Dreamento: an open-source dream engineering toolbox for sleep EEG wearables

We introduce Dreamento (Dream engineering toolbox), an open-source Python package for dream engineering utilizing the ZMax (Hypnodyne Corp., Sofia, Bulgaria) headband sleep wearable. Dreamento main functions are (1) real-time recording, monitoring, analysis, and stimulation in a graphical user interface (GUI) (2) and offline post-processing of the resulting data. In real-time, Dreamento is capable of (1) recording data, (2) visualizing data, including power-spectrum analysis and navigation, (3) automatic sleep-scoring, (4) sensory stimulation (visual, auditory, tactile), (5) establishing text-to-speech communication, and (6) managing the annotations of automatic and manual events. The offline functionality aids in post-processing the acquired data with features to reformat the wearable data and integrate it with non-wearable recorded modalities such as electromyography. While the primary application of Dreamento was developed for (lucid) dreaming studies, it is open to being adapted for other purposes and measurement modalities

The adaptation of the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) for European Portuguese

This study presents the adaptation of the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW; Bradley & Lang, 1999a) for European Portuguese (EP). The EP adaptation of the ANEW was based on the affective ratings made by 958 college students who were EP native speakers. Participants assessed about 60 words by considering the affective dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance, using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) in either a paper-and-pencil and a web survey procedures. Results of the adaptation of the ANEW for EP are presented. Furthermore, the differences between EP, American (Bradley & Lang, 1999a), and Spanish (Redondo, Fraga, Padrón, & Comesaña, 2007) standardizations were explored. Results showed that the ANEW words were understood in a similar way by EP, American, and Spanish subjects, although some sex and cross-cultural differences were observed. The EP adaptation of the ANEW is shown to be a valid and useful tool that will allow researchers to control and/or manipulate the affective properties of stimuli as well as to develop cross-linguistic studies. The normative values of EP adaptation of the ANEW can be downloaded at http://brm.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.COMPETE - Programa Operacional Factores de CompetitividadeFundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional - FEDERQuadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional - QRENFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - research project “Procura Palavras (P-Pal ): A software program for deriving objective and subjective psycholinguistic indices for European Portuguese words

AM-FFF of Objects Using Commercial PLA Based Shape Memory Polymer Printed by an Open-Source 3D Printer

The 4D additive manufacturing processes are considered today as the "next big thing" in R&D. The aim of this research is to provide two examples of commercial PLA based shape memory polymer (SMP) objects printed on an open-source 3D printer in order to proof the feasibility of such novel 4D printing process. To that purpose, a PLA based filament of eSUN (4D filament e4D-1​white, SMP) was chosen, and two applications, a spring and a vase, were designed by 3D-printing with additive manufacturing (AM) fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. The 4D-printed objects were successfully produced, the shape memory effect and their functionality were demonstrated by achieving the shape-memory cycle of programming, storage and recovery

FORMOR project: analysis of the formation of complex societies in Early Medieval Moravia

In the ninth century AD, Moravia (now in Czechia) was the heartland of the first Slavic state-like formation in Central Europe. Traditionally, the archaeology of the region has been interpreted via historical records only; the FORMOR project aims to broaden this view by using archaeometry, archaeogenetics, bioarchaeology and introducing new theoretical approaches. © The Author(s), 2024

Ancient genomes provide evidence of demographic shift to Slavic-associated groups in Moravia

BackgroundThe Slavs are a major ethnolinguistic group of Europe, yet the process that led to their formation remains disputed. As of the sixth century CE, people supposedly belonging to the Slavs populated the space between the Avar Khaganate in the Carpathian Basin, the Merovingian Frankish Empire to the West and the Balkan Peninsula to the South. Proposed theories to explain those events are, however, conceptually incompatible, as some invoke major population movements while others stress the continuity of local populations.ResultsWe report high-quality genomic data of 18 individuals from two nearby burial sites in South Moravia that span from the fifth to the tenth century CE, during which the region became the core of the ninth century Slavic principality. In contrast to existing data, the individuals reported here can be directly connected to an Early-Slavic-associated culture and include the earliest known inhumation associated with any such culture.ConclusionsThe data indicates a strong genetic shift incompatible with local continuity between the fifth and seventh century, supporting the notion that the Slavic expansion in South Moravia was driven by population movement

