Nodule Detection with Eye Movements

Radiologists often miss nodules that may represent lung cancer on chest radiographs. We investigated whether eye movements collected during the search for lung nodules by large samples of laypeople may provide information that could assist radiologists in their detection. For that purpose, we developed a partially invisible Markov model with partially unobserved states and analyzed eye tracking data of over 100 laypeople who reviewed 14 chest X‐ray images, of which seven contained a potentially cancerous nodule. We used the luminance value of the pixels in the X‐ray images as prior information on the possible location of a nodule and identified six regions of interest on each image that may contain a nodule. Our study demonstrated that the eye movements recorded from laypersons contained information that may assist radiologists in the detection of nodules in chest X‐rays, which has important implications for crowdsourcing of search for pulmonary nodules, which are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Underlying Role of Negative Affect in the Association between PTSD,Major Depressive Disorder,and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Clinicians and researchers have found differential diagnosis to be difficult, particularly for conceptually similar disorders. One category of particular interest has been distress or internalizing disorders, theorized to be related via an underlying construct of generalized distress or negative affect. The present study attempted to address the comorbidity of three distress disorders - posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - using latent analyses by controlling for the variance attributable to negative affect. The sample consisted of 265 trauma-exposed individuals who completed self-report measures of PTSD, MDD, GAD, and negative affect. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test initial model fit. Next, the model was re-computed, controlling for negative affect by regressing negative affectivity at the item-level. Results indicated that a significant amount of variance within and between these diagnostic categories is attributable to negative affect at both the item- and factor-level. The hypothesis that MDD’s non-somatic/affective factor and the GAD factor would have the highest attenuations in factor loadings after controlling for negative affect was supported. Therefore, negative affect significantly influences the co-occurrence of PTSD, MDD, and GAD clinically, emphasizing the need for transdiagnostic interventions for trauma victims.     

The role of retrieval mode and retrieval orientation in retrieval practice: insights from comparing recognition memory testing formats and restudying

The effectiveness of retrieval practice for aiding long-term memory, referred to as the testing effect, has been widely demonstrated. However, the specific neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. In the present study, we sought to explore the role of pre-retrieval processes at initial testing on later recognition performance by using event-related potentials (ERPs). Subjects studied two lists of words (Chinese characters) and then performed a recognition task or a source memory task, or restudied the word lists. At the end of the experiment, subjects received a final recognition test based on the remember–know paradigm. Behaviorally, initial testing (active retrieval) enhanced memory retention relative to restudying (passive retrieval). The retrieval mode at initial testing was indexed by more positive-going ERPs for unstudied items in the active-retrieval tasks than in passive retrieval from 300 to 900 ms. Follow-up analyses showed that the magnitude of the early ERP retrieval mode effect (300–500 ms) was predictive of the behavioral testing effect later on. In addition, the ERPs for correctly rejected new items during initial testing differed between the two active-retrieval tasks from 500 to 900 ms, and this ERP retrieval orientation effect predicted differential behavioral testing gains between the two active-retrieval conditions. Our findings confirm that initial testing promotes later retrieval relative to restudying, and they further suggest that adopting pre-retrieval processing in the forms of retrieval mode and retrieval orientation might contribute to these memory enhancements.     

从传统性到现代性的转变上看京港大学生的人格差异

本研究通过对京港两地大学生的传统人格特征和现代人格特征所进行的调查和研究发现 ,当代大学生的人格特征正在由传统性向现代性转变。北京大学生 ,尤其是女生的现代人格表现更为突出 ,她们更乐于接受新观念 ;而香港大学生在转变中则相对表现得较为保守 ,尤其是香港的女生 ,仍然较为传统。     

Image-processing algorithms for behavior analysis of group-housed pigs

Computational algorithms of image processing were developed and evaluated to select, by motion detection, images of resting artificial pigs and to segment the pigs (mixture of black and white pigs) from their background. Motion detection of the pigs was implemented by detecting interframe differences of postural behavioral images. This algorithm combines the advantages of likelihood ratio method and shading model method and shows a stable performance under noisy and dynamic illumination conditions. Segmentation of the pigs from their background was implemented by employing multilevel thresholding and background reference techniques. The algorithm automatically determines the number of thresholds needed and produces satisfactory segmentation when both black and white pigs with different image intensities are present at the same time (the most complicated situation). The reference background image is updated so that temporal changes in illumination and/or spatial changes of the pen condition have little effect on the performance of image segmentation. The algorithm employs statistical models of the pigs and background and Bayes hypothesis testing to obtain and update the exposed portion of the reference background. Linear filters were used in this process for updating the parameters. These algorithms will serve as essential components for a novel, behavior-based, interactive approach to assess and control thermal comfort of group-housed pigs, which is expected to result in enhanced animal health and well-being.     

教师互动问卷中文版的初步修订及应用

教师互动问卷（ＱＴＩ）是国外研究师生间教师行为时广泛采用的有效工具,国内目前尚缺少这方面的研究工具,因此,我们对ＱＴＩ进行了中文版的修订。修订经过了翻译、试测、修订、重测、信度与效度的考查等一系列环节。试测和重测的被试分别为９２名和３４７名中小学教师。统计结果表明,ＱＴＩ中文版有较好的信度、效度和区分度,可以用于我国教师行为的研究。此外,应用ＱＴＩ将教师划分为合作一支配型与对一服从型两类,效果较好     

不同背景下不同频率闪烁的突显工效研究

本实验对黑、白背景下高频、中频、低频三种闪烁的突显工效进行了比较研究。实验结果表明：闪烁作为突显类型可以提高视觉搜索的绩效,而且,在闪烁的频率较高时（２７Ｈｚ以上）,这种闪烁的突显工效更为明显。视觉材料的呈现背景对闪烁突显视觉搜索绩效没有明显的影响,但在白背景下采用闪烁效果较好。     

心理行为干预对乳腺癌患者情绪反应及免疫功能的影响

按随机和匹配原则,将40名乳腺癌放疗患者分入干预组和对照组。对干预组患者进行为期4周的心理行为干预,对照组仅接受相应的医药治疗。以肿瘤病人情绪适应问卷(MAC)和免疫测试法研究患者干预前后的情绪反应和免疫功能,探讨心理行为干预对乳腺癌患者情绪反应和免疫功能的影响。结果发现,心理行为干预有利于提高患者NK细胞活性(NKCA);并有助于维持放疗期间患者的白细胞水平。