The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective dimensionality of tactile surface texture perception. Seventeen tactile stimuli, such as wood, sandpaper, and velvet, were moved across the index finger of the subject, who sorted them into categories on the basis of perceived similarity. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques were then used to position the stimuli in a perceptual space on the basis of combined data of 20 subjects. A three-dimensional space was judged to give a satisfactory representation of the data. Subjects' ratings of each stimulus on five scales representing putative dimensions of perceived surface texture were then fitted by regression analysis into the MDS space. Roughness-smoothness and hardness-softness were found to be robust and orthogonal dimensions; the third dimension did not correspond closely with any of the rating scales used, but post hoc inspection of the data suggested that it may reflect the compressional elasticity ("springiness") of the surface.A complex sensory experience occurs when a person draws a finger across the surface of an object. In addition to whatever information may be gained about the shape and other geometrical properties of the object, the observer also receives impressions related to the nature of the surface. These experiences of surface texture are the subject of this report. Although some aspects of surface texture have been extensively studied, an overall understanding of texture perception remains elusive. In the words of Connor, Hsiao, Phillips, and Johnson (1990), "Tactile texture perception is poorly understood; with few exceptions, little is known about its dimensionality, its physical determinants, or its neural mechanisms."Modem study of texture perception dates from the work of David Katz, whose monograph The World of Touch (1925/l989) set the agenda for much of the later work on the subject. Katz asked subjects to discriminate, and to describe, a wide variety of tactile surfaces under various conditions of touching. One of Katz's central concepts was a distinction between two types of surface properties, which he called Modifikationen (qualities) and Spezifikationen (identifying characteristics). By "qualities," he meant properties on which any tactile surface could be rated; he mentioned roughness and hardness as two such dimensional qualities, but left open the possibility that there were others, as yet unidentified. By "identifying characteristics," Katz meant the characteristic overall feel of a surface-the "Ieatheriness" of leather, the "rubberiness" of rubber, and so on. It is unclear in Katz's writings, probably because he had no settled opinion on the subject, exactly what the relationship is between these two types of properties. Are identifying characteristics simply certain combinations of values of the qualities? That is, will all surfaces with a particular roughness, combined with a particular hardness and particular values on other qualitative dimensions that may exist, feel like the same material? Or, alternatively, doe...

One of the enduring challenges in international relations with far-reaching consequences is discerning unhealthy nuclear intentions of nation states. Explicit Strategic Intelligence information available on such issues are in many cases vague, incomplete, sketchy or fragmented, rendering the process of discerning intentions reliant on tacit knowledge of experts in discerning intentions. The process of externalizing knowledge from Tacit to Explicit forms is one of the active areas of contemporary knowledge engineering research. This paper proposes a method based on Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps to objectively externalize the tacit knowledge of experts in such contexts to support better policy decision making. In order to demonstrate the methodology, the case of Iran's nuclear intentions is discussed with hypothetical expert opinion numbers.

One of the key methods of ensuring effectiveness and actionability of military intelligence is "Red Teaming". Red Teaming involves questioning the conventional analyst-driven military intelligence constructs. This paper proposes a new Red teaming approach based on Neutrosophic Cognitive Mapping, that helps combine various multi-disciplinary intelligence inputs in a non-linear and complex manner. Such an approach is used to cross-verify the conventional analyst constructed causalities of military threats. The approach is demonstrated with the help of an example on the perceived existence of a common national security threat-a suspected impending terror attack. Red teaming the intelligence that warns of this threat is achieved by objectively casting the maze of causalities as suggested by five military intelligence agencies in appropriate Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps and combining them in an integrated manner.

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