Sensory Effects Research Articles

Chemical, Microbial, and Sensory Effects of Natural Preservatives as Sulfur Dioxide Replacers in Boerewors

This study determined whether natural preservatives, when used as substitutes for sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Boerewors, influenced water activity (aw), pH, and moisture content; microbial and sensory quality; and the lipid oxidative and color stability in Boerewors models. The inclusion of sulfur dioxide at 0.035% (positive control), formulation without preservatives (negative control); protective cultures (PrC1 and PrC2), containing lactic acid bacteria; and plant extract blends (KD1 and KD2), containing rosemary and acerola extracts and buffered vinegar, were evaluated. The use of KD2 increased pH on Days 0 and 6, but the increased pH did not affect the microbial preservative effect. The aw of the treatments was stable over 6 days and therefore also did not have an influence on the microbial preservative effect of the natural preservatives. Both plant extract preservatives (KD1 and KD2) increased the oxidative stability of lipids more than any other treatment, including the positive control. The microbial stability results were inconclusive because of the protective cultures, which increased the total bacteria count. The counts of coliform and Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were analyzed, but significant differences between the treatments were not observed. KD1, which contained rosemary plant extract, maintained the lowest TBC at the same level as the positive control but had a slightly lower redness score. Treatments had no effect on sensory evaluation. The use of KD1 and KD2 plant preservatives proofed to be worthy as replacers of SO2 in Boerewors. This manuscript contains research data that formed part of an M.Sc. thesis. This manuscript also contains materials and methods that were used in a Ph.D. thesis where salt reduction in South African meat products was evaluated.

Dissolved Oxygen Removal in Wines by Gas Sparging, Its Optimization and Chemical Impact

Sparging is a technique to remove an excess of dissolved oxygen from the wine with inerting gases before bottling to avoid negative consequences for its chemical and sensory properties. However, its effectiveness on these properties has not been studied in depth. This work investigates the effectiveness of different inerting gases (N2, CO2, and argon) in removing dissolved oxygen in different volumes of a model wine. The efficacy of these gases was also studied in white and red wine, as was their effect on the physicochemical characteristics. Sparging with N2 in the model wine gave the best results in terms of cost–benefits, and with CO2 the worst. The scaling in tanks of different sizes allowed us to establish that the N2 expenditure ranged between 0.09 L and 0.23 L of gas per liter of model wine, establishing an index (Lgas/Lwine) that can be very useful for wineries to remove the dissolved oxygen. Sparging treatments in white and red wine showed very similar results to the model wine. The effect on the chemical properties of the wines was, in some cases, different for white and red wine and for each gas used. The incorporation of oxygen and the subsequent sparging produced a significant loss of some volatile compounds of sensory interest and increased the content of others that have a negative sensory effect. In addition, it had a negative effect on the chromatic properties of red wines.

Development of an Assortment of Semi-Hard Cheese with the Addition of Za`'Atar as a Functional Ingredient

Migrating through a healthy diet is a must. Including in the daily diet as high a percentage of functional foods as possible must be a priority for the population. Za`atar is a mix of herbs rich in bioactive compounds that possess beneficial properties for the human body.(Khalil, și alții, 2022)The present study aims to diversify the assortment range of cheeses by obtaining a semi-hard cheese matured in za`atar. In this study, the sensory and physico-chemical effects of za`atar on semi-hard cheese during the ripening period, when za`atar is used as a coating for cheese pieces, were addressed. The ripening period of the semi-hard cheese was 40 days, and the analyses were performed on the first day, in the middle of the period, and on the last day, by comparison with a classic semi-hard cheese (without addition) produced under similar conditions. Very good results in terms of sensory analysis using a non-numerical method were obtained by cheese with za`atar coating, especially from the second part of the ripening process. Adding a coating of za`atar to the surface of the cheese does not change much the physicochemical parameters of the cheese.

