Attentional Demands Research Articles

The Rise of Multivalent Metal–Sulfur Batteries: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities

AbstractAs the “star of hope” for the next‐generation high‐energy‐density batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries (Li–S batteries) face severe challenges such as reserves, costs, and safety, which seriously restrict their practical application. Alternatively, research on multivalent metals (e.g., Mg, Ca, Al, Zn, etc.) as anodes, characterized by less reactivity and higher natural abundance, is gaining increasing attention and urgent demand. However, metal–sulfur (M–S) battery technology based on multivalent metal anodes is still in its infancy and not yet mature for practical application. This review provides insights into the challenges and prospects of multivalent M–S batteries, covering fundamental mechanisms, key issues, response strategies, and the latest advancements in flexible/micro energy storage devices. Furthermore, a general perspective and future research directions are also presented in this review. This review aims to explore opportunities for emerging multivalent M–S batteries and support the development of next‐generation high‐energy‐density energy storage systems.

Assessing uncertainty in bioclimatic modelling: a comparison of two high-resolution climate datasets in northern Patagonia

Climate change is reshaping forest ecosystems, presenting urgent and complex challenges that demand attention. In this context, research that quantifies interactions between climate and forests is substantial. However, modelling at a spatial resolution relevant for ecological processes presents a significant challenge, especially given the diverse geographical contexts in which it is applied. In our study, we aimed to assess the effects of applying CHELSA v.2.1 and WorldClim v2.1 data on bioclimatic analysis within the Río Puelo catchment area in northern Patagonia. To achieve this, we inter-compared and evaluated present and future bioclimates, drawing on data from both climate datasets. Our findings underscore substantial consistency between both datasets for temperature variables, confirming the reliability of both for temperature analysis. However, a strong contrast emerges in precipitation predictions, with significant discrepancies highlighted by minimal overlap in bioclimatic classes, particularly in steep and elevated terrains. Thus, while CHELSA and WorldClim provide valuable temperature data for northern Patagonia, their use for precipitation analysis requires careful consideration of their limitations and potential inaccuracies. Nevertheless, our bioclimatic analyses of both datasets under different scenarios reveal a uniform decline in mountain climates currently occupied by N. pumilio, with projections suggesting a sharp decrease in their coverage under future climate scenarios.

Towards an integrative understanding of British Columbia’s Nechako Watershed: Connecting knowledge systems to strengthen understanding of climate change, watershed security, health and well-being

Understanding of upstream and downstream dynamics of continental river basins demands attention to the influence of important tributaries and watersheds. This is exemplified by the 47,200 km2 Nechako Watershed, the second largest sub-watershed of British Columbia’s Fraser River Basin. Although the Nechako (derived from the Indigenous Dakelh word meaning “big river”) is recognised for its ecological, societal and cultural importance, attention to this sub-watershed has often been overshadowed by a focus on the iconic Fraser River. This paper examines insights from a purposeful response to this gap, whereby a team of researchers has worked together to strengthen understanding of cumulative stressors and changes in the Nechako, focusing on climate change and water security, sediment sources and quality, and health and well-being dynamics within the Nechako Watershed. Lessons learned from a decade of this collaboration are presented, reflecting on the Nechako Watershed’s past, present, and future through the lens of a unique case study of interdisciplinary research. Emerging research and knowledge exchange partnerships are highlighted along with growing concerns for the Nechako’s keystone aquatic species including three species of Pacific salmon and the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. Drawing on the natural, social and health sciences, we examine strengths and challenges of connecting research across interrelated watershed security issues ranging from climate change, landcover disturbances (e.g., wildfires, mountain pine beetle outbreaks and forest harvesting), land use changes (e.g., expansion of Vanderhoof’s agricultural belt), and the far-reaching impacts of the damming of the Nechako River mainstem in the 1950’s. Our paper brings necessary attention to these and other influences on waterways, landscapes and communities of the Nechako Watershed, highlighting new research opportunities arising among diverse knowledges and disciplines, and the ongoing collaborative effort required to address emerging challenges for the Nechako and wider Fraser River Basin, with consequences for current and future generations.

