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Unveiling Glutamate Dynamics: Cognitive Demands in Human Short-Term Memory Learning Across Frontal and Parieto-Occipital Cortex: A Functional MRS Study.
Get PDFBackground: Acquiring new knowledge necessitates alterations at the synaptic level within the brain. Glutamate, a pivotal neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in these processes, particularly in learning and memory formation. Although previous research has explored glutamate’s involvement in cognitive functions, a comprehensive understanding of its real-time dynamics remains elusive during memory tasks.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate glutamate modulation during memory tasks in the right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and parieto-occipital regions using functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (fMRS).
Material and Methods: This experimental research applied fMRS acquisition concurrently with a modified Sternberg’s verbal working memory task for fourteen healthy right-handed participants (5 females, mean age=30.64±4.49). The glutamate/total-creatine (Glu/tCr) ratio was quantified by LCModel in the DLPFC and parieto-occipital voxels while applying the tissue corrections.
Results: The significantly higher Glu/tCr modulation was observed during the task with a trend of increased modulation with memory load in both the DLPFC (19.9% higher, P-value=0.018) and parieto-occipital (33% higher, P-value=0.046) regions compared to the rest.
Conclusion: Our pioneering fMRS study has yielded groundbreaking insights into brain functions during S-term Memory (STM) and learning. This research provides valuable methodological advancements for investigating the metabolic functions of both healthy and disordered brains. Based on the findings, cognitive demands directly correlate with glutamate levels, highlighting the neurochemical underpinnings of cognitive processing. Additionally, the obtained results potentially challenge the traditional left-hemisphere-centric model of verbal working memory, leading to the deep vision of hemispheric contributions to cognitive functions
The “self ” particle: A time traveler's account of how one doctorate in music composition would have benefited from a better awareness of autoethnography
Get PDFThis chapter uses evocative autoethnography to present a reflexive account of elements of the author’s work on a practice-led, Doctor of Music degree in composition between 2015 and 2019. With the aim of recognizing and embracing the benefits of a fully nonlinear approach to research and composition, the account employs a creative fusion of fiction and fact (i.e., faction) to reimagine reality from the perspective of a time traveler. While it is inspired by scientific inquiry, the concept of time travel is implemented only as a vehicle for a more vivid and engaging presentation of the author’s experiences as a composer-researcher striving for a healthy relationship between theory, practice, and poiesis (Aristotle’s notion of the making, the production of art). A key reason for this narrative design is to explore, as a post mortem, how the doctorate could have been improved had the author been more aware of autoethnography and its purpose to communicate in a style more direct, imaginative, and engaging—from a more personal point of view. Periodically assuming a conversational style, the paper is also a statement in support of including in autoethnography-guided research ideas sparked by looser, though not entirely free, association with the main topic. They have the potential of making the story less sterile and more vivid. Included are references to two of the compositions from the author’s DMus portfolio to connect theory to practice: Eight for piano, string quartet, and electronics (2017) and Intensity X for soprano saxophone, electric guitar, two violins, and electronics (2019)
Navigating the Nexus of corporate governance, risk management, and social responsibility while unveiling responsibility dilution and embracing risk
No full textThis study explores the complex relationship between corporate governance, risk management, and social responsibility, focusing on the impact of regulatory and market changes. It assesses the influence of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management framework on corporate governance. Through a comparative analysis of risk management across countries, the chapter highlights the role of legal frameworks and industry standards. The study also examines technology's role in enhancing transparency and accountability, particularly through data analytics and cybersecurity. A Greek case study provides a detailed national perspective. By synthesising literature, regulatory reports, and the Greek case, the research offers a comprehensive overview of current practices and future trends, emphasising the importance of transparent risk disclosure and strong governance in building corporate resilience and stakeholder trust
Victims of religious hate crime: Victimisation of Muslims, Jews and Hindus compared
Get PDFThe surge in Hate Crime within the United Kingdom has disproportionately impacted religious communities, particularly Muslims, Jews and Hindus. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of hate crimes targeting these three religious groups in the United Kingdom. Through qualitative interviews with victims, the study aims to analyse their immediate response following the victimisation. Drawing insights from 30 individual interviews and three focus groups, the research uniquely combines three distinct religious groups for comparative analysis, revealing both commonalities and differences in their victimisation experiences. Findings highlight the pervasive nature of victimisation, emphasising community visibility and perceived safety. Notably, collective responsibility is evident among Muslim and Jewish participants. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of challenges faced by victims, emphasising the need for robust law enforcement measures
Using aspect-based sentiment analysis as a tool for socio-technical system design.
Get PDFAutomation can enhance performance and reduce human errors, but poorly designed interactive technologies can harm the user experience, leading to suboptimal outcomes for both systems and organisations. Social and technical subsystems are essential and interdependent and must be considered
when designing organisational structures. Neglecting these aspects limits the potential for effective change. This paper explores the role of Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) in improving user experience (UX) by addressing social factors in automated environments. As a subfield
of Natural Language Processing (NLP), ABSA extracts insights tied to specific aspects from user feedback, allowing for targeted improvements that enhance both UX and system performance. With the growing reliance on unstructured data from sources like social media, we ask: Can ABSA play a
key role in enhancing system design? Can it facilitate data collection and interpretation for the development of automated systems in large organisations? To assess ABSA’s effectiveness, we compiled a dataset of 8,060 tweets (2016–2023) related to automation and smart workplaces, using it as a case study. Six pre-trained or fine-tuned ABSA models were applied to analyse the data, focusing on dimensions such as usability, effectiveness, and innovation. Our findings highlight ABSA’s potential to guide improvements in socio-technical automated systems, and we propose recommendations for decision-makers, developers and researchers to identify strengths and weaknesses in automated systems using any type of user-generated comments. Finally, we present a lifecycle model using sentiment analysis to refine UX strategies, though further exploration of factors like trust and accessibility is needed. While the study offers valuable insights, further exploration of factors such as trust, accessibility, and ethical considerations is needed
Human–machine agencies in live coding for music performance.
