scholarly journals Losing stinks! The effect of competition outcome on body odour quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1800) ◽  
pp. 20190267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitka Fialová ◽  
Vít Třebický ◽  
Radim Kuba ◽  
David Stella ◽  
Jakub Binter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Dominance Hierarchy ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Formal Level ◽  
Body Odour ◽  
Axillary Odour

Dominance hierarchy is often established via repeated agonistic encounters where consistent winners are considered dominant. Human body odour contains cues to psychological dominance and competition, but it is not known whether competition outcome (a marker of a change in dominance hierarchy) affects the hedonic quality of human axillary odour. Therefore, we investigated the effect of winning and losing on odour quality. We collected odour samples from Mixed Martial Arts fighters approximately 1 h before and immediately after a match. Raters then assessed samples for pleasantness, attractiveness, masculinity and intensity. We also obtained data on donors' affective state and cortisol and testosterone levels, since these are known to be associated with competition and body odour quality. Perceived body odour pleasantness, attractiveness and intensity significantly decreased while masculinity increased after a match irrespective of the outcome. Nonetheless, losing a match affected the pleasantness of body odour more profoundly, though bordering formal level of significance. Moreover, a path analysis revealed that match loss led to a decrease in odour attractiveness, which was mediated by participants’ negative affective states. Our study suggests that physical competition and to some extent also its outcome affect the perceived quality of human body odour in specific real-life settings, thus providing cues to dominance-related characteristics. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Olfactory communication in humans’.

scholarly journals Evaluating emotion visualizations using AffectVis, an affect-aware dashboard for students

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leony Derick ◽  
Gayane Sedrakyan ◽  
Pedro J. Munoz-Merino ◽  
Carlos Delgado Kloos ◽  
Katrien Verbert
Keyword(s):  
Affective State ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Emotional Awareness ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Visualization Techniques

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate four visualizations that represent affective states of students. Design/methodology/approach An empirical-experimental study approach was used to assess the usability of affective state visualizations in a learning context. The first study was conducted with students who had knowledge of visualization techniques (n=10). The insights from this pilot study were used to improve the interpretability and ease of use of the visualizations. The second study was conducted with the improved visualizations with students who had no or limited knowledge of visualization techniques (n=105). Findings The results indicate that usability, measured by perceived usefulness and insight, is overall acceptable. However, the findings also suggest that interpretability of some visualizations, in terms of the capability to support emotional awareness, still needs to be improved. The level of students’ awareness of their emotions during learning activities based on the visualization interpretation varied depending on previous knowledge of information visualization techniques. Awareness was found to be high for the most frequently experienced emotions and activities that were the most frustrating, but lower for more complex insights such as interpreting differences with peers. Furthermore, simpler visualizations resulted in better outcomes than more complex techniques. Originality/value Detection of affective states of students and visualizations of these states in computer-based learning environments have been proposed to support student awareness and improve learning. However, the evaluation of visualizations of these affective states with students to support awareness in real life settings is an open issue.

Qualitative assessment of equipment failure cause finding and removal

2018 ◽  
pp. 116-126
Author(s):  
E. A. Vakulin ◽  
A. I. Zayats ◽  
V. A. Beklemeshev ◽  
V. A. Ivashkevich ◽  
V. A. Khazhiev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Condition ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Open Pit Mine ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Equipment Failure ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Failure Investigation

Investigation of failures is one of the critical activities of mining and haulage equipment operability assurance in mining. Maintaining failure investigation at the required quality level, it is possible to identify provisions, rules and procedures that should be revised or changed, operation conditions that should be improved, additional personnel training, if required, etc. Investigation of failures in mines is under responsibility of machine men and electricians of maintenance and operation services. In reality, factory management and setup for production condition weak concernment of these workers in quality investigation aimed at finding of sources of equipment failures. This article describes real-life results achieved in development and use of maintenance service operation, technology and management monitoring. The requirements are substantiated for quality improvement in failure cause finding and removal in mining and haulage equipment at Chernogorsky open pit mine, SUEK-Khakassia. Causes of the present quality of failure investigation by machine men of Chernogorsky Repair and Engineering Works and Chernogorsky open pit mine are revealed. The proposed recommended practices will improve quality of mining and haulage equipment failure investigation.

The Relationship between the Development of Human Capital and the Agricultural Economy in Rural Areas

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-65
Author(s):  
B.A. Voronin ◽  
◽  
I.P. Chupina ◽  
Ya.V. Voronina ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Standard View ◽  
Household Factors ◽  
Economic Transformations ◽  
The Relationship

The article discusses a non-standard view of the formation of human capital for work in organizations of the agricultural sector of the economy, in the context of modern socio-economic transformations. In the classical sense, human capital for agriculture should be formed and developed in rural areas. But in real life, this is not always the case, because there are many factors that prevent the classical solution of this problem. First, the demographic factor affects, second, social and household factors, and third, in many rural areas there are no working agricultural organizations where qualified agricultural specialists can work. All these and other circumstances actualize the problem of the quality of human capital in rural areas in relation to the development of agricultural production.

Automated Insulin Delivery Systems: Today, Tomorrow and User Requirements

2021 ◽  
pp. 193229682110299
Author(s):  
Marga Giménez ◽  
Ignacio Conget ◽  
Nick Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Insulin Delivery ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Diabetes Distress ◽  
Glycemic Targets

Automated insulin delivery (AID) is the most recent advance in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. It has the potential to achieve glycemic targets without disabling hypoglycemia, to improve quality of life and reduce diabetes distress and burden associated with self-management. Several AID systems are currently licensed for use by people with T1D in Europe, United States, and the rest of the world. Despite AID becoming a reality in routine clinical practice over the last few years, the commercially hybrid AID and other systems, are still far from a fully optimized automated diabetes management tool. Implementation of AID systems requires education and support of healthcare professionals taking care of people with T1D, as well as users and their families. There is much to do to increase usability, portability, convenience and to reduce the burden associated with the use of the systems. Co-design, involvement of people with lived experience of T1D and robust qualitative assessment is critical to improving the real-world use of AID systems, especially for those who may have greater need. In addition to this, information regarding the psychosocial impact of the use of AID systems in real life is needed. The first commercially available AID systems are not the end of the development journey but are the first step in learning how to optimally automate insulin delivery in a way that is equitably accessible and effective for people living with T1D.

scholarly journals The contribution of the Italian residents in neurology to the COVID-19 crisis: admirable generosity but neurological training remains their priority

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Tassorelli ◽  
Vincenzo Silani ◽  
Alessandro Padovani ◽  
Paolo Barone ◽  
Paolo Calabresi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Training ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Training And Research

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the Italian healthcare system, underscoring a dramatic shortage of specialized doctors in many disciplines. The situation affected the activity of the residents in neurology, who were also offered the possibility of being formally hired before their training completion. Aims (1) To showcase examples of clinical and research activity of residents in neurology during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and (2) to illustrate the point of view of Italian residents in neurology about the possibility of being hired before the completion of their residency program. Results Real-life reports from several areas in Lombardia—one of the Italian regions more affected by COVID-19—show that residents in neurology gave an outstanding demonstration of generosity, collaboration, reliability, and adaptation to the changing environment, while continuing their clinical training and research activities. A very small minority of the residents participated in the dedicated selections for being hired before completion of their training program. The large majority of them prioritized their training over the option of earlier employment. Conclusions Italian residents in neurology generously contributed to the healthcare management of the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, while remaining determined to pursue their training. Neurology is a rapidly evolving clinical field due to continuous diagnostic and therapeutic progress. Stakeholders need to listen to the strong message conveyed by our residents in neurology and endeavor to provide them with the most adequate training, to ensure high quality of care and excellence in research in the future.

scholarly journals Chlorosulfuric acid-assisted production of functional 2D materials

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Moazzami Gudarzi ◽  
Maryana Asaad ◽  
Boyang Mao ◽  
Gergo Pinter ◽  
Jianqiang Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hexagonal Boron Nitride ◽  
2D Materials ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Polar Solvents ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Two Dimensional Materials ◽  
Liquid Phase Exfoliation

AbstractThe use of two-dimensional materials in bulk functional applications requires the ability to fabricate defect-free 2D sheets with large aspect ratios. Despite huge research efforts, current bulk exfoliation methods require a compromise between the quality of the final flakes and their lateral size, restricting the effectiveness of the product. In this work, we describe an intercalation-assisted exfoliation route, which allows the production of high-quality graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and molybdenum disulfide 2D sheets with average aspect ratios 30 times larger than that obtained via conventional liquid-phase exfoliation. The combination of chlorosulfuric acid intercalation with in situ pyrene sulfonate functionalisation produces a suspension of thin large-area flakes, which are stable in various polar solvents. The described method is simple and requires no special laboratory conditions. We demonstrate that these suspensions can be used for fabrication of laminates and coatings with electrical properties suitable for a number of real-life applications.

scholarly journals Towards estimating affective states in Virtual Reality based on behavioral data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Holzwarth ◽  
Johannes Schneider ◽  
Joshua Handali ◽  
Joy Gisler ◽  
Christian Hirt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
User Study ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Physical Demand ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Sequential Administration ◽  
Better Than

AbstractInferring users’ perceptions of Virtual Environments (VEs) is essential for Virtual Reality (VR) research. Traditionally, this is achieved through assessing users’ affective states before and after being exposed to a VE, based on standardized, self-assessment questionnaires. The main disadvantage of questionnaires is their sequential administration, i.e., a user’s affective state is measured asynchronously to its generation within the VE. A synchronous measurement of users’ affective states would be highly favorable, e.g., in the context of adaptive systems. Drawing from nonverbal behavior research, we argue that behavioral measures could be a powerful approach to assess users’ affective states in VR. In this paper, we contribute by providing methods and measures evaluated in a user study involving 42 participants to assess a users’ affective states by measuring head movements during VR exposure. We show that head yaw significantly correlates with presence, mental and physical demand, perceived performance, and system usability. We also exploit the identified relationships for two practical tasks that are based on head yaw: (1) predicting a user’s affective state, and (2) detecting manipulated questionnaire answers, i.e., answers that are possibly non-truthful. We found that affective states can be predicted significantly better than a naive estimate for mental demand, physical demand, perceived performance, and usability. Further, manipulated or non-truthful answers can also be estimated significantly better than by a naive approach. These findings mark an initial step in the development of novel methods to assess user perception of VEs.

scholarly journals ECOCAPTURE@HOME: Protocol for the Remote Assessment of Apathy and Its Everyday-Life Consequences

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7824
Author(s):  
Valérie Godefroy ◽  
Richard Levy ◽  
Arabella Bouzigues ◽  
Armelle Rametti-Lacroux ◽  
Raffaella Migliaccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Active Data ◽  
Personalised Treatment

Apathy, a common neuropsychiatric symptom associated with dementia, has a strong impact on patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life. However, it is still poorly understood and hard to define. The main objective of the ECOCAPTURE programme is to define a behavioural signature of apathy using an ecological approach. Within this program, ECOCAPTURE@HOME is an observational study which aims to validate a method based on new technologies for the remote monitoring of apathy in real life. For this study, we plan to recruit 60 couples: 20 patient-caregiver dyads in which patients suffer from behavioral variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia, 20 patient-caregiver dyads in which patients suffer from Alzheimer Disease and 20 healthy control couples. These dyads will be followed for 28 consecutive days via multi-sensor bracelets collecting passive data (acceleration, electrodermal activity, blood volume pulse). Active data will also be collected by questionnaires on a smartphone application. Using a pool of metrics extracted from these passive and active data, we will validate a measurement model for three behavioural markers of apathy (i.e., daytime activity, quality of sleep, and emotional arousal). The final purpose is to facilitate the follow-up and precise diagnosis of apathy, towards a personalised treatment of this condition within everyday life.

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