Processing time not modality dominates shift costs in the modality-shifting effect

Shifting attention between visual and auditory targets is associated with reaction time costs, known as the modality-shifting effect. The type of modality shifted from, e.g., auditory or visual is suggested to have an effect on the degree of cost. Studies report greater costs shifting from visual stimuli, yet notably used visual stimuli that are also identified slower than the auditory. It is not clear whether the cost is specific to modality effects, or with identification speed independent of modality. Here, to interpret whether the effects are due to modality or identification time, switch costs are instead compared with auditory stimuli that are identified slower than the visual (inverse of tested previously). A second condition used the same auditory stimuli at a low intensity, allowing comparison of semantically identical stimuli that are even slower to process. The current findings contradicted suggestions of a general difficulty in shifting from visual stimuli (as previously reported), and instead suggest that cost is reduced when targets are preceded by a more rapidly processed stimulus. ‘Modality-Shifting’ as it is often termed induces shifting costs, but the costs are not because of a change of modality per se, but because of a change in identification speed, where the degree of cost is dependent on the processing time of the surrounding stimuli

Optimisation of material properties for the modelling of large deformation manufacturing processes using a finite element model of the Gleeble compression test

The finite element modelling of manufacturing processes often requires a large amount of large plastic strain flow stress data in order to represent the material of interest over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates. Compression data generated using a Gleeble thermo-mechanical simulator is difficult to interpret due to the complex temperature and strain fields, which exist within the specimen during the test. In this study, a non-linear optimisation process is presented, which includes a finite element model of the compression process to accurately determine the constants of a five-parameter Norton–Hoff material model. The optimisation process is first verified using a reduced three-parameter model and then the full five-parameter model using a known set of constants to produce the target data, from which the errors are assessed. Following this, the optimisation is performed using experimental target data starting from a set of constants derived from the test data using an initial least-squares fit and also an arbitrary starting point within the parameter space. The results of these tests yield coefficients differing by a maximum of less than 10% and significantly improve the representation of the flow stress of the material

Pain, Functional Disability, Psychological Status, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Background Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is the comments painful shoulder condition leading to considerable functional loss. Considering numerous existing conservative and surgical interventions for SAIS, the use of optimal patient-centred outcome measures is essential. Study assessed various generic and shoulder-specific outcome measures in patients and healthy controls to provide baseline data and facilitate the development of evidence-based interventions. Methods A total of 75 participants including 39 patients and 36 healthy controls were evaluated and compared by a battery of validated outcome tools: McGill Pain Questionnaire, Oxford Shoulder Score, Constant Murley Score, The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Upper Limb Function Index, Functional Impairment Test–Hand and Neck/Shoulder/Arm, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short-Form Health Survey, and shoulder muscle strength. Results All selected measures showed significant differences in the pain experience, upper limb functional capacity, psychological status (anxiety and depression), and health-related quality of life between SAIS patients and healthy controls in both female and male participant groups (p<0.05 - p<0.001). Conclusion The use of an array of patient-centred upper limb regional/joint-specific pain and functional measures combined with psychological status and quality of life tools is recommended for the evidence-based assessment of intervention outcome in patients with SAIS

Arterial Recanalization for Access for Arterial Intervention in Children: Techniques and Outcomes

PURPOSE: To assess technical success of arterial recanalization in children requiring repeated arterial access and intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 14 years, 41 attempts to cross 30 arterial occlusions were made in 22 patients (13 male, 9 female). Median patient age was 12 months (15 days-14 years), and weight was 7.6 kg (3.0-77.3 kg). Techniques and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 41 (61%) attempts at crossing an arterial occlusion were successful. Nineteen of 30 (63%) first attempts to cross occlusions were successful, and 6 of 11 (55%) repeat attempts were successful. The occluded segments were combinations of common femoral artery (n = 4), external iliac artery (n = 36), common iliac artery (n = 11), and aorta (n = 1). Complications occurred in 5 of 41(12%) attempts: 3 minor complications (hematoma, extravasation, and transient leg ischemia) and 2 major complications (rupture and thrombosis). CONCLUSIONS: Arterial access by recanalization of occluded segments is technically feasible in children, with a low complication rate

Space construction system analysis. Part 2: Construction analysis

The construction methods specific to the end to end construction process for building the ETVP in low Earth orbit, using the space shuttle orbiter as a construction base, are analyzed. The analyses concerned three missions required to build the basic platform. The first mission involved performing the fabrication of beams in space and assembling the beams into a basic structural framework. The second mission was to install the forward support structure and aft support structure, the forward assembly, and a TT&C antenna. The third mission plan was to complete the construction of the platform and activate it to begin operations in low Earth orbit. The integration of the activities for each mission is described along with the construction requirements and construction logic

Moyamoya-like cerebrovascular disease in a child with a novel mutation in myosin heavy chain 11

Heterozygous mutations in the MYH11 gene affecting the C-terminal coiled-coil region of the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, a contractile protein of smooth muscle cells (SMC), have been described to cause thoracic aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection (TAAD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).1 Herein we expand the phenotype associated with MYH11 mutations to include moyamoya-like cerebrovascular disease