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In his 1872 monograph, Charles Darwin posited that " the habit of expressing our feelings by certain movements, though now rendered innate, had been in some manner gradually acquired."1 Nearly 150 years later, researchers are still teasing apart innate versus experience-dependent contributions to expression recognition. Indeed, studies have shown that face detection is surprisingly resilient to early visual deprivation,2,3,4,5 pointing to plasticity that extends beyond dogmatic critical periods.6,7,8 However, it remains unclear whether such resilience extends to downstream processing, such as the ability to recognize facial expressions. The extent to which innate versus experience-dependent mechanisms contribute to this ability has yet to be fully explored.9,10,11,12,13 To investigate the impact of early visual experience on facial-expression recognition, we studied children with congenital cataracts who have undergone sight-correcting treatment14,15 and tracked their longitudinal skill acquisition as they gain sight late in life. We introduce and explore two potential facilitators of late-life plasticity: the availability of newborn-like coarse visual acuity prior to treatment16 and the privileged role of motion following treatment.4,17,18 We find that early visual deprivation does not preclude partial acquisition of facial-expression recognition. While rudimentary pretreatment vision is sufficient to allow a low level of expression recognition, it does not facilitate post-treatment improvements. Additionally, only children commencing vision with high visual acuity privilege the use of dynamic cues. We conclude that skipping typical visual experience early in development and introducing high-resolution imagery late in development restricts, but does not preclude, facial-expression skill acquisition and that the representational mechanisms driving this learning differ from those that emerge during typical visual development.
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People who are blind struggle to gauge water levels in bottles by weight alone. This work shows that combining information about a filled bottle's weight and center of gravity can enhance the accuracy of measuring the water level. Bumps were attached to the sides of cylindrical bottles at positions corresponding to the centers of gravity of water levels between 4 and 9. These bumps allow individuals to use additional information about the center of gravity to measure the water level in the bottle. Eight subjects who were blind participated in the experiment, and the results indicated that using the center of gravity method with a plastic bottle was the most accurate, with an average water level error of 0.04, but it took 57.83 seconds. Contrarily, using the weight method, the plastic bottle yielded the fastest results, with an average time of 6.51 seconds, but it led to an average water level error of 0.88.
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OBJECTIVE: Characterized by its disabling nature, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects individuals profoundly, with nearly 40% of patients showing resistance to initial treatment methods. Despite being safe and easily accessible, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) lacks extensive substantiation supporting its efficacy in treating OCD. The objective of this study was to evaluate how cathodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) applied to the right orbitofrontal cortex affected patients with OCD in terms of efficacy. METHOD: 47 patients with OCD were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to active or sham stimulation groups, and underwent HD-tDCS stimulation treatment for 2 weeks. The central electrode located in the right orbitofrontal cortex region was cathodic. The severity of the patients' obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression and anxiety were assessed before and after treatment. RESULT: Out of the total, 44 patients concluded the treatment, comprising 23 participants from the active stimulation group and 21 from the sham stimulation group. Notably, substantial reductions in symptoms related to OCD, depression, and anxiety were exhibited in both groups. With a response rate of 26.1% in the active stimulation group and 23.8% in the sham stimulation group, there was no significant difference in efficacy observed. Furthermore, the reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms at the conclusion of the treatment was not notably superior in the active stimulation group. CONCLUSION: This study provided evidence for the acceptability and safety of HD-tDCS. Nevertheless, the study did not reveal notable clinical effectiveness of tDCS in addressing moderate to severe OCD in comparison to the sham stimulation group.
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Permacath insertion using ultrasound has drastically reduced complications than those associated with blind puncture. We hereby report a case of entry of the permacath into the right femoral vein after through and through puncture of the right femoral artery. Use of real-time ultrasound, early clinical suspicion, timely diagnosis, and emergency surgery can avoid grave complications.
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In the context in which severe visual impairment significantly affects human life, this article emphasizes the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Visible Light Communications (VLC) in developing future assistive technologies. Toward this path, the article summarizes the features of some commercial assistance solutions, and debates the characteristics of VLC and AI, emphasizing their compatibility with blind individuals' needs. Additionally, this work highlights the AI potential in the efficient early detection of eye diseases. This article also reviews the existing work oriented toward VLC integration in blind persons' assistive applications, showing the existing progress and emphasizing the high potential associated with VLC use. In the end, this work provides a roadmap toward the development of an integrated AI-based VLC assistance solution for visually impaired people, pointing out the high potential and some of the steps to follow. As far as we know, this is the first comprehensive work which focuses on the integration of AI and VLC technologies in visually impaired persons' assistance domain.
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Inteligencia Artificial , Dispositivos de Autoayuda , Personas con Daño Visual , Humanos , Personas con Daño Visual/rehabilitación , Luz , Iluminación , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Scarce clinical trials involving autistic people with intellectual disability (ID) and minimally speaking (MS) status have been a substantial unmet research need in the field. Although earlier studies have demonstrated the feasibility and beneficial potentials of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in intellectually able autistic people, the feasibility and tolerability of applying rTMS in autistic people with ID/MS has never been studied. We conducted the world-first 4-week randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot trial to investigate the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS, a variant of excitatory rTMS) over the left DLPFC in autistic youth with ID/MS. 25 autistic youth with ID/MS (aged 8-30 years) were randomized to a 20-session 4-week daily iTBS (n = 13) vs. sham stimulation (n = 12) with follow-up 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, after the last stimulation. A retention rate was 100% in our study. Adverse events of local pain (38%) and dizziness (8%) were only noted in the active group. All adverse events were mild and transient. There were no seizures, new behavioral problems, or other severe/serious adverse events noted. No participants dropped out due to adverse events. With a small sample size, we did not find any beneficial signal of DLPFC iTBS. Our pilot data suggest regular daily TBS treatment for four weeks is feasible, well tolerated and safe in autistic youth with ID/MS. Future randomized controlled trials with sufficiently powered samples are needed to investigate the beneficial potential of rTMS/TBS for autistic people with ID/MS.
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To solve the separation of multi-source signals and detect their features from a single channel, a signal separation method using multi-constraint non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is proposed. In view of the existing NMF algorithm not performing well in the underdetermined blind source separation, the ß-divergence constraints and determinant constraints are introduced in the NMF algorithm, which can enhance local feature information and reduce redundant components by constraining the objective function. In addition, the Sine-bell window function is selected as the processing method for short-time Fourier transform (STFT), and it can preserve the overall feature distribution of the original signal. The original vibration signal is first transformed into time-frequency domain with the STFT, which describes the local characteristic of the signal from the time-frequency distribution. Then, the multi-constraint NMF is applied to reduce the dimensionality of the data and separate feature components in the low dimensional space. Meanwhile, the parameter WK is constructed to filter the reconstructed signal that recombined with the feature component in the time domain. Ultimately, the separated signals will be subjected to envelope spectrum analysis to detect fault features. The simulated and experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, which can realize the separation of multi-source signals and their fault diagnosis of bearings. In addition, it is also confirmed that the proposed method, juxtaposed with the NMF algorithm of the traditional objective function, is more applicable for compound fault diagnosis of the rotating machinery.
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Distributed in-network processing has garnered much attention due to its capability to estimate the unknown parameter of interest from noisy measurements based on a set of cooperating sensor nodes. In previous studies, distributed in-network processing mainly focused on short-distance communication systems, wherein sensor nodes collect certain parameters of interest within their maximum communication distance. In addition, the estimation of certain parameter vectors of interest from noisy measurements, relying heavily on training signals, is achieved with a non-blind distributed estimation algorithm. However, in some applications, acquiring knowledge of training signals beforehand is difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to perform distributed estimation algorithms for receivers without training signals, a concept known as blind distributed estimation. In this paper, the generalized Sato algorithm is used to design the blind equalizer for the signal estimation. In addition, we consider extending the short-distance communication system to a long-distance communication system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cooperating with sensor nodes in the wireless sensor network (WSN). In this scenario, the data signal is transmitted from a UAV to the WSN and is received by sensor nodes. However, the performance of the blind equalizer is susceptible to the transmission channel in long-distance communication systems. Here, we present a network topology reconfiguration approach to address the issue of distributed blind equalization. The objective of the proposed method is to discard the influence of ill-channels on the other sensor nodes by detecting ill-channels and redesigning the sensor node weights. Through computer simulation experiments, we evaluated the performance of the blind equalizer using the average mean square error (MSE) and average symbol error rate (SER). In the results of the computer simulation experiments, the blind equalizer using the proposed method outperformed the conventional methods in terms of prediction accuracy and convergence speed.
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BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition with social interaction, communication, and behavioral difficulties. Diagnostic methods mostly rely on subjective evaluations and can lack objectivity. In this research Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques are used to enhance ASD classification. OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on improving ASD and TD classification accuracy with a minimal number of EEG channels. ML and DL models are used with EEG data, including Mu Rhythm from the Sensory Motor Cortex (SMC) for classification. METHODS: Non-linear features in time and frequency domains are extracted and ML models are applied for classification. The EEG 1D data is transformed into images using Independent Component Analysis-Second Order Blind Identification (ICA-SOBI), Spectrogram, and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT). RESULTS: Stacking Classifier employed with non-linear features yields precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy rates of 78%, 79%, 78%, and 78% respectively. Including entropy and fuzzy entropy features further improves accuracy to 81.4%. In addition, DL models, employing SOBI, CWT, and spectrogram plots, achieve precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy of 75%, 75%, 74%, and 75% respectively. The hybrid model, which combined deep learning features from spectrogram and CWT with machine learning, exhibits prominent improvement, attained precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy of 94%, 94%, 94%, and 94% respectively. Incorporating entropy and fuzzy entropy features further improved the accuracy to 96.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the potential of ML and DL techniques in improving the classification of ASD and TD individuals, particularly when utilizing a minimal set of EEG channels.
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Barathronus is a genus of blind cusk eels comprising 11 valid species. In this paper, we report the second specimen ever documented of Barathronus roulei (Bythitidae) obtained from the Porcupine Bank by R.V. Vizconde de Eza using a bottom trawl at a depth of 1349 m. Morphological description and illustrations, including a radiograph, are provided. In addition, three new sequences corresponding to three different genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)-DNA barcoding, 16S ribosomal RNA (16S), and recombination activating protein 1 (RAG1), have been added to the molecular repositories, representing the first sequences for the species.
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It is now well established that decision making can be susceptible to cognitive bias in a broad range of fields, with forensic science being no exception. Previously published research has revealed a bias blind spot in forensic science where examiners do not recognise bias within their own domain. A survey of 101 forensic anthropology practitioners (n = 52) and students (n = 38) was undertaken to assess their level of awareness of cognitive bias and investigate their attitudes towards cognitive bias within forensic anthropology. The results revealed that the forensic anthropology community (â¼90%) had a high level of awareness of cognitive bias. Overall â¼89% expressed concerns about cognitive bias in the broad discipline of forensic science, their own domain of forensic anthropology, and in the evaluative judgments they made in reconstruction activities, identifying a significant reduction in the bias blind spot. However, more than half of the participants believed that bias can be reduced by sheer force of will, and there was a lack of consensus about implementing blinding procedures or context management. These findings highlight the need to investigate empirically the feasibility of proposed mitigating strategies within the workflow of forensic anthropologists and their capabilities for increasing the transparency in decision making.
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Actitud , Antropología Forense , Humanos , Antropología Forense/métodos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Masculino , Femenino , Sesgo , Cognición , Toma de Decisiones , AdultoRESUMEN
Accurate prediction and evaluation of protein-protein complex structures is of major importance to understand the cellular interactome. Predicted complex structures based on deep learning approaches or traditional docking methods require often structural refinement and rescoring for realistic evaluation. Standard molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are time-consuming and often do not structurally improve docking solutions. Better refinement can be achieved with our recently developed replica-exchange-based scheme employing different levels of repulsive biasing between proteins in each replica simulation (RS-REMD). The bias acts specifically on the intermolecular interactions based on an increase in effective pairwise van der Waals radii without changing interactions within each protein or with the solvent. It allows for an improvement of the predicted protein-protein complex structure and simultaneous realistic free energy scoring of protein-protein complexes. The setup of RS-REMD simulations is described in detail including the application on two examples (all necessary scripts and input files can be obtained from https://gitlab.com/TillCyrill/mmib ).
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Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Proteínas , Proteínas/química , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular/métodos , Unión Proteica , Programas Informáticos , Conformación Proteica , Biología Computacional/métodosRESUMEN
Background: Painful blind eye conditions in Africa constitute a compelling area of concern within public health, presenting substantial complexities for healthcare systems and the individuals afflicted. This comprehensive review delves into recent research and advancements concerning the management of these conditions across the African region. Drawing upon contemporary studies and data, we scrutinise the multifaceted aspects, including prevalence rates, causative factors, and regional variations. Objective: To review existing articles on the current state of the management of blind painful eye conditions in Africa. Materials and Methods: Articles regarding the subject were obtained from Google Scholar, AJOL, and PubMed using the keywords, painful, blind eye (PBE), Africa. Results: Forty-four relevant articles were reviewed. They were further categorized into epidemiology, management approaches and challenges to management. Conclusion: The management of the PBE poses a huge challenge and can either be medical or surgical. Collaborative efforts should be targeted at preventing the causes of a PBE. As the burden of painful blind eye conditions continues to exert a profound impact across Africa, this article underscores the pressing need for collaborative efforts involving governments, non-governmental organisations, and international entities. By prioritising awareness and enhancing healthcare accessibility, we collectively strive towards the alleviation of suffering and the prevention of avoidable visual impairment in this region.
