Memory and law: what can cognitive neuroscience contribute?

A recent decision in the United States by the New Jersey Supreme Court has led to improved jury instructions that incorporate psychological research showing that memory does not operate like a video recording. Here we consider how cognitive neuroscience could contribute to addressing memory in the courtroom. We discuss conditions in which neuroimaging can distinguish true and false memories in the laboratory and note reasons to be skeptical about its use in courtroom cases. We also discuss neuroscience research concerning false and imagined memories, misinformation effects and reconsolidation phenomena that may enhance understanding of why memory does not operate like a video recording.Psycholog

Collective excitations in a fermion-fermion mixture with different Fermi surfaces

In this paper, collective excitations in a homogeneous fermion-fermion mixture with different Fermi surfaces are studied. In the Fermi liquid phase, the zero-sound velocity is found to be larger than the largest Fermi velocity. With attractive interactions, the superfluid phase appears below a critical temperature, and the phase mode is the low-energy collective excitation. The velocity of the phase mode is proportional to the geometric mean of the two Fermi velocities. The difference between the two velocities may serve as a tool to detect the superfluid phase.Comment: 4 pages. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Antipredator Responses by Native Mosquitofish to Non-Native Cichlids: An Examination of the Role of Prey Naiveté

The strong impact of non-native predators in aquatic systems is thought to relate to the evolutionary naiveté of prey. Due to isolation and limited dispersal, this naiveté may be relatively high in freshwater systems. In this study, we tested this notion by examining the antipredator response of native mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, to two non-native predators found in the Everglades, the African jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi, and the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus. We manipulated prey naiveté by using two mosquitofish populations that varied in their experience with the recent invader, the African jewelfish, but had similar levels of experience with the longer-established Mayan cichlid. Specifically, we tested these predictions: (1) predator hunting modes differed between the two predators, (2) predation rates would be higher by the novel jewelfish predator, (3) particularly on the naive population living where jewelfish have not invaded yet, (4) antipredator responses would be stronger to Mayan cichlids due to greater experience and weaker and/or ineffective to jewelfish, and (5) especially weakest by the naive population. We assayed prey and predator behavior, and prey mortality in lab aquaria where both predators and prey were free-ranging. Predator hunting modes and habitat domains differed, with jewelfish being more active search predators that used slightly higher parts of the water column and less of the habitat structure relative to Mayan cichlids. In disagreement with our predictions, predation rates were similar between the two predators, antipredator responses were stronger to African jewelfish (except for predator inspections), and there was no difference in response between jewelfish-savvy and jewelfish-naive populations. These results suggest that despite the novelty of introduced predators, prey may be able to respond appropriately if non-native predator archetypes are similar enough to those of native predators, if prey rely on general antipredator responses or predation cues, and/or show neophobic responses

On Quartet Superfluidity of Fermionic Atomic Gas

Possibility of a quartet superfluidity in fermionic systems is studied as a new aspect of atomic gas at ultra low temperatures. The four-fold degeneracy of hyperfine state and moderate coupling is indispensable for the quartet superfluidity to occur. Possible superconductivity with quartet condensation in electron systems is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. vol.74 (2005) No.7, in press; Note added for related previous works; some typographic errors revise

Cooling and Trapping of Atomic Strontium

We present a detailed investigation of strontium magneto-optical trap (MOT) dynamics. Relevant physical quantities in the trap, such as temperature, atom number and density, and loss channels and lifetime, are explored with respect to various trap parameters. By studying the oscillatory response of a two-level 1S0–1P1 88Sr MOT, we firmly establish the laser cooling dynamics predicted by Doppler theory. Measurements of the MOT temperature, however, deviate severely from Doppler theory predictions, implying significant additional heating mechanisms. To explore the feasibility of attaining quantum degenerate alkaline-earth samples via evaporative cooling, we also present the first experimental demonstration of magnetically trapped metastable 88Sr. Furthermore, motivated by the goal of establishing the fermionic isotope 87Sr as one of the highest-quality, neutral-atom-based optical frequency standards, we present a preliminary study of sub-Doppler cooling in a 87Sr MOT. A dual-isotope (87Sr and 88Sr) MOT is also demonstrated

The Privatization Origins of Political Corporations: Evidence from the Pinochet Regime

