Subliminal or not? : An appraisal of semantic processing in the near absence of visual awareness

Stimuli that cannot be perceived (i.e., that are subliminal) can still elicit neural responses in an observer, but can such stimuli influence behavior and higher-order cognition? Empirical evidence for such effects has periodically been accepted and rejected over the last six decades. Today, many psychologists seem to consider such effects well-established and recent studies have extended the power of subliminal processing to new limits. In this thesis, I examine whether this shift in zeitgeist is matched by a shift in evidential strength for the phenomenon. This thesis consists of three empirical studies involving more than 250 participants, a simulation study, and a quantitative review. The conclusion based on these efforts is that several methodological, statistical, and theoretical issues remain in studies of subliminal processing. These issues mean that claimed subliminal effects might be caused by occasional or weak percepts (given the experimenters’ own definitions of perception) and that it is still unclear what evidence there is for the cognitive processing of subliminal stimuli. New data are presented suggesting that even in conditions traditionally claimed as “subliminal”, occasional or weak percepts may in fact influence cognitive processing more strongly than do the physical stimuli, possibly leading to reversed priming effects. I also summarize and provide methodological, statistical, and theoretical recommendations that could benefit future research aspiring to provide solid evidence for subliminal cognitive processing.

Massive loggerhead nest predation by ghost crabs in Boavista Island (Cape Verde): implications of the absence of large predators.

[EN] The impact of nest predators on sea turtle hatching success is highly variable depending on predator abundance and also on interactions among different predators. Food web connectivity usually makes it difficult to understand predator-prey interactions and develop efficient conservation strategies. In the Cape Verde archipelago there is an important nesting area for loggerheads where ghost crabs are the only described nest predator. We have studied the impact of ghost crabs on loggerhead nests on this threatened population as well as the efficiency of several management practices to reduce this impact.

Health, Sickness and Literature for Children

The subjects of health, including sickness, and medicine are developing as new areas of research interest applied to the field of children’s literature really over the past five years. This chapter discusses the ways in which these areas have been, are being, and could be developed and identify reasons why this is so and the importance of such research. The chapter highlights the interdisciplinarity of this work and the ways in which these approaches enable new thinking.

Analyse comparative du fonctionnement sensori-moteur chez des déficients profonds en fonction de la présence ou de l'absence de troubles lésionnels

Grâce à l'élaboration de sa théorie opératoire du développement cognitif, Jean Piaget fut, sans contredit, l'un des auteurs les plus écoutés dans ce domaine. Il a mis en lumière une série de stades du développement cognitif allant du niveau sensori-moteur en passant par le niveau des opérations concrètes pour finalement aboutir à celui des opérations formelles qui obéissent à des lois précises de construction (Piaget, 1964). Parmi celles-ci, Piaget affirme l'universalité du développement de ces stades en ce sens que tous les sujets passent par la même séquence. Il s'est très peu intéressé aux différences inter-individuelles. Ce qui explique que la très grande majorité de ses travaux ont portés sur l'observation de sujets normaux (Inhelder, 1963). Ce fut donc d'autres chercheurs qui ont tenté d'appliquer la pensée piagétienne à des catégories précises de sujets. Dans cette veine, la présente recherche s'intéresse à l'application de cette pensée aux déficients profonds. C'est là un moyen utile de tester l'universalité de la séquence de développement proposée par Piaget. Le relevé de documentation sur cette question proposée par Klein et Safford (1977) permet de constater qu'il est relativement aisé de trouver des recherches s’intéressant à l'étude du fonctionnement cognitif des déficients mentaux légers atteignant la période des opérations concrètes mais qu'il est beaucoup plus difficile d'en trouver qui s'attardent au fonctionnement cognitif des déficients profonds. Il est pourtant possible d'en trouver quelques-unes (Ciccheti et Sroufe, 1976; Inhelder, 1963; Kahn, 1976; Lambert et Vanderlinden, 1977; Rogers, 1977; Silverstein et al., 1975; Wohlueter et Sindberg, 1975; Woodward, 1959). Les résultats divergent. De plus, une analyse approfondie des méthodologies utilisées suffit à convaincre que le débat demeure ouvert sur cette question. Des améliorations méthodologiques sont apportées dans cette recherche. La présente étude analyse donc le fonctionnement sensori-moteur des déficients profonds en le comparant à celui de sujets normaux de même âge mental qu'eux. Les déficients mentaux sont divisés en deux groupes selon qu'il y ait ou non présence de trouble lésionnel. Tous les sujets font face aux items de l'échelle de la poursuite visuelle et de la permanence de l'objet ainsi que celle des relations entre les objets dans l'espace construits par Uzgiris et Hunt (1975). Les résultats sont ensuite tour à tour présentés et interprétés.

Absence of prenatal ultrasound surveillance: Data from the Portuguese congenital anomalies registry

In Portugal, prenatal care guidelines advocate two prenatal ultrasound scans for all pregnant women. Not following this recommendation is considered inadequate prenatal surveillance. The National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (RENAC in Portuguese) is an active population-based registry and an important instrument for the epidemiological surveillance of congenital anomalies (CA) in Portugal. Regarding pregnancies with CA, this study aims to describe the epidemiology of absent prenatal ultrasound scans and factors associated with this inadequate surveillance.

Coma caused by Shigella toxin-producing Escherichia coli in the absence of haemorrhagic uraemic syndrome (HUS)

Shigella toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is well known for its complications such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), but neurological symptoms have also been reported. While most cases of infection with STEC occur with concurrent HUS, we describe a patient with severe neurological symptoms in the absence of HUS.

Estudo clínico-laboratorial e histopatológico de cães naturalmente infectados por Leishmania chagasi com diferentes graus de manifestação física

Canine Visceral Leishmania (CVL) is an important zoonotic disease that has a world wide distribution and has a large impact on public health on the American Continent, especially in Brazil, where the nature of endemic diseases in humans affects a large part of the nation. The influence of the prevalence of CVL in the increased rate of human cases in endemic areas and in the unleashing of epidemic outbreaks shows the need for a more profound understanding, that would generate significant advances in the current measures used to control the reservoirs of sickness that are practiced by the Programa Nacional de Vigilância e Controle da Leishmaniose Visceral. The present work describes and compares the clinical-laboratorial and histopathological findings of twenty-three dogs that were naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi, from endemic areas in metropolitan Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. These animals, that were selected and given physical and serological exams (IFI and ELISA rK-39), were classified according to the degree of clinical severity and had blood samples drawn (whole blood and serum) for a complete hemogram and a coagulogram to be done as well as biochemical tests for kidney and liver function. The confirmation of infection by L. chagasi was done after the euthanasia of the animals, through the direct demonstration of the parasite in the impression of the spleen and liver crowned with GIEMSA and through a cultivation by means of NNN/Schneider. According to the clinical evaluation, the animals were classified as asymptomatic (7), oligosymptomatic (7) and polysymptomatic (9). Among the animals that were chosen to be autopsied, there were 2 asymptomatic, 3 oligosymptomatic and 3 polysymptomatic, for the purpose of studying their histopathology, having collected fragments of the spleen, liver, kidneys and skin and were fixed in 10% tamponed formol. The comparison between the average parameters of the clinical-laboratory tested animals in the groups was done through the Student t test (a<0.05). The main clinical signals observed were lymphadenomegaly, alopecy, dermatitis, exfoliation, cutaneous ulcers, onicogriphosis and emaciation. The main clinical-laboratorial alterations established, mainly in the polysymptomatic group, were anemia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, alterations in the albumin/globulin ratio and increased ALT activity. Renal alterations were not verified (urea and creatinine levels were normal). Thrombocytopenia was observed in three clinical groups. However, the other indicators of coagulation function (TAP and TTPA) did not have abnormal variations. There were inflammatory infiltrations and leishmania amastigotes in the skin of polysymptomatic dogs, however, they were not found in the skin of asymptomatic animals. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the phagocyte mononuclear system, leishmania amastigote parasites were found in the macrophages, extramedullary hematopoiesis and degenerative alterations were detected in the spleen and liver of 8 of the animals submitted to histopathological exams. In accord with these results, it was demonstrated that the expected alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters in function of their viscerotropic nature of CVL are mainly observed in the more advanced stages of the disease. The absence of inflammatory infiltration and parasite load in the skin suggest that infected animals without symptoms may have an importance irrelevant to the infectiousness of the vector

Absence of consistent genetic differentiation among several morphs of Actinia (Actiniaria: Actiniidae) occurring in the portuguese coast

Actinia equina, the beadlet sea anemone, is a very labile species, displaying variable colour patterns, broad habitat choice and diverse modes of reproduction. Historically, studies using genetic markers such as allozymes and differences in habitat choice lead several authors to propose that different colour morphs could represent different species. One of the species defined was A. fragacea. In this paper, the relationships between brown, red and green colour morphs of A. equina and A. fragacea were studied, using two DNA fragments (one mitochondrial and one nuclear). Individuals were sampled from three different areas in Portugal separated by a maximum distance of 500 km. This is the first study applying direct sequencing of selected gene fragments to approach the validity of Actinia morphs as different genetic entities. The results show that, at least in the Portuguese coast, these colour morphs do not correspond to the two valid species recognized in the literature. The existence of cryptic species is discussed.

Behavioural alterations are independent of sickness behaviour in chronic experimental Chagas disease

The existence of the nervous form of Chagas disease is a matter of discussion since Carlos Chagas described neurological disorders, learning and behavioural alterations in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals. In most patients, the clinical manifestations of the acute phase, including neurological abnormalities, resolve spontaneously without apparent consequence in the chronic phase of infection. However, chronic Chagas disease patients have behavioural changes such as psychomotor alterations, attention and memory deficits, and depression. In the present study, we tested whether or not behavioural alterations are reproducible in experimental models. We show that C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi (150 days post-infection) exhibit behavioural changes as (i) depression in the tail suspension and forced swim tests, (ii) anxiety analysed by elevated plus maze and open field test sand and (iii) motor coordination in the rotarod test. These alterations are neither associated with neuromuscular disorders assessed by the grip strength test nor with sickness behaviour analysed by temperature variation sand weight loss. Therefore, chronically T. cruzi-infected mice replicate behavioural alterations (depression and anxiety) detected in Chagas disease patients opening an opportunity to study the interconnection and the physiopathology of these two biological processes in an infectious scenario.

Absence of LPA1 receptor results in altered pattern of limbic activation after tail suspension test

Stress serves as an adaptive mechanism and helps organisms to cope with life-threatening situations. However, individual vulnerability to stress and dysregulation of this system may precipitate stress-related disorders such as depression. The neurobiological circuitry in charge of dealing with stressors has been widely studied in animal models. Recently our group has demonstrated a role for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) through the LPA1 receptor in vulnerability to stress, in particular the lack of this receptor relates to robust decrease of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and induction of anxious and depressive states. Nevertheless, the specific abnormalities in the limbic circuit in reaction to stress remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the differences in the brain activation pattern in the presence or absence of LPA1 receptor after acute stress. For this purpose, we have studied the response of maLPA1-null male mice and normal wild type mice to an intense stressor: Tail Suspension Test. Activation induced by behaviour of brain regions involved in mood regulation was analysed by stereological quantification of c-Fos immunoreactive positive cells. We also conducted multidimensional scaling analysis in order to unravel coativation between structures. Our results revealed hyperactivity of stress-related structures such as amygdala and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the knockout model and different patterns of coactivation in both genotypes using a multidimensional map. This data provides further evidence to the engagement of the LPA1 receptors in stress regulation and sheds light on different neural pathways under normal and vulnerability conditions that can lead to mood disorders.

