Audio Cue Research Articles

Enhancing Player Experience in a First-Person Shooter with Dynamic Audio Cue Adjustment Based on Gaussian Progress Regression

Enhancing Player Experience in a First-Person Shooter with Dynamic Audio Cue Adjustment Based on Gaussian Progress Regression

Sensory augmentation for a rapid motor task in a multisensory environment.

Sensory substitution and augmentation systems (SSASy) seek to either replace or enhance existing sensory skills by providing a new route to access information about the world. Tests of such systems have largely been limited to untimed, unisensory tasks. To test the use of a SSASy for rapid, ballistic motor actions in a multisensory environment. Participants played a stripped-down version of air hockey in virtual reality with motion controls (Oculus Touch). They were trained to use a simple SASSy (novel audio cue) for the puck's location. They were tested on ability to strike an oncoming puck with the SASSy, degraded vision, or both. Participants coordinated vision and the SSASy to strike the target with their hand more consistently than with the best single cue alone, t(13) = 9.16, p <.001, Cohen's d = 2.448. People can adapt flexibly to using a SSASy in tasks that require tightly timed, precise, and rapid body movements. SSASys can augment and coordinate with existing sensorimotor skills rather than being limited to replacement use cases - in particular, there is potential scope for treating moderate vision loss. These findings point to the potential for augmenting human abilities, not only for static perceptual judgments, but in rapid and demanding perceptual-motor tasks.

Development of Field Tests for Cardiovascular Fitness Assessment in Wheelchair.

It is essential to consider both physique and physical fitness factors to minimize the risk of injuries and optimize athletic performance among elite athletes. Athletes with disabilities face limitations in fitness assessments compared to their healthy counterparts. The aim of this study was to revalidate established cardiovascular fitness assessment methods and develop field tests for wheelchair athletes. As representatives registered at the Korea Paralympic Committee's Athletes Training Center in Icheon, athletes with physical disabilities participating in para ice hockey (n = 14), who were capable of wheelchair control, were volunteered. Prior to cardiovascular fitness assessments using an ergometer and a shuttle run, demographic characteristics were surveyed, and physical measurements and muscle strength (grip strength) were recorded. All the participants performed one ergometer test based on cardiovascular fitness criteria, and for shuttle run validation, two trials were conducted using existing audio cues (National Physical Fitness 100, 20 m shuttle run). For the development of the shuttle run, considering wheelchair turning, signal-to-sound intervals were increased by 1 s and 1.5 s, respectively, in two trials. An analysis of the correlation with the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in comparison to the reference criterion, an ergometer, demonstrated high correlations in the first trial (r = 0.738) and the second trial (r = 0.780). Similarly, significant correlations were observed with the maximum heart rate (HRmax) in the first trial (r = 0.689) and the second trial (r = 0.896). Thus, the 15 m shuttle run is validated as a field test for assessing cardiovascular fitness in athletes with disabilities. Correlation analysis with maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) compared to the reference criterion, an ergometer, revealed a correlation of 0.815 with a 1 s interval audio cue and 0.355 with a 1.5 s interval audio cue. A high correlation was observed with the 1 s interval audio cue. Regarding the maximum heart rate (HRmax), the correlations were 0.665 with a 1 s interval audio cue. Once again, a high correlation was noted with the 1 s interval audio cue. The field test selected for measuring cardiovascular fitness in wheelchair athletes involved performing a 15 m shuttle run while in the wheelchair. The test utilized an audio cue with a 1 s increased interval between the signal sounds.

Sheep’s learning ability and behavioural response to a fully automated virtual fencing system

Virtual fencing presents a promising solution for grazing management, providing flexibility, individual monitoring, potential improvements in land management, and enhanced animal welfare. However, welfare issues related to electric stimuli and species-specific learning abilities need consideration. This study aimed to investigate if sheep could learn and be fenced by a fully automated virtual fencing system. Eight Norwegian White ewes with twin lambs, all naïve to virtual fencing, were randomly selected at the beginning of September 2018. Fitted with Nofence virtual fence collars designed for goats, the ewes were subjected to daily behavioural observations over nine days. The Nofence technology is a fully automated system that uses GPS coordinates, that trigger an audio cue when an animal crosses the boundary. If the animal does not turn, it receives an electric stimulus. The study was divided into three periods: an adaptation period (2 days), period 1 (5 days), where the first virtual boundary was introduced on day 1, and period 2 (4 days) when a second boundary was introduced. Additionally, the ewes wore heart rate monitors for at least one hour daily. Throughout the study, the ewes received a total of 218 audio cues and 38 electric stimuli, indicating an approximate individual mean of 27 audio cues and 5 electric stimuli received The number of audio cues and electric stimuli significantly decreased over days in both experimental periods. In period 2, the number of audio cues was significantly higher compared to period 1, while the success ratio in avoiding electric stimuli remained stable across days. The experimental period significantly influenced the frequency of standing/walking behaviour, being more common in the adaptation period compared to periods 1 and 2. However, the period did not have a significant effect on the percentages of lying or grazing behaviour. During heart rate monitoring, four ewes received one electric stimulus each, resulting in an immediate heart rate increase that returned to baseline within minutes. The present study demonstrates that sheep wearing a fully automated system quickly learned to associate audio cues with electric stimuli. The ability to generalise experiences from one virtual boundary to another emphasises their learning ability. Minor changes in activity were likely influenced by factors other than the virtual fencing system. The short-lasting increase in heart rate as a response to electric stimuli suggests a temporary stress reaction. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential of virtual fencing for sheep management.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) distinguish between two human caretakers and their associated roles within a captive environment

Zebrafish have become a popular biomedical model in recent decades, and are now maintained in laboratories worldwide. However, living within a captive environment can introduce novel environmental stressors and experiencing stress chronically can negatively affect animal welfare and, if applicable, how study results are interpreted. One method to potentially alleviate stress within captive environments is to introduce signaled predictability, i.e., conditioning captive populations to anticipate a future event by associating a visual or audio cue with the impending stimulus. A low-cost and easily accessible cue could be the caretakers themselves. Previous research has shown that archerfish can associate and distinguish between pictures of human faces, not human beings themselves. Therefore, it remains to be seen if fish, such as zebrafish can distinguish between two human caretakers, associated with different husbandry tasks. For this study, zebrafish were exposed to a caretaker who fed the fish only and a caretaker who chased the fish with a net, i.e., associated with an acute stressor. Caretaker duties were counterbalanced across two isolated laboratory shelving racks. Before performing tasks, the caretaker presented their face to all 10 fish tanks and then recorded the number of fish in the feeding area immediately. It was found that presentation of the stressor-caretaker did not significantly affect the number of fish within the feeding area, however, presentation of the caretaker associated with feeding led to a significant increase in the number of fish in the feeding area. By the end of the experiment, fish were more likely to be found in this area following the feeding-associated caretaker presentation, compared to the stressor-associated caretaker. These results suggest that zebrafish are capable of distinguishing between two human caretakers by learning to associate specific humans with husbandry procedures, particularly feeding. However, it is unclear exactly what visual cues, e.g., caretaker mannerisms, were utilized as caretaker faces were not isolated for presentation. Further research is needed to assess the repeatability of these results, as this research is novel, especially with respect to captive fish welfare.

Experimental validation of a portable tidal volume indicator for bag valve mask ventilation

