4653 research outputs found
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From Arthurian Narratives to MMORPGs: Towards an Ethics of Virtual Ecologies
No full textVirtual spaces in video games depict environments and nature in their most refined form. Comprising entirely of code lines, these works directly reflect the creators' vision. Thus, the development of visual realism in these spaces, under absolute control and supervision, can potentially alter players' perceptions of nature. The ultimate goal of these spaces, filled with creatures threatening the player's virtual existence, is for the player to overcome these threats and be elevated as a result. Virtual reality, created with refined nature and hierarchical elements, contrasts sharply with the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which portray nature as a chaotic, untamed environment with fantastical elements. Represented not only in literary genres like poetry and novels but also adapted into various forms such as series, films, and video games, the nature and environmental perception conveyed by these legends differ significantly from today's understanding of nature and the environment. Despite being separated by centuries, Arthurian legends and contemporary digital spaces can be read within Ian Bogost's concept of unit operations. Using eco-criticism and object-oriented ontology theories in this study, I comparatively examined King Arthur legends and Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games. The aim of the study is to demonstrate how the nature representations specific to the King Arthur legends, rejecting a human-centered approach and cultural domestication, can serve as precedent for the construction of nature ethics in virtual spaces in video games.Folklore || Literatur
Alternative electron sinks in chloroplasts and mitochondria of halophytes as a safety valve for controlling ROS production during salinity
No full textElectron flow through the electron transport chain (ETC) is essential for oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and photosynthesis in chloroplasts. Electron fluxes depend on environmental parameters, e.g., ionic and osmotic conditions and endogenous factors, and this may cause severe imbalances. Plants have evolved alternative sinks to balance the reductive load on the electron transport chains in order to avoid overreduction, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to cope with environmental stresses. These sinks act primarily as valves for electron drainage and secondarily as regulators of tolerance-related metabolism, utilizing the excess reductive energy. High salinity is an environmental stressor that stimulates the generation of ROS and oxidative stress, which affects growth and development by disrupting the redox homeostasis of plants. While glycophytic plants are sensitive to high salinity, halophytic plants tolerate, grow, and reproduce at high salinity. Various studies have examined the ETC systems of glycophytic plants, however, information about the state and regulation of ETCs in halophytes under non-saline and saline conditions is scarce. This review focuses on alternative electron sinks in chloroplasts and mitochondria of halophytic plants. In cases where information on halophytes is lacking, we examined the available knowledge on the relationship between alternative sinks and gradual salinity resilience of glycophytes. To this end, transcriptional responses of involved components of photosynthetic and respiratory ETCs were compared between the glycophyte Arabidopsis thaliana and the halophyte Schrenkiella parvula, and the time-courses of these transcripts were examined in A. thaliana. The observed regulatory patterns are discussed in the context of reactive molecular species formation in halophytes and glycophytes.Plant Science
The positive association of education with the trust in science and scientists is weaker in highly corrupt countries
No full textOne of the most prominent correlates of trust in science and scientists is education level, possibly because educated individuals have higher levels of science knowledge and thinking ability, suggesting that trusting science and scientists relies more on reflective thinking abilities. However, it is relatively more reasonable for highly educated individuals to suspect authority figures in highly corrupt countries. We tested this prediction in two nationally representative and probabilistic cross-cultural data sets (Study 1: 142 countries, N = 40,085 || Study 2: 47 countries, N = 69,332), and found that the positive association between education and trust in scientists (Study 1) and science (Study 2) was weaker or non-existent in highly corrupt countries. The results did not change after statistically controlling for age, sex, household income, and residence. We suggest future research to be more considerate of the societal context in understanding how education status correlates with trust in science and scientists.Communication || History & Philosophy Of Scienc
Practice-induced SNARC: evidence from a null-SNARC sample
