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An encoding approach to infer gene regulatory network by Bayesian networks conceptChou, Chun-hung 17 October 2011 (has links)
Since the development of high-throughput technologies, we can capture large quantities of gene¡¦s expression data from DNA microarray data, so there are some technologies have been proposed to model gene regulatory networks. Gene regulatory networks is mainly used to express the relationship between the genes, but only can express a simple relationship, and can¡¦t clearly show how the operation between genes regulatory. In the simulation method of gene regulation, the mathematical methods are more often used. In the mathematical methods, S-system is the most widely used in non-linear differential equations.
When the use of mathematical simulation of gene regulatory networks, there are mainly two aspects¡G(1) deciding on the model structure and (2) estimating the involved parameter values. However, when using S-system simulated the gene regulatory networks, we can only know the gene profiles, and there is no way to know the regulatory relationships between genes, but in order to understand the relationship between genes, we must clearly understand how genes work. Therefore, we propose to encode parameter values to infer the regulatory parameter values between genes.
We propose the method of encoding parameter values, and using six artificial genetic datasets, and assuming 100% parameter values are known, 90% known, 70% known, 50% known, 30% known, 10% known. The experimental results show, besides it can infer a high proportion of non-regulation, positive regulation and negative regulation, also can infer more precise parameter values, and also has a clear understanding of the regulatory relationship between genes.
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Shape based stereovision assistance in rehabilitation roboticsJurczyk, Michael Ulrich 01 June 2005 (has links)
A graphical user interface program was created along with shape models, which allow persons with disabilities to set up a stereovision system with off-the-shelf hardware and detect objects of interest, which can be picked up using a sensor assisted telerobotic manipulator. A Hitachi KP-D50 CCD camera and an Imaging Source CCD camera were used along with two Imaging Source DFG/LC1 frame grabbers to set up a stereovision system. In order to use the stereovision system, the two main problems of correspondence and reconstruction are solved using subroutines of the program created for this work.The user interface allows the user to easily perform the intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration required for stereovision, by following a few basic steps incorporated into the user interface program, which are described in this thesis. A calibration table required for these tasks can also be easily created using the program.
In order to detect the object of interest, shape models, created by the user interface program, are used to solve the correspondence problem of stereovision. The correspondence problem is that of locating corresponding points in the left eye and the right eye, which are necessary to perform the calculations to obtain the location of the object of interest with respect to the end-effector. The shape models created for some commonly available items such as a doorknob and a door handle are included in the program and used to test the stereovision system. As expected, the error of detection decreases as the stereo system is moved closer to the object of interest in the x-, y- and z-position.
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Lineage-specific changes in biomarkers in great apes and humansRonke, Claudius, Dannemann, Michael, Halbwax, Michel, Fischer, Anne, Helmschrodt, Christin, Brügel, Mathias, André, Claudine, Atencia, Rebeca, Mugisha, Lawrence, Scholz, Markus, Ceglarek, Uta, Thiery, Joachim, Pääbo, Svante, Prüfer, Kay, Kelso, Janet 10 August 2015 (has links) (PDF)
Although human biomedical and physiological information is readily available, such information for great apes is limited. We analyzed clinical chemical biomarkers in serum samples from 277 wild- and captive-born great apes and from 312 healthy human volunteers
as well as from 20 rhesus macaques. For each individual, we determined a maximum of 33 markers of heart, liver, kidney, thyroid and pancreas function, hemoglobin and lipid metabolism and one marker of inflammation. We identified biomarkers that show differences between humans and the great apes in their average level or activity. Using the rhesus macaques as an outgroup, we identified human-specific differences in the levels of bilirubin, cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase, and bonobo-specific differences in the
level of apolipoprotein A-I. For the remaining twenty-nine biomarkers there was no evidence for lineage-specific differences. In fact, we find that many biomarkers show differences between individuals of the same species in different environments. Of the four lineagespecific
biomarkers, only bilirubin showed no differences between wild- and captive-born great apes. We show that the major factor explaining the human-specific difference in bilirubin levels may be genetic. There are human-specific changes in the sequence of the promoter and the protein-coding sequence of uridine diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase
1 (UGT1A1), the enzyme that transforms bilirubin and toxic plant compounds into water-soluble, excretable metabolites. Experimental evidence that UGT1A1 is down-regulated in the human liver suggests that changes in the promoter may be responsible for the human-specific increase in bilirubin. We speculate that since cooking reduces toxic plant compounds, consumption of cooked foods, which is specific to humans, may have resulted in relaxed constraint on UGT1A1 which has in turn led to higher serum levels of bilirubin in humans.
