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Keywords = intrinsic sensation

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21 pages, 3820 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Fruit Harvest Date and Shelf-Life Nexus of Apples on Different Quality Perspectives
by Ana Sredojevic, Dragan Radivojevic, Steva M. Levic, Milica Fotiric Aksic, Jasminka Milivojevic and Ilija Djekic
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11737; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411737 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1217
Abstract
Apples are considered one of the most extensively consumed fruits worldwide, prized for their superior nutritional profile, bioactive compounds, and sensory characteristics. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and sensory characteristics of two apple varieties, Braeburn and Golden [...] Read more.
Apples are considered one of the most extensively consumed fruits worldwide, prized for their superior nutritional profile, bioactive compounds, and sensory characteristics. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and sensory characteristics of two apple varieties, Braeburn and Golden Delicious, based on different harvest dates and during a 15-day shelf life period, using multiple quality assessment perspectives. The first part focused on key textural attributes and their changes over time. Golden Delicious fruit exhibited fewer alterations in texture, with only firmness showing significant changes during shelf life. In contrast, Braeburn fruit experienced alterations in multiple textural parameters, including fracturability, springiness, average peak load, and firmness, indicating a higher sensitivity to shelf life effects. Both apple varieties were significantly influenced by the harvest date. From a Kano model perspective, the quality attributes of apples were categorized as one-dimensional and attractive features, while oral processing requirements fell into three distinct categories: attractive, reverse, and indifferent. For the Braeburn variety, firmness was the dominant sensory attribute at the start of the shelf life at each harvest date, decreasing gradually over time. In contrast, the Golden Delicious apple maintained dominance in both firmness and juiciness across all harvest dates and shelf life testing days. Emotional responses during mastication were similarly distributed for all three harvest dates for the Golden Delicious variety, highlighting the stability of sensory experiences for this variety. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of textural, sensory, and emotional responses to apple varieties, offering practical implications for apple breeding and post-harvest management. Full article
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11 pages, 737 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Dynamic Balance and Physical Characteristics and Functions in Elite Lifesaving Athletes
by Shota Ichikawa, Tsukasa Kumai, Yui Akiyama, Takumi Okunuki, Toshihiro Maemichi, Masatomo Matsumoto, Zijian Liu, Ryusei Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Mitsui, Kai Suzuki and Hisateru Niki
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2024, 9(3), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030134 - 8 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1478
Abstract
Balance is important in lifesaving competitions. We aimed to investigate the relationship between dynamic balance and physical characteristics and functions in elite lifesavers by measuring the foot muscle cross-sectional area, ankle joint muscle strength, toe grasp strength, plantar superficial sensation, and dynamic balance [...] Read more.
Balance is important in lifesaving competitions. We aimed to investigate the relationship between dynamic balance and physical characteristics and functions in elite lifesavers by measuring the foot muscle cross-sectional area, ankle joint muscle strength, toe grasp strength, plantar superficial sensation, and dynamic balance (Y-balance test). In this observational study, we measured the foot muscle cross-sectional area, ankle dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, external flexion, isometric muscle strength, toe grasp strength, and superficial foot sensation of 15 adult lifesavers (12 males). The results show that toe grasp strength and ankle plantar flexion isometric muscle strength are particularly important for the dynamic balance of elite lifesavers working on sandy surfaces. Sand training improves intrinsic muscle strength and dynamic balance function. However, high training intensity may reduce plantar surface sensation; this needs to be verified through sand training interventions in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Kinesiology and Biomechanics)
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14 pages, 1330 KiB  
Article
Measurement of Functional Brain Network Connectivity in People with Orthostatic Tremor
by Connor J. Phipps, David Whitney, James Shou, Diego Torres-Russotto and David E. Warren
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(3), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14030219 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1637
Abstract
Orthostatic tremor is a rare movement disorder characterized by a sensation of unsteadiness and leg tremor while standing. It has been hypothesized that the disorder is attributable to dysregulation of a central oscillatory network in the brain. This putative network includes primary motor [...] Read more.