No full textThe mental representation of numbers inherently involves a spatial organization, often positioning smaller numbers to the left and larger numbers to the right. The SNARC effect, characterized by faster responses to small numbers using the left hand and vice versa for large numbers, is typically attributed to this left-to-right oriented mental number line (MNL). However, the direction of the SNARC effect seems to rely on reading direction, with most research exploring these mechanisms conducted within left-to-right reading cultures where the SNARC effect is prevalent. This study takes advantage of a sample from a left-to-right reading culture that does not exhibit the SNARC effect, allowing us to isolate and elucidate the stand-alone effects of recent experiences on SNARC. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate how MNL-compatible and MNL-incompatible practices induce an effect within a sample lacking the SNARC effect. To accomplish this, we reinvited the individuals from the sample which had previously shown no SNARC, and retested those who agreed to take part in the current study after an MNL-compatible or MNL-incompatible practice manipulation. The findings revealed an absence of the SNARC effect with MNL-compatible practices. Conversely, MNL-incompatible practices yielded a reverse SNARC effect. These results prompt a discussion on SNARC mechanisms within the framework of practice effects.Psychology, Experimenta
A bibliometric analysis of extended reality research trends in communication studies written in English Mapping the increasing adoption of extended reality technologies
No full textWith the development of communication technologies, extended reality technologies and applications are increasingly favoured because of their potential to contribute to interactive digital experiences. In addition to providing information about objects, the integration of extended reality offers an enriched experience through a virtual layer that includes various interactions. This paper offers a quantitative and systematic review of studies published in the Web of Science Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) on extended reality technology in communication studies in English between 1992 and 2023. Within the scope of this research, studies on the concepts of mixed reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, and extended reality in journals indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) database were searched. A total of 209 publications were included in the scope of the bibliometric analysis with filters for publication type, language, open access category, and subject. Bibliometric tools were employed to identify trends in extended reality and communication studies, including primary research topics and clusters, interdisciplinary distribution, productivity, and collaboration at the country level, keyword and citation networks, and co-occurrence networks. These findings contribute to the understanding of the evolution of extended reality research in communication studies and lay a foundation for further research.Communicatio
Educating non-specialized audiences about seismic design principles using videos and physical models
No full textThe prevalence of self-construction practices in T & uuml;rkiye has resulted in a building stock whose earthquake resilience is highly uncertain. To mitigate the potentially devastating impact of anticipated large earthquakes, one viable approach is to increase earthquake awareness among builders themselves. However, these builders lack formal engineering training and are ordinary citizens. Therefore, the challenge lies in devising visual teaching methods, such as short videos, to explain complex seismic phenomena in a comprehensible manner. This paper introduces the use of educational media tailored for non-specialized audiences, encompassing regular citizens and students without engineering backgrounds. These videos are based on experiments conducted with physical models on a homemade shake table. They focus on key factors influencing the seismic response of multi-storey buildings and highlight common design and construction errors that lead to building damage. To assess the effectiveness of this approach, we conducted a workshop with junior architecture students, followed by post-workshop qualitative assessments through knowledge surveys and interviews. The findings indicate that while single-topic videos were effective learning tools for students without prior knowledge of seismic building design, students found models particularly useful for explaining specific concepts such as torsional behavior, the role of diaphragms, and the performance of non-structural components. However, despite positive feedback on the effectiveness of model testing, students generally did not perceive significant knowledge acquisition in model construction. Ultimately, the accessibility of freely available videos, coupled with their enhanced educational value, makes them effective tools for raising seismic awareness in communities vulnerable to future earthquakes.Education & Educational Researc
Vertical and Horizontal Water Penetration Velocity Modeling in Nonhomogenous Soil Using Fast Multi-Output Relevance Vector Regression
