High Demand Situations Research Articles

Effects of ketamine on frontoparietal interactions in a rule-based antisaccade task in macaque monkeys.

Cognitive control is engaged by working memory processes and high-demand situations like antisaccade, where one must suppress a prepotent response. While it is known to be supported by the frontoparietal control network, how intra- and inter-areal dynamics contribute to cognitive control processes remain unclear. N-Methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs) play a key role in prefrontal dynamics that support cognitive control, and its antagonists, such as ketamine, are known to alter task-related prefrontal activities and impair cognitive performance. However, the role of NMDAR in cognitive control-related frontoparietal dynamics remain underexplored. Here, we simultaneously recorded local field potentials and single unit activities from lateral prefrontal (lPFC) and posterior parietal cortices (PPC) in two male macaque monkeys during a rule-based antisaccade task, with both Rule-Visible (RV) and Rule-Memorized (RM) conditions. In addition to altering the E/I balance in both areas, ketamine had a negative impact on rule-coding in true oscillatory activities. It also reduced frontoparietal coherence in a frequency- and rule-dependent manner. Granger prediction analysis revealed that ketamine induced an overall reduction in bidirectional connectivity. Among antisaccade trials, a greater reduction in lPFC-PPC connectivity during the delay period preceded a greater delay in saccadic onset under the RM condition, and a greater deficit in performance under the RV condition. Lastly, ketamine compromised rule coding in lPFC neurons in both RV and RM conditions, and in PPC neurons only in the RV condition. Our findings demonstrate the utility of acute NMDA receptor antagonist in understanding the mechanisms through which frontoparietal dynamics support cognitive control processes.Significance statement A low dose of ketamine is known to induce a transient cognitive control deficit in healthy humans and animals, but it remains unclear whether this deficit is related to a frontoparietal dysconnection. In macaque monkeys performing a rule-based pro- and anti-saccade task, we found that ketamine impaired information coding in frontoparietal neuron, local oscillations and inter-areal synchrony in a rule- and frequency-dependent manner. Notably, under the antisaccade rule, the amount of impairment in task performance could be predicted by the loss in fronto-parietal connectivity in the period just before the monkeys responded. The observations support the utility of NMDA receptor antagonists like ketamine as a tool to understand the role of frontoparietal dynamics in cognitive control.

Optimization Method for Allocating Peak-Period Parking Demand in Hub Parking Lot Clusters

With the expansion of urban scale and the popularization of multi-modal transportation, transportation hubs, as the link of multi-modal travel, are becoming increasingly important in urban development and residents’ lives. In situations of high parking demand, the increase in road traffic volume and parking search delays exacerbates the service pressure on hub parking lots and the traffic congestion on surrounding roads. Therefore, reasonable parking demand allocation is one of the key solutions to this problem. Based on the analysis of the vehicle parking search process, this paper constructs a model for estimating parking search delay on roads outside hub parking lots and proposes an optimization model for parking demand allocation aimed at minimizing the total parking search delay of vehicles. Finally, taking a major transportation hub in Nanjing as a case study, data were obtained through field investigations and simulation experiments to identify peak parking demand periods and calibrate the model parameters. The results show that the average vehicle delay was reduced by 4.5%, with a total reduction of 13,860 s in vehicle delay for parking demands at the hub within one hour. Therefore, by optimizing the allocation of parking demand, the average delay for vehicles searching for parking can be reduced to a certain extent.

Modelling and numerical simulation of sequencing strategies for connected and autonomous vehicles at signal-free intersections

The signal-free intersections employ connected and automated vehicle technology to manage vehicles passing through the intersection. Due to conflicting traffic flows in opposition directions, a proper sequencing of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) at signal-free intersections becomes critical to impacting intersection traffic performance. Based on an examination of CAV queueing rules under the most common sequencing strategies of First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) and Longest-Queue-First (LQF), commonly employed as benchmarks for evaluating diverse innovative approaches to signal-free intersections, we propose a Dynamic-Queue-Service (DQS) strategy that is tailored to accommodate high traffic demand. To explicitly elucidate the impact of diverse traffic demand in conflicting directions on the queue uncertainty and stochasticity of CAVs, as well as to investigate how various sequencing strategies influence the equity of CAV traffic at signal-free intersections with regard to CAV queueing dynamics under different strategies, we have developed a double-input traffic queueing model and derived a range of metrics, including the queue length, delay, conditional queue length, and variance of queue length. In addition, for the three strategies, we performed a series of numerical simulations to investigate the queueing process of CAVs at signal-free intersections. Numerical results show that under different levels of traffic demand in the conflicting directions, the FCFS, LQF, and DQS strategies output diverse traffic queueing performances, and the DQS strategy is confirmed to be well-suited for the situation of high traffic demand in both conflicting directions.

