Prefrontal neural ensembles encode an internal model of visual sequences and their violations

Theories of predictive coding hypothesize that cortical networks learn internal models of environmental regularities to generate expectations that are constantly compared with sensory inputs. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to be critical for predictive coding. Here, we show how prefrontal neuronal ensembles encode a detailed internal model of sequences of visual events and their violations. We recorded PFC ensembles in a visual local-global sequence paradigm probing low and higher-order predictions and mismatches. PFC ensembles formed distributed, overlapping representations for all aspects of the dynamically unfolding sequences, including information about image identity as well as abstract information about ordinal position, anticipated sequence pattern, mismatches to local and global structure, and model updates. Model and mismatch signals were mixed in the same ensembles, suggesting a revision of predictive processing models that consider segregated processing. We conclude that overlapping prefrontal ensembles may collectively encode all aspects of an ongoing visual experience, including anticipation, perception, and surprise.

Brand effects of omnichannel-based pickup service on consumption value and service satisfaction

As an online and offline integrated service of refund, replacement, and after-sales service, omnichannel is placing itself as a major service used in the online shopping market, as efficiency and an integrated operation system develop according to channel integration due to ICT development. Centered on young people who have recently put importance on in-store experience and direct experience, offline pickup service is reinforced beyond online delivery. This study aims to analyze the effects of a distribution company’s brand factors on customer consumption value and satisfaction targeting the omnichannel-based pickup service. The research model was designed to find out whether brand image, identity, attachment, and trust factors affect consumption satisfaction factors through the intervention of emotional and functional consumption value factors. This study targeted 324 consumers using Korea’s omnichannel-based pickup service and carried out a questionnaire survey. According to the analysis result, the brand image and brand identity had a positive (+) effect on the emotional value and functional value. Brand attachment and brand trust positively affected emotional value but the hypothesis on functional value was rejected. Hence, brand factors were confirmed to work on improving a consumer’s emotional value effectively.

Evaluating Stress Relief from Architecture: A Case Study Based on Buildings in Taiwan, China and Japan

The urban landscape can be improved to reduce the stress experienced by citizens. Therefore, stress-relieving buildings constitute a crucial topic and a future trend in architecture and design. In this study, different architectural styles were investigated to explore design methods for and characteristics of stress-relieving building shapes and to identify indicators for measuring participant stress relief while viewing buildings. To understand stress relief from architecture, we performed semi-structured interviews with 60 participants who viewed images of 30 buildings. The semantic differential method with a 7-point image scale was used to rate stress relief from different architectural styles. The study results revealed that the participants perceived curvilinear buildings as interesting but do not relieve stress. The participants identified as feeling high pressure considering rectilinear patterns to relieve more stress. To support this observation, we identified three principles—city image, identity, and spiritual atmosphere—as fundamental loci of designing cities for livability. We illustrate the three principles with several cases that facilitate a detailed understanding of their applicability in biodesign practices.

Protestos e Marchas de Mulheres em Brasília: visualidades e estéticas

Um protesto é uma forma de interpelar visualmente a paisagem das cidades. As diversas formas de comunicar e expressar visualmente a imaginação política em manifestações podem ser exploradas como uma maneira de compreender as relações entre imagem, identidade, política e estética. Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar registros e análises de visualidades produzidas para protestos ou marchas protagonizados por movimentos de mulheres ocorridos na cidade de Brasília entre os anos de 2019 e 2020. Observamos que além do repertório visual clássico das manifestações há uma multiplicidade estética, entre as quais identificamos (1) estética da violência e morte, (2) estética do empoderamento, (3) estética festiva, (4) estética da provocação, e (5) estéticas identitárias. O material demonstra formas visuais herdadas de outros movimentos de ação coletiva, a adaptação e inovação destas visualidades e a transnacionalização de repertórios.Palavras chave: Visualidade. Estética. Protesto. Feminismo. Brasília. WOMEN’S MARCHS AND PROTESTS IN BRASILIA: VISUALITIES AND AESTHETICS Abstract: A protest is a way to visually interpellate the landscape of cities. The various forms of communicate and visually express the political imagination in manifestations can be explored as a way to understand the relationships between image, identity, politics and aesthetics. This paper aims to present records and analysis of visualities produced for protests or marches protagonized by women's movements that occurred in the city of Brasilia between the years 2019 and 2020. We observed that besides the classic visual repertoire of the protests there is an aesthetic multiplicity, among which we identify (1) aesthetics of violence and death, (2) aesthetics of empowerment, (3) festive aesthetics, (4) aesthetics of provocation, and (5) identitarian aesthetics. The material demonstrates visual forms inherited from other collective action movements, the adaptation and innovation of these visualities, and the transnationalization of repertoires.Keywords: Visuality. Aesthetics. Protest. Feminism. Brasília.

