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Effects of self-directed and other-directed introspection and emotional valence on activation of the rostral prefrontal cortex during aesthetic experience
No full textThe medial area of the rostral prefrontal cortex (rPFC) has been implicated in self-relevant processing, autobiographical memory and emotional processing, including the processing of pleasure during aesthetic experiences. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in rPFC activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in response to affective stimuli viewed in a self-relevant or other-relevant context. Positive and negative images were displayed to 20 participants under two viewing conditions where participants were asked to think of their own emotions (self) or think about the emotions of the artist who created the work (other). The results revealed an increase of HbO when participants viewed images during the other-condition compared to the self-condition. It was concluded that viewing stimuli from the perspective of another was associated with an increase of cognitive demand. The analysis of deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) at right hemispheric areas revealed that activation of the rPFC during the other-condition was specific to the negative images. When images were viewed from the perspective of the self, activation of the rPFC significantly increased at the right-medial area of the rPFC for positive images. Our findings indicate that the influence of valence on rPFC activation during aesthetic experience is contingent on the context of the viewing experience and there is a bias towards positive emotion when images are viewed from the context of the self
Avoidable Mortality in Cumbria: A Case File Review of 78 Suicides
No full textOn average, one person dies each week as a result of suicide in Cumbria. Gathering intelligence about suicide enables the identification of high-risk groups, risk factors and risk escalators, which can inform the development and implementation of local suicide prevention efforts.
An overview of avoidable mortality in Cumbria based on deaths between 2008 and 2012, it was revealed that the rate of avoidable deaths due to injuries (which include suicide) was significantly higher compared than the England average in 2011. Cumbria’s Director of Public Health then requested that an in-depth review of suicide be undertaken. A total of 78 suicides were reviewed in detail for this report (58 registered in 2012 and 20 registered in 2013), using coroner information, primary care files, and secondary mental health care files (where applicable).
A key message from this in-depth review is that the circumstances surrounding suicide are often complex characterised by a myriad of risk factors, risk escalators and precipitating factors present in an individual’s life with often no single attributable factor.
Coroner Related Information
Hanging was the most common method of male suicide, and drug related poisoning was the most common method of female suicide and this mirrors national findings. Male suicide by hanging has increased considerably over the last 9 years. There were 21 (27%) individuals who were known to have consumed alcohol at the time of death. The proportion of narrative verdicts delivered by Cumbria’s coroners has increased more than two-fold since 2006. These commonly make reference to a mental health illness. The increase in narrative verdicts mirrors an increase seen at a national level.
Primary Care History
Most individuals who died by suicide in Cumbria consulted with their GP in the year prior to death (81%), and over one fifth consulted in the week prior. Non-attenders were all male and most were under the age of 44 years. Mental illness and self-harm are well-documented risk factors for suicide, and in Cumbria 49 (63%) of individuals had a diagnosis of a current/on-going mental health condition at the time of death, most commonly depression, and 33 (42%) individuals had a history of self-harm. Alcohol and/or drug misuse/dependence was diagnosed in 13 (17%) individuals, over half of whom had a dual diagnosis (depression). The most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Psychiatric History
There were 49 (63%) individuals who had some previous contact with specialist mental health services in their lifetime. Nationally, 33% of individuals who died by suicide in 2011 had contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior to death (patient suicide) and this review found that in Cumbria there were 28 (36%) patient suicides. Of those 49 individuals who had specialist mental health service contact, 17 (35%) had been admitted to a psychiatric in-patient ward in their lifetime. Of the 28 patient suicides, 9 (32%) had been admitted to a psychiatric in-patient ward in the 12 months prior to their death.
Emerging Risk Factors
Alongside risk factors well documented in the literature, three emergent risk factors were noted in Cumbria. The first relates to welfare reform: in 5 (6%) cases a confirmed or potential change to an individual’s benefits was described to have caused worry, distress or anxiety in the days prior to death. The second relates to chronic pain and long term conditions: 18 (23%) individuals had a pain condition at the time of their death which often coexisted with a number of other suicide risk factors such as alcohol misuse/dependence. Finally, individuals in contact with the criminal justice system were also identified as a particular risk group, with 13 (17%) individuals being in contact in the 2 months prior to death.
Suicide Audit Process
In Cumbria, it is recognised that although conducting an in-depth review of suicide is a highly resource intensive process, the results are highly valued as a way of informing local suicide prevention strategies and action plans. Whilst carrying out this in-depth review, it became clear that the data collection tool being used could be adapted into a more condensed, practical and time efficient version. The way in which risk and escalating factors are documented for analytical purposes could also be improved.
Recommendations
To ensure that staff of Citizens Advice Bureau, Housing Associations, Job Centres and GPs that come into contact with individuals in distress as a result of benefit changes and other types of economic loss, know where to signpost individuals to appropriate support services.
Healthcare professionals to consider the impact of chronic pain and other long term conditions in connection with other known risk factors and escalators when carrying out individual suicide risk assessments.