IntroductionShort-term emergency ventilation is most typically accomplished through bag valve mask (BVM) techniques. BVMs like the AMBU® bag are cost-effective and highly portable but are also highly prone to user error, especially in high-stress emergent situations. Inaccurate and inappropriate ventilation has the potential to inflict great injury to patients through hyper- and hypoventilation. Here, we present the BVM Emergency Narration-Guided Instrument (BENGI) – a tidal volume feedback monitoring device that provides instantaneous visual and audio feedback on delivered tidal volumes, respiratory rates, and inspiratory/expiratory times. Providing feedback on the depth and regularity of respirations enables providers to deliver more consistent and accurate tidal volumes and rates. We describe the design, assembly, and validation of the BENGI as a practical tool to reduce manual ventilation-induced lung injury.MethodsThe prototype BENGI was assembled with custom 3D-printed housing and commercially available electronic components. A mass flow sensor in the central channel of the device measures air flow, which is used to calculate tidal volume. Tidal volumes are displayed via an LED ring affixed to the top of the BENGI. Additional feedback is provided through a speaker in the device. Central processing is accomplished through an Arduino microcontroller. Validation of the BENGI was accomplished using benchtop simulation with a clinical ventilator, BVM, and manikin test lung. Known respiratory quantities were delivered by the ventilator which were then compared to measurements from the BENGI to validate the accuracy of flow measurements, tidal volume calculations, and audio cue triggers.ResultsBENGI tidal volume measurements were found to lie within 4% of true delivered tidal volume values (95% CI of 0.53 to 3.7%) when breaths were delivered with 1-s inspiratory times, with similar performance for breaths delivered with 0.5-s inspiratory times (95% CI of 1.1 to 6.7%) and 2-s inspiratory times (95% CI of –1.1 to 2.3%). Audio cues “Bag faster” (1.84 to 2.03 s), “Bag slower” (0.35 to 0.41 s), and “Leak detected” (43 to 50%) were triggered close to target trigger values (2.00 s, 0.50 s, and 50%, respectively) across varying tidal volumes.ConclusionsThe BENGI achieved its proposed goals of accurately measuring and reporting tidal volumes delivered through BVM systems, providing immediate feedback on the quality of respiratory performance through audio and visual cues. The BENGI has the potential to reduce manual ventilation-induced lung injury and improve patient outcomes by providing accurate feedback on ventilatory parameters.

Application of Virtual Fencing for the management of Limousin cows at pasture

A potential use of pasture-based systems requires an efficient grazing management strategy. Thanks to the Virtual Fencing (VF) physical fences are replaced by virtual ones and, when the animals approach the boundaries, they receive a paired stimulus: an audio cue followed by a low electrical pulse if animals cross over the fences. This study aims to i) to evaluate the animal's ability to learn, and then respond positively, to VF ii) VFs’ efficiency to manage the herd within grazing areas virtually delimitated; iii) to assess the chronic stress related to the VF, evaluating the hair cortisol concentration (HCC), during the experiment. Twenty Limousine cows were fitted with a commercial VF-GPS collars (Nofence AS, Batnfjordsør, Norway). The experiment was divided into four trials: Trial zero (T0) with inactive collars to let the animals get acquainted with them; Trial one (T1) where three of the four virtual boundaries coincided with the physical ones, while the virtual one was set across the pasture to restrict the grazing area; Trial two (T2) in which the grazing area was further extended moving forwards the virtual board; Trial three (T3) in which the virtual line was set longways to the pasture. Results show a significant decrease of stimuli delivered (i.e., sounds and electrical pulses) (p < 0.001), among trials. Moreover, a reduction (p < 0.0250) in the ratio between sounds and electrical pulses was observed between T1 and T3, with T2 being like both. Regarding the cows’ learning capacity, the events in which the sounds were followed by electrical pulses were significantly less in T3 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in T3 the duration of the audio tones was lower than T1 and T2 (p < 0.0005). Animals were increasingly kept inside the inclusion zones during the trials, with the lowest number of escape events from the inclusion zone registered in T3 (p < 0.001). No differences were observed in the HCC before and after the VF treatment. The progressive reduction of the studied parameters between following sessions, indicates an increase in associative learning through time. VF virtual fencing has proven to be an effective tool in managing Limousin cows at pasture However, future research is needed to evaluate the animals’ performances in terms of grazing activities and on the assessment of chronic stress conditions as well.

Sex Differences in Behavioral Responding and Dopamine Release during Pavlovian Learning.

