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This paper presents a two-stage game in order to explore the strategic interaction between the editor of an academic journal and a representative scholar. At the outset of the game, the editor chooses the 'characteristics' of the journal, which encompass its rejection rate and other facets of the journal's profile. Next, the scholar decides whether or not to submit a paper to the journal. We show that scholars' behavior precludes the possibility of low-quality journals. As such, editors have only the choice between managing high-quality journals with few issues or second-tier journals publishing many papers. Moreover, if our two-stage game suggests that higher costs for scholars contribute to journal quality, numerical simulation shows that the effect of these costs on journal quality may be low. Lastly, our game-theoretic approach points out that it is difficult for journal editors to define optimal rejection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial summarises the papers published in issue 14(4) so as to raise the bar in applied spatial economic research and highlight new trends. The first paper analyses the impact of re-exports on bilateral trade data. The second paper proposes a new measure for the popular smart specialisation index (S3). The third paper proposes a new solution for the so-called reflection problem in spatial or social interaction models. The fourth paper analyses bankruptcy spillovers in the state of Maryland. The final paper estimates a system of equations to analyse the mutual relationship between the domestic migration of highly-skilled graduates and innovation and productivity in U.S. states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effect of international talent inflow on technological innovation and the influence of the Chinese cultural environment on their relationship. Based on provincial-level data from 2000 to 2012, we construct a static panel data model to explore the effects of international talents on technological innovation and the moderating role of Guanxi culture and social trust in the above relationship. We find that international talent inflow positively impacts technological innovation. Guanxi culture significantly negatively impacts technological innovation and negatively moderates the relationship between international talent inflow and technological innovation. Social trust significantly positively impacts technological innovation and positively moderates the relationship between international talent inflow and technological innovation. The interaction between social trust and Guanxi culture has a significant positive effect on technological innovation. The study shows that different cultural environments have an essential impact on developing international talent's innovation ability. This paper provides evidence for the need to improve China's cultural environment and provides important implications for the formulation of talent policies. Based on this, we suggest improving the talent introduction system, optimizing the relationship culture, and building a good social trust system to promote regional innovation. Plain language summary: In this paper, we found that international talent inflow positively impacts on technological innovation. Guanxi culture significantly negatively impacts on technological innovation and negatively moderating the relationship between international talent inflow and technological innovation. Social trust significantly positively impacts on technological innovation and positively moderates the relationship between international talent inflows and technological innovation. The interaction between social trust and Guanxi culture has a significant positive effect on technological innovation. This study makes several contributions to the literature. First, it enriches the research on the influence of informal institutions in the field of international talents and reveals the boundary conditions for the role of international talents. Second, it deepens the research on the influence of culture with Chinese characteristics and enriches the empirical research on Guanxi culture in management. Lastly, it expands the antecedents of technological innovation. There are some limitations to this study. First, in addition to the negative side of the Guanxi culture, there is also a positive side. This study only uses the time invested by entrepreneurs and corporate entertainment expenses to explore its effect. Therefore, future research can analyze both sides of Guanxi culture. Second, Guanxi culture is just one of China's core cultures. Other cultures such as favor and face are also cross-cultural adaptation issues that international talents must face. It is necessary to discuss them. Third, limited to data availability, the social trust data only covers 7 years. Therefore, more relevant alternative indicators can be sought to verify the results in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the formal, conceptual, and functional characteristics of impoliteness in social media interactions, arguing that face-threatening acts can be viewed as an effective manifestation of social capital if delivered in a way that has potential to grant the user distinction in cyberspace – the process contingent on recognition by some groups and elimination of others. As argued in the following, social capital manifests itself through a distinct habitus that exploits relevant cultural resources specific to social media interactions for the purpose of successful differentiation between spaces and participants in this context. In order to account for the complex, richly intertextual nature of creative impoliteness on social media, the study introduces the concept of "e-mpoliteness," which refers not only to the surface form of the examined instances but also to the plethora of other resources and references that instantiate the habitus of meaning-making in online discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agile approaches have received acceptance from organisations as effective frameworks for managing complicated projects in rapidly changing situations. This