Additional Hypotheses Research Articles

Range-wide contrast in management outcomes for transboundary Northeast Pacific sablefish

Sablefish ( Anoplopoma fimbria) of the Northeast Pacific support a highly mobile, valuable fishery resource currently managed as three separate populations. Recent work has shown sablefish to be genetically mixed; have high movement rates; and have synchronous biomass trends, including recent declines. A management strategy evaluation was developed with stakeholders and scientists from three regions to investigate whether spatially structured management paradigms might result in better conservation and economic outcomes. The management strategy evaluation includes a transboundary operating model to represent spatial population dynamics including movement and a delay–difference estimation method with varying spatial complexities and potential stratifications, and harvest control rules. Mismatches in the spatial scale of management and the underlying biological units pose a crucial risk of localized depletion in the southern U.S. West Coast. This study presents one of the first transboundary, spatially-explicit management strategy evaluations conditioned to actual data. These results underscore the importance of spatial management strategy evaluation tools and implications when regional management is conducted in isolation. Future work should incorporate additional spatial hypotheses and investigate the drivers of recruitment patterns range-wide.

Medical device report analyses from MAUDE: Device and patient outcomes, adverse events, and sex-based differential effects

Post-market medical device-associated failures and patient problems are reported in Medical Device Reports (MDRs) to the US Food and Drug Administration. Reports are accessible through Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE), a database including both required and voluntary submissions. We present an overview of >10 million MDRs received from 2011 to 2021. Approximately 92% of reporting issues represent medical device physical or functional failures, categorized from 1704 codes related to medical device integrity or function. ∼8% were coded adverse events (AEs). Patient outcomes are reported via 998 patient codes in 19 medical specialties (cardiovascular, orthopedic, etc.). ∼40% of patient reports indicated “no health consequences”; however, a small number of devices had consistently high AE reports. While overall reports did not exhibit a sex-based dichotomy, ∼9% of the reported AEs occurred more frequently in females, many of which were related to immune effects. The analyses are subject to uncertainties and potential bias based on data available and data selected for analysis. However, such an overview of post-market MDR data, not previously published, fills a gap in understanding medical device issues and patient-based outcomes related to medical device use. Trends identified may be subjects of additional hypotheses, analysis, and research.

Role of M4 -receptor cholinergic signaling in direct pathway striatal projection neurons during dopamine depletion.

Direct pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs) are characterized by the expression of dopamine (DA) class 1 receptors (D1 R), as well as cholinergic muscarinic M1 and M4 receptors (M1 R, M4 R). D1 R enhances neuronal firing through phosphorylation of voltage-gate calcium channels (CaV 1 Ca2+ channels) activating Gs proteins and protein kinase A (PKA). Concurrently, PKA suppresses phosphatase PP-1 through DARPP-32, thus extending this facilitatory modulation. M1 R also influences Ca2+ channels in SPNs through Gq proteins and protein kinase C. However, the signaling mechanisms of M4 R in dSPNs are less understood. Two pathways are attributed to M4 R: an inhibitory one through Gi/o proteins, and a facilitatory one via the cyclin Cdk5. Our study reveals that a previously observed facilitatory modulation via CaV 1 Ca2+ channels is linked to the Cdk5 pathway in dSPNs. This result could be significant in treating parkinsonism. Therefore, we questioned whether this effect persists post DA-depletion in experimental parkinsonism. Our findings indicate that in such conditions, M4 R activation leads to a decrease in Ca2+ current and an increased M4 R protein level, contrasting with the control response. Nevertheless, parkinsonian and control actions are inhibited by the Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine, suggesting Cdk5's role in both conditions. Cdk5 may activate PP-1 via PKA inhibition in DA depletion. Indeed, we found that inhibiting PP-1 restores control M4 R actions, implying that PP-1 is overly active via M4 Rs in DA-depleted condition. These insights contribute to understanding how DA-depletion alters modulatory signaling in striatal neurons. Additional working hypotheses are discussed.

