The reaction diffusion Gray-Scott model with time delay is put forward with the assumption of Neumann boundary condition is satisfied. Based on the Turing bifurcation condition, the Turing curves on two parameter plan...The reaction diffusion Gray-Scott model with time delay is put forward with the assumption of Neumann boundary condition is satisfied. Based on the Turing bifurcation condition, the Turing curves on two parameter plane are discussed without time delay. The normal form is computed via applying Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method in system of PDE, and the bifurcating direction of pitchfork bifurcation underlying codimension-1 singularity of Turing point is computed. The continuation of Pitchfork bifurcation is simulated with varying free parameter continuously near the turing point, which is in coincidence with the theoritical analysis results. The wave pattern formation in the case of turing instability is also simulated which discover Turing oscillation phenomena from periodicity to irregularity.展开更多
BACKGROUND: According to observable behaviors, sleep and wakefulness are two fundamentally different behavioral states. Although electroencephalogram (EEG) is traditionally used to define sleep stage, it is difficu...BACKGROUND: According to observable behaviors, sleep and wakefulness are two fundamentally different behavioral states. Although electroencephalogram (EEG) is traditionally used to define sleep stage, it is difficult to detect or to quantify microarousals or disruptions during sleep. In addition initial sleep cannot be defined. It is thought that the wake-sleep transition cannot be defined by EEG patterns. OBJECTIVE: To observe the behavioral response magnitude during wake-sleep transition by EEG monitoring and to define the wake-sleep transition. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A behavioral and neural network study was performed at the Key Lab of Human Being Development and Mental Health of Central China Normal University, and Lab of Brain and Cognitive Science of South Central University for Nationalities, China in July 2007. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 healthy volunteers, of equal gender and aged (19.7 ± 1.1 ) years, were recruited from the Central China Normal University, China for this study. None of the subjects had undergone EEG recording prior to this study or received any medication for sleep disturbances. METHODS: A novel adaptive approach was applied to detect wake-sleep transition, which avoided stimulus-induced waking. To test the difference between wake state and wake-sleep transition, the amount of self-information and mutual-information were effective parameters to analyze wake-sleep transition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were measured: morphological changes in reaction time-magnitude, as well as correlation between phase changes and sleep, and wake and wake-sleep transition. RESULTS: There were three typical phases in morphological changes of reaction time-magnitude. With regard to the behavioral definition and criterion for sleep, the phase morphological characteristics displayed good correlation with behavioral states, such as sleep, wakefulness, and sleep onset. Entropy as an indicator of brain cognitive processes was introduced to test for differences between the wakefulness and sleep onset phase. Results indicated a cognitive declined transitional period different between sleep and wake. After staggered cognitive changes during the wake-sleep transition, the brain underwent marked alterations and transitioned into sleep quickly with no bi-directional EEG changes. CONCLUSION: Wake-sleep transition exists as an independent stage.展开更多
Mg-Al LDH film was fabricated on anodized magnesium alloy AZ31 by in-situ growth method.The characteristics of the film were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),scanning electron m...Mg-Al LDH film was fabricated on anodized magnesium alloy AZ31 by in-situ growth method.The characteristics of the film were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation and electrochemical tests.The results showed that the crystallinity of LDH film was increased with reaction time.When the reaction time was more than 12 h,the LDH film had complete crystal layered structure.The anodic oxide film was sealed basically by the growth of LDH nanosheets after 6 h reaction.The corrosion resistance of the films became better with the increasing of reaction time.However,after 12 h reaction,the corrosion resistance of the film decreased.The formation behavior of the Mg-Al LDH film was proposed.That the competitive growth of LDH grains,which contains dissolution and recrystallization,was proposed to explain the change of the growth and corrosion resistance of the Mg-Al LDH film.展开更多
We evaluated whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese. A total of 2059 elderly Japanese (730 men and 1329 women), aged 60 - 79 years, were enrolled in the cross-sectional invest...We evaluated whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese. A total of 2059 elderly Japanese (730 men and 1329 women), aged 60 - 79 years, were enrolled in the cross-sectional investigation study. Anthropometric parameters, whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance were measured. Whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in 70’s than those in 60’s in both sexes. Two hundred twenty seven men (31.1%) and 533 women (40.1%) were having no medications. In men, whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in subjects with medications than those in subjects without in 60’s. However, significant differences of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance between subjects with and without medications in men with 70’s and women with 60’s and 70’s were not noted. This standard mean value may provide a useful reference database for evaluating whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in Japanese elderly subjects.展开更多