study explores the challenges of agile adaptation in product team motivation that attempted to implement the existing agile adaptation. In order to implement the agile adaptation, the product team needs to make adjustments and collaborate with others. Inadequate procedures and outside factors have been identified as barriers to existing agile adaptation. Although implementing an agile approach has numerous advantages, doing so can be more complex with adaption and modification processes, especially to align with the organisation's working environment, current team motivation, or the effectiveness of current collaboration. These require extensive changes across the team. Intrinsic motivation is crucial for high levels of output and quality. The qualitative method of semi-structured interviews was chosen to focus in-depth on agile practitioners' mindsets and adaptation acceptance who had just undergone agile adaptation experience. Interviews with five experienced agile practitioners in a telecommunications company were conducted to analyse a product team, its dynamics and behaviours, and what has been learned about human interactions, such as motivation and collaboration in the context of agile adaption, conflict, and challenges. This paper found that it is important for an agile product team with multidisciplinary expertise to work towards a common goal, foster team spirit, share the vision, and set clear goals with good collaboration and flexibility in reprioritising the tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-speaking autistic individuals grapple with the profound impact of the 'double empathy problem' in their daily interactions with speaking others. This study rethinks the communication challenges faced by non-speaking autistic individuals, challenging traditional approaches that predominantly focus on speech and complex communication devices (AAC). By spotlighting the natural phenomenon of "interactive stimming," a powerful mode of communication among autistic individuals, this study advocates for a shift from a conventional emphasis on speech towards the foundational role of the body in autistic communication. Central to this exploration is the introduction of the Magical Musical Mat (MMM), an innovative interactive environment mapping interpersonal touch to musical sounds. Through a robust mixed-methods approach integrating video-based fieldwork and designbased research, this paper engages three non-speaking autistic children and their mothers in a 5-day empirical intervention. Results reveal significant transformations in parent-child interactions as both parents and children are acquainted with touch in a new environment. Children assert their autonomy, exploring at their own pace, and discovering sensory features of the environment. Notably, the introduction of sound prompts heightened awareness of the stims, leading to diversified and expressive stim movements. Foregrounding interpersonal touch eventually guides parents into their children's sensory activities where parents attune to the stims of their children by joining in and facilitating their expressiveness, co-creating extended, evolving patterns of repetitive cycles. The collaborative stim cycles can be likened to free improvisation, where dynamical coherence between individuals occurs through a blend of stability and active flexibility. By shifting the focus from speech to co-created sensory experiences, this paper sheds light on the value of transformative multisensory environments, envisioning a world where varied modes of communication are valued and embraced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the motivation for learning German as a Foreign Language (GFL) of Hungarian secondary school students, in particular, their extramural activities and the impact of these activities on their learning motivation in second language (L2) acquisition. While much existing research on L2 learning motivation focuses on English, less attention is paid to other languages such as German, despite its economic and cultural importance in Hungary. Utilising Dörnyei's (2005) L2 Motivational Self System framework, this paper explores how extramural German activities, such as interaction on social media, and consumption of German media, contribute to GFL learning motivation and GFL proficiency. Using the quantitative research paradigm, this paper analyses data collected from 546 Hungarian secondary school students assessing their motivation and the frequency of their engagement in different extramural German activities. The results indicate that these activities are generally pursued infrequently, however, certain types, particularly digital and interactive ones, have a positive effect on GFL learning motivation. Gender differences in frequency of engagement in extramural German activities were also found. The pedagogical implications of this paper suggest that the integration of certain extramural German activities into GFL learning may enhance learners' motivation. The article also offers directions for future research to further explore the intricate dynamics of extramural activities and L2 learning motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new media in various fields has continuously strengthened the social aspect of social media. Netizens tend to express emotions in social interactions, and many people even use satire, metaphors, and other techniques to express some negative emotions, it is necessary to detect sarcasm in social comment data. For sarcasm, the more reference data modalities used, the better the experimental effect. This paper conducts research on sarcasm detection technology based on image-text fusion data. To effectively utilize the features of each modality, a feature reconstruction output algorithm is proposed. This algorithm is based on the attention mechanism, learns the low-rank features of another modality through cross-modality, the eigenvectors are reconstructed for the corresponding modality through weighted averaging. When only the image modality in the dataset is used, the preprocessed data has outstanding performance in reconstructing the output model, with an accuracy rate