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Obtaining the Best Model Predictions and Parameter Estimates Using Limited DataMcLean, Kevin 27 September 2011 (has links)
Engineers who develop fundamental models for chemical processes are often unable to estimate all of the model parameters due to problems with parameter identifiability and estimability. The literature concerning these two concepts is reviewed and techniques for assessing parameter identifiability and estimability in nonlinear dynamic models are summarized. Modellers often face estimability problems when the available data are limited or noisy. In this situation, modellers must decide whether to conduct new experiments, change the model structure, or to estimate only a subset of the parameters and leave others at fixed values. Estimating only a subset of important model parameters is a technique often used by modellers who face estimability problems and it may lead to better model predictions with lower mean squared error (MSE) than the full model with all parameters estimated. Different methods in the literature for parameter subset selection are discussed and compared.
An orthogonalization algorithm combined with a recent MSE-based criterion has been used successfully to rank parameters from most to least estimable and to determine the parameter subset that should be estimated to obtain the best predictions. In this work, this strategy is applied to a batch reactor model using additional data and results are compared with computationally-expensive leave-one-out cross-validation. A new simultaneous ranking and selection technique based on this MSE criterion is also described. Unfortunately, results from these parameter selection techniques are sensitive to the initial parameter values and the uncertainty factors used to calculate sensitivity coefficients. A robustness test is proposed and applied to assess the sensitivity of the selected parameter subset to the initial parameter guesses. The selected parameter subsets are compared with those selected using another MSE-based method proposed by Chu et al. (2009). The computational efforts of these methods are compared and recommendations are provided to modellers. / Thesis (Master, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-27 10:52:31.588
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Probabilistic modeling of natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbonsHosseini, Amir Hossein Unknown Date
No description available.
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Elliptic problems with small parameterDyachenko, Evgeniya January 2014 (has links)
In this thesis we consider diverse aspects of existence and correctness of asymptotic solutions to elliptic differential and pseudodifferential equations.
We begin our studies with the case of a general elliptic boundary value problem in partial derivatives. A small parameter enters the coefficients of the main equation as well as into the boundary conditions. Such equations have already been investigated satisfactory, but there still exist certain theoretical deficiencies. Our aim is to present the general theory of elliptic problems with a small parameter. For this purpose we examine in detail the case of a bounded domain with a smooth boundary. First of all, we construct formal solutions as power series in the small parameter. Then we examine their asymptotic properties. It suffices to carry out sharp two-sided emph{a priori} estimates for the operators of boundary value problems which are uniform in the small parameter. Such estimates failed to hold in functional spaces used in classical elliptic theory. To circumvent this limitation we exploit norms depending on the small parameter for the functions defined on a bounded domain. Similar norms are widely used in literature, but their properties have not been investigated extensively. Our theoretical investigation shows that the usual elliptic technique can be correctly carried out in these norms. The obtained results also allow one to extend the norms to compact manifolds with boundaries. We complete our investigation by formulating algebraic conditions on the operators and showing their equivalence to the existence of a priori estimates.