Learning associations between cues and rewards require the mesolimbic dopamine system. The dopamine response to cues signals differences in reward value in well trained animals. However, these value-related dopamine responses are absent during early training sessions when cues signal differences in the reward rate. These findings suggest cue-evoked dopamine release conveys differences between outcomes only after extensive training, though it is unclear whether this is unique to when cues signal differences in reward rate, or whether this is also evident when cues signal differences in other value-related parameters such as reward size. To address this, we used a Pavlovian conditioning task in which one audio cue was associated with a small reward (one pellet) and another audio cue was associated with a large reward (three pellets). We performed fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to record changes in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of male and female rats throughout learning. While female rats exhibited higher levels of conditioned responding, a faster latency to respond, and elevated post-reward head entries relative to male rats, there were no sex differences in the dopamine response to cues. Multiple training sessions were required before cue-evoked dopamine release signaled differences in reward size. Reward-evoked dopamine release scaled with reward size, though females displayed lower reward-evoked dopamine responses relative to males. Conditioned responding related to the decrease in the peak reward-evoked dopamine response and not to cue-evoked dopamine release. Collectively, these data illustrate sex differences in behavioral responding as well as in reward-evoked dopamine release during Pavlovian learning.

USEV: Universal Speaker Extraction With Visual Cue

A speaker extraction algorithm seeks to extract the target speaker's speech from a multi-talker speech mixture. The prior studies focus mostly on speaker extraction from a highly overlapped multi-talker speech mixture. However, the target-interference speaker overlapping ratios could vary over a wide range from 0% to 100% in natural speech communication, furthermore, the target speaker could be absent in the speech mixture, the speech mixtures in such universal multi-talker scenarios are described as <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">general speech mixtures</i> . The speaker extraction algorithm requires an auxiliary reference, such as a video recording or a pre-recorded speech, to form top-down auditory attention on the target speaker. We advocate that a visual cue, i.e., lip movement, is more informative than an audio cue, i.e., pre-recorded speech, to serve as the auxiliary reference for speaker extraction in disentangling the target speaker from a <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">general speech mixture</i> . In this paper, we propose a universal speaker extraction network with a visual cue, that works for all multi-talker scenarios. In addition, we propose a scenario-aware differentiated loss function for network training, to balance the network performance over different target-interference speaker pairing scenarios. The experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms various competitive baselines for <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">general speech mixtures</i> in terms of signal fidelity.

The influence of observing a maternal demonstrator on the ability of lambs to learn a virtual fence

Context In virtual fencing, where an animal learns to remain within a set area by responding to an audio cue in order to avoid receiving an aversive electrical stimulus, maternal learning may play a role in facilitating successful learning. Aims This study aimed to investigate the effect of early observation of virtual fence engagement using a maternal demonstrator on the ability of lambs to later learn to respond correctly to a virtual fence. Method Merino lambs (n = 114) were assigned to one of three treatments prior to being trained to a virtual fence: (1) lambs from experienced demonstrators, in which the lambs observed their mothers interacting with a virtual fence having been trained prior to lambing; (2) lambs from naïve demonstrators, in which lambs observed their mothers learning the virtual fence system; and (3) unexposed lambs, in which lambs had not encountered a virtual fence prior to being trained. Following weaning, lambs were trained to a virtual fence and responses to stimuli were recorded. Key results The number of audio cue and electrical pulse stimuli received by the lambs did not differ across the three treatments (P &gt; 0.05). There were no significant differences between the proportions of correct behavioural responses to the audio cue stimulus across the three treatment groups (P &gt; 0.05). Logistic regression analysis of learning curves showed that lambs from naïve demonstrators displayed a change in behaviour and learned the correct response to the audio cue, while the unexposed lambs and lambs from pre-trained demonstrators did not. Conclusions These results suggest that maternal influences may be influencing the ability of lambs to learn a virtual fence, although the training protocol was limited due to time, space, equipment and environmental constraints. Implications This work may help to inform producers on management decisions for the application of the virtual fencing, such as enabling lambs to observe their mothers interacting with a virtual fence prior to weaning to enhance learning the virtual fence when applied later in life.

