Is attentional prioritisation of infant faces unique in humans?: Comparative demonstrations by modified dot-probe task in monkeys.

Humans innately perceive infantile features as cute. The ethologist Konrad Lorenz proposed that the infantile features of mammals and birds, known as the baby schema (kindchenschema), motivate caretaking behaviour. As biologically relevant stimuli, newborns are likely to be processed specially in terms of visual attention, perception, and cognition. Recent demonstrations on human participants have shown visual attentional prioritisation to newborn faces (i.e., newborn faces capture visual attention). Although characteristics equivalent to those found in the faces of human infants are found in nonhuman primates, attentional capture by newborn faces has not been tested in nonhuman primates. We examined whether conspecific newborn faces captured the visual attention of two Japanese monkeys using a target-detection task based on dot-probe tasks commonly used in human visual attention studies. Although visual cues enhanced target detection in subject monkeys, our results, unlike those for humans, showed no evidence of an attentional prioritisation for newborn faces by monkeys. Our demonstrations showed the validity of dot-probe task for visual attention studies in monkeys and propose a novel approach to bridge the gap between human and nonhuman primate social cognition research. This suggests that attentional capture by newborn faces is not common to macaques, but it is unclear if nursing experiences influence their perception and recognition of infantile appraisal stimuli. We need additional comparative studies to reveal the evolutionary origins of baby-schema perception and recognition

How to raise technology acceptance: User experience characteristics as technology-inherent determinants

Mlekus L, Bentler D, Paruzel A, Kato-Beiderwieden A-L, Maier GW. How to raise technology acceptance: User experience characteristics as technology-inherent determinants. Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO). 2020;51(3):273-283.This paper in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) presents a study that investigated user experience characteristics as determinants of technology acceptance. Organizations planning to implement new technologies are confronted with the challenge to ensure user acceptance. Barely accepted technologies are used less often, result in lower job satisfaction, and ultimately lead to performance losses. The technology acceptance model (Venkatesh and Bala 2008) incorporates determinants of information technology use. The model’s predictors have a strong focus on interindividual user characteristics (such as computer self-efficacy) and the job context (e.g., voluntariness). Yet, what is lacking in the model, are characteristics of the technology itself that can be used as starting points to design better technologies. To bridge this gap, we introduce the User Experience Technology Acceptance Model, and provide a first test of this model. In our online survey (N = 281), we investigated how technological determinants, more specifically user experience characteristics, affected technology acceptance. Except for two paths of our proposed model, all path coefficients were significant with small to large effect sizes (f² = 0.02 – 0.66). User experience predictors resulted in 60.6% of explained variance in perceived ease of use, 38.2% of explained variance in perceived usefulness, and 25.8% of explained variance in behavioral intention. Our results provide mostly support for our extension of the technology acceptance model. The technology-inherent characteristics output quality, perspicuity, dependability, and novelty were significant predictors of technology acceptance. We discuss theoretical and practical implications with the focus on technology designers, change managers, and users.Dieser Beitrag in der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) stellt eine Studie vor, in der User Experience-Merkmale als Einflussfaktoren auf Technologieakzeptanz untersucht wurden. Bei der Einführung neuer Technologien sehen sich Unternehmen vor der Herausforderung, dass Benutzer diese akzeptieren. Wenig akzeptierte Technologien werden seltener eingesetzt, stehen in Verbindung mit einer geringeren Arbeitszufriedenheit und wirken sich schlecht auf die Leistung aus. Das Technology Acceptance Model (Venkatesh und Bala 2008) umfasst Faktoren, die die Nutzung von Informationstechnologien vorhersagen. Diese beinhalten vornehmlich interindividuelle Benutzermerkmale (z. B. Computer-Selbstwirksamkeit) und den beruflichen Kontext (z. B. Freiwilligkeit). Was jedoch im Modell fehlt, sind Merkmale der Technologie selbst, die als Ausgangspunkt für das Design besserer Technologien dienen können. Um diese Lücke zu schließen, präsentieren und testen wir das User Experience Technology Acceptance Model. In unserer Online-Umfrage (N = 281) haben wir untersucht, wie technologische Faktoren, insbesondere User Experience-Merkmale, die Technologieakzeptanz beeinflussen. Mit Ausnahme von zwei Pfaden waren alle Pfadkoeffizienten unseres Modells bei kleinen bis großen Effektstärken (f² = 0,02 - 0,66) signifikant. Die User Experience-Prädiktoren klärten 60,6% der Varianz der wahrgenommenen Einfachheit der Nutzung, 38,2% der Varianz der wahrgenommenen Nützlichkeit und 25,8% der Varianz der Nutzungsabsicht auf. Unsere Ergebnisse unterstützen größtenteils die Erweiterung des Technology Acceptance Models. Die technologiebezogenen Merkmale Output-Qualität, Durchschaubarkeit, Zuverlässigkeit und Neuartigkeit waren signifikante Prädiktoren für die Technologieakzeptanz. Wir diskutieren theoretische und praktische Implikationen mit dem Fokus auf Technologiegestaltern, Change-Managern und Anwendern

