The evolutionary psychology of left and right: costs and benefits of lateralization.

Why do the left and right sides of the vertebrate brain play different functions? Having a lateralized brain, in which each hemisphere carries out different functions, is ubiquitous among vertebrates. The different specialization of the left and right side of the brain may increase brain efficiency--and some evidence for that is reported here. However, lateral biases due to brain lateralization (such as preferences in the use of a limb or, in animals with laterally placed eyes, of a visual hemifield) usually occur at the population level, with most individuals showing similar direction of bias.

Internal limiting membrane removal during macular hole surgery: results of a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and other variables in hole closure and functional success rate after idiopathic macular hole surgery.

Design: Retrospective, multicenter, observational study.

Methods: The records of 1627 patients operated on for idiopathic macular hole were collected retrospectively from 28 surgeons.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Maytenus senegalensis root extracts and of maytenoic acid.

Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell (Celastraceae) root extracts were investigated for their topical anti-inflammatory properties by measuring the inhibition of the Croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was detected in the chloroform extract, which reduced the oedematous response with a potency similar to that of the NSAID reference drug indomethacin (ID(50)=84 and 93 microg/cm(2), respectively).

Time dependent density functional theory of X-ray absorption spectroscopy of alkaline-earth oxides.

The time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has been employed to calculate the X-ray absorption spectra of the alkaline-earth oxides at the metal K and L and oxygen K edges. Cluster models to mimic the bulk are considered, embedded within an array of point charges to simulate the Madelung potential. Comparison with experimental data allows a precise assessment of the performances of the method, which appears competitive and suitable to reproduce the measurements.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering investigation of the halide anion effect on the adsorption of 1,2,3-triazole on silver and gold colloidal nanoparticles.

The halide anion effect on the adsorption of 1,2,3-triazole on Ag and Au colloidal nanoparticles has been investigated by means of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. To interpret the SERS spectra, the vibrational spectra of 1,2,3-triazole were assigned with the help of density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations of the two tautomers of 1,2,3-triazole, both free and bound to Ag and Au adatoms. Upon addition of halide anions, both tautomers interact with the Ag surface through one nitrogen atom.

Theoretical study of the structure and bonding in bridgehead diphosphines.

The molecular structures of a representative selection of medium-sized bicyclic diphosphines (i.e., diphosphanes) were studied by means of the ab initio second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) method.

Optical rotation calculation of a highly flexible molecule: the case of paraconic acid.

The absolute configuration of (S)-(-)-paraconic acid is correctly assigned on the basis of ab initio calculations of the specific optical rotation (OR) at the sodium D line, carried out both in vacuum and in methanol. Density functional theory (DFT) and Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) are used to determine the most stable conformational structures, whose OR values are then calculated using DFT linear response theory and London atomic orbitals. The total OR is obtained by averaging these values using the population fractions determined from Boltzmann's statistics.

Surface-enhanced raman scattering investigations of 4-nitro(pyridine N-oxide) and 4,4'-azobis(pyridine N-oxide) adsorbed on silver colloidal nanoparticles.

A spectroscopic investigation on the adsorption process of 4-nitro(pyridine N-oxide) (NPO) onto silver colloidal nanoparticles has been performed by Raman and UV-visible absorption measurements. Discrepancies between the Raman spectra of NPO in aqueous solution and in Ag hydrosol prompted an extension of the SERS study to include an investigation on the reactivity of this compound in silver colloidal suspension. The data are diagnostic of a reduction of the nitrogroup of NPO with subsequent formation of 4,4'-azobis(pyridine N-oxide) (APO).

Application of ultrasound contrast agents for the characterization of female urethral vascularization in healthy pre- and postmenopausal volunteers: preliminary report.

Objectives: Vascularization of the female urethra is an important factor contributing to the sealing effect responsible for the normal urethral closing system. The aim of this study was to assess whether contrast enhanced ultrasonography can be used to evaluate changes in urethral vascularization between pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods: We studied the vascularization of female urethra in 11 healthy premenopausal females during the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle and 10 healthy postmenopausal volunteers using ultrasound contrast agents with a 2-5 MHz curved-array transducer by a translabial approach.

Rheological properties of aqueous Pluronic-alginate systems containing liposomes.

Rheological and erosion studies regarding a liposome-containing polymeric blend that is propaedeutic to its use in paving techniques in tubular organs, such as blood vessels, are reported. Attention is focused on an aqueous polymeric blend composed of Pluronic (PF127) and alginate (Protanal LF 10/60) because both polymers, when dissolved in water at a sufficiently high concentration, are subjected to different structural mechanisms, which are driven by temperature increase and addition of bivalent cations, respectively, and both result in marked viscoelastic and plastic properties. After proving the compatibility between PF127 and alginate, we show that the structural transition temperature of the blend, T(ST), can be properly modulated.

Photoionization cross section and angular distribution calculations of carbon tetrafluoride.

Correlation in the photoionization dynamics of carbon tetrafluoride is studied in the framework of the time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) approach by employing a multicentric basis set expansion of the scattering wave function linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) TDDFT. Results obtained with the statistical average of orbital potentials and LB94 exchange-correlation (xc) potentials are compared with photoabsorption, photoionization, and electron-scattering experiments as well as with past theoretical calculations. Inadequacies in both the V(xc) parametrizations employed have been suggested from the analysis of the intensity plots for the D2A1 ionization.

Atypical neuroleptics as a treatment of agitation and anxiety in Alzheimer's disease: risks or benefits.

