Single-probe serial position recall: evidence of modularity for olfactory, visual and auditory short-term memory

The present study examined and compared order memory for a list of sequentially presented odours, unfamiliar-faces and pure-tone. Employing single-probe serial position recall and following a correction for a response bias, qualitatively different serial position functions were observed across stimuli. Participants demonstrated an ability to perform absolute order memory judgments for odours. Furthermore, odours produced an absence of serial position effects, unfamiliar-faces produced both primacy and recency and pure-tones produced recency but not primacy. Such a finding is contrary to the proposal by Ward, Avons and Melling (2005) that the serial position function is task, rather than modality, dependent. In contrast, the observed functions support a modular conceptualisation of short-term memory (e.g. Andrade and Donaldson, 2007; Baddeley and Hitch, 1974), whereby separate modality-specific memorial systems operate. An alternative amodal interpretation is also discussed wherein serial position function disparities are accommodated via differences in the psychological distinctiveness of stimuli (Hay, Smyth, Hitch and Horton, 2007)

Nodavirus colonizes and replicates in the testis of gilthead seabream and European sea bass modulating its immune and reproductive functions

Viruses are threatening pathogens for fish aquaculture. Some of them are transmitted through gonad fluids or gametes as occurs with nervous necrosis virus (NNV). In order to be transmitted through the gonad, the virus should colonize and replicate inside some cell types of this tissue and avoid the subsequent immune response locally. However, whether NNV colonizes the gonad, the cell types that are infected, and how the immune response in the gonad is regulated has never been studied. We have demonstrated for the first time the presence and localization of NNV into the testis after an experimental infection in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a very susceptible and an asymptomatic host fish species, respectively. Thus, we localized in the testis viral RNA in both species using in situ PCR and viral proteins in gilthead seabream by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that males might also transmit the virus. In addition, we were able to isolate infective particles from the testis of both species demonstrating that NNV colonizes and replicates into the testis of both species. Blood contamination of the tissues sampled was discarded by completely fish bleeding, furthermore the in situ PCR and immunocytochemistry techniques never showed staining in blood vessels or cells. Moreover, we also determined how the immune and reproductive functions are affected comparing the effects in the testis with those found in the brain, the main target tissue of the virus. Interestingly, NNV triggered the immune response in the European sea bass but not in the gilthead seabream testis. Regarding reproductive functions, NNV infection alters 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone production and the potential sensitivity of brain and testis to these hormones, whereas there is no disruption of testicular functions according to several reproductive parameters. Moreover, we have also studied the NNV infection of the testis in vitro to assess local responses. Our in vitro results show that the changes observed on the expression of immune and reproductive genes in the testis of both species are different to those observed upon in vivo infections in most of the casesMINECO and FEDER (AGL2010-20801-C02-01; AGL2010-20801-C02-02; AGL2013-43588-P); Fundación Séneca (04538/GERM/06)Versión del editor4,411

Rectal Indomethacin Dose Escalation (RIDE) for Prevention of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis in High-Risk Patients: a Randomized Trial

