Quantum Cognition based on an Ambiguous Representation Derived from a Rough Set Approximation

Over the last years, in a series papers by Arrechi and others, a model for the cognitive processes involved in decision making has been proposed and investigated. The key element of this model is the expression of apprehension and judgement, basic cognitive process of decision making, as an inverse Bayes inference classifying the information content of neuron spike trains. For successive plural stimuli, it has been shown that this inference, equipped with basic non-algorithmic jumps, is affected by quantum-like characteristics. We show here that such a decision making process is related consistently with ambiguous representation by an observer within a universe of discourse. In our work ambiguous representation of an object or a stimuli is defined by a pair of maps from objects of a set to their representations, where these two maps are interrelated in a particular structure. The a priori and a posteriori hypotheses in Bayes inference are replaced by the upper and lower approximation, correspondingly, for the initial data sets each derived with respect to a map. We show further that due to the particular structural relation between the two maps, the logical structure of such combined approximations can only be expressed as an orthomodular lattice and therefore can be represented by a quantum rather than a Boolean logic. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation aiming to reveal the concrete logic structure of inverse Bayes inference in cognitive processes.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, original research pape

Predictors of cognitive function in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma following stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation surgery

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138275/1/epi13838.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138275/2/epi13838_am.pd

Inflammatory Cytokine-induced Expression of Vasohibin-1 by Rheumatoid Synovial Fibroblasts

Angiogenesis is an essential event in the development of synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression of vasohibin-1, a novel endothelium-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-inducible angiogenesis inhibitor, in the RA synovium, and to test the effect of inflammatory cytokines on the expression of vasohibin-1 by RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Synovial tissue samples were obtained at surgery from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and RA, and subjected to immunohistochemistry to investigate the expression and distribution of vasohibin-1 relevant to the degree of synovial inflammation. In an in vitro analysis, RASFs were used to examine the expression of vasohibin-1 and VEGF mRNA by real-time PCR after stimulation with VEGF or inflammatory cytokines under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. The immunohistochemical results showed that vasohibin-1 was expressed in synovial lining cells, endothelial cells, and synovial fibroblasts. In synovial tissue, there was a significant correlation between the expression of vasohibin-1 and histological inflammation score (p0.002, r0.842). In vitro, stimulation with VEGF induced the expression of vasohibin-1 mRNA in RASFs under normoxic conditions, and stimulation with cytokines induced vasohibin-1 mRNA expression under a hypoxic condition. These results suggest that vasohibin-1 was expressed in RA synovial tissue and might be regulated by inflammatory cytokines.</p

Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Aflibercept Treat-and-Extend Regimens in Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: 52- and 96-Week Findings from ALTAIR : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE:To evaluate efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of aflibercept (IVT-AFL) treat-and-extend (T&E) dosing regimens in treatment-naïve patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).METHODS:Adults aged at least 50 years old with exudative AMD and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 73-25 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters were included. Patients received three monthly doses of IVT-AFL 2 mg. At week 16, patients were randomized 1:1 to IVT-AFL T&E with either 2- or 4-week adjustments. The primary endpoint was mean change in BCVA from baseline to week 52. Outcomes were assessed at weeks 52 and 96.RESULTS:Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups (n = 123 each). Over 52 weeks, mean number of injections was 7.2 and 6.9 and mean last injection interval was 10.7 and 11.8 weeks, for the 2- and 4-week groups, respectively. From baseline, mean change in BCVA was + 9.0 and + 8.4 letters (week 52) and + 7.6 and + 6.1 letters (week 96); mean change in central retinal thickness was - 134.4 µm and - 126.1 µm (week 52) and - 130.5 µm and - 125.3 µm (week 96). Last injection interval before week 52 was at least 12 weeks in 42.3% and 49.6% of patients and 56.9% and 60.2% before week 96. Over 96 weeks, mean number of injections was 10.4 (both groups). The safety profile of IVT-AFL was consistent with previous reports.CONCLUSIONS:IVT-AFL administered using two different T&E regimens for treatment-naïve exudative AMD improved functional and anatomic outcomes at week 52 and outcomes were maintained to week 96. Outcomes were similar between the 2- and 4-week groups.TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02305238

Mind as a behavioral inhibition network

This study reconsiders the conventional definition of mind as “a part of a person that makes mental activity” and proposes an additional definition of mind as “the internal other”. In this paper, we investigate the substance of the internal other from the perspectives of comparative psychology, ethology, and neurophysiology, and propose the hypothesis that “behavioral inhibition network” corresponds with the internal other. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because the authors investigate whether the behavioral inhibition network matches the mind that one experiences in their daily life. The behavioral inhibition network is a promising candidate for the source of endogenous fluctuations observed in animal behavior. In this paper, we introduce studies illustrating that the ability to generate behavioral fluctuation generates “emergent behavior”. We believe that this paper will be of interest to the readership of psychological journals because the authors introduce experimental results suggesting the possibility that plants and materials such as stones have a behavioral inhibition network. Approaching the substance of mind not only reveals that mind exists in all living things and materials, but also brings a new worldview that all living things and materials have creativity of generation of emergent behavior

