Uniform Schedule Research Articles

Monitoring strategy of COVID-19 vaccination in dialysis patients based on a multiplex immunodot method: The CovidDial study.

COVID-19 vaccine was demonstrated to be effective in dialysis patients, but boosters are mandatory due to a rapid waning of anti-spike antibodies. A vaccination strategy based on immunologic response might be useful to maintain a favorable risk-benefit balance in this vulnerable population. CoviDial is an observational prospective study enrolling 121 dialysis patients to receive a 3-dose mRNA-1273 vaccine according to a uniform schedule. At baseline, months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, anti-spike antibodies against four epitopes (S1, S2, ECD-S1 + S2, RBD) were monitored with a multiplex immunodot enzymatic assay. Potential correlation between initial serologic response and subsequent COVID-19 infection was then assessed. Overall, 96.2% and 96.8% of patients had anti-RBD antibodies at 3 and 12 months, respectively. All antibodies titers significantly decreased at month 6 compared to month 3. Booster vaccine induced a robust serologic response at month 9, but with a waning 3 months later, particularly for anti-S2 (37.2±3.3 vs. 61.3±3.0, p< 0.0001) and anti-S1 + S2 antibodies (68.4±3.3 vs. 88.4±2.3, p= 0.0015). Fifteen patients were later tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. At month 3, mean titers of anti-RBD, anti-S1 + S2, and anti-S2 antibodies were lower in the subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infected cohort (71.57 ±9.01 vs. 85.79 ±2.61, p= 0.0131; 41.07 ±7.96 vs. 61.68 ±3.56, p= 0.0237; 13.79 ±5.03 vs. 39.70 ±3.86, p= 0.0096; respectively). Three doses of mRNA-1273 vaccine induce a robust but time-limited immunologic response in dialysis patients. Lower anti-spike antibodies titers after initial vaccination are associated with a higher risk to subsequently contract SARS-CoV-2, even beyond 6 months.

Prediction and analysis of power consumption and power loss at industrial facilities

THE PURPOSE. Conduct a study to improve the reliability of forecasting the magnitude of power consumption and power losses at an industrial enterprise.METHODS. Methods are used to determine and predict the parameters of consumption and losses of electricity at industrial facilities.RESULTS. To clarify the magnitude of electricity losses, it is proposed to use coefficients that take into account the type of load curves and show the ratio of the values of the sum of the squares of currents (powers) of the variable load curve and the values of the sum of average currents (powers), that is. the ratio of power losses during load operation according to variable and uniform schedules (Kgraph), as well as a coefficient that takes into account the topology of the circuit (Ktop). The study of radial and main circuits of networks was carried out and the losses of electricity were determined using the proposed coefficients. The values of equivalent resistances of shop circuits of networks of various topologies are calculated. The operational data of the section of the workshop network are given. It was revealed that with a constant technological process, an increase in the equivalent resistance of the network circuit is due to an increase in the resistance of the contacts of switching devices installed on the lines. The value of the estimated supply of electricity was determined using the parameter of the average value of the equivalent resistance. At the same time, the error in calculating the estimated supply in relation to the actual annual supply of electricity amounted to 2,63%. According to the retrospective values of the average equivalent resistance of the circuit, it is possible to determine the predicted value of this parameter using the average value of the coefficient of change in the equivalent resistance. These characteristics of the scheme are recommended to be used in the assessment and forecasting of losses and the estimated supply of electricity, which will increase the reliability of the predicted parameters for industrial facilities.

A Coupled Sampling Design for Parameter Estimation in Microalgae Growth Experiment: Maximizing the Benefits of Uniform and Non-Uniform Sampling

