bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of an evolvable hardware controller with an artificial neural network used for evolving the gait of a hexapod robot
Authors: Borrett Fraser , Beckerleg Mark
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates the implementation of a novel evolvable hardware controller used in evolutionary robotics. The evolvable hardware consists of a Cartesian based array of logic blocks comprised of multiplexers and logic elements. The logic blocks are configured by a bit stream which is evolved using a genetic algorithm. A comparison is performed between an evolvable hardware and an artificial neural network controller evolved using the same genetic algorithm to produce the gait of a hexapod robot. To compare the two controllers, differences in their evolutionary efficiency and robot performance are investigated. The evolutionary efficiency is measured by the required number of generations to achieve an optimal fitness. An optimal hexapod controller allows the robot to walk forward in a straight line maintaining a constant heading and body attitude. It was found that the evolutionary efficiency and performance of the evolvable hardware and artificial neural network were similar, however the EHW was the most evolutionary efficient requiring less generations on average to evolve. Both evolved controllers were evaluated in simulation, and on a physical robot using a softcore processor and custom hardware implemented on a FPGA. The implementation showed that the controllers performed equally well when deployed, allowing the hexapod to meet the optimal gait criteria. These findings have shown that the evolvable hardware controller is a valid option for robotic control of a multilegged robot such as a hexapod as its evolutionary efficiency and deployed performance on a real robot is comparable to that of an artificial neural network. One future application of these evolvable controllers is in fault tolerance where the robot can dynamically adapt to a fault by evolving the controller to adjust to the fault conditions.
A systematic review of the predatory contaminant Poterioochromonas in microalgal culture
Authors: Ma Mingyang , Wei Chaojun , Huang Wenjie , He Yue , Gong Yingchun , Hu Qiang
Published: March 2023

Contamination by zooplankton has to a certain extent limited the large-scale cultivation and industrial exploitation of microalgae. However, systematic research on these predators in microalgal culture is still lacking. The identification of zooplanktonic contaminants derived from microalgal cultures is a basis for conducting related studies. Moreover, knowledge of the ecological distribution of such predators is crucial for avoiding or reducing the risk of biological contamination in the management of large-scale microalgal cultures. Understanding the feeding behaviors of zooplanktonic contaminants contributes to the establishment of targeted prevention strategies and control methods. Early detection is essential to allow prevention and control measures to be implemented in a timely and effective way. Reducing the susceptibility of the cultured microalgae to predators through breeding strains selection, the potential of modern molecular methods, or a synthesis of these approaches will be indispensable to the management of zooplankton contamination. Furthermore, exploring the resource utilization of predators helps to understand this issue comprehensively and to turn hazard into wealth. The genus Poterioochromonas is a typical mixotrophic flagellate and has attracted increasing attention because of the dramatic damage it can inflict on a wide range of microalgal cultures, regardless of the culture system, season, or environment. This review explores our current understanding of the predator Poterioochromonas and the areas where further research is needed, which should stimulate reflection on what we still need to know about these predators from a microalgal culture perspective and how we can utilize them.
Regularization by Noise of an Averaged Version of the Navier–Stokes Equations
Authors: Lange Theresa
Published: March 2023

In Tao 2016, the author constructs an averaged version of the deterministic three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations (3D NSE) which experiences blow-up in finite time. In the last decades, various works have studied suitable perturbations of ill-behaved deterministic PDEs in order to prevent or delay such behavior. A promising example is given by a particular choice of stochastic transport noise closely studied in Flandoli et al. 2021. We analyze the model in Tao 2016 in view of these results and discuss the regularization skills of this noise in the context of the averaged 3D NSE.
The Impact of Faith-Based Pastoral Care in Decreasingly Religious Contexts: The Australian Chaplaincy Advantage in Critical Environments
Authors: Layson Mark D. , Carey Lindsay. B. , Best Megan C.
Published: March 2023

This article considers the contribution of faith-based chaplains who provide holistic pastoral and spiritual care within critical environments such as the military, first responders, and hospitals. The contribution of faith-based chaplains can sometimes be taken for granted or not properly understood, particularly in some Western countries which are currently experiencing a decline in religiosity. Following on from a previous paper regarding chaplaincy utilization (Layson et al. 2022), this article presents an alternative argument to the secularist-humanist perspective by noting five ways by which the faith based chaplaincy model provides best practice service and builds a capability advantage for organizations that engage faith-based chaplaincy services. The first section discusses faith-based chaplaincy and organizational holistic care; the second section considers the role of faith-based chaplains—much of which is largely unknown and poorly appreciated; the third section considers the unique capability of faith-based chaplains to provide spiritual and religious care to those of faith and for those of none; the fourth section explores how faith-based chaplains can leverage the positive impact of religious organizations to provide additional low-cost resources for other organizations and their staff; and lastly, the operational advantage of faith-based chaplains on the world stage is considered, particularly in light of culturally and linguistically diverse populations to whom religiosity is increasingly important.
Comparison and parallel implementation of alternative moving-window metrics of the connectivity of protected areas across large landscapes
Authors: Hughes Josie , Lucet Valentin , Barrett Griffin , Moran Scott , Manseau Micheline , Martin Amanda E. , Naujokaitis-Lewis Ilona , Negrín Dastis Jorge Octavio , Pither Richard
Published: March 2023

Context

A variety of metrics can be used to measure connectivity of protected areas. Assumptions about animal movement and mortality vary among metrics. There is a need to better understand what to use and why, and how much conclusions depend on the choice of metric.

