Pictures in Your Mind: Using Interactive Gesture-Controlled Reliefs to Explore Art

Tactile reliefs offer many benefits over the more classic raised line drawings or tactile diagrams, as depth, 3D shape, and surface textures are directly perceivable. Although often created for blind and visually impaired (BVI) people, a wider range of people may benefit from such multimodal material. However, some reliefs are still difficult to understand without proper guidance or accompanying verbal descriptions, hindering autonomous exploration. In this work, we present a gesture-controlled interactive audio guide (IAG) based on recent low-cost depth cameras that can be operated directly with the hands on relief surfaces during tactile exploration. The interactively explorable, location-dependent verbal and captioned descriptions promise rapid tactile accessibility to 2.5D spatial information in a home or education setting, to online resources, or as a kiosk installation at public places. We present a working prototype, discuss design decisions, and present the results of two evaluation studies: the first with 13 BVI test users and the second follow-up study with 14 test users across a wide range of people with differences and difficulties associated with perception, memory, cognition, and communication. The participant-led research method of this latter study prompted new, significant and innovative developments

A saposin-lipoprotein nanoparticle system for membrane proteins.

A limiting factor in membrane protein research is the ability to solubilize and stabilize such proteins. Detergents are used most often for solubilizing membrane proteins, but they are associated with protein instability and poor compatibility with structural and biophysical studies. Here we present a saposin-lipoprotein nanoparticle system, Salipro, which allows for the reconstitution of membrane proteins in a lipid environment that is stabilized by a scaffold of saposin proteins. We demonstrate the applicability of the method on two purified membrane protein complexes as well as by the direct solubilization and nanoparticle incorporation of a viral membrane protein complex from the virus membrane. Our approach facilitated high-resolution structural studies of the bacterial peptide transporter PeptTSo2 by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and allowed us to stabilize the HIV envelope glycoprotein in a functional state

Binding neutral information to emotional contexts: Brain dynamics of long-term recognition memory

There is abundant evidence in memory research that emotional stimuli are better remembered than neutral stimuli. However, effects of an emotionally charged context on memory for associated neutral elements is also important, particularly in trauma and stress-related disorders, where strong memories are often activated by neutral cues due to their emotional associations. In the present study, we used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate long-term recognition memory (1-week delay) for neutral objects that had been paired with emotionally arousing or neutral scenes during encoding. Context effects were clearly evident in the ERPs: An early frontal ERP old/new difference (300–500 ms) was enhanced for objects encoded in unpleasant compared to pleasant and neutral contexts; and a late central-parietal old/new difference (400–700 ms) was observed for objects paired with both pleasant and unpleasant contexts but not for items paired with neutral backgrounds. Interestingly, objects encoded in emotional contexts (and novel objects) also prompted an enhanced frontal early (180–220 ms) positivity compared to objects paired with neutral scenes indicating early perceptual significance. The present data suggest that emotional—particularly unpleasant—backgrounds strengthen memory for items encountered within these contexts and engage automatic and explicit recognition processes. These results could help in understanding binding mechanisms involved in the activation of trauma-related memories by neutral cues.This research was supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG, WE 4801/3-1) to Mathias Weymar at the University of Greifswald. Carlos Ventura-Bort (E-2013-15) was supported by the program for international stays of the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, Spain

Disordered semantic representation in schizophrenic temporal cortex revealed by neuromagnetic response patterns

BACKGROUND: Loosening of associations and thought disruption are key features of schizophrenic psychopathology. Alterations in neural networks underlying this basic abnormality have not yet been sufficiently identified. Previously, we demonstrated that spatio-temporal clustering of magnetic brain responses to pictorial stimuli map categorical representations in temporal cortex. This result has opened the possibility to quantify associative strength within and across semantic categories in schizophrenic patients. We hypothesized that in contrast to controls, schizophrenic patients exhibit disordered representations of semantic categories. METHODS: The spatio-temporal clusters of brain magnetic activities elicited by object pictures related to super-ordinate (flowers, animals, furniture, clothes) and base-level (e.g. tulip, rose, orchid, sunflower) categories were analysed in the source space for the time epochs 170–210 and 210–450 ms following stimulus onset and were compared between 10 schizophrenic patients and 10 control subjects. RESULTS: Spatio-temporal correlations of responses elicited by base-level concepts and the difference of within vs. across super-ordinate categories were distinctly lower in patients than in controls. Additionally, in contrast to the well-defined categorical representation in control subjects, unsupervised clustering indicated poorly defined representation of semantic categories in patients. Within the patient group, distinctiveness of categorical representation in the temporal cortex was positively related to negative symptoms and tended to be inversely related to positive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic patients show a less organized representation of semantic categories in clusters of magnetic brain responses than healthy adults. This atypical neural network architecture may be a correlate of loosening of associations, promoting positive symptoms

