Search

We are used to seeing objects in specific settings, and in association with other related objects. This contextual information allows for fast and efficient object recognition and influences brain-related processes. The influence of scene context has been studied using event-related potentials (ERPs) in order to further our understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms. Current ERP studies have focused on effects related to the incongruity between unambiguous objects and their scenes, rather than the specific influence of a congruent scene. The present study sought to examine ERPs associated with the beneficial influence of scene context on object recognition. This influence was examined using ambiguous objects that required a congruent scene in order to be recognized, as well as unambiguous objects, to determine whether scene processing occurs even when it is unnecessary for recognizing the object. Twenty healthy subjects were instructed to indicate whether they recognized, had a vague idea, or did not recognize target objects that appeared within congruent and neutral scenes. ERPs from 250 to 1000 ms, including the N300 and N400, were more positive at anterior sites and more negative at posterior sites, when objects appeared in congruent scenes as opposed to when they appeared in neutral scenes, with a larger effect seen for ambiguous objects. Upon further examination, the results showed that the ERPs to ambiguous objects became similar to those of unambiguous objects when they appeared in congruent contexts. These findings indicated that a congruent context exerted its influence by reducing the ambiguity of objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Repetition has often been associated with a reduction or a suppression of semantic effects. However, several studies have reported that semantic processing can still be effective for repeated target stimuli when the context, prime word or sentence frame, changes from trial to trial. This type of context-target designs allows to study semantic associations between repeated words. However, it is not optimal to study single concepts or categories and therefore structural aspects of semantic memory. Here, we tested whether semantic effects could be observed if single-word trials were used. Concrete and Abstract words were presented multiple times in two concrete-abstract classification experiments. In the first experiment, 6 words of each category were repeatedly presented. In the second experiment, only one word of each category was used. Results of both experiments showed significant effects of concreteness on reaction times and N400-like event-related potentials (ERPs), which were comparable to those reported in non-repeated conditions. In the second experiment, in which repetitions occurring in consecutive and non-consecutive trials were contrasted, N400-like effects were observed only for non-consecutive repetitions. These findings suggest that it could be possible to study the brain activity corresponding to individual concepts in experimental designs using single-word trials, provided that consecutive repetitions are avoided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with Type 2 Diabetes Melitus (T2DM). Good glycemic management is not sufficient to decrease markedly CV risk and new evidences show that the choice of the glucose-lowering medications (GLM) is a key component to decrease this risk. New ESC guidelines recommend the use of GLM with proven CV benefits for patients at high or very high CV risk. To evaluate the compliance of T2DM treatment at patient admission with the ESC Guidelines for patients hospitalized in cardiology units. We retrospectively reviewed the usual treatments of patients with T2DM hospitalized in cardiology units between January and March 2020. Usual GLM were extracted from medication reconciliations which are carried out routinely by the pharmaceutical team present in the 3 cardiology units. CV history and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value were collected from medical records. Data from 179 patients were collected. The mean age was 72 years and the sex ratio was 3.5. 88% of the patients had a very high CV risk and 12% a high risk. The most prescribed drugs were metformin (115), long-acting insulins (65), rapid-acting insulins (65), DPP-4i (48), sulfonylureas (41) and GLP1-RA (21). 35% of patients had a recommended treatment. The 3 most frequently non-recommended combination therapies are insulin dual therapy (12%), sulfonylureas monotherapy (9%), and metformin with insulin dual therapy (8%). Among patients with recommended treatment, 95% had a controlled HbA1c (< 8%), compared with only 58% for patients with unrecommended treatment. Most of patients were at very high risk of CV complications. Moreover, only 12% of patients had one of the first-line treatment for this category of patients (GLP1-RA). The recommended combinations of treatment were prescribed only in approximatively one third of patients. This work demonstrates that improvements are necessary in the management of patients with D2TM at high CV risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The framework of this paper is the improvement of direct-forcing immersed boundary methods in presence of moving obstacles. In particular, motivations for the use of the Direct Forcing (DF) method can be found in the advantage of a fixed computational mesh for fluid–structure interaction problems. Unfortunately, the direct forcing approach suffers a serious drawback in case of moving obstacles: the well known spurious force oscillations (SFOs). In this paper, we strengthen previous analyses of the origin of the SFO through a rigorous numerical evaluation based on Taylor expansions. We propose a remedy through an easy-to-implement regularization process (regularized DF). Formally, this regularization is related to the blending of the Navier–Stokes solver with the interpolation, but no modification of the numerical scheme is needed. This approach significantly cuts off the SFOs without increasing the computational cost. The accuracy and the space convergence order of the standard DF method are conserved. This is illustrated on numerical and physical validation test cases ranging from the Taylor–Couette problem to a cylinder with an imposed sinusoidal motion subjected to a cross-flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Mauritania, most irrigated land was designed for, and remains devoted to, rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. Decades after introduction, however, yield remains below expectations, irrigated land is gradually being abandoned, and now crop diversification is promoted to improve sustainability of irrigated agriculture. This paper presents evidence of the potential, and limitations, of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cropping in small-holder irrigation schemes along the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River Valley. Results are based on 3-years of on-farm participatory research (2007–2009) carried out at five irrigation schemes in collaboration with farmers and national research and extension services. Grain yield, water productivity and gross margin of sorghum and rice were compared at plot level. Global average grain yield over years and schemes was 2.5tha−1 for sorghum, ranging from 1.7tha−1 to 3.2tha−1, compared to 5.6tha−1 for rice, ranging from 4.0tha−1 to 7.3tha−1, even though both crops had similar total above-ground biomass at maturity. Sorghum required less irrigation water than rice (435 vs. 601mm) but the smaller yield resulted in similar irrigation water productivity (0.87 vs. 0.96kgm−3) and fuel (pumping) productivity (1.71 vs. 1.93kgMJ−1). Despite smaller yields, however, sorghum profitability was significantly greater than rice (1172 vs. 788 € ha−1), due to higher market price and, in the case of one scheme, lower irrigation costs. Main constraints identified in sorghum cropping were (i) poor crop establishment because of late sowing and water logging; (ii) neglected weed management; and (iii) mismatch between irrigation delivery schedules and water requirements. The causes of these constraints are particularities of rice production systems (design and heavy soil) and farmers’ habits acquired with traditional rainfed sorghum cropping during the wet season. The analyses presented here reveal that sorghum cropping is a profitable option to rice for small-holder farmers, particularly on light-textured soils within the irrigation schemes. Furthermore, large variability of results among sorghum farmers and the high above-ground biomass at maturity suggests scope for improving grain yield and water productivity. Challenges remain, however, for adoption of sorghum in irrigated agriculture in Mauritania. National agricultural policies must ensure access to credit and agricultural inputs (seeds and fertilizers) and consider specific requirements for crop diversification (type of soil, irrigation distribution) in both rehabilitation of existing schemes and in design and construction of new ones. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cognitive biases, which are tendencies to systematically process, select and remember certain information (e.g., jumping to conclusions), are exacerbated in schizophrenia and associated with delusions. Here we review and quantitatively assess psychological interventions targeting cognitive biases (e.g., metacognitive training, reasoning training, Maudsley review training programme) to evaluate their efficacy in improving cognitive biases, positive symptoms, and insight. Overall, thirty-two studies, including 15 distinct interventions and 2738 participants, were identified through a comprehensive keyword database search. Meta-analytic effect sizes were calculated and heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses (study bias, active/passive intervention) were conducted. We observed significant small to moderate beneficial effects of cognitive interventions on cognitive biases (Hedges' g = 0.27; 95% CI = [0.13–0.41]; z = 3.77; p <.001), positive symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.30; 95% CI = [0.13–0.48]; z = 3.44, p <.005), and insight (Hedges' g = 0.35; 95% CI = [0.15–0.56]; z = 3.37, p <.005). Interestingly, studies with high risk of bias or passive control condition did not differ significantly from those with low risk or active control condition, respectively. Thus, cognitive biases are malleable via psychological interventions, which also exert, either directly or indirectly through reduced cognitive biases, beneficial effects on positive symptoms and insight. • Psychological interventions systematically targeting cognitive biases were reviewed. • Small to moderate effects were found for cognitive biases, positive symptoms and insight. • Results for cognitive biases may be driven by publication bias and risk of bias. • Future studies should examine the effects in first-episode and high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]