In vitro neurons learn and exhibit sentience when embodied in a simulated game-world

Integrating neurons into digital systems to leverage their innate intelligence may enable performance infeasible with silicon alone, along with providing insight into the cellular origin of intelligence. We developed DishBrain, a system which exhibits natural intelligence by harnessing the inherent adaptive computation of neurons in a structured environment. In vitro neural networks from human or rodent origins, are integrated with in silico computing via high-density multielectrode array. Through electrophysiological stimulation and recording, cultures were embedded in a simulated game-world, mimicking the arcade game ‘Pong’. Applying a previously untestable theory of active inference via the Free Energy Principle, we found that learning was apparent within five minutes of real-time gameplay, not observed in control conditions. Further experiments demonstrate the importance of closed-loop structured feedback in eliciting learning over time. Cultures display the ability to self-organise in a goal-directed manner in response to sparse sensory information about the consequences of their actions.

Conjured from Fragments: KMD's Mr. Hood and the Transformative Poetics of the Golden Age Rap Album

Between 1988 and 1991, the rap album took flight. Under the dual impetus of innovations in sampling, and of the album form itself, an explosion of youthful creativity ensured the rap album, mined for more self-consciously artistic potential, emerged as a multi-layered artform that revealed a similarly multi-layered Black genius. For innovators like the Bomb Squad (Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Son of Bazerk), Prince Paul (De La Soul) and others, the rap album was now often “more” than just a rap album. It could at once take on the characteristics of a radio show, a simulated game show, a talking comic book, a picaresque novel, an Afrofuturist vaudeville, or a visit to the movies—and, through any of these, invoke a multitude of stories and critiques from marginalized young Black perspectives.Drawing on a variety of ideas from Black American cultural studies, particularly those focused on creative transformation as a form of transcendence, this article analyzes the multi-layered creativity of one of this period's most unsung, yet ultimately important albums: KMD's showpiece of sampling transformation and satiric narrative wit, Mr. Hood. Best known as the album that initiated the career of the MC/producer later known as MF DOOM (arguably the most revered figure in underground rap post-1999), it also initiated his surreal approach to sampling non-musical material from sources in popular culture and envisagement of rap as a kind of modern-day folklore. Attempting to find a new way of working across the layers of the rap album—the magical interplay of mood, beat, references, verbal samples, storytelling, etc.—the article argues that such sample-based flights of the imagination represent a continuation of the Afro-magical tradition Theophus Smith calls Conjuring Culture.

Nicotine supplementation enhances simulated game performance of archery athletes

Background Nicotine is beneficial to mood, arousal and cognition in humans. Due to the importance of cognitive functioning for archery athletes, we investigated the effects of nicotine supplementation on the cognitive abilities, heart rate variability (HRV), and sport performance of professional archers. Methods Eleven college archers were recruited and given 2 mg of nicotine supplementation (NIC group) and placebo (PLA group) in a crossover design. Results The results showed that at 30 min after the intake of nicotine gum, the “correct rejection” time in the NIC group was significantly lower than that of the PLA group (7.29 ± 0.87 vs. 8.23 ± 0.98 msec, p < 0.05). In addition, the NIC group completed the grooved pegboard test in a shorter time than the PLA group (48.76 ± 3.18 vs. 53.41 ± 4.05 s, p < 0.05), whereas motor reaction times were not different between the two groups. Saliva α-amylase activity was significantly lower after nicotine supplementation (p < 0.01) but increased immediately after the archery test in the NIC group (p < 0.05). In addition, nicotine supplementation significantly decreased HRV and increased the archery score (290.58 ± 10.09 vs. 298.05 ± 8.56, p < 0.01). Conclusions Nicotine enhances the performance of archery athletes by increasing cognitive function and stimulating the sympathetic adrenergic system.