"Aging and Balance Control: Analyzing the Increased Attentional Demands – A Comprehensive Review"

"Aging and Balance Control: Analyzing the Increased Attentional Demands – A Comprehensive Review"

EHMI on the Vehicle or on the Infrastructure? A Driving Simulator Study

Automated vehicles (AVs) may require the implementation of an external human-machine interface (eHMI) to communicate their intentions to human-driven vehicles. The optimal placement of the eHMI, either on the AV itself or as part of the road infrastructure, remains undetermined. The current driving simulator study investigated the effect of eHMI positioning on human driving behavior, during the approach and execution of right turns at T-intersections. Forty-three participants drove under three conditions: absence of eHMI, eHMI on the AV (eHMIv), and eHMI integrated into the infrastructure (eHMIi). Participants encountered AVs that either yielded or did not yield to their vehicles. The results regarding the placement of the eHMI showed that both concepts are advantageous, but for different reasons. eHMIv was appreciated because implicit and explicit communication are congruent, although the AV must first be visually identified to respond to it. eHMIi was appreciated because a familiar cue is always at a known location in the environment; as a result, participants braked earlier for the intersection and came less close to the AV (which can be interpreted as a safety advantage or efficiency disadvantage). Although there are limitations to a driving simulator study like this, this research provides important insights into the fundamental question of how information placement affects drivers’ visual attention demands and driving behavior, topics that are important in view of the development of future cities.

The Influence of Employee Commitment on the Performance of State Departments in Kenya

The Public Service in Kenya is encountering numerous problems that demand attention to achieve its maximum capability of delivering high-quality services to citizens. The study is to assess the influence of employee commitment on performance of state departments in Kenya. Data obtained was then analysed through descriptive statistics, frequencies and correlational analysis, that the correlation between variables organisational commitment and organisational performance is strong and significant (r = 0.610, p < 0.01), indicating a positive relationship and the findings then presented through tables, bar charts, and histograms. Research limitations are constraints of time and difficulty in gathering information from state department officers. The results revealed that employee commitment improves productivity, service delivery, cost efficiency, and a positive work environment in state departments. Thus, the state departments should implement are to Strengthen Leadership and Management, Employee Engagement, Improve Working Conditions, Promote Employee Well-being, and Implement Fair Policies and Practices.

Consensus for Operating Room Multimodal Data Management: Identifying Research Priorities for Data-Driven Surgery.

This study aimed to identify research areas that demand attention in multimodal data-driven surgery for improving data management in minimally invasive surgery. New surgical procedures, high-tech equipment, and digital tools are increasingly being introduced, potentially benefiting patients and surgical teams. These innovations have resulted in operating rooms evolving into data-rich environments, which, in turn, requires a thorough understanding of the data pipeline for improved and more intelligent real-time data usage. As this new domain is vast, it is necessary to identify where efforts should be focused on developing seamless and practical data usage. A modified electronic Delphi approach was used; 53 investigators were divided into the following groups: a research group (n=9) for problem identification and a narrative literature review, a medical and technical expert group (n=14) for validation, and an invited panel (n=30) for two electronic survey rounds. Round 1 focused on a consensus regarding bottlenecks in surgical data science areas and research gaps, while round 2 prioritized the statements from round 1, and a roadmap was created based on the identified essential and very important research gaps. Consensus panelists have identified key research areas, including digitizing operating room (OR) activities, improving data streaming through advanced technologies, uniform protocols for handling multimodal data, and integrating AI for efficiency and safety. The roadmap prioritizes standardizing OR data formats, integrating OR data with patient information, ensuring regulatory compliance, standardizing surgical AI models, and securing data transfers in the next generation of wireless networks. This work is an international expert consensus regarding the current issues and key research targets in the promising field of data-driven surgery, highlighting the research needs of many operating room stakeholders with the aim of facilitating the implementation of novel patient care strategies in minimally invasive surgery.

Endogenous Control and Reward-based Mechanisms Shape Infants' Attention Biases to Caregiver Faces.

Infants rely on developing attention skills to identify relevant stimuli in their environments. Although caregivers are socially rewarding and a critical source of information, they are also one of many stimuli that compete for infants' attention. Young infants preferentially hold attention on caregiver faces, but it is unknown whether they also preferentially orient to caregiversand the extent to which these attention biases reflect reward-based attention mechanisms. To address these questions, we measured 4- to 10-month-old infants' (N=64) frequency of orienting and duration of looking to caregiver and stranger faces within multi-item arrays. We also assessed whether infants' attention to these faces related to individual differences in Surgency, an indirect index of reward sensitivity. Although infants did not show biased attention to caregiver versus stranger faces at the group level, infants were increasingly biased to orient to stranger faces with age and infants with higher Surgency scores showed more robust attention orienting and attention holding biases to caregiver faces. These effects varied based on the selective attention demands of the task, suggesting that infants' attention biases to caregiver faces may reflect both developing attention control skills and reward-based attention mechanisms.

