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A direct comparison between electron transparent transmission electron microscope (TEM) samples prepared with gallium (Ga) and xenon (Xe) focused ion beams (FIBs) is performed to determine if equivalent quality samples can be prepared with both ion species. We prepared samples using Ga FIB and Xe plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) while altering a variety of different deposition and milling parameters. The samples’ final thicknesses were evaluated using STEM-EELS t/λ data. Using the Ga FIB sample as a standard, we compared the Xe PFIB samples to the standard and to each other. We show that although the Xe PFIB sample preparation technique is quite different from the Ga FIB technique, it is possible to produce high-quality, large area TEM samples with Xe PFIB. We also describe best practices for a Xe PFIB TEM sample preparation workflow to enable consistent success for any thoughtful FIB operator. For Xe PFIB, we show that a decision must be made between the ultimate sample thickness and the size of the electron transparent region.

Several computational models of emotions have been proposed to enable artificial agents to generate emotions of their own. However, there are barriers that limit the full capabilities of these models. One issue is the need to enable emotion generation in autonomous agents in wide range of interaction situations instead of designing specific scenarios. Additionally, it is not practically easy task to ‘effectively’ integrate other human characteristics in emotion generation process of artificial agents, which is essential for variation in behavioural responses of such agents. Moreover, although theoretically it is believed that appraisal variables are associated with emotion intensities, existing emotion literature does not offer a generalisable mechanism to computationally achieve such a mapping—thereby leading to ad-hoc implementations. It is also important to note that emotions expressed by intelligent autonomous agents like robots can have deep impact on people and society, therefore, it is crucial to ensure ethical implications of emotional responses of such systems. In this paper, we endeavour to review the emotion models proposed in the last two decades based on the aspects discussed above and provide recommendations for the development of future computational models of emotion. Our review will mainly revolve around the emotion models that implement the concept of appraisal theory of emotion. Our finding suggests that none of the existing computational models of emotion using appraisal theory implement all the characteristics we identify thereby providing further research opportunities.

In social species such as humans, non-human primates, and even many rodent species, social interaction and the maintenance of social bonds are necessary for mental and physical health and wellbeing. In humans, perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not only characterized by physical isolation from peers or loved ones, but also involves negative perceptions about social interactions and connectedness that reinforce the feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a complex behavioral state, it is no surprise that loneliness and isolation are associated with dysfunction within the ventral striatum and the limbic system – brain regions that regulate motivation and stress responsiveness, respectively. Accompanying these neural changes are physiological symptoms such as increased plasma and urinary cortisol levels and an increase in stress responsivity. Although studies using animal models are not perfectly analogous to the uniquely human state of loneliness, studies on the effects of social isolation in animals have observed similar physiological symptoms such as increased corticosterone, the rodent analog to human cortisol, and also display altered motivation, increased stress responsiveness, and dysregulation of the mesocortical dopamine and limbic systems. This review will discuss behavioral and neuropsychological components of loneliness in humans, social isolation in rodent models, and the neurochemical regulators of these behavioral phenotypes with a neuroanatomical focus on the corticostriatal and limbic systems. We will also discuss social loss as a unique form of social isolation, and the consequences of bond disruption on stress-related behavior and neurophysiology.

Upregulation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, is involved in many of the behavioral differences between postpartum and nulliparous female rodents. This is evidenced by studies showing that pharmacological blockade of GABAergic activity impairs maternal caregiving and postpartum affective behaviors. However, the influence of motherhood on the capacity for GABA synthesis or release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; brain region involved in many social and affective behaviors) is not well-understood. Western blotting was used to compare postpartum and nulliparous rats in protein levels of the 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65; synthesizes most GABA released from terminals) and vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT; accumulates GABA into synaptic vesicles for release) in the mPFC. We found that postpartum mothers had higher GAD65 and vGAT compared to virgins, but such differences were not found between maternally sensitized and non-sensitized virgins, indicating that reproduction rather than just the display of maternal caregiving is required. To test whether GAD65 and vGAT levels in the mPFC were more specifically related to anxiety-related behavior within postpartum mothers, we selected 8 low-anxiety and 8 high-anxiety dams based on their time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus maze on postpartum day 7. There were no significant differences between the anxiety groups in either GAD65 or vGAT levels. These data further indicate that frontal cortical GABA is affected by female reproduction and more likely contributes to differences in the display of socioemotional behaviors across, but not within, female reproductive state.

The exposome concept encourages holistic consideration of the non-genetic factors (environmental exposures including lifestyle) that influence an individual's health over their life course. However, disconnect between the concept and practical application has promoted divergent interpretations of the exposome across disciplines and reinforced separation of the environmental (emphasizing exposures) and biological (emphasizing responses) research communities. In particular, while knowledge of biological responses can help to distinguish actual (i. e. experienced) from potential exposures, the inclusion of endogenous processes has generated confusion about the position of the exposome in a multi-omics systems biology context. We propose a reattribution of "exposome'' to exclusively represent the totality of contact with external factors that a biological entity experiences, and introduce the term "functional exposomics'' to denote the systematic study of exposure-phenotype interaction. This reoriented definition of the exposome allows a more readily integrable dataset for multiomics and systems biology research. The exposome concept encourages holistic consideration of the non-genetic factors (environmental exposures including lifestyle) that influence an individual's health over their life course. However, disconnect between the concept and practical application has promoted divergent interpretations of the exposome across disciplines and reinforced separation of the environmental (emphasizing exposures) and biological (emphasizing responses) research communities. In particular, while knowledge of biological responses can help to distinguish actual (i. e. experienced) from potential exposures, the inclusion of endogenous processes has generated confusion about the position of the exposome in a multi-omics systems biology context. We propose a reattribution of "exposome'' to exclusively represent the totality of contact with external factors that a biological entity experiences, and introduce the term "functional exposomics'' to denote the systematic study of exposure-phenotype interaction. This reoriented definition of the exposome allows a more readily integrable dataset for multiomics and systems biology research.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemics highlighted the need of sensitive, selective, and easy-to-handle biosensing devices. In the contemporary scenario, point-of-care devices technologies for mass testing and infection mapping within a population has proven itself as of primordial importance. Here, we introduce a graphene-based Electrical-Electrochemical Vertical Device (EEVD) point-of-care biosensor, strategically engineered for serologic COVID-19 diagnosis. EEVD uses serologic IgG quantifications on SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) bioconjugate immobilized onto device surface. EEVD combines graphene basal plane with high charge carrier mobility, high conductivity, low intrinsic resistance, and interfacial sensitivity to capacitance alterations. EEVD application was carried out in real human serum samples. Since EEVD is a miniaturized device, it requires just 40 μL of sample for a point-of-care COVID-19 infections detection. When compared to serologic assays such ELISA and others immunochromatographic methods, EEVD presents some advantages such as time of analyses (15 min), sample preparation, and a LOD of 1.0 pg mL-1. We glimpse that EEVD meets the principles of robustness and accuracy, desirable analytic parameters for assays destined to pandemics control strategies., Graphical abstract Image 1

The 2-pentadecyl-2-oxazoline (PEA-OXA) is a natural compound with protective action in neuro-inflammation. We have previously shown that PEA-OXA behaves as an α2 adrenergic receptor (α2AR) antagonist and a putative protean agonist on histamine H3 receptors. Recently, neuroinflammation and monoaminergic neurotransmission dysfunction has drawn particular attention in Alzheimer Disease (AD) pathophysiology. In this context, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the dual-acting PEA-OXA in an AD-like model in mice. A combined computational and experimental approach was used to evaluate the ability of PEA-OXA to bind α2A-AR subtype, and to investigate the effects of PEA-OXA treatment on neuropathological (behavioural and functional) effects induced by soluble Amyloid β 1-42 (sAβ1-42) intracerebroventricular injection. Computational analysis revealed the PEA-OXA ability to bind the α2A-AR, a pharmacological target for AD, in two alternative poses, one overlapping the Na+ binding site. In vivo studies indicated that chronic treatment with PEA-OXA (10mg/kg, os) restored the cognitive (discriminative and spatial memory) deficits and social impairments induced by sAβ injection. Consistently, electrophysiological analysis showed a recovery of the long-term potentiation in the hippocampus (Lateral Entorhinal Cortex-Dentate Gyrus pathway), while neuroinflammation, i.e., increased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and microglia cells density were reduced. These data provide the basis for further investigation of the pro-cognitive aptitude of PEA-OXA by proposing it as an adjuvant in the treatment in AD, for which the available pharmacological approaches remain unsatisfactory. Moreover, this study offers new future direction in research investigating the role of α2AR in neuropsychiatric illness and therapies.

Despite considerable progress in treatment protocols, B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) displays a poor prognosis in about 15-20% of pediatric cases and about 60% of adult patients. In addition, life-long irreversible late effects from chemo- and radiation therapy, including secondary malignancies, are a growing problem for leukemia survivors. Targeted therapy holds promising perspectives for cancer treatment as it may be more effective and have fewer side effects than conventional therapies. The phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a key regulatory cascade which controls proliferation, survival and drug-resistance of cancer cells, and it is frequently upregulated in the different subtypes of B-ALL, where it plays important roles in the pathophysiology, maintenance and progression of the disease. Moreover, activation of this signaling cascade portends a poorer prognosis in both pediatric and adult B-ALL patients. Promising preclinical data on PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors have documented their anticancer activity in B-ALL and some of these novel drugs have entered clinical trials as they could lead to a longer event-free survival and reduce therapy-associated toxicity for patients with B-ALL. This review highlights the current status of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in B-ALL, with an emphasis on emerging evidence of the superior efficacy of synergistic combinations involving the use of traditional chemotherapeutics or other novel, targeted agents.

Prior literature illustrates that sexual minority people (e.g., bisexual, gay, queer) are at increased vulnerability for sexual violence victimization compared to heterosexual peers, including while in college. However, the study of sexual violence perpetration in sexual minority populations, much less specifically sexual minority college men, has been neglected. This article reviews the literature and presents a secondary data analysis of a systematic review on college men’s sexual perpetration rates and associated methodology. We also conducted analyses to summarize available literature regarding publishing dates, authors, and data inclusivity. Methods: We downloaded the dataset and associated materials from Mendeley.com’s data archive. Results: To our surprise, we could not analyze sexual perpetration prevalence rates in sexual minority men using the systematic review data due to absence of reported data across all 77 independent samples including over 5,500 male participants. We found no significant relationship between inclusion of sexual minority men and the use of measurement strategies specialized to assess sexual minority needs. We did find a positive relationship between recency of publication and the inclusion of sexual minority men, r(76) = .24, p = .03, and that most authors/co-authors were women (72%). Conclusions: Preventing perpetration is central to ending sexual violence; therefore, future research should include sexual minority people and use appropriate methodology in the investigation of sexual perpetration characteristics and patterns.

Caring for people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has changed considerably since the first description of the disorder and continues to evolve in the era of highly effective modulator therapy. These new treatment advancements are resulting in improved health outcomes in an ever-growing adult population with improved long-term survival. This article explores potential co-morbidities and mental health implications associated with increased longevity and survivorship. It also considers the need for further evolution in patient centered care with an expanded health care team in a more virtually connected world. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 prompted the Institute of Medicine to release The Future of Nursing report to help guide the necessary changes in nursing to accommodate millions of newly insured individuals. A key point of the campaign was for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice at the fullest extent of their licensure to meet the needs of the newly insured population. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) experience the most restricted scope of practice among APRNs. An integrative review was conducted to examine CRNA practice and policy since The Future of Nursing was released. Ten research articles were included in the final review. Key findings related to CRNA practice and policy that emerged from the review were (1) patient complications and mortality rates are no different under the care of CRNAs compared with anesthesiologists; (2) CRNAs are more accessible to vulnerable populations and rural areas; and (3) state legislators are being influenced by factors other than evidence, such as strong professional group influence, to make policy decisions for CRNAs. Future interdisciplinary research investigating outcomes from the patients' perspectives could help remove bias and strengthen the evidence of the quality of care given by CRNAs.

The SARS‐CoV‐2 non‐structural protein 14 (nsp14), known as exoribonuclease is encoded from the large polyprotein of viral genome and is a major constituent of the transcription replication complex (TRC) machinery of the viral RNA synthesis. This protein is highly conserved among the coronaviruses and is a potential target for the development of a therapeutic drug. Here, we report the SARS‐CoV‐2 nsp14 expression, show its structural characterization, and ss‐RNA exonuclease activity through vibrational and electronic spectroscopies. The deconvolution of amide‐I band in the FTIR spectrum of the protein revealed a composition of 35 % α‐helix and 25 % β‐sheets. The binding between protein and RNA is evidenced from the spectral changes in the amide‐I region of the nsp14, showing protein conformational changes during the binding process. A value of 20.60±3.81 mol L−1 of the binding constant (K D) is obtained for nsp14/RNA complex. The findings reported here can motivate further studies to develop structural models for better understanding the mechanism of exonuclease enzymes for correcting the viral genome and can help in the development of drugs against SARS‐CoV‐2., The interaction of nsp14 protein with nascent RNA for the removal of mismatched nucleotide from the newly synthesized RNA of SARS‐CoV‐2 is reported.

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) signaling is essential for the high maternal caregiving characteristic of the early postpartum period, but little is known about dopamine’s role in the expression of maternal caregiving thereafter. We tested the hypothesis that decreased mesolimbic dopaminergic signaling is particularly responsible for the natural decline in maternal caregiving that occurs as the postpartum period progresses. Sprague-Dawley (SD) mother rats received intraperitoneal injections of either vehicle, the DA D1 receptor agonist SKF38393, the DA D2 receptor agonist quinpirole, or both agonists twice daily from postpartum days 9 to 15. In a separate experiment involving Long-Evans (LE) rats, we examined whether DA D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens (NA) shell and ventral tegmental area (VTA), along with DA turnover in the VTA, decline across the postpartum period in parallel with the decreasing maternal behavior. All drug treatments significantly maintained higher frequencies of active maternal behaviors (nesting, pup licking, retrieval) compared to vehicle. Furthermore, the majority of mothers treated with SKF38393 either alone or combined with quinpirole maintained full expression of maternal behavior during behavioral testing. D2 receptor mRNA levels were found to be lower in the late postpartum NA shell and VTA compared to early postpartum, but D1 receptor mRNA levels in the NA shell were higher in the late postpartum period. Furthermore, both late postpartum and recently parturient LE mothers had higher VTA DA turnover compared to nulliparae, suggesting changes in mesolimbic signal-to-noise ratio both at the end and beginning of motherhood. Collectively, our results suggest that alterations in mesolimbic DA is part of the neural substrate responsible for dynamic maternal caregiving across the entire postpartum period.

Writing has long been recognized as both an outcome and method of successful pedagogy in psychology. Accordingly, there are a number of methods that successful instructors have employed to teach psychology students how to write. One such method is to facilitate students’ reviewing each other’s written work (i.e., to engage in peer review), although the research on this as an efficacious classroom intervention has thus far been limited. In this study we examine the benefits of implementing student reviews of peers’ written work in a senior-level undergraduate psychology course ( N = 59). Results suggest that the more critical students were of their peers’ writing, the higher their grades were on their own writing, an effect that persisted when controlling for grades on previous written assignments and the effect of feedback received from peers on their written work. These findings extend previous research on the effect of student peer reviewing and highlight the utility of implementing peer review in the psychology classroom.

INTRODUCTION Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is often used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Specific factors affecting testosterone recovery after cessation of ADT have not been well-characterized in existing literature.We retrospectively reviewed patients at our institution who received ADT between 1999 and 2018. Patients with at least one course of ADT and subsequent testosterone level within 12 months of cessation of ADT were included. Patients received at least one of the following four agents: leuprolide, goserelin, triptorelin, and degarelix. Cox regression models were utilized to estimate the effect of patient and treatment characteristics on time to testosterone recovery(≥ 240 ng/dL) after ADT cessation. Patients without testosterone recovery were censored at last testosterone evaluation. To account for the possible dependency between multiple ADT courses within a patient, we used a robust sandwich variance estimate.Severty-six patients were included. Mean age was 64 +/- 8 years. Median duration of ADT was 15 months, with a median time to recovery of 19 months. On univariable analysis, age and duration of ADT were significant; a trend towards significance was noted for hypertension, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, goserelin and bicalutamide. Patient age, duration of ADT, and treatment with the agent goserelin were significantly associated with prolonged hypogonadism on multivariable analysis (p0.01).Increasing age and duration of ADT therapy are associated with decreased likelihood to recover normal testosterone levels after cessation of therapy. The use of the ADT agent goserelin was also associated with decreased testosterone recovery for unclear reasons.

Building trust in robots through social interactions has a major impact on user experience and adoption of robot technologies. The role of trust in such interactions is associated with the persuasive influence a robot has on humans. A persuasive attempt may decrease trusting attitudes towards robots if it leads to persuasive backfiring, which refers to the creation of an attitude change in a direction opposite to the one intended by the intervention. In order to explore persuasive backfiring in the context of Human-Robot Interaction, this research study tests the interaction between emotion and logic as elements present both in the attitudes to be influenced, and in the persuasive appeal delivered by a robot. Results indicate a significant backfiring effect when emotions are used to influence attitudes that are based on logic. This observation has practical design implications for persuasive robots, especially in high-stakes fields such as Psychotherapy and Urban Search and Rescue.

Upregulation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, is involved in many of the behavioral differences between postpartum and nulliparous female rodents. This is evidenced by studies showing that pharmacological blockade of GABAergic activity impairs maternal caregiving and postpartum affective behaviors. However, the influence of motherhood on the capacity for GABA synthesis or release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; brain region involved in many social and affective behaviors) is not well-understood. Western blotting was used to compare postpartum and nulliparous rats in protein levels of the 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD

Optimal performance of collaborative tasks requires consideration of the interactions between socially intelligent agents, such as social robots, and their human counterparts. The functionality and success of these systems lie in their ability to establish and maintain user trust; with too much or too little trust leading to over-reliance and under-utilisation, respectively. This problem highlights the need for an appropriate trust calibration methodology, with the work in this paper focusing on the first step: investigating user trust as a behavioural prior. Two pilot studies (Study 1 and 2) are presented, the results of which inform the design of Study 3. Study 3 investigates whether trust can determine user decision making and task outcome during a human-agent collaborative task. Results demonstrate that trust can be behaviourally assessed in this context using an adapted version of the Trust Game. Further, an initial behavioural measure of trust can significantly predict task outcome. Finally, assistance type and task difficulty interact to impact user performance. Notably, participants were able to improve their performance on the hard task when paired with correct assistance, with this improvement comparable to performance on the easy task with no assistance. Future work will focus on investigating factors that influence user trust during human-agent collaborative tasks and providing a domain-independent model of trust calibration.

Elhaj, HM, Imam, O, Page, BW, Vitale, JM, and Malek, MH. Perceived consumption of a high-dose caffeine drink delays neuromuscular fatigue. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-The placebo effect is a concept in which a desired outcome arises, mainly from the belief that the treatment (i.e., supplement or drug) was beneficial although no active ingredient was given. The results of studies related to the placebo effect primarily examine functional performance. What remains unanswered, however, is whether these changes in performance are associated with neuromuscular alterations in the exercised muscles. The purpose of the study, therefore, was to determine the influence of the placebo effect on the physical working capacity fatigue threshold (PWCFT) for a continuous exercise paradigm. To achieve this aim, subjects were told that they were participating in a study to determine the dosage response (low or high) of caffeine on neuromuscular fatigue when in fact no caffeine was given during the experiment. We hypothesized that the perceived consumption of the high-dose caffeine drink would result in a higher PWCFT than the perceived consumption of the low-dose caffeine drink and placebo. Secondarily, we hypothesized that the perceived consumption of the high-dose caffeine drink would result in a higher power output than the perceived consumption of the placebo. Nine healthy college-aged men (mean ± SEM: age, 25.7 ± 1.3 years; body mass, 84.4 ± 3.1 kg; and height: 1.82 ± 0.02 m) volunteered to be in the study. For each of the visits, subjects were given an 8 oz. bottle of water with dissolved crystal light. After the drink was consumed, subjects rested in the laboratory for 1 hour before performing the incremental single-leg knee-extensor ergometry. Immediately after the termination of the incremental single-leg knee-extensor ergometry, the subject was asked which caffeine dose (placebo, low, or high) they believed they consumed for that visit. There were no significant mean differences for maximal power output for the 3 perceived conditions (placebo: 62 ± 3, low-dose caffeine: 62 ± 4, and high-dose caffeine: 65 ± 3 W). When the subjects perceived consuming the high-dose caffeine drink, there were significant mean differences (all p-values < 0.01), for PWCFT, between the other conditions (mean ± SEM: placebo: 23 ± 3 W, low-dose caffeine: 26 ± 2 W, and high-dose caffeine: 42 ± 3 W). This corresponded to a significant mean difference (all p-values < 0.01) when the PWCFT was presented as a percentage of the maximal power output (mean ± SEM: placebo: 37 ± 5%, low-dose caffeine: 42 ± 3%, and high-dose caffeine: 64 ± 3%). The application of our results may indicate that the subject's expectancy, to caffeine consumption, plays a critical role in delaying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue despite not receiving any caffeine in their drinks.

BACKGROUND: Although tobacco use is the leading cause of numerous preventable diseases, including respiratory illnesses, respiratory therapy students historically have received inadequate education for treating tobacco use and dependence. To address this gap, a respiratory-specific tobacco cessation training program was created and disseminated via a train-the-trainer approach for faculty in respiratory therapy and respiratory care programs across the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of the live, web-based, train-the-trainer programs on participating faculty, and to assess changes in the extent of adoption of tobacco cessation content in respiratory therapy curricula across institutions in the United States. METHODS: Five live, 2.5-h web-based train-the-trainer programs for respiratory therapy faculty were conducted. To characterize impact of this national initiative, surveys were administered at baseline, immediately after training, and then at the end of the subsequent academic year. RESULTS: A total of 270 respiratory therapy faculty members participated in a live webinar training, representing 248 of the 402 (61.7%) respiratory therapy schools in the United States. At the end of the subsequent academic year, faculty reported significant improvement in their overall ability to teach tobacco cessation (P < .001). Nearly all (97.4%) agreed that the webinar train-the-trainer format was conducive to learning, and high self-ratings were reported for skills to teach the tobacco cessation content. During the 2016–2017 academic year, 1,248 respiratory therapy students received training. Faculty anticipated teaching a median of 3 h of tobacco cessation in the subsequent academic year. CONCLUSIONS: Training respiratory therapy faculty using a train-the-trainer approach had a positive impact on faculty’s perceived confidence and ability to teach tobacco cessation at their institutions.

Cannabitwinol (CBDD

The behavioral modifications associated with early motherhood, which include high aggression, caring for the young, and low anxiety, are all affected by acute pharmacological manipulation of serotonin signaling. However, the effects on all these behaviors of permanently disrupting serotonin signaling from one of its primary sources, the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), have not been examined in detail. To address this, serotonin-specific lesions centered on the dorsomedial DR (DRdm; DR subregion strongly implicated in emotional behaviors) were induced at mid-pregnancy (day 15) or early postpartum (day 2) in rats using a saporin-conjugated neurotoxin targeting the serotonin transporter (Anti-SERT-SAP). Prepartum or postpartum Anti-SERT-SAP reduced DRdm serotonin immunoreactivity by ∼40-65%, and postpartum Anti-SERT-SAP also reduced it in the ventromedial and lateral wings of the DR, as well as in the median raphe. Serotonin-immunoreactive fibers were significantly reduced in the anterior hypothalamus, but not medial preoptic area, of lesioned dams. Pre- or postpartum lesions both greatly reduced maternal aggression, but while prepartum lesions did not affect later undisturbed maternal caregiving, the larger postpartum lesions prevented the postpartum decline in kyphotic nursing and reduced pup licking. Serotonin lesions did not affect pup retrieval, but the prepartum lesions temporarily increased maternal hovering over and licking the pups observed immediately after the disruptive retrieval tests. Dams' anxiety-like behaviors and litter weight gains were unaffected by the lesions. These findings suggest that DRdm serotonin projecting to the AH is particularly critical for maternal aggression, but that more widespread disruption of midbrain raphe serotonin is necessary to greatly impair maternal caregiving. Postpartum anxiety may rely more on other neurochemical systems or different midbrain serotonergic cell populations.

With the advancement of virtual reality (VR) technologies, medical students may now study complex anatomical structures in three-dimensional (3-D) virtual environments, without relying solely upon high cost, unsustainable cadavers or animal models. When coupled with a haptic input device, these systems support direct manipulation and exploration of the anatomical structures. Yet, prior studies provide inconclusive support for direct manipulation beyond passive viewing in virtual environments. In some cases, exposure to an “optimal view” appears to be the main source of learning gains, regardless of participants’ control of the system. In other cases, direct manipulation provides benefits beyond passive viewing. To address this issue, we compared medical students who either directly manipulated a virtual anatomical structure (inner ear) or passively viewed an interaction in a stereoscopic, 3-D environment. To ensure equal exposure to optimal views we utilized a yoked-pair design, such that for each participant who manipulated the structure a single matched participant viewed a recording of this interaction. Results indicate that participants in the manipulation group were more likely to successful generate (i.e., draw) the observed structures at posttest than the viewing group. Moreover, manipulation benefited students with low spatial ability more than students with high spatial ability. These results suggest that direct manipulation of the virtual environment facilitated embodiment of the anatomical structure and helped participants maintain a clear frame of reference while interacting, which particularly supported participants with low spatial ability.

The Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger of Drosophila melanogaster, CALX, is the main Ca(2+)-extrusion mechanism in olfactory sensory neurons and photoreceptor cells. Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers have two Ca(2+) sensor domains, CBD1 and CBD2. In contrast to the mammalian homologs, CALX is inhibited by Ca(2+) binding to CALX-CBD1, whereas CALX-CBD2 does not bind Ca(2+) at physiological concentrations. CALX-CBD1 consists of a β-sandwich and displays four Ca(2+)-binding sites at the tip of the domain. In this study, we used NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to investigate the cooperativity of Ca(2+) binding to CALX-CBD1. We observed that this domain binds Ca(2+) in the slow exchange regime at the NMR chemical shift timescale. Ca(2+) binding restricts the dynamics in the Ca(2+)-binding region. Experiments of (15)N chemical exchange saturation transfer and (15)N R(2) dispersion allowed the determination of Ca(2+) dissociation rates (∼30 s(−1)). NMR titration curves of residues in the Ca(2+)-binding region were sigmoidal because of the contribution of chemical exchange to transverse magnetization relaxation rates, R(2). Hence, a novel, to our knowledge, approach to analyze NMR titration curves was proposed. Ca(2+)-binding cooperativity was examined assuming two different stoichiometric binding models and using a Bayesian approach for data analysis. Fittings of NMR and ITC binding curves to the Hill model yielded n(Hill) ∼2.9, near maximal cooperativity (n(Hill) = 4). By assuming a stepwise model to interpret the ITC data, we found that the probability of binding from 2 up to 4 Ca(2+) is approximately three orders of magnitude higher than that of binding a single Ca(2+). Hence, four Ca(2+) ions bind almost simultaneously to CALX-CBD1. Cooperative Ca(2+) binding is key to enable this exchanger to efficiently respond to changes in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in sensory neuronal cells.

Background: The prevalence of sexual perpetration in college men is unknown. Prior reviews of sexual violence prevalence rates have produced wide-ranging estimates, likely due to wide variation in measurement strategies.Objectives: This paper systematically reviewed research findings (from 2000-2017) regarding prevalence rates of sexual perpetration in college men and measurement strategies.Data Sources: PsycINFO and Web of Science databases.Eligibility Criteria: Empirical reports published between 2000-2017 that included male participants, available in English, and reported lifetime prevalence findings in Canadian or American college students.Participants: Data from 78 independent samples including 25,524 college men.Results: The average prevalence rate of any sexual perpetration was 29.3% (SD = 16.8), and the average rate of rape was 6.5% (SD = 6.3). Studies that used non-Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) based questionnaires recorded higher prevalence rates (41.5%) than SES-using studies (26.2%). At least sixteen different sexual perpetration questionnaires were identified. Modifying standardized questionnaires was extremely common; this was reported in over half the studies. Studies using modified standardized questionnaires found higher prevalence rates of sexual perpetration than studies using non-modified standardized questionnaires. Limitations: This report focused exclusively on college men in the United States and Canada.Conclusions and Implications: On average, 29% of college males report engaging in behaviors defined as sexual perpetration; however, there was a strong influence of measurement strategy on reported rates.

Background: The prevalence of sexual perpetration in college men is unknown. Prior reviews of sexual violence prevalence rates have produced wide-ranging estimates, likely due to wide variation in measurement strategies. Objectives: This article systematically reviewed research findings (from 2000 to 2017) regarding prevalence rates of sexual perpetration in college men and measurement strategies. Data Sources: PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. Eligibility Criteria: Empirical reports published between 2000 and 2017 that included male participants, available in English, and reported lifetime prevalence findings in Canadian or American college students. Participants: Data from 78 independent samples including 25,524 college men. Results: The average prevalence rate of any sexual perpetration was 29.3% ( SD = 16.8), and the average rate of rape was 6.5% ( SD = 6.3). Studies that used non-Sexual Experiences Survey (SES)–based questionnaires recorded higher prevalence rates (41.5%) than SES-using studies (26.2%). At least 16 different sexual perpetration questionnaires were identified. Modifying standardized questionnaires was extremely common; this was reported in over half of the studies. Studies using modified standardized questionnaires found higher prevalence rates of sexual perpetration than studies using nonmodified standardized questionnaires. Limitations: This report focused exclusively on college men in the United States and Canada. Conclusions and Implications: On average, 29% of college males report engaging in behaviors defined as sexual perpetration; however, there was a strong influence of measurement strategy on reported rates.

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) signaling is essential for the high maternal caregiving characteristic of the early postpartum period, but little is known about dopamine's role in the expression of maternal caregiving thereafter.We tested the hypothesis that decreased mesolimbic dopaminergic signaling is particularly responsible for the natural decline in maternal caregiving that occurs as the postpartum period progresses.Sprague-Dawley (SD) mother rats received intraperitoneal injections of either vehicle, the DA D1 receptor agonist SKF38393, the DA D2 receptor agonist quinpirole, or both agonists twice daily from postpartum days 9 to 15. In a separate experiment involving Long-Evans (LE) rats, we examined whether DA D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens (NA) shell and ventral tegmental area (VTA), along with DA turnover in the VTA, decline across the postpartum period in parallel with the decreasing maternal behavior.All drug treatments significantly maintained higher frequencies of active maternal behaviors (nesting, pup licking, retrieval) compared to vehicle. Furthermore, the majority of mothers treated with SKF38393 either alone or combined with quinpirole maintained full expression of maternal behavior during behavioral testing. D2 receptor mRNA levels were found to be lower in the late postpartum NA shell and VTA compared to early postpartum, but D1 receptor mRNA levels in the NA shell were higher in the late postpartum period. Furthermore, both late postpartum and recently parturient LE mothers had higher VTA DA turnover compared to nulliparae, suggesting changes in mesolimbic signal-to-noise ratio both at the end and beginning of motherhood.Collectively, our results suggest that alterations in mesolimbic DA is part of the neural substrate responsible for dynamic maternal caregiving across the entire postpartum period.

We compared two forms of automated guidance to support students’ understanding of climate change in an online inquiry science unit. For specific guidance, we directly communicated ideas that were missing or misrepresented in student responses. For knowledge integration guidance, we provided hints or suggestions to motivate learners to analyze features of their response and seek more information. We guided both student-constructed energy flow diagrams and short essays at total of five times across an approximately week-long curriculum unit. Our results indicate that while specific guidance typically produced larger accuracy gains on responses within the curriculum unit, knowledge integration guidance produced stronger outcomes on a novel essay at posttest. Closer analysis revealed an association between the time spent revisiting a visualization and posttest scores on this summary essay, only for those students in the knowledge integration condition. We discuss how these gains in knowledge integrati...

Recent changes to the diagnosis of child antisocial behavior provide different methods of conceptualizing it (e.g., traditional symptom-based diagnoses and alternative trait-based methods). However, there is little research on how psychology students might use these different methods and what kind of instructional formats might be amenable to teaching students about them. In this study, we examined how students in an advanced psychopathology course used symptom-based and trait-based methods to conceptualize child antisocial behavior in a case study format. Results indicated that students perceived symptom-based and trait-based methods as providing complementary information that students found useful for diagnosis. Implications and future directions are also discussed.

Interpreting and creating graphs plays a critical role in scientific practice. The K-12 Next Generation Science Standards call for students to use graphs for scientific modeling, reasoning, and communication. To measure progress on this dimension, we need valid and reliable measures of graph understanding in science. In this research, we designed items to measure graph comprehension, critique, and construction and developed scoring rubrics based on the knowledge integration (KI) framework. We administered the items to over 460 middle school students. We found that the items formed a coherent scale and had good reliability using both item response theory and classical test theory. The KI scoring rubric showed that most students had difficulty linking graphs features to science concepts, especially when asked to critique or construct graphs. In addition, students with limited access to computers as well as those who speak a language other than English at home have less integrated understanding than others. These findings point to the need to increase the integration of graphing into science instruction. The results suggest directions for further research leading to comprehensive assessments of graph understanding.

© 2018 IEEE. When robots and human users collaborate, trust is essential for user acceptance and engagement. In this paper, we investigated two factors thought to influence user trust towards a robot: preference elicitation (a combination of user involvement and explanation) and embodiment. We set our experiment in the application domain of a restaurant recommender system, assessing trust via user decision making and perceived source credibility. Previous research in this area uses simulated environments and recommender systems that present the user with the best choice from a pool of options. This experiment builds on past work in two ways: first, we strengthened the ecological validity of our experimental paradigm by incorporating perceived risk during decision making; and second, we used a system that recommends a nonoptimal choice to the user. While no effect of embodiment is found for trust, the inclusion of preference elicitation features significantly increases user trust towards the robot recommender system. These findings have implications for marketing and health promotion in relation to Human-Robot Interaction and call for further investigation into the development and maintenance of trust between robot and user.

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019. Robots are coming closer to human society following the birth of emerging field called Social Robotics. Social Robotics is a branch of robotics that specifically pertains to the design and development of robots that can be employed in human society for the welfare of mankind. The applications of social robots may range from household domains such as elderly and child care to educational domains like personal psychological training and tutoring. It is crucial to note that if such robots are intended to work closely with young children, it is extremely important to make sure that these robots teach not only the facts but also important social aspects like knowing what is right and what is wrong. It is because we do not want to produce a generation of kids that knows only the facts but not morality. In this paper, we present a mechanism used in our computational model (i.e EEGS) for social robots, in which emotions and behavioural response of the robot depends on how one has previously treated a robot. For example, if one has previously treated a robot in a good manner, it will respond accordingly while if one has previously mistreated the robot, it will make the person realise the issue. A robot with such a quality can be very useful in teaching good manners to the future generation of kids.

© 2018 Authors. The integration of social robots within service industries requires social robots to be persuasive. We conducted a vignette experiment to investigate the persuasiveness of a human, robot, and an information kiosk when offering consumers a restaurant recommendation. We found that embodiment type significantly affects the persuasiveness of the agent, but only when using a specific recommendation sentence. These preliminary results suggest that human-like features of an agent may serve to boost persuasion in recommendation systems. However, the extent of the effect is determined by the nature of the given recommendation.

Balclutha brevis Lindberg 1954 (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) is an allochthonous species that is rapidly spreading in Sicily and in mainland Europe due to the wide spread of its host plant and therefore could also compete with populations of native species. Considering these ecological implications, based on the lacking ultrastructural data about the reproductive systems of the Auchenorrhyncha and since previous investigations on the male reproductive system of B. brevis have shown some interesting features, we carried out morphostructural investigations on the female reproductive system of this alien leafhopper. Moreover, given the high interest in literature on Wolbachia entomoparasite and based on our previous studies, we provided a contribution to further investigations in applied sciences. For this aim we performed a molecular analysis on males and females of B. brevis to detect the possible presence of strains of the bacterium known to alter host reproductive biology. The female reproductive system has a morphological organization comparable to the general anatomical features of most of the Auchenorrhyncha species; however, comparing our data with the literature, some considerations are discussed. As for the histological and ultrastructural investigations, our results show a secretory activity of the various examined structures. In the spermatheca of B. brevis, in particular, the secretory activity is more marked in the sac-shaped tract, where histochemical investigations showed a lipid component of the secretion; possible origin of this component is discussed. Moreover, mainly free spermatozoa are found in the sac-shaped tract of the spermatheca and in the common oviduct. As for the latter, an interesting findings is the lack of cuticular intima on the epithelial surface of the common oviduct; furthermore, the observed features and the literature in this regards led us to review the significance of the structure called as spermatheca. The molecular screening study (PCR) with three Wolbachia specific genes (16SrRNA, ftsZ,wsp) strongly supports Wolbachia infections in both males and females of the host species. This is the first study demonstrating the presence of Wolbachia in Balclutha genus, though no morphostructural alteration commonly related to the presence of the bacterium has been found in all the examined specimens.

A study by fluorescence microscopy has been carried out on male gametes from testicular follicles, seminal vesicles, spermatophores, and seminal receptacles of the bush-cricket Tylopsis liliifolia, focusing the attention on localization and movements of F-actin and α-tubulin during sperm differentiation, since data in this respect are lacking in the Orthoptera. F-actin and α-tubulin positivity was detected in the testicular follicles, in particular at the bridges connecting spermatids of a same clone and around their nucleus, during the first differentiation stages. During the following differentiation stages in the testes, F-actin was found at one of the spermatid poles and then, during nucleus elongation, at the whole acrosomal region. A peculiar F-actin-positivity was found at the flagellum, more markedly immediately posterior to the nucleus, at the basal body region of the gametes from the testicular follicles and from the other examined districts. Other interesting data from our investigations concerns the α-tubulin displacements during the differentiation stages of the spermatid and a constant absence of α-tubulin-positivity where the centrioles are located. No positivity was also found for both α-tubulin and nuclear markers at the anterior region of the gamete, where the acrosomal wings are localized. Our results, compared with what is so far known in literature for the insects, lead us to assert that microfilaments and microtubules undergo gradual displacements, markedly in the testicular follicles, during the morphogenesis of the male gamete of T. liliifolia aimed to its organization and motility and probably also to its interaction with the female gamete.

Balclutha brevis Lindberg 1954 is an allochthonous leafhopper infesting an invasive grass, Pennisetum setaceum, in Sicily and in mainland Europe; therefore, this species could compete with populations of native species, thus contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Considering the ecological implications of B. brevis, investigations on all its biological aspects represent, therefore, a premise for further studies in applied sciences. Based on the lacking ultrastructural data about the reproductive systems of the Auchenorrhyncha, we carried out morphostructural investigations on the male reproductive system of B. brevis. Further, a first report of DNA barcoding analysis (amplification and sequencing of Cytochrome Oxidase I gene) has also been performed to characterize B. brevis compared to other congeneric species. From a morphological point of view, the male reproductive system of B. brevis has an organization comparable to the general anatomical features of most of the Auchenorrhyncha species; however, comparing our data with those concerning the different groups of Cicadomorpha, some considerations are discussed. As for the histological and ultrastructural investigations, our results show a secretory activity of the various examined structures, mainly in the lateral ejaculatory ducts and in the accessory glands. The latter, in particular, show morphostructural differences comparing the distal tract to the proximal one; moreover, the histochemical techniques showed the possible presence of a lipid component in the peculiar cytoplasmic granules found in the gland cells. The significance of these findings in the accessory glands is discussed. Finally, the ultrastructural features found in the seminal vesicles are different from those of the lateral ejaculatory ducts and are indicative of the different roles played by these structures in the organization of the spermatozoa bundles.

Il fenomeno dei serial killers a sfondo sessuale ha da sempre suscitato un forte interesse da parte della comunita scientifica nonostante non esista una copiosa letteratura sull’argomento. Nel corso degli anni l’attenzione a riguardo ha trovato terreno fertile tra gli esperti, che hanno presentato, cosi, il fenomeno come bio-psico-sociale, poiche, quella del serial killer, non e una personalita tracciabile in un unico profilo standard. Si e giunti, cosi, a parlare di multifattorialita: vengono considerati non solo gli aspetti psichiatrici, ma anche quelli psicosessuali e di sviluppo legati all’arco di vita dell’assassino seriale. Cio che e stato universalmente riconosciuto in questi individui e un notevole deficit di empatia che li porterebbe ad agire in maniera efferata proprio perche incapaci di percepire il dolore della vittima. Questo articolo si pone come obiettivo quello di illustrare nel profondo la vera natura di soggetti che si macchiano di crimini sessuali, natura che e il frutto di concause non solo psicologiche, ma anche di sviluppo ed ambientali che trovano nelle teorie kleiniane un interessante spunto di riflessione su quelli che sono gli schemi sessuali maturati durante la fase di sviluppo del bambino. L’incapacita del serial killer sessuale di provare empatia verso la vittima sarebbe, in qualche modo, legato al mancato step di sviluppo che porta il bambino a passare dall’oggetto parziale all’oggetto totale.

Middle school students struggle to explain thermodynamics concepts. In this study, to help students succeed, we use a natural language processing program to analyze their essays explaining the aspects of thermodynamics and provide guidance based on the automated score. The 346 sixth-grade students were assigned to either the critique condition where they criticized an explanation or the revisit condition where they reviewed visualizations. Within each condition, the student was assigned one of two types of tailored guidance based on the sophistication of their original essay. Both forms of guidance led to significant improvement in student understanding on the posttest. Guidance was more effective for students with low prior knowledge than for those with high prior knowledge (consistent with regression toward the mean). However, analysis of student responses to the guidance illustrates the value of aligning guidance with prior knowledge. All students were required to revise their essay as an embedded assessment. While effective, teachers involved in this study reported that revising is resisted by students and does not align with typical, vocabulary-focused classroom writing activities.

We present a new system for automated scoring of graph construction items that address complex science concepts, feature qualitative prompts, and support a range of possible solutions. This system utilizes analysis of spatial features (e.g., slope of a line) to evaluate potential student ideas represented within graphs. Student ideas are then scored with rubrics based upon the knowledge integration framework (Linn & Eylon, 2011). We tested the effectiveness of this system on graphs constructed by 397 8th–12th grade students preceding, during, and following a curriculum focusing on graphs of motion. Comparison with human-coded responses indicates that the automated scoring system is very accurate (κ = 0.9). Also, ideas represented in constructions were generally similar to those demonstrated in written explanations; although individual students often shifted ideas between items. Learning gains were similar in both written and graph construction formats. Overall, these results suggest that graph construction is a valid and efficient means of evaluating students' complex ideas about data representation in science. We discuss the opportunities for incorporating graph construction into new science content areas, such as graphs representing density. We consider the implications of this system for generating automated, adaptive guidance to support instruction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 52: 1426–1450, 2015.