Fatigue is a common sense caused by crushing labor, stressful social events and various illnesses. It is usually judged by their subjective symptoms, but it should be evaluated in an objective perspective. Here we sho...Fatigue is a common sense caused by crushing labor, stressful social events and various illnesses. It is usually judged by their subjective symptoms, but it should be evaluated in an objective perspective. Here we show that the decrease of working efficiency and sympathetic hyperactivity are associated with mental fatigue state caused by prolonged mental workload. Recently we made a new mental fatigue model of healthy volunteers caused by long-term computerized Kraepelin test (CKT) workload. CKT is our new software for automatically checking the calculation capability, with which it is easy to determine the reaction time (RT), coefficient of variance of reaction time (CV), and accuracy of the answers (AC) during tasks. We put 24 healthy volunteers into the fatigue state by subjecting them to 120 minutes’ CKT workload, and then studied the changes in fatigue sensation, RT, CV, and AC before and after the CKT workload. The fatigue sensation, RT, and CV were clearly increased by the fatigue-inducing task and recovered during the resting period. We also studied the changes in autonomic nerve activity by using heart rate variability analysis. The low/high frequency component ratio (LF/HF) was signifi-cantly increased by the fatigue-inducing task and decreased by resting, suggesting that mental stress causes a relatively sympathetic nerve activity-dominant state. Therefore, our new fatigue model involving a long-term CKT workload is a good mental fatigue model to provide much information about the fatigue state simultane-ously, and the increase of RT, CV, and proportion of sympathetic activity (LF/HF) are associated with mental fatigue state. These might be useful objective biomarkers or evaluating a mental fatigue state.展开更多
A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and...A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and monitoring of the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza A virus. In this study, we report the design and characterization of a novel set of primers to be used in a qRT-PCR assay for detecting the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus. The newly designed primers target three regions that are highly conserved among the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the pandemic HlN1/2009 viruses and are different from those targeted by the WHO-recommended primers. The qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers are highly specific, and as specific as the WHO-recommended primers for detecting pandemic H1N1/2009 viruses and other influenza viruses including influenza B viruses and influenza A viruses of human, swine, and raccoon dog origin. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers appeared to be at least 10-fold more sensitive than those with the WHO-recommended primers as the detection limits of the assays with our primers and the WHO-recommended primers were 2.5 and 25 copies of target RNA per reaction, respectively. When tested with 83 clinical samples, 32 were detected to be positive using the qRT-PCR assays with our designed primers, while only 25 were positive by the assays with the WHO-recommended primers. These results suggest that the qRT-PCR system with the newly designed primers represent a highly sensitive assay for diagnosis of the pandemic HIN1/2009 virus infection.展开更多
Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out whether the simple reaction time was faster for auditory or visual stimulus and the factors responsible for improving the performance of the athlete. Methodology: 1...Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out whether the simple reaction time was faster for auditory or visual stimulus and the factors responsible for improving the performance of the athlete. Methodology: 14 subjects were as- signed randomly into groups consisting of 2 members. Both the members from each group performed both the visual and auditory tests. The tests were taken from the DirectRT software program from a laptop. The DirectRT software consists of Testlabvisual and Testlabsounds to test the reaction times to visual and auditory stimuli. The 2 members from each group completed both the visual and auditory reaction times, the data was taken and the mean reaction time was calculated excluding the first and last values. Results: The results show that the mean visual reaction time is around 331 milliseconds as compared to the mean auditory reaction time of around 284 milliseconds. Conclusion: This shows that the auditory reaction time is faster than the visual reaction time. And also males have faster reaction times when compared to females for both auditory as well as visual stimuli.展开更多
AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the spec...AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.展开更多
Cross-training is a phenomenon related to motor learning, where motor performance of the untrained limb shows improvement in strength and skill execution following unilateral training of the homologous contralateral l...Cross-training is a phenomenon related to motor learning, where motor performance of the untrained limb shows improvement in strength and skill execution following unilateral training of the homologous contralateral limb. We used functional MRI to investigate whether motor performance of the untrained limb could be improved using a serial reaction time task according to motor sequential learning of the trained limb, and whether these skill acquisitions led to changes in brain activation patterns. We recruited 20 right-handed healthy subjects, who were randomly allocated into training and control groups. The training group was trained in performance of a serial reaction time task using their non-dominant left hand, 40 minutes per day, for 10 days, over a period of 2 weeks. The control group did not receive training. Measurements of response time and percentile of response accuracy were performed twice during pre- and post-training, while brain functional MRI was scanned during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand. In the training group, prominent changes in response time and percentile of response accuracy were observed in both the untrained right hand and the trained left hand between pre- and post-training. The control group showed no significant changes in the untrained hand between pre- and post-training. In the training group, the activated volume of the cortical areas related to motor function (i.e., primary motor cortex, premotor area, posterior parietal cortex) showed a gradual decrease, and enhanced cerebellar activation of the vermis and the newly activated ipsilateral dentate nucleus were observed during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand, accompanied by the cross-motor learning effect. However, no significant changes were observed in the control group. Our findings indicate that motor skills learned over the 2-week training using the trained limb were transferred to the opposite homologous limb, and motor skill acquisition of the untrained limb led to changes in brain activation patterns in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum.展开更多
The influence of stabilizing agents and reaction time on the luminescent properties of water-soluble CdTe quantum dots(QDs) was discussed.The thioglycolic acid(TGA)-CdTe ODs were characterized by TEM,XRD and FTIR.It i...The influence of stabilizing agents and reaction time on the luminescent properties of water-soluble CdTe quantum dots(QDs) was discussed.The thioglycolic acid(TGA)-CdTe ODs were characterized by TEM,XRD and FTIR.It is found that larger-size QDs can be synthesized more easily when L-cysteine(Cys) or golutathione(GSH) is chosen as stabilizing agent and TGA is proper to prepare highly luminescent QDs because of the effect between Cd2+ and sulfhydryl group.Furthermore,the absorption wavelength,full width at half maximum(FWHM),stokes shift,photoluminescence(PL) quantum yield and PL stability of TGA-CdTe are strongly dependent on reaction time,in which the absorption wavelength changes against reaction time with an exponential function.The TGA-CdTe QDs prepared at 2 h possess more excellent luminescent properties.展开更多
A class of initial boundary value problems of differential-difference equations for reaction diffusion with a small time delay is considered. Under suitable conditions and by using the stretched variable method, a for...A class of initial boundary value problems of differential-difference equations for reaction diffusion with a small time delay is considered. Under suitable conditions and by using the stretched variable method, a formal asymptotic solution is constructed. Then, by use of the theory of differential inequalities, the uniform validity of the solution is proved.展开更多
Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 16-week creative expression intervention program(CrExp)on the event-related potential(ERP)and task reaction time in older individuals with mild cognitive impair...Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 16-week creative expression intervention program(CrExp)on the event-related potential(ERP)and task reaction time in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods:This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the Memory Center of Fujian Provincial hospital.Thirty-six MCI patients were randomly distributed into two groups.One group underwent a 16-week creative expression program(CrExp,n=18)and the other performed as a control group(CG,n=18)by general social activities.The amplitude and latency of ERP-P300 from the central(Cz),parietal(Pz),frontal(Fz)cortices and task reaction time(RT)were assessed at baseline,postinterventi on,and 24-week follow-up.Results:The CrExp group showed greater differences than CG of P300 latency in Cz(F=4.37,P=0.015),Pz(F=2.78,P=0.009),Fz(F=6.45,P=0.031)brain area after 16 weeks of intervention and in Fz(F=3.23,P=0.028),Cz(F=3.79,P=0.024),and Pz(F=5.60,P=0.036)at 24 weeks follow-up.Also,we analyzed the task reaction time between two groups and found that a shorten reaction time at postintervention(F=4.47,P=0.011)and 24 weeks follow-up(F=3.12,P=0.007)in the CrExp group.However,there was no difference in P300 amplitude in either brain area between the two groups.Conclusion:The electrophysiological results of the creative expression cognitive therapy group were more obvious than those of the general cognitive therapy group,and the latency and task reaction time may be considered as supported parameters in diagnosing the effects during non-drug therapy intervention in clinical practice.展开更多
The results of visual event-related potential(ERP)examinations and reactiontime(RT)tests were reported in 30 elders and compared with their performanceintellegence quotient(PIQ)scores.The subjects consisted of 18 male...The results of visual event-related potential(ERP)examinations and reactiontime(RT)tests were reported in 30 elders and compared with their performanceintellegence quotient(PIQ)scores.The subjects consisted of 18 males and 12 femalesaged 50-71(mean 61.4)years old.No history of central nervous system disease wasfound.The visual stimuli were randomly presented to the subject,including three sym-bols:E as target stimulus with 0.15 probability,and H and E as nontarget stimuliwith 0.15 and 0.70 probability respectively.The recording electrodes were placed on Fzand Pz.The duration from the subject seeing the target to touching a button immediatelywas considered as reaction time(RT).It was shown that the P3 latency at Pz was longer than that at Fz and the P3amplitude at Pz was larger than that at Fz,and that the RT was longer than P3 latencywith obvious effect of distribution(P【0.05 at Fz and P】0.05 at Pz)as well .The higherthe PIQ scores,the longer the RT and the P3 latency.It is suggested that the ERPmight reflect the differences of PIQ scores,and the P3 is an objective index.We considerthat the research of ERP is of great interest in the neuropsychological and neurological sci-ences.展开更多