Sensory Appeal and Anxiety Reduction: A Study on Ashwagandha, Sweet Basil, and Cinnamon Tea Blends

Background: Anxiety disorders are prevalent among young adults, especially women of childbearing age, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic interventions. The present study investigates a specialized tea blend combining Ashwagandha, Sweet Basil, and cinnamon for potential anxiety alleviation in this demographic. Objective: The primary objectives encompassed (1) formulating a tea blend combining Ashwagandha and Sweet Basil with cinnamon, (2) evaluating its nutritional and sensory attributes, and (3) assessing its potential to reduce anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Methods: Ingredients were procured from Faisalabad's native market and crushed to formulate two tea variants. The study was conducted over 21 days with 30 participants, divided into three groups: G0 (Control), G1 (Ashwagandha and Cinnamon), and G2 (Sweet Basil and Cinnamon). Anxiety levels were assessed using BAI at the start and end of the intervention. Results: Nutritional analysis indicated variations in moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein, and NFE content among formulations. Sensory evaluations pointed to G1 having superior aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability, while G2 excelled in appearance. BAI assessments, though indicative of potential anxiety-reducing effects, were not conclusively significant due to sample size constraints. Conclusion: The tea formulations exhibited promising relationships between sensory appeal, nutritional value, and potential anxiety-reducing effects. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods are warranted for more definitive insights. The study contributes to the exploration of natural interventions for anxiety management, emphasizing the nexus between sensory experiences, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

Tramadol - A Better Alternative to Clonidine as an Additive Agent to Ropivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia in Below Umbilical Surgeries

Abstract Background: Epidural anesthesia is commonly used for providing both postoperative analgesia in infra umbilical surgeries. An adjuvant increases the effectiveness of the local anesthetic drug by prolonging its action and also causes decreased doses of the local anesthetic agent. Aims: The sight and focus of our study are to juxtapose the effect of clonidine and tramadol as an additive to epidural ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia. Materials and Methods: A randomized, concurrent cohort, prospective study was performed on 60 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] Grade I and ASA Grade II) of either gender, those who were planned for chosen elective infraumbilical surgery under combined spinal epidural anesthesia, and divided into two groups. The patients in Group I were administered 15 mL 0.5% ropivacaine + clonidine (2 μg/kg), whereas Group II patients received 15 mL 0.5% ropivacaine + tramadol (2 mg/kg). Postanesthesia vitals, the duration for motor and sensory effects, i.e., block, adverse effects, and time to rescue analgesia, was recorded. Results: A significant decrease in the heart rate was observed in clonidine group patients compared with tramadol group patients after spinal anesthesia. The duration of motor and sensory block in the tramadol group was significantly longer. Time to rescue analgesia was also prolonged significantly in the tramadol group. The incidence of adverse effects was comparable in the two groups. Conclusion: Tramadol, as an additive to epidural ropivacaine, was found to have a better motor and sensory block, prolonged postoperative analgesia, and minimal adverse side effects. A significantly decreased demand for rescue analgesics was seen compared to clonidine.

Development of Fortified Biscuit with Acid and Sweet Whey Proteins and Its Effects on Body Weight, Indices of Body Composition and Antioxidant Capacity in Rats

The effect of sweet (SW) and acid whey (AW) proteins on body weight (BW) and composition (BC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) is uncertain. We dehydrated SW and AW proteins obtained from local white cheese and labneh production lines, developed biscuits containing these protein powders and evaluated biscuits' sensory attributes and proximate nutrient contents, and investigated their effects on BW, indices of BC, and AC in rats. Four types of biscuit were prepared: plain (PB), albumin (ALB), SWB, and AWB. Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing Albumin (control), PB, ALB, SWB, and AWB were used. Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, 10 were sacrificed at the start, and the remainder were randomly assigned to the five diet groups (10 rats/ group) and fed for four weeks. BW, food (FI) and water (WI) intake, food efficiency ratio (FER), serum AC, liver weight (LW), Lee index (LI), body mass index (BMI), length, and abdomen (AS) and chest (CC) circumferences were measured following standard protocols. AW was higher in ash and fat whereas lower in carbohydrates but similar to SW in protein and moisture contents. ALB had the highest protein content, AWB had the most increased fat and ash contents, and SWB had the highest moisture content. PB had the highest carbohydrates and the lowest ash contents among the other biscuits. PB and SWB were the best in all sensory attributes tested and the overall acceptability compared to other biscuits. The four biscuit diets kept similar BW, whereas the control diet kept the highest BMI, LI, and LW, which was also not significantly different from the initial group. Animals fed the PB diet had the most increased length, abdomen, AS, and CC, whereas these measurements were lowest in animals fed SWB and AWB diets which were not different from the control. Animals fed the AWB diet had the highest WI, but all other diets were not significantly different from the control diet in FI and FER. Serum AC was the highest in animals fed SWB and AWB diets that were insignificantly different from the initial group, whereas it was the lowest in PB and AWB diets. Given their sensory attributes and effects on AC and BW status, SW and AW may be used as protein substitutes in bakery products; however, further studies are warranted.
 Keywords: Body weight, Sweet whey, Acidic whey, Proximate nutrients, Body composition, Antioxidant capacity, Rat.