«THE BULLWHIP EFFECT» IN THE LOGISTIC ACTIVITY OF THE ENTERPRISE

This article is devoted to the development of international logistical activities, examination and prevention negative factors on any links of logistic chain. The important requirements to obtain maximum efficiency at all components of the logistic chain with minimal costs in each of its items, compliance with market interests and goals of each participant of logistic chain are considered. The simulated model has proved that the farther on logistic chain the information flow passes from consumer the more distorted information about the necessary stocks of products and real stocks in warehouse, and as a result – the extraordinary accumulation of mistakes in the forms of surplus of goods at all stages of its movement from producer to consumer. The similar phenomenon in logistics is called the effect of "The Bullwhip Effect". The method of practical analysis of the "bullwhip" effect was used in order to investigate resistance to this effect on the situation were simulated in «BEER GAME». The simulation method “BEER GAME” is the result of the work of the consulting system MA system, which works in the field of business logistics around the world. Four parts of the logistics chain took part in the simulation: a retailer, a distributor, a wholesaler and a manufacturer. They make a logistics chain 52 weeks long. The overall results of the game are presented in detail: the total cost of the simulated game, and manufacturer's game statistics, the statistics of game such as costs, orders and information of warehouse stock in terms of retailer, distributor and wholesaler. Furthermore, the article highlights other destabilizing effects that are closely related to the "bullwhip" effect, such as: the Forrester effect - a phenomenon in the sales channel, which predicts the inefficiency of the logistics chain; the Burbage effect - when the size of supplies can change in the direction of increase without managerial decisions; the Halligan effect - when there is a deviation from the existing supply and production plan; promotion effect - implicit price changes. On the basis of the conducted modeling and consideration of the reasons of occurrence of effect methods of stabilization of a logistic chain are offered.

Athlete workloads during collegiate women's soccer practice: Implications for return-to-play

Context: Athlete monitoring using wearable technology is often incorporated with soccer athletes. While evaluations have tracked global outcomes across soccer seasons, there is little information on athlete loads during individual practice drills. Understanding these demands is important for athletic trainers for return-to-play decision-making. Objective: To provide descriptive information on total distance, total playerload (PL), distance per minute, and PL per minute for practice drill structures and game-play by player position among female soccer athletes across a competitive season. Design: Retrospective, observational field study. Setting: NCAA Division I university. Patients or other Participants: Thirty-two female college soccer players (20±1 years). Interventions: Athletes wore a single GPS and triaxial accelerometer unit during all practices and games in a single soccer season. Individual practice drills were labeled by the team's strength and conditioning coach, and binned into physical, technical and tactical skills, and small- and large-sided competition drill structures. Main Outcome Measures: Descriptive analyses were used to assess the median total distance, total PL, distance per minute, and PL per minute by drill structure and player position (defenders, midfielders, forwards/strikers) during practices and games. Results: Small- and large-sided competitive drills imposed the greatest percentage of workload across all measures for each position (~20% of total practice), followed by physical drills. When comparing technical and tactical, technical skills required athletes to cover the greatest distance (technical: ~17%; tactical: ~15%), tactical skills required higher play intensity during practices across all positions (technical: ~18%; tactical: ~13%). Defenders had the highest median PL outcomes of all positions during practices. Conclusions: Different practice drill types imposed varying levels of demands on female soccer athletes, which simulated game play. Athletic trainers and other clinicians may use this information for formulating objective return-to-play guidelines for injured collegiate women's soccer players.

465 - Research trends in simulated education in gerontological nursing by text mining analysis

PurposeThe present study aimed to reveal trends in simulated education in Japanese gerontological nursing by conducting a text mining analysis of the Igaku Chuo Zasshi databank.MethodsSimulated education is focused by field of Japanese nursing education in recently. Therefore, we searched for original articles containing the terms “Simulated education” and “gerontological nursing” which were published between 2014and 2019. Articles containing these terms, as well as thesaurus words in the articles, were analyzed using Trend Search. The analysis provided a conceptual map of related words, with the strength of the relationship reflected in the thickness of lines and the distance between them.Igaku Chuo ZasshiA literature search was conducted using Igaku Chuo Zasshi, the Japanese medical literature database provided by the NPO Japan Medical Abstracts Society. This database comprises approximately 5000 journal titles and 6,300,000 articles.Text mining softwareTrend Search is a commercially available software developed by FUJITSU. Articles were anonymized prior to analysis.Ethical considerationsOnly anonymous articles were selected.Results and ConclusionsThe search identified 15 articles. Mapping yielded the two wedges of [Learning] and [Simulated game]. The [Learning] wedge had three groups ( Introduce, Communications, and Aging ). Introduce refers to nursing processes via simulated patients or role play. Communications refers to practice in gerontological nursing. Aging refers to role playing with group works in fundamental nursing. The [Simulated game] wedge had two groups (Effects and On-the-job training). Effects refers to leaving bed or psychographics. On-the-job training refers to simulation of elderly because of understanding.

Biceps Tendon Changes and Pitching Mechanics in Youth Softball Pitchers

With the lack of pitch count regulation, youth softball pitchers are experiencing unremitting high stresses on the anterior shoulder. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of acute changes in the long head of the biceps tendon with pitching kinematics and kinetics in youth softball pitchers following an acute bout of pitching. Twenty-three softball pitchers (12.17±1.50 yrs.; 160.32±9.41 cm; 60.40±15.97 kg) participated. To investigate the association between biceps tendon changes and kinematic and kinetic changes from pre- to post-simulated game, each biceps tendon measure was split into those whose biceps tendon thickness, width, and/or area increased pre- to post-simulated game, and those whose did not. There were significant differences in biceps tendon longitudinal thickness (Z=− 2.739, p=0.006) and pitch speed; as well as a difference between groups in biceps tendon transverse thickness and the amount of change in trunk rotation at the start of the pitching motion (p=0.017) and the amount of change in trunk flexion at ball release (p=0.030). This study illustrates the association of trunk and lower extremity kinematics and shoulder kinetics with morphologic changes in the biceps tendon with an acute bout of windmill softball pitching.

Understanding key constraints and practice design in Rugby Union place kicking: Experiential knowledge of professional kickers and experienced coaches

Place kicks present valuable opportunities to score points in Rugby Union, which are typically performed under varying constraints in competitive performance environments. Previous quantitative studies suggest these interacting constraints can influence fluctuations in place kick success. To further the understanding of how fluctuations in place kicking success emerge, our aim was twofold: i) to explore and identify the key constraints that professional place kickers and experienced place kicking coaches perceive to influence the difficulty of a place kick and ii) to understand the level to which current place kicking practice environments represent these key constraints experienced in performance environments. Six professional place kickers and six experienced place kicking coaches were interviewed. Using a deductive thematic analysis, 11 key constraints were identified: individual constraints of expectation for success and fatigue, task constraints of angle and distance to goalposts, environmental constraints of wind, weather, pitch, and crowd, and situational constraints of previous kicking performance, time remaining and current score margin. Place kicking is typically practised individually or with a small number of place kickers in isolation from team sessions. Where possible, coaches should be encouraged to include place kicking in simulated game scenarios during practice to represent key constraints from performance environments. Our study demonstrates how experiential knowledge can enrich the understanding of sport performance and inform the design of practice environments which simulate relevant constraints of competitive performance to enhance skill adaptation of athletes.

EFFECTS OF A SIMULATED GAME ON PITCHING KINEMATICS IN YOUTH FEMALE SOFTBALL PITCHERS

Background: Despite evidence that overuse is the most common mechanism of injury, softball pitchers currently have no pitch count regulations. Pain has been associated with certain pitching pathomechanics, and some reports indicate increased pain following a single pitching bout. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze kinematic variables such as center of mass (COM), trunk, and stride length during the first and last inning of a simulated game in youth softball pitchers. We hypothesized COM to be shifted back toward the drive leg, stride length would be increased, and trunk kinematics would be altered during the last inning of a simulated game as compared to the first inning. Methods: Participants included thirty-two softball pitchers (12.4±1.6yrs., 159.4±8.9cm, 62.0±13.6kg). Participants were deemed injury and surgery free for the past six months and were currently active as a pitcher on their teams’ roster. Kinematic data were collected at 100Hz using an electromagnetic system. After warm-up, participants were instructed to throw random game situations, provided by the investigator, with the catcher located at regulation distance (43ft). Participants were required to produce three outs an inning as per a regulation softball game. Three fastballs from the first and last inning were recorded and used for analysis. Kinematics were analyzed at five different pitch events including: start of pitch, top of pitch, foot contact, ball release, and follow through. Results: A paired samples t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in trunk rotation during the first three pitching events from the first and last inning. Specifically, pitchers exhibited less trunk rotation towards the pitching arm side. A bivariate Pearson’s correlation showed volume of pitches was correlated with stride length (r=.367, p=.039) and COM (r=.364, p=.041) at the start of the pitch, and trunk flexion at top of pitch (r=-.392, p=.026), foot contact (r=-.413, p=.019), and follow-through (r=-.436, p=.013). Conclusion/Significance: Trunk kinematics, stride length, and COM were altered as pitch volume increased. These results provide clinical importance as the trunk pathomechanics seen may be indicative of poor trunk control and fatigue. Although it is out of the realm of this study to state whether the kinematic changes seen are associated with injury, we do know that deficits in the kinetic chain are associated with injury and that trunk pathomechanics are associated with pain in collegiate softball pitchers. Research should continue to investigate the effects of pitch count, pitch mechanics, and injury in youth softball pitchers.