Behavioral problems produce excess disability that can be potentially devastating in cognitively impaired patients. These behavioral symptoms can be a major cause of stress, anxiety and concern for caregivers. While psychotropic drugs are frequently used to control these symptoms, they have the potential for significant side effects, which include sedation, disinhibition, depression, falls, incontinence, parkinsonism and akathisias.

Effectiveness of validation therapy (VT) in group: preliminary results.

VT is one of the best known psychosocial treatment for elderly affected by dementia. Notwithstanding its wide use, its efficacy is still a controversial issue, especially in comparison with other approaches. This study of 30 elderly subjects in a nursing home compared the effects of VT, sensorial reminiscence (SR) and no treatment on cognitive, functional, and affective status of the participants.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of titanium oxide by time dependent density functional calculations.

The potentiality of the time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) for the description of core excitation spectra (XAS) in transition metal oxides is analyzed, considering the rutile form of TiO(2) as a test case. Cluster models are adopted to mimic the bulk, embedded within an array of point charges to simulate the Madelung potential. All of the edges, titanium and oxygen K and titanium L edges, are considered, and the TDDFT results are compared with the experimental data in order to assess the performance of the theoretical approach in dealing with this complex class of compounds.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering investigation of the adsorption of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole on smooth copper surfaces doped with silver colloidal nanoparticles.

The adsorption of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole on copper has been investigated by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) by doping smooth copper surfaces with silver colloidal nanoparticles. The metal surfaces have been characterized by means of atomic force microscopy measurements. The compound adsorbs on the Cu/Ag surfaces in its ionized thiolic form, adopting a tilted orientation with respect to the metal surface.

Does perceptual belongingness affect lightness constancy?

The relation between perceptual belongingness and lightness perception has historically been studied in the contrast domain (Benary, 1924 Psychologische Forschung 5 131 - 142). However, scientists have shown that two equal grey patches may differ in lightness when belonging to different reflecting surfaces. We extend this investigation to the constancy domain.

Time dependent density functional study of the photoionization dynamics of SF6.

The B-spline linear combination of atomic orbitals method has been employed to study the valence and core photoionization dynamics of SF6. The cross section and asymmetry parameter profiles calculated at the time dependent density functional theory level have been found to be in fairly nice agreement with the experimental data, with the quality of the exchange-correlation statistical average of orbital potential results superior to the Van Leeuwen-Baerends 94 (LB94) ones [Phys. Rev.

Behavioral alterations and vascular dementia.

Background: Vascular dementia is one of the most frequent forms of dementia, where behavioral and cognitive symptoms coexist. Negative signs, such as apathy, abulia, opposition, and agnosia, are badly tolerated and dramatically experienced by caregivers, even worse than the other signs of cognitive decline.

Review Summary: We have studied 120 subjects affected by subcortical vascular dementia (group A) and 120 subjects suffering from multiinfarct dementia (group B) for 24 months.

A visual-haptic Necker cube reveals temporal constraints on intersensory merging during perceptual exploration.

When viewing a three-dimensional Necker cube with one eye, participants can experience illusory reversals even while they feel the cube with their hands. This surprising property of the visual-haptic Necker cube affords a unique opportunity to investigate temporal constraints on interactions between vision and touch during extended observation of a three-dimensional object. Our observers reported reversals while they viewed the cube and, at the same time, they either held it with two-finger grips, felt it with while their hands remained stationary, or actively explored it by moving one hand.

[Role of the cerebellum in the control of distal motor activities in patients with akinetic-rigid Parkinson disease].

Using f-MRI, we have studied the changes induced by the performance of a complex sequential motor task in the cortical areas of nine akinetic PD patients and compared to that of healthy volunteers. Compared with normal subjects, PD patients showed a reduction of activation of motor and SMA areas, an increase of activation of parietal areas and a bilateral activation of cerebellar hemispheres, which are likely to participate in the attempt to recruit parallel motor circuits in order to overcome the striatocortical defective loop.

Intraocular lens decentration and posterior capsule opacification: anatomo-pathologic findings after implantation of AMOSI40 IOLS.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after implantation of a three-piece posterior chamber silicone IOL in a series of eyes examined postmortem.

Methods: Twenty-three pseudophakic enucleated human cadaver eyes, implanted with AMO SI40NB IOLs after phacoemulsification, were analyzed. Eyes obtained postmortem were sectioned at the equatorial plane and the anterior segment photographed from a posterior view.

Ames's window in proprioception.

When holding a small-scale model of Ames's trapezoidal window with the arms fully extended, several observers experience a striking proprioceptive distortion (eg one hand appears farther from the other, or one arm appears longer than the other). However, data from a matching experiment suggest that the proprioceptive misalignment of the hands is, in fact, rather less than the apparent slant of the window when this is not held. This finding argues against a 'visual-capture' account, supports an explanation in terms of bimodal integrative processes, and underscores the importance of supplementing phenomenological observations with objective measures.

Preparation of theophylline-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose matrices using supercritical antisolvent precipitation: a preliminary study.

Several controlled release systems of drugs have been elaborated using a supercritical fluid process. Indeed, recent techniques using a supercritical fluid as a solvent or as an antisolvent are considered to be useful alternatives to produce fine powders. In this preliminary study, the effect of Supercritical Anti Solvent process (SAS) on the release of theophylline from matrices manufactured with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was investigated.

Theoretical study on the circular dichroism in core and valence photoelectron angular distributions of camphor enantiomers.

In the present work the photoelectron circular dichroism of camphor has been theoretically studied using B-spline and continuum multiple scattering-Xalpha methods, and comparisons are made with available experimental data. In general, rather large dichroism effects have been found for both valence and core (O 1s, C 1s) photoionizations. The agreement between the two calculations reported here and previous experimental measurements for core C 1s data is essentially quantitative.