Observing errors in a combination of error and correct models favors observational motor learning

Background Imitative learning is highly effective from infancy to old age; however, little is known about the effects of observing errors during imitative learning. This study aimed to examine how observing errors affected imitative learning performance to maximize its effect. Methods In the pre-training session, participants were instructed to pinch at a target force (8 N) with auditory feedback regarding generated force while they watched videos of someone pinching a sponge at the target force. In the pre-test, participants pinched at the target force and did not view a model or receive auditory feedback. In Experiment 1, in the main training session, participants imitated models while they watched videos of pinching at either the incorrect force (error-mixed condition) or target force (correct condition). Then, the exact force generated was measured without receiving auditory feedback or viewing a model. In Experiment 2, using the same procedures, newly recruited participants watched videos of pinching at incorrect forces (4 and 24 N) as the error condition and the correct force as the correct condition. Results In Experiment 1, the average force was closer to the target force in the error-mixed condition than in the correct condition. In Experiment 2, the average force in the correct condition was closer to the target force than in the error condition. Conclusion Our findings indicated that observing error actions combined with correct actions affected imitation motor learning positively as error actions contained information on things to avoid in the target action. It provides further information to enhance imitative learning in mixed conditions compared to that with correct action alone.

Observing Errors in a Combination of Error and Correct Models Favors Observational Motor Learning

Background:Imitative learning is highly effective from infancy to old age, but little is known about the effects of observing errors during imitative learning. This study aims to examine how observing errors affect imitative learning performance, to maximize the effects of imitative learning. Method：In the pre-training session, participants were instructed to pinch at the target force (8 N) with auditory feedback about generated force while watching videos of someone pinching a sponge at the target force. In the pre-test, participants pinched at the target force without viewing a model or receiving auditory feedback. In Experiment 1, in the main training session, participants imitated models while watching videos of pinching at either the incorrect force (error-mixed condition) or the target force (all-correct condition). Then, the exact force they generated in pinching was measured without receiving auditory feedback or viewing a model. In Experiment 2, using the same procedure in the pre-training and pre-test sessions, newly recruited participants watched pinching at incorrect forces (4 and 24 N) as the all-error condition and the correct force as the correct condition. Results: In Experiment 1, the average force was better in the error-mixed condition than in the correct condition. In Experiment 2, the average force in the correct condition was better than that in the error condition.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that observing error actions combined with correct actions affected imitation motor learning positively, because error actions contain what-not-to-do information about the target action, unlike correct actions, which provide more information to enhance imitative learning.

The quality of condition suggestions and urgency advice provided by the Ada symptom assessment app assessed with independently generated vignettes optimized for Australia

Objectives: To investigate the quality of condition suggestion and urgency advice provided by the Ada symptom assessment application and to compare it to published literature evaluation of free website and mobile symptom assessment applications accessible in Australia. Design: The application was tested with 48 independently created medical condition vignettes using an externally developed methodology. Main outcome measures: Correct condition suggestion (provided in first, the top three or top ten condition suggestion results); correct level of urgency advice (appropriate urgency category recommended). Results: The correct condition suggestion was listed first in 65% of vignettes, and included among the first three results in 83% of vignettes. Urgency advice was exactly matching the vignette gold standard in 63% of cases, including about 67% of emergency and urgent cases and 57% of less serious case vignettes. Conclusions: This study provides an analysis of the performance of one of the most used symptom assessment applications in Australia, the Ada app, which had not previously been evaluated in the literature in an Australia specific context. The app's accuracy of condition suggestion and its provision of appropriate urgency advice is higher than of other symptom assessment apps evaluated in this context in the literature. We strive for continual improvement to ensure the most appropriate local advice on conditions and care.

Confusingly Similar: Discerning between Hardware Guitar Amplifier Sounds and Simulations with the Kemper Profiling Amp

Over the last decades, the simulation of musical instruments by digital means has become an important part of modern music production and live performance. Since the first release of the Kemper Profiling Amplifier (KPA) in 2011, guitarists have been able to create and store a nearly unlimited number of “digital fingerprints” of amplifier and cabinet setups for live performances and studio productions. However, whether listeners can discriminate between the sounds of the KPA and the original amplifier remains unclear. Thus, we constructed a listening test based on musical examples from both sound sources. In a first approach, the psychoacoustic analysis using mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCCs) revealed a high degree of timbre similarity between the two sound sources. In a second step, a listening test with N = 177 showed that the overall discrimination performance was d’ = .34, which was a rather small difference (0.0 ≤ d’ ≤ 0.74). A weak relationship between the degree of general musical sophistication and discrimination performance was found. Overall, we suggest that listeners are rarely able to assign audio examples to the correct condition. We conclude that, at least on a perceptual level, our results give no support for a commonly accepted pessimistic attitude toward digital simulations of hardware sounds.

