Role of the EEG Theta Network During Software Production: A Connectivity Study.

Software programming is an acquired evolutionary skill originating from consolidated cognitive functions (i.e., attentive, logical, coordination, mathematic calculation, and language comprehension), but the underlying neurophysiological processes are still not completely known. In the present study, we investigated and compared the brain activities supporting realistic programming, text and code reading tasks, analyzing Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals acquired from 11 experienced programmers. Multichannel spectral analysis and a phase-based effective connectivity study were carried out. Our results highlighted that both realistic programming and reading tasks are supported by modulations of the Theta fronto-parietal network, in which parietal areas behave as sources of information, while frontal areas behave as receivers. Nevertheless, during realistic programming, both an increase in Theta power and changes in network topology emerged, suggesting a task-related adaptation of the supporting network system. This reorganization mainly regarded the parietal area, which assumes a prominent role, increasing its hub functioning and its connectivity in the network in terms of centrality and degree.

Prediction of lean meat content in pork carcasses using the Hennessy Grading Probe and the Fat-O-Meater in Argentina.

Rapid evolution of pork production in Argentina requires new calibrations for predicting carcass lean meat percentage with the Fat-O-Meater (FOM) and Hennessy Grading Probe (HGP), first adopted in 1995. The second objective was to unify the lean percentage units with those applied by the European Union. Carcasses of 59 gilts and 56 barrows from different environments and breeds were tested. Carcass weights were from 65 to 117kg, and lean content was from 38% to 62%. Predicting lean content by multiple regression equations, the coefficients of determination R(2) were 0.801 and 0.794 for the FOM and HGP equations, and the residual standard deviations (RSD) were 2.40% and 2.45%, respectively. Both instruments had the same precision and were accurate enough to be adopted in national carcass grading classification. Hot carcass weight was not selected as a significant variable. The same prediction equations could be used for gilts and barrows. Quadratic terms did not improve predictions.

Caffeine's Effects on Performance and Mood are Independent of Age and Gender.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were age or gender specific effects of caffeine, as measured by cognitive tasks and mood assessments known to be sensitive to caffeine. The subjects were healthy, non-smoking volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 (6 male and 6 female), and over the age of 60 (6 male and 6 female). Only low and moderate consumers of caffeine (daily intake < 400 mg) were enrolled in the double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design. The order of caffeine dosing (placebo, 64, 128, and 256 mg) was counterbalanced by use of a complex Latin Square sequence of administration. Analysis of the data from all measures indicated that the effects of caffeine were no different in either males or females, or in the young or elderly volunteers. A significant dose-dependent improvement in performance of all subjects was observed in a modified version of the Wilkinson Auditory Vigilance Test. Additionally, significant dose-dependent improvements in mood state were observed in all subjects as assessed by the Profile of Mood States, Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, and The Caffeine Analog Scales. The results of this study suggest that the performance and mood enhancing effects of caffeine are neither age nor gender specific.

Naltrindole, a delta-opioid antagonist, blocks MDMA's ability to enhance pressing for rewarding brain stimulation.

Twelve rats were each fixed with a chronically indwelling bipolar electrode for stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle as it courses through the hypothalamus. These rats were trained to press a bar for intracranial stimulation of 0.3-s trains of 60 Hz sine waves for 10 min daily at three intensities. One intensity was just above threshold for maintaining pressing, one intensity was a high intensity that sustained considerable pressing, but not maximum pressing, and the other was intermediate to the others. After stable rates of pressing were obtained, rats received MDMA daily. MDMA significantly increased rates of pressing. Prior to a day when rats received MDMA, they also received an injection of naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist. Naltrindole blocked MDMA's enhancement of pressing for reinforcing brain stimulation.

alpha(2)-Adrenoceptor antagonists and propensity to take alcoholic beverages.

Rats were maintained on a daily regimen involving a 2h opportunity to take both water and a sweetened alcoholic beverage (12% ethanol, 0.25% saccharin). After 3 weeks on this regimen, rats regularly take substantial amounts of alcohol. After stabilization, injections of alpha(2)-adrenergic antagonists were administered, 15min before the opportunity to drink. Yohimbine and methoxyidazoxan dose relatedly decreased intake of alcoholic beverage and increased intake of water. In Experiment 2, a number of rats were taken off the daily regimen for 9 days, then returned to it. Across the first 12 days of the reinstated daily regimen, half the rats received placebo and half methoxyidazoxan. The group receiving placebo rapidly returned to taking large amounts of alcoholic beverage while the group receiving methoxyidazoxan did not. In Experiment 3, it was shown that a dose of methoxyidazoxan that decreased intakes of alcoholic beverage did not decrease intakes of other palatable beverages. In Experiment 4, it was shown that yohimbine persistently reduced intakes of alcoholic beverage with daily administration. These results indicate that alpha(2)-antagonists might be effective pharmaceutical adjuncts to other treatments for alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Local tumor recurrence after curative resection for rectal cancer. A ten-hospital review.

Local tumor recurrence rates after curative rectal cancer surgery with the end-to-end anastomosis stapler (EEA) are reportedly high. Therefore, a retrospective review in ten Yale-affiliated hospitals was undertaken to establish the outcome of surgical resection for rectal cancer in this patient population. Of those 373 patients who had had curative resections, 192 (52 percent) were abdominoperineal resections (APR); 105 patients (28 percent) had restorative resections with sutured anastomoses, and the EEA stapler was used in 76 patients (20 percent). There was an equal distribution of tumors in the various Dukes' stages in all three procedures. Local tumor recurrence was: APR 19 percent, SUT 17 percent, and EEA 24 percent, but local tumor recurrence was more frequent after EEA than APR for tumors 7 to 10 cm from the anal verge (32 vs. 13 percent, respectively, P less than 0.05), and the time to recurrence was least in EEA patients. It is concluded that local tumor recurrence is higher than expected for all three procedures and that the EEA stapler was associated with a greater risk of local tumor recurrence. These findings are attributed to surgeon-related technical operative factors rather than to the nature of the tumors themselves.