Dietary L-carnitine supplementation modifies blood parameters of mid-lactating dairy cows during standardized lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation.

L-carnitine, available as feed additive, is essential for the beta-oxidation of free fatty acids in the mitochondrial matrix. It provides energy to immune cells and may positively impact the functionality of leukocytes during the acute phase response, a situation of high energy demand. To test this hypothesis, German Holstein cows were assigned to a control group (CON, n = 26) and an L-carnitine supplemented group (CAR, n = 27, rumen-protected L-carnitine product: 125 g/cow/d, corresponded to total L-carnitine intake: 25 g/cow/d, supplied with concentrate) and received an intravenous bolus injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 0.5 µg/kg body weight, E. coli) on day 111 postpartum as a model of standardized systemic inflammation. Blood samples were collected from day 1 ante injectionem until day 14 post injectionem (pi), with frequent sampling through an indwelling venous catheter from 0.5 h pi to 12 h pi. All parameters of the white blood cell count responded significantly to LPS, while only a few parameters were affected by L-carnitine supplementation. The mean eosinophil count, as well as the percentage of basophils were significantly higher in CAR than in CON over time, which may be due to an increased membrane stability. However, phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes remained unchanged following L-carnitine supplementation. In conclusion, although supplementation with 25 g L-carnitine per cow and day resulted in increased proportions of specific leukocyte populations, it had only minor effects on the functional parameters studied in mid-lactating dairy cows during LPS-induced inflammation, and there was no evidence of direct improvement of immune functionality.

Consensus of the Brazilian association of hematology, hemotherapy and cellular therapy on patient blood management: Anemia tolerance mechanisms

Understanding the physiological concepts of oxygen delivery is essential to discern the mechanisms that influence its increase, reduction or maintenance in the body. This text explores the different mechanisms that help maintain oxygen delivery even in the face of reduced hemoglobin levels. Adequate oxygen delivery ensures tissue and metabolic balance, which is crucial to avoid harmful consequences such as metabolic acidosis and cellular dysoxia. The complex interaction between variables such as cardiac output, hemoglobin and heart rate (HR) plays a fundamental role in maintaining oxygen delivery, allowing the body to temporarily adjust to situations of anemia or high metabolic demand. It is important to emphasize that blood transfusions should not be based on fixed values, but rather on individual metabolic needs. Strategies to reduce myocardial consumption and monitor macro and micro hemodynamics help in making rational decisions. Individualizing treatment and considering factors such as blood viscosity in relation to the benefits of transfusion are increasingly relevant to optimize therapy and minimize risks, especially in complex clinical scenarios, such as neurocritical patients and trauma victims.

Relationship between job demands, work engagement, emotional workload and job performance among nurses: A moderated mediation model.

To explore the mediating effect of work engagement and the moderated mediating effect of emotional workload on the relationship between job demands and job performance among nurses. Nurses work in a high-demand situation that could affect their job performance. However, previous studies have reported an inconsistent relationship between job demands and job performance. The underlying mechanism of how job demands influence job performance remains unclear. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 893 nurses from 14 cities in Sichuan Province between November and December 2021. Data were collected using the Job Demands Scale, Job Performance Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and emotional workload subscale of the Questionnaire on the Experience and Evaluation of Work. Bootstrap and simple slope methods were used to test a moderated mediation model using Hayes' PROCESS macro. The STROBE reporting guidelines were utilized. Job demands had a positive effect on job performance, and this effect was mediated by work engagement. Emotional workload moderated the indirect relationship between job demands and job performance. Specifically, the positive effect of job demands on job performance via work engagement was attenuated in nurses with a high emotional workload. This study sheds light on the complex relationship between job demands and job performance. Work engagement and emotional workload deserve more attention to improve nurses' performance. Policymakers and nurse managers should make efforts to develop and implement strategies to foster nurses' work engagement, reduce their emotional workload, and further help nurses efficiently deal with job demands.

Information sharing strategy and channel selection with substitutable products

In this paper, we develop a supply chain game model consisting of one supplier producing two substitutable products and one e-retailer, in which the e-retailer's demand information sharing strategy and the supplier's encroachment strategy for one of his products will be examined. We find that when demand is sizable, the supplier prefers to encroaching by opening a direct channel, and that the e-retailer is not willing to share the real demand information with the supplier. On the contrary, when demand is small, the supplier prefers to using the e-retail channel due to the high cost of maintaining a direct channel, while the e-retailer is inclined to share information with the supplier. Next, we show that the information sharing strategy of the e-retailer and the channel selection strategy of the supplier are interrelated. The e-retailer's sharing strategy is mainly used to dispel the supplier's expectation of encroachment in the high demand situation. In some cases, this strategy depends on the range of product substitution rates. Moreover, we also examine the impact of the supplier channel selection on the product that has not entered the direct sales channel. We find that the retail price of the product that does not use channel encroachment increases, which can lead to a higher profit for the e-retailer under certain conditions. Furthermore, we study the effect of the product substitution on the channel members' profits and show that the fierce competition between the two products can reduce the e-retailer's profit. Finally, we extend our model to various cases to show the robustness of the main results.

Preparing for the future offspring: European perch (Perca fluviatilis) biosynthesis of physiologically required fatty acids for the gonads happens already in the autumn.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are critical for reproduction and thermal adaptation. Year-round variability in the expression of fads2 (fatty acid desaturase 2) in the liver of European perch (Perca fluviatilis) in a boreal lake was tested in relation to individual variation in size, sex, and maturity, together with stable isotopes values as well as fatty acids (FA) content in different tissues and prey items. ARA and DHA primary production was restricted to the summer months, however, perch required larger amounts of these PUFA during winter, as their ARA and DHA muscle content was higher compared to summer. The expression of fads2 in perch liver increased during winter and was higher in mature females. Mature females stored DHA in their gonads already in late summer and autumn, long before the upcoming spring spawning period in May. Lower δ13CDHA values in the gonads in September suggest that these females actively synthesized DHA as part of this reproductive investment. Lower δ13CARA values in the liver of all individuals during winter suggest that perch were synthesizing essential FA to help cope with over-wintering conditions. Perch seem able to modulate its biosynthesis of physiologically required PUFA in situations of stress (fasting or cold temperatures) or in situations of high energetic demand (gonadal development). Biosynthesis of physiologically required PUFA may be an important part of survival and reproduction in aquatic food webs with long cold periods.

Design and Evaluation of an Intensive Care Unit Dashboard Built in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Semistructured Interview Study.

Dashboards and interactive displays are becoming increasingly prevalent in most health care settings and have the potential to streamline access to information, consolidate disparate data sources and deliver new insights. Our research focuses on intensive care units (ICUs) which are heavily instrumented, critical care environments that generate vast amounts of data and frequently require individualized support for each patient. Consequently, clinicians experience a high cognitive load, which can translate to suboptimal performance. The global COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this problem by generating a large number of additional hospitalizations, which necessitated a new tool that would help manage ICUs' census. In a previous study, we interviewed clinicians at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston National Health Service Foundation Trust to capture the requirements for bespoke dashboards that would alleviate this problem. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate an ICU dashboard to allow for monitoring of the high volume of patients in need of critical care, particularly tailored to high-demand situations, such as those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building upon the previously gathered requirements, we developed a dashboard, integrated it within the ICU of a National Health Service trust, and allowed all staff to access our tool. For evaluation purposes, participants were recruited and interviewed following a 25-day period during which they were able to use the dashboard clinically. The semistructured interviews followed a topic guide aimed at capturing the usability of the dashboard, supplemented with additional questions asked post hoc to probe themes established during the interview. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework that combined inductive and deductive approaches and integrated the Technology Acceptance Model. A total of 10 participants with 4 different roles in the ICU (6 consultants, 2 junior doctors, 1 nurse, and 1 advanced clinical practitioner) participated in the interviews. Our analysis generated 4 key topics that prevailed across the data: our dashboard met the usability requirements of the participants and was found useful and intuitive; participants perceived that it impacted their delivery of patient care by improving the access to the information and better equipping them to do their job; the tool was used in a variety of ways and for different reasons and tasks; and there were barriers to integration of our dashboard into practice, including familiarity with existing systems, which stifled the adoption of our tool. Our findings show that the perceived utility of the dashboard had a positive impact on the clinicians' workflows in the ICU. Improving access to information translated into more efficient patient care and transformed some of the existing processes. The introduction of our tool was met with positive reception, but its integration during the COVID-19 pandemic limited its adoption into practice.

