Subjective Environment Research Articles

Transformations of Subjectivity in Post-Non-Classical Science

Relevance. As the Сomplexity of the subject's dialogue and communication environment increases, the need to increase its connectivity increases as an evolutionary way to preserve conscious ability.Purpose. The identifying the nature of the relationship between linguistic and non-linguistic objects of the worlds of Human existence leads to the need to construct a third entity that determines their compatibility, and as a result, is the cause of the emergence of a new quality of reality. The objectives of the post-non-classical paradigm of science involves rethinking the spatial-temporal model of the world, the role of intersubjective communications and internal dialogue of the subject as conditions for the existence and evolution of a conscious form of life, as well as identifying the principles underlying these processes. The methodology of constructing a categorical apparatus that allows describing such conditions is based on the method of Ontosemiotic Modeling and Decomposition, which reflect the method of phenomenological reduction, ascent from the abstract to the concrete, as well as the logical-semiotic construction of the subject of research. This method avoids the paradoxical nature of categorical descriptions of non-linguistic entities.Results.The desired third entity can be presented in the context of the three categories of subjectivity proposed by the author: synchronism, intention and relativity.Conclusions. The category of describing the world: subjectivity, temporality, continuality, contingency, processality, emergence, dialogicity, contextuality and relations between them, within the framework of post-nonclassical rationality, reflect the need to adopt new principles, models and methodologies of communication and activity, identify information-semiotic laws and patterns of cognition management, as well as refinement and redefinition of the basic concepts of philosophy, such as "Subject", "Consciousness", "Cognition".

Determining the degree of information security in social networks depending on the profile of connections between subscribers

Even before the emergence of social networks, it was found out what influence the people around him have on a person. At the same time, it was determined that very often the most useful for a person is not the close environment of the subject (strong ties), but people with whom the subject communicates "on the surface" (weak ties). Based on these conclusions, the question arises about the role of unfamiliar people in the life of an individual. People who are not part of a narrow cluster of close friends and acquaintances reveal useful information to the individual - information that the individual does not possess, due to the fact that with weak ties the subject of communication has fewer general contacts. At the same time, another problem arises - the problem of information security, which can be accessed by completely unknown people who are not part of the subject's close environment. To develop a methodology for assessing the security of information in social networks, a solution to the protection system in social networks was found, taking into account the effect of a specific parameter - the strength of connections between subscribers, to conduct a visual analysis of the system's behavior. In contrast to the classical approach, a linear mathematical model was created, the stationary position of the system was found, and the equation of a harmonic oscillator with decaying amplitude was obtained. The natural oscillation frequency, period and damping coefficient of the protection system are determined. It was concluded that, based on the conditions of the ratio of dissipation and the natural frequency of fluctuations of the quantity, the decay of the latter to a certain value is carried out periodically, with a decaying amplitude, or according to an exponentially decaying law. As a result of studies of the linear model of protection based on differential equations, it was established that the social network protection systems are non-linear. The need for further research of the non-linear model of the information protection system in social networks for the purpose of calculating the security of information, taking into account the type of connections between subscribers, has been determined.

일개 지역 남자고등학생의 학업스트레스, 스마트폰 과의존, 대인관계역량이 건강증진행위에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting health promoting behaviors in male high school students.
 Methods The subjects were 212 male high school students located in C city. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used using SPSS version 27.0.
 Results Influences of academic stress, overdependence on smartphones, and interpersonal competence were positively correlated with health promoting behaviors. The variables affecting the health promoting behaviors of the subjects were interpersonal competence (β=.614, p<.001), grade level (β=.170, p=.001), smartphone dependence (β=-.160, p=.002), and the total explanatory power of these variables was 52.3% (F=78.129, p<.001).
 Conclusions Interpersonal competence was one of the biggest influential factors on health promoting behaviors. In order to improve the health promoting behavior of high school students, the development of interpersonal competence in consideration of the characteristics of their developmental stages must be carried out in parallel. And it is necessary to create an educational plan that can reduce the negative impact of overindependence on smartphones in consideration of the subject's personal environment.