We consider the psychophysical experiments in which the test subject’s binary reaction is determined by the prescribed exposure duration to a stimulus and a random variable subjective threshold. For example, when a s...We consider the psychophysical experiments in which the test subject’s binary reaction is determined by the prescribed exposure duration to a stimulus and a random variable subjective threshold. For example, when a subject is exposed to a millimeter wave beam for a prescribed duration, the occurrence of flight action is binary (yes or no). In experiments, in addition to the binary outcome, the actuation time of flight action is also recorded if it occurs;the delay from the initiation time to the actuation time of flight action is the human reaction time, which is not measurable. In this study, we model the random subjective threshold as a Weibull distribution and formulate an inference method for estimating the human reaction time, from data of prescribed exposure durations, binary outcomes and actuation times of flight action collected in a sequence of tests. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the inference of human reaction time based on the Weibull distribution converges to the correct value even when the underlying true model deviates from the inference model. This robustness of the inference method makes it applicable to real experimental data where the underlying true model is unknown.展开更多
Background:The concept of stochastic facilitation suggests that the addition of precise amounts of white noise can improve the perceptibility of a stimulus of weak amplitude.We know from previous research that tactile...Background:The concept of stochastic facilitation suggests that the addition of precise amounts of white noise can improve the perceptibility of a stimulus of weak amplitude.We know from previous research that tactile and auditory noise can facilitate visual perception,respectively.Here we wanted to see if the effects of stochastic facilitation generalise to a reaction time paradigm,and if reaction times are correlated with tactile thresholds.We know that when multiple sensory systems are stimulated simultaneously,reaction times are faster than either stimulus alone,and also faster than the sum of reaction times(known as the race model).Methods:Five participants were re-tested in five blocks each of which contained a different background noise levels,randomly ordered across sessions.At each noise level,they performed a tactile threshold detection task and a tactile reaction time task.Results:Both tactile threshold and tactile reaction times were significantly affected by the background white noise.While the preferred amplitude for the white noise was different for every participant,the average lowest threshold was obtained with white noise presented binaurally at 70 db.The reaction times were analysed by fitting an ex-Gaussian,the sum of a Gaussian function and an exponential decay function.The white noise significantly affected the exponential parameter(tau)in a way that is compatible with the facilitation of thresholds.Conclusions:We therefore conclude that multisensory reaction time facilitation can,at least in part,be explained by stochastic facilitation of the neural signals.展开更多
Stimulus-Response Compatibility (SRC) refers to the fact that some tasks are performed easier and better than others because of the way stimuli and responses are paired with each other. To assess the brain responses t...Stimulus-Response Compatibility (SRC) refers to the fact that some tasks are performed easier and better than others because of the way stimuli and responses are paired with each other. To assess the brain responses to stimulus-response conflicts, we investigated the behavioral (accuracy and Reaction Times: RTs) as well as the physiological response (Lateralized Readiness Potentials: LRP) modulations in a positional blocked and a conditional mixed design in twelve university students. Results revealed that the performance was less accurate and the RTs, as well as the LRP onset, were delayed under the mixed conditional design. A greater compatibility effect was also noted on accuracy, RTs and LRP onset latency in the mixed design. Consistent with these findings, smaller peak activation at fronto-central areas suggests that more selective inhibition is needed in a mixed design context. Despite a smaller activation, the topographical distribution is similar in both designs. These results indicate that the translation time between stimulus- and response codes are greater under the mixed instruction, while the similar LRP topography suggests that common neural structures underlie LRPs in response to both type of designs.展开更多
文摘The reaction diffusion Gray-Scott model with time delay is put forward with the assumption of Neumann boundary condition is satisfied. Based on the Turing bifurcation condition, the Turing curves on two parameter plane are discussed without time delay. The normal form is computed via applying Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method in system of PDE, and the bifurcating direction of pitchfork bifurcation underlying codimension-1 singularity of Turing point is computed. The continuation of Pitchfork bifurcation is simulated with varying free parameter continuously near the turing point, which is in coincidence with the theoritical analysis results. The wave pattern formation in the case of turing instability is also simulated which discover Turing oscillation phenomena from periodicity to irregularity.
