Functional and structural brain differences associated with mirror-touch synaesthesia

Observing touch is known to activate regions of the somatosensory cortex but the interpretation of this finding is controversial (e.g. does it reflect the simulated action of touching or the simulated reception of touch?). For most people, observing touch is not linked to reported experiences of feeling touch but in some people it is (mirror-touch synaesthetes). We conducted an fMRI study in which participants (mirror-touch synaesthetes, controls) watched movies of stimuli (face, dummy, object) being touched or approached. In addition we examined whether mirror touch synaesthesia is associated with local changes of grey and white matter volume in the brain using VBM (voxel-based morphometry). Both synaesthetes and controls activated the somatosensory system (primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, SI and SII) when viewing touch, and the same regions were activated (by a separate localiser) when feeling touch — i.e. there is a mirror system for touch. However, when comparing the two groups, we found evidence that SII seems to play a particular important role in mirror-touch synaesthesia: in synaesthetes, but not in controls, posterior SII was active for watching touch to a face (in addition to SI and posterior temporal lobe); activity in SII correlated with subjective intensity measures of mirror-touch synaesthesia (taken outside the scanner), and we observed an increase in grey matter volume within the SII of the synaesthetes' brains. In addition, the synaesthetes showed hypo-activity when watching touch to a dummy in posterior SII. We conclude that the secondary somatosensory cortex has a key role in this form of synaesthesia

Inconsistent use of gesture space during abstract pointing impairs language comprehension

Pointing toward concrete objects is a well-known and efficient communicative strategy. Much less is known about the communicative effectiveness of abstract pointing where the pointing gestures are directed to “empty space.” McNeill's (2003) observations suggest that abstract pointing can be used to establish referents in gesture space, without the referents being physically present. Recently, however, it has been shown that abstract pointing typically provides redundant information to the uttered speech thereby suggesting a very limited communicative value (So et al., 2009). In a first approach to tackle this issue we were interested to know whether perceivers are sensitive at all to this gesture cue or whether it is completely discarded as irrelevant add-on information. Sensitivity to for instance a gesture-speech mismatch would suggest a potential communicative function of abstract pointing. Therefore, we devised a mismatch paradigm in which participants watched a video where a female was interviewed on various topics. During her responses, she established two concepts in space using abstract pointing (e.g., pointing to the left when saying Donald, and pointing to the right when saying Mickey). In the last response to each topic, the pointing gesture accompanying a target word (e.g., Donald) was either consistent or inconsistent with the previously established location. Event related brain potentials showed an increased N400 and P600 when gesture and speech referred to different referents, indicating that inconsistent use of gesture space impairs language comprehension. Abstract pointing was found to influence comprehension even though gesture was not crucial to understanding the sentences or conducting the experimental task. These data suggest that a referent was retrieved via abstract pointing and that abstract pointing can potentially be used for referent indication in a discourse. We conclude that abstract pointing has a potential communicative function

Diffuse somatostatin-immunoreactive D-cell hyperplasia in the stomach and duodenum

This paper presents the first case of extensive, diffuse, somatostatin- immunoreactive D-cell hyperplasia in the human stomach and duodenum. It occurred in a 37-yr-old woman, who showed clinical signs of dwarfism, obesity, dryness of the mouth, and goiter. The density of the distribution of D cells was increased 39-fold in the stomach fundus, 23- fold in the proximal antrum, 25-fold in the distal antrum, and 31-fold in the upper duodenum in comparison with normal values. At the same time, the gastrin-immunoreactive cells were increased 2.3-fold in the antrum. Although the range in size of the D cells was within normal limits in all regions examined, the G cells showed pronounced hypertrophy of up to 127%. A possible relationship between the immuno- histochemical findings and the clinical picture is discussed

