Improved Gaussian mixture model and Gaussian mixture regression for learning from demonstration based on Gaussian noise scattering

Learning from Demonstration (LfD) is an effectual approach for robots to acquire new skills by implementing intuitive learning through imitating human demonstration. As one of the mainstream learning models for LfD, Gaussian mixture modeling (GMM) and Gaussian mixture regression (GMR) exhibit the advantages of ease of use and robust learning capabilities. To further improve the learning and regression performance of GMM/GMR, in this paper, improved GMM/GMR based on a Gaussian noise scattering strategy is designed. The main contributions of this study include: 1) the Gaussian noise scattering strategy is developed to eliminate the requirement of creating multiple demonstrations and overcome the jitter and sharp-turning defects of the demonstration; 2) based on a new evaluation criterion IBF and the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), GMM/GMR is optimized to achieve the balance of feature retention of the demonstration and the smoothness of the reproduced solution. Experimental results show that with the Gaussian noise scattering strategy, the geometric similarity of the reproduced solution and the demonstration increased for approximately 33.16 %, and the smoothness improved for 19.83 %. The challenges of underfitting and overfitting in GMM/GMR were effectively mitigated after incorporating the evaluation criterion IBF and leveraging SSA. This demonstrates the potential applicability of the improved GMM/GMR in practical industrial scenarios

Desistance habitus:strategically using experience in action

This article builds on the concept of Street and Carceral Habitus and Capital and introduces the forward-thinking concept of Desistance Capital. This takes place through an auto ethnographical embodied experience of navigating both persistent criminality and the revolving door of incarceration. The auto-ethnographical analysis is posited within Bourdieu’s conceptual frameworks of Habitus, Capital, Field, and Doxa. It is argued through lived experience that these constructs provide an innovative approach to explore how legitimacy is obtained as capital within the relational dynamic between those involved in the criminal justice system and professionals who have been exposed to similar lived experiences of crime and punishment. This method of analysis is lacking within the limited criminological investigation that has taken place on peer mentors. The conclusion is that both street and carceral experiences can generate legitimacy and credibility as Desistance Capital by professionals with both street and carceral habitus

Understanding the impact of professional football club cultural climates on the experiences of women working in football

Since the professionalization of English women’s football in 2018, it is now considered a viable career opportunity for women footballers. Nevertheless, little is known about women working within the culture of professional football clubs, the impact on their career experiences, and crucially, within the context of women’s sport. Utilizing Schein’s model of organizational culture as a theoretical framework and focusing on the professional tiers of English women’s football, we interviewed General Managers and Head Coaches for what they perceive to be the cultural features of their organizations that either constrain or support the recruitment, retention, and/or progression of female leaders. Through this, we identified cultural features that either constrain or support the recruitment, retention, and progression of female leaders. In doing so, this research advances existing literature by centering the specific dynamics of women’s sport organizations rather than extrapolating from men’s football and offers a gendered critique of cultural assumptions that continue to marginalize women. We also extend Schein’s framework by applying it to a gendered sporting context, highlighting how deeper cultural artefacts, espoused values, and underlying assumptions intersect with structural inequalities. Findings suggest that women continue to be appraised on the basis of gender rather than capability and that club cultures and practices are constraining the appointment of a gender-diverse workforce. We argue for a shift in focus toward systemic cultural change to address persistent gender inequalities in football leadership

Introducing the emotions-affect systems elicitation (EASEL-3) index:a new tool for measuring affect regulation systems' activation

Objective: Although emotions pervade and influence individual and interpersonal functioning and well-being, their nature and taxonomy remain a bone of contention. The ‘three-circle’ model, comprising three dynamically interacting affect regulation systems (i.e., threat, drive, and soothing), provides a useful framework for aggregating emotions and understanding emotion (dys)regulation while closely supporting therapeutic intervention. Imbalances in the activation and (inter)action of these affect regulation systems have been implicated in a wide range of physical and mental disorders; however, there are currently no tools for quantifying each system's activation. The aim of this study was to develop a novel index of the three affect regulation systems: threat, drive and soothing. Method: Three independent expert panels, composed of researchers in the ‘three-circle’ model, researchers in the field of affective science, and clinicians (N = 70), estimated the degree of activation of each affect regulation system induced by discrete emotions. Results: Overall, agreement among experts was high regarding the emotions that mapped primarily onto each affect regulation system and the degree of the corresponding activation. These results constitute the basis for the Emotions-Affect Systems ELicitation Index (EASEL-3) index, which provides a continuous score of the estimated activation of the three systems. Conclusion and Discussion: Although in need of field testing, the EASEL-3 index may prove valuable in research and clinical settings, opening new avenues on the measurement of the affect regulation systems, their correlates and associated outcomes, helping characterize and compare activation patterns across clinical populations and contexts, and informing the assessment and personalization of interventions.</p

Embedding research methods as a technique for contextualising learning and understanding to overcome threshold concepts in psychology

The present work seeks to assess whether threshold concepts can be transitioned through by integrating content from different domains of Psychology. The work expounds issues surrounding threshold concepts and its relationship to student achievement in a Research Methods activity embedded within a Personality and Intelligence module. The specific threshold concepts focused upon in the present work is the contextual understanding of human intelligence, psychological assessment, statistical analysis and interpretation of findings. The paper emphasises the importance of the context in which learning takes place to not only meet learning outcomes but enhance student experience. The present study used a between subject mixed methods approach utilising a quasi-experimental design. Qualitative feedback indicated that the student experience to embedding content was received positively. Cohort grade averages were also improved, demonstrating an improvement in student outcomes compared to the typical way that these topics are taught. The paper recommends the exploration of integrating topics in Psychology to better suit the student learning experience and outcomes. These findings carry significant implications for undergraduate curriculum design in Psychology and potentially other disciplines. Integrating research methods into subject-specific modules could be an effective strategy for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application

Climate change-based art and philosophy intervention and mental health in children

Children are becoming increasingly aware of the accelerating1 climate crisis and more vulnerable to developing eco-anxiety,2 an emotional reaction that arises when an individual recognizes the impact humans have on the environment (see eAppendix in Supplement 1).3 A promising approach for children to discuss their eco-anxiety in schools is through the integration of artistic creation and philosophical inquiry.3This study compared the outcomes of arts-based interventions (ABI) and arts-and-philosophy–based interventions (APBI), centered on the theme of climate change, with elementary school students’ eco-anxiety as a primary outcome, and their intolerance to distress, hope, and mental health as secondary outcomes

Wittgenstein and arguments from design

Among the most popular arguments for God are those from design, which draw from science to argue that the universe is so finely tuned for life that it implies the existence of a designer. Wittgensteinians reply that although such arguments can convince a person that a creator exists, they do not necessarily lead to a religious belief. Wittgensteinians explain that a belief is religious because of what it is like, not what it is about, and what it is like is an aspect of a form of life. Convincing a person that a creator exists is not the same as changing their life religiously. Since arguments from design focus on the former over the latter, they often fail to develop religious beliefs. If this is convincing and such arguments aim to develop religious beliefs, supporters should reconsider the design of arguments from design. That said, Wittgensteinians are vocal in their complaints about the failures of arguments but quiet when asked to specify what a successful argument would look like. In this paper, I motivate the Wittgensteinian case against arguments from design and then outline what a successful argument needs to achieve and how it could be achieved. In doing so, this paper highlights the importance of changing lives alongside minds and encourages reflection on how arguments from design can be designed to do so