Neural Correlates of Self: Models of Northoff and Damasio

Self has been one of the most controversial phenomenon in philosophy and psychology for a long time. More recently, self has been transferred in the field of neuroscience since 30 years and its neural correlates remain under the intense investigations. Proposals for theoretical conception of self have not yet achieved complete clarity. Efforts for linking the self with brain structures have been going on for many years. Naturally, these two states (theorization and experiments) process side by side. Therefore, neuroscientific studies diversify with regard to conceptual theorization of self. Many studies have shown that cortical midline structures (CMS) are important in self processing. In addition, it is commonly accepted the involvement of resting state activity during the self-related mental states. In this context, processing of self related stimulus in the cortical midline structures is associated with regions of default mode network (DMN). This review aims to investigate the self-related studies under the light of current neuroscientific data, the neuroscience model of Northoff proposed for the self, and to examine the self in the Damasio’s framework in the context of consciousness

Ge/SiGe Quantum Well p-i-n Structures for Uncooled Infrared Bolometers

Cataloged from PDF version of article.The temperature dependence of current is investigated experimentally for silicon–germanium (Si-Ge) multi-quantum-well p-i-n devices on Si substrates as uncooled bolometer active layers. Temperature coefficient of resistance values as high as −5.8%/K are recorded. This value is considerably higher than that of even commercial bolometer materials in addition to being well above the previous efforts based on CMOS compatible materials

Functional Neural Networks Stratify Parkinson’s Disease Patients Across the Spectrum of Cognitive Impairment

Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a significant non-motor symptoms inParkinson’s disease (PD) that often precedes the emergence of motor symptoms by several years. Patients with PD hypothetically progress from stages without CI (PD-normal cognition [NC]) to stageswithMild CI (PD-MCI) and PDdementia (PDD). CI symptoms in PD are linked to different brain regions and neural pathways, in addition to being the result of dysfunctional subcortical regions. However, it is still unknown how functional dysregulation correlates to progression during the CI. Neuroimaging techniques hold promise in discriminating CI stages of PD and further contribute to the biomarker formation of CI in PD. In this study, we explore disparities in the clinical assessments and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) among three CI stages of PD. Methods: We enrolled 88 patients with PD and 26 healthy controls (HC) for a cross sectional clinical study and performed intra- and inter-network FC analysis in conjunction with comprehensive clinical cognitive assessment. Results: Our findings underscore the significance of several neural networks, namely, the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), dorsal attention network, and visual network (VN) and their inter–intra-network FC in differentiating between PD-MCI and PDD. Additionally, our results showed the importance of sensory motor network, VN,DMN, and salience network (SN) in the discriminating PD-NC from PDD. Finally, in comparison to HC, we found DMN, FPN, VN, and SN as pivotal networks for further differential diagnosis of CI stages of PD. Conclusion:We propose that resting-state networks (RSN) can be a discriminating factor in distinguishing the CI stages of PD and progressing from PD-NC toMCI or PDD. The integration of clinical and neuroimaging data may enhance the early detection of PD in clinical settings and potentially prevent the disease from advancing to more severe stages

Ge/SiGe quantum well P-I-N structures for uncooled infrared bolometers

The temperature dependence of current is investigated experimentally for silicon-germanium (Si-Ge) multi-quantum-well p-i-n devices on Si substrates as uncooled bolometer active layers. Temperature coefficient of resistance values as high as-5.8%/K are recorded. This value is considerably higher than that of even commercial bolometer materials in addition to being well above the previous efforts based on CMOS compatible materials. © 2006 IEEE

Using nanogap in label-free impedance based electrical biosensors to overcome electrical double layer effect

Point-of-care biosensor applications require low-cost and low-power solutions. They offer being easily accessible at home site. They are usable without any complex sample handling or any kind of special expertise. Impedance spectroscopy has been utilized for point-of-care biosensor applications; however, electrical double layer formed due to ions in the solution of interest has been a challenge, due to shielding of the electric field used for sensing the target molecules. Here in this study, we demonstrate a nanogap based biosensor structure with a relatively low frequency (1–100 kHz) measurement technique, which not only eliminates the undesired shielding effect of electrical double layer but also helps in minimizing the measurement volume and enabling low concentration (µ molar level) detection of target molecules (streptavidin). Repeatability and sensitivity tests proved stable and reliable operation of the sensors. These biosensors might offer attributes such as low-cost label-free detection, fast measurement and monolithic chip integrability. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Combined metabolic activators improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer’s disease patients: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase-II trial