Orthostatic tremor is a rare movement disorder characterized by a sensation of unsteadiness and leg tremor while standing. It has been hypothesized that the disorder is attributable to dysregulation of a central oscillatory network in the brain. This putative network includes primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, thalamus, and pontine tegmentum. We studied this brain network by recording resting-state functional MRI data from individuals with orthostatic tremor. For each participant, we measured resting-state functional connectivity using a seed-based approach. Regions of interest included were components of the putative central oscillatory network and a primary motor thumb region (identified via transcranial magnetic stimulation). A non-central oscillatory network region of interest—posterior cingulate cortex—was included for comparative analysis of a well-characterized intrinsic network, the default mode network. Demographic information, medical history, and tremor characteristics were collected to test associations with functional connectivity. For normative context, data from the 1000 Functional Connectomes Project were analyzed using an identical approach. We observed that tremor and demographic variables were correlated with functional connectivity of central oscillatory network components. Furthermore, relative to healthy comparison participants, patients with orthostatic tremor exhibited qualitatively different patterns of cerebellar resting state functional connectivity. Our study enhances the current understanding of brain network differences related to orthostatic tremor and is consistent with a hypothesized selective decoupling of cerebellum. Additionally, associations observed between functional connectivity and factors including medical history and tremor features may suggest targets for treatment of orthostatic tremor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensory and Motor Neuroscience)
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20 pages, 11983 KiB  
Article
Slip Estimation Using Variation Data of Strain of the Chassis of Lunar Rovers Traveling on Loose Soil
by Kojiro Iizuka and Kohei Inaba
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(17), 4270; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15174270 - 30 Aug 2023
Viewed by 20006
Abstract
The surface of the Moon and planets have been covered with loose soil called regolith, and there is a risk that the rovers may stack, so it is necessary for them to recognize the traveling state such as its posture, slip behavior, and [...] Read more.
The surface of the Moon and planets have been covered with loose soil called regolith, and there is a risk that the rovers may stack, so it is necessary for them to recognize the traveling state such as its posture, slip behavior, and sinkage. There are several methods for recognizing the traveling state such as a system using cameras and Lidar, and they are used in real exploration missions like Mars Exploration Rovers of NASA/JPL. When a rover travels and travels across loose soil with steep slopes like a side wall of a crater on the lunar surface, the rover has side slipping. It means that its behavior makes the rover slip down to the valley direction. Even if this detection uses sensors like a camera and Lidar or other controlling systems like SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), it would be too difficult for the rover to avoid slipping down to valley direction, because it is not able to detect the traction or resistance given from ground by individual wheel of the rover, as the traction of individual wheel of the rover is not clear. This means that the movement of the rover appeared by integrating the traction of all wheels mounted on the rover. Even if the localization by sensors is carried out, the location would be the location after slipping down. This is because when traveling on unstable ground, the driving force of each individual wheel cannot be accurately predicted, and the sum of the driving force of all wheels is the motion of the rover, which is detected after the position changes. Therefore, if the rover obtains information on the traction of each wheel, its maneuver to change its posture would work sooner and it would be able to travel more efficiently than in a state without that information. Because the onboard computer of rovers can identify their location and state from the information of the traction of each wheel, they can decide the next work carefully and in detail. From these tasks, we focused on the intrinsic sensation of a biological function like a human body and aimed to develop a system that recognizes the traveling state (slip condition) from the shape deformation of the chassis. In this study, we experimentally verified the relationship between the change in strain, which is the amount of deformation acting on the chassis, and the traveling state while the wheel is traveling. From the experimental results, we confirmed that the strain in the chassis was displaced dynamically and that the strain changed oscillatory while the wheel was traveling. In addition, based on the function of muscle spindles as mechanoreceptors, we discussed two methods of analyzing strain change: nuclear chain fiber analysis and nuclear bag fiber analysis. These analyses mean that the raw data of the strain are updated to detect the characteristic strain elements of a chassis while the wheel is traveling through loose soil. Eventually, the slipping state could be estimated by updating the data of a lot of strain raw data, and it was confirmed that the traveling state could be detected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Lunar Exploration)
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18 pages, 12292 KiB  
Article
Correlations among Firing Rates of Tactile, Thermal, Gustatory, Olfactory, and Auditory Sensations Mimicked by Artificial Hybrid Fluid (HF) Rubber Mechanoreceptors
by Kunio Shimada
Sensors 2023, 23(10), 4593; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23104593 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2006
Abstract
In order to advance the development of sensors fabricated with monofunctional sensation systems capable of a versatile response to tactile, thermal, gustatory, olfactory, and auditory sensations, mechanoreceptors fabricated as a single platform with an electric circuit require investigation. In addition, it is essential [...] Read more.
