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Memory (Hove, England) Aug 2018This paper is devoted to the mechanism of the positive construction of autobiographical memory. Positive construction consists of the spontaneous transformation of...
This paper is devoted to the mechanism of the positive construction of autobiographical memory. Positive construction consists of the spontaneous transformation of memories in the direction of the subjective enhancement of self-competence in past activities to anticipate improvement over time. We speculated that trait anxiety may indicate a failure to exhibit this mechanism that results in a deficit of affirmative self-esteem. We hypothesised that the implantation of positive self-defining memories in anxiety-evoking domains would decrease trait anxiety. One hundred twenty adults recollected three negative self-defining memories. Then, half of the participants imagined episodes of desired behaviour that differed from the originally recollected ones either in discussion or in hypnosis. Thirty participants experienced a hypnotic state without any references to memories, and the rest formed the control group. Subjects from the "Memory Implantation in Hypnosis" group became unable to distinguish the originally reported memories from the imagined ones, exhibited decreased trait anxiety scores after a 4-month delay, and reported enhanced self-esteem. In contrast, the participants from the "Hypnosis with no reference to the past" group exhibited decreased scores at a short delay but later returned to their original scores. These findings highlight the power of cured episodic-like autobiographical memory for updating the self.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Female; Humans; Hypnosis; Male; Memory, Episodic; Mental Recall; Middle Aged; Pliability; Self Concept; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 29284340
DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2017.1420195 -
Biochemistry and Cell Biology =... 1998The purpose of this review is to introduce several computational procedures for the determination of acid-dissociation constants (pKa) of titratable groups in proteins.... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this review is to introduce several computational procedures for the determination of acid-dissociation constants (pKa) of titratable groups in proteins. Several concepts, such as continuum electrostatics and the exact meaning of intrinsic and apparent pKas, will be explained in some detail. Each of the methods will be judged on its merits, and some comparisons between the methods will be presented. While the emphasis of this review will be on theoretical formulations, the experimental determination by means of nuclear magnetic resonance will be briefly explained. The determination of individual pKa values by nuclear magnetic resonance in combination with computationally determined pKas can provide unique information about the pH-dependent properties of proteins and their complexes with peptides, DNA, and ligands.
Topics: Computer Simulation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Chemical; Pliability; Protein Conformation; Proteins; Solutions; Static Electricity
PubMed: 9923689
DOI: 10.1139/bcb-76-2-3-198 -
Molecular Pharmacology Feb 2000
Review
Topics: Animals; Drug Design; Ligands; Models, Chemical; Models, Molecular; Pliability; Protein Conformation; Proteins
PubMed: 10648630
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and... 2011We performed this review to provide a clearer understanding of how to effectively measure ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) rigidity. This information is important to ensure... (Review)
Review
We performed this review to provide a clearer understanding of how to effectively measure ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) rigidity. This information is important to ensure appropriate orthotic intervention in the treatment of patients with pathological gait. The two main approaches to the investigation of AFO rigidity are (1) bench-testing analyses, in which an AFO is fixed or attached to a measurement device, and (2) functional analyses, in which measurements are taken while a subject is walking with an AFO in situ. This review summarizes and classifies the current state of knowledge of AFO rigidity testing methods. We analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the methods in order to recommend the most reliable techniques to measure AFO rigidity. The information obtained from this review article would, therefore, benefit both clinicians and engineers involved in the application and design of AFOs.
Topics: Ankle; Elasticity; Equipment Design; Foot; Humans; Materials Testing; Orthotic Devices; Pliability
PubMed: 21674406
DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2010.10.0193 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Jun 2017Physiological temperature varies temporally and spatially. Accurate and real-time detection of localized temperature changes in biological tissues regardless of large... (Review)
Review
Physiological temperature varies temporally and spatially. Accurate and real-time detection of localized temperature changes in biological tissues regardless of large deformation is crucial to understand thermal principle of homeostasis, to assess sophisticated health conditions, and further to offer possibilities of building a smart healthcare and medical system. Additionally, continuous temperature mapping in flexible and stretchable formats opens up many other potential areas, such as artificially electronic skins and reflection of emotional changes. This review exploits a comprehensive investigation onto recent advances in flexible temperature sensors, stretchable sensor networks, and platforms constructed in soft and compliant formats for wearable physiological monitoring. The most recent examples of flexible temperature sensors are first discussed regarding to their materials, structures, electrical and mechanical properties; temperature sensing network technologies in new materials and structural designs are then presented based on platforms comprised of multiple physical sensors and stretchable electronics. Finally, wearable applications of the sensing network are described, such as detection of human activities, monitoring of health conditions, and emotion-related bodily sensations. Conclusions are made with emphasis on critical issues and new trends in the field of wearable temperature sensor network technologies.
Topics: Computer Communication Networks; Humans; Monitoring, Physiologic; Pliability; Temperature; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 28547895
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201601371 -
PloS One 2017The placebo effect is usually studied in clinical settings for decreasing negative symptoms such as pain, depression and anxiety. There is interest in exploring the...
BACKGROUND
The placebo effect is usually studied in clinical settings for decreasing negative symptoms such as pain, depression and anxiety. There is interest in exploring the placebo effect also outside the clinic, for enhancing positive aspects of performance or cognition. Several studies indicate that placebo can enhance cognitive abilities including memory, implicit learning and general knowledge. Here, we ask whether placebo can enhance creativity, an important aspect of human cognition.
METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group who smelled and rated an odorant (n = 45), and a placebo group who were treated identically but were also told that the odorant increases creativity and reduces inhibitions (n = 45). Subjects completed a recently developed automated test for creativity, the creative foraging game (CFG), and a randomly chosen subset (n = 57) also completed two manual standardized creativity tests, the alternate uses test (AUT) and the Torrance test (TTCT). In all three tests, participants were asked to create as many original solutions and were scored for originality, flexibility and fluency.
RESULTS
The placebo group showed higher originality than the control group both in the CFG (p<0.04, effect size = 0.5) and in the AUT (p<0.05, effect size = 0.4), but not in the Torrance test. The placebo group also found more shapes outside of the standard categories found by a set of 100 CFG players in a previous study, a feature termed out-of-the-boxness (p<0.01, effect size = 0.6).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that placebo can enhance the originality aspect of creativity. This strengthens the view that placebo can be used not only to reduce negative clinical symptoms, but also to enhance positive aspects of cognition. Furthermore, we find that the impact of placebo on creativity can be tested by CFG, which can quantify multiple aspects of creative search without need for manual coding. This approach opens the way to explore the behavioral and neural mechanisms by which placebo might amplify creativity.
Topics: Cognition; Creativity; Humans; Odorants; Placebo Effect; Pliability; Thinking
PubMed: 28892513
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182466 -
Nature Mar 2021Displays are basic building blocks of modern electronics. Integrating displays into textiles offers exciting opportunities for smart electronic textiles-the ultimate...
Displays are basic building blocks of modern electronics. Integrating displays into textiles offers exciting opportunities for smart electronic textiles-the ultimate goal of wearable technology, poised to change the way in which we interact with electronic devices. Display textiles serve to bridge human-machine interactions, offering, for instance, a real-time communication tool for individuals with voice or speech difficulties. Electronic textiles capable of communicating, sensing and supplying electricity have been reported previously. However, textiles with functional, large-area displays have not yet been achieved, because it is challenging to obtain small illuminating units that are both durable and easy to assemble over a wide area. Here we report a 6-metre-long, 25-centimetre-wide display textile containing 5 × 10 electroluminescent units spaced approximately 800 micrometres apart. Weaving conductive weft and luminescent warp fibres forms micrometre-scale electroluminescent units at the weft-warp contact points. The brightness between electroluminescent units deviates by less than 8 per cent and remains stable even when the textile is bent, stretched or pressed. Our display textile is flexible and breathable and withstands repeated machine-washing, making it suitable for practical applications. We show that an integrated textile system consisting of display, keyboard and power supply can serve as a communication tool, demonstrating the system's potential within the 'internet of things' in various areas, including healthcare. Our approach unifies the fabrication and function of electronic devices with textiles, and we expect that woven-fibre materials will shape the next generation of electronics.
Topics: Computer Terminals; Electronics; Humans; Pliability; Textiles; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 33692559
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03295-8 -
The Journal of Membrane Biology Sep 2012This review presents an overview of the effects of electric fields on giant unilamellar vesicles. The application of electrical fields leads to three basic phenomena:... (Review)
Review
This review presents an overview of the effects of electric fields on giant unilamellar vesicles. The application of electrical fields leads to three basic phenomena: shape changes, membrane breakdown, and uptake of molecules. We describe how some of these observations can be used to measure a variety of physical properties of lipid membranes or to advance our understanding of the phenomena of electropermeabilization. We also present results on how electropermeabilization and other liposome responses to applied fields are affected by lipid composition and by the presence of molecules of therapeutic interest in the surrounding solution.
Topics: Electroporation; Membrane Fusion; Molecular Conformation; Permeability; Pliability; Thermodynamics; Unilamellar Liposomes
PubMed: 22864479
DOI: 10.1007/s00232-012-9467-x -
Work (Reading, Mass.) 2018Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a neuromuscular training method that has recently received popularity in health and fitness centers, as an additional or substitute method... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a neuromuscular training method that has recently received popularity in health and fitness centers, as an additional or substitute method to conventional training and therapy, in order to improve muscle strength and power.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to critically observe the effect of WBV training on neuromuscular performance in view of its ability to enhance the muscles strength, power, and flexibility; and also to investigate the influence of the different vibration characteristics (viz., method of application of vibration, frequency, and amplitude) and exercise protocols on the effect of this training.
METHOD
For this review 24 studies or articles were examined, and based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, 5 studies were finally selected; and an attempt was made to uncover the factors influencing the improvement in neuromuscular performance as a result of WBV intervention. During the review, it was considered to include and discuss as many characteristics as possible, such as, knee extension, knee flexion, counter movement jump (CMJ), squat exercise, and jumping height (JH).
RESULT
Whole-body vibration, along with additional exercise training, has a potential to induce substantial improvement in neuromuscular performance.
CONCLUSION
Whole-body vibration can bring about improvement in muscles strength, power, and flexibility. The main factors associated with the improvement in muscles performance are range of amplitude and frequency, type of vibration and its method of application, training intensity, exercise protocol, and the characteristics of the participants.
Topics: Humans; Muscle Strength; Neuromuscular Agents; Pliability; Task Performance and Analysis; Vibration
PubMed: 29733043
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-182699 -
Nature Materials Jan 2018
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Pliability; Vaccination; Vaccines
PubMed: 29358771
DOI: 10.1038/nmat5072