Quantum-dot single photon sources for quantum information treatment

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Física de Materiales. Fecha de lectura: 16-12-201

The development of the N1 and N2 components in auditory oddball paradigms: a systematic review with narrative analysis and suggested normative values

Auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) are widely used in diverse fields of today’s neuroscience, concerning auditory processing, speech perception, language acquisition, neurodevelopment, attention and cognition in normal aging, gender, developmental, neurologic and psychiatric disorders. However, its transposition to clinical practice has remained minimal. Mainly due to scarce literature on normative data across age, wide spectrumof results, variety of auditory stimuli used and to different neuropsychological meanings of AERPs components between authors. One of the most prominent AERP components studied in last decades was N1, which reflects auditory detection and discrimination. Subsequently, N2 indicates attention allocation and phonological analysis. The simultaneous analysis of N1 and N2 elicited by feasible novelty experimental paradigms, such as auditory oddball, seems an objective method to assess central auditory processing. The aim of this systematic review was to bring forward normative values for auditory oddball N1 and N2 components across age. EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Knowledge and Google Scholarwere systematically searched for studies that elicited N1 and/or N2 by auditory oddball paradigm. A total of 2,764 papers were initially identified in the database, of which 19 resulted from hand search and additional references, between 1988 and 2013, last 25 years. A final total of 68 studiesmet the eligibility criteria with a total of 2,406 participants from control groups for N1 (age range 6.6–85 years; mean 34.42) and 1,507 for N2 (age range 9–85 years; mean 36.13). Polynomial regression analysis revealed thatN1latency decreases with aging at Fz and Cz,N1 amplitude at Cz decreases from childhood to adolescence and stabilizes after 30–40 years and at Fz the decrement finishes by 60 years and highly increases after this age. Regarding N2, latency did not covary with age but amplitude showed a significant decrement for both Cz and Fz. Results suggested reliable normative values for Cz and Fz electrode locations; however, changes in brain development and components topography over age should be considered in clinical practice

Analysis of selected methods of diagnostics and physiotherapy of pes plano-valgus in children

Introduction: Flat feet is one of the most common posture defects among children and it usually co-occurs with valgus of the heels, which is called pes plano-valgus. There are many diagnostic methods and physiotherapeutic activities that allow for early detection and appropriate correction of the defect. The use of non-surgical methods may allow the child to avoid surgery in the future. Aim and Methods: Review and analysis of the current scientific literature on the diagnosis and physiotherapy of plano-valgus feet in children. Conclusions: In the diagnostic process, there are many static and dynamic methods for the assessment of plano-valgus foot among children. Special devices such as plantoconturograph, podoscope, and pedobarographic mat are used in the diagnosis of feet in children and have proven to be helpful in the detailed analysis of foot defects. However, an extensive range of physiotherapeutic methods allows for comprehensive treatment using not only corrective exercises, but also physical therapy treatments in order to relieve pain and accelerate recovery. Orthopedic appliances, such as supination insoles, also play an important role in the treatment. The best results were seen in the use of comprehensive treatment and multiple terapeutic methods. Early detection and correct diagnosis of foot abnormalities allow for appropriate treatment with the use of a wide range of physiotherapy methods. This increases the chances of restoring normal foot functions among children and reducing pain with other abnormal symptoms

Electrophysiological Indicators of the Age-Related Deterioration in the Sensitivity to Auditory Duration Deviance

The present study investigates age-related changes in duration discrimination in millisecond time domain. We tested young (N = 20, mean age = 24.5, SD = 2.97) and elderly (N = 20, mean age = 65.2, SD = 2.94) subjects using the mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm. White-noise bursts of two different durations (50 and 10 ms) were presented in two oddball blocks. In one block (Increment Condition), the repetitive sequence of 10 ms standards was interspersed by occasional 50 ms deviants. In the Decrement Condition, the roles of the two stimuli were reversed. We analyzed the P1-N1 complex, MMN and P3a and found the effect of age for all these components. Moreover, the impact of stimulus presentation condition (increment/decrement) was observed for MMN and P3a. Our results confirmed the previous evidence for deteriorated duration discrimination in elderly people. Additionally, we found that this effect may be influenced by procedural factors.Peer reviewe

Altered event-related potentials and theta oscillations index auditory working memory deficits in healthy aging