In the second step, we extend the concept of ellipticity with a small parameter to more general classes of operators. Firstly, we want to compare the difference in asymptotic patterns between the obtained series and expansions for similar differential problems. Therefore we investigate the heat equation in a bounded domain with a small parameter near the time derivative. In this case the characteristics touch the boundary at a finite number of points. It is known that the solutions are not regular in a neighbourhood of such points in advance. We suppose moreover that the boundary at such points can be non-smooth but have cuspidal singularities. We find a formal asymptotic expansion and show that when a set of parameters comes through a threshold value, the expansions fail to be asymptotic.
The last part of the work is devoted to general concept of ellipticity with a small parameter. Several theoretical extensions to pseudodifferential operators have already been suggested in previous studies. As a new contribution we involve the analysis on manifolds with edge singularities which allows us to consider wider classes of perturbed elliptic operators. We examine that introduced classes possess a priori estimates of elliptic type. As a further application we demonstrate how developed tools can be used to reduce singularly perturbed problems to regular ones. / In dieser Dissertation betrachten wir verschiedene Aspekte der Existenz und Korrektheit asymptotischer Lösungen für elliptische Differentialgleichungen und Pseudodifferentialgleichungen.
Am Anfang betrachtet die Arbeit den Fall eines allgemeinen elliptischen Grenzwertproblems in partiellen Ableitungen. Hierbei hängen die Koeffizienten von einem kleinen Parameter ab. Solche Gleichungen wurden schon reichlich untersucht, aber es gibt immer noch theoretische Lücken. Unser Ziel ist eine allgemeine Theorie elliptischer Operatorklassen mit kleinen Parametern. Zu diesem Zweck untersuchen wir im Detail den Fall eines beschränkten Gebietes mit glattem Rand. Zuerst konstruieren wir formale Lösungen als Potenzreihe einer kleinen Variablen. Weiter untersuchen wir ihre asymptotischen Eigenschaften. Dazu reicht es aus, beidseitige A-Priori Abschätzungen für diejenigen Randwertproblemoperatoren zu bestimmen, die gleichmäßig stetig von den kleinen Parametern abhängen. Solche Abschätzungen gelten nicht in Funktionenräumen, die in der klassischen elliptischen Theorie benutzt werden. Um diese Beschränkungen zu überwinden, nutzen wir Normen abhängig vom kleinen Parameter. Änliche Normen finden sich oft in der Literatur, aber ihre Eigenschaften wurden unzureichend untersucht. Unsere theoretische Forschung zeigt, dass die gewöhnliche elliptische Methode korrekt durchgeführt werden kann. Die erhaltenen Abschätzungen erlauben das Fortsetzen der Normen auf kompakte Mannigfältigkeiten mit Rand. Unsere Forschung wird mit algebraischen Bedingungen für die Operatoren abgeschlossen. Wir zeigen, dass diese Bedingungen äquivalent zu der Existenz der A-Priori-Abschätzungen sind.
Im zweiten Schritt erweitern wir das Konzept der Elliptizität mit kleinen Parametern zu allgemeineren Operatorklassen. Zuerst wollen wir den Unterschied in asymptotischen Mustern zwischen der erhaltenen Reihe und Lösungen ähnlicher Probleme untersuchen. Deshalb untersuchen wir die Wärmeleitungsgleichung in einem beschränkten Gebiet mit einem kleinen Parameter in der Zeitableitung. In diesem Fall tangiert der Rand die Charakteristik endlich oft. Es ist bekannt, dass die Lösungen unregulär im Allgemeinen in Umgebungen solcher Stellen sind. Wir nehmen an, dass der Rand an solchen Stellen nicht glätt sein kann und kaspydalische Singularitäten hat. Wir haben eine formale asymptotische Zerlegung gefunden und einen Schwellenwert gezeigt, sodass die asymptotische Eigenschaft der Reihe nicht mehr gilt, wenn der Randparameter diesen Schwellenwert übersteigt.
