AUTHOREA
Log in Sign Up Browse Preprints
LOG IN SIGN UP

Preprints

Explore 40,867 preprints on the Authorea Preprint Repository

A preprint on Authorea can be a complete scientific manuscript submitted to a journal, an essay, a whitepaper, or a blog post. Preprints on Authorea can contain datasets, code, figures, interactive visualizations and computational notebooks.
Read more about preprints.

How to diagnose H63D Syndrome Type-2
Dr. Carolina Diamandis

Dr. Carolina Diamandis

and 4 more

March 20, 2023
H63D Syndrome Type-2 is a complex genetic disorder with diverse manifestations, including erratic iron metabolism, micro-inflammatory cascades, neuropsychiatric issues, organ damage, and other rare multi-faceted symptoms. A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this condition is essential for accurate diagnosis, appropriate management, and the development of targeted therapeutic approaches. Healthcare professionals should adopt a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and emphasize the importance of early detection, intervention, and patient education in the management of H63D Syndrome Type-2. Future research should focus on gene editing technologies and novel therapies to address the underlying genetic mutation and the diverse symptoms associated with the disorder.
Carbamazepine Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Clin...
ABU RAIHAN SHAMS
MOHD AJMAL

ABU RAIHAN SHAMS

and 3 more

March 19, 2023
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but life-threatening skin reactions, often triggered by medications such as antiepileptic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and certain antibiotics. Carbamazepine is one of the most common antiepileptic medicine that causes SJS. A 13-year-old male with a history of 2 years of epilepsy presented with a painful rash and extensive blistering with mucous membrane involvement, along with fever and Nilkolsky sign. Based on clinical presentation and previous medication history, the patient was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and carbamazepine was identified as the cause. Carbamazepine was discontinued, and the patient was given nutritional support, wound care, and intravenous fluids, along with steroid and antihistamine treatment. The patient’s symptoms improved, and he was discharged after 13 days. Physicians must be aware of the potential for life-threatening drug hypersensitivity reactions in patients taking certain medications, particularly antiepileptic drugs. A thorough history and careful monitoring are essential for the early recognition and treatment of SJS and TEN. We want to advise all physicians that for patients with a previous drug reaction to this class of medication, carbamazepine prescribing should be avoided. KEYWORDS: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), ADR.
Drug Utilization Pattern and Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring of Antibiotics Use in E...
SYED NAQVI
Md Ahmad

SYED ADEEL HASAN NAQVI

and 6 more

March 19, 2023
Objective: To investigate the ENT department’s (OPD, IPD) antibiotic prescribing practices at a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow, India. Material and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, non-experimental (observational) study was performed in (OPD, IPD) department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) over a period of 6 months. Result: In this study, 100 ENT patients (51 male, 49 female) were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ear infections were the most common reason for visits (86 patients), followed by nose (7 patients) and throat infections (5 patients). The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were β-lactam antibiotics, with penicillin’s (amoxicillin with clavulanic acid) and cephalosporin’s (cefixime) being the most commonly used. Combination therapy was used in 117 patients, with an average of 1.9 antibiotics per patient per course. A total of 40 antibiotics were prescribed, with oral being the most common route of administration. Only one adverse drug reaction was reported, with a suspected link to cefixime causing an increase in rashes in one patient. The study population had comorbid conditions of anxiety, epilepsy, and anaemia. Conclusions: To conclude, our study in the university teaching hospital (IIMSR) highlighted lesser utilization of antibiotics in ENT infections, as some of the ENT infections are not due to bacteria. The majority of ENT patients admitted to the hospital appear to have bacterial infections, and most of them reacted favourably to antibiotic treatment. Majority of the patients used the regimen in accordance with the current guidelines. Keywords: Antibiotic agents, drug utilization, adverse drug reaction, ENT infection.
Academic Performance of Engineering Students; A Predictive Validity Study of First-Ye...
Abdulhakeem Hassan Nurudeen
Abdulnaser  Fakhrou

