Sensory Dimensions Research Articles

Quantum computing for swarm robotics: a local-to-global approach.

Quantum computing is a branch of computer science derived from the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics, such as state superposition, multi-value logic and destructive measure. An open challenge in itself is to re-think in quantum terms classic problems and solving techniques. Another nature-inspired field is the development of swarm-based robotic applications, where the challenge is catching the fundamental laws governing swarm dynamics, such as pattern formation and target reaching. Here, we review some recent approaches on swarm dynamics, the organizational rules of which are formalized according to quantum computing. In this way, the shades of probability in decision-making for multiple-robot systems can be expressed according to the multi-value logic underlying quantum computing. In our review, specific quantum circuits are sketched to give an idea of how these problems have been faced in computational terms. The article is enriched by references to sonification, a strategy adding one more sensory dimension to data representation, a human-friendly tool to navigate the complexity of swarm-robotic movements in a given arena.This article is part of the theme issue 'The road forward with swarm systems'.

The validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the PainDETECT questionnaire in osteoarthritis-related pain

BackgroundPatients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) often experience persistent pain and functional impairment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which presents challenges for pain management. Accurate preoperative assessment of pain characteristics is crucial for tailoring individualized treatment plans. The PainDETECT Questionnaire has been widely used to identify neuropathic components in chronic pain and has been validated for its reliability and validity across various cultural contexts. However, a culturally adapted version tailored to Chinese patients is currently lacking. This study aims to translate and culturally adapt PainDETECT for Chinese patients and evaluate its validity in TKA patients in China.MethodsThis study followed international guidelines to translate and adapt the PainDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) into Chinese (PDQ-CV). A cohort of 241 knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients completed the PDQ-CV, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5 L), and Central Sensitization Inventory Chinese Version (CSI-CV). We assessed internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct and structural validity were evaluated through Pearson correlations and factor analyses.ResultsThe PDQ-CV demonstrated good acceptability among KOA patients, with no floor or ceiling effects observed. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.896), and test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.994; 95% CI: 0.943–1.045). The PDQ-CV total score showed significant positive correlations with WOMAC (r = 0.589, P < 0.01), EQ-5D-5 L (r = 0.533, P < 0.01), and CSI-CV (r = 0.776, P < 0.01). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted two primary factors, corresponding to the sensory dimension (52.1% variance) and the affective dimension (16.3% variance), explaining a total variance of 68.4%.ConclusionThe PDQ-CV demonstrated good feasibility, reliability, and validity in Chinese KOA patients, supporting its use in clinical practice and providing a foundation for future research.

The Cave of Laughlessness, sensory deprivation, and cognitive depletion at Eleusis

ABSTRACT This article explores the intersection of sensory perception, emotional experience, and ritual practice within the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, specifically focusing on the ‘Cave of Laughlessness’. The author offers a unique perspective on sensory exaggeration, highlighting the heightened awareness of sensory input. The study delves into the experiential aspects of the Mysteries, considering the cognitive and emotional states induced by the rituals. By investigating the sensory manipulation, emotional engagement, and cognitive depletion experienced by initiands (those candidates for initiation), the article sheds light on the complex interplay of sensory experiences and religious significance. The discussion emphasizes the role of the Cave of Laughlessness as a liminal space crucial in the initiatory journey. It examines the sensory and emotional impact it had on ancient worshippers. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing archaeology, neurology, and history, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of the sensory dimensions of religious practices in antiquity, offering insights into the ancient mystical experience and its enduring emotional resonance.

Epistemological dimensions of Indigenous honey collection in the Kattunaicken community of South India.

Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) has proven effective in environmental governance, forest management, and sustainable development, yet it is threatened by globalization and rapid social-ecological changes. In southern India, I investigated the engagement of the Kattunaicken community with the forest, particularly through honey collection, to explore the connection between their Indigenous epistemological identity and their role in caring for the forest and its inhabitants. I conducted 48 interviews and accompanied 11 forest walks as part of walking ethnography with male community members, who are primarily involved in honey collection within the Wayanad district of Kerala. The Kattunaicken identity was intrinsically linked to their knowledge of the forest, with reciprocal epistemological interactions between the community and forest entities (trees, animals, and bees). Honey collection emerged as an epistemological endeavor, manifesting their Indigenous identity through the collective "knowing" of the forest that encompassed sensorial, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions that facilitated harmonious coexistence and care for the forest and its inhabitants. The Kattunaicken world of knowing challenges extractivist interpretations of nontimber forest product collection, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous epistemologies in shaping alternative knowledge construction for forest conservation. Their epistemological framework highlights care as an active process emerging from collective understanding and negotiation among all entities within their shared epistemic realm, fostering a harmonious coexistence that transcends conservation efforts.

Disgust in early Islamic thought

The relationship between morality and disgust has been a matter of considerable interest and debate in modern scholarship, while its salience in premodern religious history still deserves more attention. This article focuses on the role of disgust in medieval Muslim thought, identifying relevant notions in classical Arabic and examining their usage in traditionist sources from the first few centuries of Islam (seventh to tenth centuries ce). Hadith narratives illustrate the concept of taqadhdhur or revulsion to a disgusting object, especially in the context of food. Well-known accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s aversion to an Arab custom of eating lizards raised questions about the normative implications of his disgust, which medieval jurists sought to resolve through interpretive debates on the category of khaba'ith (disgusting things) in dietary law. In contrast to the circumstantial role of disgust in law, appeals to disgust served as a rhetorical strategy for moral persuasion against sin in the literature of hadith, Qur'anic exegesis, and traditions associated with renunciant piety (zuhd). A paradigmatic case is the invocation of a particular motif, the rotting corpse (jifa), which is considered to be a core elicitor of disgust and was frequently used in early Islamic sources as a trope for the vice of gossip or backbiting (ghiba). The metaphor was elaborated through traditions centered on the sensory dimensions of disgust as a bodily phenomenon. Stories of pious Muslims suggest the affective power of such traditions to inculcate revulsion toward sin. I argue that early Muslim pietists regarded disgust as a didactic instrument and a morally productive emotion.

Gamifying urban nature experiences

Nature experiences are important drivers of environmental awareness and responsibility, as literature has shown that people who feel a greater connectedness with nature tend to be more active in conservation action. Despite this, recent studies have shown that nature contact within urban space is in decline, which has led scholars to call for novel ways to reconnect urban dwellers with nature. With this in mind, this paper explores the potential of gamification to co-create engaging and immersive experiences of urban nature, following the insight that the sensory and emotional dimensions of nature experiences are crucial for the development of nature connectedness and conservation awareness. We draw on a qualitative study on the emotional experience of a mixed-reality narrative developed for an historical botanical garden in Lisbon, in which game elements, namely treasure-hunting and rewards, are integrated into an urban nature experience. The study devised a methodology inspired by non-representational and creative methodologies, which comprised a series of performative workshops aimed to understand the emplaced emotional and sensory connections with the environment during the experience of the gamified mixed-reality narrative. Our findings allowed us to understand how gamification techniques in urban nature experiences can stimulate nature connectedness by encouraging sensory contact and appreciation of beauty, and promote environmental responsibility by emphasizing conservation issues. We conclude the paper by discussing the possibilities of further applications of gamification within the design of urban nature experiences.

Exploring the Interplay Between Catastrophizing and Endometriosis Pain Through Two-Wave and Intensive Longitudinal Data.

Endometriosis, characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, results in chronic pelvic pain. However, lesion characteristics alone cannot fully explain the complexity of endometriosis-related pain. Pain catastrophizing, a cognitive process that influences pain perception, has traditionally been studied through cross-sectional or two-wave designs, which struggle to capture its dynamic interplay with endometriosis pain. To address these gaps, our study explores the bidirectional relationship between pain catastrophizing and pain outcomes-including intensity, frequency, and flares-over a detailed four-week period, an aggregated 30-day timeframe, and across sensory and affective dimensions. A Latent Growth Curve Model assessed the relationship between pain catastrophizing, initial pain levels, and endometriosis pain trajectories over four weeks. Additionally, four mediator models explored how baseline pain catastrophizing affects various pain aspects, including sensory and affective dimensions, and its subsequent influence on pain catastrophizing. Results indicate that high levels of pain catastrophizing significantly escalate endometriosis pain over four weeks, affecting average pain intensity, episode frequency, and flares over 30 days. Pain catastrophizing also adversely impacts sensory and affective dimensions. These elements partially mediate baseline pain catastrophizing's effect on week five levels, revealing a bidirectional relationship. Notably, while the affective dimension amplifies subsequent pain catastrophizing, the sensory dimension exerts a contrasting negative influence. The study highlights the bidirectional influence between pain catastrophizing and several aspects of endometriosis-related pain. Sensory and affective dimensions play distinct roles, with implications for personalized interventions. Limitations and clinical relevance are discussed.

The Customer Experience is a Key Factor at Every Stage of the Transaction: Before, During, and After

This study analyses the influence of three dimensions of customer experience — sensory, cognitive, and emotional — on purchase commitment to Fair Trade products. In addition, the influence of commitment on word of mouth, repurchase intentions and willingness to pay more for Fair Trade products was measured. A theoretical model estimated data obtained from 345 Spanish Fair Trade buyers, using CB-SEM. The seven hypotheses proposed were accepted, which reaffirms the importance of the sensory, emotional, and cognitive dimensions for forming commitment and positive behavioral responses. The study raises theoretical and managerial implications for Fair Trade marketers, which can strengthen it to meet consumers´ needs. Finally, limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Breathing with Phytoplankton: Exploring Metabolic Connections with Oceanic Microbes

This paper presents an exploration of the interconnectedness between vital metabolic processes of human respiration and phytoplankton photosynthesis. By weaving together ecological sciences with cultural anthropology, eco-feminism, environmental humanities, and artistic practices the paper delves into the intricate metabolic interplay between phytoplankton and humans. Grounded in the notion of "breathing-with," it navigates through physiological, biological, and sensorial dimensions to elucidate the profound connections between respiration and photosynthesis as metabolic media, fostering alliances in multispecies encounters. Drawing inspiration from the biological laboratory and the microscopic realm of chlorophyll-bearing organisms, the transformative power of photosynthesis in shaping the planetary atmosphere and sustaining life is highlighted. While underscoring the pivotal role of phytoplankton in oxygen production and carbon dioxide sequestration, it elucidates the challenges and synergistic impacts of oceanic oxygen depletion driven by anthropogenic activities. Beyond a mere metabolic function, breath emerges as a metaphorical interface for collective action and co-conspiracy, transcending boundaries between human and non-human entities. As such it advocates for a deeper engagement with planetary ecologies and a reimagining of our relationality with the more-than-human world. Through artistic inquiry and experimental methods, the paper invites readers to reflect on the profound implications of our interconnectedness with phytoplankton, urging a renewed commitment to symbiotic coexistence. In this sense, the act of breathing goes beyond its metabolic function, extending as a form of collective agency in confronting the challenges of an ever-changing world.

Empathetic solicitude attenuates the affective and sensory dimensions of CO2-induced dyspnea: A randomized parallel arm experimental trial in healthy humans.

Dyspnea testifies to profound suffering in patients and its relief is a priority for caregivers. This can be achieved by correcting causative disorders ("etiopathogenic" approach) or targeting the dyspnea itself ("symptomatic" approach), as is done for pain. Empathetic solicitude from caregivers has an intrinsic analgesic effect, but its effects on dyspnea have not been formally documented. This study tests the hypothesis that the empathetic solicitude behavior of a caregiver during experimental induction of acute and intense dyspnea would have a mitigating effect. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled experimental trial, 80 healthy participants were assigned to a neutral behavior arm or a solicitude behavior arm. During two successive visits (V1 and V2), dyspnea was induced through CO2-rebreathing and (i) assessed in an immediate manner using 10 cm affective and sensory visual analog scales (A-VAS and S-VAS) and (ii) post hoc using the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP). A-VAS ratings at the end of the dyspnea challenge were significantly lower at V2 in the "solicitude behavior" arm than in the "neutral behavior" arm (6.69 [3.825-9.67] vs. 8.05 [6.43-10], p = 0.039). There were no significant differences between arms regarding S-VAS. MDP analysis showed that CO2-rebreathing induced dyspnea of the air hunger type, with statistically significant reductions in its intensity and both the sensory and affective dimensions of dyspnea. This study shows that empathetic solicitude can reduce the affective and sensory dimensions of experimentally induced dyspnea in healthy volunteers. Future studies should evaluate the impact of empathetic solicitude on clinical dyspnea.

Plant-based mince texture: A review of the sensory literature with view to informing new product development.

The texture of plant-based meat alternatives is a sensory attribute that holds a central value in consumer acceptability. The texture dimensions and drivers of liking for plant-based mince, a popular product within plant-based meats, are not yet fully established and literature in this area is limited. Consequently, the successful development and positioning of such products in the market next to traditional proteins is compromised, and improved product development guidelines are needed for the industry. This review aims to inform product development of what is currently known about plant-based mince texture and where the research gaps are, particularly with respect to sensory dimensions and drivers of liking, by reviewing the present landscape of relevant sensory literature. Potential texture sensory dimensions for plant-based mince, based on limited studies and seemingly aligning with conventional mince, are posited as juiciness, tenderness, firmness, and/or softness with a key driver of liking being juiciness, but this requires further validation utilizing robust sensory studies. A significant need exists to expand on the currently known texture dimensions and drivers alongside new ways that texture can be improved upon to more closely align to, or exceed, consumer expectations. Once this has been achieved, a robust sensory framework for developing plant-based mince products can be used to better position plant-based mince to effectively compete with traditional mince, and not merely cannibalize upon other brands, in the current market.

Sensory and affective dimensions in loudness perception: Insights from young adults

Traditional psychoacoustic measures often lack accuracy in diagnosing hyperacusis and other sound tolerance disorders, possibly due to their reliance on artificial stimuli and unidimensional scales. The aim of this study was to assess loudness across sensory and affective dimensions using natural sounds, drawing on pain research wherein intensity and unpleasantness are assessed separately. We hypothesized that similar distinctions apply to loudness perception. A total of 102 young adults with normal to mild hearing loss rated 32 sound stimuli (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral, and artificial) at 10 intensities (40 to 100 dBA) on sensory and affective scales. They also completed the Hyperacusis Questionnaire, the Noise Sensitivity Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Mixed linear models indicated both correlations and dissociations between scales that varied according to intensity and valence. Louder stimuli were rated as more unpleasant, but only at high intensities. On the sensory scale, sounds were perceived as louder with increasing intensity; however, at low to moderate intensities, pleasant and neutral sounds were rated as louder, whereas at higher intensities, artificial and unpleasant stimuli were rated as louder. On the affective scale, the perception of unpleasantness also increased with intensity, but less steeply. At high intensities, artificial stimuli were rated similarly to unpleasant stimuli. Noise sensitivity scores predicted louder and more unpleasant ratings, whereas depression scores were associated with softer and less pleasant perceptions. This study highlights the need for multidimensional approaches in audiology and suggests that the integration of sensory and affective scales with natural stimuli may improve the diagnosis and treatment of sound tolerance disorders.

