Unveiling Trail Making Test: Visual and manual trajectories indexing multiple executive processes

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is one of the most popular neuropsychological tests for executive functions (EFs) assessment. It presents several strengths: it is sensitive to executive dysfunction, it is easy to understand, and has a short administration. However, it has important limitations. First, the underlying EFs articulated during the task are not well discriminated, which makes it a test with low specificity. Second, the pen-and-paper version presents one trial per condition which introduces high variability. Third, only the total time is quantified, which does not allow for a detailed analysis. Fourth, it has a fixed spatial configuration per condition. We designed a computerised version of the TMT to overcome its main limitations and evaluated it in a group of neurotypical adults. Eye and hand positions are measured with high resolution over several trials, and spatial configuration is controlled. Our results showed a very similar performance profile compared to the traditional TMT. Moreover, it revealed differences in eye movements between parts A and B. Most importantly, based on hand and eye movements, we found an internal working memory measure that showed an association to a validated working memory task. Additionally, we proposed another internal measure as a potential marker of inhibitory control. Our results showed that EFs can be studied in more detail using traditional tests combined with powerful digital setups. The cTMT showed potential use in older adult populations and patients with EFs disorders.Fil: Linari, Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación; ArgentinaFil: Juantorena, Gustavo Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación; ArgentinaFil: Ibáñez, Santiago Agustín. Trinity College Dublin; Irlanda. University of California; Estados Unidos. Universidad de San Andrés; Argentina. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Petroni, Agustín. University Goteborg; Suecia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación; ArgentinaFil: Kamienkowski, Juan Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Computación; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Computación; Argentin

Working group on cephalopod fisheries and life history (Wgceph; outputs from 2022 meeting)

Rapports Scientifiques du CIEM. Volume 5, nº 1WGCEPH worked on six Terms of Reference. These involved reporting on the status of stocks; reviewing advances in stock identification, assessment for fisheries management and for the Ma- rine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), including some exploratory stock assessments; re- viewing impacts of human activities on cephalopods; developing identification guides and rec- ommendations for fishery data collection; describing the value chain and evaluating market driv- ers; and reviewing advances in research on environmental tolerance of cephalopods. ToR A is supported by an annual data call for fishery and survey data. During 2019–2021, com- pared to 1990–2020, cuttlefish remained the most important cephalopod group in terms of weight landed along the European North Atlantic coast, while loliginid squid overtook octopus as the second most important group. Short-finned squid remained the least important group in land- ings although their relative importance was almost double in 2019–2022 compared to 1992–2020. Total cephalopod landings have been fairly stable since 1992. Cuttlefish landings are towards the low end of the recent range, part of a general downward trend since 2004. Loliginid squid landings in 2019 were close to the maximum seen during the last 20 years but totals for 2020 and 2021 were lower. Annual ommastrephid squid landings are more variable than those of the other two groups and close to the maximum seen during 1992– 2021. Octopod landings have generally declined since 2002 but the amount landed in 2021 was higher than in the previous four years. Under ToR B we illustrate that the combination of genetic analysis and statolith shape analysis is a promising method to provide some stock structure information for L. forbsii. With the sum- mary of cephalopod assessments, we could illustrate that many cephalopod species could al- ready be included into the MSFD. We further provide material from two reviews in preparation, covering stock assessment methods and challenges faced for cephalopod fisheries management. Finally, we summarise trends in abundance indices, noting evidence of recent declines in cuttle- fish and some octopuses of the genus Eledone. Under ToR C, we describe progress on the reviews of (i) anthropogenic impacts on cephalopods and (ii) life history and ecology. In relation to life history, new information on Eledone cirrhosa from Portugal is included. Under ToR D we provide an update on identification guides, discuss best practice in fishery data collection in relation to maturity determination and sampling intensity for fishery monitoring. Among others, we recommend i) to include the sampling of cephalopods in any fishery that (a) targets cephalopods, (b) targets both cephalopods and demersal fishes or (c) takes cephalopods as an important bycatch, ii) Size-distribution sampling, iii) the use of standardized sampling pro- tocols, iv) an increased sampling effort in cephalopod. Work under ToR E on value chains and market drivers, in conjunction with the Cephs & Chefs INTERREG project, has resulted in two papers being submitted. Abstracts of these are in the report. Finally, progress under ToR F on environmental tolerance limits of cephalopods and climate en- velope models is discussed, noting the need to continue this work during the next cycle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Indústria farmacêutica : recursos humanos e visão da firma baseada em recursos

O objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar as principais competências de funcionários considerados "profissionais-chave" da indústria farmacêutica, através da análise de currículos e uso de indicadores de nível de escolaridade e área de formação. O estudo está fundamentado na Teoria da Firma de Penrose (1959), especificamente os pontos que tratam da Visão da Firma Baseada em Recursos e na Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos. Para isso, foi utilizada a matriz do conjunto de capital humano do modelo de componentes básicos da Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos de Paul Wright. A avaliação de currículos de profissionais de altos níveis hierárquicos da indústria farmacêutica foi o principal instrumento do estudo de caso. Com a tipologia de Wright (2001), foi avaliado o item "competências", como o nível de graduação dos profissionais selecionados, assim como as especializações no item "conhecimento". Foi verificado que entre os profissionais dos níveis hierárquicos mais altos da indústria farmacêutica, há uma grande concentração de médicos e o MBA é a especialização mais frequente, principalmente entre engenheiros.The objective of this study is to evaluate the main skills of employees considered "key professionals" of the pharmaceutical industry, by analyzing curricula and using educational level indicators and training area. The study is based on the Penrose\u27s Theory of the Firm (1959), specifically the points that deal with the Resource Based View of the Firm and the Strategic Management of Human Resources. For this, it was used the matrix of Paul Wright\u27s (2001) model of the basic strategic Human Resources Management components. The evaluation of professional curricula of high levels of the pharmaceutical industry was the main instrument of the case study. With Wright\u27s typology (2001), it was evaluated the item "skills" as the level of graduation of selected professional, as the specializations in "knowledge." It found that among the professionals of the highest levels of the pharmaceutical industry, there is a high concentration of physicians and MBA is the most frequent specialization, especially among engineers

Estallar el borde

En esta obra se reflexiona acerca de prácticas acontecidas en la escena artística contemporánea que comparten derivas poéticas tanto dentro de la institución arte como en espacios laterales. Problemas como la desdefinición del arte, el cuestionamiento de la autoría, la idea de acontecimiento, la erosión del medio específico, las estrategias retóricas proyectuales y la crisis en torno a las instituciones del arte son analizados a partir de experiencias cercanas al contexto de enunciación de las y los investigadores, tanto temporal como espacial. No obstante, el relevamiento de prácticas concretas que exhiben aquellas metamorfosis no implica la limitación a una determinada situacionalidad, sino que esta se constituye como un punto de partida para abordar el vínculo entre el tiempo presente y sus impugnaciones al insistente canon del arte en el marco del desplazamiento de las perspectivas metodológicas propuestas. Así, el libro realiza un novedoso aporte a la escena local norpatagónica, caracterizada por tener escasas publicaciones teóricas que, desde el análisis del quehacer artístico contemporáneo del propio territorio, dialoguen con las reflexiones y prácticas que se producen alrededor de todo el planeta.This work reflects on practices that occurred in the contemporary art scene that share poetic drifts both within the art institution and in lateral spaces. Problems such as the de-definition of art, the questioning of authorship, the idea of event, the erosion of the specific medium, projectual rhetorical strategies and the crisis around art institutions are analyzed from experiences close to the context of enunciation (both temporal and spatial) of the researchers. However, the survey of specific practices exhibited by those metamorphoses does not imply limitation to a certain situation, but rather it is constituted as a starting point to address the link between the present time and its challenges to the insistent canon of art. Thus, the book makes a novel contribution to the local North Patagonian scene, characterized by having few theoretical publications that, from the analysis of the contemporary artistic work of the territory itself, dialogue with the reflections and practices that occur around the entire planet

A Modified One-Stage Early Correction of Blepharophimosis Syndrome Using Tutopatch Slings

PURPOSE:To investigate the efficacy of a one-stage early correction of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES), using bovine pericardium derived membrane (TUTOPATCH(®)) for the frontalis suspension. METHODS:We prospectively studied 12 eyes from 6 patients (median age 14 months) affected by BPES with severe ptosis. All patients were submitted to a one-stage early correction of ptosis (frontalis suspension with TUTOPACH(®)) and telecanthus and epicanthus inversus. Upper margin reflex distance (MRD), nasal inner intercanthal distance (IICD), horizontal fissure length (HFL), and IICD/HFL ratio were evaluated using photographs. RESULTS:The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-operative MRD, IICD, HFL, and the IICD/HFL ratio. CONCLUSION:An early TUTOPATCH-assisted frontalis suspension, together with the correction of telecanthus and epicanthus inversus, is an effective procedure for BPES cases with severe ptosis

Secondary Orbital and Intraocular Lymphoma Treated With Immunochemotherapy

Purpose: To assess ocular and orbital structure by ocular echography and magnetic resonance imaging, fluoroangiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography before and after therapy with rituximab (Mabthera) and chlorambucil in a patient with concurrent intraorbital and intraocular lymphoma and diplopia. Methods: A 69-year-old man referred blurred vision and proptosis in his left eye associated with diplopia. Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in the left eye and 0.02 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in the right eye. Ocular echography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of concurrent orbital and intraocular tumor, and a B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma was diagnosed by incisional biopsy. The patient was treated with the oral alkylating agent chlorambucil and with intravenous infusions of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Mabthera) and evaluated with visual acuity, echography, fluoroangiography, indocyanine green angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Results: After combined immunochemotherapy with rituximab/chlorambucil, the patient showed in the left eye a significant improvement of visual acuity (0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) and a disappearance of diplopia at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: In this case report, combined systemic therapy with chlorambucil and rituximab was effective to reduce and control orbital and intraocular lymphoma

Cavernous venous malformation (cavernous hemangioma) of the orbit: Current concepts and a review of the literature

The cavernous venous malformation of the orbit, previously called cavernous hemangioma, is the most common primary orbital lesion of adults. Cavernous venous malformation occurs more often in women and typically presents in the fourth and fifth decades of life. It is a benign vascular malformation characterized by a well-defined capsule and numerous large vascular channels. The most common sign of cavernous venous malformation is progressive axial proptosis from the preferential involvement of the intraconal orbital space. Optic nerve damage and other signs of orbital pathology may be present, with a variable degree of visual impairment. The combination of ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging leads to an accurate diagnosis in the vast majority of cases. Surgical and nonsurgical treatments are required in case of symptomatic lesions, with a characteristic multidisciplinary management influencing optimal outcome. Orbitotomy represents the traditional surgical approach. Recently, the endoscopic transnasal approach to the orbital cavity has gained interest, representing a feasible and safe, less-invasive surgical technique for the management of cavernous venous malformation

Prevalence of neurological involvement and malformative/systemic syndromes in A- and V-pattern strabismus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of neurological involvement and malformative/systemic syndromes in A- and V-patterns with respect to other kinds of infantile concomitant strabismus. METHODS: A retrospective comparative study of 14,006 consecutive patients examined in the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Unit at the Catholic University of Rome between January 2002 and February 2010 was carried out. A total of 2.72% (385) of patients presented with concomitant constant infantile strabismus associated with A- and V- patterns (study group; mean age 8 years; range: 8 months - 37 years; male 211, female 174). Another 377 consecutive patients affected by infantile concomitant strabismus without A- or V- patterns were used as controls (control group; mean age 9 years, range: 1-34 years; male 194, female 183). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic and orthoptic examination with ocular motility evaluation and prism cover test or the Hirschberg test in primary, up and down gaze positions, as well as cycloplegic retinoscopy. The angle of deviation was evaluated at near (33 cm) and distance fixation (6 m) with full correction of refraction. RESULTS: Neurological involvement and malformative/systemic syndromes were observed in 30.4% of the study group and in 19.8% of patients in the control group (P < 0.001). Patients with A-pattern showed a greater prevalence of neurological impairment, hydrocephalus and meningomyelocele, while those affected by V-pattern exhibited a greater prevalence of craniosynostosis and malformative syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: Neurological involvement and malformative/systemic syndromes seem to be more evident in patients presenting with A- and V-pattern strabismus

A Ray-tracing model of the human optical system using in

It is well known that the cornea contributes to approximately 75% of the total refraction of the eye. Nevertheless, there is very few knowledge of its contribution to the optical aberrations of the image formed at the retina. Most corneal diagnostic equipments (Corneal Topographers and Keratometers) measure only its dioptric power (proportional to curvature) and shape, but do not calculate or estimate the corneal contribution to the quality of image formation at the retina

Effect of vertical transposition of the medial rectus muscle on primary position alignment in infantile esotropia wuth A- or V- pattern strabismus.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of vertical displacement of muscle insertions on the surgical dose-response relationship in patients undergoing bilateral medial rectus recessions. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing bilateral medial rectus recessions for correction of congenital esotropia with or without vertical displacement for A or V patterns. Patients were clustered into A pattern, V pattern, and "simple" (no pattern) groups. Strabismus angle at distance and near before and after surgery was recorded. Surgical dose-response relationships (in prism diopters/mm) were determined at the 6-month follow-up visit and compared. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients (28 male and 27 female patients; mean age, 6.9 years; range, 2-17 years) were included. Of these, 28 had either A pattern (18) or V pattern (10), and 27 were in the simple group. Mean preoperative angle of deviation was 34\u394 at distance and 40\u394 at near. The surgical dose-response relationship was significantly greater (at both distance and near) in the A pattern group (2.43\u394/mm, distance [p=0.005]; 2.76\u394/mm, near [p=0.04]) than in the simple group (1.56\u394/mm, distance; 2.03\u394/mm, near). The surgical response in the V pattern group (1.96\u394/mm, distance [p=0.34]; 2.03\u394/mm, near [p=0.94]) was not significantly different from the simple group. CONCLUSIONS: Upward displacement of the medial rectus muscles increased the surgical dose/response relationship in patients with A-pattern esotropia. A similar effect was not observed with downward displacement in patients with V-pattern strabismus. Surgeons should be aware of this enhanced response when planning surgery for A-pattern esotropia