As an important primary producer in aquatic ecosystems, the various parameters within the mathematical models are used to describe the growth of microalgae and need to be estimated by carefully designed experiments. Non-uniform sampling has proved to generate a deliberately optimized sampling temporal schedule that can benefit parameter estimation. However, the current non-uniform sampling method depends on prior knowledge of the nominal values of the model parameters. It also largely ignores the uncertainty associated with the nominal values, thus inducing unacceptable parameter estimates. This study focuses on the uncertainty problem and describes a new sampling design that couples the traditional uniform and non-uniform sampling schedules to benefit from the merits of both methods. Based on D-optimal design, we first derive the non-uniform optimal sampling points by maximizing the determinant of the Fisher information matrix. Then the confidence interval around the non-uniform sampling points is determined by Monte Carlo simulations based on the prior knowledge of parameter distribution. Finally, we wrap the non-uniform sampling points with the uniform sampling points within the confidence interval to obtain the ultimate optimal experimental design. Scenedesmus obliquus, whose growth curve follows a four-parameter model, was used as a case study. Compared with the traditional sampling design, the simulation results show that our proposed coupled sampling schedule can partly eliminate the uncertainty in parameter estimates caused by fixed systematic errors in observations. Our coupled sampling can also retain some advantages belonging to non-uniform sampling, in exploiting information maximization and managing the cost of sampling.

Learning Better, Learning More: The Benefits of Expanded Retrieval Practice

How can learning within a study session be optimized? Practically, there is a functionally unlimited amount of information that could be learned, but learners have limited time. Across two delayed-test experiments, we ask what schedule (or combination of schedules) maximizes the amount of information that can be learned in a fixed amount of time. We show that an expanding schedule of practice (retrieval, with feedback) of GRE word pairs allows additional items to be inserted at other schedules and is ultimately more effective and efficient for learning compared to a uniform schedule. Not only did the expanding schedule conditions lead to equal (Experiment 1) or greater (Experiment 2) memory for critical to-be-learned words, but they also allowed for additional items to be learned within the same total practice time. Expanding conditions were more efficient, yielding 71% (Experiment 1) and 41% (Experiment 2) more words recalled than the uniform condition.

Level of initial training moderates the effects of distributing practice over multiple days with expanding, contracting, and uniform schedules: Evidence for study-phase retrieval.

Inconsistent results have been obtained in experiments comparing the effects on retention of expanding, contracting, and uniform practice schedules, in which the spacing between successive practice sessions progressively increases, progressively decreases, or remains constant, respectively. In the present study, we experimentally assessed an apparent trend in the literature for expanding schedules to be more advantageous than other schedules following a low level of training during the initial learning session, but not following a high level of initial training. College students studied pseudocword-word pairs in multiple practice sessions distributed over a 13-day period according to expanding, contracting, and uniform schedules. During their initial learning session, participants received either low-level training (two study trials) or high-level training (one study trial and then five rounds of practice testing with corrective feedback). All participants were treated identically in the subsequent practice sessions. A final cued-recall test after a two-week retention interval revealed an expanding-schedule superiority following low-level initial training but not following high-level initial training. These results are interpreted in terms of a study-phase-retrieval mechanism and help explain the mixed results obtained in the prior literature.

Assessment of Ki67 in relation to radiotherapy (RT) fractionation and prognosis in the CHHiP (CRUK/06/016) trial.

98 Background: A uniform fractionation schedule is used to deliver external beam RT for localised prostate tumours Individualising fractionation according to tumour biology may improve outcomes. In addition recurrence rates after RT vary considerably and better prognostic markers are needed to guide treatment choices. This study aims to identify if the cell proliferation marker Ki67 predicts response to RT fractionation in CHHiP, a randomised trial of 3 RT fractionation schedules. It also aims to identify if Ki67 predicts prognosis. Methods: A matched case:control study design was used, patients with biochemical or clinical failure &gt; 2 years after RT (BCR) were matched to patients without recurrence according to established prognostic factors (Gleason score, PSA, Tumour-stage) and fractionation schedule. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of diagnostic biopsy sections was carried out using the MIB1 Ki67 antibody. Two independent investigators scored Ki67 using the unweighted global method (1) to derive a mean and maximum percentage of cells staining positive (mean Ki67 and maximum Ki67 respectively). Conditional logistic regression models were fitted with interaction terms between the biomarker and the fractionation schedules to determine whether Ki67 predicted BCR according to fractionation. Secondly models were fitted using the entire case:control study sample to estimate the prognostic value of Ki67 on risk of BCR. Results: Ki67 results were available for 173 matched pairs. The interaction terms between Ki67 and the fractionation schedules were not significant. However mean and maximum Ki67 were significant prognostic markers for BCR in a model adjusted for established prognostic factors. Conditioning on matching variables and age, the odds of BCR is estimated to increase by 9% per 1 point increase in mean Ki67 (OR = 1.09, 95%CI:1.04–1.15, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Ki67 did not predict BCR according to fractionation schedule in CHHiP, however it did predict prognosis independently of established prognostic factors. Additional IHC biomarkers are under evaluation.

Implications of Measurement Assay Type in Design of HIV Experiments.

Time series measurements of circular viral episome (2-LTR) concentrations enable indirect quantification of persistent low-level Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication in patients on Integrase-Inhibitor intensified Combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART). In order to determine the magnitude of these low level infection events, blood has to be drawn from a patients at a frequency and volume that is strictly regulated by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Once the blood is drawn, the 2-LTR concentration is determined by quantifying the amount of HIV DNA present in the sample via a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assay. Real time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) is a widely used method of performing PCR; however, a newer droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) method has been shown to provide more accurate quantification of DNA. Using a validated model of HIV viral replication, this paper demonstrates the importance of considering DNA quantification assay type when optimizing experiment design conditions. Experiments are optimized using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to locate a family of suboptimal sample schedules which yield the highest fitness. Fitness is defined as the expected information gained in the experiment, measured by the Kullback-Leibler Divergence (KLD) between the prior and posterior distributions of the model parameters. We compare the information content of the optimized schedules to uniform schedules as well as two clinical schedules implemented by researchers at UCSF and the University of Melbourne. This work shows that there is a significantly greater gain information in experiments using a ddPCR assay vs. a qPCR assay and that certain experiment design considerations should be taken when using either assay.

Effect of various pre-harvest treatments on storage quality of peach cv. July Elberta

The study was undertaken to assess the effect of various pre-harvest treatments (calcium chloride, paclobutrazol and cycocel) on storage quality of peach cv. July Elberta. The trees were maintained under a uniform schedule of cultural operations throughout the season and subjected to preharvest treatments of various chemicals like calcium chloride, paclobutrazol and cycocel at three different concentrations applied at 6 and 7 weeks after flowering. Among all the pre-harvest treatments, T3 (1.0% CaCl2) treatment overall has shown that besides reducing physiological weight loss (PLW) and spoilage, it also effectively retained firmness, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and pectin content, while, at the same time these treatments were also effective in reducing the rate of respiratory and enzymatic activity. Out of the 13 treatments, T3 (1.0% CaCl2) proved to be most effective however, it was at par with T6 (300 ppm paclobutrazol) and T2 (0.75% CaCl2) and the study concludes that CaCl2 preharvest application has a beneficial effect on extending the shelf life of peach fruits.

Prospective HIV Clinical Trial Comparison by Expected Kullback-Leibler Divergence.

The sample frequency and volume of blood that can be drawn from a single patient is meticulously restricted under the human subject protection protocols established by an institutional review board (IRB). Consequently, the amount of samples that can be taken during a particular experiment is limited. In order to ensure an effective experiment design, considerations must be taken choosing when to take patient samples. A validated model of HIV-1 viral replication and 2-LTR production is exploited to find sub-optimal sampling schedules that maximize information content of the experiment outcome. This is done through a Forward Stepwise Regression (FSR) process with Kullback Liebler Divergence (KLD) as a selection criterion. Suboptimal schedules are found for an experiment taking four sample points over a possible span of 20 weeks. All schedules found with the FSR process contain significantly more information than both a uniform schedule and a schedule used in a previous experiment with 4 sample points. This work demonstrates the advantages of using KLD as a tool in the experiment design process to increase information content.

Simultaneous Production Scheduling and Waste Management Optimization for an Oil Sands Application

Mine planning for oil sands involves the integration of waste management into the long term production planning process. This ensures that while ore is provided for the processing plant, sufficient in-pit tailings containment areas are made available as dedicated disposal areas for backfilling. This enables the creation of a trafficable landscape at the earliest opportunity to facilitate progressive reclamation. Apart from being a regulatory requirement, this integration impacts directly on the profitability and sustainability of oil sands mining operations. This paper introduces a mixed integer linear programming mine planning framework that seeks to simultaneously determine the production schedule, dyke construction schedule and the backfilling schedule. Different waste management strategies were also investigated. The model generated a practical, smooth and uniform schedule for ore, dyke material and backfilling activities. The results show that for the case studies considered, increasing the number of in-pit tailings cells reduces the net present value of the mine as a result of a reduced operational flexibility. However, this strategy makes in-pit tailings storage areas available earlier in the mine life, and ensures an efficient use of in-pit storage areas required for sustainable operations.

