Cortical Dynamics of Contextually-Cued Attentive Visual Learning and Search: Spatial and Object Evidence Accumulation

How do humans use predictive contextual information to facilitate visual search? How are consistently paired scenic objects and positions learned and used to more efficiently guide search in familiar scenes? For example, a certain combination of objects can define a context for a kitchen and trigger a more efficient search for a typical object, such as a sink, in that context. A neural model, ARTSCENE Search, is developed to illustrate the neural mechanisms of such memory-based contextual learning and guidance, and to explain challenging behavioral data on positive/negative, spatial/object, and local/distant global cueing effects during visual search. The model proposes how global scene layout at a first glance rapidly forms a hypothesis about the target location. This hypothesis is then incrementally refined by enhancing target-like objects in space as a scene is scanned with saccadic eye movements. The model clarifies the functional roles of neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging data in visual search for a desired goal object. In particular, the model simulates the interactive dynamics of spatial and object contextual cueing in the cortical What and Where streams starting from early visual areas through medial temporal lobe to prefrontal cortex. After learning, model dorsolateral prefrontal cortical cells (area 46) prime possible target locations in posterior parietal cortex based on goalmodulated percepts of spatial scene gist represented in parahippocampal cortex, whereas model ventral prefrontal cortical cells (area 47/12) prime possible target object representations in inferior temporal cortex based on the history of viewed objects represented in perirhinal cortex. The model hereby predicts how the cortical What and Where streams cooperate during scene perception, learning, and memory to accumulate evidence over time to drive efficient visual search of familiar scenes.CELEST, an NSF Science of Learning Center (SBE-0354378); SyNAPSE program of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (HR0011-09-3-0001, HR0011-09-C-0011

Unraveling the mysteries of China's foreign trade regime : a view from Jiangsu Province

This paper provides an analytic discussion of China's complex foreign trade regime and suggests policy reforms. The paper pays special attention to the implementation of national trade policies at provincial and city levels. This is important for understanding developments in China's external sector because, during the 1980s, provinces began to enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The author draws specific examples at provincial and city levels form Jiangsu Province and Wuxi City. Jiangsu is one of the fastest growing provinces in China; it has also experienced a rapid growth in exports during the past 10 years. The paper provides a brief history of the developments in China's foreign trade regime. It discusses the major institutions responsible for China's foreign trade and outlines trade policies.National Governance,Economic Theory&Research,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade Policy

Perspective study: governance for C2C

This perspective study will serve as frame of reference for follow-up activities and exchanges both within and outside the Cradle to Cradle Network (C2CN) and it aims to reflect the current challenges and opportunities associated with implementing a Cradle to Cradle approach. In total, four perspective studies have been written, in the areas on industry, area spatial development, governance and on the build theme

Vocabulary in speaking performance

99 Páginas.El presente trabajo examina la importancia del vocabulario en la producción oral identificada en un grupo de empleados adultos de una clase de inglés básico en Tata Consultancy Services (TCS de aquí en adelante); cuando ellos deseaban expresar sus ideas en un segundo idioma. Los participantes de esta investigación reconocieron su incapacidad para expresar verbalmente sus ideas como uno de los desafíos más difíciles en su aprendizaje del idioma. Muchos factores influyen en el desarrollo de esta habilidad como el entorno de aprendizaje, herramientas pedagógicas y adquisición de vocabulario, siendo esta ultima el enfoque de la presente investigación. Este estudio exploró la importancia de las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia la producción oral en inglés, su segundo idioma y cómo su nivel de conocimiento de vocabulario influye en su producción oral. El objetivo general de esta investigación fue analizar la influencia del conocimiento de vocabulario en el aprendizaje relacionado con su lenguaje de negocios. La justificación de este proyecto se basa en la identificación de estrategias auto-dirigidas que fueron proporcionadas a los estudiantes para crear sus propias metas de aprendizaje, encontrar recursos y estrategias para superar su falta de vocabulario. La estrategia empleada para guiar a los participantes a lo largo de la investigación fue el diseño y la implementación de diarios reflexivos. El estudio busco determinar los efectos que los diarios reflexivos tienen sobre el proceso de mejora de la comunicación a través del aprendizaje de vocabulario. El investigador concluyo que la producción oral de los estudiantes mejora por medio del conocimiento de vocabulario y los diarios reflexivos son una estrategia de auto-dirección efectiva para la mejora de la producción oral de los estudiantes

ALLIANCE - an alliance for the development of business and employment in rural areas: a community learning model.