The transition from health to sickness via the chloroplast

Microbe associated molecular pattern (MAMP) receptors in plants recognize MAMPs and activate basal defences; however a complete understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms conferring immunity remains elusive. Pathogens suppress active defence in plants through the combined action of effector proteins. This talk presents results showing the chloroplast as a key component of early immune responses. MAMP perception triggers the rapid, large-scale suppression of nuclear encoded chloroplast-targeted genes (NECGs). Virulent Pseudomonas syringae effectors reprogramme NECG expression in Arabidopsis, target the chloroplast and inhibit photosynthetic CO2 assimilation through disruption of photosystem II. This activity prevents a chloroplastic reactive oxygen burst. These physiological changes precede bacterial multiplication and coincide with pathogen-induced abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation. MAMP pretreatment protects chloroplasts from effector manipulation, whereas application of ABA or the inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport, DCMU, abolishes the MAMP-induced chloroplastic reactive oxygen burst, and enhances growth of a P. syringae hrpA mutant that fails to secrete effectors.

Missing women: policing absence

This paper considers the neglected mobilities associated with a sample of UK women reported as missing.Refracted through literatures on gendered mobility and abandonment, the paper argues that the journeys of thesewomen in crisis are not well understood by police services, and that normative gender relations may infuse theirmanagement. By selectively exploring one illustrative police case file on Kim, we highlight how reported andobserved socio-spatial relationships within private and public spaces relate to search actions. We argue that Kim’smobility and spatial experiences are barely understood, except for when they appear to symbolise disorder anddanger. We address the silences in this singular case by using the voices of other women reported as missing, ascollected in a research project to explore the agency, experience and meaning of female mobility during absence.We argue that women reported as missing are not abandoned by UK policing services, but that a policy ofcontinued search for them may be at risk if they repeatedly contravene normative socio-spatial relationshipsthrough regular absence mobilities. By way of conclusion, we address recent calls for research that explores therelationships between gender and mobility.

Infective endocarditis: Absence of microbiological diagnosis is an independent predictor of inhospital mortality

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high inhospital mortality. New microbiological diagnostic techniques have reduced the proportion of patients without etiological diagnosis, but in a significant number of patients the cause is still unknown. Our aim was to study the association of the absence of microbiological diagnosis with in-hospital prognosis. Prospective cohort of 2000 consecutive patients with IE. Data were collected in 26 Spanish hospitals. Modified Duke criteria were used to diagnose patients with suspected IE. A total of 290 patients (14.8%) had negative blood cultures. Etiological diagnosis was achieved with other methods (polymerase chain reaction, serology and other cultures) in 121 (6.1%). Finally, there were 175 patients (8.8%) without microbiological diagnosis (Group A) and 1825 with diagnosis (Group B). In-hospital mortality occurred in 58 patients in Group A (33.1%) vs. 487 (26.7%) in Group B, p = 0.07. Patients in Group A had a lower risk profile than those in Group B, with less comorbidity (Charlson index 1.9 ± 2.0 vs. 2.3 ± 2.1, p = 0.03) and lower surgical risk (EuroSCORE 23.6 ± 21.8 vs. 29.6 ± 25.2, p = 0.02). However they presented heart failure more frequently (53% vs. 40%, p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that the absence of microbiological diagnosis was an independent predictor of inhospital mortality (odds ratio 1.8, 95% Confidence Interval 1.1–2.9, p = 0.016). Approximately 9% of patients with IE had no microbiological diagnosis. Absence of microbiological diagnosis was an independent predictor of inhospital mortality.

Profile of inmates in institutional count (including inmates on authorized absence) as of June 30, 2016

These statistics break down SC inmate population characteristics. It is broken down by male and female, current age, race, marital status, sentencing data, education, leading most serious offenses, top five committing counties, medical classification and mental health classification.

Global methylation of bovine cells derived from amniotic fluid, adipose tissue and skin fibroblastos and its use in nuclear transfer in the presence or absence of Trichostatin A.

2016