Conceptual Transformation and Cognitive Processes in Origami Paper Folding

Research on problem solving typically does not address tasks that involve following detailed and/or illustrated step-by-step instructions. Such tasks are not seen as cognitively challenging problems to be solved. In this paper, we challenge this assumption by analyzing verbal protocols collected during an Origami folding task. Participants verbalised thoughts well beyond reading or reformulating task instructions, or commenting on actions. In particular, they compared the task status to pictures in the instruction, evaluated the progress so far, referred to previous experience, expressed problems and confusions, and—crucially—added complex thoughts and ideas about the current instructional step. The last two categories highlight the fact that participants conceptualised this spatial task as a problem to be solved, and used creativity to achieve this aim. Procedurally, the verbalisations reflect a typical order of steps: reading—reformulating—reconceptualising—evaluating. During reconceptualisation, the creative range of spatial concepts represented in language highlights the complex mental operations involved when transferring the two-dimensional representation into the real world. We discuss the implications of our findings in terms of problem solving as a multilayered process involving diverse types of cognitive effort, consider parallels to known conceptual challenges involved in interpreting spatial descriptions, and reflect on the benefit of reconceptualisation for cognitive processes

Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from a family of 18th century Hungarians

The naturally mummified remains of a mother and two daughters found in an 18th century Hungarian crypt were analysed, using multiple molecular genetic techniques to examine the epidemiology and evolution of tuberculosis. DNA was amplified from a number of targets on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, including DNA from IS6110, gyrA, katG codon 463, oxyR, dnaA–dnaN, mtp40, plcD and the direct repeat (DR) region. The strains present in the mummified remains were identified as M. tuberculosis and not Mycobacterium bovis, from katG and gyrA genotyping, PCR from the oxyR and mtp40 loci, and spoligotyping. Spoligotyping divided the samples into two strain types, and screening for a deletion in the MT1801–plcD region initially divided the strains into three types. Further investigation showed, however, that an apparent deletion was due to poor DNA preservation. By comparing the effect of PCR target size on the yield of amplicon, a clear difference was shown between 18th century and modern M. tuberculosis DNA. A two-centre system was used to confirm the findings of this study, which clearly demonstrate the value of using molecular genetic techniques to study historical cases of tuberculosis and the care required in drawing conclusions. The genotyping and spoligotyping results are consistent with the most recent theory of the evolution and spread of the modern tuberculosis epidemic

Implementing community based seagrass monitoring in the Wellesley Island Group

A survey was commissioned in 2007 by the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (CLCAC) and the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) on behalf of the Traditional Owners of the Wellesley Island region who had raised concerns over unhealthy dugong and turtle reported from hunters. Traditional Owners felt that one possible cause of sick animals may have been as a result of seagrass dieback causing a shortage of food to the animals. To answer the concerns of the Traditional Owners, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Marine Ecology Group was commissioned to survey the seagrass communities of the Wellesley Islands and to train Wellesley Islands Rangers on seagrass mapping techniques. This was the first time that seagrasses have been formally surveyed and mapped for 23 years in the Wellesley Islands. Seagrass communities were the dominant benthic habitat in intertidal and shallow subtidal areas with a high diversity (8 specie s) of coastal seagrass compared with other Gulf of Carpentaria locations. Evidence of heavy dugong feeding activity was observed on most intertidal seagrass meadows surveyed. The highest density of dugong feeding trails was observed in seagrass meadows dominated by Halodule uninervis (narrow leaf form) and/or Halophila ovalis. In addition, dugongs were regularly observed feeding in subtidal meadows from the helicopter during surveys. This survey was used to help fill gaps in knowledge and provide a baseline from which future monitoring could be conducted to identify research required to answer the uncertainties raised by the Traditional Owners, and to help with developing zoning plans for the management of their Sea Country

Implementing community based seagrass monitoring in the Wellesley Island Group

A survey was commissioned in 2007 by the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (CLCAC) and the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) on behalf of the Traditional Owners of the Wellesley Island region who had raised concerns over unhealthy dugong and turtle reported from hunters. Traditional Owners felt that one possible cause of sick animals may have been as a result of seagrass dieback causing a shortage of food to the animals. To answer the concerns of the Traditional Owners, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Marine Ecology Group was commissioned to survey the seagrass communities of the Wellesley Islands and to train Wellesley Islands Rangers on seagrass mapping techniques. This was the first time that seagrasses have been formally surveyed and mapped for 23 years in the Wellesley Islands. Seagrass communities were the dominant benthic habitat in intertidal and shallow subtidal areas with a high diversity (8 specie s) of coastal seagrass compared with other Gulf of Carpentaria locations. Evidence of heavy dugong feeding activity was observed on most intertidal seagrass meadows surveyed. The highest density of dugong feeding trails was observed in seagrass meadows dominated by Halodule uninervis (narrow leaf form) and/or Halophila ovalis. In addition, dugongs were regularly observed feeding in subtidal meadows from the helicopter during surveys. This survey was used to help fill gaps in knowledge and provide a baseline from which future monitoring could be conducted to identify research required to answer the uncertainties raised by the Traditional Owners, and to help with developing zoning plans for the management of their Sea Country