The alliance model has been conceived as the development of a network of international (economic and cultural) relations building on pre-existing relational, natural and economic capital. The objective is to give a boost to the development of enterprises which are deeply rooted in the local culture while at the same time having a sufficiently mature attitude towards international markets. The theoretical and conceptual assumptions of the model are derived from essentially four theses: 1. Each process of innovation is an authentic process of individual and collective learning; 2. Each process of learning also contains a process of creative destruction; 3. The process is not sustainable over time, without in some way institutionalising the innovation which has been introduced; 4. Key learning/change initiators and facilitators have to be identified and involved as key actors. From this dynamic of the creation of innovative relational capital we can expect the development of: a managed process of generation, maintenance and capitalisation of high-quality know-how; an ever-more ready and diffuse acceptance of new practises and points of reference and the abandoning of habits which block innovation (creative forgetting); the expansion of entrepreneurial ability and co-operation capacity including that of women generally neglected; the development of a network of enterprises, leaded by women and families, able to compete in the context of international markets. The context of application the model has been applied to a context characterised by: a vocation turned essentially into a rural economy and with high potentiality for tourism; a weak productive capacity; relevant presence of young highly schooled population; rates of schooling degrees above the average; women willing to start a change /learning process aimed at the upgrading of their own role and that of their community; women and their networks willing to start businesses. The operational model is structured in two main phases to the inside of which are previewed various specific actions. The first phase, entitled preparatory, is aimed at the development of a task force, that is leader figures who are organic, but not conditioned by the territory. The second phase entailed in the model, is defined as intervention for enterprise creation and development of a cluster, and is aimed at the identification of those territories characterised by a set of success factors, the diagnosis of the territorial potentiality, the development of a shared vision for change in the community and the support to the creation and development of businesses capable to compete in international niches markets. This phase, based on an entirely new model for job and business creation with full consideration of gender peculiarities and equal opportunities, focuses on the core aim of giving start to a network of business, all interconnected by complementary links, capable to upgrade the productive and employment capacity and in the meantime give value to the potentiality entailed in the cultural and environmental heritage of the local community. The second phase of the model is composed by 4 key actions: recruitment, animation and orientation to entrepreneurialism, escort the job and enterprise development, making sustainability institutionalised.

Application of classic grounded theory in nursing studies: A qualitative systematic review protocol

Introduction Classic grounded theory (CGT) is a valuable method for nursing research, but the application of CGT methodology in nursing studies has not been specifically investigated. With the increasing use of CGT in nursing research, attention is now focusing on the quality of studies using this methodology. In this systematic review, we aim to develop an understanding of the application of CGT methodology, specifically appraising the quality of the methodology\u27s application in the field of nursing research. Methods and analysis The reporting of this review will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analysis guidelines statement and data synthesis guided by the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guideline. Publications will be uploaded to Rayyan. The quality of each article will be assessed using the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme qualitative research appraisal tool. Analysis of the selected studies will be performed using the Guideline for Reporting and Evaluating Grounded Theory Research Studies, explicitly the CGT guiding principles. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required because only secondary data will be used in this review. The results of the final study will be published in a peer-reviewed open-access journal

College Aspirations, Preparation, and Enrollment of First-Generation College Students: The Role of College Counseling Support

It is well documented that college degree attainment can impact lifetime earnings and social mobility. However, research shows that first-generation college students (FGCs) are less likely than their peers to enroll in college after high school. The influence of a college counselor at the high school level as an influential other may positively influence college-going rates for first-generation students and help to close educational attainment gaps between FGCs and non-FGCs. While previous research has examined lower college aspirations, academic preparation, and enrollment rates of FGCs, previous literature has yet to address the role of college counseling support on the four-year college aspirations, academic preparation, and enrollment selectivity levels for FGC students. This dissertation utilizes three separate, but connected studies to examine the college counseling support variables that impact three phases of college choice: 1) 9 th and 11 th grade college aspirations; 2) college academic preparation; and 3) four-year college enrollment selecitivity levels. The studies are guided by a three-phase college choice theoretical framework that incorporates the impact of college counseling support at each phase. The three quantitative studies in this dissertation utilize nationally representative, longitudinal data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 which surveyed more than 21,000 9 th -grade students in 2009. Additional surveys were administered to students in 2012, 2013 and 2016 as well as to parents, counselors, teachers and school administrators. The studies in this dissertation used independent, dependent, and control variables that span multiple surveys. Linear probability models, linear regressions, and multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyze disparaities in college aspirations, preparation, and enrollment levels among FGCs and non-FGCs. The three studies are the first to use nationally representative data to show that while FGCs are less likely to have access to college counseling support at their high schools. However, the results also found that those FGCs who had access to meaningful college counseling support saw increased college aspirations, academic preparation, and enrollment levels at highly selective four-year institutions. This dissertation has important policy and practice implications in that it demonstrates the need for prioritization of funding for high school counseling departments by school and district administrators as well as by state legislators. The results of the studies could inform high school college counseling practices and encourage counseling departments to implement comprehensive college counseling curricula that begins in 9 th grade and guides students through all three stages of the college choice framework guiding this dissertation

Nootropics use in the workplace. Psychiatric and ethical aftermath towards the new frontier of bioengineering

OBJECTIVE: The authors have sought to expound upon and shed a light on the rise of nootropics, which have gradually taken on a more and more relevant role in workplaces and academic settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multidisciplinary databases have been delved into by entering the following keys: "nootropics", "cognitive enhancement", "workplace", "productivity", "ethics", "bioengineering". In addition, a broad-ranging search has been undertaken on institutional websites in order to identify relevant analysis and recommendations issued by international institutions and agencies. Papers and reports have been independently pored over by each author. This search strategy has led to the identification of 988 sources but only 64 were considered appropriate for the purposes of the paper after being selected by at least 3 of the authors, independently. RESULTS: The notion of an artificially enhanced work performance - carried out by the 'superworker' - is particularly noteworthy and resonates with the conception of contemporary work on so many different levels: the rising need and demands for higher degrees of flexibility and productivity on the job, the implications of a '24/7' society, where more and more services are available at any time, the ever greater emphasis on entrepreneurial spirit, individual self-reliance and self-improvement, and last but not least, the impact of an ageing society on economic standards and performance. CONCLUSIONS: Moreover, it is worth mentioning that human enhancement technologies will predictably and increasingly go hand in hand with gene editing, bioengineering, cybernetics and nanotechnology. Applications are virtually boundless, and may ultimately affect all human traits (physical strength, endurance, vision, intelligence and even personality and mood)