MODELING IN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS UNDER UNCERTAINTY AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT (INFLATION) RISKS

A model that can be used in the problems of inventory management under uncertainty and taking into account various types of risks, in particular, inflation risks, is presented and substantiated. The strategy of stock management under uncertain (stochastic) demand usually requires the creation of a certain reserve of a predetermined volume, and then the next deliveries of stocks are made. If at a certain point in time the total stock is reduced to the size of the reserve, then an urgent order for delivery of a new batch is made. If the fulfillment of the request requires a certain time (this process is not instantaneous!), then the request for its replenishment is submitted when the stock decreases to a level exceeding the predetermined amount of the reserve. The study provides one of the simplest ways to solve the reserve problem, namely, applying the principle of guaranteed result, i.e. electing a large enough reserve that guarantees minimum risk, namely, compensation of any random deviations, which requires large costs for their storage and the like. This also leads to the so-called opportunity risk as large reserves are associated with the diversion of significant funds. In this connection, additional hypotheses are introduced in the paper, and the concept of acceptable risk - the probability that the need for reserves will not exceed the available reserve - is used as the basis for calculating the required reserve. The concept of risk coefficient is introduced, which expresses the probability that the need for reserves will be unsatisfactory due to the insufficiency of the reserve and will exceed its volume. The value of the risk coefficient can be equal to 5% or 1%. The paper uses a modified formula for calculating the nominal rate of interest with inflation interest rate risk, which includes the following components: 1) real safe rate of interest; 2) inflation premium; 3) inflation risk premium; 4) investment project risk premium (reserve creation is a kind of investment); 5) synergistic premium for investment project and inflation risk; 6) synergistic premium for investment project and inflation risk; 7) liquidity premium (in fact, it is an assessment of liquidity risk). In the study the volumes of raw materials (components) reserve are determined, which leads to the reduction of risk degree; within the framework of M. Miller and D. Orr's model the volumes of cash reserves are determined, where inflation risks are taken into account in the value of missed opportunities (which is related to the content of cash reserves balance); in the task of reserves management under uncertainty and the risk caused by it, the total costs of maintaining the reserve per unit of time are minimized and the value of the optimal reserve together with the reserve is determined (within the framework of the modified model of V. Miller and D. Orr). The paper provides a rather simple method of accounting for possible risks arising in the creation of stocks (raw materials, cash, etc.), solved the problem of selecting a specific rational value of the risk coefficient (based on expert procedures and utility theory), which allows to reflect and take into account the attitude of decision-making subjects to risk.

Patterns in the genetic structure of 49 lowland rain forest tree species co‐distributed on opposite sides of the northern Andes

AbstractThe Andes are a major dispersal barrier for lowland rain forest plants and animals, yet hundreds of lowland tree species are distributed on both sides of the northern Andes, raising questions about how the Andes influenced their biogeographic histories and population genetic structure. To explore these questions, we generated standardized datasets of thousands of SNPs from paired populations of 49 tree species co‐distributed in rain forest tree communities located in Panama and Amazonian Ecuador and calculated genetic diversity (π) and absolute genetic divergence (dXY) within and between populations, respectively. We predicted (1) higher genetic diversity in the ancestral source region (east or west of the Andes) for each taxon and (2) correlation of genetic statistics with species attributes, including elevational range and life‐history strategy. We found that genetic diversity was higher in putative ancestral source regions, possibly reflecting founder events during colonization. We found little support for a relationship between genetic divergence and species attributes except that species with higher elevational range limits exhibited higher dXY, implying older divergence times. One possible explanation for this pattern is that dispersal through mountain passes declined in importance relative to dispersal via alternative lowland routes as the Andes experienced uplift. We found no difference in mean genetic diversity between populations in Central America and the Amazon. Overall, our results suggest that dispersal across the Andes has left enduring signatures in the genetic structure of widespread rain forest trees. We outline additional hypotheses to be tested with species‐specific case studies.

A hypoxia biomarker does not predict benefit from giving chemotherapy with radiotherapy in the BC2001 randomised controlled trial