Objectives

We compare selected raster-based moving-window metrics for assessing the connectivity of protected areas to natural habitat in the surrounding area, and develop tools to facilitate calculation of these metrics for large landscapes.

Methods

We developed parallel implementations of distance-weighted sum and Spatial Absorbing Markov Chain methods in R packages to improve their useability for large landscapes. We investigated correlations among metrics for Canadian protected areas, varying background mortality, cost of movement, mean displacement, dispersal kernel shape, distance measure used, and the treatment of natural barriers such as water, ice, and steep slopes.

Results

At smaller spatial scales (2–5 km mean displacement), correlations among metric variants are high, suggesting that any of the metrics we investigated will give similar results and simple metrics will suffice. Differences among metrics are most evident at larger spatial scales (20–40 km mean displacement) in moderately disturbed regions. Assumptions about the impact of natural barriers have a large impact on outcomes.

Conclusion

In some circumstances different metrics give similar results, and simple distance-weighted metrics likely suffice. At large spatial scales in moderately disturbed regions there is less agreement among metrics, implying that more detailed information about disperser distribution, behaviour, and mortality risk is required for assessing connectivity.
Specialized metabolites from plants as a source of new multi-target antiviral drugs: a systematic review
Authors: Ponticelli Maria , Bellone Maria Laura , Parisi Valentina , Iannuzzi Annamaria , Braca Alessandra , de Tommasi Nunziatina , Russo Daniela , Sileo Annalisa , Quaranta Paola , Freer Giulia , Pistello Mauro , Milella Luigi
Published: March 2023

Viral infections have always been the main global health challenge, as several potentially lethal viruses, including the hepatitis virus, herpes virus, and influenza virus, have affected human health for decades. Unfortunately, most licensed antiviral drugs are characterized by many adverse reactions and, in the long-term therapy, also develop viral resistance; for these reasons, researchers have focused their attention on investigating potential antiviral molecules from plants. Natural resources indeed offer a variety of specialized therapeutic metabolites that have been demonstrated to inhibit viral entry into the host cells and replication through the regulation of viral absorption, cell receptor binding, and competition for the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. Many active phytochemicals, including flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, etc., have been identified as potential candidates for preventing and treating viral infections. Using a systematic approach, this review summarises the knowledge obtained to date on the in vivo antiviral activity of specialized metabolites extracted from plant matrices by focusing on their mechanism of action.
A generalisation of the Phase Kick-Back
Authors: Ossorio-Castillo Joaquín , Pastor–Díaz Ulises , Tornero José M.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we present a generalisation of the Phase Kick-Back technique, which is central to some of the classical algorithms in quantum computing. We will begin by recalling the Phase Kick-Back technique to then introduce the new generalised version for $$f:\{0,1\}^{n}\rightarrow \{0,1\}^{m}$$

f
:

{
0
,
1
}

n

→

{
0
,
1
}

m

functions using the eigenvalues of the oracle function $$\textbf{U}_f$$

U
f

. After that, we will present a new generalised version of the Deutsch–Jozsa problem and how it can be solved using the previously defined technique. We will also deal with a generalised version of the Bernstein–Vazirani problem and solve it using the generalised Phase Kick-Back. Finally, we show how we can use this technique to obtain an algorithm for Simon’s problem that improves the classical one.
A Critical Comment on “Can Solar Cycle 25 Be a New Dalton Minimum?”
Authors: Peguero J. C. , Carrasco V. M. S.
Published: March 2023

The sunspot number is the most used solar-activity index to study the behavior of solar activity. In this work, we reproduce the methodology of Coban, Raheem, and Cavus (Solar Phys. 296, 156, 2021) using a long short-term memory model with daily data from the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) to predict the maximum amplitude of Solar Cycle 25. We have also used that same methodology with daily values from the official sunspot number (Version 2) of the Sunspot Index and Long-term Solar Observations (SILSO). The objective of this work is to analyze if the predictions obtained from that methodology agree with the observed values available for the current Solar Cycle 25. Thus, we conclude that the predictions are not reproducing well the behavior of the Solar Cycle 25 in its rising phase. Moreover, contrary to the previous prediction, no minor peak occurred in February 2022, and we also conclude that it seems unlikely that the combination of the solar-activity level of Solar Cycle 24 and 25 constitutes a new Dalton-type Minimum, such as Coban, Raheem, and Cavus (2021) proposed.
The Psyche Magnetometry Investigation
Authors: Weiss Benjamin P. , Merayo José M. G. , Ream Jodie B. , Oran Rona , Brauer Peter , Cochrane Corey J. , Cloutier Kyle , Elkins-Tanton Linda T. , Jørgensen John L. , Maurel Clara , Park Ryan S. , Polanskey Carol A. , de Soria Santacruz-Pich Maria , Raymond Carol A. , Russell Christopher T. , Wenkert Daniel , Wieczorek Mark A. , Zuber Maria T.
Published: March 2023

