The Relationship between Saccadic Choice and Reaction Times with Manipulations of Target Value

Choosing the option with the highest expected value (EV; reward probability × reward magnitude) maximizes the intake of reward under conditions of uncertainty. However, human economic choices indicate that our value calculation has a subjective component whereby probability and reward magnitude are not linearly weighted. Using a similar economic framework, our goal was to characterize how subjective value influences the generation of simple motor actions. Specifically, we hypothesized that attributes of saccadic eye movements could provide insight into how rhesus monkeys, a well-studied animal model in cognitive neuroscience, subjectively value potential visual targets. In the first experiment, monkeys were free to choose by directing a saccade toward one of two simultaneously displayed targets, each of which had an uncertain outcome. In this task, choices were more likely to be allocated toward the higher valued target. In the second experiment, only one of the two possible targets appeared on each trial. In this task, saccadic reaction times (SRTs) decreased toward the higher valued target. Reward magnitude had a much stronger influence on both choices and SRTs than probability, whose effect was observed only when reward magnitude was similar for both targets. Across EV blocks, a strong relationship was observed between choice preferences and SRTs. However, choices tended to maximize at skewed values whereas SRTs varied more continuously. Lastly, SRTs were unchanged when all reward magnitudes were 1×, 1.5×, and 2× their normal amount, indicating that saccade preparation was influenced by the relative value of the targets rather than the absolute value of any single-target. We conclude that value is not only an important factor for deliberative decision making in primates, but also for the selection and preparation of simple motor actions, such as saccadic eye movements. More precisely, our results indicate that, under conditions of uncertainty, saccade choices and reaction times are influenced by the relative expected subjective value of potential movements

Social marketing: Immunizing against unethical practice

A simple approach for the catalytic conversion of primary alcohols into their corresponding esters and amides, with evolution of H2 gas using in situ formed ruthenium PNP- and PNN-pincer catalysts, is presented. The evaluation showed conversions for the esterification with turnover numbers as high as 4300, and 4400 for the amidation

The Value of Information Technology-Enabled Diabetes Management

Reviews different technologies used in diabetes disease management, as well as the costs, benefits, and quality implications of technology-enabled diabetes management programs in the United States

Manganese catalyzed selective hydrogenation of cyclic imides to diols and amines

U. K. D. is thankful to Govt. of India for the DST SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship. T. J. thanks the Azrieli Foundation for a postdoctoral fellowship and A.K. thanks the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) for a postdoctoral fellowship. D.M. is the Israel Matz Professorial Chair of Organic Chemistry.Herein we report the selective hydrogenation of cyclic imides to diols and amines, homogeneously catalyzed for the first time by a complex of an earth-abundant metal, a manganese pincer complex. A plausible catalytic cycle is proposed based on informative mechanistic experiments.PostprintPeer reviewe

Selective room-temperature hydrogenation of amides to amines and alcohols catalyzed by a ruthenium pincer complex and mechanistic insight

This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC AdG 692775). D.M. holds the Israel Matz Professorial Chair of Organic Chemistry. S.K. acknowledges the Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative (SAERI) of the Weizmann Institute of Science for a research fellowship. M.R. acknowledges the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program for a research fellowship.We report a room-temperature protocol for the hydrogenation of various amides to produce amines and alcohols. Compared with most previous reports for this transformation, which use high temperatures (typically, 100–200 °C) and H2 pressures (10–100 bar), this system proceeds under extremely mild conditions (RT, 5–10 bar of H2). The hydrogenation is catalyzed by well-defined ruthenium-PNNH pincer complexes (0.5 mol %) with potential dual modes of metal–ligand cooperation. An unusual Ru-amidate complex was formed and crystallographically characterized. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the room-temperature hydrogenation proceeds predominantly via the Ru–N amido/amine metal–ligand cooperation.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Metal-ligand cooperation facilitates bond activation and catalytic hydrogenation with zinc pincer complexes

We thank the European Research Council (ERC AdG 692775) for support of this research. M.R. acknowledges the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program for a research fellowship. S.K. acknowledges the Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative (SAERI) Weizmann Institute of Science for a research fellowship. A. K. is thankful to the Feinberg Graduate School for the Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship.A series of PNP zinc pincer complexes capable of bond activation via aromatization/dearomatization metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) were prepared and characterized. Reversible heterolytic N-H and H-H bond activation by MLC is shown, in which hemilability of the phosphorus linkers plays a key role. Utilizing this zinc pincer system, base-free catalytic hydrogenation of imines and ketones under relatively mild conditions is demonstrated. A detailed mechanistic study supported by computation implicates the key role of MLC in facili-tating effective catalysis. This approach offers a new strategy for (de)hydrogenation and other catalytic transformations mediated by zinc and other main group metals.PostprintPeer reviewe

Hydrogenative depolymerization of nylons

This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC AdG 692775). D. M. holds the Israel Matz Professorial Chair of Organic Chemistry. A. K. is thankful to the Planning and Budgeting Committee of Israel and Feinberg Graduate School for a (senior) postdoctoral fellowship. Y.-Q. Z. acknowledges the Sustainability and Energy ResearchInitiative (SAERI) foundation for a research fellowship. Computations were performed using HPC resources from GENCI-CINES (Grant 2019 AP010811227).The widespread crisis of plastic pollution demands discovery of new and sustainable approaches to degrade robust plastics such as nylons. Using a green and sustainable approach based on hydrogenation, in the presence of a ruthenium pincer catalyst at 150 oC and 70 bar H2, we report here the first example of hydrogenative depolymerization of conventional, widely used nylons, and polyamides in general. Un-der the same catalytic conditions, we also demonstrate the hydrogenation of a polyurethane to produce diol, diamine and methanol. Additionally, we demonstrate an example where monomers (and oligomers) obtained from the hydrogenation process can be dehydrogenated back to a poly(oligo)amide of approximately similar molecular weight, thus completing a closed loop cycle for recycling of poly-amides. Based on the experimental and DFT studies, we propose a catalytic cycle for the process that is facilitated by metal-ligand cooperativity. Overall, this unprecedented transformation, albeit at the proof of concept level, offers a new approach towards a cleaner route to recycling nylons.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Nuevos datos acerca de los repertorios teatrales en el primer catálogo de «El peregrino en su patria»

En este artículo se muestra cómo los títulos que contienen los repertorios de los autores de comedias presentes en El peregrino en su patria de 1604 están dispuestos según un orden cronológico, aunque con algunos matices y no pocas excepciones. Además, se amplían los repertorios descubiertos por Thornton Wilder y se afina la fecha de composición de varias obras, prestando especial atención a textos que se han perdido, como La perdición de España, La gobernadora, La gran pintora, La bella gitana o La toma de Álora. Finalmente, el presente artículo pretende mostrar de un modo práctico cómo una base de datos digital como el Diccionario biográfico de actores del teatro clásico español (DICAT) puede resultar de gran ayuda a la hora de resolver algunos de los problemas clásicos de la filología en general y del teatro del Siglo de Oro en particular.This paper shows that the plays contained in the repertoire of the autores de comedias which appear in El peregrino en su patria (1604) are organised chronologically, although there are some nuances and exceptions. The article also expands the repertoire discovered by Thornton Wilder and sets the date of composition for some plays, paying special attention to lost texts such as La perdición de España, La gobernadora, La gran pintora, La bella gitana or La toma de Álora. Finally, this paper attempts to show in a practical way that a database such as the Diccionario biográfico de actores del teatro clásico español (DICAT) can be extremely helpful when it comes to dealing with some of the philology's classical problems in general and those of the theatre of the Golden Age in particular