The whole prefrontal cortex is premotor cortex

We propose that the entirety of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can be seen as fundamentally premotor in nature. By this, we mean that the PFC consists of an action abstraction hierarchy whose core function is the potentiation and depotentiation of possible action plans at different levels of granularity. We argue that the apex of the hierarchy should revolve around the process of goal-selection, which we posit is inherently a form of optimization over action abstraction. Anatomical and functional evidence supports the idea that this hierarchy originates on the orbital surface of the brain and extends dorsally to motor cortex. Accordingly, our viewpoint positions the orbitofrontal cortex in a key role in the optimization of goal-selection policies, and suggests that its other proposed roles are aspects of this more general function. Our proposed perspective will reframe outstanding questions, open up new areas of inquiry and align theories of prefrontal function with evolutionary principles. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.

Career Maturity and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Career Adaptability among Students in Foundation Program, Universiti Putra Malaysia

This study aims to examine the key predictors between career maturity and career decision-making self-efficacy on career adaptability among students in the Foundation Studies for the Agricultural Science programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). A quantitative research design using a questionnaire consists of career maturity, career decision-making self-efficacy and career adaptabilities was disseminated to the respondents. Using the cluster sampling method, a total of 329 students were involved in the study. The results indicate that these variables are significantly correlated and suggest that students who are able to have more career maturity or have more self-efficacy in their careers are more susceptible to self-adaptation. Employing hierarchical multiple regression analysis, it was discovered that career competency is the best predictor of career adaptability in relation to career maturity. Meanwhile, career goal-selection and career planning are the best predictors of career adaptability in relation to career decision-making self-efficacy. This study found that developing career maturity with a focus on students’ career competency and career decision-making self-efficacy with an emphasis on career goal-selection and career planning in higher education plays an important role in enhancing their overall career adaptability and preparing them for future career success. Keywords: Career adaptability, career maturity, decision-making, self-efficacy

The Functionality of Mobile Apps for Anxiety: Systematic Search and Analysis of Engagement and Tailoring Features

Background A range of mobile apps for anxiety have been developed in response to the high prevalence of anxiety disorders. Although the number of publicly available apps for anxiety is increasing, attrition rates among mobile apps are high. These apps must be engaging and relevant to end users to be effective; thus, engagement features and the ability to tailor delivery to the needs of individual users are key. However, our understanding of the functionality of these apps concerning engagement and tailoring features is limited. Objective The aim of this study is to review how cognitive behavioral elements are delivered by anxiety apps and their functionalities to support user engagement and tailoring based on user needs. Methods A systematic search for anxiety apps described as being based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was conducted on Android and iPhone marketplaces. Apps were included if they mentioned the use of CBT for anxiety-related disorders. We identified 597 apps, of which 36 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed through direct use. Results Cognitive behavioral apps for anxiety incorporate a variety of functionalities, offer several engagement features, and integrate low-intensity CBT exercises. However, the provision of features to support engagement is highly uneven, and support is provided only for low-intensity CBT treatment. Cognitive behavioral elements combine various modalities to deliver intervention content and support the interactive delivery of these elements. Options for personalization are limited and restricted to goal selection upon beginning use or based on self-monitoring entries. Apps do not appear to provide individualized content to users based on their input. Conclusions Engagement and tailoring features can be significantly expanded in existing apps, which make limited use of social features and clinical support and do not use sophisticated features such as personalization based on sensor data. To guide the evolution of these interventions, further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of different types of engagement features and approaches to tailoring therapeutic content.

A novel Career Development course for Animal Science students pursuing veterinary college admissions

A one-credit hour, elective, professional development course was created at North Carolina State University (NCSU) to introduce pre-veterinary track students to the admissions process and the breadth of the veterinary profession. The course was designed to facilitate career exploration while building self-efficacy through vicarious learning, interactions with speakers in various veterinary subfields, and addressing misperceptions about veterinary admissions. To evaluate the student learning objectives and improve upon the current practices of the course, data from two pre-test and post-test course surveys for 235 course participants between Spring 2014-17 were analyzed. The results of the study showed that students experienced significant gains in self-appraisal (Cohen’s d ranged 1.88-2.53), gathering occupational information (Cohen’s d ranged 1.59-2.53), goal selection (Cohen’s d ranged 2.14-2.53), and planning and problem solving (Cohen’s d ranged 1.88-2.77); as well as experienced a decrease in five misperceptions about veterinary admissions. This novel course is presented as a prospective course for other universities.

Collaborative Complete Coverage and Path Planning for Multi-Robot Exploration

In mobile robotics research, the exploration of unknown environments has always been an important topic due to its practical uses in consumer and military applications. One specific interest of recent investigation is the field of complete coverage and path planning (CCPP) techniques for mobile robot navigation. In this paper, we present a collaborative CCPP algorithms for single robot and multi-robot systems. The incremental coverage from the robot movement is maximized by evaluating a new cost function. A goal selection function is then designed to facilitate the collaborative exploration for a multi-robot system. By considering the local gains from the individual robots as well as the global gain by the goal selection, the proposed method is able to optimize the overall coverage efficiency. In the experiments, our CCPP algorithms are carried out on various unknown and complex environment maps. The simulation results and performance evaluation demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed collaborative CCPP technique.

