Population-level neural correlates of flexible avoidance learning in medial prefrontal cortex

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been proposed to link sensory inputs and behavioral outputs to mediate the execution of learned behaviors. However, how such a link is implemented has remained unclear. To measure prefrontal neural correlates of sensory stimuli and learned behaviors, we performed population calcium imaging during a novel tone-signaled active avoidance paradigm in mice. We developed a novel analysis approach based on dimensionality reduction and decoding that allowed us to identify and isolate population activity patterns related the tone stimulus, learned avoidance actions and general motion. While tone-related activity was not informative about behavior, avoidance-related activity was predictive of upcoming avoidance actions. Moreover, avoidance-related activity distinguished between two different learned avoidance actions, consistent with a model in which mPFC contributes to the selection between different goal-directed actions. Overall, our results suggest that mPFC circuit dynamics transform sensory inputs into specific behavioral outputs through distributed population-level computations

A surveillance sector review applied to infectious diseases at a country level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The new International Health Regulations (IHR) require World Health Organization (WHO) member states to assess their core capacity for surveillance. Such reviews also have the potential to identify important surveillance gaps, improve the organisation of disparate surveillance systems and to focus attention on <it>upstream </it>hazards, determinants and interventions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We developed a <it>surveillance sector review </it>method for evaluating all of the surveillance systems and related activities across a sector, in this case those concerned with infectious diseases in New Zealand. The first stage was a systematic description of these surveillance systems using a newly developed framework and classification system. Key informant interviews were conducted to validate the available information on the systems identified.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 91 surveillance systems and related activities in the 12 coherent categories of infectious diseases examined. The majority (n = 40 or 44%) of these were disease surveillance systems. They covered all categories, particularly for more severe outcomes including those resulting in death or hospitalisations. Except for some notifiable diseases and influenza, surveillance of less severe, but important infectious diseases occurring in the community was largely absent. There were 31 systems (34%) for surveillance of <it>upstream </it>infectious disease hazards, including risk and protective factors. This area tended to have many potential gaps and lack integration, partly because such systems were operated by a range of different agencies, often outside the health sector. There were fewer surveillance systems for determinants, including population size and characteristics (n = 9), and interventions (n = 11).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It was possible to create and populate a workable framework for describing all the infectious diseases surveillance systems and related activities in a single developed country and to identify potential surveillance sector gaps. This is the first stage in a review process that will lead to identification of priorities for surveillance sector development.</p

Reduction and foaming of FeO containing slag

Smelting reduction processes being developed for producing liquid iron using coal and oxygen are attractive because they allow the use of ore fines directly and do not depend on coke. This paper presents a brief review of some aspects of smelting reduction and some results of an experimental investigation carried out on the reduction of 5-20 wt-% FeO in a synthetically prepared slag by various reductants in a plasma reactor. Some results of a simulation of the smelting reduction process by carrying out post-combustion with oxygen lancing over the slag surface are also presented. It has been possible to achieve a steady state condition, namely, 1-2 wt-% FeO in the slag with a slag height of 4-5 cm during periodic addition of a charge consisting of iron ore, coal, and flux. A kinetic analysis of FeO reduction with various reductants is presented in detail

Population-level neural correlates of flexible avoidance learning in medial prefrontal cortex

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been proposed to link sensory inputs and behavioral outputs to mediate the execution of learned behaviors. However, how such a link is implemented has remained unclear. To measure prefrontal neural correlates of sensory stimuli and learned behaviors, we performed population calcium imaging during a novel tone-signaled active avoidance paradigm in mice. We developed a novel analysis approach based on dimensionality reduction and decoding that allowed us to identify and isolate population activity patterns related the tone stimulus, learned avoidance actions and general motion. While tone-related activity was not informative about behavior, avoidance-related activity was predictive of upcoming avoidance actions. Moreover, avoidance-related activity distinguished between two different learned avoidance actions, consistent with a model in which mPFC contributes to the selection between different goal-directed actions. Overall, our results suggest that mPFC circuit dynamics transform sensory inputs into specific behavioral outputs through distributed population-level computations

A novel process for preparation of hydration resistant lime

Calcium oxide is an excellent refractory material and as per Ellingham diagram is the most stable of all the oxide materials used as refractory. Plenty of pure raw materials containing calcium oxide are available in nature abundantly. The material at present is not or rather cannot be used as a refractory material owing to its extreme hydration tendency in atmosphere. Once the hydration resistant calcium oxide is available, the same can be used for developing various refractory products for particular areas of applications in metallurgical industry. The process of making hydration resistant calcium oxide through sintering or fusion either takes a lot of time or is not techno-economically viable. Hydration resistant calcium oxide with low porosity can be developed in a moving bed plasma reactor in a span of 1-3 minutes. Proper control of particle size distribution, plasma parameters and suitable additives can achieve the same