The objective of the Psyche Magnetometry Investigation is to test the hypothesis that asteroid (16) Psyche formed from the core of a differentiated planetesimal. To address this, the Psyche Magnetometer will measure the magnetic field around the asteroid to search for evidence of remanent magnetization. Paleomagnetic measurements of meteorites and dynamo theory indicate that a diversity of planetesimals once generated dynamo magnetic fields in their metallic cores. Likewise, the detection of a strong magnetic moment ($>2\times10^{14}~\text{Am}^{2}$>2×1014Am2) at Psyche would likely indicate that the body once generated a core dynamo, implying that it formed by igneous differentiation. The Psyche Magnetometer consists of two three-axis fluxgate Sensor Units (SUs) mounted 0.7 m apart along a 2.15-m long boom and connected to two Electronics Units (EUs) located within the spacecraft bus. The Magnetometer samples at up to 50 Hz, has a range of$\pm80{,}000~\text{nT}$±80,000nT, and an instrument noise of$39~\text{pT}\,\text{axis}^{-1}\,3\sigma $39pTaxis−13σintegrated over 0.1 to 1 Hz. The two pairs of SUs and EUs provide redundancy and enable gradiometry measurements to suppress noise from flight system magnetic fields. The Magnetometer will be powered on soon after launch and acquire data for the full duration of the mission. The ground data system processes the Magnetometer measurements to obtain an estimate of Psyche’s dipole moment.
In Flight Performance of the Far Ultraviolet Instrument (FUV) on ICON
Authors: Frey H. U. , Mende S. B. , Meier R. R. , Kamaci U. , Urco J. M. , Kamalabadi F. , England S. L. , Immel T. J.
Published: March 2023

The NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) was launched in October 2019 and has been observing the upper atmosphere and ionosphere to understand the sources of their strong variability, to understand the energy and momentum transfer, and to determine how the solar wind and magnetospheric effects modify the internally-driven atmosphere-space system. The Far Ultraviolet Instrument (FUV) supports these goals by observing the ultraviolet airglow in day and night, determining the atmospheric and ionospheric composition and density distribution. Based on the combination of ground calibration and flight data, this paper describes how major instrument parameters have been verified or refined since launch, how science data are collected, and how the instrument has performed over the first 3 years of the science mission. It also provides a brief summary of science results obtained so far.
Chicken Astro virus (CAstV): Isolation and characterization of new strains in broiler flocks with poor performance
Authors: Sallam Ahmed A. , Al-Mokaddem Asmaa K. , Hamoud Mohamed M. , Samir Mahmoud , Khalifa Rabab Amin , Abdelgayed Sherein S.
Published: March 2023

Chicken astroviruses (CAstV) were associated with retarded growth, enteritis, kidney diseases, and white chick syndrome. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of CAstV infection on growth, performance, and gross and histopathological picture of commercial chicken flocks suffering increased culling rate and decreased performance. Samples were collected for virus isolation, identification, and sequencing on day one, 15 days, and 30 days of age. Body weight, feed conversion rate, and mortality rates were determined. A gross examination was performed, and tissue samples from the liver, intestine, kidneys, heart, and lungs were kept in formalin for histopathological evaluation. Embryos inoculated with CAstV revealed dwarfism, and edema. The cytopathic effect on CAstV inoculated cells included aggregation,, and sloughing. The isolated Egyptian isolates shared the highest nucleotide homology (93%) with the Korean isolate Kr/ADL102655-1/2010 and showed the most distant relation to the Indian isolate Indovax/APF/1319 with 82–83% homology. Body weight exhibited significant reduction with a decrease in feed conversion rate in CAstV infected flocks. Gross examination of CAstV-infected chickens revealed white feathered chicks on day one, and poor body condition in older chickens as well as swollen kidneys. Histopathological examination of CAstV-infected birds showed mild proventriculitis, shortening of intestinal villi, enteritis, focal hepatocellular necrosis, pericarditis, myocarditis, and proliferative response in lung tissue. Kidneys showed interstitial nephritis, urate deposition, and glomerular hypercellularity. CAstV is a chicken pathogen that could be related to decreased performance, and screening of flocks for CAstV might be an essential step for breeders.
Blood supply to the cranial cavity in the patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum)
Authors: Zdun Maciej , Melnyk Oleg P. , Melnyk Oleksii O. , Nabzdyk Maria
Published: March 2023