文摘BACKGROUND: According to observable behaviors, sleep and wakefulness are two fundamentally different behavioral states. Although electroencephalogram (EEG) is traditionally used to define sleep stage, it is difficult to detect or to quantify microarousals or disruptions during sleep. In addition initial sleep cannot be defined. It is thought that the wake-sleep transition cannot be defined by EEG patterns. OBJECTIVE: To observe the behavioral response magnitude during wake-sleep transition by EEG monitoring and to define the wake-sleep transition. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A behavioral and neural network study was performed at the Key Lab of Human Being Development and Mental Health of Central China Normal University, and Lab of Brain and Cognitive Science of South Central University for Nationalities, China in July 2007. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 healthy volunteers, of equal gender and aged (19.7 ± 1.1 ) years, were recruited from the Central China Normal University, China for this study. None of the subjects had undergone EEG recording prior to this study or received any medication for sleep disturbances. METHODS: A novel adaptive approach was applied to detect wake-sleep transition, which avoided stimulus-induced waking. To test the difference between wake state and wake-sleep transition, the amount of self-information and mutual-information were effective parameters to analyze wake-sleep transition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were measured: morphological changes in reaction time-magnitude, as well as correlation between phase changes and sleep, and wake and wake-sleep transition. RESULTS: There were three typical phases in morphological changes of reaction time-magnitude. With regard to the behavioral definition and criterion for sleep, the phase morphological characteristics displayed good correlation with behavioral states, such as sleep, wakefulness, and sleep onset. Entropy as an indicator of brain cognitive processes was introduced to test for differences between the wakefulness and sleep onset phase. Results indicated a cognitive declined transitional period different between sleep and wake. After staggered cognitive changes during the wake-sleep transition, the brain underwent marked alterations and transitioned into sleep quickly with no bi-directional EEG changes. CONCLUSION: Wake-sleep transition exists as an independent stage.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51701029, 51531002, 51474043)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFB0301100)+3 种基金the Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (cstc2016jcyjA0388, cstc2017jcyjBX0040)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project (2017M620410, 2018T110942)the Chongqing Postdoctoral Scientific Research Foundation (Xm2017010)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2018CDGFCL005)~~
文摘Mg-Al LDH film was fabricated on anodized magnesium alloy AZ31 by in-situ growth method.The characteristics of the film were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation and electrochemical tests.The results showed that the crystallinity of LDH film was increased with reaction time.When the reaction time was more than 12 h,the LDH film had complete crystal layered structure.The anodic oxide film was sealed basically by the growth of LDH nanosheets after 6 h reaction.The corrosion resistance of the films became better with the increasing of reaction time.However,after 12 h reaction,the corrosion resistance of the film decreased.The formation behavior of the Mg-Al LDH film was proposed.That the competitive growth of LDH grains,which contains dissolution and recrystallization,was proposed to explain the change of the growth and corrosion resistance of the Mg-Al LDH film.
文摘We evaluated whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese. A total of 2059 elderly Japanese (730 men and 1329 women), aged 60 - 79 years, were enrolled in the cross-sectional investigation study. Anthropometric parameters, whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance were measured. Whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in 70’s than those in 60’s in both sexes. Two hundred twenty seven men (31.1%) and 533 women (40.1%) were having no medications. In men, whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in subjects with medications than those in subjects without in 60’s. However, significant differences of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance between subjects with and without medications in men with 70’s and women with 60’s and 70’s were not noted. This standard mean value may provide a useful reference database for evaluating whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in Japanese elderly subjects.
文摘Fatigue is a common sense caused by crushing labor, stressful social events and various illnesses. It is usually judged by their subjective symptoms, but it should be evaluated in an objective perspective. Here we show that the decrease of working efficiency and sympathetic hyperactivity are associated with mental fatigue state caused by prolonged mental workload. Recently we made a new mental fatigue model of healthy volunteers caused by long-term computerized Kraepelin test (CKT) workload. CKT is our new software for automatically checking the calculation capability, with which it is easy to determine the reaction time (RT), coefficient of variance of reaction time (CV), and accuracy of the answers (AC) during tasks. We put 24 healthy volunteers into the fatigue state by subjecting them to 120 minutes’ CKT workload, and then studied the changes in fatigue sensation, RT, CV, and AC before and after the CKT workload. The fatigue sensation, RT, and CV were clearly increased by the fatigue-inducing task and recovered during the resting period. We also studied the changes in autonomic nerve activity by using heart rate variability analysis. The low/high frequency component ratio (LF/HF) was signifi-cantly increased by the fatigue-inducing task and decreased by resting, suggesting that mental stress causes a relatively sympathetic nerve activity-dominant state. Therefore, our new fatigue model involving a long-term CKT workload is a good mental fatigue model to provide much information about the fatigue state simultane-ously, and the increase of RT, CV, and proportion of sympathetic activity (LF/HF) are associated with mental fatigue state. These might be useful objective biomarkers or evaluating a mental fatigue state.
基金supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China (No.2011CB504800)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31100128 and 81030031)+3 种基金National Mega Project on Major Drug Development (2009ZX09103-678)National Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program of Chinathe Technology R & D Program of Jiangsu Province, China (BG20077035 and BG2008662)NIH (RO1-AI041927,RO1-AI050468, RO1-DE014145, and RO1-DE014842)
文摘A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and monitoring of the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza A virus. In this study, we report the design and characterization of a novel set of primers to be used in a qRT-PCR assay for detecting the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus. The newly designed primers target three regions that are highly conserved among the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the pandemic HlN1/2009 viruses and are different from those targeted by the WHO-recommended primers. The qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers are highly specific, and as specific as the WHO-recommended primers for detecting pandemic H1N1/2009 viruses and other influenza viruses including influenza B viruses and influenza A viruses of human, swine, and raccoon dog origin. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers appeared to be at least 10-fold more sensitive than those with the WHO-recommended primers as the detection limits of the assays with our primers and the WHO-recommended primers were 2.5 and 25 copies of target RNA per reaction, respectively. When tested with 83 clinical samples, 32 were detected to be positive using the qRT-PCR assays with our designed primers, while only 25 were positive by the assays with the WHO-recommended primers. These results suggest that the qRT-PCR system with the newly designed primers represent a highly sensitive assay for diagnosis of the pandemic HIN1/2009 virus infection.
文摘Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out whether the simple reaction time was faster for auditory or visual stimulus and the factors responsible for improving the performance of the athlete. Methodology: 14 subjects were as- signed randomly into groups consisting of 2 members. Both the members from each group performed both the visual and auditory tests. The tests were taken from the DirectRT software program from a laptop. The DirectRT software consists of Testlabvisual and Testlabsounds to test the reaction times to visual and auditory stimuli. The 2 members from each group completed both the visual and auditory reaction times, the data was taken and the mean reaction time was calculated excluding the first and last values. Results: The results show that the mean visual reaction time is around 331 milliseconds as compared to the mean auditory reaction time of around 284 milliseconds. Conclusion: This shows that the auditory reaction time is faster than the visual reaction time. And also males have faster reaction times when compared to females for both auditory as well as visual stimuli.
基金Supported by The General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81271789the Major State Basic Research Development Program,No.2013CB127204
文摘AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.
