Chunking as a rational strategy for lossy data compression in visual working memory.

The nature of capacity limits for visual working memory has been the subject of an intense debate that has relied on models that assume items are encoded independently. Here we propose that instead, similar features are jointly encoded through a "chunking" process to optimize performance on visual working memory tasks. We show that such chunking can: (a) facilitate performance improvements for abstract capacity-limited systems, (b) be optimized through reinforcement, (c) be implemented by center-surround dynamics, and (d) increase effective storage capacity at the expense of recall precision.

Knee-laxity measurements examined by a left-hand- and a right-hand-dominant physiotherapist, in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries and healthy controls.

The purpose of the study was to analyse and compare KT-1000 knee laxity as examined by a left-hand- and a right-hand-dominant physiotherapist in a group of patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and a group of patients, 2 years after ACL reconstruction. The other aim was to measure and analyse knee laxity in a group of persons without any known knee problems. A cross-sectional examination of two groups of patients pre-operatively and post-operatively after ACL reconstruction and examination of healthy controls on two different occasions was performed.

Effect of expedited treatment of sex partners on recurrent or persistent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection.

Background: Many sex partners of persons with gonorrhea or chlamydial infections are not treated, which leads to frequent reinfections and further transmission.

Methods: We randomly assigned women and heterosexual men with gonorrhea or chlamydial infection to have their partners receive expedited treatment or standard referral. Patients in the expedited-treatment group were offered medication to give to their sex partners, or if they preferred, study staff members contacted partners and provided them with medication without a clinical examination.

Failure of family-planning referral and high interest in advanced provision emergency contraception among women contacted for STD partner notification.

Background: Few data are available on the risk of unintended pregnancy in women with STD or how contraceptive services can be integrated into STD control activities.

Objective: To define the risk for unintended pregnancy and assess the effectiveness of family-planning (FP) referral and interest in advanced provision emergency contraception (APEC) among women with gonorrhea or chlamydial infection.

Methods: Female participants in a randomized trial of different approaches to partner notification were interviewed, offered referral for FP services and asked if they would want APEC.

Rescreening for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection through the mail: a randomized trial.

Background: Rescreening patients after treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection has had high yield but low rates of participation.

Goal: The goal of this study was to determine if rescreening for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection in a largely urban sexually transmitted disease population would be more successful if individuals were given the option of submitting a specimen for testing through the mail.

Study Design: We conducted a randomized clinical trial involving 122 patients of whom 62 were assigned to clinic rescreening and 60 were given the option of either mailing a specimen for testing or going to a clinic for rescreening.