Breathing retraining: A three-year follow-up study of treatment for hyperventilation syndrome and associated functional cardiac symptoms

This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effects of paced diaphragmatic breathing on subjects who reported functional cardiac symptoms and who also demonstrated associated signs of hyperventilation syndrome. Subjects were a representative sample composed of 10 out of the original 41 subjects who had participated three years previously in a study designed to evaluate the short-term effects of breathing retraining on functional cardiac symptoms and respiratory parameters (respiratory rate and end-tidal carbon dioxide). The results of this follow-up study indicate that breathing retraining had lasting effects on both respiratory parameters measured. Subjects evidenced significantly higher end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and lower respiratory rates when compared to pretreatment levels measured three years earlier. Subjects also continued to report a decrease in the frequency of functional cardiac symptoms when compared to pretreatment levels. We conclude that breathing retraining has lasting effects on respiratory physiology and is highly correlated with a reduction in reported functional cardiac symptoms.We would like to thank the Marquette Company for the use of their end-tidal CO₂ equipment. We also thank the Biofeedback Institute of San Diego for supporting this study by providing office space and equipment. Steven DeGuire, Ph.D. is now affiliated with Heather Hill Hospital Health and Care Center in Chardon, Ohio.     

Training multi-parameter gaits to reduce the knee adduction moment with data-driven models and haptic feedback

The purpose of this study was to evaluate gait retraining for reducing the knee adduction moment. Our primary objective was to determine whether subject-specific altered gaits aimed at reducing the knee adduction moment by 30% or more could be identified and adopted in a single session through haptic (touch) feedback training on multiple kinematic gait parameters. Nine healthy subjects performed gait retraining, in which data-driven models specific to each subject were determined through experimental trials and were used to train novel gaits involving a combination of kinematic changes to the tibia angle, foot progression and trunk sway angles. Wearable haptic devices were used on the back, knee and foot for real-time feedback. All subjects were able to adopt altered gaits requiring simultaneous changes to multiple kinematic parameters and reduced their knee adduction moments by 29-48%. Analysis of single parameter gait training showed that moving the knee medially by increasing tibia angle, increasing trunk sway and toeing in all reduced the first peak of the knee adduction moment with tibia angle changes having the most dramatic effect. These results suggest that individualized data-driven gait retraining may be a viable option for reducing the knee adduction moment as a treatment method for early-stage knee osteoarthritis patients with sufficient sensation, endurance and motor learning capabilities.     

Training-induced adaptive plasticity in human somatosensory reflex pathways.

This paper reviews evidence supporting adaptive plasticity in muscle and cutaneous afferent reflex pathways induced by training and rehabilitative interventions. The perspective is advanced that the behavioral and functional relevance of any intervention and the reflex pathway under study should be considered when evaluating both adaptation and transfer. A cornerstone of this concept can be found in acute task-dependent reflex modulation. Because the nervous system allows the expression of a given reflex according to the motor task, an attempt to evaluate the training adaptation should also be evoked under the same conditions as training bearing in mind the functional role of the pathway under study. Within this framework, considerable evidence supports extensive adaptive plasticity in human muscle afferent pathways in the form of operant conditioning, strength training, skill training, and locomotor training or retraining. Directly comparable evidence for chronic adaptation in cutaneous reflex pathways is lacking. However, activity-dependent plasticity in cutaneous pathways is documented particularly in approaches to neurological rehabilitation. Overall, the adaptive range for human muscle afferent reflexes appears bidirectional (that is, increased or reduced amplitudes) and on the order of 25-50%. The adaptive range for cutaneous pathways is currently uncertain.     

Various resistance of motor preference in rats exposed to forced retraining

Adult Wistar rats were trained to get food from a narrow tube under conditions of free choice of a limb. After reaching a stable level of using the preferred limb, rats (n = 35) were forced to relearn the acquired skill for reaching food with a unpreferred paw. When afterwards the rats returned to the initial conditions of free choice of a limb, 12 animals (34%) did not recover their initial preference, 8 rats (23%) were ambidextrous, and 15 animals (43%) returned to the originally preferred paw. The results demonstrated different resistance of the initial limb preference to forced retraining in different animals. It is suggested that the process of retraining per se is not the only and sufficient condition of the change in "handedness". It also suggested that the different resistance of initial preference to forced retraining reflects individual differences in a degree (intensity) of this preference, which are predetermined by internal, probably by genetic factors.     

Measurement of a gradient of oxygen partial pressure across the intact root

Summary Oxygen partial pressures in the vacuolar sap of root cells have been measured using oxygen sensitive polarographic microelectrodes. A significant gradient in oxygen partial pressure was observed across intact sunflower roots growing in air saturated culture solution. The relevance of this finding to the mechanism of salt transfer across the root and in particular to the Crafts-Broyer theory is discussed.     

Real-time knee adduction moment feedback for gait retraining through visual and tactile displays

The external knee adduction moment (KAM) measured during gait is an indicator of tibiofemoral joint osteoarthritis progression and various strategies have been proposed to lower it. Gait retraining has been shown to be an effective, noninvasive approach for lowering the KAM. We present a new gait retraining approach in which the KAM is fed back to subjects in real-time during ambulation. A study was conducted in which 16 healthy subjects learned to alter gait patterns to lower the KAM through visual or tactile (vibration) feedback. Participants converged on a comfortable gait in just a few minutes by using the feedback to iterate on various kinematic modifications. All subjects adopted altered gait patterns with lower KAM compared with normal ambulation (average reduction of 20.7%). Tactile and visual feedbacks were equally effective for real-time training, although subjects using tactile feedback took longer to converge on an acceptable gait. This study shows that real-time feedback of the KAM can greatly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of subject-specific gait retraining compared with conventional methods.     

A partial ordering approach for functional diversity

Functional diversity is generally regarded as the constituent of biological diversity that considers how the species functional traits affect ecosystem processes. Due to its ecological relevance, a number of indices of functional diversity have been proposed to date based on distinct objectives and motivations. Such proliferation of indices can be at least partially overcome by a more fundamental mathematical approach. In this paper we propose an intrinsic ordering approach for abundance-weighted measures of functional diversity that is similar to the Lorenz curves used by ecologists for ordering evenness measures. We then discuss the relevance of a number of functional diversity indices that have a behavior compatible with the proposed partial ordering.     

Interactive semisupervised learning for microarray analysis

Microarray technology has generated vast amounts of gene expression data with distinct patterns. Based on the premise that genes of correlated functions tend to exhibit similar expression patterns, various machine learning methods have been applied to capture these specific patterns in microarray data. However, the discrepancy between the rich expression profiles and the limited knowledge of gene functions has been a major hurdle to the understanding of cellular networks. To bridge this gap so as to properly comprehend and interpret expression data, we introduce relevance feedback to microarray analysis and propose an interactive learning framework to incorporate the expert knowledge into the decision module. In order to find a good learning method and solve two intrinsic problems in microarray data, high dimensionality and small sample size, we also propose a semisupervised learning algorithm: kernel discriminant-EM (KDEM). This algorithm efficiently utilizes a large set of unlabeled data to compensate for the insufficiency of a small set of labeled data and it extends the linear algorithm in discriminant-EM (DEM) to a kernel algorithm to handle nonlinearly separable data in a lower dimensional space. The relevance feedback technique and KDEM together construct an efficient and effective interactive semisupervised learning framework for microarray analysis. Extensive experiments on the yeast cell cycle regulation data set and Plasmodium falciparum red blood cell cycle data set show the promise of this approach     

Partial deficiency of eosinophil peroxidase

A new case of partial eosinophil peroxidase deficiency is reported. It was identified and elaborated using an automated flow-cytochemical analyzer. The findings were confirmed by conventional cytochemistry on blood smears: decreased staining intensity in peroxidase and Sudan Black staining. These results are in agreement with other reports on this extremely rare peroxidase deficiency, which probably is of no clinical relevance.     

Evaluation of a partial genome screening of two asthma susceptibility regions using bayesian network based bayesian multilevel analysis of relevance

Genetic studies indicate high number of potential factors related to asthma. Based on earlier linkage analyses we selected the 11q13 and 14q22 asthma susceptibility regions, for which we designed a partial genome screening study using 145 SNPs in 1201 individuals (436 asthmatic children and 765 controls). The results were evaluated with traditional frequentist methods and we applied a new statistical method, called Bayesian network based Bayesian multilevel analysis of relevance (BN-BMLA). This method uses Bayesian network representation to provide detailed characterization of the relevance of factors, such as joint significance, the type of dependency, and multi-target aspects. We estimated posteriors for these relations within the Bayesian statistical framework, in order to estimate the posteriors whether a variable is directly relevant or its association is only mediated.With frequentist methods one SNP (rs3751464 in the FRMD6 gene) provided evidence for an association with asthma (OR = 1.43(1.2–1.8); p = 3×10⁻⁴). The possible role of the FRMD6 gene in asthma was also confirmed in an animal model and human asthmatics.In the BN-BMLA analysis altogether 5 SNPs in 4 genes were found relevant in connection with asthma phenotype: PRPF19 on chromosome 11, and FRMD6, PTGER2 and PTGDR on chromosome 14. In a subsequent step a partial dataset containing rhinitis and further clinical parameters was used, which allowed the analysis of relevance of SNPs for asthma and multiple targets. These analyses suggested that SNPs in the AHNAK and MS4A2 genes were indirectly associated with asthma. This paper indicates that BN-BMLA explores the relevant factors more comprehensively than traditional statistical methods and extends the scope of strong relevance based methods to include partial relevance, global characterization of relevance and multi-target relevance.     

Sensory retraining improves light touch threshold of the paretic hand in chronic stroke survivors: a single-subject A-B design

Abstract

Background: Light touch, one of the primary and basic sensations, is often neglected in sensory retraining programmes for stroke survivors.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of sensory retraining on the light touch threshold of the hand, dexterity and upper limb motor function of chronic stroke survivors.

Methods: Five chronic stroke survivors with sensory impairment participated in this single-subject A-B design study. In baseline (A) phase, they only received standard rehabilitation. In the treatment (B) phase, they received a 6-week sensory retraining intervention in addition to standard rehabilitation. In both phases, they were evaluated every 3 days. Light touch threshold, manual dexterity and upper limb motor function were assessed using Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments, Box-Block Test and Fugl-Meyer Assessment, respectively. Visual analysis, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and, c-statistic were used for assessing the changes between phases.

Results: All participants indicated changes in trend or slope of the total score of light touch or both between the two phases. The results of the c-statistic also showed the statistical difference in the total score of light touch between baseline and treatment in all participants (p?<?0.001). Also, the results of the c-statistic and Mann-Whitney U test supported the difference of manual dexterity and motor function of the upper limb between baseline and treatment in all participants (p?<?0.001).

Conclusion: Current findings showed that sensory retraining may be an effective adjunctive intervention for improving the light touch threshold of the hand, dexterity and upper limb motor function in chronic stroke survivors.     

基于F3Net显著性目标检测的蝴蝶图像前背景自动分割

[目的]具有复杂背景的蝴蝶图像前背景分割难度大.本研究旨在探索基于深度学习显著性目标检测的蝴蝶图像自动分割方法.[方法]应用DUTS-TR数据集训练F3Net显著性目标检测算法构建前背景预测模型,然后将模型用于具有复杂背景的蝴蝶图像数据集实现蝴蝶前背景自动分割.在此基础上,采用迁移学习方法,保持ResNet骨架不变,利...     

Recovery of motor skills after the caudate lesion in rats with the different prefered forelimb: the role of intense retraining

Rats were trained for instrumental reaching (17 mm) of a sunflower seed from a horizontal tube 12 mm in diameter. After training, rats were divided into groups, "right-" and "left-handers", by the forelimb preference. Unilateral electrolytic lesions of the head of the caudate nucleus contralateral to the prefered forelimb were performed. After surgery, animals were retrained to perform the food-retrieval reaction by the same forelimb (reaching reaction by the "intact" forelimb was prohibited by a special bracelet). Both right- and left-handers were divided into groups of rare and intense retraining. Over the course of five months, animals of the groups of rare training were tested once a week, whereas the intense retraining was performed three or four times a week. Rats with right and left forelimb preference were shown to recover the reaching skill with different rates. In general, animals with left-side caudate lesion (right-handers) recovered the skill better both under condition of spontaneous recovery (rare testing) and intense retraining. The results suggest different mechanism of skill recovery after the right- and left-side brain lesion.     

Feasibility of communication in binary signaling games

In signaling games the replicator dynamics does not almost always converge to states of perfect communication. A significant portion of the state space converges to components of Nash equilibria that characterize states of partial communication. Since these components consist of non-hyperbolic rest points, the significance of this result will depend on the dynamic behavior of specific perturbations of the replicator equations. In this paper we study selection-mutation dynamics of signaling games, which may be considered as one plausible perturbation of the replicator dynamics. We find that the long term behavior of the dynamics depends on the mutation rates of senders and receivers and on the relevance of communication.     

偏微分方程数值解的自适应插值小波法

本文应用插值小波理论,构造了一种可用于偏微分方程数值求解的自适应算法,自适应插值小波法。该算法可用于求解带有奇异性和瞬时突变性的一类偏微分方程。数值计算的实例证明,该算法具有很好的有效性和稳定性。     

Gene Regulatory Network Reconstruction Using Conditional Mutual Information

The inference of gene regulatory network from expression data is an important area of research that provides insight to the inner workings of a biological system. The relevance-network-based approaches provide a simple and easily-scalable solution to the understanding of interaction between genes. Up until now, most works based on relevance network focus on the discovery of direct regulation using correlation coefficient or mutual information. However, some of the more complicated interactions such as interactive regulation and coregulation are not easily detected. In this work, we propose a relevance network model for gene regulatory network inference which employs both mutual information and conditional mutual information to determine the interactions between genes. For this purpose, we propose a conditional mutual information estimator based on adaptive partitioning which allows us to condition on both discrete and continuous random variables. We provide experimental results that demonstrate that the proposed regulatory network inference algorithm can provide better performance when the target network contains coregulated and interactively regulated genes.     

A fast exact sequential algorithm for the partial digest problem

Background

Restriction site analysis involves determining the locations of restriction sites after the process of digestion by reconstructing their positions based on the lengths of the cut DNA. Using different reaction times with a single enzyme to cut DNA is a technique known as a partial digestion. Determining the exact locations of restriction sites following a partial digestion is challenging due to the computational time required even with the best known practical algorithm.

Results

In this paper, we introduce an efficient algorithm to find the exact solution for the partial digest problem. The algorithm is able to find all possible solutions for the input and works by traversing the solution tree with a breadth-first search in two stages and deleting all repeated subproblems. Two types of simulated data, random and Zhang, are used to measure the efficiency of the algorithm. We also apply the algorithm to real data for the Luciferase gene and the E. coli K12 genome.

Conclusion

Our algorithm is a fast tool to find the exact solution for the partial digest problem. The percentage of improvement is more than 75% over the best known practical algorithm for the worst case. For large numbers of inputs, our algorithm is able to solve the problem in a suitable time, while the best known practical algorithm is unable.

     

Retention of acoustic conditioning in St Peter's fish Sarotherodon galilaeus

Groups of St Peter's fish Sarotherodon galilaeus were trained during 28 days of classical conditioning to respond to an acoustic signal by approaching a feeder. Their ability to retain the acoustically conditioned behaviour was tested after eight different intervals ranging from 12 to 188 days from termination of training. Retention tests comprised 7 consecutive days of retraining and the fish response was compared with that of naive fish. Fish response drastically diminished with time. After 55 days, there was no apparent expression of memory on the first test day but fish response was restored on subsequent retraining days, indicating the existence of latent memory. Six months from the end of training, there was no indication of behavioural retention and the response completely vanished. The study was conducted in the context of sea ranching, with classical conditioning used to gain control over fish location. In light of the present results, it is suggested that periodic reinforcement of the acoustically conditioned behaviour should be used.     

AMP kinase expression and activity in human skeletal muscle: effects of immobilization, retraining, and creatine supplementation.

The effects of leg immobilization and retraining in combination with oral creatine intake on muscle AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression and phosphorylation status were investigated. A double-blind trial was performed in young healthy volunteers (n = 22). A cast immobilized the right leg for 2 wk, whereafter the knee-extensor muscles of that leg were retrained for 6 wk. Half of the subjects received creatine monohydrate throughout the study (Cr; from 15 g down to 2.5 g daily), and the others ingested placebo (P; maltodextrin). Before and after immobilization and retraining, needle biopsies were taken from the right and left vastus lateralis muscles. In the right leg of P and Cr, immobilization did not affect AMPK alpha1-, alpha2-, and beta2-subunit expression or AMPK alpha-subunit phosphorylation status. However, irrespective of the treatment received, retraining increased the degree of alpha-subunit phosphorylation by approximately 25% (P <0.05) and increased AMPK alpha1-subunit expression (P <0.05) in both groups. From the start to the end of the study, AMPK subunit protein expression and alpha-subunit phosphorylation status were unchanged in the contralateral control leg. It is concluded that immobilization-induced muscle inactivity for 2 wk does not alter AMPK alpha1-, alpha2-, and beta2-subunit expression or alpha-AMPK phosphorylation status. Furthermore, the present observations indicate that AMPK probably is not implicated in the previously reported beneficial effects of oral creatine supplementation on muscle during immobilization and rehabilitative weight training.     

Effect of a training programme to reduce stress in carers of patients with dementia.

OBJECTIVE--To reduce the psychological stress and improve the skills in coping of people who care for relatives with dementia. DESIGN--Assessment and suitability of carers by questionnaire; assessment of patients and carers in a hospital outpatient clinic; allocation to groups according to date of application to study. Linkage of groups of four carers and programme coordinator by telephone conference calls over 12 months after programmes. Reassessment at three, six, 12, and, for those in the "wait list" group, 18 months. SETTING--The programmes were conducted in the psychiatry unit of a Sydney teaching hospital. SUBJECTS--Eligible patients were less than 80 years old, had mild to moderate dementia, and lived at home with their carer. Of the 96 patient-carer pairs in the study, 33 were in the dementia carers'' programme group, 31 were in the memory retraining group, and 32 were in the wait list group. INTERVENTIONS--Carers in the dementia carers'' programme received training in coping with the difficulties of looking after patients with dementia while the patients had sessions in subjects such as memory retraining. In the memory retraining programme patients were admitted and received the patient component of the carers'' programme while their carers had 10 days'' respite. In the wait list group carers waited six months before undertaking the carers'' programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Effect of the programmes on carers'' general health questionnaire scores and the rate of placement of patients in institutions. RESULTS--At 12 months'' follow up the carers'' programme had resulted in significantly lower psychological stress among carers than the memory retraining programme (mean (SD) general health questionnaire scores at 0 months were 6.31 (6.23) and 3.60 (6.25) respectively, and at 12 months were 4.69 (5.58) and 7.40 (9.39); p less than 0.05.) In the wait list group distress scores remained stable, even after the carers and patients had undertaken the carers'' programme. Patients deteriorated over 12 months regardless of group allocation, but at 30 months, allowing for patients who died and could not be included in the analysis, 65% of patients in the carers'' programme group were still living at home compared with 26% in the memory retraining programme group. CONCLUSION--The intensive intervention programme described for carers of patients with dementia can reduce the psychological morbidity of the carer and delay the placement of the patient in an institution without increasing the use of health services by either patient or carer.