A Near-Surface Microstructure Sensor System Used During TOGA COARE. Part II: Turbulence Measurements

New techniques developed for near-surface turbulence measurements during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) employ a difference in spatial scales of turbulence and surface waves. According to this approach, high relative speed of the measurements provides separation of the turbulence and surface wave signals. During the TOGA COARE field studies, highresolution probes of pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluctuation velocity, and acceleration were mounted on the bow of the vessel at a 1.7-m depth in an undisturbed region ahead of the moving vessel. The localization in narrow frequency bands of the vibrations of the bow sensors allows accurate calculation of the dissipation rate. A coherent noise reduction algorithm effectively removes vibration contamination of the velocity dataset. Due to the presence of surface waves and the associated pitching of the vessel, the bow probes ‘‘scanned’’ the near-surface layer of the ocean. Contour plots calculated using the bow signals provide a spatial context for the analysis of near-surface turbulence. A fast-moving free-rising profiler equipped by similar probes sampled the near-surface turbulence during stations. Theory of the three-component electromagnetic velocity sensor and examples of data obtained by bow sensors and free-rising profiler are also presented in this paper

Enriquecimiento cognoscitivo: el hombre visto como sistema abierto

Texto sobre las aportaciones y los beneficios de la perspectiva psicológica del enriquecimiento cognoscitivo para la intervención educativa y terapéutica con personas que demuestran desempeño retardado y otros tipos de desviación emocional o conductual. Se incluye también texto sobre el Primer Coloquio Internacional de Psicología Comunitaria y la Décima Semana de Psicología en el ITESO

Drive data acquisition for controller internal monitoring functions

With the current trend of increasing automation, leading to self-organizing machine tools and production machines (“Industry 4.0”), data acquisition and processing becomes more and more important. Based on these data, new monitoring functions and identification methods can be implemented in the machine control. Depending on the algorithms, also drive internal data, such as the actual torque, or the power consumption of the machine axes are required, partially at high sample rates. State of the art computerized numerical controllers (e.g. SIEMENS 840D sl) however, are characterized by a separation of drive system and controller. Drive data, which is not included in the standard bus-connection are difficult to access by the superordinated CNC. The paper addresses this problem, presents and compares various concepts of drive data transfer to a standard industrial CNC/PLC. Subsequently, the most convenient method, which utilizes a drive-internal data recorder is chosen for implementation. It offers flexible drive data acquisition through the PLC at high sample rates, carried out block wise. Experimental results are shown to prove the functionality. Finally, ideas for continuative monitoring and identification methods are discussed

Neuroinflammatory reactive astrocyte formation correlates with adverse outcomes in perinatal white matter injury

Publication status: PublishedFunder: Dr Miriam and Sheldon G Adelson Medical Research FoundationFunder: SGGG/Bayer Research Grant 2019Funder: UniBE Initiator Award 2020Funder: Departmental Research Fund, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inselspital, BernAbstractPerinatal white matter injury (WMI) is the leading cause of long‐term neurological morbidity in infants born preterm. Neuroinflammation during a critical window of early brain development plays a key role in WMI disease pathogenesis. The mechanisms linking inflammation with the long‐term myelination failure that characterizes WMI, however, remain unknown. Here, we investigate the role of astrocyte reactivity in WMI. In an experimental mouse model of WMI, we demonstrate that WMI disease outcomes are improved in mutant mice lacking secretion of inflammatory molecules TNF‐α, IL‐1α, and C1q known, in addition to other roles, to induce the formation of a neuroinflammatory reactive astrocyte substate. We show that astrocytes express molecular signatures of the neuroinflammatory reactive astrocyte substate in both our WMI mouse model and human tissue affected by WMI, and that this gene expression pattern is dampened in injured mutant mice. Our data provide evidence that a neuroinflammatory reactive astrocyte substate correlates with adverse WMI disease outcomes, thus highlighting the need for further investigation of these cells as potential causal players in WMI pathology.</jats:p

Mindfulness and the myth of mental illness: Implications for theory and practice

Over the past 60 years Thomas Szasz (1960, 1961, 2008) has forcefully argued that mental illnesses are mythical since all medical diseases are located in the body and, thus, have somatic causes. This has been accompanied by a scathing and coruscating critique of the whole mental health profession-particularly, those psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists who collude in and exploit the alleged mythology of counterfeit mental disorders and often (unwittingly or deliberately) justify coercion, oppression and pharmacological manipulation of so-called 'mental patients' in the name of 'treatments'. Since mindfulness practitioners-perhaps especially teachers of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction and related programmes-may, by association, be partially implicated in Szasz's allegations, this article seeks to explore and examine the implications for theory and practice in the field. It will be suggested that the strong foundational, theoretical, research and teaching bases of mindfulness-based interventions offer practitioners a solid defence against the general critique offered by Szasz, and more specific challenges advanced by critics such as Boysen (2007) and Whitaker (2010). However, there may still be potential pitfalls for those mindfulness-based interventions which are too closely allied to the psychiatric/pscychotheraputic establishment, and some suggestions for avoiding such obstacles will be offered through recommendations for maintaining connections between mindfulness and its Buddhist origins

PreImplantation Factor bolsters neuroprotection via modulating Protein Kinase A and Protein Kinase C signaling

A synthetic peptide (sPIF) analogous to the mammalian embryo-derived PreImplantation Factor (PIF) enables neuroprotection in rodent models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and perinatal brain injury. The protective effects have been attributed, in part, to sPIF's ability to inhibit the biogenesis of microRNA let-7, which is released from injured cells during central nervous system (CNS) damage and induces neuronal death. Here, we uncover another novel mechanism of sPIF-mediated neuroprotection. Using a clinically relevant rat newborn brain injury model, we demonstrate that sPIF, when subcutaneously administrated, is able to reduce cell death, reverse neuronal loss and restore proper cortical architecture. We show, both in vivo and in vitro, that sPIF activates cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (PKA) and calcium-dependent protein kinase (PKC) signaling, leading to increased phosphorylation of major neuroprotective substrates GAP-43, BAD and CREB. Phosphorylated CREB in turn facilitates expression of Gap43, Bdnf and Bcl2 known to have important roles in regulating neuronal growth, survival and remodeling. As is the case in sPIF-mediated let-7 repression, we provide evidence that sPIF-mediated PKA/PKC activation is dependent on TLR4 expression. Thus, we propose that sPIF imparts neuroprotection via multiple mechanisms at multiple levels downstream of TLR4. Given the recent FDA fast-track approval of sPIF for clinical trials, its potential clinical application for treating other CNS diseases can be envisioned