Analyzing Double Image Illusion through Double Indiscernibility and Lattice Theory

The figure-ground division plays a fundamental role in all image perceptions. Although there are a lot of studies about extraction of a figure such as detection of edges or grouping of texture, there are few discussions about a relationship between obtained figure and ground. We focused on double image illusions having two complementary relationships be- tween figure and ground and analyzed them. We divided the double image illusions according to two different interpretations and using these divisions we extracted and analyzed their logical structures by lattices derived from rough sets that we had developed. As a result we discovered unusual logical structures in double image illusions

Light and Shadow of Na-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: Points for Improvement Based on Our Clinical Experience

We analyzed the effect of Na-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) in diabetic patients visiting our hospital. The study included 236 patients treated with SGLT2-I alone or with codiabetic drugs for at least two years. We analyzed overtime changes in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the patients by repeated analyses of variance (ANOVA) and evaluated the therapeutic effect. HbA1c levels decreased significantly in the first six months after treatment. Afterward, they leveled off and increased slightly over the next two years. Six months after treatment, the mean (SD) of HbA1c was 8.19 (1.46) %; the mean difference dropped by 0.91%, and HbA1c in mild DM2 did not drop by below 8.0%. Overall, there was only a slight improvement. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis using a model with or without improvement as the objective variable and several explanatory variables. Na and Hct were significant factors. They increased considerably over six months and then leveled off. eGFR significantly reduced in the hyperfiltration group six months after treatment. The annual decline rate in eGFR was also faster, even in the nonhyperfiltration group than in the healthy subjects, which may be a characteristic of renal clearance in SGLT2-I treatment. In conclusion, SGLT2-I is an excellent antidiabetic, nephroprotective agent to eliminate hyperfiltration, but unfortunately, SGLT2-I alone does not have enough power to reduce blood glucose levels. SGLT2-I, with insulin or insulin secretagogues, enhances insulin resistance, induces hyperinsulinemia, and exacerbates type 2 DM. In contrast, SGLT2-I, with noninsulin antidiabetic agents and a low-carbohydrate diet, may bring better results

Effects of the Monomeric Components of Poly-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate on the Growth of <i>Vibrio penaeicida</i> In Vitro and on the Survival of Infected Kuruma Shrimp (<i>Marsupenaeus japonicus</i>)

Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of the biodegradable, water-insoluble polymer poly-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBH) and its two constituent monomers, the hydroxyalkanoic acids 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HH), on the growth of the shrimp-pathogenic bacterium Vibrio penaeicida. In vitro experiments revealed that 3HH showed greater growth inhibitory activity than 3HB against V. penaeicida. In addition, the activities of hydroxyalkanoic acids were pH dependent, being greater at pH 6.0 than at pH 7.0. Investigation of the pH of the shrimp gut revealed a pH range of 5.9–6.7 (mean 6.29 ± SD 0.20), indicating that the physiological environment was suitable for 3HB and 3HH to exert their inhibitory activities against V. penaeicida. In vivo bacterial challenge experiments revealed that survival rates in kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) infected by V. penaeicida were significantly increased in shrimp reared on feed containing PHBH (0.1%–5% w/w PHBH) compared with that in shrimp reared on standard diet alone. Supplementation with PHBH had no significant effects on three shrimp growth parameters: increase in body weight, daily feeding rate, and feed conversion ratio. These results suggest that supplementation of standard diet with PHBH will increase shrimp resistance to infection by V. penaeicida, thereby increasing shrimp aquaculture productivity

Hermit crabs perceive the extent of their virtual bodies

A flexible body image is required by animals if they are to adapt to body changes and move effectively within a structurally complex environment. Here, we show that terrestrial hermit crabs, Coenobita rugosus, which frequently change shells, can modify walking behaviour, dependent on the shape of the shell. Hermit crabs walked along a corridor that had alternating left and right corners; if it was narrow at the corner, crabs rotated their bodies to avoid the wall, indicating an awareness of environmental obstacles. This rotation increased when a plastic plate was attached to the shell. We suggest that the shell, when extended by the plate, becomes assimilated to the hermit crab's own body. While there are cases of a tool being assimilated with the body, our result is the first example of the habitat where an animal lives and/or carries being part of a virtual body