Learning of Concepts: A Review of Relevant Advances Since 2010 and Its Inspirations for Teaching

This article reviews the psychological and neuroscience achievements in concept learning since 2010 from the perspectives of individual learning and social learning,and discusses several issues related to concept learning,including the assistance of machine learning about concept learning.In terms of individual learning,current evidence shows that the brain tends to process concrete concepts through typical features(shared features);and for abstract concepts,semantic processing is the most important cognitive way.In terms of social learning,interpersonal neural synchrony(INS)is considered the main indicator of efficient knowledge transfer(such as teaching activities between teachers and students),but this phenomenon only broadens the channels for concept sources and does not change the basic mode of individual concept learning.Ultimately,this article argues that the way the human brain processes concepts depends on the concept’s own characteristics,so there are no“better”strategies in teaching,only more“suitable”strategies.

Seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in free-ranging male Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Huangshan, China

Although seasonal breeding has been documented in many non-human primates, it is not clear whether sexual behaviors show seasonal variation among male individuals. To test this hypothesis, the focal animal sampling method and continuous recording were used to investigate seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in five male Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） at Mt. Huangshan from Oct 2005 to Sept 2006. Both copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors （i.e., sexual chase, grimace, and sexual-inspection）, which were significantly higher in the mating season than non-mating season. Furthermore, seasonal variations of sexual behaviors, including copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors, were synchronized among males. The results shed light on sexual competition and tactics for reproductive success of male M. thibetana and other non-human primates with seasonal breeding.

Effects of primary PCI and facilitated PCI on myocardial viability and ventricular systolic synchrony in acute myocardial infarction patients

Objective To evaluate short time effects of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and rtPA thrombolysis+PCI (rtPA+PCI) on myocardial viability and ventricular systolic synchrony in AMI patients.Methods Eighty seven patients with first AMI were divided into two groups: group A ( n =42), pPCI group, the patients underwent PCI within 6h after onset of AMI; group B ( n =45), rtPA+PCI group, the patients underwent PCI after thrombolysis within 6h after onset of AMI; Myocardial viability was measured by 99m Tc MIBI SPECT. While, the parameters of cardiac function LVEF and ventricular systolic synchrony LVPS were measured by 99m Tc gated cardiac blood pool image on the first and the fourth weekend. Results (1) The peak CK MB was significantly lower in group A than that in group B( P <0.01 ). (2) Myocardial infarction area (MIA) was decreased and radioactivity counts in MIA was significantly increased in group A and B on the 4th weekend compared with that on the first weekend ( P <0.01 ), but there were no significant difference between group A and group B. (3) LVEF, LVPS were no significant difference between group A and group B.Conclusions (1)pPCI in acute myocardial infartion can limit infarct area, maintain ventricular systolic synchrony and improve ventricular function; (2) but, in those hospitals that there were no any condition for PCI, they should transfer the patients to central hospital for PCI after thrombolysis at the first time. It is beneficial to improve myocardial viability and ventricular systolic synchrony of AMI patients in short time.

射波刀Synchrony同步追踪系统三维方向质量保证分析

目的:分析射波刀Synchrony同步追踪系统的质量保证验证方法是否符合临床肿瘤三维运动的要求,以保证射波刀临床治疗的质量。方法:利用改进的Synchrony模体采集CT影像信息,制订同步呼吸追踪的E2E(end to end)治疗验证计划。执行治疗计划,将装有EBT胶片的球方模体放在治疗床上,球方在不同运动条件下执行模拟验证计划,利用E2E软件对照射后的胶片进行分析,得出同步追踪的治疗误差。结果:射波刀Synchrony同步追踪系统在一维、二维、三维方向的治疗误差分别为0.91、1.03、0.90 mm。结论:射波刀Synchrony同步追踪系统的质量保证验证方法满足临床肿瘤精确治疗的要求。