Acute Stress Exposure Alters Food-Related Brain Monoaminergic Profiles in a Rat Model of Anorexia

BackgroundAdverse life experiences are a major risk factor for anorexia nervosa (AN). Eating-provoked anxiousness associated with AN is postulated to be due to food-related exaggerated serotonin activity in the brain and imbalances of monoamine neurotransmitters. ObjectivesUsing a rodent model of stress-induced hypophagia, we investigated if stress exposure augments food-related serotonin turnover and imbalances in measures of brain serotonin and dopamine activity in manners consistent with anxiousness toward food and restricted eating. MethodsAdult male F344 rats were conditioned to associate an audio cue with daily food over 2 weeks, after which half of the rats were exposed to a single episode of tail shocks (stress) or left undisturbed (nonstressed). All rats were killed 48 h later, during a control period, the food-associated cue, or a period of food access. Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, as well as metabolite concentrations, were assessed across brain regions comprising reward, emotion, and feeding circuits relevant to AN in acutely stressed and nonstressed rats using HPLC. Statistical significance level was 5%. ResultsStress-induced rat hypophagia paralleled an augmented serotonin turnover in response to the food-associated cue in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, as well as food access in the hypothalamus and cortical areas (all P < 0.05). Stress exposure increased the ratio of serotonin to dopamine metabolites across several brain areas, but the magnitude of this imbalance was further augmented during the food-associated cue and food access in the brainstem, hippocampus, and cortical areas (all P < 0.05). Finally, stress lowered norepinephrine concentrations by 18% in the hypothalamus (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe observed stress-induced changes to monoamine profiles in rats could have key implications for physiological states that contribute to restricted eating and may hold relevance for the development of AN precipitated by adverse life experiences.

An interactive eye-tracking system for measuring radiologists' visual fixations in volumetric CT images: Implementation and initial eye-tracking accuracy validation.

Eye-tracking approaches have been used to understand the visual search process in radiology. However, previous eye-tracking work in computer tomography (CT) has been limited largely to single cross-sectional images or video playback of the reconstructed volume, which do not accurately reflect radiologists' visual search activities and their interactivity with three-dimensional image data at a computer workstation (e.g., scroll, pan, and zoom) for visual evaluation of diagnostic imaging targets. We have developed a platform that integrates eye-tracking hardware with in-house-developed reader workstation software to allow monitoring of the visual search process and reader-image interactions in clinically relevant reader tasks. The purpose of this work is to validate the spatial accuracy of eye-tracking data using this platform for different eye-tracking data acquisition modes. An eye-tracker was integrated with a previously developed workstation designed for reader performance studies. The integrated system captured real-time eye movement and workstation events at 1000Hz sampling frequency. The eye-tracker was operated either in head-stabilized mode or in free-movement mode. In head-stabilized mode, the reader positioned their head on a manufacturer-provided chinrest. In free-movement mode, a biofeedback tool emitted an audio cue when the head position was outside the data collection range (general biofeedback) or outside a narrower range of positions near the calibration position (strict biofeedback). Four radiologists and one resident were invited to participate in three studies to determine eye-tracking spatial accuracy under three constraint conditions: head-stabilized mode (i.e., with use of a chin rest), free movement with general biofeedback, and free movement with strict biofeedback. Study 1 evaluated the impact of head stabilization versus general or strict biofeedback using a cross-hair target prior to the integration of the eye-tracker with the image viewing workstation. In Study 2, after integration of the eye-tracker and reader workstation, readers were asked to fixate on targets that were randomly distributed within a volumetric digital phantom. In Study 3, readers used the integrated system to scroll through volumetric patient CT angiographic images while fixating on the centerline of designated blood vessels (from the left coronary artery to dorsalis pedis artery). Spatial accuracy was quantified as the offset between the center of the intended target and the detected fixation using units of image pixels and the degree of visual angle. The three head position constraint conditions yielded comparable accuracy in the studies using digital phantoms. For Study 1 involving the digital crosshairs, the median ± the standard deviation of offset values among readers were 15.2 ± 7.0 image pixels with the chinrest, 14.2 ± 3.6 image pixels with strict biofeedback, and 19.1 ± 6.5 image pixels with general biofeedback. For Study 2 using the random dot phantom, the median ± standard deviation offset values were 16.7 ± 28.8 pixels with use of a chinrest, 16.5 ± 24.6 pixels using strict biofeedback, and 18.0 ± 22.4 pixels using general biofeedback, which translated to a visual angle of about 0.8° for all three conditions. We found no obvious association between eye-tracking accuracy and target size or view time. In Study 3 viewing patient images, use of the chinrest and strict biofeedback demonstrated comparable accuracy, while the use of general biofeedback demonstrated a slightly worse accuracy. The median ± standard deviation of offset values were 14.8 ± 11.4 pixels with use of a chinrest, 21.0 ± 16.2 pixels using strict biofeedback, and 29.7 ± 20.9 image pixels using general biofeedback. These corresponded to visual angles ranging from 0.7° to 1.3°. An integrated eye-tracker system to assess reader eye movement and interactive viewing in relation to imaging targets demonstrated reasonable spatial accuracy for assessment of visual fixation. The head-free movement condition with audio biofeedback performed similarly to head-stabilized mode.