Rodents are the most numerous order of mammals. The literature presents information on the arterial circle of the brain in capybara, the guinea pig of the family Caviidae and many other not so closely related rodent species. Information on the blood supply to the brain is often incomplete and focuses on one pathway in a broader comparative aspect. The supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain is very important for its proper functioning. The aim of this study is to describe the pathways supplying blood to the cranial cavity and to describe the arterial circle of the brain in the Patagonian mara. The study was conducted on 46 specimens using two methods. The first of them used a stained solution of the chemo-setting acrylic material. The second one, the colored liquid LBS 3060 latex. The arterial circle of the brain is a heart-shaped structure. It is formed by rostral cerebral arteries, caudal communicating arteries and the basilar artery. Blood supplies the arterial circle of the brain in three ways. First one is the basilar artery, which originates from the vertebral arteries. The second one is the internal carotid artery which joins a branch from the external ophthalmic artery. The third is the internal ophthalmic artery, which branches from the external ophthalmic artery.
Differences in Metal Accumulation from Stormwater by Three Plant Species Growing in Floating Treatment Wetlands in a Cold Climate
Authors: Boynukisa Emre , Schück Maria , Greger Maria
Published: March 2023

Stormwater is a source of pollutants in urban areas and should be treated to prevent negative environmental effects. A newer technique uses floating rafts with plants, called floating treatment wetlands (FTWs), which are placed in the polluted water. Few earlier studies have examined heavy metal removal by FTWs, and none has examined stormwater in cold climates. This study therefore aimed to determine whether plants growing in FTWs could accumulate heavy metals from stormwater ponds in a cold climate. This study examined the abilities of three native wetland species (i.e., Carex riparia, C. pseudocyperus, and Phalaris arundinacea) to accumulate Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. The plants were planted on FTWs, which were placed in two stormwater ponds in Stockholm, Sweden, for 12 weeks. Phalaris arundinacea accumulated more Cd, Cu, and Zn than did the Carex species, and C. pseudocyperus accumulated less Pb than did the other species during the experimental period. In most cases, the roots had higher metal concentrations than did the shoots. Carex pseudocyperus had smaller differences between shoot and root metal contents, whereas P. arundinacea had higher Cd and Cu contents and lower Zn contents in its roots than in its shoots. The metal content in the plants increased with higher biomass. The plants that grew in the stormwater pond with a higher Zn concentration had a higher Zn tissue concentration and total Zn content per plant after treatment. This study shows that wetland plants growing on FTWs can accumulate metals from stormwater ponds in a cold climate. Phalaris arundinacea appears to be a good candidate for metal removal use in FTWs. Furthermore, high plant biomass positively affects the metal uptake, meaning that good growing conditions could be essential for metal removal.
Covalently Binding Adenosine A3 Receptor Agonist ICBM Irreversibly Reduces Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Currents in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
Authors: Cherchi Federica , Venturini Martina , Magni Giada , Scortichini Mirko , Jacobson Kenneth A. , Pugliese Anna Maria , Coppi Elisabetta
Published: March 2023

Interest has been focused in recent years on the analgesic effects exerted by adenosine and its receptors, A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes, in different in vivo models of chronic pain. In particular, it was demonstrated that selective A3AR agonists reduced pro-nociceptive N-type Ca2+ channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from rats and, by this mechanism, inhibit post inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity. In the present study, we investigate the effect of a previously reported irreversibly binding A3AR agonist, ICBM, on Ca2+ currents (ICa) in rat DRG neurons. Present data demonstrate that ICBM, an isothiocyanate derivative designed for covalent binding to the receptor, concentration-dependently inhibits ICa. This effect is irreversible, since it persists after drug removal, differently from the prototypical A3AR agonist, Cl-IB-MECA. ICBM pre-exposure inhibits the effect of a subsequent Cl-IB-MECA application. Thus, covalent A3AR agonists such as ICBM may represent an innovative, beneficial, and longer-lasting strategy to achieve efficacious chronic pain control versus commonly used, reversible, A3AR agonists. However, the possible limitations of this drug and other covalent drugs may be, for example, a characteristic adverse effect profile, suggesting that more pre-clinical studies are needed.
Soft-shell headgear in rugby union: a systematic review of published studies
Authors: Henley Stefan , Andrews Kathryn , Kabaliuk Natalia , Draper Nick
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To review the rate of soft-shell headgear use in rugby union, consumer knowledge of the protection potential of soft-shell headgear, incidence of concussion reported in rugby headgear studies, and the capacity of soft-shell headgear to reduce acceleration impact forces.

Design

A systematic search was conducted in July and August 2021 using the databases SPORT Discus, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus, and Science Direct. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021239595).

Outcome measures

Rates of headgear use, reports of estimated protection of headgear against head injury, incidence of concussion and magnitude of impact collisions with vs. without headgear, impact attenuation of headgear in lab studies.

Results

Eighteen studies were identified as eligible: qualitative (N = 4), field (N = 7), and lab (N = 7). Qualitative studies showed low rates of headgear use and varying understanding of the protection afforded by headgear. Field studies showed negligible association of headgear use with reduced impact magnitude in headgear vs. non-headgear cohorts. Lab studies showed increased energy attenuation for thicker headgear material, poorer performance of headgear after repetitive impacts and increased drop heights, and promising recent results with headgear composed of viscoelastic polymers.

