Memory and Emotions for the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease, Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Healthy Older Adults.

National traumatic events can produce extremely vivid memories. Using a questionnaire administered during telephone interviews, the authors investigated emotional responses to, and memory for. the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy older adults in the initial weeks following the event and again 3-4 months later. There were several notable findings. First, patients with AD showed less memory than patients with MCI and older adults. Second, patients with AD, but not patients with MCI or older adults, appeared to retain more memory for personal versus factual information. Third, patients with AD and older adults did not differ in the intensity of their reported emotional responses to the attacks, whereas patients with MCI reported relatively less intense emotional responses. Last, distortions of memory for personal information were frequent for all participants but were more common in patients with AD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Dynamic Interaction Between Machine Learning and the Philosophy of Science

The relationship between machine learning and the philosophy of science can be classed as a dynamic interaction: a mutually beneficial connection between two autonomous fields that changes direction over time. I discuss the nature of this interaction and give a case study highlighting interactions between research on Bayesian networks in machine learning and research on causality and probability in the philosophy of science.     

Three-dimensional reconstruction of aqueous channels in human trabecular meshwork using light microscopy and confocal microscopy

Conventional two-dimensional imaging of the trabecular meshwork (TM) provides limited information about the size, shape, and interconnection of the aqueous channels within the meshwork. Understanding the three-dimensional (3-D) relationships of the channels within this tissue may give insight into its normal function and possible changes present in the eye disease glaucoma. The purpose of our study was to compare laser scanning confocal microscopy with standard 1 μm Araldite-embeddedhistologic sections for 3-D analysis of the trabecular meshwork. In addition, the study was done to determine whether computerized 3-D reconstruction could isolate the fluid spaces of the trabecular meshwork and determine the size of interconnections between the fluid spaces. Confocal microscopy appears comparable to 1 μm Araldite-embedded tissue sections and has the advantage of inherent registration of the serial tissue sections. Three-dimensional reconstruction allowed the isolation of the fluid spaces within the trabecular meshwork and revealed the presence of numerous interconnections between larger fluid spaces. The distribution of these interconnections was randomly arranged, with no predilection for specific regions within the trabecular meshwork. This distribution of constrictions and “expansion chambers” may provide a clue to the mechanism by which subtle histologic changes are associated with increased ocular pressure in glaucoma.     

Characterisation of chickpea flour‐based gluten‐free batters and muffins with added biopolymers: rheological,physical and sensory properties

Chickpea flour (CF)‐based muffin formulations were made with CF alone and with added biopolymers [whey protein (WP), xanthan gum (XG) and inulin (INL)] to evaluate their suitability to be a wheat flour (WF) substitute in muffins. Structural characteristics of the batters and muffins were studied by means of rheometry, microscopy, physicochemical properties, and texture and sensory analysis. Partial replacement of CF with XG, alone (at 0.5 and 1%) or blended with either WP or INL, significantly increased the batter viscoelasticity as denser matrices developed; moreover, the muffins with XG added at 1% had similar hardness to wheat gluten muffins. The replacement of WF decreased the springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, resilience and specific volume of the muffin. However, baked muffins with added XG also showed higher sensory sponginess and moisture associated with numerous air bubbles in the batter and were perceived to be easier to swallow and to have better general appearance.     

The effect of noble gas bombarding on nitrogen diffusion in steel

The low energy (∼50–350 eV) noble gases ion bombardment of the steel surface shows that the pre-treatments increase nitrogen diffusion by modifying the outermost structure of the material. The surface microstructure and morphology of the studied samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The crystalline and chemical structures in the outermost layers of the surface were analyzed by grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) and photoemission electron spectroscopy (XPS). Temperature effusion studies of the implanted ions are used to elucidate the noble gases site localization in the network. The local compressive stress induced by the nearby iron atoms on the core level electron wave functions of the trapped noble gases are studied by photoemission electron spectroscopy (XPS) and interpreted considering a simple mechanical model. Nano-hardness measurements show the dependence of the material elastic constant on the energy of the implanted noble gases. Although the ion implantation range is about few nanometers, the atomic attrition effect is larger enough to modify the material structure in the range of micrometers. Two material stress zones were detected where the outermost layers shows compressive stress and the underneath layers shows tensile stress. The implanted noble gases can be easily removed by heating. A diffusion model for polycrystalline-phase systems is used in order to discuss the influence of the atomic attrition on the N diffusion coefficient. The concomitant effect of grain refining, stress, and surface texture on the enhancing nitrogen diffusion effect is discussed.     

Evaluation of the effects of sodium chloride,potassium sorbate,nisin and lysozyme on the probability of growth of Clostridium sporogenes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of salt (sodium chloride, 0–8% w/v), sorbate (potassium sorbate, 0–4.5% w/v), nisin (0–500 ppm) and lysozyme (0–500 ppm) on the survival of Clostridium sporogenes as a non‐toxigenic surrogate of Clostridium botulinum in terms of the probability of growth by using a central composite rotatable design. The results indicated that salt and sorbate were the most effective factors in preventing the growth of Cl. sporogenes in high‐moisture (>95%) and low‐acid conditions. The probability of growth of Cl. sporogenes in broth was reduced by combinations of salt and sorbate. Nisin and lysozyme had insignificant effects on the probability of growth of Cl. sporogenes (P > 0.05). Lysozyme individually and in combination with nisin had no inhibitory effect on Cl. sporogenes. Overall, the addition of sorbate and lysozyme may allow the salt concentration to be reduced while preventing growth.