Computer-controlled Procedure Research Articles

The reliability/ validity of cognitive/emotional approaches to the evaluation of musical performance: Implications for competition juries

Procedures to evaluate the quality of musical performance, like psychological tests generally, vary in reliability and validity. How can both be optimised? The subjective world of jurors comprises input (sensations) and output (thoughts and emotions). Cognitive approaches to performance evaluation, in which different aspects are analytically considered and the results combined, are more reliable than emotional approaches, which are ultimately based on holistic ‘gut reactions’. However, emotional approaches may be more valid. Both depend on the serial order in which performances are presented to evaluators, suggesting a need for independent, computer-controlled procedures in which jurors evaluate performances in different random orders. Jurors can be influenced by performers’ appearance and movements, as well as knowledge about past performances, whether or not they believe they should be; additional blind evaluations (sound only) could help. Evaluations may depend primarily on specific features such as right-hand melodic phrasing in romantic piano music. It would be interesting to systematically track the emotional state of jurors during a competition in order to better understand the interaction between their thoughts and emotions. In general, traditional approaches to performance evaluation might be supplemented (not replaced) by psychologically inspired, computer-based procedures. A ‘superjury’ could compare evaluations from different methods or ‘subjuries’.

Bearing fixing: A new computer algorithm method for subjective determination of astigmatism.

This article aims to illustrate the principles of bearing fixing, a new computer-controlled procedure for subjective determination of astigmatism, and to compare it with conventional clinician-controlled Jackson crossed-cylinder refraction. The principles and method for bearing fixing are described. Astigmatism was measured using bearing fixing and Jackson cross-cylinder twice on 20 visually normal participants aged between 18 and 34years. After final sphere adjustment, acuity measurements were made with each refraction estimate. Bearing fixing results could be obtained for all participants. Mean bearing fixing cylinder magnitude was slightly higher than Jackson cross-cylinder measures of cylinder magnitude, by 0.05D. Using vector analysis to take into account cylinder power and axis, mean bearing fixing astigmatism was not significantly different from cross-cylinder astigmatism, but did have higher test-retest variability (p<0.05). Acuity with bearing fixing and cross-cylinder corrections did not significantly differ in average value or repeatability. Bearing fixing is a feasible method for subjective determination of astigmatism, and there are a number of potential improvements to the method which could make it faster and more precise.

The truth about cognitive impairment in functional motor symptoms: An experimental deception study with the Guilty Knowledge Task

BackgroundA century ago, Janet was the first to conceptualize conversion reactions as having a neurocognitive component, as disorders of memory processing that arise in the wake of trauma. The available evidence suggests that this impairment might arise from dysfunction in the fronto-subcortical circuits. Our aim was to examine the cognitive functions regulating deception in patients with functional motor symptoms (FMS), using a computerised task, the Guilty Knowledge Task (GKT). We also tested a group of healthy subjects (HS) as a control group. Materials and methodsThirteen patients affected by FMS and 14 HS underwent a modified version of the GKT, a computer-controlled procedure used to detect truthful and deceptive responses. All participants were also screened for depression, anxiety, alexithymia and for moral sense (moral judgment task). ResultsThe reaction times (RTs) were significantly longer for lie responses than for true responses (F(1,26) = 50.47; p < 0.001) in the two groups. Total RTs were significantly longer for patients with FMS than for HS, in true responses (F(1,25) = 4,36; p = 0.047) and lie responses (F(1,25) = 4.26; p = 0.05). No differences were found between the two groups for accuracy in producing true responses (F(1,25) = 0.09, p = 0.77), and lie responses (F(1,25) = 0,12, p = 0.73. ConclusionsWhen tested with the GKT, patients with FMS were slower than HS in producing truthful and lying responses. Current knowledge along with our new findings in patients with FMS – possibly arising from individually unrecognised extremely mild, cognitive difficulties – should help in designing specific rehabilitative programmes to improve cognitive and behavioural disturbances in these patients.

6 Patients affected by functional motor symptoms are not liars: an experimental deception study with the guilty knowledge task

<h3>Objective</h3> The relationship between functional neurological symptoms (FNS) and feigning is not an easy one for many clinicians. Most neurologists do not see the two as entirely distinct and would rather not get involved in the uncomfortable business of distinguishing them. Research conducted in the past decades has tried to challenge a common clinicians’ view according to which patients affected by FNS are liars. Nevertheless, no study has systematically investigated deception in these patients. <h3>Method</h3> Thirteen patients affected by functional motor symptoms and 14 healthy controls, matched for age and gender, underwent a modified version of the Guilty Knowledge Task (GKT), a computer-controlled procedure used to detect truthful and deceptive responses. All participants were also screened for depression (HAM-D), anxiety (HAM-A) and alexithymia <h3>Results</h3> No significant difference was found between the two groups either in terms of reaction time (for true responses p=0.865, for false responses p=0.765), or in terms of accuracy (for true responses p=0.654, for false responses p=0.643). No significant correlation was found between responses at the GKT and HAM-D, HAM-A and TAS-20 score. Our data showed that patients affected by functional motor symptoms have the same capacity to lie than healthy controls. These results are reinforced by the fact that depression, anxiety and alexithymia did not correlate with the GKT responses, excluding they might represent confounding factors. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Patients affected by functional motor symptoms are not liars. Clinicians should start considering these patients as genuine as patients with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