Rethinking Taxation of Privately Held Businesses

This article proposes the repeal of current Subchapters K and S, as well as the removal from the ambit of Subchapter C of all privately held corporations and the replacement of the current tax regime for privately held business with a new regime under which all privately held businesses (including wholly owned corporations and limited liability companies, and unorganized sole proprietorships) would be taxed at the entity level under a uniform rate schedule, regardless of the form of organization. All publicly traded companies, and their controlled corporate subsidiaries, would continue to be governed by all of the structural rules of Subchapter C (and any other relevant Code sections outside of Subchapter C.) Nevertheless, the profits of privately held companies subject to the entity-level tax would not be double taxed upon distribution. Rather, a single-level tax, at the owners’ tax rates would be achieved by applying the imputation-credit model for corporate tax integration to all distributions (including profits of a sole proprietorship that have not been reinvested) to the equity owners of the entity. As a consequence of the abolition of pass-through taxation and the imposition of an entity-level tax, entity losses no longer could be passed through to the entity’s owners to offset positive income from other sources. This proposal emanates from decades-long problems with the administration of Subchapter K, governing the taxation of partnerships, and the incoherence of having three separate regimes — Subchapter C, Subchapter K, and Subchapter S — apply to privately held businesses depending of the form of organization and available elections. While it does not originate as a refinement of recent proposals to reduce the corporate tax rate and to clean up the base, its adoption would facilitate such a move. Because such a high percentage of U.S. business income is now earned by unincorporated business, it would avoid increased distortions in the choice of business entity due solely to tax planning.

Optimising retention through multiple study opportunities over days: The benefit of an expanding schedule of repetitions

Few studies have investigated how scheduling repeated studies of the same material over several days influences its subsequent retention. The study-phase retrieval hypothesis predicts that, under these circumstances, expanding intervals between repetitions will promote the greatest likelihood that the participant will be reminded of previous occurrences of the item, thus leading to a benefit for subsequent recall. In the present article, participants studied vocabulary pairs that were repeated according to one of three schedules. In the expanding schedule, pairs were presented on days 1, 2 and 13; in the uniform schedule, on days 1, 7 and 13; and in the contracting schedule, on days 1, 12 and 13. Cued-recall was assessed after a retention interval (RI) of 2, 6 or 13 days. Consistent with predictions, the expanding schedule generally led to better performance than the other schedules. However, further analyses suggested that the benefit of an expanding schedule may be greater when the RI is longer.

Extracorporeal Photophoresis (ECP) For Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD): A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

IntroductionSteroid refractory chronic graft-versus-host-disease (SR-cGVHD) is the leading cause of late morbidity and mortality in allogeneic transplant patients. Safety of extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP) has led to multiple studies evaluating its role in SR-cGVHD. Overall and organ specific response rates (RR) of SR-cGVHD have varied significantly between studies. We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of ECP in SR-cGVHD. MethodsA comprehensive search of several databases (Ovid Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials, Scopus) for articles published in any language between 1984-2012 was conducted. Unpublished studies using electronic databases from the annual meetings abstracts of hematology/transplant societies were searched. Experts in the field were also contacted for selection of studies and missing data from selected trials. End points included complete response rate (CR), overall RR (ORR), and organ-specific RR's. ResultsInitial search generated 312 studies, out of which 18 studies (4 prospective) met selection criteria (N=595). Random effects model was used for pooled rates. Pooled CR rate (11 studies) was 29% (CI 19%-42%). Pooled ORR (16 studies) was 64% (CI 65-82%). 1 year overall survival was 49% (CI 29-70%). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I²=72) likely due to differences in ECP schedules utilized, and a variety of scales used to measure outcomes. Pooled RR's for SR-cGVHD of skin was 74% (CI 60-85%), liver was 68% (CI 57-77%), ocular was 60% (CI 40-78%), oral was 72% (CI 51-86%), lung was 48% (CI 33-63%), gastrointestinal (GI) was 53% (CI 21-83%), and musculoskeletal (MSK) was 64% (CI 18-94%). No significant differences in responses to ECP for pediatric and adult populations were found. Sensitivity analysis could not be done due to limited number of prospective studies. ConclusionsECP is an effective therapy for oral, skin & liver SR-cGVHD, with modest activity in lung and GI SR-cGVHD. Further studies must report standardized outcomes with a uniform schedule of ECP. [Display omitted] Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Retrieval practice is an efficient method of enhancing the retention of anatomy and physiology information