Profit Extension of a Wind-Integrated Competitive Power System by Vehicle-to-Grid Integration and UPFC Placement

Profit maximization is critical in the control of power system networks for both power providers and users. Electrical energy is freely accessible in the electrical grid during off-peak hours, with storage units helping to store excess energy and assist the electrical grid during high-demand situations. Such techniques promote grid stability and ensure safe operation. Because renewable resources are intermittent, energy storage technologies are especially significant in renewable-associated power systems. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has recently acquired popularity in preserving power grid stability in the presence of renewable resources.V2G technology employs automobiles as mobile storage devices and focuses on the efficient utilization of extra power available during off-peak hours. The goal of this work is to improve the functioning of a V2G system in a power network to reduce energy production costs while increasing system profitability. This study for deregulated power environments also depicts the influence of V2G mixing on system voltage profile and locational marginal pricing (LMP), as well as the performance of the Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) on system economics. The MiPower simulation program is used in the study to find the best placement of the power storage unit for the modified IEEE 14-bus system.

Effects of mindfulness training on decision-making in critical and high-demand situations: A pilot study in combat aviation

The current study investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based training program (Attentional Regulation Optimization) on decision-making in an elite population operating in a highly-demanding context, namely the actions of fighter pilots in critical flight situations that lead to ejection. Our hypothesis was that both mindfulness skills and decision-making performance would improve in pilots who participated in the ARO program (n = 7), compared to a control group (n = 8). Mindfulness skills were measured with the FFMQ-15. Decision-making performance was evaluated in two tests that were implemented in scenarios in a full flight simulator. Five dependent variables were assessed, corresponding to the phases of the decision-making process when faced with an in-flight failure: reaction time after the first failure input, correctness of the first action, emergency procedure score, ejection procedure score, and quality of ejection. Adherence to the ARO program was assessed with the number of out-of-class individual mindfulness sessions and the number of out-of-class body-mind scans.No statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills for the ARO group compared to the control group were found. Reaction time was significantly shortened for the ARO group compared to the control group—but only for complex failures. A positive effect on the correctness of the first action was also found. On the other hand, ARO training had no significant effect on the downstream phases of decision-making (emergency procedure score, ejection procedure score and quality of ejection).Given the small sample size, these results must be considered with caution. However, they open up interesting avenues for future work, notably with regard to the benefits of mindfulness training on perceptual and attentional skills (to detect flight failure cues) and cognitive control skills (to diagnose and select appropriate procedures). From an operational perspective, the program appears to have beneficial effects on safety and performance in elite populations who must face critical situations.

A copula-based assessment of renewable energy droughts across Europe

Meeting carbon-reduction targets will require thorough consideration of climate variability and climate change due to the increasing share of climate-sensitive renewable energy sources (RES). One of the main concerns arises from situations of low renewable production and high demand, which can hinder the power system. We analysed energy droughts, defined as periods of low energy production (wind plus solar generation) or high residual load (demand minus production), in terms of two main properties: duration and severity. We estimated the joint return periods associated with energy droughts of residual load and power production. We showed that moderate winter energy droughts of both low renewable production and high residual load occur every half a year, while summer events occur every 3.6 and 2.4 years (on average). As expected, the occurrence of energy droughts tends to decrease with the degree of the severity of the energy drought, and moderate and extreme energy droughts showed longer return periods for most countries. In general, we found a large variability across Europe in summer, with some countries (e.g. Italy) being more sensitive to energy droughts. Our results highlight the relevance of sharing RES during prolonged periods of low production and high demand.

Effect of carbon dosing on denitrification in an aerated horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland used for effluent polishing

Aerated wetlands (AW) are normally used for high oxygen demand situations and were proven optimal for nitrification. However, denitrification remains a concern in AWs especially due to unfavorable oxygen concentrations and lack of biodegradable organic matter (OM). In this study, a 350 m2 aerated horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF CW) treating the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, was tested in a high hydraulic loading rate situation (0.69 m3.m−2.d−1, 12 h hydraulic retention time), in combination with external carbon dosing to promote denitrification. Forced bed aeration (FBA™) allowed to independently aerate three equally sized zones along the flow direction, and was controlled by a Dissolved Oxygen (DO) sensor in each zone. Zone 1 was destined for nitrification (DO = 2–3 mg.O2.L−1), zone 2 for denitrification (no aeration) with the addition of a carbon source (Brenntaplus VP-1), and zone 3 was again aerated (DO = 2–3 mg.O2.L−1) to degrade any residual OM. Four different carbon dosages (COD/N 0, 2.0, 3.5 and 4.0) were applied at the start of zone 2, based on online measured nitrate data. The results revealed that nitrification remained optimal (±100%) throughout the experiment despite the lower water temperature (10–15 °C). Total nitrogen (TN) removal increased from 23 to 59% as the COD/N ratio increased from 0 to 4. However, the COD removal efficiency remained moderate during initial dosing (21 and 18% for COD/N = 0 and 2, respectively) and further decreased with higher carbon dosing (no removal for COD/N = 4.0). The outcomes of this study can be helpful for implementing carbon dosing to enhance nitrate removal in full-scale AWs used for tertiary treatment.

Skeletal Muscle Tissue Saturation Changes Measured Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy During Exercise Are Associated With Post-Occlusive Reactive Hyperaemia.

Measuring local haemodynamics in skeletal muscle has the potential to provide valuable insight into the oxygen delivery to tissue, especially during high demand situations such as exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the skeletal muscle microvascular response during post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) with the response to exercise, each measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and to establish if associations exist between muscle measures and exercise capacity or sex. Participants were from a population-based cohort study, the Southall and Brent Revisited (SABRE) study. Skeletal muscle measures included changes in tissue saturation index at the onset of exercise (∆TSIBL-INC) and across the whole of exercise (∆TSIBL-EE), time to 50%, 95% and 100% PORH, rate of PORH recovery, area under the curve (AUC) and total oxygenated Haemoglobin (oxy-Hb) change during PORH. Exercise capacity was measured using a 6-min stepper test (6MST). Analysis was by multiple linear regression. In total, 558 participants completed the 6MST with NIRS measures of TSI (mean age±SD: 73 ± 7years, 59% male). A sub-set of 149 participants also undertook the arterial occlusion. Time to 100% PORH, recovery rate, AUC and ∆oxy-Hb were all associated with ∆TSIBL-EE (β-coefficient (95%CI): 0.05 (0.01, 0.09), p = 0.012; −47 (-85, −9.9), p = 0.014; 1.7 (0.62, 2.8), p = 0.002; 0.04 (0.002.0.108), p = 0.041, respectively). Time to 95% & 100% PORH, AUC and ∆oxy-Hb were all associated with ∆TSIBL-INC (β-coefficient (95%CI): −0.07 (−0.12,−0.02), p = 0.02; −0.03 (−0.05, −0.003), p = 0.028; 0.85 (0.18, 1.5), p = 0.013 & 0.05 (0.02, 0.09), p = 0.001, respectively). AUC and ∆Oxy-Hb were associated with steps achieved (β-coefficient (95%CI): 18.0 (2.3, 33.7), p = 0.025; 0.86 (0.10, 1.6), p = 0.027). ∆TSIBL-EE was associated with steps and highest VO2 (1.7 (0.49, 2.9), p = 0.006; 7.7 (3.2, 12.3), p = 0.001). ∆TSIBL-INC was associated with steps and VO2 but this difference was attenuated towards the null after adjustment for age, sex and ethnicity. ∆TSIBL-EE was greater in women (3.4 (0.4, 8.9) versus 2.1 (0.3, 7.4), p = 0.017) and ∆TSIBL-INC was lower in women versus men (2.4 (0.2, 10.2) versus 3.2 (0.2, 18.2), p = 0.016). These Local microvascular NIRS-measures are associated with exercise capacity in older adults and several measures can detect differences in microvascular reactivity between a community-based sample of men and women.