In order to advance the development of sensors fabricated with monofunctional sensation systems capable of a versatile response to tactile, thermal, gustatory, olfactory, and auditory sensations, mechanoreceptors fabricated as a single platform with an electric circuit require investigation. In addition, it is essential to resolve the complicated structure of the sensor. In order to realize the single platform, our proposed hybrid fluid (HF) rubber mechanoreceptors of free nerve endings, Merkel cells, Krause end bulbs, Meissner corpuscles, Ruffini endings, and Pacinian corpuscles mimicking the bio-inspired five senses are useful enough to facilitate the fabrication process for the resolution of the complicated structure. This study used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to elucidate the intrinsic structure of the single platform and the physical mechanisms of the firing rate such as slow adaption (SA) and fast adaption (FA), which were induced from the structure and involved the capacitance, inductance, reactance, etc. of the HF rubber mechanoreceptors. In addition, the relations among the firing rates of the various sensations were clarified. The adaption of the firing rate in the thermal sensation is the opposite of that in the tactile sensation. The firing rates in the gustation, olfaction, and auditory sensations at frequencies of less than 1 kHz have the same adaption as in the tactile sensation. The present findings are useful not only in the field of neurophysiology, to research the biochemical reactions of neurons and brain perceptions of stimuli, but also in the field of sensors, to advance salient developments in sensors mimicking bio-inspired sensations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Flexible Tactile Sensors in Intelligent Systems)
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18 pages, 313 KiB  
Article
Vio-lense: A Model for Understanding How Violence and Senses Relate during Refugee Journeys in Europe, and How This in Turn Can Foster Collective Healing
by Georgina Lewis
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(3), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12030131 - 27 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Introduction: The ‘senses’—our sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—are intrinsic components of our human experience. Trauma recovery practitioners afford the senses to foster healing and draw into awareness the sensations of the traumatised body. Therefore, if the senses are valuable in trauma recovery, [...] Read more.
Introduction: The ‘senses’—our sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—are intrinsic components of our human experience. Trauma recovery practitioners afford the senses to foster healing and draw into awareness the sensations of the traumatised body. Therefore, if the senses are valuable in trauma recovery, then they must also be important in the initial traumatic acts—such as violence. Aim: This ongoing PhD project explores the role of senses in violence committed towards refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. Method: A sensorial model is developed through semi-structured interviews and key engagement with literature and research. Results: An excess and absence of senses are critical in understanding violence endured by refugees and asylum seekers, but also in how violence is witnessed and perceived by others. It is clear people on the move experience violence sensorially throughout their journey. Conclusions: The senses are evidently part of the violence. At times, violence is in sensorial excess: the sounds of camps; the smell of tear gas. Alternatively, a concealment or deprivation of senses can also be violent: camps on the periphery; violence out of sight. Notably, senses (in excess or through concealment) can also be vital components in the survival of violence. “Vio-lense” is a suggested model for considering ‘violence’ and ‘senses’ as being essentially interwoven rather than separate. This, in turn, is important for development of collective healing mechanisms and, more widely, defining and understanding violence. Full article
10 pages, 928 KiB  
Article
Asking about Risk in a Company: A New Approach to Learning ISO 45001 in Engineering Programs
by Manuel Rodríguez-Martín, Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez and Rosario Domingo
Standards 2023, 3(1), 21-30; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards3010003 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2878
Abstract
This paper proposes a workflow so that engineering scholars can learn to ask effective questions to establish systems of consultation to workers following the indications of the international standard ISO 45001 “Occupational health and safety management systems” (Chapter 5.1) in the context of [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a workflow so that engineering scholars can learn to ask effective questions to establish systems of consultation to workers following the indications of the international standard ISO 45001 “Occupational health and safety management systems” (Chapter 5.1) in the context of a medium-size developer and construction company. The methodology has been specifically designed to assess whether it is possible for students to acquire skills in ISO 45001 by developing an innovative method for their own employee questionnaires, and this new standard requires professionals who know how to apply the fundamentals in an industrial context. An experiment with 31 mechanical engineering students was carried out. The new methodology was applied based on three learning levels: large group, working group, and individual student. Different research instruments have been applied to evaluate how they perceive the activity with respect to the usefulness for learning and adaptation to reality. It has also tried to evaluate the subjective sensation during the development of the activity: feelings of happiness, self-confidence, and satisfaction of the scholars. The results show that students considered the activity as interesting, useful for learning, and adapted to reality, posing an important challenge that may have served to improve intrinsic motivation in the learning of management systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Management Systems Standards)
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29 pages, 1828 KiB  
Review
The Enteric Glia and Its Modulation by the Endocannabinoid System, a New Target for Cannabinoid-Based Nutraceuticals?
by Laura López-Gómez, Agata Szymaszkiewicz, Marta Zielińska and Raquel Abalo
Molecules 2022, 27(19), 6773; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196773 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5373
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a part of the autonomic nervous system that intrinsically innervates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Whereas enteric neurons have been deeply studied, the enteric glial cells (EGCs) have received less attention. However, these are immune-competent cells that contribute [...] Read more.