Recent Progress in Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid)-Based Biodegradable Drug Delivery Carriers for Pain Management

Pain, a prevalent clinical symptom, significantly demands attention in the current public health system due to its profound impact on patients’ quality of life, daily activities, and economic circumstances. Despite being a pervasive issue, many forms of pain remain ineffectively addressed, hence posing an enormous burden on patients. Pharmaceutical treatments, the first-line approach for various forms of pain, continue to face considerable challenges due to their limited efficacy, lack of long-lasting effects, and adverse side effects. In recent years, the rapid advancements in science and technology, especially the incorporation of micro and nano technologies across various domains, have accelerated the development of novel therapeutics. This review underscores the merits and drawbacks of different pharmacological strategies for pain management. It focuses on the research progress and applications of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) as drug delivery carriers, elucidating their potential therapeutic influence over pain management. The review concludes with a thorough summary of current research outcomes and limitations, a discussion of potential clinical transformations, and projections for future pain management research and effective care strategies.

Securing the Digital Landscape: Present Concerns and Hurdles in Digital Rights Management

The landscape of Digital Rights Management (DRM) is witnessing continual evolution, marked by emerging issues and challenges that demand attention and adaptation. As technology advances, DRM faces the complex task of balancing copyright protection with user rights and expectations. One prominent challenge lies in the realm of interoperability, where varying DRM systems can create barriers for users seeking seamless access to content across different platforms. Privacy concerns have also come to the forefront, as DRM systems often involve the collection of user data to enforce licensing and access controls. Striking the right balance between effective content protections and safeguarding user privacy poses a delicate challenge for DRM implementation. Furthermore, the rise of streaming services and the proliferation of diverse digital platforms increasethe demand for standardized DRM solutions. In the absence of universally accepted standards, fragmentation and compatibility issues can arise, affecting both content providers and consumers. As the digital environment undergoes globalization, the significance of legal and regulatory frameworks will grow, playing a crucial role in influencing the future of DRM. Navigating the complexities of international law and dealing with jurisdictional differences are additional barriers to the effective deployment of DRM. Essentially, the emerging issues and challenges in Digital Rights Management highlight the importance of a dynamic and collaborative approach to ensuring intellectual property protection while respecting the constantly changing demands and rights of digital content consumers.

Efforts to enhance the awareness in significance of early detection for dental and oral diseases in the society 5.0

Oral health is an integral part of overall well-being that demands attention from every individual. Poor oral hygiene can lead to various oral diseases, including dental caries. This community service program aimed to enhance students' understanding of oral health, encourage regular dental checkups, and promote preventive measures against oral diseases through the utilization of various digital tools, including an early detection screening application. Health education sessions were conducted, incorporating pre- and post-tests to evaluate learning outcomes. Additionally, clinical examinations were carried out to assess students' oral health status. The results were encouraging, counseling and education sessions significantly increased knowledge and awareness in over half the participants (55%). However, clinical examinations revealed that a substantial portion (36 students) had unhealthy oral hygiene, highlighting the need for continuous education and preventive strategies.

«Мысль», «ум», «мышление» в стихотворениях Пушкина, Лермонтова, Соловьева, Лосева

The article identifies and analyzes, for the first time, one of the permanent motives of Russian lyrics – the motive of thinking. The thematic lines of the classical period (God, world, man, poet's path) are rooted in the religious tradition; the poets' reflections on thought are stimulated by the demand for attention to inner life and to the mind in the practice of Christian life. The process of thinking becomes the object of intellectual reflection of poets under the influence of German philosophy. Thought, as one of the phenomena of the world, enters into a wide sphere of poetic perceptions, becomes an object of contemplation primarily in the works of Pushkin and Lermontov. Numerous lexemes “to think” in the XVIII century were used outside the philosophical context; the analyzed reflections of the poets of the XIX century form a kind of poetic epistemology – the knowledge of thought. The motive of thinking that runs through all Russian lyrics is presented in the article as a separate aspect of philosophical poetry as a whole, it forms the metatext that is significant for describing the poet's worldview. Solovyov and Losev gained the experience of both contemplative and mental comprehension of the truth. In Solovyov's poems, thinking is the basis and generating condition for visions. In Losev's poetic treatise “Justification”, the mind is affirmed as the mental basis of the heart's life, and love in its elevation to meaning – as the mind. Thus, the philosophical poets expressed in poetry the fruitful unity of two paths that are significant for Russian culture as a whole – mind and heart, intellectual reflection and contemplation, philosophical thought and poetic image.

