Spatial processes in category assignment

Investigates the hypothesis that spatial processes are involved in judgments on membership in a category. It is argued that membership versus nonmembership of an object or a concept, in a category, is spatially simulated in mental space by a minimal continuum with 2 levels, left for membership and right for nonmembership. In analogy to other embodied dimensions (e.g., time line or number line), the orientation of membership levels on the mental dimension is assumed to follow the acquired reading/writing schema, with procedural primacy implying dominance, hence leftward positioning of dominant elements. This rationale is tested in 7 experiments. A recognition memory paradigm (modified 2AFC paradigm, Experiment 1) revealed that participants were faster indicating the location of an old word on the screen when displayed left within a pair of words, indicating a spatial representation of category membership (“member” = left, “nonmember” = right). For category discrimination (Experiment 2) we found faster and more accurate performance when a target word is presented left as compared with right. This pattern is replicated in Experiments 4a and 4b, with different response alternatives. Discriminating categories in a stimulus-response compatibility paradigm (Experiment 3), participants were faster making correct responses with their left hand than with their right hand in target category trials. In contrast, no differences were found for distractor trials. Experiments 5a and 5b address the spatial bias in spontaneous sorting situations. Overall, this pattern of results across the 7 experiments provides evidence in support of a spatial simulation of category assignmen

Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration in Mount Berecha Area of Main Ethiopian Rift using Hyperspectral Data

Airborne Imaging Spectroradiometer for Applications (AISA) Hawk data was used to identify and map hydrothermal alteration mineralogy in Mount Berecha area of Main Ethiopian Rift valley. The Airborne image mapping was coupled with laboratory analysis involving reflectance spectroscopic measurements with the use of ASD FieldSpec for mineral and rock samples. The study was based in the shortwave infrared wavelength (SWIR) region. Laboratory spectra acquired from field data analysis served as guide in selecting image endmembers which were used as input in Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification for mineral mapping. SWIR spectroscopy was able to detect the main very fine grained mineral assemblages which occur in the study area, including kaolinite, halloysite, opal, montmorillonite, nontronite, calcite, K-alunite, palygorskite, MgChlorite, zoisite, illite and mixtures of these minerals. SAM classification algorithm gives the overall classification of the alteration minerals of Berecha area and was used to generate the surficial mineral map of the study area. Berecha alteration is related to low sulfidation system and the most widespread alteration effects are represented essentially in advanced argillic alteration assemblage consisting mainly of kaolinite + opal + smectite + alunite which is likely of steam heated origin. Keywords: Hyperspectral, Imaging Spectrometry, AISA Hawk, Berecha, ASD FieldSpec, Spectral Angle Mappe

A robust anchoring effect in linear ordering

The robustness of effects indicating a spatial component associated with abstract reasoning is tested. Judgements regarding hierarchical orderings tend to be faster and more accurate when the dominant element in any pair from the order (e.g., the older, richer) is presented on the left of the screen as compared with the right (left-anchoring effect). This signature effect is investigated in three conditions (Experiment 1), each implementing a different timing regime for the elements in each pair, during learning. Thereby, the construction of a mental representation of the ordering was exposed to a potentially competing spatial simulation, that is, the well-known "mental timeline" with orientation from left (present) to right (future). First, the left-anchoring effect for order representations remained significant when timeline information was congruent with the presumed left-anchoring process, that is, the dominant element in a pair was always presented first. Second, the same effect remained also significant when the timeline-related information was random, that is, the dominant element being presented either first or second. Third, the same effect was found to be still significant, when the timeline-related information was contrary to the left-anchoring process, that is, the dominant element being presented always second. Experiment 2 replicates the target effect under random timeline information, controlling for colour as a stimulus feature. The results are discussed in the context of a theoretical model that integrates basic assumptions about acquired reading/writing habits as a scaffold for spatial simulation and primacy/dominance representation within such spatial simulations

Treatment of Knee Dislocation With Primary Repair and Suture Augmentation: A Viable Solution.

BACKGROUND Different surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of knee dislocation (KD). Nonoperative approaches are frequently combined with surgical reconstruction using auto- or allograft. PURPOSE To evaluate the midterm results of primary surgical repair and suture augmentation to treat KD. STUDY DESIGN Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS A total of 22 patients (5 women, 17 men; mean age, 45 ± 15 years) with KD were evaluated at a mean of 49 ± 16 months after surgical treatment that included primary repair and suture augmentation. Magnetic resonance imaging, stress radiographs, and outcome scores were obtained at the follow-up. Clinical examination including hop tests and force measurements for flexion and extension was performed. RESULTS The mean difference in pre- to postinjury Tegner scores was -2 ± 1. The outcome scores showed mean values of 84 ± 15 (Lysholm), 73 ± 15 (International Knee Documentation Committee) and 65 ± 25 (Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury scale). Compared with the uninjured knee, the range of motion of the injured knee was reduced by 21° ± 12°. Twelve patients felt fit enough to perform hop tests and showed a mean deficit of 7% ± 17%° compared with the uninjured leg. The mean force deficit was 19% ± 18% for extension and 8% ± 16% for flexion. Stress radiographs revealed an 11 ± 7-mm higher anteroposterior translation on the injured side. Four patients had secondary ligament reconstructions due to persistent instability and 7 underwent arthroscopic arthrolysis due to stiffness. A significant increase of osteoarthritis was found for the medial, lateral, and patellofemoral compartments (P = .007, .004, and .006, respectively). CONCLUSION Primary repair and suture augmentation of KD led to satisfactory clinical midterm results despite persistent radiological instability and a significant increase in osteoarthritis. This technique allows the return to activities of daily living without subjective instability in most nonathletic patients. Secondary ligament reconstructions should be performed if relevant instability persists to decrease the risk of secondary meniscal and cartilage damage

Coherent Charge Oscillations in a Bilayer Graphene Double Quantum Dot

The coherent dynamics of a quantum mechanical two-level system passing through an anti-crossing of two energy levels can give rise to Landau-Zener-St\"uckelberg-Majorana (LZSM) interference. LZSM interference spectroscopy has proven to be a fruitful tool to investigate charge noise and charge decoherence in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Recently, bilayer graphene has developed as a promising platform to host highly tunable QDs potentially useful for hosting spin and valley qubits. So far, in this system no coherent oscillations have been observed and little is known about charge noise in this material. Here, we report coherent charge oscillations and $T_2^*$ charge decoherence times in a bilayer graphene double QD. The charge decoherence times are measured independently using LZSM interference and photon assisted tunneling. Both techniques yield $T_2^*$ average values in the range of 400 to 500~ps. The observation of charge coherence allows to study the origin and spectral distribution of charge noise in future experiments.Comment: Article: 9 pages, 5 figures; Supplementary Information: 11 pages, 9 figure

Integrated network reconstruction, visualization and analysis using YANAsquare

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Modeling of metabolic networks includes tasks such as network assembly, network overview, calculation of metabolic fluxes and testing the robustness of the network.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>YANAsquare provides a software framework for rapid network assembly (flexible pathway browser with local or remote operation mode), network overview (visualization routine and YANAsquare editor) and network performance analysis (calculation of flux modes as well as target and robustness tests). YANAsquare comes as an easy-to-setup program package in Java. It is fully compatible and integrates the programs YANA (translation of gene expression values into flux distributions, metabolite network dissection) and Metatool (elementary mode calculation). As application examples we set-up and model the phospholipid network in the phagosome and genome-scale metabolic maps of <it>S.aureus</it>, <it>S.epidermidis </it>and <it>S.saprophyticus </it>as well as test their robustness against enzyme impairment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>YANAsquare is an application software for rapid setup, visualization and analysis of small, larger and genome-scale metabolic networks.</p