Multi-cue based four-stream 3D ResNets for video-based action recognition

Action recognition is one of the important computer vision tasks, which has many applications. This paper proposes a Multi-cue based Four-stream 3D ResNets (MF3D) model for action recognition. The proposed MF3D model contains four streams: a video saliency stream, an appearance stream, a motion stream and an audio stream. Four cues (i.e. the appearance cue, the motion cue, the video saliency cue and audio cue) are captured by the four streams of our proposed MF3D model. In addition, three different connections between different streams are injected, which can transfer different cues between different streams to obtain more effective spatiotemporal features. Experiments are conducted on the Kinetics and Kinetics-Sounds datasets, and the results verify that our MF3D model is effective and outperforms current existing models.

A Case Study on the Use of Virtual Fencing to Intensively Graze Angus Heifers Using Moving Front and Back-Fences

Virtual fencing contains and controls grazing cattle using sensory cues rather than physical fences. The technology comprises a neckband-mounted device that delivers an audio cue when the animal nears a virtual boundary that has been set via global positioning system, followed by an electrical stimulus if it walks beyond the boundary. Virtual fencing has successfully been used to intensively graze cattle using a simple virtual front-fence, but a more complex intensive grazing system comprising moving virtual front and back-fences has not been assessed. We studied the effectiveness of virtual fencing technology to contain groups of Angus heifers within grazing cells defined by semi-permanent electric side-fences and virtual front and back-fences, compared to groups of heifers contained in cells defined only by electric fencing. Four groups of 10 Angus heifers were randomly allocated to a “control” (grazed with a conventional electric front and back-fence, n = 2 groups) or “virtual fence” treatment (grazed with a virtual front and back-fence, n = 2 groups). The groups of heifers grazed four adjacent experimental paddocks that were established using TechnoGrazing™ infrastructure. An estimated 9.5 kg pasture DM/heifer.day was offered in each of three 3 day allocations (9 day study period). Data collected include cues delivered by the neckbands, time beyond the virtual boundaries, pasture consumption for each allocation and heifer live weight changes over the study period. The virtual front and back-fences successfully contained one group of heifers in their grazing cell, but the second group of heifers spent an increasing amount of time in the exclusion zone during the second and third allocations and consequently received an increasing number of audio and electrical stimuli. There were no effects of electric or virtual-fence treatment on live weight change or pasture utilization. By grazing heifers in adjacent paddocks our experimental design may have produced a motivation for some heifers to cross the virtual boundary to regain close contact with familiar conspecifics. Despite this, valuable learnings were gained from this study. Most notably, virtual fencing should not be used to manage cattle that have close visual contact to other mobs. We conclude that the successful application of virtual fencing technology needs to accommodate the natural behaviors of cattle.

Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior

Virtual fencing technology uses a neckband-mounted device to deliver an audio cue when an animal nears a virtual boundary that is set via a global positioning system, followed by an electrical stimulus if it crosses the boundary. The flexibility offered by this technology could revolutionize grazing management on dairy farms, but its application and effects on lactating dairy cattle have not been assessed. This experiment reports on the effects of an electric or a virtual front-fence on dairy cow behavior and welfare. Two temporally separated treatments were applied to a herd of 30 multiparous cows. Cows were provided an estimated 14 to 15 kg of dry matter/cow of fresh pasture in a new paddock every 24 h. From d 1 to 10 cows were grazed using a conventional electric front-fence (control treatment) and from d 14 to 23 they were grazed using a virtual front-fence (eShepherd, Agersens Pty Ltd.). Cows were trained to the technology from d 11 to 13. The milk production and live weight of individual cows were recorded daily. Cortisol concentrations were obtained from milk samples collected from individual cows on 3 d during each of the control and the virtual fence grazing periods, plus the first day of training. From d 6 of the experiment, 6 focal cows were fitted with a RumiWatch (Itin + Hoch GmbH) noseband sensor to monitor grazing and ruminating time, and 8 focal cows were fitted with an IceTag (IceRobotics Ltd.) sensors to monitor activity. Milk production, live weight, and the time cows spent standing and lying did not differ between the electric and virtual fence periods. Milk cortisol concentrations, activity, and the times spent ruminating and grazing were comparable between the electric and early virtual fence periods (i.e., d 1-3 with a virtual fence). However, at d 4 to 6 with a virtual fence, activity (steps taken and motion index) and time spent grazing were lower, and time spent ruminating was greater, compared with an electric fence. Further, least significant difference tests suggest milk cortisol concentrations were higher at d 5 with a virtual fence than at d 8 with an electric fence and d 1 with a virtual fence. We conclude there is no evidence of behavioral and welfare effects of virtual fencing on dairy cows in the days immediately following implementation of the technology in a simple intensive grazing regimen, but a longer study is required to fully elucidate effects beyond this period.

Auditory Uta-Karuta: Development and Evaluation of an Accessible Card Game System Using Audible Cards for the Visually Impaired

Playing board games is important for people with a visually impairment, as it promotes interactive socialization and communication skills. However, some board games are not accessible to them at present. In this study, we proposed an auditory card game system that presents a card’s contents with auditory stimuli to all players, towards playing equally with others, regardless of whether they have a visual impairment or not as one of the solutions to make board games accessible. This proposal contributes significantly to expand the range of inclusive board games for the visually impaired. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the game allows for fair competition for people with visual impairments and to clarify the effects of the valuable parameters of the system on the players. The effectiveness of the proposed system was verified by having experimental participants play “Auditory Uta-Karuta”. The results suggested that the proposed system has the potential for an accessible board game design regardless of visual impairment. In the following experiment, we investigated the impact of each valuable parameter of the system on the player’s perception of the board games to clarify the appropriate audio cue design method. The results of this experiment will greatly assist in designing an appropriate board game using the proposed system.

Corrections to "Task Learning Over Multi-Day Recording via Internally Rewarded Reinforcement Learning Based Brain Machine Interfaces".

In the above article [1], in the second paragraph of Section II-A, the randomly selected low-pitch audio cue was 1.5 kHz (not 4 kHz). Thus, the article should state "the two-lever-press discrimination task trials were initialized by a high-pitch (10 kHz) or low-pitch (1.5 kHz) audio cue, which was randomly generated."