CBT- BELCLIST (BELIEF CLIENT LIST) UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEPERCAYAAN DIRI ANAK ASUH DI YABNI KAB. SUMEDANG

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a counseling approach designed to solve the counsel's current problems by restructuring cognitive and deviant behavior. CBT-BELCLIST (Belief Client List) is a new technological model of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. CBT-BELCLIST is aimed at fostering girls who experience self-confidence problem at the Yayasan Bening Nurani, Sumedang Regency. CBT-BELCLIST is carried out in the second stage of CBT, namely in the stage of looking for negative emotions. CBT-BELCLIST contains two columns, namely irrational thinking and rational thinking, and will be filled by the subject and the subject's social environment. CBT-BELCLIST is intended to increase the confidence of foster children. This study was conducted to obtain an empirical description and analyze the self-confidence of foster children through the CBT-BELCLIST technique. This study uses an experimental research design with a Single Subject Design (SSD) approach with the ABA model. The target behavior observed in this study was managing oneself, starting a conversation with a friend, starting a conversation with a group of friends and giving verbal/non-verbal responses to friends. The result of this study is that with CBT-BELCLIST the subject is able to increase his self-confidence. Subjects begin to be able to manage themselves, start conversations with friends, start conversations with a group of friends and provide verbal/non-verbal responses to friends.Key Words: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), CBT-BELCLIST (Belief Client List), Self-confidence Problem

THE EFFECT BETWEEN PEER CONFORMITY AND SELF-CONCEPT ON CONSUMPTIVE BEHAVIOUR

This research is preliminary research. Individuals can do whatever they want, including buying something in the form of goods or products. Purchases made are not based on careful consideration and are carried out excessively which can trigger consumptive behavior. The phenomenon related to consumptive behavior can be concluded that the three subjects show consumptive behavior by being shown extravagant behavior. One of the subjects stated that the subject's friend environment likes shopping, so the subject feels isolated and not confidence when he looks like different appearance. These problem can affet on individual self concept. If the individual has a positive self concept, then the consumptive behaviour is very low. Otherwise, If the individual has a negative self concept, then the consumptive behaviour is very high. The urgency in this study is to provide education to readers and consumers to see themselves more as not implementing a wasteful and consumptive lifestyle. Such behavior can be self-defeating and have an impact on the next life. In buying something, individuals are required to buy the goods they need, not just the lure and seduction of good quality goods where they are not needed.The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of conformity and self-concept on consumptive behavior on student University of Muhammadiyah Gresik.This research using a quantitative research type with a survey method. The participants of this study is psychology students. This initial survey was conducted through in-depth interviews with three participant. The scale used in this study is the scale of conformity, self-concept, and consumptive behavior. Sampling Technique using Non-Probabilty Sampling is Incidental Sampling. Data analysis using multiple linear regression test with IBM Statistical Program For Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 25.

Evaluation of self-perception of awake bruxism in dentistry students – clinical case series

