1,759 research outputs found
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Survival circuits and risk assessment
Risk assessment (RA) behaviour is unusual in the context of survival circuits. An external object elicits eating, mating or fleeing; but conflict between internal approach and withdrawal tendencies elicits RA-specific behaviour that scans the environment for new information to bring closure. Recently rodent and human threat responses have been compared using âpredatorsâ that can be real (e.g. a tarantula), robot, virtual, or symbolic (with the last three rendered predatory by the use of shock). âQuick and dirtyâ survival circuits in the periaqueductal grey, hypothalamus, and amygdala control external RA behaviour. These subcortical circuits activate, and are partially inhibited by, higher-order internal RA processes (anxiety, memory scanning, evaluation and sometimes â maladaptive rumination) in the ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex
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Behavioural inhibition and valuation of gain/loss are neurally distinct from approach/withdrawal
Gain or omission/termination of loss produces approach; while loss or omission/termination of gain produces withdrawal. Control of approach/withdrawal motivation is distinct from valuation of gain/loss and does not entail learning â making ârewardâ and âpunishmentâ ambiguous. Approach-withdrawal goal conflict engages a neurally distinct Behavioural Inhibition System, which controls âanxietyâ (conflict/passive avoidance) but not âfearâ (withdrawal/active avoidance)
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Neuroscience and approach/avoidance personality traits: a two stage (valuation-motivation) approach
Many personality theories link specific traits to the sensitivities of the neural systems that control approach and avoidance. But there is no consensus on the nature of these systems. Here we combine recent advances in economics and neuroscience to provide a more solid foundation for a neuroscience of approach/avoidance personality. We propose a two-stage integration of valuation (loss/gain) sensitivities with motivational (approach/avoidance/conflict) sensitivities. Our key conclusions are: (1) that valuation of appetitive and aversive events (e.g. gain and loss as studied by behavioural economists) is an independent perceptual input stage--with the economic phenomenon of loss aversion resulting from greater negative valuation sensitivity compared to positive valuation sensitivity; (2) that valuation of an appetitive stimulus then interacts with a contingency of presentation or omission to generate a motivational 'attractor' or 'repulsor', respectively (vice versa for an aversive stimulus); (3) the resultant behavioural tendencies to approach or avoid have distinct sensitivities to those of the valuation systems; (4) while attractors and repulsors can reinforce new responses they also, more usually, elicit innate or previously conditioned responses and so the perception/valuation-motivation/action complex is best characterised as acting as a 'reinforcer' not a 'reinforcement'; and (5) approach-avoidance conflict must be viewed as activating a third motivation system that is distinct from the basic approach and avoidance systems. We provide examples of methods of assessing each of the constructs within approach-avoidance theories and of linking these constructs to personality measures. We sketch a preliminary five-element reinforcer sensitivity theory (RST-5) as a first step in the integration of existing specific approach-avoidance theories into a coherent neuroscience of personality
Does diet mediate associations of volume and bouts of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health indicators in adolescents?
Objective: Examine the mediating role of diet in the relationship between volume and duration of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health in adolescents. Methods: Adolescents (12-19 years) participating in the 2003/04 and 2005/06 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were examined. Cardiometabolic health indicators were body mass index z-scores (zBMI) (n 5 1,797) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (n 5 812). An ActiGraph hip-worn accelerometer was used to derive total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration. Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine five dietary mediators [total energy intake, discretionary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), fruits and vegetables, and dietary quality] of the relationship between total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI and MetS. Results: Total sedentary time was inversely associated with zBMI (b 5 21.33; 95% CI 22.53 to 20.13) but attenuated after adjusting for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. No significant associations were observed between usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI or either sedentary measure with MetS. None of the five dietary variables mediated any of the relationships examined. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to explore associations of specific time periods (e.g., after school) and bout durations with both cardiometabolic health indicators and dietary behaviors
Exercise and Quality of Life Outcomes in a Patient with Stage 4 COPD
A 56-year-old female diagnosed with end stage COPD was referred to a rural based cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program. Medical history and initial baseline physical assessments were measured including resting vitals, height, weight, 6-minute walk test, and the HSQ-SF36Âź quality of life questionnaire. She was given a basic orientation to exercise equipment including Nu-StepÂź and five different band and dumbbell resistance exercises prescribed at 2 sets of 12 (RPE rating = 12 to 14). An exercise prescription for the exercise program three days per week was developed for approximately one hour at 2 to 3 METs with intermittent exercise on the Nu-StepÂź at a 4:1 ratio at 90% of estimated max level. After the initial assessment (August, 2014), she attended once, was absent for a 3 month period, then returned and was compliant with 8 sessions. She discontinued sessions at that point and was absent for two months. She came back for a third time on Feb. 2nd, 2015 after being hospitalized for 2 weeks secondary to pneumonia and bronchitis condition. She now uses two oxygen (2 liters) and assistive breathing techniques. Her exercise prescription was lowered to the initial prescription after all assessments were re-measured. As of Feb 2, she has attended 100 percent of the exercise sessions without incident or hospital re-admittance. Physical outcomes are contained in the table below. Quality of life measures will continue to be evaluated.
