Learning associations between action and perception: effects of incompatible training on body part and spatial priming.

Observation of another person executing an action primes the same action in the observer's motor system. Recent evidence has shown that these priming effects are flexible, where training of new associations, such as making a foot response when viewing a moving hand, can reduce standard action priming effects (Gillmeister, Catmur, Liepelt, Brass, & Heyes, 2008). Previously, these effects were obtained after explicit learning tasks in which the trained action was cued by the content of a visual stimulus. Here we report similar learning processes in an implicit task in which the participant's action is self-selected, and subsequent visual effects are determined by the nature of that action. Importantly, we show that these learning processes are specific to associations between actions and viewed body parts, in that incompatible spatial training did not influence body part or spatial priming effects. Our results are consistent with models of visuomotor learning that place particular emphasis on the repeated experience of watching oneself perform an action

Navigating Choppy Waters: The QSEP Voyage from Multiple Perspectives

The Society’s Stage 2 Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) has been developed to provide an appropriate training route for those seeking to forge a career within our relatively fledgling domain. QSEP represents a positive advancement for the personal and professional development of aspiring practitioners, whilst also ensuring greater transparency for service users regarding the competence of Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologists. Although QSEP has evolved into a rigorous and fairly standardised process of professional training, there remains a great deal of variation in the approaches to supervision and subsequent experiences of candidates. The aim of this symposium is to provide a descriptive and reflective account of a particular model of supervision being adopted at one host institution within the UK. In paper 1, Andrew Manley will provide an overview of this institutional model of supervision, setting the scene for the remainder of the symposium. Paper 2 will be delivered by Ross Shand, who will offer a reflective account of his QSEP experiences under this institutional model. In paper 3, Charlotte Hinchliffe will outline her role in the development and functioning of the Applied Sport Psychology Special Interest Group, as it looks to become an integral part of the institutional supervision model. Paper 4, delivered by Andrew Manley and Susan Backhouse, will provide a reflective summary of the QSEP process from perspectives of two Supervisors and Assessors. Finally, Jo Hudson will act as discussant, offering some conclusions and implications based on the presentations. The primary aim of this symposium is not to advocate a specific approach to QSEP supervision as an example of “best” practice, but rather an opportunity to share some insights regarding the benefits and challenges of operationalising a particular model of supervision from the perspectives of Trainees, Supervisors, and Assessors

Development of the Macquarie Anxiety Behavioural Scale (MABS): A parent measure to assess anxiety in children and adolescents including young people with autism spectrum disorder

Objective: This study examined measurement variance for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale - Parent Form (SCAS-P; Spence, 1999). In addition, we developed and evaluated a new parent report measure for anxiety (Macquarie Anxiety Behavioural Scale; MABS). Method: The sample consisted of 734 parents of children aged 3–19 years (i) who were seeking help for their child's anxiety, (ii) who had received a diagnosis of ASD, or (iii) from the community. Results: Evidence for measurement variance of the SCAS-P and MABS was found, revealing different factor structures between the ASD and non-ASD groups. MIMIC modelling showed that the scales performed significantly different across ASD and non-ASD groups. Differential item functioning on a number of the SCAS-P and MABS items was also found. Limitations: This study relied on parent report of symptoms and of community acquired diagnoses of ASD. Conclusion: The MABS is a new parent measure to assess anxiety in children and adolescents and the proposed factor structure produced a reasonably good fit for the data. Similar to the SCAS-P, ASD was found to impact on some of the MABS items indicating that ASD influences parental responding. Eighteen MABS items showed measurement invariance across the anxious and ASD groups and can be considered suitable items for the assessment of anxiety in ASD

Assessment of anxiety in children and adolescents: A comparative study on the validity and reliability of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale in children and adolescents with anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective: The present study assessed the utility of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale - Parent Form (SCAS-P) across parents of children with (i) anxiety and (ii) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: Parents of children aged 7–18 years with anxiety or ASD completed the SCAS-P. Multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) structural equation modelling was utilized to analyse the data. Results: Analysis revealed different factor structures between the Anxious and ASD groups and evidence for measurement variance across groups in some parts of the SCAS-P. Conclusion: Results on the SCAS-P in children with ASD need to be interpreted with caution. Some SCAS-P items cannot be interpreted in the same way in an ASD population compared to neurotypical children with anxiety

Bridging the gap between education and employment: A case study of problem-based learning implementation in Postgraduate Sport and Exercise Psychology

The purpose of this case study was to explore Postgraduate Sport and Exercise Psychology students’ and their lecturer’s experiences of PBL, and, its role in developing their employability skills. A focus group was conducted with four students (Mage = 22.75 years, SD = 0.96 years; n female = 2) and a conversational interview was conducted with the lecturer (age = 37 years, teaching experience = 11 years). Inductive thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts was used as a basis for developing portrait and composite vignettes to illustrate their experiences. Their underpinning themes suggested that PBL was instrumental for developing key employability skills: team working, communication and interpersonal sensitivity; thinking critically, creatively and flexibly; for helping students translate academic knowledge into application in future employment contexts, and for increasing awareness that learning is a lifelong developmental process

Abdominal functional electrical stimulation to assist ventilator weaning in critical illness: a double-blinded, randomised, sham-controlled pilot study

BACKGROUND: For every day a person is dependent on mechanical ventilation, respiratory and cardiac complications increase, quality of life decreases and costs increase by > $USD 1500. Interventions that improve respiratory muscle function during mechanical ventilation can reduce ventilation duration. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of employing an abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abdominal FES) training program with critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. We also investigated the effect of abdominal FES on respiratory muscle atrophy, mechanical ventilation duration and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay. METHODS: Twenty critically ill mechanically ventilated participants were recruited over a 6-month period from one metropolitan teaching hospital. They were randomly assigned to receive active or sham (control) abdominal FES for 30 min, twice per day, 5 days per week, until ICU discharge. Feasibility was assessed through participant compliance to stimulation sessions. Abdominal and diaphragm muscle thickness were measured using ultrasound 3 times in the first week, and weekly thereafter by a blinded assessor. Respiratory function was recorded when the participant could first breathe independently and at ICU discharge, with ventilation duration and ICU length of stay also recorded at ICU discharge by a blinded assessor. RESULTS: Fourteen of 20 participants survived to ICU discharge (8, intervention; 6, control). One control was transferred before extubation, while one withdrew consent and one was withdrawn for staff safety after extubation. Median compliance to stimulation sessions was 92.1% (IQR 5.77%) in the intervention group, and 97.2% (IQR 7.40%) in the control group (p = 0.384). While this pilot study is not adequately powered to make an accurate statistical conclusion, there appeared to be no between-group thickness changes of the rectus abdominis (p = 0.099 at day 3), diaphragm (p = 0.652 at day 3) or combined lateral abdominal muscles (p = 0.074 at day 3). However, ICU length of stay (p = 0.011) and ventilation duration (p = 0.039) appeared to be shorter in the intervention compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our compliance rates demonstrate the feasibility of using abdominal FES with critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. While abdominal FES did not lead to differences in abdominal muscle or diaphragm thickness, it may be an effective method to reduce ventilation duration and ICU length of stay in this patient group. A fully powered study into this effect is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617001180303. Registered 9 August 2017

Electric-field-induced coherent coupling of the exciton states in a single quantum dot

The signature of coherent coupling between two quantum states is an anticrossing in their energies as one is swept through the other. In single semiconductor quantum dots containing an electron-hole pair the eigenstates form a two-level system that can be used to demonstrate quantum effects in the solid state, but in all previous work these states were independent. Here we describe a technique to control the energetic splitting of these states using a vertical electric field, facilitating the observation of coherent coupling between them. Near the minimum splitting the eigenstates rotate in the plane of the sample, being orientated at 45{\deg} when the splitting is smallest. Using this system we show direct control over the exciton states in one quantum dot, leading to the generation of entangled photon pairs

Baseline characteristics of participants in the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study (TAGS): A multicentre randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE: To report the baseline characteristics of participants enrolled in the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study (TAGS) DESIGN: Pragmatic randomised control trial (RCT). PARTICIPANTS: Patients with open angle glaucoma presenting with advanced glaucoma in at least one eye as defined by the Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson (HPA) criteria of severe defect. METHODS: Participants with newly diagnosed advanced glaucoma in at least one eye were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either primary augmented trabeculectomy or primary medical management. When both eyes were eligible, the same intervention was undertaken in both eyes and the index eye for analysis was the eye with the less severe visual field mean deviation (MD). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual field profile defined by the HPA classification, clinical characteristics, Quality of life measured by the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25), EuroQual-5 Dimension (EQ-5D 5L), Health Utility Index-3 (HUI-3) and Glaucoma Profile Instrument (GPI) RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-three patients were recruited. The mean visual field MD was -15.0dB (SD 6.3) in the index eye and -6.2dB in the non-index eye. Of index eyes (HPA ‘severe’ classification) at baseline, over 70% had a mean deviation < -12.00dB and nearly 90% had more than 20 points defective at the 1% level. The mean LogMAR visual acuity of the index eye was 0.2 (SD 0.3), CONCLUSIONS: TAGS is the first RCT to compare medical and surgical treatments for patients presenting with advanced open angle glaucoma in a publicly funded health service. It will provide clinical, health related quality of life and economic outcomes to inform future treatment choices for those presenting with advanced glaucom

High genetic diversity at the extreme range edge: nucleotide variation at nuclear loci in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Scotland

Nucleotide polymorphism at 12 nuclear loci was studied in Scots pine populations across an environmental gradient in Scotland, to evaluate the impacts of demographic history and selection on genetic diversity. At eight loci, diversity patterns were compared between Scottish and continental European populations. At these loci, a similar level of diversity (θsil=~0.01) was found in Scottish vs mainland European populations, contrary to expectations for recent colonization, however, less rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium was observed in the former (ρ=0.0086±0.0009, ρ=0.0245±0.0022, respectively). Scottish populations also showed a deficit of rare nucleotide variants (multi-locus Tajima's D=0.316 vs D=−0.379) and differed significantly from mainland populations in allelic frequency and/or haplotype structure at several loci. Within Scotland, western populations showed slightly reduced nucleotide diversity (πtot=0.0068) compared with those from the south and east (0.0079 and 0.0083, respectively) and about three times higher recombination to diversity ratio (ρ/θ=0.71 vs 0.15 and 0.18, respectively). By comparison with results from coalescent simulations, the observed allelic frequency spectrum in the western populations was compatible with a relatively recent bottleneck (0.00175 × 4Ne generations) that reduced the population to about 2% of the present size. However, heterogeneity in the allelic frequency distribution among geographical regions in Scotland suggests that subsequent admixture of populations with different demographic histories may also have played a role