Bayesian modeling via discrete nonparametric priors

The availability of complex-structured data has sparked new research directions in statistics and machine learning. Bayesian nonparametrics is at the forefront of this trend thanks to two crucial features: its coherent probabilistic framework, which naturally leads to principled prediction and uncertainty quantification, and its infinite-dimensionality, which exempts from parametric restrictions and ensures full modeling flexibility. In this paper, we provide a concise overview of Bayesian nonparametrics starting from its foundations and the Dirichlet process, the most popular nonparametric prior. We describe the use of the Dirichlet process in species discovery, density estimation, and clustering problems. Among the many generalizations of the Dirichlet process proposed in the literature, we single out the Pitman–Yor process, and compare it to the Dirichlet process. Their different features are showcased with real-data illustrations. Finally, we consider more complex data structures, which require dependent versions of these models. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal is represented by hierarchical constructions. We highlight the role of the dependence structure in the borrowing of information and illustrate its effectiveness on unbalanced datasets

Effects of Musical Classes on Motor Creativity According to Age, Sex, and Weight Status in Young Students: A Music-Oriented versus Conventional Education Plan

Motor creativity can be influenced by the specificity of the school–class environments (music-based education plans) and individual characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the effects of music oriented and conventional education plans on rhythmic perceptive capacity, motor creativity, and skill- and health-related fitness components in young students according to age, sex, and weight status. One hundred sixty-three young Italian students from elementary (second and fourth grade) and middle school (sixth and eighth grade) were enrolled in the study according to their education plan (music oriented or conventional). All participants were tested for rhythmic perceptive capacity (Stambak’s test), motor creativity (Divergent Movement Ability test), skill-related (Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder), and health-related (Multistage Fitness test) components. Individuals were also considered according to age (elementary and middle school), sex, and weight status. Significant age × education plan and sex × education plan interactions (p < 0.01) were found in motor creativity (locomotor and stability skills) and motor competence (balance and jumping-like activities). No significant weight status × education plan interaction was found. The predominant role of music in the music-oriented education plan appeared to foster the ability to enhance motor creativity in elementary and middle school students compared to the conventional plan. Moreover, music-oriented experience also seems relevant for expressing and exhibiting motor competence (i.e., balance) in relation to sex

Bayesian modeling via discrete nonparametric priors

The availability of complex-structured data has sparked new research directions in statistics and machine learning. Bayesian nonparametrics is at the forefront of this trend thanks to two crucial features: its coherent probabilistic framework, which naturally leads to principled prediction and uncertainty quantification, and its infinite-dimensionality, which exempts from parametric restrictions and ensures full modeling flexibility. In this paper, we provide a concise overview of Bayesian nonparametrics starting from its foundations and the Dirichlet process, the most popular nonparametric prior. We describe the use of the Dirichlet process in species discovery, density estimation, and clustering problems. Among the many generalizations of the Dirichlet process proposed in the literature, we single out the Pitman–Yor process, and compare it to the Dirichlet process. Their different features are showcased with real-data illustrations. Finally, we consider more complex data structures, which require dependent versions of these models. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal is represented by hierarchical constructions. We highlight the role of the dependence structure in the borrowing of information and illustrate its effectiveness on unbalanced datasets

Acute effects of a combat sport environment on self-control and pain perception inhibition: a preliminary study in a new ecological framework

Intense sports activities affect cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains, possibly concurring in reducing pain perception and anxiety. Within a framework for a new socio-ecological narrative that considers opposition (such as fighting) and collaboration (cooperative learning) as carriers of self-control and pain perception inhibition, we investigated the acute effects of a judo-specific session on cognitive (inhibitory control and simple reaction time), perceptual (pain and fatigue), affective (anxiety) and physiological (hormone profile) domains. Eleven male black belt judokas (age 39.0 ± 13.9 years; training experience: 23.2 ± 14.4 years) were recruited and tested before and after judo randori and resting sessions. Inhibitory control and simple reaction time were assessed via the Flanker task and clinical reaction time test, pain and fatigue were assessed using Borg’s category-ratio scale (CR-10), and the state–trait anxiety inventory Y-1 test assessed anxiety. Glucose, insulin, cortisol, creatinine, and irisin levels were measured. Cognitive performance, perception of fatigue and physiological variables increased after randori bouts, while pain decreased. Inhibitory control, perception of pain, perception of fatigue and glucose, cortisol, and creatinine significantly differed (p &lt; 0.05) between randori and resting sessions. A high-intensity randori may induce acute beneficial effects on cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains. Further studies should compare the results with the outcomes from a collaborative and non-agonist environment and confirm the socio-ecologic framework

Effects of cognitive load and different exercise intensities on perceived effort in sedentary university students: a follow up of the Cubo Fitness Test validation

Work and intellectually fatiguing environments can significantly influence the health of individuals, which is strictly bound to motor efficiency. In particular, desk workers and university students may have a sedentary lifestyle and a condition of mental fatigue caused by daily routine, which could impair motor efficiency. The assessment is a starting point for enhancing awareness of the individual’s psychophysical condition through the perception of one’s body motor efficiency, motivating to move towards improvement. This way, a submaximal test based on perceived exertion was developed (Cubo Fitness Test, CFT) and validated in previous studies. Hence, two further studies were employed to enhance the consistency and accuracy of this instrument in different conditions. The first study investigated the internal responsiveness of CFT, evaluating if mental fatigue could affect motor efficiency. The second study investigated which perceived intensity (weak, moderate, strong, or absolute maximum) could be more reliable for applying the CFT (as previous research focused the investigation only on moderate intensity). In the first investigation, participants assessed two stimuli (mental fatigue induced with a Stroop color-word task and a neutral condition based on the vision of a documentary) lasting 60 min each. The quality of psychophysical recovery (total quality recovery) and the mood state (Italian Mood State questionnaire) were evaluated before the stimuli. After the fatiguing or the neutral task, the mood state was newly assessed, together with the evaluation of the workload’s characteristics (Nasa TLX) and the CFT motor efficiency. In the second investigation, participants had to perform CFT twice for each at different intensities of Borg’s Scale of perceived exertion. Researchers successfully requested to fill out the NASA TLX questionnaire regarding the perceived workload characteristics of CFT, and the reliability of each intensity was assessed. Results seem to enhance the consistency and the accuracy of the instrument. Indeed, findings evidenced that CFT is not influenced by mental fatigue conditions typical of the intellectual work of desk workers and university students for which this test was specifically conceived. Moreover, moderate and strong perceived intensity are the most adequate conditions to assess motor efficiency in these populations

Experiencias de ancianos y profesionales de la salud relacionadas con el cuidado por la estrategia de salud de la familia

Objetivo: verificar como os profissionais da estratégia saúde da família realizam o cuidado aos idosos. Método: pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, a coleta de dados deu-se por entrevista semiestruturada individual com 15 idosos e nove profissionais, em três municípios da região oeste de Santa Catarina. Resultados: emergiram da análise temática de três categorias: Reflexão sobre a satisfação dos idosos no serviço de saúde; Percepção dos profissionais quanto ao preparo da equipe no cuidado aos idosos; Vínculo dos idosos com os profissionais da estratégia de saúde da família. Conclusão: observam-se lacunas na formação dos profissionais na graduação, necessidade de conhecimento mais denso para trabalhar com a saúde dos idosos, há também carência de trabalho em rede.Objective: to ascertain how family health strategy personnel provide care for the elderly. Method: in this qualitative, descriptive study, data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews of 15 older adults and nine health professionals, in three municipalities in western Santa Catarina. Results: three categories emerged from the thematic analysis: thinking about the older adults’ satisfaction in the health service; professionals’ perceptions of the team’s preparation in care for the elderly; and Bonding between the elderly and family health strategy personnel. Conclusion: gaps were observed in health professionals’ undergraduate training, a need for denser knowledge for working with the health of older adults, as well as a lack of networking.Objetivo: verificar cómo los profesionales de la estrategia de la Salud de la Familia realizan la atención a los ancianos. Método: investigación cualitativa y descriptiva, la recolección de datos ocurrió a través de entrevista semiestructurada individual junto a 15 ancianos y nueve profesional en tres ciudades de la región oeste de Santa Catarina Resultados: surgieron del análisis temático tres categorías: Reflexión sobre la satisfacción de los ancianos en el servicio de salud; Percepción de los profesionales sobre la preparación del equipo en la atención a los ancianos; Vinculo de los ancianos con los profesionales de la estrategia de Salud de la Familia. Conclusión: se observaron fallas en la formación de profesionales en la facultad, la necesidad de conocimiento más denso para trabajar con la salud de los ancianos. Se percibe también una carencia de trabajo en red

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

The importance of balance with the prescriptive teaching in kickboxing

Problem statement. The problem in kickboxers is that during the execution of a shot (especially in lateral kicks) they have difficulty in keeping the balance in the third phase (reload phase) of the shot as they are focused on hitting the opponent in a position from their guard and their balance. Aim. The goal of the study is to improve balance in a group of kickboxers using two different types of exercises and observe which of the two is more effective. Methods. The sample is made up of 2 groups of 10 people in each group, with an average age of 16 with no experience in kickboxing. The first group was trained following the cognitive approach through varied exercises. The second group, on the other hand, was trained following the cognitive approach through partial exercises. The stork test was performed to underestimate balance and the independent samples t-test was used to underestimate the post-workout difference. Results. The result is statistically significant (p < .05). The results of the first group are higher than the seconds. The improvement of the balance, the ability to make decisions in a short time, the reaction, through visual stimulation given by the led light discs through the varied exercise, was better than in the experimental group 2. Conclusions. Both groups improved the balance but those who did a training based on varied exercise had a greater improvement because in kickboxing it is important to reproduce the technical gesture in various situations that are unexpected that cannot be anticipated due to the variability contextual

Materiale clinico relativo al caso di Assuntina

Il capitolo descrive l'analisi di un caso clinico tramite la valutazione dell' SCL-90-R, del protocollo ORT e della Diagnosi Psicodinamica Operazionalizzat