Confirmation Bias in Simulated Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Interviews: Abuse Assumption Influences Interviewing and Decision-making Processes

PurposeResearch has shown that confirmation bias plays a role in legal and forensic decision-making processes. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined how it manifests itself when interviewing an allegedly abused child. MethodIn the present study, we used data from a series of experiments in which participants interviewed child avatars to examine how an assumption of abuse based on preliminary information influenced decision-making and interviewing style. Interview training data from eight studies with students, psychologists and police officers were included in the analyses.ResultsWe found that interviewers’ preliminary assumption of sexual abuse having taken place predicted 1) a conclusion of abuse by the interviewers after the interview; 2) higher confidence in their judgment; 3) more frequent use of not recommended question types and 4) a decreased likelihood of reaching a correct conclusion given the same number of available relevant details. ConclusionThe importance of considering how preliminary assumptions of abuse affect interview behaviour and outcomes and the implications for the training of investigative interviewers were discussed.

POTENCIALIDADES DA INTERAÇÃO HUMANO-COMPUTADOR NA REALIDADE TECNOLÓGICA DO PARÁ = HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION POTENTIALITIES IN PARÁ TECHNOLOGICAL REALITY

Análise, a partir de revisão de literatura em fontes secundárias, sobre as principais tendências que permeiam os estudos em interação humano-computador, com foco na realidade tecnológica no Pará. A pesquisa baseou-se em levantamento bibliográfico a partir de repositórios científicos digitais, sendo utilizados os verbetes interação humano-computador e Pará. O trabalho localizou duas principais vertentes de análise: inserção tecnológica em instituições de ensino no estado, e nos projetos e programas tecnológicos implantados no Pará a partir dos anos 2000. Percebeu-se, em ambas as vertentes, considerável ênfase em características ligadas a acessibilidade e acesso universal da informação, e de muitos dos projetos mostrarem informações preliminares ou indicarem descontinuidade. A pesquisa conclui que o estado do Pará, a partir dessas iniciativas, possui promissor campo de análise ligada à interação humano-computador, a partir de considerável espectro de programas de inserção computacional e informacional na região.AbstractThis study analyses the evolution and principal tendencies of research linked tohuman-computer interaction in technological reality of Pará. Data collection wasconducted in scientific repositories, using the terms Human-computer interaction and Pará. The research results in the recognition of two main issues: technological insertion in teaching institutions and technological projects implanted in Pará since 2000. It was noticed, in both aspects, considerable emphasis in accessibility and universal access, and also perceived that these projects present discontinuity and only preliminary information. This research concludes that the state of Pará has a promising field of study related to human computer interaction, related to informational and computational insertion.

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest, Paraíba State, Brazil

Restinga forests are plant formations that occur on plains of quaternary sandy deposits along the Brazilian coast. Despite historical reduction of the Restinga forests, little effort has been made to know the butterfly fauna of these areas. This paper is an important contribution to the butterfly’s knowledge, being the second inventory in the Restinga forest of northeastern Brazil. The survey was conducted in the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest (FLONA de Cabedelo, following the Portuguese abbreviation) and aimed to provide preliminary information on the butterflies richness in this region. A total of 89 butterfly species and 1,503 individuals were recorded at FLONA de Cabedelo. Hesperiidae was the richest family (34 species), followed by Nymphalidae (33) Pieridae (eight), Lycaenidae (seven), Riodinidae (five), and Papilionidae (two). In general, the butterfly fauna of the FLONA de Cabedelo is dominated by species widely distributed and commonly found in open or forested areas in Brazil. Five species are new records in Paraíba state: Calydna sturnula (Geyer), Theope foliorum (Bates), Cogia hassan (Butler), Vehilius inca (Scudder), and Chiothion asychis (Stoll). We suggest carrying out monthly samplings which will certainly increase the list of species herein presented.

SRM simulation with reduced amount of initial information taking into account saturation of magnetic circuit

The article describes the currently used approaches to mathematical modeling of switched reluctance electric machines. It is shown that the traditional approach uses a large amount of initial information on the dependence of the flux on the current and the angular position of the rotor in the form of lookup tables. It is proposed to use the description of the flux using the hyperbolic arcsine function. This approach will reduce the amount of preliminary information and thus simplify the procedures for configuring control systems.

One, No One, and One Hundred Thousand

Despite a considerable body of literature on Italian ethnoregionalist parties, scholars of nationalism and regionalism have overlooked southernist parties. This article aims to fill this lacuna by examining Italian southernist parties’ identity and electoral performance from 1945 to 2020. Firstly, it investigates southernist parties according to ideological positioning, autonomist or secessionist nature, and territorial area of origin. Then, by relying on official data, it explores the parties’ electoral performance in national, European, and regional elections. The main findings of the study show that, since the end of World War II, Italian southernist parties: a) have been characterized by a more autonomist rather than secessionist nature; b) have followed the typical patterns of the catch-all party; c) have performed better in regional elections. This article provides preliminary information on southernist parties, paving the way for further research on such political formations.

