How do different training tasks modulate our perception and hemispheric lateralization in the development of perceptual expertise?

Conference Theme: Mind, Technology, and SocietyHolistic processing (HP) and hemispheric lateralization are both expertise markers of object recognition. For example, expertise in face and sub-ordinate object perception is shown to be associated with HP and stronger right hemispheric lateralization. However, HP is modulated by experiences of selective attention to parts such as writing experiences of Chinese characters (Tso, Au, & Hsiao, 2014) and drawing experiences of faces (Zhou et al., 2011). Meanwhile, hemispheric lateralization is associated with the decoding strategy employed in object recognition, such as left hemispheric lateralization for reading alphabetic scripts and right hemispheric lateralization for reading logographic scripts. This study aims at training participants to recognize the same sets of artificially-created scripts using either whole-word (Logographic) or grapheme-to-phoneme (Alphabetic) approaches. We found that both approaches induced strong HP, though the alphabetic approach induced stronger left hemisphere advantage than the logographic approach. This training study demonstrates that HP and hemispheric lateralization are separate processes that are associated with different perceptual mechanisms.postprin

Universal antenatal human immunodeficiency virus testing in Hong Kong: consensus statement.

Following the recommendations of the Advisory Council on AIDS, Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority announced plans to introduce universal antenatal screening for human immunodeficiency virus infection and hence, a consensus conference was held to discuss strategies for implementing such screening in Hong Kong. This paper reports the discussions of the consensus conference. The consensus meeting group consisted of 15 clinicians and scientists from Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand. Seven commonly asked questions concerning mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus were selected for discussion by the participating panellists. Information on the laboratory diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection and the efficacy of preventive measures in reducing mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus were reviewed. Data from local studies was also presented and discussed. The timing, potential problems, and cost issues involved in testing all pregnant women in Hong Kong for human immunodeficiency virus were then considered.published_or_final_versio

Liquid-gas phase transition in nuclear multifragmentation

The equation of state of nuclear matter suggests that at suitable beam energies the disassembling hot system formed in heavy ion collisions will pass through a liquid-gas coexistence region. Searching for the signatures of the phase transition has been a very important focal point of experimental endeavours in heavy ion collisions, in the last fifteen years. Simultaneously theoretical models have been developed to provide information about the equation of state and reaction mechanisms consistent with the experimental observables. This article is a review of this endeavour.Comment: 63 pages, 27 figures, submitted to Adv. Nucl. Phys. Some typos corrected, minor text change

Metabolic syndrome is associated with change in subclinical arterial stiffness - A community-based Taichung Community Health Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MetS on arterial stiffness in a longitudinal study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a measurement interpreted as arterial stiffness, was measured in 1518 community-dwelling persons at baseline and re-examined within a mean follow-up period of 3 years. Multivariate linear regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the longitudinal relationship between MetS and its individual components and baPWV, while multivariate logistic regression with GEE was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between MetS and its individual components and the high risk group with arterial stiffness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Subjects with MetS showed significantly greater baPWV at the end point than those without MetS, after adjusting for age, gender, education, hypertension medication and mean arterial pressure (MAP). MetS was associated with the top quartile of baPWV (the high-risk group of arterial stiffness, adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.52 [1.21-1.90]), and a significant linear trend of risk for the number of components of MetS was found (p for trend < 0.05). In further considering the individual MetS component, elevated blood pressure and fasting glucose significantly predicted a high risk of arterial stiffness (adjusted OR [95% CI] 3.72 [2.81-4.93] and 1.35 [1.08-1.68], respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>MetS affects the subject's progression to arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness increased as the number of MetS components increased. Management of MetS is important for preventing the progression to advanced arterial stiffness.</p

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Combination of three α-globin gene loci deletions and hemoglobin New York results in a severe hemoglobin H syndrome

A Chinese patient with hemoglobin (Hb) H and Hb New York is described. Unlike classical Hb H disease, the additional β(New York) chain defect resulted in a more marked α/β-globin chain imbalance in this patient with only one α-gene, accounting for her severe anemia (3.4-6.8 g/dl) during the steady state.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Translocational rearrangements of 11q23 in acute monoblastic leukemia

We report the rearrangements of 11q23 in the form of t(6;11)(q27;q23) and t(11;16)(q23;q24) in three cases of acute monoblastic leukemia. The farmer translocation had only previously been reported in five cases of acute myeloid leukemia, while the latter is hitherto undescribed. In addition to describing a new chromosomal locus 16q24, which may participate in translocational exchanges with 11q23, this report also confirms the close association between 11q23 rearrangement and the involvement of the monocytic lineage in acute myeloid leukemia.link_to_subscribed_fulltex