High-Resolution Optical Functional Mapping of the Human Somatosensory Cortex

Non-invasive optical imaging of brain function has been promoted in a number of fields in which functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is limited due to constraints induced by the scanning environment. Beyond physiological and psychological research, bedside monitoring and neurorehabilitation may be relevant clinical applications that are yet little explored. A major obstacle to advocate the tool in clinical research is insufficient spatial resolution. Based on a multi-distance high-density optical imaging setup, we here demonstrate a dramatic increase in sensitivity of the method. We show that optical imaging allows for the differentiation between activations of single finger representations in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). Methodologically our findings confirm results in a pioneering study by Zeff et al. (2007) and extend them to the homuncular organization of SI. After performing a motor task, eight subjects underwent vibrotactile stimulation of the little finger and the thumb. We used a high-density diffuse-optical sensing array in conjunction with optical tomographic reconstruction. Optical imaging disclosed three discrete activation foci one for motor and two discrete foci for vibrotactile stimulation of the first and fifth finger, respectively. The results were co-registered to the individual anatomical brain anatomy (MRI) which confirmed the localization in the expected cortical gyri in four subjects. This advance in spatial resolution opens new perspectives to apply optical imaging in the research on plasticity notably in patients undergoing neurorehabilitation

Destructive Fishery and Fishery Sustainability Assessing Fishery Sustainability Using a Multicriteria Participatory Approach : a Case Study of Small Islands in South Sulawesi

The sustainability in the integrated human and nature systems or social–ecological systems(SES) of reef fishery needs attention, because the livelihood of many coastal communities is dependentupon it. Likewise, coral reef ecosystem is important marine resource as a source of biodiversity, aspawning aggregation for various reef fish and biota. However, coral reef ecosystem in South Sulawesihas been pressured by reef-related fishing activities, which include destructive practices of bomb andpoison fishing.This study assesses the condition of fishery sustainability in five selected small islands situated inTaka Bonerate Marine National Park and Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi. Multi-criteriaanalysis (MCA) is used as a decision-making tool to analyze and evaluate multiple indicators under aparticipatory group decision-making environment (Mendoza and Prabhu 2004). Four variable criteriaof sustainability indicators are included, namely ecological-criterion indicators, economic-criterionindicators, social-criterion indicators, and institutional-criterion indicators. The result of theassessment is analyzed with the state of coral reef and the state of destructive fishery in the area

Modal Sosial Dalam Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Perikanan

Konsep modal sosial diartikan sebagai sebagai norma dan hubungan sosial yang menyatu dalam struktur masyarakat dan membuat orang dapat bekerjasama dalam bertindak untuk mencapai tujuan. Aksi bersama atau kerjasama dapat berlangsung ketika terdapat modal sosial dalam masyarakat. Tulisan ini menunjukkan bahwa modal sosial input dan modal sosial output atau aksi bersama terbukti dapat mendukung pengelolaan perikanan yang berkelanjutan melalui aksi bersama pelarangan kegiatan penangkapan ikan yang merusak, antara lain penggunaan bom, bius, atau penambangan karang

Preparation And Characterization Of Composite Hollow Fiber Reverse Osmosis Membranes By Plasma Polymerization. 1. Design Of Plasma Reactor And Operational Parameters

Composite hollow fiber reverse osmosis membranes were prepared by depositing a thin layer (10-50 nm) of plasma polymers on hollow fibers with porous walls (made of polysulfone). The coating was carried out in a semicontinuous manner with six strands of substrate fibers. Operational parameters which influence reverse osmosis characteristics of composite membranes were investigated. © 1984, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved

MALTE - Model to predict new aerosol formation in the lower troposphere

The manuscript presents a detailed description of the meteorological and chemical code of Malte – a model to predict new aerosol formation in the lower troposphere. The aerosol dynamics are achieved by the new developed UHMA (University of Helsinki Multicomponent Aerosol Model) code with kinetic limited nucleation as responsible mechanism to form new clusters. First results indicate that the model is able to predict the on- and offset of new particle formation as well as the total aerosol number concentrations that were in good agreement with the observations. Further, comparison of predicted and measured H2SO4 concentrations showed a satisfactory agreement. The simulation results indicated that at a certain transitional particle diameter (2–7 nm), organic molecules can begin to contribute significantly to the growth rate compared to sulphuric acid. At even larger particle sizes, organic molecules can dominate the growth rate on days with significant monoterpene concentrations. The intraday vertical evolution of newly formed clusters and particles in two different size ranges resulted in two maxima at the ground. These particles grow around noon to the detectable size range and agree well with measured vertical profiles

Index insurance and climate risk: prospects for development and disaster management

This publication examines the use of index insurance to help reduce vulnerability and poverty and adapt to climate change. Experience in index insurance to-date has been limited to individual case studies, which show promise of lessening the impacts of climate shocks, and enabling investment and growth in the agriculture sector. However, these cases have also uncovered significant questions that must be answered in order to start implementing index insurance at a scale relevant to attaining meaningful development impacts. The publication looks at the technical and operational challenges that currently limit the growth and spread of index insurance. It highlights a number of case studies of the various applications of index insurance across the worl

Sex differences in the association of phospholipids with components of the metabolic syndrome in young adults

BACKGROUND: There are differences in the prevalence and severity of diseases between males, females not taking hormonal contraceptives (non-HC females) and females taking hormonal contraceptives (HC females). The aim of this study was to identify sex-specific differences in the metabolome and its relation to components of the metabolic syndrome in a young adult population. METHODS: The subjects analysed are from the 20-year follow-up of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Two hundred fifteen plasma metabolites were analysed in 1021 fasted plasma samples by a targeted liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics approach. Principal component analysis between males (n = 550), non-HC females (n = 199) and HC females (n = 269) was applied. Regression analysis with a sex x metabolite concentration interaction was performed on components of the MetS, namely waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and plasma HDL-C, triglycerides and glucose concentration, as outcome to select the significant metabolites of the interaction. Those selected metabolites were used as predictors in a sex group stratified analysis to compare the different beta coefficients and therefore the sex group-dependent associations. RESULTS: Principal component analysis between males, non-HC females, and HC females showed a general discriminating trend between males and HC females. One hundred twenty-seven metabolites were significantly different between males and non-HC females, whereas 97 differed between non-HC females and HC females. Males and non-HC females mainly differed in sphingomyelin, lyso-phosphatidylcholine, acyl-carnitine and amino acid species, whilst non-HC females and HC females mainly differed in phosphatidylcholine, lyso-phosphatidylcholine and acyl-carnitine concentrations. Forty-one metabolites (phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelines, lyso-phosphatidylcholine) were significantly differently associated with the MetS factors in the different groups. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown clear differences between plasma metabolite concentrations in males, and HC or non-HC females, especially in lyso-phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine, which have been shown to associate with obesity in other studies. The association of these metabolites differed between sexes with components of the metabolic syndrome, which means that development of diseases like obesity and diabetes may differ between the sexes. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex differences when conducting a metabolomics study and the need to account for the effect of HC usage in females in future studies