Initial Learning Phase Research Articles

Unraveling Temporal Dynamics of Multidimensional Statistical Learning in Implicit and Explicit Systems: An X-Way Hypothesis.

Statistical learning enables humans to involuntarily process and utilize different kinds of patterns from the environment. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying the simultaneous acquisition of multiple regularities from different perceptual modalities remain unclear. A novel multidimensional serial reaction time task was developed to test 40 participants' ability to learn simple first-order and complex second-order relations between uni-modal visual and cross-modal audio-visual stimuli. Using the difference in reaction times between sequenced and random stimuli as the index of domain-general statistical learning, a significant difference and dissociation of learning occurred between the initial and final learning phases. Furthermore, we used a negative and positive occurrence-frequency-and-reaction-time correlation to indicate implicit and explicit learning, respectively, and found that learning simple uni-modal patterns involved an implicit-to-explicit segue, while acquiring complex cross-modal patterns required an explicit-to-implicit segue, resulting in a X-shape crossing of regularity learning. Thus, we propose an X-way hypothesis to elucidate the dynamic interplay between the implicit and explicit systems at two distinct stages when acquiring various regularities in a multidimensional probability space.

Initial development of skill with a reversed bicycle and a case series of experienced riders

Riding a bicycle is considered a durable skill that cannot be forgotten. Here, novice participants practiced riding a reversed bicycle, in which a reversing gear inverted the handlebar’s rotation. Although learning to ride the reversed bicycle was possible, it was slow, highly variable, implicit, and followed an S-shape pattern. In the initial learning phase, failed attempts to ride the normal bicycle indicated strong interference between the two bicycle skills. While additional practice decreased this interference effect, a subset of learners could not ride either bicycle after eight sessions of practice. Experienced riders who performed extensive practice could switch bicycles without failed attempts and exhibited similar performance (i.e., similar handlebar oscillations) on both bicycles. However, their performance on the normal bicycle was worse than that of the novice bicycle riders at baseline. In conclusion, “unlearning” of the normal bicycle skill precedes the initial learning of the reversed bicycle skill, and a signature of such unlearning is still present following extensive practice.

What is moving where? Infants' visual attention to dynamic objects may assist with processing of spatial relations.

A central question in infant spatial cognition concerns how infants form abstract categories of spatial relations such as support (on) and containment (in). Prior work suggests two different possibilities regarding the role of attention to objects in infants' formation of abstract categories of spatial relations: Attention to objects may compete with (and thus hamper) attention to the spatial relations between them, or assist with encoding of the spatial relation information. Using eye-tracking, we examined how infants' visual attention to objects related to their successful formation of an abstract category of support relations (i.e., an object on another). Thirty-eight 8-month-old infants' eye movements were recorded during a support categorization task, where infants were habituated to four dynamic events depicting support relations (e.g., resting a block on a box) and then presented with test events that depicted either a support or containment relation with objects that they had seen or not seen in the habituation phase. Based on their looking time to the familiar versus novel spatial relation in the test, infants were classified into two groups: categorizers, who formed an abstract category of a support relation, and non-categorizers, who did not do so. During their initial phase of learning (i.e., the first habituation trial), categorizers paid greater attention to the object moved by a hand (i.e., the dynamic object) in comparison to non-categorizers, whereas their attention to the static object or their gaze shifts between the two objects did not differ. In addition, when presented with novel objects in a novel spatial relation after habituation, only categorizers displayed asymmetric attention between the objects, attending to the dynamic object more than the static object. Gaze shifts and attention to the concave area (i.e., hole) of the container did not differ between categorizers and non-categorizers. These findings suggest that infants' focused attention to an object in motion may play a key role in young infants' spatial category learning, and support the idea that attention to objects can assist with encoding of the spatial relational information.

Hybrid visual and memory search for scenes and objects with variable viewpoints.

In hybrid search, observers search visual arrays for any of several target types held in memory. The key finding in hybrid search is that response times (RTs) increase as a linear function of the number of items in a display (visual set size), but RTs increase linearly with the log of the memory set size. Previous experiments have shown this result for specific targets (find exactly this picture of a boot on a blank background) and for broad categorical targets (find any animal). Arguably, these are rather unnatural situations. In the real world, objects are parts of scenes and are seen from multiple viewpoints. The present experiments generalize the hybrid search findings to scenes (Experiment 1) and multiple viewpoints (Experiment 2). The results replicated the basic pattern of hybrid search results: RTs increased logarithmically with the number of scene photos/categories held in memory. Experiment 3 controls the experiment for which viewpoints were seen in an initial learning phase. The results replicate the findings of Experiment 2. Experiment 4 compares hybrid search for specific viewpoints, variable viewpoints, and categorical targets. Search difficulty increases from specific viewpoints to variable viewpoints and then to categorical targets. The results of the four experiments show the generality of logarithmic search through memory in hybrid search.

