I see your effort: Force-Related BOLD effects in an extended action execution-observation network involving the cerebellum

Action observation (AO) is crucial for motor planning, imitation learning, and social interaction, but it is not clear whether and how an action execution-observation network (AEON) processes the effort of others engaged in performing actions. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we used a "squeeze ball" task involving different grip forces to investigate whether AEON activation showed similar patterns when executing the task or observing others performing it. Both in action execution, AE (subjects performed the visuomotor task) and action observation, AO (subjects watched a video of the task being performed by someone else), the fMRI signal was detected in cerebral and cerebellar regions. These responses showed various relationships with force mapping onto specific areas of the sensorimotor and cognitive systems. Conjunction analysis of AE and AO was repeated for the "0th" order and linear and nonlinear responses, and revealed multiple AEON nodes remapping the detection of actions, and also effort, of another person onto the observer's own cerebrocerebellar system. This result implies that the AEON exploits the cerebellum, which is known to process sensorimotor predictions and simulations, performing an internal assessment of forces and integrating information into high-level schemes, providing a crucial substrate for action imitation

Seelsorge in einer sich verändernden polnischen Gesellschaft

polska wersja artykułu opublikowanego po niemieckuProwadzone od wieków przez zakony, stowarzyszenia i fundacje chrześcijańskie szpitale, domy pomocy, ośrodki Caritasu i ochronki zostały znacjonalizowane w Polsce i Europie Wschodniej po 1945 roku. Jednocześnie z oddaleniem związków wyznaniowych od opieki medycznej i pomocy społecznej malał prestiż zawodów medycznych i pomocowych oraz marksistowska ideologizacja środowiska. Opór integrował w Polsce te środowiska e z Kościołem katolickim, przypominającymi o etyce chrześcijańskiej i deontologii opartej na chrześcijańskim personalizmie. Solidarność Służby Zdrowia i postulaty dotyczące powrotu do etyki zawodów medycznych oraz przywrócenia funkcji kapelanów szpitali i instytucji pomocy społecznej znalazły się w Rozporządzeniu Ministra Zdrowia z 1981 roku. Do 1989 roku w Polsce obszarem, w którym na styku ochrony zdrowia, pomocy społecznej, wolontariatu i związków wyznaniowych, rozwijała się opieka duchowo-religijna, były wolontaryjne zespoły domowej opieki hospicyjnej. Ich przykład pomógł w procesie odbudowy opieki duchowo-religijnej w ochronie zdrowia i pomocy społecznej, a także w nowych inicjatywach zespołowej opieki duszpasterskiej. Współczesne polskie społeczeństwo jest jednym z najbardziej religijnych w Europie, a dominującą religią jest katolicyzm. Wobec zmian społecznych i kulturowych ważna jest wrażliwość wobec zmieniających się potrzeb duchowo-religijnych i różny stopień przynależności pacjentów do wspólnot wiary. Świdomość różnorodności wyznaniowej i kulturowej, rozróżnienie potrzeb duchowych, uznawanych za jedną z powszechnych potrzeb każdej osoby, od potrzeb religijnych, związanych z przynależnością do danej wspólnoty wiary jest wyzwaniem w pastoralnej opiece w warunkach instytucjonalnych i domowych.Charitable institutions, carried out for centuries by religious orders, associations and foundations Christian hospitals, nursing homes, Caritas centers were nationalized in Poland and Eastern Europe after 1945. Simultaneously with the remoteness of religious associations of medical care and social assistance diminish the prestige of the medical profession and Marxist ideologisation of caring environment. Resistance integrated those careers in Poland with the Catholic Church, reminiscent of Christian ethics and professional conduct based on Christian personalism. Solidarity demanded return to ethics of the medical profession and to restore the chaplains of hospitals and social assistance institutions. It was included in the Regulation of the Minister of Health in 1981. Until 1989 in Poland, an area in which to contact the health, social welfare, voluntary and religious organizations, developed health spiritual-religious, volunteer teams were home hospice care. Their example helped in the reconstruction process of spiritual and religious care in health care and social assistance, as well as new initiatives in the pastoral care teams. The contemporary Polish society is one of the most religious in Europe, and the dominant religion is Catholicism. To change the social and cultural importance of sensitivity to the changing needs of the spiritual-religious and different degree of membership subjects to the faith communities. Awareness of diversity of religious and cultural distinction spiritual needs, recognized as one of the common needs of each person, from religious needs, relating to participation in the faith community is a challenge in pastoral care in institutional settings and home care