of 87.6%. When using only the text modality data in the dataset, the reconstructed output model is optimal, with an accuracy rate of 85.2%. To improve feature fusion between modalities for effective classification, a weight adaptive learning algorithm is used. This algorithm uses a neural network combined with an attention mechanism to calculate the attention weight of each modality to achieve weight adaptive learning purposes, with an accuracy rate of 87.9%. Extensive experiments on a benchmark dataset demonstrate the superiority of our proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the human relationship to technology, and AI in particular, including the proposition that algorithms are the new unconscious. Key is the question of how much human ability will be duplicated and transcended by general machine intelligence. More and more people are seeking connection via social media and interaction with artificial beings. The paper examines what it means to be human and which of these traits are already or will be replicated by AI. Therapy bots already exist. It is easier to envision AI therapy guided by CBT manuals than psychoanalytic techniques. Yet, a demonstration of how AI can already perform dream analysis reaching beyond a dream's manifest content is presented. The reader is left to consider whether these findings demand a new role for psychoanalysis in supporting, sustaining, and reframing our humanity as we create technology that transcends our abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the influence of human factor and clinical constraints specific to mechanical devices for medical purpose. environment (with a limited workspace, inside or outside the patient body). A medical robot is usually a complex system including mechanical structure, human-machine interface (HMI), electronic components, and software controller. All these components are integrated to perform various tasks for daily medical applications. Because any failure may become very critical, medical robots must function safely and with high reliability, so that designing medical robots for safe human interaction can be considered a real challenge. In order to respect the clinical constrains, a safety real-time controller has been designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alteroception is the virtual experience of another person's bodily movement centered in the perspective of the other person. In face-to-face interactions, human beings tend to assume a special mode of alteroception by mutually but tacitly recognizing that 'your right is on my left and your left is on my right'. Researchers of neonatal cognition and early childhood development describe this mode of alteroception as "reverse" or "inverted". Inverse alteroception goes beyond mirror-image mimesis to chiastic (crisscrossing) mimesis in acts of intersubjective sense-making; but the cognitive and cultural affordances of this inverse reciprocal ability are largely untreated in the literature. I argue that this unique aspect of human phenomenology deserves closer attention since it enables a broader palette of diagrammatic contrasts that extend far beyond face-to-face interaction. In this paper, I apply insights from Peircean and Greimasian semiotics to argue that salient features of the human lifeworld originate from imaginative mappings of inverse alteroception onto other domains. From diagrams of gesture space and contemporary visual design to the structures of the Proscenium stage, from historic heraldry to Aristotle's logical square of oppositions and beyond, many visual/spatial designs and their reciprocal interaction with human experience are linked to this ability – an ability that owes its origins, in turn, to the evolution of upright posture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In technology-infused frontline service encounters, human-based service represents a high degree of uncertainty. However, understanding how technology can meet customer demands without undermining the importance of human interaction is crucial for retailers to remain competitive. However, empirical evidence comparing different types of service encounters (technology-facilitated vs. technology-assisted vs. technology-free) is lacking. Building on existing approaches to technology-enabled services, this study aims to extend the understanding of the optimal type of technology infusion and human interaction in the context of customer trust and willingness to pay. Drawing on social interaction theory, emphasizing that technology can influence the nature and quality of interactions between customers and frontline employees, this paper empirically examines different types of service encounters. A quasi-experimental online study (N = 944) was conducted.General results show that technology infusion within the service encounter has a negative impact on customers' trust in the frontline employee, but a positive impact on customers' willingness to pay. Furthermore, a mediating influence of customers' perceptions of the competence of frontline employees can be demonstrated. The results show that customers place more value on a technology-facilitated encounter than on a technology-assisted service. Based on the findings, this paper derives implications for retail managers at various levels. Since the customer's perception of the competence of front-line employees in using a technology is of high relevance to the customer, the retailer should pay more attention to training employees in the use of these technologies in their interactions with customers because of the perception of service competence and other relationship-building criteria such as trust. In addition, the competent use of these technologies and the customer's perception of them can also affect the customer's willingness to pay and thus the success of the business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D-Skeleton-based action recognition has been widely adopted due to its efficiency and robustness to complex backgrounds. While it is capable of conveying a significant amount of information regarding the dynamics of human poses, we argue that its performance is curtailed when