Effect of attention on human direction-discrimination thresholds at iso-eccentric locations in the visual field: A registered report protocol.

Human visual perceptual performance is strongly dependent on a given stimulus' distance from the line of sight, i.e. its eccentricity. In addition, multiple studies have shown a dependence on a stimulus' angular position relative to the fovea. In humans, the resulting spatial profile of perceptual performance (the "performance field") typically shows better performance near the lower vertical meridian, compared to the upper vertical meridian, and better performance near the horizontal meridian compared to the vertical meridian. Predominantly, these variations have been interpreted as sensory inhomogeneities. But it has also been shown that they are modulated by the allocation of spatial attention, either homogeneously elevating performance or compensating for the sensory inhomogeneities. Here, we propose a study protocol for pre-registration to investigate such interactions between sensory and attentional effects. First, we will determine performance fields for time-dependent, dynamic stimuli, namely the direction discrimination of moving random dot patterns. Then, we will establish whether directing focal attention to a particular stimulus location differentially improves thresholds compared to a distributed attention condition.

Enhancing Kokumi Sensation and Reducing Bitterness in Acid-Hydrolyzed Vegetable Proteins through Lactate and Thermal Processing.

Previous studies have demonstrated that thermal processing in the presence of lactate and amino acids can produce taste-active N-lactoyl amino acids. This study aimed to investigate the impact of lactate and thermal processing on the sensory characteristics of acid-hydrolyzed vegetable proteins (aHVP). The results showed that the processed aHVP exhibited enhanced kokumi, a milder umami taste, and reduced bitterness on treatment with 1% lactate at 110 °C for 3 h or 3% lactate at 120 °C for 2 h compared to the unprocessed samples. Partial or orthogonal least-squares discriminant analysis and variable importance in projection (VIP) analyses revealed the significant contributions of N-,l-Lac-l-hydrophobic AAs [-Met, -Ile, -Leu, -Val, and -Phe (VIP > 1.2)] to the observed differences between the processed and unprocessed samples. Electronic tongue analysis confirmed the sensory findings and indicated a decrease in the aftertaste of bitterness in the processed samples. Furthermore, the study identified the sensory characteristics of N-l-Lac-l-Met, -Ile, and -Leu, highlighting their potential to enhance salty, umami, and kokumi perception in simulated broth. Furthermore, the study incorporated the addition of bitter amino acids (Val, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, Lys, His, and Arg) and the aforementioned N-l-Lac-l-AAs to aHVP, providing further evidence for their contributions to bitterness and aftertaste-B as well as the kokumi differences, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into the sensory effects of lactate and thermal processing on aHVP, facilitating the development of improved taste-enhancing strategies.

Calculation of Transmission Line Worker Electric Field Induced Current Using Fourier-Enhanced Charge Simulation

Exposure to quasi-electrostatic field induced currents is a hazard of live-line transmission work. These steady-state induced currents are typically less than 1 mA, and their sensory effects range from imperceptible to painful depending on the person and conditions such as contact area and duration. Permanent injury from these currents is unlikely but they can distract workers, increasing the risk of injury from falls or other dangers. Identifying contact current severity and training workers can help reduce the risk of accidents. Measuring induced currents along a climbing route is time-consuming and simulation is challenging because of the geometric complexity of the worker, the transmission structure, conductor bundles, and electric fields in the climbing space. This research explores the suitability of a recently published adaptation of the charge simulation method for calculating worker-induced currents. The method uses Fourier principles to improve computational efficiency while explicitly modeling all bundle subconductors. The research also examines simplifications for modeling lattice structures and human geometry. Calculated currents compare well to measurements for a worker climbing a 400 kV lattice structure. This indicates the method is a practical option for calculating steady-state contact current severity. A simple calculation is suggested for estimating these currents.

