Protocol of the study for predicting empathy during VR sessions using sensor data and machine learning

Virtual reality (VR) technology is often referred to as the ‘ultimate empathy machine’ due to its capability to immerse users in alternate perspectives and environments beyond their immediate physical reality. In this study, participants will be immersed in 3-dimensional 360˚ VR videos where actors express different emotions (sadness, happiness, anger, and anxiousness). The primary objective is to investigate the potential relationship between participants’ empathy levels and the changes in their physiological attributes. The empathy levels will be self-reported with questionnaires, and physiological attributes will be measured using different sensors. The main outcome of the study will be a machine learning model to predict a person’s empathy level based on their physiological responses while watching VR videos. Despite the existence of established methodologies and metrics in research and clinical domains, our aim is to contribute to addressing the gap of a universally accepted “gold standard” for assessing empathy. Additionally, we expect to deepen our understanding of the relationship between different emotions and psychological attributes, gender differences in empathy, and the impact of narrative context on empathic responses

TESTING OF CHRYSANTHEMUM STEM NECROSIS VIRUS AND OTHER AMERICAN CLADE 1 TOSPOVIRUSES BY RT-PCR

Detection of Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) and other tospoviruses of American clade 1

The genetic consequences of population marginality

Aim: Marginal tree populations, either those located at the edges of the species\u27 rangeor in suboptimal environments, are often a valuable genetic resource for biologicalconservation. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the genetic consequencesof population marginality, estimated across entire species\u27 ranges. Our study ad-dresses this gap by providing information about several genetic indicators and theirvariability in marginal and core populations identified using quantitative marginalityindices.Location: Southwestern Europe and North Africa.Methods: Using 10,185 SNPs across 82 populations of maritime pine (Pinus pinasterAit.), a widespread conifer characterised by a fragmented range, we modelled therelationship of seven genetic indicators potentially related to population evolution-ary resilience, namely genetic diversity (based on both all SNPs and outlier SNPs),inbreeding, genetic differentiation, recessive genetic load and genomic offset, withpopulation geographical, demo-historical and ecological marginality (as estimated bynine quantitative indices). Models were constructed for both regional (introducinggene pool as a random factor) and range-wide spatial scales.Results: We showed a trend towards decreasing overall genetic diversity and increas-ing differentiation with geographic marginality, supporting the centre-periphery hy-pothesis (CPH). However, we found no correlation between population inbreedingand marginality, while geographically marginal populations had a lower recessive ge-netic load (only models without the gene pool effect). Ecologically marginal popula-tions had a higher genomic offset, suggesting higher maladaptation to future climate,albeit some of these populations also had high genetic diversity for climate outliers.Main Conclusions: Overall genetic diversity (but not outlier-based estimates) and dif-ferentiation patterns support the CPH. Ecologically marginal populations and those atthe southern edge could be more vulnerable to climate change due to higher climate maladaptation, as predicted by genomic offsets, and/or lower potentially adaptive ge-netic diversity. This risk is exacerbated by typically small effective population sizesand increasing human impact in marginal populations

Hepatic alterations in a BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism and improvement using melatonin via mitigation oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosis

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder, and its etiology is not well understood. It is known that genetic and nongenetic factors determine alterations in several organs, such as the liver, in individuals with this disorder. The aims of the present study were to analyze morphological and biological alterations in the liver of an autistic mouse model, BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, and to identify therapeutic strategies for alleviating hepatic impairments using melatonin administration. We studied hepatic cytoarchitecture, oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosis in BTBR mice and used C57BL6/J mice as healthy control subjects. The mice were divided into four groups and then treated and not treated with melatonin, respectively. BTBR mice showed (a) a retarded development of livers and (b) iron accumulation and elevated oxidative stress and inflammation. We demonstrated that the expression of ferroptosis markers, the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (NFR2), was upregulated, and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) was downregulated in BTBR mice. Then, we evaluated the effects of melatonin on the hepatic alterations of BTBR micemelatonin has a positive effect on liver cytoarchitecture and metabolic functions

Natural disturbances in Bovec region – analysis of the impact and factors for the occurrence of natural disturbance

