Inspire Institute

The paper explores the concepts of toxic leadership, positive intelligence, emotional intelligence, and mindful leadership, providing a comprehensive understanding of their impact on organizational dynamics. Toxic leadership (TL) is characterized by abusive, controlling, and harmful behaviors that create a hostile work environment, negatively affecting employee morale, productivity, and mental well-being. Positive intelligence (PI) refers to mental fitness to handle life’s challenges positively, enhancing leadership effectiveness by fostering resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Emotional intelligence (EI) involves recognizing, understanding, and managing the emotions of oneself and others, which is critical for leaders in building robust and prosperous interpersonal relationships, motivated teams, and the capacity to resolve conflicts. Lastly, mindful leadership (ML) concentrates on two competencies: “personal” self-awareness and self-management, and “social” social awareness and relationship management, respectively. Mindfulness is emerging as a practice that allows leaders to integrate mindful approaches into leadership development, emphasizing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and deep presence in decision-making. Furthermore, it teaches nonjudgment, calmness, empathy, and the capacity to enhance team dynamics, inclusiveness, and open communication.

As new tactile technologies continually aim to improve the perceptive capabilities of humanoid systems, multiplexed monitoring methods—particularly those using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) hardware—are rapidly gaining popularity in soft robotics. Notably, their potential for system‐level adaptability is promising: by multiplexing between different electrodes, the amount and type of information being generated can be altered in real time, balancing accuracy and speed requirements across new environments and tasks. To solidify this approach, we introduce an approach —Economy‐of‐Touch —which poses tactile sensing as an information‐budgeting problem, enabling operating points to be identified across different tasks. We first propose a three‐part method of quantifying task complexity, grounded in image‐based similarity measures (normalized cross‐correlation, Chamfer distance, and edge‐based convex hulls) which capture both visual similarity and spatial distribution of the tactile stimuli. Validating our approach with thousands of real‐world EIT experiments, we then derive a task‐agnostic mapping between this complexity and the required amount of information: the task's operating point. Three tactile tasks (localization, classification, and pattern recognition) are evaluated with real‐world experiments, across which we demonstrate operating point MAEs as low as 0.659 channels for previously unseen data.

Abstract This experimental study investigates the occurrence of Bacillus cereus in dried mushrooms available on the Czech market and assesses the potential health risks associated with the production of the emetic toxin cereulide. Thirty samples of dried mushrooms of various species and origins were analyzed. The study includes a microbiological analysis of Bacillus cereus counts, monitoring of growth dynamics during rehydration, molecular detection of the ces gene responsible for cereulide synthesis, and analytical determination of the toxin itself. The results show that Bacillus cereus is a relatively common contaminant in dried mushrooms (70% of samples), but its concentrations do not exceed legislatively established limits. During rehydration, there is no significant multiplication above recommended values, and subsequent heat treatment reliably eliminates vegetative forms of the bacteria. The ces gene was not detected in any of the 79 tested isolates, indicating a very low prevalence of emetic Bacillus cereus strains in dried mushrooms. Analytical determination of cereulide also did not confirm its presence in any sample. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the risk of emetic syndrome after consumption of dishes containing rehydrated dried mushrooms is relatively low. The study recommends following proper handling procedures: rehydrate at room temperature for 2 hours, drain and rinse the mushrooms with clean water, and thoroughly cook dishes for at least 10 minutes. These measures significantly reduce the probability of foodborne intoxication and contribute to the safety of dishes in everyday culinary practice.

The rapid design and fabrication of soft robotic matter is of growing interest for shape morphing, actuation, and wearable devices. Here, we report a facile fabrication method for creating soft robotic materials with embedded pneumatics that exhibit programmable shape morphing behavior. Using rotational multimaterial 3D printing, asymmetrical core-shell filaments composed of elastomeric shells and fugitive channels are patterned in 1D, 2D, and 2.5D motifs. By precisely controlling the nozzle design, rotation rate, extrusion rate, and print path, one can control the local orientation, shape, and cross-sectional area of the patterned fugitive channel along each printed filament. Once the elastomeric matrix is cured, the fugitive ink is removed, leaving behind embedded channels that facilitate pneumatic actuation. Using a connected Fermat spiral pathing approach, one can automatically generate desired print paths required for more complex soft robots, such as hand-inspired grippers. Our integrated design and printing approach enables one to rapidly build soft robotic matter that exhibits myriad shape morphing transitions on demand.

The contemporary world, despite its interconnectedness, remains deeply fragmented between narratives of civilizational clash and often superficial dialogical efforts. This paper examines this paradox by proposing the ethical framework of “constructive discussion” (hiwar muqni’) by Badi‘ al-Zaman Sa‘id al-Nursi as a normative alternative to the “clash of civilizations” thesis. Through conceptual analysis and in-depth documentary review including observations of international diplomatic initiatives and post-conflict peace processes, this study demonstrates that Al-Nursi’s principles of “universal brotherhood,” “forgiveness,” and “principled openness” (wasatiyyah) provide a practical foundation for authentic dialogue. However, their application is not without challenges, particularly in contexts of power asymmetry, structural injustice, and actors operating in bad faith. By integrating considerations of these limitations alongside concrete examples from international relations, this study argues that neglecting a holistic ethical approach will perpetuate global cycles of antagonism, a condition that can indeed be avoided through a commitment to dialogue grounded in empathy, justice, and mutual respect.