Der letze Teil der Arbeit führt ein allgemeines Konzept der Elliptizit"at mit einem kleinen Parameter ein. Mehrere theoretische Erweiterungen auf Pseudodifferentialoperatoren wurden schon in früheren Studien vorgeschlagen. Als neuen Beitrag wenden wir die Analysis auf Manigfältigkeiten mit Kantensingularitäten an. Dies lässt es zu, allgemeinere gestörte Operatorklassen zu betrachten. Wir beobachten, dass die eingef"uhrten Klassen A-Priori-Abschätzungen elliptischer Gestalt haben. Als weitere Anwendung demonstrieren wir, wie die entwickelten Mittel zum Reduzieren singular gestörter Probleme zu regulären Fällen benutzt werden können.
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Critérios classificatórios para processos intertextuais / Classification criteria for intertextual processesNobre, Kennedy Cabral January 2014 (has links)
NOBRE, Kennedy Cabral. Critérios classificatórios para processos intertextuais. 2014. 129f. – Tese (Doutorado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Letras Vernáculas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Linguística, Fortaleza (CE), 2014. / Submitted by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-06-09T14:38:14Z
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Previous issue date: 2014 / Leaving the conjecture that the different types that are known as intertextuality can be taken from an integral perspective, the goal of this research is to organize a theoretical framework on which the various types of intertextuality which are in a state of dispersion are systematized. For this purpose, it was necessary to discuss the main approaches of the phenomenon: the transtextuality of Genette ([1982] 2010), the copresence and the derivation of Piègay-Gros ([1996] 2010), also seen about Cavalcante’s approach (2012), the paraphrastic and parodistic axes of Sant’Anna (2007), and the types of Koch (2004). Collated all these approaches, it became evident that the great typological variety existing revealed, more than a mere matter of terminology floating, the consideration of different and simultaneous underlying parameters intertextual resources, so that the construction of the theoretical framework was based on the recognition and organization of these parameters. As a result of reflections, it is possible to conclude that there are two essential parameters to any intertextual phenomenon: a functional, that assesses the degree of uptake or subversion of intertext to the original text; and a constitutional, where there is the intertext comes from resources of a single text or multiple one. Depending on the constitutional nature of intertextuality, there is the occurrence of three parameters: the compositional, which distinguishes this intertextuality in fragments or in full text; the referential, that evaluates the degree of explicitness or implicitness of the intertext; and the formal, that demonstrates how the original texts are reproduced in new texts, whether by reproduction, adaptation or mention. / Partindo da conjetura de que as distintas tipologias que se conhecem acerca da intertextualidade podem ser tomadas de uma perspectiva integral, o objetivo desta pesquisa é organizar um quadro teórico no qual estejam sistematizados os diversos tipos de intertextualidade que se encontram em estado de dispersão. Para tanto, necessário se fez discutir as principais abordagens do fenômeno, a saber, a transtextualidade de Genette ([1982] 2010); a copresença e a derivação de Piègay-Gros ([1996] 2010), vistas também sob a ótica ampliada de Cavalcante (2012); os eixos parafrástico e parodístico de Sant’Anna (2007); e as tipologias de Koch (2004). Cotejadas todas essas abordagens, ficou patente que a grande variedade tipológica existente revelava, mais que uma mera questão de flutuação terminológica, a consideração de distintos parâmetros subjacentes e, na maioria das vezes, simultâneos aos recursos intertextuais, de modo que a construção do quadro teórico se pautou pelo reconhecimento e pela organização desses parâmetros. Como resultado das reflexões, é possível concluir que há dois parâmetros essenciais a qualquer fenômeno intertextual: um funcional, em que se avalia o grau de captação ou subversão do intertexto em relação ao texto original; e um constitucional, em que se observa se o intertexto provém de recursos de um texto único ou de vários. A depender da natureza constitucional da intertextualidade, verifica-se a ocorrência de mais três parâmetros: o composicional, que distingue a intertextualidade presente em fragmentos ou no texto integral; o referencial, que avalia o grau de explicitude ou implicitude do intertexto; e o formal, que abaliza o modo como os textos originais são retomados em novos textos, se por reprodução, adaptação ou menção.
