Exploring the Role of Overt Attention Allocation During Time Estimation: an Eye Movement Study

Cognitive models of time perception propose that perceived duration is influenced by how quickly attention is orientated to the to-be-timed event and how consistently attention is sustained on the to-be-timed event throughout its presentation. Insufficient attention to time is therefore associated with shorter more variable representations of duration. However, these models do not specify whether covert or overt attentional systems are primarily responsible for paying attention during timing. The current study sought to establish the role of overt attention allocation during timing by examining the relationship between eye movements and perceived duration. Participants completed a modified spatial cueing task in which they estimated the duration of short (1400 ms) and long (2100 ms) validly and invalidly cued targets. Time to first fixation and dwell time were recorded throughout. The results showed no significant relationship between overt sustained attention and mean duration estimates. Reductions in overt sustained attention were however associated with increases in estimate variability for the long target duration. Overt attention orientation latency was predictive of the difference in the perceived duration of validly and invalidly cued short targets but not long ones. The results suggest that overt attention allocation may have limited impact on perceived duration.

Feasibility and adherence to moderate intensity cardiovascular fitness training following stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide and the cardiovascular fitness levels of stroke survivors are diminished to an extent that impairs functioning and activities of daily living performance. While cardiovascular training seems an empirically appropriate intervention, the optimal dosage and intensity of cardiovascular training in stroke survivors remains unclear. The aim was to determine the safety and feasibility of moderate-intensity cardiovascular training following stroke, including measurement of adherence to training. Methods A pilot, prospective, patient- and assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial conducted in a tertiary, metropolitan hospital-based community rehabilitation centre. Eligibility criteria included ambulant (> 100 m), 6 weeks-12 months post stroke. Moderate-intensity fitness training or control (low-intensity) exercise was offered biweekly for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included adverse events, peak oxygen uptake (VO2), functional exercise capacity (6-Minute Walk Test, 10-m Walk Test) and health-related quality of life (Short Form-36) and mood (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ9). Results Feasibility: Seventy-one (50%) of 141 screened participants were eligible (29% did not agree to participate). Twenty participants (10 intervention, 10 control) were recruited. The median (%; IQR) supervised sessions was 19.5 (81%; 12, 20); and 20 (83%; 19, 22) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Progression of duration and intensity was limited; mean of 10 sessions to achieve target duration (30 min). There were no adverse events. Baseline peak oxygen uptake (VO2) levels were low (15.94 ml/kg/min). Significant improvements in VO2 peak in both groups were observed (p < 0.05). Although there were no significant between-group differences, this feasibility trial was not powered to detect change. Conclusions Moderate-intensity fitness training was safe but achievement of target duration and intensity was challenging for stroke survivors. A definitive adequately-powered randomised trial is required. Alternative fitness training protocols may need to be explored. Trial registration The trial protocol was prospectively registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12613000822785) on 25/07/2013.

Design of a THz-driven compact relativistic electron source

A THz-pulse-driven compact, < 150 mm in total length, two-stage electron accelerator setup was designed. It uses 2 × 2 pairs of nearly counter-propagating focused THz pulses. The effects of the initial bunch charge and the propagation direction of the THz pulses on the energy of the accelerated electrons were investigated by numerical simulations. Generation of 8 fC electron bunches with up to 340 keV energy; only 2.0% energy spread and compressed on-target duration of 200 fs is predicted using single-cycle low-frequency THz pulses with less than 4.5 mJ total energy.

The dorsal hippocampus is required for the formation of long-term duration memories in rats

Interval timing--the perception of durations mainly in seconds or minutes--is a ubiquitous behavior in organisms. Animal studies have suggested that the hippocampus plays an essential role in duration memory; however, the memory processes involved are unclear. To clarify the role of the dorsal hippocampus in the acquisition of long-term duration memories, we adapted the "time-shift paradigm" to a peak-interval procedure. After a sufficient number of training sessions with an initial target duration (20 s), the rats underwent "shift sessions" with a new target duration (40 s) under a muscimol (0.5 μg per side) infusion into the bilateral dorsal hippocampus. The memory of the new target duration was then tested in drug-free "probe sessions," including the empty trials in which any lever presses were not reinforced. In the probe sessions, the mean peak function of the muscimol group was located leftward to the control group, but these two functions were superimposed on the standardized time axis, suggesting a scalar property. In the session-by-session analysis, the mean peak time (an index of timing accuracy) of the muscimol group was lower than that of the control group in the probe sessions, but not in the shift sessions. In the trial-by-trial analysis, the mean start time and stop times (indices of timing accuracy) were lower than in the control group in the probe sessions. These findings suggest that the dorsal hippocampus is required for the formation of long-term duration memories within the range of interval timing.

Multiple Irrelevant Duration Information Affects the Perception of Relevant Duration Information: Interference With Selective Processing of Duration

In the human visual environment, the ability to perceive only relevant duration is important for various activities. However, a relatively small number of studies have investigated how humans process multiple durations, in comparison with the processing of one or two durations. We investigated the effects of multiple irrelevant durations on the perception of relevant duration. In four behavioral experiments, the participants were instructed to pay attention to a target stimulus while ignoring the distractors; then, they reproduced the target duration. We manipulated three aspects of the distractors: number, duration range, and cortical distance to the target. The results showed that the presence of multiple irrelevant durations interfered with the processing of relevant duration in terms of the mean perceived duration and the variability of the perceived duration. The interference was directional; that is, longer (shorter) irrelevant durations made the reproduced durations longer (shorter). Moreover, the interference was not likely to depend on the cortical distance between the target and the distractors, suggesting an involvement of relatively higher cortical areas. These results demonstrate that multiple irrelevant duration information affects the temporal processing of relevant duration information and suggest that multiple independent clocks assigned to each of the durations may not exist.

Evaluation of Reliability of Lead-free Solders in Silver-free Hybrids

Silver and silver-filled materials are widely used for hybrid substrate conductors, component terminals and conductive attachment materials. However, some concerns exist about using silver, especially for high-voltage hybrid assemblies that must operate in harsh non-hermetic or semi-hermetic applications. This paper discusses the reliability testing of silver-free components attachment materials. The target application temperature for this research was 185°C. Target duration at temperature was 500 hours. The evaluation of Sn100C solder was performed in comparison to solders of Sn96 and Au80Sn20. Two types of Ag-free thick-film substrates were tested with different type of solders to mount surface-mounted technology (SMT) components. The assembled test samples were subjected to thermal aging and thermal cycle tests. At each test interval, shear tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical performance. Cross sections of the solder joint and thick-film interface were used to understand the intermetallic compounds (IMC) formation and failure mechanisms under thermal stress. Tests for conductive filament growth was performed to evaluate the behavior of Sn-based solders in powered assemblies under target environmental conditions. Test results were discussed and suggestions for achieving a reliable, silver-free thick-film hybrid were made.

The influence of everyday events on prospective timing “in the moment”

We conducted two experiments to investigate how the eventfulness of everyday experiences influences people’s prospective timing ability. Specifically, we investigated whether events contained within movies of everyday activities serve as markers of time, as predicted by Event Segmentation Theory, or whether events pull attention away from the primary timing task, as predicted by the Attentional Gate theory. In the two experiments reported here, we asked participants to reproduce a previously learned 30 second target duration while watching a movie that contained eventful and uneventful intervals. In Experiment 2, reproduction also occurred during “blank movies” while watching a fixation. In both experiments, participants made shorter and more variable reproductions while simultaneously watching eventful as compared to uneventful movie intervals. Moreover, in Experiment 2, the longest reproductions were produced when participants had to watch the blank movies, which contained no events. These results support Event Segmentation Theory and demonstrate that the elapsing events during prospective temporal reproduction appear to serve as markers of temporal duration rather than distracting from the timing task.

IMPLEMENTASI PERATURAN DAERAH KABUPATEN TUBAN NOMOR 12 TAHUN 2012 TENTANG ORGANISASI DAN TATA KERJA LEMBAGA LAIN DALAM PELAYANAN PERIZINAN DI KABUPATEN TUBAN

Tuban District Regulation No. 12 of 2012 is the legal basis for the establishment of BPPT Tuban. BPPT Tuban formation as a commitment Tuban regency government in the improvement of public services, especially in service licensing. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the implementation of Tuban District Regulation No. 12 of 2012 licensing service in Tuban and to identify the factors supporting and hindering the implementation of Tuban District Regulation No. 12 of 2012 licensing service in Tuban.This research is a qualitative descriptive study, conducted at BPPT Tuban informant BPPT employees Tuban, using qualitative data analysis techniques with the steps of data reduction, data display and conclusion.The results showed that the implementation of Tuban District Regulation No. 12 of 2012 licensing service has been running well, but not optimal. This is due to a decline in the target duration of the licensing process in 2015 that the target 5,23 is reached only 4,3. The factors supporting the implementation of this policy is the existence of socialization permits, the availability of adequate facilities and infrastructure, support from the government of Tuban and has full authority in the signing of 23 licenses. Whereas the inhibiting factor is the existing human resources is not adequate, there is no incentive for implementing the policy, as well as the unavailability of websites and online information systems.Suggestions from this research is to improve the quality of employees BPPT Tuban through training activities, incentives and sustainable increase in the number of employees, especially with expertise in the field of IT, the need for incentives for employees BPPT Tuban, to avoid the presence of extortion and need the availability of websites and systems information online so that the mechanism of the licensing process can be covered more easily by the public.Keywords: Implementation, Policy, Licensing Service

Improving anti-emetics in chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

220 Background: Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains one of the most feared treatment-related toxicities in cancer patients. CINV has been shown to decrease quality of life and to increase dose modifications and unplanned hospital visits. Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) updated their CINV guidelines in 2013. These changes included a reclassification of many regimens from moderate (MEC) to highly emetogenic (HEC) and a decrease in the duration of serotonin inhibitors (5HT3i). Uptake of the new guidelines at Trillium Health Partners has been slow. We aimed to improve CINV by increasing the percentage of patients who received guideline concordant anti-emetics with their first cycle of HEC/MEC chemotherapy. Methods: The first 25 patients started on MEC/HEC chemotherapy during 3 time periods (pre-guidelines, 6 months post guidelines, 1.5 years post guidelines) were identified. The primary measure of interest was the percentage of patients receiving MEC/HEC who were treated in concordance with the updated CINV guidelines. Secondary measures included the percentage of MEC/HEC patients who experienced grade 2+ CINV. The collected data was used with quality improvement techniques to guide the development of interventions to improve guideline concordance. Results: The concordance of anti-emetics on the day of chemotherapy improved over time, but post-chemotherapy concordance remained at 0% (table). The primary driver for concordance was the use of NK1inhibitors on chemotherapy day, and the duration of 5HT3i post-chemotherapy. Using quality improvement methodology, the highest impact intervention was identified as changing the default settings in the computerized order entry system (CPOE) to reflect the updated guidelines. These changes are currently in progress and a test of this change will be presented. Conclusions: Concordance with CINV guidelines improved over time resulting in lower CINV and less need for reactive CINV interventions. Further work to target duration of 5HT3i is ongoing. [Table: see text]