V raziskavi smo analizirali strukturo poseka na Bovškem v obdobju 1995–2020 s poudarkom na sanitarnem poseku zaradi vetra in podlubnikov ter poskušali poiskati glavne dejavnike, ki vplivajo na verjetnost pojavljanja vetrolomov in namnožitve podlubnikov. Pridobili smo podatke o količini in strukturi poseka za raziskovalno območje v obdobju 1995–2020 in podatke o šestindvajsetih lokacijah vetrolomov z znanim časom nastanka ter šestindvajsetih odsekih, poškodovanih zaradi podlubnikov. Podatke smo analizirali s pomočjo metod opisne statistike, bivariatne analize in binarne logistične regresije. V raziskovalnem območju smo zaznali izrazito povečanje sanitarnega poseka po letu 2018. Glavna vzroka sanitarnih sečenj sta bila veter in podlubniki. Binarna logistična regresija je kot ključne dejavnike za pojav vetrolomov izpostavila kamnitost in prisotnost minulih motenj ter valovitega reliefa. Bivariatne analize so pokazale tudi, da se vetrolomi pojavljajo predvsem v debeljakih z visoko lesno zalogo, ki rastejo na zmernih do strmih grebenih z južno ekspozicijo, imajo tesen ali vrzelast sklep in večji delež pomlajenih vrzeli. Binarna regresija je izpostavila tudi vpliv močnih jugozahodnih vetrov, ki prinašajo obilne padavine. Za pojav podlubnikov je binarna logistična regresija kot ključne dejavnike izpostavila količino lesne zaloge in delež iglavcev. Bivariatne analize so pokazale tudi, da se podlubniki pogosteje pojavljajo v odsekih z valovitim reliefom in jugovzhodno ekspozicijo, večjim deležem mladovij in sestojev v obnovi ter manjšim deležem drogovnjakov. Analizirali smo tudi trend večanja sanitarnega poseka po koncu proučevanega obdobja 1995–2020.The research analysed the structure of harvested timber in the Bovec region in the period 1995–2020 with an emphasis on sanitary felling due to windthrow and bark beetles outbreaks. Research determined the main influencing factors affecting the probability of windthrow and bark beetle outbreak. From Slovenia Forest Service we acquired the data presenting the amount and structure of felling performed in research area in the period 1995–2020. He also gathered stand-, site- and climate-related data from 26 locations of windthrow with a known time of occurrence and 26 forest sections damaged by bark beetles outbreaks. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression. In the research area, we detected significant increase in the amount of sanitary felling after 2018. The main causes of sanitary felling were windthrow and bark beetle outbreaks. Binary logistic regression highlighted stoniness, the presence of past disturbance and undulating relief as key factors for the occurrence of windthrow. Bivariate analyses showed that windthrow mainly occurred on moderate to steep ridges with southern exposure, in mature stands with a high growing stock, dense or partly-opened canopy cover, and higher proportion of gaps containing regeneration stages. Analysis also proved the impact of strong south-western winds. For the occurrence of bark beetle outbreaks, the binary logistic regression highlighted growing stock and share of conifers as key influential factors. Bivariate analyses indicated that bark beetle outbreaks occurred more frequently in areas with undulating relief, south-eastern exposure, higher proportion of regenerative stages and stands under regeneration, as well as lower proportion of pole stands. We also analysed the growing trend of sanitary felling after the end of the analysed period 1995-2020

Rare Middle Triassic coleoids from the Alpine-Carpathian system: new records from Slovakia and their signifcance

Two stratigraphically well constrained (by ammonites and conodonts) coleoid remains have been recorded from the Triassic (Anisian) dark-grey organodetritic limestones (Ráztoka Limestone) of Western Carpathians (Hronic Nappe). The limestones deposited at the periphery of a former carbonate platform. It yields a highly diverse cephalopod fauna including nautiloids (2 taxa), ammonoids (7 taxa) and indetermined aulacoceratids. Two unusual coleoid specimens are referred to genus Mojsisovicsteuthis (M. boeckhi) and probably to a new taxon (described as Breviconoteuthis aff. breviconus herein) possessing similar morphological features of genus Breviconoteuthis (Phragmoteuthida) and/or Zugmontites. Based on index ammonites and conodonts, both records are of the uppermost Trinodosus through the lowermost Reitzi zones (Anisian—lower Illyrian). While the genus Mojsisovicsteuthis has been widely dispersed (however its records are rare), the occurrence of Breviconoteuthis and Zugmontites is strictly limited to the Alpine-Carpathian region. Comparing with the holotype and additional specimens stored in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, the overal shell of Mojsisovicsteuthis and its size has been reconstructed. Its relationship to aulacoceratids and phragmoteuthids is briefly discussed. Geochemical record (n-alkanes from the bulk rock) provided a relevant signal of the existence of algal meadows