Letter and category fluency tasks are used to assess semantic knowledge, retrieval ability, and executive functioning. They appear to be useful in detecting different types of dementia, but accurate detection of neuropsychological impairment relies on appropriate normative data. Multiple regression analysis was used to develop demographically corrected norms for letter and category fluency in 768 normal adults. T-score equations were developed on a base subsample of 403, and crossvalidated on a separate subsample (n = 365). Participants ranged in age from 20 years to 101 years; in educational level from 0 to 20 years; 55% were Caucasian and 45% were African American. Together, age, education, and ethnicity were significant predictors of letter and category fluency performance, accounting for 15% and 25% of variance, respectively. Formulas and tables for converting raw fluency scores to demographically corrected T scores are presented.
Solid-state neuromorphic systems based on transistors or memristors have yet to achieve the interconnectivity, performance, and energy efficiency of the brain due to excessive noise, undesirable material properties, and nonbiological switching mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that an alamethicin-doped, synthetic biomembrane exhibits memristive behavior, emulates key synaptic functions including paired-pulse facilitation and depression, and enables learning and computing. Unlike state-of-the-art devices, our two-terminal, biomolecular memristor features similar structure (biomembrane), switching mechanism (ion channels), and ionic transport modality as biological synapses while operating at considerably lower power. The reversible and volatile voltage-driven insertion of alamethicin peptides into an insulating lipid bilayer creates conductive pathways that exhibit pinched current-voltage hysteresis at potentials above their insertion threshold. Moreover, the synapse-like dynamic properties of the biomolecular memristor allow for simplified learning circuit implementations. Low-power memristive devices based on stimuli-responsive biomolecules represent a major advance toward implementation of full synaptic functionality in neuromorphic hardware.
This article reports on the outcome of a presidential initiative of 2012 American Psychological Association President Suzanne Bennett Johnson to delineate competencies for primary care (PC) psychology in six broad domains: science, systems, professionalism, relationships, application, and education. Essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes are described for each PC psychology competency. Two behavioral examples are provided to illustrate each competency. Clinical vignettes demonstrate the competencies in action. Delineation of these competencies is intended to inform education, practice, and research in PC psychology and efforts to further develop team-based competencies in PC.
Neuromorphic computing technologies will be important for the future of computing, but much of the work in neuromorphic computing has focused on hardware development. Here, we review recent results in neuromorphic computing algorithms and applications. We highlight characteristics of neuromorphic computing technologies that make them attractive for the future of computing and we discuss opportunities for future development of algorithms and applications on these systems.
This report captures and expands the outcomes of this workshop. In the context of extreme heterogeneity, it defines basic research needs and opportunities in computer science research to develop smart and trainable operating and runtime systems, programming environments, and predictive tools that will make future systems easier to adapt to scientists' computing needs and easier for facilities to deploy securely.
Sleep disorders have been shown to be more prevalent in adults and children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and on dialysis. To date, the prevalence and impact of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in various stages of CKD has not been evaluated. The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of RLS in children with CKD in different stages, and to evaluate its impact on sleep and daytime functioning. We conducted a clinic-based or telephone survey of 26 patients in varying stages of CKD to assess for RLS, sleep schedule, and daytime sleepiness. Thirty-five percent of children met criteria for RLS, the majority being in CKD stages 1-4. There were no significant differences seen in sleep schedule and daytime sleepiness between those children with or without RLS. We found that there is an increased prevalence of RLS in children with CKD compared to the general population. This suggests that children with all stages of CKD should be routinely screened for RLS symptoms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.