Speech comprehension deficits constitute a major issue for an increasingly aged population, as they may lead older individuals to social isolation. Since conversation requires constant monitoring, updating and selecting information, auditory working memory decline, rather than impoverished hearing acuity, has been suggested a core factor. However, in stark contrast to the visual domain, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying auditory working memory deficits in healthy aging remain poorly understood, especially those related to on-the-fly information processing under increasing load. Therefore, we investigated the behavioral costs and electrophysiological differences associated with healthy aging and working memory load during continuous auditory processing. We recorded EEG activity from 27 younger (∼25 years) and 29 older (∼70 years) participants during their performance on an auditory version of the n-back task with speech syllables and 2 workload levels (1-back; 2-back). Behavioral measures were analyzed as indices of function; event-related potentials as proxies for sensory and cognitive processes; and theta oscillatory power as a reflection of memory and central executive function. Our results show age-related differences in auditory information processing within a latency range that is consistent with a series of impaired functions, from sensory gating to cognitive resource allocation during constant information updating, especially under high load

Dual therapy based on raltegravir and boosted protease inhibitors : the experience of Polish centers

Introduction: The aim of the study was to present the experience of Polish centers regarding dual therapy based on the integrase inhibitor raltegravir (RAL) and ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/r) for treating treatment-naïve and -experienced HIV-infected patients. Material and methods: The paper concerns a retrospective multicenter study. The medical databases of six main Polish HIV centers from January 2009 to December 2014 were analyzed for the use of combined antiretroviral treatment consisting of RAL + PI/r. This study included 126 HIV-infected patients receiving RAL + PI/r therapy, of whom 17 patients were treatment-naive and 109 patients were treatment-experienced. Results: In treatment-experienced patients, the most common reasons for the introduction of a RAL + PI/r regimen were virologic failure and impaired renal function (45 of 109 patients). In the treatment-naïve group kidney disease was the cause of the RAL + PI/r regimen in 3 of 17 participants. In treatment-experienced patients, 80% of individuals still were on RAL + PI/r treatment after 12 months, 65% after 24 months and 53% of subjects after 60 months. In both groups, the simplification of the antiretroviral regimen was the most common reason for discontinuation of RAL + PI/r based therapy. Conclusions: In antiretroviral-experienced patients the dual therapy based on RAL + PI/s is safe and effective. In antiretroviral-naïve patients the RAL + PI/r regimen is rarely used in Poland

Mineralogical, Geochemical, and Rock Mechanic Characteristics of Zeolite- Bearing Rocks of the Hatrurim Basin, Israel

The Hatrurim Basin, Israel, is located on the western border of the Dead Sea Transform. This is one of the localities of a unique pyrometamorphic complex whose genesis remains problematic. This paper deals with zeolite-bearing rock that is known in the Hatrurim Basin only. The strata subjected to zeolitization is called the “olive unit” and consists of anorthite–pyroxene (diopside–esseneite) hornfels. Zeolitization occurred in an alkaline environment provided by the interaction of meteoric water with Portland-cement-like rocks of the Hatrurim Complex. The resulting zeolite-bearing rocks contain 20–30% zeolitic material. The main zeolitic minerals are calcic: thomsonite-Ca Sr, phillipsite-Ca, gismondine-Ca, and clinoptilolite-Ca. The remainder is calcite, diopsidic pyroxene, garnets (either Ti-andradite and/or hydrogrossular), and less frequently, fluorapatite, opal, and others. Their major mineralogical and chemical compositions resemble carbonated zeolite-blended Portland mortar. Rocks show different values of porosity. Their mechanical characteristics are much better for samples with porosity values below 24%. The related parameters are like those of blended concretes. The minimal age of zeolitization is 5 Ka. The natural zeolite-bearing rocks are resistant to weathering in the Levant desert climate

Kierunki rozwoju wyników w siedmioboju lekkoatletycznym na podstawie wyników uzyskanych podczas mistrzostw świata i igrzysk olimpijskich w latach 1983-2013 = Development results in heptathlon track and field on the basis of the results obtained during the World Cup and the Olympics in the years 1983-2013

