Regret as Autobiographical Memory

Abstract An autobiographical memory framework for the study of regret is contrasted with traditional decision-making approaches to regret. Based on the autobiographical memory framework a memory-based distinction is introduced between regrets for specific and general events. Across 6 studies the distinction is applied to issues related to the temporal pattern of regret and to survey data showing that long term inaction regrets tend to concern experiences from early adulthood. Studies 1 and 2 examined the temporal distribution of experienced regrets within the context of the “reminiscence bump” phenomenon from autobiographical memory research. Participants regretted proportionally more experiences from early adulthood than from elsewhere in the lifespan, but this pattern obtained for general regrets only: specific regrets were more randomly distributed and tended to concern more recent events. General regrets were more likely to concern inactions than actions, whereas specific regrets were as likely to concern actions as inactions. Consistent with regret surveys, the most frequently reported regrets concerned family, intimate relationships (including marriage and parenting), education, work, character and self-actualisation. These findings were interpreted with reference to life scripts. Studies 3 and 4 assessed the contribution of the life script to the temporal distribution of imagined future regrets. Young adults imagined and dated experiences they anticipated either themselves (Studies 3 and 4a), a peer (Study 4b) or an average person (Study 4c) might regret in life. A preminiscence bump peaking in decade three was found for general regrets. Across Studies 3 and 4 imagined regrets focussed on similar experiences, were described in predominantly general terms and were overwhelmingly associated with inaction. The experienced regrets of young adults (Study 3) were similar in content to the regrets described by older adults about the same period (Studies 1 and 2). The results are interpreted as evidence that a culturally timetabled script deems some events more important and regret-worthy than others. Study 5 examined regret’s relationship with other emotions. Specific regrets more often evoked hot and moral emotions, while general regrets more often evoked wistful emotions, and neither type was more strongly associated with despair emotions. Study 5 also considered a distinction between self- and other-focussed regrets. Self-actualisation and other-focussed regrets were statistically indistinguishable and both were more likely than self-achievement regrets to evoke moral emotions such as guilt, remorse, and shame. Finally, Study 6 showed that general regrets had a broader impact than did specific regrets insofar as they affected more domains and produced more consequences. Across all of the studies in the thesis the domains of family, intimate relationships, character, education, work and self-development are the main source of real and imagined regrets. It is argued that the representation of event knowledge in autobiographical memory combined with culturally determined scripts together shape what people regret in life

Emersion Stress in Intertidal Seaweeds: Role of Active Oxygen

The study will examine stress-tolerance in two major groups of perennial intertidal macroalgae, the red and brown seaweeds. The research will test the hypothesis that active oxygen is involved in emersion stress of intertidal seaweeds. Damage due to active oxygen will be determined in stress-tolerant and stress- susceptible species exposed to emersion stress by measuring the peroxidation of membrane lipids. Plants will be grown in laboratory culture under conditions that increase their ability to withstand emersion stress. If the research hypothesis is correct, increases in stress tolerance should be associated with increased levels of antioxidants and/or protective enzymes. The proposed research will also determine if intertidal seaweeds express specific stress-proteins in response to emersion stress. The results of the physiological studies will be used to design field experiments to measure the occurrence and importance of sublethal emersion stress in natural communities and to compare the allocation of resources to stress-tolerance in low and high shore species. This research represents one of the first attempts to understand the processes that confer stress tolerance in intertidal seaweeds and will provide valuable insights into the ecology and physiology of these plants. Information on the mechanism of stress tolerance will allow ecologists to assess the costs of stress tolerance and relate these to reproductive output, growth and competitive ability