confronted with actions involving interactions between humans and objects due to the absence of the study of the surrounding objects. It is of great importance to delve deeper into the study of human-object interactions for skeleton-based action recognition. This paper proposes a novel approach to represent the spatial-temporal skeleton features, along with the present nearby objects and their dynamics. To accomplish this, a new formulation named object knowledge is presented, which entails the categorization of object characteristics, based on whether or not the object necessitates a motion analysis. With a piece of prior knowledge, in cases where it is required, the motion is calculated, while for those where it is not necessary, only the category of object is considered. This object knowledge is then early-fusion along with the skeleton representation, in such a way that it fits into the self-attention model. The experimental results on different popular action recognition datasets (NTU RGB+D 60, NTU RGB+ D 120) illustrate that the proposed approach outperforms the current state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism is a neurobiological disorder characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviors and a limited range of interests. In this paper we will try to present the possible methods and techniques of communication with children with developmental disabilities, especially focusing on children with autism and on augmentative and alternative communication in relation to children with autism. The general purpose of the paper is the analysis and description of the positive and negative sides of communication and the representation of adequate methods of communication with autistic children. In this study, two samples from the "Alja" Kindergarten in Tetovo, which we have mentioned here as Sample x and Sample y, have been selected, and augmentative and alternative communication has been applied to them, following the changes and the success of the techniques. Methods such as observation, communication and document analysis were used in data collection. In the case of our study, the use of these techniques has been shown to be successful and we can conclude that they are useful for individuals with communication limitations and that their use should be increased. In our work with samples of children based on AAC techniques, they have shown that they are adequate and practical and can be applied in all environments, therefore we think that experts in the field of special education and communication technologies should work in cooperation to expand the use of assistive technologies in the education of children with limited communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting PhD research about sense of touch, and responsive materiality during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic became an ethical journey in Art Practice, Phenomenology, and the materiality of Computer Human Interaction. This paper is a reflective and critical account of practice-led research within lockdown limitations. It includes the personal perspective of an early career researcher and maker's response to a health emergency. The reflection is focused on the impossibility of creating a physically shared tactile experience as direct contact between skin and matter which, in times of isolation, sparked a conversation within the supervision team, and colleagues on different aspects of touch: agency, contact, self-awareness, research documentation, and ethical implications. My PhD drastically evolved from investigating how the somatosensory system can enhance wellbeing, to exploring how material-based approaches can comprehend tech-matter-human relationship. The research is supported by '100 Year Life' project at Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University. In a study that set out to explore the nature and potentiality of touch through human material interaction, in the context of high risk of contagion through touch during COVID I was compelled to consider alternatives. The paper is about the interrogation the touch screen as the safe replacement for human interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on a systematic assessment of the impact of development projects on different performance areas, with an emphasis on social. In the context of the ever-evolving digital era, development projects are becoming a key element for achieving competitiveness and sustainability in all sectors. The aim of this paper is to analyze how development (housing) projects affect economic growth, firm efficiency, social interaction and sustainable development from a theoretical knowledge perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ensemble of classifiers combines several single classifiers to deliver a final prediction or classification decision. An increasingly provoking question is whether such an ensemble can outperform the single best classifier. If so, what form of ensemble learning system (also known as multiple classifier learning systems) yields the most significant benefits in the size or diversity of the ensemble? In this paper, the ability of ensemble learning to predict and identify factors that influence or contribute to autism spectrum disorder therapy (ASDT) for intervention purposes is investigated. Given that most interventions are typically short-term in nature, henceforth, developing a robotic system that will provide the best outcome and measurement of ASDT therapy has never been so critical. In this paper, the performance of five single classifiers against several multiple classifier learning systems in exploring and predicting ASDT is investigated using a dataset of behavioural data and robot-enhanced therapy against standard human treatment based on 3000 sessions and 300 h, recorded from 61 autistic children. Experimental results show statistically significant differences in performance among the single classifiers for ASDT prediction with decision trees as the more accurate classifier. The results further show multiple classifier learning systems (MCLS) achieving better performance for ASDT prediction (especially those ensembles