The functional equivalence between movement imagery, observation, and execution influences imagery ability

Based on literature identifying movement imagery, observation, and execution to elicit similar areas of neural activity, research has demonstrated that movement imagery and observation successfully prime movement execution. To investigate whether movement and observation could prime ease of imaging from an external visual-imagery perspective, an internal visual-imagery perspective, and kinesthetic modality, 36 participants (M age = 20.58; SD = 3.11; 18 women and 18 men) completed an adapted version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised under four modes of delivery (movement prime, external observation prime, internal observation prime, and image-only). The results revealed that ease of imaging was significantly greater during the movement and observation prime conditions compared to the image-only condition (p < .05). Specifically when priming external visual imagery and internal visual imagery, observation facilitated ease of imaging only when the perspective was congruent with the imagery perspective. The results support the use of movement and observation to facilitate ease of imaging, but highlight the importance of considering the visual perspective when using observation.     

Extrinsic Threshold PEEP Reduces Post-exercise Dyspnea in COPD Patients: A Placebo-controlled,Double-blind Cross-over Study

Purpose: Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complain of dyspnea during and following exercise, and the development of intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is thought to contribute to lung hyperinflation and dyspnea. Many people with COPD use pursed lip breathing (PLB) in an attempt to produce extrinsic PEEP to reduce lung hyperinflation and dyspnea during and following exertion. We hypothesized that the use of a threshold, extrinsic PEEP device would reduce post-exercise dyspnea in people with COPD. Methods: A double blind, crossover study was conducted on post-exercise dyspnea in 8 patients with COPD whose exercise tolerance was limited by dyspnea. Subjects performed two identical 6-minute treadmill bouts that led to a Borg dyspnea rating of at least 5/10. Dyspnea, heart rate, and oxygen-hemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) were recorded at rest, every 2 minutes during exercise and at 2, 5, and 10 minutes post-exercise. Immediately following the exercise bouts, the subjects used either a threshold PEEP device for 6 breaths at 10 cm H₂O or a Sham device. Results: Heart rate and SpO₂ were not different between treatments any time point before, during, or after exercise. Dyspnea ratings were not different between devices at rest or during exercise, but were lower in the post-exercise period following use of PEEP (p < 0.05). When asked which device, if any, the subjects would prefer to use to relieve post-exercise dyspnea, 7 of 8 chose the PEEP device and one had no preference. Conclusions: We found that the use of a PEEP device can help reduce postexercise dyspnea in patients with COPD.Key Words: COPD, dyspnea, pursed lip breathing, PEEP, exertion     

Impacting Forces on eBook Business Models Development

As eBook and related technologies continue their relentless advance, book publishers face a veritable digital siege. Nevertheless, technology remains an enabler, a set of tools and facilitators, albeit linked to the potential for new entrants to the market and indeed, disintermediation. However, the fundamentals are to do with markets, organizational strategies and structures, and with finding answers to hard commercial questions about cost and profit, infrastructure management and sustainability all as reflected in appropriate business models. Underlying these is a range of internal and external forces, not all of which are negative in their effects, as witness signs of improvement in an eBook market faced with greatly reduced planning horizons and the need for dynamic product and marketing mixes. This paper addresses a range of responses by book publishers to such challenges and concludes by reviewing the resulting several business models currently in place for eBook publishing.     

Art and Science in Education: The Common Ground

Recent work aimed at establishing a rational, objective basis for aesthetics and the arts repudiates the division between the ‘two cultures’ which is used politically to justify marginalization of the arts in education and society. Far from weakening this cultural division, however, such writing and research has reinforced it. With the aim of reversing this trend, it is argued that ‘scientism’ is a myth, that objectivity of knowledge in science is comparable but not superior to that in aesthetics and the arts, and that polarization of the ‘two cultures’ and marginalization of the arts is based on ideology, not reason. There is and always has been significant common ground between art and science, encompassing not only issues of mutual concern but also modes of enquiry, many of which are far more similar than seems commonly to be supposed. A consideration of some of the similarities and differences between art and science shows that there is no fundamental division between them: both are part of one culture, not paradigms of two. This observation leads to ideas on the possible re-integration of art and science in education, particularly through development of observation and common curriculum content.     

Komponentenbasierte Anwendungsentwicklung

Ohne Zusammenfassung