Introduction and Objectives Bruxism is a repetitive muscular activity of the masticatory muscles where there may, or may not, exist dental contact and, depending on the adaptability of the individuals may cause lesions in the stomatognathic apparatus [1]. It is now possible to use the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), which involves carrying out a self-report questionnaire about Awake Bruxism (AB) at various times of the day, in a random order in the subject's environment through smartphones [2]. The main objective of this study was to analyse auto perception of AB through the use of EMA in dentistry students. Materials and Methods Ten (n = 10) dentistry students of the Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, in Almada, Portugal, with access to a smartphone, were invited to participate in this study. All the assumptions of the Helsinki Declaration have been fulfilled and an informed consent for clinical case of Clinica Dentária Egas Moniz approved by the ethic commission of Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz. Initially, it was requested the signature of the informed consent. Then, each student answered two questionnaires (T0): The first was a specific bruxism questionnaire and the second was the “General Anxiety Disorder-7” (GAD7) questionnaire [3]. Finally, after a slideshow presentation about the BruxApp®, each student downloaded this app to their smartphone. The students were asked to use the app for 7 days, answering to, at least, 12 random alerts that were sent randomly during the day. At the end of 7 days-period the students were asked to answer again to the same 2 questionnaires (T1). Results Unfortunately, we were not able to collect results from smartphones with the Android System® resulting in 5 dropouts. The results through the BruxApp® were: Relaxed: 74.1%; Teeth Contact: 15.52%; Teeth Clenching: 2.68%; Teeth grinding: 0%; Mandible Bracing: 7.62%. In what concerns the answers to the questionnaires: There was no major difference in GAD-7 questionnaire in T0 and T1 among students. Nevertheless, on the bruxism assessment questionnaires, in T0, four (n = 4) students did not have AB self-perception. However, in T1 all the students (n = 5) referred an increased self-perception of AB after using BruxApp® for 7 days. In total, the prevalence of AB among students was 24.8%. Discussion and conclusions The total prevalence of AB (24.8%), was very similar to the study of Bracci [2] Also, teeth contact was shown to be the most frequent habit in both studies [2]. We can conclude, that in our study, the smartphone application BruxApp® allowed patients to have more information about AB, likewise increasing self-perception and contributing to establish a clearer idea of bruxism as an epidemiology. Moreover, it is important to refer that, besides being a pilot study, the loss of half of the participants due to failures with the Android System®, this is a severe limitation of this study.

АЛГОРИТМ ФОРМУВАННЯ ГРУПОВОГО ТА ПЕРСОНАЛЬНОГО НАВЧАЛЬНОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА ЗАСОБАМИ СТРУКТУРУВАННЯ ОСВІТНЬОГО ПРОСТОРУ УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ НА БАЗІ СЕРВІСІВ MS OFFICE365ТА MS TEAMS

The algorithm of formation of a personal learning environment (PLE) and learning group environment for the organization of electronic distance learning in medical higher education institutions is offered. It was noted that the introduction of the COVID-19 quarantine raised the issue of reorganization of the learning space and accelerated the process of introducing the distance learning model. The experience gained by the authors during quarantine made it possible to form the stages of deploying the learning environment in the medical higher education institution and to define the educational space of the group as the main element of this environment. The main technological steps of creating subsystems of the educational space of the university for using cloud services MSO365 were considered using the example of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University. The conditions that allow creating a hierarchy of the learning environment were defined, namely: a project of the structure of the learning environment with the coordination of departments; registration of all participants of the learning process and creation of their accounts in Active Directory of the university; automated procedure of transferring group members to AD MSO365. The paper provides an example of a hierarchy of names, which is a reflection of the structure of university departments in terms of staffing and determines the rights of access to the usage of services that ensure the implementation of the corresponding functions. The authors found that the user account is the first integrating service that allows the user to form a personal learning environment using OneDrive, web-site MS SharePoint, MS Forms and other office applications. It was noted that the user account is the lowest level of the hierarchy of the learning environment, the usage of which provides a learning space for groups. According to the authors, it is reasonable to use MS Groups to form academic groups. Using MS Teams, a teacher gets a flexible tool to form a learning environment for various organizational forms, namely: lectures, seminars, practical classes, independent work, etc. The authors proposed rules for forming group names in MS Groups and MS Teams. They presented an algorithm for deploying the department's learning environment and proposed a suggestion of structuring the subject's learning environment using MS Teams channels for a small number of groups in the department.

Best Practices for Avoiding Paper Backup When Implementing Electronic Approaches to Patient-Reported Outcome Data Collection in Clinical Trials

Electronic data capture is fast becoming the preferred method of collecting patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in clinical trials. Data collection can be site-based (clinical study site), and typically collected on a tablet, or field-based (subject's typical environment such as home, school, or workplace), and most often accomplished with handheld devices, such as a smartphone. While site and study subject compliance with protocol-specific data collection procedures using these devices is critical to trial success, so is the robustness of the device hardware and the software these devices use to capture the trial data. Technology failures and/or site or subject resistance to the electronic data capture protocol may lead a subject to record data on paper, which can result in undesirable data challenges. As such, both site and subject compliance issues and technology-related factors must be anticipated to adhere to the ePRO data collection plan. The objective of this paper is to provide the technology industry's best practice recommendations for optimizing ePRO data collection in clinical trials by proposing the inclusion of a planned approach to data collection that includes viable electronic backup strategies so that defaulting to a paper-based backup becomes unnecessary.

