A Ludic Generation: Bridging Architecture, Games, and Technology for More Playful Spaces

In a world dominated by mundane environments, this thesis proposes a novel approach to designing public spaces that integrate game design principles and extended reality technology. By embracing the inherent ludic behavior found in human nature and games, I aim to elevate everyday experiences. This research delves into the capabilities of extended reality technology, psychology of play and its cultural and societal background, psychology of human archetypes, and game design components as an extraction for architectural typologies. Key findings reveal that by analyzing game components, design languages are formed and can be used to develop feasible architectural typologies. The significance of ephemerality in architecture is also revealed as a mirroring concept for the need of frequent updates in games to maintain stimulation. There must also be an emphasis on understanding that typical space users may have different emotions and tendencies compared to game users, and thus, spaces must be designed to coexist harmoniously with their users

An empirical and practical exploration of self-compassion at work

Abstract: Self-compassion is established as a personal resource that augments individual well-being and ameliorates interpersonal relationships (i.e. promoting stress and emotion management in the clinical psychology field). However, there is a dearth of research on its role in the organizational arena. This dissertation has the objective of deepening the understanding of the role of self-compassion at work. To accomplish this objective, two articles were produced. The first article, of an empirical nature, examines the relationship between self-compassion and innovation and well-being, in addition to exposing the mechanism that is underlying this relationship. With the support of the theory of the tripartite model of affect regulation, this study proposes and tests a multi-level mediation model by which social safeness explains the relationship between self-compassion and well-being and innovation on the individual and group levels. The second article is theoretical. Grounded in Evidence Based Management, it allies research to practice, to present an exhaustive literature review on self-compassion and its benefits in the organization. More specifically, the association between self-compassion, well-being, and resilience is uncovered. Factors that foster self-compassion are identified as: contemplative trainings, leadership style, listening style, and personal factors such as gender. As a result, this dissertation proposes many contributions. At the scientific level, it clarifies, for the first time, the mechanism by which self-compassion engenders positive outcomes on the individual and group levels in organizations. This dissertation responds to the research call to better comprehend the role of self-compassion in the organizational context, and significantly augments current knowledge, clarifying how self-compassion can foster positive organizational outcomes. Additionally, the information generated in this dissertation informs professionals by proposing practical recommendations based on recent scientific research to inform the implementation of self-compassion in the workplace in order to enable optimal functioning of individuals and organizations. Thus, the research conducted in this dissertation illuminates the positive impact of self-compassion in the work place.Résumé: L’autocompassion est établie comme étant une ressource personnelle augmentant le bien-être individuel et améliorant les relations interpersonnelles (e.g. promouvant la gestion du stress et des émotions dans un contexte de psychologie clinique). Il y a, cependant, une pénurie d’études sur son rôle dans le domaine organisationnel. Ce mémoire a pour objectif de mieux comprendre le rôle de l’autocompassion au travail. Pour accomplir cet objectif, deux articles ont été rédigés. Le premier article, de nature empirique, examine la relation de l’autocompassion avec l’innovation et le bien-être au travail, ainsi que le mécanisme sous-jacent à cette relation. Appuyé par la théorie du modèle tripartie de régulation des affects, cette étude propose et vérifie un modèle de médiation multi-niveaux par lequel le sentiment de sécurité sociale explique la relation de l’autocompassion avec le bien-être et l’innovation individuel et groupal. L’échantillon fut composé de 101 employés, regroupés en 26 équipes, provenant de différentes organisations situées en Amérique du Nord. Les hypothèses ont été testées par des analyses d’équations structurelles multi-niveaux. Les résultats ont démontré que le sentiment de sécurité sociale médie les effets positifs de l’autocompassion sur le bien-être et l’innovation aux niveaux individuel et groupal. Le second article, de nature théorique, allie la recherche à la pratique en s’appuyant sur les principes de l’Evidence Based Management pour fournir une recension des êcrits exhaustive sur l’autocompassion et ses bienfaits en milieu organisationnel. Plus spécifiquement, le lien entre l’autocompassion, le bien-être et la résilience, est exposé. De plus, les leviers pour augmenter l’autocompassion sont identifiés comme étant : la formation basée sur la pratique contemplative, le style de leadership, le style d’écoute, et des facteurs personnels tel que le genre. En résumé, ce mémoire apporte plusieurs contributions. Au niveau scientifique, il clarifie, pour la première fois, le mécanisme par lequel l’autocompassion engendre des effets positifs au niveau individuel et groupal dans les organisations. Ce mémoire répond à l’exigence des chercheurs de mieux comprendre le rôle de l’autocompassion dans le contexte organisationnel et augmente de manière significative les connaissances actuelles permettant de comprendre comment l’autocompassion favorise l’obtention de résultats organisationnels positifs. Par ailleurs, l’information générée par ce mémoire fournit aux professionnels des recommandations pratiques fondées sur les données probantes leur permettant de développer l’autocompassion au travail pour favoriser le fonctionnement optimal des individus et des organisations. Ainsi, la recherche conduit par ce mémoire, met en valeur l’impact positif de l’autocompassion au travail