Digitalisierung und Demokratie

Die Digitalisierung spielt bei den Prozessen und Entwicklungen in einer Demokratie eine immer größere Rolle. Denn Digitalisierung erweitert die Möglichkeiten der Information, Kommunikation und Partizipation. Gleichzeitig können digitale Technologien zu einer schnellen Verbreitung von Falschinformationen beitragen und bergen ein Potenzial für Meinungsmanipulation, zum Beispiel vor Wahlen. Dieses Spannungsfeld ist Thema der Stellungnahme "Digitalisierung und Demokratie". Darin analysieren die Autorinnen und Autoren Aspekte des Zusammenspiels von Digitalisierung und Demokratie. Darauf aufbauend formulieren sie Handlungsempfehlungen zur Gestaltung künftiger Entwicklungen durch Politik, Recht und Zivilgesellschaft

TO ERADICATION OF VOLTAGE SAG AND HARMONICS IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM USING DVR WITH CAPACITOR COMPENSATION SCHEME

Power Quality (PQ) is that the most vital perspectives on transmission and distribution ranges. The availability of high-grade electric powered offerings wished for the customers illustrates this idea. The voltage sag and swell square degree the most not unusual PQ problems that in particular rise up in the distribution systems because of the truth that it's going to cause tool tripping, failure of stress systems, closure for home and business instrumentality. The Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) associated nonparallel has amazing dynamic talents and is a flexible solution for PQ troubles. Ultra-capacitors (UCAP) have quality developments like excessive strength and espresso electricity density important for the mitigation of voltage sag and swell. This paper offers AN extended DVR topology capable of handing over deep, prolonged mitigation for power terrific troubles. Within the planned DVR, UCAP is employed as strength storage because it offers immoderate electricity in a totally short c software language length of it gradual. The DVR is protected into Ultra capacitor via a bifacial DC-DC converter which facilitates in supplying a rigid dc-link voltage and conjointly enables in compensating transient voltage sag and voltage swell. PI Controller is hired in DVR for electricity exceptional improvement. The simulation model for the proposed device has been superior in MATLAB and therefore the performance over famous DVR is legitimate with the effects obtained

The EnMAP imaging spectroscopy mission towards operations

EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) is a high-resolution imaging spectroscopy remote sensing mission that was successfully launched on April 1st, 2022. Equipped with a prism-based dual-spectrometer, EnMAP performs observations in the spectral range between 418.2 nm and 2445.5 nm with 224 bands and a high radiometric and spectral accuracy and stability. EnMAP products, with a ground instantaneous field-of-view of 30 m x 30 m at a swath width of 30 km, allow for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of surface variables from frequently and consistently acquired observations on a global scale. This article presents the EnMAP mission and details the activities and results of the Launch and Early Orbit and Commissioning Phases until November 1st, 2022. The mission capabilities and expected performances for the operational Routine Phase are provided for existing and future EnMAP users

Neuromagnetische Korrelate der Kategorisierung bei gesunden Kontrollprobanden und schizophrenen Patienten

The present study examines object categorization in healthy controls (part A) and schizophrenic patients (part B). Objects from four superordinate categories (e.g. furniture) were presented and the megentoencephalogram (MEG) was recorded. Each superordinate category was represented by four different base level objects (e.g. table, chair). By means of spatio-temporal correlation of neighboring 'sensors' in the source space and by application of a unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm is shown, that objects from the same category have a more similar 'neuromagnetic signature' than objects belonging to different categories. This effect was most pronounced over temporal areas and is in line with findings from animal, neuropsychological and imaging studies of the localization of object categorization. A possible explanation are distributed neural networks in which different properties and attributes like form or color of an object are represented and which overlap stronger between exemplars of the same category.. In that sense, similarities in the MEG signal between two objects can be interpreted as a correlate of their associative network strength.Part B applies these methods to a group of schizophrenic patients. A reduced differentiation of the categories by spatio-temporal correlations and a less well-defined organization by the hierarchical clustering indicate deficits in the neuroarchetectonic organization of the semantic system in schizophrenic patients. Loosened associations within neural networks of the temporal lobes are a possible cause for these deficits. Associations with clinic symptom scales indicate more severe positive symptomatic when a stronger disturbance of the semantic system is present