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a part of the autonomic nervous system that intrinsically innervates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Whereas enteric neurons have been deeply studied, the enteric glial cells (EGCs) have received less attention. However, these are immune-competent cells that contribute to the maintenance of the GI tract homeostasis through supporting epithelial integrity, providing neuroprotection, and influencing the GI motor function and sensation. The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) includes endogenous classical cannabinoids (anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol), cannabinoid-like ligands (oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)), enzymes involved in their metabolism (FAAH, MAGL, COX-2) and classical (CB1 and CB2) and non-classical (TRPV1, GPR55, PPAR) receptors. The ECS participates in many processes crucial for the proper functioning of the GI tract, in which the EGCs are involved. Thus, the modulation of the EGCs through the ECS might be beneficial to treat some dysfunctions of the GI tract. This review explores the role of EGCs and ECS on the GI tract functions and dysfunctions, and the current knowledge about how EGCs may be modulated by the ECS components, as possible new targets for cannabinoids and cannabinoid-like molecules, particularly those with potential nutraceutical use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Immune Function II)
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18 pages, 682 KiB  
Article
Language and Intelligence: A Relationship Supporting the Embodied Cognition Hypothesis
by Attà Negri, Marco Castiglioni, Cristina Liviana Caldiroli and Arianna Barazzetti
J. Intell. 2022, 10(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence10030042 - 14 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8552
Abstract
Cognitive science has gathered robust evidence supporting the hypothesis that cognitive processes do not occur in an amodal format but take shape through the activation of the sensorimotor systems of the agent body, which works as simulation system upon which concepts, words, and [...] Read more.
Cognitive science has gathered robust evidence supporting the hypothesis that cognitive processes do not occur in an amodal format but take shape through the activation of the sensorimotor systems of the agent body, which works as simulation system upon which concepts, words, and thought are based. However, studies that have investigated the relationship between language and cognitive processes, as both embedded processes, are very rare. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that intelligence is associated with referential competence, conceived as the ability to find words to refer to our subjective and perceptual experience, and to evoke understanding of this experience in the listener. We administered the WAIS-IV test to 32 nonclinical subjects and collected autobiographical narratives from them through the Relationship Anecdotes Paradigm Interview. The narratives were analyzed linguistically by applying computerized measures of referential competence. Intelligence scores were found to correlate with the use in narratives of words related to somatic and sensory sensations, while they were not associated with other measures of referential competence related to more abstract domains of experience or based on vivid or reflective dimensions of language style. The results support the hypothesis that sensorimotor schemas have an intrinsic role in language and cognition. Full article
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18 pages, 1567 KiB  
Article
The Toxicity of Wiped Dust and Airborne Microbes in Individual Classrooms Increase the Risk of Teachers’ Work-Related Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Janne Salin, Pasi Ohtonen, Maria A. Andersson and Hannu Syrjälä
Pathogens 2021, 10(11), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10111360 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3399
Abstract
Background: The causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of building-related symptoms (BRS) remain open. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between teachers’ individual work-related symptoms and intrinsic in vitro toxicity in classrooms. This is a further analysis of a previously published dataset. Methods: Teachers [...] Read more.
