Learning from where ‘eye’ remotely look or point: impact on number line estimation error in adults.

In this paper we present an investigation into the use of visual cues during number line estimation, and their influence on cognitive processes for reducing number line estimation error. Participants completed a 0-1000 number line estimation task pre and post a brief intervention in which they observed static-visual or dynamicvisual cues (control, anchor, gaze cursor, mouse cursor) and also made estimation marks to test effective number-target estimation. Results indicated that a significant pre-test to post-test reduction in estimation error was present for dynamic visual cues of modelled eye-gaze and mouse-cursor. However, there was no significant performance difference between pre and post-test for the control or static anchor conditions. Findings are discussed in relation to the extent to which anchor points alone are meaningful in promoting successful segmentation of the number line, and whether dynamic cues promote the utility of these locations in reducing error through attentional guidance

Growth hormone receptor and IGF-1 receptor immunoreactivity during orthodontic tooth movement in the prednisolone-treated rat

Bone remodeling during tooth movement is regulated by local and systemic factors. Two regulators of bone metabolism are growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1). Their effects are mediated via binding to GH receptor (GHR) and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) in target tissues. Corticosteroids may affect the activity of these growth factors. This study examined the effect of prednisolone on GHR and IGF-IR expression in dental tissues following orthodontic tooth movement. The corti ticosteroid-treated group (N = 6) was administered prednisolone ( 1 mg/kg,) daily and the control group (N = 6) received equivalent volumes of saline. An orthodontic force (30 g) was applied to the maxillary first molar. Animals were sacrificed 12 days postappliance insertion. Sagittal sections of the first molar were stained for GHR and IGF-IR immunoreactivity. GHR and IGF-IR cell counts were elevated following appliance-treatment. Orthodontic tooth movement appeared to up-regulate GHR and IGF-IR immunoreactivity, but this up-regulation was reduced following prednisolone treatment. The suppression of GHR and IGF-I immunoreactivity in steroid-treated animals infers the mechanism whereby bone resorption and deposition, necessary for orthodontic tooth movement, may be inhibited by prednisolone. However, at 12 days postappliance insertion. no difference in orthodontic tooth movement was observed following low-dose prednisolone treatment

Differences in experiences of care between patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer of known and unknown primaries: mixed-method findings from the 2013 cancer patient experience survey in England.

OBJECTIVES: To explore differences in experiences of care reported in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) between patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and those with metastatic disease of known primary (non-CUP); to determine insights pertaining to the experiences of care for CUP respondents from free-text comments. DESIGN: Two separate, but related, studies, involving secondary analysis of existing data. Using frequency matching of CUP and non-CUP patients, statistical comparisons of responses to CPES questions were conducted. Free-text comments from CUP respondents were analysed thematically. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The CPES questionnaire comprises 63 closed questions measuring 8 areas that relate to experience of care and 3 free-text questions. Questionnaires were mailed to all adult patients (aged ≥16 years) in England with cancer admitted to hospital between 1 September 2013 and 30 November 2013. RESULTS: Matched analysis of closed response items from 2992 patients found significant differences between CUP (n=1496) and non-CUP patients (n=1496): CUP patients were more likely to want more written information about their type of cancer and tests received, to receive their diagnosis from a general practitioner (GP) and have seen allied health professionals, but less likely to have understood explanations of their condition or had surgery. Freetext responses (n=3055) were coded into 17 categories and provided deeper insight regarding patient information and interactions with GPs. CPES data may include a preponderance of patients with favourable CUP subtypes and patients initially identified as CUP but whose primary was subsequently identified. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first large-scale studies to explore the experiences of care of CUP patients. The significant differences identified between the experiences of CUP and non-CUP patients suggest CUP patients require more psychosocial support and specific interventions to manage diagnostic uncertainty and the multiple investigations many CUP patients face. Substantial limitations were identified with the CPES data, emphasising the need for prospective studies