No full textA joint determination of horizontal and vertical movement of water through porous medium is addressed in this study through fast multi-output relevance vector regression (FMRVR). To do this, an experimental data set conducted in a sand box with 300 x 300 x 150 mm dimensions made of Plexiglas is used. A random mixture of sand having size of 0.5-1 mm is used to simulate the porous medium. Within the experiments, 2, 3, 7, and 12 cm walls are used together with different injection locations as 130.7, 91.3, and 51.8 mm measured from the cutoff wall at the upstream. Then, the Cartesian coordinated of the tracer, time interval, length of the wall in each setup, and two dummy variables for determination of the initial point are considered as independent variables for joint estimation of horizontal and vertical velocity of water movement in the porous medium. Alternatively, the multi-linear regression, random forest, and the support vector regression approaches are used to alternate the results obtained by the FMRVR method. It was concluded that the FMRVR outperforms the other models, while the uncertainty in estimation of horizontal penetration is larger than the vertical one.Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications || Computer Science, Theory & Method
Smart, sustainable, and resilient food supply chains in disruptive events context
No full textFood systems include dynamic and complex networks made up of all the actors, processes, and infrastructures, as well as their interactions. Because of the growing supply chain's (SC) vulnerability, fragility, and operational disturbances, managing disruptions has become a crucial problem in the food SC. Thus, companies aim to improve their resilience to deal with unexpected conditions. Thus, this study aims to analyze and frame the food SC's resilience, sustainability, and smartness considering different causal conditions (e.g., digital technology adaption, providing traceability, and enhancing collaboration). This study also analyzes the numerous and complex linkages between outcome and causal variables. Thus, this study includes data on the food industry operating in Turkey. The Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis has been used to analyze different companies' data. SC resilience performance conditions have been determined and analyzed. According to the result of this study, it can be said that enhanced flexibility structure and adaptability skills in the SC, increased IT capability, and integration of digital technologies into the SC process are the key components for achieving high SC resilience, sustainability, and smartness in the food SCs. This study suggests various implications for policymakers and managers in the food SCs.Business || Environmental Studies || Managemen
The effects of globalization on supply chain resilience: outsourcing techniques as interventionism, protectionism, and regionalization strategies
No full textGlobalization may cause companies to broaden their customer bases, operate internationally, and serve more customers. However, it also entails dangers, including shifting circumstances, disruptions, and elevated prices. To address these issues, outsourcing has evolved, lowering outputs and service costs. To mitigate these risks, businesses employ strategies such as interventionism, protectionism, and regionalization. By investigating and simulating the interplay of outsourcing approaches to equip businesses with supply chain resilience (SCRES), this study aims to close the knowledge gap between the existing knowledge and global supply chain (GSC) risk management practices. To choose the best alternative for our case study company, we analyzed four distinct outsourcing techniques, namely offshoring, reshoring, nearshoring, and farshoring || furthermore, we investigated the outsourcing elements typically taken into account to achieve resilience. The results indicated that the reshoring method would be the most promising one for this company, under specific circumstances, in terms of attaining resilience in the manufacturing industry.Managemen
Integrating Lean Six Sigma with life cycle and value stream level of RAMI 4.0
No full textThis study integrates the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) DMAIC (design, measure, analyze, improve, control) methodology with the Life Cycle and Value Stream Level of RAMI 4.0 by proposing a systematic structure that includes LSS 4.0 tools and techniques for each level. The fuzzy Entropy Weighting method is used to evaluate LSS 4.0 tools and techniques for each level, and a sample implementation of the proposed structure is conducted in a high-technology electronics firm. The results indicated that the proposed structure effectively integrates the LSS and DMAIC methodology with the Life Cycle and Value Stream Level of RAMI 4.0. The results suggest that although the DMAIC methodology is applicable for each life cycle stage, the most important approaches vary for each life cycle level. Therefore, DMAIC implementation for each level should be conducted separately for each life cycle and LSS 4.0 tools and techniques should be chosen according to the specific needs. This article proposes a novel systematic structure that includes LSS 4.0 tools and techniques for each DMAIC stage and that can be used for LSS implementation in RAMI 4.0. The proposed structure will contribute to systemizing the complex structure of Industry 4.0 in the implementation phase of smart factories.Managemen