The impact of situational framing and complexity on charismatic, ideological and pragmatic leaders: Investigation using a computer simulation.

Recent investigations of a new model of outstanding leadership suggest that, in addition to the often-researched charismatic pathway, there exist two additional, yet equally viable, pathways to outstanding achievement: ideological and pragmatic (Mumford, 2006). Despite the compelling results of these initial studies, additional questions remain as to when and under what situational conditions these leaders operate most effectively. Thus, an experiment was conducted to investigate two noteworthy contextual influences: (1) situational congruence with a leader's mental model and (2) environmental complexity. The experiment made use of a computerized leadership simulation where participants took on the role of a university chancellor. Results indicate that leader type, complexity, and situational framing were critical factors in determining leader performance on multiple game performance criteria as well as creative process criteria. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed

Pixels and Propaganda: A Primer on Gaming, Gaming-Adjacent Platforms, and Extremism

The intersection of gaming and artificial intelligence with extremism raises complex challenges that demand careful consideration. While video games can serve as a platform for entertainment, social interaction, and skill development, these virtual realms can potentially amplify extremist ideologies. Immersive gaming environments, coupled with sophisticated AI algorithms, may facilitate the creation and spread of radicalizing content or serve as an extremist recruitment ground. Preserving positive aspects of gaming and reducing extremist risk requires collaboration from the gaming industry and community, AI developers, cybersecurity experts, and policymakers

Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States 2024

As expressed in the original 2008 report, Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are generally easy to develop, difficult to combat, and cause disproportionate physical and psychological harm to the citizenry. Research, development, test, and evaluation options to assist domestic counter-IED efforts are plentiful, easily overwhelming the ability of government and industry to fund. This updated report outlines 10 challenge areas where concentrated research can be most beneficial when combating IED use in the homeland and is a summation of interagency efforts to analyze operational capabilities and gaps, as well as their associated research needs

Target Personification Influences the Positive Emotional Link Between Generating and Implementing Malevolently Creative Ideas

Research on malevolent creativity has rarely linked the generation of harmful ideas with their implementation (i.e., malevolent innovation). To explain why people might act upon their malevolently creative ideas, we drew on affective events theory. Specifically, given evidence that aggressive and creative thought events can elicit positive emotions, we argued that generating new and harmful ideas can evoke positive emotional states that make malevolent innovation a more desirable course of action. We first tested our mediational pathway in two studies with different malevolent creativity tasks. Finding only partial support for our predictions in Study 1 (N = 126), but full support in Study 2 (N = 296), we reflected on our study tasks and suspected that our mixed results may have occurred because the target of ideas in Study 2 embodied more human qualities than in Study 1. Thus, we integrated theory on target personification to see if assigning personhood to a target moderated the malevolent creativity-innovation pathway. We tested our updated model in Study 3 (N = 214) and found that the indirect effect of malevolent creativity on the desire to implement ideas (through positive emotions) was indeed conditional upon individuals’ personification of a target. Plain Language Summary Little research has examined why and when people might act upon their malevolently creative (i.e., new and harmful) ideas. Given evidence that aggression and creativity can both arouse positive emotional states, it may be possible that forming malevolently creative ideas can make people feel more positively about implementing them later on. However, our research findings paint a more nuanced picture, suggesting that the emotional link between generating and implementing malevolently creative ideas only occurs when people see their targets as more human-like (i.e., they can assign personhood to their targets)

Associations of Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Oxidation with Body Fat in Premenopausal Women

Higher in vivo fatty acid (FA) oxidation rates have been reported in obese individuals compared to lean counterparts; however whether this reflects a shift in substrate-specific oxidative capacity at the level of the skeletal muscle mitochondria has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that in situ measures of skeletal muscle mitochondria FA oxidation would be positively associated with total body fat. Participants were 38 premenopausal women (BMI=26.5±4.3 kg/m2). Total and regional fat were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Mitochondrial FA oxidation was assessed in permeabilized myofibers using high-resolution respirometry and a palmitoyl carnitine substrate. We found positive associations of total fat mass with State 3 (ADP-stimulated respiration) (r=0.379, p<0.05) and the respiratory control ratio (RCR, measure of mitochondrial coupling) (r=0.348, p<0.05). When participants were dichotomized by high or low body fat percent, participants with high total body fat displayed a higher RCR compared to those with low body fat (p<0.05). There were no associations between any measure of regional fat and mitochondrial FA oxidation independent of total fat mass. In conclusion, greater FA oxidation in obesity may reflect molecular processes that enhance FA oxidation capacity at the mitochondrial level

Spatio-temporal ecology of sympatric felids on Borneo. Evidence for resource partitioning?