Electrical Spinal Stimulation, and Imagining of Lower Limb Movements to Modulate Brain-Spinal Connectomes That Control Locomotor-Like Behavior.

Neuronal control of stepping movement in healthy human is based on integration between brain, spinal neuronal networks, and sensory signals. It is generally recognized that there are continuously occurring adjustments in the physiological states of supraspinal centers during all routines movements. For example, visual as well as all other sources of information regarding the subject's environment. These multimodal inputs to the brain normally play an important role in providing a feedforward source of control. We propose that the brain routinely uses these continuously updated assessments of the environment to provide additional feedforward messages to the spinal networks, which provides a synergistic feedforwardness for the brain and spinal cord. We tested this hypothesis in 8 non-injured individuals placed in gravity neutral position with the lower limbs extended beyond the edge of the table, but supported vertically, to facilitate rhythmic stepping. The experiment was performed while visualizing on the monitor a stick figure mimicking bilateral stepping or being motionless. Non-invasive electrical stimulation was used to neuromodulate a wide range of excitabilities of the lumbosacral spinal segments that would trigger rhythmic stepping movements. We observed that at the same intensity level of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), the presence or absence of visualizing a stepping-like movement of a stick figure immediately initiated or terminated the tSCS-induced rhythmic stepping motion, respectively. We also demonstrated that during both voluntary and imagined stepping, the motor potentials in leg muscles were facilitated when evoked cortically, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and inhibited when evoked spinally, using tSCS. These data suggest that the ongoing assessment of the environment within the supraspinal centers that play a role in planning a movement can routinely modulate the physiological state of spinal networks that further facilitates a synergistic neuromodulation of the brain and spinal cord in preparing for movements.

The intentionality and intelligibility of moods

AbstractThis article offers an account of moods as distinctive kinds of personal level affective–evaluative states, which are both intentional and rationally intelligible in specific ways. The account contrasts with those who claim moods are non‐intentional, and so also arational. Section 2 provides a conception of intentionality and distinguishes moods, as occurrent experiential states, from other states in the affective domain. Section 3 argues moods target the subject's total environment presented in a specific evaluative light through felt valenced attitudes (the Mood‐Intentionality thesis). Section 4 argues some moods are experienced as rationally intelligible responses, and so epistemically appropriate, to the way “the world” presents itself (the Mood‐Intelligibility thesis). Finally, Section 5 discusses the epistemology of moods.

The Lacanian Concept of Cut in Light of Lacan's Interactions with Maud Mannoni.

This article sets out to shed light on the Lacanian concept of cut (introduced in 1961–1962): it refers to the symbolic (i.e., linguistic) operation which produces the object a and thereby enables separation, through which the subject emerges. To that effect, we show how this concept benefitted from Lacan's interactions with Maud Mannoni (1923-1998), who focused on clinical situations where implementing a cut in the subject's environment is the only way to enable a separation between the child and the Other. Lacan first drew on Mannoni's clinical elaborations about the retarded child's alienation to the maternal fantasy: when the mother's unconscious doesn't leave room for the cut, it prevents the separation through which the child could become a subject. Lacan generalized this in the late 1960s: he broadened Mannoni's alienation to the maternal fantasy to characterize a type of child symptom, where children become their mother's non-separated, de-phallicized object a. Then, in the 1970s, Mannoni proposed an original theoretico-clinical setting to address the configurations where the object a isn't separated: in the splintered institution, the team follows on projects of activities (professional, personal, etc.) outside the institution voiced by children who haven't previously encountered the symbolic cut, by helping them realize these external projects. By thus acknowledging their attempts at establishing a cut and giving them consistency, the splintered institution helps them psychically elaborate separation.