BC2001 showed combining chemotherapy (5-FU+mitomycin-C) with radiotherapy improves loco-regional disease-free survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We previously showed a 24-gene hypoxia-associated signature predicted benefit from hypoxia-modifying radiosensitisation in BCON and hypothesised that only patients with low hypoxia scores (HSs) would benefit from chemotherapy in BC2001. BC2001 allowed conventional (64Gy/32 fractions) or hypofractionated (55Gy/20 fractions) radiotherapy. An exploratory analysis tested an additional hypothesis that hypofractionation reduces reoxygenation and would be detrimental for patients with hypoxic tumours. RNA was extracted from pre-treatment biopsies (298 BC2001 patients), transcriptomic data generated (Affymetrix Clariom-S arrays), HSs calculated (median expression of 24-signature genes) and patients stratified as hypoxia-high or -low (cut-off: cohort median). invasive loco-regional control (ILRC); secondary overall survival. Hypoxia affected overall survival (HR=1.30; 95% CI 0.99-1.70; p=0.062): more uncertainty for ILRC (HR=1.29; 95% CI 0.82-2.03; p=0.264). Benefit from chemotherapy was similar for patients with high or low HSs, with no interaction between HS and treatment arm. High HS associated with poor ILRC following hypofractionated (n=90, HR 1.69; 95% CI 0.99-2.89 p=0.057) but not conventional (n=207, HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.28-1.80, p=0.461) radiotherapy. The finding was confirmed in an independent cohort (BCON) where hypoxia associated with a poor prognosis for patients receiving hypofractionated (n=51; HR 14.2; 95% CI 1.7-119; p=0.015) but not conventional (n=24, HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.07-15.5, p=0.978) radiotherapy. Tumour hypoxia status does not affect benefit from BC2001 chemotherapy. Hypoxia appears to affect fractionation sensitivity. Use of HSs to personalise treatment needs testing in a biomarker-stratified trial. Cancer Research UK, NIHR, MRC.

Wrong hypotheses in the generalized RTBP

Generalized restricted three body problems consist of adding some extra hypotheses to the Restricted three body problem (RTBP) in order to have a new problem, not very different of the original RTBP. However, not any additional hypothesis is allowed; it must satisfy the laws of Physics. Among the several generalizations found in literature, we prove that at least there are two hypotheses that cannot be used, namely: 1) Perturbation in Coriolis and/or centrifugal forces, and 2) primaries are spheroids moving on elliptical orbits.

Quantitative convergence of the vectorial Allen–Cahn equation towards multiphase mean curvature flow

Phase-field models such as the Allen–Cahn equation may give rise to the formation and evolution of geometric shapes, a phenomenon that may be analyzed rigorously in suitable scaling regimes. In its sharp-interface limit, the vectorial Allen–Cahn equation with a potential with N\geq 3 distinct minima has been conjectured to describe the evolution of branched interfaces by multiphase mean curvature flow. In the present work, we give a rigorous proof for this statement in two and three ambient dimensions and for a suitable class of potentials: as long as a strong solution to multiphase mean curvature flow exists, solutions to the vectorial Allen–Cahn equation with well-prepared initial data converge towards multiphase mean curvature flow in the limit of vanishing interface width parameter \varepsilon\searrow 0 . We even establish the rate of convergence O(\varepsilon^{1/2}) . Our approach is based on the gradient-flow structure of the Allen–Cahn equation and its limiting motion: building on the recent concept of “gradient-flow calibrations” for multiphase mean curvature flow, we introduce a notion of relative entropy for the vectorial Allen–Cahn equation with multi-well potential. This enables us to overcome the limitations of other approaches, e.g. avoiding the need for a stability analysis of the Allen–Cahn operator or additional convergence hypotheses for the energy at positive times.

P077 The Immunometabolic Bimodal Mechanism of NLRX1 Agonist NX-13 in a Pig Model of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract Background In mouse models, NX-13 is an orally active, gut-restricted NLRX1 agonist that has been shown to reduce severity of disease in multiple UC models through a novel immunometabolic, bimodal mechanism. Most preclinical UC studies rely upon rodent models, the human gastrointestinal physiology, microbiome, and immune system bear a greater similarity to that of pigs. Therefore, we sought to expand and validate our preclinical NX-13 results in mice using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) pig model of colitis. Here, we describe the disease severity, cellular, and biomarker results, and confirm the immunometabolic MOA observed in other species. Methods Pigs were randomized by weight (n=6 per group) and were administered tablets of excipient alone (placebo), NX-13 10 mg, NX-13 50 mg, or NX-13 100mg once daily. Pigs were challenged with 1% DSS in drinking water for 6 days and monitored daily for weight gain (loss). Composite disease activity score (0-12) was taken based on the sum of three subscores (0-4) for rectal bleeding, stool consistency and overall health/activity. Necropsy was conducted on day 7. Feces were collected for fecal calprotectin (FCP) quantification. Colonic tissue was macroscopically scored and collected for analysis by flow cytometry, histopathology and gene expression. Results Oral NX-13 treatment protected against weight loss and reduced colitis development with differences as early as day 2, becoming significant between days 4 and 6 as disease worsens in placebo treated pigs (Fig1A). NX-13 yielded a dose-dependent improvement in macroscopic lesion severity and microscopic immune cell infiltration (Fig1B). Specifically, Th1 cells (Fig1C) and TNF producing myeloid cells in the colonic lamina propria were reduced by NX-13, as well as FCP levels in stool (Fig1D) and mRNA expression in the colon (Fig1E). Oral NX-13 treatment reduced inflammatory markers including TNF, monocyte and neutrophil chemo attractants, IL-6, and IL-23 (Fig3F). Additionally, NX-13 treatment affected markers specific to the bimodal immunometabolic MOA of NLRX1 activation, namely upregulation of NLRX1 and mitochondrial metabolism gene COX3 (Fig1G), and reduction of NFkB and NLRP3 (Fig1H). Conclusion NX-13 demonstrated fast and clinically meaningful improvement in disease activity, and significantly impacted on key inflammatory markers in a DSS colitis model in pigs. These results align with previous murine results and observations in the phase 1b clinical program. Therefore, they can be used to generate additional mechanistic hypotheses for translational studies in the ongoing NEXUS phase 2 trial in moderate to severe UC.