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with metabolic abnormalities linked to critical elements of neurodegeneration. We recently administered\ua0combined metabolic activators (CMA) to the AD rat model and observed that CMA improves the AD-associated histological parameters in the animals. CMA promotes mitochondrial fatty acid uptake from the cytosol, facilitates fatty acid oxidation in the mitochondria, and alleviates oxidative stress. Methods: Here, we designed a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase-II clinical trial and studied the effect of CMA administration on the global metabolism of AD patients. One-dose CMA included 12.35\ua0g L-serine (61.75%), 1\ua0g nicotinamide riboside (5%), 2.55\ua0g\ua0N-acetyl-L-cysteine (12.75%), and 3.73\ua0g L-carnitine tartrate (18.65%). AD patients received one dose of CMA or placebo daily during the first 28\ua0days and twice daily between day 28 and day 84. The primary endpoint was the difference in the cognitive function and daily living activity scores between the placebo and the treatment arms. The secondary aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of CMA. A comprehensive plasma metabolome and proteome analysis was also performed to evaluate the efficacy of the CMA in AD patients. Results: We showed a significant decrease of AD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) score on day 84 vs day 0 (P = 0.00001, 29% improvement) in the CMA group. Moreover, there was a significant decline (P = 0.0073) in ADAS-Cog scores (improvement of cognitive functions) in the\ua0CMA compared to the placebo group in patients with higher ADAS-Cog scores. Improved cognitive functions in AD patients were supported by the relevant alterations in the hippocampal volumes and cortical thickness based on imaging analysis. Moreover, the plasma levels of proteins and metabolites associated with NAD + and glutathione metabolism were significantly improved after CMA treatment. Conclusion: Our results indicate that treatment of AD patients with CMA can lead to enhanced cognitive functions and improved clinical parameters associated with phenomics, metabolomics, proteomics and imaging analysis. Trial registration\ua0ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04044131 Registered 17 July 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04044131

Developments towards a Multiscale Meshless Rolling Simulation System

The purpose of the present paper is to predict the grain size of steel during the hot-rolling process. The basis represents a macroscopic simulation system that can cope with temperatures, stresses and strains of steel in a complete continuous rolling mill, including reversible pre-rolling and finishing rolling with several tenths of rolling passes. The grain size models, newly introduced in the present paper, are one-way coupled to the macro-scale calculations performed with the slice model assumption. Macroscale solution is based on a novel radial basis function collocation method. This numerical method is truly meshless by involving the space discretization in arbitrarily distributed nodes without meshing. A new efficient node generation algorithm is implemented in the present paper and demonstrated for irregular domains of the slice as they appear in different rolling passes. Multiple grain size prediction models are considered. Grain size prediction models are based on empirical relations. Austenite grain size at each rolling pass as well as the ferrite grain size at the end of rolling are predicted in this simulation. It is also shown that based on the rolling schedule, it is highly likely that recrystallization takes place at each pass throughout a continuous rolling mill. The simulation system is coded as a user-friendly computer application for industrial use based on programming language C# and an open source developer platform NET and runs on regular personal computers the computational time for a typical rolling simulation is usually less than one hour and can thus be straightforwardly used to optimize the rolling mill design in a reasonable time

Remaking Alevism in diaspora: The socio-spatial dynamics of migrant Alevism in the UK

This research explores how a religion 'on the move' responds to the challenges of diasporic conditions and the tensions between continuity and change. It provides an understanding of how migrant religions articulate and orient their ritual universe and social and organisational structures within the new spatial settings of diaspora. Alevism, forming the second-largest religious movement in Turkey, has recently adopted a transnational scope as a consequence of international migration. Migration has transformed the oppressed Alevis into a migrant faith community with the freedom to practise their collective rituals openly and, to some extent, have become 'recognised' in the host society, while the Alevi claim for recognition is still an ongoing struggle in Turkey. During three decades of diasporic journey, Alevis have had significant community developments, intensifying their activism in the national and transnational spheres. Political and economic developments in the UK have also shaped their homeland engagements. Besides newly built migrant houses, cemevis (Alevi community centres) began to spread into rural areas, funded by diaspora remittances. Such diasporic spatial markers have multiple effects on the homeland's changing rural landscape. A multi-sited ethnography, including interviews and observations in London and villages of British Alevis in Turkey, is used to gain insights into the remaking of religion and rebuilding of identity and community in the diaspora. It examines the diasporic experience of the Alevi community in the UK through territorialisation, the rebuilding of community and identity and reproduction of culture, and their impact on the changing rural homeland landscape. Intergenerational transmission and the Alevi claim for visibility and recognition are the central motivations shaping the diasporic rebuilding process, in particular placemaking performances. As a result, diasporic Alevism has become more institutionalised, organised and spatialised. Such diasporic developments have also involved ritual transformation. The religious structures established through historical processes have encountered many challenges and have been updated and re-oriented in the diaspora setting. This thesis demonstrates that the diasporic experience has profoundly transformed ritualised Alevi culture