Effect of controlled aeration on COD and nitrogen removal in aerated constructed wetlands used for effluent polishing

Aerated wetland (AW) technology is typically used in high oxygen demand situations. This study however investigated its applicability for further polishing of effluents of both a municipal and an industrial wastewater treatment plant. Different aeration and pollutant removal strategies were tested, all under high hydraulic loading rate conditions (0.69 m3.m−2.d−1, 12h hydraulic retention time). The experiments were done on two 350 m² horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF CW), filled with expanded clay aggregates (Argex™) and planted with common reed (Phragmites australis). Each CW was divided into three equal zones, each equipped with forced bed aeration (FBA™). For this study, continuous (100% on) and time-based (50%-time on/off) aeration were compared versus set dissolved oxygen levels controlled by oxygen sensors (3–4, 2–3 and 1–2 mgO2. L−1 in each zone, and 2–3 mgO2. L−1 in zone 1 and no aeration in zones 2 and 3, designated as 2–3/0/0). Results showed near 100% nitrification for all aeration regimes. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was between 18% and 33% during high aeration (100%, 50%, 3–4 and 2–3 mgO2. L−1) but was reduced (1–15%) during the most limiting aeration modes (1–2 and 2–3/0/0 mgO2. L−1). Denitrification was limited for municipal effluent, however, reasonable NO3-N removal (31–72%) was noted for industrial effluent. The optimal balance between removal efficiency and energy consumption was found to be for the 2–3 mgO2. L−1 aeration setting, consuming 6.9–11.2 Wh.m−3. The outcomes of this study can be helpful for implementing aerated CWs as a tertiary treatment.

Preliminary evidence that caffeine improves attention in multiple sclerosis

There are no licensed drugs to boost cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we provide preliminary evidence that caffeine can improve attention in people with MS. Participants were tested on three different metrics of attentional functioning [choice reaction times, Stroop performance and a Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) task] repeated across four sessions (baseline, one week after caffeine abstention and two sessions on days 8 and 9 where participants were pseudorandomized to receive counterbalanced caffeine or decaffeinated products). The administration of caffeine, compared to decaffeinated substances, was found to selectively reduce the ‘attentional blink’ in MS patients. There was no evidence that caffeine administration significantly affected performance on the Stroop or choice reaction time tasks. However, in contrast to other metrics of attention used in this study, there was evidence that Stroop performance declined on day 7 compared to day 1, an effect perhaps due to caffeine withdrawal. Cumulatively, these results suggest that caffeine can act as a cognitive enhancer in MS but may only benefit patients under situations of high attentional demand (RSVP dual task). Interestingly, there may be long-term positive effects of caffeine on cognition in MS that are only exposed following sustained abstinence periods.

Linking environmental salinity to respiratory phenotypes and metabolic rate in fishes: a data mining and modelling approach.

The gill is the primary site of ionoregulation and gas exchange in adult teleost fishes. However, those characteristics that benefit diffusive gas exchange (large, thin gills) may also enhance the passive equilibration of ions and water that threaten osmotic homeostasis. Our literature review revealed that gill surface area and thickness were similar in freshwater (FW) and seawater (SW) species; however, the diffusive oxygen (O2) conductance (Gd) of the gill was lower in FW species. While a lower Gd may reduce ion losses, it also limits O2 uptake capacity and possibly aerobic performance in situations of high O2 demand (e.g. exercise) or low O2 availability (e.g. environmental hypoxia). We also found that FW fishes had significantly higher haemoglobin (Hb)-O2 binding affinities than SW species, which will increase the O2 diffusion gradient across the gills. Therefore, we hypothesized that the higher Hb-O2 affinity of FW fishes compensates, in part, for their lower Gd. Using a combined literature review and modelling approach, our results show that a higher Hb-O2 affinity in FW fishes increases the flux of O2 across their low-Gd gills. In addition, FW and SW teleosts can achieve similar maximal rates of O2 consumption (ṀO2,max) and hypoxia tolerance (Pcrit) through different combinations of Hb-O2 affinity and Gd. Our combined data identified novel patterns in gill and Hb characteristics between FW and SW fishes and our modelling approach provides mechanistic insight into the relationship between aerobic performance and species distribution ranges, generating novel hypotheses at the intersection of cardiorespiratory and ionoregulatory fish physiology.

Effect of variable priority training on police officer driving performance and workload

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of police injuries and deaths in line of duty. These crashes have been mainly attributed to the use of in-vehicle technologies while driving. Police officers receive extensive training on driving skills; however, limited training is provided on the use of in-vehicle technologies. Variable priority training (VPT) is a computer-based training that has shown promising results in improving multi-tasking performance. Eighteen police officers participated in a driving simulation study to assess the effect of VPT on officers’ performance and workload. Findings suggested that although VPT was effective in improving officers’ performance in dual and multi-task simulations across the training sessions, this effect was not generally transferred to driving. However, the VPT might be effective for training of high-demand situations involving pursuit driving and multiple secondary tasks. The findings can be beneficial for police agencies to improve training protocols. Practitioner summary: A driving simulation study was conducted to assess the effect of a computer-based training approach on police officers’ driving performance and cognitive workload. The findings suggested that the proposed training approach might be effective for training of high-demand situations involving pursuit driving and multi-tasking.

Remediation Strategies for Performance Anxiety across Sex, Sport and Stage: Identifying Common Approaches and a Unified Cognitive Model.

Strategies for addressing anxiety-related decrements in performance have been implemented across a variety of domains, including Sex, Sport, and Stage. In this review, we (1) iterate the dominant anxiety-related remediation strategies within each of these domains; (2) identify over-lapping and domain-specific strategies; and (3) attempt to unify the conceptualization of performance-related anxiety across these three areas under the information-processing framework of the Reflective/deliberative—Impulsive/automatic Model (RIM). Despite both diversity and similarity in remediation approaches across domains, we found that many strategies appear to share the common goal of maintaining a dominant automatic style of information processing in high performance demand situations. We then describe how various remediation strategies might hypothetically fit within the RIM framework and its subcomponents, identifying each intervention as falling into one or more broad categories related to achieving and/or maintaining dominance in automatic information processing. We conclude by affirming the benefit of adopting a unifying information-processing framework for the conceptualization of performance-related anxiety, as a way of both guiding future cross- and inter- disciplinary research and elucidating effective remediation models that share common pathways/mechanisms to improved performance.

Classification Performance for COVID Patient Prognosis from Automatic AI Segmentation—A Single-Center Study

Background: COVID assessment can be performed using the recently developed individual risk score (prediction of severe respiratory failure in hospitalized patients with SARS-COV2 infection, PREDI-CO score) based on High Resolution Computed Tomography. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of automatizing this estimation using semi-supervised AI-based Radiomics, leveraging the possibility of performing non-supervised segmentation of ground-glass areas. Methods: We collected 92 from patients treated in the IRCCS Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Policlinic and public databases; each lung was segmented using a pre-trained AI method; ground-glass opacity was identified using a novel, non-supervised approach; radiomic measurements were collected and used to predict clinically relevant scores, with particular focus on mortality and the PREDI-CO score. We compared the prediction obtained through different machine learning approaches. Results: All the methods obtained a well-balanced accuracy (70%) on the PREDI-CO score but did not obtain satisfying results on other clinical characteristics due to unbalance between the classes. Conclusions: Semi-supervised segmentation, implemented using a combination of non-supervised segmentation and feature extraction, seems to be a viable approach for patient stratification and could be leveraged to train more complex models. This would be useful in a high-demand situation similar to the current pandemic to support gold-standard segmentation for AI training.