scholarly journals Representing multiple object weights: competing priors and sensorimotor memories

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1615-1625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee A. Baugh ◽  
Amelie Yak ◽  
Roland S. Johansson ◽  
J. Randall Flanagan

When lifting an object, individuals scale lifting forces based on long-term priors relating external object properties (such as material and size) to object weight. When experiencing objects that are poorly predicted by priors, people rapidly form and update sensorimotor memories that can be used to predict an object's atypical size-weight relation in support of predictively scaling lift forces. With extensive experience in lifting such objects, long-term priors, assessed with weight judgments, are gradually updated. The aim of the present study was to understand the formation and updating of these memory processes. Participants lifted, over multiple days, a set of black cubes with a normal size-weight mapping and green cubes with an inverse size-weight mapping. Sensorimotor memory was assessed with lifting forces, and priors associated with the black and green cubes were assessed with the size-weight illusion (SWI). Interference was observed in terms of adaptation of the SWI, indicating that priors were not independently adjusted. Half of the participants rapidly learned to scale lift forces appropriately, whereas reduced learning was observed in the others, suggesting that individual differences may be affecting sensorimotor memory abilities. A follow-up experiment showed that lifting forces are not accurately scaled to objects when concurrently performing a visuomotor association task, suggesting that sensorimotor memory formation involves cognitive resources to instantiate the mapping between object identity and weight, potentially explaining the results of experiment 1. These results provide novel insight into the formation and updating of sensorimotor memories and provide support for the independent adjustment of sensorimotor memory and priors.

BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc De Meulemeester ◽  
Elsa Mateus ◽  
Hilda Wieberneit-Tolman ◽  
Neil Betteridge ◽  
Lucy Ireland ◽  
...  

BackgroundAlthough commonly diagnosed, gout often remains a poorly managed disease. This is partially due to a lack of awareness of the long-term effect of gout among patients and healthcare professionals.AimTo understand unmet needs for patients and provide insight into achieving better treatment.Design & settingA quantitative online questionnaire collected from 1100 people with gout from 14 countries within Europe.MethodPatients were recruited to complete an online survey via healthcare professional (HCP) referral, patient associations, or market research panels. Patients were included if they had been diagnosed with gout by a physician. Prior to commencement, patients were made aware that this study was sponsored by Grünenthal. The responses collected were collated and analyses were performed.ResultsPatients had an average of 2.9 gout flares within a 12-month period. Although 79% of patients were satisfied with treatment, inadequate gout control was also reported by 71% of patients. Furthermore, 84% experienced moderate-to-severe pain with their most recent flare. Of those who acknowledged treatment dissatisfaction, only 24% discussed other options with their GP. Most patients reported irregular follow-up and serum uric acid (sUA) monitoring. In addition, loss of belief that more can be done was a key barrier for patients.ConclusionPatients reported severe pain and social burden, coupled with low treatment expectation and lack of awareness of target sUA. Education around knowing and reaching sUA target is needed so that patients can receive and GPs can deliver higher quality management.


Author(s):  
Aileen Cater-Steel ◽  
Terry Rout

The contribution of small enterprises to the software industry is marked, but the level of understanding of the ways in which they can survive, grow, and improve is limited. In particular, there has been a lack of information on the long-term outcomes of process improvement initiatives in small firms. Building on the basis of a study of assessment-based improvement in 23 small and medium size organizations, we have undertaken a follow-up meeting with each company approximately five years following the original assessment. The results show that changes made in an organisation, driven by a framework of model-based improvement, can have long-term impacts even in small organisations; it appears, however, that there is no necessary link between success in implementing improvement and survival of the organisation. The results provide insight into the extent to which improvement actions can reinforce overall success for the small business.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1266-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishnan Ravindran ◽  
Lauren A Dalvin ◽  
Jose S Pulido ◽  
Waleed Brinjikji

Background and purposeIntra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma has been adopted as a first-line treatment option by numerous tertiary centers. The effect of intra-arterial chemotherapy on future rates of metastatic disease as well as on globe salvage in advanced eyes remains relatively unknown.MethodsA search of PubMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted from inception until January 2019 for studies with a minimum of 10 patients reporting outcomes and complications following intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.ResultsA total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis, comprising 873 patients and 1467 eyes. Only one study was comparative; there was substantial heterogeneity in reported outcomes and several overlapping patient cohorts that were published. Across all studies, 174 of 1467 eyes were enucleated (11.8%). Metastatic disease occurred in 8 of 513 patients (1.6%). Globe salvage was achieved in 318 of 906 (35.6%) cases of advanced retinoblastoma. The most common ocular complication was retinal detachment, occurring in 23% of eyes, and the most common systemic complications were transient fever and nausea/vomiting.ConclusionsThere is a paucity of higher-level evidence with adequate follow-up surrounding the long-term safety of intra-arterial chemotherapy and effect on metastasis in retinoblastoma. Studies to date have been limited by short-term follow-up. Longitudinal prospective studies could provide greater insight into the ability of intra-arterial chemotherapy to reduce the risk of retinoblastoma metastasis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-422
Author(s):  
Hugo G. Hulshof ◽  
Frederieke van Oorschot ◽  
Arie P. van Dijk ◽  
Maria T. E. Hopman ◽  
Keith P. George ◽  
...  

