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The article presents the results of video quality assessment using two methods recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. These are the Single Stimulus (SS) and the Double Stimulus Impairment Scale (DSIS) methods. The results obtained by both methods were compared. The studies were performed for two coding techniques, H.264 and H.265, and for spatial resolutions of 1280 × 720 and 1920 × 1080. The studies showed a very high correlation between the MOS values obtained by SS and DSIS methods for H.265 coding and both video resolutions. Regarding the H.264 coding, a very good consistency of the results was obtained for bitrates starting from 3000 kbps.

Augmented Reality (AR) is helpful for overcoming the challenges of in vivo exposure therapy for Specific Phobia (SP). Specifically, Projection-based AR exposure therapy (P-ARET) allows the individual to face the feared animal without intrusive hardware, the phobic stimulus can be controlled, and it can maximize “variability”, producing a positive effect in the generalization of the results. The goal of this work is to assess the feasibility of P-ARET for SP, comparing multiple stimuli (MS) versus single stimulus (SS) conditions and evaluating the participants’ user experience. Adherence to a daily monitoring app (Emotional Monitor) and preliminary efficacy of the P-ARET treatment were assessed. Four participants diagnosed with SP of cockroaches (DSM-5) were randomly assigned to different baselines. Episodic and daily evaluations were performed. Participants considered the MS condition more aversive but more effective than the SS condition. Adherence to the mobile app was 83% for three participants and 55% for the remaining person. Analyses of non-overlap of all pairs and changes in the functionality levels showed a decrease in the SP symptoms at post-treatment and follow-ups. This study offers preliminary feasibility results for a novel form of P-ARET to treat participants with cockroach phobia, which may also apply to other phobias.

As one of the most important anisotropic intelligent materials, bi-layer stimuli-responsive actuating hydrogels have proven their wide potential in soft robots, artificial muscles, biosensors, and drug delivery. However, they can commonly provide a simple one-actuating process under one external stimulus, which severely limits their further application. Herein, we have developed a new anisotropic hydrogel actuator by local ionic crosslinking on the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogel layer of the bi-layer hydrogel for sequential two-stage bending under a single stimulus. Under pH = 13, ionic-crosslinked PAA networks undergo shrinking (-COO−/Fe3+ complexation) and swelling (water absorption) processes. As a combination of Fe3+ crosslinked PAA hydrogel (PAA@Fe3+) with non-swelling poly(3-(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonate) (PZ) hydrogel, the as-prepared PZ-PAA@Fe3+ bi-layer hydrogel exhibits distinct fast and large-amplitude bidirectional bending behavior. Such sequential two-stage actuation, including bending orientation, angle, and velocity, can be controlled by pH, temperature, hydrogel thickness, and Fe3+ concentration. Furthermore, hand-patterning Fe3+ to crosslink with PAA enables us to achieve various complex 2D and 3D shape transformations. Our work provides a new bi-layer hydrogel system that performs sequential two-stage bending without switching external stimuli, which will inspire the design of programmable and versatile hydrogel-based actuators.

Class A psychophysical observations are based on the linking hypothesis that perceptually distinguishable stimuli must correspond to different brain events. Class B observations are related to the appearance of stimuli not their discriminability. There is no clear linking hypothesis underlying Class B observations, but they are necessary for studying the effects of context on appearance, including a large class of phenomena known as “illusions.” Class B observations are necessarily measures of observer bias (Fechner’s “constant error”) as opposed to Class A measures of sensitivity (Fechner’s “variable error”). It is therefore important that Class B observations distinguish between response biases, decisional biases, and perceptual biases. This review argues that the commonly used method of single stimuli fails to do this, and that multiple-alternative forced choice (mAFC) methods can do a better job, particularly if combined with a roving pedestal.

This research examines the convergent-discriminant and predictive validity of the Big Five personality dimensions assessed with two different formats of personality inventories: a single-stimulus (SS) and a quasi-ipsative forced-choice (FC). The relationship between both types of measures and intelligence (GMA) was also analyzed. The results showed that: (1) the SS and the quasi-ipsative FC measures present a high convergent-discriminant validity; (2) the Big Five personality dimensions, assessed with both questionnaires, and GMA are independent constructs; and (3) both types of personality measures have similar predictive validity for the three criteria examined (academic performance, training success, and interpersonal competence). As expected, conscientiousness was the best predictor of academic performance and training success. Extraversion was the best predictor of interpersonal competence. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Bisection tasks are used in research on normal space and time perception and to assess the perceptual distortions accompanying neurological disorders. Several variants of the bisection task are used, which often yield inconsistent results, prompting the question of which variant is most dependable and which results are to be trusted. We addressed this question using theoretical and experimental approaches. Theoretical performance in bisection tasks is derived from a general model of psychophysical performance that includes sensory components and decisional processes. The model predicts how performance should differ across variants of the task, even when the sensory component is fixed. To test these predictions, data were collected in a within-subjects study with several variants of a spatial bisection task, including a two-response variant in which observers indicated whether a line was transected to the right or left of the midpoint, a three-response variant (which included the additional option to respond “midpoint”), and a paired-comparison variant of the three-response format. The data supported the model predictions, revealing that estimated bisection points were least dependable with the two-response variant, because this format confounds perceptual and decisional influences. Only the three-response paired-comparison format can separate out these influences. Implications for research in basic and clinical fields are discussed.

To understand single neuron computation, it is necessary to know how specific physiological parameters affect neural spiking patterns that emerge in response to specific stimuli. Here we present a computational pipeline combining biophysical and statistical models that provides a link between variation in functional ion channel expression and changes in single neuron stimulus encoding. More specifically, we create a mapping from biophysical model parameters to stimulus encoding statistical model parameters. Biophysical models provide mechanistic insight, whereas statistical models can identify associations between spiking patterns and the stimuli they encode. We used public biophysical models of two morphologically and functionally distinct projection neuron cell types: mitral cells (MCs) of the main olfactory bulb, and layer V cortical pyramidal cells (PCs). We first simulated sequences of action potentials according to certain stimuli while scaling individual ion channel conductances. We then fitted point process generalized linear models (PP-GLMs), and we constructed a mapping between the parameters in the two types of models. This framework lets us detect effects on stimulus encoding of changing an ion channel conductance. The computational pipeline combines models across scales and can be applied as a screen of channels, in any cell type of interest, to identify ways that channel properties influence single neuron computation.

Here, we mapped fMRI responses to incrementally changing shapes along a continuous 3D morph, ranging from a head (\"face\") to a house (\"place\"). The response to each shape was mapped independently by using single-stimulus imaging, and stimulus shapes were equated for lower-level visual cues. We measured activity in 2-mm samples across human inferior temporal cortex from the fusiform face area (FFA) (apparently selective for faces) to the parahippocampal place area (PPA) (apparently selective for places), testing for (i) incremental changes in the topography of FFA and PPA (predicted by the continuous-mapping model) or (ii) little or no response to the intermediate morphed shapes (predicted by the category model). Neither result occurred; instead, we found approximately linearly graded changes in the response amplitudes to graded-shape changes, without changes in topography--similar to visual responses in different lower-tier cortical areas.

Purpose Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival was originated in China and is characterized by gathering promotions to create consumer shopping atmosphere. Its rapid rise has affected Asia and the world, becoming the world’s largest shopping festival beyond Black Friday. The success of Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival demonstrates Chinese experience of online shopping festive atmosphere marketing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival atmosphere and Chinese cultural background, especially Confucian values, on Chinese consumers’ purchase intention in Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival. Design/methodology/approach This paper conceptualized consumers’ most perceptive atmosphere characteristics as the three dimensions of perceived economic temptation, perceived festival entertainment and perceived mass participation. Taking Confucian values as moderators, based on the stimulus-response theory, this study constructed an influencing factor model of consumer purchase intention in online shopping festival, collected data of 398 Chinese consumers by questionnaire, and used structural equation modeling for hypotheses testing. Findings The results showed that online shopping festival atmosphere and Confucian values affect purchase intention; the two factors of “keeping face” and “listening to others” of Confucian values play moderating roles in the effect of online shopping festival atmosphere on purchase intention. Research limitations/implications The sample of this study was biased toward the young and well-educated consumers; besides, this study focused on young consumers’ purchase intention of online shopping festival, rather than their actual consumption behaviors. Practical implications Confucian values have deeply influenced China and other Asian countries, especially East and Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile they are the fastest growing regions of e-commerce in the world, the paper provides theoretical basis and reference for the e-commerce enterprises in the Confucian cultural societies to improve the atmosphere marketing of online shopping festivals, and attracts consumers to shop online, having particular significance in shedding light on the Asian “e-commerce Miracle.” Social implications This study found that Singles’ Day purchase intention is dependent on online shopping festival atmosphere stimuli, Confucian values and their interaction. Marketing researchers should consider both online shopping festival atmosphere as a marketing tool and the influence of consumer cultural values, so as to help e-commerce platforms and e-commerce merchants establish shopping festival marketing strategies that suit consumers’ cultural values. Originality/value This paper addressed an interesting practical issue related to the effects of online shopping festival atmosphere stimuli and cultural values on consumer online purchase intention.