Alarm Response Research Articles

Prospective Memory as A Function of Reward Responsiveness and Ongoing Task Difficulty

Prospective Memory is the capability to remember to perform planned actions in the future. The experiment aimed to investigate the event-based Prospective Memory task performance of young adults as function of reward-responsiveness and difficulty in ongoing task. For the present experiment total 120 young adults-76 females and 44 males had been taken on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Convenience sampling method was used. BIS/BAS scale was administered to find out group of participants with (low, medium and high) reward- responsiveness and they were exposed to two experimental conditions (Prospective memory task embedded in simple and complex ongoing task) to investigate their prospective memory task performance. In Prospective memory task embedded in simple ongoing task total 60 words were presented to them, where each slide contained only one word at the middle. Among those, 18 words were presented as Prospective Memory target word. The target words were any country name with red colour. And the other 42 words were any type of word with any colour. Target and nontarget words were presented randomly. Participants’ task was to say ‘present’ to the target words and find out ‘parts of speech’ from the rest of the words. In Prospective memory task embedded in complex ongoing task same number of words were presented but additionally there were one-digit numbers, each of which was presented beside each word. Here the participants’ task was to say ‘present’ to the Indian city name written with black colour as this was the Prospective memory target word. Participant’s task was to find out ‘parts of speech’ from the rest of words as well as sum up all the one-digit numbers from beginning to end of stimulus presentation. To investigate the event-based prospective memory signal detection paradigm was used as this method enables to understand the accuracy as well as inaccuracy of performance in terms of both right and wrong response. Right response consists of Hit and correct rejection and wrong response or error can be defined as error of omission (miss) and error of commission (false alarm). The result revealed that there is significant mean difference on the Prospective memory task performance between participants of low and high reward responsiveness group in terms of hit responses and true proportion of correct detection. There is significant mean difference on the Prospective memory task performance between participants of (low-high), (low-medium) and (medium-high) reward responsiveness group in terms of false alarm responses. There is significant effect of ongoing task difficulty on Prospective Memory task performance among the participants of (low, medium & high) reward responsiveness group. No significant interaction effect of reward responsiveness and ongoing task difficulty has been found on Prospective Memory task performance.

Fundulus catenatus(Northern Studfish) Response to the Potential Alarm Cue Chondroitin Sulfate

Abstract The evolution of organismal cue-response systems can allow for an effective behavioral reaction to various environmental signals. In aquatic habitats, the reception of certain chemical cues can increase individual fitness of organisms by serving as an indicator of predation threat. In some fish species, damage to an individual's epidermal cells causes release of a substance that functions as an alarm cue and consequently initiates defense responses in neighboring prey. Recent research on the chemical makeup of the substance that elicits an anti-predator response in Danio rerio (Hamilton) (Zebrafish) revealed that chondroitin fragments were a key component in this substance. The goal of our study was to investigate the ability of chondroitin to elicit an alarm response in Fundulus catenatus (Storer) (Northern Studfish). This species is a small-bodied killifish native to southeastern to south-central USA and is associated with topwater habitats near aquatic and/or overhanging vegetation. We hypothe...

Greater Heart Rate Responses to Acute Stress Are Associated with Better Post-Error Adjustment in Special Police Cadets.

High-stress jobs require both appropriate physiological regulation and behavioral adjustment to meet the demands of emergencies. Here, we investigated the relationship between the autonomic stress response and behavioral adjustment after errors in special police cadets. Sixty-eight healthy male special police cadets were randomly assigned to perform a first-time walk on an aerial rope bridge to induce stress responses or a walk on a cushion on the ground serving as a control condition. Subsequently, the participants completed a Go/No-go task to assess behavioral adjustment after false alarm responses. Heart rate measurements and subjective reports confirmed that stress responses were successfully elicited by the aerial rope bridge task in the stress group. In addition, greater heart rate increases during the rope bridge task were positively correlated with post-error slowing and had a trend of negative correlation with post-error miss rate increase in the subsequent Go/No-go task. These results suggested that stronger autonomic stress responses are related to better post-error adjustment under acute stress in this highly selected population and demonstrate that, under certain conditions, individuals with high-stress jobs might show cognitive benefits from a stronger physiological stress response.

