Gender Effect on Neural Correlates of Autobiographical False Memories for Brand Images.

Introduction: This study investigated the effect of autobiographical brand images on false memory formation in adults, using the category associate's procedure. The study also applied the event-related potential (ERP) approach to explore neural correlates of false memory and gender differences in false memory recall of brand images. Methods: Eight categories of autobiographical brand images were implied in a category associates' procedure to investigate false memory recall. ERP data were obtained from 24 participants (12 females and 12 males) using a 32-channel amplifier while subjects were performing the memory task. Subsequently, gender effects on behavioral responses and neural correlates of false and true memory recalls were statistically compared using peak amplitude and latency of P300, late positive complex, and FN400 components. Results: The results showed that left frontal areas in women were more activated in response to false memories compared to men, however, the men's brain responses were faster. In addition, the men's brain responses to false memories were widely distributed mainly over frontal, parietal, and occipital areas. Conclusion: Males and females differently process autobiographical brand images. Nevertheless, the differential neural process may not influence their recognition rate or response time.

Improvement of Mouse Preantral Follicle Survival and Development following Co-Culture with Ovarian Parenchyma Cell Suspension.

BACKGROUND: The parallel and continued improvements in both infertility treatment and the management of malignancy cases have brought to the forefront the potential for fertility preservation. Using ovarian follicular resources can effectively improve reproductive capacity and prevent infertility. The primary aim of this research was to try to generate an appropriate in vivo environment for the growth of the mouse follicles. Hence, the possible effects of the ovarian parenchyma cell suspension were explored on the growth and maturation of preantral follicles in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, ovarian parenchymal cells were mechanically dissociated from preantral follicles of 12-14 days-old NMRI mice and then divided into 5 experimental groups (G1: Control, G2: Fresh follicle with fresh parenchyma cell suspension, G3: Vitrified-warmed follicle with fresh parenchyma cell suspension, G4: Fresh follicle with frozen-thawed parenchyma cell suspension, and G5: Vitrified-warmed follicle with frozenthawed parenchyma cell suspension). The diameter of the follicles and immature oocytes, viability, antrum formation, resumption of meiosis, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and Gdf9, Bmp6, and Bmp15 gene expression were examined on different periods. RESULTS: The diameter of the follicles and the oocytes on days 4 and 8, as well as the survival rate of the follicles up to day 12, were significantly higher in G2 and G4 compared to the Ctrl group (G1: 73.66%, G2:87.99%, G3: 82.70%, G4: 94.37%, and G5: 78.59%). Expression of growth marker genes for G3, and G5 groups was significantly higher than other groups, which indicated the protective effects of parenchyma cell suspension on follicles damaged by vitrification solutions. CONCLUSION: The growth, survival, and maturation of preantral follicles could be enhanced by co-culturing them with ovarian parenchyma cells. Further studies are needed to optimize the conditions for a successful parenchyma cell suspension-induced in vitro maturation (IVM) to occur in infertility clinics.

Comparing Autobiographical Brand Images and Neutral Images Regarding False Memory Formation.

Introduction: Consumers' prior experiences form an episodic memory that largely influences their decision-making process. This episodic memory is mainly linked to cognitive and emotional perception and we know that brand image influences our cognitive and emotional perception. Nevertheless, it has not been well described how autobiographical memories of brand images differ from other types of images. Methods: In this study, we hypothesized that brand pictures have a higher chance to create false memories as compared to neutral ones. Results: We investigated this hypothesis using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm with lists of brand pictures from the local market and associated neutral images from the international affective picture system. Thirty graduate students were exposed to image stimuli, followed by a distractor task and a recognition task. After the normality test, reaction times (RT), and false recognition rate of brands and neutral images were statistically compared using a pairwise t-test. Conclusion: The results showed a significant decrease in reaction time (RT) and an increase in the false recognition rate of brand pictures compared to neutral images. Interestingly, the effect of gender on the creation of false memory by autobiographical brand images was not significant. We hope these findings can pave the way for a better understanding of the false memory mechanism. Highlights: Autobiographical brand images give a higher chance of false memory as compared to neutral imagesMen and women do not differ in the formation of false memoryReaction time in false memory is longer than in true memory.False positives create more cognitive load. Plain Language Summary: We see many images around us every day, such as the image of different brands in our daily shopping, which puts us in front of different types of images, many of which are old, these brands become part of our life memories, and their images are aspects of autobiography. Therefore, these brands can form false memories for people. The image stimuli of this study are to investigate whether these images can form false memories or not. The results showed that the images that we see every day in the street of the supermarket and can change our memories.

Deceptive intensities: An exploratory strategy for overcoming early central fatigue in resistance training.

Neuropsychological stress induced by misleading information can limit human performance, possibly by early central fatigue mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the impact caused by prescribing misleading intensities of resistance exercise on acute electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) responses and the total number of repetitions to exhaustion. Collegiate female students performed three sets of biceps curls to exhaustion. The actual intensity for all sets was set at 65% 1-Repetition Maximum (1-RM). However, participants were deceptively informed that the intensities were 60%, 65%, or 70% 1-RM. The number of repetitions to fatigue and the magnitude of EEG and EMG signals were analyzed. The number of repetitions to exhaustion was significantly lower in greater announced intensities (18.11 ± 8.44) compared to lower (29.76 ± 16.28; p = 0.017) and correctly (27.82 ± 11.01; p = 0.001) announced intensity. The correlation between frontal and motor-cortex signals was significant in lower (r = 0.72, p = 0.001) and higher (r = 0.64, p = 0.005) announced intensities. The median and mean frequencies of EMG signal and Root Mean Square (RMS) did not show any significant difference between sets, but the peak-to-peak range (PPR) of biceps EMG signals was significantly higher in lower intensity (0.145 ± 0.042) when compared with higher (0.104 ± 0.044; p = 0.028) or correctly (0.126 ± 0.048; p = 0.037) announced intensity. It seems that deceptive information regarding the mass of an object could affect the number of repetitions to exhaustion and PPR to cover muscle capacity in endurance-type strength training.

Stochastic multi-objective model for optimal energy exchange optimization of networked microgrids with presence of renewable generation under risk-based strategies.

The inherent volatility and unpredictable nature of renewable generations and load demand pose considerable challenges for energy exchange optimization of microgrids (MG). To address these challenges, this paper proposes a new risk-based multi-objective energy exchange optimization for networked MGs from economic and reliability standpoints under load consumption and renewable power generation uncertainties. In so doing, three various risk-based strategies are distinguished by using conditional value at risk (CVaR) approach. The proposed model is specified as a two-distinct objective function. The first function minimizes the operation and maintenance costs, cost of power transaction between upstream network and MGs as well as power loss cost, whereas the second function minimizes the energy not supplied (ENS) value. Furthermore, the stochastic scenario-based approach is incorporated into the approach in order to handle the uncertainty. Also, Kantorovich distance scenario reduction method has been implemented to reduce the computational burden. Finally, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGAII) is applied to minimize the objective functions simultaneously and the best solution is extracted by fuzzy satisfying method with respect to risk-based strategies. To indicate the performance of the proposed model, it is performed on the modified IEEE 33-bus distribution system and the obtained results show that the presented approach can be considered as an efficient tool for optimal energy exchange optimization of MGs.

Metal concentrations in the groundwater in Birjand flood plain, Iran.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the concentration of metals (cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, copper, and iron) were measured in groundwater at 30 sites from the Birjand flood plain of eastern Iran during the November 2010; identify any relationships between metals and pH, total hardness. Metal concentrations in the groundwater samples were decreased in sequence of Zn > Fe > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd, respectively. The results showed that the overall mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cr were at 0.000, 0.023, and 0.049 mg l(-1), respectively. The mean concentration of Cu, Zn, and Fe were 0.109, 0.192, and 0.174 mg l(-1), respectively. Results also indicated that there were correlations among Cd, Cu, and Zn metals.