肺追踪优化对射波刀Synchrony建模的价值

目的:探讨射波刀肺部追踪肿瘤直径的范围并分析利用肺追踪优化措施对降低Synchrony重建次数的价值。方法:选取152例肺部肿瘤患者执行肺追踪放疗,按肿瘤直径大小分为10 mm≤d<15 mm、15 mm≤d<20 mm、≥20 mm3组。对肿瘤跟踪算法失败的目标分别采用偏移模式、调整跟踪范围、调整不确定性、二次脊柱追踪辅助定位和启用建议影像/主要参考影像进行优化处理,统计优化前后3组能通过Synchrony建模的患者,比较优化前后射波刀治疗过程中Synchrony模型重建的频率。结果:优化前后治疗执行系统能够正确识别肿瘤并通过建模的病例数由10 mm≤d<15 mm组3例(7.5%)、15 mm≤d<20 mm组24例(36.9%)、≥20 mm组43例(91.5%)改变为10 mm≤d<15 mm组8例(20%)、15 mm≤d<20 mm组53例(81.5%)、≥20 mm组45例(95.7%),差异有统计学意义(P=0.047);治疗过程中不优化模型重建频率分别为3.67、1.48和0.47,优化后治疗模型重建频率分别为1.67、0.71和0.33。结论:综合采用肺追踪优化措施,能够降低Synchrony重建次数,对于肿瘤直径在15 mm≤d<20 mm左右的患者有助于治疗的顺利进行;对于肿瘤小于15 mm的患者不建议执行肺部追踪放射治疗。

Effects of temperature on flowering phenological traits of Populus euphratica Oliv. and Populus pruinosa Schrenk populations, Xinjiang, China

The aims of this study were to explore the interspecific differences of Populus euphratica Oliv.and Populus pruinosa Schrenk populations and the intraspecific differences of males and females within the same species in flowering phenological traits,and the effects of temperatures on flowering phenological traits in different growth years(2001–2003 and 2013–2015).The results showed that P.euphratica population flowered earlier than P.pruinosa population.Moreover,flowering phenological period of population,number of days of flowering phenological period per population,number of days of flowering phenological period per plant and average number of days of flowering period per plant of P.euphratica population were less than those of P.pruinosa population.The differences between male and female within the same species indicated that the flowering periods of males P.euphratica and P.pruinosa populations were earlier than those of female plants.For both species,flowering phenological traits were significantly and negatively correlated with the average temperatures in previous ten days,previous one month and previous three months of flowering.Both species are sensitive to temperature changes and adjust to the changes by advancing the start of flowering and prolonging the duration of flowering.

The reproductive biology of a Central American cichlid Neetroplus nematopus in Lake Xiloá ,Nicaragua

This study was conducted to provide a five-year database on the breeding seasonality and breeding biology of a Central American cichlid fish Neetroplus nematopus, a biparental substratum-spawning cichlid that cares for its eggs, wrigglers, and fry for up to six weeks. A total of 503 breeding pairs were monitored for breeding success. Breeding pairs of N. nematopus are sexually dimorphic in size, with females averaging 39% of male body mass. Fry emerged from 85% of nesting cavities. After three weeks, only 30% of the broods were present in the nesting cavity; these broods had a 30% survival rate, giving a 9% overall survival rate. Nineteen percent of the successful parents with three-week-old broods adopted foreign fry. A consistent unimodal breeding peak in December was observed for five years. This breeding peak differed dramatically from the bimodal breeding season 20 years found in the 1970s. The effects of extensive grenade fishing practices during the 1980s might have played a substantial role in the observed change. Grenade fishing stopped in 1991, and the number ofN. nematopus pairs increased by 136% from 1990 to 1995. With increased density of breeding fish, the breeding season for this species also expanded. The balance between divergent selection due to competition for breeding sites and stabilizing selection due to predation pressure on offspring is likely to mold the breeding season for N. nematopus and other cichlids of Lake Xilofi. We suggest that brood adoption and synchrony of breeding is a strategy to reduce predation on the parent＇s own young [Current Zoology 56 （1）： 43-51 2010].

Neurally adjusted ventilator assist in very low birth weight infants:Current status