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The micro- and nanostructures of III-nitride semiconductors captivate strong interest owing to their distinctive properties and myriad potential applications. Nevertheless, challenges endure in managing the damage inflicted on crystals through top-down processes or achieving extensive control over the large-area growth of these microstructures via bottom-up methods, thereby impacting their optical and electronic properties. Here, we present novel epitaxially grown 3D GaN truncated pyramid arrays (TPAs) on patterned Si substrates, devoid of any catalyst. These GaN TPAs feature highly ordered, large-scale structures, attributed to the utilization of 3D Si substrates and thin AlN interlayers to alleviate epitaxial strains and limit dislocation formation. Comprehensive characterization via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cathodoluminescence attests to the superior structural and optical attributes of these crystals. Furthermore, photoluminescence and ultraviolet (UV)-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveal sharp band-edge emission and significant light trapping in the UV bands. Employing these GaN TPAs, we constructed metal-semiconductor-metal visible-blind UV photodetectors (PDs) incorporating Ti3C2 MXene as Schottky electrodes. These PDs display exceptional responsivity, achieving 5.32 × 103 mA/W at 255 nm and an ultrahigh UV/visible rejection ratio (R255nm/R450nm) approaching 106, which are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than most recently reported works. This exploration showcases novel GaN-based microstructures characterized by uniformity, ordered geometry, and exemplary crystalline integrity, paving the way for developing optoelectronic applications.
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Individuals with deaf-blindness and co-occurring diagnoses, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, may experience difficulty with independence, specifically with communication. One behavior-analytic procedure that may be useful for increasing independence and teaching communication to this population is the behavior-chain interruption strategy (BCIS). The current study examined the use of the BCIS to teach a 65-year-old deaf-blind participant with severe intellectual disability to use a SadoTech Elderly Monitoring Pager to notify others in the environment when help was needed. The researcher alternated between establishing operation (EO; help needed, items missing, or inoperable) and abolishing operation (AO; help not needed, items present, and operable) trials for three previously mastered daily living routines. The results demonstrated that following intervention, the participant used the device independently during EO trials and never used it during AO trials across behavior chains, and similar results were obtained during a treatment-extension phase. Limitations and implications for applied practice are discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40616-024-00204-8.
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BACKGROUND: Evidence on ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19 is controversial. A Cochrane review concluded that the efficacy and safety of ivermectin is uncertain (evidence up to April 2022) and WHO recommended its use only in the setting of clinical trials. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of oral ivermectin in hospitalized patients with mild to moderate Covid-19. TRIAL DESIGN AND METHODS: A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among RT-PCR-confirmed, adults, hospitalised within the first four days of symptoms. Patients received oral ivermectin 24 mg or placebo daily for five days. RT-PCR was repeated on days five and ten. Clinical progression was monitored using the World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale. Serum ivermectin levels were measured on days three, five, and seven. The primary outcome was the difference in the viral load between day zero and ten in the two groups. RESULTS: Out of 1699 patients screened, 249 underwent randomization and 127 received ivermectin, and 122 placebo. D10 median viral load for E gene (IQR) was 2,000 copies/mL (100 - 20,500) with ivermectin (n = 80) and 4,100 copies/mL (1,000-65,600) with placebo (n = 81, p = 0.028), per protocol analysis. The difference in Log viral load between day zero and ten between ivermectin and placebo was 3.72 and 2.97 respectively (p = 0.022). There was no significant difference in the WHO clinical progression scale or the adverse effects. Ivermectin blood levels taken before or with meals were not significantly different. Only 7 and 17 patients achieved blood levels above 160ng/ML and 100ng/ML respectively and they did not achieve a significantly lower viral load. CONCLUSION: Although ivermectin resulted in statistically significant lower viral load in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19, it had no significant effect on clinical symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: SLCTR/2021/020, Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry. 19/07/2021.
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Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19 , Ivermectina , SARS-CoV-2 , Carga Viral , Humanos , Ivermectina/administración & dosificación , Ivermectina/efectos adversos , Ivermectina/uso terapéutico , Método Doble Ciego , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Administración Oral , Carga Viral/efectos de los fármacos , Adulto , SARS-CoV-2/genética , SARS-CoV-2/efectos de los fármacos , Resultado del Tratamiento , COVID-19/virología , Anciano , Antivirales/administración & dosificación , Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Antivirales/efectos adversosRESUMEN
Background and Objectives: Vision significantly contributes to postural control, balance, coordination, and body kinematics, thus deeply influencing everyday functionality. Sight-impaired subjects often show upper body anatomofunctional and kinetic chain alterations negatively impacting daily living efficiency and autonomy. The present study aimed to investigate and train, for the first time, upper body sensorimotor control in an Italian blind baseball team to boost global and segmental functionality while contemporarily prevent injuries. Materials and Methods: The whole team underwent a validated test battery using both quantitative traditional tools, such as goniometric active range of motion and muscular/functional tests, and an innovative biofeedback-based device, a Libra proprioceptive board. Consequently, a 6-week adapted training protocol was designed and leaded to improve sensorimotor control and, hence, counteract disability-related deficits and sport-specific overuse syndromes. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in all the investigated parameters. Noteworthy, an overall boost of global and segmental stability was detected through an orthostatic dynamic balance enhancement during the Y Balance test (p = 0.01) and trunk multiplanar control improvement on the Libra board (p = 0.01). Concurrently, the comparison of baseline vs. post-intervention outcomes revealed a consistent increase in upper body mobility (p < 0.05 for all the assessed districts), core recruitment (p = 0.01 for all the administered functional tests), and proprioceptive postural control (p = 0.01 for the Libra board validated test). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a tailored sensorimotor training, conceived and led by an adapted physical activity kinesiologist, may effectively improve upper body functional prerequisites and global proprioceptive control, thus potentially promoting autonomy, quality of life, and physical activity/sport practice adherence in visually impaired individuals.
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Béisbol , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Béisbol/lesiones , Béisbol/fisiología , Equilibrio Postural/fisiología , Personas con Daño Visual , Italia , Actividades Cotidianas , Femenino , Rango del Movimiento Articular , Fenómenos BiomecánicosRESUMEN
Optic neuritis (ON) is a rare condition in the pediatric age group. Patients with optic neuritis can manifest with a wide range of drops in vision, ranging from mild loss to complete loss of vision. Knowing the cause of optic neuritis is an important point that will affect management and prognosis. Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG) antibody is an autoantibody that causes demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). Treatment with a high dose of IV steroids followed by oral steroids is the best regimen that shows a favorable vision outcome. We aim to report this case of isolated optic neuritis with a positive anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody to highlight the prognosis of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein disease with isolated optic neuritis and how early diagnosis and treatment can affect the visual outcome.
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Purpose: Visual impairment poses significant challenges in daily life, especially when navigating unfamiliar environments, resulting in inequalities and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the needs and perspectives of visually impaired people in sports-related contexts through surveys and focus groups, and to understand whether their needs are being met by current technological solutions.Materials and methods: To accomplish this, opinions gathered from focus groups and interviews were compared to the technological solutions found in the literature. Since many unmet needs were identified, participants from associations and organizations were asked to identify key characteristics for the development of a robot guide. The results underscored the paramount importance of an easy-to-use guide that offers accurate and personalized assistance. Participants expressed a strong desire for advanced features such as object recognition and navigation in complex environments, as well as adaptability to the user's speed while providing the necessary safety features to ensure a high level of autonomy.Results: This research serves as a bridge between technological advances and the needs of the visually impaired, contributing to a more accessible and inclusive society. By addressing the unique challenges faced by the visually impaired individuals and tailoring technology to meet their needs, this study takes a significant step toward reducing disparities and improving the independence and quality of life for this community.Conclusions: As technology continues to advance, it has the potential to be a powerful tool in breaking down barriers and fostering a world where everyone, regardless of their visual ability, can navigate the world with confidence and ease.
Inclusive design: Recognizing the importance of incorporating the unique requirements and perspectives of visually impaired individuals can guide the development of rehabilitation technology and services, ensuring they effectively support daily activities and active participation in sports and physical pursuits.Tailored-assistive technology: Understanding the specific needs of visually impaired individuals with regards to assistive technology, such as dependable robotic guides and essential features, can inform the design and customization of rehabilitation aids to enhance mobility and independence.Promising technologies: Exploring promising technologies like Aira, Be My Eyes, RoboCart, and Wayband can inspire the integration of these innovations into rehabilitation programs, facilitating better orientation, mobility, and accessibility for individuals with visual impairments.Continued research and development: Emphasizing the necessity for ongoing research and development efforts underscores the importance of advancing rehabilitation solutions that effectively address the distinct needs of visually impaired individuals, particularly in navigating unfamiliar environments.