Empathy with Inanimate Objects and the Uncanny Valley

The term “uncanny valley” goes back to an article of the Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori (Mori 1970, 2005). He put forward the hypothesis that humanlike objects like certain kinds of robots elicit emotional responses similar to real humans proportionate to their degree of human likeness. Yet, if a certain degree of similarity is reached emotional responses become all of a sudden very repulsive. The corresponding recess in the supposed function is called the uncanny valley. The present paper wants to propose a philosophical explanation why we feel empathy with inanimate objects in the first place, and why the uncanny valley occurs when these objects become very humanlike. The core of this explanation—which is informed by the recently developing empirical research on the matter—will be a form of empathy involving a kind of imaginative perception. However, as will be shown, imaginative perception fails in cases of very humanlike objects.     

Naive random subspace ensemble with linear classifiers for real-time classification of fMRI data

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides a spatially accurate measure of brain activity. Real-time classification allows the use of fMRI in neurofeedback experiments. With limited labelled data available, a fixed pre-trained classifier may be inaccurate. We propose that streaming fMRI data may be classified using a classifier ensemble which is updated through naive labelling. Naive labelling is a protocol where in the absence of ground truth, updates are carried out using the label assigned by the classifier. We perform experiments on three fMRI datasets to demonstrate that naive labelling is able to improve upon a pre-trained initial classifier.     

Stimulation of Bone Healing by Sustained Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2) Delivery

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a sustained release of bone morphogenetic protein2 (BMP-2) incorporated in a polymeric implant coating on bone healing. In vitro analysis revealed a sustained, but incomplete BMP-2 release until Day 42. For the in vivo study, the rat tibia osteotomy was stabilized either with control or BMP-2 coated wires, and the healing progress was followed by micro computed tomography (μCT), biomechanical testing and histology at Days 10, 28, 42 and 84. MicroCT showed an accelerated formation of mineralized callus, as well as remodeling and an increase of mineralized/total callus volume (p = 0.021) at Day 42 in the BMP-2 group compared to the control. Histology revealed an increased callus mineralization at Days 42 and 84 (p = 0.006) with reduced cartilage at Day 84 (p = 0.004) in the BMP-2 group. Biomechanical stiffness was significantly higher in the BMP-2 group (p = 0.045) at Day 42. In summary, bone healing was enhanced after sustained BMP-2 application compared to the control. Using the same drug delivery system, but a burst release of BMP-2, a previous published study showed a similar positive effect on bone healing. Distinct differences in the healing outcome might be explained due to the different BMP release kinetics and dosages. However, further studies are necessary to adapt the optimal release profiles to physiological mechanisms.     

Development of a quantitative method for headspace analysis of methylsulfanyl-volatiles from kiwifruit tissue

Minor fruit volatiles are likely to be missed using sampling techniques optimized for the extraction of major compounds. This can be a disadvantage if these minor compounds contribute to characteristic fruit flavors. In this comparative study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) parameters were systematically optimized to ensure highest extraction yields of methylsulfanyl-volatiles from kiwifruit tissue samples. A significant “salting-out” effect from the fruit matrix was observed using both sampling techniques after (NH₄)₂SO₄ saturation. HS-SPME at optimized conditions (polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene-coated fiber, (NH₄)₂SO₄ saturation, 5 min equilibration and 20 min sampling at 40 °C) was faster and more convenient to use than DHS for qualitative purposes. Despite this, the qualitative and quantitative methylsulfanyl-volatile profile was improved using optimized DHS ((NH₄)₂SO₄ saturation; sampling time 20 h; flow rate 30 mL min^− 1) compared with HS-SPME, making this the more sensitive and preferred method for quantitative studies. The optimization strategies for increasing headspace extraction yields of trace compounds presented in this study can easily be applied to tissue samples from other fruit.     

Augmented learning,smart glasses and knowing how

While recent studies suggest that augmented learning employing smart glasses (ALSG) increases overall learning performance, in this paper we are more interested in the question which repercussions ALSG will have on the type of knowledge that is acquired. Drawing from the theoretical discussion within epistemology about the differences between Knowledge-How and Knowledge-That, we will argue that ALSG furthers understanding as a series of epistemic and non-epistemic Knowing-Hows. Focusing on academic knowledge acquisition, especially with respect to early curriculum experiments in various STEM disciplines as investigated by the BmBF “Be-Greifen” project, we take the Be-Greifen holo.lab setup as an example for showing that ALSG shifts the learning focus from propositional knowledge to epistemic competencies, which can be differentiated as “grasping”, “wielding”, and “transferring”.

     

The effect of prior deformation on subsequent microplasticity and damage evolution in an austenitic stainless steel at elevated temperature

The micromechanical deformation of an austenitic stainless steel under uniaxial tension at elevated temperature (550 °C) following room-temperature compression has been examined in this work. The study combines micromechanical finite-element modelling and in situ neutron diffraction measurements. Overall, good agreement has been achieved between the measured and simulated stress vs. lattice strain response, when prestrain is accounted for. The results indicate that the introduction of prestrain can significantly influence subsequent microscale deformation and damage development associated with microplasticity and that an appropriate representation of strain history can improve the predictive accuracy at the microscale for a polycrystalline material.     

Compositional evaluation of perennial wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) breeding populations

A shift to perennial grain cultivation offers environmental benefits such as reduced soil erosion and nitrogen leaching. Recently, tremendous agronomic accomplishments have been made in domesticating perennial intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium, IWG). Thirteen IWG breeding populations were evaluated for characteristics relevant to food use, including chemical composition, activity of enzymes responsible for rancidity, content of antioxidants (carotenoids and hydroxycinnamic acids) and in vitro antioxidant activity based on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Folin-Ciocalteu assays. IWG populations had higher insoluble dietary fibre, protein, fat and ash, but less starch than wheat. IWG populations were deficient in high-molecular weight glutenins yet contained appreciable amounts of gliadins. Some populations exhibited significantly lower lipase activity than wheat, and all had lower lipoxygenase activities. Most IWG populations contained higher levels of antioxidants than wheat. This work provided key phenotypic information for developing IWG lines that combine high fibre, protein and antioxidant contents with minimal rancidity development.     

Bad is stronger than good.

The greater power of bad events over good ones is found in everyday events, major life events (e.g., trauma), close relationship outcomes, social network patterns, interpersonal interactions, and learning processes. Bad emotions, bad parents, and bad feedback have more impact than good ones, and bad information is processed more thoroughly than good. The self is more motivated to avoid bad self-definitions than to pursue good ones. Bad impressions and bad stereotypes are quicker to form and more resistant to disconfirmation than good ones. Various explanations such as diagnosticity and salience help explain some findings, but the greater power of bad events is still found when such variables are controlled. Hardly any exceptions (indicating greater power of good) can be found. Taken together, these findings suggest that bad is stronger than good, as a general principle across a broad range of psychological phenomena. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)