We show that the sale of state owned firms in dictatorships can help political corporations to emerge and persist over time. Using new data, we characterize Pinochet’s privatizations in Chile and find that some firms were sold underpriced to politically connected buyers. These newly private firms benefited financially from the Pinochet regime. Once democracy arrived, they formed connections with the new government, financed political campaigns, and were more likely to appear in the Panama Papers. These findings reveal how dictatorships can influence young democracies using privatization reforms

Endovascular Versus Open Repair For Chronic Type B Dissection Treatment: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The respective place of endovascular versus open surgery in thoracic dissecting aneurysm treatment remains debatable. This comprehensive review seeks to analyse the outcomes of endovascular repair (ER) compared to open surgery (OS) in chronic type B aortic dissection treatment. METHODS: Embase and Medline searches (2000 - 2017)were performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Outcomes data extracted comprised firstly early mortality and major complications: stroke, spinal cord ischemia (SCI), dialysis, respiratory complications; secondly, late survival and reinterventions. Reintervention causes were divided into proximal, adjacent, distal. Comparative studies provided comparative meta-analyses. Non-comparative studies were analysed in pooled proportion meta-analyses for each group. RESULTS: 39 studies were identified: 10 OS, 25 ER, 4 comparative. Comparative studies meta-analyses revealed lower early mortality for ER (OR: 4.13, 95% CI: 1.10 - 15.4), stroke (OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 1.02-18.35), SCI (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 0.97 - 11.25) and respiratory complications (OR: 6.88, 95% CI:1.52- 31.02), but higher reintervention rate (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16 - 0.69). Mid-term survival was similar (OR: 1.19, 95% CI:0.42 - 3.32). Non-comparative studies analyses showed distal causes as the principal reintervention indication in both groups: OS 73%; ER 59%. Reintervention procedures were mainly surgical for OS (85%), mainly endovascular for ER (75%). Rupture rates were: OS 1.2% , ER 3%. CONCLUSIONS: This recent non -randomised data shows early ER benefit, unsustained at mid-term. Reintervention is higher after ER, necessitating improved technique. However, OS is exempt neither from reintervention nor rupture. Both techniques have their place, but patient selection is key

Dynamics in a Two-Level Atom Magneto-Optical Trap

Alkaline-earth-metal atoms present an ideal platform for exploring magneto-optic trap (MOT) dynamics, enabling unique and definitive tests of laser cooling and trapping mechanisms. We have measured the trapping beam intensity, detuning, magnetic-field gradient, trap density, and lifetime dependence of the spring constant κ and damping coefficient α for a 1S0−1P1 88Sr MOT by fitting the oscillatory response of the atom cloud to a step-function force. We find that the observed behavior of κ and α provide a unified and consistent picture of trap dynamics that agrees with Doppler cooling theory at the level of 10%.Additionally, we demonstrate that the trapped atom temperature can be determined directly from measured value of κ and the trap size, in excellent agreement with free-expansion temperature measurements. However, the experimentally determined temperature is much higher than Doppler cooling theory, implying significant additional heating mechanisms

Smell and taste symptom-based predictive model for COVID-19 diagnosis.

BackgroundThe presentation of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) overlaps with common influenza symptoms. There is limited data on whether a specific symptom or collection of symptoms may be useful to predict test positivity.MethodsAn anonymous electronic survey was publicized through social media to query participants with COVID-19 testing. Respondents were questioned regarding 10 presenting symptoms, demographic information, comorbidities, and COVID-19 test results. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify predictors for COVID-19 positivity. Selected classifiers were assessed for prediction performance using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsA total of 145 participants with positive COVID-19 testing and 157 with negative results were included. Participants had a mean age of 39 years, and 214 (72%) were female. Smell or taste change, fever, and body ache were associated with COVID-19 positivity, and shortness of breath and sore throat were associated with a negative test result (p < 0.05). A model using all 5 diagnostic symptoms had the highest accuracy with a predictive ability of 82% in discriminating between COVID-19 results. To maximize sensitivity and maintain fair diagnostic accuracy, a combination of 2 symptoms, change in sense of smell or taste and fever was found to have a sensitivity of 70% and overall discrimination accuracy of 75%.ConclusionSmell or taste change is a strong predictor for a COVID-19-positive test result. Using the presence of smell or taste change with fever, this parsimonious classifier correctly predicts 75% of COVID-19 test results. A larger cohort of respondents will be necessary to refine classifier performance