Background Although rectal indometacin 100 mg is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in high-risk patients, the optimal dose is unknown, and pancreatitis incidence remains high. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two dose regimens of rectal indometacin on the frequency and severity of pancreatitis after ERCP in high-risk patients. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, comparative effectiveness trial, we enrolled patients from six tertiary medical centres in the USA. Eligible patients were those at high risk for the development of pancreatitis after ERCP. We randomly assigned eligible patients (1:1) immediately after ERCP to receive either two 50 mg indometacin suppositories and a placebo suppository (standard-dose group) or three 50 mg indometacin suppositories (high-dose group). 4 h after the procedure, patients assigned to the high-dose group received an additional 50 mg indometacin suppository, whereas patients in the standard-dose group received an additional placebo suppository. The randomisation schedule, stratified according to study centre and with no other restrictions, was computer generated by an investigator who was uninvolved in the clinical care of any participants, distributed to the sites, and kept by personnel not directly involved with the study. These same personnel were responsible for packaging the drug and placebo in opaque envelopes. Patients, study personnel, and treating physicians were masked to study group assignment. The primary outcome of the study was the development of pancreatitis after ERCP. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01912716, and enrolment is complete. Findings Between July 9, 2013, and March 22, 2018, 1037 eligible patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either standard-dose (n=515) or high-dose indometacin (n=522). Pancreatitis after ERCP occurred in 141 (14%) of 1037 patients—76 (15%) of 515 patients in the standard-dose indometacin group and 65 (12%) of 522 patients in the high-dose indometacin group (risk ratio [RR] 1·19, 95% CI 0·87–1·61; p=0·32). We observed 19 adverse events that were potentially attributable to study drug. Clinically significant bleeding occurred in 14 (1%) of 1037 patients—six (1%) of 515 patients in the standard-dose indometacin group and eight (2%) of 522 patients in the high-dose indometacin group (p=0·79). Three (1%) of 522 patients in the high-dose indometacin group developed acute kidney injury versus none in the standard-dose group (p=0·25). A non-ST elevation myocardial infarction occurred in the standard-dose indometacin group 2 days after ERCP. A transient ischaemic attack occurred in the high-dose indometacin group 5 days after ERCP. All 19 adverse events, in addition to the 141 patients who developed pancreatitis after ERCP, were considered serious as all required admission to hospital. We observed no allergic reactions or deaths at 30 day follow-up. Interpretation Dose escalation to rectal indometacin 200 mg did not confer any advantage compared with the standard 100 mg regimen, with pancreatitis incidence remaining high in high-risk patients. Current practice should continue unchanged. Further research should consider the pharmacokinetics of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to determine the optimal timing of their administration to prevent pancreatitis after ERCP

Comparative Study of Five Outcrop Chalks Flooded at Reservoir Conditions: Chemo-mechanical Behaviour and Profiles of Compositional Alteration

This study presents experimental results from a flooding test series performed at reservoir conditions for five high-porosity Cretaceous onshore chalks from Denmark, Belgium and the USA, analogous to North Sea reservoir chalk. The chalks are studied in regard to their chemo-mechanical behaviour when performing tri-axial compaction tests while injecting brines (0.219 mol/L MgCl 2 or 0.657 mol/L NaCl) at reservoir conditions for 2–3 months (T = 130 ∘C ; 1 PV/d). Each chalk type was examined in terms of its mineralogical and chemical composition before and after the mechanical flooding tests, using an extensive set of analysis methods, to evaluate the chalk- and brine-dependent chemical alterations. All MgCl 2-flooded cores showed precipitation of Mg-bearing minerals (mainly magnesite). The distribution of newly formed Mg-bearing minerals appears to be chalk-dependent with varying peaks of enrichment. The chalk samples from Aalborg originally contained abundant opal-CT, which was dissolved with both NaCl and MgCl 2 and partly re-precipitated as Si-Mg-bearing minerals. The Aalborg core injected with MgCl 2 indicated strongly increased specific surface area (from 4.9 m 2/g to within 7–9 m 2/g). Mineral precipitation effects were negligible in chalk samples flooded with NaCl compared to MgCl 2. Silicates were the main mineralogical impurity in the studied chalk samples (0.3–6 wt%). The cores with higher SiO 2 content showed less deformation when injecting NaCl brine, but more compaction when injecting MgCl 2-brine. The observations were successfully interpreted by mathematical geochemical modelling which suggests that the re-precipitation of Si-bearing minerals leads to enhanced calcite dissolution and mass loss (as seen experimentally) explaining the high compaction seen in MgCl 2-flooded Aalborg chalk. Our work demonstrates that the original mineralogy, together with the newly formed minerals, can control the chemo-mechanical interactions during flooding and should be taken into account when predicting reservoir behaviour from laboratory studies. This study improves the understanding of complex flow reaction mechanisms also relevant for field-scale dynamics seen during brine injection.Fil: Andersen, P.Ø.. University of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Wang, W.. University of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Madland, M.V.. University of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Zimmermann, U.. University of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Korsnes, R. I.. University of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Bertolino, Silvana Raquel Alina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; ArgentinaFil: Minde, M.. University of Stavanger; Noruega. International Research Institute of Stavanger; NoruegaFil: Schulz, B.. TU Bergakademie Freiberg; AlemaniaFil: Gilbricht, S.. TU Bergakademie Freiberg; Alemani