Motion clouds: model-based stimulus synthesis of natural-like random textures for the study of motion perception

Choosing an appropriate set of stimuli is essential to characterize the response of a sensory system to a particular functional dimension, such as the eye movement following the motion of a visual scene. Here, we describe a framework to generate random texture movies with controlled information content, i.e., Motion Clouds. These stimuli are defined using a generative model that is based on controlled experimental parametrization. We show that Motion Clouds correspond to dense mixing of localized moving gratings with random positions. Their global envelope is similar to natural-like stimulation with an approximate full-field translation corresponding to a retinal slip. We describe the construction of these stimuli mathematically and propose an open-source Python-based implementation. Examples of the use of this framework are shown. We also propose extensions to other modalities such as color vision, touch, and audition

Monotonic Distributive Semilattices

In the study of algebras related to non-classical logics, (distributive) semilattices are always present in the background. For example, the algebraic semantic of the {→, ∧, ⊤}-fragment of intuitionistic logic is the variety of implicative meet-semilattices (Chellas 1980; Hansen 2003). In this paper we introduce and study the class of distributive meet-semilattices endowed with a monotonic modal operator m. We study the representation theory of these algebras using the theory of canonical extensions and we give a topological duality for them. Also, we show how our new duality extends to some particular subclasses.Fil: Celani, Sergio Arturo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Menchón, María Paula. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Matemática; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Batata “Ipomea”, revalorizando un cultivo tradicional en San Pedro, provincia de Buenos Aires

La batata (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) es un cultivo tradicional de San Pedro (Barsky, 2003:28), al norte de la provincia de Buenos Aires. En las dos décadas que siguieron al final de 1990, se consolidó la producción de variedades de alto rendimiento y mejor poscosecha, pero poco sabor. Paralelamente se observa la disminución del consumo y se identifica a esta situación como una de las causas. En 2014 se realizaron focus group para conocer más sobre el consumo de batata, y entre los principales resultados surgió que quienes la consumen explican que la batata pierde sabor, es fibrosa y da trabajo pelar . Si bien el INTA San Pedro trabaja desde hace más de cuatro décadas en la selección de variedades más sabrosas, éstas no eran parte de la producción local ni se disponían en el mercado en 2016 cuando se inicia esta experiencia. El cultivo de batatas tiene potencialidad económica y, aunque deben incorporarse ajustes técnicos, es una alternativa viable para los distintos estratos de productores. Sin embargo, existen limitantes para la difusión de estos cultivares más sabrosos, asociadas a la disponibilidad de semilla, a que el lavado de una de ellas no puede hacerse con los sistemas mecánicos disponibles por su alta sensibilidad y a un menor rendimiento por hectárea, muchas veces provocado por las virosis presentes en las variedades. Este trabajo se propone sistematizar la experiencia promovida desde INTA para un grupo de productoras y productores que aunque con cambios, sigue vigente en 2022 y que ha logrado establecer una marca comercial, Ipomea, logrando junto a otras variables que sea una de las que ha motorizado el aumento de superficie de una de esas batatas, identificando también las limitantes del proceso.EEA San PedroFil: Hansen, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Piola, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Marcozzi, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Pedro; Argentin

Clinical Evaluation of Two Ke0 in the same Pharmacokinetic Propofol Model: Study on Loss and Recovery of Consciousness

SummaryBackground and objectiveThe constant equilibrium between the plasma and effect site (ke0) is used by pharmacokinetic models to calculate a drug concentration in its site of action (Ce). It would be interesting if Ce of propofol was similar at loss and recovery of consciousness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of two different ke0 (fast = 1.21 min-1, and slow = 0.26 min-1) in relation to Ce during loss and recovery of consciousness using Marsh pharmacokinetic model.MethodsTwenty healthy adult male volunteers participated in this study. In all volunteers propofol was administered as target-controlled infusion, Marsh pharmacokinetic model for fast ke0 and, at a different time, the same pharmacokinetic model with slow ke0 was used. Initially, propofol was infused with a serum target-controlled infusion of 3.0 μg.mL-1. Loss of consciousness and recovery of consciousness were based on response to verbal stimulus. Ce was recorded at the moment of loss and recovery of consciousness.ResultsOn loss and recovery of consciousness, the Ce for fast ke0 was different (3.64 ± 0.78 and 1.47 ± 0.29 μg.mL-1, respectively, p < 0.0001), while with slow ke0 the Ce was similar (2.20 ± 0.70 and 2.14 ± 0.43 μg.mL-1, respectively, p = 0.5425).ConclusionsClinically, the slow ke0 (0.26 min-1) incorporated in the Marsh pharmacokinetic model showed better performance than the fast ke0 (1.21 min-1), since the calculated concentration of propofol at the effect site on loss and recovery of consciousness was similar

Metodología para el registro, seguimiento y monitoreo de la entrega de semilla y realización de huertas en San Pedro, provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

La estrategia anual de ProHuerta realiza ajustes a nivel territorial en función de la experiencia y las directivas programáticas. En 2017 se incorporaron tecnologías de la información, en un plan que incluyó el registro online de la información de entrega de semillas, el monitoreo in situ de un área identificada como vulnerable y otro colaborativo a partir del envío de información de los propios huerteros vía WhatsApp. Los resultados de este trabajo brindan una caracterización de la población con la que se trabajó en la campaña otoño-invierno, una modalidad concreta de implementar el registro digital y geolocalización de las huertas a partir de herramientas accesibles y gratuitas de Google, y algunas reflexiones en torno a cómo pensar y trabajar con la noción de vulnerabilidad que caracteriza a la población objetivo de ProHuerta.The annual ProHuerta strategy (a national Argentinian programme destinated to promote vegetable gardens and to grow own food) makes adjustments at the territorial level, based on experience and programmatic directives. In 2017, ICT were incorporated into a plan that included the online registration of seed delivery information, the on-site monitoring of an area identified as vulnerable and the collaborative monitoring through information sended by the gardener’s WhatsApp. The results provide a characterization of the population on the programme in this area, on the autumn-winter campaign, a concrete modality of implementing the digital registry and geolocation of the vegetable gardens through accessible and free Google tools, and some reflections on about how to think and to work with the notion of vulnerability that characterizes the target population of ProHuerta.EEA San PedroFil: Piola, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Hansen, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extension Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Liljesthrom, Verónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extension Rural San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Marcozzi, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro. Agencia de Extension Rural San Pedro; Argentin

Comparison of maternal beliefs about causes of autism spectrum disorder and association with utilization of services and treatments

Background: This study aimed to describe parental perceptions of the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in an ethnically diverse sample and explore whether these perceptions relate to treatment choices. Methods: The sample consisted of White (n=224), Hispanic (n=85) and Asian (n=21) mothers of a child with ASD. A mixed methods approach was used in this secondary analysis focusing on parental perceptions about the causes of ASD and the relationship of these to utilization of services and treatment. Results: Environmental and genetic factors were most often believed to be the cause or one of the causes of ASD by mothers across all ethnic groups studied. Asian mothers were more likely to cite multiple causes. Environmental causes were associated with receiving 20 or more hours of autism related services per week; while belief in environmental exposures and vaccines and medications as causes were associated with complementary-alternative medicine (CAM) use. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ethnic differences in autism causal beliefs and treatment choices may exist. Future research should be conducted to specifically confirm the findings, to understand parental motivation behind their service and treatment choices; and to gain more insight into the types, usage and sources of CAM treatments. Clinicians can use parental autism causal beliefs in discussions about treatment recommendations