Adaptability Research Articles

Adaptive behavior in primary agenesis of the corpus callosum

Background and aimsPrimary agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is a congenital neurological disorder characterized by the absence, either partial or complete, of the corpus callosum in individuals who do not have intellectual disability and are otherwise neurologically asymptomatic. While mild to moderate neurocognitive deficits have been observed in individuals with primary ACC using neuropsychological assessments, the impact of this syndrome on adaptive behavior remains insufficiently understood. MethodsThis study used self- and informant-ratings on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II) to evaluate adaptive behavior in 35 adults diagnosed with primary ACC. ResultsWhile adults with primary ACC reported adaptive functioning comparable to an age-adjusted normative sample, family informants rated their adaptive ability below norms in several skill domains, particularly social skills. ConclusionsThis pattern of lower ratings by informants than self-ratings suggests adults with ACC may have poor understanding of their own behavior and its consequences. This study demonstrates that informants observe significant deficiencies in the conceptual, social, and practical aspects of adaptive behavior in persons with primary ACC, and that these deficiencies are not seen as clearly by the persons themselves.

Assessment of the adaptive ability of regenerant and original oat genotypes to soil stressors

The aim of the research is a comparative analysis of the response to soil stressors according to the biochemical and productive characteristics of the initial genotypes of oats (line 2h15) and regenerative forms (RA, RAAl, RAMn, RACd) in the framework of evaluating the effectiveness of applied cell selection schemes. In the vegetation experiment, the effect of soil stressors on plants was studied – increased acidity (pH = 4.3), toxicity of manganese ions (65.2 mg/kg, pH = 5.2) and cadmium (2.87 mg/kg, pH = 5.2). The Arkhan variety was used as a standard. The control was soil with a neutral pH (7.2). Regenerants were previously obtained in vitro on artificial media without stress (RA) and with selective agents: alumina acid (RAAl), increased Mn2+ (RAMn) and Cd2+ (RACd). On soil with stressors, the pigment content in regenerant leaves exceeded the baseline values by 1.4…1.6 times. In control, the differences between RA and the baseline are unreliable. All regenerative lines, regardless of growing conditions, were characterized by significantly lower levels of polyphenols in grain (11.2…12.4 mg/g dry weight), compared with the baseline and the standard by 1.2…1.3 times. On backgrounds with artificial addition of metals, an excess of the manganese level in the grain was noted: 1.7 times in RAMn (256.1 mg/kg), compared with the baseline, and there were no differences between them in the cadmium content in RACd (1.82…1.67 mg/kg). On the control background, RA and the baseline significantly lagged behind the standard in terms of grain weight from the plant: in regenerants – 1.29 g; baseline – 1.38 g; standard – 1.65 g. With increased acidity and cadmium, all genotypes decreased productivity relative to the control, but to a lesser extent regenerants (1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively), the baseline – 2.8 and 2 times, the standard – 2.4 and 1.9 times.

The Adaptative Modulation of the Phosphinito–Phosphinous Acid Ligand: Computational Illustration Through Palladium-Catalyzed Alcohol Oxidation

The phosphinito–phosphinous acid ligand (PAP) is a singular bidentate-like self-assembled ligand exhibiting dissymmetric but interchangeable electronic properties. This unusual structure has been used for the generation of active palladium hydride through alcohol oxidation. In this paper, we report the first theoretical highlight of the adaptative modulation ability of this ligand within a direct H-abstraction path for Pd and Pt catalyzed alcohol oxidation. A reaction forces study revealed rearrangements in the ligand self-assembling system triggered by a simple proton shift to promote the metal hydride generation via concerted six-center mechanism. We unveil here the peculiar behavior of the phosphinito–phosphinous acid ligand in this catalysis.

