A common short-term memory retrieval rate may describe many cognitive procedures

We examine the relationship between response speed and the number of items in short-term memory (STM) in four different paradigms and find evidence for a similar high-speed processing rate of about 25–30 items per second (∼35–40 ms/item). We propose that the similarity of the processing rates across paradigms reflects the operation of a very basic covert memory process, high-speed retrieval, that is involved in both the search for information in STM and the reactivation or refreshing of information that keeps it in STM. We link this process to a specific pattern of rhythmic, repetitive neural activity in the brain (gamma oscillations). This proposal generates ideas for research and calls for an integrative approach that combines neuroscientific measures with behavioral cognitive techniques

Brain enhancement through cognitive training: A new insight from brain connectome

Owing to the recent advances in neurotechnology and the progress in understanding of brain cognitive functions, improvements of cognitive performance or acceleration of learning process with brain enhancement systems is not out of our reach anymore, on the contrary, it is a tangible target of contemporary research. Although a variety of approaches have been proposed, we will mainly focus on cognitive training interventions, in which learners repeatedly perform cognitive tasks to improve their cognitive abilities. In this review article, we propose that the learning process during the cognitive training can be facilitated by an assistive system monitoring cognitive workloads using electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers, and the brain connectome approach can provide additional valuable biomarkers for facilitating leaners' learning processes. For the purpose, we will introduce studies on the cognitive training interventions, EEG biomarkers for cognitive workload, and human brain connectome. As cognitive overload and mental fatigue would reduce or even eliminate gains of cognitive training interventions, a real-time monitoring of cognitive workload can facilitate the learning process by flexibly adjusting difficulty levels of the training task. Moreover, cognitive training interventions should have effects on brain sub-networks, not on a single brain region, and graph theoretical network metrics quantifying topological architecture of the brain network can differentiate with respect to individual cognitive states as well as to different individuals' cognitive abilities, suggesting that the connectome is a valuable approach for tracking the learning progress. Although only a few studies have exploited the connectome approach for studying alterations of the brain network induced by cognitive training interventions so far, we believe that it would be a useful technique for capturing improvements of cognitive function

Experimental behaviour of reinforced concrete column models strengthened by CFRP materials

Strengthening of the reinforced concrete structures is one of the most difficult and important tasks of civil engineering. The paper presents the problem of strengthening of reinforced concrete structures. Experimental tests of loadâ€carrying capacity of reinforced concrete columns strengthened with CFRP strips and wraps have been carried out. The first objective of this research was to determine the influence of the type of reinforcement on loadâ€carrying capacity and strain. The second objective was to determine interdependence of the intensity of external reinforcement and loadâ€carrying capacity of element. Tests results have shown that the subject was worth investigating. Relations between external reinforcement ratio and loadâ€carrying capacity of small models of RC columns with various reinforcement ratio (from 1,4 % to 4,2 %) have been examined. Anglies pluoÅ¡tu armuoto polimero lakÅ¡tais sustiprintų gelžbetoninių kolonų eksperimentinis tyrimas Santrauka Gelžbetoninių konstrukcijų stiprinimas – vienas iÅ¡ sudÄ—tingiausių ir svarbiausių statybinių konstrukcijų srities uždavinių. Straipsnyje nagrinÄ—jama gelžbetoninių konstrukcijų stiprinimo problema. ÄŒia pateikti anglies pluoÅ¡tu armuoto polimero lakÅ¡tais (CFRP) sustiprintų gelžbetoninių kolonų laikomosios galios eksperimentinių tyrimų rezultatai. Pirmasis tyrimų tikslas – nustatyti armatÅ«ros rÅ«Å¡ies įtakÄ… laikomajai galiai ir deformacijoms. Antrasis tikslas – nustatyti priklausomybÄ™ tarp iÅ¡orinÄ—s armatÅ«ros intensyvumo ir elemento laikomosios galios. Bandymų rezultatai parodÄ— tyrimų svarbÄ…. Taip pat iÅ¡nagrinÄ—ta priklausomybÄ— tarp iÅ¡orinÄ—s armatÅ«ros procento ir nedidelių gelžbetoninių kolonų su skirtingais armavimo procentais (nuo 1,4 % iki 4,2 %) laikomosios galios. Raktiniai žodžiai: kolona, gniuždymas, laikomoji galia, sustiprinimas, CFRP. First Published Online: 14 Oct 201