May We Have Your Attention: Analysis of a Selective Attention Task

In this paper we present a deeper analysis than has previously been carried out of a selective attention problem, and the evolution of continuous-time recurrent neural networks to solve it. We show that the task has a rich structure, and agents must solve a variety of subproblems to perform well. We consider the relationship between the complexity of an agent and the ease with which it can evolve behavior that generalizes well across subproblems, and demonstrate a shaping protocol that improves generalization

A complete analytical solution for the inverse instantaneous kinematics of a spherical-revolute-spherical (7R) redundant manipulator

Using a method based upon resolving joint velocities using reciprocal screw quantities, compact analytical expressions are generated for the inverse solution of the joint rates of a seven revolute (spherical-revolute-spherical) manipulator. The method uses a sequential decomposition of screw coordinates to identify reciprocal screw quantities used in the resolution of a particular joint rate solution, and also to identify a Jacobian null-space basis used for the direct solution of optimal joint rates. The results of the screw decomposition are used to study special configurations of the manipulator, generating expressions for the inverse velocity solution for all non-singular configurations of the manipulator, and identifying singular configurations and their characteristics. Two functions are therefore served: a new general method for the solution of the inverse velocity problem is presented; and complete analytical expressions are derived for the resolution of the joint rates of a seven degree of freedom manipulator useful for telerobotic and industrial robotic application

Retrospective Comparison of One-time Inpatient Mental Health Admissions to Readmissions : a Look at Managed Care

This study retrospectively reviewed 2,753 members from a managed behavioral health care organization who experienced at least one psychiatric inpatient hospitalization between July 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004. Demographic and clinical variables were examined in an effort to distinguish the factors that were present between members treated with one hospitalization versus members who required re-hospitalization. Readmission for the present study was defined as a psychiatric re-hospitalization within a 180 day timeframe. Particular focus included analyzing the variables of length of treatment, age groups, presence of a psychotic disorder, history of inpatient treatment, and managed care account funding types. The sample set of the present study was randomly split into two groups for the purpose of replication. Similar results were found between the two sample sets. When comparing psychiatric readmissions to one-time admissions, there were significant differences between longer and shorter lengths of treatment, between members with psychotic disorders versus non-psychotic disorders, and between members with and without a previous inpatient hospitalization. Findings indicated that a member, who experienced either a long length of treatment, the presence of a psychotic disorder, or a history of previous hospitalizations, was more likely to experience an inpatient psychiatric readmission. No significant differences were found between the comparable age groups of children and adults to adolescents and older adults, nor account types of non-risk accounts to full-risk accounts

The brattleboro rat displays a natural deficit in social discrimination that is restored by clozapine and a neurotensin analog.

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are a major source of dysfunction for which more effective treatments are needed. The vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro (BRAT) rat has been shown to have several natural schizophrenia-like deficits, including impairments in prepulse inhibition and memory. We investigated BRAT rats and their parental strain, Long-Evans (LE) rats, in a social discrimination paradigm, which is an ethologically relevant animal test of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia based upon the natural preference of animals to investigate conspecifics. We also investigated the effects of the atypical antipsychotic, clozapine, and the putative antipsychotic, PD149163, a brain-penetrating neurotensin-1 agonist, on social discrimination in these rats. Adult rats were administered saline or one of the three doses of clozapine (0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg) or PD149163 (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg), subcutaneously. Following drug administration, adult rats were exposed to a juvenile rat for a 4-min learning period. Animals were then housed individually for 30 min and then simultaneously exposed to the juvenile presented previously and a new juvenile for 4 min. Saline-treated LE rats, but not BRAT rats, exhibited intact social discrimination as evidenced by greater time spent exploring the new juvenile. The highest dose of clozapine and the two highest doses of PD149163 restored social discrimination in BRAT rats. These results provide further support for the utility of the BRAT rat as a genetic animal model relevant to schizophrenia and drug discovery. The potential of neurotensin agonists as putative treatments for cognitive deficits of schizophrenia was also supported

Who is she? Changes in the person context affect categorization

Changes between the learning and testing contexts affect learning, memory, and generalization. We examined whether a change (between learning and testing) in the person children were interacting with affects generalization. Three-, four-, and five-year-old children were trained on eight novel noun categories by one experimenter. Children were tested for their ability to generalize the label to a new category member by either the same experimenter who trained them or by a novel experimenter. Three-year-old children's performance was not affected by who they were tested by. Four- and five-year-old children's performance was lower when tested by the novel experimenter. The results are discussed in terms of source monitoring and the effect of perceptual context change on category generalization

Following glaziou’s footsteps: rediscovery and updated description of three species of behuria cham. (melastomataceae) from the Atlantic forest (Brazil)

This study was carried out in the state of Rio de Janeiro and led to the rediscovery of three endemic and threatened species of Behuria (Melastomataceae). The type specimens for these species were collected by the French botanist A.F.M. Glaziou. Behuria corymbosa and Behuria glazioviana were collected for the last time 127 years ago by him, in 1889. Behuria mourae was collected twice after the type; the last collection dates from about 72 years ago. In order to find the exact localities where Glaziou collected these three species we studied the labels of the type specimens, Glaziou’s notebooks and letters, looking for tracks that would lead us to places that he visited. We also consulted documents from a local library and gathered information from local people. Here we present updated descriptions, comments, photos and conservation assessments for each species.3023229240CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES306852/2013-6Sem informaçã

Three New Species Of Bertolonia (melastomataceae) From Espírito Santo, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We describe and illustrate three new species of Bertolonia, all endemic to the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Bertolonia duasbocaensis and B. macrocalyx occur close to each other, in the municipalities of Cariacica and Viana. Bertolonia ruschiana has a wider distribution, occurring in the municipalities of Santa Leopoldina, Santa Maria de Jetibá and Santa Teresa. The first two species are classified as critically endangered (CR), and the latter as endangered (EN). We also present an identification key for the species of Bertolonia that occur in Espírito Santo. © 2016 Bacci et al.201612CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior306852/2013-6, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico310717/2015-9, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoDEB-1343612, NSF, National Science FoundationDEB-818399, NSF, National Science FoundationCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Behuria lumiarensis (Melastomataceae), a new species on a mountaintop of the brazilian Atlantic Forest

We describe and illustrate Behuria lumiarensis, a new species from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has been collected only once in montane vegetation in the Municipality of Nova Friburgo. The new species can be recognized by the combination of leaf blades with adaxial surface covered with sessile glands and abaxial surface moderately covered with stalked glands only on the veins, hypanthium sparsely covered with stalked glands, a large calyx tube with narrow sepals that are not apiculate in the apex, small petals, and glabrous ovary apex.3052111117CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES457510/2014-5; 306852/2013-6Sem informaçã

Force Chains, Microelasticity and Macroelasticity

It has been claimed that quasistatic granular materials, as well as nanoscale materials, exhibit departures from elasticity even at small loadings. It is demonstrated, using 2D and 3D models with interparticle harmonic interactions, that such departures are expected at small scales [below O(100) particle diameters], at which continuum elasticity is invalid, and vanish at large scales. The models exhibit force chains on small scales, and force and stress distributions which agree with experimental findings. Effects of anisotropy, disorder and boundary conditions are discussed as well.Comment: 4 pages, 11 figures, RevTeX 4, revised and resubmitted to Phys. Rev. Let