A bias generating temporal distortions in serial perception

A precise estimation of event timing is essential for survival. Yet, temporal distortions are ubiquitous in our daily sensory experience. A specific type of temporal distortion is the time order error (TOE), which occurs when estimating the duration of events organized in a series. TOEs shrink or dilate objective event duration. Understanding the mechanics of subjective time distortions is fundamental since we perceive events in a series, not in isolation. In previous work, we showed that TOEs appear when discriminating small duration differences (20 or 60 ms) between two short events (Standard, S and Comparison, C), but only if the interval between events is shorter than 1 second. TOEs have been variously attributed to sensory desensitization, reduced temporal attention, poor sensory weighting of C relative to S, or idiosyncratic response bias. Surprisingly, the serial dynamics of relative event duration were never considered as a factor generating TOEs. In two experiments we tested them by swapping the order of presentation of S and C. Bayesian hierarchical modelling showed that TOEs emerge when the first event in a series is shorter than the second event, independently of event type (S or C), sensory precision or individual response bias. Participants disproportionately expanded first-position shorter events. Significantly fewer errors were made when the first event was objectively longer, confirming the inference of a strong bias in perceiving ordered event durations. Our finding identifies a hitherto unknown duration-dependent encoding inefficiency in human serial perception.

Influence of Landscape Diversity on Temporal Variability of Ecosystem Functioning in the South of Western Siberia

Biodiversity increases the stability of ecosystem functioning. This is the most frequent pattern in the field of ecosystem functioning, which has been evaluated generally at the community scale. However, most management decisions are made at the landscape scale, which requires the need to confirm these relationships at this level. In the study, we analyzed the relationship between temporal variability of ecosystem functioning and two landscape diversity indices (Shannon and Pielou). We used snow water equivalent and soil moisture content as the indicators of functioning, which are closely related to the runoff formation function. The field data were collected in a small plain basin of the Kasmala river during the period from 2011 to 2017. Within four spatial scales, we have not identified significant linear relationships between the indicators of functioning and diversity indices. These results indicated the strong influence on the total variability by variation in the most widespread ecosystem types (also called idiosyncratic response). It is one of the consequences of landscape structure homogenization within the study area.

Single generation exposure to a captive diet: a primer for domestication selection in a salmonid fish?

Millions of wild animals in captivity are reared on diets that differ in their uptake and composition from natural conditions. Few studies have investigated whether such novel diets elicit unintentional domestication selection in captive rearing and supplementation programs. In highly fecund salmonid fishes, natural and captive mortality is highest in the first few months of exogenous feeding. This high early mortality might be a potent driver of unintentional selection because wild fish normally forage on live prey whereas they are fed almost exclusively pellet feed in captivity: fish that do not adapt pellet feed well under captive conditions experience reduced growth and/or die. We tested this hypothesis by generating a large number of families from F1 captive and wild fish originating from the same three populations and then rearing them each on pellet and natural, live, drifting feed for three months at the beginning of exogenous feeding. We found that captive fish of every population grew faster than wild fish in all diet treatments. Populations exhibited an idiosyncratic response to diet treatment, with two populations exhibiting faster growth on a pellet diet versus the natural diet but another population exhibiting similar growth in both diet treatments. Fish exposed to a natural diet also exhibited higher survival relative to those given a pellet diet. Captive and wild fish did not differ in survival, regardless of population of origin. Overall, we found evidence that rapid domestication selection associated with a single generation exposure to a novel captive diet generates genetically-based changes to individual fitness (e.g., growth and survival) in a wild fish.

CULTURAL IDENTITY AND PATRIOTISM IN EXPATRIATE ACADEMIC RETENTION AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES MALAYSIA

Cultural identity is the embodiment of the application of values, beliefs, and behaviours that bind the individual's stand in shaping the thinking and practice of each individual within the culture. In the context of this study, the challenges of globalization in relation to the ability of organizations to manage cultural diversity have had a significant impact on cross-cultural adaptability in expatriate retention. The focus was on aspects of cultural identity and the spirit of patriotism among international staff that reflected the differences in a dualism between the home country and the host country. By adopting a narrative approach, this paper successfully disseminates views on the cultural identity and spirit of patriotism among academics in Malaysian public universities. The use of case study design has identified the social interaction of a social group that involves either individuals, groups, institutions or local communities through the construction of beliefs based on cross-cultural adjustment measures. This study applied a qualitative approach to in-depth interviews of 30 academics from four selected public universities in Malaysia. The results show that the idiosyncratic response to the cultural environment determines the success of cultural adaptation and career retention.

Early discussions on a mechanistic approach to pain

The landmark paper discussed in this chapter is ‘Towards a mechanism-based classification of pain?’, published by Woolf et al. in 1998. One of the great challenges of managing patients with pain problems has been the idiosyncratic response of patients to therapies designed to improve their symptoms. In part, this has been the consequence of imperfect methods of classifying pain. If it is not possible to robustly categorize patients into common pain groups, how can it be hoped that successful treatments that translate well from the research setting into clinical practice will be developed? In this landmark editorial, Clifford Woolf and his co-authors attempted to address imperfections in historical pain classification systems with a novel approach based on pain mechanisms.

Toxic anterior segment syndrome following phakic posterior chamber IOL: a rarity

Implantable collamer lenses (ICL) have gained popularity for correction of myopia where kerato-refractive procedures are not indicated as in cases of high myopic refractive errors. Toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) is a very uncommonly reported postoperative complication following ICL implantation. A young patient developed severe corneal oedema and anterior segment inflammation on the first day after ICL implantation. Analysing retrospectively, possible idiosyncratic response to intracameral pilocarpine was considered as a cause for TASS. Prompt and intensive therapy with oral and topical potent steroids was visually rewarding. TASS, though a sterile inflammation can have catastrophic sequelae such as corneal decompensation and secondary glaucoma. Hence, timely identification and management is important.

Liking goes from the perceiver’s self-interest, but respect is socially shared

Liking and respect are postulated as two dimensions of interpersonal attitudes. Liking-disliking is an idiosyncratic response which depends mostly on how target persons influence interests and well-being of the attitude holder and is accompanied by beliefs in their communal traits. Respect-disrespect is a socially shared response which depends mostly on the social status of target persons and is accompanied by beliefs in their agency. This Self-interest /Status Model (SSM) of differences between liking and respect was tested in two studies. It was predicted and found that respect responses (and underlying judgments of agentic traits) are socially shared to higher extent than liking responses (and underlying judgments of communal traits).

Self-Reflection

Idiosyncratic responses are more strictly personal responses to fiction film that vary across individual spectators. In philosophy of film, idiosyncratic responses are often deemed inappropriate, unwarranted and unintended by the film. One type of idiosyncratic response is when empathy with a character triggers the spectator to reflect on his own real-life issues. Self-reflection can be triggered by egoistic drift, where the spectator starts imagining himself in the character’s shoes, by re-experiencing memories, or by unfamiliar experiences that draw the spectator’s attention. Film may facilitate self-reflection by slowing down narrative development and making the narrative indeterminate. Such scenes do make idiosyncratic responses, such as self-reflection, appropriate and intended. Fiction film is a safe context for the spectator to reflect on personal issues, as it also affords him with distancing techniques if the reflection becomes too painful or unwanted. The fictional context further encourages self-reflection in response to empathy, as the spectator is relieved from real-life moral obligations to help the other.