Exploring the Complex Relationship between Psychological Stress and Fertility: Implications for Population Growth in Developing Countries

Uncontrolled population growth has raised serious concerns among future policymakers. Although fertility rate has declined substantially over time, in developing countries the rate is still very high. Most of these countries face serious issues such as; severe poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, homelessness, financial insecurity, and medical insufficiency, leading to psychological distress. This article explores the mechanisms of psychological stress and its potential effects on human fertility. An attempt is made to differ from the existing claim that stress is anti-steroidogenic. This counter was based on earlier studies on adaptation of acute stress and overcoming stress stimuli. Which have asserted that individual adaptive abilities can alter the negative outcome of psychological stress depending on genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors. One of such adaptations comes from mitochondrial efficiency. An extensive energy demand during stress is achieved through competitive mitochondrial biogenesis. Earlier studies have noted that psychological stress triggers mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, theoretically, mitochondrial biogenesis may also contribute in augmenting quality of sperm. In conclusion, stress induced biogenesis of mitochondria may contribute in enhancing fertility. Future studies on the degree of psychological stress and its possible retaliation through mitochondrial biogenesis, and subsequent responses to metabolic, and mechanical pathways, would open new avenues in understanding human fertility.

Robust Truncated Statistics Constant False Alarm Rate Detection of UAVs Based on Neural Networks

With the rapid popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), airspace safety is facing tougher challenges, especially for the identification of non-cooperative target UAVs. As a vital approach for non-cooperative target identification, radar signal processing has attracted continuous and extensive attention and research. The constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector is widely used in most current radar systems. However, the detection performance will sharply deteriorate in complex and dynamical environments. In this paper, a novel truncated statistics- and neural network-based CFAR (TSNN-CFAR) algorithm is developed. Specifically, we adopt a right truncated Rayleigh distribution model combined with the characteristics of pattern recognition using a neural network. In the simulation environments of four different backgrounds, the proposed algorithm does not need guard cells and outperforms the traditional mean level (ML) and ordered statistics (OS) CFAR algorithms. Especially in high-density target and clutter edge environments, since utilizing 19 statistics obtained from the numerical calculation of two reference windows as the input characteristics, the TSNN-CFAR algorithm has the best adaptive decision ability, accurate background clutter modeling, stable false alarm regulation property and superior detection performance.

A Hierarchical Machine Learning Method for Detection and Visualization of Network Intrusions from Big Data

Machine learning is regarded as an effective approach in network intrusion detection, and has gained significant attention in recent studies. However, few intrusion detection methods have been successfully applied to detect anomalies in large-scale network traffic data, and low explainability of the complex algorithms has caused concerns about fairness and accountability. A further problem is that many intrusion detection systems need to work with distributed data sources in the cloud. In this paper, we propose an intrusion detection method based on distributed computing to learn the latent representations from large-scale network data with lower computation time while improving the intrusion detection accuracy. Our proposed classifier, based on a novel hierarchical algorithm combining adaptability and visualization ability from a self-structured unsupervised learning algorithm and achieving explainability from self-explainable supervised algorithms, is able to enhance the understanding of the model and data. The experimental results show that our proposed method is effective, efficient, and scalable in capturing the network traffic patterns and detecting detailed network intrusion information such as type of attack with high detection performance, and is an ideal method to be applied in cloud-computing environments.

A transforming flexahedron origami inspired gripper actuated by shape memory alloy

Abstract The transforming flexahedron origami (TFO) is a unique origami that combines the functions of fingers and palm, with a symmetrical distribution of four-finger structures and good shape adaptability. In this paper, inspired by the TFO configuration, a new type of reconfigurable gripper is designed. The kinematics and mechanics of the gripper are analyzed theoretically, and paper folding is used as the skeleton, thin film as the skin, shape memory alloy spring as the actuator, and active cooling is used to enhance the actuator efficiency. Different kinds of objects are used to test the gripping performance of the gripper, including shape adaptive ability and gripping robustness test, and the test results show that the gripper is with good gripping performance. The reconfigurable capability of the TFO configuration allows the hand gripper to have two gripping modes, adapting to the adaptive gripping of thin rod-like objects and curved objects, which is difficult to achieve with a single gripping mode. The TFO gripper provides a new way of thinking for the design of flexible and origami grippers in the future.

