Electrodermal activity (EDA) usually relates to variations in the electrical properties of palmar or plantar skin sites. EDA responses, namely skin conductance responses (SCRs), skin potential responses (SPRs) and skin susceptance responses (SSRs) are shown to be sensitive indexes of sympathetic nervous system activation and are studied in many research projects. However, the association between EDA responses and the five basic human senses has not been investigated yet. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between the three EDA responses (SCRs, SSRs and SPRs) and the five basic human senses. These three EDA responses were measured simultaneously at the same skin site on each of the 38 volunteers. The tested five senses were sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. The results showed that the different tested senses led to different degrees of EDA responses due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and corresponding secretion of sweat. Although a controlled study on the degree of EDA as a function of the strength of each stimulus was not performed, we noted that the largest EDA responses were typically associated with the smell sense test. We conclude that EDA responses could be utilized as measures for examining the sensitivity of the human senses. Hence, EDA devices may have important roles in sensory systems for future clinical applications.

In this study, the structural, electronic and optical properties of cubic lead-free halide perovskites LiSnX₃ (X = Br and Cl) under hydrostatic pressure are investigated. The first-principle approach based on density functional theory (DFT) is employed. The exchange-correlation functional is treated using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), specifically a variant of the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) method. The aim of the study is to understand the effect of pressure on the properties of LiSnX₃ (X = Br and Cl), with a maximum pressure limit of 6 GPa. The results show a decreasing tendency in the energy band gap as pressure increases. In addition, a prominent reduction in the energy band gap is observed when the halogen atom is changed from Cl to Br under constant pressure. The calculations also investigate the density of states (DOS), showing variations in energy levels near the Fermi level under different pressures. For optical properties, density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) is used in conjunction with the Kramers-Kronig relation. Optical parameters such as the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant, refractive index, absorption coefficient, and wavelength are computed under different pressures to understand the optical response of the perovskites to the electromagnetic spectrum. The insights from this study highlight the fundamental properties of LiSnX₃ (X = Br and Cl) under different pressures, which could influence advancements in optoelectronic devices, photonic applications, and solar cell technologies. Moreover, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on lead-free halide perovskites, encouraging further developments in the field.

In spite of the development in technology and the recent innovations in dentistry, dental anxiety remains a common issue, and accurately assessing it is challenging due to reliance on patients’ self-reports, which are often biased. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine whether dental anxiety can be quantified objectively using the EDA parameters. EDA (skin conductance (SC), skin susceptance (SS), and skin potential (SP)) parameters and heart rate (HR) were recorded from 40 participants during two different sessions (baseline and anxiety). In addition, the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) scale was also used to record the level of anxiety. The physiological data from EDA and HR were compared with the subjective self-reports of anxiety provided on the MDAS to show whether higher EDA and HR readings correspond to higher scores on the MDAS. To elicit dental anxiety, participants were exposed to several film clips associated with dental treatment. EDA signals were compared between the two sessions for all clips and all EDA scores. SC and HR significantly (p < 0.05) increased during the anxiety session compared to the baseline session. The number of fluctuations per minute in the SC, SS, and SP notably increased during the anxiety session. The MDAS results revealed that the participants had dental anxiety when they were exposed to video clips of dental procedures. The study results imply that EDA parameters could be used as a useful tool to monitor dental anxiety, in particular in young children and non-verbal patients or those with intellectual disabilities, which may aid the dentist in the successful management of dental anxiety during treatment. The moment-to-moment EDA data on a patient’s anxiety levels throughout particular dental operations provides a clearer picture of anxiety variations than pre- or post-appointment surveys alone, in addition to offering unbiased tracking of dental anxiety levels over self-reports. This study seeks to encourage further research into the most effective EDA parameters for improving the management of dental anxiety.

This work presents a first-principles investigation of cubic NaInBr₃ perovskite using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The Structural optimization of the perovskite confirms its mechanical stability, yielding a lattice constant of 5.75 Å and a bulk modulus of 18.41 GPa, indicating that the compound is mechanically soft. The electronic band structure reveals a direct band gap of ∼0.4 eV at the R point, highlighting its semiconducting nature and potential for optoelectronic applications. The density of states (DOS) shows dominant contributions from Br-4p and In-5p orbitals in the valence and conduction bands, respectively. Optical property calculations indicate a moderate static dielectric constant (ε ₁ (0) = 3.53), a high absorption coefficient (1.32 × 10⁸ cm⁻¹), and pronounced plasmonic responses, suggesting potential applications in ultraviolet photodetectors, photovoltaics, and plasmonic devices. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrates structural and thermal stability across a broad pressure range, as evidenced by increasing Debye temperature, entropy, and specific heats, along with decreasing Gibbs and vibrational free energies. The obtained results of the study establish NaInBr₃ as a promising candidate for thermoelectric, ultraviolet optoelectronic, and high-temperature energy applications.