基金supported by the Yeungnam College of Science & Technology Research Grants in 2012
文摘Cross-training is a phenomenon related to motor learning, where motor performance of the untrained limb shows improvement in strength and skill execution following unilateral training of the homologous contralateral limb. We used functional MRI to investigate whether motor performance of the untrained limb could be improved using a serial reaction time task according to motor sequential learning of the trained limb, and whether these skill acquisitions led to changes in brain activation patterns. We recruited 20 right-handed healthy subjects, who were randomly allocated into training and control groups. The training group was trained in performance of a serial reaction time task using their non-dominant left hand, 40 minutes per day, for 10 days, over a period of 2 weeks. The control group did not receive training. Measurements of response time and percentile of response accuracy were performed twice during pre- and post-training, while brain functional MRI was scanned during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand. In the training group, prominent changes in response time and percentile of response accuracy were observed in both the untrained right hand and the trained left hand between pre- and post-training. The control group showed no significant changes in the untrained hand between pre- and post-training. In the training group, the activated volume of the cortical areas related to motor function (i.e., primary motor cortex, premotor area, posterior parietal cortex) showed a gradual decrease, and enhanced cerebellar activation of the vermis and the newly activated ipsilateral dentate nucleus were observed during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand, accompanied by the cross-motor learning effect. However, no significant changes were observed in the control group. Our findings indicate that motor skills learned over the 2-week training using the trained limb were transferred to the opposite homologous limb, and motor skill acquisition of the untrained limb led to changes in brain activation patterns in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum.
基金Projects(10805069,10405034) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘The influence of stabilizing agents and reaction time on the luminescent properties of water-soluble CdTe quantum dots(QDs) was discussed.The thioglycolic acid(TGA)-CdTe ODs were characterized by TEM,XRD and FTIR.It is found that larger-size QDs can be synthesized more easily when L-cysteine(Cys) or golutathione(GSH) is chosen as stabilizing agent and TGA is proper to prepare highly luminescent QDs because of the effect between Cd2+ and sulfhydryl group.Furthermore,the absorption wavelength,full width at half maximum(FWHM),stokes shift,photoluminescence(PL) quantum yield and PL stability of TGA-CdTe are strongly dependent on reaction time,in which the absorption wavelength changes against reaction time with an exponential function.The TGA-CdTe QDs prepared at 2 h possess more excellent luminescent properties.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40876010)the Major Projects of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-Q03-08)+2 种基金the Research and Development Special Fund for Public Welfare Industry (No. GYHY200806010)the Special Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, the Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(No. E03004)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. Y6090164)
文摘A class of initial boundary value problems of differential-difference equations for reaction diffusion with a small time delay is considered. Under suitable conditions and by using the stretched variable method, a formal asymptotic solution is constructed. Then, by use of the theory of differential inequalities, the uniform validity of the solution is proved.
基金supported by the Youth research project of Fujian Provincial Health Commission(No.2018-1-75)Joint Fund of Fujian Province Scientific and Technological Department(No.2018Y9102)+1 种基金Soft Science Project of Fujian Science and Technology Department(No.2019R0055)National Science Foundation of China(No.81571379).
文摘Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 16-week creative expression intervention program(CrExp)on the event-related potential(ERP)and task reaction time in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods:This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the Memory Center of Fujian Provincial hospital.Thirty-six MCI patients were randomly distributed into two groups.One group underwent a 16-week creative expression program(CrExp,n=18)and the other performed as a control group(CG,n=18)by general social activities.The amplitude and latency of ERP-P300 from the central(Cz),parietal(Pz),frontal(Fz)cortices and task reaction time(RT)were assessed at baseline,postinterventi on,and 24-week follow-up.Results:The CrExp group showed greater differences than CG of P300 latency in Cz(F=4.37,P=0.015),Pz(F=2.78,P=0.009),Fz(F=6.45,P=0.031)brain area after 16 weeks of intervention and in Fz(F=3.23,P=0.028),Cz(F=3.79,P=0.024),and Pz(F=5.60,P=0.036)at 24 weeks follow-up.Also,we analyzed the task reaction time between two groups and found that a shorten reaction time at postintervention(F=4.47,P=0.011)and 24 weeks follow-up(F=3.12,P=0.007)in the CrExp group.However,there was no difference in P300 amplitude in either brain area between the two groups.Conclusion:The electrophysiological results of the creative expression cognitive therapy group were more obvious than those of the general cognitive therapy group,and the latency and task reaction time may be considered as supported parameters in diagnosing the effects during non-drug therapy intervention in clinical practice.
