Mechanoreceptors Research Articles

The human-animal bond and at-home behaviours of adopted Indian free-ranging dogs

Free-ranging dogs (FRDs) represent the largest population of dogs around the world. Their lives are not under direct human supervision and these dogs can be found in and around all possible forms of human habitation. Increased urbanization, poor population management measures and open garbage dumps have compounded their population over the years, leading to increased dog-human conflict, especially in the Global South. Pet keeping has been on the rise in India but most dogs are commercially acquired and are typically foreign breeds. Adoption of FRDs may be a potential solution for both population management and better welfare. While many studies have been conducted on dog behavior across the Global North, studies pertaining to adoptability, dog-human bonds, and welfare of FRDs have been largely missing. We investigated the in-house behaviour and human-animal bonds among adopted FRDs in India using a mixed method approach. Participants were recruited using social media using a snowball method. Data were collected on demographics and lifestyle of both the owners and their dogs, along with owner responses on the Canine Behaviour and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ, Survey I) and the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS, Survey II). Questions on reasons for adoption, not sterilizing their dogs and behaviour consultation were kept as open responses. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the C-BARQ items to investigate differences in factor structure from previously established studies in Europe and United States. Influence of demographic and lifestyle parameters on factor scores were investigated using logistic regression. We received valid responses from 1484 respondents for Survey I and 427 responses for Survey II from participants, who had filled the surveys for the same adopted FRD. A 13-factor structure emerged from the EFA- Stranger directed aggression, Owner directed aggression, Dog directed aggression, Fear, Nonsocial fear, Touch sensitivity, Separation related problems, Attachment, Excitability, Energy, Chasing, Elimination and Stereotypy. Comparison of scores across sex and neuter status of the dogs revealed differences. Various demographic factors influenced the behaviour of the adopted dogs. Owners reported a very high Emotional Closeness, low Perceived costs and average dog-owner interaction. The dog-owner relationship was mostly influenced by lifestyle and demographic factors rather than the dog’s behaviour. Overall, our results indicate that FRDs can adapt to a domestic life and make good pets. This study is a first attempt to bridge the ethnocultural gap on dog-keeping from India and lays the foundation for multiple avenues for future studies on the welfare of FRDs in the Global South.

ROLE OF NANTECHNOLOGY IN SMART PHONE

Smart phone has changed at a rapid speed since its launch. We all have experienced the change from key pad to touch screen, connecting smart phone to internet and attending online class or doing net banking transactions. Smart phone are being used for shopping online, placing orders from restaurants and also book cinema tickets or get the medicine in emergency. The velocity of change with smart phone still continues and we will experience many changes in future. The reason behind these additional features can be due to nanotechnology. Some changes can be making the smart phone water proof and dust proof .We can swim with smart phones in pocket and rains may not damage the smart phone. In addition to this smart phone may become bendable. All this changes can be due to nanotechnology. In this article we discuss how nanotechnology can contribute to smart phones.

Developing a Smartwatch-Based Healthcare Application: Notes to Consider.

Wearable devices and fitness trackers have gained popularity in healthcare and telemedicine as tools to reduce hospitalization costs, improve personalized health management, and monitor patients in remote areas. Smartwatches, particularly, offer continuous monitoring capabilities through step counting, heart rate tracking, and activity monitoring. However, despite being recognized as an emerging technology, the adoption of smartwatches in patient monitoring systems is still at an early stage, with limited studies delving beyond their feasibility. Developing healthcare applications for smartwatches faces challenges such as short battery life, wearable comfort, patient compliance, termination of non-native applications, user interaction difficulties, small touch screens, personalized sensor configuration, and connectivity with other devices. This paper presents a case study on designing an Android smartwatch application for remote monitoring of geriatric patients. It highlights obstacles encountered during app development and offers insights into design decisions and implementation details. The aim is to assist programmers in developing more efficient healthcare applications for wearable systems.

Investigating the Impact of Control Modes to Competency and Engagement in Serious Game Play for Children with ADHD.

Serious games are designed to reduce symptoms of attention deficit among children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These games predominantly use touchscreen interfaces that children with ADHD play in a sitting position, which contributes to already-problematic sedentary behaviors. In an effort to mitigate negative impacts of sedentary behavior, we set out to investigate the use of Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) mats with serious games to induce gross movements. To that end, we designed and implemented Breathtaking Glass Bridge to investigate the impact of interface (DDR vs. touchscreen) on competency and engagement in children with ADHD. Our investigation with 30 children with ADHD reveal that the DDR mat was as engaging as the conventional touchscreen interface despite relatively lower competence shown by our participants. Our study opens new research opportunities for developing and strategically using movement-based control interfaces to encourage gross movements while reducing attention deficit symptoms among children with ADHD.

AuReTim: an inexpensive and extensible open-source auditory psychomotor vigilance test

Within a large joint research project aiming for characterizing the nonvisual effects of light (NiviL), AuReTim, a low-cost and extensible open-source portable psychomotor vigilance test using auditory stimuli was developed, tailored for field testing. Currently, an unprepared simple reaction time and a go/no-go paradigm using acoustic stimuli are implemented. AuReTim is based on inexpensive hardware, e.g., its core is a Raspberry Pi leveraging a touch screen as input. Its software is developed in Java™ using open-source libraries, therefore providing connectivity with other research setups, e.g., EEG, and easy extensibility with other stimulus paradigms. A simulation study proved the precise timing of AuReTim with limits of agreement between −1.86 and 1.67 ms. AuReTim combines the mobility of tablet-based psychomotor vigilance tests with the usability of conventional computer-based tests, which is especially helpful in field studies. AuReTim was successfully applied to study the effects of different lighting on alertness and proved to be a valuable tool for studies using the central nervous activation level as an outcome measure.

Infants in the digital reality

The source of the formation of basic skills for young children is the environment that is created by surrounding adults. Modern children are introduced and seduced by mobile devices in infancy. Most often, parents use gadgets as a universal way to calm or entertain the child in order to save time for work or leisure. Touch screens and visual interfaces allow young children to interact with devices in a more responsive way than it is possible in the physical world. The experiences gained in the digital reality is carried over to the offline world, from the naive ways of interacting with the physical reality, demonstrated by infants, to the transfer of such of behavior norms as the ability to return and undo actions. The knowledge and skills related to digital resources and games are becoming more important than knowledge about the surrounding world. Voice assistants not only allow children to use the Internet without being literate, but also actively interact with the infant as a babysitter. Such communication allows children to draw a conclusion about their anthropomorphism, and, in general, contributes to uncritical immersion in the digital reality much earlier, than they are able to comprehend and realize it that dictates new ways of existence. Such an early and positive acquaintance with digital technologies gives the new generation trust and confidence in the inviolability of the technogenic world

Research and development of the control system of space multi-dimensional profiling and planing based on PLC

Aiming at the complex processing problem of a rectangular composite plate with warpage in space to remove both sides of the frame and ensure the maximum of the inner core plate of the composite plate after removing both sides of the frame, a space multi-dimensional profiling and planing control system based on PLC is developed. According to the process requirements, the overall design of the space profiling and planing system is carried out, focusing on solving the problem of planing the space warping of the composite board frame. In the aspect of system hardware, the scheme selection, mechanical structure design, pneumatic control scheme design and electrical control scheme design are carried out; In the aspect of system software, based on the TIAPortal software platform, the PLC profiling program is compiled, and the human-computer interaction of the touch screen is designed. The profiling and planing process of composite plate is realized on the prototype, which improves the production efficiency while realizing automation.

Preschool Children’s Metaphoric Perceptions of Digital Games: A Comparison between Regions

Preschoolers now play digital games on touch screens, e-toys and electronic learning systems. Although digital games have an important place in children’s lives, there needs to be more information about the meanings they attach to games. In this context, the research aims to determine the perceptions of preschool children studying in different regions of Turkey regarding digital games with the help of metaphors. Four hundred twenty-one preschool children studying in seven regions of Turkey participated in the research. The data were collected through the “Digital Game Metaphor Form” to determine children’s perceptions of digital games and through “Drawing and Visualization”, which comprises the symbolic pictures children draw of their feelings and thoughts. Phenomenology, a qualitative research model, was used in this study. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method. When the data were evaluated, the children had produced 421 metaphors collected in the following seven categories: “Nature Images, Technology Images, Fantasy/Supernatural Images, Education Images, Affective/Motivational Images, Struggle Images, and Value Images”. When evaluated based on regions, the Black Sea Region ranked first in the “Fantasy/Supernatural Images and Affective/Motivational Images” categories. In contrast, the Central Anatolia Region ranked first in the “Technology Images and Education Images” categories, and the Marmara Region ranked first in the “Nature Images and Value Images” categories. In addition, it was determined that the Southeast Anatolia Region ranks first in the “Struggle Images” category.

Around-device finger input on commodity smartwatches with learning guidance through discoverability

User interactions with smartwatches are limited due to one-finger usage on small touch screens. However, smartwatch interaction capabilities can be extended beyond the screen into the around-device space by leveraging multi-finger interactions. In this paper, we explore suitable finger postures and gestures in mid-air and on the back of the palm to extend interaction capabilities on the unmodified commodity smartwatch while ensuring their learnability through discoverability. We conduct a design study to find a set of finger postures and gestures suitable for interacting with off-the-shelf smartwatches. An application is then designed to detect the posture-gesture set with on-device dual cameras while examining their classification accuracy. To facilitate learnability through discoverability of the gesture-posture set, we explore ‘context-aware-hints’ that shows a sub-set of gesture-posture and their associated actions based on the usage context. Results from a user study show that the guidance helps users to discover and learn them quickly and accurately.

A self-powered, high-precision and minimum-channel touch panel coupling triboelectrification and uniform resistance film

Touch panels utilizing surface-capacitive mechanism are ubiquitous in our daily life. However, the need for an additional probe signal generator and receiver module to detect the resistance distribution and variation caused by finger touching adds complexity and energy consumption to the system. Herein, we propose a self-powered and high-precision tribo-touch-position sensor (TPS) that can operate without an external probe signal generator and receiver module. By detecting the contact electrification signal and extracting the signal ratio between the edges of a uniform resistance film, TPS exhibits precise touch position detection with minimal channels. The mechanism and feasibility of this sensor is systematically analyzed from theory and experiment. Moreover, the resistance range and parameters that affect the sensing performance are discussed in depth. Compared to traditional capacitive touch panels, TPS can function in high moisture conditions and is not limited to grounded objects. Finally, the designed TPS achieves spatial resolutions of 0.001 and 1 mm in touching space and size, and a prototype 2D touch panel is fabricated experimentally. The signals ratio of 2D touch panel changes more obviously in the middle than on the sides while the fingers touch various positions. This work provides an alternative platform for simple and diverse contact localization using triboelectric effect.

Handwriting Recognition System Leveraging Vibration Signal on Smartphones

The efficiency of human-computer interaction is greatly hindered by the small size of the touch screens on mobile devices, such as smart phones and watches. This has prompted widespread interest in handwriting recognition systems, which can be divided into active and passive systems. Active systems require additional hardware devices to perceive movements of handwriting or the tracking accuracy is not adequate for handwriting recognition. Passive methods use the acoustic signal of pen rubbing and are susceptible to environmental noise (above 60dB). This paper presents a novel handwriting recognition system based on vibration signals detected by the built-in accelerometer of smartphones. The proposed scheme is implemented in three stages: signal segmentation, signal recognition, and word suggestion. VibWriter is highly resistant to interference since the normal environmental noise (below 70dB) will not cause the vibration of the accelerometer. Extensive experiments demonstrated the efficacy of the system in terms of accuracy in letter recognition (75.3%), word recognition (86.4%) and number recognition (79%) in a variety of writing positions under a variety of environmental conditions.

The Effectiveness of Detecting Thematic Relations of Objects in 3–6 Years Old Children

In this work, the ability of preschoolers aged 3–6 to detect and understand the thematic connections of objects was assessed. Children (95 children; 53 girls and 42 boys) of four age groups of 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old (respectively, 17, 33, 18 and 27 children) solved two tasks aimed at the detection of thematic relations of objects within the framework of the standard “yes–no” procedure. In the first task, it was required to indicate whether the image of the shown object was relevant to a given context (the “object-context” task, O–C), and in the second – whether two objects were related thematically (the “object–object” task, O–O). A touch screen computer was used to present images and record motor responses. For each task, we measured the accuracy scores (the proportion of correct responses) and the delay in the motor response “yes” or “no” relative to the moment the image was presented (reaction time). Two components of the reaction time were analyzed separately: the duration of the latent phase and the duration of the overt movement towards the response button. With age, the accuracy of solving both tasks increased, and the time required to discover the thematic connection (reaction time) decreased. At the same time, the accuracy scores were lower, and the detection time was longer in the O–O task compared to the O–C. The gender of the child did not affect the accuracy value, and affected only the duration of the motor (but not the latent) phase of the motor response, and only in the O–O task. The data obtained show that (i) the O–O task is more difficult than the O–C task, and that this may be due to the necessity to activate the thematic links of two objects in the O–O task instead of just one, as in the O–C task, and (ii) the process of activation of thematic links probably does not end in the latent phase of the motor response and continues during its movement phase. The question of the extent to which the success and duration of the process of detecting the thematic links of objects can limit the success of cognitive planning in preschoolers aged 3–6 is also discussed.

TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLE SECURITY USING E-KTP

Motor vehicle theft from year to year always increases, both when parked and while being driven. Data from the National Police Headquarters for the period 1 to 7 May 2022 recorded 118 cases, and increased to 309 cases in the period 8 May to 14 May 2022. Based on the problem with the increase in motorized vehicle theft, a system is needed that can protect motorized vehicles from these theft cases. In this article we propose an additional system for electronic motorized vehicles. This system consists of additional controls, namely an e-KTP and touch screen, while the switch for the front brake already exists in motorized vehicles. After the ignition is turned on, the driver must press the touch screen button, press the front brake, attach the e-KTP to the RFId reader, each maximum time span for 50 seconds. If it is not in the sequence and the time is more than 50 seconds it will cause the motorized vehicle's horn to sound. After connecting, making controls and testing, the control system can work perfectly..

Highly doped graphene on ion-exchanged glass

Engineering the doping level in graphene is essential to realizing functional electronic and optoelectronic devices. While achieving strong p-doping is relatively straightforward, electrostatic or chemical approaches to negatively dope graphene have yielded electron densities (ns ) of −9.5 × 1012 cm−2 or below. In this work, we demonstrate very high ns (−1013 to −1014 cm−2) in graphene, on an ion-exchanged glass substrate, which is widely used in touch screen displays (e.g. smart phones). Moreover, the proposed method, which is easy to implement and scalable, leads to relatively stable graphene doping, with about a 40% increase in sheet resistance over 5 months at ambient conditions.

Multi-Geometry Parameters Optimization of Large-Area Roll-to-Roll Nanoimprint Module Using Grey Relational Analysis and Artificial Neural Network.

Micro- and nanofabrication on polymer substrate is integral to the development of flexible electronic devices, including touch screens, transparent conductive electrodes, organic photovoltaics, batteries, and wearable devices. The demand for flexible and wearable devices has spurred interest in large-area, high-throughput production methods. Roll-to-roll (R2R) nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a promising technique for producing nano-scale patterns rapidly and continuously. However, bending in a large-scale R2R system can result in non-uniform force distribution during the imprinting process, which reduces pattern quality. This study investigates the effects of R2R imprinting module geometry parameters on force distribution via simulation, using grey relational analysis to identify optimal parameter levels and ANOVA to determine the percentage of each parameter contribution. The study also investigates the length and force ratio on a backup roller used for bending compensation. The simulation results and the artificial neural network (ANN) model enable the prediction of nip pressure and force distribution non-uniformity along the roller, allowing the selection of the optimal roller geometry and force ratio for minimal non-uniformity on a specific R2R system. An experiment was conducted to validate the simulation results and ANN model.

Proliferative feline eosinophilic keratitis: Case Report

A mixed-breed cat was presented at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco’s veterinary hospital. The animal showed an irrigated corneal lesion, congestive conjunctiva and touch sensitivity. We carried out tests for pupillary reflexes and the fluorescein test. From those tests, it was found that pupil reflexes remained unchanged and the fluorescein test was negative. Definitive diagnosis was made upon a second visit to the hospital, through observation of corneal material strips taken via swab, scraping and imprint. The definitive diagnosis was Eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis.

Evaluation of tarsal injuries in C57BL/6J male mice.

Tarsal joint abnormalities have been observed in aged male mice on a C57BL background. This joint disease consists of calcaneal displacement, inflammation, and proliferation of cartilage and connective tissue, that can progress to ankylosis of the joint. While tarsal pathology has been described previously in C57BL/6N substrains, as well as in STR/ort and B10.BR strain, no current literature describes this disease occurring in C57BL/6J mice. More importantly the behavioral features that may result from such a change to the joint have yet to be evaluated. This condition was observed in older male mice of the C57BL/6J lineage, around the age of 20 weeks or older, at a frequency of 1% of the population. To assess potential phenotypic sequela, this study sought to evaluate body weight, frailty assessment, home cage wheel running, dynamic weight bearing, and mechanical allodynia with and without the presence of pain relief with morphine. Overall mice with tarsal injuries had significantly higher frailty scores (p< 0.05) and weighed less (p<0.01) compared to unaffected mice. Affected mice had greater overall touch sensitivity (p<0.05) and they placed more weight on their forelimbs (p<0.01) compared to their hind limbs. Lastly, when housed with a running wheel, affected mice ran for a shorter length of time (p<0.01) but tended to run a greater distance within the time they did run (p<0.01) compared to unaffected mice. When tested just after being given morphine, the affected mice performed more similarly to unaffected mice, suggesting there is a pain sensation to this disease process. This highlights the importance of further characterizing inbred mouse mutations, as they may impact research programs or specific study goals.

High-dielectric porous CaCu3Ti4O12/reduced graphene oxide/polydimethylsiloxane foam for wearable, breathable and low crosstalk capacitive pressure sensor

High-dielectric porous CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam is prepared through a simple sacrificial salt-templating method. By introducing CCTO and rGO fillers into the porous PDMS scaffold, a three-dimensional porous CCTO/rGO/PDMS foam with large dielectric constant of 107.8 is obtained. The CCTO/rGO/PDMS foam also has a low Young’s modulus of 0.007 MPa as well as a high water vapor transmission (WVT) rate of 14 mg/cm2·h (0.5 mm thickness). A wearable, breathable and low crosstalk capacitive pressure sensor based on CCTO/rGO/PDMS foam and porous Ag nanowires (NW)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) electrodes has been fabricated. The sensor displays fast response speed (<48 ms), excellent sensitivity (3.5 kPa−1), superior cyclic repeatability and stability (11,000 cycles), as well as high gas permeability (WVT rate of 13 mg/cm2·h). The sensor can be attached to different body positions to monitor diverse physiological activities including breathing, vocal cord vibration and finger touch pressure. Moreover, the pressure sensor array integrated by multiple sensor units with low crosstalk is fabricated to detect spatial pressure distribution.

Smart Table Food Ordering in Restaurant

This project report presents the development of a smart table food ordering system for restaurants. The system aims to enhance the customer experience by providing an intuitive interface for customers to view the menu, place orders, and make payments directly from their table using a touch screen interface. One potential solution is to incorporate technology to enhance customer service and streamline operations. One such innovation is the use of tables fixed with one LED display to enable customers to order directly from their tables. By incorporating this technology, restaurants can reduce their labor costs while improving customer experience. With this system, customers simply input their table number into the LED display, and they can browse the menu and place their order directly. The order is then sent directly to the kitchen or bar, reducing the need for servers to take orders manually. The use of this technology also allows for more efficient tracking of orders and can help reduce errors. When customers place their orders through the LED display, the information is sent directly to the kitchen, reducing the chance of miscommunication between the server and kitchen staff. Additionally, the system can track the time it takes to prepare each order, helping to identify any bottlenecks in the kitchen and improve overall efficiency. This technology can also improve the overall dining experience for customers. With the ability to place orders directly from their tables, customers can take their time browsing the menu and selecting items without feeling rushed. The system can also make recommendations based on previous orders, allowing customers to discover new dishes they may enjoy. In addition to the benefits for customers, this technology can also benefit hotels by reducing labor costs. With the ability to place orders directly from the table, the need for servers to take orders manually is reduced. This can free up staff to focus on other aspects of customer service, such as ensuring guests have a pleasant dining experience. Another benefit of this technology is its potential for integration with other hotel systems.

Sensor-based implicit authentication through learning user physiological and behavioral characteristics

Nowadays, a large amount of users’privacy data is stored in mobile intelligent devices, and authentication systems have become an important defense to protect that data. The traditional explicit authentication, however, is under significant threat from a great deal of side channel attacks, such as those based on computer vision and touch screen attacks. Users’authentication keys are facing a high risk of leakage, whereas implicit authentication is one of the effective methods to resist various side channel attacks. Nevertheless, existing user implicit authentication approaches still have weaknesses in security and usability, which increase users’authentication burdens and pose potential safety issues. To address this problem, our paper proposes a user implicit authentication approach based on physiological and behavioral characteristics, using the most commonly performed actions in daily life to pre-authenticate users. In our method, multiple sensors are utilized to extract physiological and behavioral characteristics of users, and the sensor data is fused by aligning the extracted characteristic data and using the Kalman filter to reduce its noise. Users’authentication results can be determined by comparing the similarities between their reference and authentication samples using the siamese neural network. The experimental results show that our approach improves the performance of implicit authentication while ensuring its security and usability.