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) leads to remodeling of the left ventricle (LV). Adopting a novel technique to examine dynamic LV function, our study explored whether post-AVR changes in dynamic LV function and/or changes in aortic valve characteristics are associated with LV mass regression during follow-up. We retrospectively analyzed 30 participants with severe aortic stenosis who underwent standard transthoracic echocardiographic assessment before AVR [88 (IQR or interquartile range: 22–143) days], post-AVR [13 (6–22) days], and during follow-up [455 (226–907) days]. We assessed standard measures of LV structure, function, and aortic valve characteristics. Novel insight into dynamic LV function was provided through a four-chamber image by examination of the temporal relation between LV longitudinal strain (ε) and volume (ε-volume loops), representing the contribution of LV mechanics to volume change. AVR resulted in immediate changes in structural valve characteristics, alongside a reduced LV longitudinal peak ε and improved coherence between the diastolic and systolic part of the ε-volume loop (all P < 0.05). Follow-up revealed a decrease in LV mass ( P < 0.05) and improvements in LV ejection fraction and LV longitudinal peak ε ( P < 0.05). A significant relationship was present between decline in LV mass during follow-up and post-AVR improvement in coherence of the ε-volume loops ( r = 0.439, P = 0.03), but not with post-AVR changes in aortic valve characteristics or LV function (all P > 0.05). We found that post-AVR improvements in dynamic LV function are related to long-term remodeling of the LV. This highlights the potential importance of assessing dynamic LV function for cardiac adaptations in vivo. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Combining temporal measures of left ventricular longitudinal strain and volume (strain-volume loop) provides novel insights in dynamic cardiac function. In patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement, postsurgical changes in the strain-volume loop are associated with regression of left ventricular mass during follow-up. This provides novel insight into the relation between postsurgery changes in cardiac hemodynamics and long-term structural remodeling, but also supports the potential utility of the assessment of dynamic cardiac function.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Anne Svelstad Evju ◽  
Gøril Salomonsen Klette ◽  
Anne Kasen ◽  
Terese Bondas

<p><strong><em>Nurses experiences of health promotion with patients in somatic outpatient clinics</em></strong><em></em></p><p><em>The aim is to describe and understand nurses’ experiences of health promotion with patients, who have been recommended to change their lifestyles when cared for in outpatient clinics. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with a sample of 7 nurses, who cared for patients, suffering  from diabetes, obesity and COPD. A qualitative content analysis was used. The findings highlight the importance of creating trust to gain insight into the patient’s way of living, which is referred to as ‘the patient’s private health space’. The change interventional dialogue between the patient and the nurse was created by mapping out the patient’s potential for change, and by trying to make the patient responsible for their lifestyle by continuous follow up, long-term support and guidance. The nurses viewed individual adaptation of health promotion in relation to each patient as essential. The patients are challenged to use their own resources and are guided in regard to their own goals. The nurses role as the activator of change is important.</em></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e240435
Author(s):  
Gonçalo João Guidi ◽  
João Pinto de Sousa ◽  
Rita Marques ◽  
Cátia Ferreira

Perianal Paget disease (PPD) is a rare neoplastic condition defined by the presence of atypical Paget cells in the perianal skin, the aetiology of which remains largely unknown. It can be divided in primary forms, arising as an intraepithelial disease or manifestation of an underlying skin adenocarcinoma or secondary forms resulting from epidermotropic spread or metastasis of a concealed carcinoma. Indeed, because of its rarity, clear options regarding the treatment of these patients are yet to be clarified. A high level of suspicion is needed whenever dealing with any unhealed perianal skin lesions and, therefore, the need for close long-term follow-up must be highlighted. Herein, two cases of PPD, one primary and another secondary, treated at the same institution, are presented in an attempt to document the involved complexity and to bring further insight into the understanding of this entity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 187 (7) ◽  
pp. 1501-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany L Kmush ◽  
Khalequ Zaman ◽  
Mohammed Yunus ◽  
Parimalendu Saha ◽  
Kenrad E Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis in Southeast Asia. Several studies have suggested that antibody persistence after HEV infection may be transient, possibly increasing the risk of reinfection and contributing to the frequency of outbreaks in HEV-endemic regions. The specific conditions under which antibodies to HEV are lost, or “seroreversion” occurs, are poorly understood. Here, 100 participants from population-based studies in rural Bangladesh were revisited in 2015, 10 years after a documented HEV infection, to examine long-term antibody persistence. Twenty percent (95% confidence interval: 12.0, 28.0) of the participants no longer had detectable antibodies at follow-up, suggesting that antibodies generally persist for at least a decade after infection in rural Bangladesh. Persons who were seronegative at follow-up were generally younger at infection than those who remained positive (14.4 years vs. 33.6 years; P &lt; 0.0001). This age-dependent antibody loss could partially explain cross-sectional seroprevalence data from Southeast Asia, where children have reportedly low antibody prevalence. The results of this study provide new insight into the immunological persistence of HEV infection in a micronutrient-deficient rural population of South Asia, highlighting the importance of age at infection in the ability to produce long-lasting antibodies against HEV.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 166-171
Author(s):  
A. N. Boyko ◽  
N. N. Spirin ◽  
Ya. V. Vlasov ◽  
M. N. Zakharova

