Bilateral stimulus presentation in memory scanning.

24 18–40 yr olds performed a memory-scanning task (S. Sternberg, 1966, 1969) in which probe letters were displayed unilaterally or bilaterally after sets of 2, 4, or 6 letters were memorized. The mean response time (RT) to bilateral presentations was significantly longer than the mean RT to unilateral presentations, but the slope of the set-size function was not affected, suggesting that presenting stimuli bilaterally affected stages other than memory scanning. There were no significant visual-field effects in either the bilateral or unilateral conditions, suggesting that memory scanning is not a lateralized process. There was no evidence that bilateral presentation increased visual-field differences. This is not consistent with D. B. Boles' (1983, 1990) hypothesis that visual-field asymmetry effects are more pronounced with bilateral than with unilateral presentation of stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Strategic Control of Multiple Routes in Imitation of Actions.

The aim of this study was to bring to the surface the strategic use of imitative processes in the context of a 2-route model: (a) direct imitation, used in reproducing new, meaningless actions, and (b) imitation based on stored semantic knowledge of familiar meaningful actions. Three experiments were carried out with healthy participants who reproduced meaningful and meaningless actions within an established time limit. The study investigated 3 factors that could potentially affect the selection of processes used for imitation: (a) the composition of the experimental list (blocked or mixed presentation), (b) the presence-absence of instructions (Experiments 1 and 2), and (c) the relative proportions of the stimuli (Experiment 3). Overall, the results suggest that each of these factors influences the selection of imitative strategies in healthy individuals with temporarily reduced capacities, as happens in the case of brain-damaged patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neural network approach for multicriteria solid transportation problem

In this paper, we propose neural network approach for multicriteria solid transportation problems(STP). First we suggest a neural network architecture to solve single-objective STP according to augmented Lagrange multiplier method. Due to the massive computing unit-neurons and parallel mechanism of neural network approach can solve the large scale problem efficiently and optimal solution can be got. Then we transform the original multicriteria problem into a single objective problem by global criteria method and adopt the neural network approach to solve it. By this way we can get the satisfactory solution of the original problem. The procedure and efficiency of this approach are shown with numerical simulations.     

Neural network technique for fuzzy multiobjective linear programming

Neural Network(NN) is well-known as one of powerful computing tools to solve optimization problems. Due to the massive computing unit-neurons and parallel mechanism of neural network approach we can solve the large-scale problem efficiently and optimal solution can be gotten. In this paper, we intoroduce improvement of the two-phase approach for solving fuzzy multiobjectve linear programming problem with both fuzzy objectives and constraints and we propose a new neural network technique for solving fuzzy multiobjective linear programming problems. The procedure and efficiency of this approach are shown with numerical simulations.     

Whole Body Vibration Improves Brain and Musculoskeletal Health by Modulating the Expression of Tissue-Specific Markers: FNDC5 as a Key Regulator of Vibration Adaptations

Whole body vibration (WBV) is well known to exert beneficial effects on multiple tissues, improving synaptic transmission, muscle mass, bone quality, and reducing anxiety and depressive behavior. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood, and organs and tissues may respond differently to the vibratory stimulus depending on multiple factors. Therefore, we investigated the WBV effects on the brain and musculoskeletal tissue of 4-month-old young mice, evaluating synaptic plasticity by electrophysiological recordings and tissue organization by histology and histomorphometric analysis. Specifically, WBV protocols were characterized by the same vibration frequency (45 Hz), but different in vibration exposure time (five series of 3 min for the B protocol and three series of 2 min and 30 s for the C protocol) and recovery time between two vibration sessions (1 min for the B protocol and 2 min and 30 s for the C protocol). In addition, immunohistochemistry was conducted to evaluate the expression of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), as well as that of tissue-specific markers, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain, myostatin in muscle and collagen I (COL-1) in bone. Our results suggest that the WBV effects depend closely on the type of protocol used and support the hypothesis that different organs or tissues have different susceptibility to vibration. Further studies will be needed to deepen our knowledge of physiological adaptations to vibration and develop customized WBV protocols to improve and preserve cognitive and motor functions.     

Chronic Hyperkaliemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Old Concern with New Answers

Increasing potassium intake ameliorates blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular (CV) prognoses in the general population; therefore the World Health Organization recommends a high-potassium diet (90–120 mEq/day). Hyperkalaemia is a rare condition in healthy individuals due to the ability of the kidneys to effectively excrete dietary potassium load in urine, while an increase in serum K⁺ is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hyperkalaemia prevalence increases in more advanced CKD stages, and is associated with a poor prognosis. This scenario generates controversy on the correct nutritional approach to hyperkalaemia in CKD patients, considering the unproven link between potassium intake and serum K⁺ levels. Another concern is that drug-induced hyperkalaemia leads to the down-titration or withdrawal of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) and mineralocorticoids receptors antagonists (MRA) in patients with CKD, depriving these patients of central therapeutic interventions aimed at delaying CKD progression and decreasing CV mortality. The new K⁺-binder drugs (Patiromer and Sodium-Zirconium Cyclosilicate) have proven to be adequate and safe therapeutic options to control serum K⁺ in CKD patients, enabling RASI and MRA therapy, and possibly, a more liberal intake of fruit and vegetables.     

Linear programming software tools on UNIX System

Linear programming(LP) is one of the most widely used Operations Research/Management Science/Industrial Engineering techniques. Recently, multiple criteria decision making or multiple objective linear programming has been well established as a practical approach to seeking satisfactory solutions to real-world decision problems.

In this paper we develop software tools for solving various linear programming problems such as a traditional LP problem, bicriteria LP problem, and multi-criteria LP problem on UNIX system. In a phase for reading data of various LP problems, we define a BNF(Backus-Nauel form) of various LP problems and implement BNF rules by using the C programming language.

In a phase for computing various LP problems, we use efficient methods for solving LP problems, develop various software tools on UNIX system, and combine each LP tool corresponding to an user request in which the Shell programming is used.

We also demonstrate some real-world LP problems by using LP software tools developed here on an UNIX System. Sanyo MPS 020.     

Aging-induced changes in microstructure and water distribution in fresh and cooked pork in relation to water-holding capacity and cooking loss - A combined confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation study

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) relaxometry were combined to characterize microstructural changes and water distribution in fresh and cooked pork during an aging period of 14 days. At day 1 (24 h postmortem) a few muscle fibres, which appear swollen, were observed in both fresh and cooked meat. An identical microstructure was still apparent after 14 days, however, the number of muscle fibres showing distinguished characteristics was found to increase throughout the aging period. Hence, it was apparent that during aging the individual fibres swell and disintegrate at different rates. Development in water-holding capacity (WHC) was followed during the aging period using gravimetric methods, and an increase in the WHC in the fresh meat was observed, which resembled the amount of extramyofibrillar water measured by NMR relaxometry (T₂₂ population). This was consistent with the CLSM images, as a substantial increase in the number of myofibrils that appeared swollen, capable of holding more water, was observed during aging. In the cooked meat the width of the T_21c population, reflecting the myofibrillar water in the cooked meat, was seen to decrease during the entire storage period, which corresponds to the development of a more homogeneous structure. In the CLSM data a continuous degradation during the storage period was observed, which could resemble a shift to a more homogeneous structure. Comparison of CLSM of transverse sections of fresh and cooked pork revealed a pronounced shrinkage of muscle fibres upon cooking. This resulted in large gaps between the cooked muscle fibres, which also was visible as shrinkage at the level of the individual myofibrils. This pattern was also reflected in the NMR relaxation data. The cooking-induced shrinkage of the myofibrils occurred concomitantly with a decrease in the amount of intermyofibrillar water within the individual fibre and an increase in the larger extramyofibrillar spaces between fibres, i.e. water is expelled from the myofibrillar matrix upon cooking. Accordingly, the present study demonstrated that the use of CLSM together with NMR relaxometry can provide further information on the relationship between structural characteristics of meat and resultant water distribution.