Instruction to forget leads to emotional devaluation

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if the interaction between emotion and memory is bidirectional. Specifically we tested if intentional forgetting of words and faces would lead to their subsequent emotional devaluation. Method: In three experiments we combined an item-method directed forgetting paradigm with an emotional evaluation task. In addition, to test the general response bias hypothesis, we manipulated the forget instruction so that participants would associate a positive encoding affect with this condition. Results: We found that intentionally forgotten words and faces were subsequently emotionally devaluated as compared with the to-be-remembered words and faces. Furthermore, this effect was replicated for words when we associated a positive instruction with the forget condition, which supports that the devaluation was memory specific. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Distractor Devaluation effect previously reported in the attention field can be generalized to memory. This is one the first studies to show an influence of memory processes, namely forgetting, on emotion

Carbon Stars and other Luminous Stellar Populations in M33

The M33 galaxy is a nearby, relatively metal-poor, late-type spiral. Its proximity and almost face-on inclination means that it projects over a large area on the sky, making it an ideal candidate for wide-field CCD mosaic imaging. Photometry was obtained for more than 10^6 stars covering a 74' x 56' field centered on M33. Main sequence (MS), supergiant branch (SGB), red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) populations are identified and classified based on broad-band V and I photometry. Narrow-band filters are used to measure spectral features allowing the AGB population to be further divided into C and M-star types. The galactic structure of M33 is examined using star counts, colour-colour and colour-magnitude selected stellar populations. We use the C to M-star ratio to investigate the metallicity gradient in the disk of M33. The C/M-star ratio is found to increase and then flatten with increasing galactocentric radius in agreement with viscous disk formation models. The C-star luminosity function is found to be similar to M31 and the SMC, suggesting that C-stars should be useful distance indicators. The ``spectacular arcs of carbon stars'' in M33 postulated recently by Block et al. (2004) are found in our work to be simply an extension of M33's disk.Comment: 20 pages, 20 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Fall risk assessment in elderly with and without history of falls: kinematic gait analysis: a comparative study

Objectives: The objective of this research was to verify if there was a variation in the MFC (Minimum Foot Clearance) value among elderly with and without history of falls and, if there were any, verify which joint of the lower limb was responsible for that variation. It was also a main objective to verify if there was a correlation between the risk of falling, achieved through the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the MFC variation. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of a total of 30 elderly who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These were divided into the group without history of falls (n=15) and into the group with history of falls (n=15). The MFC and the joint movement amplitudes of the hip, knee and ankle, of the dominant lower limb, were assessed using the Kinovea programme and for the risk of fall assessment it was used the TUG. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the MFC and TUG values between the groups with and without history of falls. However, there is a decrease of the MFC value for the group with history of falls, being the ankle the joint that most contributed to the MFC variation in the group without history of falls, and the knee in the group with history of falls. About the relation between MFC and TUG, it was obtained a negative correlation (r=-0,269) but it was not significant (p=0,150). Conclusion: In our sample no significant differences in the MFC value were obtained between the group with history of falls and the group without history of falls. Besides the lack of significant differences in the MFC value it was determined the articulation of the lower limb responsible for its variation, and it has been found, although with a p>0,05, that for the group with no history of falls it was the ankle that more contributed to this variation and the knee to the group with history of falls. Concerning to the TUG and MFC value correlation it wasn’t significant. Thus, it was concluded that the TUG use is more effective and sensitive in predicting the risk of falling when compared with the kinematic analysis to obtain the MFC value and the joints amplitude

Fall risk assessment in elderly with and without history of falls: gait electromyographic analysis: a comparative study

Objectives: To determinate if there were differences in electromyography parameters of rectus anterior, biceps femoris, gluteus medius, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and tibialis anterior muscles between group with and without history of falls during. Was analized the relationship between the levels of muscle activation and score in POMA (Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment). Materials and Methods: This is a transversal, not experimental and comparative study. The sample was composed by 30 older adults, 15 with and 15 without history of falls. To collect the data of electromyography was used BIOPAC systems and followed the SENIAM guidelines. For the collection of kinematic data was used Kinovea program and for assess the risk of falling was applied POMA. Results: Individuals with history of falls present levels of muscle activity relatively to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) higher in the dominant lower limb (right) compared to subjects without a history of falls, however these differences aren´t statistically significant (p>0,05). There is enormous variation between the sample in relation to phases of gait in which the muscles are more actives. The group with history of falls shows values lower than group without history of falls in POMA score, the difference is significant (p=0.001). The relationship between percentage of muscle activation and the values obtained in POMA not proved statistically significant (p>0,05). Conclusion: Although results obtained weren´t statistically significants, we can conclude that individuals with falls have higher levels of muscle activation relative to MVC that individuals without history of falls, it is believed that the changes are related to the development of strategies for increased stability during gait. There is considerable variability in phases in which the subjects engaged higher levels of muscle activation, which might occur due to task compensatory strategies or by the task have been made at speed of comfort for the individual. It follows that POMA is an instrument more sensitive and effective to identify the risk of falling in these individuals that the electromyographic analysis

Fall risk assessment in elderly with and without history of falls: relationship between disorders of balance, fear of falling and gait changes: a comparative study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the changes that occur in the balance, fear of falling and kinematic parameters such as stride length, velocity and time support in elderly with and without a history of falling. Main objective was also to verify whether a relationship exists between changes in gait parameters evaluated, balance and fear of falling. Methods: The sample comprised 30 patients (15 with history of falls and 15 without a history of falls), which met the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The kinematic evaluation was performed in the dominant leg, which was right in this sample. The stride length, speed and duration of support were assessed using the program Kinovea and for assessment of balance and fear of falling were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale and the Falls Efficacy Scale. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 20. Results: There were no significant differences in the parameters analyzed, except for scores on the Berg Balance Scale (p=0.000) between groups with and without history of falls. However, there is a decrease in the length of the stride and duration of left leg support and the increased length of right leg support, the speed and the fear of falling. The relationship between the parameters obtained, there is only statistically significant result between speed and stride length (r=0.507, p=0.004) and between the score of the Berg Balance Scale and the stride length (r=0.393, p=0,032). Conclusion: Although not having obtained statistically significant results we can conclude that in elderly with a history of falls have changes in speed and stride length that can be related to balance disorders and the aging process itself. However, it is concluded that the use of the Berg Balance Scale is more responsive and effective in the detection of changes occurring in the individual after a fall, and subsequent evaluation of the risk of falling that performing a kinematic analysis

Substructure revealed by RR Lyraes in SDSS Stripe 82

We present an analysis of the substructure revealed by 407 RR Lyraes in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82. Period estimates are determined to high accuracy using a string-length method. A subset of 178 RR Lyraes with spectrally derived metallicities are employed to derive metallicity-period-amplitude relations, which are then used to find metallicities and distances for the entire sample. The RR Lyraes lie between 5 and 115 kpc from the Galactic center. They are divided into subsets of 316 RRab types and 91 RRc types based on their period, colour and metallicity. The density distribution is not smooth, but dominated by clumps and substructure. Samples of 55 and 237 RR Lyraes associated with the Sagittarius Stream and the Hercules-Aquila Cloud respectively are identified. Hence, ~ 70 % of the RR Lyraes in Stripe 82 belong to known substructure. There is a sharp break in the density distribution at Galactocentric radii of 40 kpc, reflecting the fact that the dominant substructure in Stripe 82 - the Hercules-Aquila Cloud and the Sagittarius Stream - lies within 40 kpc. In fact, almost 60 % of all the RR Lyraes in Stripe 82 are associated with the Hercules-Aquila Cloud alone, which emphasises its pre-eminence. Additionally, evidence of a new and distant substructure - the Pisces Overdensity - is found, consisting of 28 faint RR Lyraes centered on Galactic coordinates (80 deg, -55 deg) and with distances of ~ 80 kpc. The total stellar mass in the Pisces Overdensity is ~10000 solar masses and its metallicity is [Fe/H] ~ -1.5.Comment: 15 pages, submitted to MNRA

FK506 IN PEDIATRIC KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION - PRIMARY AND RESCUE EXPERIENCE

Between December 14, 1989, and December 17, 1993,43 patients undergoing kidney transplantation alone at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh received FK506 as the primary immunosuppressive agent. The mean recipient age was 10.2 ± 4.8 years (range 0.7–17.4), with 7 (16%) children under 5 years of age and 2 (5%) under 2 years of age. Fifteen (35%) children underwent retransplantation, and 5 (12%) had a panel reactive antibody level greater than 40%. Twenty-two (51%) cases were with cadaveric donors, and 21 (49%) were with living donors. The mean follow-up is 25 ± 14 months. There were no deaths. One and three year actuarial graft survival was 98% and 85%. The mean serum creatinine and BUN were 1.2 ± 0.6 mg/dl and 26 ± 11 mg/dl; the calculated creatinine clearance was 75 ± 23 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Twenty-four (62%) patients have been successfully withdrawn from steroids, and 24 (62%) require no anti-hypertensive medication. Improved growth was seen, particularly in pre-adolescent children off steroids. Between July 28, 1990, and December 2, 1993, 24 children were referred for rescue therapy with FK506, 14.6 ± 16.4 months (range 1.1–53.2) after transplantation. Nineteen (79%) were referred because of resistant rejection; 4 (17%) were referred because of proteinuria; 1 (4%) was switched because of steroid-related obesity. There were no deaths. One and two year graft survival was 75% and 68%. Seventeen (71%) patients were successfully rescued, including 1 of 2 patients who arrived on dialysis. Four (24%) of the successfully rescued patients were weaned off steroids. While not without side effects, which include nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, diabetogenicity, and viral complications, FK506 appears to be an effective immunosuppressive agent for both primary and rescue therapy after kidney transplantation. Its steroid-sparing qualities may be of particular importance in the pediatric population

Properties of RR Lyrae stars in the inner regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud. II. The extended sample

All galaxies that have been adequately examined so far have shown an extended stellar halo. To search for such a halo in the LMC we have obtained low-resolution spectra for 100 LMC RR Lyrae stars, of which 87 are in the field and 13 in the clusters NGC1835 and NGC2019. We measured radial velocities for 87 LMC RR Lyrae stars, and metallicities for 78 RR Lyrae stars, nearly tripling the previous sample. These targets are located in 10 fields covering a wide range of distances, out to 2.5 degrees from the center of the LMC. Our main result is that the mean velocity dispersion for the LMC RR Lyrae stars is 50+-2km/s. This quantity does not appear to vary with distance from the LMC center. The metallicity shows a Gaussian distribution, with mean [Fe/H]=-1.53+-0.02dex, and dispersion 0.20 dex in the Harris metallicity scale, confirming that they represent a very homogeneous metal-poor population. There is no dependence between the kinematics and metallicity of the field RR Lyrae star population. Using good quality low-resolution spectra from FORS1, FORS2 and GEMINI-GMOS we have found that field RR Lyrae stars in the LMC show a large velocity dispersion and that this indicate the presence of old and metal-poor stellar halo. All the evidence so far for the halo, however, is from the spectroscopy of the inner LMC regions, similar to the inner flattened halo in our Galaxy. Further study is necessary to confirm this important result.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure