Model-independent constraints on spin observables

We discuss model-independent constraints on spin observables in exclusive and inclusive reactions, with special attention to the case of photoproduction.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Talk by J.-M. Richard at NSTAR 2009, IHEP, Beijing (China), April 19-22, 2009, Proc. to appear in "Chinese Physics C

The simulation of action disorganisation in complex activities of daily living

Action selection in everyday goal-directed tasks of moderate complexity is known to be subject to breakdown following extensive frontal brain injury. A model of action selection in such tasks is presented and used to explore three hypotheses concerning the origins of action disorganisation: that it is a consequence of reduced top-down excitation within a hierarchical action schema network coupled with increased bottom-up triggering of schemas from environmental sources, that it is a more general disturbance of schema activation modelled by excessive noise in the schema network, and that it results from a general disturbance of the triggering of schemas by object representations. Results suggest that the action disorganisation syndrome is best accounted for by a general disturbance to schema activation, while altering the balance between top-down and bottom-up activation provides an account of a related disorder - utilisation behaviour. It is further suggested that ideational apraxia (which may result from lesions to left temporoparietal areas and which has similar behavioural consequences to action disorganisation syndrome on tasks of moderate complexity) is a consequence of a generalised disturbance of the triggering of schemas by object representations. Several predictions regarding differences between action disorganisation syndrome and ideational apraxia that follow from this interpretation are detailed

Differentiating psychogenic nonepileptic from epileptic seizures: A mixed-methods, content analysis study

Background: Identification of clinical features that might distinguish psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)from epileptic seizures (ES) is of value for diagnosis, management, and understanding of both conditions. Previousstudies have shown that patients' descriptions of their seizures reflect differences in content and delivery.Weaimed to compare verbal descriptions of PNES and ES using a mixed-methods approach.Methods: We analyzed data from semi-structured interviews in which patients with video-electroencephalography(EEG)-confirmed ES (n=30) or PNES (n=10) described their seizures. Two masked raters independentlycoded the transcripts for relevant psychological categories and discrepancies that were noted and resolved. Additionalanalyses were conducted using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count system. The identified phenomenawere descriptively compared, and inferential analyses assessed group differences in frequencies. A logisticregression analysis examined the predictive power of the most distinctive phenomena for diagnosis.Results: As compared with ES, PNES reported longer seizures, more preseizure negative emotions (e.g., fear), anxietysymptoms (e.g., arousal, hyperventilation), altered vision/olfaction, and automatic behaviors. During seizures,PNES reported more fear, altered breathing, and dissociative phenomena (depersonalization, impairedtime perception). Epileptic seizures reported more self-injurious behavior. Postseizure, PNES reported morefear and weeping and ES more amnesia and aches. The predictive power when including these variables was97.5%. None of the single predictor variables was significant. The few but consistent linguistic differences relatedto the use of some pronouns and references to family.Conclusions: Although no single clinical feature definitively distinguishes PNES from ES, several features may besuggestive of a PNES diagnosis, including longer duration, negative emotion (i.e., fear) throughout the events,preseizure anxiety, ictal dissociation, and postseizure weeping. Fewer reports of ictal self-injury and postseizureamnesia and aches may also indicate the possibility of PNES

Readiness of Small Enterprises for GIS: The Question of Strategy

Small enterprises are beginning to utilize Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and spatial technologies. Since these technologies have only recently become widely available for small enterprises, there are challenges including costs, training, skilled workforce, data gathering and management, and competitive strategy. Two conceptual theories of GIS strategy are discussed with respect to small enterprises. The goal of the present exploratory paper is to analyze readiness for undertaking spatial technologies, with a focus on GIS strategy and competitiveness. The research questions are analyzed through in-depth case study analysis of two small enterprises in southern California and results are interpreted based on the conceptual theories. The findings show that alignment theory is useful in assessing the potential for GIS. The evolutionary framework for strategic GIS is supported in two of the theory’s three dimensions. The paper offers recommendations on differences for small enterprises, versus medium and large ones in readiness and GIS strategy

Stimulus-Response Compatibilitiy Effects for Warning Signals and Steering Responses

Stimulus-response compatibility is relevant to the way a collision avoidance system signals a hazard. Using the location of a warning tone as the signal, standard spatial compatibility effects predict that it would be most beneficial to have the tone correspond to the desired response direction. However, because drivers typically turn away from sounds created by hazards, they may adopt a frame of reference where turning away from the warning tone is more compatible than responding toward it. This issue was examined in an experiment in which subjects responded to tones in the left or right ear by turning a steering wheel clockwise or counterclockwise, with the meaning of the tones manipulated to simulate warning signals. Two groups received typical compatibility instructions (tone instructions), and two received instructions specifying that the tone was a warning signal (warning instructions) indicating either the location of the danger (from which they were to turn away) or the escape direction (toward which they were to turn). The compatibility effect was in the same direction and of the same magnitude for both the warning instructions and the tone instructions. This outcome implies that instructions to turn away from danger did not cause subjects to adopt an avoidance frame of reference and that spatial correspondence was the overriding factor. The results suggest that collision avoidance systems should signal the escape direction, but these results need to be verified in simulated and actual driving conditions

Emotional processing in functional neurological disorder:A review, biopsychosocial model and research agenda.

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a common and highly disabling disorder, but its aetiology remains enigmatic. Conceptually, there has been reduced emphasis on the role of psychosocial stressors in recent years, with a corresponding increase in neurobiological explanations. However, a wealth of evidence supports the role of psychosocial adversities (eg, stressful life events, interpersonal difficulties) as important risk factors for FND. Therefore, there is a need to integrate psychosocial (environmental) and neurobiological factors (eg, sensorimotor and cognitive functions) in contemporary models of FND. Altered emotional processing may represent a key link between psychosocial risk factors and core features of FND. Here, we summarise and critically appraise experimental studies of emotional processing in FND using behavioural, psychophysiological and/or neuroimaging measures in conjunction with affective processing tasks. We propose that enhanced preconscious (implicit) processing of emotionally salient stimuli, associated with elevated limbic reactivity (eg, amygdala), may contribute to the initiation of basic affective/defensive responses via hypothalamic and brainstem pathways (eg, periaqueductal grey). In parallel, affect-related brain areas may simultaneously exert a disruptive influence on neurocircuits involved in voluntary motor control, awareness and emotional regulation (eg, sensorimotor, salience, central executive networks). Limbic-paralimbic disturbances in patients with FND may represent one of several neurobiological adaptations linked to early, severe and/or prolonged psychosocial adversity. This perspective integrates neurobiological and psychosocial factors in FND and proposes a research agenda, highlighting the need for replication of existing findings, multimodal sampling across emotional response domains and further examination of emotional influences on sensorimotor and cognitive functions in FND populations

TESLA Technical Design Report Part III: Physics at an e+e- Linear Collider

The TESLA Technical Design Report Part III: Physics at an e+e- Linear ColliderComment: 192 pages, 131 figures. Some figures have reduced quality. Full quality figures can be obtained from http://tesla.desy.de/tdr. Editors - R.-D. Heuer, D.J. Miller, F. Richard, P.M. Zerwa