Does environmental enrichment while studying improve recall?

Previous research suggests that studying audio and visual stimuli in two different rooms increases verbal recall, as compared to studying twice in only one room (Smith, Glenberg, & Bjork, 1978). The present study utilized this paradigm, and also separated the room and modality factors as sources of environmental enrichment. In Experiment 1, subjects learned a list of 40 common English words twice, in either one or two different rooms, and were tested in a third room (N = 60). In Experiment 2, subjects learned the same word lists, using either one or two modalities (audition and vision), and again were tested in a third environment (N = 59). As predicted from the theory of Smith and Vela (2001), the usual improvement in memory from either room or modality enrichment did not occur when short time intervals were used between learning and recall, and the mean recall scores were essentially identical. The enrichment effect is interpreted as involving the development of categorized memory information over time, thus enabling retrieval strategies to operate, rather than an increase in the strength of initial learning

Calmodulin-dependent nuclear import of HMG-box family nuclear factors: importance of the role of SRY in sex reversal

The HMG (high-mobility group)-box-containing chromatin-remodelling factor SRY (sex-determining region on the Y chromosome) plays a key role in sex determination. Its role in the nucleus is critically dependent on two NLSs (nuclear localization signals) that flank its HMG domain: the C-terminally located ‘β-NLS’ that mediates nuclear transport through Impβ1 (importin β1) and the N-terminally located ‘CaM-NLS’ which is known to recognize the calcium-binding protein CaM (calmodulin). In the present study, we examined a number of missense mutations in the SRY CaM-NLS from human XY sex-reversed females for the first time, showing that they result in significantly reduced nuclear localization of GFP (green fluorescent protein)–SRY fusion proteins in transfected cells compared with wild-type. The CaM antagonist CDZ (calmidazolium chloride) was found to significantly reduce wild-type SRY nuclear accumulation, indicating dependence of SRY nuclear import on CaM. Intriguingly, the CaM-NLS mutants were all resistant to CDZ's effects, implying a loss of interaction with CaM, which was confirmed by direct binding experiments. CaM-binding/resultant nuclear accumulation was the only property of SRY found to be impaired by two of the CaM-NLS mutations, implying that inhibition of CaM-dependent nuclear import is the basis of sex reversal in these cases. Importantly, the CaM-NLS is conserved in other HMG-box-domain-containing proteins such as SOX-2, -9, -10 and HMGN1, all of which were found for the first time to rely on CaM for optimal nuclear localization. CaM-dependent nuclear translocation is thus a common mechanism for this family of important transcription factors

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

RNA containing intracellular particles in cytoplasmic male sterile Faba bean.

International audienc

La sterilite male nucleo-cytoplasmique chez la feverole Vicia faba L. :2. Etude cytologique et biochimique de particules de type viral associees a la sterilite male.

National audienc