Although a great deal of empirical evidence has indicated that retrieval practice is an effective means of promoting learning and memory, very few studies have investigated the strategy in the context of an actual class. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a series of very brief retrieval quizzes could significantly improve the retention of previously tested information throughout an anatomy and physiology course. A second purpose was to determine if there were any significant differences between expanding and uniform patterns of retrieval that followed a standardized initial retrieval delay. Anatomy and physiology students were assigned to either a control group or groups that were repeatedly prompted to retrieve a subset of previously tested course information via a series of quizzes that were administered on either an expanding or a uniform schedule. Each retrieval group completed a total of 10 retrieval quizzes, and the series of quizzes required (only) a total of 2 h to complete. Final retention of the exam subset material was assessed during the last week of the semester. There were no significant differences between the expanding and uniform retrieval groups, but both retained an average of 41% more of the subset material than did the control group (ANOVA, F = 129.8, P = 0.00, ηp(2) = 0.36). In conclusion, retrieval practice is a highly efficient and effective strategy for enhancing the retention of anatomy and physiology material.

Incorporating waste management into oil sands long term production planning

In oil sands mining, providing ore to the processing plant and tailings containment at the right time are the main drivers for profitability and sustainability. This paper introduces a mixed integer linear goal programming (MILGP) mine planning model to: determine the order and time of extraction of ore, dyke material and waste over the mine life that maximises the operation’s net present value; and determine dyke material destination that minimises dyke construction cost. To implement an efficient MILGP model, an initial production schedule was generated and used as an input for the optimisation process. The model created value and a sustainable operation by generating a practical, smooth and uniform schedule for ore and dyke material. The total net present value generated including dyke construction cost for all pushbacks and destinations is $26 987M for a total mined tonnage of 7377 Mt.

Pediatric glioblastoma: Results with adjuvant chemoradiation using temozolomide.

2072 Background: Paediatric glioblastoma patients are underrepresented in major trials for this disease. The value of concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide is not known in this subset of patients. Methods: We retrospectively analysed our database between 2004 and 2010. All patients were treated with maximally safe surgical resection. This was followed by a uniform treatment schedule of post-operative radiation according to RTOG guidelines with concurrent daily temozolomide at 75 mg per meter square. The radiation dose was 60 Gy in 30 fractions planned by 3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy. 4 weeks later, adjuvant temozolomide was started at 150 mg per meter square, day 1 to 5 every 28 days and escalated to 200 mg per meter square if well tolerated. Log-rank test was used to compare survival distribution. The data was analysed using SPSS 16. Results: 23 patients were analysed. The median age was 11 years (range: 5 to 19 years). 15 males and 8 females were noted. 4 patients had seizures at presentation while 19 did not. 13 patients underwent a gross total resection while 10 underwent a subtotal resection. 5 patients received only concurrent temozolomide while 18 received concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. The median number of adjuvant temozolomide cycles were 6 (range 2 to 12). The median follow up was 11.9 months (range: 1.6 to 30.1 months). 6 patients were dead and 17 were alive at the time of analysis. The median overall survival was not reached. The median survival for patients receiving only concurrent temozolomide was 13 months while that for patients receiving concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide was not reached and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0009). The overall survival was not statistically different for age less or more than 10 years, gender, and type of surgery or the number of adjuvant cycles of temozolomide (less or more than 6). Conclusions: Temozolomide may have a role in paediatric Glioblastoma. Both concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide seem to be important for superior overall survival in this group of patients.