Ontogenetic shifts in body form in the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas.

Recent studies have uncovered mosaic patterns of allometric and isometric growth underlying ontogenetic shifts in the body form of elasmobranch species (shark and rays). It is thought that shifts in trophic and spatial ecology through ontogeny drive these morphological changes; however, additional hypotheses relating to developmental constraints have also been posed. The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is a large-bodied coastal shark that exhibits strong ontogenetic shifts in trophic and spatial ecology. In this study, we utilise a large data set covering a large number of morphological structures to reveal ontogenetic shifts in the body form of C. leucas, stratifying analyses by sex and size classes to provide fine-scale, more ecomorphologically relevant results. Our results indicate shifts in functional demands across the body through ontogeny, driven by selective pressures relating to trophic and spatial ecology driving the evolution of allometry. We also find significant differences in scaling trends between life stages, and between the sexes, highlighting the importance of utilising large, diverse datasets that can be stratified in this way to improve our understanding of elasmobranch morphological evolution. Ultimately, we discuss the implications of these results for existing ecomorphological hypotheses regarding the evolution of specific morphological structures, and pose novel hypotheses where relevant.

Controlling a generalized Fokker–Planck equation via inputs with nonlocal action

This paper concerns an optimal control problem (P) related to a generalized Fokker–Planck equation. Basic properties of the solutions to the generalized FP equation are derived via a semigroup approach in the space H−1(Rd). Problem (P) is proven to be deeply related to a stochastic optimal control problem (PS) for a McKean–Vlasov equation. The existence of an optimal control is obtained for the deterministic problem (P). The existence of an optimal control is established for an approximating optimal control problem (Ph) related to a backward Euler approximation of the generalized FP equation (with a constant discretization step h). One proves under additional hypotheses that “(Ph) converges to (P)” in a certain sense. First order necessary conditions for (Ph) are derived as well.

Dose addition in mixtures of compounds with dissimilar endocrine modes of action in in vitro receptor activation assays and the zebrafish sexual development test

BackgroundHuman exposure to pesticides is being associated with feminisation for which a decrease of the anogenital distance (AGD) is a sensitive endpoint. Dose addition for the cumulative risk assessment of pesticides in food is considered sufficiently conservative for combinations of compounds with both similar and dissimilar modes of action (MoA). ObjectiveThe present study was designed to test the dose addition hypothesis in a binary mixture of endocrine active compounds with a dissimilar mode of action for the endpoint feminisation. MethodsCompounds were selected from a list of chemicals of which exposure is related to a decrease of the AGD in rats and completed with reference compounds. These chemicals were characterised using specific in vitro transcriptional activation (TA) assays for estrogenic and androgenic properties, leading to a final selection of dienestrol as an ER-agonist and flutamide, linuron, and deltamethrin as AR-antagonists. These compounds were then tested in an in vivo model, i.e. in zebrafish (Danio rerio), using sex ratio in the population as an endpoint in order to confirm their feminising effect and MoA. Ultimately, the fish model was used to test a binary mixture of flutamide and dienestrol. ResultsStatistical analysis of the binary mixture of flutamide and dienestrol in the fish sexual development tests (FSDT) with zebrafish supported dose addition.

Nonlinear Pauli equation

<abstract> <p>In the framework of the self-consistent Maxwell-Pauli theory, the non-linear Pauli equation is obtained. Stationary and nonstationary solutions of the nonlinear Pauli equation for the hydrogen atom are studied. We show that spontaneous emission and the related rearrangement of the internal structure of an atom, which is traditionally called a spontaneous transition, have a simple and natural description in the framework of classical field theory without any quantization and additional hypotheses. The behavior of the intrinsic magnetic moment (spin) of an EW in an external magnetic field is considered. We show that, according to the self-consistent Maxwell-Pauli theory, in a weak magnetic field, the intrinsic magnetic moment of an EW is always oriented parallel to the magnetic field strength vector, while in a strong magnetic field, depending on the initial orientation of the intrinsic magnetic moment, two orientations are realized: either parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field strength vector.</p> </abstract>

Sentence Completion as a User Experience Research Method: Recommendations From an Experimental Study

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the use of the sentence completion technique (SCT) as a user experience (UX) research method. We conducted an online experiment (N = 400) to test the effect of sentence stem variations on sentence completion outcomes. Using a between-subjects design, half of the participants were exposed to impersonal sentence stems that did not include pronouns while the other half were exposed to stems formulated using first-person pronouns (PR). Additional hypotheses around stem formats (use of redundant stems, imaginative stems, two blanks stems, generic stems, stems prompting others’ perception) were tested using a within-subject design. The results do not support hypothesized differences between the pronoun and no pronoun condition. Findings however show that varying the format of the stem influences response behavior, as measured by variety, quantity and novelty of ideas, as well as the length of response. This study contributes to consolidating the use of SCT as a user research method and proposes actionable recommendations on how to create optimal sentence completion surveys in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

A dynamic window method based on reinforcement learning for SSVEP recognition.

Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) is one of the most used brain-computer interface (BCI) paradigms. Conventional methods analyze SSVEPs at a fixed window length. Compared with these methods, dynamic window methods can achieve a higher information transfer rate (ITR) by selecting an appropriate window length. These methods dynamically evaluate the credibility of the result by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) or Bayesian estimation and extend the window length until credible results are obtained. However, the hypotheses introduced by LDA and Bayesian estimation may not align with the collected real-world SSVEPs, which leads to an inappropriate window length. To address the issue, we propose a novel dynamic window method based on reinforcement learning (RL). The proposed method optimizes the decision of whether to extend the window length based on the impact of decisions on the ITR, without additional hypotheses. The decision model can automatically learn a strategy that maximizes the ITR through trial and error. In addition, compared with traditional methods that manually extract features, the proposed method uses neural networks to automatically extract features for the dynamic selection of window length. Therefore, the proposed method can more accurately decide whether to extend the window length and select an appropriate window length. To verify the performance, we compared the novel method with other dynamic window methods on two public SSVEP datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the novel method achieves the highest performance by using RL.

Fixed point and endpoint theorems of multivalued mappings in convex $ b $-metric spaces with an application

<abstract><p>In this paper, we investigated several new fixed points theorems for multivalued mappings in the framework $ b $-metric spaces. We first generalized $ S $-iterative schemes for multivalued mappings to above spaces by means of a convex structure and then we developed the existence of fixed points and approximate endpoints of the multivalued contraction mappings using iteration techniques. Furthermore, we introduced the modified $ S $-iteration process for approximating a common endpoint of a multivalued $ \alpha_{s} $-nonexpansive mapping and a multivalued mapping satisfying conditon $ (E^{'}) $. We also showed that this new iteration process converges faster than the $ S $-iteration process in the sense of Berinde. Some convergence results for this iterative procedure to a common endpoint under some certain additional hypotheses were proved. As an application, we applied the $ S $-iteration process in finding the solution to a class of nonlinear quadratic integral equations.</p></abstract>

