4,138 research outputs found
Asymmetric interlimb transfer of concurrent adaptation to opposing dynamic forces
Interlimb transfer of a novel dynamic force has been well documented. It has also been shown that unimanual adaptation to opposing novel environments is possible if they are associated with different workspaces. The main aim of this study was to test if adaptation to opposing velocity dependent viscous forces with one arm could improve the initial performance of the other arm. The study also examined whether this interlimb transfer occurred across an extrinsic, spatial, coordinative system or an intrinsic, joint based, coordinative system. Subjects initially adapted to opposing viscous forces separated by target location. Our measure of performance was the correlation between the speed profiles of each movement within a force condition and an ‘average’ trajectory within null force conditions. Adaptation to the opposing forces was seen during initial acquisition with a significantly improved coefficient in epoch eight compared to epoch one. We then tested interlimb transfer from the dominant to non-dominant arm (D → ND) and vice-versa (ND → D) across either an extrinsic or intrinsic coordinative system. Interlimb transfer was only seen from the dominant to the non-dominant limb across an intrinsic coordinative system. These results support previous studies involving adaptation to a single dynamic force but also indicate that interlimb transfer of multiple opposing states is possible. This suggests that the information available at the level of representation allowing interlimb transfer can be more intricate than a general movement goal or a single perceived directional error
Complications after cryosurgery with new miniature cryoprobes in long hollow bones: An animal trial
BACKGROUND: In vitro studies show that new miniature cryoprobes are suitable for cryoablation of bone tissue. The aim of this animal trial on 24 sheep was to examine the perioperative complications, particularly the danger of embolism, of cryoablation when using miniature cryoprobes. METHODS: Cryoablations with 2 freeze-thaw cycles each were carried out in the epiphysis of the right tibia and the metaphysis of the left femur. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and central venous pressure (CVP) were measured. Throughout the intra- and perioperative phase, heart rate and oxygen saturation by pulse oxymetry, blood gas and electrolytes were monitored regularly. Postoperative complications were examined up to 24 weeks postoperativ. RESULTS: As result, no significant increase of PAP, CVP or heart rate were observed. Blood gases were unremarkable, with pO(2 )and pCO(2 )remaining constant throughout the operation. Regarding pH, standard bicarbonate and base excess, only a non-significant shift towards a slight acidosis was seen. There was a mean hemoglobin decrease of 0.5 g/dl. One animal showed postoperative wound infection and wound edge necrosis. No major peri- and postoperative complications associated with cryosurgery of bone were observed, especially regarding clinically relevant pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: Surgery with new types of miniature cryoprobes appears to be a safe alternative to or a complement to conventional resection of abnormal bone tissue
Measuring Metacognition in Cancer: Validation of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30)
Objective
The Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 assesses metacognitive beliefs and processes which are central to the metacognitive model of emotional disorder. As recent studies have begun to explore the utility of this model for understanding emotional distress after cancer diagnosis, it is important also to assess the validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 for use in cancer populations.
Methods
229 patients with primary breast or prostate cancer completed the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale pre-treatment and again 12 months later. The structure and validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 were assessed using factor analyses and structural equation modelling.
Results
Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses provided evidence supporting the validity of the previously published 5-factor structure of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30. Specifically, both pre-treatment and 12 months later, this solution provided the best fit to the data and all items loaded on their expected factors. Structural equation modelling indicated that two dimensions of metacognition (positive and negative beliefs about worry) were significantly associated with anxiety and depression as predicted, providing further evidence of validity.
Conclusions
These findings provide initial evidence that the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 is a valid measure for use in cancer populations
Molecular Genetics of T Cell Development
T cell development is guided by a complex set of transcription factors that act recursively, in different combinations, at each of the developmental choice points from T-lineage specification to peripheral T cell specialization. This review describes the modes of action of the major T-lineage-defining transcription factors and the signal pathways that activate them during intrathymic differentiation from pluripotent precursors. Roles of Notch and its effector RBPSuh (CSL), GATA-3, E2A/HEB and Id proteins, c-Myb, TCF-1, and members of the Runx, Ets, and Ikaros families are critical. Less known transcription factors that are newly recognized as being required for T cell development at particular checkpoints are also described. The transcriptional regulation of T cell development is contrasted with that of B cell development, in terms of their different degrees of overlap with the stem-cell program and the different roles of key transcription factors in gene regulatory networks leading to lineage commitment
Mathematizing Darwin
Ernst Mayr called the first part of the evolutionary synthesis the ‘Fisherian synthesis’ on account of the dominant role played by R.A. Fisher in forging a mathematical theory of natural selection together with J.B.S. Haldane and Sewall Wright in the decade 1922–1932. It is here argued that Fisher’s contribution relied on a close reading of Darwin’s work to a much greater extent than did the contributions of Haldane and Wright, that it was synthetic in contrast to their analytic approach and that it was greatly influenced by his friendship with the Darwin family, particularly with Charles’s son Leonard
On The Phase Structure and Thermodynamic Geometry of R-Charged Black Holes
We study the phase structure and equilibrium state space geometry of
R-charged black holes in , 4 and 7 and the corresponding rotating ,
and branes. For various charge configurations of the compact black
holes in the canonical ensemble we demonstrate new liquid-gas like phase
coexistence behaviour culminating in second order critical points. The critical
exponents turn out to be the same as that of four dimensional asymptotically
AdS black holes in Einstein Maxwell theory. We further establish that the
regions of stability for R-charged black holes are, in some cases, more
constrained than is currently believed, due to properties of some of the
response coefficients. The equilibrium state space scalar curvature is
calculated for various charge configurations, both for the case of compact as
well as flat horizons and its asymptotic behaviour with temperature is
established.Comment: 1 + 33 pages, LaTeX, 25 figures. References adde
RePAD: Real-time Proactive Anomaly Detection for Time Series
During the past decade, many anomaly detection approaches have been
introduced in different fields such as network monitoring, fraud detection, and
intrusion detection. However, they require understanding of data pattern and
often need a long off-line period to build a model or network for the target
data. Providing real-time and proactive anomaly detection for streaming time
series without human intervention and domain knowledge is highly valuable since
it greatly reduces human effort and enables appropriate countermeasures to be
undertaken before a disastrous damage, failure, or other harmful event occurs.
However, this issue has not been well studied yet. To address it, this paper
proposes RePAD, which is a Real-time Proactive Anomaly Detection algorithm for
streaming time series based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). RePAD utilizes
short-term historic data points to predict and determine whether or not the
upcoming data point is a sign that an anomaly is likely to happen in the near
future. By dynamically adjusting the detection threshold over time, RePAD is
able to tolerate minor pattern change in time series and detect anomalies
either proactively or on time. Experiments based on two time series datasets
collected from the Numenta Anomaly Benchmark demonstrate that RePAD is able to
proactively detect anomalies and provide early warnings in real time without
human intervention and domain knowledge.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, the 34th International Conference on Advanced
Information Networking and Applications (AINA 2020
Lost in translation: overcoming the barriers to global implementation and exchange of behavioral medicine evidence
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