August 2014
February 2015
Height (in):
62
62
Weight (lbs):
117
115
Blood Pressure (mmHg):
140/58
132/62
Heart Rate (bpm):
94
107
ECG:
NSR
NSR
SaO2 (%):
95 (w/o O2)
\u3c 88 (w/o O2); 96 (w/ O2)
6 minute walk distance (m):
218
25
A novel ingestion strategy for sodium bicarbonate supplementation in a delayed-release form: a randomised crossover study in trained males
Background: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a well-established nutritional ergogenic aid, though gastrointestinal (GI) distress is a common side-effect. Delayed-release NaHCO3 may alleviate GI symptoms and enhance bicarbonate bioavailability following oral ingestion, although this has yet to be confirmed. Methods: In a randomised crossover design, pharmacokinetic responses and acid-base status were compared following two forms of NaHCO3, as were GI symptoms. Twelve trained healthy males (mean ± SD: age 25.8 ± 4.5 y; maximal oxygen uptake ("V" ÌO2max) 58.9 ± 10.9 mLâkgâminâ1; height 1.8 ± 0.1 m; body mass 82.3 ± 11.1 kg; fat-free mass 72.3 ± 10.0 kg) underwent a control (CON) condition and two experimental conditions: 300 mgâkgâ1 body mass NaHCO3 ingested as an aqueous solution (SOL) and encased in delayed-release capsules (CAP). Blood bicarbonate concentration, pH and base excess (BE) were measured in all conditions over 180 min, as were subjective GI symptom scores. Results: Incidences of GI symptoms and overall severity were significantly lower (mean difference = 45.1%, P < 0.0005 and 47.5%, P < 0.0005 for incidences and severity, respectively) with the CAP than with the SOL. Symptoms displayed increases at 40 to 80 min post-ingestion with the SOL that were negated with CAP (P < 0.05). Time to reach peak bicarbonate concentration, pH and BE were significantly longer with CAP than with the SOL. Conclusions: In summary, CAP can mitigate GI symptoms induced with SOL and should be ingested earlier to induce similar acid-base changes. Furthermore, CAP may be more ergogenic in those who experience severe GI distress with SOL, although this warrants further investigation
Randomness for Free
We consider two-player zero-sum games on graphs. These games can be
classified on the basis of the information of the players and on the mode of
interaction between them. On the basis of information the classification is as
follows: (a) partial-observation (both players have partial view of the game);
(b) one-sided complete-observation (one player has complete observation); and
(c) complete-observation (both players have complete view of the game). On the
basis of mode of interaction we have the following classification: (a)
concurrent (both players interact simultaneously); and (b) turn-based (both
players interact in turn). The two sources of randomness in these games are
randomness in transition function and randomness in strategies. In general,
randomized strategies are more powerful than deterministic strategies, and
randomness in transitions gives more general classes of games. In this work we
present a complete characterization for the classes of games where randomness
is not helpful in: (a) the transition function probabilistic transition can be
simulated by deterministic transition); and (b) strategies (pure strategies are
as powerful as randomized strategies). As consequence of our characterization
we obtain new undecidability results for these games
A comparison of similar aerosol measurements made on the NASA P3-B, DC-8, and NSF C-130 aircraft during TRACE-P and ACE-Asia
Two major aircraft experiments occurred off the Pacific coast of Asia during spring 2001: the NASA sponsored Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Aerosol Characterization Experiment-Asia (ACE-Asia). Both experiments studied emissions from the Asian continent (biomass burning, urban/industrial pollution, and dust). TRACE-P focused on trace gases and aerosol during March/April and was based primarily in Hong Kong and Yokota Air Force Base, Japan, and involved two aircraft: the NASA DC-8 and the NASA P3-B. ACE-Asia focused on aerosol and radiation during April/May and was based in Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, Japan, and involved the NSF C-130. This paper compares aerosol measurements from these aircraft including aerosol concentrations, size distributions (and integral properties), chemistry, and optical properties. Best overall agreement (generally within RMS instrumental uncertainty) was for physical properties of the submircron aerosol, including condensation nuclei concentrations, scattering coefficients, and differential mobility analyzer and optical particle counter (OPC) accumulation mode size distributions. Larger differences (typically outside of the RMS uncertainty) were often observed for parameters related to the supermicron aerosols (total scattering and absorption coefficients, coarse mode Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe and OPC size distributions/integral properties, and soluble chemical species usually associated with the largest particles, e.g., Na+, Clâ, Ca2+, and Mg2+), where aircraft sampling is more demanding. Some of the observed differences reflect different inlets (e.g., low-turbulence inlet enhancement of coarse mode aerosol), differences in sampling lines, and instrument configuration and design. Means and variances of comparable measurements for horizontal legs were calculated, and regression analyses were performed for each platform and allow for an assessment of instrument performance. These results provide a basis for integrating aerosol data from these aircraft platforms for both the TRACE-P and ACE-Asia experiments
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