Growth Rate Determination through Automated TEM Image Analysis: Crystallization Studies of Doped SbTe Phase-Change Thin Films

A computer-controlled procedure is outlined here that first determines the position of the amorphous-crystalline interface in an image. Subsequently, from a time series of these images, the velocity of the crystal growth front is quantified. The procedure presented here can be useful for a wide range of applications, and we apply the new approach to determine growth rates in a so-called fast-growth-type phase-change material. The growth rate (without nucleation) of this material is of interest for comparison with identical material used in phase-change random access memory cells. Crystal growth rates in the amorphous phase-change layers have been measured at various temperatures using in situ heating in a transmission electron microscope. Doped SbTe films (20 nm thick) were deposited on silicon nitride membranes, and samples with and without silicon oxide capping layer were studied. The activation energy for growth was found to be 3.0 eV. The samples without capping layer exhibit a nucleation rate that is an order of magnitude higher than the samples with a silicon oxide capping layer. This difference can be attributed to the partial oxidation of the phase-change layer in air. However, the growth rates of the samples with and without capping are quite comparable.

Towards In Silico Bioprinting

Bioprinting is a computer-controlled procedure for building three-dimensional tissue constructs via layer-by-layer delivery of cells and supportive hydrogels. To describe the post-printing self-assembly of multicellular structures, we performed computer simulations that incorporate a basic principle of developmental biology, the differential adhesion hypothesis (DAH). DAH states that cell motility combined with differences in the adhesive properties of different cell types yields tissue conformations with the largest number of strong bonds between cells. Metropolis Monte Carlo (MMC) simulations based on DAH predicted the emergence of long-lived structures (cell sheets, toroidal and tubular constructs) in accord with experiments. The MMC method, however, does not describe time evolution. We propose a kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) approach, where transition rates are associated with possible rearrangements of cells. The system is represented on a lattice, with sites occupied either by cells or by volume elements of cell culture medium. We associate rates to swapping cells with nearest neighbors of different types (cells or medium). The new approach was tested against experiments on cell sorting within an aggregate composed of two cell types. In quantitative studies, we determined the time evolution of the interfacial area between two fusing spherical cell aggregates experimentally, analytically and by KMC simulations. In the analytic approach, we used continuum hydrodynamics to describe the coalescence of two identical, highly viscous liquid droplets, and obtained good agreement with experiments on smooth muscle cell aggregates. Apart from the early stages of fusion, the KMC method predicted a fusion pattern similar to the experimental one. Comparison with measurements allowed relating KMC transition rates to experimental time scales. Our results indicate that the KMC method can give an accurate account of the time evolution of complex cellular structures, thus it may be a useful tool for tissue engineering applications. Work supported by NSF-056854.

Quantitative Determination of Low-ZElements in Single Atmospheric Particles on Boron Substrates by Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy−Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry

Atmospheric aerosols consist of a complex heterogeneous mixture of particles. Single-particle analysis techniques are known to provide unique information on the size-resolved chemical composition of aerosols. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with a thin-window energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) detector enables the morphological and elemental analysis of single particles down to 0.1 microm with a detection limit of 1-10 wt %, low-Z elements included. To obtain data statistically representative of the air masses sampled, a computer-controlled procedure can be implemented in order to run hundreds of single-particle analyses (typically 1000-2000) automatically in a relatively short period of time (generally 4-8 h, depending on the setup and on the particle loading). However, automated particle analysis by SEM-EDX raises two practical challenges: the accuracy of the particle recognition and the reliability of the quantitative analysis, especially for micrometer-sized particles with low atomic number contents. Since low-Z analysis is hampered by the use of traditional polycarbonate membranes, an alternate choice of substrate is a prerequisite. In this work, boron is being studied as a promising material for particle microanalysis. As EDX is generally said to probe a volume of approximately 1 microm3, geometry effects arise from the finite size of microparticles. These particle geometry effects must be corrected by means of a robust concentration calculation procedure. Conventional quantitative methods developed for bulk samples generate elemental concentrations considerably in error when applied to microparticles. A new methodology for particle microanalysis, combining the use of boron as the substrate material and a reverse Monte Carlo quantitative program, was tested on standard particles ranging from 0.25 to 10 microm. We demonstrate that the quantitative determination of low-Z elements in microparticles is achievable and that highly accurate results can be obtained using the automatic data processing described here compared to conventional methods.