Thermal Adaptation of Polar Macroalgae

Davison 9418033 The genetic adaptations that enable certain plant species to survive and grow in polar environments where temperatures are near or below 0oC year-round are poorly understood. Low- temperature adaptation is complicated in terrestrial plants by freezing, desiccation and stomatal conductance, and in marine phytoplankton by a variable and unpredictable physical environment. Polar macroalgae provide an experimental system that is not subject to these complications and that is well- suited to the study of cold-adaptation in plants. Cold- adaptation is particularly well developed in Antarctic macroalgae, in which rates of photosynthesis and growth at OoC are comparable to rates achieved at 10-15oC by temperate species. The proposed research uses endemic Arctic and Antarctic seaweeds to answer the question, What adaptations do polar algae possess that enable them to assimilate carbon and grow rapidly at very low temperatures? The research focusses on carbon-metabolism characteristics of three closely related polar-temperate pairs of brown algae: Arctic Laminaria solidungula and temperate Laminaria saccharina; Antarctic Desmarestia anceps and temperate Desmarestia aculeata, and Antarctic Himantothallus grandifolius that is related to Desmarestia aculeata and D. anceps, but is morphologically similar to Laminaria saccharina. Carbon-metabolism processes (photosynthesis, respiration and light-independent carbon fixation) that are important in cold-adaptation will be identified in sporophytes of each species pair acclimated to the same temperature. Specific mechanisms of adaptation will be determined by comparing components of the photosynthetic apparatus as well as contents, activities and thermal properties of key enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration and light- independent carbon fixation. Comparisons of multiple species pairs and a broad suite of carbon-assimilation parameters will provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms o f low- temperature adaptation in algal species endemic to both the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans and increase an overall understanding of low temperature adaptation in all plants

Final Project Report: Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker

This document is the full report for the senior project of Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering students Ian Davison and Devin Mast. The report encompasses the full project process, including background research, identification of need, design requirements, design development, proposed design, design realization, changes to proposed design, and design verification. We were tasked with the design and manufacture of a “dual mirror” solar cooker to verify a concept for a new type of off-axis parabolic solar cooker conceived by Dr. Pete Schwartz, the sponsor of the senior project and a physics professor at Cal Poly. Previously, off-axis parabolic solar cookers have used a deformable concentrator to adjust for seasonal change in solar position. The core innovation of the dual mirror concept was to replace the deformable concentrator with a rigid dish and use a tracking heliostat to adjust for seasonal variation, redirect the light, and provide a constant light source on the dish. The motivation for this modification is to simplify construction and lower costs, as deformable dishes must maintain precise geometry throughout deformation and are therefore difficult to manufacture. This means traditional off-axis parabolic solar cookers are often beyond the financial reach of the intended users: economically disadvantaged communities in developing countries. The scope of the project initially encompassed the creation of both the concentrator and the heliostat but was redefined at the beginning of fall quarter to solely encompass the tracking heliostat, as proof of concept could be accomplished using a previously built concentrator. The heliostat was completed and testing was performed fall quarter

Neuronal imaging with ultrahigh dynamic range multiphoton microscopy

Multiphoton microscopes are hampered by limited dynamic range, preventing weak sample features from being detected in the presence of strong features, or preventing the capture of unpredictable bursts in sample strength. We present a digital electronic add-on technique that vastly improves the dynamic range of a multiphoton microscope while limiting potential photodamage. The add-on provides real-time negative feedback to regulate the laser power delivered to the sample, and a log representation of the sample strength to accommodate ultrahigh dynamic range without loss of information. No microscope hardware modifications are required, making the technique readily compatible with commercial instruments. Benefits are shown in both structural and in-vivo functional mouse brain imaging applications.R21 EY027549 - NEI NIH HH

Simultaneous multiplane imaging with reverberation multiphoton microscopy

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has gained enormous popularity over the years for its capacity to provide high resolution images from deep within scattering samples1. However, MPM is generally based on single-point laser-focus scanning, which is intrinsically slow. While imaging speeds as fast as video rate have become routine for 2D planar imaging, such speeds have so far been unattainable for 3D volumetric imaging without severely compromising microscope performance. We demonstrate here 3D volumetric (multiplane) imaging at the same speed as 2D planar (single plane) imaging, with minimal compromise in performance. Specifically, multiple planes are acquired by near-instantaneous axial scanning while maintaining 3D micron-scale resolution. Our technique, called reverberation MPM, is well adapted for large-scale imaging in scattering media with low repetition-rate lasers, and can be implemented with conventional MPM as a simple add-on.Accepted manuscrip