Ansbach University of Applied Sciences

This paper explores the association of anthropomorphism and cognitive load with respect to the influence of negative attitudes towards robots. The study consists in a cooperative pick-and-place task, where participants are required to repeatedly and alternatingly put a Lego brick onto one of two trays to be picked up and returned by a robot arm. The task is varied by whether or not participants had to remember an 8-digit number inducing extraneous cognitive load (within-subjects factor). Results show significant correlations of some dimensions of anthropomorphism and perceived cognitive load. However, dividing participants in groups with different negative attitudes towards robots, a significant difference of this association is found. This finding puts prior results on the dependency of anthropomorphism of robots and cognitive load into perspective and more research on the underlying cognitive processes is suggested.

Abstract Climate change impacts hydrology and biogeochemistry of reservoirs. Thereby, processing of the essential nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is affected. Clarifying the compounded long‐term impact of changed nutrient inputs and effects of climate change on internal nutrient processing requires long‐term data sets with sufficient detail. This study evaluates monitoring data from 2000 to 2019 in the German Franconian Lake District, which consists of one shallow (hypertrophic) and three deep reservoirs (meso‐to eutrophic), interconnected by a transfer canal. The cascade configuration and continued external load buffer catchment variations, making nutrient trends attributable to internal processing. Mass balances were set up and statistical trends analyses performed for nutrient concentrations, duration of stratification and hypolimnetic anoxia. Across reservoirs, mean water temperature (range: +0.35 to +1.0°C decade −1 ), stratification (+7 to +18 days decade −1 ) and hypolimnetic anoxia (+15 to +35 days decade −1 ) increased significantly. Total phosphorus increased in deep reservoirs (+0.006 to +0.01 mg P L −1 decade −1 ) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased in all reservoirs (−0.2 to −0.4 mg N L −1 decade −1 ). Increased rates of nitrate loss could be attributed to enhanced denitrification and earlier algal uptake. Increased total phosphorus concentrations were attributable to increased sediment P‐release, induced by prolonged stratification and hypolimnetic anoxia. Primarily, the decrease in TN drove a strong decrease in TN:TP ratio (−4 to −15 mol:mol decade −1 ), triggering a shift toward N‐limitation, associated with proliferation of harmful algae blooms. Identified impacts emphasize the need to consider the potential disruptive effects of intensifying climate change on health and restoration efforts for temperate, eutrophic lakes worldwide.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has enabled automated website creation, including design, content, and SEO. This study compares an AI-generated application with a manually designed one in terms of usability and user experience. Forty-two participants evaluated efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, emotional responses, and behavioural patterns. The manual application outperformed the AI-generated one in most datasets, particularly in clarity, supportiveness, and comprehensibility, while speed, learnability, activation, creativity, and security showed no significant differences. Users reported more positive emotions and confident interactions with the manual application, whereas the AI application elicited uncertainty and frustration. These behavioural differences were also reflected in processing times and task completion rates, suggesting that AI-generated solutions currently struggle to meet established UX standards. Nevertheless, the AI builder demonstrated potential for rapid prototyping and low-effort website creation, offering advantages for users with limited technical skills or resources. The findings highlight both the opportunities and limitations of current AI-based web design tools and underline the importance of human-centered design expertise in achieving high-quality user experiences. Despite existing shortcomings, AI-supported tools may become increasingly viable as technology advances.

Many of the XLPE cables in MV/HV grids have already passed their forty-year design life cycle. Authorities now advise utilities to replace these cables. A strait forward replacement of underground cables having passed their calculated life cycle will turn the streets of many cities into permanent workplaces. A more systematic approach is necessary to avoid this situation.By means of voltage injection into the neutral, the Ground Fault Neutralizer (GFN) can control phase-to-ground voltages. Full control of phase-to-ground voltages admits on-line PD testing at levels above normal operating voltages, enabling systematic forechecking strategies for the early detection of defective system components. This is done online, without at all affecting the power supply to end-users.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a well-established marker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. It is also an important tool for investigating cardiovascular and neurological health. Changes in HRV have been associated with epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), conditions in which autonomic dysregulation is believed to play a significant role. HRV is traditionally measured using electrocardiography (ECG) under standardized laboratory conditions. Recently, however, wearable devices such as the Empatica E4 wristband have emerged as promising tools for continuous, noninvasive HRV monitoring in real-life, ambulatory, and clinical settings where laboratory infrastructure may be lacking. Methods: We evaluated the validity and clinical utility of the Empatica E4 wristband in two cohorts. In the first cohort of healthy controls (n = 29), we compared HRV measures obtained with the E4 against those obtained with a gold-standard laboratory ECG device under seated rest and metronomic breathing conditions. In persons with epilepsy (PWE, n = 42), we assessed HRV across wake and sleep states, as well as during exposure to sodium channel blockers. This was done to determine whether the device could detect physiologically and clinically meaningful changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Results: In healthy participants, the Empatica E4 provided heart rate (HR), root mean square of successive R-R intervals (RMSSD), and standard deviation of all interbeat intervals (SDNN) values that were strongly correlated with laboratory measurements. Both devices detected the expected increase in RMSSD during metronomic breathing; however, the E4 consistently reported higher absolute values than the ECG. In patients with epilepsy (PWE), the E4 reliably captured parasympathetic activation during sleep and detected a significant reduction in heart rate variability (HRV) in patients taking sodium channel blockers, demonstrating its sensitivity to clinically relevant autonomic changes. Conclusions: The Empatica E4 wristband is valid for measuring HRV in research and clinical contexts. It can detect modulations of ANS activity that are physiologically meaningful. While HRV metrics were robust, other signals, such as electrodermal activity and temperature, were less reliable. These results highlight the potential of wearable devices as practical alternatives to laboratory-based autonomic testing, especially in emergency and resource-limited settings, and emphasize their importance in epilepsy care risk assessment.

Abstract Entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive on the contributions of diverse actors, among whom entrepreneurs play a pivotal role. Interestingly, previous research on entrepreneurial ecosystems has remained silent on how to encourage entrepreneurs to “give back” to their ecosystem. This study probes the phenomenon of downward causation, aiming to unravel the motivations and mechanisms driving entrepreneurs to actively contribute to the evolution and stability of their ecosystems. Drawing on qualitative analyses of 32 in-depth interviews with startup entrepreneurs in Germany, our findings unveil the characteristics of contribution behavior and highlight the heterogeneous nature of entrepreneurs’ motivations. Reciprocal motivation emerges as a central driver, influenced by a complex interplay of interactions. Experiences with ecosystem actors shape diverse interpersonal relationships, impacting entrepreneurs’ gratitude and fostering a sense of affiliation. Individual characteristics, such as entrepreneurial passion and altruism, along with the situational context, can reinforce or constrain this motivation. These insights converge into a dynamic model, enhancing theoretical foundations of downward causation within entrepreneurial ecosystems.

This study demonstrates that hydrogen enrichment in lean-burn spark-ignition engines can simultaneously improve three key performance metrics, thermal efficiency, combustion stability, and nitrogen oxide emissions, without requiring modifications to the engine hardware or ignition timing. This finding offers a novel control approach to a well-documented trade-off in existing research, where typically only two of these factors are improved at the expense of the third. Unlike previous studies, the present work achieves simultaneous improvement of all three metrics without hardware modification or ignition timing adjustment, relying solely on the optimization of the air–fuel equivalence ratio λ. Experiments were conducted on a six-cylinder engine for combined heat and power application, fueled with hydrogen–natural gas blends containing up to 30% hydrogen by volume. By optimizing only the air–fuel equivalence ratio, it was possible to extend the lean-burn limit from λ≈1.6 to λ>1.9, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 70%, enhance thermal efficiency by up to 2.2 percentage points, and significantly improve combustion stability, reducing cycle-by-cycle variationsfrom 2.1% to 0.7%. A defined λ window was identified in which all three key performance indicators simultaneously meet or exceed the natural gas baseline. Within this window, balanced improvements in nitrogen oxide emissions, efficiency, and stability are achievable, although the individual maxima occur at different operating points. Cylinder pressure analysis confirmed that combustion dynamics can be realigned with original equipment manufacturer characteristics via mixture leaning alone, mitigating hydrogen-induced pressure increases to just 11% above the natural gas baseline. These results position hydrogen as a performance booster for natural gas engines in stationary applications, enabling cleaner, more efficient, and smoother operation without added system complexity. The key result is the identification of a λ window that enables simultaneous optimization of nitrogen oxide emissions, efficiency, and combustion stability using only mixture control.

• An iterative evidence-based development a phytic acid-based flame-retardant PLA is presented. • Flammability, fire behavior, molecular weight, processibility, crystallinity, and mechanical properties are factored. • Promising synergistic combinations of different phytic acid-based flame retardance with lignin and EG was proposed. A systematic sequence of materials was investigated to develop phytic-acid (Phyt)–based flame retarded poly(lactide acid) (PLA), while factoring in molecular weight (MW), crystallinity and mechanical properties. Synergistic approaches were developed based on combinations with lignin and expandable graphite (EG), as well as by applying different Phyt salts of melamine (Mel), piperazine (Pip), and arginine (Arg). Compounds were twin screw extruded, injection molded, hot pressed and investigated with thermal analysis, size exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, limited oxygen index (LOI), UL 94, cone calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope. 16.7 wt.% flame retardant (FR) slightly enhances crystallization while MW remains unchanged in PLA Phyt Arg and PLA Phyt Mel. LOI was improved to 43.7 vol.% for PLA Phyt Arg, UL 94 V0 achieved for PLA Phyt Pip. Cone calorimeter results show total heat evolved reduced by 14 %, maximum average rate of heat emission 43 % lower, and peak heat release rate reduced by 50 % for PLA Phyt Mel. Phyt Mel combined with EG increased the char yield of PLA to 20 wt.% and 15.5 wt.% at 600 and 900 °C, respectively. Phyt is exploited to enhance char yield, stabilize the intumescent char, and lower the apparent effective heat of combustion. The combination of Phyt Mel and EG was proposed as an efficient FR for PLA via an evidence based developing route.