Predicting attitudinal and behavioral responses to COVID-19 pandemic using machine learning

At the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 became a global problem. Despite all the efforts to emphasize the relevance of preventive measures, not everyone adhered to them. Thus, learning more about the characteristics determining attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic is crucial to improving future interventions. In this study, we applied machine learning on the multinational data collected by the International Collaboration on the Social and Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (N = 51,404) to test the predictive efficacy of constructs from social, moral, cognitive, and personality psychology, as well as socio-demographic factors, in the attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic. The results point to several valuable insights. Internalized moral identity provided the most consistent predictive contribution-individuals perceiving moral traits as central to their self-concept reported higher adherence to preventive measures. Similar results were found for morality as cooperation, symbolized moral identity, self-control, open-mindedness, and collective narcissism, while the inverse relationship was evident for the endorsement of conspiracy theories. However, we also found a non-neglible variability in the explained variance and predictive contributions with respect to macro-level factors such as the pandemic stage or cultural region. Overall, the results underscore the importance of morality-related and contextual factors in understanding adherence to public health recommendations during the pandemic.Published versio

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Understanding collective behaviour is an important aspect of managing the pandemic response. Here the authors show in a large global study that participants that reported identifying more strongly with their nation reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies in the context of the pandemic.Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = -0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics

Recommended specific heat capacity functions of Group VA elements

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of representing specific heat capacities of the three metals comprising Group VA of the periodic table: vanadium, niobium and tantalum, with polynomials, from ambient temperature to close to their melting point temperatures. The analysis was based on available literature data including experimental studies of these metals at the Thermophysical Properties Laboratory of the Vinca Institute using millisecond resolution pulse calorimetry. This work has resulted in recommended functions obtained by analysis of existing experimental data. A critical analysis of methods used in obtaining these data, pointing to possible inherent sources of systematic errors that might influence their reliability, resulted in preferential weights of different data sets. Possible use of these three metals as candidates for specific heat capacity standard reference materials is also discussed

Thermal and electrical properties of titanium between 300 and 1900 K

The specific heat capacity and electrical resistivity of titanium were measured by a subsecond pulse-heating method. Specimens were in the form of a 1.6-mm diameter-wire. Experiments covered the range between 300 and 1900 K; thermometry was provided by Pt10%Rh/Pt and W5%Re/W25%Re thermocouples. The maximum uncertainties in the specific heat capacity and electrical resistivity determinations were less than 3 and 1%, respectively. Results are reported and discussed for both the bcc and hcp structures and the transformation between the two phases

Specific heat and electrical resistivity of 53%Niobium-47%Titanium alloy measured by subsecond calorimetric technique

This paper presents results of measurements of the specific heat and electrical resistivity of a 53%Ni-47%Ti superconducting alloy. Both properties were measured by a contact variant of the millisecond-resolution pulse calorimeter. W5%Re/W25%Re thermocouple thermometry enabled study from ambient temperature to 2000 K. Results are discussed, and their uncertainty is estimated.6th International Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, Sep 26-28, 2001, Austrian Foundry Res Inst, Leoben, Austri

Step-heating method of measuring thermal diffusivity using parameter estimation

A variant of the monotonic heating method has been developed for measuring the thermal diffusivity of different types of solid materials, by step-heating with small temperature increments. In analysing the experimental data, the parameter estimation procedure is used. As the estimation of each parameter is influenced by its sensitivity coefficient, the result of simultaneous estimation of a number of parameters is presented and discussed. The method has been applied to various materials without a protective atmosphere. The maximum range was from room temperature to 1100 K. Results obtained in measuring the thermal diffusivity of aluminosilicate brick, polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polystyrene, and carbon felt are presented. Sources of measurement uncertainty are analysed and its total amount is estimated

Thermal diffusivity measurements of thermographite

This paper presents results of measurements of a graphite proposed to serve as a thermophysical property reference or standard reference material. The reported measurements contribute to a program launched in 1999 by Anter Corp. with the objective to provide a replacement for the NIST thermal property reference material RM AXM-5Q graphite whose supplies were being exhausted. Measurements of the thermal diffusivity performed on five specimens taken from different positions within a large graphite block between room temperature and 1300 K were in good mutual agreement. Measurements of NIST reference AXM-5Q graphite sample supplied to minimize effects of different contributors to a common base were also in good agreement, both with the NBS reference function established by Hust in 1984 and contributions to the NBS project from the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences carried out in 1979. The influence of different data reduction techniques on the measured thermal diffusivity values is illustrated and discussed

Thermophysical properties of tungsten electrodes by subsecond pulse calorimetry

Prediction of the behavior of tungsten electrode material in high-temperature plasma generators requires knowledge of its thermophysical properties over a wide temperature range. For determination of its relevant thermophysical properties, the direct pulse heating calorimetry technique was chosen as the most appropriate, as it meets requirements of both high-speed measurements and the widest temperature range. As a high-temperature sensor, the method used simultaneously a fine-gauge thermocouple and an optical pyrometer. Such a combination enables coverage of a few thousand degrees within a second, with a time resolution of less than 1 ms. The measurement technique and details of the apparatus as well as experimental results for specific heat, electrical resistivity, normal spectral, and hemispherical total emittance in the temperature range From 300 to 2500 K are presented.4th Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, Jun 27-29, 1996, Deut Forschungsanstalt Luftfahrt and Raumfahrt, Cologne, German

Improvements in data reduction in direct pulse heating calorimetry

This paper describes improvements introduced in data reduction in direct heating pulse specific heat experiments. In calculations of specific heal, it is necessary to calculate the first derivative of the recorded temperature data as a function of time. The error induced by different numerical differentiation techniques can represent a significant part of the overall measurement error. Thus, different digital filtering techniques, differentiation, and smoothing algorithms were applied and tested to examine their influence on the minimization of errors induced by noise, which is unavoidable in measured signals. A minimum square error criterion was applied in designing digital filters, with arbitrary prescribed magnitude characteristics. Attention was paid to applications when one or more structural phase transitions in the specimen material occur within the temperature range covered by the experiment. The cases where the frequency spectrum of induced noise overlaps with the spectrum of temperature transient signals originating from phase transitions were analyzed in detail. The effectiveness of the methods of extracting the final specific heat data from a noisy signal using different digital filtering techniques is demonstrated.4th Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, Jun 27-29, 1996, Deut Forschungsanstalt Luftfahrt and Raumfahrt, Cologne, German

Estimation of thermal contact resistance between the materials of double-layer sample using the laser flash method

This paper proposes a technique for estimation of thermal contact resistance between two opaque solids. The laser flash method combined with an inverse approach based on the Gauss parameter estimation procedure is used. The analytical solution of the model of double-layer sample is given and the data reduction procedure is briefly described. Estimation possibilities of thermal contact resistance and other parameters of the model are analyzed. Particular attention is given to the influence of known parameter uncertainties. The estimation procedure is tested using simulated experimental data. New types of diagram are used to present and analyze the results. Results and discussion are given at the end of the paper