Eye movements during information processing tasks: Individual differences and cultural effects

AbstractThe eye movements of native English speakers, native Chinese speakers, and bilingual Chinese/English speakers who were either born in China (and moved to the US at an early age) or in the US were recorded during six tasks: (1) reading, (2) face processing, (3) scene perception, (4) visual search, (5) counting Chinese characters in a passage of text, and (6) visual search for Chinese characters. Across the different groups, there was a strong tendency for consistency in eye movement behavior; if fixation durations of a given viewer were long on one task, they tended to be long on other tasks (and the same tended to be true for saccade size). Some tasks, notably reading, did not conform to this pattern. Furthermore, experience with a given writing system had a large impact on fixation durations and saccade lengths. With respect to cultural differences, there was little evidence that Chinese participants spent more time looking at the background information (and, conversely less time looking at the foreground information) than the American participants. Also, Chinese participants’ fixations were more numerous and of shorter duration than those of their American counterparts while viewing faces and scenes, and counting Chinese characters in text

Color-accurate underwater imaging using perceptual adaptive illumination

Capturing color in water is challenging due to the heavy non-uniform attenuation of light in water across the visible spectrum, which results in dramatic hue shifts toward blue. Yet observing color in water is important for monitoring and surveillance as well as marine biology studies related to species identification, individual and group behavior, and ecosystem health and activity monitoring. Underwater robots are equipped with motor control for large scale transects but they lack sensors that enable capturing color-accurate underwater images. We present a method for color-accurate imaging in water called perceptual adaptive illumination. This method dynamically mixes the illumination of an object in a distance-dependent way using a controllable multi-color light source. The color mix compensates correctly for color loss and results in an image whose color composition is equivalent to rendering the object in air. Experiments were conducted with a color palette in the pool and at three different coral reefs sites, and with an underwater robot collecting image data with the new sensor.United States. Office of Naval Research (Project N000140911051

Prognostic significance of infarct core pathology revealed by quantitative non-contrast in comparison with contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction survivors

Aims To assess the prognostic significance of infarct core tissue characteristics using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in survivors of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods and results We performed an observational prospective single centre cohort study in 300 reperfused STEMI patients (mean ± SD age 59 ± 12 years, 74% male) who underwent CMR 2 days and 6 months post-myocardial infarction (n = 267). Native T1 was measured in myocardial regions of interest (n = 288). Adverse remodelling was defined as an increase in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume ≥20% at 6 months. All-cause death or first heart failure hospitalization was a pre-specified outcome that was assessed during follow-up (median duration 845 days). One hundred and sixty (56%) patients had a hypo-intense infarct core disclosed by native T1. In multivariable regression, infarct core native T1 was inversely associated with adverse remodelling [odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)] per 10 ms reduction in native T1: 0.91 (0.82, 0.00); P = 0.061). Thirty (10.4%) of 288 patients died or experienced a heart failure event and 13 of these events occurred post-discharge. Native T1 values (ms) within the hypo-intense infarct core (n = 160 STEMI patients) were inversely associated with the risk of all-cause death or first hospitalization for heart failure post-discharge (for a 10 ms increase in native T1: hazard ratio 0.730, 95% CI 0.617, 0.863; P < 0.001) including after adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction, infarct core T2 and myocardial haemorrhage. The prognostic results for microvascular obstruction were similar. Conclusion Infarct core native T1 represents a novel non-contrast CMR biomarker with potential for infarct characterization and prognostication in STEMI survivors. Confirmatory studies are warranted

Long-term psychological outcomes following stroke: the OX-CHRONIC study

This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordAvailability of data and materials: The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is available in the study-specific Open Science Framework repository: osf.io/y2mevBACKGROUND: Stroke survivors rate longer-term (> 2 years) psychological recovery as their top priority, but data on how frequently psychological consequences occur is lacking. Prevalence of cognitive impairment, depression/anxiety, fatigue, apathy and related psychological outcomes, and whether rates are stable in long-term stroke, is unknown. METHODS: N = 105 long-term stroke survivors (M [SD] age = 72.92 [13.01]; M [SD] acute NIH Stroke Severity Score = 7.39 [6.25]; 59.0% Male; M [SD] years post-stroke = 4.57 [2.12]) were recruited (potential N = 208). Participants completed 3 remote assessments, including a comprehensive set of standardized cognitive neuropsychological tests comprising domains of memory, attention, language, and executive function, and questionnaires on emotional distress, fatigue, apathy and other psychological outcomes. Ninety participants were re-assessed one year later. Stability of outcomes was assessed by Cohen's d effect size estimates and percent Minimal Clinically Important Difference changes between time points. RESULTS: On the Montreal Cognitive Assessment 65.3% scored  2 years post-event exhibited psychological difficulties including domains of cognition, mood, and fatigue, which impact long-term quality of life. Stroke is a chronic condition with highly prevalent psychological needs, which require monitoring and intervention development.Stroke AssociationNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR

Left atrial mechanics and aortic stiffness following high intensity interval training: a randomised controlled study

Purpose: High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve important health parameters, including aerobic capacity, blood pressure, cardiac autonomic modulation and left ventricular (LV) mechanics. However, adaptations in left atrial (LA) mechanics and aortic stiffness remain unclear. Methods: Forty-one physically inactive males and females were recruited. Participants were randomised to either a 4-week HIIT intervention (n=21) or 4-week control period (n=20). The HIIT protocol consisted of 3x30-second maximal cycle ergometer sprints with a resistance of 7.5% body weight, interspersed with 2-minutes of active unloaded recovery, 3 times per week. Speckle tracking imaging of the LA and M-Mode tracing of the aorta was performed pre and post HIIT and control period. Results: Following HIIT, there was significant improvement in LA mechanics, including LA reservoir (13.9±13.4%, p=0.033), LA conduit (8.9±11.2%, p=0.023) and LA contractile (5±4.5%, p=0.044) mechanics compared to the control condition. In addition, aortic distensibility (2.1±2.7cm2dyn-1103, p=0.031) and aortic stiffness index (-2.6±4.6, p=0.041) were improved compared to the control condition. In stepwise linear regression analysis, aortic distensibility change was significantly associated with LA stiffness change R2 of 0.613 (p=0.002). Conclusion: A short-term programme of HIIT was associated with a significant improvement in LA mechanics and aortic stiffness. These adaptations may have important health implications and contribute to the improved LV diastolic and systolic mechanics, aerobic capacity and blood pressure previously documented following HIIT

Pathophysiology of LV Remodeling in Survivors of STEMI Inflammation, Remote Myocardium, and Prognosis

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of native T1 values in remote myocardium in survivors of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).BackgroundThe pathophysiology and prognostic significance of remote myocardium in the natural history of STEMI is uncertain. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reveals myocardial function and pathology. Native T1 (relaxation time in ms) is a fundamental magnetic resonance tissue property determined by water content and cellularity.ResultsA total of 300 STEMI patients (mean age 59 years; 74% male) gave informed consent. A total of 288 STEMI patients had evaluable native T1 CMR, and 267 patients (91%) had follow-up CMR at 6 months. Health outcome information was obtained for all of the participants (median follow-up 845 days). Infarct size was 18 ± 13% of left ventricular (LV) mass. Two days post-STEMI, native T1 was lower in remote myocardium than in the infarct zone (961 ± 25 ms vs. 1,097 ± 52 ms; p < 0.01). In multivariable regression, incomplete ST-segment resolution was associated with myocardial remote zone native T1 (regression coefficient 9.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.37 to 16.47; p = 0.009), as were the log of the admission C-reactive protein concentration (3.01; 95% CI: 0.016 to 5.85; p = 0.038) and the peak monocyte count (10.20; 95% CI: 0.74 to 19.67; p = 0.035). Remote T1 at baseline was associated with log N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide at 6 months (0.01; 95% CI: 0.00 to 0.02; p = 0.002; n = 151) and the change in LV end-diastolic volume from baseline to 6 months (0.13; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.24; p = 0.035). Remote zone native T1 was independently associated with post-discharge major adverse cardiac events (n = 20 events; hazard ratio: 1.016; 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.032; p = 0.048) and all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization (n = 30 events during admission and post-discharge; hazard ratio: 1.014; 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.028; p = 0.049).ConclusionsReperfusion injury and inflammation early post-MI was associated with remote zone T1, which in turn was independently associated with LV remodeling and adverse cardiac events post-STEMI. (Detection and Significance of Heart Injury in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction [BHF MR-MI]; NCT02072850

Correction to: Clinical recommendations for cardiovascular magnetic resonance mapping of T1, T2, T2* and extracellular volume: A consensus statement by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) endorsed by the European Association for Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI).

CORRECTION TO: J CARDIOVASC MAGN RESON (2017) 19: 75. DOI: 10.1186/S12968-017-0389-8: In the original publication of this article [1] the "Competing interests" section was incorrect. The original publication stated the following competing interests

The Changing Landscape: High-Level Influences on Eye Movement Guidance in Scenes

The use of eye movements to explore scene processing has exploded over the last decade. Eye movements provide distinct advantages when examining scene processing because they are both fast and spatially measurable. By using eye movements, researchers have investigated many questions about scene processing. Our review will focus on research performed in the last decade examining: (1) attention and eye movements; (2) where you look; (3) influence of task; (4) memory and scene representations; and (5) dynamic scenes and eye movements. Although typically addressed as separate issues, we argue that these distinctions are now holding back research progress. Instead, it is time to examine the intersections of these seemingly separate influences and examine the intersectionality of how these influences interact to more completely understand what eye movements can tell us about scene processing