Get PDFIn this article, we explore the notion of human–machine agencies in live coding applied to music performance. We first survey the literature on interactive music systems, new interfaces for musical expression, live coding and human–data interaction to identify common characteristics related to agency, which can be applied to the analysis of live coding practices. Then, we propose a theoretical framework for supporting the design, evaluation, and analysis of data-driven, AI-enhanced live coding systems. The framework, inspired by actor-network theory and human–data interaction, is composed of four dimensions: legibility, modifiability, predictability and cardinality. We reflect on two live coding systems built by the authors, utilising the four dimensions. We hope that the framework will help understand live coding in the datafication era, in which the data becomes a participating agent. Beyond live coding, our analysis can inform other artistic practices that use AI in interactive or real-time settings while keeping the human in the loop
UAV-Assisted Multi-Target Resolvability in Joint Sensing and Communication System.
No full textThe highly evolving integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks can perform joint sensing and communication (JSAC) for various applications. For instance, in the case of vehicular networks, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and roadside units (RSUs) can cooperatively perform multi-target sensing and communication. Nevertheless, JSAC requires high efficiency in high mobility scenarios, where constantly sensing and detecting a moving vehicle is challenging because of the frequent Doppler shifts and channel variations. Besides, the target resolvability issue becomes more complex in high mobility. Therefore, we propose integrating UAVs into JSAC for multi-target resolvability issues because of their better line-of-sight (LOS) link and wide range of coverage areas. Moreover, we propose a novel framework in which an RSU simultaneously transmits a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal to mobile vehicles and UAV, where the UAV acts as an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay while cooperatively performing sensing by re-transmitting the amplified FMCW signal. Our results demonstrate a significant increase in sensing performance in terms of the probability of detection at the cost of slightly lower bit-error-rate (BER) performance
Aging behaviour assessment of cellulosic fibres in alkaline media: A green technology approach in construction materials
Get PDFWith the increasing demand for buildings, the utilisation of green materials represents a novel approach toward achieving sustainable development goals. Cellulose-based materials, such as jute, exemplify eco-friendly substances for civil engineering applications. The present study aims at studying the aging behavior of jute fibers in an alkaline environment. For this purpose, three alkali environments (NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH) 2 ) with three different concentrations were selected. Samples were treated at three different periods (7 d, 14 d, and 28 d) to assess the impact of treatment on the fiber properties. This study introduces a pioneering concept of the alkali treatment of jute-based fibres to evaluate tensile strength and weight loss, marking the first of its kind. This approach incorporates various characterisation techniques, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess the treatment process. In our experimental procedures, we evaluated key parameters such as the type of alkali, alkali concentration, and curing time for their influence on tensile strength. Subsequently, we applied Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in conjunction with bagging techniques to develop mathematical models based on the acquired data. Results demonstrated varied tensile strengths based on alkali type, concentration, and treatment duration. Fibres treated with 15 g/L concentration of NaOH exhibited an increase in tensile strength from 7 days (79.66 MPa) to 28 days (225.05 MPa). The highest tensile strength of jute fibres treated with KOH was observed with 15 g/L concentration at 14 days (237.58 MPa). For Ca(OH)₂ treatments, the highest tensile strength was observed with 30 g/L concentration at 14 days (111.28 MPa). It was also observed that prolonged exposure to very high alkali concentrations could adversely affect the tensile strength, as observed in the case of 30 g/L concentration of NaOH at 28 days (84.73 MPa). Among the various alkali materials tested, NaOH and KOH demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to Ca(OH) 2 . According to RSM analysis, the time of sample curing was found to be the most significant factor in tensile strength, with a P-value of 0.009. On average, the tensile strength changes by 54 %, 52 %, and 35 % for NaOH, KOH, and Ca (OH)₂, respectively, when the curing time shifts from 7 days to 28 days
Exploring Fantasy Football Involvement and Mental Health through Player Experience, Engagement Levels, Social Comparisons, and Financial Incentives
Get PDFBackground. Fantasy sports are a rapidly growing complement to the sports industry
and recent research has explored the mental health experiences of those who
play the game.
Aim. This study aimed to test the findings from two such studies (Wilkins et al., 2021;
Wilkins et al., 2023).
Methods. Questionnaire data measuring depression, anxiety, stress, positive mood,
negative mood, problematic behaviour, and functional impairment from
635 fantasy football players were analysed using one-way ANOVAs.
Results. Amongst the significant results were the findings that: i) more experienced
players reported less anxiety than less experienced players, and ii) players who
engaged more with the game, made more social comparisons, and had greater
financial involvement generally reported more mental health concerns and
more positive mood than other players