaching is inevitable during the COVID-19 pandemic as schools and educational institutions globally are forced to close. This sudden paradigm shift from the traditional classroom to remote online teaching has disrupted the education system in general. The study aims to examine the e-learning practices of a school-to-work transition program using TPACK Framework for students with intellectual disabilities (IDs). An in-depth study was conducted with 25 students with IDs on the process of curriculum design, technology setup, as well as roles of all stakeholders. Findings show the importance of collaborative support with clear roles and planning are essential to achieve effective management in online and individualized learning. This paper highlights the challenges and problems encountered by both teachers and students. Practical guidelines, processes, and teaching strategies of the e-learning system are proposed for the betterment of e-learning management of teaching and delivery.

Reperkusije petooktobarskih promena 2000. godine u svetlu dokumenata, memoara i svedočenja

Drawing upon documents, memoirs, testimonies, and scholarly literature, this study elucidates the dynamics underlying the October 5th alterations in 2000 within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia. „The Fifth October“ refers to a sudden shift in political authority driven by compounded socio-political, economic, and societal tensions, alongside external influences. These multifaceted political and security upheavals, culminating on October 5, 2000, exhibited characteristics akin to a „colored revolution“, signifying a change in power dynamics without altering the prevailing political structure or formal power mechanisms. While temporal detachment affords a more impartial inquiry, the analysis contends with entrenched political narratives, oscillating between glorification and complete denial of the significance of October 5th.

Early warning signals observed in motor activity preceding mood state change in bipolar disorder.

Alterations in motor activity are well-established symptoms of bipolar disorder, and time series of motor activity can be considered complex dynamical systems. In such systems, early warning signals (EWS) occur in a critical transition period preceding a sudden shift (tipping point) in the system. EWS are statistical observations occurring due to a system's declining ability to maintain homeostasis when approaching a tipping point. The aim was to identify critical transition periods preceding bipolar mood state changes. Participants with a validated bipolar diagnosis were included to a one-year follow-up study, with repeated assessments of the participants' mood. Motor activity was recorded continuously by a wrist-worn actigraph. Participants assessed to have relapsed during follow-up were analyzed. Recognized EWS features were extracted from the motor activity data and analyzed by an unsupervised change point detection algorithm, capable of processing multi-dimensional data and developed to identify when the statistical property of a time series changes. Of 49 participants, four depressive and four hypomanic/manic relapses among six individuals occurred, recording actigraphy for 23.8 ± 0.2 h/day, for 39.8 ± 4.6 days. The algorithm detected change points in the time series and identified critical transition periods spanning 13.5 ± 7.2 days. For depressions 11.4 ± 1.8, and hypomania/mania 15.6 ± 10.2 days. The change point detection algorithm seems capable of recognizing impending mood episodes in continuous flowing data streams. Hence, we present an innovative method for forecasting approaching relapses to improve the clinical management of bipolar disorder.

Role of financial stability, environmental regulations and uncertain economic policies in CO2 emission and investment in renewable energy: Evidence from China

Carbon emissions, ecological pollution and a steadily rising global temperature have been widely acknowledged as the most severe risks to human survival in the last few decades. Alarming increases in global temperature and sudden climatic shifts are nature's way of warning us to curb the use of fossil fuels and adopt more sustainable practices. Therefore, the present study investigates the impact of financial stability, environmental regulations and uncertain economic policies on carbon emissions and investment in renewable energy. The study used a nonparametric DEA‐DDF technique to fulfil this objective using a balanced panel dataset comprising 28 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2021. Overall results demonstrated that financial stability reduces carbon emissions and accelerates investment in renewable energy projects. The findings imply that a financially stable economy like China encourages businesses to invest in cutting‐edge, environmentally friendly technology to boost productivity while reducing carbon emissions. Likewise, results show that stringent ecological regulations decrease carbon emissions and promote investment in renewable energy. Hence, stakeholders are keen to comply with environmental regulations in China to reduce carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy resources to avoid penalties. Finally, results suggest that uncertain economic policies increase carbon emissions and restrict access to credit from financial institutions for investment in renewable energy purposes in China. Findings imply that uncertainty in economic policies could lead to less environmentally friendly production practices that may increase carbon emissions and reduce the demand for renewable energy products.

