Visual Working Memory Encoding and Action: An Investigation using fNIRS and Mouse-tracking

Visual working memory (VWM) guides the motor system by temporarily keeping relevant information in mind. As an interface between perception and action, VWM plays a critical role in supporting goal-directed behavior. Research on the relationship between VWM and action has primarily focused on the effect of VWM on motor output. Traditional approaches index outcome responses, such as accuracy, but this practice provides limited information on underlying VWM processes. Conversely, the influence of action on VWM processes has received less attention and its neural correlates are not well understood. In this thesis, I examined VWM-action links using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and mouse-tracking to record real-time trajectories of participants\u27 motor responses. Experiment 1 aimed to understand the relationship between movement dynamics, VWM performance, and their associated neural activity in a standard change detection task. Experiments 2 and 3 focused on the effect of action on VWM encoding using change detection tasks that manipulated task-relevance of the action (Experiment 2) and action-relevance of the items held in VWM (Experiments 2 & 3). The results showed that action enhanced VWM encoding for action-relevant features but impaired memory for action-irrelevant features. Moreover, the frontoparietal VWM network was differentially associated with action-relevant and action-irrelevant memory performance. Together, these findings suggest a trade-off between action and VWM encoding, where the representations of action-relevant features are prioritized but action-irrelevant features are suppressed. These results support and expand on the motor-induced encoding effect, demonstrating how action enhances VWM encoding for features that are action-relevant

Orbiter Entry Aerodynamics Flight Testing: STS-119 and STS-125

NASA has performed entry flight testing related to boundary layer transition and turbulent heating environments during 2009. Two projects are involved in implementing the activities and acquiring flight data: 1) Orbiter BLT Flight Experiment during STS-119; and 2) Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements (HYTHIRM) during STS-119 and STS-125. Orbiter BLT FE has implemented tile surface thermocouples in order to provide in-situ data downstream of a fixed geometry tile protuberance. HYTHIRM has developed a framework of mission planning and aircraft based telescopic infrared measurements to provide quantitative surface temperature distributions

Overview of Boundary Layer Transition Research in Support of Orbiter Return To Flight

A predictive tool for estimating the onset of boundary layer transition resulting from damage to and/or repair of the thermal protection system was developed in support of Shuttle Return to Flight. The boundary layer transition tool is part of a suite of tools that analyze the aerothermodynamic environment to the local thermal protection system to allow informed disposition of damage for making recommendations to fly as is or to repair. Using mission specific trajectory information and details of each damage site or repair, the expected time (and thus Mach number) at transition onset is predicted to help define the aerothermodynamic environment to use in the subsequent thermal and stress analysis of the local thermal protection system and structure. The boundary layer transition criteria utilized for the tool was developed from ground-based measurements to account for the effect of both protuberances and cavities and has been calibrated against select flight data. Computed local boundary layer edge conditions were used to correlate the results, specifically the momentum thickness Reynolds number over the edge Mach number and the boundary layer thickness. For the initial Return to Flight mission, STS-114, empirical curve coefficients of 27, 100, and 900 were selected to predict transition onset for protuberances based on height, and cavities based on depth and length, respectively

Detection of HCl molecules by resonantly enhanced sum-frequency mixing of mid- and near-infrared laser pulses

We perform experimental studies of resonantly enhanced sum-frequency mixing (SFM), driven by tunable, spectrally narrowband mid-infrared and fixed-frequency nanosecond laser pulses, aiming at applications in molecular gas detection. The mid-infrared pulses are tuned in the vicinity of two-photon rovibrational transitions in the electronic ground state to provide strong resonance enhancements of the nonlinear susceptibility, while a probe laser at shorter wavelength uses an off-resonant single-photon coupling to excited electronic states. This SFM approach benefits from the advantageous combination of typically small detunings among the mid-infrared, vibrational transitions and the typically large transition dipole moment for couplings of electronic states. Moreover, compared to resonantly enhanced third harmonic generation (THG), a signal wave at much shorter wavelength permits simple and efficient detection. We demonstrate resonantly enhanced SFM via rovibrational states in gaseous hydrogen chloride molecules and compare its features to THG. The SFM spectra offer a large signal-to-noise ratio of 4 orders of magnitude and a detection limit down to a pressure of 0.1 mbar, corresponding to a particle density of 0.35×10^15 per cm^3

Martyrologists without boundaries: the collaboration of John Foxe and Heinrich Pantaleon

Amid the great Protestant martyrologies of the mid-sixteenth century, Heinrich Pantaleon’s Martyrvm historia (1563) has been comparatively overlooked. This article argues that Pantaleon’s martyrology acted as a capstone to the narrative framework of Protestant suffering and resistance. Pantaleon’s command of vernacular languages gave him access to a wider range of material than other martyrologists, material which his Latin text made accessible to learned readers across Europe. This article also examines the collaboration between Pantaleon and John Foxe, which directly inspired Pantaleon’s martyrology and enabled Foxe to give a cohesive, trans-European account of Protestant martyrs in his Acts and monuments

How do specialist trainee doctors acquire skills to practice patient-centred care? A qualitative exploration

Objectives: The importance of patient centred care (PCC) has been increasingly recognised. However, there is limited work exploring what doctors actually understand by PCC, and how they perceive they acquire PCC skills in the workplace. The objectives of our study were to explore (1) what UK doctors, in specialist training, perceive to be the essential components of PCC, and (2) if/how they acquire these skills; (3) any facilitators/barriers for engaging in PCC; and (4) views on their PCC training. Design: Qualitative study using in-depth individual semi-structured interviews with UK specialist trainees. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed.Setting and Participants: Thirty-one specialist trainee doctors, with at least 4 years postgraduate experience, were interviewed. Participants worked in various medical specialities within the Medical Directorate of an acute hospital in the East Midlands of England (UK). Results: Interview data were transcribed verbatim and categorised into three main themes. The first theme was ‘Understanding PCC’ where the doctors gave varied perspectives on what they understood by PCC. Although many were able to highlight key components of PCC there were also some accounts which demonstrated a lack of understanding. The second theme was ‘Learning PCC skills: A work in progress’. Learning to be patient-centred was perceived to be an on-going process. Within this, trainee doctors reported ‘on-the-job’ learning as the main means of acquiring PCC skills, but they also saw a place for formal training (e.g., educational sessions focussing on PCC, clinical scenarios/role play). ‘Delivering PCC: Beyond the physician’ referred to the many influences the doctors reported in learning and delivering PCC including patients, the organisation and colleagues. Observing consultants taking a patient-centred approach was cited as an important learning tool. Conclusions: Our findings may assist clinical educators in understanding how trainee doctors perceive PCC, and the factors that influence their learning; thereby, helping them shape PCC skills training

Analysis of the recovery phase after maximal exercise in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and the relationship with ventricular function

Background Few studies demonstrate delayed recovery after exercise in children and adults with heart disease. We assess the recovery patterns of gas exchange parameters and heart rate (HR) in children with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) compared to healthy peers and investigate the correlation with ventricular function and QRS duration. Methods 45 children after rToF and 45 controls performed a maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test. In the subsequent recovery period, patterns of VO2, VCO2 and HR were analysed. Half-life time (T-1/2) of the exponential decay and drop per minute (Rec(min)) were compared between groups. In the rToF group, correlations were examined between the recovery parameters and QRS-duration and ventricular function, described by fractional shortening (FS) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) measured at baseline prior to exercise. Results Recovery of VO2 and VCO2 was delayed in rToF patients, half-life time values were higher compared to controls (T1/2VO2 52.51 11.29 s vs. 44.31 +/- 10.47 s; p = 0.001 and T1/2VCO2 68.28 +/- 13.84 s vs. 59.41 +/- 12.06 s; p = 0.002) and percentage drop from maximal value was slower at each minute of recovery (p<0.05). Correlations were found with FS (T1/2VO2: r = -0.517; p<0.001; Rec(1min)VO(2): r = -0.636, p<0.001; Rec(1min)VCO(2): r = -0.373, p = 0.012) and TAPSE (T1/2VO2: r = -0.505; p<0.001; Rec(1min)VO(2): r = -0.566, p<0.001; T1/2VCO2: r = -0.466; p = 0.001; Rec(1min)VCO(2): r = -0.507, p<0.001), not with QRS-duration. No difference was found in HR recovery between patients and controls. Conclusions Children after rToF show a delayed gas exchange recovery after exercise. This delay correlates to ventricular function, demonstrating its importance in recovery after physical activity