Background: The causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of building-related symptoms (BRS) remain open. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between teachers’ individual work-related symptoms and intrinsic in vitro toxicity in classrooms. This is a further analysis of a previously published dataset. Methods: Teachers from 15 Finnish schools in Helsinki responded to the symptom survey. The boar sperm motility inhibition assay, a sensitive indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction, was used to measure the toxicity of wiped dust and cultured microbial fallout samples collected from the teachers’ classrooms. Results: 231 teachers whose classroom toxicity data had been collected responded to the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking, and atopy showed that classroom dust intrinsic toxicity was statistically significantly associated with the following 12 symptoms reported by teachers (adjusted ORs in parentheses): nose stuffiness (4.1), runny nose (6.9), hoarseness (6.4), globus sensation (9.0), throat mucus (7.6), throat itching (4.4), shortness of breath (12.2), dry cough (4.7), wet eyes (12.7), hypersensitivity to sound (7.9), difficulty falling asleep (7.6), and increased need for sleep (7.7). Toxicity of cultured microbes was found to be associated with nine symptoms (adjusted ORs in parentheses): headache (2.3), nose stuffiness (2.2), nose dryness (2.2), mouth dryness (2.8), hoarseness (2.2), sore throat (2.8), throat mucus (2.3), eye discharge (10.2), and increased need for sleep (3.5). Conclusions: The toxicity of classroom dust and airborne microbes in boar sperm motility inhibition assay significantly increased teachers’ risk of work-related respiratory and ocular symptoms. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms of BRS are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Detection of Indoor Fungi)
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15 pages, 1328 KiB  
Review
Ion Channels in Epithelial Dynamics and Morphogenesis
by Ankit Roy Choudhury, Jörg Großhans and Deqing Kong
Cells 2021, 10(9), 2280; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10092280 - 1 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5715
Abstract
Mechanosensitive ion channels mediate the neuronal sensation of mechanical signals such as sound, touch, and pain. Recent studies point to a function of these channel proteins in cell types and tissues in addition to the nervous system, such as epithelia, where they have [...] Read more.
Mechanosensitive ion channels mediate the neuronal sensation of mechanical signals such as sound, touch, and pain. Recent studies point to a function of these channel proteins in cell types and tissues in addition to the nervous system, such as epithelia, where they have been little studied, and their role has remained elusive. Dynamic epithelia are intrinsically exposed to mechanical forces. A response to pull and push is assumed to constitute an essential part of morphogenetic movements of epithelial tissues, for example. Mechano-gated channels may participate in sensing and responding to such forces. In this review, focusing on Drosophila, we highlight recent results that will guide further investigations concerned with the mechanistic role of these ion channels in epithelial cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drosophila: A Model for Genetic Research)
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15 pages, 660 KiB  
Review
Reactive Oxygen Species and Pressure Ulcer Formation after Traumatic Injury to Spinal Cord and Brain
by Suneel Kumar, Thomas Theis, Monica Tschang, Vini Nagaraj and Francois Berthiaume
Antioxidants 2021, 10(7), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10071013 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4984
Abstract
Traumatic injuries to the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, lead to neurological dysfunction depending upon the severity of the injury. Due to the loss of motor (immobility) and sensory function (lack of sensation), spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury [...] Read more.
Traumatic injuries to the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, lead to neurological dysfunction depending upon the severity of the injury. Due to the loss of motor (immobility) and sensory function (lack of sensation), spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (TBI) patients may be bed-ridden and immobile for a very long-time. These conditions lead to secondary complications such as bladder/bowel dysfunction, the formation of pressure ulcers (PUs), bacterial infections, etc. PUs are chronic wounds that fail to heal or heal very slowly, may require multiple treatment modalities, and pose a risk to develop further complications, such as sepsis and amputation. This review discusses the role of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the formation of PUs in patients with TBI and SCI. Decades of research suggest that ROS may be key players in mediating the formation of PUs. ROS levels are increased due to the accumulation of activated macrophages and neutrophils. Excessive ROS production from these cells overwhelms intrinsic antioxidant mechanisms. While short-term and moderate increases in ROS regulate signal transduction of various bioactive molecules; long-term and excessively elevated ROS can cause secondary tissue damage and further debilitating complications. This review discusses the role of ROS in PU development after SCI and TBI. We also review the completed and ongoing clinical trials in the management of PUs after SCI and TBI using different technologies and treatments, including antioxidants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reactive Oxygen Species in Different Biological Processes)
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21 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
FeelMusic: Enriching Our Emotive Experience of Music through Audio-Tactile Mappings
by Alice Haynes, Jonathan Lawry, Christopher Kent and Jonathan Rossiter
Multimodal Technol. Interact. 2021, 5(6), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/mti5060029 - 31 May 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7289
Abstract
We present and evaluate the concept of FeelMusic and evaluate an implementation of it. It is an augmentation of music through the haptic translation of core musical elements. Music and touch are intrinsic modes of affective communication that are physically sensed. By projecting [...] Read more.