Kamrowska-Nowak Maria, Chudzik Kamila, Byzdra Krzysztof, Piątek Mirosław, Mikołajczyk Janusz, Stępniak Robert. Kierunki rozwoju wyników w siedmioboju lekkoatletycznym na podstawie wyników uzyskanych podczas mistrzostw świata i igrzysk olimpijskich w latach 1983-2013 = Development results in heptathlon track and field on the basis of the results obtained during the World Cup and the Olympics in the years 1983-2013. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2016;6(4):84-102. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.49864 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/3450 The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part B item 755 (23.12.2015). 755 Journal of Education, Health and Sport eISSN 2391-8306 7 © The Author (s) 2016; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 05.03.2016. Revised 10.04.2016. Accepted: 10.04.2016. Kierunki rozwoju wyników w siedmioboju lekkoatletycznym na podstawie wyników uzyskanych podczas mistrzostw świata i igrzysk olimpijskich w latach 1983-2013 Development results in heptathlon track and field on the basis of the results obtained during the World Cup and the Olympics in the years 1983-2013 Kamrowska-Nowak Maria1, Chudzik Kamila1, Byzdra Krzysztof1, Piątek Mirosław1, Mikołajczyk Janusz1, Stępniak Robert1 1AWFiS Gdańsk 2UKW Bydgoszcz Słowa kluczowe: siedmiobój. Key words: heptathlon. Streszczenie Celem pracy jest ocena tendencji zmian uzyskanych wyników w siedmioboju oraz w poszczególnych konkurencjach wchodzących w jego skład. Materiał i metody badań stanowiły wyniki siedmioboju uzyskane na Igrzyskach Olimpijskich rozgrywanych w latach 1984 – 2012 oraz Mistrzostwach Świata w latach 1983-2013. W analizie uwzględniono 8 pierwszych zawodniczek w ogólnej klasyfikacji. Do analizy i oceny tendencji zmian wyników wykorzystano arkusz kalkulacyjny MS Excel 2007. Zastosowano metodę analizy dokumentów. W pracy posłużono się prostymi metodami statystycznymi. Wyznaczono średnie arytmetyczne danych (x) oraz rozpiętość wyników. W celu określenia zmienności wyników wykorzystano współczynnik zmienności (V) oraz rozstęp (R). Oceny związku między zmiennością końcowego wyniku w siedmioboju a zróżnicowaniem rezultatów osiąganych w poszczególnych konkurencjach dokonano za pomocą analizy korelacji prostej Pearsona. Przyjęto wartości w zakresie od –1 (korelacja ujemna) do +1 (korelacja dodatnia). Współzależność badanych zmiennych jest większa, gdy wielkość korelacji bliższa jest –1 lub +1. Postęp wynikowy lub jego regres oceniono za pomocą linii trendu. Wnioski Analiza linii trendu ogólnego wyniku w siedmioboju na przestrzeni 30 lat wykazała tendencje wyraźnie wzrostowe (wykres 8). W poszczególnych konkurencjach tylko w biegu na 200m i w skoku w dal odnotowano pogorszenie wyników. W pozostałych konkurencjach linia trendu wykazała progres, czyli postęp poziomu sportowego wyników (wykresy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Abstract The aim of the work is to assess the trend of the results obtained in the heptathlon as well as in the individual competitions of its composition. Material and methods the study results were obtained on the Olympics heptathlon in 1984-2012 and 2013 World Championships in 1983. The analysis takes into account the first 8 contestants in the general classification. The analysis and evaluation of trends results of the uses the spreadsheet MS Excel 2007. A method of analysis applied to documents. At work used simple statistical methods. Set the arithmetic means of the data (x) and bandwidth results. In order to determine the variability of the results was the coefficient of variation (V) and rozstęp (R). Evaluation of the relationship between the variation of the final outcome in the heptathlon and the differentiation of the results achieved in the individual competitions made simple correlation analysis using Pearson product moment. Assumed values in the range from-1 (negative correlation) to + 1 (positive correlation). The interdependence of variables tested is greater where the volume correlation closer is-1 or + 1. The resulting progress or regress was assessed using the trendline. Conclusions the analysis of the trend line of the overall result in the heptathlon over 30 years has shown the trends clearly increase (chart 8). In the individual events only in the 200 m and long jump reported worsening results. In other competitions, namely the progress showed trendline progress sports level results (graphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)