Niche differentiation, the partitioning of resources along one or more axes of a species’ niche hyper-volume, is widely recognised as an important mechanism for sympatric species to reduce interspecific competition and predation risk, and thus facilitate co-existence. Resource partitioning may be facilitated by behavioural differentiation along three main niche dimensions: habitat, food and time. In this study, we investigate the extent to which these mechanisms can explain the coexistence of an assemblage of five sympatric felids in Borneo. Using multi-scale logistic regression, we show that Bornean felids exhibit differences in both their broad and fine-scale habitat use. We calculate temporal activity patterns and overlap between these species, and present evidence for temporal separation within this felid guild. Lastly, we conducted an all-subsets logistic regression to predict the occurrence of each felid species as a function of the co-occurrence of a large number of other species and showed that Bornean felids co-occurred with a range of other species, some of which could be candidate prey. Our study reveals apparent resource partitioning within the Bornean felid assemblage, operating along all three niche dimension axes. These results provide new insights into the ecology of these species and the broader community in which they live and also provide important information for conservation planning for this guild of predators

Protocol variations in run-on transcription dataset preparation produce detectable signatures in sequencing libraries

Background A variety of protocols exist for producing whole genome run-on transcription datasets. However, little is known about how differences between these protocols affect the signal within the resulting libraries. Results Using run-on transcription datasets generated from the same biological system, we show that a variety of GRO- and PRO-seq preparation methods leave identifiable signatures within each library. Specifically we show that the library preparation method results in differences in quality control metrics, as well as differences in the signal distribution at the 5 &prime; end of transcribed regions. These shifts lead to disparities in eRNA identification, but do not impact analyses aimed at inferring the key regulators involved in changes to transcription. Conclusions Run-on sequencing protocol variations result in technical signatures that can be used to identify both the enrichment and library preparation method of a particular data set. These technical signatures are batch effects that limit detailed comparisons of pausing ratios and eRNAs identified across protocols. However, these batch effects have only limited impact on our ability to infer which regulators underlie the observed transcriptional changes. &nbsp;</p

Predicting connectivity, population size and genetic diversity of Sunda clouded leopards across Sabah, Borneo

Context The Sunda clouded leopard is vulnerable to forest loss and fragmentation. Conservation of this species requires spatially explicit evaluations of the effects of landscape patterns on genetic diversity, population size and landscape connectivity. Objectives We sought to develop predictions of Sunda clouded leopard population density, genetic diversity and population connectivity across the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. We also wished to quantify the differences in connectivity metrics from an empirically optimized model of landscape resistance with one based on expert opinion. Methods We investigated connectivity metrics for Sunda clouded leopards across Sabah, based on an empirically optimised, movement based model, and an expert-opinion derived model. We used simulation modelling to predict and compare the patterns and causes of differences in the local neighbourhood population density, distribution, and genetic diversity across the two different resistance maps, at two dispersal distances. Results The empirical model produced higher estimates of population size, population density, genetic diversity and overall connectivity than the expert-opinion model. The overall pattern of predicted connectivity was similar between models. Both models identified a large patch of core habitat with high predicted connectivity in Sabah’s central forest region, and agreed on the location and extent of the main isolated habitat fragments. Conclusions We identified clear relationships between landscape composition and configuration and predicted distribution, density, genetic diversity and connectivity of Sunda clouded leopard populations. Core areas are comprised of large and unfragmented forest blocks, and areas of reduced forest cover comprise barriers among patches of predicted remaining habitat

Functional Neuronal Circuits Promote Disease Progression in Cancer

The molecular and functional contributions of intratumoral nerves to disease remain largely unknown. We localized synaptic markers within tumors suggesting that these nerves form functional connections. Consistent with this, electrophysiological analysis shows that malignancies harbor significantly higher electrical activity than benign disease or normal tissues. We also demonstrate pharmacologic silencing of tumoral electrical activity. Tumors implanted in transgenic animals lacking nociceptor neurons show reduced electrical activity. These data suggest that intratumoral nerves remain functional at the tumor bed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrates the presence of the neuropeptide, Substance P (SP), within the tumor space. We show that tumor cells express the SP receptor, NK1R, and that ligand/receptor engagement promotes cellular proliferation and migration. Our findings identify a mechanism whereby intratumoral nerves promote cancer progression

Masses, radii, and orbits of small Kepler planets : The transition from gaseous to rocky planets

We report on the masses, sizes, and orbits of the planets orbiting 22 Kepler stars. There are 49 planet candidates around these stars, including 42 detected through transits and 7 revealed by precise Doppler measurements of the host stars. Based on an analysis of the Kepler brightness measurements, along with high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, Doppler spectroscopy, and (for 11 stars) asteroseismology, we establish low false-positive probabilities (FPPs) for all of the transiting planets (41 of 42 have an FPP under 1%), and we constrain their sizes and masses. Most of the transiting planets are smaller than three times the size of Earth. For 16 planets, the Doppler signal was securely detected, providing a direct measurement of the planet's mass. For the other 26 planets we provide either marginal mass measurements or upper limits to their masses and densities; in many cases we can rule out a rocky composition. We identify six planets with densities above 5 g cm-3, suggesting a mostly rocky interior for them. Indeed, the only planets that are compatible with a purely rocky composition are smaller than 2 R ⊕. Larger planets evidently contain a larger fraction of low-density material (H, He, and H2O).Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio