Absolute Power Research Articles

Development of post-anesthesia care unit delirium is associated with differences in aperiodic and periodic alpha parameters of the EEG during emergence from general anesthesia - results from a prospective observational cohort study.

Intraoperative alpha-band power in frontal electrodes may provide helpful information about the balance of hypnosis and analgesia and has been associated with reduced occurrence of delirium in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Recent studies suggest that narrow-band power computations from neural power spectra can benefit from separating periodic and aperiodic components of the EEG. This study investigates if such techniques are more useful in separating patients with and without delirium in the PACU at the group level as opposed to conventional power spectra. Intraoperative EEG recordings of 32 patients who developed perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PACU-D) and 137 patients who did not (noPACU-D) were considered in this post-hoc secondary analysis. We calculated power spectra using conventional methods and applied the "fitting oscillations & one over f" (FOOOF) algorithm to separate aperiodic and periodic components to see if the EEG signature is different between groups. At the group level, noPACU-D and PACU-D patients presented with significantly higher alpha-band power and a broadband increase in power, allowing a "fair" separation based on conventional power spectra. Within the first third of emergence, the difference in median absolute alpha-band power amounted to 8.53dB (AUC:0.74[0.65;0.82]), reaching its highest value. In relative terms, the best separation was achieved in the second third of emergence with a difference in medians of 7.71% (AUC:0.70[0.61;0.79]). AUC values were generally lower towards the end of emergence with increasing arousal. Increased alpha-band power during emergence in noPACU-D patients can be traced back to an increase in oscillatory alpha activity and an overall increase in aperiodic broadband power. Although differences between PACU-D and noPACU-D patients can be detected relying on traditional methods, the separation of the signal allows a more detailed analysis. Together this may enable clinicians to detect patients at risk for PACU-D early in the emergence phase.

Oscillation of Sympathetic Activity in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea during the First Hour of Sleep.

(1) Background: Snoring is a cardinal symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and has been suggested to potentially increase sympathetic activity. On the other hand, sleep itself usually leads to a decrease in sympathetic activity. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a non-invasive technique used to assess autonomic nervous system function. However, there is limited research on the combined impact of sleep and snoring on sympathetic activity in individuals with OSA, particularly during the first hour of sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep). The current study aims to investigate the net effect of sleep and snoring on sympathetic activity and explore factors that might contribute to increased sympathetic activity in individuals with OSA during the first hour of sleep. (2) Methods: The participants were referred from the outpatient department for OSA diagnosis and underwent whole-night polysomnography (PSG). Electrocardiogram (EKG) data from the PSG were downloaded for HRV analysis. HRV measurements were conducted in both the time and frequency domain, including the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) and the ratio of the absolute power of the low-frequency (LF) band (0.04-0.15 Hz) to the absolute power of the high-frequency (HF) band (0.15-0.4 Hz) (LF/HF ratio), respectively. (3) Results: A total of 45 participants (38 men and 7 women) were included in the analysis. The RMSSD gradually increased from 0-5 min to 50-60 min (p = 0.024), while the LF/HF ratio decreased (p < 0.001) during the first hour of sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep). The LF/HF ratios of the "S" (snoring) episodes were compared with those of the pre-S episodes. An elevated LF/HF ratio during the S episode was associated with the first snoring episode occurring more than 20 min after lying down to sleep (Odds ratio, OR = 10.9, p = 0.004) and with patients diagnosed with severe OSA (OR = 5.01, p = 0.045), as determined by logistic regression. (4) Conclusions: The study observed an increase in the value of RMSSD and a decrease in the value of the LF/HF ratio during the first hour of sleep for patients with OSA. Higher LF/HF ratios were associated with the first occurrence of snoring while lying down for more than 20 min and with patients with severe OSA.