Conclusions

Rates of adoption of soft-shell headgear remain low in rugby and any association between its use and reduction in acceleration impact forces remains unclear. Lab results indicating improved impact attenuation need to be validated in the field. Further headgear-related research is needed with youth and female rugby players.
Detecting Changes in Correlation Networks with Application to Functional Connectivity of FMRI Data
Authors: Baek Changryong , Leinwand Benjamin , Lindquist Kristen A. , Jeong Seok-Oh , Hopfinger Joseph , Gates Katheleen M. , Pipiras Vladas
Published: March 2023

Research questions in the human sciences often seek to answer if and when a process changes across time. In functional MRI studies, for instance, researchers may seek to assess the onset of a shift in brain state. For daily diary studies, the researcher may seek to identify when a person’s psychological process shifts following treatment. The timing and presence of such a change may be meaningful in terms of understanding state changes. Currently, dynamic processes are typically quantified as static networks where edges indicate temporal relations among nodes, which may be variables reflecting emotions, behaviors, or brain activity. Here we describe three methods for detecting changes in such correlation networks from a data-driven perspective. Networks here are quantified using the lag-0 pair-wise correlation (or covariance) estimates as the representation of the dynamic relations among variables. We present three methods for change point detection: dynamic connectivity regression, max-type method, and a PCA-based method. The change point detection methods each include different ways to test if two given correlation network patterns from different segments in time are significantly different. These tests can also be used outside of the change point detection approaches to test any two given blocks of data. We compare the three methods for change point detection as well as the complementary significance testing approaches on simulated and empirical functional connectivity fMRI data examples.
Seaweed Sargassum aquifolium extract ameliorates cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin in rats
Authors: Samir Rania , Hassan Ekrami A. , Saber Abdullah A. , Haneen David S. A. , Saleh Eman M.
Published: March 2023

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent anticancer drug with adverse cardiotoxic effects. Alginates are multifunctional biopolymers and polyelectrolytes derived from the cell walls of brown seaweeds. They are nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable, and hence, utilized in several biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Here, we investigated the potential cardioprotective effect of thermally treated sodium alginate (TTSA), which was extracted and purified from the seaweed Sargassum aquifolium, in treating acute DOX cardiotoxicity and apoptotic pathways in rats. UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H–NMR) spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize TTSA. CK-MB and AST levels in sera samples were determined. The expression levels of Erk-2 (MAPK-1) and iNOS genes were investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression levels of Erk-2, anti-apoptotic p53, and caspase-3 were analyzed using western blotting and ELISA. For the in vivo studies, sixty rats were randomly divided equally into six groups and treated with DOX, followed by TTSA. We revealed that treatment with TTSA, which has low molecular weight and enhanced antioxidant properties, improved DOX-mediated cardiac dysfunction and alleviated DOX-induced myocardial apoptosis. Furthermore, TTSA exhibited a cardioprotective effect against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity, indicated by the increased expression of MAPK-1 (Erk2) and iNOS genes, which are implicated in the adaptive responses regulating DOX-induced myocardial damage. Moreover, TTSA significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed caspase-3 and upregulated anti-apoptotic protein p53 expression. TTSA also rebalanced the cardiomyocyte redox potential by significantly (p < 0.05) increasing the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase. Our findings suggest that TTSA, particularly at a dose of 400 mg/kg b.w., is a potential prophylactic supplement for treating acute DOX-linked cardiotoxicity.
Work engagement and employee satisfaction in the practice of sustainable human resource management – based on the study of Polish employees
Authors: Sypniewska Barbara , Baran Małgorzata , Kłos Monika
Published: March 2023

Sustainable human resource management (SHRM) views employees as a very important resource for the organisation, while paying close attention to their preferences, needs, and perspectives. The individual is an essential element of SHRM. The article focuses on analyzing selected SHRM issues related to the individual employee's level of job engagement and employee satisfaction. The main objective of our study was to identify individual-level correlations between factors affecting employee satisfaction, such as: workplace well-being, employee development, employee retention, job engagement, and employee satisfaction. Based on the results of a systematic literature review, we posed the following research question: is there any relation between factors affecting employee satisfaction (employee workplace well-being, employee development, employee retention, work engagement) and employee satisfaction in the SHRM context? To answer the research question, we have conducted a quantitative study on the sample of 1051 employees in companies in Poland and posed five hypotheses (H1-H5). The research findings illustrate that higher level of employee workplace well-being (H1), employee development, (H2), employee retention (H3) was related to higher level of employee engagement (H4), which in turn led to higher level of employee satisfaction. The results show the mediating role of employee engagement in the relationship between workplace well-being, employee development, employee retention, and employee satisfaction (H5). The presented results contribute to the development of research on work engagement and job satisfaction in the practice of SHRM. By examining the impact of individual-level factors on job satisfaction, we explain which workplace factors should be addressed to increase an employee satisfaction and work engagement. The set of practical implications for managers implementing SHRM in the organization is discussed at the end of the paper.
Repeated applications of farm dairy effluent treated with poly-ferric sulphate did not adversely affect soil phosphorus availability, P fractions and pasture response — a 4-year field plot study
Authors: Che Xueying , Di Hong J. , Cameron Keith C. , Dodd Rosalind
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Land application of farm dairy effluent (FDE) can cause phosphorus contamination of freshwater due to its high nutrient content especially phosphorus (P) in the animal dung. A novel FDE treatment technology has been developed that uses poly-ferric sulphate (PFS) to treat the FDE and recycle water for washing farmyard and reduce the risk of water pollution from P leaching from through the soil. It is important that the application of PFS-treated FDE (TE) does not cause any adverse impacts on soil fertility or plant growth when the TE is applied to the soil.

