A Deeper Look into Aleatoric and Epistemic Uncertainty Disentanglement

Neural networks are ubiquitous in many tasks, but trusting their predictions is an open issue. Uncertainty quantification is required for many applications, and disentangled aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties are best. In this paper, we generalize methods to produce disentangled uncertainties to work with different uncertainty quantification methods, and evaluate their capability to produce disentangled uncertainties. Our results show that: there is an interaction between learning aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty, which is unexpected and violates assumptions on aleatoric uncertainty, some methods like Flipout produce zero epistemic uncertainty, aleatoric uncertainty is unreliable in the out-of-distribution setting, and Ensembles provide overall the best disentangling quality. We also explore the error produced by the number of samples hyper-parameter in the sampling softmax function, recommending N > 100 samples. We expect that our formulation and results help practitioners and researchers choose uncertainty methods and expand the use of disentangled uncertainties, as well as motivate additional research into this topic.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figures, with supplementary. LatinX in CV Workshop @ CVPR 2022 Camera Read

On The Correlates of Group-based Emotions of Social Movements in Social Media

This project explores the application of large language models for detecting emotions and predicting the collective actions within the context of three distinct social movements: Fridays For Future, Hong Kong 2019 Social Movement and the Chilean 2019 Social Movement. Using large amounts of text data from Twitter, I examine the relationship between emotions expressed in tweets and the occurrence of violent and non-violent collective actions. The study focuses on four key emotions: anger, fear, joy, and sadness, which I argue are foundational in human perception and motivation. This project attempts to bridge the gap between the large quantities of social media data related to social movements currently available and previous socio-psychological theories of participation in collective actions. My analysis suggests that anger is the main expressed emotion in the data of all three social movements. However, there is significant variation on what is the most significant second emotion across social movements. Furthermore, several emotions were found to be predictive of either violent or non-violent collective actions, although these relationships are not consistent across social movements. Finally, analysis shows a strong feedback loop, computed using auto-correlation analysis, between reports of collective actions and the occurrence of future collective actions. These findings contribute to the understanding of how emotions manifest and influence the social movement’s collective actions, and how the reporting of collective actions itself could influence the occurrence of future collective actions

When social movements fail or succeed: social psychological consequences of a collective action’s outcome

Collective actions occur all around the world and, in the last few years, even more frequently. Previous literature has mainly focused on the antecedents of collective actions, but less attention has been given to the consequences of participating in collective action. Moreover, it is still an open question how the consequences of collective action might differ, depending on whether the actions are perceived to succeed or fail. In two studies we seek to address this gap using innovative experimental studies. In Study 1 (N = 368) we manipulated the perceptions of success and failure of a collective action in the context of a real social movement, the Chilean student movement from last decade. In Study 2 (N = 169), in addition to manipulating the outcome, we manipulated actual participation, using a mock environmental organization aiming to create awareness in authorities, to test the causal effect of both participation and success/failure on empowerment, group efficacy, and intentions of future involvement in normative and non-normative collective actions. Results show that current and past participation predict overall participation in the future, however, in Study 2 the manipulated participation was associated with having less intentions of participating in the future. In both studies, perception of success increases group efficacy. In Study 1, we found that when facing failure, participants increase their willingness to participate more in the future as opposed to non-participants that actually decrease theirs. In Study 2, however, failure increases the perception of efficacy for those with a history of non-normative participation. Altogether these results highlight the moderating role of the outcome of collective action to understand the effect of participation on future participation. We discuss these results in light of the methodological innovation and the real world setting in which our studies were conducted

When social movements fail or succeed: social psychological consequences of a collective action’s outcome

Collective actions occur all around the world and, in the last few years, even more frequently. Previous literature has mainly focused on the antecedents of collective actions, but less attention has been given to the consequences of participating in collective action. Moreover, it is still an open question how the consequences of collective action might differ, depending on whether the actions are perceived to succeed or fail. In two studies we seek to address this gap using innovative experimental studies. In Study 1 (N = 368) we manipulated the perceptions of success and failure of a collective action in the context of a real social movement, the Chilean student movement from last decade. In Study 2 (N = 169), in addition to manipulating the outcome, we manipulated actual participation, using a mock environmental organization aiming to create awareness in authorities, to test the causal effect of both participation and success/failure on empowerment, group efficacy, and intentions of future involvement in normative and non-normative collective actions. Results show that current and past participation predict overall participation in the future, however, in Study 2 the manipulated participation was associated with having less intentions of participating in the future. In both studies, perception of success increases group efficacy. In Study 1, we found that when facing failure, participants increase their willingness to participate more in the future as opposed to non-participants that actually decrease theirs. In Study 2, however, failure increases the perception of efficacy for those with a history of non-normative participation. Altogether these results highlight the moderating role of the outcome of collective action to understand the effect of participation on future participation. We discuss these results in light of the methodological innovation and the real world setting in which our studies were conducted