Birokrasi Pemerintahan Pendekatan Sistem Hukum Moral dan Manajemen dalam Upaya Pencegahan Korupsi di Indonesia

The bureaucracy has full authority in the management of government budgets and the delivery of public services. Bureaucratic power can lead to abuse of power and corruption in government activities. Lord Epton sad "power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely". The statement illustrates that government power has the opportunity to become corrupt. Corruption is the most serious problem not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. There are many strategies to fight it. Corruption has been successfully proven by experts and practitioners around the world. Today, there are three main approaches to fighting corruption. First, the legal approach that emphasizes the development of national laws through political decisions and emphasizes law enforcement that upholds the laws of the country. Second, the moral approach, which emphasizes efforts to persuade people not to do wrong and avoid abuse of power with self-awareness. Third, the management system approach emphasizes the development of a management system based on transparency and accountability. The third approach aims to eliminate opportunities for corruption by designing a management system that does not provide opportunities for government officials to commit corruption by providing space for the public to control all government activities through investigation and claim mechanisms. The first approach has weaknesses

Differences between hemispheres and in saccade latency regarding volleyball athletes and non-athletes during saccadic eye movements: an analysis using EEG.

The saccadic eye movement is responsible for providing focus to a visual object of interest to the retina. In sports like volleyball, identifying relevant targets quickly is essential to a masterful performance. The training improves cortical regions underlying saccadic action, enabling more automated processing in athletes. We investigated changes in the latency during the saccadic eye movement and the absolute theta power on the frontal and prefrontal cortices during the execution of the saccadic eye movement task in volleyball athletes and non-athletes. We hypothesized that the saccade latency and theta power would be lower due to training and perceptual-cognitive enhancement in volleyball players. We recruited 30 healthy volunteers: 15 volleyball athletes (11 men and 4 women; mean age: 15.08 ± 1.06 years) and 15 non-athletes (5 men and 10 women; mean age: 18.00 ± 1.46 years). All tasks were performed simultaneously with electroencephalography signal recording. The latency of the saccadic eye movement presented a significant difference between the groups; a shorter time was observed among the athletes, associated with the players' superiority in terms of attention level. During the experiment, the athletes observed a decrease in absolute theta power compared to non-athletes on the electrodes of each frontal and prefrontal area. In the present study, we observed the behavior of reaction time and absolute theta power in athletes and non-athletes during a saccadic movement task. Our findings corroborate the premise of cognitive improvement, mainly due to the reduction of saccadic latency and lower beta power, validating the neural efficiency hypothesis.

EEG alpha band characteristics in patients with a depressive episode within recurrent and bipolar depression.

The search for biological markers for the differential diagnosis of recurrent depression and bipolar depression is an important undertaking in modern psychiatry. Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of the promising tools in addressing this challenge. To identify differences in the quantitative characteristics of the electroencephalographic alpha band activity in patients with a depressive episode within the framework of recurrent depression and bipolar depression. Two groups of patients (all women) were formed: one consisting of subjects with recurrent depressive disorder and one with subjects experiencing a current mild/moderate episode (30 patients), and subjects with bipolar affective disorder or a current episode of mild or moderate depression (30 patients). The groups did not receive pharmacotherapy and did not differ in their socio-demographic parameters or total score on the Hamilton depression scale. A baseline electroencephalogram was recorded, and the quantitative characteristics of the alpha band activity were analyzed, including the absolute spectral power, interhemispheric coherence, and EEG activation. The patients with recurrent depressive disorder demonstrated statistically significantly lower values of the average absolute spectral power of the alpha band (z=2.481; p=0.042), as well as less alpha attenuation from eyes closed to eyes open (z=2.573; p=0.035), as compared with the patients with bipolar affective disorder. The presented quantitative characteristics of alpha activity are confirmation that patients with affective disorders of different origins also display distinctive electrophysiological features which can become promising biomarkers and could help separate bipolar depression from the recurrent type.

Privacy in hospitality: managing biometric and biographic data with immersive technology

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the implications, risks and challenges of data privacy due to the use of immersive technology in the hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a mixed-method approach. Study 1 is a focus group. The authors then provide external and ecological validity with a field experiment conducted with 139 hotel clients at a three-star continental European hotel.FindingsCollecting biometric data results in unbalanced privacy compared to biographic data, as it diminishes individuals’ control over their data and grants organizations absolute power. This unbalanced privacy directly influences consumers’ willingness to disclose information, affecting their choice of hotels and access to services.Practical implicationsHotels should redesign their strategies to accommodate heightened privacy risks with biometric data. This can be obtained by introducing systems that foster customer confidence in data usage and facilitate customers’ willingness to disclose biometrics through immersive technology or biographic data.Originality/valueThis study introduces unbalanced privacy as a unique state due to sharing biometric data. The authors propose a novel doctrine, the uncontrollable privacy paradox, which is a shift from the privacy paradox. The uncontrollable privacy paradox addresses the unbalanced privacy envisaged through consumer powerlessness in data management. This research addresses the literature gap on the privacy paradox by offering a broader perspective, including business, industry and mixed reality considerations.

Differences in generation and maintenance between ictal and interictal generalized spike-and-wave discharges in childhood absence epilepsy: A magnetoencephalography study

PurposeChildhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is characterized by impaired consciousness and distinct electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. However, interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) do not lead to noticeable symptoms. This study examines the disparity between ictal and interictal generalized spike-and-wave discharges (GSWDs) to determine the mechanisms behind CAE and consciousness. MethodsWe enrolled 24 patients with ictal and interictal GSWDs in the study. The magnetoencephalography (MEG) data were recorded before and during GSWDs at a sampling rate of 6000 Hz and analyzed across six frequency bands. The absolute and relative spectral power were estimated with the Minimum Norm Estimate (MNE) combined with the Welch technique. All the statistical analyses were performed using paired-sample tests. ResultsDuring GSWDs, the right lateral occipital cortex indicated a significant difference in the theta band (5–7 Hz) with stronger power (P = 0.027). The interictal group possessed stronger spectral power in the delta band (P < 0.01) and weaker power in the alpha band (P < 0.01) as early as 10 s before GSWDs in absolute and relative spectral power. Additionally, the ictal group revealed enhanced spectral power inside the occipital cortex in the alpha band and stronger spectral power in the right frontal regions within beta (15–29 Hz), gamma 1 (30–59 Hz), and gamma 2 (60–90 Hz) bands. ConclusionsGSWDs seem to change gradually, with local neural activity changing even 10 s before discharge. During GSWDs, visual afferent stimulus insensitivity could be related to the impaired response state in CAE. The inhibitory signal in the low-frequency band can shorten GSWD duration, thereby achieving seizure control through inhibitory effect strengthening.

Differences in the absolute muscle strength and power of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: a systematic review

This study aimed to describe absolute muscle strength and power in children and adolescents with obesity, overweight and normal weight, and the assessment tests and tools used. We retrieved observational studies from MEDLINE (PubMed), TripDataBase, Epistemonikos, EBSCO essentials, NICE, SCOPUS, and LILACs up to February 2023. In addition, we recovered data from studies with at least three comparison groups (obesity, overweight, normal weight) and with a description of the absolute muscle strength and power and the assessment tests and instruments used. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed with the Joanna Briggs checklist, and the review was carried out using the PRISMA 2020 methodology. Eleven studies with 13,451 participants from 6 to 18 years of age were once included, finding that the absolute muscle strength of their upper extremities was greater when they were overweight or obese; however, in the same groups, absolute muscle strength was lower when they carried their body weight. In addition, lower limb absolute muscle strength was significantly lower in obese participants than in normal weight, regardless of age and gender. The most used tools to measure the absolute muscle strength of the upper limbs were the grip dynamometers and push-up exercises. In contrast, different jump tests were used to measure the power of the lower limbs. There are great differences in muscle strength and power between overweight or obese children and adolescents and those with normal weight. Therefore, it is recommended to use validated tests, preferably that assess strength through the load of the patient’s body weight, either of the upper or lower limbs, for greater evaluation objectivity that facilitates the management of these children and adolescents.

