Intact baseline performance and priming in amnesia: Reply to Ostergaard and Jernigan.

In their comment on the article by S. B. Hamann et al (see record 1995-14158-001), A. L. Ostergaard and T. L. Jernigan (see PA, Vol 83:23639) reaffirmed their position that baseline perceptual identification performance and priming are impaired in amnesia. They also suggested certain shortcomings in the experiments of Hamann et al, who found normal baseline performance and normal priming in amnesia across a wide range of performance accuracies. In reply, the authors of this article suggest that the position of Ostergaard and Jernigan rests on selective consideration of data, inaccurate assumptions concerning 1 patient's priming performance (A.B.), and debatable concerns about the masking stimuli, ceiling effects, and presentation time of study items that were used. In addition, the authors of the present article suggest that Ostergaard and Jernigan have based their own experimental work on a task and test method that may not be optimal for studying priming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ferromagnetic shape memory system Fe–Pd–Cu

A new ferromagnetic shape memory thin film system, Fe–Pd–Cu, was developed using ab initio calculations, combinatorial fabrication and high-throughput experimentation methods. Reversible martensitic transformations are found in extended compositional regions, which have increased fcc–fct transformation temperatures in comparison to previously published results. High resolution transmission electron microscopy verified the existence of a homogeneous ternary phase without precipitates. Curie temperature, saturation polarization and orbital magnetism are only moderately decreased by alloying with nonmagnetic Cu. Compared to the binary system; enhanced Invar-type thermal expansion anomalies in terms of an increased volume magnetostriction are predicted. Complementary experiments on splat-fabricated bulk Fe–Pd–Cu samples showed an enhanced stability of the disordered transforming Fe₇₀Pd₃₀ phase against decomposition. From the comparison of bulk and thin film results, it can be inferred that, for ternary systems, the Fe content, rather than the valence electron concentration, should be regarded as the decisive factor determining the fcc–fct transformation temperature.     

Synthesis of Au microwires by selective oxidation of Au–W thin-film composition spreads

Abstract

We report on the stress-induced growth of Au microwires out of a surrounding Au–W matrix by selective oxidation, in view of a possible application as ‘micro-Velcro’. The Au wires are extruded due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide formed by oxidation of elemental W. The samples were fabricated as a thin-film materials library using combinatorial sputter deposition followed by thermal oxidation. Sizes and shapes of the Au microwires were investigated as a function of the W to Au ratio. The coherence length and stress state of the Au microwires were related to their shape and plastic deformation. Depending on the composition of the Au–W precursor, the oxidized samples showed regions with differently shaped Au microwires. The Au₄₈W₅₂ composition yielded wires with the maximum length to diameter ratio due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide matrix. The values of wire length (35 μm) and diameter (2 μm) achieved at the Au₄₈W₅₂ composition are suitable for micro-Velcro applications.     

Exploring the Brain's Interface Between Personality, Mood, and Emotion: Theoretical Comment on Canli et al. (2004).

T. Canli et al., 2004 (see record 2004-19432-002) use functional MRI to explore the neural interface between personality, mood, and emotional responses. Their finding of a double dissociation in brain response to emotional stimuli based on personality and mood state has significant implications for our understanding of the effects of personality traits and mood states on the neural bases of emotion and cognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal responses among sibling dyads tested for BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations.

Objective: The familial context plays an important role in psychosocial responses to genetic testing. The purpose of this study was to compare sibling pairs with different combinations of BRCA1/BRCA2 test results on measures of affect, interpersonal responses, and physiological reactions. Design: Forty-nine sibling dyads with different combinations of BRCA1/BRCA2 test results (i.e., mixed, positive, negative) completed a questionnaire, and 35 of the dyads also participated in a laboratory-based discussion of genetic testing. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome variables included participant reports of supportive actions toward their sibling, state anger and anxiety, perceptions of sibling behavior, and electrodermal responses. Results: Compared to positive and negative dyads, mixed pairs reported less friendly general support actions, noted more anger, and perceived their sibling to be less friendly and more dominant during the interactions. In comparisons between same-result (i.e., positive, negative) pairs, positive dyads reported more dominant support behaviors and perceived their sibling to be friendlier during the interactions. Conclusion: Data suggest that siblings who have different test results may experience more interpersonal strain than siblings who have the same test result. Future research on genetic testing and family relationships can expand upon these findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

P- and E-selectin mediate recruitment of T-helper-1 but not T-helper-2 cells into inflammed tissues

When activated, T helper cells differentiate into one of two subsets, Th1 and Th2, characterized by distinct profiles of cytokine production. Th1 cells activate pro-inflammatory effector mechanisms involved in protection and autoimmunity, whereas Th2 cells induce humoral and allergic responses and downregulate local inflammation. Apart from differences in the repertoire of cytokines, no phenotypic attributes are established that distinguish the two subsets. Here we show that Th1 cells, but not Th2 cells, are able to bind to P-selectin and E-selectin. Moreover, only Th1 cells can efficiently enter inflamed sites in Th1-dominated models, such as sensitized skin or arthritic joints, but not in a Th2-dominated allergic response. Immigration of Th1 cells into inflamed skin can be blocked by antibodies against P- and E-selectin. These results provide evidence for adhesion mechanisms to distinguish between the two T helper subsets and mediate their differential trafficking. They indicate that selective recruitment is an additional level of regulation for both effector function profile and character of a local immune response.     

On a construction of a hierarchy of best linear splineapproximations using repeated bisection

We present a method for the construction of hierarchies of single-valued functions in one, two, and three variables. The input to our method is a coarse decomposition of the compact domain of a function in the form of an interval (univariate case), triangles (bivariate case), or tetrahedra (trivariate case). We compute best linear spline approximations, understood in an integral least squares sense, for functions defined over such triangulations and refine triangulations using repeated bisection. This requires the identification of the interval (triangle, tetrahedron) with largest error and splitting it into two intervals (triangles, tetrahedra). Each bisection step requires the recomputation of all spline coefficients due to the global nature of the best approximation problem. Nevertheless, this can be done efficiently by bisecting multiple intervals (triangles, tetrahedra) in one step and by reducing the bandwidths of the matrices resulting from the normal equations