Category-length and category-strength effects using images of scenes

Global matching models have provided an important theoretical framework for recognition memory. Key predictions of this class of models are that (1) increasing the number of occurrences in a study list of some items affects the performance on other items (list-strength effect) and that (2) adding new items results in a deterioration of performance on the other items (list-length effect). Experimental confirmation of these predictions has been difficult, and the results have been inconsistent. A review of the existing literature, however, suggests that robust length and strength effects do occur when sufficiently similar hard-to-label items are used. In an effort to investigate this further, we had participants study lists containing one or more members of visual scene categories (bathrooms, beaches, etc.). Experiments 1 and 2 replicated and extended previous findings showing that the study of additional category members decreased accuracy, providing confirmation of the category-length effect. Experiment 3 showed that repeating some category members decreased the accuracy of nonrepeated members, providing evidence for a category-strength effect. Experiment 4 eliminated a potential challenge to these results. Taken together, these findings provide robust support for global matching models of recognition memory. The overall list lengths, the category sizes, and the number of repetitions used demonstrated that scene categories are well-suited to testing the fundamental assumptions of global matching models. These include (A) interference from memories for similar items and contexts, (B) nondestructive interference, and (C) that conjunctive information is made available through a matching operation

Stability of apomorphine in solutions containing selected antioxidant agents

Apomorphine in solution undergoes rapid autoxidation, producing greenish colored solutions, making it difficult to formulate as a stable pharmaceutical solution. To identify the optimum antioxidant agent/combination for apomorphine solution, a high performance liquid chromatography assay was used to study the stability of 50 µg/mL apomorphine HCI in 0.1% L-ascorbic acid (AA), 0.1% sodium metabisulfite (SMB), 0.1% EDTA, and in selected combinations at 25°C, 32°C, and 37°C over a period of 14 days. The stability of apomorphine HCl (10 mg/mL) in 0.1% AA solution and in 0.1% EDTA solution at 25°C and 37°C was also evaluated. Apomorphine HCI solution (50 µg/mL) in 0.1% AA plus 0.1% SMB solution retained 99.7% (at 25°C) and 95.9% (at 37°C) of the initial concentration, as 0.1% AA plus SMB solution minimized the reactive oxygen content in solution which, in turn, reduced the oxidation rate of apomorphine HCl, and there was no green coloration perceptible. Conversely, apomorphine HCl solution (50 µg/mL) in 0.1% SMB solution was unstable as only 0.53% (at 25°C) and 0.06% (at 37°C) of the initial concentration was retained after 14 days. All 10 mg/mL apomorphine HCl samples were stable in both studies. The initial concentration of apomorphine HCl solution markedly affected its rate of oxidation and discoloration. The addition of 0.1% AA to a current formulation of apomorphine HCl injection (Apomine(®)), which contains SMB as an antioxidant, was recommended as providing the most stable solution

SECURING HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS USING VISUALISATION TECHNIQUES (32)

Health care information systems form the backbone of health care infrastructures and are increasingly reliant on medical devices to capture and transmit data. These devices, however, are vulnerable to attacks from the digital domain. The number of differing medical devices and information systems interacting with one another in new and increasingly less secure and disparate ways creates new challenges in information systems security. This work-in-progress paper presents a system design and methodology for modelling data interactions and data flow within the health care infrastructure. The system will increase situational awareness for users of information systems and promote stronger cyber security best practices and policies within this rapidly evolving landscape

Assessment of Western Australian sandalwood seeds for seed oil production

The Western Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum R.Br.) industry is transforming into an agro-forestry industry in which the seeds are being considered as a valuable secondary income generating product. Oil extracted from the seeds has a potential use in the cosmetic industry. This study aimed to identify the quality parameters for seeds to obtain oil of better and consistent quality, and the effect of seed source, seed size and storage time. Different seed samples varied in oil content, moisture content and fatty acid profile. Larger seeds from plantation trees in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia are the most suitable source of seed oil thus far evaluated. The seed grading system currently used by the sandalwood industry was suitable for selecting seeds from plantations (but not from natural stands in arid regions – ‘wild wood’) for seed oil production. Basic parameters for the selection of seeds for oil extraction were identified

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, multicenter study to assess the effects of dronedarone 400 mg twice daily for 12 weeks on atrial fibrillation burden in subjects with permanent pacemakers

Purpose Dronedarone is a benzofuran derivative with a pharmacological profile similar to amiodarone but has a more rapid onset of action and a much shorter half-life (13–19 h). Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy of dronedarone in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients using dual-chamber pacemakers capable of quantifying atrial fibrillation burden. Methods Pacemakers were adjusted to optimize AF detection. Patients with AF burden \u3e1 % were randomized to dronedarone 400 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo. Pacemakers were interrogated after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was the change in AF burden from baseline over the 12-week treatment period. Patients with permanent AF, severe/recently decompensated heart failure, and current use of antiarrhythmic drugs were excluded. AF burden was assessed by a core laboratory blinded to treatment assignment. Results From 285 patients screened, 112 were randomized (mean age 76 years, 60 % male, 84 % hypertensive, 65 % with sick sinus syndrome, 26 % with diabetes mellitus type II, 15 % with heart failure). Baseline mean (SEM) AF burden was 8.77 % (0.16) for placebo and 10.14 % (0.17) for dronedarone. Over the 12-week study period, AF burden compared to baseline decreased by 54.4 % (0.22) (P = 0.0009) with dronedarone and trended higher by 12.8 % (0.16) (P = 0.450) with placebo. The absolute change in burden was decreased by 5.5 % in the dronedarone group and increased by 1.1 % in the placebo group. Heart rate during AF was reduced to approximately 4 beats/min with dronedarone (P = 0.285). Adverse events were higher with dronedarone compared to placebo (65 vs 56 %). Conclusions Dronedarone reduced pacemaker-assessed the relative AF burden compared to baseline and placebo by over 50 % during the 12-week observation period

The Effect of Dietary Carbohydrate and Fat Manipulation on the Metabolome and Markers of Glucose and Insulin Metabolism: A Randomised Parallel Trial.

From Europe PMC via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: ppub 2022-09-01, epub 2022-09-07Publication status: PublishedHigh carbohydrate, lower fat (HCLF) diets are recommended to reduce cardiometabolic disease (CMD) but low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diets can be just as effective. The effect of LCHF on novel insulin resistance biomarkers and the metabolome has not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an ad libitum 8-week LCHF diet compared with a HCLF diet on CMD markers, the metabolome, and insulin resistance markers. n = 16 adults were randomly assigned to either LCHF (n = 8, <50 g CHO p/day) or HCLF diet (n = 8) for 8 weeks. At weeks 0, 4 and 8, participants provided fasted blood samples, measures of body composition, blood pressure and dietary intake. Samples were analysed for markers of cardiometabolic disease and underwent non-targeted metabolomic profiling. Both a LCHF and HCLF diet significantly (p < 0.01) improved fasting insulin, HOMA IR, rQUICKI and leptin/adiponectin ratio (p < 0.05) levels. Metabolomic profiling detected 3489 metabolites with 78 metabolites being differentially regulated, for example, an upregulation in lipid metabolites following the LCHF diet may indicate an increase in lipid transport and oxidation, improving insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, both diets may reduce type 2 diabetes risk albeit, a LCHF diet may enhance insulin sensitivity by increasing lipid oxidation

Exploring wearable sensors as an alternative to marker-based motion capture in the pitching delivery

Background Improvements in data processing, increased understanding of the biomechanical background behind kinetics and kinematics, and technological advancements in inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors have enabled high precision in the measurement of joint angles and acceleration on human subjects. This has resulted in new devices that reportedly measure joint angles, arm speed, and stresses to the pitching arms of baseball players. This study seeks to validate one such sensor, the MotusBASEBALL unit, with a marker-based motion capture laboratory. Hypothesis We hypothesize that the joint angle measurements (“arm slot” and “shoulder rotation”) of the MotusBASEBALL device will hold a statistically significant level of reliability and accuracy, but that the “arm speed” and “stress” metrics will not be accurate due to limitations in IMU technology. Methods A total of 10 healthy subjects threw five to seven fastballs followed by five to seven breaking pitches (slider or curveball) in the motion capture lab. Subjects wore retroreflective markers and the MotusBASEBALL sensor simultaneously. Results It was found that the arm slot (R = 0.975, P < 0.001), shoulder rotation (R = 0.749, P < 0.001), and stress (R = 0.667, P = 0.001 when compared to elbow torque; R = 0.653, P = 0.002 when compared to shoulder torque) measurements were all significantly correlated with the results from the motion capture lab. Arm speed showed significant correlations to shoulder internal rotation speed (R = 0.668, P = 0.001) and shoulder velocity magnitude (R = 0.659, P = 0.002). For the entire sample, arm slot and shoulder rotation measurements were on a similar scale, or within 5–15% in absolute value, of magnitude to measurements from the motion capture test, averaging eight degrees less (12.9% relative differences) and nine degrees (5.4%) less, respectively. Arm speed had a much larger difference, averaging 3,745 deg/s (80.2%) lower than shoulder internal rotation velocity, and 3,891 deg/s (80.8%) less than the shoulder velocity magnitude. The stress metric was found to be 41 Newton meter (Nm; 38.7%) less when compared to elbow torque, and 42 Nm (39.3%) less when compared to shoulder torque. Despite the differences in magnitude, the correlations were extremely strong, indicating that the MotusBASEBALL sensor had high reliability for casual use. Conclusion This study attempts to validate the use of the MotusBASEBALL for future studies that look at the arm slot, shoulder rotation, arm speed, and stress measurements from the MotusBASEBALL sensor. Excepting elbow extension velocity, all metrics from the MotusBASEBALL unit showed significant correlations to their corresponding metrics from motion capture and while some magnitudes differ substantially and therefore fall short in validity, the link between the metrics is strong enough to indicate reliable casual use. Further research should be done to further investigate the validity and reliability of the arm speed metric