Crystallized and fluid intelligence are predicted by microstructure of specific white-matter tracts

Studies of the neural basis of intelligence have focused on comparing brain imaging variables with global scales instead of the cognitive domains integrating these scales or quotients. Here, the relation between mean tract‐based fractional anisotropy (mTBFA) and intelligence indices was explored. Deterministic tractography was performed using a regions of interest approach for 10 white‐matter fascicles along which the mTBFA was calculated. The study sample included 83 healthy individuals from the second wave of the Cuban Human Brain Mapping Project, whose WAIS‐III intelligence quotients and indices were obtained. Inspired by the “Watershed model” of intelligence, we employed a regularized hierarchical Multiple Indicator, Multiple Causes model (MIMIC), to assess the association of mTBFA with intelligence scores, as mediated by latent variables summarizing the indices. Regularized MIMIC, used due to the limited sample size, selected relevant mTBFA by means of an elastic net penalty and achieved good fits to the data. Two latent variables were necessary to describe the indices: Fluid intelligence (Perceptual Organization and Processing Speed indices) and Crystallized Intelligence (Verbal Comprehension and Working Memory indices). Regularized MIMIC revealed effects of the forceps minor tract on crystallized intelligence and of the superior longitudinal fasciculus on fluid intelligence. The model also detected the significant effect of age on both latent variables

EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL STUDY ON THE BUBBLE BEHAVIOR IN A 3-D FLUIDIZED BED WITH A VERTICAL-AXIS, ROTATING DISTRIBUTOR

This work presents experimental measurements in a three-dimensional fluidized bed equipped with a novel vertical-axis, rotating distributor, together with two-fluid (Eulerian-Eulerian) CFD simulation results. The influence of the distributor rotation on the behavior of the bubbles in the experiments and in the CFD results is compared and critically analyzed

Spontaneous Symmetry Breakdown in non-relativistic Quantum Mechanics

The advantages and disadvantages of some pedagogical non-relativistic quantum-mechanical models, used to illustrate spontaneous symmetry breakdown, are discussed. A simple quantum-mechanical toy model (a spinor on the line, subject to a magnetostatic interaction) is presented, that exhibits the spontaneous breakdown of an internal symmetry.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1111.1213. Equations (30) and (31) have been corrected. Other minor correction

Thermal transport in glassy selenium: The role of low-frequency librations

The experimental curves giving the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of glassy selenium are considered in detail. The observed behavior can be taken into account quantitatively if the densities of states for short-wavelength phonons as well as for low-energy librations arising from computer simulations are used for the calculations. In particular, it is shown that the lowest frequency excitations of a chain of selenium atoms can give due account of the plateau observed at temperatures about 2-10 K. The implications of the present findings for the current debate regarding the mechanisms for thermal transport in glasses are finally discussedDirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica PB92-0114-C0

Polarized cortical tension drives zebrafish epiboly movements

The principles underlying the biomechanics of morphogenesis are largely unknown. Epiboly is an essential embryonic event in which three tissues coordinate to direct the expansion of the blastoderm. How and where forces are generated during epiboly, and how these are globally coupled remains elusive. Here we developed a method, hydrodynamic regression (HR), to infer 3D pressure fields, mechanical power, and cortical surface tension profiles. HR is based on velocity measurements retrieved from 2D+T microscopy and their hydrodynamic modeling. We applied HR to identify biomechanically active structures and changes in cortex local tension during epiboly in zebrafish. Based on our results, we propose a novel physical description for epiboly, where tissue movements are directed by a polarized gradient of cortical tension. We found that this gradient relies on local contractile forces at the cortex, differences in elastic properties between cortex components and the passive transmission of forces within the yolk cell. All in all, our work identifies a novel way to physically regulate concerted cellular movements that might be instrumental for the mechanical control of many morphogenetic processes.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

How perceived the soccer coaches the role of sport psychologist: a comparative study

Pese al reconocimiento público y científico del papel que desempeñan las diferentes variables psicológicas en el rendimiento deportivo, existen pocos datos que permitan evidenciar cuál es la percepción que tienen los máximos responsables de la coordinación del trabajo y del entrenamiento deportivo, es decir, los entrenadores, sobre el rol que desempeña el psicólogo del deporte en un deporte tan extendido como es el fútbol. En el presente trabajo, se ha diseñado el Cuestionario de Evaluación de las Ideas Previas de los Entrenadores de Fútbol, aplicándolo a dos muestras de un total de 198 entrenadores de fútbol, durante las temporadas 2003 y 2011. La comparación de los resultados, permite evidenciar cierto patrón de estabilidad en los resultados, si bien se profundiza en las diferencias encontradas, así como en la importancia de superar las barreras manifestadas por los técnicosDespite the scientific and public recognition of the role of psychological variables in athletic performance, there is little evidence to show what is the coaches’ perception on the role played by sport psychologist in a widespread sport like football. In this paper, we have designed the Cuestionario de Evaluación de las Ideas Previas de los Entrenadores de Fútbol, applying it to two samples of 198 football coaches during the 2003 and 2011 seasons. The comparison of results makes evident certain pattern of stability in the results, although the differences in depth, as well as the importance of overcoming the barriers raised by the coachesPese o reconhecimento público e científico do papel que desempenham as diferentes variáveis psicológicas no rendimento desportivo, existem pouco dados que permitam evidenciar qual é a percepção que têm os responsáveis máximos da coordenação do trabalho e do treino desportivo, isto é, os treinadores, sobre o papel que desempenha o psicólogo do desporto num desporto tão divulgado com é o futebol. No presente trabalho, foi criado o Cuestionario de Evaluación de las Ideas Previas de los Entrenadores de Fútbol, sendo este aplicado a duas amostras de um total de 198 treinadores de futebol, durante as temporadas 2003 e 2011. A comparação dos resultados permite evidenciar um certo padrão de estabilidade nos resultados, sendo aprofundadas as diferenças encontradas, assim como a importância de superar as barreiras manifestadas pelos técnicosEl presente estudio se ha desarrollado dentro del marco de dos proyectos de investigación del Plan Nacional I+D+I, del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación: Ref. DEP2011-27282; y Ref. PSI2011-2700