EQUATIONS OF MOTION OF AN ISOTROPIC SPHERICAL MOMENT ELASTIC SHELL*2

Using the previously obtained equations of motion of thin moment elastic shells of constant thickness with an arbitrary middle surface, the equations of motion of an isotropic moment spherical shell in terms of forces and “displacements” (kinematic parameters) are constructed. In this case, the metric of the middle spherical surface is taken into account, as the curvilinear coordinates of which two angular coordinates of the standard spherical coordinate system with the origin at the center of the middle surface are used. First, a closed system is written down, which includes the equations of motion in the physical components of the tensors of internal forces and moments, as well as additional similar characteristics corresponding to the moment properties of the model, and physical relationships. Then, by excluding physical relations, it is reduced to twelve equations of motion in kinematic parameters, written in operator form. In this case, the coefficients of partial derivative operators are simplified by neglecting terms that have a higher order of smallness relative to the thickness of the shell. Despite the bulkiness of the system, it is written in a compact form. Boundary conditions are not written, since the shell is considered closed. By introducing additional hypotheses similar to those used in the classical theory of shells (neglecting the compression of a normal fiber, the Kirchhoff – Love hypothesis about the connection between the tangential components of the rotation angle vector of a normal fiber and normal displacement, as well as the hypothesis about the connection between the normal to the middle surface part of the coordinate of the rotation angle vector and its tangential components) the number of equations and unknowns decreases. To carry out this procedure, a variational Hamilton equation is constructed, which takes into account the connections between kinematic parameters imposed by the hypotheses, and then the corresponding one is transformed using the generalized Ostrogradsky – Gauss theorem.

Gestural focus marking in Italo-Romance

Gesture has been a topic of recent interest in formal linguistics, especially with respectto its pragmatic and semantic properties (Lascarides & Stone 2009a,b; Ebert & Ebert2014; Schlenker 2018; Esipova 2019a). There is emerging consensus within this literaturethat the meaning of certain gestures is integrated into the semantic content of the utter-ances they co-occur with (as co-speech gestures). This would follow straightforwardly ifsuch gestures were in fact morphemes, meaning they have syntactic status as well (Jouit-teau 2004, 2007; Sailor & Colasanti 2020). This paper provides additional support forthis hypothesis, involving the conventionalised co-speech gesture RING-FOCUS (Kendon1995:268–274) in Lancianese, a southern Italo-Romance language. On the basis of origi-nal experimental fieldwork, I argue that RING-FOCUS is a gestural morpheme associatedwith information-structural focus: it arises in focus contexts, temporally aligned with thefocalised constituent. I argue that the RING-FOCUS morpheme is simply a focus marker(of the sort found in Gungbe, Malay, etc.), albeit one whose PF realisation happens to begestural rather than spoken.

From Mind to Matter: Patterns of Innovation in the Archaeological Record and the Ecology of Social Learning

AbstractArchaeology and cultural evolution theory both predict that environmental variation and population size drive the likelihood of inventions (via individual learning) and their conversion to population-wide innovations (via social uptake). We use the case study of the adoption of the bow and arrow in the Great Basin to infer how patterns of cultural variation, invention, and innovation affect investment in new technologies over time and the conditions under which we could predict cultural innovation to occur. Using an agent-based simulation to investigate the conditions that manifest in the innovation of technology, we find the following: (1) increasing ecological variation results in a greater reliance on individual learning, even when this decreases average fitness due to the costs of learning; (2) decreasing population size increases variability in the types of learning strategies that individuals use; among smaller populations drift-like processes may contribute to randomization in interpopulation cultural diffusion; (3) increasing the mutation rate affects the variability in learning patterns at different rates of environmental variation; and (4) increasing selection pressure increases the reliance on social learning. We provide an open-source R script for the model and encourage others to use it to test additional hypotheses.

Fostering knowledge integration through individual competencies: the impacts of perspective taking, reflexivity, analogical reasoning and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty

The present study examines the influence of individual competencies on knowledge integration in inter- and transdisciplinary work. Perspective taking, reflexivity, analogical reasoning, and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty were investigated as core competencies for fostering knowledge integration. Additional hypotheses assumed that the positive effects are valid in the scientific and economic contexts and that individual competencies predict knowledge integration at different levels of expertise. To test the hypotheses, 421 participants, comprised of students (N = 165) and individuals working in science (N = 152) and economics (N = 104), answered questionnaires on knowledge integration and competencies of knowledge integration in an online survey. Further questions collected demographic data and inquired about experience and expertise in inter- and transdisciplinary work. The main result was that all postulated competencies positively related to knowledge integration. Analogical reasoning and perspective taking showed the strongest relationships with knowledge integration. Further results show that all competencies are positively related to knowledge integration in the student and expert sample, yet the interrelationships differ between the scientific and economic sample. This investigation into the competencies of knowledge integration contributes to the education of inter- and transdisciplinarians in academia and business practice.