Learning by Doing and Learning by Thinking: An fMRI Study of Combining Motor and Mental Training

The current study investigated behavioral and neural effects of motor, mental, and combined motor and mental training on a finger tapping task. The motor or mental training groups trained on a finger-sequence for a total of 72 min over 6 weeks. The motor and mental training group received 72 min motor training and in addition 72 min mental training. Results showed that all groups increased their tapping performance significantly on the trained sequence. After training functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data was collected and indicated training specific increases in ventral pre-motor cortex following motor training, and in fusiform gyrus following mental training. Combined motor and mental training activated both the motor and the visual regions. In addition, motor and mental training showed a significant increase in tapping performance on an untrained sequence (transfer). fMRI scanning indicated that the transfer effect involved the cerebellum. Conclusions were that combined motor and mental training recruited both motor and visual systems, and that combined motor and mental training improves motor flexibility via connections from both motor and cognitive systems to the cerebellum

Relations between topography, wetlands, vegetation cover and stream water chemistry in boreal headwater catchments in Sweden

International audienceA large part of the spatial variation of stream water chemistry is found in headwater streams and small catchments. To understand the dominant processes, taking place in small and heterogeneous catchments, spatial and temporal data with high resolution is needed. In most cases available map data has too low quality and resolution to successfully be used in environmental assessments and modelling. In this study 18 forested catchments (1?4 km2) were selected within a 120×50 km area in the county of Värmland in western Sweden. The aim was to test if topographic and vegetation variables derived from official datasets were correlated to stream water chemistry, represented by DOC, Al, Fe and Si content. A GIS was used to analyse the elevation characteristics, generate topographic indices and calculate the percentage of wetlands and a number of vegetation classes. The results clearly show that the topography has a major influence on the occurrence of wetlands, which has a major influence on stream water chemistry. There were very strong correlations between mean slope and percentage wetland, percentage wetland and DOC, mean slope and DOC and mean topographic wetness index and DOC. The conclusion was that official topographic data, despite uncertain or low quality and resolution, could be useful in the prediction of headwater chemistry in boreal forested catchments

Materializing Power to Recover Corporate Social Responsibility

Through the development of CSR ratings, metrics and management tools, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is currently materialized at an unprecedented scale within and across organizations. However, the material dimension of CSR and the inherent political potential in this materialization have been neglected. Drawing on insights from Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and the critical discussion of current approaches to power in CSR studies, we offer an alternative sociomaterial conceptualization of power in order to clarify how power works through materialized forms of CSR. We develop a framework that explains both how power is constituted within materialized forms of CSR through processes of ‘assembling / disassembling’, and how power is mobilized through materialized forms of CSR through processes of ‘overflowing / framing’. From this framework, we derive four tactics that clarify how CSR materializations can be seized by marginalized actors to ‘recover’ CSR. Our analysis aims to renew CSR studies by showing the potential of CSR for progressive politics

Impedance matrix of a folded dipole pair under eleven configuration

A new decade wideband antenna, the Eleven antenna, has been developed during the last years. The basic configuration of Eleven antenna is two parallel dipoles separated by half wavelength above the ground plane, which is referred to as the eleven configuration. In order to cascade the dipoles in log-periodic array for obtaining wideband performance, folded dipoles are often used. The input impedance of shorted folded dipole in free space has been analysed by using two-mode method: a transmission line mode and an antenna mode. In the present study, the impedance matrix of a pair of folded dipoles as a two-port network under the eleven configuration will be analysed by including the mutual coupling among elements of folded dipoles into the two-mode method. As veri. cation, an Eleven antenna with one pair of folded dipoles has been analysed by the present method, modelled in a commercial software - CST MS and manufactured. The results by using the present method agree well with the measured and simulated one

Fast nuclear rotation and octupole deformation

The Sm-150 nucleus has been studied to high spins in a measurement of gamma radiation following the Xe-136 (O-18,4n) Sm-150, compound-nucleus reaction at beam energy of 76 MeV. The measurement was performed at NBI Riso using the NORDBALL array. Alternating parity, epsilon = +1 band in Sm-150 has been observed up to spin I = 22. This band is crossed by two aligned bands, corresponding to a reflection-symmetric shape. After the second crossing the s = +1 band ends abruptly, suggesting that the octupole shape vanishes in Sm-150 above spin I = 22, as predicted by calculations. Other explanations, assuming continuation of the s = +1 band past the two alignments are also discussed

Fast nuclear rotation and octupole deformation

The Sm-150 nucleus has been studied to high spins in a measurement of gamma radiation following the Xe-136 (O-18,4n) Sm-150, compound-nucleus reaction at beam energy of 76 MeV. The measurement was performed at NBI Riso using the NORDBALL array. Alternating parity, epsilon = +1 band in Sm-150 has been observed up to spin I = 22. This band is crossed by two aligned bands, corresponding to a reflection-symmetric shape. After the second crossing the s = +1 band ends abruptly, suggesting that the octupole shape vanishes in Sm-150 above spin I = 22, as predicted by calculations. Other explanations, assuming continuation of the s = +1 band past the two alignments are also discussed

Elder Law: A Guide to Key Resources

This research guide identifies and describes 163 books, periodicals, reference tools, databases, electronic discussion groups, organizations, and U.S. government agencies useful to the elder law practitioner and the legal researcher. Appendices include a state-by-state list of state aging agencies, bar association committees and sections, law school courses and clinics, and publications; acronyms; and subject headings and a index terms used in library catalogs, periodical indexes, and related sources

Extension of nano-confined DNA: quantitative comparison between experiment and theory

The extension of DNA confined to nanochannels has been studied intensively and in detail. Yet quantitative comparisons between experiments and model calculations are difficult because most theoretical predictions involve undetermined prefactors, and because the model parameters (contour length, Kuhn length, effective width) are difficult to compute reliably, leading to substantial uncertainties. Here we use a recent asymptotically exact theory for the DNA extension in the "extended de Gennes regime" that allows us to compare experimental results with theory. For this purpose we performed new experiments, measuring the mean DNA extension and its standard deviation while varying the channel geometry, dye intercalation ratio, and ionic buffer strength. The experimental results agree very well with theory at high ionic strengths, indicating that the model parameters are reliable. At low ionic strengths the agreement is less good. We discuss possible reasons. Our approach allows, in principle, to measure the Kuhn length and effective width of a single DNA molecule and more generally of semiflexible polymers in solution.Comment: Revised version, 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, supplementary materia