ClockViz: Designing Public Visualization for Coping with Collective Stress in Teamwork

The intervention solutions for coping with collective stress have been neglected in interaction design because of limited scalability of the physiological measuring methods. This paper focuses on exploring visual biofeedback design for collective stress in the context of teamwork. We design ClockViz, an augmented reality installation overlaid with static or dynamic projection to visualize three different extents of collective stress on a clock. Results of a 16-participant study show that ClockViz is useful to provide biofeedback data, change their internal status, and increase their mindfulness. Based on the results, we also discussed the potential solutions to collective stress sensing for designers to apply into their interactive design intervention

Cryogenic quasi-static embedded DRAM for energy-efficient compute-in-memory applications

Compute-in-memory (CIM) presents an attractive approach for energy-efficient computing in data-intensive applications. However, the development of suitable memory designs to achieve high-performance CIM remains a challenging task. Here, we propose a cryogenic quasi-static embedded DRAM to address the logic-memory mismatch of CIM. Guided by the re-calibrated cryogenic device model, the designed four-transistor bit-cell achieves full-swing data storage, low power consumption, and extended retention time at cryogenic temperatures. Combined with the adoption of cryogenic write bitline biasing technique and readout circuitry optimization, our 4Kb cryogenic eDRAM chip demonstrates a 1.37$\times$10$^6$ times improvement in retention time, while achieving a 75 times improvement in retention variability, compared to room-temperature operation. Moreover, it also achieves outstanding power performance with a retention power of 112 fW and a dynamic power of 108 $\mu$W at 4.2 K, which can be further decreased by 7.1% and 13.6% using the dynamic voltage scaling technique. This work reveals the great potential of cryogenic CMOS for high-density data storage and lays a solid foundation for energy-efficient CIM implementations

Multiple Positive Solutions to Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems of a System for Fractional Differential Equations

By using Krasnoselskii's fixed point theorem, we study the existence of at least one or two positive solutions to a system of fractional boundary value problems given by -D0+ν1y1(t)=λ1a1(t)f(y1(t),y2(t)),  -D0+ν2y2(t)=λ2a2(t)g(y1(t),y2(t)), where D0+ν is the standard Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative, ν1,ν2∈(n-1,n] for n>3 and n∈N, subject to the boundary conditions y1(i)(0)=0=y2(i)(0), for 0≤i≤n-2, and [D0+αy1(t)]t=1=0=[D0+αy2(t)]t=1, for 1≤α≤n-2, or y1(i)(0)=0=y2(i)(0), for 0≤i≤n-2, and [D0+αy1(t)]t=1=ϕ1(y1), [D0+αy2(t)]t=1=ϕ2(y2), for 1≤α≤n-2, ϕ1,ϕ2∈C([0,1],R). Our results are new and complement previously known results. As an application, we also give an example to demonstrate our result

BioFidget: biofeedback for respiration training using an augmented fidget spinner

This paper presents BioFidget, a biofeedback system that integrates physiological sensing and display into a smart fidget spinner for respiration training. We present a simple yet novel hardware design that transforms a fidget spinner into 1) a nonintrusive heart rate variability (HRV) sensor, 2) an electromechanical respiration sensor, and 3) an information display. The combination of these features enables users to engage in respiration training through designed tangible and embodied interactions, without requiring them to wear additional physiological sensors. The results of this empirical user study prove that the respiration training method reduces stress, and the proposed system meets the requirements of sensing validity and engagement with 32 participants in a practical setting

Identification of long non-coding RNAs in response to downy mildew stress in grape

The importance of long non-coding RNA in plants has been reported more frequently in recent years, but there has been few specific reports on lncRNAs in grape, especially in terms of disease resistance. We performed RNA-seq on grape leaves of two species (Vitis piasezkii accession Liuba-8, Vitis vinifera cultivar Pinot Noir) sampled at six time points after inoculation, and 4011 possible lncRNAs were identified. The characteristics of grape lncRNAs were analyzed, and it was found that lncRNAs showed relatively consistent characteristics with the reported lncRNAs in model plants. 3,643 lncRNAs were predicted that have cis-regulatory effects on 6,622 protein-coding genes and 91 DElncRNAs were revealed to be coexpressed with its trans-regulated coding genes. One hundred and seventeen grape microRNAs were predicted to potentially target 184 lncRNAs and six lncRNAs were predicted to be endogenous targeting mimics of 15 microRNAs, among which some miRNAs have been reported in grape disease resistance. At six time points, LncRNAs showed different expression levels and different expression patterns in two species, suggesting that lncRNAs may have a certain regulatory effect on resistance to downy mildew in grape. Finally, a lncRNA MSTRG.12742.1 which may play a positive role in grape downy mildew resistance was verified by transient transformation. Its potential target gene, VIT_204s0008g02671.1, encodes cryptochrome DASH which may regulate stomatal opening and closing of plant leaves. In this study, we provided the systematic identification of lncRNAs in the course of downy mildew of grape, laying a foundation for further studies on downy mildew and lncRNAs of grape in the future

AffectiveWall: Designing Collective Stress-Related Physiological Data Visualization for Reflection

Excessive workplace stress affects the individual's health as well as social collaborations, so the management of stressors is essential. However, an individual worker who only subjectively reflects on his or her individual and social stressors may misinterpret them, and thus not be able to manage them. This paper aims at engaging workplace stress reflection on objective stress-related physiological data using a shared display, which provides an anonymous view of the individual stress-related physiological signals (i.e., heart-rate variability) through a collective visualization. A minimalist proof-of-concept system is implemented for investigating the design space and deployed during group collaboration. The user study results show that the visualization successfully drew the participants' awareness and increased their understanding of self and organizational stress. This work highlights the importance of objective physiological data in the reflection process of organizational stress management

RESonance: Lightweight, room-scale audio-visual biofeedback for immersive relaxation training

Biofeedback systems enable the users' awareness of their internal health status by displaying their physiological signal, and further facilitate them to move toward self-regulation and behavior change. Single-modal biofeedback display can provide clear yet less engaging physiological information; a multimodal, immersive display could provide more engaging user experiences, but such a biofeedback system is relatively difficult to deploy. To strike a balance between engagement and ease of deployment, we present RESonance, a lightweight, immersive audio-visual biofeedback system for relaxation training. The system informs the users about their internal states (i.e., breath and heart rate variability) through ambient mediums, i.e., ambient light and nature soundscape, which can be provided by a lightweight infrastructure. The results of a 24-participant user study suggest that the system not only efficiently supports breathing regulation in relaxation training but also offers immersive and engaging user experiences

Functional identification of MdMYB5 involved in secondary cell wall formation in apple

Being the principal elements of secondary cell wall, cellulose and lignin both play a strengthening role in plant structures and stress resistance. However, little research has been done regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of cellulose and lignin in apple. In this study, in order to better understand the regulatory network in the formation of secondary cell wall, an R2R3 MYB transcriptional factor MdMYB5 was identified and explored. The subcellular localization experiments showed that MdMYB5 could function in the nucleus. Even though lignin and cellulose content, and the expression of their biosynthesis related genes decreased in the MdMYB5-RNAi apple, the ectopic overexpression of MdMYB5 promotes lignin and cellulose content in Arabidopsis, which contributes to the dwarf phenotype. At the same time, salt and osmotic stress affect MdMYB5-RNAi apple tissue cultures. Further transcriptional activation assays carried out demonstrated that MdMYB5 could be activated by MdMYB46 and MdSND1. In conclusion, MdMYB5 was required for the normal formation of secondary cell wall in apple and could be activated by the key regulatory factors MdMYB46 and MdSND1