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Estimation of Inertial Parameters for Automatic Leveling of an Underwater VehicleFaez Elias, Feras January 2017 (has links)
The use of underwater systems has grown significantly, and they can be used both for military and civilian purposes. Many of their parts are replaceable. An underwater vehicle can be equipped with different devices depending on the taskit should carry out. This can make the vehicle unbalanced, which means that the demand for balancing systems will increase in line with the increasing use of underwater systems. The goal of the thesis is to deliver a method for balancing based on parameters estimated both in static and dynamic operation. The parameters define a nonlinear physical model that can describe the underwater vehicle in different environments and conditions. The main idea in the proposed method for parameter estimation based on static operation data is to solve equilibrium equations when the on-board control system is used to maintain two different orientations. The balancing can then be done by solving an optimisation problem that gives information about where additional weights or float material should be installed. The static parameter estimation has been evaluated successfully in simulations together with three ways of solving the balancing problem. The dynamic parameter estimation has also been evaluated in simulations. In this case, the estimated parameters seem to have the same sign as the true ones but it seems difficult to obtain accurate estimates of some of the parameters. However, the total dynamic model was good except the prediction of the vertical movements. In particular, the model could explain the rotations of the vehicle well. The reason for the worse performance for the vertical movements might be some difficulties when generating suitable excitation signals. The work done by Feras Faez Elias in connection to this master thesis made a contribution to a patent application that Saab AB has filed where Feras Faez Elias was one of the inventors.
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Automatic Kernel Intercommunication Interface for a Simulation PlatformLatif, Umair 14 August 2017 (has links) (PDF)
CluSys is a simulation platform that is developed by LuK GmbH & Co. KG to support product development engineers. It integrates different simulation calculation kernels and provides a collaborative environment for tool-independent chain simulation processes. The data between simulation modules in chain simulations is exchanged by defining intercommunications between individual parameters manually. This thesis provides a concept to automate the data exchange process between the parameters of different simulation models based on their physical meaning. Different approaches implemented in contemporary simulation environments are discussed, analyzed and a customized solution compatible with CluSys based on abstract interface approach is developed. This concept is implemented using an SQL database creating a parameter dictionary and an automatic intercommunication interface that uses the dictionary to recognize the parameters and define data exchange processes between them automatically. The implemented solution makes the data exchange between parameters of different simulation models independent of their labels, module names or units.
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Wahrnehmung und Bewertung Ekel auslösender SinnesreizeLaqua, Kerstin 10 December 2014 (has links) (PDF)
Schimmeliges Brot, Nasensekret, offene Wunden, Cholera, schmutzige Toiletten, Maden, Begegnungen mit Leichen, Sodomie und sogar Mord – alle diese Dinge haben einen potentiell Ekel erregenden Charakter gemeinsam und gehören somit zu den häufigsten Ekel auslösenden Faktoren (Haidt et al. 1994; Rozin et al. 2000; Oaten et al. 2009). Dies wurde in verschiedensten Studien bereits anhand von theoretischen Fragestellungen, Bildern, Viedeoclips, Gerüchen und Geräuschen untersucht (Rozin et al. 1999; Vernet-Maury et al. 1999; Wright et al. 2004; Stevenson und James 2008; de Jong et al. 2011). In der Fachliteratur finden sich jedoch nur sehr wenige Studien in Bezug auf Töne bzw. Geräusche und fast keine Nachweise dafür, dass auch über Tasteindrücke Ekel ausgelöst werden kann.
Bei der Erforschung von Emotionen stellt sich oft die Frage nach deren Objektivierbarkeit. Aus diesem Grund erfolgten in den letzten Jahren zahlreiche Studien, in denen beim Empfinden von Emotionen gleichzeitig Parameter des autonomen Nervensystems gemessen wurden. Dabei gibt es allerdings einige Kontroversen darüber, ob ein emotionsspezifisches Verhalten dieser Parameter vorliegt (Vernet-Maury et al. 1999; Cacioppo et al. 2000; Barrett 2006). Zusätzlich fällt bei solchen Untersuchungen erneut eine Verteilung der präsentierten Reize mit einer deutlich höheren Anzahl an Bildern, Videoclips und Gerüchen gegenüber Geräuschen und Tasteindrücken auf (Kreibig 2010).
Um nachzuweisen, dass Ekel über verschiedene Sinneseindrücke ausgelöst werden kann, wurden in dieser Studie 125 Probanden mit Ekel erregenden und neutralen Bildern, Geräuschen, Gerüchen und Tasteindrücken konfrontiert. Diese wurden in folgende Kategorien aufgeteilt: verdorbenes Essen, kranker Mensch und Fäkalien. Nach den jeweiligen Reizen erfolgte eine subjektive Einschätzung der Probanden über die empfundene Emotion mittels einer Abfrage der Basisemotionen und der Self-Assessment Mannikin. Des Weiteren wurde jeweils eine Kategorie der Sinnesreize zuvor benannt. Zusätzlich erfolgten mit einem Teil der Probanden Wiederholungsmessungen, zur Messung einer eventuellen Gewöhnung an diese Reize. Weiterhin wurden Parameter des autonomen Nervensystems (Herzfrequenz, systolischer Blutdruck und Hautleitwert) bei allen Probanden und Durchläufen aufgezeichnet. Die Probanden wurden zuvor auf Einschränkungen hinsichtlich ihrer Sinneswahrnehmungen überprüft.
Die Auswertung der Ergebnisse erfolgte nach den subjektiven Bewertungen, der Parameter des autonomen Nervensystems, nach Geschlecht getrennt und jeweils in Bezug auf die Wiederholungsmessungen. Es ergaben sich dabei im Wesentlichen folgende Ergebnisse:
1. Es konnte anhand der subjektiven Bewertungen gezeigt werden, dass alle potentiell ekeligen Sinnesreize auch als ekelig empfunden wurden. Gerüche und Tasteindrücke riefen zusätzlich Überraschung hervor. Visuelle Reize lösten am stärksten Ekel aus. Es konnte erstmals demonstriert werden, dass sich in Bezug auf die unterschiedlichen Sinneskanäle, unterschiedliche autonome Aktivierungen zeigten. Ein allgemein ekelspezifisches Verhalten der autonomen Parameter wurde im Einklang mit der Literatur nicht nachgewiesen (Barrett 2006).
2. Frauen ekelten sich in Bezug auf Bilder mehr als Männer, was sich mit anderen Literaturangaben deckt (Rozin et al. 1999; Curtis et al. 2004). Zudem wurde für Frauen teilweise eine höhere sympathische Aktivierung beim Wahrnehmen von Tönen, Gerüchen und haptischen Eindrücken ermittelt.
3. Das Label führte zu einem höheren Empfinden von Ekel für Tasteindrücke und Gerüche und zu einem größeren Blutdruckabfall bei Gerüchen. Dies bestätigt den großen Einfluss von Assoziationen beim Wahrnehmen von Gerüchen, da ein Käsegeruch je nach Kontext auch als Schweißgeruch interpretiert werden kann. Dieser Bewertungsaspekt konnte bereits für Gerüche nachgewiesen werden (Herz und von Clef 2001; Bensafi et al. 2007) und lässt ebenso für Tasteindrücke eine assoziative Komponente vermuten.
4. Bei den Wiederholungsmessungen fand keine Gewöhnung für Töne und Gerüche statt und die autonomen Messungen zeigten, dass keine Sensitivierung stattfindet.
Auch nach Abschluss dieser Studie konnte keine eindeutige Aussage hinsichtlich eines Ekel spezifischen Verhaltens autonomer Parameter getroffen werden. Das Verhalten des autonomen Nervensystems ist von vielen Faktoren abhängig und wird wie hier gezeigt, durch den angesprochenen Sinneskanal mit beeinflusst. Ebenso spielen Geschlechtsunterschiede, Assoziationen und wiederholte Reizexposition eine Rolle beim Empfinden von Ekel.
Alle diese Aspekte wurden in der durchgeführten Studie berücksichtigt und kontrovers diskutiert. Es wird hierbei keineswegs ein Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit erhoben. Diese Studie hatte zum Ziel verschiedene Aspekte in Bezug auf die Emotion Ekel mit Hilfe der Parameter des autonomen Nervensystems zu untersuchen. Die vorliegende Studie hilft widersprüchliche Ergebnisse in der Literatur aufzuklären und einzuordnen, indem erstmals ausführlich auf die Relevanz des angesprochenen Sinneskanals hingewiesen wird. / Mould bread, nasal discharge, gaping wounds, Cholera, dirty toilets, maggots, confrontation with corpses, sodomy and even murder – all these things have a potential disgusting character and rank among the most disgusting cues (Haidt et al. 1994; Rozin et al. 2000; Oaten et al. 2009). This has been evaluated in different studies with the help of theoretical questions, pictures, video clips, odours and sounds (Rozin et al. 1999; Vernet-Maury et al. 1999; Wright et al. 2004; Stevenson und James 2008; de Jong et al. 2011). However, only few studies concern disgusting sounds and to even lesser extend haptical impressions.
It is one of the most challenging questions in emotion research, how to objectify them. In recent years several studies dealt with the problem of measuring patterns of autonomic responses towards emotions. Nevertheless whether there are emotion specific patterns is discussed controversially (Vernet-Maury et al. 1999; Cacioppo et al. 2000; Barrett 2006). Furthermore, there are again few studies dealing with sounds and haptical impressions (Kreibig 2010).
Aim of the present study was to arouse a feeling of disgust through different sensory stimuli. 125 subjects were tested. Before measurement started all subjects were tested concerning restrictions of their sense perception.
The participants were confronted with disgusting and neutral pictures, sounds, odours and haptical impressions. These stimuli were separated into three categories: spoiled food, sick person and feces. Additionally always one category was labeled and with a part of the subjects a repetition of measurement was realized.
After presentation of each stimulus, participants rated the evoked basic emotion, valence and arousal. During all measurements, patterns of the ANS (heart rate, systolic blood pressure and skin conductance level) were recorded.
The analysis based on the ratings, patterns of the ANS, sex and on the repetition measurements. The essential results were as follows:
1. All potential disgusting stimuli evoked a feeling of disgust. Additionally, sounds and haptical impression also evoked surprise. Visual stimuli were rated as most disgusting. Stimulation of different senses induced a different activation of the autonomic nervous system. In accordance with the current literature (Barrett 2006) a general disgust specific behavior could not be proofed.
2. Females felt more disgusted while watching related pictures. This is in line with previous studies (Rozin et al. 1999; Curtis et al. 2004). Furthermore, females showed partly a higher sympathetic activation if confronted with sounds odours and haptical stimuli.
3. The label enhanced feelings of disgust for haptical impressions and odours, only. The label led to a higher deceleration of systolic blood pressure after presentation of disgusting odours. This is in accordance to the previously described suggestibility in olfaction (Herz und von Clef 2001; Bensafi et al. 2007). It can be supposed that there is such an associative component for haptical impressions.
4. Concerning the repetitive measurements no habituation for sounds and odours was found, in contrast to pictures and haptical impressions. Autonomous measurements showed no sensitization.
In conclusion, it is not possible to finally judge, whether there is a disgust specific behavior of patterns of ANS or not. This depends on several factors, including the senses disgust is evoked through. Also gender differences and repetitive measurement affect the feeling of disgust.
All these aspects were considered in this study and were discussed controversially. This study does not raise the claim to completeness. However, it helps to clarify and classify the inconsistent results in literature by pointing out the relevance of the different sensory channels.
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