The mainstream position on regret in psychological literature is that its necessary conditions are agency and responsibility, that is, to choose freely but badly. Without free choice, other emotions, ...such as disappointment, are deemed to be elicited when the outcome is worse than expected. In two experiments, we tested the opposite hypothesis that being forced by external circumstances to choose an option inconsistent with one's own intentions is an important source of regret and a core component of its phenomenology, regardless of the positivity/negativity of the post-decision outcome. Along with regret, four post-decision emotions - anger toward oneself, disappointment, anger toward circumstances, and satisfaction - were investigated to examine their analogies and differences to regret with regard to antecedents, appraisals, and phenomenological aspects.
Through the scenario methodology, we manipulated three variables: choice (free/forced), outcome (positive/negative), and time (short/long time after decision-making). Moreover, we investigated whether responsibility, decision justifiability, and some phenomenological aspects (self-attribution, other attribution, and contentment) mediated the effect exerted by choice, singularly or in interaction with outcome and time, on the five emotions. Each study was conducted with 336 participants, aged 18-60.
The results of both studies were similar and supported our hypothesis. In particular, regret elicited by forced choice was always high, regardless of the valence of outcome, whereas free choice elicited regret was high only with a negative outcome. Moreover, regret was unaffected by responsibility and decision justifiability, whereas it was affected by the three phenomenological dimensions.
Our results suggest that
the prevailing theory of regret is too binding, since it posits as necessary some requirements which are not;
the antecedents and phenomenology of regret are broader than it is generally believed;
decision-making produces a complex emotional constellation, where the different emotions, singularly and/or in combination, constitute the affective responses to the different aspects of decision-making.
High-throughput genotyping technologies developed for model species can potentially increase the resolution of demographic history and ancestry in wild relatives. We use a SNP genotyping microarray ...developed for the domestic dog to assay variation in over 48K loci in wolf-like species worldwide. Despite the high mobility of these large carnivores, we find distinct hierarchical population units within gray wolves and coyotes that correspond with geographic and ecologic differences among populations. Further, we test controversial theories about the ancestry of the Great Lakes wolf and red wolf using an analysis of haplotype blocks across all 38 canid autosomes. We find that these enigmatic canids are highly admixed varieties derived from gray wolves and coyotes, respectively. This divergent genomic history suggests that they do not have a shared recent ancestry as proposed by previous researchers. Interspecific hybridization, as well as the process of evolutionary divergence, may be responsible for the observed phenotypic distinction of both forms. Such admixture complicates decisions regarding endangered species restoration and protection.
Morphological diversity within closely related species is an essential aspect of evolution and adaptation. Mutations in the Melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r) gene contribute to pigmentary diversity in ...natural populations of fish, birds, and many mammals. However, melanism in the gray wolf, Canis lupus, is caused by a different melanocortin pathway component, the K locus, that encodes a beta-defensin protein that acts as an alternative ligand for Mc1r. We show that the melanistic K locus mutation in North American wolves derives from past hybridization with domestic dogs, has risen to high frequency in forested habitats, and exhibits a molecular signature of positive selection. The same mutation also causes melanism in the coyote, Canis latrans, and in Italian gray wolves, and hence our results demonstrate how traits selected in domesticated species can influence the morphological diversity of their wild relatives.
Currently, the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and its subtypes is mainly based on subjective assessments and self-reported measures. However, objective criteria as ...Electroencephalography (EEG) features would be helpful in detecting depressive states at early stages to prevent the worsening of the symptoms. Scientific community has widely investigated the effectiveness of EEG-based measures to discriminate between depressed and healthy subjects, with the aim to better understand the mechanisms behind the disorder and find biomarkers useful for diagnosis. This work offers a comprehensive review of the extant literature concerning the EEG-based biomarkers for MDD and its subtypes, and identify possible future directions for this line of research. Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases were researched following PRISMA's guidelines. The initial papers' screening was based on titles and abstracts; then full texts of the identified articles were examined, and a synthesis of findings was developed using tables and thematic analysis. After screening 1871 articles, 76 studies were identified as relevant and included in the systematic review. Reviewed markers include EEG frequency bands power, EEG asymmetry, ERP components, non-linear and functional connectivity measures. Results were discussed in relations to the different EEG measures assessed in the studies. Findings confirmed the effectiveness of those measures in discriminating between healthy and depressed subjects. However, the review highlights that the causal link between EEG measures and depressive subtypes needs to be further investigated and points out that some methodological issues need to be solved to enhance future research in this field.
In 2014, high-throughput sequencing of libraries of total DNA from olive trees allowed the identification of two geminivirus-like contigs. After conventional resequencing of the two genomic DNAs, ...their analysis revealed they belonged to the same viral entity, for which the provisional name of Olea europaea geminivirus (OEGV) was proposed. Although DNA-A showed a genome organization similar to that of New World begomoviruses, DNA-B had a peculiar ORF arrangement, consisting of a movement protein (MP) in the virion sense and a protein with unknown function on the complementary sense. Phylogenetic analysis performed either on full-length genome or on coat protein, replication associated protein (Rep), and MP sequences did not endorse the inclusion of this virus in any of the established genera in the family
. A survey of 55 plants revealed that the virus is widespread in Apulia (Italy) with 91% of the samples testing positive, although no correlation of OEGV with a disease or specific symptoms was encountered. Southern blot assay suggested that the virus is not integrated in the olive genome. The study of OEGV-derived siRNA obtained from small RNA libraries of leaves and fruits of three different cultivars, showed that the accumulation of the two genomic components is influenced by the plant genotype while virus-derived-siRNA profile is in line with other geminivirids reported in literature. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis unveiled a low intra-specific variability.
Calcified pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis Lu, Albert; Nundkumar, Anoop; Greco, Claudia M ...
Neurology,
2015-June-2, 2015-Jun-02, 2015-06-02, 20150602, Letnik:
84, Številka:
22
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A patient presented with severe suboccipital headaches. Noncontrast CT was obtained and a densely calcified mass was found at the right cerebellomedullary angle cistern (figure 1). This lesion was ...followed clinically and with serial imaging. Follow-up MRI of the brain performed 8 months later demonstrated slightly increased mass effect and edema on the adjacent medulla and gross total surgical resection was performed. Final pathologic diagnosis was calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis (CAPNON) (figure 2).
CONTEXT Premutation expansions (55-200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental
retardation 1 (FMR1) gene are frequent in the general
population, with estimated prevalences of 1 per 259 females and 1 per ...813
males. Several articles have recently described the presence of late-onset
neurological symptoms in male carriers of premutation (FMR1) alleles. The main clinical features described in this newly identified
syndrome are cerebellar ataxia and intention tremor. Additional documented
symptoms include short-term memory loss, executive functional deficits, cognitive
decline, parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathy, lower-limb proximal muscle weakness,
and autonomic dysfunction. OBJECTIVE To study the penetrance of the fragile X–associated tremor/ataxia
syndrome (FXTAS) among premutation carriers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Family-based study of 192 individuals (premutation carriers and controls)
whose families belong to the Northern or Southern California Fragile X Associations.
Data were collected (March 2002-April 2003) through a survey and a standardized
neurological examination, which was videotaped and subsequently scored in
a blinded fashion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Penetrance of intention tremor and ataxia among adult carriers (aged
≥50 years) of premutation expansions of the FMR1 gene. RESULTS Data from the survey of 192 individuals demonstrated an age-related
penetrance of the combination of reported intention tremor and gait ataxia
in male carriers (17%, 38%, 47%, and 75% lower-bound estimates for participants
aged 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years, respectively). The male carrier
group had an age-adjusted 13-fold increased risk (95% confidence interval,
3.9-25.4; P = .003) of combined intention tremor
and gait ataxia when compared with male controls. The clinical examination
data from 93 individuals demonstrated that male carriers experienced more
difficulties on each of 3 standardized neurological rating scales compared
with controls (P<.05). Female carrier scores were
also higher than those of female controls (P<.05)
on 2 of the 3 neurological rating scales, but no participant was identified
with probable or definite FXTAS. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates that older male carriers of premutation alleles
of the FMR1 gene are at high risk of developing FXTAS.
Since male premutation carriers are relatively common in the general population,
older men with ataxia and intention tremor should be screened for the FMR1 mutation, especially if these signs are accompanied
by parkinsonism, autonomic dysfunction, or cognitive decline, regardless of
family history.
We present a series of 26 patients, all >50 years of age, who are carriers of the fragile X premutation and are affected by a multisystem, progressive neurological disorder. The two main clinical ...features of this new syndrome are cerebellar ataxia and/or intention tremor, which were chosen as clinical inclusion criteria for this series. Other documented symptoms were short-term memory loss, executive function deficits, cognitive decline, parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathy, lower limb proximal muscle weakness, and autonomic dysfunction. Symmetrical regions of increased T2 signal intensity in the middle cerebellar peduncles and adjacent cerebellar white matter are thought to be highly sensitive for this neurologic condition, and their presence is the radiological inclusion criterion for this series. Molecular findings include elevated mRNA and low-normal or mildly decreased levels of fragile X mental retardation 1 protein. The clinical presentation of these patients, coupled with a specific lesion visible on magnetic resonance imaging and with neuropathological findings, affords a more complete delineation of this fragile X premutation–associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and distinguishes it from other movement disorders.
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder generally presenting with intention tremor and gait ataxia, but with a growing list of co-morbid ...medical conditions including hypothyroidism, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive decline. The pathological hallmark of FXTAS is the presence of intranuclear inclusions in both neurons and astroglia. However, it is unknown to what extent such inclusions are present outside the central nervous system (CNS). To address this issue, we surveyed non-CNS organs in ten human cases with FXTAS and in a CGG repeat knock-in (CGG KI) mouse model known to possess neuronal and astroglial inclusions. We find inclusions in multiple tissues from FXTAS cases and CGG KI mice, including pancreas, thyroid, adrenal gland, gastrointestinal, pituitary gland, pineal gland, heart, and mitral valve, as well as throughout the associated autonomic ganglia. Inclusions were observed in the testes, epididymis, and kidney of FXTAS cases, but were not observed in mice. These observations demonstrate extensive involvement of the peripheral nervous system and systemic organs. The finding of intranuclear inclusions in non-CNS somatic organ systems, throughout the PNS, and in the enteric nervous system of both FXTAS cases as well as CGG KI mice suggests that these tissues may serve as potential sites to evaluate early intervention strategies or be used as diagnostic factors.
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