To disseminate the findings of this report to the mental health and criminal justice steering group in Cumbria for further investigation and action in relation to individuals in recent contact with the criminal justice system.
To produce a data collection pro-forma for future suicide audits in Cumbria that allows data to be collected in a more time-efficient manner, but that also does not compromise on the quality of information being produced.
The production of agency specific reports in a format which can easily be updated following any successive suicide audits. Recommended agency specific reports include firstly the police (due to those in contact with the CJS identified locally and nationally as a risk group); secondly for specialist mental health services (on patient suicide) and thirdly a report for primary care professionals.
The production of local authority specific summary reports, following interest from councillors in Cumbria.
In order to make the suicide review process as complete as possible in the future, it is recommended that the primary care file of a deceased patient includes the full electronic GP summary print out
Evaluating the Effects of Cascading Failures in a Network of Critical Infrastructures
No full textNetworks of interconnected critical infrastructures are the supporting mechanisms and pillars of every industrialised nation. Heavily interconnected and mutually reliant on each other, their service provisions often cross boarders and multiple countries can consider the same infrastructure as critical. However, this reliance is also a great weakness. The level of dependence each infrastructure has on another means that an individual failure has the potential to cascade and impact vital service provision. Failures result in devastating impact on the economy, communication, e-government systems, national defence and society as a whole. Predicting the effects of a cascading failure is a challenge. In this paper, an approach for identifying the effects of cascading failures in multiple critical infrastructures is portrayed. A simulation depicting a virtual city is presented in order to visualise the spread of a fault in one infrastructure. In particular, the simulation is used to assess the resulting effect of a telecommunications failure on the service provisions of other critical infrastructures. Data classification techniques are used to assess infrastructure behaviour changes and demonstrate an approach for organisations to plan for cascading effects. The results demonstrate how subtle changes in infrastructure behaviour have the potential to spread with both significant and minor impacts. These subtle changes can be detected and planned for using our behaviour analysis techniques.
Index Terms— Critical Infrastructure, Cascading Failure, Simulation, Data
Classificatio
Two modes of input processing in relation to risk of sperm competition in mammals
Get PDFMuch research has been focused on the ‘output’ or response of males to particular risks of sperm competition (RSC). Lately, there has also been some interest on the types of information that males may use to assess RSC (RSC inputs). In contrast, there is a lack of studies on how males may process RSC inputs to generate such RSC outputs. Here we propose two modes of input processing (direct and indirect) and ways to test them in order to understand how a male may process and store RSC information. The direct mode of input processing predicts that a male may store RSC inputs through a physiological response, e.g., through a change in hormonal levels. As long as this response is active, the male will stay in a ‘RSC state’ and will produce an RSC output (e.g. high sperm investment) instead of a non-RSC output (e.g. relatively lower sperm investment) when he encounters a female. The indirect mode of input processing predicts that a male may store RSC inputs in his memory and retrieve such information later on to modify his output (e.g. sperm investment or copulatory behavior) accordingly. We use a multidisciplinary approach that should appeal to those researchers that seek to understand male’s adaptations to sperm competition at different levels. We believe that the testing of the hypotheses developed in this paper will lead to interesting findings and the development of new hypothese
A comparison of human chorionic gonadotropin and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone on the induction of spermiation and amplexus in the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus).
No full textBACKGROUND: Captive breeding programs for endangered amphibian species often utilize exogenous hormones for species that are difficult to breed. The purpose of our study was to compare the efficacy of two different hormones at various concentrations on sperm production, quantity and quality over time in order to optimize assisted breeding. METHODS: Male American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) were divided into three separate treatment groups, with animals in each group rotated through different concentrations of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRH; 0.1, 1.0, 4.0 and 32 micrograms/toad), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 50, 100, 200, and 300 IU), or the control over 24 hours. We evaluated the number of males that respond by producing spermic urine, the sperm concentration, percent motility, and quality of forward progression. We also evaluated the effects of hCG and LHRH on reproductive behavior as assessed by amplexus. Data were analyzed using the Generalized Estimating Equations incorporating repeated measures over time and including the main effects of treatment and time, and the treatment by time interaction. RESULTS: The hormone hCG was significantly more effective at stimulating spermiation in male Anaxyrus americanus than LHRH and showed a dose-dependent response in the number of animals producing sperm. At the most effective hCG dose (300 IU), 100% of the male toads produced sperm, compared to only 35% for the best LHRH dose tested (4.0 micrograms). In addition to having a greater number of responders (P < 0.05), the 300 IU hCG treatment group had a much higher average sperm concentration (P < 0.05) than the treatment group receiving 4.0 micrograms LHRH. In contrast, these two treatments did not result in significant differences in sperm motility or quality of forward progressive motility. However, more males went into amplexus when treated with LHRH vs. hCG (90% vs. 75%) by nine hours post-administration. CONCLUSION: There is a clear dichotomy between the two hormones' physiological responses on gamete production and stimulation of amplexus. Understanding how these two hormones influence physiology and reproductive behaviors in amphibians will have direct bearing on establishing similar breeding protocols for endangered species
Peace vision and its socio-emotional antecedents: The role of forgiveness, trust and inclusive victim perceptions
No full textThe present study conceptualized peace vision as the view of peace as desirable, feasible and requiring substantial concessions by both parties and examined the social-emotional factors contributing to its endorsement among Israeli Jews (N = 400). In line with our theorizing, we found that trust in Palestinians and inclusive victim perceptions (the view that both conflicting groups have suffered due to the conflict) were significantly and positively associated with peace vision endorsement both directly and indirectly, through facilitating forgiveness. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these results in terms of the sustainability of peaceful co-existence between conflicting groups
Influence of stair descent strategies and step height on centre of mass and gait kinetics in the elderly
No full textAge-associated alterations in balance mechanisms and deteriorations in muscle strength may necessitate alternate stair descent strategies to ensure safe negotiation. The aim of the study was to compare the influence of increased step height and stair negotiation strategies; step-over-step (SoS) and step-by-step (SbS) on gait patterns in the elderly. Eleven elderly participants descended a four step custom built instrumented staircase at a self-selected speed. Participants descended using a SoS or SbS strategy on two step configurations: a rise height of 170mm (STD) and a rise height of 255mm (INC). A 3D motion analysis system synchronised with force platforms embedded into the staircase, was used to capture whole body centre of mass (CoM) velocity, acceleration and kinetic data of the leading limb.Compared to STDSoS, STDSbS resulted in reduced CoM vertical (-0.48m/s vs -0.09m/s) and A/P velocity (0.50m/s vs 0.21m/s) during late stance and swing transition with similar reductions in vertical and A/P velocity in INCSoS vs INCSbS (-0.67m/s vs -0.11m/s and 0.49m/s vs 0.23m/s). INCSoS resulted in increased plantarflexor (1.10Nm/kg vs 1.45Nm/kg) and hip extensor moment (-0.08Nm/kg vs 0.43Nm/kg) compared to STDSoS with no differences seen in SbS strategy. An alternate stair descent strategy offers greater CoM control in the potentially dangerous transition between stance and swing. Concurrently, the tandem double stance period negates the need for increased muscle moments in late stance required to eccentrically control the falling body mass in the traditional SoS strategy. SbS could offer increased CoM control and stability during stair descent
Integrating energy efficiency into building design using a simplified thermal assessment method
No full textNew buildings and building refurbishments should be designed such that the best use is made of solar energy, and that fossil fuel based energy is not wasted. Because the thermal processes in a building are quite complex, the use of thermal assessment methods such as dynamic thermal simulation are generally recommended as part of the design process. These methods are intended to show building designers the effects of their building proposals on energy use, but are often too slow and difficult to use and do not really ?fit? into typical design practice. Therefore the job of energy assessment might be given to an engineer, but usually no assessment is done at all, or else the engineer is employed only to ?rubber stamp? the completed design. The method outlined in this paper is intended to give the building designer access to all the information in such a way that at early design stages the thermal characteristics of the building design can be quickly explored, in a parallel way to which designers explore issues of function and use, aesthetics, structure and cost. It is proposed that through use of such a method, considerations of energy and environment can be integrated into each project from the very start of the design process
Better together? The cognitive advantages of synaesthesia for time, numbers, and space
No full textSynaesthesia for time, numbers and space (TNS synaesthesia) is thought to have costs and benefits for recalling and manipulating time and number. There are two competing theories about how TNS synaesthesia affects cognition. The ‘magnitude’ account predicts TNS synaesthesia may affect cardinal magnitude judgements, whereas the ‘sequence’ account suggests it may affect ordinal sequence judgements and could rely on visuospatial working memory. We aimed to comprehensively assess the cognitive consequences of TNS synaesthesia and distinguish between these two accounts. TNS synaesthetes, grapheme-colour synaesthetes and non-synaesthetes completed a behavioural task battery. Three tasks involved cardinal and ordinal comparisons of temporal, numerical and spatial stimuli; we also examined visuospatial working memory. TNS synaesthetes were significantly more accurate than non-synaesthetes in making ordinal judgements about space. This difference was explained by significantly higher visuospatial working memory accuracy. Our findings demonstrate an advantage of TNS synaesthesia which is more in line with the sequence account.
Keywords: synaesthesia, time, number, sequence-space, working memor
A novel technique for evaluating and selecting logistics service providers based on the logistics resource view
No full textThe increasing importance of logistics outsourcing and availability of logistics services providers (LSPs) highlights the significance and complexity of the LSP evaluation and selection process. Most existing LSP evaluation and selection studies use historical performance data and assume independence among decision criteria. This paper proposes an integrated logistics outsourcing approach to evaluate and select LSPs based on their logistics resources and capabilities. This novel approach combines a fuzzy decision making trial, valuation laboratory (FDEMATEL) and fuzzy techniques to order preferences by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPS IS) methods. The new multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model addresses the impact relationships between decision criteria and ranks LSP alternatives against weighted resources and capabilities. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through a real case study and a two-phase sensitivity analysis confirms its robustness
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