Adaptive MPC path-tracking controller based on reinforcement learning and preview-based PID controller

Path-tracking control is a crucial process for autonomous vehicles, ensuring that the vehicle drives safely along the reference path, and the suitable controller parameters ensure the accuracy and stability of this process. To enhance the adaptability of traditional path-tracking controller parameters, this paper proposes an adaptive model predictive control (MPC) controller based on a preview-based PID controller and deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm to achieve adaptive tuning of the controller parameters. Starting with the design of the dynamics tracking error model of the vehicle and the MPC controller. Based on the actor-critic reinforcement learning architecture, the DDPG agent is designed to tune the prediction horizon and weight matrix of the MPC controller. A preview-based PID controller is proposed to improve the efficiency and stability of reinforcement learning and compensate for the error in vehicle modeling. The improved algorithm performance is verified through the simulation scenarios of high-speed lane changing and accelerated overtaking scenarios constructed by MATLAB/Simulink. The results show that the improved algorithm significantly improves the adaptive ability of the traditional MPC controller to time-varying conditions and achieves higher tracking accuracy and stability.

Психолого-педагогическая помощь детям, находящимся в условиях деструктивной социальной среды

The article examines the problems of a destructive social environment, which includes not only explicit forms of violence, but also more subtle ones, such as neglect. These are no less destructive factors: emotional alienation, information saturation with negative content, lack of stable teaching and educational models. In this context, the justification of the need to protect children from a psychological and pedagogical point of view becomes especially relevant. The main problem is to find effective methods and approaches to ensuring psychological and pedagogical protection of children in a destructive social environment. Key issues that need to be addressed within the framework of this problem: 1. Which theoretical models most adequately describe the mechanisms of the destructive environment's impact on the child's psyche? 2. What diagnostic tools can effectively identify children in need of psychological and pedagogical protection? 3. What forms of psychological and pedagogical assistance are most effective for different age groups and types of problems? 4. How to organize a system of training specialists capable of providing qualified assistance to children in a destructive environment? The results of the study allowed us to formulate conclusions. A destructive social environment should be considered as a multifactorial phenomenon, including not only social, but also psychological, economic and cultural factors. A literature review has shown that most approaches to helping children in a destructive social environment focus on creating a supportive and structured environment, as well as on developing self-regulation skills in children. Our results indicate that a successful intervention should include an integrated approach combining emotional support with cognitive development and social skills, including the implementation of programs aimed at developing emotional intelligence and social skills, and programs to improve children's adaptive abilities have proved effective. The results of the study indicate the need for individualization of approaches depending on the specifics of the problems faced by the child. The data confirm that children with different levels of social disadvantage require different types of support.

Search for signals of positive selection of circadian rhythm genes PER1, PER2, PER3 in different human populations.

The diversity of geographically distributed human populations shows considerable variation in external and internal traits of individuals. Such differences are largely attributed to genetic adaptation to various environmental influences, which include changes in climatic conditions, variations in sleep and wakefulness, dietary variations, and others. Whole-genome data from individuals of different populations make it possible to determine the specific genetic sites responsible for adaptations and to further understand the genetic structure underlying human adaptive characteristics. In this article, we searched for signals of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) under selection pressure in people of different populations. To identify selection signals in different population groups, the PER1, PER2 and PER3 genes that are involved in the coordination of thermogenic functions and regulation of circadian rhythms, which is directly reflected in the adaptive abilities of the organism, were investigated. Data were analyzed using publicly available data from the 1000 Genomes Project for 23 populations. The Extended Haplotype Homozygosity Score statistical method was chosen to search for traces of selection. The comparative analysis performed identified points subject to selection pressure. The SNPs were annotated through the GWAS catalog and manually by analyzing Internet resources. This study suggests that living conditions, climate, and other external factors directly influence the genetic structure of populations and vary across races and geographic locations. In addition, many of the selection variants in the PER1, PER2, PER3 genes appear to regulate biological processes that are associated with major modern diseases, including obesity, cancer, metabolic syndrome, bipolar personality disorder, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosus, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, making them extremely interesting targets for further research aimed at identifying the genetic causes of human disease.

Understanding Career Adapt Abilities, Career Stress, Work Stress, Career Regret, Job Satisfaction Among Nursing Professionals.

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among career stress, work stress, career regret, job satisfaction and career adapt abilities within the nursing profession. The research involved a sample of 576 nurses from ten urban hospitals, distributed across five distinct cities in Turkiye, between December 2023 and January 2024. The study employed regression models to systematically test hypotheses, providing nuanced insights into the complex dynamics of the variables under investigation. Regression models were utilized to test the hypotheses systematically, considering the moderating role of career adapt abilities. The study included a sample of 576 nurses from 10 urban hospitals in Turkey, distributed across five distinct cities. This approach allowed for a detailed examination of the intricate relationships between career stress, work stress, career regret, job satisfaction and career adapt abilities within the nursing profession. The findings underscore the delicate balance between the positive gains of job satisfaction and the challenges posed by career stress, work stress and career regret in the multifaceted landscape of nursing. In nursing, the relationship between career stress, work stress, career regret and job satisfaction include progress, resilience and obstacles. Developing strategies requires a cooperative effort from health care organizations, nursing leaders and individual nurses. The research provides valuable insights into the interplay of these factors and emphasizes the moderating role played by career adapt abilities. The implications of the study extend to healthcare organizations, nursing leaders and individual nurses. The research advocates for collaborative strategies aimed at enhancing job satisfaction, alleviating stressors and addressing career regret. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the retention of a resilient nursing workforce, emphasizing the importance of strategies that support the well-being and satisfaction of nurses in their careers. No patient or public contribution.

Journey from Helplessness to Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth: A Phenomenological Research among a Group of Vietnamese during the Pandemic

The purpose of the study is to explore the in-depth understanding of participants' journeys from helplessness to resilience and post-traumatic growth during COVID-19. The participants’ experiences are taken into consideration and examined in depth. To do so, we employ a phenomenological methodology which is concerned particularly with individual experiences and is exploratory. 90 participants (17 males, 72 females, and the other 1, aged 18-52) were invited to participate in the survey with two self-report questions. The participants’ levels of education include: graduate (n=66), postgraduate (n=18), college (n=1), and others (n=3) were willingly shared their experiences focusing on two self-report questions on personal diaries and 1) Naming an incident during the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted you? 2) What is your greatest support to overcome adversity during the pandemic? We found four key themes: (1) feelings of helplessness, including confusion, meaninglessness, and disconnection; (2)Theme 2: Finding Inner Strength and Personal Resources (e.g., awareness of self-efficacy ); (3) Theme 3: Having Family and Community Support (e,g., appreciation of others, ability for adaptation); and (4) Theme 4: Belief in the Divine Presence (e.g., attunement to priorities). These findings offer valuable implications for the field of Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture.

Implementation of independent learning campus independent certified internship program for strengthening 21st century skills

Implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Campus Merdeka Certified Internship Program in Strengthening 21st Century Skills is a way to strengthen skills in using media information as well as career and life skills. The aim of this research is to; (1) Describe the implementation of the MBKM certified internship program in universities, (2) Describe the mastery of 21st century skills among students participating in certified internships. This research is qualitative research with an analytical study approach. The results of this research show that first, in the implementation of MBKM, the certified internship program was implemented in three areas of activity, namely marketing, finance and operations, both in banking and companies. In implementing a certified internship, there are several stages, namely conversion of 20 credits, internship activities for 18 weeks, experience in the world of work and the professional world, a series of skills, mentoring, and obtaining a certificate of recognition for the skills and experience gained. Apart from that, during the implementation of the certified internship program there is an evaluation. Evaluation is carried out by following up on reports, providing mentoring, checking recaps of internship activities, sharing lessons, and conducting a final assessment of student performance. Second, the mastery of 21st century skills by students participating in certified internships focuses on the skills of mastering the use of technology, including the use of marketplace applications, the use of Microsoft office applications, the use of e-learning systems, e-commerce, design and so on. Meanwhile, mastery of career abilities and life skills is carried out through strengthening adaptation and social abilities, productivity and accountability, and providing leadership abilities and responsibility

In-field performance evaluation of robotic arm developed for harvesting cotton bolls

Robotic harvesting of cotton bolls combines the advantages of manual picking and mechanical harvesting, including selective picking and reduced labor dependency. Thus, we designed, developed, and tested a cotton-picking robotic arm equipped with a depth camera, a 4-DoF manipulator, and a vacuum-type end-effector. Convolutional neural networks were implemented for cotton boll recognition, while an artificial neural network-assisted particle swarm optimization-based model was utilized for solving inverse kinematics. Linear actuators, controlled by a microcontroller and relays, positioned the end-effector for cotton boll harvesting. Laboratory testing resulted in picking 44–49 cotton bolls per hour, taking approximately 73.0 s per boll. During field testing, the robotic arm picked 40–42 bolls per hour with an average time of 86.0 s per boll. Picking efficiency ranged from 76.19% to 85.71% in the lab and 66.32% to 72.04% in the field. The complex structure of cotton plants sometimes hindered the end-effector’s path, resulting in lower picking efficiency during field testing. As observed in present study, manual pickers achieved a significantly higher picking rate, harvesting 1.381 kg of cotton per hour, nearly 4.7 times more than the robotic arm. Manual pickers achieved 98.04% picking efficiency, significantly higher than the robotic arm’s 68.25%. This significant difference in efficiency is due to the agility, adaptability, and decision-making abilities of human pickers. The developed robotic arm demonstrates competitive efficiency in the domain of harvesting robots, contributing to advancements in robotic agriculture. Future research and development efforts in this field hold the potential to enhance the efficiency and productivity of robotic cotton harvesters.

Influence of Work-Related Stress on the Performance of Teachers in Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to influence of work-related stress on the performance of teachers in Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya Methodology: The psychological well-being theory, the person-environment fit theory, and the Job Demands-Resources model served as the guiding theories for the study. The study used a descriptive survey research approach. Target population was 4288 teachers in public high schools out of which a sample size of 365 was selected using Yamane formula. The sample size was chosen using stratified random sampling method. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. To determine the validity and reliability of the questionnaires, a pilot test was carried out. Quantitative analysis of the data gathered from the surveys was conducted. Inferential and descriptive statistics was used for analysis. The data was summarized into frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation and presented using pie charts and frequency tables. Findings: From the findings, it was established that work related stress (b=0.018, p=0.000<0.05), had a statistically significant relationship with the performance of teachers in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Notably, aspects such as being upset because of things have happened unexpectedly, being unable to control the important things in life, being overwhelmed by the workload significantly affected the performance of teachers in the public secondary schools. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was guided by the person-environment fit theory. The study therefore recommended that the public secondary schools should introduce regular stress management workshops and training for teachers. These programs should focus on coping mechanisms, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques. In order to enhance the environmental mastery of teachers, the school administration needs to offer ongoing professional development opportunities that focus on enhancing adaptability, problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities.

Wolbachia modify host cell metabolite profiles in response to short-term temperature stress.

Wolbachia are common heritable endosymbionts that influence many aspects of ecology and evolution in various insects, yet Wolbachia-mediated intracellular metabolic responses to temperature stress have been largely overlooked. Here, we introduced the Wolbachia strain wLhui from the invasive Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) into a Drosophila Schneider 2 cell line (S2) and investigated the metabolite profile of wLhui-infected (S2_wLhui) and uninfected cell lines (S2_wu) under short-term exposure to either high (37°C), moderate (27°C), or low (7 and 17°C) temperatures. We find that Wolbachia infection, temperature stress, and their interactions significantly affect cellular metabolic profiles. Most significantly, when comparing the changes in metabolites between S2_wLhui and S2_wu, glycerophospholipids, amino acids, and fatty acids associated with metabolic pathways, microbial metabolism in diverse environments, and other pathways were significantly accumulated at either low or high temperatures. Our findings suggest Wolbachia-induced cellular physiological responses to short-term temperature stress, which may in turn affect the fitness and adaptive ability of its host as an invasive species.

STEM-based digital disaster learning model for disaster adaptation ability of elementary school students

STEM-based digital disaster learning model for disaster adaptation ability of elementary school students

Defense Molecules of the Invasive Plant Species Ageratum conyzoides

Ageratum conyzoides L. is native to Tropical America, and it has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries in South America, Central and Southern Africa, South and East Asia, Eastern Austria, and Europe. The population of the species has increased dramatically as an invasive alien species, and it causes significant problems in agriculture and natural ecosystems. The life history traits of Ageratum conyzoides, such as its short life cycle, early reproductive maturity, prolific seed production, and high adaptive ability to various environmental conditions, may contribute to its naturalization and increasing population. Possible evidence of the molecules involved in the defense of Ageratum conyzoides against its natural enemies, such as herbivore insects and fungal pathogens, and the allelochemicals involved in its competitive ability against neighboring plant species has been accumulated in the literature. The volatiles, essential oils, extracts, residues, and/or rhizosphere soil of Ageratum conyzoides show insecticidal, fungicidal, nematocidal, and allelopathic activity. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine and echinatine, found in the species, are highly toxic and show insecticidal activity. Benzopyran derivatives precocenes I and II show inhibitory activity against insect juvenile hormone biosynthesis and trichothecene mycotoxin biosynthesis. A mixture of volatiles emitted from Ageratum conyzoides, such as β-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene, and β-farnesene, may work as herbivore-induced plant volatiles, which are involved in the indirect defense function against herbivore insects. Flavonoids, such as nobiletin, eupalestin, 5′-methoxynobiletin, 5,6,7,3′,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, and 5,6,8,3,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, show inhibitory activity against the spore germination of pathogenic fungi. The benzoic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives found in the species, such as protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid, may act as allelopathic agents, causing the germination and growth inhibition of competitive plant species. These molecules produced by Ageratum conyzoides may act as defense molecules against its natural enemies and as allelochemicals against neighboring plant species, and they may contribute to the naturalization of the increasing population of Ageratum conyzoides in new habitats as an invasive plant species. This article presents the first review focusing on the defense function and allelopathy of Ageratum conyzoides.

Exploring the Positive Impact of Secure Base Leadership: Work Engagement as a Mediator in Fostering Organizational Identification and Resilience

This article examines the theory and research surrounding secure base leadership and its influence on key organizational outcomes such as employee work engagement, organizational identification, and resilience. Secure base leadership is defined as a relationship-oriented style that provides employees with a sense of safety, support, and direction. Through satisfying basic psychological needs, secure base leadership is shown to cultivate higher work engagement among employees. It also fosters stronger identification with organizational values, goals, and mission. Additionally, secure base leadership plays an integral role in building individual and collective resilience capacities, enabling adaptation to changes and challenges. The brief then discusses practical implications for how organizations can develop secure base leadership approaches through training, recognition programs, mentorship, and modeling from senior leaders. Cultivating these relationship-building skills may help organizations to develop engaged, committed workforces with an adaptive ability to withstand difficulties and thrive.

The Application of Invasive Plant-Derived Biochar in Controlling Plant Invasion by Removing its Allelochemicals

Invasive plants seriously threaten the natural ecosystem and human health due to their strong ecological adaptability, reproduction, and diffusion ability, so that the utilization and control of invasive plants have attracted much attention. Biochar is widely used in environmental and soil remediation owing to its high aromaticity and anti-degradation ability. However, the research on biochar prepared by invasive plants to adsorb their own allelochemicals is still scarce, which may limit the application of biochar in invasion prevention and control. In this paper, the application of invasive plant-derived biochar (IPB) and the adsorption effect and mechanism of IPB and its composites on organic and inorganic pollutants are reviewed, which may enhance our understanding for the utilization of invasive plants and the restoration of local plant communities.