Difficulties Encountered by Female Entrepreneurs in India

In recent years, entrepreneurship has emerged as a pivotal force driving innovation, economic growth, and societal change worldwide. However, despite significant strides towards gender equality, female entrepreneurs in India continue to face a myriad of challenges unique to their gender. From cultural norms to systemic barriers, the journey for women in business is often fraught with obstacles that demand attention and resolution. At the heart of this issue lies the complex interplay of social, cultural, and economic factors that shape the entrepreneurial landscape in India. While the country has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurial activity in recent decades, the participation of women in this domain remains disproportionately low. Despite the undeniable potential and talent of female entrepreneurs, they encounter a host of challenges that hinder their progress and limit their success.

MANAGEMENT OF ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN INDONESIA: A LITERATURE STUDY

This study aims to analyze and describe the management of Islamic universities in Indonesia. This research is qualitative with the type of library approach (library research). The management of Islamic universities plays a crucial role in advancing Islamic education and producing a young generation of Muslims who are knowledgeable, moral, and ready to face the challenges of the Times. With good management and adaptive to change, PTAI can continue to grow and provide great benefits for the people and nation. The management of Islamic universities plays a very important role in ensuring the success of Islamic education. By facing challenges and implementing the right strategies, PTAI can continue to develop and make significant contributions to society and the nation the management of Islamic universities is a complex field and demands attention to various aspects of Education, Resource Management, as well as interaction with stakeholders. Improving the quality and relevance of education, effective and efficient management, and student character development are some of the key factors to achieve the goals of the institution. Through the right strategy and the implementation of good governance, Islamic religious universities can become institutions that excel in providing quality education, producing useful research, and contributing positively to society. Thus, Islamic universities will be able to produce graduates who are not only academically competent, but also with integrity and noble character, ready to face global challenges while still holding fast to Islamic values

Customizable and adaptable middleware of things

SummaryMiddleware has become an essential element in the construction of distributed Internet of Things (IoT) applications. While it plays a central role in hiding the complexities of distribution, middleware systems have also been responsible for dealing with the uncertainties in IoT environments, such as changes during operation (e.g., inaccuracies in sensor data collection) and fluctuations in resource availability, for example, the battery. These uncertainties demand attention as they can result in application failures or, even worse, jeopardize the safety of applications. Existing middleware systems are being enhanced with self‐adaptive capabilities to address these uncertainties. It means they can make runtime adjustments to the middleware and applications (built atop them) without complete shutdowns. Despite the variety of available adaptive solutions, IoT applications often face uncertainties, each requiring a distinct adaptive action. For instance, the need to fine‐tune a thing's workload due to battery consumption is a common challenge. Furthermore, these applications are susceptible to changes occurring at various layers, presenting a complex challenge of managing them simultaneously. This paper introduces Middleware Extendify (MEx), a solution for building and executing IoT adaptive middleware systems. MEx simplifies the implementation of middleware and provides an underlying environment that executes the middleware and supports a range of adaptation mechanisms. This approach ensures that the middleware meets the evolving demands of applications and copes with changes at runtime. The evaluation of MEx encompasses different adaptive middleware implementations to measure the impact of the proposed adaptation mechanisms. The results indicate that adaptation comes with acceptable performance costs while offering the ability to fine‐tune middleware functionality or align IoT applications more effectively.

THE USE OF INTERVIEWS IN RESEARCH ON BELIEFS IN THE TEACHING-LEARNING OF LANGUAGES DURING INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION

We investigated the use of interviews as an instrument to produce data in studies about beliefs in the teaching and learning of foreign languages during the initial teacher education of student teachers in bachelor's of education degrees with a major in a foreign language. We intended to assist the process of conducting interviews related to this topic. We conducted bibliographic research and reported our experience in preparing and applying the tool. We used as theoretical framework authors such as Manzini (2003), Gerhardt et al. (2009), and Edwards and Holland (2013), among others. Five questions guided our investigation: 1) What are the advantages of using interviews in research on beliefs? 2) What are the disadvantages of using interviews in research on beliefs? 3) What type(s) of interviews is/are more appropriate for research on beliefs? 4) How should interviews be planned for research on beliefs? 5) How can we conduct interviews in research on beliefs? The results indicated that interviews could successfully be used in investigations about the subject through proper planning and use of the instrument. It is a complex task that demands effort and attention from researchers.

Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Forensic Science Education: Effects on CSI Learning Achievements, Situational Interest and Cognitive Load

This study examined the effectiveness of an interactive VR-based platform (IVR-CSI) for crime scene investigation training in forensic science education. The IVR-CSI utilized real-case scenarios and head-mounted displays. University students majoring in criminal investigation (N = 71) participated, with 36 using IVR-CSI and 35 in the control group with traditional training. Pre-test, post-test, and delayed test assessments to measure learning achievements, situational interest, and cognitive load. Statistical analysis revealed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly better immediate learning outcomes and retained knowledge more effectively over time compared to the control group. The IVR-CSI also elicited higher situational interest across most dimensions, particularly in novelty, exploration intention, attention demand, and instant enjoyment. Importantly, IVR-CSI did not increase students’ intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load but enhanced their germane cognitive load. These results highlight the positive impact of IVR-CSI on CSI training, offering valuable insights for enhancing professional training programs and instructional methods in this field.

Developmental differences in striatal recruitment by reward prospects as a function of attentional demand

Adolescent risk-taking has been attributed to earlier-developing motivational neurocircuitry that is poorly controlled by immature executive-control neurocircuitry. Functional magnetic resonance imaging findings of increased ventral striatum (VS) recruitment by reward prospects in adolescents compared to adults support this theory. Other studies found blunted VS recruitment by reward-predictive cues in adolescents compared to adults. Task features may explain this discrepancy but have never been systematically explored. Adolescents and adults performed a novel reward task that holds constant the expected value of all rewards but varies whether rewards are dependent on vigilance-intensive responding versus making a lucky choice during a relaxed response window. We examined group by sub-task contrast differences in activation of VS and more motoric regions of striatum in response to anticipatory cues. Reward anticipation in both task conditions activated portions of striatum in both groups. In voxel-wise comparison, adults showed greater anticipatory recruitment of VS in trials involving choice during a relaxed time window, not in the more vigilance-demanding trials as hypothesized. In accord with our hypotheses, however, adults showed greater activation in dorsal striatum and putamen volumes of interest during reward anticipation under vigilance-demanding conditions. Following trial outcome notifications, adolescents showed greater activation of the VS during reward notification but lower activation during loss notification. These data extend findings of cross-sectional age-group differences in incentive-anticipatory recruitment of striatum, by demonstrating in adults relatively greater recruitment of motor effector regions of striatum by attentional and motor demands.

Immigration Detention at Sea: maritime migration governance in Australia and the sanctioning of indefinite detention for the purpose of removal

Over the past four decades, maritime geographies have become prominent sites of migration governance. While there is important scholarly work on these spaces, charting changing techniques of control and containment, what continues to demand attention is the governance that works through systematically keeping people seeking asylum mobile at sea. This article focuses on Australia, examining the coerced mobilities that follow interdictions at sea and their carceral nature. I interrogate the High Court case, CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, which addresses the extended maritime detention of 157 people seeking asylum in June 2014. Through analysing the language used in this case, such as the conclusion by the majority that “to detain” a person at sea mandates a concomitant duty “to take” that person somewhere, I highlight how coerced mobility has become central to Australia's strategy of maritime migration governance and how this has come to legitimate detention at sea without any clear time limitation. This will reveal the extent to which carcerality informs migration governance in Australia's maritime geographies.

Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology – Threat or Aid?

Objective: This review seeks to identify and analyze the drawbacks and advantages associated with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the field of ophthalmology. Methods: A comprehensive review of scientific literature, articles, and publications on PubMed was undertaken. Various aspects, including the effectiveness and diagnostic speed of diabetic retinopathy, as well as ethical considerations and data security, were evaluated. Results were meticulously checked, compared, and summarized. In total, 98 articles were scrutinized using keywords in both Polish and English, including “artificial intelligence,” “ethics,” “diabetic retinopathy,” and “machine learning.” Results and discussion: The application of AI in ophthalmology demonstrates significant potential in improving the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. AI-based systems not only contribute to facilitating and streamlining the diagnostic and therapeutic processes but also enhance therapy efficiency. However, issues related to patient data protection, physician responsibility, the cost of training adequately skilled personnel, trust in the accuracy of diagnoses, and the long-term consequences of replacing human intervention with AI necessitate careful consideration. Conclusions: AI presents substantial opportunities in ophthalmology but simultaneously poses challenges that demand diligence and attention. It is imperative to develop norms and guidelines for the responsible use of AI in ophthalmic practice, ensuring benefits for patients while minimizing potential risks and maintaining high ethical standards. This proactive approach is crucial for harnessing the full potential of AI in healthcare.