Materials and methods

A multi-year field plot study was conducted to determine the effect of repeat applications of FDE and PFS-treated FDE (TE) on soil P availability, P fractionations, plant yield and nutrient uptake. Eight applications of untreated FDE, TE and water as control were applied to replicated soil plots over the period of 4 years. The soil samples were collected on 1 December 2020, and nine pasture samples were harvested during the 2021–2022 dairy milking season. Measurements included soil chemical properties, soil phosphorous fractionations, plant biomass and plant phosphorus and nitrogen uptake.

Results and discussion

The results indicated that the majority of soil fertility indices and soil P fractions had no significant difference between the FDE and TE applications, with the exception of labile P which was significantly higher in the TE (122.7 mg kg−1) than in the FDE treatments (103.0 mg kg−1) at 0–10-cm soil depth and was also significantly higher in the TE (114.6 mg kg−1) than in the FDE treatments (74.0 mg kg−1) at 10–20-cm soil depth. Similarly, plant P uptakes and dry matter yields were also the same between the TE and FDE treatments with the average of being 54.4 kg P ha−1 and 12.8 t ha−1, respectively.

Conclusions

Repeated applications of PFS-treated FDE had no adverse effect on soil P availability or plant growth when compared to untreated FDE application and had the potential to benefit soil fertility compared to control.
Was motiviert Frauen zur Teilnahme am Mammographiescreening? Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Analyse von Interviews
Authors: Gummersbach Elisabeth , Fuchs Angela , Lubisch Diana , in der Schmitten Jürgen , Pentzek Michael , Leve Verena
Published: March 2023

Einleitung

Die Teilnahmerate am Mammographiescreening beträgt derzeit ca. 49 %. Über die Gründe für Frauen, am Screening teilzunehmen, ist bisher zu wenig bekannt.

Material und Methoden

Für eine qualitative Studie wurden aus den Teilnehmerinnen einer Fragebogenstudie zum Einfluss verschiedener Informationsbroschüren auf die Teilnahmebereitschaft 8 Frauen für Interviews ausgewählt. Die Frauen wurden nach den Kriterien Teilnahmebereitschaft (6 ja, 2 nein), Bildung (6 hoch, 2 niedrig) und Entscheidungssicherheit (6 hoch, 2 niedrig) ausgewählt und im Jahr 2014 in problemzentrierten Einzelinterviews befragt. Sequenzen der Interviewtranskripte wurden in multidisziplinären Teams inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Alle interviewten Frauen hatten Mammographieerfahrung. Es wurden übergreifende Themen in sechs Kategorien identifiziert: Pflichtgefühl, Autonomie, Zweifel, Unsicherheit, Arzt/Ärztin, Institution. Die Frauen sahen in der Screeningteilnahme die Chance, einer möglichen Bedrohung durch Brustkrebs zu entgehen. Erfahrungen mit Brustkrebs im Umfeld beeinflussten ihre Entscheidung. Einer selbstverantwortlichen Entscheidungsbildung wurde ein hoher Stellenwert zugesprochen, andererseits folgten sie dem Rat ihres Arztes/ihrer Ärztin. Bei der Durchführung des Screenings fühlten sie sich einer unpersönlichen und schmerzhaften Maschinerie ausgesetzt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Frauen treffen ihre Entscheidung, am Screening teilzunehmen oder nicht, eher auf der emotionalen Ebene. Um ihnen eine informierte Entscheidung zu ermöglichen, sollten in einem ärztlichen Gespräch neben sachlichen Informationen ihre Vorstellungen und Erfahrungen in Bezug auf das Mammographiescreening ergebnisoffen besprochen werden.
Institutional Overlap in Global Governance and the Design of Intergovernmental Organizations
Authors: Reinsberg Bernhard , Westerwinter Oliver
Published: March 2023

How does the increasingly dense network of overlapping institutions in global governance affect the design of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)? We argue that institutional overlap can unleash mimicking dynamics whereby states design new IGOs using the design of existing organizations that engage in similar issue areas and perform similar governance tasks for similar member states as templates. Using design templates from the reference group of overlapping institutions is a strategy for boundedly rational designers in situations of complexity because it reduces uncertainty and lowers the costs of identifying suitable institutional solutions. Overlap therefore increases the design similarity between new and pre-existing IGOs, specifically where pre-existing organizations have institutional designs that made them endure. Introducing a new measure of institutional overlap in global governance and new data on the design and governance tasks of the 534 IGOs from the Correlates of War Project, we corroborate our argument using regression analyses. Our results hold important lessons for theories of institutional design, regime complexity, and global governance more broadly.
A Minimum Bayes Factor Based Threshold for Activation Likelihood Estimation
Authors: Costa Tommaso , Liloia Donato , Cauda Franco , Fox Peter T. , Mutta Francesca Dalla , Duca Sergio , Manuello Jordi
Published: March 2023

Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) is among the most used algorithms to perform neuroimaging meta-analysis. Since its first implementation, several thresholding procedures had been proposed, all referred to the frequentist framework, returning a rejection criterion for the null hypothesis according to the critical p-value selected. However, this is not informative in terms of probabilities of the validity of the hypotheses. Here, we describe an innovative thresholding procedure based on the concept of minimum Bayes factor (mBF). The use of the Bayesian framework allows to consider different levels of probability, each of these being equally significant. In order to simplify the translation between the common ALE practice and the proposed approach, we analised six task-fMRI/VBM datasets and determined the mBF values equivalent to the currently recommended frequentist thresholds based on Family Wise Error (FWE). Sensitivity and robustness toward spurious findings were also analyzed. Results showed that the cutoff log10(mBF) = 5 is equivalent to the FWE threshold, often referred as voxel-level threshold, while the cutoff log10(mBF) = 2 is equivalent to the cluster-level FWE (c-FWE) threshold. However, only in the latter case voxels spatially far from the blobs of effect in the c-FWE ALE map survived. Therefore, when using the Bayesian thresholding the cutoff log10(mBF) = 5 should be preferred. However, being in the Bayesian framework, lower values are all equally significant, while suggesting weaker level of force for that hypothesis. Hence, results obtained through less conservative thresholds can be legitimately discussed without losing statistical rigor. The proposed technique adds therefore a powerful tool to the human-brain-mapping field.
Closed Embedded Self-shrinkers of Mean Curvature Flow
Authors: Riedler Oskar
Published: March 2023

In this article, we show the existence of closed embedded self-shrinkers in $${\mathbb {R}}^{n+1}$$

R

n
+
1

that are topologically of type $$S^1\times M$$

S
1

×
M

, where $$M\subset S^n$$

M
⊂

S
n

is any isoparametric hypersurface in $$S^n$$

S
n

for which the multiplicities of the principle curvatures agree. This yields new examples of closed self-shrinkers, for example self-shrinkers of topological type $$S^1\times S^k\times S^k\subset {\mathbb {R}}^{2k+2}$$

S
1

×

S
k

×

S
k

⊂

R

2
k
+
2

for any k. If the number of distinct principle curvatures of M is one, the resulting self-shrinker is topologically $$S^1\times S^{n-1}$$

S
1

×

S

n
-
1

and the construction recovers Angenent’s shrinking doughnut (Angenent in Shrinking doughnuts, Birkhäuser, Boston, pp 21–38).
Not Only WEIRD but “Uncanny”? A Systematic Review of Diversity in Human–Robot Interaction Research
Authors: Seaborn Katie , Barbareschi Giulia , Chandra Shruti
Published: March 2023

Critical voices within and beyond the scientific community have pointed to a grave matter of concern regarding who is included in research and who is not. Subsequent investigations have revealed an extensive form of sampling bias across a broad range of disciplines that conduct human subjects research called “WEIRD”: Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic. Recent work has indicated that this pattern exists within human–computer interaction (HCI) research, as well. How then does human–robot interaction (HRI) fare? And could there be other patterns of sampling bias at play, perhaps those especially relevant to this field of study? We conducted a systematic review of the premier ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (2006–2022) to discover whether and how WEIRD HRI research is. Importantly, we expanded our purview to other factors of representation highlighted by critical work on inclusion and intersectionality as potentially underreported, overlooked, and even marginalized factors of human diversity. Findings from 827 studies across 749 papers confirm that participants in HRI research also tend to be drawn from WEIRD populations. Moreover, we find evidence of limited, obscured, and possible misrepresentation in participant sampling and reporting along key axes of diversity: sex and gender, race and ethnicity, age, sexuality and family configuration, disability, body type, ideology, and domain expertise. We discuss methodological and ethical implications for recruitment, analysis, and reporting, as well as the significance for HRI as a base of knowledge.
Mind Perception in HRI: Exploring Users’ Attribution of Mental and Emotional States to Robots with Different Behavioural Styles
Authors: Cucciniello Ilenia , Sangiovanni Sara , Maggi Gianpaolo , Rossi Silvia
Published: March 2023