Subjective well-being and school satisfaction in adolescence : putting indicators for their measurement to the test in Brazil, Chile and Spain

En este estudio se analiza la comparabilidad interlingüística e intercultural del bienestar subjetivo y la satisfacción escolar como componente de dicho bienestar durante la adolescencia, a partir de tres muestras, una de Brasil (n = 1588), una de Chile (n = 843) y una de España (n = 2900), de 12‑16 años de edad. Se adoptan como indicadores de bienestar subjetivo dos versiones del personal wellbeing index (PWI) de Cummins, Eckersley, van Pallant, Vugt y Misajon (2003), que lo evalúan por ámbitos, y una escala de ítem único sobre satisfacción general con la vida (overall life satisfaction [OLS]), y como indicadores subjetivos de satisfacción escolar, los seis ítems de satisfacción con distintos aspectos de la vida escolar utilizados por Casas, Baltatescu, Bertrán, González y Hatos (2013). Del PWI se utiliza la versión original (PWI7) y una versión ampliada con diez ítems (PWI10). Ambas versiones del PWI muestran un buen ajuste en los análisis factoriales confirmatorios realizados con las tres muestras agregadas. Mediante análisis de regresión múltiple y modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (MEE), se consideran y se discuten distintas opciones para estimar cuál sería el modelo con mejor comparabilidad respecto del bienestar subjetivo entre países al integrar la satisfacción escolar. Del análisis de los resultados, se aprecia que dos de los MEE multigrupo, que incluyen los seis ítems relativos a satisfacciones con aspectos de la vida escolar relacionados con una variable latente, que a su vez se relaciona con las variables latentes PWI7 y PWI10, muestran buena comparabilidad entre países. Los análisis de regresión múltiple indican que el indicador sintético de satisfacción con aspectos de la vida escolar que resulta más útil es “satisfacción con tu vida de estudiante”. Cuando se incluye este ítem, las consistencias internas tanto del PWI7 como del PWI10 mejoran y los respectivos MEE multigrupo de estas dos escalas psicométricas muestran que varianzas, covarianzas y regresiones resultan comparables entre los tres países, mientras que no son mediancomparables las medias de sus índices generales, probablemente debido a diferentes estilos de respuesta de los adolescentes de cada país.This paper studies the inter-linguistic and intercultural comparability of subjective wellbeing during adolescence, as well as school satisfaction as a component of this well-being, using samples of 12 to 16-year-old from Brazil (n=1588), Chile (n=843) and Spain (n=2900). As subjective well-being indicators, two versions of the PWI (Cummins, Eckersley, van Pallant, Vugt, and Misajon, 2003) were adopted, one measuring well-being with different life domains, a single-item scale on overall life satisfaction (OLS). The six items on satisfaction with different facets of the school life, used by Casas et al. (2013), were included as subjective indicators of school satisfaction. The original version of the PWI (PWI7) and a longer version with 10 items (PWI10) are used. Both versions show a good fit in Confirmatory Factor Analysis using the pooled sample. Using multiple regressions analysis and Structural Equations Modelling (SEM), different options are considered and analyzed in order to estimate the most appropriate model to compare subjective wellbeing cross-countries, with school satisfaction included. An analysis of the results indicates that two multi-group SEM, which include the six items on satisfaction with different facets of school life related to a latent variable, and also related to latent variables PWI7 and PWI10, respectively, show good comparability between countries. Multiple regression analysis suggests that the most useful synthetic indicator on satisfaction with school life is satisfaction with your life as student. When this item is included in PWI7 or PWI10, internal consistency of each of the scales (PWI8 and PWI11) improves, and the respective multi-group SEM of these two psychometric scales show that variances, covariances and regressions are comparable between the three studied countries. This was not the case with the overall mean indices, which is probably due to the different answering styles of adolescents in each country

A large-scale test of the link between intergroup contact and support for social change

Guided by the early findings of social scientists, practitioners have long advocated for greater contact between groups to reduce prejudice and increase social cohesion. Recent work, however, suggests that intergroup contact can undermine support for social change towards greater equality, especially among disadvantaged group members. Using a large and heterogeneous dataset (12,997 individuals from 69 countries), we demonstrate that intergroup contact and support for social change towards greater equality are positively associated among members of advantaged groups (ethnic majorities and cis-heterosexuals) but negatively associated among disadvantaged groups (ethnic minorities and sexual and gender minorities). Specification-curve analysis revealed important variation in the size—and at times, direction—of correlations, depending on how contact and support for social change were measured. This allowed us to identify one type of support for change—willingness to work in solidarity— that is positively associated with intergroup contact among both advantaged and disadvantaged group members