The Effect of Expanding vs. Uniform Retrieval Practice on the Retention of Selected Physiology Concepts

This study compared the recall of physiology concepts throughout 30 days of two different expanding schedules of retrieval and two different uniform schedules of retrieval. Participants (n = 250) first read 30 reproductive physiology and immunology concepts and were then repeatedly assessed, without feedback, according to one of the following four randomly assigned schedules: i) immediately after learning and again 9 and 19 days later (Uniform (1,10,20)), ii) 7, 14 and 21 days after learning (Uniform (8,15,22)), iii) immediately after learning and again 5 and 15 days later (Expanding (1,6,16)) and iv) 1, 6 and 16 days after learning (Expanding (2,7,17)). All participants completed a post‐test 29 days after learning the physiology concepts. Mean post‐test scores ± SE for the Uniform (1,10,20), Uniform (8,15,22), Expanding (1,6,16) and Expanding (2,7,17) groups were 36.15 ± 1.97, 32.31 ± 1.87, 45.80 ± 2.56, 39.71 ± 2.48, respectively. The Expanding (1,6,16) group scores were significantly higher than those in both uniform retrieval groups (ANOVA; F = 6.52, P = 0.00). Also, the combined mean of the two expanding retrieval conditions (42.57 ± 1.80) was significantly higher (F = 14.09, P = 0.00) than that of the two uniform conditions (34.10 ± 1.36). In summary, participants benefited more from expanding retrieval practice, particularly when the first recall assessment was administered immediately after learning.

Effect of uniform versus expanding retrieval practice on the recall of physiology information

The purpose of this study was to compare the retention of selected physiology concepts throughout 30 days of two different uniform schedules of retrieval and two different expanding schedules of retrieval. Participants (n = 250) first read and reread 30 immunology and reproductive physiology concepts and were then repeatedly assessed, without feedback, according to one of the following four randomly assigned schedules: 1) immediately after learning and again 9 and 19 days later [uniform (days 1, 10, and 20)]; 2) 7, 14, and 21 days after learning [uniform (days 8, 15, and 22)]; 3) immediately after learning and again 5 and 15 days later [expanding (days 1, 6, and 16)]; and 4) 1, 6, and 16 days after learning [expanding (days 2, 7, and 17)]. All participants completed a final assessment 29 days after learning the physiology concepts. Mean final assessment scores ± SE for the uniform (days 1, 10, and 20), uniform (days 8, 15, and 22), expanding (days 1, 6, and 16), and expanding (days 2, 7, and 17) groups were 36.15 ± 1.97, 32.31 ± 1.87, 45.80 ± 2.56, and 39.71 ± 2.48, respectively. There were no differences in final assessment scores between the two expanding retrieval groups, but expanding (days 1, 6, and 16) group scores were significantly higher than those in both uniform retrieval groups (ANOVA, F = 6.52, P = 0.00). Also, the combined mean of the two expanding retrieval conditions (42.57 ± 1.80) was significantly higher (F = 14.09, P = 0.00) than the combined mean of the two uniform retrieval conditions (34.10 ± 1.36). The results indicate that participants benefited more from expanding retrieval practice, particularly when the first assessment was administered immediately after learning.

Influence of Multiple-Day Temporal Distribution of Repetitions on Memory: A Comparison of Uniform, Expanding, and Contracting Schedules

Very few studies have examined the influence of schedules of repetitions across multiple days (e.g., Tsai, 1927 ). Three temporal schedules of four presentations of pseudoword/word pairs over a 7-day learning period were compared: a uniform (presentations on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7), an expanding (1, 2, 3, 7), and a contracting (1, 5, 6, 7) schedule. Schedule was a within-subjects variable. Experiment 1 was performed on the Internet and showed that cued recall on Day 9 led to higher scores for the stimuli of the expanding schedule. Experiment 2 was performed in the laboratory and showed that the expanding and the uniform schedules led to the highest scores on Day 9. A recognition task performed during the learning phase revealed that stimuli recognized at the time of their repetition were more likely to be retrieved later than the others. Our results are discussed within the framework of the study-phase retrieval and encoding variability theories.

Self-generated retrievals while multitasking improve memory for names

We used a translational research paradigm to investigate whether distributed retrievals could benefit name learning in social situations. Undergraduates (N=64) were trained to generate distributed retrievals while they were multitasking. Students learned to generate distributed retrievals according to either an expanding or a uniform schedule. Their self-generated distributed retrievals while they were multitasking were effective in improving name recall for both retrieval schedules. The increase with self-generated retrievals while multitasking was greater (η2=.76) than the increase that Helder and Shaughnessy (2008) found with experimenter-controlled retrievals while multitasking (η2=.42). These findings provide evidence that the beneficial effect of distributed retrievals can extend to learning names in a social situation.