Conservation increasingly relies on social science tools to understand human behavior. Specialized questioning techniques (SQTs) are a suite of methods designed to reduce bias in social surveys and ...are widely used to collect data on sensitive topics, including compliance with conservation rules. Most SQTs have been developed in Western, industrialized, educated, rich, and democratic countries, meaning their suitability in other contexts may be limited. Whether these techniques perform better than conventional direct questioning is important for those considering their use. We designed an experiment to validate the performance of four SQTs (unmatched count technique, randomized response technique, crosswise model, and bean method) against direct questions when asking about a commonly researched sensitive behavior in conservation, wildlife hunting. We developed fictional characters, and for each method asked respondents to report the answers that each fictional character should give when asked if they hunt wildlife. We collected data from 609 individuals living close to protected areas in two different cultural and socioeconomic contexts (Indonesia and Tanzania) to quantify the extent to which respondents understood and followed SQT instructions and to explore the sociodemographic factors that influenced a correct response. Data were modeled using binomial general linear mixed models. Participants were more likely to refuse to answer questions asked using SQTs compared with direct questions. Model results suggested that SQTs were harder for participants to understand. Demographic factors (e.g., age and education level) significantly influenced response accuracy. When sensitive responses to sensitive questions were required, all SQTs (excluding the bean method) outperformed direct questions, demonstrating that SQTs can successfully reduce sensitivity bias. However, when reviewing each method, most respondents (59–89%) reported they would feel uncomfortable using them to provide information on their own hunting behavior, highlighting the considerable challenge of encouraging truthful reporting on sensitive topics. Our results demonstrate the importance of assessing the suitability of social science methods prior to their implementation in conservation contexts.
Validación Experimental de las Técnicas de Cuestionamiento Especializado en la Conservación
Resumen
La conservación depende cada vez más de herramientas de las ciencias sociales para entender el comportamiento humano. Las técnicas de cuestionamiento especializado (TCE) son un conjunto de métodos diseñados para reducir el sesgo en los censos sociales y y se usan ampliamente para recolectar datos sobre temas sensibles, incluyendo el cumplimiento de las normas de conservación. La mayoría de las TCE se desarrollaron en el hemisferio occidental, en países industrializados, educados, ricos y democráticos, lo que significa que su que su idoneidad en otros contextos puede ser limitada. Quienes piensan en usar estas técnicas consideran importante saber si tienen un mejor desempeño que el cuestionamiento directo convencional. Diseñamos un experimento para validar el desempeño de cuatro TCE (técnica de conteo sin par, técnica de respuesta aleatoria, modelo transversal, método bean) frente a las preguntas directas cuando se cuestiona sobre un comportamiento sensible de interés recurrente en la conservación: la cacería de fauna. Desarrollamos personajes ficticios y para cada método le pedimos a los respondientes que reportaran las respuestas que cada personaje ficticio debería dar al cuestionársele si cazan fauna silvestre. Recolectamos datos de 609 individuos con residencia cercana a áreas protegidas en dos contextos cultural y socioeconómicamente diferentes (Indonesia y Tanzanía) para cuantificar el grado al que los respondientes entendieron y siguieron las instrucciones de las TCE y para explorar los factores sociodemográficos que influyeron sobre las respuestas correctas. Modelamos los datos mediante modelos lineales mixtos binomiales y generales. Fue más probable que los participantes se rehusaran a responder las preguntas realizadas con las TCE en comparación con las preguntas directas. Los resultados del modelo sugirieron que las TCE eran más difíciles de entender para los participantes. Los factores demográficos (p. ej.: edad y nivel educativo) influyeron significativamente la certeza de las respuestas. Cuando se requirieron respuestas sensibles a preguntas sensibles, todas las TCE (excepto el método bean) tuvieron un mejor desempeño que las preguntas directas, lo que demuestra que las TCE pueden reducir exitosamente el sesgo por sensibilidad. Sin embargo, cuando se les preguntó sobre cada método, la mayoría de los respondientes (59‐89%) reportó que se sentirían incómodos si tuvieran que usarlas para proporcionar información sobre sus propios comportamientos de cacería, lo que destaca el reto considerable que es reportar honestamente los temas sensibles. Nuestros resultados demuestran la importancia de de evaluar la idoneidad de los métodos de las ciencias sociales previo a su implementación en contextos de conservación.