UJI VALIDITAS ISI TARUMANAGARA CAREER DECISION SELF-EFFICACY SCALE

In the process of career decision making, being confidence in the chosen career (career decision making self-efficacy [CDMSE]) is the final stage also an important construct to be success in career. Since adolescents, especially in high school, students is required to choose a field of specialization which is the beginning of their future career decision. It is important for teenagers to have confidence in their chosen career so that they’re motivated to explore further their choice and success in it. The aim of this research is to provide recommended scale that can be used in career decision making self-efficacy’s research. The test development is carried out through content validation study by referring to the selected scale from systematic review method. Content validation study is done through expert judgment. Some of the modifications include the adjustment to language/grammar, culture, meaning, type of scaling method, and dimensions also items based on the career decision making self-efficacy’s case/problem in Indonesia, especially for adolescence in high school. The result of this study recommended measuring instrument named Tarumanagara Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (Tarumanagara CDSES). This scale consists of 30 items, includes five items of Occupational Information dimension, five items of Goal Selection dimension, four items of Self-Appraisal dimension, three items of School Achievement dimension, four items of Problem-Solving dimension, five items of Social Support dimension, and four items of Planning dimension. Dalam proses keputusan karir, keyakinan terhadap karir yang akan dipilih (career decision making self-efficacy [CDMSE]) adalah tahap akhir dan merupakan konstruk yang penting dalam kesuksesan karir. Remaja, dalam hal ini sejak jenjang pendidikan SMA telah dituntut untuk memilih bidang peminatan yang merupakan awal proses keputusan karir di masa depan. Penting bagi remaja untuk memiliki keyakinan terhadap karir yang hendak dipilih guna memiliki motivasi untuk mengeksplorasi lebih jauh pilihannya sehingga dapat sukses dalam karir yang dijalani. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menghasilkan alat ukur yang dapat direkomendasikan untuk digunakan dalam penelitian mengenai konstruk keyakinan terhadap keputusan karir. Pengembangan alat ukur dilakukan melalui studi validitas isi dengan mengacu pada alat ukur terpilih dari hasil tinjauan sistematis. Metode uji validitas isi dilakukan melalui penilaian pakar/ahli. Beberapa modifikasi yang dilakukan adalah penyesuaian tata bahasa, budaya, makna, jenis skala pengukuran, dan butir serta dimensi berdasarkan latar permasalahan keyakinan terhadap keputusan karir di Indonesia, khususnya pada siswa SMA usia remaja. Hasil penelitian merekomendasikan alat ukur Tarumanagara CDSES yang terdiri atas 30 butir dengan rincian lima butir dalam dimensi Occupational Information, lima butir dalam dimensi Goal Selection, empat butir dalam dimensi Self-Appraisal, tiga butir dalam dimensi School Achievement, empat butir dalam dimensi Problem Solving, lima butir dalam dimensi Social Support, dan empat butir dalam dimensi Planning.

Relationship Between Career Maturity and Self-Efficacy Among Male and Female Senior Secondary Students

This study investigated the relationship between Career Maturity and Self-Efficacy of senior secondary students and studied the comparison of boys' and girls' Career Maturity and Self-Efficacy at the senior secondary stage. The study employed a descriptive research design. The population for the study consisted of all government and private senior secondary students at Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The sample for the study comprised 792 students (370 boys and 422 girls) of standard XII which were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. The study reveals that the career maturity of senior secondary students was positively correlated with the selfefficacy of senior secondary students. A significant difference was found between the mean scores of boys and girls of senior secondary on the various dimensions of career maturity, i.e., self-appraisal, occupational information, goal selection, goal planning, and problem-solving, respectively and lastly overall career maturity. The difference between self-efficacy of boys and girls at the senior secondary level was also found to be significant. Implications for practitioners, counsellors, educators, parents and interventions for career counselling are also presented.

Formation of biocomplexes based on the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens and substances of a stimulating nature to limit the development of harmful organisms in potatoes

Goal. Selection of combinations of biocomplexes based on Pseudomonas fluorenscens bacteria with stimulant preparations based on various derivatives of ammonium salts of dihydropyrimidine and study of their effectiveness. Methods. Biotechnological methods for the study of bacteria Pseudomonas fluorenscens strain AR-33. The concentration of viable bacteria (CFU/cm3) was determined by the Koch method. Accounts were performed according to generally accepted methods using experimental methods in phytopathology and plant protection. Determined the effectiveness of drugs at different rates of consumption against fungal diseases. Results. Derivatives of ammonium salts of dihydropyrimidine did not show a toxic effect on reducing the concentration of viable cells of strain AR-33 bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens. The best indicators of the weight of 100 seeds and the number of beans in soybean plants showed a combination: Planriz, v.s. (bacteria of strain AR-33 Pseudomonas fluorescens, 3 ќ 10 9 CFU/cm3) (5 l/ha) + 0.1% solution of ximedon + 0.2% solution of succinic acid + 2 ml of DMAE + 2 ml of DMSO. The use of all combinations of biocomplexes showed the effectiveness of drugs against diseases in the range of 59.31—69.63%. With the use of biocomplexes, due to the fungicidal, immunoprotective and stimulating effect, a yield increase of 1.15—1.7 times relative to the control was recorded. The best yield on potatoes (3.4 t/ ha) was provided by the combination Planriz, v.s. (5 l/ha) + 0.1% solution of ximedon + 0.2% solution of succinic acid + 2 ml of DMAE + 2 ml of DMSO. The effectiveness of the drug against late blight was 79.1%. Conclusions. The use of stimulants and excipients DMAE and DMSO as substances that affect various transmembrane functions, provided an increase in the effectiveness of drugs by 8—14% relative to combinations without their use.