71 research outputs found
WHAT MODULATES THE ACHIEVEMENT IN AN IN-FERENTIAL, VISUO-SPATIAL ENVIRONMENT
No full textIn inferential environments, people make decisions on the base of outcomes predictions: the more they become ac- quainted, the more the levels of confidence increase. At the moment, the role of psychological traits or superior cognitive functions is still unclear. Through a novel visuo- spatial decision-making task we begin to disentangle the role of these factors: due to the stocastic nature of the task, we assumed that personality traits affect achieve- ments more than intelligence. Forty-two healthy partici- pants performed a visuo-spatial decision-making task de- manding for profit maximization, and responded to Raven- APM, EPQr and STAI tests. No effects of anxiety or personality emerged. Only Raven guided task performance: par- ticipants with higher score maximized their responses more than who showed lower, but still within normality, score. However, this emerged only within a variability threshold. The present experiment formalizes how envi-ronmental variability constrains the role of intelligence in extracting information from a visuo-spatial inferential task
Nine early eighteenth century Italian cantatas on librettos by Antonio Ottoboni
No full textThe aim of this thesis was to produce a performing edition of nine cantatas which form part of a collection by librettist Antonio Ottoboni. The cantatas have been transcribed into modern notation and consequently two of them have been ornamented. The collection is dated as 'gathered in Rome, 1709', and so the author has investigated what daily life in Rome during this period would have been like. There is also a section on the history of the cantata. Following this there is a detailed discussion on the librettist, Antonio Ottoboni and the collection of manuscripts kept at the British Library in London (Add. Ms. 34056). Using a comprehensive investigation into vocal treatises of the Baroque, the author has then ornamented two cantatas accordingly. Both have sections of recitative and both have at least one da capo aria. Editorial policy is clearly spelt out. Details regarding analysis of all nine cantatas in terms of form, subject matter, tonality, meter, tempo and poetic structure used are to be found in Appendix I. Appendix II has the texts of all nine cantatas and translations for the two ornamented ones. Appendix III has details of the particular ornamentation and the reasons for so doing. Appendix IV lists all the manuscripts investigated before the author settled on Add. Ms. 34056
Ex alimenti : innovazione e sostenibilità nel settore agroalimentare
No full textThe global population growth and the high pressures on natural resources is expected to increase in the coming decades, due to a growing demand and production of food and, consequently, of feed. To meet this global demand, feed researchers and producers are currently focus on securing sustainable energy and protein supply for feeding animals. In this respect, the valorisation of Former Food Products (FFP) into high quality animal feed represents an active and promising area of feed research. The use of FFPs in animal feed provides feed industries with alternative ingredients to cereals, making an important contribution in term of resource efficiency
Decision-making in young athletes: how do sports children adapt to a non-sports uncertain environment?
No full textPurpose: Physical and sports activities could enhance cognitive function in children and adults (1,2). However, the possibility of improving the high- order cognitive function, such as decision-mak- ing, is under debate.
The study aims to fill this gap by testing decision-making processes featuring young open- and closed-skill sports athletes. In addition, fluid intelligence was monitored for its possible effect on these tasks. Methods: Thirty-five young high-level athletes (13 Track and Field Athletes [TFA] and 22 football players; Mage = 11.03, SD = 1.33y.o.) were recruited.
We involved a perceptual decision task under uncertainty (i.e., low- medium- high uncertainty) where participants had to score as many points as possible. Their performance and decision confidence were analyzed. Two indexes (i.e., Spatial Error (SE) and Gain) evaluated performance. At the same time, implicit decision confidence was assessed through the bet on their decision and through the comparison with an Optimal User Model (SD-Error). Raven- APM(3) assessed fluid intelligence.
Results:
SE was better in low uncertainty compared to medium and high uncertainty. Again, it was better in medium uncertainty compared to high uncertainty. However, nonsignificant differences between the two groups in each level of uncertainty were found. The confounding factor ‘‘intelligence’’ was nonsignificant.
