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Sound Judgment: A Multi-Year Evaluation of Audio Aesthetics and Gameplay Impact in DareFightingICE Sound Design Competition
No full textThis paper presents a multi-year evaluation (2022-2024) of winning entries from the DareFightingICE Sound Design Competition, analyzing the interplay between audio aesthetics and gameplay functionality for visually impaired players and the Blind AI agent. Through user studies (n = 26 and n = 21) and a comprehensive ablation study of the 2024 winning sound design, we reveal three key findings: (1) While winning entries consistently achieved high aesthetic ratings, scores plateaued despite year-on-year improvements in Blind AI performance, indicating a decoupling of these dimensions; (2) Systematic muting identified 'critical' sounds whose absence severely impaired AI decision-making, whereas static background music introduced detrimental noise; (3) Drastically reducing sound design to 10% of sound effects degraded both AI win ratios and human aesthetic perception. These results demonstrate that practical accessible audio requires prioritizing unambiguous cues for frequent actions, minimizing sonic redundancy like non-adaptive BGM, and validating sound designs through dual AI/human evaluation. We provide actionable strategies for designers targeting future competitions and inclusive gaming.Peer reviewe
Asiakaskertomusten keskustelut pohjimmaisten asuntomarkkinoiden asukkaiden asumistoiveista
No full textPeer reviewe
High yield low temperature biocompatible activation of biochar for sustainable supercapacitors
No full textThis study presents a sustainable and efficient method for producing activated carbon from biomass-derived biochar for use in electrochemical supercapacitors. Biochar sourced from wood chips supplied by Carbofex Ltd., a European Biochar Certificate (EBC) certified biomass producer renowned for carbon-negative biochar, was hydrothermally activated using potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) at 200 °C for 36 h. This simplified activation method achieved a yield of approximately 90 %, in contrast to the 30–70 % typically obtained with conventional activation methods such as KOH or CO2, where extensive carbon burn-off is common. Beyond yield, the process enhanced the BET-specific surface area from ∼420 to ∼1006 m2/g and improved thermal stability by removing volatile fractions, generating a microporous network with structural robustness and ion-accessible porosity. Electrochemical characterization showed that the activated carbon achieved a specific capacitance of 27.13 F/g at 0.08 A/g, which is comparable to commercially available activated carbon YP80-F (30 F/g) and retained 85 % of its capacitance after 10,000 cycles. The activated carbon device performed on par with commercial materials, indicating its promise for practical supercapacitor use. This mild, non-corrosive activation process using sustainable precursors offers a scalable alternative to conventional methods, avoiding the environmental and safety risks associated with agents like KOH.Peer reviewe
RNAi therapeutics targeting Japanese encephalitis virus: Gene targets, delivery platforms, and translational barriers
No full textJapanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a neurotropic flavivirus, is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, particularly affecting children and causing significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of vaccines and vector control strategies, their limited efficacy against emerging genotypes and incomplete coverage necessitate alternative antiviral approaches. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality by exploiting post-transcriptional gene silencing to inhibit viral replication. Notably, conserved viral genes—such as capsid (C), envelope (E), NS3, and NS5—represent optimal RNAi targets across JEV genotypes due to their essential roles in the viral life cycle and minimal sequence variability. Recent advances in delivery platforms, including lipid nanoparticles, lentiviral vectors, and artificial microRNAs, have significantly improved RNAi stability, blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, and cell-specific targeting. Comparative insights from related flaviviruses such as Dengue and Zika have further informed effective RNAi design. Preclinical studies have demonstrated potent antiviral effects, with >90 % suppression of viral RNA, substantial reductions in brain viral load, and enhanced survival in murine models. However, clinical translation remains challenged by delivery efficiency, immune activation, off-target effects, and the potential for viral escape mutations. This review summarizes the current landscape of RNAi-based therapeutics for JEV, emphasizing conserved gene targets, delivery innovations, and translational hurdles, and outlines future directions for integrating RNAi into next-generation antiviral strategies.Peer reviewe
Act with Nature Intervention Supporting Planetary Well-Being
No full textEnvironmental crises such as climate change are among humanity’s greatest contemporary challenges. Evidence-based interventions are urgently required that will both support human well-being during such crises and facilitate pro-environmental behavior. We developed a nature-based intervention (Act with Nature intervention or program; AWN) that aims to improve human well-being and encourage pro-environmental behavior. Logic models informed by our theoretical perspectives were developed to articulate and clarify the hypothesized mechanisms underpinning the intervention. These mechanisms support nature connectedness, efficient coping, and psychological processing. AWN includes nature-based exercises with different backgrounds and delivery methods as well as information and support for pro-environmental behaviors during the program. AWN lasts 12 weeks and has two different types of delivery tailored to participants’ needs: the weekly group provides more intensive social support, while a flexible group allows for greater individual adaptability. Anticipated results of AWN are increased mental well-being and pro-environmental behavior through nature connectedness and more efficient coping related to environmental self-regulation. We describe the mechanisms of change and the expected outcomes through logic models. This enables researchers to follow how outcomes are grounded in theoretical assumptions and empirical evidence and to differentiate mechanisms from outcomes.Peer reviewe
Valmistavasta perusopetukseen siirtyvän oppilaan integraatio ja tukeminen: Taidot, kiinnittyminen sekä koulun toimintakulttuuri
No full textNon peer reviewe
New Order Type and Benefit Compensation Model for Utilizing Energy Storage in European Day-Ahead Electricity Markets
No full textThe price of electricity has fluctuated strongly in the European electricity day-ahead market in recent years, and in some areas the variation within a day has been very high. The fluctuation is problematic for electricity consumers and for both production and consumption investments. Energy storage could stabilize the day-ahead electricity market, but the problem is the prediction of the timing of charging and discharging and the strong cannibalization of their economic profitability, which is also desired from energy storage. This paper presents a proposal for a new order type for bidding in the day-ahead electricity market, in which the price-setting algorithm would determine the optimal timing for the use of energy storage. In addition, a benefit compensation procedure linked to the new order type is proposed, which would prevent cannibalization and increase the attractiveness of the day-ahead market for energy storage. This could stabilize the price fluctuation of the day-ahead market.Peer reviewe
Unsupervised clustering reveals noncanonical myeloid cell subsets in the brain tumor microenvironment
No full textThe tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) of human central nervous system (CNS) tumors remains to be comprehensively deciphered. Here, we employed flow cytometry and RNA sequencing analysis for a deep data-driven dissection of a diverse TiME and to uncover noncanonical immune cell types in human CNS tumors by using seven tumors from five patients. Myeloid subsets comprised classical microglia, monocyte-derived macrophages, neutrophils, and two noncanonical myeloid subsets: CD3+ myeloids and CD19+ myeloids. T lymphocyte subsets included double-negative (CD4− CD8−) T cells (DNTs). Noncanonical myeloids and DNTs were explored on independent datasets, suggesting that our DNT phenotype represents γδ T cells. Noncanonical myeloids were validated using orthogonal methods across 73 patients from three independent datasets. While the proportions of classical myeloids agreed with reported malignancy type-associated TiMEs, unexpectedly high lymphocyte frequencies were detected in gliosarcoma, which also showed a unique expression pattern of immune-related genes. Our findings highlight the potential of data-driven approaches in resolving CNS TiME to reveal the mosaic of immune cell types constituting TiME, warranting the need for future studies on the nonclassical immune cell subsets.Peer reviewe
