measuring and analyzing technical data for social trust between smartphones

Mobiles are nowadays the most relevant communication devices in terms of quantity and flexibility. Like in most MANETs ad-hoc communication between two mobile phones requires mutual trust between the devices. A new way of establishing this trust conducts social trust from technically measurable data (e.g., interaction logs). To explore the relation between social and technical trust, we conduct a large-scale survey with more than 217 Android users and analyze their anonymized call and message logs. We show that a reliable a priori trust value for a mobile system can be derived from common social communication metrics

How Openness Enriches the Environment: Read More

The recently proposed OFCI model and specifically the Environmental Enrichment Hypothesis state that Openness positively influences the development of cognitive abilities (Ziegler et al., 2012). It is assumed that Openness leads to engagement in more learning activities through creating an enriched environment (e.g., reading). However, despite positive evaluations of the OFCI model in general, there is little empirical research on this specific hypothesis. The current paper used a longitudinal design to test the positive impact of Openness on the frequency of reading activities in general and in the specific case of periods of unemployment. PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) data were used to fit structural equation models. The results show that Openness fosters greater engagement in reading activities over 3 years; a buffering function in case of unemployment could not be found. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Short Versus Long Scales in Clinical Assessment: Exploring the Trade-Off Between Resources Saved and Psychometric Quality Lost Using Two Measures of Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms

Short measures of psychological constructs are routinely used to save assessment time and cost. The downside is a trade-off between resource savings and psychometric quality. When evaluating tests, a pragmatic strategy is frequently applied that neglects the assessment objective, which may result in unfair rejection or unmindfully acceptance of short scales. Our main aim is to demonstrate the consequences of applying a pragmatic test evaluation strategy. We used two tests that measure the same construct—obsessive-compulsive symptomatology—but differ considerably in test length (1:3) and evaluated the measures by taking the assessment objective into account. The two scale scores showed distinct profiles of psychometric qualities. Whereas routinely evaluated reliability, factorial validity, and convergent/discriminant validity did not differ, rendering both tests useful for research purposes, substantial differences were found for qualities that are rarely focused on—measurement precision and diagnostic validity—which are highly relevant for accurate decisions in clinical practice.Peer Reviewe

Werkstattbericht zu einer phasenverbindenden Unterrichtsplanung innerhalb eines universitären Seminars am Beispiel der Konstruktion digitaler Unterrichtsmaterialien im Fach Biologie

Komplexe Lernanforderungen, wie die Planung digitaler Unterrichtsmaterialien in einem Team mit Lehrkräften und Fachdidaktiker*innen, können Studierende vor Herausforderungen stellen. Um dem gerecht zu werden, können bestimmte Lernsettings Anwendung finden, in denen bspw. durch strukturgebende Elemente und das Angebot von Hilfestellungen eine Orientierung geschaffen wird. Dies kann z.B. durch den Einsatz der Methode des Soft Scaffoldings, aber auch durch die Berücksichtigung der Überlegungen des gemäßigten Konstruktivismus und der Selbstbestimmungstheorie der Motivation erfolgen. Der vorliegende Artikel betrachtet, inwiefern Studierende im Rahmen einer gemeinsamen Unterrichtsplanung mit Lehrkräften und Fachdidaktiker*innen die getroffenen Maßnahmen zur Lernunterstützung, denen Überlegungen des gemäßigten Konstruktivismus, der Selbstbestimmungstheorie der Motivation und Maßnahmen des Soft Scaffoldings zugrunde liegen, als hilfreich empfinden. In einem leitfadengestützten Interview wurden hierzu zwei Studierende zu ihrer Wahrnehmung der zugrunde gelegten Unterstützungsangebote befragt. An der phasenverbindenden Planung beteiligt waren neben den Studierenden eine Fachdidaktikerin der Biologie und eine Biologielehrkraft. Durch die Auswertung der Interviewdaten mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl die Berücksichtigung des Soft Scaffoldings als auch des gemäßigten Konstruktivismus sowie der Selbstbestimmungstheorie der Motivation während der Tridem-Arbeit (Studierende – Lehrkraft – Fachdidaktikerin) durch die Studierenden in vielerlei Hinsicht positiv eingeschätzt wurde. Hervorzuheben ist hier speziell das Soft Scaffolding seitens Lehrkraft und Fachdidaktikerin. Eingeschränkt werden müssen diese Befunde jedoch hinsichtlich der fehlenden Strukturgebung besonders zu Beginn der gemeinsamen Arbeit, was sich hemmend auf die Kompetenzwahrnehmung der Studierenden auswirkte. Es zeigt sich außerdem, dass es für gemeinsame Planungsprozesse von großer Bedeutung ist, das Vorwissen der Lernenden zu berücksichtigen. Insgesamt sollte je nach Komplexität der Aufgabe eine noch stärkere Unterstützung erfolgen, um die Professionalisierung der Studierenden bestmöglich zu fördern

A unified approach for including non-extractable residues (NER) of chemicals and pesticides in the assessment of persistence

Abstract All chemicals form non-extractable residues (NER) to various extents in environmental media like soil, sediment, plants and animals. NER can be quantified in environmental fate studies using isotope-labeled (such as 14C or 13C) tracer compounds. Previous NER definitions have led to a mismatch of legislation and state of knowledge in research: the residues are assumed to be either irreversibly bound degradation products or at least parts of these residues can be released. In the latter assumption, soils and sediments are a long-term source of slowly released residues. We here present a conceptual experimental and modeling approach to characterize non-extractable residues and provide guidance how they should be considered in the persistence assessment of chemicals and pesticides. Three types of NER can be experimentally discriminated: sequestered and entrapped residues (type I), containing either the parent substance or xenobiotic transformation products or both and having the potential to be released, which has indeed been observed. Type II NER are residues that are covalently bound to organic matter in soils or sediments or to biological tissue in organisms and that are considered being strongly bound with very low remobilization rates like that of humic matter degradation rates. Type III NER comprises biogenic NER (bioNER) after degradation of the xenobiotic chemical and anabolic formation of natural biomolecules like amino acids and phospholipids, and other biomass compounds. We developed the microbial turnover to biomass (MTB) model to predict the formation of bioNER based on the structural properties of chemicals. Further, we proposed an extraction sequence to obtain a matrix containing only NER. Finally, we summarized experimental methods to distinguish the three NER types. Type I NER and type II NER should be considered as potentially remobilizable residues in persistence assessment but the probability of type II release is much lower than that of type I NER, i.e., type II NER in soil are “operationally spoken” irreversibly bound and can be released only in minute amounts and at very slow rates, if at all. The potential of remobilization can be evaluated by chemical, physical and biological methods. BioNER are of no environmental concern and, therefore, can be assessed as such in persistence assessment. The general concept presented is to consider the total amount of NER minus potential bioNER as the amount of xenoNER, type I + II. If a clear differentiation of type I and type II is possible, for the calculation of half-life type I NER are considered as not degraded parent substance or transformation product(s). On the contrary, type II NER may generally be considered as (at least temporarily) removed. Providing proof for type II NER is the most critical issue in NER assessment and requires additional research. If no characterization and additional information on NER are available, it is recommended to assess the total amount as potentially remobilizable. We propose our unified approach of NER characterization and evaluation to be implemented into the persistence and environmental hazard assessment strategies for REACH chemicals and biocides, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, irrespective of the different regulatory frameworks