Psychological Realism in the Arrow of God --- Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe’s, the third novel, Arrow of God centralizes around the struggle for power and authority between the African and Colonial traditions. Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of God Ulu is the protagonist who is in quest of wielding an absolute power throughout the novel. It is the study of psychology of power which incessantly switches directions, but can never be wholly acquired or seized. Achebe wavers between representing the good sides and bad sides of Christianity and Igbo religion reflecting his own ambivalence and split consciousness. To apply Freud’s theory to Achebe, we can say that Achebe had a wish to become English-like and to run away from everything that is native. On the other hand, a part of him rejects the white standards and clings to native ones. These two wishes overlap and integrate in his unconscious producing a creative writer whose ego-ideals are revealed in his writings wavering between the two cultures and their languages. His novel, Arrow of God criticizes and praises both his people and his colonizers simultaneously because of not being able to identify with either. Achebe’s own unconscious is reflected through the central character, Ezeulu who is also fascinated by the power of white man and his customs. The criticism of his native people never disturbed his mind. He goes against his obligations least concerning and considers his power as a device to accomplish his decisions. Towards the end of the novel, we witness him alienated both from his native culture and his white friends succumbing to tragedy. The Psychological Realism in the Arrow of God represents Freud’s three elements of personality - id, ego and superego controlling the basic needs, reality and morality. The mind is not the physical thing one can see through, but the effects of the actions of the mind on people’s lives are felt physically in the novel. Each character undergoes an unconscious thought process leading to anxiety and the eventual repression of thoughts.

Why does history surprise us?

The Russian military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 unveiled the illusory nature of our faith in the stability of the global political system. This belief was largely rooted in our short-term observations and naive expectations that political structures and social relationships were fixed points in the evolution of history. However, the reality is that we cannot assume the socio-political order we know to be the sole possible state, nor should we expect the transition to new solutions to occur smoothly. This study presents three agent-based models demonstrating how changes in socio-political structures can exhibit a discontinuous nature. These models include a social impact model with a strong leader, a model of interactions among competing social groups, and a model of structural balance dynamics. The discontinuous changes observed stem from the multistability of multiagent models, and the resulting transitions are both irreversible and exhibit hysteresis behaviour. All the transitions considered correspond to tipping points and the critical parameter values calculated through analytical approaches agree with the results of agent-based numerical simulations. The outcomes of these models exhibit qualitative agreement with historical data, particularly concerning the causes of the First World War and Adolf Hitler’s ascent to absolute power in Germany, while also complementing observed variations in connection density within echo chambers formed by conservative and liberal communities in U.S.

Electroencephalography characteristics related to risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy in patients with Dravet syndrome.

To investigate the quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) features associated with a high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS). Patients with DS and healthy controls (HCs) who underwent EEG were included in the study. EEG signals were recorded using a 21 channel digital EEG system, and pre-processed data were analyzed to identify quantitative EEG features associated with a high SUDEP risk. To assess the risk of SUDEP, SUDEP-7 scores were used. A total of 64 patients with DS [38 males and 26 females, aged: 128.51 ± 75.50 months (range: 23-380 months)], and 13 HCs [7 males and 6 females, aged: 95.46 ± 86.48 months (range: 13-263 months)] were included. For the absolute band power, the theta power was significantly higher in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central brain region. For the relative band power, the theta power was also significantly higher in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central and occipital brain regions. The alpha power was significantly lower in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central and parietal brain regions. Patients with high SUDEP-7 scores have different EEG features from those with low SUDEP-7 scores, suggesting that EEG may be used as a biomarker of SUDEP in DS. Early intervention in patients with DS at a high risk of SUDEP can reduce mortality and morbidity. Patients with high theta band powers warrant high-level supervision.

Non-suicidal Self-injury and Quantified Electroencephalogram in Adolescents and Young Adults with Depression.

: This study investigated the association between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and quantified electroencephalogram (QEEG) in patients with depression. We aimed to identify clinical features of NSSI and differences in QEEG findings. : This retrospective study used the medical records of 52 inpatients with major depressive episodes, aged from 15 to 30. The patients were categorized according to their history of NSSI. Their main diagnosis and sex were also considered. To evaluate clinical symptoms, self-reported scales were used. The absolute power and the Z-scores of various waves were included. : NSSI was associated with suicidal ideations (p = 0.001) and trauma history (p = 0.014). In the binary logistic regression analysis, the Z-score of absolute alpha power was higher on the FP2 node (p = 0.029), lower on the F4 node (p = 0.029) in the NSSI group. The absolute high beta power in the NSSI group was higher on the FP2 and the F3 node, but lower on the F7 and F8 node. Patients with NSSI showed higher Z-score of the absolute delta power at the FP2 node (p = 0.044). The absolute gamma power was higher on the FP2 (p = 0.012) and the F3 node (0.043), lower on the FP1 (p = 0.019) and the F7 node (0.018) in the NSSI group. The absolute high gamma power at the FP2 (p = 0.017) and F8 nodes (p = 0.045) were higher in the NSSI group. : Patients with NSSI may have clinical features distinct from those of patients without NSSI. QEEG results have shown some differences, although it is less applicable due to some limitations.

A Theory of Power Structure and Institutional Compatibility: China versus Europe Revisited

Abstract To better understand institutional differences across space and time, we propose a two-dimensional framework of the power structure among three players in society: the degree of absolute power of the Ruler over the Elites and the People, and the degree of asymmetry between the latter two in terms of their everyday rights and power. Within this framework, we show that a more absolutist Ruler prefers a more balanced Elite–People relationship. This theory helps in particular to reconcile views on the comparison between imperial China and premodern Europe that would seem contradictory in one-dimensional or two-estate frameworks: the Ruler’s absolute power was weaker in Europe, whereas the Elite–People relationship was more balanced in China. Our approach also helps more generally to interpret specific institutions and other variations in power structures.

The effect of gradual ovarian failure on dynamic muscle function and the role of high-intensity interval training on mitigating impairments.

Skeletal muscle contractile function is impaired in menopause and exercise may mitigate this decline. We used the 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) model of menopause to investigate the effects of gradual ovarian failure on skeletal muscle contractile function and whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can mitigate impairments. Sexually mature female CD-1 mice were assigned to one of three groups: control sedentary (n = 5), VCD-sedentary (n = 5), or VCD-training (n = 5). Following ovarian failure (a 4-mo process), the VCD-training group underwent 8 wk of uphill HIIT. Mice were euthanized 8 wk after ovarian failure, representing late menopause. Single fibers from the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were dissected, chemically permeabilized, and mechanically tested. Single muscle fibers were maximally activated (pCa 4.5), then isotonic load clamps were performed to evaluate force-velocity-power relationships. Absolute force and peak power were 31.0% and 32.2% lower in VCD-sedentary fibers compared with control fibers, respectively, in both SOL and EDL muscles. Despite reductions in absolute force, there were no concomitant increases in contractile velocity to preserve power production. HIIT attenuated force loss in the VCD-training group such that peak force was not different from the control group across muscles and was partially effective at mitigating power loss (21.7% higher peak power in VCD-training compared with VCD-sedentary) but only in fast-type SOL fibers. These findings indicate that ovarian failure impairs dynamic contractile function-likely through a combination of lower force-generating capacity and slower shortening velocity-and that HIIT may be insufficient to completely counteract the deleterious effects of menopause at the cellular level.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used the VCD model of menopause to investigate the effects of gradual ovarian failure on skeletal muscle contractile function and whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can mitigate impairments. Our findings indicate that ovarian failure impairs dynamic contractile function-likely through a combination of lower force-generating capacity and slower shortening velocity-and that HIIT may be insufficient to completely counteract the deleterious effects of menopause at the cellular level.