Soybean Aphid Response to their Alarm Pheromone E-ß-Farnesene (EBF)

When attacked by natural enemies some insect pests, including many aphid species, alert neighboring conspecifics with alarm pheromones. Cornicle secretions with pheromones benefit the attacked aphid but are costly to produce, while alarm pheromone benefits probably fall largely on alerted conspecifics. Given these variable benefits, the likelihood of a secretion may change depending on aphid density. Thus, we first hypothesized that the common alarm pheromone in aphids, E-s-farnesene (EBF), was present in soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) cornicle secretions and would elicit an alarm response in aphids exposed to it. Second, since aphids other than the secretor also benefit from cornicle secretions, we hypothesized that the likelihood of secretion would increase concurrently with the density of neighboring clonal conspecifics. Third, because alarm reaction behavior (e.g. feeding cessation) is probably costly, we hypothesized that alarm reaction behavior would decrease as conspecific density (i.e. alternative prey for an attacking natural enemy) increased. We found that soybean aphids 1) produce cornicle secretions using EBF as an alarm pheromone, 2) are less likely to release cornicle secretions when alone than in a small group (~10 individuals), but that the rate of secretion does not increase further with additional conspecific density, and 3) also exhibit alarm reaction behavior in response to cornicle secretions independent of aphid density. We show that soybean aphids can use their cornicle secretions to warn their neighbors of probable attack by natural enemies, but that both secretion and alarm reaction behavior does not change as density of nearby conspecifics rises above a few individuals.

An integrated alarm display design in digital nuclear power plants

In main control rooms of nuclear power plants (NPPs), operators often have to frequently switch their attention between alarm displays and system information displays to incorporate information from different screens. In this study, we proposed the idea of integrating system information into alarm displays. A bar-based integrated design of alarm display was proposed, and it was compared against a tile-based integrated design, and a traditional separate design through a lab experiment. To verify the idea of integration, forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to the three integration conditions to perform basic alarm response tasks, and their situation awareness levels and subjective evaluations were collected. The results indicated that the participants preferred the idea of integrating system information into alarm displays. Besides, the bar-based integrated display supported higher correct rate of answers to situation awareness questions related to the developing scenario than the tile-based integrated design. The idea of integrating system information into alarm displays merits further research and may be applicable to other safety–critical industries.

Neural Correlates of the Perception of Spoiled Food Stimuli.

The elicitation of disgust by the view of spoiled and rotten foods is considered as an adaptation preventing the ingestion of harmful microorganisms and pathogens. To provide an effective behavioral defense, inedible food items need to be detected automatically, i.e., in the absence of explicit processing goals, early in the processing stream, and triggering an alarm response, i.e., increased attentional capture. To examine these hypotheses, a set of stimulus material consisting of images of perishable foods (i.e., dairies, meats, fruits, and vegetables) at various stages of natural decay ranging from appetitive to disgusting was developed. In separate sessions, functional imaging and dense sensor event related potential (ERP) data were collected while participants (N = 24) viewed the stimulus materials. Functional imaging data indicated larger activations in the extrastriate visual cortex during the processing of inedible as compared to edible food items. Furthermore, ERP recordings indicated that the processing of inedible food stimuli was associated with a relative positivity over inferior occipital sensor sites already at early stages of processing (<200 ms), and subsequently, an increased late positive potential (LPP) over parieto-occipital sensor regions. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the brain’s sensitivity to visual cues of foods that are spoiled or rotten.

Alarm handling for health monitoring: Operator strategies used in an electrical control room of a rail network

Alarm management is a key component of the successful operation of a prognostic or health-monitoring technology. Although alarms can alert the operator to critical information, false alarms and alarm flooding can cause major difficulties for successfully diagnosing and acting upon infrastructure faults. Human factors approaches seek to design more-effective alarm systems through a deep understanding of the contextual factors that influence alarm response, including strategies and heuristics used by operators. This paper presents an extensive analysis of alarm-handling activity in the setting of an Electrical Control Room on the rail network. The analysis is based on contextual observation, and the application of a time-stamped observation checklist. Functions, performance requirements, and general operating conditions that influence alarm handling are presented, delineating the typical operational constraints that need to be considered in the design and deployment of asset-based alarm systems. The analysis of specific alarm-handling incidents reveals the use of specific strategies that may bias operator performance. Implications for the design of health-monitoring systems are discussed.

Evidence for a Nest Defense Pheromone in Bald-Faced Hornets, Dolichovespula Maculata, and Identification of Components.

In eusocial insects like Bald-faced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata, nest defense is essential because nests contain a large number of protein-rich larvae and pupae, and thus are attractive to nest predators. Our objectives were to investigate whether D. maculata exhibit pheromone-mediated nest defense, and to identify and field test any pheromone components. We tested for pheromone-mediated nest defense behavior of D. maculata by placing a paired box-apparatus near the entrance of D. maculata nests, and treating both boxes with a solvent control, or one of the two boxes with a solvent control and the other with either venom sac extract, the putative source of nest defense pheromone, or synthetic pheromone. The sound impulses caused by nest mates attempting to sting or strike the boxes were recorded for 3min. Compared to the double-control treatment, the number of strikes increased 27-fold when one of the two boxes was treated with venom sac extract, providing evidence for an alarm response. The box treated with venom sac extract also induced a significantly greater proportion of strikes than the corresponding control box, providing evidence for a target-oriented response. Analyzing venom sac extract by gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of seven candidate pheromone components: (a) dimethylaminoethanol, (b) dimethylamino ethyl acetate, (c) 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, (d) N-3-methylbutylacetamide, (e) 2-heptadecanone, (f) (Z)-8-heptadecen-2-one, and (g) (Z)-10-nonadecen-2-one. Testing in paired-box bioassays blends of the nitrogen-containing volatile components a-d, the less volatile ketones e-g, or both (a-g), indicated that a-d primarily have an alarm function. The ketones e-g, in contrast, induced target-oriented responses, possibly marking the box, or potential nest predators, for guided and concerted attacks, or enhancing the alarm-inducing effect of the volatile pheromone components, as shown in honey bees. Comparing the behavioral effects of venom sac extract, blends a-d, e-g, and a-g, venom sac extract was most effective in triggering the full complement of alarm and target-oriented responses. These comparisons further suggested that a component is missing in the group of components that triggers the alarm rather than the target-oriented response.

Dangerous Pressurization and Inappropriate Alarms during Water Occlusion of the Expiratory Circuit of Commonly Used Infant Ventilators.

BackgroundNon-invasive continuous positive airways pressure is commonly a primary respiratory therapy delivered via multi-purpose ventilators in premature newborns. Expiratory limb occlusion due to water accumulation or ‘rainout’ from gas humidification is a frequent issue. A case of expiratory limb occlusion due to rainout causing unexpected and excessive repetitive airway pressurisation in a Draeger VN500 prompted a systematic bench test examination of currently available ventilators.ObjectiveTo assess neonatal ventilator response to partial or complete expiratory limb occlusion when set to non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure mode.DesignSeven commercially available neonatal ventilators connected to a test lung using a standard infant humidifier circuit with partial and/or complete expiratory limb occlusion were examined in a bench test study. Each ventilator was set to deliver 6 cmH2O in non-invasive mode and respiratory mechanics data for 75%, 80% and 100% occlusion were collected.ResultsSeveral ventilators responded inappropriately with complete occlusion by cyclical pressurisation/depressurisation to peak pressures of between 19·4 and 64·6 cm H2O at rates varying between 2 to 77 inflations per minute. Tidal volumes varied between 10·1 and 24·3mL. Alarm responses varied from ‘specific’ (tube occluded) to ‘ambiguous’ (Safety valve open). Carefusion Avea responded by continuing to provide the set distending pressure and displaying an appropriate alarm message. Draeger Babylog 8000 did not alarm with partial occlusions and incorrectly displayed airways pressure at 6·1cmH2O compared to the measured values of 13cmH2O.ConclusionsThis study found a potential for significant adverse ventilator response due to complete or near complete expiratory limb occlusion in CPAP mode.