Sensory dimensions of typicality and association with affective-related responses: A study on local multifloral honey

Local foods offer benefits for the sustainability of the food supply chain, yet they face challenges due to variability in production and market saturation. This highlights the importance of strategies to enhance their value. Among local foods, multifloral honey is one of the products most closely tied to the territory. A comprehension of how multifloral honey is structured from a sensory standpoint can prove advantageous in enhancing its recognition and valorization among consumers. The present study aimed to promote multifloral honey in the case of a local area, identifying typical examples of multifloral honey and their sensory determinants, and identifying the association among sensory attributes and affective-related responses of consumers. Thirty samples of multifloral honey were collected from a target local area (Trento province - Italy). Experts in honey sensory evaluation (n = 47) performed a rapid descriptive task (check-all-that-apply questions) and a categorization task (typicality evaluation). Six samples representative of the category sensory space were selected for consumer evaluation. Consumers recruited from the local area (n = 131) rated liking and elicited post-consumption emotional product associations. The results unveiled the sensory representation of the multifloral honey category, with samples arrangement in accordance with category typicality. The study defined the sensory characteristics associated with typicality of the multifloral honey from the target local area and identified local consumers' affective-related responses to the features that define the typicality. Beyond the honey realm, this approach can represent a model of a methodological approach for studying the enhancement of local foods that exhibit relevant sensory variability.

Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of GPX4 in Pain Modulation.

Pain, a complex symptom encompassing both sensory and emotional dimensions, constitutes a significant global public health issue. Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in the complex pathophysiology of pain, with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) recognized as a crucial antioxidant enzyme involved in both antioxidant defense mechanisms and ferroptosis pathways. This review systematically explores GPX4's functions across various pain models, including neuropathic, inflammatory, low back, and cancer-related pain. Specifically, the focus includes GPX4's physiological roles, antioxidant defense mechanisms, regulation of ferroptosis, involvement in signal transduction pathways, and metabolic regulation. By summarizing current research, we highlight the potential of GPX4-targeted therapies in pain management.

Convergent representation of values from tactile and visual inputs for efficient goal-directed behavior in the primate putamen

Animals can discriminate diverse sensory values with a limited number of neurons, raising questions about how the brain utilizes neural resources to efficiently process multi-dimensional inputs for decision-making. Here, we demonstrate that this efficiency is achieved by reducing sensory dimensions and converging towards the value dimension essential for goal-directed behavior in the putamen. Humans and monkeys performed tactile and visual value discrimination tasks while their neural responses were examined. Value information, whether originating from tactile or visual stimuli, was found to be processed within the human putamen using fMRI. Notably, at the single-neuron level in the macaque putamen, half of the individual neurons encode values independently of sensory inputs, while the other half selectively encode tactile or visual value. The responses of bimodal value neurons correlate with value-guided finger insertion behavior in both tasks, whereas modality-selective value neurons show task-specific correlations. Simulation using these neurons reveals that the presence of bimodal value neurons enables value discrimination with a significantly reduced number of neurons compared to simulations without them. Our data indicate that individual neurons in the primate putamen process different values in a convergent manner, thereby facilitating the efficient use of constrained neural resources for value-guided behavior.

“Wenn es nur einmal so ganz stille wäre...”

This article is a revised version of the inaugural lecture delivered on 5 October2023, on the occasion of the author's appointment as Professor of History of Religions at Lund University. It opens by depicting fundamental changes in the study of the history of religions in the twentieth century, followed by biographical notes, including her research on lay Buddhism in urban Taiwan, the emphasis on sensual dimensions of religious practice and the aesthetics of religion, and international academic networking in the analysis of practices of prognostication between Asia and Europe. Three areas are outlined that are central to the author's current research. It is pointed out that a focus on religion in contemporary society certainly includes a healthy awareness of current developments in the politics of religion, particularly in East Asia. In addition, the article addresses two fields of research that the author is currently engaged in: (1) The emergence of "Life Education" as a school subject in Greater China and the pedagogical shift that goes along with it. Particularly in Taiwan, this new subject is tailored to create a space for juveniles to develop self-reflection and life orientation in a success-oriented society while a new trust in religious organizations leads to the organizations' active engagement in these developments. The author is especially interested in how the transforming relationship between religion and public education gains special relevance in a comparative perspective between Asia and Europe. (2) Religious change in East Asia is evident in Buddhist ritual practices that are impacted by a consumer society that moulds emotionally profound experiences into marketable and distinct units that Eva Illouz has termed "emodities". Religious practices are subject to change in our contemporary world as they are reshaped by a growing global digitalized consumer culture. Tracing these changes leads to a deeper understanding of the underlying forces that distinctly reshape contemporary religious life.