Abdulhakeem Hassan Nurudeen

and 3 more

March 19, 2023
Background: Students’ academic achievement is regarded as the scholastic standing of students at the end of a given study period that is expressed in terms of grades. The key to bridging the attainment gap at the end of their study period is through their cumulative grade points over the duration of the study. Predictive validity study on students first-year GPA as a predictor of their final-year CGPA was carried out to predict the students’ academic performance in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study examined the relationship between first-year GPA and final-year CGPA, as well as the relationship between Age, Gender and Geopolitical zones on first-year GPA and CGPA of Engineering students in the Faculty of Engineering students University of Abuja, Nigeria. The data obtained from the four Departments; Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical were analyzed. Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Design/Method: An ex-post factor research approach was adopted, and Pearson’s correlation and Regression Analysis were fitted with the data using Minitab software. Results: The results of the study highlighted that first-year GPA had a strong positive relationship with final-year CGPA. Age, Gender and Geopolitical zones have no correlation with students’ final-year CGPA. The regression equations can be used to predict students’ CGPA to bridge the attainment gap at the end of their studies. Conclusions: Finally, the study emphasized the need to admit more female students in Engineering studies as they constitute 12.9% of the population.
Neuromorphic Artificial Vision Systems Based on Reconfigurable Ion-modulated Memtrans...
zhen yang

zhen yang (Peking University)

and 6 more

March 21, 2023
Conventional vision systems suffer from lots of data handling between memory and processing units. Inspired by how humans recognize noisy images and the flexible modulation on the timescale of ion dynamics inside an emerging memtransistor, we report a novel neuromorphic vision system based on the ion-modulated memtransistors. By controlling the ion doping processes under adequate stimuli strengths, both short-term and long-term ion dynamics can be utilized to deliver energy-efficient data processing. When dealing with image reconstructions, the short-term accumulation effect of the device can help filter noises in a set of received noisy images while enhancing the original pattern information. The increased contrast can help distinguish the actual contents. To demonstrate systematic performances with the reconfiguration of devices, we extract the nonlinear relationship between channel conductance variation and the amplitude of gate pulses into the network-level simulation. Also, with the nonvolatile conductance change characteristic, the task of recognizing noisy images is performed to verify the versatility of ion-modulated memtransistors in the neuromorphic artificial vision systems.
Convex Optimization Approach to Design Sensor Networks using Information Theoretic Me...
Arjun M
Nabil M

Arjun M

and 1 more

March 18, 2023
Accurate and precise estimation of process variables is key to effective process monitoring. The estimation accuracy depends on the choice of the sensor network. Therefore, this paper aims at developing convex optimization formulations for designing the optimal sensor network using information-theoretic measures in linear steady-state data reconciliation. To this end, the estimation errors are characterized by a multivariate Gaussian distribution, and thus the analytical form for entropy and Kullback-Leibler divergences (forward, reverse, and symmetric) of estimation errors can be obtained to formulate the optimal sensor network design. The proposed information theoretic-based optimal sensor selection problems are shown to be integer semidefinite programming problems where the relaxation of binary decision variables results in solving a convex optimization problem. Thus, we use a branch and bound method to obtain a globally optimal sensor network design. Demonstrative case studies are presented to illustrate the efficacy of the proposed optimal sensor selection formulations.
Close Accord on Partial Discharge Diagnosis During Voltage Harmonics in Electric Moto...
Waqar Hassan
Dr Muhammad Akmal

Waqar Hassan

and 4 more

March 20, 2023
Partial discharge (PD) diagnostics test is reliable for estimating insulation health conditions in power system components. During laboratory PD diagnostics, the effect of harmonic components in the voltage waveform generated by variable frequency drives (VFD) fed electric motors (EMs) is often overlooked. However, these harmonic components can cause significant distortion in the applied voltage waveform. As VFD-fed EMs operate at low speeds, the harmonic concentration in the voltage increases. It has been found that PD activity in VFD-fed EM is significantly affected by the addition of harmonic components in the voltage, thus making it necessary to consider their impact when performing true PD diagnostics. This paper investigates the influence of voltage harmonic distortion produced in VFD-fed EM on PD severity and the subsequent insulation degradation. Eight VFD-fed EM are used to study PD behavior under different levels of harmonic pollution. The PD characteristics, such as inception voltage, pulse repetition rate, accumulated apparent charge, average discharge current, discharge power, and quadratic rate, are determined. With the help of probability distribution functions, the chance of PD activity and its severity at various voltage harmonic levels are estimated. The proposed technique can be used to plan maintenance activities that ensure reliability for industrial applications dealing with voltage harmonic distortion.
I fear the “other:” The fight for social resilience through race, politics and gender...
Thomas Mueller

