Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EEG spectral analysis of attention in ADHD: implications for neurofeedback training?

Objective: In children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an increased theta/beta ratio in the resting EEG typically serves as a rationale to conduct theta/beta neurofeedback (NF) training. However, this finding is increasingly challenged. As NF may rather target an active than a passive state, we studied the EEG in a condition that requires attention. Methods: In children with ADHD of the DSM-IV combined type (ADHD-C; N = 15) and of the predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-I; N = 9) and in typically developing children (N = 19), EEG spectral analysis was conducted for segments during the attention network test (ANT) without processing of stimuli and overt behavior. Frontal (F3, Fz, F4), central (C3, Cz, C4) and parietal (P3, Pz, P4) electrodes were included in the statistical analysis. To investigate if EEG spectral parameters are related to performance measures, correlation coefficients were calculated. Results: Particularly in the ADHD-C group, higher theta and alpha activity was found with the most prominent effect in the upper-theta/lower-alpha (5.5–10.5 Hz) range. In the ADHD-I group, a significantly higher theta/beta ratio was observed at single electrodes (F3, Fz) and a tendency for a higher theta/beta ratio when considering all electrodes (large effect size). Higher 5.5–10.5 Hz activity was associated with higher reaction time variability with the effect most prominent in the ADHD-C group. A higher theta/beta ratio was associated with higher reaction times, particularly in the ADHD-I group. Conclusions: (1) In an attention demanding period, children with ADHD are characterized by an underactivated state in the EEG with subtype-specific differences. (2) The functional relevance of related EEG parameters is indicated by associations with performance (reaction time) measures. (3) Findings provide a rationale for applying NF protocols targeting theta (and alpha) activity and the theta/beta ratio in subgroups of children with ADHD.
ENTERING TRAIT AND CONTEXT INTO A COGNITIVE-TIMER MODEL FOR TIME ESTIMATION

Abstract Subjects were exposed to conditions of perceptual deprivation and perceptual overload, and were then asked to produce short intervals of time. It was hypothesized that the greater the variation in the sensory environment (i.e. perceptual overload vs perceptual deprivation), the shorter would be the time estimation obtained by this method of production. It was further assumed that the personality trait of Experience Seeking could moderate this influence of the altered sensory environments on the functioning of the cognitive timer. A trait–context interaction was uncovered, indicating this moderating effect. Furthermore, both trait and context effects were specific to the measure constant of the psychophysical function relating produced time to required time. These results are presented within a contextualistic approach to the study of subjective time.
ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY AND THE INSTANT PHOBIA CURE New Paradigm or the Old Razzle Dazzle

Summary: This article introduces health professionals who work with psychological issues to the emerging field of energy psychology. It provides an overview of the field, covering basic concepts and procedures. It is intended to give the reader a basis to begin evaluating this new paradigm. Research and clinical evidence bearing upon clinical efficacy are presented, and plausible neurological mechanisms are discussed. The article gives a brief history of the field, mentions various energy psychology protocols, discusses indications and contraindications for clinical applications, and demonstrates a standard clinical protocol through the presentation of four case studies. When James Reston, a New York Times reporter accompanying Henry Kissinger on a visit to Communist China in July 1971 had an acute appendicitis attack, Chinese physicians performed an emergency operation to remove Reston’s appendix. His postoperative abdominal pain was successfully treated with acupuncture, a routine procedure in many Chinese hospitals. The publicity surrounding Reston’s treatment, including a front page article in the Times, is credited with opening Western minds to the practice of acupuncture. Today the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture has more than 1600 physician members, and the World Health Organization lists more than 50 conditions for which acupuncture is believed to be effective. Since the early 1980s, Western mental health practitioners have been developing protocols for applying the principles of acupuncture to psychological issues (Gallo, 2004), patterned initially on the work of California psychologist Roger Callahan and Australian psychiatrist John Diamond. Acupuncture points can be stimulated for therapeutic effect through the use of needles or heat, but less invasive procedures—such as tapping or massaging points on the surface of the skin—have also been found to produce therapeutic outcomes. This allows a broader range of practitioners to use the approach, and it allows clients to self-administer the methods back home, in conjunction with the therapy. Because the stimulation of acupuncture points produces physical change by altering the body’s electrical activity (Cho et al., 1998), the various mental health protocols that utilize acupuncture points (such as "Thought Field Therapy," "Emotional Freedom Techniques," and "Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods") are collectively known as "energy psychology. " Energy psychology protocols generally combine the stimulation of particular electromagnetically responsive areas on the surface of the skin (Voll et al.,1983) with methods from Cognitive Behavior Therapy, including the use of imagery, self-statements, and subjective distress ratings.
Response of a Neuronal Model of Tuberous Sclerosis to Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibitors: Effects on mTORC1 and Akt Signaling Lead to Improved Survival and Function