Freedom and Necessity of the Creative Act: The Cosmological Aspect of Kandinsky's Principle of Inner Necessity

AbstractThis article argues that freedom in the divine creative act is better understood as a freedom of consent rather than freedom of will. However, even if some conundrums are thus avoided, one has to face the apparent antinomy between both God's creative act from His very nature and God's absolute freedom. Freedom of consent, as defined in David Burrell's works, finds a resonance with the French spiritualist philosopher, Henri Bergson, who resolves the apparent antinomy by showing that the necessity of the action springs from the nature of the self in a way that does not contradict the free perpetual auto‐creation of the consciousness. Notwithstanding its defects, the artisan model found in Genesis allows one to draw a parallelism between the divine creative act and artistic creation. Kandinsky faced precisely such an antinomy, for his principle of inner necessity combines both the absolute free creative power of the artist and the necessity emerging from the different levels of the cosmic order. To exemplify Kandinsky's solution, this article offers an original reading of Painting with White Border, based on Kandinsky's analysis in Reminiscences.

Dynamics of TP, HF-, LF- and VLF- Waves of the Cardiointervalogram (in Clinostasis Conditions) of an Elite Ski Racer in the Preparatory, Competitive and Transitional Periods, Depending on the Volume and Intensity of Training Loads

In order to study the mechanisms of adaptation to loads requiring high endurance, the 27-year-old master of Sports of Russia in cross-country skiing repeatedly recorded a cardiointervalogram (CIG) under clinostasis conditions, estimating TP, absolute power (mc2) of LF-, HF- and VLF-waves and the relative (as a percentage of TP) power of these waves, i.e. LF%, HF% and VLF%. They were compared with the volume (Vkm, Vmin) and intensity (Nhr) of training loads. The volume of loads was maximum in the preparatory period (21 km/day) and it is minimal in the transition period (18 km/day), and their intensity throughout the annual cycle was stable (working pulse – 120–121 beats/min). With the change in the volume of loads, the values of the KIG indicators also changed. So, in the preparatory period, the medians of TP, the power of HF-, LF- and VLF-waves, as well as VLF% increase; in this period, with an increase in the volume of loads (Vkm), the values of VLF% increase. In the competitive period, the medians of TP, the power of HF-, LF- and VLF-waves and VLF% remain at a high level. In the transition period, the median of TP, the power HF-, LF- and VLF-waves, as well as LF% and VLF%, but the median of HF% increases. For the annual cycle, a direct dependence of the median of TP on the volume of loads (Vkm) and the median power of VLF waves on the volume (Vkm) and intensity (Nhr) of the load was revealed. It is postulated that the values of TP, HF-, LF-, and VLF-waves, as well as VLF% (in clinostasis) reflect the influence of the Cholinergic system on the heart, while VLF% probably reflects the intensity of synthesis of non-neuronal heart’s acetylcholine, and the values of LF% and HF% reflect the formation of anxiety in connection with upcoming starts.

Acute physiological responses to eccentric cycling: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eccentric cycling (ECC<inf>CYC</inf>) has attracted considerable interest due to its potential applicability for exercise treatment/training of patients with poor exercise tolerance as well as healthy and trained individuals. Conversely, little is known about the acute physiological responses to this exercise modality, thus challenging its proper prescription. This study aimed to provide precise estimates of the acute physiological responses to ECC<inf>CYC</inf> in comparison to traditional concentric cycling (CON<inf>CYC</inf>). Searches were performed until November 2021 using the PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Studies that examined individuals' cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to ECC<inf>CYC</inf> and CON<inf>CYC</inf> sessions were included. Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate the population mean difference between acute physiological responses from ECC<inf>CYC</inf> and CON<inf>CYC</inf> bouts. Twenty-one studies were included in this review. The meta-analyses showed that ECC<inf>CYC</inf> induced lower cardiorespiratory (i.e., V̇O<inf>2</inf>, V̇E, and HR), metabolic (i.e., [BLa]), and perceptual (i.e., RPE) responses than CON<inf>CYC</inf> performed at the same absolute power output, while greater cardiovascular strain (i.e., greater increases in HR, Q, MAP, [norepinephrine], and lower SV) was detected when compared to CON<inf>CYC</inf> performed at the same V̇O<inf>2</inf>. The prescription of ECC<inf>CYC</inf> based on workloads used in the CON<inf>CYC</inf> sessions may be considered safe and, therefore, feasible for the rehabilitation of individuals with poor exercise tolerance. However, the prescription of ECC<inf>CYC</inf> based on the V̇O<inf>2</inf> obtained during CON<inf>CYC</inf> sessions should be conducted with caution, especially in clinical settings, since there is a high probability of additional cardiovascular overload in this condition.