Reimagining our futures together: An early bird's‐eye view of inclusive organizational behavior

SummaryThe world has witnessed high‐intensity and low‐occurrence crises such as the COVID‐19 pandemic that have radically changed not only the discourses of health and safety but also permanently changed the realities of the workplace. The COVID‐19 pandemic‐related new normal has resulted in the exponential increase in the acceptance of “homeplace” or “work from home” in work‐related domains. With this sudden dramatic shift in the way the present and future work is being conceptualized, there is every reason to believe that employees struggle with a plethora of intertwined thoughts and emotions, particularly a heightened sense of social isolation and exclusion from their work environment. The present study is an attempt to address this concern in the broader ambit of inclusive organizational behavior. Using an interpretivist research approach, we dwell on the genesis of organizational behavior in changing times, particularly digitalization and social isolation. We employ inductive analysis of the employee data generated over two waves and use grounded theory to explain how inclusive behavior could be fostered within organizations. Our study provides an early conceptualization of inclusive organizational behavior by identifying four factors, namely, inclusive support, inclusive work design, inclusive culture, and inclusive mindset. Furthermore, based on the findings of the study, a three‐tier model of inclusive organizational behavior is proposed that links individual, group, and system‐level dynamics in the organizations.

The Impact of Online Learning on Students and Teachers: A Systematic Literature Review Investigating the Effects during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put the world at a standstill. The pandemic has dramatically impacted the lifestyle of many people in the world as it restricts traveling and physical contact to avoid spreading the infection of the disease. It has severely changed how education works due to shifting to online learning. This paper aims to conduct an intensive analysis of the current studies conducted in the years 2020-2022 regarding the impact of online learning on students and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper will determine the factors that affect students' using online learning. Additionally, the effects on teachers and professors will also be included in this study. The aim of this paper is to provide a complete understanding of the effects of online learning on students and teachers during the pandemic and to provide information for educational institutions. The study found that different factors impact students and teachers in online learning, with some similarities. The sudden shift to online learning had a significant effect on students. According to the gathered literature, students' most common difficulties are technological and psychological issues, such as unstable internet connections, lack of socialization and interaction among other students, and isolation. For teachers, problems with internet connections and a lack of training in using technology for online learning also significantly impacted the delivery of lectures. Both students and teachers generally prefer traditional, face-to-face classes.

Transforming informal communication in the urgent shift to teleworking: a case study in Japan

IntroductionWhile informal communication is essential for employee performance and wellbeing, it is difficult to maintain in telework settings. This issue has recently been becoming more prominent worldwide, especially because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, how employees managed their informal communication in the sudden shift to teleworking is still understudied. This study fills this research gap by clarifying how an organization's employees improvised informal communication during the urgent shift to teleworking.MethodsAn exploratory case study of a large construction firm in Japan was conducted, focusing on how employees improvised informal communication during teleworking in response to COVID-19. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 employees and applied a qualitative thematic analysis to the collected data.ResultsFour informal communication strategies (structured informality, casual tech, implicit communication, and face-to-face opportunity seeking) that were improvised amid the sudden shift to teleworking caused by COVID-19 were identified.DiscussionThe findings can inform concrete means for the effective and dynamic transition of informal communication to teleworking settings during emergencies, thus contributing to informal communication studies as well as the promotion of resilient business operations and employee wellbeing in response to future crises.

The Effect of Paper Reading Versus Screen Reading on the Inferential Reading Performance among University ESL Learners

Contemporary ESL education focuses on screen-based reading, specifically in the context of university level learners. Also, a sudden shift from paper bound reading activities to screen-based tasks was inevitable in response to COVID-19 outbreak. In this regard, the case of inferential and advanced level reading among the young ESL learners of developing countries appears researchable because of the general low digital literacy of these learners. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of reading mode shift from paper to screen on the inferential comprehension performance among Pakistani ESL learners at university level. A total of 426 undergraduate learners were sampled from Bachelor of Science program in a well-known university in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Inferential reading was conceptualized through Bloom’s higher order thinking skills, that is, Analyzing, Evaluating and Creating skills therefore the reading comprehension test was based on these skills. Adopting sequential test administration, first the paper-based reading test, and later the screen-based reading was given. The obtained data were analyzed using Rendell’s XCALIBRE and SPSS V. 26.0. The logit scale descriptives, learner ability (θ), and mean scores demonstrated that the learners performed significantly higher in the paper test as compared to screen test. Moreover, it was found that the effect of reading mode shift was larger in Creating skill. The findings may have significant implications for reading mode selection, enhancement of digital competence and effect of reading mode shift in developing countries with inadequate IT facilitation and digital literacy among ESL learners.

Schrödinger’s cat goes online: Exploring the psychopathology of digital life

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic forced therapists to embrace online sessions, creating a sudden shift in the therapeutic environment. However, the integration of technology into therapy was already underway, prompting the need to explore how the online environment impacts clients and the therapeutic process. Drawing upon Heidegger’s philosophy of technology and Whitehead’s process philosophy, this article argues that our environment and technologies shape our consciousness and subjectivity, and that both the therapist and the client are partly a product of the media ecologies of the digital age. This paper explores the concept of transitionality as proposed by Winnicott, which refers to the dynamic process through which individuals navigate between inner subjective experiences and external reality. It also examines Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of faciality and the social construction of subjectivity through the screen/face as a territorializing force. By integrating these theoretical perspectives, this study seeks to shed light on the intricate relationship between individual subjectivity and online environments in shaping our experiences and identities on the screen. Overall, the article raises some questions about the use of technology in therapy and the implications for understanding the human psyche. It highlights the need to approach online therapy with awareness of the potential limitations and disturbances that may arise.

Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Characteristics Studies using IRNSS Data around Bangalore

TEC analysis stands as a cornerstone in navigation, enabling the examination of sudden shifts in Total Electron Content (TEC). Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) are discerned through TEC analysis, which proves superior to alternative approaches. This method furnishes insights into EPB occurrences, offering valuable data on their daily and seasonal fluctuations within the ionosphere. Analysis of TEC data from January 2015 to 2022, derived from IRNSS observations in Bangalore, reveals patterns in EPB occurrence correlated with the sunspot cycle and solar flux variations. This alignment, observed during a phase of low solar activity, underscores the reliability of TEC analysis in capturing ionospheric dynamics.

Distance learning Revisited: Students’ Preferences and Attitudes in the Post-Pandemic Era

In Spring 2020, there was a sudden shift from face-to-face (F2F) to distance learning (DL) due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. A study by Al-Jarf (2020) showed that 55% of the students and instructors preferred F2F instruction and were not satisfied with DL due to unfamiliarity, lack of training, interaction, technical problems and others. In the Fall Semester 2021, Saudi universities resumed F2F instruction in combination with some online classes. In some emergencies such as weather conditions, all students study online rather than cancelling classes. This status quo has continued until now. This study explores students’ preferences for DL vs F2F learning, their attitudes towards each and reasons for their preferences. Responses to a survey showed that 36% of the students in the sample prefer DL because it has become a necessity during emergencies such as pandemics and wars. They can check the lecture recording any time. They save commuting time. In addition, 40% of the respondents prefer F2F instruction because they get better grades. It is more suitable for science classes (labs, experiments, anatomy). Participation, interaction, and questions make a difference. In DL, students can leave Blackboard or Zoom, walk around, and take a nap, whereas in F2F, they focus better. Some health sciences, engineering, law, and/or business instructors talk about their experiences and views of the job market which is enriching and enjoyable for the students. Moreover, 17% have no preference and believe that the mode of learning depends on the instructors’ competence, teaching techniques used, integration of technologies, and online resources, interaction, engagement, and students’ participation. Participants’ views and recommendations are given in detail.

A sudden shift for Pain Medicine fellowships – A recount of the 2024 match

Pain Medicine, a field that was once considered primarily a specialty of opioid medication management, evolved into a multimodal care model with the goal of limiting reliance on pain medications. Now, we see another revolution—the advancement from percutaneous procedures to minimally invasive surgical procedures.Despite these changes, Pain Medicine fellowships have consistently been recognized as a competitive subspecialty with more applicants than the number of available positions – until now. The most recent pain fellowship match suggests an abrupt change to the popularity of the specialty (with over 61 unmatched positions and over 35 unfilled programs) for applicants expected to matriculate in the year 2024 [1]. Unfilled positions have risen from 5% to 15% in the past three years. Similarly, unfilled programs have risen from 10% to 30% in the past three years.Several reasons for this sudden change in popularity have been proposed, including a lucrative general anesthesiology market, increasing difficulties with insurance coverage and reimbursement for procedures, and a dearth of advanced pain procedures performed at academic medicine programs. The field is at a critical juncture, necessitating ongoing discussions and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that trainees are attracted to this dynamic field and are ultimately equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients.