Digitally manipulating memory : effects of doctored videos and imagination in distorting beliefs and memories

In prior research on false autobiographical beliefs and memories, subjects have been asked to imagine fictional events and they have been exposed to false evidence that indicates the fictional events occurred. But what are the relative contributions of imagination and false evidence toward false belief and memory construction? Subjects observed and copied various simple actions, then viewed doctored videos that suggested they had performed extra actions, and they imagined performing some of those and some other actions. Subjects returned two weeks later for a memory test. False evidence or imagination alone was often sufficient to cause belief and memory distortions; the two techniques in combination appeared to have additive or even superadditive effects. The results bear on the mechanisms underlying false beliefs and memories, and we propose legal and clinical applications of these findings

Assessment of habitat factors and development of a species distribution model for the long nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus tridactylus) in SEQ

A species distribution model for the long-nosed potoroo (Potourous tridactylus tridactylus) was developed for South East Queensland based upon known occurrence locations using Maxent software (3.3.3k). Nine environmental predictor datasets reflective of bioclimatic, biophysical and anthropogenic elements were initially compiled and developed for the purpose of comparison against known occurrences of the species. To minimise issues associated with high localised survey bias and spatial autocorrelation resulting in discrete clusters of record locations, occurrence records were initially spatially rarefied. Residual broad geographic survey bias was then addressed via development of a bias grid, based upon 1,106 surveyed sites from a target group species background sample consisting of 26 small native mammal species. Model performance was based upon the threshold independent measure, the area under the curve (AUC) value, developed from the receiver-operator characteristic curves (ROC). Of the initial nine predictors, a subset of four which excluded strongly correlated variables was found to produce the highest level of discrimination between observed occurrence locations and random background locations. The four variables which were retained were, the 'mean annual temperature', 'low undergrowth vegetation cover', 'potential vegetated habitat extent within 1km of each cell location' and 'mean annual precipitation'. Whilst this combination of predictor variables was found to be highly significant when assessed against 1,000 bias corrected null models, a number of competing models were developed which also exhibited high levels of performance. Further work is required to validate the final suite of variables used to model the focal species distribution

Exploring Student and Faculty Perceptions Regarding the Availability of On-Campus Counseling Services

This study sought to explore undergraduate and faculty perceptions about oncampus counseling services. On-campus counseling services for clarification purposes, could be understood as a behavioral health service used by undergraduate students to discuss and address identified personal issues during a semester-based academic school year. The data was collected via a written response survey and it was administered at a private Midwestern university throughout the spring, summer, and fall traditional undergraduate semesters of 2018. The study looked to understand students’ perceptions on the overall need and functionality of the current counseling services promoted at their university. Furthermore, faculty interviews were conducted to collect data on perceptions about the overall need and functionality of counseling services. The research focused on the concern that both student and faculty perceptions can be representative of how counseling services are promoted and utilized on a university campus. The qualitative research instruments used for the study included a 10-question, written response survey for students to complete in a controlled classroom setting; and a five-question interview administered to faculty members. The researcher included both open-ended survey and interview instrumentation to have two forms of qualitative measurement within the study focusing on the similarities of participant responses from different data-measurements. Data responses were then separated into primary, secondary and shared responses for classification purposes. Primary responses were defined as student and faculty responses, which addressed the research questions directly. Secondary responses were answers that added value to the study but did not directly address the content of the research questions. The secondary responses helped to generate additional awareness of concerns by both iii faculty and students, but were not a focus of the initial research questions. The shared responses were recurrent answers that both faculty and students reported in their answers. Results of the study showed a growing need for on-campus behavioral health services and they were accessible, however, participants did not know where counseling services could be located on campus, despite a highly visible campus awareness campaign. The study’s further results (location, qualifications, and counselor’s role) indicated that a joint approach of counseling awareness initiatives (online campus self-referrals, tv-monitor advertising) in collaboration with yearly data collection (student behavioral health concerns, faculty input on services offered) could allow for students and faculty to have a more in-depth understanding of on-campus counseling services and accessibility of counseling-services offered. With a greater understanding of both faculty and students, each group would be able to determine if applicable referrals should be made on behalf of students in addition to having instantaneous knowledge of what counseling services are best used for when in need

Fluorescence Near-Field Microscopy of DNA at Sub-10 nm Resolution

We demonstrate apertureless near-field microscopy of single molecules at sub-10 nm resolution. With a novel phase filter, near-field images of single organic fluorophores were obtained with ~sixfold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. The improvement allowed pairs of molecules separated by ~15 nm to be reliably and repeatedly resolved, thus demonstrating the first true Rayleigh resolution test for near-field images of single molecules. The potential of this technique for biological applications was demonstrated with an experiment that measured the helical rise of A-form DNA

The Effect of Two Weight Reduction Maintenance Strategies for Moderately/Mildly Retarded Adults

Thirteen retarded adult subjects were first exposed to a 12-week behavior therapy weight reduction program followed by a ten-month weekly weigh-in. Then the subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental maintenance booster session group (n=7) or a control post-treatment maintenance group (n=6) for 12 months. The results indicated that when weight control or maintenance procedures were in effect, the subjects lost weight. However, a 12-month follow-up check revealed that the long-term success of the treatment and maintenance procedures was not well maintaned

Tip-Enhanced Fluorescence Microscopy at 10 Nanometer Resolution

We demonstrate unambiguously that the field enhancement near the apex of a laser-illuminated silicon tip decays according to a power law that is moderated by a single parameter characterizing the tip sharpness. Oscillating the probe in intermittent contact with a semiconductor nanocrystal strongly modulates the fluorescence excitation rate, providing robust optical contrast and enabling excellent background rejection. Laterally encoded demodulation yields images with <10 nm spatial resolution, consistent with independent measurements of tip sharpness

Dopamine-stimulated dephosphorylation of connexin 36 mediates AII amacrine cell uncoupling.

Gap junction proteins form the substrate for electrical coupling between neurons. These electrical synapses are widespread in the CNS and serve a variety of important functions. In the retina, connexin 36 (Cx36) gap junctions couple AII amacrine cells and are a requisite component of the high-sensitivity rod photoreceptor pathway. AII amacrine cell coupling strength is dynamically regulated by background light intensity, and uncoupling is thought to be mediated by dopamine signaling via D(1)-like receptors. One proposed mechanism for this uncoupling involves dopamine-stimulated phosphorylation of Cx36 at regulatory sites, mediated by protein kinase A. Here we provide evidence against this hypothesis and demonstrate a direct relationship between Cx36 phosphorylation and AII amacrine cell coupling strength. Dopamine receptor-driven uncoupling of the AII network results from protein kinase A activation of protein phosphatase 2A and subsequent dephosphorylation of Cx36. Protein phosphatase 1 activity negatively regulates this pathway. We also find that Cx36 gap junctions can exist in widely different phosphorylation states within a single neuron, implying that coupling is controlled at the level of individual gap junctions by locally assembled signaling complexes. This kind of synapse-by-synapse plasticity allows for precise control of neuronal coupling, as well as cell-type-specific responses dependent on the identity of the signaling complexes assembled

Barriers to Exercise and Nutrition for Special Olympics Athletes

Problem People with intellectual disability (ID) have higher rates of obesity. Special Olympics Vermont (SOVT) athletes compete in sports events throughout the year. Athletes may lose fitness between seasons. Their nutrition habits remain unknown. •Barriers to exercise and nutrition remain unknown. Goal We were tasked with designing a successful exercise and nutrition program for SOVT athletes.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1215/thumbnail.jp

The Escherichia coli RutR transcription factor binds at targets within genes as well as intergenic regions.

The Escherichia coli RutR protein is the master regulator of genes involved in pyrimidine catabolism. Here we have used chromatin immunoprecipitation in combination with DNA microarrays to measure the binding of RutR across the chromosome of exponentially growing E. coli cells. Twenty RutR-binding targets were identified and analysis of these targets generated a DNA consensus logo for RutR binding. Complementary in vitro binding assays showed high-affinity RutR binding to 16 of the 20 targets, with the four low-affinity RutR targets lacking predicted key binding determinants. Surprisingly, most of the DNA targets for RutR are located within coding segments of the genome and appear to have little or no effect on transcript levels in the conditions tested. This contrasts sharply with other E. coli transcription factors whose binding sites are primarily located in intergenic regions. We suggest that either RutR has yet undiscovered function or that evolution has been slow to eliminate non-functional DNA sites for RutR because they do not have an adverse effect on cell fitness

Reasons to doubt the reliability of eyewitness memory: Commentary on Wixted, Mickes, and Fisher (2018)

Wixted, Mickes, and Fisher (this issue) take issue with the common trope that eyewitness memory is inherently unreliable. They draw on a large body of mock-crime research and a small number of field studies, which indicate that high-confidence eyewitness reports are usually accurate, at least when memory is uncontaminated and suitable interviewing procedures are used. We agree with the thrust of Wixted et al.’s argument and welcome their invitation to confront the mass underselling of eyewitnesses’ potential reliability. Nevertheless, we argue that there is a comparable risk of overselling eyewitnesses’ reliability. Wixted et al.’s reasoning implies that near-pristine conditions or uncontaminated memories are normative, but there are at least two good reasons to doubt this. First, psychological science does not yet offer a good understanding of how often and when eyewitness interviews might deviate from best practice in ways that compromise the accuracy of witnesses’ reports. Second, witnesses may frequently be exposed to preinterview influences that could corrupt reports obtained in best-practice interviews