Dynamics of a tropical deepwater seagrass community during a major dredging campaign

A research and monitoring program was established to examine the potential impacts of a large scale capital dredging program on a tropical deepwater seagrass community between December 2005 and June 2008. The aims of the monitoring program were to fill gaps in our understanding of the dynamics of tropical deepwater seagrass habitats, their roles in fisheries productivity and their resilience and capacity for recovery from disturbance associated with dredging. While the dynamics of shallow coastal seagrasses in the region have been the subject of many studies little was previously known about the low density deepwater seagrass habitat that typified the study area. Results of the study revealed that these deepwater meadows had a high natural seasonal and inter-annual variability. Seasonality was substantially different to neighbouring shallow seagrass communities with a winter peak in abundance declining in spring before losing all above-ground biomass during summer months. Turbidity associated with dredging inhibited seagrass recruitment but there was evidence of seagrass recovery 12 months after the completion of dredging activity. Implications of the study for managing impacts to deepwater seagrass communities and differences in response to shallow coastal seagrasses are discussed

Dynamics of a tropical deepwater seagrass community during a major dredging campaign

A research and monitoring program was established to examine the potential impacts of a large scale capital dredging program on a tropical deepwater seagrass community between December 2005 and June 2008. The aims of the monitoring program were to fill gaps in our understanding of the dynamics of tropical deepwater seagrass habitats, their roles in fisheries productivity and their resilience and capacity for recovery from disturbance associated with dredging. While the dynamics of shallow coastal seagrasses in the region have been the subject of many studies little was previously known about the low density deepwater seagrass habitat that typified the study area. Results of the study revealed that these deepwater meadows had a high natural seasonal and inter-annual variability. Seasonality was substantially different to neighbouring shallow seagrass communities with a winter peak in abundance declining in spring before losing all above-ground biomass during summer months. Turbidity associated with dredging inhibited seagrass recruitment but there was evidence of seagrass recovery 12 months after the completion of dredging activity. Implications of the study for managing impacts to deepwater seagrass communities and differences in response to shallow coastal seagrasses are discussed

The Cauchy Problem for a One Dimensional Nonlinear Peridynamic Model

This paper studies the Cauchy problem for a one-dimensional nonlinear peridynamic model describing the dynamic response of an infinitely long elastic bar. The issues of local well-posedness and smoothness of the solutions are discussed. The existence of a global solution is proved first in the sublinear case and then for nonlinearities of degree at most three. The conditions for finite-time blow-up of solutions are established.Comment: To appear in Journal of Differential Equations (added references, corrected typos, minor revision in Section 2, 18 pages

The Cauchy Problem for a One Dimensional Nonlinear Peridynamic Model

This paper studies the Cauchy problem for a one-dimensional nonlinear peridynamic model describing the dynamic response of an infinitely long elastic bar. The issues of local well-posedness and smoothness of the solutions are discussed. The existence of a global solution is proved first in the sublinear case and then for nonlinearities of degree at most three. The conditions for finite-time blow-up of solutions are established.Comment: To appear in Journal of Differential Equations (added references, corrected typos, minor revision in Section 2, 18 pages

Regulatory T-cells in chronic graft-versus-host disease following extracorporeal photopheresis: correlation with skin and global organ responses, and ability to taper steroids

Background: Induction of immune tolerance by an increase in regulatory T (Treg) cells after extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is thought to contribute to how ECP exerts its therapeutic effect in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD). We investigated whether percentages and absolute counts of Treg cells changed post-ECP, and examined correlation with response. Methods: Absolute counts and % of CD4+ T cells and Treg cells (CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + CD127dim/-) were evaluated using flow cytometry in 32 patients with cGvHD treated by ECP for a minimum of 3 months, and up to 12 months. CD4+ or Treg cells at baseline to 12 months post-ECP were compared with changes in skin disease scores or global organ involvement, or the ability to taper steroids, at 14, 28, and 56 weeks. Results: Regulatory T cells % increased significantly above any overall changes in CD4+ % at 6, 9, and 12 months post-ECP. There was no statistically significant association between Treg cells and skin or steroid response, whereas a larger increase in CD4+ count from baseline to 1 to 3 months corresponded to increased odds of being able to reduce steroid dose by 50% or greater at 14 weeks. Skin and global organ responders at 28 weeks had higher median Treg cell counts 3 months post-ECP than nonresponders, as did steroid responders at 56 weeks who were 12 months post-ECP. Conclusions: Regulatory T cell counts and % varied greatly among cGvHD patients, and the increase post-ECP was not significant until 6 months. No clear correlation was found between Treg cells and clinical improvement, suggesting that increases in Treg cell numbers and/or proportions are not driving the mechanism leading to a response after ECP