Azithromycin consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia, 2020

Background. During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was great enthusiasm for the use of azithromycin with or without hydroxychloroquine. Objectives. We analyzed azithromycin consumption in Croatia in 2020 and compared this to the period 2017-2019. Methods. Azithromycin consumption was evaluated using the IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. database which collects data on azithromycin distribution from wholesale pharmacies to hospital and non-hospital pharmacies in Croatia. We analyzed data for the period from January 2017 to December 2020. Azithromycin distribution was measured as days of therapy (DOT) and reported as per 1000 inhabitants or per 1000 inhabitant-days. Results. In the period 2017-2020, total azithromycin DOT in Croatia increased in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (1.76, 1.91, 1.91 and 2.01/1000 inhabitant-days, respectively). Non-hospital pharmacies received 2.18 times and hospital pharmacies 4.39 times more DOT units/1000 inhabitants of azithromycin in March 2020 compared to the average distribution rate in March 2017-2019. During the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic (November and December 2020) azithromycin distribution increased considerably in hospital (3.62 and 3.19 times, respectively) and non-hospital pharmacies (1.93 and 1.84 times, respectively) compared to the average consumption in the same months in 2017-2019. Conclusions. Our data showed increased azithromycin distribution in the period 2017-2020 which indicates azithromycin overuse. Preliminary information on COVID-19 treatments with a desire to offer and try what is available even in the absence of strong scientific evidence may have influenced practices of antimicrobial prescriptions.

Assessment of the Status of the Fishery of Indwagyi Lake, Myanmar Using Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Aims: Indawgyi Lake, in northern Myanmar, is the country’s largest lake and among the largest in Southeast Asia. Although the lake’s fishery provides an important source of food and livelihoods, relatively little is known about the status of its fishery and how human actions are affecting it. Further, some basic information on fish populations has not been documented, such as the extent to which fish migrate, either downstream toward the Ayeyarwady River or into the lake’s tributaries. Similar to other lakes in the region (e.g., Inle Lake in central Myanmar), the fishing practices of Indawgyi Lake appear to be intensifying. Thus, improved understanding of the lake’s fishery and fish-migration patterns can inform future management. Study Design: To gather preliminary information, we surveyed 6 villages around Indawgyi Lake collecting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) about the migratory behavior of fish and current state of the fishery. Place and Duration of Study: Hepa, Hepu, Lone Ton, Lonsant, Mamon Kaing, and Nyaung Bin along Indawgyi Lake in Myanmar Methodology: We interviewed fishermen in large groups at 6 villages (approximately 60 fishermen overall), aggregating results into the six village groups due to the consensus style of interviews. We performed additional spatial analyses using Google Earth Engine. Results: Fishermen reported that nearly all the fish they commonly catch are migratory, with most using upstream tributaries for spawning during the wet season. Fishermen also reported that, although most tributaries remained in good condition, several have been severely impacted by land-use changes, including gold mining. Fishermen consistently reported that harvest levels have declined dramatically in the past two decades even as they deploy more nets. Across the villages interviewed, the top recommendation to combat declines was to increase/strengthen enforcement of regulations. Conclusion: This research demonstrates the utility of TEK to provide preliminary information on poorly studied systems that can inform conservation and management.

The De-marketing Strategies as a Vital Resolve of Antibiotics Misuse Dilemma

Developing resistance to the currently available antimicrobial agents, particularly anti-Bacterial, is a worrying issue that rises highly worldwide. Communities, health workers, and government officials around the world are joining in, calling for overuse and misuse of antibiotics to stop. The phrase “de-marketing” indicates a strategy that drives to organize the form and the level of the current and future demand; not only that, but rationalizes it by organizations (profit, non-profit organizations as well as governments) specified to discourage and minimize activities of organizations about selling, distribution, using, and advertising… etc. It is to conduct an investigation of the potential impact of de-marketing in both controlling and minimizing the antibiotic misusage in Jordan. The essential purpose of the current analysis research is to manifest the contribution of the general demarketing strategy in influencing the attitude of consumers towards rationalization of taking antibiotics through regular medications, which is under the supervision and recommendations of professional doctors. In this article, we focused on those secondary resources derived from the published literature. Besides, we relied on the output of 450 consumers’ interactions and responses to our 19 questions distributed as a survey with consideration to the general ethics. The model of our study was designed based on the preliminary information collected from exploration study. The insight statistical analysis confirmed a attitude towards rationalization of taking antibiotics without doctor supervision (off prescription) that properly will raise the issue of antibiotics misuse along with its severe and dangerous side effects which will have a possible reduction of the undesirable and toxic effects after misusing the drugs. Moreover, this strategy would have a positive impact in lowering eco-toxicity of antibiotics misuse to words non-target aquatic organisms; plants or sediment and soil-inhabiting organisms. In conclusion, The problem of antibiotic resistance can be minimized only by concerted efforts of all members of society for ensuring the continued efficiency of antibiotics, the demarketing strategy shows a promising approach which could be used by any interested parties working to develop policies, strategies, interventions or campaigns to reduce antibiotic resistance.