The Birman-Schwinger principle in von Neumann algebras of finite type

We introduce a relative index for a pair of dissipative operators in a von Neumann algebra of finite type and prove an analog of the Birman-Schwinger principle in this setting. As an application of this result, revisiting the Birman-Krein formula in the abstract scattering theory, we represent the de la Harpe-Skandalis determinant of the characteristic function of dissipative operators in the algebra in terms of the relative index

Agricultura de corte e queima e alternativas agroecológicas na Amazônia

Esse artigo tem por objetivo apresentar a principal forma de uso do solo pelos agricultores da Amazônia, bem como as alternativas de produção baseadas nos princípios agroecológicos através de levantamento bibliográfico. A agricultura é identificada com a principal causadora do desmatamento na região devido ao corte e a queima da vegetação como principal forma de preparo de áreas para o cultivo. Essa prática consiste em derrubar e queimar a vegetação para a implantação de cultivos agrícolas por dois ou três anos, posteriormente a área é deixada em pousio para o estabelecimento da vegetação secundária e o solo retome sua capacidade produtiva. No entanto, com o crescimento populacional e a necessidade de geração de alimentos essa prática tornou-se insustentável devido apresentar períodos de pousio cada vez mais curtos. Com isso, o desenvolvimento de novas formas de cultivo sustentável tornou-se necessário

OT J002656.6+284933 (CSS101212:002657+284933): An SU UMa-Type Dwarf Nova with Longest Superhump Period

We observed the 2016 outburst of OT J002656.6+284933 (CSS101212:002657+284933) and found that it has the longest recorded [0.13225(1) d in average] superhumps among SU UMa-type dwarf novae. The object is the third known SU UMa-type dwarf nova above the period gap. The outburst, however, was unlike ordinary long-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae in that it showed two post-outburst rebrightenings. It showed superhump evolution similar to short-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae. We could constrain the mass ratio to less than 0.15 (most likely between 0.10 and 0.15) by using superhump periods in the early and post-superoutburst stages. These results suggest the possibility that OT J002656.6+284933 has an anomalously undermassive secondary and it should have passed a different evolutionary track from the standard one.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ (Letters), Note added in proof has been added. Supplementary Information (si.pdf) is available in the source fil

Comparison of quantum binary experiments

A quantum binary experiment consists of a pair of density operators on a finite dimensional Hilbert space. An experiment E is called \epsilon-deficient with respect to another experiment F if, up to \epsilon, its risk functions are not worse than the risk functions of F, with respect to all statistical decision problems. It is known in the theory of classical statistical experiments that 1. for pairs of probability distributions, one can restrict to testing problems in the definition of deficiency and 2. that 0-deficiency is a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of a stochastic mapping that maps one pair onto the other. We show that in the quantum case, the property 1. holds precisely if E consist of commuting densities. As for property 2., we show that if E is 0-deficient with respect to F, then there exists a completely positive mapping that maps E onto F, but it is not necessarily trace preserving.Comment: 13 pages; version accepted in Rep. Math. Phys, minor change

Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster

A high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700

Melon diversity on the Silk Road by molecular phylogenetic analysis in Kazakhstan melons

To uncover population structure, phylogenetic relationship, and diversity in melons along the famous Silk Road, a seed size measurement and a phylogenetic analysis using five chloroplast genome markers, 17 RAPD markers and 11 SSR markers were conducted for 87 Kazakh melon accessions with reference accessions. Kazakh melon accessions had large seed with exception of two accessions of weedy melon, Group Agrestis, and consisted of three cytoplasm types, of which Ib-1/-2 and Ib-3 were dominant in Kazakhstan and nearby areas such as northwestern China, Central Asia and Russia. Molecular phylogeny showed that two unique genetic groups, STIa-2 with Ib-1/-2 cytoplasm and STIa-1 with Ib-3 cytoplasm, and one admixed group, STIAD combined with STIa and STIb, were prevalent across all Kazakh melon groups. STIAD melons that phylogenetically overlapped with STIa-1 and STIa-2 melons were frequent in the eastern Silk Road region, including Kazakhstan. Evidently, a small population contributed to melon development and variation in the eastern Silk Road. Conscious preservation of fruit traits specific to Kazakh melon groups is thought to play a role in the conservation of Kazakh melon genetic variation during melon production, where hybrid progenies were generated through open pollination