A Bionic Spatial Cognition Model and Method for Robots Based on the Hippocampus Mechanism

The hippocampus and its accessory are the main areas for spatial cognition. It can integrate paths and form environmental cognition based on motion information and then realize positioning and navigation. Learning from the hippocampus mechanism is a crucial way forward for research in robot perception, so it is crucial to building a calculation method that conforms to the biological principle. In addition, it should be easy to implement on a robot. This paper proposes a bionic cognition model and method for mobile robots, which can realize precise path integration and cognition of space. Our research can provide the basis for the cognition of the environment and autonomous navigation for bionic robots.

Environmental Cognition and Mental Health: Physical Activity and Place Attachment as Pathways

Few studies have explored the underlying pathways between environment cognition (i.e., perception of environment) and mental health in older adults. We tested the mediation effects of physical activity and place attachment in the relationship between environmental cognition and mental health, based on a survey study of 1,553 older adults in Hong Kong using structural equation model. The results showed that significant relationship between negative environmental cognition (i.e., residing in higher accessible area but perceive lower) on access to convenient stores, leisure facilities, clinics, community centers, religious places and lower mental health can be explained by lower daily average physical activity time. Place attachment can significantly mediate the positive effect of positive environmental cognition (i.e., residing in lower accessible area but perceive higher) towards all types of services on mental health. Findings from this study have policy implication for urban planning and age-friendly community design

A Model for Sustainable Tourism Development of Hot Spring Destinations Following Poverty Alleviation: Understanding the Tourists’ Perspective

Few studies have examined the issue of the sustainable destination development of hot spring from tourists’ perspective. This study thus proposes a model for sustainable tourism development of hot spring destinations following poverty alleviation in local communities. This model is based on environmental (environmental cognition), sociocultural (hot spring experience, food experience, and attitude toward cultural landscape), and economic (revisit intention) dimensions (factors) of sustainability. The analysis of 271 valid on-site questionnaires about the Conghua hot spring destination in Guangzhou, China, showed that the attitude toward cultural landscape, hot spring experiences, and environmental cognition are the important factors that influence the intention of tourists to revisit hot spring. These findings are based on the level of importance; however, food experience did not play a significant role. Through the cultural landscape, the connection between tourists and destinations is strengthened, which helps to increase the likelihood of tourists revisiting the destination. This study found that the purpose of cultural legacy can be achieved while balancing environmental development issues, and is one of the guidelines for sustainable development in poverty alleviation in destination.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Underwater Acoustic Communication System with Environmental Cognition Ability

In UWAC (underwater acoustic communication), UWA (underwater acoustic) channels change rapidly due to varying environment conditions. AMC (adaptive modulation and coding) is an efficient technique to improve system efficiency by changing transmission parameters according to channel conditions in UWA channels. In this paper, we propose an environmental cognition orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) UWAC system and compare it with AMC algorithm with six transmission modes together with three threshold detection algorithms. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed system. The system will play an important role in future communication networks which can significantly improve the efficiency of the system.

NLM-HS: Navigation Learning Model Based on a Hippocampal–Striatal Circuit for Explaining Navigation Mechanisms in Animal Brains

Neurophysiological studies have shown that the hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex play different roles in animal navigation, but it is still less clear how these structures work together. In this paper, we establish a navigation learning model based on the hippocampal–striatal circuit (NLM-HS), which provides a possible explanation for the navigation mechanism in the animal brain. The hippocampal model generates a cognitive map of the environment and performs goal-directed navigation by using a place cell sequence planning algorithm. The striatal model performs reward-related habitual navigation by using the classic temporal difference learning algorithm. Since the two models may produce inconsistent behavioral decisions, the prefrontal cortex model chooses the most appropriate strategies by using a strategy arbitration mechanism. The cognitive and learning mechanism of the NLM-HS works in two stages of exploration and navigation. First, the agent uses a hippocampal model to construct the cognitive map of the unknown environment. Then, the agent uses the strategy arbitration mechanism in the prefrontal cortex model to directly decide which strategy to choose. To test the validity of the NLM-HS, the classical Tolman detour experiment was reproduced. The results show that the NLM-HS not only makes agents show environmental cognition and navigation behavior similar to animals, but also makes behavioral decisions faster and achieves better adaptivity than hippocampal or striatal models alone.

Social network, environmental cognition and organic fertilizer application behavior of small farmers

Small farmers are the main organizational form of agricultural production and management in China, and it is very important to study their organic fertilizer application behavior to promote the development of green agriculture in China. Based on the survey data of 334 small farmers in Sichuan Province, this paper uses bivariate Probit model to analyze the influence of social network and environmental cognition on organic fertilizer application behavior. The research shows that:(1) The application of commercial organic fertilizer and farmyard manure by small farmers has a significant complementary effect.(2) Social network has a significant positive impact on organic fertilizer application behavior, and there are significant differences between kinship social network and friendship social network on organic fertilizer application behavior.(3) The level of environmental cognition has a significant positive effect on the application behavior of organic fertilizer. Therefore, it is necessary not only to make full use of and expand the social network of small farmers, but also to pay attention to improving their environmental awareness and promoting organic fertilizer application behavior.

Designing a Competitive Advantage Model Through Dynamic Capabilities and Differentiation Approach for Iranian Knowledge-based Companies

The worldwide competitive struggles in high-tech environment such as knowledge-based companies have featured the necessity to infer how competitive advantage is gained. Dynamic capabilities as the origin of competitive advantage emphasize the changing character of the environment and nature of future competition, acceleration in innovation growth, and the main role of strategic management in adaption, integration, and reconfiguration of organizational skills, resources, and working competences toward shifting environment. The recent inquiry is based on an interpretive paradigm and an inductive approach. The qualitative part of the research is conducted with exploratory purpose through grounded theory strategy. In quantitative part of study, it is continued with explanatory and descriptive purposes through survey and correlational research strategies. The probe concepts and variables are analyzed in 30 top knowledge-based companies located at growth centers of 6 high-ranking universities of Iran working on electronics and informatics field. The results of the research indicate that achieving knowledge-centricity main phenomenon through dynamic capabilities requires presence of value creation on the basis of resource orientation together with competences. The knowledge-based companies can reach the summit and sustainable success in the knowledge-centricity main phenomenon when they consider two kinds of specialized paths related to the differentiation strategies and knowledge-based strategies. Along with these two paths, contextual factors of environmental cognition, knowledge management and knowledge approaches, and the intervening conditions of branding and brand management, and strategic agility are identified that have a positive and significant effect on both strategies. The final designed model explicates how to gain competitive advantage for the studied companies through dynamic capabilities with regard to the differentiation and the knowledge-based approaches.