Corporate communication strategies: Differentiation strategies and corporate communication plan for dissemination of disease surveillance research outcomes at Kenya Medical Research Institute

Globally, differentiation strategies and corporate communication plan inform corporate communication strategies, for disseminating disease surveillance research outcomes. Study respondents are also stakeholders in research outcomes alongside the scientific community. This study examined differentiation strategies and corporate communication plans, as corporate communication strategies for dissemination of research outcomes at KEMRI. It also investigated the influence of the corporate communication plan in place for dissemination of disease surveillance research outcomes to study respondents at KEMRI. The study employed a purposive sampling design utilizing mixed methods using self-administered questionnaires and in-depth interview guides. The study adopted the pragmatic research paradigm. This case study utilised descriptive study design to collect primary data. The study was anchored on excellence theory and complimented by communication theory. The Krejcie Morgan table was utilised to determine a sample size of 76. Data was collected from a response rate of 79 per cent. From a target population of 76, the researcher purposively selected 60 respondents. The study findings were differentiation strategies (48.3%) and corporate communication plan (51.7 per cent). Recommendations on the communication plan comprised: elevation of Corporate Affairs (CA) to top management, to manage the communication plan for disseminating research outcomes. KEMRI to incorporate a communication plan for scientists and CA, for translating research jargon to research respondents and other stakeholders. Enhancement of differentiation strategies by continually maintaining image, identity and corporate visual identity (CVI). Empower CA to manage media relations, identity, reputation, and media audits. Propagate unified consistence in messaging, identifying KEMRI as an authority in communicating research outcomes. The study concluded that study respondents felt ignored during dissemination research outcomes at KEMRI, Nairobi. The findings enhanced the body of knowledge on, corporate communication strategies incorporating study respondents as stakeholders in research outcomes dissemination.

Branding The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Country branding is a systematic process of organising the country's actions, behaviour, investments, innovations, and communications to achieve a desirable reputation. On the other hand, the country image represents the stereotyping of a country that does not always represent its identity, and that is the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Despite KSA's achievements, especially after the 2030 ambitious vision, it is mostly perceived as an oil-producing country. Therefore, this study aims to: review the concept of country image, identity, and branding examples, as well as evaluate the KSA current brand based on secondary information. The author uses a relevant literature review to explore the topic. This paper finds (1) a lack of a strategic plan, studies, and suggest the establishment of branding authority in KSA. (2) Branding KSA is highly essential for two reasons: First, Branding will help KSA to highlight the 2030 vision successes and extend its image beyond the traditional perception. Second, branding is significant, especially with the current competition between countries. The paper may be first to bring attention to the importance of country branding in the KSA context. Keywords: country branding, country image, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, vision 2030

Relações públicas, comunicação organizacional e questões informacionais: análise de suas inter-relações em periódicos latino-americanos

Public relations is a complex activity regarding its role in organizations and the diffuse theoretical framework that makes it difficult to build a conceptual network to justify its existence and relevance nowadays. In the organizational environment, alongside public relations, the communication system and dissemination of information are equally fundamental for the internal administrative roles and the relationship with the external environments and the different strategic audiences. In that organizational context, information management is inherently related to organizational communication and improved informational offer for developing people in the organizational context. Public relations, organizational communication, and information are interwoven with most organizations' reality as they are linked to the organizational and productive processes, and their roles and activities influence relationships and interfere in planning, results, and institutional objectives. Organizations include different types of people who work and use communication and information to make sense of daily work. In that respect, public relations act as facilitators between organizations and different audiences. Therefore, the relationship between these three concepts – public relations, organizational communication, and information – refers to organizations' world and how they deal with the exchange and sharing of meanings that influence the social, cultural, and economic environment. This study was motivated by the need to understand how theoretical frameworks and affinities are built between organizational communication, public relations, and information in scientific journals in Latin America. It aims to investigate the key elements that emerge from the intersection between public relations, organizational communication, and information in organizations. Besides, it analyzes the interrelationships of public relations, organizational communication, and information in Latin American journals. This study is exploratory and qualitative, and its methodology is a systematic review, which identified 14 articles. Of those, half prioritize the concept of organizational communication in its control and informational dimensions related to management, procedures, flows, and information processing. The concept of integrated communication emerges in four articles through a systemic view. Public relations are conceptualized in a polysemic way in six articles and are linked to both information sources and organizations' relationship with their different audiences. Information comprehensively appears as both a process and knowledge associated with systems, techniques, and technologies. The articles prioritize a functionalist notion of organizational communication as an articulating axis between the three concepts and is linked to management, which mixes information, communication, and public relations to promote access to information and dialogue. Regarding the concepts' interrelationships, only four out of the 14 articles developed all of the terms selected in the search. Furthermore, it is inferred that organizational communication represents the stronghold that supports the three concepts in the analyzed articles. Those are associated with management activities, amalgamating information, communication, and public relations to make it easier to convey and access information, promoting the opening of dialogue channels (formal and informal), social interaction, and credibility, thus collaborating to build the image, identity, and reputation of ambivalent and intricate contemporary organizations.

The Product Quality, Impacts, and Implication of Solo Batik Carnival Event on Solo City’s Spatial Guidelines

Solo Batik Carnival (SBC) is an annual carnival event which have vision to develop creative industry base on batik and reusable products to increase the value as artistic artwork masterpieces, held in Solo by Surakarta Tourism Office as the vice of regional goverment collaborate with Yayasan Solo Batik Carnival. The main purpose of this event are to introduce batik as a legacy of Java culture, and make Solo as one of tourist destination esspecially in fashion interest with the aims in educational development, art, culture, and economic increasing. Therefore, this study is so important and necessary to figure out about: (a) dependability of event quality and spatial in city’s space study, and (b) correlation between impact to the community and the city’s ability to coverage activities during event. This research used sequential mixed methods theory with exploratory sequential strategy. Explorative method used for exploration on field and made a qualitative analysis to find the facts, and compare it with quantitative data from local and tourists respondents with two audiences: zone, tribune and runway. It takes event quality, economic, social and culture impact, and also open public space elements as indicators of research. Thereby the results of this research: first, SBC has a potential ability as an attraction. Second, SBC has a value to increase and develop community economic conditions and also put the city on the national tourism position with creating image identity. And third, event quality and the event’s impacts have certainly been references to design guide-lines of the city’s space surrounding the event’s area.