Newly trained lexical categories produce lateralized categorical perception of color

Linguistic categories have been shown to influence perceptual discrimination, to do so preferentially in the right visual field, to fail to do so when competing demands are made on verbal memory, and to vary with the color-term boundaries of different languages. However, because there are strong commonalities across languages in the placement of color-term boundaries, the question remains open whether observed categorical perception for color can be entirely a result of learned categories or may rely to some degree on innate ones. We show here that lateralized color categorical perception can be entirely the result of learned categories. In a visual search task, reaction times to targets were faster in the right than the left visual field when the target and distractor colors, initially sharing the same linguistic term (e.g., “blue”), became between-category colors after training (i.e., when two different shades of blue had each acquired a new name). A control group, whose conditions exactly matched those of the experimental group except that no new categories were introduced, did not show this effect, establishing that the effect was not dependent on increased familiarity with either the color stimuli or the task. The present results show beyond question that lateralized categorical perception of color can reflect strictly learned color categories, even artificially learned categories that violate both universal tendencies in color naming and the categorization pattern of the language of the subject.     

The Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the African Lungfish,Protopterus annectens

The gastrointestinal tract of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens is a composite, which includes the gut, the spleen, and the pancreas. The gut is formed by a short oesophagus, a longitudinal stomach, a pyloric valve, a spiraling intestine, and a cloaca. Coiling of the intestine begins dorsally below the pylorus, winding down to form six complete turns before ending into the cloaca. A reticular tissue of undisclosed nature accompanies the winding of the intestinal mucosa. The spleen is located along the right side of the stomach, overlapping the cranial end of the pancreas. The pancreas occupies the shallow area, which indicates on the gut dorsal side the beginning of the intestine coiling. In addition, up to 25 lymphatic‐like nodes accompany the inner border of the spiral valve. The mesenteric artery forms a long axis for the intestine. All the components of the gastrointestinal tract are attached to each other by connective sheaths, and are wrapped by connective tissue, and by the serosa externally. We believe that several previous observations have been misinterpreted and that the anatomy of the lungfish gut is more similar among all the three lungfish genera than previously thought. Curiously, the gross anatomical organization is not modified during aestivation. We hypothesize that the absence of function is accompanied by structural modifications of the epithelium, and are currently investigating this possibility. Anat Rec 293:1146–1154, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Monoclonal antibodies to T cell receptor gamma/delta complex react with human endometrial glandular epithelium

We have tested a panel of four monoclonal antibodies to the T cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta heterodimer (delta TCS-1, TS-8, TCR delta-1, anti- C gamma m 1) in pregnant and non-pregnant uteri. The TCR gamma/delta complex was not detected on stromal lymphocytes, but was localized in the cytoplasm of the endometrial glandular epithelium from most pregnant uteri. These antibodies also reacted with endometrial glandular epithelium in a majority of non-pregnant uteri; the reactivity was more consistent in secretory phase glands than that in the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle. However, three different monoclonal antibodies to CD3 (OKT3, leu 4, UCHT-1) failed to show any reactivity, suggesting that the presence of the TCR gamma/delta complex was not associated with CD3 complex. The TCR gamma/delta-positive glandular epithelial cells did not react with two monoclonal antibodies to the TCR alpha/beta complex, and they were also CD4- and CD8-negative. Together with the loss of the class 1 MHC antigens from these endometrial glandular epithelial cells in early pregnancy, these data suggest that these TCR gamma/delta-bearing endometrial glandular cells may undergo phenotypic alterations under local regulation of gene expression.     

Cancer chemoprevention by aliphatic selenocyanates: effect of chain length on inhibition of mammary tumors and DMBA adducts

The objective of this study was to examine the anticarcino-genicactivity of a series of aliphatic selenocyanates with increasinglength of the carbon side chain, CH₃–(CH₂)_n–SeCN,in which n = 0, 2, 4 or 6. Their ability to prevent mammarycancer was evaluated during the initiation phase using the rat7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model. Each compoundwas added to the diet at a final concentration of 2 p.p.m. Seand was given from 2 weeks before to 1 week after DMBA administration.Analysis of the tumor data suggested the following order ofchemopreventive potency for this series of aliphatic selenocyanates:heptyl     

Independent effects of residual renal function and dialysis adequacy on dietary micronutrient intakes in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients are at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, not only because of losses during chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis but also because of low intakes. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the importance of urea clearance (calculated as K(t)/V) and residual renal function (RRF) in predicting micronutrient intakes in a large cohort of patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DESIGN: We conducted a survey of dietary intakes in 242 CAPD patients and divided them into 3 groups according to their weekly urea clearance and RRF: WD group (n = 84), a urea clearance >/= 1.7 and a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >/= 1 mL x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2); DD group (n = 71), a urea clearance >/= 1.7 and a GFR < 1 mL x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2); and ID group (n = 87), a urea clearance < 1.7. RESULTS: Most of the patients had intakes of water-soluble vitamins and minerals that were lower than the recommended dietary allowance; most intakes were significantly higher in the WD group than in the DD and ID groups, except those of niacin and calcium. After age, sex, body weight, and the presence of diabetes were controlled for, total weekly urea clearance and the GFR (but not peritoneal dialysis urea clearance) were significantly associated with intakes of vitamins A and C, the B vitamins, and minerals (calcium, phosphate, iron, and zinc). Low intakes of vitamins and minerals with low RRF and urea clearance were the result of reduced overall food intakes, except for thiamine, vitamin B-6, and folic acid, which were deficient in the diet. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with most water-soluble vitamins and minerals, including iron and zinc, should be considered in CAPD patients, especially those with low RRF and low urea clearance. The optimal dose needs to be determined.     

A new method of functional tendon transfer for the dysfunction of extensor hallucis longus

A surgical technique of functional tendon transfer for the treatment of extensor hallucis longus (EHL) rupture is described. By using the extensor digitorum longus tendon of the second toe, the patient regains active dorsiflexion of the big toe and the deformity of the toe is corrected.