Prostaglandin E2 enhances alveolar bone formation in the rat mandible

Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) induces bone formation in stress-bearing bones. The mandible, a stress-bearing bone, is loaded daily during mastication. The aim of this study was to determine if PGE(2) delivered locally to the mandible over 20 days enhances alveolar bone deposition. In 18 Lewis rats, controlled-release pellets containing PGE2 were implanted on the buccal aspect on the left-hand side of the mandible, mesial to the root of the first molar. Controlled-release pellets locally delivered 0.1, 0.05, or 0.025 mg/day of PGE2. The right side of the mandible was used as a matched control for each animal. Six sham-treated animals were implanted with a placebo pellet. On days 7 and 19, animals were injected with the bone markers tetracycline and calcein, respectively. On day 21, animals were sacrificed and undecalcified tissues obtained for morphometrical analysis. Morphometrical measurements were analyzed by paired t test to determine differences between the matched samples and one-way ANOVA to compare the different treatment groups. A significant increase in alveolar bone area was observed in mandibles treated with 0.1 and 0.05 mg/day when compared with matched controls and the placebo group. This was accompanied by a significant increase in alveolar bone height and width. The proportions of double-labeled surface (dLS), the mineral apposition rate (MAR), and bone formation rate (BFR) were significantly increased in mandibles treated with the two higher doses of PGE(2). The proportion of resorptive surface (RS) was significantly reduced in these two groups. It is concluded that PGE2 induces alveolar bone formation in the mandible when locally delivered at a dose of 0.1 or 0.05 mg/day for 20 days. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Orthodontic tooth movement in the prednisolone-treated rat

Adverse effects of corticosteroids on bone metabolism raise concerns as to whether steroid treatment may influence orthodontic movement. This study examined the effect of prednisolone on orthodontic movement using an established rat model. The corticosteroid treated group (N = 6) was administered prednisolone (1 mg/kg) daily, for a 12-day induction period; the control group (N = 6) received equivalent volumes of saline. On day 12, an orthodontic appliance was placed which exerted 30 g of mesial force to the maxillary first molar. Animals were sacrificed on day 24 and tooth movement was measured. Sagittal sections of the molars were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity. While there were no significant differences in the magnitude of tooth movement between the 2 groups, steroid-treated rats displayed significantly less root resorption on the compression side and fewer TRAP-positive cells within the PDL space on the same side. This suggests steroid treatment suppressed elastic activity

Shaping electron wave functions in a carbon nanotube with a parallel magnetic field

A magnetic field, through its vector potential, usually causes measurable changes in the electron wave function only in the direction transverse to the field. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that in carbon nanotube quantum dots, combining cylindrical topology and bipartite hexagonal lattice, a magnetic field along the nanotube axis impacts also the longitudinal profile of the electronic states. With the high (up to 17T) magnetic fields in our experiment the wave functions can be tuned all the way from "half-wave resonator" shape, with nodes at both ends, to "quarter-wave resonator" shape, with an antinode at one end. This in turn causes a distinct dependence of the conductance on the magnetic field. Our results demonstrate a new strategy for the control of wave functions using magnetic fields in quantum systems with nontrivial lattice and topology.Comment: 5 figure

SOME ABSTRACT PROPERTIES OF SEMIGROUPS APPEARING IN SUPERCONFORMAL THEORIES

A new type of semigroups which appears while dealing with $N=1$ superconformal symmetry in superstring theories is considered. The ideal series having unusual abstract properties is constructed. Various idealisers are introduced and studied. The ideal quasicharacter is defined. Green's relations are found and their connection with the ideal quasicharacter is established.Comment: 11 page

Changes in the relationship between self-reference and emotional valence as a function of dysphoria

The self-positivity bias is found to be an aspect of normal cognitive function. Changes in this bias are usually associated with changes in emotional states, such as dysphoria or depression. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of emotional valence within self-referential processing. By asking non-dysphoric and dysphoric individuals to rate separately the emotional and self-referential content of a set of 240 words, it was possible to identify the differences in the relationship between self-reference and emotional valence, which are associated with dysphoria. The results support the existence of the self-positivity bias in non-dysphoric individuals. More interestingly, dysphoric individuals were able to accurately identify the emotional content of the word stimuli. They failed, however, to associate this emotional valence with self-reference. These findings are discussed in terms of attributional self-biases and their consequences for cognition