with three core classifiers). Additionally, the results show bagging and boosting ensemble learning as robust when predicting ASDT with multi-stage design as the most dominant architecture. It also appears that eye contact and social interaction are the most critical contributing factors to the ASDT problem among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face recognition is a crucial cognitive skill in social interactions, ensuring individuals' safety and well-being. This paper examines how our proficiency in human face recognition evolves throughout various stages of development. A comprehensive literature review explores the changes and advancements in facial recognition abilities from infancy to adulthood. The findings reveal that newborns possess rudimentary face recognition capabilities, which subsequently undergo refinement and enhancement, leading to improved facial recognition skills. The paper highlights various cues such as inner vs. outer face cues, configural changes, movement, color, species discrimination, gender differentiation, race differentiation, age categorization, and holistic processing that contribute to this developmental progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article comments on the concept of H. C. Triandis about race as determinant of social distance. This asserts that Triandis perception concerning race as a more important determinant of social distance rather than belief, is quite contrary on the findings of the study undertaken. Triandis evaluation which is undertaken on different races is questioned due to the different philosophy employed into each subject. The author further contends that on the basis of his study which is published in his book "The Open and Closed Mind," belief outweighs race to be the basis of social discrimination and not the other way around.

This paper explores the transformative potential of Internet of Things (IoT)-driven Game-Based Learning (GBL) as an innovative educational intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurological condition marked by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, often presenting hurdles in traditional classroom settings. Leveraging IoT technologies, the study investigates the intersection of GBL and ASD education, synthesizing existing literature to highlight the advantages and challenges associated with this approach. By examining the impact on academic and social outcomes, the research aims to provide insights into the promising landscape of IoT-driven GBL for children with autism, paving the way for a more inclusive and tailored educational experience. This paper investigates how IoT-driven Game-Based Learning (GBL) can revolutionize education for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), emphasizing the integration of sensor technologies, data analytics, and real-time feedback to improve their learning experience. The paper discusses ethical and privacy issues in using IoT in autism education. It explores safeguards for responsible implementation, considering the sensitive personal data involved. The research also suggests collaborative efforts among educators, technologists, and healthcare professionals for a holistic approach to IoT-driven education for autism. The paper advocates for stakeholder involvement and interdisciplinary collaboration to create effective interventions for autistic children in education. It focuses on the impact of IoT-driven Game-Based Learning (GBL) on long-term outcomes and contributes to discussions on the future of inclusive education for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aiming to inspire further research and dialogue on leveraging emerging technologies for equitable education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following study investigates the measurement equivalence of an online and paper-and-pencil (PAP) survey of human values. For this purpose, a total of 250 respondents completed the 21-item version of the Portrait Value Questionnaire either online ( n = 125) or by PAP ( n = 125). This questionnaire was developed by Schwartz (Advances in experimental social psychology, Academic Press, New York, 1992) and has been included in the European Social Survey since 2002 to test his theory of basic human values. Measurement invariance was tested via a multiple group confirmatory factor analysis. The assessment of invariance included the three levels of configural, metric, and scalar invariance, and the latent means of the values between both samples were compared. Results of this study show that the measurements are invariant at the three levels (configural, metric, and scalar), but there are latent mean differences between the values across the surveys. These differences may be partly explained by age and level of education differences between the two samples. Based on these findings we conclude that the methods of measurement are essentially invariant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and Industry 4.0 has mainly focused on technical aspects, while the humans who work with AGVs as well as the influences on the organisation have received limited attention. This paper aims to explore human- and organisation-related challenges in the introduction of AGVs in production facilities. Two cases are examined and analysed using the Human, Technology, and Organisation (HTO) model, which highlights the interactions between the three subsystems: human, technology, and organisation. The paper shows that several human- and organisation-related challenges arise when introducing AGVs, such as supporting the AGVs with new work procedures for managing AGV errors, determining what different operators need to know about AGVs, and developing acceptance among employees. The identified challenges complement the technical focus in previous research. Actions are proposed to facilitate the introduction of AGVs to avoid or manage the identified challenges. The findings of this study can help managers involved in the introduction of AGVs to consider human- and organisation-related aspects to improve AGV performance and employee well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]