Age-related binding deficits and the content of false memories.

The authors examined effects of age-related binding deficits on feature information in false memories for imagined objects (e.g., lollipop) that were similar in shape to seen objects (e.g., magnifying glass). In Experiment 1, location memory for seen objects was lower in older than younger adults and lower still in old-old than young-old adults. Imagined objects, when falsely called seen, were less likely to be attributed to the location of similar seen objects (i.e., congruent attributions) by old-old than young-old adults. In Experiment 2, for younger adults, displaying seen objects for less time (1 s vs. 4 s) reduced both location memory for seen objects and congruent attributions for false memories. Thus, binding deficits may influence the specific content of false memories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adaptive decision-making frameworks for dynamic multi-agent organizational change

This article presents a capability called Adaptive Decision-Making Frameworks (ADMF) and shows that it can result in significantly improved system performance across run-time situation changes in a multi-agent system. Specifically, ADMF can result in improved and more robust performance compared to the use of a single static decision-making framework (DMF). The ADMF capability allows agents to dynamically adapt the DMF in which they participate to fit their run-time situation as it changes. A DMF identifies a set of agents and specifies the distribution of decision-making control and the authority to assign subtasks among these agents as they determine how a goal or set of goals should be achieved. The ADMF capability is a form of organizational adaptation and differs from previous approaches to organizational adaptation and dynamic coordination in that it is the first to allow dynamic and explicit manipulation of these DMF characteristics at run-time as variables controlling agent behavior. The approach proposed for selecting DMFs at run-time parameterizes all domain-specific knowledge as characteristics of the agents’ situation, so the approach is application-independent. The presented evaluation empirically shows that, for at least one multi-agent system, there is no one best DMF for multiple agents across run-time situational changes. Next, it motivates the further exploration of ADMF by showing that adapting DMFs to run-time variations in situation can result in improved overall system performance compared to static or random DMFs.     

Verres formes dans les systemes Ga2S3La2X3MnS (X = S,O)

Preparation of glasses. Glass forming domains in the ternary systems [Ga₂S₃, (La₂S₃, La₂O₂S or La₂O₃), MnS]. Thermal behaviour. U.V. and visible spectroscopy. E.P.R. spectra. Manganese has an octahedral environment of sulfur.     

Are brook trout streams in western Virginia and Shenandoah National Park recovering from acidification?

Streamwater composition data obtained through periodic sampling of streams that support brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the mountains of western Virginia were examined for evidence of recovery from acidification during the 1988-2001 period. Measurements of sulfate deposition in precipitation indicate that sulfate deposition in the region declined approximately 40% between 1985 and 2000. While no significant regional trends in acid-base constituents were observed for the set (n = 65) of western Virginia study streams, significant regional trends were observed for a subset (n = 14) of streams in Shenandoah National Park (SNP). For the subset of SNP streams, the median increase in acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) was 0.168 microequiv L(-1) year(-1) and the median decrease in sulfate concentration was -0.229 microequiv L(-1) year(-1). Although these trends are consistent with recovery from acidification, the degree of apparent recovery is small compared to estimates of historic acidification in SNP streams and much less than observed in other, more northern regions in the United States. Correlation between sulfate concentration trends and current sulfate concentrations in streamwater suggests that recovery from stream acidification in the western Virginia region is determined by sulfur retention processes in watershed soils. A transient increase in nitrate concentrations that occurred among some western Virginia streams following forest defoliation by the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) complicates interpretation of the observed patterns of change in acid-base status.     

Brain levels of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acylethanolamine phospholipids in mice during pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure

The N-acylethanolamine phospholipids (NAPE) are precursors for N-acylethanolamines (NAE), including anandamide (20∶4-NAE), which is a ligand for the cannabinoid receptors. Previously, NAPE were believed to be found only in injured tissue, e.g., after neurodegenerative insults. Neuronal injury may occur in response to seizure activity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in PTZ-kindled mice on the level of NAPE in the brain. Male NMRI mice were kindled with PTZ injections 3 times/wk, thereby developing clonic seizures in response to PTZ. Mice were killed within 30 min after the clonic seizure on the test day (12th injection) and the brains were collected. Eight species of NAPE were analyzed as the glycerophospho-N-acylethanolamines by high-performance liquid chromatography-coupled electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. No effect of the PTZ kindling on the NAPE levels in murine brains was observed. Total NAPE in control mice cortex (n=4) was 16.4±3.0 μmol/g wet weight of which 20∶4-NAPE accounted for 3.6 mol%, and the major species was 16∶0-NAPE, accounting for 52.1 mol%. Determination of the activity of NAPE-hydrolyzing phospholipase D and of N-acyltransferase in brain membrane preparations from adult and 3-d-old mice revealed an enzyme pattern in the adult mice that was favorable for NAE accumulation as opposed to NAPE accumulation. Thus, there was no difference in NAPE levels; at present, however, this does not exclude that NAE may accumulate during seizure.     

Case Study: Analysis of Corrosion Patterns to Evaluate the Preaccident Configuration of an ATV Tie Rod End Connection

A forensic investigation was performed on an ATV that was involved in an accident in which the vehicle struck a tree. Postaccident, the front knuckle/tie rod end connection was found to be loose. The prevailing torque nut was found positioned at the end of the tie rod end bolt such that there was a gap between the face of the nut and the knuckle. The subject nut exhibits machining asperities that resulted from close contact with the knuckle face. EDS analysis of the corrosion product ring on the knuckle face revealed the corrosion product was zinc oxide, which had formed due to galvanic corrosion between the galvanized nut and the carbon steel knuckle. Scuffing patterns on the nut, wear patterns on the bolt, and lack of damage to the knuckle corrosion ring confirmed that the nut could not have loosened from the as-manufactured position to the postaccident position. No viable nut loosening mechanism was identified other than deliberate, manual manipulation.     

Metabolomic Evidence for Peroxisomal Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic and debilitating disease characterized by unexplained physical fatigue, cognitive and sensory dysfunction, sleeping disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, and gastrointestinal problems. People with ME/CFS often report a prodrome consistent with infections. Using regression, Bayesian and enrichment analyses, we conducted targeted and untargeted metabolomic analysis of plasma from 106 ME/CFS cases and 91 frequency-matched healthy controls. Subjects in the ME/CFS group had significantly decreased levels of plasmalogens and phospholipid ethers (p < 0.001), phosphatidylcholines (p < 0.001) and sphingomyelins (p < 0.001), and elevated levels of dicarboxylic acids (p = 0.013). Using machine learning algorithms, we were able to differentiate ME/CFS or subgroups of ME/CFS from controls with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values up to 0.873. Our findings provide the first metabolomic evidence of peroxisomal dysfunction, and are consistent with dysregulation of lipid remodeling and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings, if validated in other cohorts, could provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and highlight the potential use of the plasma metabolome as a source of biomarkers for the disease.     

Challenges to successful seismic retrofit implementation: a socio-behavioural perspective

Seismic retrofit implementation has been a major challenge in many earthquake-prone cities. This paper examines why building owners are reluctant to adopt measures to reduce earthquake losses despite advancement in seismic design methods and the enactment of intervening legislative frameworks. A case study approach revealed the socio-behavioural barriers affecting seismic retrofit implementation. Significant barriers identified included the perception of earthquake risks, a lack of trust in seismic strengthening techniques and a lack of support for pro-social mitigation behaviours from public authorities. The findings suggest that a reappraisal of the policy implementation approach used by government agencies is required, and that greater attention should be given to seismic designs recommended by professionals and approved by regulatory authorities in order to earn building owners' trust regarding the efficacy of earthquake risk-reduction measures.

La mise aux normes parasismiques des constructions existantes est un défi majeur dans de nombreuses villes sujettes aux tremblements de terre. Le présent article examine pourquoi les propriétaires d'immeubles sont peu disposés à adopter des mesures permettant de réduire les sinistres dus aux tremblements de terre en dépit des progrès réalisés dans les méthodes de conception parasismique et malgré la promulgation de cadres législatifs d'intervention. Une approche par étude de cas a mis en évidence les barrières sociocomportementales affectant la mise en ?uvre des normes parasismiques dans les immeubles existants. Ont été identifiés parmi ces obstacles importants la perception des risques de tremblements de terre, un manque de confiance dans les techniques de renforcement parasismique et un manque de soutien de la part des autorités publiques en faveur de comportements pro-sociaux permettant d'adoucir ces politiques. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent qu'il est nécessaire d'opérer une réévaluation de l'approche utilisée par les organismes publics pour mettre en ?uvre ces politiques, et qu'il devrait être porté une plus grande attention aux conceptions parasismiques recommandées par les professionnels et homologuées par les organismes de réglementation de façon à gagner la confiance des propriétaires d'immeubles, s'agissant de l'efficacité des mesures de réduction des risques liés aux tremblements de terre.

Mots clés: propriétaires d'immeubles, prise de décision, immeubles sujets aux tremblements de terre, politique publique, perception des risques, mise aux normes parasismiques, comportement des parties prenantes