Asthenopic complaints and ocular convergence at the computer workstation: new test procedures for practice and research

The present paper summarizes a series of ergonomic studies on the relation between asthenopic complaints and binocular vision at the computer workstation. In particular, the paper reports on measurements of the accuracy of ocular convergence during fixation of central fusion stimuli (i. e. fixation disparity) as a function of viewing distance. Different versions of subjective tests for fixation disparity (using dichoptic nonius lines) are presented, including a computer-controlled procedure (the eye-test PC). These new tests suggest that non-presbyopic subjects with normal binocular vision may suffer from asthenopic complaints if they have - in near vision - an exo fixation disparity larger than average. In these cases, the stress exercised on the convergence system can be reduced by using a longer viewing distance at the workplace.

FATIGUE CRACK CLOSURE MEASUREMENTS ON 2024‐T3 SHEET SPECIMENS

Abstract A computer‐controlled procedure has been developed for automatic measurement of the crack opening stress Sop during fatigue tests. A crack opening displacement gauge (COD meter) is used to obtain digital data on the load versus COD curves. Three methods for deriving Sop from the data sets are compared (1) a slope method, (2) a tangent lines intersecting method, and (3) a tangent point method. The effect of the position of the COD meter with respect to the crack tip on Sop is studied in tests of 2024‐T3 specimens. Results of crack growth and Sop are presented for CA loading with an overload, and with an overload followed by an underload.

Evaluation of a computer-assisted method of analysing SDS-PAGE protein profiles in tracing a hospital outbreak of Serratia marcescens.

Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profiles of bacterial proteins have been successfully used for taxonomical purposes. More recently this technique has been applied to epidemiological investigations in respect of various micro-organisms including Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. The main limitations of the methods so far described are lack of standardisation in extraction and separation as well as in the analysis of results. Although reproducibility in the same laboratory has been shown to be satisfactory, comparison of results among laboratories is still difficult. Moreover, assessment of differences and/or similarities among chromatograms or autoradiographs showing many bands depends upon qualitative descriptions. Interpretation of densitometric scannings is laborious and time-consuming. In this paper we present our experience of a completely standardised, fully computer-controlled procedure for SDS-PAGE (AMBIS System) in analysing 35S-methionine-labelled total proteins. The methodology proved very useful in monitoring a hospital outbreak of Serratia marcescens. It allowed us to make quantitative comparison in a shorter time as well as to handle easily a great amount of data and usefully integrate it with those obtained with other systems such as serotyping. Furthermore, when the two systems are used together, more precise information can be gained. In this epidemic, serotyping indicated the presence of two groups which would have been missed by PAGE analysis alone. Electrophoretotyping, however, focused on similarities of cellular proteins among the epidemic strains. This allowed us to distinguish them from epidemiologically unrelated strains of the same serogroup.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptive rating scales in sequential decisions

The benefits gained in decision research through the use of computer-controlled procedures, as opposed to the use of traditional pencil-and-paper techniques, can exceed the expected gains of efficiency and standardization. Computers extend the scope of a sequential decision making paradigm by enhancing (1) the strength of experimental design, (2) reliability of measurement, (3) procedural flexibility, and (4) single-subject data analysis. Data are reported that indicate the necessity of using computers to obtain reliable measurements and valid results for this type of decision research.

Processing of color, form and disparity information in visual areas VP and V2 of ventral extrastriate cortex in the macaque monkey

The responses of single cells to light bars of different orientation, direction of motion, speed, binocular disparity, and wavelength were systematically analyzed in areas V2 and VP of ventral extrastriate visual cortex in the macaque monkey. Selectivity for each of these parameters was assessed quantitatively using computer-controlled procedures. In both VP and V2 (both representing the superior contralateral quadrant), more than half of the cells studied were selective for stimulus color and more than half for stimulus orientation. In contrast, only a small minority of the VP and V2 cells were selective for the direction of stimulus motion. Comparison with reports of single-unit properties in dorsal extrastriate cortex suggests there are no major differences in the incidence of orientation, direction, and color selectivity between ventral and dorsal subdivisions of V2. Between V3 and VP, though, there are marked differences: Color-selective cells are much less common in V3 than VP, whereas direction-selective cells are more common in V3. This dorsoventral difference in the distribution of neuronal response properties suggests a significant asymmetry in the way visual information is processed in upper and lower parts of the visual field. The properties of cells in VP suggest that it plays an important role in both form and color vision, similar to that attributed to area V4.

Distributing Goods: A Replication with A Computer-Controlled Procedure

Abstract We replicated part of an experiment conducted in the usual way by using a computer-controlled procedure and obtained essentially similar results, indicating that a computer-controlled experiment is a feasible alternative for a traditional experiment. Some advantages and disadvantages of computer-controlled experiments are briefly discussed.

In search of reliable persuasion effects: I. A computer-controlled procedure for studying persuasion.

In search of reliable persuasion effects: I. A computer-controlled procedure for studying persuasion.

In search of reliable persuasion effects: I. A computer-controlled procedure for studying persuasion.

In search of reliable persuasion effects: I. A computer-controlled procedure for studying persuasion.