Versatile IoT system for Cloud-based sensor monitoring

In this age of automation, the acquisition and monitoring of sensor data is essential to ensure the correct condition and functioning of machines and systems without the need of manual verification. This paper describes the development, assembling and configuration of a system for sensor data acquisition and Cloud-based monitoring. The acquisition system is versatile, allowing the usage from one to six sensors and the replacement of those with little additions to the code. The monitoring system has versions for PHP and Java both on Portuguese and English language. The collected data is read and processed by a microcontroller board and sent to the Internet by a Raspberry Pi. Then, the monitoring system displays it as charts with several different search modes and options to facilitate and give more accuracy for sensor monitoring. All the software is free and open-source, allowing adaptations to suit the user's needs.

Task Difficulty Differentially Affects Two Measures of Processing Load: The Pupil Response During Sentence Processing and Delayed Cued Recall of the Sentences

Purpose In this study, the authors assessed the influence of masking level (29% or 71% sentence perception) and test modality on the processing load during language perception as reflected by the pupil response. In addition, the authors administered a delayed cued stimulus recall test to examine whether processing load affected the encoding of the stimuli in memory. Method Participants performed speech and text reception threshold tests, during which the pupil response was measured. In the cued recall test, the first half of correctly perceived sentences was presented, and participants were asked to complete the sentences. Reading and listening span tests of working memory capacity were presented as well. Results Regardless of test modality, the pupil response indicated higher processing load in the 29% condition than in the 71% correct condition. Cued recall was better for the 29% condition. Conclusions The consistent effect of masking level on the pupil response during listening and reading support the validity of the pupil response as a measure of processing load during language perception. The absent relation between pupil response and cued recall may suggest that cued recall is not directly related to processing load, as reflected by the pupil response.

Temporal Shift From Velocity to Position Proprioceptive Feedback Control During Reaching Movements

Reaching movements to a target usually have stereotypical kinematics. Although this suggests that the desired kinematics of a movement might be planned, does it also mean that deviations from the planned kinematics are corrected by proprioceptive feedback control? To answer this question, we designed a task in which the subjects made center-forward movements to a target while holding the handle of a robot. Subjects were instructed to make movements at a peak velocity of 1 m/s. No further instructions were given with respect to the movement trajectory or the velocity time profile. In randomly chosen trials the robot imposed servo-controlled deviations from the previously computed unperturbed velocity and position time profiles. The duration of the velocity deviations and the magnitude of accumulated position deviations were manipulated. The subjects were instructed to either “Attempt to correct” or “Do not correct” the movement. The responses to the imposed deviations in the surface electromyograms in the elbow and shoulder agonist muscles consisted of an initial burst followed by a sharp decrease in the “Do not correct” condition or by sustained activity in the “Attempt to correct” condition. The timing and magnitude of the initial response burst reflected those of the velocity deviations and were not affected by the instruction. The timing and magnitude of the late response activity reflected position feedback control and were strongly affected by the instruction. We suggest that proprioceptive feedback control is suppressed in the beginning of the movement, then velocity feedback control is activated in the middle of the movement to control a desired velocity, whereas position feedback control is facilitated late in the movement to acquire the final position.

Know the Score in Your Food Markets

To close the quality control circle, suppliers of perishable foods to markets must be rated. Once or twice a year quality control records of these processors should be surveyed to see that proper records, controls, and bacterial counts are available. Inspections should be made to see that suppliers have the necessary facilities kept in correct condition. When food markets have inspection forms and gained knowledge to use these materials, they are well on the way to know the score in their store. It is then up to management to educate and modivate all employees in the importance of excellent quality control standards. These standards must be set high and must be checked honestly and regularly. Finally, market management should keep a file of inspection records and take pride in improving scores.

Notes on Test Methods and Some Instruments

To obtain true factual results from tests carried out on the test bed and on the road, instruments are necessary. The author describes his own experiences with various instruments and test methods, for example, the use of thermocouple sparking plugs for carrying out distribution tests, and the advantages of and characteristic results obtained from a smoke meter on a compression-ignition engine. After a brief comment on electronic instruments in general, he describes the balanced-pressure method of obtaining indicator diagrams at high speed, using a cathode-ray apparatus. Some typical results are given, and the methods by which the apparatus with a few additions can be used to measure torsional-vibration amplitudes of crankshafts (with practical examples), and by which a friction damper is adjusted to the correct condition, are shown. The final section deals with road testing; in this the author advocates the use of a recording accelerometer for obtaining greater accuracy in brake and acceleration tests, and shows how such an instrument can also be used for measuring cornering forces, assessing the riding qualities, or recording gradients. Some results are given, and the design of such an instrument is dealt with.