We present and evaluate the concept of FeelMusic and evaluate an implementation of it. It is an augmentation of music through the haptic translation of core musical elements. Music and touch are intrinsic modes of affective communication that are physically sensed. By projecting musical features such as rhythm and melody into the haptic domain, we can explore and enrich this embodied sensation; hence, we investigated audio-tactile mappings that successfully render emotive qualities. We began by investigating the affective qualities of vibrotactile stimuli through a psychophysical study with 20 participants using the circumplex model of affect. We found positive correlations between vibration frequency and arousal across participants, but correlations with valence were specific to the individual. We then developed novel FeelMusic mappings by translating key features of music samples and implementing them with “Pump-and-Vibe”, a wearable interface utilising fluidic actuation and vibration to generate dynamic haptic sensations. We conducted a preliminary investigation to evaluate the FeelMusic mappings by gathering 20 participants’ responses to the musical, tactile and combined stimuli, using valence ratings and descriptive words from Hevner’s adjective circle to measure affect. These mappings, and new tactile compositions, validated that FeelMusic interfaces have the potential to enrich musical experiences and be a means of affective communication in their own right. FeelMusic is a tangible realisation of the expression “feel the music”, enriching our musical experiences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musical Interactions)
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18 pages, 5277 KiB  
Article
Unsupervised Change Detection from Remotely Sensed Images Based on Multi-Scale Visual Saliency Coarse-to-Fine Fusion
by Pengfei He, Xiangwei Zhao, Yuli Shi and Liping Cai
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(4), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13040630 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3682
Abstract
Unsupervised change detection(CD) from remotely sensed images is a fundamental challenge when the ground truth for supervised learning is not easily available. Inspired by the visual attention mechanism and multi-level sensation capacity of human vision, we proposed a novel multi-scale analysis framework based [...] Read more.
Unsupervised change detection(CD) from remotely sensed images is a fundamental challenge when the ground truth for supervised learning is not easily available. Inspired by the visual attention mechanism and multi-level sensation capacity of human vision, we proposed a novel multi-scale analysis framework based on multi-scale visual saliency coarse-to-fine fusion (MVSF) for unsupervised CD in this paper. As a preface of MVSF, we generalized the connotations of scale as four classes in the field of remote sensing (RS) covering the RS process from imaging to image processing, including intrinsic scale, observation scale, analysis scale and modeling scale. In MVSF, superpixels were considered as the primitives for analysing the difference image(DI) obtained by the change vector analysis method. Then, multi-scale saliency maps at the superpixel level were generated according to the global contrast of each superpixel. Finally, a weighted fusion strategy was designed to incorporate multi-scale saliency at a pixel level. The fusion weight for the pixel at each scale is adaptively obtained by considering the heterogeneity of the superpixel it belongs to and the spectral distance between the pixel and the superpixel. The experimental study was conducted on three bi-temporal remotely sensed image pairs, and the effectiveness of the proposed MVSF was verified qualitatively and quantitatively. The results suggest that it is not entirely true that finer scale brings better CD result, and fusing multi-scale superpixel based saliency at a pixel level obtained a higher F1 score in the three experiments. MVSF is capable of maintaining the detailed changed areas while resisting image noise in the final change map. Analysis of the scale factors in MVSF implied that the performance of MVSF is not sensitive to the manually selected scales in the MVSF framework. Full article
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22 pages, 2356 KiB  
Review
Presbycusis: An Update on Cochlear Mechanisms and Therapies
by Jing Wang and Jean-Luc Puel
J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9(1), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9010218 - 14 Jan 2020
Cited by 165 | Viewed by 22702
Abstract
Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), also referred to as presbycusis, is the most common sensory impairment seen in the elderly. As our cochlea, the peripheral organ of hearing, ages, we tend to experience a decline in hearing and are at greater risk of cochlear [...] Read more.
Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), also referred to as presbycusis, is the most common sensory impairment seen in the elderly. As our cochlea, the peripheral organ of hearing, ages, we tend to experience a decline in hearing and are at greater risk of cochlear sensory-neural cell degeneration and exacerbated age-related hearing impairments, e.g., gradual hearing loss, deterioration in speech comprehension (especially in noisy environments), difficulty in the localization sound sources, and ringing sensations in the ears. However, the aging process does not affect people uniformly; nor, in fact, does the aging process appear to be uniform even within an individual. Here, we outline recent research into chronological cochlear age in healthy people, and exacerbated hearing impairments during aging due to both extrinsic factors including noise and ototoxic medication, and intrinsic factors such as genetic predisposition, epigenetic factors, and aging. We review our current understanding of molecular pathways mediating ARHL and discuss recent discoveries in experimental hearing restoration and future prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapies for Hearing Loss)
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