Correction: BMC Public Health 25, 3211 (2025)https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24075-3<br/><br/>Following publication of the original article [1], the authors identified an error in Pamela Whitaker’s name and an error in the affiliation listed for both Pamela Whitaker and Saul Golden.<br/><br/>The incorrect author name is: Pamela Whittaker.<br/><br/>The correct author name is: Pamela Whitaker. Pamela Whitaker is affiliated to Belfast School of Art, Ulster University, Belfast, UK.<br/><br/>Saul Golden is affiliated to Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, Belfast, UK.<br/><br/>The author group has been updated above and the original article [1] has been corrected

ABSTRACT This article provides two examples (an external and an internal evaluation with the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance) of a people‐centered approach to evaluation. We review how we came to our people‐centered approaches and how we used that approach in this particular context. First, we discuss an external evaluation of the Alliance examining relationships among Alliance members and with their community partners, and then we offer a discussion of the internal evaluation strategy used to better understand relationships within the Alliance. There were some differences, as well as many commonalities, in the way we, as evaluators, approached building authentic relationships that valued the context and the Alliance members. We contend that, regardless of an evaluation's goals, there are ways to incorporate people‐centered evaluation approaches into evaluation work .

This paper describes customization of a low-power tabletop hybrid GRBL-based CNC machine which is designed and manufactured for engraving, petrography, LASER cutting and milling of soft materials. The motorized spindle of the machine is upgraded by extending the rear shaft using a shaft coupler such that either a magnetic or an optical encoder can be attached to the spindle. The motor is driven by a customized PIEPP02 PC interfaced modular motor driver board. The motor voltage, current and angular position are sensed by the digital signal controller of the board with the help of a custom built external VIS01 board. It contains differential amplifiers and filters for voltage and current sensing purposes. Using a high-resolution quadrature encoder, the velocity signal is reliably estimated at a rate of 500 SPS for a broad range of motor speed. This makes the system suitable for configuring as a CNC lathe machine where tight speed control of the rotating job is needed with the help of a feedback loop. The uniqueness of the customized system is that, based on the synchronously captured spindle motor position, voltage and current, the evolution of shaft vibration with the increase of motor excitation can be captured, overcoming the PWM-related noise in the drive system. The developed electronics are useful for high-speed dynamic analysis of electromechanical systems in general, system identification, machine condition monitoring and characterization of the power wastage due to unwanted or under-optimized dynamics of a CNC machine.

ABSTRACT Protollin, a nasal adjuvant, was evaluated in a randomized double-blind phase 1 study of 16 early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients to determine safety and to assess its immunomodulatory effects. In a double-blind dose escalation study, subjects received nasal Protollin at doses of 0.1mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, and 1.5mg or placebo twice over a two-week period. Treatment was well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Transcriptomic and single-cell analyses demonstrated that prior to treatment, AD blood monocytes had downregulation of phagocytosis-related genes and an increased pro-inflammatory signature. These AD monocyte abnormalities were reversed by nasal Protollin beginning at a dose of 1.0mg. Protollin induced a robust phagocytic gene signature, including upregulation of CD36 , ITGAL , LYST , and FCGR1A . A similar phagocytic signature was observed in brain- infiltrating amyloid-clearing monocytes in an APP Tg mouse model treated with nasal Protollin. Protollin treatment decreased the expression of costimulatory molecules on monocytes and decreased CD8+ T cell activation and cytotoxicity. Our results provide the basis for a phase 2 study of nasal Protollin in subjects with AD in which nasal Protollin at a dose of 1.0 mg will be administered weekly over 6 months to modulate peripheral immunity and clear amyloid from the brain. ClinicalTrials.gov registration no NCT07187141 .

Although in vitro neuronal models are accessible and versatile systems for functional electrophysiological studies, the spontaneous and random formation of neural circuits often compromises the structural control and reproducibility. Here, we introduce a robust method for engineering human neuronal networks in vitro with single-cell precision and reproducibility. Our integrated platform combines direct laser-written microstructure templates and soft lithography-based fabrication of microscaffolds with functional multielectrode array recordings. This system enables high-throughput production of diverse circuit designs and allows for the exact placement of neurons within confined microenvironments. The system enables precise recording of spontaneous neuronal activity, as well as electrical and optogenetic stimulations. Using this approach, we constructed reproducible, bottom-up neuronal circuits composed of a defined number of human neurons. As a proof of principle, we employed these circuits to investigate ephaptic coupling, which refers to the modulation of neuronal activity by endogenous electric fields. Although it is believed to play a role in neural computations and cardiac conduction and is associated with epilepsy and arrhythmia, its mechanisms are unclear due to limitations in experimental models, both in vivo and in vitro. By controlling axonal proximity within microchannels and the number of neurons in the engineered circuits, we can quantify ephaptic coupling at different strengths, which validates theoretical predictions, including reduced action potential velocity, increased activity synchronization, and lower stimulation thresholds. Furthermore, the platform has broad potential for studying synaptic and nonsynaptic interactions, myelination processes, advancing disease modeling, and fundamental neuroscience research.