Background The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used tools for screening and assessing depression. However, previous research has yielded inconsistent results regarding its factor structure, with studies suggesting either a one-or two-factor model. One possible explanation is socially desirable responding (SDR), which may arise if some items are perceived as more sensitive than others. This study examines whether such differences in perceived sensitivity exist and how they correspond to patterns reported in prior factor-analytic research. Methods A total of 273 participants completed 36 paired comparisons of the PHQ-9 items, indicating which symptoms they would find more uncomfortable to disclose. Additionally, absolute judgments were collected, where participants rated each item as either uncomfortable or not uncomfortable to disclose. Data were analyzed using a paired comparisons model rooted in Thurstone's law of comparative judgment to estimate the relative sensitivity of each item and whether they were more or less likely to be judged as (not) uncomfortable to disclose. Kendall's coefficients of consistence and agreement were calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of participants ' responses and the level of agreement between them. Results Results showed that cognitive/affective symptoms, such as feelings of worthlessness and depressed mood were perceived as more sensitive than somatic symptoms like fatigue and sleep disturbances. Notably, the sensitivity estimates obtained in this study align closely with prior factor analytic findings that have supported a two-factor model distinguishing cognitive/affective and somatic symptoms. Conclusions These findings suggest that social desirability may contribute to the underreporting of certain depression symptoms, potentially helping to explain inconsistencies in the PHQ-9's factor structure. Researchers and clinicians should consider the impact of SDR when interpreting PHQ-9 scores to enable more accurate assessments of depression symptom severity.
Ion transport through charged nanopores is commonly interpreted in terms of the electrical double layer structure, leading to the expectation of cation-selective conduction in negatively charged pores. This picture can break down for multivalent electrolytes, where strong ion-surface correlations modify transport behavior. Here, we study NaCl and CaCl2 conduction through negatively charged silica nanopores using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with scaled-charge (and also full-charge) ion models. By separating concentration, ci(r), and velocity, vi(r), contributions to the radial particle current density, ji(r) = ci(r)vi(r), we connect static adsorption to dynamic perm-selectivity. We show that strongly adsorbed, but immobilized Ca2+ ions and the low availability of Cl- ions in the surface layer near the charged wall make the contribution of this layer to the total conduction (surface conduction) small. It is the bulk-like electrolyte in the middle of the pore whose contribution (volume conduction) dominates the selectivity behavior of the pore (bulk-like or even slightly anion selective). Although this qualitative mechanism is robust, its detailed manifestation depends sensitively on the balance of ion-surface and ion-water interactions encoded in the force field.
This study presents a novel, to the best of our knowledge, ultra-wideband nanobiosensor based on a double-negative (DNG) metamaterial perfect absorber for early cancer detection through exosomal biomarker analysis. Our biosensor operates across a broad frequency range from 70 THz to 3 PHz, exhibiting near-unity absorption, i.e., exceeding 99%, and angular and polarization insensitivity, i.e., providing polarization-independent absorption across the full spectrum of polarization angles (0° to 90°), ensuring stable performance under both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized waves. Of particular interest is its performance in the near-infrared (NIR) region (70–400 THz), where the sensor’s DNG characteristics manifest through simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability, enhancing field confinement and sensitivity. This spectral window is especially conducive to label-free, non-invasive detection of circulating exosomes, critical indicators of early stage oncogenesis. The sensor is constructed using a tri-layer metal–insulator–metal (MIM) architecture comprising nickel (Ni) layers and a silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) dielectric spacer. The design leverages the plasmonic and thermal stability properties of Ni and the low optical attenuation of SiO 2 to achieve optimal absorption and structural robustness. Electromagnetic simulations demonstrate strong electric and magnetic resonances, producing significant near-field enhancements. These improve the detection of subtle dielectric changes associated with exosomal binding events. The sensor maintains high absorption efficiency across oblique incidence angles and various polarization states, making it suitable for real-world biomedical diagnostic applications. By focusing on the NIR regime where tissue transparency and molecular vibrational modes intersect, the proposed biosensor enables the discrimination between cancer-derived exosomes and their normal counterparts, as confirmed through spectral and field distribution analyses. The demonstrated performance highlights the sensor’s promise for next-generation photonic platforms targeting early cancer diagnostics, with potential extension to environmental monitoring and energy harvesting technologies.
This paper presents a historical overview of the endeavours of international engineers and scientists to understand, control and prevent damage from Alkali Aggregate Reactions (AAR) in concrete. It is now 85 years since AAR first were reported as a deleterious deterioration mechanism in concrete, and it is 50 years since the first International Conference on AAR (ICAAR) was organised in Denmark in 1974. In 1988, the first Technical Committee (TC) on AAR in concrete was established by RILEM (The International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures). Part of RILEM performance-based testing concept is planned, adopted and implemented as new European standards and guidelines. Eventually, this paper presents a summary of where we are today in AAR research, identifies key milestones and addresses some specific topics for future research.
This case study focuses on a Gamified Peer Review (GPR) activity designed to position students as partners in a learning process which motivates engagement, feedback quality, and skill development. Our design gamifies the ‘student-as-rater’ action where students evaluate the quality of feedback received, an under-incentivised and under-studied element of GPR design. Most students found the activity valuable and reported performance gains in giving and receiving feedback. Motivation was enhanced by meaningful peer review and the game element, but somewhat undermined by perceived unfairness and excessive workload.
