Clinical trainee performance on task-based AR/VR-guided surgical simulation is correlated with their 3D image spatial reasoning scores.

This paper describes a methodology for the assessment of training simulator-based computer-assisted intervention skills on an AR/VR-guided procedure making use of CT axial slice views for a neurosurgical procedure: external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. The task requires that trainees scroll through a stack of axial slices and form a mental representation of the anatomical structures in order to subsequently target the ventricles to insert an EVD. The process of observing the 2D CT image slices in order to build a mental representation of the 3D anatomical structures is the skill being taught, along with the cognitive control of the subsequent targeting, by planned motor actions, of the EVD tip to the ventricular system to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

An evaluation of isolation by distance and isolation by resistance on genetic structure of the Persian squirrel () in the Zagros forests of Iran.

For the conservation of wild species, it is important to understand how landscape change and land management can affect gene flow and movement. Landscape genetic analyses provide a powerful approach to infer effects of various landscape factors on gene flow, thereby informing conservation actions. The Persian squirrel is a keystone species in the woodlands and oak forests of Western Asia, where it has experienced recent habitat loss and fragmentation.

Ageism toward older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Intergenerational conflict and support.

A cross-national representative survey in Canada and the U.S. examined ageism toward older individuals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, including ageist consumption stereotypes and perceptions of older people's competence and warmth.

Impairment of episodic memory in genetic frontotemporal dementia: A GENFI study.

Introduction: We aimed to assess episodic memory in genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT).

Methods: The FCSRT was administered in 417 presymptomatic and symptomatic mutation carriers (181 chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 [], 163 progranulin [], and 73 microtubule-associated protein tau []) and 290 controls. Group differences and correlations with other neuropsychological tests were examined.

EGFR Signaling: Friend or Foe for Cartilage?

Recent studies using genetically modified mice, pharmacological approaches, and human samples have highlighted an important role for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), selected ligands, and downstream components in endochondral bone formation and joint homeostasis. Although most data demonstrate an important function of this pathway in endochondral ossification and articular cartilage growth, conflicting results on its role in osteoarthritis have been reported. In some contexts, inactivation of EGFR signaling has been shown to protect joints from surgically induced osteoarthritis, whereas in others, similar manipulations worsened joint pathology.

The lasso for high dimensional regression with a possible change point.

We consider a high dimensional regression model with a possible change point due to a covariate threshold and develop the lasso estimator of regression coefficients as well as the threshold parameter. Our lasso estimator not only selects covariates but also selects a model between linear and threshold regression models. Under a sparsity assumption, we derive non-asymptotic oracle inequalities for both the prediction risk and the l1-estimation loss for regression coefficients.

Hexazonium pararosaniline as a fixative for animal tissues.

Hexazonium pararosaniline is a valuable reagent that has been used in enzyme activity histochemistry for 50 years. It is an aqueous solution containing the tris-diazonium ion derived from pararosaniline, an aminotriarylmethane dye, and it contains an excess of nitrous acid that was not consumed in the diazotization reaction. Other investigators have found that immersion for 2 min in an acidic (pH 3.