Measurement of the N170 during facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (fNMES).

Background Studies on facial feedback effects typically employ props or posed facial expressions, which often lack temporal precision and muscle specificity. New method Facial Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (fNMES) allows for a controlled influence of contractions of facial muscles, and may be used to advance our understanding of facial feedback effects, especially when combined with Electroencephalography (EEG). However, electrical stimulation introduces significant interference that can mask underlying brain dynamics. Whether established signal processing methods can allow for a reduction of said interference whilst retaining effects of interest, remains unexplored. Results We addressed these questions focusing on the classic N170 visual evoked potential, a face-sensitive brain component: 20 participants viewed images of houses, and of sad, happy, and neutral faces. On half of the trials, fNMES was delivered to bilateral lower-face muscles during the presentation of visual stimuli. A larger N170 amplitude was found for faces relative to houses. Interestingly, this was the case both without and during fNMES, regardless of whether the fNMES artefact was removed or not. Moreover, sad facial expressions elicited a larger N170 amplitude relative to neutral facial expressions, both with and without fNMES. Comparison with existing methods fNMES offers a more precise way of manipulating proprioceptive feedback from facial muscles, which affords greater diversity in experimental design for studies on facial feedback effects. Conclusions We show that the combining of fNMES and EEG can be achieved and may serve as a powerful means of exploring the impact of controlled proprioceptive inputs on various types of cognitive processing

Detached-Eddy Simulation of the Vortical Flowfield about the VFE-2 DeltaWing

The numerical simulation of the flow around a 65° delta wing configuration with rounded leading edges is presented. For the numerical simulation the Cobalt Code uses a cell-centered unstructured hybrid mesh approach. Several numerical results are presented for the steady RANS equations as well as for DES and DDES hybrid approaches. The simulations are done as part of the NATO RTO/AVT 113 working group focusing on experimental and numerical research on delta wing configurations with rounded leading edges. Within this paper the focus is related to the dual primary vortex flow topology, especially the sensitivity of the flow to angle of attack and Reynolds number effects. Reasonable results are obtained with both steady RANS and SA-DDES simulations. The results are compared and verified by experimental data, including surface pressure and pressure sensitive paint results. The impact of transition is assessed, and recommendations for improving future simulations are made

Electric body manipulation as performance art: A historical perspective

Electric performance art can be de ned as the theatrical display of electrically manipulated human bodies. In this article, we trace the historical development of this genre, from its roots in the scientic/technological innova-tions of the 18th century to today’s most advanced computer-based muscle-control pieces. The body manipulations employed in electric performance art are of three different types, all of which are equally valid and interesting. They each involve essentially different con-ceptualizations of the human body and its relationship to the electromagnetic realm, and deserve separate discussions. First, we discuss pieces that treat the human body as a mere material object and demonstrate its electrical properties: its ability to carry an electrical charge and to conduct an electri-cal current. Secondly, we review pieces that deal with the vulnerability of the human body, with the boundaries of its integrity. If an electrical current is too strong, it will effectively destroy the body’s functional structure. Observing this phenomenon has a very powerful, disturbing effect on most people. At the same time, there are important practical applications that we also discuss. Finally, we assume an information-theoretical, cybernetic standpoint and view the human body as a kinematic system whose motions can be steered by means of electrical control sig-nals. This point of view was already implicit in Galvani’s 18th-century experiments with frogs ’ legs—but it is particularly relevant today because it opens up the possibility of employ-ing the human body as a display device for algorithms that run on digital computers

URBAN TRANSPORT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

This is a discussion of the Dutch government\u27s Second Structure Scheme for Traffic and Transport (SVV-II) which was designed to reduce the use of cars in urban areas. The Dutch transport sector makes a large contribution to the national income, and it is noted that policies to restrain mobility must not undermine this role. SVV-II consists of 4 policy categories: environment and amenity; managing mobility (includes planning; parking; urban remodeling; and pricing policy); accessibility of public transport and other means such as cycling; transport regions as well as company transport plans. Each of these areas is discussed at some length