More than 10 multiple sclerosis-modifying drugs (MSMDs) are widely used now. Novel MSMDs should be investigated in strict accordance with the evidence-based medicine principles governing clinical trials (of both original drugs and their analogues) that prove the high efficiency, safety, and tolerability of new drugs versus the already existing ones. Russia has gained extensive experience in conducting such studies using the well-known drugs as a comparison group. The efficiency and safety of new therapy should be evaluated according to the international criteria on the basis of a sufficient number of patients during a long-term follow-up. When combining the drugs, their efficiency and the risk of adverse effects can vary. The published results of a small study of the combined drug Leucovir (Belarus) do not meet these requirements, and the possibility of using this drug to treat multiple sclerosis can be discussed only after adequate phases II and III clinical trials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19280-e19280
Author(s):  
Audrey Demaree ◽  
Anthony Hewitt ◽  
Lik Wee Lee ◽  
Benjamin Eckert

e19280 Background: MRD assessment has been increasingly incorporated into guidelines and routine care for patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM). It has been widely shown that pts who achieve deep MRD negativity (MRD-) have longer PFS/OS. Clinical guidelines now include sustained MRD- (two consecutive MRD- results; (10−5, 12 mo. apart) as a response criterion. . NGS MRD (clonoSEQ; Adaptive Biotechnologies; Seattle, WA) is the only FDA authorized method for bone-marrow MRD assessment in MM. A large longitudinal database of quantitative NGS MRD values from routine patient care now enables real-world analysis. We used our data to provide insight into testing patterns and sustained MRD-. Methods: The population included internal data of NGS MRD clinical samples from Jan 2018 to Jan 2020. We examined MRD- achievement overall and sustained MRD- as defined by guidelines. For pts who achieved sustained MRD- and had subsequent MRD testing, we examined if they remained in an MRD- state. Results: We identified 1,675 pts with MM who had ≥1 MRD tests after baseline Clonality (ID) assessment. The age/sex distribution (med. age = 65; 58% male) was consistent with epidemiologic data. 837 (49.9%) and 541 (32.2%) achieved MRD- at 10−5 or 10−6 thresholds, respectively. Of the 190 pts with ≥2 MRD tests at least 12 mos. apart, 82 (43.2%) and 45 (23.7%) had sustained MRD- at 10−5 and 10−6 thresholds, respectively. Of 82 pts who achieved 12 mo. sustained MRD- at 10−5, 15 had a subsequent MRD test, of which all remained MRD-. Of 45 pts who achieved 12 mo. sustained negativity at 10−6, 4 had a subsequent MRD test, of which all remained MRD-. Conclusions: We believe this represents one of the earliest real-world study examining NGS MRD attainment of sustained MRD- defined by guidelines. It is notable that many pts reached deep MRD negativity, with a significant percentage having sustained MRD negativity meet guideline-defined criteria. Long-term follow-up and incorporation of clinical parameters & outcomes data will enable further insights from this real-world dataset. [Table: see text]


1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-182
Author(s):  
Adalgiso Guzzon ◽  
Franco Milani ◽  
Ivo Spagnoli ◽  
Gian Maria Danesini ◽  
Alberto Laffranchi ◽  
...  

Aims To highlight the different changes induced in lung tissues by various forms of radiotherapy (RT) according to tumor site and type. Methods A retrospective analysis of the roentgenographic evaluation of and long-term follow-up data on 2375 patients who received RT for various intrathoracic and extrathoracic tumors at the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Results The iconographic patterns of post-RT changes, grouped by site and type of tumor and RT procedure and described in detail, afford deeper insight into a little-known area of lung pathology. Conclusions These descriptions of common and uncommon patterns of the irradiated lung as they appear on conventional chest roentgenograms enable the radiologist and radiotherapist to assess exactly the response of tumor and lung tissues and to plan the most appropriate clinical follow-up.


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