An Ethnographic Observational Study to Evaluate and Optimize the Use of Respiratory Acoustic Monitoring in Children Receiving Postoperative Opioid Infusions.

Respiratory depression in children receiving postoperative opioid infusions is a significant risk because of the interindividual variability in analgesic requirement. Detection of respiratory depression (or apnea) in these children may be improved with the introduction of automated acoustic respiratory rate (RR) monitoring. However, early detection of adverse events must be balanced with the risk of alarm fatigue. Our objective was to evaluate the use of acoustic RR monitoring in children receiving opioid infusions on a postsurgical ward and identify the causes of false alarm and optimal alarm thresholds. A video ethnographic study was performed using an observational, mixed methods approach. After surgery, an acoustic RR sensor was placed on the participant's neck and attached to a Rad87 monitor. The monitor was networked with paging for alarms. Vital signs data and paging notification logs were obtained from the central monitoring system. Webcam videos of the participant, infusion pump, and Rad87 monitor were recorded, stored on a secure server, and subsequently analyzed by 2 research nurses to identify the cause of the alarm, response, and effectiveness. Alarms occurring within a 90-second window were grouped into a single-alarm response opportunity. Data from 49 patients (30 females) with median age 14 (range, 4.4-18.8) years were analyzed. The 896 bedside vital sign threshold alarms resulted in 160 alarm response opportunities (44 low RR, 74 high RR, and 42 low SpO2). In 141 periods (88% of total), for which video was available, 65% of alarms were deemed effective (followed by an alarm-related action within 10 minutes). Nurses were the sole responders in 55% of effective alarms and the patient or parent in 20%. Episodes of desaturation (SpO2 < 90%) were observed in 9 patients: At the time of the SpO2 paging trigger, the RR was >10 bpm in 6 of 9 patients. Based on all RR samples observed, the default alarm thresholds, to serve as a starting point for each patient, would be a low RR of 6 (>10 years of age) and 10 (4-9 years of age). In this study, the use of RR monitoring did not improve the detection of respiratory depression. An RR threshold, which would have been predictive of desaturations, would have resulted in an unacceptably high false alarm rate. Future research using a combination of variables (e.g., SpO2 and RR), or the measurement of tidal volumes, may be needed to improve patient safety in the postoperative ward.

Individual differences in incorrect responding and the ability to discriminate the source of the products of retrieval.

When memory is tested, researchers are often interested in the items that were correctly recalled or recognized, while ignoring or factoring out trials where one "recalls" or "recognizes" a nonstudied item. However, intrusions and false alarms are more than nuisance data and can provide key insights into the memory system. The present article reports 2 experiments demonstrating that people are remarkably consistent in the rate at which they incorrectly report memory for nonstudied items, even across a range of differing stimuli and test features. Experiment 1 found that individual differences in false alarms and intrusions were strongly related, even while controlling for the shared influence of memory ability on these incorrect response types. Furthermore, intrusion rate was found to be related to response bias as well, but this effect was suppressed by the shared influence of memory ability, demonstrating that an independent measure of memory ability is an important control in investigations into individual differences in response bias. Experiment 2 revealed that the relations between intrusions and false alarm rate and response bias were entirely explained by one's ability to discriminate episodic memories from semantic generation. This work links together previous work on individual differences in intrusions and in false alarms, and highlights the ability to identify the source of a memory as the key cognitive trait underlying incorrect response styles on various memory tests. (PsycINFO Database Record

An astigmatid defence volatile against a phytoseiid mite

AbstractNumerous semiochemicals have been isolated from several species of astigmatid mites with various identified or unidentified functions. Alarm pheromonal activity is widespread with neryl formate and neral, being the most common compounds eliciting alarm response in conspecifics. The cosmopolitan astigmatid mite Suidasia medanensis (= S. pontifica) Oudemans (Acari: Suidasidae) has been reported to use neral as an alarm pheromone, but neral can also act as an allomone towards predators of oribatid mites. Suidasia medanensis can be utilised as a factitious prey for mass‐rearing of the phytoseiid predatory mite Amblyseius (= Typhlodromips) swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), which is used for biological control of insect and mite pests in protected crops. This study investigated the potential defence properties of the S. medanensis volatiles against A. swirskii, comparing the repellency to pollen‐reared (naïve) vs. S. medanensis‐reared (experienced) predators using a synthetic blend of the isomers neral and geranial (1:1) as a model compound. In a repellency bioassay, the synthetic blend elicited a significant repellence to A. swirskii with no difference between naïve and experienced predators. During capture success studies, S. medanensis under repeated attack could release sufficient quantities of the defence volatile to deter 1–5 attacks from A. swirskii, whereas hexane‐treated S. medanensis artificially depleted of volatiles were significantly more vulnerable to an attack. This is the first report of an astigmatid defence volatile with repellent activity to a phytoseiid mite and the starting point to understanding semiochemical interactions in any current or novel factitious predator‐prey mass‐rearing system.

The nature of alarm communication in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Termitoidea: Termitidae): the integration of chemical and vibroacoustic signals.

ABSTRACTAlarm signalling is of paramount importance to communication in all social insects. In termites, vibroacoustic and chemical alarm signalling are bound to operate synergistically but have never been studied simultaneously in a single species. Here, we inspected the functional significance of both communication channels in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), confirming the hypothesis that these are not exclusive, but rather complementary processes. In natural situations, the alarm predominantly attracts soldiers, which actively search for the source of a disturbance. Laboratory testing revealed that the frontal gland of soldiers produces a rich mixture of terpenoid compounds including an alarm pheromone. Extensive testing led to identification of the alarm pheromone being composed of abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons (1S)-α-pinene and myrcene, along with a minor component, (E)-β-ocimene. The vibratory alarm signalling consists of vibratory movements evidenced as bursts; a series of beats produced predominantly by soldiers. Exposing termite groups to various mixtures containing the alarm pheromone (crushed soldier heads, frontal gland extracts, mixture of all monoterpenes, and the alarm pheromone mixture made of standards) resulted in significantly higher activity in the tested groups and also increased intensity of the vibratory alarm communication, with the responses clearly dose-dependent. Lower doses of the pheromone provoked higher numbers of vibratory signals compared to higher doses. Higher doses induced long-term running of all termites without stops necessary to perform vibratory behaviour. Surprisingly, even crushed worker heads led to low (but significant) increases in the alarm responses, suggesting that other unknown compound in the worker's head is perceived and answered by termites. Our results demonstrate the existence of different alarm levels in termites, with lower levels being communicated through vibratory signals, and higher levels causing general alarm or retreat being communicated through the alarm pheromone.

Sound the alarm: Health and safety risks associated with alarm response for salaried and retained metropolitan firefighters

Responding to an emergency alarm poses a significant risk to firefighters’ health and safety, particularly to cardiovascular health, physical and psychological stress, and fatigue. These risks have been largely categorised for salaried firefighters working ‘on station’. Less is known about the factors that contribute to these risks for the vast number of non-salaried personnel who serve in retained roles, often deploying from home. The present study investigated the alarm response procedure for Australian metropolitan fire fighters, identifying common and divergent sources of risk for salaried and retained staff. There were significant differences in procedure between the two workgroups and this resulted in differences in risk profile between groups. Sleep and fatigue, actual response to the alarm stimulus, work-life balance and trauma emerged as sources of risk experienced differently by salaried and retained firefighters. Key findings included reports of fatigue in both groups, but particularly in the case of retained firefighters who manage primary employment as well as their retained position. This also translated into a poor sense of work-life balance. Both groups reported light sleep, insufficient sleep or fragmented sleep as a result of alarm response. In the case of salaried firefighters, this was associated with being woken on station when other appliances are called. There were risks from physical and psychological responses to the alarm stimulus, and reports of sleep inertia when driving soon after waking. The findings of this study highlight the common and divergent risks for these workgroups, and could be used in the ongoing management of firefighters’ health and safety.

Marmot biology: sociality, individual fitness, and population dynamics

Introduction Part I. The Diversity and Evolutionary History of Marmots: 1. Marmots in human culture: from folklore to research 2. Marmots: their history and diversity 3. Marmot habitats 4. Use of resources 5. Evolution of sociality 6. Body-mass variation 7. Hibernation energetics and the circannual rhythm Part II. Biotic and Abiotic Environments: 8. The environment of the yellow-bellied marmot 9. Environmental physiology Part III. Social Structure and Behavior of the Yellow-Bellied Marmot: 10. The role of kinship: resource sharing 11. The role of kinship: social behavior and matriline dynamics 12. Social behavior: play and individuality 13. Communication 14. Alarm responses of the yellow-bellied marmot Part IV. Reproductive Success: 15. Male reproductive success 16. Female reproductive success Part V. Population Dynamics: 17. Basic demography 18. Dispersal and immigration 19. Metapopulation dynamics 20. Population regulation or population limitation Part VI. The Future of Marmots: 21. Climate change and conservation 22. Major life-history traits References Index.

Physiological responses of tobacco plants (Nicotiana rustica) pretreated with ethanolamine to salt stress

Plant exposure to stress results in the decomposition of their cell membrane phospholipids, and therefore it can elevate the level of EA (ethanolamine) in the cell, and this elevated level of EA induces an alarm response that activates cellular resistance and tolerance mechanisms. In the present study, in vitro cultured tobacco plants (Nicotiana rustica L.) were pretreated with ethanolamine (EA) before salt treatment. After 3 weeks of salt treatment (200 mM NaCl), the plants pretreated with exogenous EA showed the elevated levels of SOD, CAT and APX activity compared with unpretreated plants. Furthermore, total antioxidant capacity, fresh and dry weight and the content of photosynthetic pigments were also increased. In contrast, H2O2 content decreased under similar conditions. According to the results of this study, it can be suggested that EA pretreatment increased salt tolerance of tobacco plants at least partly by stimulation of antioxidative responses.

Volatile compound diversity and conserved alarm behaviour in Triatoma dimidiata.

BackgroundTriatoma dimidiata (Latreille) is a key vector complex of Trypanosoma cruzi, etiologic agent of Chagas disease, as it spans North, Central, and South America. Although morphological and genetic studies clearly indicate existence of at least five clades within the species, there has been no robust or systematic revision, or appropriate nomenclature change for species within the complex. Three of the clades (haplogroups) are distributed in Mexico, and recent evidence attests to dispersal of clades across previously “presumed” monotypic geographic regions. Evidence of niche conservatism among sister species of this complex suggests that geographic dispersal is possible for non-sympatric populations, although no information is available on the behavioural aspects of potential interclade interactions, for instance whether differentiation of chemical signaling or response to these signals could impede communication among the haplogroups.MethodsVolatiles emitted by disturbed bugs, Brindley’s (BGs), and metasternal (MGs) glands were identified using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Volatile compounds emitted by BGs and MGs, and those secreted by disturbed nymphs and adults, of the three Mexican T. dimidiata haplogroups were tested for avoidance behaviour by conspecific nymphs and adults using an olfactometer.ResultsTriatoma dimidiata haplogroups all have three age-related alarm responses: absence of response by early stage nymphs, stage-specific response by 4-5th stage nymphs, and a shared 4-5th nymph and adult response to adult compounds. Disturbed bugs released 15 to 24 compounds depending on the haplogroup, among which were three pyrazines, the first report of these organoleptics in Triatominae. Isobutyric acid from BGs was the most abundant molecule in the response in all haplogroups, in addition to 15 (h1) to 21 (h2 and h3) MG compounds. Avoidance behaviour of disturbed bugs and volatiles emitted by BGs were haplogroup specific, while those from the MG were not.ConclusionsDiscriminant and cluster analysis of BG + MG compounds indicate significant separation among the three haplogroups, while alarm response compounds were similar between h2 and h3, both distinct from h1. This latter haplogroup is ancestral phylogenetically to the other two. Our results suggest that alarm responses are a conserved behaviour in the Triatoma dimidiata complex.

