Chaos Theory: A Quick Immersion

Since the 1980s chaos has been the subject of great interest both in scientific research and in public consciousness. Chaos as played roles in books and movies such as Jurassic Park and Bellwether and has been the subject of numerous popularizations. But what is chaos—better characterized as chaotic dynamics—really? How much of an impact does it have on everyday life? This book explores these questions and more, introducing you to the basics of chaos as mathematicians and scientists study it and apply it. There are a lot of buzzwords surrounding chaotic dynamics such as “butterfly effect” and “strange attractors,” and much discussion about whether chaos has shattered scientific dreams of a predictable world. This book will help you understand these buzzwords and their excitement, what limitations there are for predictability, and the wisdom scientists have learned from studying chaos. You will come away with a deeper appreciation of the intricacy and surprising order of our world

Homeostatic Plasticity of Striatal Neurons Intrinsic Excitability following Dopamine Depletion

The striatum is the major input structure of basal ganglia and is involved in adaptive control of behaviour through the selection of relevant informations. Dopaminergic neurons that innervate striatum die in Parkinson disease, leading to inefficient adaptive behaviour. Neuronal activity of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSN) is modulated by dopamine receptors. Although dopamine signalling had received substantial attention, consequences of dopamine depletion on MSN intrinsic excitability remain unclear. Here we show, by performing perforated patch clamp recordings on brain slices, that dopamine depletion leads to an increase in MSN intrinsic excitability through the decrease of an inactivating A-type potassium current, IA. Despite the large decrease in their excitatory synaptic inputs determined by the decreased dendritic spines density and the increase in minimal current to evoke the first EPSP, this increase in intrinsic excitability resulted in an enhanced responsiveness to their remaining synapses, allowing them to fire similarly or more efficiently following input stimulation than in control condition. Therefore, this increase in intrinsic excitability through the regulation of IA represents a form of homeostatic plasticity allowing neurons to compensate for perturbations in synaptic transmission and to promote stability in firing. The present observations show that this homeostatic ability to maintain firing rates within functional range also occurs in pathological conditions, allowing stabilizing neural computation within affected neuronal networks

Corroborating indicates nurses’ ethical values in a geriatric ward

The aim of the study was to identify nurses’ ethical values, which become apparent through their behaviour in the interactions with older patients in caring encounters at a geriatric clinic

The impact of domestic violence on mothers and children

Over the last few decades, domestic violence (DV) has been an intense area that profoundly affects numerous life domains for the people involved. Evidence suggests that children and women who experience DV are at increased risk of adverse mental and physical health difficulties. In addition, women and children's health are strongly linked, particularly in the presence of DV. However there is little knowledge about the impact of DV on both women and children. This study, therefore, sought to bring forth knowledge on the topic, examine and explore the effects and impact of DV on mothers and children. A literature review is used to gain a broader understanding on DV. This project also used a library-based approach using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodology to critically evaluate the findings. Furthermore, within this study a thematic analysis is used for pinpointing, examining and interpreting various aspects within a research topic. The findings indicated that DV had an impact on both women and children. Studies demonstrated that children may become resilient to the exposure of DV however, many studies showed consistent results that children internalise and externalise behaviour. Moreover, the findings of several studies presented women to experience mental difficulties and parental practice problems during and after DV. Furthermore research indicated that DV can impact all races however, stated that BME, Latinos and Hispanic women have higher levels of experiencing DV compared to white women. Finally, these findings have a potential to increase awareness on DV and its impact on women and children and the importance of healthcare professionals acknowledging the signs of DV

Ein letztes Säbelrasseln an der Weser

Im Jahr 2015 wurde im alten verschütteten Löschteich der ehemaligen Lettow-Vorbeck-Kaserne in der Bremer Vahr vom Kampfmittelräumdienst ein Sammelfund von zumeist Blankwaffen gemacht, die bis auf ein Altstück, einen napoleonischen Kavallerie-Offiziers-Säbel, dem Ersten und Zweiten Weltkrieg angehören. Einige Stücke dürften sich an repräsentativer Stelle, etwa im Stabsgebäude, befunden haben, ehe sie mit Ende des Krieges im April/Mai 1945 im Rahmen einer schnellen letzten Sammelaktion der endgültigen Demilitarisierung zum Opfer fielen und im Teich versenkt wurden. Es gab während und am Ende der nationalsozialistischen Herrschaft verschiedene Gründe, weshalb Dinge aus dem Blickfeld verschwinden sollten und unter die Erde kamen. Waren es zu Beginn des Terrorregimes z. B. Objekte des diffamierten jüdischen Glaubens oder der „Entarteten Kunst“, die propagandistisch ausgeschlachtet aus der Öffentlichkeit entfernt und entsorgt wurden, so waren es am Ende des verlorenen Krieges Zeugnisse oder Denkmäler des Terrors selbst, wie Hitlerbüsten oder Paradewaffen der Deutschen Wehrmacht.5555624

Synthesis of Vinyllactones via Allylic Oxidation of Alkenoic Acids

A one-step access to vinyllactones is described utilizing the Pd-catalyzed allylic oxidation of alkenoic acids. The influence of ring size as well as the olefin configuration is investigated culminating in the synthesis of goniothalamin analogues