【摘要】
保护工作越来越依赖于社会科学工具来了解人类行为。专业提问技巧 (specialized questioning techniques, SQTs) 旨在减少社会调查中的偏差, 被广泛用于收集敏感话题的数据, 包括对保护规则的遵守情况。然而, 大多数 SQT 是工业化、教育水平良好、富裕且民主的西方国家开发的, 这意味着它们在其他情况下的适用性可能有限。对于考虑使用 STQ 的人来说, 这些方法是否比传统的直接提问法表现得更好是一个重要的问题。我们设计了一项实验来验证 4 种 SQT (无配对计数技术、随机回答技术、交叉模式、豆子法) 与直接提问相比, 在询问保护领域中常见的敏感行为——野生动物狩猎时的表现。我们设计了一些虚构人物, 并在每一种方法中都要求受访者报告每个虚构人物在被问及是否猎杀野生动物时应该给出的答案。我们在两种不同的文化和社会经济背景下 (印度尼西亚、坦桑尼亚) 收集了609名保护区附近居民的数据, 以量化受访者理解和遵守 SQT 指示的程度, 并探索影响正确回答的社会人口因素。我们用二项式一般线性混合模型对数据进行建模。结果显示, 与直接提问相比, 参与者更有可能拒绝回答使用 SQT 提出的问题。模型结果表明 SQT 对参与者来说更难理解。人口统计学因素 (如年龄和教育水平) 显著影响了回答的准确性。当需要对敏感问题进行敏感回答时, 除豆子法之外的所有 SQT 都优于直接提问, 表明 SQT 可以成功地减少敏感性偏差。然而, 当被问及这些方法时, 大多数受访者 (59%–89%) 都表示他们会对使用这些方法来提供有关自己狩猎行为的信息感到不舒服, 这表明鼓励对敏感话题进行真实报告仍存在巨大挑战。我们的结果表明, 在保护背景下实施社会科学方法时, 事先评估其适用性是十分重要的。【翻译: 胡怡思; 审校: 聂永刚】
Article Impact Statement: Experimental validation shows that specialized questioning techniques reduce some bias when researching sensitive conservation topics.
This paper proposes a methodology for extracting the thermal equivalent circuit of a high density GaN-based power stage, using a 48 V to 12 V GaN-based synchronous buck converter as the test ...platform. The test setup calculates the junction temperatures by measuring R ds, on for both FETs in the half bridge, while current sources produce power losses in each device and the output filter inductor. Independent control of the two gate voltages allows for either symmetric or asymmetric distribution of power loss between the two FETs, and comparison of these results are used to calculate the coupled and uncoupled thermal resistances between them. The thermal interaction with the filter inductor is similarly modeled. The baseline thermal design with a bare PCB and no heatsink was characterized, as well as a proposed thermal solution consisting of a heatsink, gap pad, gap filler, and a plastic shim. Each configuration was tested with three air flow conditions, and the resulting thermal model was used to estimate the maximum current capability without exceeding 100 °C on either FET. The proposed thermal solution improves the maximum current-handling capability by over 60% compared with the baseline design.
