How is your mind-set? Proof of concept for the measurement of the level of emotional development

Background In persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, not only cognitive brain functions, but also socio-emotional processing networks may be impaired. This study aims to validate the Scale of Emotional Development—Short (SED-S) to provide an instrument for the assessment of socio-emotional brain functions. Method The SED-S was applied in 160 children aged 0–12 years. Criterion validity was investigated at item and scale level in terms of the agreement between the scale classification and the child’s chronological age. Additionally, interrater reliability and internal consistency were assessed. Results For the majority of items, the expected response pattern emerged, showing the highest response probabilities in the respective target age groups. Agreement between the classification of the different SED-S domains and chronological age was high (κw = 0.95; exact agreement = 80.6%). Interrater reliability at domain level ranged from κw = .98 to 1.00 and internal consistency was high (α = .99). Conclusion The study normed the SED-S in a sample of typically developing children and provides evidence for criterion validity on item, domain and scale level

Automated Planning of Process Models: The Constructions of Exclusive Choices

In our competitive world, companies need to adapt their processes quickly in order to react, for instance, to changing customer demands. Process models, as means to support process management, are nowadays often created and adapted in a time-consuming, widely used manual manner. Semantic Business Process Management in combination with planning approaches can alleviate this drawback by enabling an automated planning of process models. This paper describes the drawbacks that existing planning algorithms have related to the creation of process models. Therefore, we introduce - based on the design science paradigm - an innovative algorithm (method) that is suitable for the planning of process models focusing on the construction of the control flow pattern exclusive choice. Demonstrating the feasibility and the effectiveness of our method, we implemented our approach as a prototype. Finally, we evaluate the algorithm in terms of different properties like termination and its applicability within a real-use situation

A multisensory approach to spatial updating: the case of mental rotations

Mental rotation is the capacity to predict the outcome of spatial relationships after a change in viewpoint. These changes arise either from the rotation of the test object array or from the rotation of the observer. Previous studies showed that the cognitive cost of mental rotations is reduced when viewpoint changes result from the observer’s motion, which was explained by the spatial updating mechanism involved during self-motion. However, little is known about how various sensory cues available might contribute to the updating performance. We used a Virtual Reality setup in a series of experiments to investigate table-top mental rotations under different combinations of modalities among vision, body and audition. We found that mental rotation performance gradually improved when adding sensory cues to the moving observer (from None to Body or Vision and then to Body & Audition or Body & Vision), but that the processing time drops to the same level for any of the sensory contexts. These results are discussed in terms of an additive contribution when sensory modalities are co-activated to the spatial updating mechanism involved during self-motion. Interestingly, this multisensory approach can account for different findings reported in the literature

Integrated zone picking and vehicle routing operations with restricted intermediate storage

The competitiveness of a retailer is highly dependent on an efficient distribution system. This is especially true for the supply of stores from distribution centers. Stores ask for high flexibility when it comes to their supply. This means that fast order processing is essential. Order processing affects different subsystems at the distribution center: Orders are picked in multiple picking zones, transferred to intermediate storage, and delivered via dedicated tours. These processing steps are highly interdependent. The schedule for picking needs to be synchronized with the routing decisions to ensure availability of the delivery orders at the DC’s loading docks when their associated tours are scheduled. Concurrently, intermediate storage represents a bottleneck as capacities for order storage are limited. The simultaneous planning of picking and routing operations with restricted intermediate storage is therefore relevant for retail practice but has not so far been considered within an integrated planning approach. Our work addresses this task and discusses an integrated zone picking and vehicle routing problem with restricted intermediate storage. We present a comprehensive model formulation and introduce a general variable neighborhood search for simultaneous consideration of the given planning stages. We also present two alternative sequential approaches that are motivated by the prevailing planning situation in industry. Numerical experiments that we have conducted show the need for an integrated planning approach to obtain practicable results. Further, we identify the impact of the main problem characteristics on the overall planning problem and provide valuable insights for the application of this approach in industry

Virtually (re)constructed reality: the representation of physical space in commercial location-based games

Location-based games (LBGs) are based on digital representations of our surroundings and the spaces we inhabit. These digital twins of the real world, real world metaverses, are subsequently augmented by imaginary game content. However, the virtual reconstruction of the world inevitably emphasises some aspects of reality and disregards others. In this work we explore and discuss the elements of reality that are included, and omitted, in popular commercial LBGs. We focus on eight popular contemporary LBGs from five different developers and investigate their connections to the real world. Subsequently, we compare the identified real world features of the LBGs to the landscape dimensions of the widely adopted Landscape Character Assessment framework. The findings show that settlement, hydrology, climate and land cover are the most commonly incorporated landscape dimensions, albeit in low fidelity. By contrast, dimensions, such as geology, soils and enclosure were not represented in the observed LBGs. In addition, we discovered several anthropogenic and cultural aspects, such as land ownership and time depth that are implicitly included in some commercial LBGs, notably in the Niantic Wayfarer system providing unique high-fidelity data of cultural and historical locations. Overall, we find only little variance within landscape dimensions between the observed commercial LBGs. Our findings open discussions on choices regarding the virtual representation of the real world in systems, such as LBGs, navigational software and a reality-based metaverse

Co-occurrence of Emotional Lacrimation and Emotional Piloerection Indicates a Psychophysiological Climax in Emotional Arousal

This psychophysiological study is the first to examine the relationship between emotional tears and emotional piloerection (i.e., goosebumps). Although both phenomena have been related to peak states of being moved, details about their temporal occurrence and the associated levels of physiological arousal have remained unknown. In our study, we used emotionally powerful film scenes that were self-selected by participants. Our findings show that even within peak moments of emotional arousal, a gradation of intensity is possible. The overlap of tears and goosebumps signifies a maximal climax within peak moments. On the side of the stimulus, we found that displays of prosocial behavior play a crucial role in the elicitation of tears and goosebumps. Finally, based on the results of a formal film analysis of the tears-eliciting clips provided by our participants, as compared to randomly extracted, equally long control clips from the same films, we show how the technical and artistic making of the clips was optimized for the display of social interaction and emotional expressions

The Assessment of the Real-Time Radiative Properties and Productivity of Limnospira platensis in Tubular Photobioreactors

The development of tools to predict the photobioreactors’ (PBRs) productivity is a significant concern in biotechnology. To this end, it is required to know the light availability inside the cultivation unit and combine this information with a suitable kinetic expression that links the distribution of radiant energy with the cell growth rate. In a previous study, we presented and validated a methodology for assessing the radiative properties necessary to address the light distribution inside a PBR for varying illuminating conditions through the cultivation process of a phototrophic microorganism. Here, we sought to utilise this information to construct a predictive tool to estimate the productivity of an autotrophic bioprocess carried out in a 100 [L] tubular photobioreactor (TPBR). Firstly, the time-dependent optical properties over ten batch cultures of L. platensis were calculated. Secondly, the local volumetric rate of photon absorption was assessed based on a physical model of the interaction of the radiant energy with the suspended biomass, together with a Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. Lastly, a kinetic expression valid for low illumination conditions has been utilised to reproduce all the cultures’ experimentally obtained dry weight biomass concentration values. Taken together, time-dependent radiative properties and the kinetic model produced a valuable tool for the study and scaling up of TPBRs.Fil: Ibañez, Manuel Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Leonardi, Rodrigo Jorge. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Krujatz, Felix. University of Applied Sciences Zittau; AlemaniaFil: Heinrich, Josué Miguel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentin