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Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) hold great potential for mimicking the brain's efficient processing of information. Although biological evidence suggests that precise spike timing is crucial for effective information encoding, contemporary SNN research mainly concentrates on adjusting connection weights. In this work, we introduce Delay Learning based on Temporal Coding (DLTC), an innovative approach that integrates delay learning with a temporal coding strategy to optimize spike timing in SNNs. DLTC utilizes a learnable delay shift, which assigns varying levels of importance to different informational elements. This is complemented by an adjustable threshold that regulates firing times, allowing for earlier or later neuron activation as needed. We have tested DLTC's effectiveness in various contexts, including vision and auditory classification tasks, where it consistently outperformed traditional weight-only SNNs. The results indicate that DLTC achieves remarkable improvements in accuracy and computational efficiency, marking a step forward in advancing SNNs towards real-world applications. Our codes are accessible at https://github.com/sunpengfei1122/DLTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers increasingly look at augmenting soundscapes to reduce Behavioural and Psychological Syndrome of Dementia (BPSD). However, methods to select suitable sounds still need improvement. This study proposes a sound selection methodology to augment the soundscape in nursing homes to lower BPSD, using sound characteristics and recognition methods. To uncover the underlying characteristics of sounds that trigger a positive response, added sounds previously used in nursing homes in Flanders were re-analyzed using a wide range of acoustic and psychoacoustic indices. The results highlight the sound characteristics that lead to positive responses and the need for further studies to understand the sounds most suitable for people with dementia. Results showed that sharpness and high-pitch sounds, such as animal localization or crickets, create a higher chance of a positive response. High-pitched sounds have a higher emergence in a typical nursing home sonic environment, increasing the possibility of being noticed. Sounds recognized as music, however, had a lower chance of a positive response and should be used cautiously. Interestingly, although bird vocalizations are often highly rated in other contexts, the ones considered in the current dataset did not lead to a positive response, highlighting the need for further studies to understand better which sounds are most suitable for people with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Blood flow velocities can be measured using a Doppler flow wire. This numerical study evaluates the impact of a 0.014” flow wire on the measured frequencies in a straight artery with diameters of 3 mm and 4 mm, under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. Simulations were performed with the wires positioned differently in the artery (perfectly centred and at an offset of 0.5 mm from the wall) and with different types of wire (tilted and straight). Measurements were taken at range gates from 4 mm to 10 mm. During simulations using a 3-mm vessel under pulsatile flow conditions, the relative error between the measured and reference maximum frequency (occurring in absence of the wire) decreased from 17.7% to 11.6% (with a mean value of 14.9%). During simulations using an off-centre 1.5 degree tilted wire, the mean error was approximately 5%. Therefore, our study suggests that that a centrally positioned flow wire is unfavourable for measuring flow velocities. (E-mail: patrick.segers@urgent.be) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As noise is a basic contributor to the evaluation of an environment, the indoor environment of a nursing home (where residents are provided with 24-hour functional support and care) is studied with this focus. General research results, as indicated from a literature review, are limited. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, five nursing homes in Flanders were studied before and after acoustic interventions. Sound levels were measured in individual bedrooms, living rooms and corridors to obtain the typical levels during a day. Acoustic intra-room performance parameters (reverberation time) and inter-room performance parameters (airborne noise insulation level and impact noise insulation level) were measured and compared with Belgian target values. The post operam measurements indicated the potential of the acoustic interventions (use of acoustic curtains, wall and ceiling panels, ventilation grills, floating floors) to improve the building performance and the acoustic climate. From a qualitative viewpoint, the thematic analysis of staff response to the acoustic interventions indicated direct positive outcomes (e.g., more pleasant, quieter indoor soundscapes) with both positive and negative outcomes from perceived indirect effects (i.e., non-acoustic factors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]