Development of Few-Shot Learning Capabilities in Artificial Neural Networks When Learning Through Self-Supervised Interaction.

Most artificial neural networks used for object recognition are trained in a fully supervised setup. This is not only resource consuming as it requires large data sets of labeled examples but also quite different from how humans learn. We use a setup in which an artificial agent first learns in a simulated world through self-supervised, curiosity-driven exploration. Following this initial learning phase, the learned representations can be used to quickly associate semantic concepts such as different types of doors using one or more labeled examples. To do this, we use a method we call fast concept mapping which uses correlated firing patterns of neurons to define and detect semantic concepts. This association works instantaneously with very few labeled examples, similar to what we observe in humans in a phenomenon called fast mapping. Strikingly, we can already identify objects with as little as one labeled example which highlights the quality of the encoding learned self-supervised through interaction with the world. It therefore presents a feasible strategy for learning concepts without much supervision and shows that through pure interaction meaningful representations of an environment can be learned that work better for few-short learning than non-interactive methods.

Perceptions of social media usage to engage citizens: a qualitative study of Czech Republic municipalities

Information communication technology has altered the relationship between government and citizens in terms of intensity as well as method. Social media has been used due to its socially interactive nature by the government to attract citizens. This study aims to explore the perception of administrators from small and medium-sized municipal governments in the Czech Republic regarding the utilization of social media platforms for the purpose of engaging and communicating with citizens. The study used a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. The data collection process involved 21 semi-structured interviews and the engagement in 16 hours of online dialogue by the researchers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that numerous municipalities are currently in the initial learning phase of employing social media and have yet to fully comprehend its potential. Administrators conveyed a sense of skepticism towards social media and technology at large, alongside a sense of ambiguity regarding the optimal strategies for effectively harnessing these platforms. The predominant approach adopted by most municipalities involves relying heavily on Facebook as their primary platform for disseminating information. However, they encounter difficulties in effectively leveraging other potentially beneficial websites and communication channels. In general, the research emphasizes the necessity of providing training and education to effectively incorporate social media into the communication strategies employed by local governments.

Although I know it: Social anxiety is associated with a deficit in positive updating even when the cost of avoidance is Obvious

Social anxiety (SA) is associated with difficulties in positively updating negative social information when new information and feedback about chosen options (actual decisions) are received. However, it is unclear whether this difficulty persists when hidden information regarding unchosen options is explicitly presented. The aim of the current study was to address this gap. Participants (Mturk; n = 191) completed a two-phases novel task. In the task, participants chose to approach or avoid people, represented by images of faces. During the initial (learning) phase, participants learned, in a probabilistic context, which people are associated with negative outcomes and should be avoided, and which are associated with positive outcomes and should be approached. During the subsequent updating phase, people previously associated with negative outcomes became associated with positive outcomes and vice versa. Importantly, participants received feedback not only on their approach (actual) decisions, but also on their avoidance (counter-factual) decisions (e.g., approaching this person would have been beneficial). The results revealed that even when the consequences of avoidance were explicitly presented, SA was associated with difficulty in positive updating of social information. The findings support the view that biased updating of social information is a change-resistant mechanism that may underlie the maintenance of SA.

Differential effects of reward and punishment on reinforcement-based motor learning and generalization.

Reward and punishment have long been recognized as potent modulators of human behavior. Although reinforcement learning is a significant motor learning process, the exact mechanisms underlying how the brain learns movements through reward and punishment are not yet fully understood. Beyond the memory of specific examples, investigating the ability to generalize to new situations offers a better understanding of motor learning. This study hypothesizes that reward and punishment engage qualitatively different motivational systems with different neurochemical and neuroanatomical substrates, which would have differential effects on reinforcement-based motor learning and generalization. To test this hypothesis, two groups of participants learn a motor task in one direction and then relearn the same task in a new direction, receiving only performance-based reward or punishment score feedback. Our findings support our hypothesis, showing that reward led to slower learning but promoted generalization. On the other hand, punishment led to faster learning but impaired generalization. These behavioral differences may be due to different tendencies of movement variability in each group. The punishment group tended to explore more actively than the reward group during the initial learning phase, possibly due to loss aversion. In contrast, the reward group tended to explore more actively than the initial learning phase during the generalization test phase, seemingly recalling back the strategy that led to reward. These results suggest that reward and punishment may engage different neural mechanisms during reinforcement-based motor learning and generalization, with important implications for practical applications such as sports training and motor rehabilitation.

Uniportal video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy: an analysis of the learning curve

BackgroundThis study aimed to demonstrate the learning curve of anatomical segmentectomy performed by uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS).MethodWe conducted a retrospective study of U-VATS segmentectomies performed by the same surgeon between September 2019 and August 2022. The learning curve was demonstrated using risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) analysis in terms of perioperative complications, which reflected surgical quality and technique proficiency. The surgical outcomes were also compared between different phases.ResultThe complication-based learning curve of U-VATS segmentectomy could be divided into two phases based on RA-CUSUM analysis: phase I, the initial learning phase (cases 1–50) and phase II, the proficiency phase (cases 51–141). Significantly higher complication rates (24.0 vs. 8.8%, p=0.013), longer surgical times (119.8±31.9 vs. 106.2±23.8 min, p=0.005), and more blood loss (20 [IQR, 20–30] vs. 20 [IQR, 10–20] ml, p=0.003) were observed in phase I than in phase II.ConclusionThe learning curve of U-VATS segmentectomy consists of two phases, and at least 50 cases were required to gain technique proficiency and achieve high-quality surgical outcomes.

Enhancing Photovoltaic Module Fault Diagnosis with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Deep Learning-Based Image Analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into a powerful tool that has wide-spread application in computer vision such as computer-aided inspection, industrial control systems, and navigation of robots. Monitoring the condition of machineries and mechanical components for the presence of faults with the aid of image-based automated analysis is one major application of computer vision. Diagnosing machinery faults from images can be made feasible with the adoption of deep learning and machine learning techniques. The primary objective of this study is to detect malfunctions in photovoltaic (PV) modules by utilizing a combination of deep learning and machine learning methodologies, with the assistance of RGB images captured via unmanned aerial vehicles. Six test conditions of PV modules such as good panel, snail trail, delamination, glass breakage, discoloration, and burn marks were considered in the study. The overall experimentation was carried out in two phases: (i) deep learning phase and (ii) machine learning phase. In the initial deep learning phase, the final fully connected layer of six pretrained networks, namely, DenseNet-201, VGG19, ResNet-50, GoogLeNet, VGG16, and AlexNet, was utilized to extract PVM image features. During the machine learning phase, feature selection from the extracted features was carried out using the J48 decision tree algorithm. Post selection of features, three families of classifiers such as tree, Bayes, and lazy were applied to determine the best feature extractor-classifier pair. The combination of DenseNet-201 features with k-nearest neighbour (IBK) classifier produced the overall classification accuracy of 100.00% among all other pretrained network features and classifiers considered.

Learning Curve of Intracorporeal Anastomosis in Laparoscopic Colectomy for Right Side Colon Cancer: A Cumulative Sum Analysis.

Recently, laparoscopic colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis for colon cancer gained popularity due to the evolution of the laparoscopic linear stapler device and improved techniques from laparoscopic surgeons. However, there are technical difficulties associated with intracorporeal anastomosis. The aim of the study was to clarify the number of cases that are required for laparoscopic surgeons to master the technique of intracorporeal anastomosis in right side colon cancer. In this retrospective single-center study, 51 consecutive patients who underwent intracorporeal overlap anastomosis, between July 2018 and March 2020, by one laparoscopic surgeon were selected. Clinicopathological and perioperative data were obtained from our database. The learning curves of intracorporeal anastomosis time (IAT) were created using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method. The CUSUM score for IAT increased as the number of operative cases progressed, up to the 20th case (Phase 1), after which it started to decrease (Phase 2). Compared to the initial learning phase (Phase 1), the master phase (Phase 2) had a significantly faster IAT (p<0.001), significantly decreased incidence of organ/space surgical site infection (p=0.009), and significantly decreased postoperative hospital stay (p=0.021). Twenty cases were required for a laparoscopic surgeon to achieve expertise when conducting intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic colectomy for right side colon cancer. It was suggested that proficiency in intracorporeal anastomosis may contribute to a reduction in the incidence of organ/space surgical site infections and postoperative hospital stay.

Intraoral anastomosis for primary microsurgical reconstruction in patients of oral cavity malignancies: Retrospective analysis of 30 cases from a tertiary care center in India

In patients undergoing either robotic neck dissection or no neck dissection, the neck recipient vessels for the free flaps remain unexposed. Intraoral vessels have been successfully used as microvascular recipients but their use in intraoral malignancies is uncommon. We describe our initial experience of using intraoral recipients in 30 patients with oral cavity malignancies. For this retrospective observational study, the hospital records of all patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction using intraoral recipient vessels over a 14-month period at a tertiary care hospital in India were studied. Patient demographics, disease profile, details of oncosurgical resection, reconstructive procedure details, and postoperative recovery data were analyzed. Intraoral anastomosis was successfully performed in 30 patients. The average patient was middle-aged (mean age 54 years) and male (26/30). Location of the postexcision defect was the buccal mucosa in 16/30 and the tongue in 12/30 patients. Anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) was used in 28/30 patients. Recipient vessels were facial vessels in 24/30 patients and lingual vessels in 6/30 patients. Venous anastomotic coupler was used in 27/30 patients. Three patients underwent re-exploration for flap congestion with loss of flap in 2/30 patients. The intraoral approach offers consistent vascular anatomy and can be performed without any external incision and oro-cervical tunneling. Being technically challenging, it has an initial learning phase. Adequate mouth opening and preservation of recipient vessels during excision and neck dissection are important prerequisites. This approach can offer a scarless reconstruction, which can improve the psycho-social rehabilitation of the patients.

Incidence of silent cerebral lesions after pulmonary vein isolation with a novel radiofrequency balloon

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Speaker fees by Biosense Webster (not specific to this research) Background A novel radiofrequency balloon (RFB) is currently used for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in selected centres. The incidence of silent cerebral lesions (SCL) detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has already been researched for common energy sources such as the cryoballoon and irrigated-tip radiofrequency catheters. Purpose We aimed to investigate the incidence of SCL after RFB ablation. Methods 105 patients were treated with RFB PVI between December 2020 and November 2022. Cerebral MRI was performed in 38 unselected patients after a median of 1 day after the procedure. Neurological symptoms as well as size and location of SCL were assessed. The RFB allows for assessment of real time isolation using a spiral catheter which can be inserted through a central lumen of the balloon. During the investigated period the procedure underwent a streamlining process. Initially a 3D high resolution map of the left atrium (LA) was obtained before and after the ablation. To create this post-ablation map, the RFB had to be exchanged for a circumferential mapping catheter. After the first 50 procedures post-ablation re-mapping was omitted. This reduced the number of necessary catheter exchanges through the transseptal sheath. Results None of the patients developed neurological symptoms after the procedure. SCLs were detected in 28,9% (11) of patients. Analysis of patient baseline characteristics (gender, age, BMI, comorbidities, LA size, LVEF) as well as procedural data (procedure length, LA dwell time, ablation time, number of radiofrequency applications, cardioversion, activated clotting time) showed no significant independent predictor for SCL. We compared procedural data and SCL incidence prior to streamlining of the procedure (non-streamlined, NSL) to those after streamlining (SL). We observed a numerical difference in incidence of SCL between the NSL group (42,1%, 8 of 20) and the SL group (16,7%, 3 of 18), but the difference did not meet criteria for statistical significance (p = 0,159). Procedure time (NSL: 69.4 ± 10.8, SL: 51.1 ± 8.6, p = 0.009) and LA dwell time (NSL: 63.8 ± 10.9, SL: 45.8 ± 8.3, p = 0.009) were significantly shorter in the SL group. Conclusion This is the first report of the incidence and possible predictors of silent cerebral lesions after PVI with a novel radiofrequency balloon. We initially observed a higher-than-expected number of SCL. After streamlining of the procedure and especially reducing the necessary catheter exchanges this incidence dropped. It is now comparable to data of SCL after PVI with other technologies in our centre. This supports our assumption that the number of left atrial catheter exchanges might be an important factor for the development of SCL. Furthermore, this data emphasize the necessity of caution during the initial learning phase with new ablation devices. Further MRI after the procedure could reveal statistically significant predictors of SCL.

Cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM) for evaluating learning curve (LC) of robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN).

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN) is becoming a standard treatment for localized renal tumors worldwide. Data on the learning curve (LC) of RALPN are still insufficient. In the present study, we have attempted to gain further insight in this area by evaluating the LC using cumulative summation analysis (CUSUM). A series of 127 robotic partial nephrectomies were performed by two surgeons at our center between January 2018 and December 2020. CUSUM analysis was used to evaluate LC for operative time (OT). The different phases of surgical experience were compared in terms of perioperative parameters and pathologic outcomes. In addition, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to confirm the results of the CUSUM analysis by adjusting the phases of surgical experience for the other confounding factors that may affect OT. The median age of patients was 62years, mean BMI was 28, and mean tumor size was 32mm. Tumor complexity was classified as low, intermediate, and high risk according to the PADUA score in 44%, 38%, and 18%, respectively. The mean OT was 205min, and trifecta was achieved in 72.4%. According to the CUSUM diagram, the LC of OT was divided into three phases: initial learning phase (18 cases), plateau phase (20 cases), and mastery phase (subsequent cases). The mean OT was 242, 208, and 190min in the first, second, and third phases, respectively (P < 0.001). Surgeon experience phases were significantly associated with OT in multivariate analysis considering other preoperative and operative parameters. Surgical outcome was comparable between the three phases in terms of complications and achievement of trifecta; hospital stay was shorter in the mastery phase than in the first 2 phases (4days vs 5days, P = 0.02). The LC for RALPN is divided into 3 performance phases with CUSUM. Mastery of surgical technique was achieved after performing 38 cases. The initial learning phase of RALPN has no negative impact on surgical and oncologic outcomes .

Mehr soziale Teilhabe für Hörgeschädigte durch Cochlea-Implantate? Zur Ambivalenz der Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion und zum Stellenwert psycho-sozialer Begleitung

Cochlea implants help persons that suffer from deafness over time to regain hearing capacity. However, persons with CI implants experience year-long processes of adapting to technology-assisted hearing. The study highlights how people experience those processes and how they deal with changing expectations. Within this qualitative study, 50 cochlear implant recipients were interviewed about their personal experiences with the supplying clinics. 30 persons were recruited through self-help groups; another 20 persons were recruited through a learning center for hearing-impaired persons. They were asked about their experiences in social, cultural and professional participation as well as hearing barriers they still face in everyday life after their CI fitting. Participants had been wearing CI devices for a maximum of three years. This is a timeframe when most subsequent therapies have ended. Also, the initial phase of learning to handle the CI is supposed to be over. The study shows that even with a cochlear implant communication barriers remain. People's expectations are not met when complete comprehension of listening during conversations is not achieved. Difficulties in dealing with a high-tech hearing prosthesis and experiencing a "foreign body" are obstacles that lower acceptance of CI. Counselling and support preparing the use of cochlea implants should be guided by realistic goals and expectations. Guided training and communication courses can help, including local care such as certified hearing aid acousticians. Those elements can increase quality and reduce uncertainty.

Anastomotic time was associated with postoperative complications: a cumulative sum analysis of thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula in a single surgeon's experience.

This study aimed to evaluate the learning curve of thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) by a single surgeon using a cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. Prospective clinical data of consecutive Gross type-C TEF repairs performed by a pediatric surgeon from 2010 to 2020 were recorded. CUSUM charts for anastomosis and operating times were generated. The learning curves were compared with the effect of accumulation based on case experience. For 33 consecutive cases, the mean operative and anastomosis times were 139 ± 39min and 3137 ± 1110s, respectively. Significant transitions beyond the learning phase for total operating and anastomosis times were observed at cases 13 and 17. Both the total operating time and anastomosis time were significantly faster in the proficiency improvement phase than in the initial learning phase. Postoperative complications significantly decreased after the initial anastomosis learning phase but not after the initial total operating learning phase. Thoracoscopic repair of TEF is considered safe and feasible after 13 cases, where the surgeon can improve their proficiency with the total operation procedure, and 17 cases, which will enable the surgeon to achieve proficiency in anastomosis. Postoperative complications significantly decreased after gaining familiarity with the anastomosis procedure through the learning phase.

New trajectories of technologies for the removal of pollutants and emerging contaminants in the environment

Modern society has increasingly a diffusion of pollutants and emerging contaminants (e.g., different types of chemicals and endocrine disruptors in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, household cleaning, and personal care products, etc.) that have detrimental effects on the environment (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere) and also generate diseases and disorders on the people health. Environmental science requires efforts in the detection and elimination of manifold pollutants and emerging pollutants with appropriate product and process technologies. This study aims to analyze different paths of treatment technologies to investigate their evolution and predict new directions of promising technological trajectories to support the removal of contaminants directed to reach, whenever possible, sustainable development objectives. The work is mainly devoted to wastewater treatment technologies. A proposed model analyzes the evolution of patents (proxy of innovation and new technology) on publications (proxy of science and knowledge advances) to quantify the relative growth rate of new trajectories of technologies to remove pollutants and emerging contaminants. Results reveal that new directions of treatment technologies having an accelerated rate of growth are (in decreasing order): biochar and reverse osmosis in physical-based technologies, coagulation, and disinfection water treatments in chemical-based technologies and anaerobic processes in biological-based technologies. Other main technologies, such as carbon nanotubes and advanced oxidation processes, seem to be in the initial phase of development and need learning by using processes and further science and technology advances to be implemented as effective treatments and cost-effective methods. The results here show similar trends to global market revenue in water and wastewater treatment technologies. These findings bring us to the main information to extend the knowledge about new directions of technologies for the treatment and/or elimination of pollutants and microorganisms in order to support decisions of policymakers towards goals of sustainable development by reducing environmental degradation and people health disorders.

The Impact of In-Classroom Non-Digital Game-Based Learning Activities on Students Transitioning to Higher Education

The initial phase of learning at a university has a bearing on students’ long-term academic development and plays a crucial role in enabling them to successfully transition to higher education. While higher education institutes have long been struggling to address the challenge of student retention and student success, the new generation of learners (millennials and Generation Z) entering universities have brought in further complexity. This study explores the impact of in-classroom, non-digital game-based learning techniques on the academic performance, classroom engagement, and peer interaction among the first-year university students studying computing qualification. The study aimed to deduce how the overall enhanced learning experience of these students enables them to integrate into the new learning environment in the university, thereby helping them to successfully transition to higher education. Data for this study were taken from among the first-year computing students across two consecutive years of study (N = 251). The results corroborated the findings from previous studies and highlighted how academic performance, classroom engagement, and peer interaction considerably enhance students’ academic integration. The study concludes with a discussion of the limitations and implications for practice and future research.

Video atlas of each uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and lymphadenectomy.

It is important when evaluating new techniques that a surgeon can see and assess all the differences and similarities between their usual technique and the novel technique. Thus, we have collated a comprehensive atlas of videos of uniportal robotic lobectomies for every lobe. Surgeons who are considering embarking on a program of uniportal robotic lobectomies can accordingly see the different views and techniques that will be required for when they perform their first procedure. We have fully narrated the videos, so that you will be taken through each procedure. Whilst these five videos are fifty-five minutes in total, our intention is not necessarily for you to watch them all from start to finish, but rather, come to this video, select the lobe that you will shortly embark on, and watch it prior to your case so that you can visualise, as closely as possible, the procedure that you will be performing. We recommend that you watch the videos with your bedside assistant as the uniportal robotic lobectomy is a joint procedure between two surgeons, rather than a single surgeon's operation with an assistant. Though we have not provided videos on segmentectomies, the uniportal robotic lobectomy is an advanced technique and we are confident that advanced surgeons will be able to gain key insights with what has been included, even if they are proceeding to a segmentectomy for their first cases. We feel for an advanced surgeon, a segmentectomy will be just as suitable an operation as a lobectomy in the initial learning phase.

Goal-directedness enhances letter-speech sound learning and consolidation in an unknown orthography.

This study examined how top-down control influenced letter-speech sound (L-SS) learning, the initial phase of learning to read. In 2020, 107 Dutch children (53 boys, Mage =106.845 months) learned eight L-SS correspondences, either preceded by goal-directed or implicit instructions. Symbol knowledge and artificial word-reading ability were assessed immediately after learning and on the subsequent day to examine the effect of sleep. Goal-directed children were faster and more efficient in learning a new script and had better learning outcomes compared to children who were not instructed about the goal of the task. This study demonstrates that directing children toward the goal can promote L-SS learning and consolidation, giving insights into how top-down control influences the initial phase of reading acquisition.