Need satisfaction in intergroup contact:A multinational study of pathways toward social change

none43siFinanziamenti esterni a vari co-autoriWhat role does intergroup contact play in promoting support for social change toward greater social equality? Drawing on the needs-based model of reconciliation, we theorized that when inequality between groups is perceived as illegitimate, disadvantaged group members will experience a need for empowerment and advantaged group members a need for acceptance. When intergroup contact satisfies each group's needs, it should result in more mutual support for social change. Using four sets of survey data collected through the Zurich Intergroup Project in 23 countries, we tested several preregistered predictions, derived from the above reasoning, across a large variety of operationalizations. Two studies of disadvantaged groups (Ns = 689 ethnic minority members in Study 1 and 3,382 sexual/gender minorities in Study 2) support the hypothesis that, after accounting for the effects of intergroup contact and perceived illegitimacy, satisfying the need for empowerment (but not acceptance) during contact is positively related to support for social change. Two studies with advantaged groups (Ns = 2,937 ethnic majority members in Study 3 and 4,203 cis-heterosexual individuals in Study 4) showed that, after accounting for illegitimacy and intergroup contact, satisfying the need for acceptance (but also empowerment) is positively related to support for social change. Overall, findings suggest that intergroup contact is compatible with efforts to promote social change when group-specific needs are met. Thus, to encourage support for social change among both disadvantaged and advantaged group members, it is essential that, besides promoting mutual acceptance, intergroup contact interventions also give voice to and empower members of disadvantaged groups.mixedHässler, Tabea; Ullrich, Johannes; Sebben, Simone; Shnabel, Nurit; Bernardino, Michelle; Valdenegro, Daniel; Van Laar, Colette; González, Roberto; Visintin, Emilio Paolo; Tropp, Linda R; Ditlmann, Ruth K; Abrams, Dominic; Aydin, Anna Lisa; Pereira, Adrienne; Selvanathan, Hema Preya; von Zimmermann, Jorina; Lantos, Nóra Anna; Sainz, Mario; Glenz, Andreas; Kende, Anna; Oberpfalzerová, Hana; Bilewicz, Michal; Branković, Marija; Noor, Masi; Pasek, Michael H; Wright, Stephen C; Žeželj, Iris; Kuzawinska, Olga; Maloku, Edona; Otten, Sabine; Gul, Pelin; Bareket, Orly; Corkalo Biruski, Dinka; Mugnol-Ugarte, Luiza; Osin, Evgeny; Baiocco, Roberto; Cook, Jonathan E; Dawood, Maneeza; Droogendyk, Lisa; Loyo, Angélica Herrera; Jelić, Margareta; Kelmendi, Kaltrina; Pistella, JessicaHässler, Tabea; Ullrich, Johannes; Sebben, Simone; Shnabel, Nurit; Bernardino, Michelle; Valdenegro, Daniel; Van Laar, Colette; González, Roberto; Visintin, Emilio Paolo; Tropp, Linda R; Ditlmann, Ruth K; Abrams, Dominic; Aydin, Anna Lisa; Pereira, Adrienne; Selvanathan, Hema Preya; von Zimmermann, Jorina; Lantos, Nóra Anna; Sainz, Mario; Glenz, Andreas; Kende, Anna; Oberpfalzerová, Hana; Bilewicz, Michal; Branković, Marija; Noor, Masi; Pasek, Michael H; Wright, Stephen C; Žeželj, Iris; Kuzawinska, Olga; Maloku, Edona; Otten, Sabine; Gul, Pelin; Bareket, Orly; Corkalo Biruski, Dinka; Mugnol-Ugarte, Luiza; Osin, Evgeny; Baiocco, Roberto; Cook, Jonathan E; Dawood, Maneeza; Droogendyk, Lisa; Loyo, Angélica Herrera; Jelić, Margareta; Kelmendi, Kaltrina; Pistella, Jessic

Dietary supplementation with a specific mannan-rich yeast parietal fraction enhances the gut and skin mucosal barriers of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and reduces its susceptibility to sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

Background: Increasing reliance on non-medicinal interventions to control sea lice in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farming industry imposes a high level of skin mucosal disturbance and indirect health issues. Dietary supplementation with yeast-based MOS products is widely used to support intestinal homeostasis across farmed species. Evidence of their effect on skin mucosa is increasing in aquatic species but it remains inconsistent and someway short of a clear contribution to sea lice management. A tank-based trial was performed to test the effect of a yeast-based MOS functional compound (sMOS) on the skin mucosal layer and its protective effects against sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). Results: The test compound significantly increased skin mucus (+46%) and goblet cell density (+25%) after 6 weeks of dietary supplementation when positive effects on intestinal villi-length (+10.9%) and goblet cell density (+80.0%) were also documented. Following dietary supplementation, a 16.6% reduction in susceptibility to an acute standard copepodid challenge was measured alongside an earlier increase in skin lysozyme activity widely used as an index of innate immunity. Conclusion: The study provides functional evidence that the benefits of dietary sMOS reach beyond the intestine to the skin mucosa. Bolstering of the Atlantic salmon skin barrier and immune functions and the resulting lower susceptibility to sea lice has the potential to reduce the need for delousing interventions and the impact of non-medicinal interventions on the animal's health and welfare