Continuous improvements in perinatal care have resultedin increased survival of premature infants.Their immature lungs are prone to injury with mechanical ventilation and this may develop into chronic lung disease(CLD) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia.Strategies to minimize the risk of lung injury have been developed and include improved antenatal management(education,regionalization,steroids,and antibiotics),exogenous surfactant administration and reduction of barotrauma by using exclusive or early noninvasive ventilatory support.The most frequently used mode of assisted ventilation is pressure support ventilation that may lead to patientventilator asynchrony that is associated with poor outcome.Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction or disuse atrophy of diaphragm fibers may also occur.This has led to the development of new ventilation modes including neurally adjusted ventilatory assist(NAVA).This ventilation mode is controlled by electrodes embedded within a nasogastric catheter which detect the electrical diaphragmatic activity(Edi) and transmit it to trigger the ventilator in synchrony with the patient's own respiratory efforts.This permits the patient to control peak inspiratory pressure,mean airway pressure and tidal volume.Back up pressure control(PC) is provided when there is no Edi signal and no pneumatic trigger.Compared with standard conventional ventilation,NAVA improves blood gas regulation with lower peak inspiratory pressure and oxygen requirements in preterm infants.NAVA is safe mode of ventilation.The majority of studies have shown no significant adverse events in neonates ventilated with NAVA nor a difference in the rate of intraventricular hemorrhage,pneumothorax,or necrotizing enterocolitis when compared to conventional ventilation.Future large size randomized controlled trials should be established to compare NAVA with volume targeted and pressure controlled ventilation in newborns with mature respiratory drive.Most previous studies and trials were not sufficiently large and did not include longterm patient oriented outcomes.Multicenter,randomized,outcome trials are needed to determine whether NAVA is effective in avoiding intubation,facilitating extubation,decreasing time of ventilation,reducing the incidence ofCLD,decreasing length of stay,and improving long-term outcomes such as the duration of ventilation,length of hospital stay,rate of pneumothorax,CLD and other major complications of prematurity.In order to prevent barotrauma,next generations of NAVA equipment for neonatal use should enable automatic setting of ventilator parameters in the backup PC mode based on the values generated by NAVA.They should also include an upper limit to the inspiratory time as in conventional ventilation.The manufacturers of Edi catheters should produce smaller sizes available for extreme low birth weight infants.Newly developed ventilators should also include leak compensation and high frequency ventilation.A peripheral flow sensor is also essential to the proper delivery of all modes of conventional ventilation as well as NAVA.

Mechanism for propagation of rate signals through a 10-layer feedforward neuronal network

Using numerical simulations, we explore the mechanism for propagation of rate signals through a 10-layer feed-forward network composed of Hodgkin-Huxley （HH） neurons with sparse connectivity. When white noise is afferent to the input layer, neuronal firing becomes progressively more synchronous in successive layers and synchrony is well developed in deeper layers owing to the feedforward connections between neighboring layers. The synchrony ensures the successful propagation of rate signals through the network when the synaptic conductance is weak. As the synaptic time constant Tsyn varies, coherence resonance is observed in the network activity due to the intrinsic property of HH neurons. This makes the output firing rate single-peaked as a function of Tsyn, suggesting that the signal propagation can be modulated by the synaptic time constant. These results are consistent with experimental results and advance our understanding of how information is processed in feedforward networks.

Mapping spatial variation in acorn production from airborne hyperspectral imagery

Masting is a well-marked variation in yields of oak forests. In Japan, this phenomenon is also related to wildlife management and oak regeneration practices. This study demonstrates the capability of integrating remote sensing techniques into map- ping spatial variation of acorn production. The hyperspectral images in 72 wavelengths （407-898 nm） were acquired over the study area ten times over a period of three years （2003-2005） during the early growing season of Quercus serrata using the Airborne Im- aging Spectrometer Application （AISA） Eagle System. With the canopy spectral reflectance values of 22 sample trees extracted from the images, yield estimation models were developed via multiple linear regression （MLR） analyses. Using the object-oriented classi- fication approach in eCognition, canopies representative of individual oak trees （Q. serrata） were identified from the corresponding hyperspectral imagery and combined with the fitted estimation models developed, acorn yield over the entire forest were estimated and visualized into maps. Three estimation models, obtained for June 27 in 2003, July 13 in 2004 and June 21 in 2005, showed good performance in acorn yield estimation both for the training and validation datasets, all with R2 〉 0.4, p 〈 0.05 and RRMSE 〈 1 （the relative root mean square of error）. The present study shows the potential of airborne hyperspectral imagery not only in estimating acorn yields during early growing seasons, but also in identifying Q. serrata from other image objects, based on which of the spatial distribution patterns of acorn production over large areas could be mapped. The yield map can provide within-stand abundance and valuable information for the size and spatial synchrony of acorn production.

Respiratory evaluation of patients requiring ventilator support due to acute respiratory failure

This review, based on relevant published evidence and the authors` clinical experience, presents how to evaluate a patient with acute respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. This patient must be carefully evaluated by nurses, physiotherapists, respiratory care practitioners and physicians regarding the elucidation of the cause of the acute episode of respiratory failure by means of physical examination with the measurement of respiratory parameters and assessment of arterial blood gases analysis to make a correct respiratory diagnosis. After the initial evaluation, the patient must quickly receive adequate oxygen and ventilatory support that has to be carefully monitored until its discontinuation. When available, a noninvasive ventilation trial must be done in patients presenting desaturation during oxygen mask and or PaCO2 retention, especially in cases of cardiogenic pulmonary edema and severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In cases of noninvasive ventilation trial-failure, endotracheal intubation and invasive protective mechanical ventilation must be promptly initiated. In severe ARDS patients, low tidal ventilation, higher PEEP levels, prone positioning and recruitment maneuvers with adequate PEEP titration should be used. Recently, new modes of ventilation should allow a better patient-ventilator interaction or synchrony permitting a sufficient unloading of respiratory muscles and increase patient comfort. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be considered for a trial for early extubation to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in centers with extensive experience in noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

Frontal Absence Seizures: Clinical and EEG Analysis of Four Cases

ACCORDING to the commission of InternationalLeague Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 1989, typicalabsence seizures are generalized seizures,characterized by transient impairment of consciousness(TIC) and generalized >2.5 Hz spike and slowwave discharges in ictal EEG.1 Absence seizures with focalonset have been reported occasionally, such as frontal,temporal or parieto-occipital origin.2-3 Lagae et al 4 identified asubgroup of children with absence epilepsy as frontalabsence, whose ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) showedgeneralized spike and slow wave preceded by frontaldischarge. We presented four cases of frontal absence,with one case of frontal absence status epilepticus in them.The differences between typical and frontal absenceseizures in clinical context and EEG were discussed.

Birth seasonality and pattern in black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys （Rhinopithecus bieti） at Mt. Lasha, Yunnan

Seasonal variation in environmental factors is vital to the regulation of seasonal reproduction in primates. Consequently, long-term systematic data is necessary to clarify the birth seasonality and pattern of primates in highly seasonal environments. This study indicated that black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys （Rhinopithecus bieti） at Mt. Lasha exhibited strict birth seasonality with a pulse model. Infants were born with a certain degree of synchronization. Birth distribution showed three birth peaks, and the birth pattern showed a ＂V＂ style in even-numbered years and a gradual increase in odd-numbered years. The beginning date, end date and median birth date were earlier in even-numbered years than those in odd-numbered years. The higher latitude of their habitats, earlier birth date, shorter birth period, fewer birth peaks and stronger birth synchrony might be adaptations for strongly seasonal variation in climate and food resources. After the summer solstice when daylight length began to gradually shorten, R. bieti at Mt. Lasha started to breed during the period with the highest environmental temperature and food availability, which implied that photoperiod may be the proximate factor triggering the onset of estrus and mating. It appears that R. bieti coincided conception and mid-lactation with the peak in staple foods, and weaning with the peak in high quality of foods. Thus, food availability was the ultimate factor regulating reproductive seasonality, and photoperiod was the proximate factor fine-turning the coordination between seasonal breeding and food availability.

Origins and Mechanisms in the Development of Major Mental Disorders: A Clinical Approach

This paper considers the following collective significance of the shared, clinical characteristics of the major mental disorders (MMDs), their co-morbidities, overlaps and pharmacological responses with the following conclusions: 1) These disorders have a common, initial, neurodevelopmental origin. 2) They can occur probabilistically on susceptible individuals, on account of pre-existing, extreme, temperamental variances-signifying underlying structural variance. 3) Each of these syndromes can be considered the expression of disturbances in the overall, common, operating mode of brain function which normally ensures the synchrony, coordination, elegance and subtlety in the expression of all the brain’s higher faculties. 4) Lastly, this function is a complex, emergent phenomenon based on the individual’s temperamental/structural underlying makeup, switching intermittently from a normal phase to a pathologically, ordered one-the latter phase expressing itself with symptoms made up of expressing either/or, antithetical substitutes for each of the MMDs-similar to the fluctuations found in patient’s with Parkinson’s disease.

Image Edge Detection Based on Oscillation

A new method for image edge detection based on a pulse neural network is proposed in this paper. The network is locally connected. The external input of each neuron of the network is gray value of the corresponding pixel. The synchrony of the neuron and its neighbors is detected by detection neurons. The edge of the image can be read off at minima of the total activity of the detection neurons.

Assigning hatchlings to eggs:Is relative mass assignment an accurate method?

Background: Accurately assigning hatchlings to the eggs from which they hatched is a prerequisite to understanding how the composition and environment of eggs affect the growth and survival of nestlings. Correctly assigning hatchlings to their eggs can be a challenging endeavor, however, because multiple eggs within the same clutch can hatch at essentially the same time. Egg and hatchling mass are highly correlated in most bird species, and thus assigning eggs to hatchlings using their relative mass(e.g., matching the heaviest hatchling to the heaviest candidate egg) could prove extremely useful.Methods: To assess its potential utility, I applied relative mass assignment(RMA) retrospectively to a dataset of 133 Common Grackle(Quiscalus quiscula) nests in which all egg-hatchling dyads were determined unequivocally.Results: I found that RMA correctly assigned approximately 90% of hatchlings to their eggs when 2-4 hatchlings were present between checks. The number of nests in which hatchlings could not be assigned to their egg, however, increased monotonically from 13 to 46 to 78% for nests containing 2, 3, and 4 hatchlings, respectively, due to the greater likelihood that the mass of hatchlings or their candidate eggs was identical.Conclusions: Although RMA correctly identified the vast majority of egg-hatchling dyads, researchers should use this method with caution, because it will always inflate positive egg-size effects and thus could potentially result in erroneously reporting significant effects.

A Mechanism for Biological Control-Tempo-Spatial Synchronization of Natural Enemy and Insect Pest Population Dynamics at the Peak by Increase of Biodiversity

To reveal the mechanism of control of the Woolly Apple Aphid （Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm, WAA） by increase of biodiversity in the apple orchard, a consecutive two-year field trials were conducted in Yurman province, China. The results showed that the peak of natural enemy density curve in the cover cropping orchard was well temporally synchronized with that of the WAA density on trees, but did not synchronize with that of WAA density on trees in clean orchard. In addition, the frequency of natural enemies and WAA within a same sample in cover cropping orchard was obviously higher than that in clean cultivated orchard during the peak of population curves, indicating that natural enemies spatially synchronized with aphids. The density of WAA for the whole growing season in cover cropping orchard was much less than that in clean orchard. Therefore, the temporal-spatial synchrony of natural enemy and aphid populations was proposed as one of the mechanisms for aphid control in cover cropped orchards.

Severe Mitral Regurgitation Due to Pacing in Patient Post Aortic Valve Replacement (A Case Report)

Epicardial Cardiac pacing may lead to severe Mitral Regurgitation by one of the following mechanisms: 1) Inappropriate Atrioventricular interval. 2) Myocardial ischemia due to fast heart rate may cause transient papillary muscle dysfunction. 3) Right Ventricular apical pacing may lead to Left Ventricular dyssynchrony in the presence of optimal Atrioventricular synchrony. Acute severe Mitral Regurgitation leading to acute severe hemodynamic deterioration is a reported complication of Permanent Pacemaker insertion. Our case demonstrated acute severe MR as a consequence of RV Pacing leading to acute hemodynamic deterioration, which was relieved on withdrawal of pacing. Left Ventricular dyssynchrony can be relieved by reducing the peacemaker rate or changing to biventricular pacing, this reduces the severity of Mitral Regurgitation and improves the hemodynamics due to simultaneous activation of left and right ventricles. This case illustrates the acute and potentially dramatic effects of intra-Left Ventricular dyssynchrony upon Mitral Valve function. Informed consent was obtained from the patient to report the case. Thus right ventricular pacing can cause left ventricular dyssynchrony leading to worsening of Mitral Regurgitation. It is important to pay attention to mode of pacing when evaluating Mitral Regurgitation in patients with Right Ventricular pacemaker and unstable hemodynamics after initiation of pacing.

Emerging Phenomenological and Biological Principles of Consciousness: Top Insights of Prevailing Models, Concepts, and Observations

We are all aware that our experience is structured into left and right, up and down, and we can understand from our own experience that consciousness is unified into a singular whole. Although we can understand such basic phenomenological axioms of experience, there are many more principles that we cannot elucidate from our natural perspective alone. In this article, we review potential principles of consciousness revealed by prominent consciousness models, theories, and experimental observations such as the Default Space?Theory, Operational Architectonics Theory, and Integrated Information Theory,?which reveal biological and phenomenological foundations upon which consciousness is formed and maintained. The fundamental concepts we explore and consider worthy have largely emerged from commonalties shared by the various models which have gained attention. The concepts we review include the unity of consciousness, bioelectric operations as the substrate of consciousness, the emergence of a virtual 3D matrix, and the top-down dominance of perception.

Triadic Synchrony: Application of Multiple Wavelet Coherence to a Small Group Conversation

By applying multiple wavelet coherence (MWC) to data from human body movements in triadic interaction, this study quantified triadic synchrony, rhythmic similarity among three interactants. Thirty-nine Japanese undergraduates were randomly assigned in a triad, and engaged in a brain-storming task. Triadic synchrony was quantified by calculating MWC to the time-series movement data collected by Kinect v2 sensor. The existence of synchrony was statistically tested by using a pseudo-synchrony paradigm. Results showed that the averaged value of MWC was higher in the experimental participant trio than in those of the pseudo trio in the frequency band of 0.5 - 1 Hz. The result supports the possible utility of applying multiple wavelet coherence to evaluate triadic synchrony in a small group interaction.