Gain analysis revealed the factor ‘‘uncertainty’’ was significant (F=97.19, p\.001). The greater the uncertainty, the fewer points gained. Even if the interaction ‘‘group x uncertainty’’ was significant (F=7.77, p\.001), nonsignificant differences between the two groups in the three uncertainties emerged. The confounding factor ‘‘intelli- gence’’ was nonsignificant.
Confidence analysis showed that the two groups behaved differ- ently among the three levels of uncertainties (F=8.42, p\.001). Football players modulated the bet according to uncertainty and bet more points than TFA. SD-E analysis confirmed that football athletes were closer to the optimal model than TFA.
Conclusions: The SE and Gain performance was similar between the groups. However, implicit confidence and SD-Error showed that football players were better at managing the environment than TFA. This discrepancy could be due to the pay-out matrix adopted. Thus, in the subsequent studies, the involvement of different pay-out matrices will help to understand these results better. Furthermore, the recruitment of sedentary children will better understand the effect of sports practice on high-order cognitive processes.
References: 1)Voss et al. (2010). 2)Gu et al. (2019). 3)Raven & Court
(1998b)
HOW OPEN- AND CLOSED SKILLS ATHLETES ADAPT DECISIONS TO AN UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENT WITH AND WITHOUT A STRESSFUL CONDITION.
No full textINTRODUCTION: Athletes must decide their actions under stressful situations. These abilities could also be transferred into a general do- main (1, 2). Thus, the present research analyzed the decision-making processes of athletes in an uncertain environment and how they acted when exposed to stressful situations.
METHODS: Participants:
24 élite open-skills athletes (OSA; M age = 17.71 ± 1.02 y.o.), 13 élite closed-skill athletes (CSA; M age = 21.40 ± 3.55 y.o.) and 36 non- athletes ( (M age = 23.56 ± 1.57 y.o.) were recruited.
Instruments:
A reinforcement learning probabilistic task (3) with three levels of uncertainties (i.e., low, medium, and high) was employed. Participants had to score as many points as possible. The task was performed, in counterbalanced order across participants, two times: one in standard condition (SC) and one Under Pressure (UP). Heart rate was monitored. Several indexes, such as the Spatial Error (i.e., the ability to predict future events), the Gain (the ability to maximize the score), and the implicit decision confidence (through the bet on the decisions), were evaluated to examine the possible differences among the sport type (OSA vs CSA). The confounding factor of fluid intelligence was con- trolled (Raven-APM [4]) due to the possible relation between intelligence and decision-making.
Data analysis:
Linear mixed-effect regression for each index was performed. The independent variables were: sport type, condition, and level of uncer- tainty. Intelligence was set as a covariate variable. The subject was the random effect. Heart rate and mental effort analysed the effect of stressful condition.
RESULTS: Mental effort and heart rate analysis reported that they were higher in UP compared to SC. Spatial Error results revealed an effect of intelligence (p < .001) only when the uncertainty was low and in SC (p < .05). Even if the triple interaction level of uncertainty x sport type x condition was significant ( p < .001), sport type did not influence the ability of predicting events (p > .05). Gain results revealed triple interaction level of uncertainty x sport type x condition was significant ( p < 0.01). However, the post-hoc analysis highlighted an improvement of the score from SC to UP condition in the low uncertainty environment for the control group; while in medium uncertainty for OSA. Confidence analysis highlighted triple interaction level of uncertainty x sport type x condition was significant (p < .001). Post-hoc results showed that only OSA modulated the bet between the two conditions when the uncertainty was low and high (p < .05).
Conclusion
Sport type did not influence the performance of this perceptual-decision task. However, the perception of the risk changed in UP. Specifi- cally, OSA seemed to behave conservatively when exposed to a stressful situation. Moreover, the results indicated that intelligence could help to predict events.
1Voss et al.(2010);2Chaddock et al.(2011);3Larsen&Coricelli(2017);4Raven(199
Growth performance and gut microbiota in post-weaning piglets fed diets containing bakery/confectionary former food products as cereal substitute
No full textInfluence of Traditional vs Alternative Dietary Carbohydrates Sources on the Large Intestinal Microbiota in Post-Weaning Piglets
No full textIn this study, common cereal grains were partially replaced by former foodstuffs products (FFPs) in post-weaning piglets' diets, to investigate how these alternative ingredients influence the faecal microbiota in the post-weaning period. Twelve post-weaning piglets were housed for 16 days in individual pens and were then fed two diets: a standard wheat-barley-corn meal diet and a diet containing 30% FFPs, thus partially substituting conventional cereals. The growth performance was monitored and faecal microbiota was characterized by the next generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed no detrimental effects on growth performance when FFPs were used. However, the FFP diet decreased the bacterial richness and evenness in the large intestine, while minor differences were observed in the taxa composition. The core microbiota composition was only slightly affected, and no differences between the two groups in the gut microbiota composition at the phylum level over time were observed. Thus, although these results should be interpreted with caution, as they are case-specific, FFPs can be potentially used as alternative carbohydrate sources in post-weaning piglets, but further investigations are necessary to clarify their impact on gut health when used for a longer period
Effects of herbs dietary inclusion on growth performance and nutrient composition of Tenebrio molitor larvae
No full textMealworm larvae (MW, Tenebrio molitor) are able to convert grain byproducts (i.e. bakery waste) into high-quality biomass, which can be processed into animal feed. Since moderate inclusion of several herbs may occur in some bakery waste material, this study examined the effects of herbs dietary inclusion on growth performance and nutrient composition of Tenebrio molitor larvae. The MW larvae were reared on wheat bran (control diet), or supplemented with four different herbs, namely, basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme supplemented in two concentrations (0.125% and 2% dry matter). All experiments were conducted under light condition, to counteract the meal moths, at 27°C with 60% relative humidity for five weeks. Growing performance parameter were recorded during the trial and nutritional composition was analysed on resulting larvae. The growth performance showed no differences between groups. Considering the DM content, no differences were observed among groups. In the case of protein content, greater inclusion of herbs resulted in lower protein levels. Regarding the fat level, only the inclusion of oregano led to lower content compared to the control group. Concluding the dietary inclusion in MW larvae of selected herbs up to 2% did not affect growth performance. However, some minor detrimental effects have been observed in the case of fat content in larvae receiving oregano. Further studies are needed for understanding the observed effects
Tenebrio molitor: effects of four herbs on larval composition and on their growth performance
No full textMealworms (MWs) can grow on bakery waste and upgrade them into high-quality biomass to produce animal feed. The dough products are sometimes prepared with small quantities of herbs that can have a negative effect on MWs growing performances. This trial investigated the effects of including four different herbs in the MWs substrate: basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme, in two concentrations, 0.125% and 2% on a dry matter basis. All treatments were performed in duplicate. Ten thousand 4-week-old larvae were placed on 2.1 kg of substrates and reared for five weeks under dark conditions at 27°C with 60% relative humidity. The data, which included growth performance, harvested prepupal biomass (wet weight), moisture content, and nutritional profile, were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA. P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Samples were taken by each tray during the trial to record growth performance parameters and resulted in no differences between groups (P>0.05). The collection of the insects was initiated upon the appearance of the first pupae (nine-week-old larvae). The chemical composition, the total polyphenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity of the resulting larvae were analyzed. The dry matter content showed no differences among groups (P>0.05). The protein content was hindered by a greater herb inclusion (P=0.002) and the fat level was slightly reduced by the inclusion of oregano (P=0.024). The larval TPC has been worsened by the highest herb inclusion (P<0.001) and a negative Spearman correlation (-0.463) was observed between the substrate’s TPC and the MWs’ TPC. Conversely, the incorporation of herbs led to an augmentation in larval antioxidant activity, as evidenced by measurements of ABTS (P<0.001) and FRAP (P<0.001). The inclusion of herbs did not modify larval growth performance; however, a higher inclusion level of the tested herbs resulted in modifications to larval chemical composition, with a concomitant detriment to larval TPC and an improvement in antioxidant activity. Further researches are needed to understand the observed effects
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