A multisensor electronic traveling aid for the visually impaired

BACKGROUND: Identifying obstacles and potholes in the pathway of the visually impaired have received much attention. While much has been done on the detection of obstacles, in the design of electronic mobility aids, much more is needed to be done on the detection of holes and drop-offs, especially those that are affordable and hands-free. This paper therefore considers the development of a wearable electronic mobility aid. METHODS: The developed system is based on the multisensor fusion approach of detection which combined three techniques, namely: a source of laser light, a camera and an ultrasonic sensor. A red line generating laser source is used to project a straight line and this is captured by the camera. The red line is deformed differently on coming in contact with holes or standing obstacles. The pattern of deformation is then extracted for obstacle and pothole recognition. The visibility of laser light is greatly reduced when the scene is extremely illuminated, so this is complemented with edge detection. The edge detection uses edges in the identification of holes and obstacles. This is combined with ultrasonic sensing, so that the presence of obstacles can be differentiated from that of holes. The outcome of detection and the distance of obstacles from the blind are relayed via an audio cue. REDULTS: Its evaluation showed better performance compared to the guide cane. It showed a reduction in collision rate by 83.25% and reduction in falling rate by 84.62%. The device received good acceptability from the users.

The Effects of Dairy Heifer Age at Training on Rate of Learning and Retention of Learning in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial

A better understanding of factors that influence learning of cattle with respect to new virtual fencing technology is required to inform the development of best practice training protocols and guide the introduction of the technology to naïve dairy cattle. This experiment examined the effect of age on (1) the efficiency of associative pairing of audio and electrical stimuli in dairy heifers and (2) the retention of this associative pairing over a long period of time without use. Fifty-nine Holstein dairy heifers were used in feed attractant trials where audio cues and electrical stimuli were delivered through manually controlled training collars. Heifers were allocated to four treatments that differed in the age at which naïve animals underwent training; these were 6-months (“6M”; n = 15), 9-months (“9M”; n = 15), 12-months (“12M”; n = 15), or 22-months of age (“22M”; n = 14). Animals in the 6, 9, and 12M treatments underwent a second round of training at 22-months of age (i.e., at the same time as naïve 22M heifers). Heifers received an audio stimulus (2 s; 84 dB) when they breached a virtual fence after which a short electrical stimulus (0.5 s; 3 V, 120 mW) was administered if they continued to move forward. If the animal stopped moving forward no further stimuli were applied. There were no effects of age treatment on the total number of interactions with the virtual fence (P &amp;gt; 0.05). During initial training, 22M heifers received a lower proportion of electrical stimuli (i.e., responded to audio without requiring the electrical stimulus; P &amp;lt; 0.001) and more frequently stopped walking (P = 0.01) and turned back (P = 0.008) following administration of the audio cue compared to younger heifers. Previous training at an early age did not improve the responsiveness of heifers to virtual fencing when re-trained at 22-months of age (P &amp;gt; 0.05). We conclude that dairy heifers should be trained to virtual fencing technology close to calving age rather than earlier in their ontogeny and that stock be re-trained following an extended period without virtual fencing technology.

Emotion processing in children who do and do not stutter: An ERP study of electrocortical reactivity and regulation to peer facial expressions

PurposeEvent-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate the neural correlates of emotion processing in 5- to 8-year-old children who do and do not stutter. MethodsParticipants were presented with an audio contextual cue followed by images of threatening (angry/fearful) and neutral facial expressions from similarly aged peers. Three conditions differed in audio-image pairing: neutral context-neutral expression (neutral condition), negative context-threatening expression (threat condition), and reappraisal context-threatening expression (reappraisal condition). These conditions reflected social stimuli that are ecologically valid to the everyday life of children. ResultsP100, N170, and late positive potential (LPP) ERP components were elicited over parietal and occipital electrodes. The threat condition elicited an increased LPP mean amplitude compared to the neutral condition across our participants, suggesting increased emotional reactivity to threatening facial expressions. In addition, LPP amplitude decreased during the reappraisal condition— evidence of emotion regulation. No group differences were observed in the mean amplitude of ERP components between children who do and do not stutter. Furthermore, dimensions of childhood temperament and stuttering severity were not strongly correlated with LPP elicitation. ConclusionThese findings are suggestive that, at this young age, children who stutter exhibit typical brain activation underlying emotional reactivity and regulation to social threat from peer facial expressions.