Effect of Tempo on Temporal Expectation Driven by Rhythms in Dual-Task Performance

Temporal expectation is the ability to focus attention at a particular moment in time to optimize performance, which has been shown to be driven by regular rhythms. However, whether the rhythm-based temporal expectations rely upon automatic processing or require the involvement of controlled processing has not been clearly established. Furthermore, whether the mechanism is affected by tempo remains unknown. To investigate this research question, the present study used a dual-task procedure. In a single task, the participants were instructed to respond to a visual target preceded by a regular or an irregular visual rhythm under a fast (500 ms) or slow (3,500 ms) tempo. The dual-task simultaneously combined a working memory (WM) task. The results showed temporal expectation effects in which the participants responded faster to the regular than to the irregular conditions in a single task. Moreover, this effect persisted under dual-task interference in the fast tempo condition but was impaired in the slow tempo condition. These results revealed that rhythmic temporal expectation induced by fast tempo was dependent on automatic processing. However, compared with the faster tempo, temporal expectation driven by a slower tempo might involve more controlled processing.

Advanced Trends in Metallurgy and Weldability of High-Strength Cold-Resistant and Cryogenic Steels

Thermomechanical Controlled Processing (TMCP), the initial microstructure and mechanical properties of rolled products made of high-strength steels, have a significant influence on the properties and reliability of welded structures for low temperature and cryogenic service. This paper systematizes advanced research trends in the field of metallurgy and weldability of high-strength cold-resistant and cryogenic steels. The classification and properties of high-strength steels are given and TMCP diagrams and phase transformations are considered. Modern methods of improving the viscoplasticity of rolled steel and welded joints are analyzed. The problems of the weldability of high-strength steels are reduction of impact toughness at low temperatures, hydrogen embrittlement, anisotropy, and softening of welded joints in the heat-affected zone. The authors propose a systemic concept and methods for improving the metallurgy and weldability of high-strength steels for low temperature and cryogenic service.

Technological breakthrough of the agrarian-and-food innovations in dairy case for example of universal agricultural raw materials. Reverse osmosis

Aim. Consideration of the membrane technology process – reverse osmosis – by directed and controlled processing of whey and its filtrates through special semipermeable partitions (filter membranes) with a pore size from 0.1 to 1.0 nm, carried out at a pressure of 3.0 - 10.0 MPa with the release of particles (cutting off) with a molecular weight of 100 Daltons. Reverse osmosis allows you to concentrate all the compounds of whey and filtrates, separating almost distilled water (condensate). Discussion. In the molecular sieve separation system, reverse osmosis logically continues the membrane treatment of filtrates (permeates) of native, as well as separated whey and their microfiltrates, ultrafiltrates, nanofiltrates and diafiltrates. In principle, the reverse osmosis process should be implemented to pre-concentrate the whey, which will eliminate its loss (draining) and expand the range of use. OO is promising for processing salted whey with the removal of unwanted sodium chloride, as well as for cleaning the condensate of evaporation plants from the components of dairy raw materials that come with foam and secondary steam. Conclusion. In general, for the dairy industry of the food industry of the agro-industrial complex, reverse osmotic treatment is necessary for the implementation of a closed production cycle with a recycled water supply.

In Colore Veritas? Color effects on the speed and accuracy of true/false responses

In addition to their perceptual or aesthetic function, colors often carry conceptual meaning. In quizzes, for instance, true and false answers are typically marked in green and red. In three experiments, we used a Stroop task to investigate automatic green-true associations and red-false associations, respectively. In Experiments 1 and 2, stimuli were true statements (e.g., “tables are furniture”) and false statements (e.g., “bananas are buildings”) that were displayed in different combination of green, red, and gray depending on the experimental condition. In Experiment 3, we used true-related and false-related words shown in green, red, or gray. Participants had to indicate the validity (or semantic meaning) of each statement (or word) as fast and as accurately as possible. We expected that participants would perform best when they had to categorize green stimuli as “true” and red stimuli as “false”. The prediction was only confirmed when green and red stimuli were presented within the same context (i.e., same experimental condition). This finding supports the dimension-specificity hypothesis which states that cross-modal associations (here: associations between color and validity) depend on the context (here: the color-context). Moreover, the observed color-validity effects were stronger when participants had to categorize single words instead of sentences and when they had to provide speeded responses. Taken together, these results suggest that controlled processing counteracts the influence of automatic color associations on true/false responses.

Assessing the speed, spontaneity, and robustness of racial bias in pain perception

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that perceivers recognize painful expressions less readily on Black (compared to white) faces. However, it is unclear whether this bias occurs independent of controlled processing (for example, the deliberate engagement of racial stereotypes) and whether this bias is still observed when other diagnostic information (e.g., self-reported pain experience) is available. Across five experiments we examined the speed, spontaneity, and robustness of racial bias in pain perception. First, we observed that racial bias in pain perception was still evident under minimal presentation conditions (as brief as 33ms) and was most apparent for ambiguous (versus high intensity) pain expressions (Exp. 1). Next, we manipulated the amount of cognitive load participants were under while viewing and rating Black and white faces in varying degrees of pain (Exps. 2A-B). Here, we observed that perceivers had more stringent thresholds for seeing pain on Black (versus white) faces regardless of whether participants were under high (versus low) load. Finally, we examined whether this bias would persist when participants were also provided with other information regarding targets’ pain – specifically, self-reported pain experience (Exps. 3A-B). While self-report information reduced perceivers’ thresholds for seeing pain overall, racial bias in pain perception was not reliably moderated by self-reported pain experience. Together, these data demonstrate that racial bias in pain perception occurs automatically, based on minimal visual input, and above and beyond other diagnostic information.