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a hamartoma syndrome attributable to mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 in which brain involvement causes epilepsy, mental retardation, and autism. We have reported recently (Meikle et al., 2007) a mouse neuronal model of TSC in which Tsc1 is ablated in most neurons during cortical development. We have tested rapamycin and RAD001 [40-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-rapamycin], both mammalian target of rapamycin mTORC1 inhibitors, as potential therapeutic agents in this model. Median survival is improved from 33 d to more than 100 d; behavior, phenotype, and weight gain are all also markedly improved. There is brain penetration of both drugs, with accumulation over time with repetitive treatment, and effective reduction of levels of phospho-S6, a downstream target of mTORC1. In addition, there is restoration of phospho-Akt and phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3 levels in the treated mice, consistent with restoration of Akt function. Neurofilament abnormalities, myelination, and cell enlargement are all improved by the treatment. However, dysplastic neuronal features persist, and there are only modest changes in dendritic spine density and length. Strikingly, mice treated with rapamycin or RAD001 for 23 d only (postnatal days 7–30) displayed a persistent improvement in phenotype, with median survival of 78 d. In summary, rapamycin/RAD001 are highly effective therapies for this neuronal model of TSC, with benefit apparently attributable to effects on mTORC1 and Akt signaling and, consequently, cell size and myelination. Although caution is appropriate, the results suggest the possibility that rapamycin/RAD001 may have benefit in the treatment of TSC brain disease, including infantile spasms.
Attachment working models and the sense of trust : An exploration of interaction goals and affect regulation

Five studies examined the association between adult attachment style and the sense of trust in close relationships. Study 1 focused on the accessibility of trust-related memories. Studies 2-5 focused on trust-related goals and coping strategies, while using different data collection techniques (openended probes, diary methodology, lexical decision task). Findings showed that secure persons felt more trust toward partners, showed higher accessibility of positive trust-related memories, reported more positive trust episodes over a 3-week period, and adopted more constructive strategies in coping with the violation of trust than insecure persons. In addition, whereas intimacy attainment was the main trust-related goal for all the attachment groups, security attainment was an additional goal of anxious-ambivalent persons, and control attainment was an additional goal of avoidant persons. Findings are discussed in terms of attachment working models.
Reputação corporativa: construtos formativos e implicações para a gestão

Corporate reputation is frequently associated with organizational performance. However, the literature suggests that corporate communication and the stakeholder's identification with the organization are both relevant when it comes to explaining differences in corporate reputation evaluation. Considering these inputs, this study tests the relationship between corporate reputation, identification, corporate communication and organizational performance. The research occurred in two phases because it was necessary to develop or adapt the measurement scale for each one of the four constructs. All measures were perceptual in nature. The second phase of the research consisted of data gathering and analyses; and for that, the scales tested in the phase one were used. Data from 12 organizations were collected, resulting in a sample of 2,139 respondents or 1,025 employees and 1,114 customers. Structural equation modeling was used for analyzing the data. The results show strong effects of communication on organizational identification and reputation, as well as of identification on corporate reputation. The impact of reputation on organizational performance was also relevant. The study leads to the conclusion that communication and identification are critical factors in explaining the variability of reputation of organizations and, consequently, performance.
Music and Religion: Psychological Perspectives and their Limits

Criticizing some psychological approaches that speak in too general terms about both music and religion, this article turns to a precise empirical observation and asks what psychology might possibly contribute to its understanding, after first necessarily questioning what terms such as ‘religion’, ‘religious music’, ‘religious experience’ encompass. Given the nature of the leading question, a cultural–psychological approach is chosen. After refuting a number of commonly heard assertions, and drawing on a number of psychological theories, the article then discusses several empirical observations and argues that contemporary psychology has indeed achieved some progress in dealing with classical questions.
Mental Health and Social Care Needs of Older People with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Older people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are a growing population but their age-related needs are rarely considered and community services are still geared towards the younger age group. We aimed to examine the mental health and social care needs of this new service user group. / Methods: We identified all adults with ID without Down syndrome (DS) aged 65+ living in the London boroughs of Camden and Islington. The Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PASADD) checklist was used to detect psychiatric disorder, the Vineland behaviour scale (maladaptive domain) for problem behaviours and the Dementia Questionnaire for persons with Mental Retardation (DMR) to screen for dementia. Carers reported health problems and disability. Needs were measured with the Camberwell Assessment of Need for adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CANDID-S). / Results: A total of 23 older people with ID (13 had mild ID and nine more severe ID) and their carers participated in the survey. In which, 74% had one or more psychiatric symptoms; 30% were previously known with a diagnosis of mental illness. One-third of the older people screened positive for dementia (range: 17-44%, depending on sensitivity of DMR scores used). Three quarters of the group had physical health problems, 74% had poor sight, 22% had hearing loss and 30% had mobility problems. Carers rated unmet needs for accommodation (22%), day activities, and eyesight and hearing. The people with ID rated unmet needs to be social relationships (44%), information and physical health. / Conclusion: Older people with ID without DS have considerable prevalence of health problems and psychiatric disorders, including symptoms of functional decline and dementia. Such symptoms are often not recognised and further research into their needs is a priority.
Effects of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 and on the Pharmacokinetics of Metoprolol in Rats

Flos carthami is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Clinically, the Flos carthami Injection has been used concomitantly with other Western drugs and may be used concomitantly with β-blockers, such as metoprolol, to treat cerebrovascular and coronary heart diseases, in China. Metoprolol is a CYP2D6 substrate and is predominantly metabolized by this isozyme. However, we do not know whether there is an effect of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 and the consequences of such an effect. Concern is raised regarding the possible herb-drug interaction. In this report, the effects of Flos carthami on the activity of CYP2D6 in vivo and in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol, in rats, are investigated. To assess the inhibitory potency of Flos carthami, the concentration associated with 50% inhibition (IC50) of dextromethorphan metabolism was determined based on the concentration-inhibition curves. The inhibitory effect of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 was also compared with cimetidine in vitro. Flos carthami could significantly inhibit CYP2D6 in rats both in vitro and in vivo (P < .05) and could slow down the metabolic rate of metoprolol as suggested by prolonged t1/2 (67.45%), by increased C max (74.51%) and AUC0−∞ (76.89%). These results suggest that CYP2D6 is a risk factor when Flos carthami is administered concomitantly with metoprolol or other CYP2D6 substrates.
The economics of agrobiodiversity conservation for food security under climate change

Subsistence-based and natural resource-dependent societies are especially vulnerable to climate change. In such contexts, food security needs to be strengthened by investing in the adaptability of food systems. This paper looks into the role of agrobiodiversity conservation for food security in the face of climate change. It identifies agrobiodiversity as a key public good that delivers necessary services for human wellbeing. We argue that the public values provided by agrobiodiversity conservation need to be demonstrated and captured. We offer an economic perspective of this challenge and highlight ways of capturing at least a subset of the public values of agrobiodiversity to help adapt to and reduce the vulnerability of subsistence based economies to climate change.
Developmental Analysis of a Medicago truncatula smooth leaf margin1 Mutant Reveals Context-Dependent Effects on Compound Leaf Development[W][OA]

This work shows that a mutation of the PIN1 ortholog in Medicago truncatula, SLM1, caused multiple terminal leaflets and a reduction of lateral leaflets. Characterization of the mutant reveals that the terminal leaflet primordium in M. truncatula has a unique developmental mechanism and the elaboration of compound leaves is context dependent and tightly correlated with the auxin/SLM1 module. Compound leaf development requires highly regulated cell proliferation, differentiation, and expansion patterns. We identified loss-of-function alleles at the SMOOTH LEAF MARGIN1 (SLM1) locus in Medicago truncatula, a model legume species with trifoliate adult leaves. SLM1 encodes an auxin efflux carrier protein and is the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1). Auxin distribution is impaired in the slm1 mutant, resulting in pleiotropic phenotypes in different organs. The most striking change in slm1 is the increase in the number of terminal leaflets and a simultaneous reduction in the number of lateral leaflets, accompanied by reduced expression of SINGLE LEAFLET1 (SGL1), an ortholog of LEAFY. Characterization of the mutant indicates that distinct developmental domains exist in the formation of terminal and lateral leaflets. In contrast with the pinnate compound leaves in the wild type, the slm1 sgl1 double mutant shows nonpeltately palmate leaves, suggesting that the terminal leaflet primordium in M. truncatula has a unique developmental mechanism. Further investigations on the development of leaf serrations reveal different ontogenies between distal serration and marginal serration formation as well as between serration and leaflet formation. These data suggest that regulation of the elaboration of compound leaves and serrations is context dependent and tightly correlated with the auxin/SLM1 module in M. truncatula.
The confidence–accuracy relation in eyewitness event memory: The mixed question type effect

It has been found that for eyewitness memory the confidence-accuracy relation is weak, whilst for general knowledge it is robust. Two experiments examine whether confidence in general knowledge could be used as a comparator to improve the confidence-accuracy relation for eyewitness memory. In both experiments participants were shown an eyewitness video, and then randomly allocated to one of four test conditions. Blocked recall and blocked recognition groups completed the eyewitness test first, and then completed the general knowledge test separately. Mixed recall and mixed recognition groups were tested using the same items interlaced to form a single test. In both experiments it was found that the mixed questions produced a significant confidence-accuracy relation for eyewitness memory, but the blocked questions did not. Potential mechanisms for the mixed question type effect are discussed. Language: en
Offline and online data assimilation for real-time blood glucose forecasting in type 2 diabetes

We evaluate the benefits of combining different offline and online data assimilation methodologies to improve personalized blood glucose prediction with type 2 diabetes self-monitoring data. We collect self-monitoring data (nutritional reports and pre- and post-prandial glucose measurements) from 4 individuals with diabetes and 2 individuals without diabetes. We write online to refer to methods that update state and parameters sequentially as nutrition and glucose data are received, and offline to refer to methods that estimate parameters over a fixed data set, distributed over a time window containing multiple nutrition and glucose measurements. We fit a model of ultradian glucose dynamics to the first half of each data set using offline (MCMC and nonlinear optimization) and online (unscented Kalman filter and an unfiltered model---a dynamical model driven by nutrition data that does not update states) data assimilation methods. Model parameters estimated over the first half of the data are used within online forecasting methods to issue forecasts over the second half of each data set. Offline data assimilation methods provided consistent advantages in predictive performance and practical usability in 4 of 6 patient data sets compared to online data assimilation methods alone; yet 2 of 6 patients were best predicted with a strictly online approach. Interestingly, parameter estimates generated offline led to worse predictions when fed to a stochastic filter than when used in a simple, unfiltered model that incorporates new nutritional information, but does not update model states based on glucose measurements. The relative improvements seen from the unfiltered model, when carefully trained offline, exposes challenges in model sensitivity and filtering applications, but also opens possibilities for improved glucose forecasting and relaxed patient self-monitoring requirements.
Weight for gestational age and metabolically healthy obesity in adults from the Haguenau cohort

Background An obesity subphenotype, named ‘metabolically healthy obese’ (MHO) has been recently defined to characterise a subgroup of obese individuals with less risk for cardiometabolic abnormalities. To date no data are available on participants born with small weight for gestational age (SGA) and the risk of metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). Objective Assess the risk of MUHO in SGA versus appropriate for gestational age (AGA) adult participants. Methods 129 young obese individuals (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) from data of an 8-year follow-up Haguenau cohort (France), were identified out of 1308 participants and were divided into 2 groups: SGA (n=72) and AGA (n=57). Metabolic characteristics were analysed and compared using unpaired t-test. The HOMA-IR index was determined for the population and divided into quartiles. Obese participants within the first 3 quartiles were considered as MHO and those in the fourth quartile as MUHO. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CI for being MUHO in SGA versus AGA participants were computed. Results The SGA-obese group had a higher risk of MUHO versus the AGA-obese group: RR=1.27 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.6) independently of age and sex. Conclusions In case of obesity, SGA might confer a higher risk of MUHO compared with AGA.
MEMOCODE 2016 design contest: K-means clustering

K-means is a clustering algorithm that aims to group data into k similar clusters. The objective of the 2016 MEMOCODE Design Contest is to implement a system to efficiently partition a large set of multidimensional data using k-means. Contestants were given one month to develop a system to perform this operation, aiming to maximize performance or cost-adjusted performance. Teams were encouraged to consider a variety of computational targets including CPUs, FPGAs, and GPGPUs. The winning team, which was invited to contribute a paper describing their techniques, combined careful algorithmic and implementation optimizations using CPUs and GPUs.
Spatio-temporal coding in complex media for optimum beamforming: the iterative time-reversal approach

Spatio-temporal encoding in transmit and receive modes is of major importance in the development of ultrasound imaging devices. Classically, the assumption of constant sound speed in the medium allows one to restrict the beamforming process to the application of a cylindrical time-delay law on the elements of a multiple-transducer array. Here, an iterative time-reversal method capable of taking into account all the heterogeneities of the medium, concerning density, speed of sound, and absorption variations is proposed. It is shown that this iterative focusing process converges toward a spatio-temporal inverse filter focusing, the first step of the process being a time-reversal focusing on the targeted point. This method can be seen as a calibration process and has been successfully applied to transskull focusing and intraplate echoes suppression. It is leading the way to promising applications such as high-resolution ultrasonic brain imaging and high-resolution focusing through complex reverberating media, in nondestructive testing and telecommunications. This work highlights the advantages of using spatio-temporal coding to focus through complex media. Such codes require the use of fully programmable, multichannel electronics to implement this technique in real time.
Action learning in practice 4th edition

Action learning in practice 4th edition, edited by Mike Pedler, Surrey, UK; Burlington, VT, Gower Publishing Limited, 2011, 449 pp., £85 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-4094-1841-2, ISBN 978-1-4094-1842-9 (.