The role of belief in occurrence within autobiographical memory

This article examines the idea that believing that events occurred in the past is a non-memorial decision that reflects underlying processes that are distinct from recollecting events. Research on autobiographical memory has often focused on events that are both believed to have occurred and remembered, thus tending to overlook the distinction between autobiographical belief and recollection. Studying event representations such as false memories, believed-not-remembered events, and non-believed memories shows the influence of non-memorial processes on evaluations of occurrence. Believing that an event occurred and recollecting an event may be more strongly dissociated than previously stated. The relative independence of these constructs was examined in 2 studies. In Study 1, multiple events were cued, and then each was rated on autobiographical belief, recollection, and other memory characteristics. In Study 2, participants described a nonbelieved memory, a believed memory, and a believed-not-remembered event, and they made similar ratings. In both studies, structural equation modeling techniques revealed distinct belief and recollection latent variables. Modeling the predictors of these factors revealed a double dissociation: Perceptual, re-experiencing, and emotional features predicted recollection and not belief, whereas event plausibility strongly predicted belief and weakly predicted recollection. The results show that judgments of autobiographical belief and recollection are distinct, that each is influenced by different sources of information and processes, and that the strength of their relationship varies depending on the type of event under study. The concept of autobiographical belief is elaborated, and implications of the findings are discussed in relation to decision making about events, social influence on memory, metacognition, and recognition processes

Decomposition can harm the accuracy of behavioural frequency reports

In survey research, the use of decomposition can lead to pronounced reporting errors as seen by overreporting and overall reporting error. A total of 87 subjects answered either decomposed or undecomposed questions concerning telephone calls made by them while at work. The questionnaire conditions varied the length of the reference period (1 week or 6 months), and the type of call (local or long-distance). Decomposition conditions introduced either spatial or temporal cues. In all comparisons, decomposed questions increased overreporting bias relative to undecomposed questions. In addition, undecomposed questions with a 1-week reference period led to increased overreporting bias in comparison to undecomposed/6-month questions. Results are consistent with a category split estimation model in which smaller categories are predicted to lead to overreporting, and larger categories to underreporting. Decomposition is not recommended for gaining retrospective reports of non-distinctive, frequent events. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35010/1/646_ftp.pd

Osteoinductive effects of preoperative dexamethasone in human dental pulp stem cells primary culture

Aim: The use of dexamethasone (DEX) in mesenchymal cell culture induces osteoblastic differentiation and, consequently, formation of mineralized tissues. Tissue engineering proposes the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at structural and functional regeneration of biological tissues. In this sense, cell characterization in vitro is critical to ensure the development of such techniques. Our objective was to evaluate the osteoinductive effect of DEX administered as a preoperative medication in primary cell culture of human dental pulp stem cell. Methodology: Cells from the third molar pulp were divided into two experimental groups, each with two preoperative medication protocols used in dental practice and differentiated by the intake of DEX in one of them. The assessment of proliferation, differentiation and viability through trypan blue, methylthiazol tetrazolium, and von Kossa and alizarin red assays, respectively, were held within fixed intervals: 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Conclusion: This study has shown that DEX may influence in vitro human dental pulp stem cell behavior. Lay abstract: Dexamethasone (DEX) is often used as a preoperative drug in dental surgeries because it reduces pain and has favorable effects on other symptoms caused by the surgery. Additionally, when used in cell culture, its osteoinductor effect is observed. In vitro cell characterization is critical to ensure the development of therapeutic strategies used in tissue engineering. In this sense, this study used two preoperative medication protocols regularly used in dental practice. In Protocol A, patients did not intake DEXin Protocol B, patients took in tablets of DEX. It was possible to assess in vitro behavior of human dental pulp stem cells by applying those protocols.UNIFESP Univ Fed São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, CTCMol, Ctr Cellular & Mol Therapy, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP Univ Fed São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Translat Surg, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilBIOFABRIS, Natl Inst Sci & Technol, Biofabricat Inst, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Ipiranga, Oral & Maxillofacial Surg Dept, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP Univ Fed São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, CTCMol, Ctr Cellular & Mol Therapy, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP Univ Fed São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Translat Surg, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nur77 Inhibits Cardiac Hypertrophic Response to Beta-Adrenergic Stimulation.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 plays critical roles in cardiovascular diseases, and its expression is markedly induced in the heart after beta-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activation. However, the functional significance of Nur77 in β-AR signaling in the heart remains unclear. By using Northern blot, Western blot, and immunofluorescent staining assays, we showed that Nur77 expression was markedly upregulated in cardiomyocytes in response to multiple hypertrophic stimuli, including isoproterenol (ISO), phenylephrine (PE), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). In a time- and dose-dependent manner, ISO increases Nur77 expression in the nuclei of cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of Nur77 markedly inhibited ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inducing nuclear translocation of Nur77 in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, cardiac overexpression of Nur77 by intramyocardial injection of Ad-Nur77 substantially inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction after chronic infusion of ISO in mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Nur77 functionally interacts with NFATc3 and GATA4 and inhibits their transcriptional activities, which are critical for the development of cardiac hypertrophy. These results demonstrate for the first time that Nur77 is a novel negative regulator for the β-AR-induced cardiac hypertrophy through inhibiting the NFATc3 and GATA4 transcriptional pathways. Targeting Nur77 may represent a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for preventing cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure

The Lantern Vol. 54, No. 2, Spring 1988

• Burning the Christmas Guests • A Song in Time • I Ask a Question • As If Raggedy Anne • One Man\u27s Escape • Gypsy Caravan • Apartment 14B • The College Inferno • Somewhere Under Manhattan • Trumped • Sunday • In Quest of Creativity • Imperfect Healing • The Game • The Hunger • Peanuts on the Beach • Battlefield Prom • Confessions of the Untrained Eye • Animal Attraction • Street Lamps • Hey, Old Man • In Search of Self-Actualization • Cousin Joe Bob\u27s First Visit to Pulsationshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1132/thumbnail.jp

The Lantern Vol. 54, No. 1, Fall 1987

• Darkside • Reflections on a Subway Ride • Demand for Love • Music Man • Something Wild • The Nice Guy\u27s Story • The Picnic • Internalize • Days When You Feel Like Wonder Bread • II • A Tear • In Pursuit of Beauty • A Walk Down Sycamore Lane • A Wish • Sins of Omission • Pessimism • And the Sky Cracked • The Clock Strikes • Invinciblehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1131/thumbnail.jp