Quantitative Comparison of Brain Waves of Dyslexic Students With Perceptual and Linguistic Types With Normal Students in Reading.

The aim of this study was to compare the brain wave pattern of two groups of dyslexic students with perceptual and linguistic types with normal students in reading. In this study, 27 students (24 boys and 3 girls) from first to fifth grade with an Mean±SD of age 8.16±10.09 years participated. Eight students with perceptual type dyslexia, ten students with linguistic type dyslexia, and nine normal students with reading were selected by purposive sampling method. After removing noise and artifacts, the data were converted into quantitative digits using Neuroguide software and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the results, the linguistic group and the normal group differed in the relative power of the alpha wave in the two channels Fp1 and Fp2, but there was no difference between the three linguistic, perceptual, and normal groups in the absolute power of the four waves of the delta, theta, alpha, and beta. The relative power spectrum of the alpha band in the forehead can be significantly related to dyslexia problems as seen in the linguistic type.

Absolute Power and Unsustainable Tyranny

This article explores Roman political theory on the legitimacy and use of emperors’ absolute power. Circa 55 C.E., Seneca, a Stoic philosopher and senior advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero, authored the treatise De Clementia, in which he advised the young emperor to rule with clemency and moderation. Despite the rich body of scholarship that examines this treatise, there is an absence of academic analyses that situate De Clementia within the context of the governmental mechanics of Rome. In this article, I argue that Seneca’s treatise depicts Nero’s supreme authority as contingent upon his capacity to uphold his obligations as an emperor. Further, I contend that this interpretation provides a genuine account of the political relations between Nero’s regime and Rome’s political elite that have not been examined in detail by previous scholarship on De Clementia. Finally, I posit that this treatise reveals how those operating at the top of Rome’s political hierarchy understood the emperor’s possession of absolute power to be tenuous and therefore cultivated tactics to maintain the longevity of the reigning regime.

ELV POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AS A SOLUTION TO ABANDONED VEHICLES PROBLEMS FACED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY IN MALAYSIA

End of Life Vehicle (ELV) is a vehicle that has reached the end of it service life due to the age or condition of the vehicle itself that is no longer roadworthy. Several countries namely EU countries, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have their own law and policy being implemented to deal with the disposal of ELV through recycling system management which includes the process to de-register, dismantling, depollution and recycling. However, since Malaysia do not implement such policy, the old and unused vehicles are just being abandoned by the roadsides and also housing area. Eventually, it will become a nuisance and eye sore to the public as well as impacting the environment and quality of life. The objective of this study is to examine the legislations and procedures adopted by the local authorities in dealing with these abandoned vehicles, to identify the challenges and to find solution in solving this abandoned vehicles issues. This research employed a qualitative methodology by analysing available legislations, conducting interviews with the enforcement officers from the selected local authorities. References to other jurisdictions were also made to learn a lessons from their practices. At the end of the research, it was found out that the current procedures being enforced through the limited powers given under existing provisions are unable to solve the increasing number of abandoned vehicles. Therefore, this research proposed law and policy to regulate End-of-Life Vehicles and amending the Street and Drainage Building Act 1974 to give absolute power to Local Authority to deregister the abandoned vehicles.