Heritability analysis with repeat measurements and its application to resting-state functional connectivity

Heritability, defined as the proportion of phenotypic variation attributable to genetic variation, provides important information about the genetic basis of a trait. Existing heritability analysis methods do not discriminate between stable effects (e.g., due to the subject's unique environment) and transient effects, such as measurement error. This can lead to misleading assessments, particularly when comparing the heritability of traits that exhibit different levels of reliability. Here, we present a linear mixed effects model to conduct heritability analyses that explicitly accounts for intrasubject fluctuations (e.g., due to measurement noise or biological transients) using repeat measurements. We apply the proposed strategy to the analysis of resting-state fMRI measurements-a prototypic data modality that exhibits variable levels of test-retest reliability across space. Our results reveal that the stable components of functional connectivity within and across well-established large-scale brain networks can be considerably heritable. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dissociating intra- and intersubject variation can reveal genetic influence on a phenotype that is not fully captured by conventional heritability analyses.

Ecologic Momentary Assessment: Perspectives on Applications and Opportunities in Research and Practice Regarding Nutrition Behaviors

Retrospective self-reported data have limitations, making it important to evaluate alternative forms of measurement for nutrition behaviors. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) attempts to overcome the challenges of recalled data with real-time data collection in a subject's natural environment, often leveraging technology. This perspective piece 1) introduces the concepts and terminology of EMA, 2) provides an overview of the methodological and analytical considerations, 3) gives examples of past research using EMA, and 4) suggests new opportunities (including combining assessment and intervention) and limitations (including the need for technology) for the application of EMA to research and practice regarding nutrition behaviors.

Commentary on "The Effect of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Community-Based Walking in Cerebral Palsy: A Clinical Pilot Study".

“How could I apply this information?” Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to improve walking in children with cerebral palsy. Yet, the results of this study did not consistently support this result. Although there were many variables that likely affected the results, this study raises an important question: Does bracing alone increase a child's walking activity level in the community? There appears to be a need for the clinical team composed of the patient, family, orthotist, therapist, and physician to assess each child's prescribed brace more closely, monitor it regularly, and investigate whether or not it provides a functional benefit. The ankle accelerometer used in this study may accurately track an individual's walking activity at home and in the community; however, the cost may be prohibitive. A pedometer or fitness tracker can be a cost-effective alternative. Parent comments: I was not surprised that the subjects had different results because of the many differences in each subject's environment. In order for research to be more accurate, the subjects would need to be tested in the same environment, performing the same activities for the same amount of time. The results of this study were inconclusive so they do not help me to decide whether or not I want my daughter to continue wearing AFOs. Also, the results will not affect my daughter's physical therapy because her treatment sessions focus on strengthening her muscles without the braces. “What should I be mindful about when applying this information?” It should not be assumed that AFOs or footwear alone enhances walking activity. The bracing variations among subjects made it difficult to determine which brace features improve the patient's function. An optimized shank to vertical angle (SVA) is another feature for the clinical team to consider when recommending a brace because SVA may contribute to gains in ambulation activity. Further studies are needed to identify the key components for optimal bracing and footwear, in order to guide orthotic prescription and maximize functional walking activity. Parent comments: In my experience, the pros of AFOs are that they provide support and promote longer walking times. The cons are that they are too bulky. The bulkiness has caused my daughter to fall more often than usual. We also need to buy shoes that are 2 sizes bigger than her feet. From a social perspective, my daughter has been teased and bullied because of the way she walks when wearing AFOs. But in response, she has educated students about her medical condition. Sharon Gonzalez, PT, DPT California Children's Services, County of Los Angeles Glendale, California Eunice Shen, PT, PhD, DPT, PCS California Children's Services, County of Los Angeles El Monte, California Florin Taylor Mother of a girl with cerebral palsy Burbank, California

ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND INTAKE COMPARISONS IN CHILEAN CHILDREN 4-5 YEARS ATTENDING DAY-CARE CENTRES.

the doubly labelled water (DLW) method has an accuracy of 1% and within-subject precision of 5-8%, depending on subject's age and environments issues. Energy intake assessment is prone to errors (>15- 20%) depending in the method utilized. to quantify DLW methodology errors in four to five year olds that could affect the comparison with energy intake. energy expenditure (TEE, by DLW), was assessed during 14 days in 18 preschool children, who attended eight hours daily to day-care centres. Energy intake was determined by a combined method: food weighing during weekdays and recall after leaving the Centre (17h to sleep time) plus 24 h recall, during the weekend. Several assumptions affecting DLW total error were assessed to determine their influence in the comparison to energy intake (i.e. background variability, space ratio, proportion of water subject to fractionation, food quotient value). the individual mean energy expenditure was 1 373 ± 177 kcal and the energy intake (1 409 ± 161 kcal). The overall difference between intake and expenditure was 42.9 kcal/day (limits of agreement + 259.1 to -112.3 kcal/day). TEE measurement error only explained a minor quantity (2.4%), between both measurements, and the observed mean isotope dilution space was 1.030 ± 0.010 confirming the value utilized in adults studies. energy expenditure data is similar to other studies in preschool children. The small difference found between energy intake and expenditure may be attributed to the applied energy intake methodology, the homogeneous diet at care centres during the week-days and the lower DLW methodology error.

Palilalie et maladie d’Alzheimer à un stade sévère : une étude de cas

ObjectivesThe literature on the palilalia is relatively rich, probably because it affects several diseases: Parkinson's disease, syndrome of Gilles de la Tourette, Pick's disease, epilepsy, etc. The author, studying precisely palilalia in Alzheimer's disease to a severe stage, ran into a field of desert research. It offers an account of a case study, that of Mrs. L., that raises questions on one hand the possible causes of palilalia, on the other treatment to achieve. If, until now, the causes are defined primarily neurological and treated with pharmacological treatments, it seems that a method of non-drug treatments can sometimes have benefits on palilalia. Patient and methodThe patient in question suffered from Alzheimer's disease to a severe stage, she had many “behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia” as perambulation, motor and gestural stereotypies, and especially palilalia. The ability to converse with Mrs. L. was profoundly altered, she no longer had access to a speech punctuated with a lexicology and had only a few words, syllables, or sounds of mouth that she repeated indefinitely to try to be heard. The author, a clinical psychologist who accompanied her for many months, tried to appease these verbal manifestations which generates among other residents of the nursing home anxiety, agitation, and aggression. Thus, for many weeks, the author undertook to repeat with her the syllables or words spoken on a different pace, or sang to validate the speech acts of the patient and to better preserve the environment in which it lives. ResultsRepeat the syllables with the patient first allowed her to pronounce other syllables or to conjure a few words. Repeat the syllables on a different pace had the surprising effect of reducing and then stop a few minutes palilalic phenomenon. This method having its limits over the deteriorating health status and increased speech disorders of Mrs. L., the production of long notes sung by the psychologist or the fact of singing syllables of the patient presented longer-lasting effects but unsystematic. ConclusionsIf our hypothesis binding palilalia and anxiety generated by the environment proves to be reinforced in the future by other clinical cases, it would be a considerable advance on the palilalic phenomenon so far only treated by pharmacological treatments. Along the lines of Hate Health Authority, the non-drug approach to ecology of the subject's environment, its preservation, seem to have appeasing effects, including on palilalia. Responding to a painful affect (marked in palilalia by a rapid rate of repetition) with a more pleasant affect (the psychologist using a slower pace) helped mitigate or stop the palilalia. Sing it introduced yet more benefits. Therefore, develop a method of treatment by therapeutic mediation, but here the song remains the possibilities opened appears sensible. An essential condition is still worth noting: these methods worked only on condition of transfer between Mrs. L. and psychologist.

