Influence of the Inter-Trial Interval, Movement Observation, and Hand Dominance on the Previous Trial Effect

Previous studies have shown that current movement is influenced by the previous movement, which is known as the previous trial effect. In this study, we investigated the influence of the inter-trial interval, movement observation, and hand dominance on the previous trial effect of the non-target discrete movement. Right-handed healthy humans abducted the index finger in response to a start cue, and this task was repeated with constant inter-trial intervals. The absolute difference in the reaction time (RT) between the previous and current trials increased as the inter-trial interval increased. The absolute difference in RT reflects the reproducibility of the time taken for the motor execution between two consecutive trials. Thus, the finding supported the view that there is a carryover of movement information from one trial to the next, and that the underlying reproducibility of the RT between the two consecutive trials decays over time. This carryover of movement information is presumably conveyed by implicit short-term memory, which also decays within a short period of time. The correlation coefficient of the RT between the previous and current trials decreased with an increase in the inter-trial interval, indicating that the common responsiveness of two consecutive trials weakens over time. The absolute difference was smaller when the response was performed while observing finger movement, indicating that a carryover of the visual information to the next trial enhances the reproducibility of the motor execution process between consecutive trials. Hand dominance did not influence the absolute difference or correlation coefficient, indicating that the central process mediating previous trial effect of hand movement is not greatly lateralized.

Inter-trial effects in priming of pop-out: Comparison of computational updating models

In visual search tasks, repeating features or the position of the target results in faster response times. Such inter-trial ‘priming’ effects occur not just for repetitions from the immediately preceding trial but also from trials further back. A paradigm known to produce particularly long-lasting inter-trial effects–of the target-defining feature, target position, and response (feature)–is the ‘priming of pop-out’ (PoP) paradigm, which typically uses sparse search displays and random swapping across trials of target- and distractor-defining features. However, the mechanisms underlying these inter-trial effects are still not well understood. To address this, we applied a modeling framework combining an evidence accumulation (EA) model with different computational updating rules of the model parameters (i.e., the drift rate and starting point of EA) for different aspects of stimulus history, to data from a (previously published) PoP study that had revealed significant inter-trial effects from several trials back for repetitions of the target color, the target position, and (response-critical) target feature. By performing a systematic model comparison, we aimed to determine which EA model parameter and which updating rule for that parameter best accounts for each inter-trial effect and the associated n-back temporal profile. We found that, in general, our modeling framework could accurately predict the n-back temporal profiles. Further, target color- and position-based inter-trial effects were best understood as arising from redistribution of a limited-capacity weight resource which determines the EA rate. In contrast, response-based inter-trial effects were best explained by a bias of the starting point towards the response associated with a previous target; this bias appeared largely tied to the position of the target. These findings elucidate how our cognitive system continually tracks, and updates an internal predictive model of, a number of separable stimulus and response parameters in order to optimize task performance.

Technical methods for accelerating digital transformation of Chinese enterprises

Chinese enterprises are facing the opportunity of digital transformation, and all enterprises are advancing in exploration. This paper introduces the trend and challenge of digital transformation of Chinese enterprises. This paper expounds the digital transformation strategy of enterprises as the center. This paper discusses the four development processes of enterprise digital transformation, including digital empowerment, process optimization, digital transformation and digital reengineering. This paper puts forward the methods that Chinese enterprises should adopt in the process of transformation. First of all, the digital transformation of enterprises should be scientifically planned. Then select pilot projects in enterprises and try them out first. After that, the trial effect was evaluated. After summarizing and improving, copy and enlarge the scope. Finally, optimize the operation of the enterprise, and constantly adjust.

PSIX-18 Prediction of urinary P excretion as a tool to assess mineral status of growing pigs

Urinary losses of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) are indicators of absorbed compared to amount needed for tissue growth as well as their balance for bone deposition. They can thus be a good indicator of the mineral status. This hypothesis has been validated through meta-analysis using a database of P and Ca retention in growing pigs including 43 publications published between 1969 and 2018 for a total of 51 experiments and 251 dietary treatments. P urinary excretion has been simulated using a multiple regression analysis with the proc MIXED (Minitab® 19) with trial effect as random. Average body weight of the pigs was 32kg ±18kg. Urinary P losses (urineP) was influenced by apparent digestible P (digP, recalculated for each treatment; g/kg), total Ca (Ca, g/kg), and microbial phytase (PhytM, FTU/kg). The model created explains 90% of urineP (R2 = 91%). UrineP was increased with digP from about 2 g/kg of digP (digP, P = 0.02, digP x digP, P < 0.001), before this point it was very low. Increasing dietary Ca decreased urineP linearly when exceeding the 2 g/kg of digP (Ca x digP, P < 0.001); P can then be fixed into bone as hydroxyapatite. The contribution of P is thus to manage in conjunction with dietary Ca. PhytM effect depends of both Ca and P (PhytM x Ca x digP; P = 0.03) showing that phytM addition reduces urineP depending of digP and Ca. As an example, in 6 g Ca/kg diet, 500 FTU/kg addition reduce urineP by 28% in 2 g digP/kg and by only 4% in 4 g digP g/kg. This is due to a better retention of P into bone in low digP. Next step will be urinary Ca modeling and then looking at meaning of their ratio in relation to mineral status to develop a practical tool to assess Ca and P status of pig.

Post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial: effect of vitamin D supplementation on circulating levels of desmosine in COPD

BackgroundVitamin D supplementation lowers exacerbation frequency in severe vitamin D-deficient patients with COPD. Data regarding the effect of vitamin D on elastin degradation are lacking. Based on the vitamin's anti-inflammatory properties, we hypothesised that vitamin D supplementation reduces elastin degradation, particularly in vitamin D-deficient COPD patients. We assessed the effect of vitamin D status and supplementation on elastin degradation by measuring plasma desmosine, a biomarker of elastin degradation.MethodsDesmosine was measured every 4 months in plasma of 142 vitamin D-naïve COPD patients from the Leuven vitamin D intervention trial (100 000 IU vitamin D3 supplementation every 4 weeks for 1 year).ResultsNo significant association was found between baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and desmosine levels. No significant difference in desmosine change over time was found between the placebo and intervention group during the course of the trial. In the intervention arm, an unexpected inverse association was found between desmosine change and baseline 25(OH)D levels (p=0.005).ConclusionsVitamin D supplementation did not have a significant overall effect on elastin degradation compared to placebo. Contrary to our hypothesis, the intervention decelerated elastin degradation in vitamin D-sufficient COPD patients and not in vitamin D-deficient subjects.

The effect of crop rotation on performance and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet

Sugar beet and sugarcane are two major crops for sugar extraction throughout the world. However, the sugar beet importance is not just about sugar production but it also plays an important role in crop rotation and increased productivity in various industries as well as livestock feed. In this study the long-term (2009-16) field trial effect of alfalfa (4 years)-winter wheat (1 year)–fallow (1year)-sugar beet rotation on yield and quality parameters of sugar beet were evaluated for two consecutive rotations. The field trials were carried out at single location in Karaj, Iran, using randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of variance showed that the seasonal factors influenced different traits. In the first and second rotations, the root yield ranged from about 56.5 to 83.2 and 61.4 to 77.8 t ha-1, respectively with significant difference among cultivars in the first rotation. However, no significant difference was observed among both rotations in terms of root yield. Same results were obtained for sugar yield in both rotations which illustrates the stability of the above-mentioned traits. Except for sugar content, significant difference was observed among other traits in both rotations. We show for the first time the effect of completing two rotation sequences on sugar beet performance and quality for decision making into a continual expansion/development of crop cultivation.