ANALYSIS, ANAEROBIC TREATMENT AND OZONATION OF WOOL SCOURING WASTE-WATER

Wool scouring effluents (WSE) were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS), and then exposed to anaerobic biological treatment using laboratory scale fixed-bed filters. This resulted in a nearly 50% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD). Ozonation of the effluent from the biological step led to an even further decrease in total organic carbon (TOC). The fatty acid content of the WSE was affected by both biological treatment and ozonation. Finally, steroids in the WSE underwent reduction reactions when exposed to the anaerobic biological treatment

Climate-driven growth dynamics and trend reversal of Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus cerris L. in a low-elevation beech forest in Central Italy

In highly climate-change-sensitive regions, such as the Mediterranean, increasing knowledge of climate-driven growth dynamics is required for habitat conservation and forecasting species adaptability under future climate change. In this study, we test a high spectrum of climatic signals, not only monthly and seasonal but also on a multi-year scale and include the single tree analysis to answer this issue, focusing on a low-elevation thermophilic old-growth beech forest surrounding the Bracciano Lake in Central Italy. Through a dendroecological and isotope analysis, we evaluate both short- and long-term sensitivity of F. sylvatica and the coexisting better-drought-adapted species Q. cerris to climatic and hydrological variability in terms of growth reduction and delta 13C responses. After the 1990s, beech trees showed a climate-driven decrease in growth compared to oak, especially after 2003 (-20 % of basal area increment), with a significant growth trend reversal between the species. For F. sylvatica, the significant correlations with precipitation decreased, whereas for Q. cerris, they increased, with a higher number of trees positively influenced. However, the temperature highlighted more clearly the contrasting climate-growth correlation pattern between the two species. In F. sylvatica after the '90s, the negative effect of temperatures has significantly intensified, as shown by past summer values up to four years previously, involving about half of the trees. Surprisingly, the water-level fluctuations showed a highly significant influence on tree-ring growth in both species. Nevertheless, it reduced after the '90s. Finally, Q. cerris trees showed a significantly higher ability to recover their growth levels after extreme droughts (+55 %). The growth trend reversal and the shift in iWUE of the last years may point to potential changes in the future species composition, raising the need for climate-adaptive silviculture (e.g., selective thinning) to reduce growth decline, enhance resilience and favour the natural regeneration of the target species for habitat conservation

Effect of salt and drought on growth, physiological and biochemical responses of two Tamarix species

Tamarix trees are considered of particular interest for afforestation and refo­restation of degraded areas prone to salinity and drought. In this study, a comparison of the performance and physiological responses of two species of Tamarix grown in saline and dried soils was carried out. Stem cuttings of T. aphylla and T. jordanis were collected from a location in the Negev desert and the plantlets obtained were subjected to four different soil treatments under semi-controlled conditions for 14 days. The treatments were: fresh water (C); salt (S: 150 mM of NaCl); drought (D: 50% field capacity); and a combined stress (DS: 150 mM of NaCl + 50% FC). Results showed a higher tolerance to salt stress of T. jordanis as compared with T. aphylla. The maintenance of high amount of cell carbohydrates, the high capacity of carbon assimilation and the active growth were considered as markers of salt tolerance in Tamarix spp. T. aphylla showed better performances in terms of growth and biomass production than T. jordanis in dry conditions. The high accumulation of sugars found in the leaves of T. aphylla under mild drought is considered a mechanism of acclimatization. The combined stress (salt+drought) lowered the performance of plants as compared to salt and drought stress applied alone. The possible role of the accumulation of proline observed in the leaves of both species under stressful conditions is discussed