IHM de Suppléance Sensorielle Visuo-Tactile pour Aveugles et d'Intégration Sensorielle pour Autistes

Our research focuses on perceptual and cognitive mechanisms involved in learning procedures in order to develop and validate innovating technologies in the field of health for blind people through the implementation of an embarked version of a Tactile Vision Sensory Substitution device (TVSS) with wireless connections between the three TVSS components (micro camera, coupling system and matrix of tactile stimulators), aesthetically acceptable and allowing an ecological use. Such a device could allow prevention of developmental disorders in blind infants, autonomy for blind people in everyday life (thanks to the implementation of a Human Machine Interface allowing connections between the embarked TVSS device and a Personal Computer with a software development presenting a 3D numerization of the subject's urban environment). A new perspective is proposed in favor of innovating taking care programs for autistic people. The main goal of this project is to allow disabled people to benefit from the scientifically demonstrated efficacy of TVSS devices.

EVALUATING THE EXTENDED MIND

AbstractAccording to proponents of radically extended cognition, some cognition is located outside the boundaries of biological organisms. In this paper, I offer a new argument for a modest version of this view according to which some cognitive processes are radically extended. I do so by showing that features of a subject's environment—in particular, the pen and paper that a subject uses to solve complex mathematical problems—can have epistemic roles that are indicative of cognitive roles. I end the paper by discussing how epistemology might play a significant role in diagnosing alleged cases of radically extended cognition.

The prediction of study-emergent suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder: a pilot study using ecological momentary assessment data.

Bipolar disorder is associated with idiosyncratic precursors of clinically important states such as suicidal ideation. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) - high frequency data collection in a subject's usual environment - provides the potential for development of temporal, individualized prediction of risk states. The present study tested the ability of EMA data to predict individual symptom change in clinician-rated suicidal ideation. Thirty-five adults diagnosed with inter-episode bipolar disorder completed daily measures of affect in their home environments using diaries administered over an eight-week assessment timeline. Suicidal ideation was assessed monthly at in-person visits using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated. We used a novel application of functional linear models (FLMs) to generate prospective predictions of suicidal ideation at in-person clinician assessments based on intensively sampled trajectories of daily affect. Eight instances of suicidal ideation scores > 0 were recorded during the study period on six participants. Utilizing trajectories of negative and positive affect, cross-validated predictions attained 88% sensitivity with 95% specificity for elevated suicidal ideation one week prior to in-person clinician assessment. This model strongly outperformed prediction models using cross-sectional data obtained at study visits alone. Utilizing EMA data with FLM prediction models substantially increases the accuracy of prediction of study-emergent suicidal ideation. Prediction algorithms employing intensively sampled longitudinal EMA data could sensitively detect the warning signs of suicidal ideation to facilitate improved suicide risk assessment and the timely delivery of preventative interventions.

The predictors of glucose screening: the contribution of risk perception.

BackgroundThe prevention of type 2 diabetes is a challenge for health institutions. Periodic blood glucose screening in subjects at risk for developing diabetes may be necessary to implement preventive measures in patients prior to the manifestation of the disease and to efficiently diagnose diabetes. Not only medical aspects, but also psychological and social factors, such as the perception of risk (the individuals’ judgment of the likelihood of experiencing an adverse event) influence healthy or preventive behaviors. It is still unknown if risk perception can have an effect on health behaviors aimed at reducing the risk of diabetes (glucose screening). The objective of study was to identify factors that influence glucose screening frequency.MethodsEight hundred randomized interviews, which were stratified by socioeconomic level, were performed in Mexico City. We evaluated the perception of risk of developing diabetes, family history, health status and socioeconomic variables and their association with glucose screening frequency.ResultsOf the study participants, 55.6% had not had their glucose levels measured in the last year, whereas 32.8% of the subjects reported having monitored their glucose levels one to three times per year and 11.5% had their levels monitored four or more times per year. Risk perception was significantly associated with the frequency of blood glucose screening. Having a first-degree relative with diabetes, being older than 45 years and belonging to a middle socioeconomic level increased the probability of subjects seeing a doctor for glucose screening.ConclusionsGlucose screening is a complex behavior that involves the subjects’ perception of threat, defined as feeling vulnerable to the development of diabetes, which is determined by the subject’s environment and his previous experience with diabetes.