Active management of multi-service networks.

Future multiservice networks will be extremely large and complex. Novel management solutions will be required to keep the management costs reasonable. Active networking enables management to be delegated to network users as a large set of independent small scale management systems. A novel architecture for an active network based management solution for multiservice networking is presented

Context-Gated Statistical Learning and Its Role in Visual-Saccadic Decisions

Adaptive behavior in a nonstationary world requires humans to learn and track the statistics of the environment. We examined the mechanisms of adaptation in a nonstationary environment in the context of visual-saccadic inhibition of return (IOR). IOR is adapted to the likelihood that return locations will be refixated in the near future. We examined 2 potential learning mechanisms underlying adaptation: (a) a local tracking or priming mechanism that facilitates behavior that is consistent with recent experience and (b) a mechanism that supports retrieval of knowledge of the environmental statistics based on the contextual features of the environment. Participants generated sequences of 2 saccadic eye movements in conditions where the probability that the 2nd saccade was directed back to the previously fixated location varied from low (.17) to high (.50). In some conditions, the contingency was signaled by a contextual cue (the shape of the movement cue). Adaptation occurred in the absence of contextual signals but was more pronounced in the presence of contextual cues. Adaptation even occurred when different contingencies were randomly intermixed, showing the parallel formation of multiple associations between context and statistics. These findings are accounted for by an evidence accumulation framework in which the resting baseline of decision alternatives is adjusted on a trial-by-trial basis. This baseline tracks the subjective prior beliefs about the behavioral relevance of the different alternatives and is updated on the basis of the history of recent events and the contextual features of the current environment

Exploring the Feasibility of Virtually Delivered Auricular Point Acupressure in Self-Managing Chronic Pain: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain remains highly prevalent. Current pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have not adequately managed chronic pain which has contributed to disability and high healthcare costs. With existing challenges in providing adequate pain care and access, we tested vAPA, a virtually delivered, self-management intervention using Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) by mobile app and virtual consultations (telehealth). Our key purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of the vAPA in self-managing chronic pain in preparation for a future randomized controlled trial. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, qualitative study evaluating our 4-week vAPA intervention among 18 participants. We used directed qualitative content analysis. Results and Conclusion. Participants perceived that vAPA was feasible (acceptable, useable, practical, and beneficial). In addition, the following themes were gathered: better control of pain, less use of pain medications, self-management and motivation in pain, and expectations for pain relief. Refinements were recommended for the app, content, and delivery to improve study interventions. Findings are relevant in moving forward to a future randomized controlled trial and for wider implementation in a pragmatic clinical trial

Self-Guided Smartphone Application to Manage Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an auricular point acupressure smartphone app (mAPA) to self-manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted using a three-group design (self-guided mAPA ( RESULTS: After a 4-week APA intervention, participants in the in-person mAPA group had improved physical function of 32% immediately post-intervention and 29% at the 1M follow-up. Participants in the self-guided mAPA group had higher improvement (42% at post-intervention and 48% at the 1M follow-up). Both mAPA groups had similar degrees of pain intensity relief at post-intervention (45% for in-person and 48% for the self-guided group) and the 1M follow-up (42% for in-person and 45% for the self-guided group). Over 50% of the participants in each group reached at least 30% reduced pain intensity at post-intervention, and this was sustained in the mAPA groups at the 1M follow-up. Approximately 80% of the participants in both mAPA groups were satisfied with the treatment outcomes and adhered to the suggested APA practice; however, participants in the self-guided group had higher duration and more frequency in APA use. The attrition rate was 16% at the 1M follow-up. No adverse effects of APA were reported, and participants found APA to be beneficial and the app to be valuable. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings indicate that participants effectively learned APA using a smartphone app, whether they were self-guided or received in-person training. They were able to self-administer APA to successfully manage their pain. Participants found APA to be valuable in their pain self-management and expressed satisfaction with the intervention using the app

Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Competitive Cycling: A Scoping Review

This article reports on the findings from a scoping review on eating disorders and disor- dered eating in competitive cycling. The review was informed by a scoping review methodological framework as well as the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis ex- tension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines. PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science were used to identify relevant literature for review. Fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the full review. A narrative synthesis was used to summarise the main findings and themes across the included literature. Findings from the review are presented under the following themes: cycling as an ‘at-risk’ discipline; power to weight ratio; energy requirements and risk of low energy availability; the social environment of cycling; nutrition support provision; rela- tionship between eating disorders/disordered eating and exercise addiction; and recommendations made in identified literature. Overall, the literature suggests competitive cycling is a sport with a high prevalence of disordered eating and/or eating disorders and a sport with unique risk factors that contribute to this. Crucially, more research is needed in this area. The article concludes with the gaps in the literature highlighted, implications for future research, and applications to policy and practice suggested

Parameter estimation of a model describing the human fingers

The goal of this paper is twofold: firstl, to provide a novel mathematical model thatdescribes the kinematic chain of motion of the human finers based on Lagrangianmechanics with four degrees of freedom and secondly, to estimate the model parametersusing data from able-bodied individuals. In the literature there are a variety of mathematicalmodels that have been developed to describe the motion of the human finer. These mod-els offer little to no information on the underlying mechanisms or corresponding equationsof motion. Furthermore, these models do not provide information as to how they scalewith different anthropometries. The data used here is generated using an experimentalprocedure that considers the free response motion of each fnger segment with data cap-tured via a motion capture system. The angular data collected are then filtere and fitteto a linear second-order differential approximation of the equations of motion. The resultsof the study show that the free response motion of the segments is underdamped acrossflexion/extensio and ad/abduction

Masculinities, media and the rugby mind: An analysis of stakeholder views on the relationship between rugby union, the media, masculine-influenced views on injury, and concussion

Rugby Union alongside other collision and contact sports faces ever mounting pressure in increasing recognition of concussive injuries and the risks potential which they present both in the short-term and long term for their athletes. The media is a central component of increasing pressure for cultural change. However, as our research shows there is a complex intersection of masculinities within Rugby Union and the media. This research analysed the results of 524 self-selected survey responses to understand how the media influenced their views on concussion. Critical commentaries from the media have the ability to challenge masculinities around concussion, yet they can still reinforce masculine values and when the media goes beyond tolerable limits Rugby Union consumers progress around concussion could be hindered