Thomas Mueller

March 18, 2023
This study explores the development and testing of a social resilience psychometric scale, through physical and social unrest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative interviews (N = 40) were aggregated to define social resilience measured statements. When tested in quantitative analysis respondents (N = 901) “see myself as a monster” when evaluating others and are “scared to let people know the real me” fearing loss of relationships. Anxiety is heightened through a perception through the measure “could have done better.” When testing for “want to be liked even when disagree on issues” Black respondents are significantly different than White, Asian and those expressing other races. Liberals and moderate conservatives are significantly different in perception of social resilience, as are those exemplifying feminine versus masculine traits. Logistic regression testing for “comfortable with who I am in society” indicates narcissism (65% more likely) and negative social resilience (56% more likely) are key adapters. Human wellbeing, the act of perceiving self as a healthy or unhealthy actor in society, has been influenced through groupthink and polarization of the “other.” This study suggests the construct of self-esteem has been pushed into reactive mode. Research that explicates the psychological dimensions of modern resilience, is warranted.
Believing in religion as a source of value strains among Chinese college students
Wei Wang
Jie Zhang

Wei Wang

and 1 more

March 18, 2023
In contrast to the Western world, China is a less religious country. whether in a country without real religions believing in religion would contribute to the variation in value strain is a worth noting issue. Based on previous studies, this study further examined the relationship between religion and suicidality with value strain as a mediating factor among Chinese college students. Employing cluster sampling, there were 13,250 college students recruited across seven provinces in China. Three psychometric scales were used to examine religiousness (Religious Orientation-Revised Scale), value strain levels (Psychological Strain Scale), and suicidal behaviors (Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised). Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the influencing power of religion on value strain and suicidality. In addition, a series of linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the mediating effect of value strain on the association between religion and suicidality. the findings showed that first, positive relationships between religion and value strain, and suicidality were both detected; second, adherents to religion were marginalized which may have caused more value conflict further leading to a higher suicidal risk among believers.
A Flow-through catalytic membrane micro-reactor for hydrogen production by methanol s...
Senqing Fan
Yu Chen

Senqing Fan

and 7 more

January 09, 2023
A flow-through catalytic membrane micro-reactor (CMR) with Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 nanoparticles immobilized in porous membrane pores has been developed for hydrogen production by methanol steam reforming (MSR). The characteristics for CMR demonstrated Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 nanoparticles with almost 200 nm were successfully in situ immobilized in membrane pores. During MSR for hydrogen production in CMR by flow-through mode, hydrogen productivity of 500 mmol h-1 g-1 cat. and selectivity of 100% can be achieved under the condition of temperature being 360℃, molar ratio of water to methanol of 8.8 and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 176.7 L g-1 h-1. Compared with the commercial fixed bed reactor, the hydrogen productivity in CMR is one order of magnitude higher, owing to MSR confined in the space of membrane pore with micro-scale. The methanol conversation rate of over 95% can be expected, if five sheets of CMR with thickness of 5 mm was assembly in series.
Dissociation Constants (pKa) of Eight Amines: Measurements, Computational Chemistry C...
Venkata  Alluri
William Nguyen

Venkata Alluri

and 2 more

March 18, 2023
This work focused on determining the dissociation constants (pKa) for eight amines, namely, 3-(Diethylamino) propylamine, 1,3-Diaminopentane, 3-Butoxypropylamine, 2-(Methylamino) ethanol, Bis(2-methoxyethyl) Amine, α-Methylbenzylamine, 2-Aminoheptane, and 3-Amino-1-phenylbutane at temperatures ranging from 293.15 K to 323.15 K. The protonated order of two polyamines, 3-(Diethylamino) propylamine and 1, 3-Diaminopentane, were determined using computational chemistry methods. The dissociation constants at the standard temperature of 298.15 K were estimated using group functional models (paper-pencil) and computational methods using software such as COSMO-RS and Gaussian. In addition, the pKas at various temperatures were calculated using computational methods for two different thermodynamic cycle. A simple artificial neural network (ANN) method was also employed to reduce the calculation time as well as improve the accuracy. Instead of using the experimental property data, these could be generated using Aspen Plus or CosmothermX. The simulated model provided a very good fit to the pKa values.
The effects of chemical and mechanical interactions on the thermodynamic pressure for...
Santiago PENA CLAVIJO

Santiago PENA CLAVIJO

and 3 more

March 20, 2023
A document by Santiago PENA CLAVIJO. Click on the document to view its contents.
Association of maternal monocyte and neutrophil counts with hypertensive disorders of...
Kazuki Mochizuki
Shiori Ishiyama

Kazuki Mochizuki

and 11 more

March 18, 2023
Objectives Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is a pregnancy complication that increases the risk of preterm delivery and cesarean delivery. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal blood monocyte or neutrophil counts in the first trimester are related to the development of HDP. Design, Setting and Sample Data were collected from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a large birth cohort study (n = 38194) that recruited pregnant women in 15 Regional Centers across Japan between January 2011 and March 2014. The maternal neutrophil and monocyte counts in the first trimester were divided into quartiles. Results Compared with pregnant women with low neutrophil counts, those with high neutrophil counts had higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for both mild HDP (aOR [95% confidence interval]: Q4: 1.29 [1.06–1.58]) and severe HDP (aOR [95% CI]; Q2: 1.49 [1.07–2.08], Q3: 1.40 [1.00–1.95], and Q4: 1.47 [1.06–2.03]). Furthermore, compared with pregnant women with lower monocyte counts, those with higher monocyte counts also had higher aOR for both moderate HDP (aOR [95% CI]; Q2: 1.28 [1.02–1.60], Q3: 1.42 [1.14–1.77], and Q4: 1.49 [1.20–1.85]) and severe HDP (aOR [95% CI]; Q2: 1.33 [1.06–1.66], Q3: 1.46 [1.17–1.82], and Q4: 1.52 [1.22–1.89]). Conclusion In conclusion, high leukocyte counts, especially high monocyte count, in the first trimester is associated with a development of HDP. Thus, they may be used to predict subsequent HDP.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting to the Orthopaedic Clinic as Posterior Hip and L...
Aaron Marcel
John Jovan

Aaron Marcel

and 2 more

March 18, 2023
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are typically asymptomatic. When symptomatic, AAA may present as a chief concern of musculoskeletal hip and low back pain. Assessment in the orthopaedic clinic should focus on a holistic examination of the patient.
Vaginal Microbiome of Women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency - Descriptive cross-...
Gabriela Rezende
Helena Giraldo

Gabriela Rezende

and 6 more

March 18, 2023
Objective: To describe the vaginal microbiome of women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) receiving systemic hormone therapy (HT). Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty women with POI receiving systemic HT for at least 6 months, were included in the study. Vaginal secretion was collected for DNA extraction followed by Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA. The samples were pooled into phylogenetic groups (Ravel – I, II, III, IV, V). Results: Women had mean age of 37.13 (± 7.27) years and POI diagnosis at 27.90 (± 8.68) years, a mean HT duration of 8.20 (± 8.73) years. It was observed that 33.4% of the women presented group I flora, with a predominance of L. crispatus; 9% group II flora, with a predominance of L. gasseri; 33.4% group III flora, with predominance of L. iners; 15.2% group IV flora, with a predominance of anaerobic bacteria; and 9% group V flora, with a predominance of L. jensenii. Conclusion: Women with POI receiving HT presented a vaginal microbiome with a predominance of lactobacilli in the composition of the vaginal flora, specifically L. crispatus and L. iners when evaluated by molecular biology through the pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA.
Treadmill Exercise Prevents Recognition Memory Impairment in VD rat model through Enh...
linlin zhang
yuanyuan chen

linlin zhang

and 4 more

March 18, 2023
In vascular dementia (VD), memory impairment caused by the damage of synaptic plasticity is the most prominent feature that afflicts patients and their families. Treadmill exercise has proven beneficial for memory by enhancing synaptic plasticity in animal models including stroke, dementia, and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of treadmill exercise on recognition memory, and structural synaptic plasticity in VD rat model. Here, our study demonstrated that VD rat exhibited significantly recognition impairment, while treadmill exercise improved recognition memory in VD rat. To further investigate potential mechanisms for the treadmill exercise-induced improvement of recognition memory, we examined hippocampal structural synaptic plasticity by means of transmission electron microscopy and golgi staining in VD rat that had undergone 4 weeks of treadmill exercise. The results demonstrated that VD rat causes the damage of structural synaptic plasticity. However, treadmill exercise led to increases in synapse numbers and the number of dendritic spines in VD rat. Together, the improvement of VD-associated recognition memory by treadmill exercises is associated with enhanced structural synaptic plasticity in VD rat model.
Fingertip soft tissue defect caused by periungual warts: a case report
Xiaoqin Wang
Jinhui Xu

Xiaoqin Wang

and 3 more

March 18, 2023
Fingertip soft tissue defect caused by periungual warts: a case report
An Aesthetic, Functional, and Low-Invasive Lower Red Lip Reconstruction Using a Mucos...
Sho Yamakawa
Shota Suda

Sho Yamakawa

and 2 more

March 18, 2023
An Aesthetic, Functional, and Low-Invasive Lower Red Lip Reconstruction Using a Mucosal Perforator Flap: A Case Report
Emerging advances of composite membranes for seawater pre-treatment: A review
Nadia Zari
Dipika Jaspal

Nadia Zari

and 6 more

March 18, 2023
Currently, as the population continues to grow, the preservation of the world’s water resources is becoming a serious challenge. The seawater desalination process is considered a sustainable option for the future. The two most common technologies used in desalination are reverse osmosis (RO) and membrane distillation (MD). However, membrane fouling caused by the accumulation of contaminants membrane surface is an emerging and growing problem. then a pre-treatment stage is required to reach an optimal efficiency during desalination process, since this stage is crucial for a successful desalination process. In this regard, developing new material-based composite membranes has the potential to upgrade the anti-fouling features of RO membranes and thereby enhance the desalination efficiency due to the characteristics of these composite membranes especially, their high permeability, hydrophilicity, selectivity mechanical strength, thermal stability, and anti-bacterial property. The objective of this review is to present the main techniques for seawater pre-treatment. the results of several membrane types and methods of modification were also discussed. Finally, the performance of composite membranes for seawater pre-treatment is defined and future perspectives are highlighted.
A preliminary study of dynamic neurochemical changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal c...
Hyerin Oh
Adam Berrington

Hyerin Oh

and 5 more

March 18, 2023
Working memory (WM) is one of the fundamental cognitive functions associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, we still know little about the neurochemical mechanisms of WM in the DLPFC. Here, we investigated WM-related dynamic neurometabolite and hemodynamic responses in the DLPFC. We measured Glx (glutamate+glutamine) and GABA alterations as well as blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes during a WM task combining functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the DLPFC, we found that a 2-back task increased Glx concentrations and larger BOLD signal changes, and that these task-modulated Glx increases were positively correlated with task-induced regional activity. Importantly, task induced Glx changes in the DLPFC were associated with individual WM performance. Higher Glx increases were associated with increased DLPFC activation and lower WM task performance in the individuals. There were no changes in DLPFC GABA levels during WM processing. Our findings suggest that glutamatergic modulation in the DLPFC may play a critical role in WM processing and its performance.
Forest cover and environmental type shape functional diversity of insectivorous birds...
Enzo  Coletti Manzoli
Lucas Pacciullio Da Silva Gaspar

Enzo Coletti Manzoli

and 5 more

March 18, 2023
Arthropod-eating birds are a heterogeneous group, with different levels of environmental sensitivity and diverse responses to habitat degradation. In this paper, we tested the effects of landscape on the functional diversity of insectivorous birds within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We predict that (I) species composition and functional diversity are shaped by turnover and nestedness across different habitats, and (II) the gradient of forest cover has a positive effect on bird species composition and functional diversity. We used data from 22 landscapes of the Atlantic Forest in the Cantareira-Mantiqueira region (Brazil), within buffers of 1 km radius, surrogating three types of environments (i.e., forests, pastures, and swamps). The components of β-functional diversity were calculated using the beta pair and beta multi-function for each type of environment, and the effects of the forest cover gradient and environment type were tested using linear models and GLMM, respectively. Our results showed that the forest cover gradient and the type of environment had a negative effect on the indices of functional diversity, contrary to our expectations. Pasturelands and marshes were susceptible to turnover and nestedness, respectively. The beta diversity of forests was influenced by both species nestedness and turnover. The regional native forest fragments are generally small-sized, and in early successional stages, which could explain the patterns we found. The presence of secondary forests may have affected the expected pattern of functional diversity, therefore, caution is needed when interpreting this, since the way in which compensatory dynamics may not involve real functional compensation.
A Harmonic Model of MMC Based on Nearest-Level Modulation With the Equidistant Contro...
Xiaowen Chen
Zaibin Jiao

Xiaowen Chen

and 1 more

March 20, 2023
With the rapid development of flexible DC transmission systems, the application of modular multilevel converter MMC is becoming increasingly widespread. Meanwhile, the nearest-level modulation is most applied. This paper establishes a simple and efficient harmonic model of MMC based on nearest-level modulation with the equidistant controlled firing scheme. First, based on the analysis of the working principle of MMC and the modulation principle, the Fourier decomposition of the stair wave is obtained. Then, according to the equivalent circuit diagram of MMC, the stair wave is exactly the differential-mode voltage. Moreover, the amplitude and phase of each differential-mode voltage harmonic content are obtained. So far, MMC can be regarded as a harmonic voltage source. Finally, simulations were performed on PSCAD to verify the accuracy of the MMC harmonic model proposed in this paper. Furthermore, the MMC harmonic model under the equidistant controlled firing scheme and real-time trigger control were also compared. The final results show that the model proposed in the paper can accurately reflect the harmonic characteristics of MMC in the existing power system after considering the equally-spaced trigger control.
Forgive or complain: Interpersonal distance modulates reactive attitudes and neural r...
Sijin Li
Si Cheng

Sijin Li

and 4 more

March 17, 2023
While the effect of interpersonal distance on forgiveness has been investigated over the past few years, it remains unclear whether this facilitating effect holds even when measured implicitly. Meanwhile, though cognitive control and the corresponding prefrontal cortex play a prominent role in forgiveness processing, the neural mechanism underlying forgiveness toward varied wrongdoers is largerly unexplored. Here, forty-two participants initially underwent noise offense either from their friend or stranger, followed by a word identification test to examine their reactive attitude, during which they were presented with word-name combinations and required to categorize forgive- or complain-label words while ignoring the names of their friends or strangers below. A shorter reaction time reflects more congruence with one’s implicit attitude. Electroencephalogram was recorded during the word identification test. Behaviorally, while individuals reacted faster to forgive-friend relative to complain-friend pairings, no such reaction bias was found for the stranger-wrongdoer, which suggests that individuals were more inclined to forgive someone close. Regarding the EEG/ERP results, forgive-friend elicited lower alpha oscillation and more negative frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) value than complain-friend combinations, suggesting increased and dominant activity in the right prefrontal network during forgiveness toward friends. Whereas complain- relative to forgive-stranger combinations elicited larger P3 amplitudes, suggesting a neural encoding bias to information associated with complaints about stranger-wrongdoer. These findings provide objective evidence for the benefits of closeness on forgiveness, which broaden previous findings depending on explicit measures into situations where forgiveness was measured implicitly and thus minimized confounding factors such as social desirability.
Neural and cognitive underpinnings of ball/strike judgments of baseball umpires: An f...
Yin-Hua Chen
Shih-Kuei  Huang

Yin-Hua Chen

and 1 more

March 17, 2023
We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the pitch-calling behavior of baseball umpires with varying experience, with a particular interest in understanding the pitcher handedness effect. Expert and intermediate umpires were recruited and asked to make ball/strike calls on videotaped pitches of left- and right-handed pitchers and rate their certainty for the call while undergoing scanning. Behavioral results replicated previous findings that expert umpires were more certain but not more accurate or quicker than intermediate umpires, suggesting that umpires learn to project confidence to maintain control of the game as sports officials. Both expert and intermediate umpires were less accurate when judging the left-handed pitcher than the right-handed pitcher (particularly with longer reaction times and less uncertainty for ball pitches), possibly due to their lower familiarity with rarely encountered left-handed pitchers. The umpires greatly engaged the action observation network, cerebellum, and caudate when making correct calls, and these activations were comparatively weaker when calling left-handed pitches, implying their less effective perceptual processing of the visual information details of the left-handed pitcher. The lower activity in the right premotor cortex for ball pitches from the left-handed pitcher further implies the umpires’ poorer predictive processing of the pitching action and baseball trajectory of the left-handed pitcher than the right-handed one, particularly for ball pitches. Our findings shed light on the influence of pitcher handedness on the pitch-calling behavior of baseball umpires and extend the current understanding of the perceptual and decision-making behavior of baseball umpires (sports officials).
← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 1702 1703 Next →

| Powered by Authorea.com

  • Home