Comparative Efficacy of Novel Endolysins in Queso Fresco

Listeria monocytogenes is problematic for the manufacturing, storage, and consumption of ready-to-eat foods. This bacterium may cause listeriosis upon consumption often with deadly complications. Queso Fresco (QF), a pasteurized Hispanic-style fresh cheese (HSFC), has been shown to support the growth of L. monocytogenes. QF is the most widely produced and implicated HSFC in the U.S., representing a significant health hazard to at risk populations such as infants, pregnant women, elderly, and the immunocompromised. The objective of this research project is to evaluate the efficacy of ten novel antimicrobial endolysins in combatting L. monocytogenes contamination in a miniaturized lab-scale queso fresco model over a 28 day shelf life

On the Reactivity of Tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadienone towards Carbon-Based Lewis Bases

The reactivitiy of tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadienone towards different C-based Lewis bases, such as N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), ylides and isonitriles, are reported. While sterically not hindered carbenes were found to yield kinetic adducts by regiospecific nucleophilic attack at the position adjacent to the carbonyl group of the ketone, bulkier nucleophiles afforded the thermodynamically more stable O-bridged zwitterions. Interestingly, isonitriles were found to dimerize and trimerize under the same reaction conditions, forming bicyclic products that evolve differently depending on the nature of the substituents

Using manipulated photographs to identify features of streetscapes that may encourage older adults to walk for transport

Experimental evidence of environmental features important for physical activity is challenging to procure in real world settings. The current study aimed to investigate the causal effects of environmental modifications on a photographed street\u27s appeal for older adults\u27 walking for transport. Secondly, we examined whether these effects differed according to gender, functional limitations, and current level of walking for transport. Thirdly, we examined whether different environmental modifications interacted with each other. Qualitative responses were also reported to gain deeper insight into the observed quantitative relationships. Two sets of 16 panoramic photographs of a streetscape were created, in which six environmental factors were manipulated (sidewalk evenness, traffic level, general upkeep, vegetation, separation from traffic, and benches). Sixty older adults sorted these photographs on appeal for walking for transport on a 7-point scale and reported qualitative information on the reasons for their rankings. Sidewalk evenness appeared to have the strongest influence on a street\u27s appeal for transport-related walking. The effect of sidewalk evenness was even stronger when the street\u27s overall upkeep was good and when traffic was absent. Absence of traffic, presence of vegetation, and separation from traffic also increased a street\u27s appeal for walking for transport. There were no moderating effects by gender or functional limitations. The presence of benches increased the streetscape\u27s appeal among participants who already walked for transport at least an hour/week. The protocols and methods used in the current study carry the potential to further our understanding of environment-PA relationships. Our findings indicated sidewalk evenness as the most important environmental factor influencing a street\u27s appeal for walking for transport among older adults. However, future research in larger samples and in real-life settings is needed to confirm current findings

Case registry systems for pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Europe: are there lessons for the future?

Countries across Europe developed a range of database systems to register pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases. Anecdotal reports indicate that some systems were not as useful as expected. This was a cross-sectional, semi-structured survey of health professionals who collected and reported pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases in 23 countries within the 27 European Union (EU) Member States plus Norway. We describe here the experiences of using pandemic case register systems developed before and during the pandemic, whether the systems were used as intended and, what problems, if any, were encountered. We conducted the survey to identify improvements that could be made to future pandemic case registers at national and EU level. Despite many inter-country differences, 17 respondents felt that a standardised case register template incorporating a limited number of simple standard variables specified in advance and agreed between the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control could be useful. Intra- and inter-country working groups could facilitate information exchange, clearer system objectives and improved interoperability between systems

Molecules in external fields: a semiclassical analysis

We undertake a semiclassical analysis of the spectral properties (modulations of photoabsorption spectra, energy level statistics) of a simple Rydberg molecule in static fields within the framework of Closed-Orbit/Periodic-Orbit theories. We conclude that in addition to the usual classically allowed orbits one must consider classically forbidden diffractive paths. Further, the molecule brings in a new type of 'inelastic' diffractive trajectory, different from the usual 'elastic' diffractive orbits encountered in previous studies of atomic and analogous systems such as billiards with point-scatterers. The relative importance of inelastic versus elastic diffraction is quantified by merging the usual Closed Orbit theory framework with molecular quantum defect theory.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure