3,075 research outputs found
The effects of acute inflammation on cognitive functioning and emotional processing in humans: A systematic review of experimental studies
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record Objective The cognitive neuropsychological model of depression proposes that negative biases in the processing of emotionally salient information have a central role in the development and maintenance of depression. We have conducted a systematic review to determine whether acute experimental inflammation is associated with changes to cognitive and emotional processing that are thought to cause and maintain depression. Methods We identified experimental studies in which healthy individuals were administered an acute inflammatory challenge (bacterial endotoxin/vaccination) and standardised tests of cognitive function were performed. Results Fourteen references were identified, reporting findings from 12 independent studies on 345 participants. Methodological quality was rated strong or moderate for 11 studies. Acute experimental inflammation was triggered using a variety of agents (including endotoxin from E. coli, S. typhi, S. abortus Equi and Hepatitis B vaccine) and cognition was assessed over hours to months, using cognitive tests of i) attention/executive functioning, ii) memory and iii) social/emotional processing. Studies found mixed evidence that acute experimental inflammation caused changes to attention/executive functioning (2 of 6 studies showed improvements in attention executive function compared to control), changes in memory (3 of 5 studies; improved reaction time: reduced memory for object proximity: poorer immediate and delayed memory) and changes to social/emotional processing (4 of 5 studies; reduced perception of emotions, increased avoidance of punishment/loss experiences, and increased social disconnectedness). Conclusions Acute experimental inflammation causes negative biases in social and emotional processing that could explain observed associations between inflammation and depression.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR
Exploring the Touch and Motion Features in Game-Based Cognitive Assessments
Early detection of cognitive decline is important for timely intervention and treatment strategies to prevent further deterioration or development of more severe cognitive impairment, as well as identify at risk individuals for research. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of using data collected from built-in sensors of mobile phone and gameplay performance in mobile-game-based cognitive assessments. Twenty-two healthy participants took part in the two-session experiment where they were asked to take a series of standard cognitive assessments followed by playing three popular mobile games in which user-game interaction data were passively collected. The results from bivariate analysis reveal correlations between our proposed features and scores obtained from paper-based cognitive assessments. Our results show that touch gestural interaction and device motion patterns can be used as supplementary features on mobile game-based cognitive measurement. This study provides initial evidence that game related metrics on existing off-the-shelf games have potential to be used as proxies for conventional cognitive measures, specifically for visuospatial function, visual search capability, mental flexibility, memory and attention
Benthic Foraminiferal response to sea level change in the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system of southern Ashmore Trough (Gulf of Papua)
Ashmore Trough in the western Gulf of Papua (GoP) represents an outstanding modern example of a tropical mixed siliciclastic-carbonate depositional system where significant masses of both river-borne silicates and bank-derived neritic carbonates accumulate. In this study, we examine how benthic foraminiferal populations within Ashmore Trough vary in response to sea level–driven paleoenvironmental changes, particularly organic matter and sediment supply. Two 11.3-m-long piston cores and a trigger core were collected from the slope of Ashmore Trough and dated using radiocarbon and oxygen isotope measurements of planktic foraminifera. Relative abundances, principal component analyses, and cluster analyses of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in sediment samples identify three distinct assemblages whose proportions changed over time. Assemblage 1, with high abundances of Uvigerina peregrina and Bolivina robusta, dominated between ∼83 and 70 ka (early regression); assemblage 2, with high abundances of Globocassidulina subglobosa, dominated between ∼70 and 11 ka (late regression through lowstand and early transgression); and assemblage 3, with high abundances of neritic benthic species such as Planorbulina mediterranensis, dominated from ∼11 ka to the present (late transgression through early highstand). Assemblage 1 represents heightened organic carbon flux or lowered bottom water oxygen concentration, and corresponds to a time of maximum siliciclastic fluxes to the slope with falling sea level. Assemblage 2 reflects lowered organic carbon flux or elevated bottom water oxygen concentration, and corresponds to an interval of lowered siliciclastic fluxes to the slope due to sediment bypass during sea level lowstand. Assemblage 3 signals increased off-shelf delivery of neritic carbonates, likely when carbonate productivity on the outer shelf (Great Barrier Reef) increased significantly when it was reflooded. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the sediment sink (slopes of Ashmore Trough) likely respond to the amount and type of sediment supplied from the proximal source (outer GoP shelf)
Unsung heroes: Constituency election agents in British general elections
Despite their central role in the electoral process, constituency agents have been largely overlooked by political scientists and this article seeks to rectify the omission. It sketches the origins and development of the role of agent from the late 19th century and suggests that a serious rethink of the role took place in the 1990s. Survey-based evidence about the social characteristics of agents is presented confirming that they are largely middle-aged, middle-class, well-educated men. They are also becoming more experienced, offer realistic assessments of the impact of constituency campaigning and, arguably, many take a long-term view of how their party's support can be maximised
The Luminosity Function of Nearby Galaxy Clusters II: Redshifts and Luminosity Function for Galaxies in the Region of the Centaurus Cluster
We acquired spectra for a random sample of galaxies within a 0.83 square
degree region centered on the core of the Centaurus cluster. Radial velocities
were obtained for 225 galaxies to limiting magnitudes of V < 19.5. Of the
galaxies for which velocities were obtained, we find 35% to be member galaxies.
Of the 78 member galaxies, magnitudes range from 11.8 < V < 18.5 (-21.6 < M_{V}
< -14.9 for H_o = 70 km s^-1 Mpc^-1) with a limiting central surface brightness
of \mu_o < 22.5 mag arcsec^-2. We constructed the cluster galaxy luminosity
function by using these spectroscopic results to calculate the expected
fraction of cluster members in each magnitude bin. The faint-end slope of the
luminosity function using this method is shallower than the one obtained using
a statistical method to correct for background galaxy contamination. We also
use the spectroscopy results to define surface brightness criteria to establish
membership for the full sample. Using these criteria, we find a luminosity
function very similar to the one constructed with the statistical background
correction. For both, we find a faint-end slope alpha ~ -1.4. Adjusting the
surface brightness membership criteria we find that the data are consistent
with a faint-end slope as shallow as -1.22 or as steep as -1.50. We describe in
this paper some of the limitations of using these methods for constructing the
galaxy luminosity function.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A
Courts, care proceedings and outcomes uncertainty: the challenges of achieving and assessing ‘good outcomes’ for children after child protection proceedings
The professed aim of any social welfare or legal intervention in family life is often to bring about ‘better outcomes for the children’. But there is considerable ambiguity about ‘outcomes’, and the term is far too often used in far too simplistic a way. This paper draws on empirical research into the outcomes of care proceedings for a randomly selected sample of 616 children in England and Wales, about half starting proceedings in 2009-10, and the others in 2014-15. The paper considers the challenges of achieving and assessing ‘good outcomes’ for the children. Outcomes are complex and fluid for all children, whatever the court order. One has to assess the progress of the children in the light of their individual needs and in the context of ‘normal’ child development; and in terms of the legal provisions and policy expectations. A core paradox is that some of the most uncertain outcomes are for children who remain with or return to their parents; yet law and policy require that first consideration is given to this option. Greater transparency about the uncertainty of outcomes is a necessary step towards better understanding the risks and potential benefits of care proceedings
Variation in ambulance call rates for care homes in Torbay, UK
Emergency ambulance calls represent one of the routes of emergency hospital admissions from
care homes. We aimed to describe the pattern of ambulance call rates from care homes and
identify factors predicting those homes calling for an ambulance most frequently. We obtained
data from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust on 3138 ambulance calls
relating to people aged 65 and over from care homes in the Torbay region between 1/4/12 and
31/7/13. We supplemented this with data from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website
on home characteristics and outcomes of CQC inspections. We used descriptive statistics to
identify variation in ambulance call rates for residential and nursing homes and fitted negative
binomial regression models to determine if call rates were predicted by home type (nursing
versus residential), the five standards in the CQC reports, dementia care status or travel time to
hospital. One hundred and forty-six homes (119 residential and 27 nursing) were included in
the analysis. The number of calls made ranged from 1 to 99. The median number (IQR; range)
of calls per resident per year was 0.51 (0.21 to 0.89; 0.03 to 2.45). Nursing homes had a lower
call rate than residential homes (adjusted rate ratio (ARR) 0.29; 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.40 ;
p<0.001); care homes failing the quality and suitability of management standard had a lower
call rate compared to those who passed (ARR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.90; p=0.006); and homes
specialising in dementia had a higher call rate compared to those not specialising (ARR 1.56;
95% CI: 1.23 to 1.96; p<0.001). These findings require replication in other regions to establish
their generalisability and further investigation is required to determine the extent to which callrate
variability reflects the different needs of resident populations or differences in care home
policies and practice
A mixed-methods pilot study of the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief meditation and mindfulness intervention for people with diabetes and coronary heart disease.
PublishedClinical TrialJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMindfulness-based interventions can successfully target negative perseverative cognitions such as worry and thought suppression, but their acceptability and effectiveness in people with long-term conditions is uncertain. We therefore pilot tested a six-week meditation and mindfulness intervention in people (n = 40) with diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. We used a sequential mixed-methods approach that measured change in worry and thought suppression and qualitatively explored acceptability, feasibility, and user experience with a focus group (n = 11) and in-depth interviews (n = 16). The intervention was highly acceptable, with 90% completing ≥5 sessions. Meditation and mindfulness skills led to improved sleep, greater relaxation, and more-accepting approaches to illness and illness experience. At the end of the six-week meditation course, worry, and thought suppression were significantly reduced. Positive impacts of mindfulness-based interventions on psychological health may relate to acquisition and development of meta-cognitive skills but this needs experimental confirmation.NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care forGreater Manchester
Pine straw yields and economic benefits when added to traditional wood products in loblolly, longleaf and slash pine stands
Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.Many forest landowners have the opportunity to manage their loblolly, longleaf and slash pine stands for pine straw (fresh undecomposed needles; the litter layer) for additional revenues. Pine straw is used primarily as mulch in landscaping and has grown in revenues paid to landowners from 81 million in 2009 in Georgia. Pine straw is typically sold by the acre or by the bale. Selling pine straw by the acre is advantageous for absentee landowners. Selling pine straw by the bale can generate more annual income but bale counts need to be accurate and bale size must be clearly defined. Recent (2005-09) per acre revenues range from 125/year. Rectangular (13x13x28 inches) bale prices range from 0.40 for loblolly, 1.25 for longleaf, and 0.65 for slash pine in Georgia. Per rake yields from loblolly stands tend to be 15 to 30% greater (150 to 425 bales/acre) than slash (120 to 375 bales/acre) and longleaf pine (100 to 350 bales/acre). Pine straw raking starts at canopy closure continuing to the first thinning, generating from 1000/acre in new income.E. David Dickens (1), David J. Moorhead (1), Charles T. Bargeron (1),and Bryan C. McElvany (2) ; 1. Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources. 2. College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, The University of Georgia, Statesboro, Tifton, and Soperton, GA.Includes bibliographical references
Cooling Flows and Metallicity Gradients in Clusters of Galaxies
The X-ray emission by hot gas at the centers of clusters of galaxies is
commonly modeled assuming the existence of steady-state, inhomogeneous cooling
flows. We derive the metallicity profiles of the intracluster medium expected
from such models. The inflowing gas is chemically enriched by type Ia
supernovae and stellar mass loss in the outer parts of the central galaxy,
which may give rise to a substantial metallicity gradient. The amplitude of the
expected metallicity enhancement towards the cluster center is proportional to
the ratio of the central galaxy luminosity to the mass inflow rate. The
metallicity of the hotter phases is expected to be higher than that of the
colder, denser phases. The metallicity profile expected for the Centaurus
cluster is in good agreement with the metallicity gradient recently inferred
from ASCA measurements (Fukazawa et al. 1994). However, current data do not
rule out alternative models where cooling is balanced by some heat source. The
metallicity gradient does not need to be present in all clusters, depending on
the recent merging history of the gas around the central cluster galaxy, and on
the ratio of the stellar mass in the central galaxy to the gas mass in the
cooling flow.Comment: uuencoded postscript, 8 pages of text + 2 figures, accepted by The
Astrophysical Journal (Letters
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