Antibacterial effect of protease-responsive cationic eugenol liposomes modified by gamma-polyglutamic acid against Staphylococcus aureus

Eugenol, as a natural antibacterial agent, has been widely studied for its inhibitory effect on the common food-borne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). However, the widespread application of eugenol is still limited by its instability and volatility. Herein, γ-polyglutamic acid coated eugenol cationic liposomes (pGA-ECLPs) were successfully constructed by self-assembly with an average particle size of 170.7 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 36.2%. The formation of pGA shell significantly improved the stability of liposomes, and the encapsulation efficiency of eugenol only decreased by 20.7% after 30 days of storage at 4 °C. On the other hand, the pGA layer can be hydrolyzed by S. aureus, achieving effective control of release through response to bacterial stimuli. The application experiments further confirmed that pGA-ECLPs effectively prolonged the antibacterial effect of eugenol in fresh chicken without causing obvious sensory effects on the food. The above results of this study provide an important reference for extending the action time of natural antibacterial substances and developing new stimuli-responsive antibacterial systems.

Temperature sensitivity and temperature response across development in the Drosophila larva.

The surrounding thermal environment is highly important for the survival and fitness of animals, and as a result most exhibit behavioral and neural responses to temperature changes. We study signals generated by thermosensory neurons in Drosophila larvae and also the physical and sensory effects of temperature variation on locomotion and navigation. In particular we characterize how sensory neuronal and behavioral responses to temperature variation both change across the development of the larva. Looking at a wide range of non-nociceptive isotropic thermal environments, we characterize the dependence of speed, turning rate, and other behavioral components on temperature, distinguishing the physical effects of temperature from behavior changes based on sensory processing. We also characterize the strategies larvae use to modulate individual behavioral components to produce directed navigation along thermal gradients, and how these strategies change during physical development. Simulations based on modified random walks show where thermotaxis in each developmental stage fits into the larger context of possible navigation strategies. We also investigate cool sensing neurons in the larva's dorsal organ ganglion, characterizing neural response to sine-wave modulation of temperature while performing single-cell-resolution 3D imaging. We determine the sensitivity of these neurons, which produce signals in response to extremely small temperature changes. Combining thermotaxis results with neurophysiology data, we observe, across development, sensitivity to temperature change as low as a few thousandths of a °C per second, or a few hundredths of a °C in absolute temperature change.

Dissociation of Centrally and Peripherally Induced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects in Nonhuman Primates.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation method that is rapidly growing in popularity for studying causal brain-behavior relationships. However, its dose-dependent centrally induced neural mechanisms and peripherally induced sensory costimulation effects remain debated. Understanding how TMS stimulation parameters affect brain responses is vital for the rational design of TMS protocols. Studying these mechanisms in humans is challenging because of the limited spatiotemporal resolution of available noninvasive neuroimaging methods. Here, we leverage invasive recordings of local field potentials in a male and a female nonhuman primate (rhesus macaque) to study TMS mesoscale responses. We demonstrate that early TMS-evoked potentials show a sigmoidal dose-response curve with stimulation intensity. We further show that stimulation responses are spatially specific. We use several control conditions to dissociate centrally induced neural responses from auditory and somatosensory coactivation. These results provide crucial evidence regarding TMS neural effects at the brain circuit level. Our findings are highly relevant for interpreting human TMS studies and biomarker developments for TMS target engagement in clinical applications.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a widely used noninvasive brain stimulation method to stimulate the human brain. To advance its utility for clinical applications, a clear understanding of its underlying physiological mechanisms is crucial. Here, we perform invasive electrophysiological recordings in the nonhuman primate brain during TMS, achieving a spatiotemporal precision not available in human EEG experiments. We find that evoked potentials are dose dependent and spatially specific, and can be separated from peripheral stimulation effects. This means that TMS-evoked responses can indicate a direct physiological stimulation response. Our work has important implications for the interpretation of human TMS-EEG recordings and biomarker development.

Longitudinal MR imaging after unilateral MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy: clinical and radiological correlation.

Magnetic-resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy uses multiple converging high-energy ultrasonic beams to produce thermal lesions in the thalamus. Early postoperative MR imaging demonstrates the location and extent of the lesion, but there is no consensus on the utility or frequency of postoperative imaging. We aimed to evaluate the evolution of MRgFUS lesions and describe the incidence, predictors, and clinical effects of lesion persistence in a large patient cohort. A total of 215 unilateral MRgFUS thalamotomy procedures for essential tremor (ET) by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had MR imaging 1 day postoperatively; 106 had imaging at 3 months and 32 had imaging at 1 year. Thin cut (2 mm) axial and coronal T2-weighted MRIs at these timepoints were analyzed visually on a binary scale for lesion presence and when visible, lesion volumes were measured. SWI and DWI sequences were also analyzed when available. Clinical outcomes including tremor scores and side effects were recorded at these same time points. We analyzed if patient characteristics (age, skull density ratio), preoperative tremor score, and sonication parameters influenced lesion evolution and if imaging characteristics correlated with clinical outcomes. Visible lesions were present in all patients 1 day post- MRgFUS and measured 307.4 ± 128.7 mm3. At 3 months, residual lesions (excluding patients where lesions were not visible) were 83.6% smaller and detectable in only 54.7% of patients (n = 58). At 1 year, residual lesions were detected in 50.0% of patients (n = 16) and were 90.7% smaller than 24 h and 46.5% smaller than 3 months. Lesions were more frequently visible on SWI (100%, n = 17), DWI (n = 38, 97.4%) and ADC (n = 36, 92.3%). At 3 months, fewer treatment sonications, higher maximum power, and greater distance between individual sonications led to larger lesion volumes. Volume at 24 h did not predict if a lesion was visible later. Lesion visibility at 3 months predicted sensory side effects but was not correlated with tremor outcomes. Overall, lesions are visible on T2-weighted MRI in about half of patients at both 3 months and 1 year post-MRgFUS thalamotomy. Certain sonication parameters significantly predicted persistent volume, but residual lesions did not correlate with tremor outcomes.

Effects of Pulsed Electric Fields on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Thompson Seedless Grapes

While the treatment of red grapes with pulsed electric fields (PEFs) has been widely investigated, white grapes have been little studied to date. This work, therefore, investigates the PEF treatment of white grapes (Thompson Seedless) by applying different field strengths (2 to 6 kV/cm), resulting in different specific energy inputs (2.5 to 22.5 kJ/kg). Numerous parameters of the whole grapes and the extracted juice were analyzed, including the total phenolic index (TPI), reducing sugars, juice yields, and changes in color and texture. Changes in the aroma profile were investigated using instrument-based and sensory analysis. The most striking effect seen in the PEF-treated samples was the visual change in the grape skin, specifically browning. Depending on the field strength, the treated grapes showed a 26% to 50% reduction in crunchiness. No significant changes were measured in the juice yields compared with the control, although at E = 4.5 kV/cm there was an increase in reducing sugars of up to 11% (220.97 g/L) and a 30% higher TPI (398.90 mg/L). Aroma differences were not detected between the control and the treated grapes, meaning that consumers should not expect negative sensory effects in the juice of treated white grapes.

Black Op Art

In this article, I conceptualize the term “black op art” to consider how black artists are centralizing speculative sensory effects as both object and subject within their work and therefore as dynamic interventions within the political, hyper-racialized, and dispossessing field of visuality. I consider themes of dispossession through a studied meditation of two works that similarly play and push on the edges of optical effects: James Baldwin (2018) by Nekisha Durrett and Requiem for Charleston (2016) by Lava Thomas. Black op art is neither about what is knowable nor enigmatic through the visual field, but rather about what lengths black artists must go to in order to work within it, as well as the ciphered language of mattering and meanings embedded within their works of art.

Additive Sensory Noise Effects on Operator Performance in a Lunar Landing Simulation.

INTRODUCTION: Adding noise to a system to improve a weak signal's detectability is known as stochastic resonance (SR). SR has been shown to improve sensory perception and cognitive performance in certain individuals, but it is unknown whether this performance improvement can translate to meaningful macrocognitive enhancements in performance for complex, operational tasks.OBJECTIVE: We investigated human operator performance in a lunar landing simulation while applying auditory white noise and/or noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation.METHODS: We measured performance (N = 16 subjects) while completing simulation trials in our Aerospace Research Simulator. Trials were completed with and without the influence of auditory white noise, noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation, and both simultaneously in a multimodal fashion. Performance was observed holistically and across subdimensions of the task, which included flight skill and perception. Subjective mental workload was collected after completing four trials in each treatment.RESULTS: We did not find broad operator improvement under the influence of noise, but a significant interaction was identified between subject and noise treatment, indicating that some subjects were impacted by additive noise. We also found significant interactions between subject and noise treatment in performance subdimensions of flight skill and perception. We found no significant main effects on mental workload.CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the utility of using additive sensory noise to induce SR for complex tasks. While SR has been shown to improve aspects of performance, our results suggest additive noise does not yield operational performance changes for a broad population, but specific individuals may be affected.Sherman SO, Shen Y-Y, Gutierrez-Mendoza D, Schlittenhart M, Watson C, Clark TK, Anderson AP. Additive sensory noise effects on operator performance in a lunar landing simulation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(10):770-779.

GAS SENSOR BASED ON THE SPECTRAL SPR EFFECT WITH COLORIMETRIC REGISTRATION OF RESPONSES

A new variant of the optoelectronic sensor for the detection of gas molecules based on the effect of spectral surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the chromatic mode with colorimetric registration of the color components of the reflected light is proposed. As an optical sensitive element, a thin silver film was used on the base face of the prism in the Kretschmann geometry, which made it possible to realize a full-fledged SPR effect in the entire visible spectral range from 450 to 700 nm. To measure the optical response, the method of video registration of R, G, B components of reflected light by color webcam was used. The optical scheme of the set-up allowed to simultaneously obtain the full spectrum of plasmon-reflected light without the use of rotating mechanical parts. The sensory effect was a change in the refractive index of the surrounding medium under the action of gases, which directly affected the parameters of the spectral SPR. A laboratory prototype of an optoelectronic sensor device was created, and the effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated by detection of a number of organic analytes vapors .

Effects of two different topographic approaches for combined sciatic and femoral nerve block in calves, guided by ultrasound and neurostimulation

To evaluate the sensory and motor effects promoted by a combined sciatic and femoral nerve block in calves using two approaches. Six calves were used, in a crossover study. Ultrasound combined with neurostimulation, was used to perform the following block combinations: the proximal approach (PA), which consisted of the association of the parasacral approach (sciatic nerve block) and ventral to the ilium approach (femoral nerve block); distal approach (DA) consisted of the association of a lateral approach to the pelvic limb approach (sciatic nerve block), and an inguinal approach, underneath the femoral trigone (femoral nerve block). Pressure algometry and motor function of the limb where evaluated. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) increase, and ataxia duration means were 9.5 ± 0.7 kg and 10.4 ± 3.9 hr for PA and 10.4 ± 3.9 kg and 12.7 ± 1.9 hr for DA, respectively with no significant difference. There was no significant difference between MNT elevation time and the duration of ataxia using the same approach. The DA treatment showed significant MNT elevation in 72% of the tested regions, while the PA treatment showed an elevation in 100% regions tested. Topographic approaches closer to where the spinal nerves emerge produced a larger desensitised area.

THE EFFECTS OF COMPRESSOR PLUG-INS ON THE DYNAMIC RANGE IN MUSIC PRODUCTION

This study investigated the role of dynamic processors in audio processing and music production and the effects of different types of design on the audio signal. It has been tried to give information about the designs and parameters of dynamic processors. In order to create the sound sample analyzed within the scope of the study, a mono sample recording was taken from the virtual instrument plug-in. The sound sample taken from the bass guitar model was preferred in order to contain all the general envelope structure features of an audio signal. In this direction, the sound sample was chosen from the virtual instrument in order to keep it away from external factors during the recording stages and to make the work repeatable and developable. It is used as basic tools for dynamic processors to control and balance audio signals and create sensory effects. In this context, the effects of compressors in the dynamic processor class and their basic parameters and different design types on the audio signal are examined. Differences in tonal characteristics and dynamic changes of different compressor designs have been observed. In this context, the effects of FET, VCA, Vari-Mu, Optical and Digital compressor plug-ins on the audio signal were analyzed and the results were presented. These analyzes can provide guidance for the selection of different compressor designs for lecturers, students, and those interested in and working in the field of music technology. In future studies, the role of different music genres, instruments and recording conditions on the effects of compressor designs can be explored more deeply, and more comprehensive results can be reached by collecting experimental data and using machine learning techniques.

Increased temporal binding during voluntary motor task under local anesthesia

Temporal binding refers to a systemic bias in the perceived time interval between two related events, most frequently voluntary motor actions and a subsequent sensory effect. An inevitable component of most instrumental motor actions is tactile feedback. Yet, the role of tactile feedback within this phenomenon remains largely unexplored. Here, we used local anesthesia of the index finger to temporarily inhibit incoming sensory input from the finger itself, while participants performed an interval-estimation task in which they estimated the delay between a voluntary motor action (button press) and a second sensory event (click sound). Results were compared to a control condition with intact sensation. While clear binding was present in both conditions, the effect was significantly enhanced when tactile feedback was temporarily removed via local anesthesia. The results are discussed in light of current debates surrounding the underlying mechanisms and function of this temporal bias.