Understanding the psychology of human-wildlife interactions has grown beyond cognitive frameworks to include appreciation of roles played by emotion in human responses to wildlife. From its ...beginnings as an essentially cognitively framed proposition, mental modeling has been shown readily applicable to representing and interpreting stakeholder perspectives on combined social and natural systems, but lacks an integrated approach to emotion. This is an important knowledge gap. To commence an investigation into the relationship focused on the requirements of wildlife conservation, we carried out a case study of perspectives toward a free-living Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in Southwest England, ecologically significant as a generator of high-value wetland habitat while interacting strongly with local human interests. Using fuzzy cognitive mapping techniques, we report predictive relationships between model measurements and subjective emotional valence elicited in relation to stakeholder conceptual content. Significant interactions were identified between three measures of concept connective influence within mental models and associated emotional valence intensity: single model concept connective salience, aggregated model concept connective salience, and aggregated model predictive inferences made by dynamic analysis. A possible explanation for these findings is outlined in which we propose that criteria-based evaluations suggested by appraisal theory of emotion are sensitive to the strength and distribution of connective influences within mental models. Apart from its theoretical significance, the evidence presented in this paper highlights the importance of attending to conservation stakeholder emotional experiences, and may assist in new approaches to mitigation where conservation objectives require human adjustment.
Bromoform (CHBr3) contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion but is not regulated under the Montreal Protocol due to its short lifetime and large natural sources. Here, we show that anthropogenic ...sources contribute significantly to the amount of CHBr3 transported into the Northern Hemisphere (NH) extratropical stratosphere. We present a new CHBr3 emission inventory comprised of natural and anthropogenic sources, with the latter estimated from ship ballast, power plant cooling and desalination plant brine water. Including anthropogenic sources in the new inventory increases CHBr3 emissions by up to 31.5% globally and 70.5% in the NH. In consequence, atmospheric CHBr3 is also significantly higher, especially over the NH extratropics during boreal winter. Here anthropogenic sources enhance bromine at the tropopause by 0.9 ppt Br, thus doubling natural CHBr3 abundances. For some latitudes, tropopause bromine increases by 2.4 ppt Br suggesting significant contributions of anthropogenic CHBr3 to the NH lowermost stratosphere.
Plain Language Summary
Halogen‐containing compounds are emitted at the Earth's surface and transported into the stratosphere, where they contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Emissions of long‐lived halogen compounds such as CFC‐11 have been reduced following the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its later adjustments. Emissions of short‐lived halogen‐containing compounds, on the other hand, are currently not regulated. Within this group, bromoform (CHBr3) is one of the most abundant compounds and has been known to have mostly natural sources. In this study, we present a new data set of CHBr3 emissions which includes anthropogenic sources from industrial water use. We show that these anthropogenic sources increase global CHBr3 emissions by one‐third. Our results also suggest that the anthropogenic emissions contribute significantly to the amount of CHBr3 transported into the stratosphere over the Northern Hemisphere mid‐latitudes.
Key Points
A new CHBr3 emission inventory based on natural and anthropogenic sources suggests that the latter account for 12%–28% of the global emissions
In the NH, new anthropogenic estimates increase known natural CHBr3 emissions by up to 70.5%, leading to higher atmospheric CHBr3 levels
At the NH extratropical tropopause, CHBr3 is enhanced by 0.9 ppt Br due to anthropogenic sources thus doubling natural CHBr3 abundances
The pathophysiology underlying altered blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unknown but may relate to endothelial cell activation and cytokine mediated ...inflammation.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood were concurrently collected from cognitively healthy controls (
= 21) and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (
= 8) or AD (
= 11). The paired serum and CSF samples were assayed for a panel of cytokines, chemokines, and related trophic factors using multiplex ELISAs. Dominance analysis models were conducted to determine the relative importance of the inflammatory factors in relationship to BCSFB permeability, as measured by CSF/serum ratios for urea, creatinine, and albumin.
BCSFB disruption to urea, a small molecule distributed by passive diffusion, had a full model coefficient of determination (
) = 0.35, and large standardized dominance weights (>0.1) for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin (IL)-15, IL-1rα, and IL-2 in serum. BCSFB disruption to creatinine, a larger molecule governed by active transport, had a full model
= 0.78, and large standardized dominance weights for monocyte inhibitor protein-1b in CSF and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum. BCSFB disruption to albumin, a much larger molecule, had a full model
= 0.62, and large standardized dominance weights for IL-17a, interferon-gamma, IL-2, and VEGF in CSF, as well IL-4 in serum.
Inflammatory proteins have been widely documented in the AD brain. The results of the current study suggest that changes in BCSFB function resulting in altered permeability and transport are related to expression of specific inflammatory proteins, and that the shifting distribution of these proteins from serum to CSF in AD and MCI is correlated with more severe perturbations in BCSFB function.
In this study in-plane mechanical properties of continuous carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyamide composite manufactured using a Markforged Two 3D printing system was evaluated and compared ...against predicted values from classical laminated-plate theory. Strength, stiffness and Poisson’s ratio of the composite specimens were measured using tensile testing both in longitudinal and transverse direction and the shear properties were also measured. The influence of fibre orientation on mechanical properties was investigated and were compared with that of non-reinforced nylon samples and known material property values from literature. It was determined that the modulus of elasticity and tensile strength values were significantly improved to 603.43 MPa and 85 GPa respectively as compare to unreinforced nylon specimens. Furthermore, cross-sectional micrographs of specimens are analysed to observe the microstructure and fracture mechanism of the 3D printed composite. Experimentally determined values were used to predict the behaviour of the materials in different orientation using classical laminated-plate theory on the commercially available LAP (Laminated Analysis programme) software. The model developed will allow the designers to predict the elastic (mechanical) properties of 3D printed parts reinforced with fibre for components which require specific mechanical properties.
Childhood adversity is one of the strongest predictors of adolescent mental illness. Therefore, it is critical that the mechanisms that aid resilient functioning in individuals exposed to childhood ...adversity are better understood. Here, we examined whether resilient functioning was related to structural brain network topology. We quantified resilient functioning at the individual level as psychosocial functioning adjusted for the severity of childhood adversity in a large sample of adolescents (N = 2406, aged 14–24). Next, we examined nodal degree (the number of connections that brain regions have in a network) using brain-wide cortical thickness measures in a representative subset (N = 275) using a sliding window approach. We found that higher resilient functioning was associated with lower nodal degree of multiple regions including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the medial prefrontal cortex, and the posterior superior temporal sulcus (z > 1.645). During adolescence, decreases in nodal degree are thought to reflect a normative developmental process that is part of the extensive remodeling of structural brain network topology. Prior findings in this sample showed that decreased nodal degree was associated with age, as such our findings of negative associations between nodal degree and resilient functioning may therefore potentially resemble a more mature structural network configuration in individuals with higher resilient functioning.
Thirty unique non-host RNAs were sequenced in the cultivated fungus, Agaricus bisporus, comprising 18 viruses each encoding an RdRp domain with an additional 8 ORFans (non-host RNAs with no ...similarity to known sequences). Two viruses were multipartite with component RNAs showing correlative abundances and common 3' motifs. The viruses, all positive sense single-stranded, were classified into diverse orders/families. Multiple infections of Agaricus may represent a diverse, dynamic and interactive viral ecosystem with sequence variability ranging over 2 orders of magnitude and evidence of recombination, horizontal gene transfer and variable fragment numbers. Large numbers of viral RNAs were detected in multiple Agaricus samples; up to 24 in samples symptomatic for disease and 8-17 in asymptomatic samples, suggesting adaptive strategies for co-existence. The viral composition of growing cultures was dynamic, with evidence of gains and losses depending on the environment and included new hypothetical viruses when compared with the current transcriptome and EST databases. As the non-cellular transmission of mycoviruses is rare, the founding infections may be ancient, preserved in wild Agaricus populations, which act as reservoirs for subsequent cell-to-cell infection when host populations are expanded massively through fungiculture.
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