Selected Applications of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers: 4D Printing by the Fused Filament Fabrication Technology

In the past few years four-dimensional (4D) printing technologies have attained worldwide interest and they are now considered the "next big thing". The aim of this research is to provide three selected examples of stimuli-responsive polymer (SRP) applications additively manufactured (AM) by the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. To that end, a CCT BLUE filament of thermo-responsive polymer was chosen to produce a water temperature indicator, which changes colour from blue to white when temperature increases; a CCU RED filament of photo-responsive polymer was used to produce a sunlight / UV indicator bracelet; a transparent PLA CLEAR polymer, a CCU RED photo-responsive polymer, and an electrical conductive PLA polymer were selected to produce a smart business card stand. The temperature indicator capability was analysed based on examining colour changes as a function of temperature changes. The sunlight/UV indicator capability was analysed based on the inspection of colour change as a function of absorbed sun/ultraviolet light. The electrical conductivity of the conductive PLA polymer was examined by performing resistance measurements. All three objects were successfully produced and their functionality was demonstrated. We hope that these examples will catalyse the expansion of FFF 4D printed SRP applications, as much work remains to be done in designing the parts and developing FFF printing parameters that take advantage of the stimuli-responsive materials currently being developed for FFF technology

Prospect of making XPS a high throughput analytical method illustrated for a CuxNi1 xOy combinatorial material library

Combinatorial material science crucially depends on robust, high throughput characterization methods. While X ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS may provide detailed information about chemical and electronic properties, it is a time consuming technique and, therefore, is not viewed as a high throughput method. Here we present preliminary XPS data of 169 measurement spots on a combinatorial 72 72 cm2 CuxNi1 amp; 8722;xOy compositional library to explore how characterization and evaluation routines can be optimized to improve throughput in XPS for combinatorial studies. In particular, two quantification approaches are compared. We find that a simple integration of XPS peak regions approach is suited for fast evaluation of, in the example system, the [Cu] [Cu] [Ni] ratio. Complementary to that, the time consuming XPS peak fit approach provides additional insights into chemical speciation and oxidation state changes, without a large deviation of the [Cu] [Cu] [Ni] ratio. This insight suggests exploiting the fast integration approach for real time analysis during XPS data collection, paving the way for an on the fly selection of points of interest i.e., areas on the sample where sudden composition changes have been identified for detailed XPS characterization. Together with the envisioned improvements when going from laboratory to synchrotron based excitation sources, this will shorten the analysis time sufficiently for XPS to become a realistic characterization option for combinatorial material scienc

Divergent Associations of Slow‐Wave Sleep versus Rapid Eye Movement Sleep with Plasma Amyloid‐Beta

Objective: Recent evidence shows that during slow-wave sleep (SWS), the brain is cleared from potentially toxic metabolites, such as the amyloid-beta protein. Poor sleep or elevated cortisol levels can worsen amyloid-beta clearance, potentially leading to the formation of amyloid plaques, a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease. Here, we explored how nocturnal neural and endocrine activity affects amyloid-beta fluctuations in the peripheral blood. Methods: We acquired simultaneous polysomnography and all-night blood sampling in 60 healthy volunteers aged 20–68 years. Nocturnal plasma concentrations of amyloid-beta-40, amyloid-beta-42, cortisol, and growth hormone were assessed every 20 minutes. Amyloid-beta fluctuations were modeled with sleep stages, (non)oscillatory power, and hormones as predictors while controlling for age and participant-specific random effects. Results: Amyloid-beta-40 and amyloid-beta-42 levels correlated positively with growth hormone concentrations, SWS proportion, and slow-wave (0.3–4Hz) oscillatory and high-band (30–48Hz) nonoscillatory power, but negatively with cortisol concentrations and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) proportion measured 40–100 minutes previously (all t values > j3j, p values < 0.003). Older participants showed higher amyloid-beta-40 levels. Interpretation: Slow-wave oscillations are associated with higher plasma amyloid-beta levels, whereas REM sleep is related to decreased amyloid-beta plasma levels, possibly representing changes in central amyloid-beta production or clearance. Strong associations between cortisol, growth hormone, and amyloid-beta presumably reflect the sleepregulating role of the corresponding releasing hormones. A positive association between age and amyloid-beta-40 may indicate that peripheral clearance becomes less efficient with age