Pilot provision of EARLINET/ACTRIS lidar profiles to CAMS

<p>In December 2019, a contract between CNR and ECMWF was signed for a pilot ACTRIS/EARLINET data provision to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Such pilot contract (CAMS21b) aims to put in place a first data provision for a set of selected stations and it will demonstrate the feasibility of fully traceable and quality-controlled data provision for the whole network.</p><p>In CAMS21b, the main effort is devoted to design, test and set up the provision of quality-controlled ACTRIS/EARLINET products in Real Real Time (RRT) and/or Near Real Time (NRT) to CAMS. The activities are focused on the automatic centralized data processing and data provision, ensuring the full traceability of the products from the data acquisition level up to the final quality-controlled data level. Most of the activities are done at ARES, the EARLINET/ACTRIS data center node at CNR, for assuring the centralized, harmonized and quality-controlled processing in compliance with FAIR principles.</p><p>New modules and submodules of the ACTRIS/EARLINET Single Calculus Chain (SCC) as well as optimized algorithms for cloud screening have been designed. Additional procedures were implemented for improving the quality of the data provided in NRT, but also for the quality control of the Level 2 products which are delivered with a time delay.</p><p>The release of a new version of SCC and of QC procedure is planned for mid-February.</p><p>The data provision started in October 2020 at the test site of Potenza. A system has been set up for measurement reporting and monitoring of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). After 3 months of measurements, the overall data provision system showed no critical points.</p><p>In January 2021, the provision started for a group of 9 stations which are seen as representative for the whole network in terms of instrumental capability, but also ensuring a good geographical coverage of the European continent.</p><p>In order to accommodate also measurements from non-continuous operation systems, a measurement schedule has been set up, compromising between the need of a large number of measurements and costs/efforts at each station. The measurement schedule has been designed through a representativeness study and foresees 6 slots of measurements per week, 3 in daytime and 3 in nighttime conditions.</p><p>The successful implementation of the pilot allows the provision of aerosol optical property profiles to the CAMS services. from a set of observational sites distributed over the different European regions. These profiles is expected to be of interest for the assimilation, near real time evaluation and re-analysis evaluation of several CAMS products, including the aerosol load over Europe for air quality issues, atmospheric composition, climate forcing and solar and UV products. This allows for having a systematic solution for looking into specific events as they develop (e.g. the dust plume that you investigated earlier this month or the Californian fires in September), supporting or contradicting model forecasts. This pilot is the first provision of aerosol profiles from a high-quality ground-based network in NRT for this kind of applications. It is expected that these efforts will be continued in the next phase of CAMS/Copernicus (2021-2027).</p>

Social Exclusion Down-Regulates Pain Empathy at the Late Stage of Empathic Responses: Electrophysiological Evidence

Social exclusion has a significant impact on cognition, emotion, and behavior. Some behavioral studies investigated how social exclusion affects pain empathy. Conclusions were inconsistent, and there is a lack of clarity in identifying which component of pain empathy is more likely to be affected. To investigate these issues, we used a Cyberball task to manipulate feelings of social exclusion. Two groups (social exclusion and social inclusion) participated in the same pain empathy task while we recorded event-related potentials (ERP) when participants viewed static images of body parts in painful and neutral situations. The results showed early N2 differentiation between painful and neutral pictures in the central regions in both groups. The pattern at the late controlled processing stage was different. Parietal P3 amplitudes for painful pictures were significantly smaller than those for neutral pictures in the social exclusion group; they did not differ in the social inclusion group. We observed a parietal late positive potential (LPP) differentiation between painful and neutral pictures in both groups. LPP amplitudes were significantly smaller in the social exclusion group than those in the social inclusion group for painful stimuli. Our results indicate that social exclusion does not affect empathic responses during the early emotional sharing stage. However, it down-regulates empathic responses at the late cognitive controlled stage, and this modulation is attenuated gradually. The current study provides neuroscientific evidence of how social exclusion dynamically influences pain empathy.

Affective Context and the Interpretation of Facial Expressions in Portrait Paintings

The present study examined the effects of affective context on evaluation of facial expression of emotion in portrait paintings. Pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral context photographs were presented prior to target portrait paintings. The participants’ task was to view the portrait painting and choose an emotion label that fit the subject of the painting. The results from Experiment 1 indicated that when preceded by pleasant context, the faces in the portraits were labeled as happier. When preceded by unpleasant context, they were labeled as less happy, sadder, and more fearful. In Experiment 2, the labeling effects disappeared when context photographs were presented at a subthreshold 20 ms SOA. In both experiments, context affected processing times, with times slower for pleasant context and faster for unpleasant context. The results suggest that the context effects depend on both automatic and controlled processing of affective content contained in context photographs.

Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Potential Superalloys: A Review

The laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is an additive manufacturing technology involving a gradual build-on of layers to form a complete component according to a computer-aided design. The LPBF process boasts of manufacturing value-added parts with higher accuracy and complex geometries for the transport, aviation, energy, and biomedical industries. TiAl-based alloys and high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are two materials envisaged as potential replacements of nickel-based superalloys for high temperature structural applications. The success of these materials hinge on optimization and implementation of tailored microstructures through controlled processing and appropriate alloy manipulations that can promote and stabilize new microstructures. Therefore, it is important to understand the LPBF technique, and its associated microstructure-mechanical property relationships. This paper discusses the metallurgical sintering processes of LPBF, the effects of process parameters on densification, microstructures, and mechanical properties of LPBFed TiAl-based alloys and HEAs. This paper also, presents updates and future studies recommendations on the LPBFed TiAl-based alloys and HEAs.