Size-based differences determine the contextual value of risky information in heterospecific information use

Behavioural responses to damage-released chemical cues in aquatic species are often examined with emphases on the potential survival benefits accrued by conspecific receivers in accordance with the hypothesis of taxonomic cue conservation. Nevertheless, chemical cues are publically available to any capable receivers in aquatic systems, and therefore convey information on ambient risk levels to unrelated prey species and on the availability of foraging opportunities to potential predators. Many documented alarm response patterns by heterospecific receivers closely match those of conspecifics, suggesting that the contextual value of public information on risk conveyed by alarm cues may be at least as important as their conserved value. To further explore this relationship, we compared the antipredator responses of shoals of three large or three small female Trinidadian guppies, Poecilia reticulata , to conspecific cues or cues from larger or smaller Hart's rivulus, Rivulus hartii , donors to quantify the relative values of publicly available information. Shoals of large female guppies demonstrated functionally similar antipredator responses to damage-released cues from conspecifics and larger heterospecifics, and no response to the damage-released cues from smaller heterospecifics or the kairomones of larger heterospecifics. Shoals of small guppies demonstrated significant antipredator responses to the damage-released cues of size-matched rivulus, but not to those of larger rivulus or to the odours of either size class. Collectively, these results indicate that potential prey assign at least equal importance to conspecific and public chemical cues from unrelated members of the same prey guild indicating elevated levels of predation risk in natural systems.

No Alarms and no Surprises: How Qualitative Data Informs Bayesian Inference of Anticipated Alarm Sounds

Operators of control rooms may become desensitized when they are exposed to a large number of alarms. Minimizing the number of non-actionable alarms can reduce this safety hazard. However, existing practice fails to address how operators anticipate system events, and discards valuable feedback signals. We observed five operators in three satellite control rooms to assess the functionality of their alarm design. We recorded 140 auditory signals, of which 31 were labeled as alarms. Two of these alarms were actionable. Transitional Journey Maps were used to represent qualitative interview data and observation data. Statement analysis revealed that operators anticipated the majority of the alarms. Bayesian inference related anticipation to response behavior. Case-by-case analysis identified various non-actionable anticipated alarms as feedback signals. Existing practice marks these signals as nuisance, which seems inappropriate. Therefore, this study shows that qualitative data analysis is essential for interpreting quantitative data on alarm responses.

Comprehensive neurocognitive assessment of patients with anorexia nervosa.

To utilise a comprehensive cognitive battery to gain a better understanding of cognitive performance in anorexia nervosa (AN). Twenty-six individuals with AN and 27 healthy control participants matched for age, gender and premorbid intelligence, participated in the study. A standard cognitive battery, the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery, was used to investigate performance on seven cognitive domains with the use of 10 different tasks: speed of processing [Brief Assessment Of Cognition In Schizophrenia: Symbol Coding, Category Fluency: Animal Naming (Fluency) and Trail Making Test: Part A], attention/vigilance [Continuous Performance Test - Identical Pairs (CPT-IP)], working memory [Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS(®)-III): Spatial Span, and Letter-Number Span (LNS)], verbal learning [Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised], visual learning [Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised], reasoning and problem solving [Neuropsychological Assessment Battery: Mazes], and social cognition [Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test: Managing Emotions]. Statistical analyses involved the use of multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. Analyses conducted on the cognitive domain scores revealed no overall significant difference between groups nor any interaction between group and domain score [F(1,45) = 0.73, P = 0.649]. Analyses conducted on each of the specific tasks within the cognitive domains revealed significantly slower reaction times for false alarm responses on the CPT-IP task in AN [F(1,51) = 12.80, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.982] and a trend towards poorer performance in AN on the backward component of the WMS(®)-III Spatial Span task [F(1,51) = 5.88, P = 0.02, Cohen's d = -0.665]. The finding of slower reaction times of false alarm responses is, however, limited due to the small number of false alarm responses for either group. The findings are discussed in terms of poorer capacity to manipulate and process visuospatial material in AN.