Theory of Mind is crucial to understand and predict others’ behaviour, underpinning the ability to engage in complex social interactions. Many studies have evaluated a robot’s ability to attribute thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to humans during social interactions, but few studies have investigated human attribution to robots with such capabilities. This study contributes to this direction by evaluating how the cognitive and emotional capabilities attributed to the robot by humans may be influenced by some behavioural characteristics of robots during the interaction. For this reason, we used the Dimensions of Mind Perception questionnaire to measure participants’ perceptions of different robot behaviour styles, namely Friendly, Neutral, and Authoritarian, which we designed and validated in our previous works. The results obtained confirmed our hypotheses because people judged the robot’s mental capabilities differently depending on the interaction style. Particularly, the Friendly is considered more capable of experiencing positive emotions such as Pleasure, Desire, Consciousness, and Joy; conversely, the Authoritarian is considered more capable of experiencing negative emotions such as Fear, Pain, and Rage than the Friendly. Moreover, they confirmed that interaction styles differently impacted the perception of the participants on the Agency dimension, Communication, and Thought.
Deep Learning-Based Modeling of Drug–Target Interaction Prediction Incorporating Binding Site Information of Proteins
Authors: D’Souza Sofia , Prema K. V. , Balaji S. , Shah Ronak
Published: March 2023

Chemogenomics, also known as proteochemometrics, covers various computational methods for predicting interactions between related drugs and targets on large-scale data. Chemogenomics is used in the early stages of drug discovery to predict the off-target effects of proteins against therapeutic candidates. This study aims to predict unknown ligand–target interactions using one-dimensional SMILES as inputs for ligands and binding site residues for proteins in a computationally efficient manner. We first formulate a Deep learning CNN model using one-dimensional SMILES for drugs and motif-rich binding pocket subsequences of proteins as inputs. We evaluate and compare the proposed deep learning model trained on expert-based features against shallow feature-based machine learning methods. The proposed method achieved better or similar performance on the MSE and AUPR metrics than the shallow methods. Additionally, We show that our deep learning model, DeepPS is computationally more efficient than the deep learning model trained on full-length raw sequences of proteins. We conclude that a beneficial research approach would be to integrate structural information of proteins for modeling drug-target interaction prediction of large datasets for more interpretability, high throughput, and broad applicability.

Graphical abstract
Blatticomposting of Food Waste, Production Estimates, Chemical Composition and CO2 Emissions Savings: A Case Study
Authors: Patón D. , García-Gómez J. C.
Published: March 2023

Half of the organic waste generated by mankind is compostable. Many of the traditional methods of food waste treatment generate pernicious effects on ecosystems, such as leachates, greenhouse gases, pathogenic microorganisms or odors. Three cockroach species that are widespread as live food for feeding exotic animals (mainly reptiles) due to their high growth rates, waste consumption, production and quality of blatticompost: the Madagascar hissing cockroach (Aeluropoda insignis Butler), the Guyana spotted cockroach (Blaptica dubia Serville) and the ivory cockroach (Eublaberus sp.) has been evaluated. Neither the weight–length ratios (W–L) nor the body condition index (Krel) of the three species studied were statistically different between the control and organic waste treatment groups. Average intakes per animal per day were 0.93 g in Aeluropoda, 2.22 g in Blaptica and 2.58 g in Eublaberus. Blatticompost production rates were 0.11, 0.75 and 0.52 g / animal*day, respectively. Taking into account the differences in size and density of individuals, this implies an average waste consumption of 1015.9 g/m2*day, of which 26.7% would be transformed into blatticompost considering the three species together. This is equivalent to 304.8 mt/ha*month of food waste recycled, a blatticompost production of 81.4 mt/ha*month and an estimated greenhouse gas emission savings of 817.2 mt/ha*month. Results indicate that any of the three species studied would be a viable alternative, although the ivory cockroach (Eublaberus sp.) presents ideal characteristics. The massive use of this species in the large-scale treatment of organic waste is proposed. Given the enormous advantages of this treatment and the zero environmental costs (absence of invasive character) could be necessary to adapt the legislation of the European Community to include blatticomposting as a suitable waste treatment as it is done in other parts of the world.

Graphical Abstract
Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going with Mindfulness in Schools?
Authors: Weare Katherine
Published: March 2023

This is a commentary on a paper by Roeser et al. entitled “Beyond all splits: Envisioning the next generation of science on mindfulness and compassion in schools for students”. The commentary endorses the main thrust of paper, the need to re-envisage mindfulness and move from the dominant model, a clinically based “mindfulness in education” approach, in which mindfulness is seen as a discrete “intervention”, an approach which has been criticised as mechanistic, atomistic, and restrictive and encourages a view of mindfulness as helping people to cope with a stressful status quo. The commentary further endorses the view that we need to create and research models of “mindfulness as education”, as a transformative “process” models which focus on the relational and developmental aspects of education, within a whole-school, ecological approach, encouraging schools to become more compassionate places, which cultivate a positive sense of agency in learners to empower them to change the social context. As well as endorsing the main thrust of the paper, this commentary includes the following further comments. Research and practice on teacher development needs to be at the heart of this process. Getting the balance right between rigour and innovation in research will be an ongoing process. It would be helpful to look outside Anglo-centric box for examples of this relational shift. We should wait to see how the somewhat unexpected results of the MYRIAD project feed into longer term reviews before changing advice around universal approaches and who should teach mindfulness in schools.