The current rituality of catholic death in Catalonia, a world of meanings

This article sheds light on the current Catholic experience of mourning and death in Catalonia by means of theoretical-interpretative contributions from the field of rituality and the sensitive dimension. It focuses on a method of analysis that emphasizes the deep meanings and sensory dimension of the logic of the death ritual itself. Using multiple narratives and autoethnography, it describes the sequence of actions and sensations related to the drama experienced and channels the pain that is progressively expressed in the different phases of the ritual. The effectiveness of the ritual lies in the experience of non-presence, remoteness or emptiness. Even though the perspectives of the participants are different and there are a variety of family situations, the symbolic and sensitive dimension of the ritual works for everyone by sequencing their actions and experiences throughout the process.

Facial expression analysis and auditory perception

The psychoacoustic assessment of loudness disorders like Hyperacusis relies on subjective reports, which are biased and impractical for non-verbal patients. Similar issues in pain evaluation have been addressed using facial expression analysis to decode the intensity and affective value of perceived pain. Thus, we are developing a system for the objective evaluation of perceived sounds from a listener’s facial expression. We determine whether sensory (intensity) and affective (valence) dimensions of sound perception can be distinguished through facial expressions by employing action unit analysis and other facial feature extraction methods on our in-house dataset. This video dataset includes facial expressions in response to sounds with varying intensities and emotional valences. We train convolutional networks to decode these dimensions from both extracted features, such as AUs and raw video data. By employing feature and decision fusion methods, we are developing an automated system for the objective assessment of perceived sound. This system will pioneer the first objective method for assessing loudness disorders, enhancing patient care and potentially distinguishing between hyperacusis sub-types to facilitate personalized treatment.

Sleeping and lying-in-bed in underwater hotels: sensing (dis-)comfort in an alloútopian space

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on a comprehensive view of underwater hotel bedrooms by reflecting on their common sensory dimensions and their objective capacities to shape the practice of sleep and lying-in-bed. Drawing from reflexive sensory ethnographic fieldwork, this article contributes to our collective understanding of performative and more-than-representational sensuous geographies by arguing that underwater hotel bedrooms replicate familiar environments through a variety of creature comforts, while simultaneously subverting the ordinary experience of hotel stays through multi-sensory exposure to unfamiliar, exciting, and in-part uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing environs. We base our argument on the original concept of alloútopia. An alloútopia (from the Greek alloú, for else or elsewhere, and topia, for place) is a realized utopia where humans and non-humans encroach upon each other’s lifeworld by way of an enclave which enables their temporary co-presence.

Construction of user experience model iniImmersive virtual environment based on ontology

With the rapid development of virtual immersion technology, immersive virtual environment (IVE) has shown its unique application potential in many fields. The purpose of this study is to explore and construct a user experience model in immersive virtual environment based on ontological theory. The key factors affecting user experience include sensory experience, interaction control, distraction factors, realism perception, ownership, motion control and location. Environmental dimension and physical dimension are the two core aspects of user experience. Sensory experience and sense of ownership have a significant positive impact on users' sense of existence in a specific environment, while control dimension, sensory dimension and realism dimension play an important role in enhancing users' sense of ontology. The different dimensions of the sense of ontology have a significant positive impact on the user's sense of immersion and presence, which verifies the central role of the sense of ontology in enhancing the user's immersion experience. We look forward to further enhancing the user's immersion experience and promoting the application of immersive virtual environment in a wider range of fields