A meta-analytic review of collaborative inhibition and postcollaborative memory: Testing the predictions of the retrieval strategy disruption hypothesis

The retrieval strategy disruption hypothesis (Basden, Basden, Bryner, & Thomas, 1997) is the most widely cited theoretical explanation for why the memory performance of collaborative groups is inferior to the pooled performance of individual group members remembering alone (i.e., collaborative inhibition). This theory also predicts that several variables will moderate collaborative inhibition. This meta-analysis tests the veracity of the theory by systematically examining whether or not these variables do moderate the presence and strength of collaborative inhibition. A total of 75 effect sizes from 64 studies were included in the analysis. Collaborative inhibition was found to be a robust effect. Moreover, it was enhanced when remembering took place in larger groups, when uncategorized content items were retrieved, when group members followed free-flowing and free-order procedures, and when group members did not know one another. These findings support the retrieval strategy disruption hypothesis as a general theoretical explanation for the collaborative inhibition effect. Several additional analyses were also conducted to elucidate the potential contributions of other cognitive mechanisms to collaborative inhibition. Some results suggest that a contribution of retrieval inhibition is possible, but we failed to find any evidence to suggest retrieval blocking and encoding specificity impact upon collaborative inhibition effects. In a separate analysis (27 effect sizes), moderating factors of postcollaborative memory performance were examined. Generally, collaborative remembering tends to benefit later individual retrieval. Moderator analyses suggest that reexposure to study material may be partly responsible for this postcollaborative memory enhancement. Some applied implications of the meta-analyses are discussed

Physicists and Outreach: Implications of schools physics outreach programmes from the perspective of the participating physicists

This thesis examines physics outreach activities from the perspective of the participating physicists. It explores the nuances of physics outreach to school audiences in the context of wider outreach and public engagement agendas for higher education. The study employs mixed methods, comprising an electronic survey and case studies. The case studies follow audiences through nine physics outreach activities that are observed, complemented by semi-structured interviews with the physicists that took part in the activity after the event. Physicists’ perceptions and understandings of their audience, and the ways in which the audience are recruited, are shown to be crucial factors in delivering successful outreach activities. Parameters for successful outreach from this perspective are determined, and recommendations made for how such indicators might be developed further by outreach programme managers and influencers such as the Institute of Physics. Obtaining the data needed for this study was only made possible through links to the growing networks of outreach professionals in this field, and the positive impact of such roles was made clear by the participating physicists. The findings of this study will be used to influence physics schools outreach practice, and have relevance to other subjects and audiences

Eyewitness memory: The impact of a negative mood during encoding and/or retrieval upon recall of a non-emotive event

The police often appeal for eyewitnesses to events that were unlikely to have been emotive when observed. An eyewitness, however, may be in a negative mood whilst encoding or retrieving such events as mood can be influenced by a range of personal, social, and environmental factors. For example, bad weather can induce a negative mood. This experiment compared the impact of negative and neutral moods during encoding and/or retrieval upon eyewitness recall of a non-emotive event. A negative mood during encoding had no impact upon the number of correct details recalled (provided participants were in a neutral mood at retrieval) but a negative mood during retrieval impaired the number of correct details recalled (provided participants were in a neutral mood at encoding). A negative mood at both time points enhanced the number of correct details recalled, demonstrating a mood-dependent memory enhancement. The forensic implications of these findings are discussed

ENVIROSAT-2000 report: Federal agency satellite requirements

The requirement of Federal agencies, other than NOAA, for the data and services of civil operational environmental satellites (both polar orbiting and geostationary) are summarized. Agency plans for taking advantage of proposed future Earth sensing space systems, domestic and foreign, are cited also. Current data uses and future requirements are addressed as identified by each agency

A multispectral photographic experiment based on a statistical analysis of spectrometric data Final report

Multispectral photographic experiment based on statistical analysis of spectrometric data - spectral reflectance for terrain, optimum film- filter combinations, and terrain tone signature

Optimal uniformity index selection and acquisition counts for daily gamma camera quality control

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the optimized use of common uniformity indices [National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA) indices (differential and integral), Cox–Diffey and the coefficient of variation (CoV)]. Methods: The indices were calculated for induced [localized two-dimensional (2D) Gaussian and gradient] artefacts added to three image sets (5, 10 and 15 million counts), each containing 25 extrinsic images, using Matlab. The intensity of the induced artefacts was varied between a 1 and 10% drop in pixel counts. The induced artefacts simulated photomultiplier tube [10 cm full width at half maximum (FWHM)], smaller focused artefacts (2.5 cm FWHM) and gradients artefacts. Results: For five million count acquisitions, the Cox–Diffey, CoV and NEMA integral indices detected the 6% 2D Gaussian artefacts [10 cm full-width at half-maximum (FWHM)], whereas the NEMA differential index performed relatively poorly. NEMA differential and integral indices performed equally well at detecting smaller 2D Guassian (2.5 cm FWHM) artefacts. The 10% artefact was the minimum artefact detected by both indices for five million count acquisitions. The Cox–Diffey and CoV indices did not detect any artefacts for five million acquired counts. The CoV index performed best at detecting gradient artefacts at five million acquired counts. Conclusion: This work provides evidence that daily quality control can be acquired with as few as five million counts while maintaining the same ability to detect both chronic and acute nonuniformities compared with higher count acquisitions. A combination of the NEMA integral and the CoV indices gives the optimal selection of uniformity indices for detecting a range of artefact forms and intensities

X-box binding protein 1 induces the expression of the lytic cycle transactivator of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus but not Epstein–Barr virus in co-infected primary effusion lymphoma

Cells of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, are latently infected by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), with about 80 % of PEL also co-infected with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Both viruses can be reactivated into their lytic replication cycle in PEL by chemical inducers. However, simultaneous activation of both lytic cascades leads to mutual lytic cycle co-repression. The plasma cell-differentiation factor X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) transactivates the KSHV immediate–early promoter leading to the production of the replication and transcription activator protein (RTA), and reactivation of KSHV from latency. XBP-1 has been reported to act similarly on the EBV immediate–early promoter Zp, leading to the production of the lytic-cycle transactivator protein BZLF1. Here we show that activated B-cell terminal-differentiation transcription factor X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1s) does not induce EBV BZLF1 and BRLF1 expression in PEL and BL cell lines, despite inducing lytic reactivation of KSHV in PEL. We show that XBP-1s transactivates the KSHV RTA promoter but does not transactivate the EBV BZLF1 promoter in non-B-cells by using a luciferase assay. Co-expression of activated protein kinase D, which can phosphorylate and inactivate class II histone deacetylases (HDACs), does not rescue XBP-1 activity on Zp nor does it induce BZLF1 and BRLF1 expression in PEL. Finally, chemical inducers of KSHV and EBV lytic replication in PEL, including HDAC inhibitors, do not lead to XBP-1 activation. We conclude that XBP-1 specifically reactivates the KSHV lytic cycle in dually infected PELs