文摘The results of visual event-related potential(ERP)examinations and reactiontime(RT)tests were reported in 30 elders and compared with their performanceintellegence quotient(PIQ)scores.The subjects consisted of 18 males and 12 femalesaged 50-71(mean 61.4)years old.No history of central nervous system disease wasfound.The visual stimuli were randomly presented to the subject,including three sym-bols:E as target stimulus with 0.15 probability,and H and E as nontarget stimuliwith 0.15 and 0.70 probability respectively.The recording electrodes were placed on Fzand Pz.The duration from the subject seeing the target to touching a button immediatelywas considered as reaction time(RT).It was shown that the P3 latency at Pz was longer than that at Fz and the P3amplitude at Pz was larger than that at Fz,and that the RT was longer than P3 latencywith obvious effect of distribution(P【0.05 at Fz and P】0.05 at Pz)as well .The higherthe PIQ scores,the longer the RT and the P3 latency.It is suggested that the ERPmight reflect the differences of PIQ scores,and the P3 is an objective index.We considerthat the research of ERP is of great interest in the neuropsychological and neurological sci-ences.
文摘We consider the psychophysical experiments in which the test subject’s binary reaction is determined by the prescribed exposure duration to a stimulus and a random variable subjective threshold. For example, when a subject is exposed to a millimeter wave beam for a prescribed duration, the occurrence of flight action is binary (yes or no). In experiments, in addition to the binary outcome, the actuation time of flight action is also recorded if it occurs;the delay from the initiation time to the actuation time of flight action is the human reaction time, which is not measurable. In this study, we model the random subjective threshold as a Weibull distribution and formulate an inference method for estimating the human reaction time, from data of prescribed exposure durations, binary outcomes and actuation times of flight action collected in a sequence of tests. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the inference of human reaction time based on the Weibull distribution converges to the correct value even when the underlying true model deviates from the inference model. This robustness of the inference method makes it applicable to real experimental data where the underlying true model is unknown.
文摘Background:The concept of stochastic facilitation suggests that the addition of precise amounts of white noise can improve the perceptibility of a stimulus of weak amplitude.We know from previous research that tactile and auditory noise can facilitate visual perception,respectively.Here we wanted to see if the effects of stochastic facilitation generalise to a reaction time paradigm,and if reaction times are correlated with tactile thresholds.We know that when multiple sensory systems are stimulated simultaneously,reaction times are faster than either stimulus alone,and also faster than the sum of reaction times(known as the race model).Methods:Five participants were re-tested in five blocks each of which contained a different background noise levels,randomly ordered across sessions.At each noise level,they performed a tactile threshold detection task and a tactile reaction time task.Results:Both tactile threshold and tactile reaction times were significantly affected by the background white noise.While the preferred amplitude for the white noise was different for every participant,the average lowest threshold was obtained with white noise presented binaurally at 70 db.The reaction times were analysed by fitting an ex-Gaussian,the sum of a Gaussian function and an exponential decay function.The white noise significantly affected the exponential parameter(tau)in a way that is compatible with the facilitation of thresholds.Conclusions:We therefore conclude that multisensory reaction time facilitation can,at least in part,be explained by stochastic facilitation of the neural signals.
文摘Stimulus-Response Compatibility (SRC) refers to the fact that some tasks are performed easier and better than others because of the way stimuli and responses are paired with each other. To assess the brain responses to stimulus-response conflicts, we investigated the behavioral (accuracy and Reaction Times: RTs) as well as the physiological response (Lateralized Readiness Potentials: LRP) modulations in a positional blocked and a conditional mixed design in twelve university students. Results revealed that the performance was less accurate and the RTs, as well as the LRP onset, were delayed under the mixed conditional design. A greater compatibility effect was also noted on accuracy, RTs and LRP onset latency in the mixed design. Consistent with these findings, smaller peak activation at fronto-central areas suggests that more selective inhibition is needed in a mixed design context. Despite a smaller activation, the topographical distribution is similar in both designs. These results indicate that the translation time between stimulus- and response codes are greater under the mixed instruction, while the similar LRP topography suggests that common neural structures underlie LRPs in response to both type of designs.