Influence of Mindfulness on the Processes of Consciousness Measured via Evoked Potentials A Theoretical Review

The study of brain changes in response to mindfulness (MF) practice could serve as a way to expand our understanding of key cognitive processes such as consciousness, attention, or executive functions. The aim of this work is to offer an updated review of the studies that have investigated the effects of MF on cognition; specifically, the processes of consciousness, attention, and executive functioning, measured by evoked potentials (EP). The main studies on this topic from 2006 to the present are reviewed and the principal findings are grouped according to the EP measured, mainly N1, N2, and P3. The convergent evidence derived from the updated research allows us to propose a hypothetical model of the existing correlations between the influences of MF on cognitive processes and the associated EP components. However, the methodological limitations found mean that we should take these results with caution and advise a methodological refinement for future research.

AllCoPol: inferring allele co-ancestry in polyploids

Background Inferring phylogenetic relationships of polyploid species and their diploid ancestors (leading to reticulate phylogenies in the case of an allopolyploid origin) based on multi-locus sequence data is complicated by the unknown assignment of alleles found in polyploids to diploid subgenomes. A parsimony-based approach to this problem has been proposed by Oberprieler et al. (Methods Ecol Evol 8:835–849, 2017), however, its implementation is of limited practical value. In addition to previously identified shortcomings, it has been found that in some cases, the obtained results barely satisfy the applied criterion. To be of better use to other researchers, a reimplementation with methodological refinement appears to be indispensable. Results We present the AllCoPol package, which provides a heuristic method for assigning alleles from polyploids to diploid subgenomes based on the Minimizing Deep Coalescences (MDC) criterion in multi-locus sequence datasets. An additional consensus approach further allows to assess the confidence of phylogenetic reconstructions. Simulations of tetra- and hexaploids show that under simplifying assumptions such as completely disomic inheritance, the topological errors of reconstructed phylogenies are similar to those of MDC species trees based on the true allele partition. Conclusions AllCoPol is a Python package for phylogenetic reconstructions of polyploids offering enhanced functionality as well as improved usability. The included methods are supplied as command line tools without the need for prior programming knowledge.

Leadership Styles of Political Executives

This chapter focuses on the leadership styles of political executives—that is, the ways in which executives relate to constituents, advisers, and other leaders in the political domain. The scholarship on this topic, spanning the fields of political science, psychology, management science, and public administration, provides answers to fundamental questions about when leaders matter and which aspects of leadership style generate specific policy-making processes and outcomes. General conclusions include the dual importance of contextual factors and political skill in shaping leaders’ effectiveness, and the central roles played by leaders’ task versus relations orientations and sensitivity to the political context. Significant progress in this field will require more research on non-Western leaders, rigorous comparative analysis of political executives, methodological refinement in measuring leadership styles, ‘bridge-building’ among balkanized academic subfields, and more systematic efforts to identify areas of consensus and gaps within the existing scholarship.

Multilingual acquisition property by property: A view from a wider perspective

This commentary discusses the recent keynote article in Second Language Research by Westergaard (2019), which is an interesting contribution to the field of language acquisition and multilingualism, especially because it attempts to provide a wider perspective by embracing first, second and third language acquisition. I address major claims put forward by Westergaard, to support them with my own research data from the domain of phonology as well as to raise some questions as to potential limitations of the approach, and to point to avenues for future theoretical and methodological refinement.

A multilevel perspective of transition to a circular economy with particular reference to a community renewable energy niche

This article is an attempt to look into the processes involved in achieving full system transition to a circular economy (CE) through the development of niche activities. Based on a case study relating to a community renewable energy (CRE) niche, the article argues that for transition to take hold and make progress, the socio-technical regimes underpinning the system of a linear economy would need to be disrupted through the agency of niches that bring forth radical innovations across a spectrum of activities. This argument is explored through a case study from the energy sector in Scotland. A Delphi study is conducted to assess the success of the Scottish Government in progressing CRE as a niche aimed at disrupting the incumbent fossil-based energy regime. The study finds that despite the commitment of the Scottish Government to empower, nurture and shield CRE as a niche, there is no clear evidence as yet to show whether these actions have achieved their desired effect of enabling the CRE niche to play a disruptive role. The article also underscores the need for methodological refinement to enhance the robustness of the data used in the evaluation of policy efforts in niche development as a strategy for transition to CE.

PEAK PLANT MODELS IN THE ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM MODEL OF RELIABILITY AND AVAILABILITY

The work sets out the results of the theory/methodological refinement of models whereby peak generating plants are included in the reliability and availability patterns of electricity systems while operational planning operations are taking place. Account shall be taken of the technical and energy characteristics of such generating units, as well as of the specific conditions and requirements imposed on such generating units, resulting from their location and the role in covering peak loads and consumption of the electricity system.

Histochemistry as a versatile research toolkit in biological research, not only an applied discipline in pathology

The impressive progress of histochemistry over the last 50 years has led to setting up specific and sensitive techniques to describe dynamic events, through the detection of specific molecules in the very place where they exist in live cells. The scientific field where histochemistry has most largely been applied is histopathology, with the aim to identify disease-specific molecular markers or to elucidate the etiopathological mechanisms. Numerous authors did however apply histochemistry to a variety of other research fields; their interests range from the microanatomy of animal and plant organisms to the cellular mechanisms of life. This is especially apparent browsing the contents of the histochemical journals where the articles on subjects other than pathology are the majority; these journals still keep a pivotal role in the field of cell and tissue biology, while being a forum for a diverse range of biologists whose scientific interests expand the research horizon of histochemistry to ever novel subjects. Thus, histochemistry can always receive inspiring stimuli toward a continuous methodological refinement.