Dissociating object directed and non-object directed action in the human mirror system; implications for theories of motor simulation.

Mirror neurons are single cells found in macaque premotor and parietal cortices that are active during action execution and observation. In non-human primates, mirror neurons have only been found in relation to object-directed movements or communicative gestures, as non-object directed actions of the upper limb are not well characterized in non-human primates. Mirror neurons provide important evidence for motor simulation theories of cognition, sometimes referred to as the direct matching hypothesis, which propose that observed actions are mapped onto associated motor schemata in a direct and automatic manner. This study, for the first time, directly compares mirror responses, defined as the overlap between action execution and observation, during object directed and meaningless non-object directed actions. We present functional MRI data that demonstrate a clear dissociation between object directed and non-object directed actions within the human mirror system. A premotor and parietal network was preferentially active during object directed actions, whether observed or executed. Moreover, we report spatially correlated activity across multiple voxels for observation and execution of an object directed action. In contrast to predictions made by motor simulation theory, no similar activity was observed for non-object directed actions. These data demonstrate that object directed and meaningless non-object directed actions are subserved by different neuronal networks and that the human mirror response is significantly greater for object directed actions. These data have important implications for understanding the human mirror system and for simulation theories of motor cognition. Subsequent theories of motor simulation must account for these differences, possibly by acknowledging the role of experience in modulating the mirror response

PENINGKATAN KEMAMPUAN GURU DALAM MELAKSANAKAN TUGAS PEMBELAJARAN MELALUI SUPERVISI DI UPTD SDN TAMBERU DAYA 4

Action Research School (PTS) aims to describe whether the guidance and supervision of the school principal may increase the ability of teachers in implementing the learning task at UPTD SDN Tamberu Daya 4 District of Bengkalis in the academic year 2018/2019. After the action, observation/observation of teachers by principals as observer to the classical mentoring activities (the first meeting) went well. In caring about the items in the observation instruments when the teacher was implementing the learning process is still not yet mastered. The results of teacher observation by researchers during classical mentoring, judging from the activity of the 9 (nine) of PNS teachers earned an average (42,17%) categories are not good indicators of success planned (both categories: 56% -75%). This is because the teachers in implementing such assistance is still not optimal, and it still has not mastered the material on the activities of the academic supervision. Obtaining the results of the second cycle of academic supervision scored (an average of 76,92% / excellent category) and declared a success. This result is a positive impact on the efforts to optimize the implementation of the action class academic supervision. The results of the analysis of the first cycle and the second cycle analysis there is an increase of 34.75%. This means that there is the effect of supervision principals to improve the ability of teachers in implementing the learning task at UPTD SDN Tamberu Daya 4 Sokobanah Sampang District School Year 2018/2019. Based on the description above can be concluded that the Capacity-Building Task Master Undertaking Learning Through Supervision at UPTD SDN Tamberu Daya 4 District of Sokobanah Sampang in the school year 2018/2019 categorized Good. &nbsp

Application of Digital Particle Image Velocimetry in the Analysis of Scale Effects in Granular Soil

The available studies in the literature which dealt with the scale effects of strip footings on different sand packing systematically still remain scarce. In this research, the variation of ultimate bearing capacity and deformation pattern of soil beneath strip footings of different widths under plane-strain condition on the surface of loose, medium-dense and dense sand have been systematically studied using experimental and noninvasive methods for measuring microscopic deformations. The presented analyses are based on model scale compression test analysed using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. Upper bound analysis of the current study shows that the maximum vertical displacement of the sand under the ultimate load increases for an increase in the width of footing, but at a decreasing rate with relative density of sand, whereas the relative vertical displacement in the sand decreases for an increase in the width of the footing. A well agreement is observed between experimental results for different footing widths and relative densities. The experimental analyses have shown that there exists pronounced scale effect for strip surface footing. The bearing capacity factors Nγ rapidly decrease up to footing widths B=0.25 m, 0.35 m, and 0.65 m for loose, medium-dense and dense sand respectively, after that there is no significant decrease in Nγ. The deformation modes of the soil as well as the ultimate bearing capacity values have been affected by the footing widths. The obtained results could be used to improve settlement calculation of the foundation interacting with granular soil

A new image thresholding method based on Gaussian mixture model

2008-2009 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Application of Particle Image Velocimetry in the Analysis of Scale Effects in Granular Soil

The available studies in the literature which dealt with the scale effects of strip footings on different sand packing systematically still remain scarce. In this research, the variation of ultimate bearing capacity and deformation pattern of soil beneath strip footings of different widths under plane-strain condition on the surface of loose, medium-dense and dense sand have been systematically studied using experimental and a noninvasive method for measuring microscopic deformations. The presented analyses are based on model scale compression test analysed using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. Upper bound analysis of the current study shows that the maximum vertical displacement of the sand under the ultimate load increases for an increase in the width of footing, but at a decreasing rate with relative density of sand, whereas the relative vertical displacement in the sand decreases for an increase in the width of the footing. A good agreement is observed between experimental results for different footing widths and relative densities. The experimental analyses have shown that there exists pronounced scale effect for strip surface footing. The bearing capacity factors Nγ rapidly decrease up to footing widths B=0.25 m, 0.35 m, and 0.65 m for loose, medium-dense and dense sand respectively, after that there is no significant decrease in Nγ. The deformation modes of the soil as well as the ultimate bearing capacity values have been affected by the footing widths. The obtained results could be used to improve settlement calculation of the foundation interacting with granular soil

Using detergent to enhance detection sensitivity of African trypanosomes in human CSF and blood by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)

<p><b>Background:</b> The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, with its advantages of simplicity, rapidity and cost effectiveness, has evolved as one of the most sensitive and specific methods for the detection of a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms including African trypanosomes. While many LAMP-based assays are sufficiently sensitive to detect DNA well below the amount present in a single parasite, the detection limit of the assay is restricted by the number of parasites present in the volume of sample assayed; i.e. 1 per µL or 103 per mL. We hypothesized that clinical sensitivities that mimic analytical limits based on parasite DNA could be approached or even obtained by simply adding detergent to the samples prior to LAMP assay.</p> <p><b>Methodology/Principal Findings:</b> For proof of principle we used two different LAMP assays capable of detecting 0.1 fg genomic DNA (0.001 parasite). The assay was tested on dilution series of intact bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood with or without the addition of the detergent Triton X-100 and 60 min incubation at ambient temperature. With human CSF and in the absence of detergent, the LAMP detection limit for live intact parasites using 1 µL of CSF as the source of template was at best 103 parasites/mL. Remarkably, detergent enhanced LAMP assay reaches sensitivity about 100 to 1000-fold lower; i.e. 10 to 1 parasite/mL. Similar detergent-mediated increases in LAMP assay analytical sensitivity were also found using DNA extracted from filter paper cards containing blood pretreated with detergent before card spotting or blood samples spotted on detergent pretreated cards.</p> <p><b>Conclusions/Significance:</b> This simple procedure for the enhanced detection of live African trypanosomes in biological fluids by LAMP paves the way for the adaptation of LAMP for the economical and sensitive diagnosis of other protozoan parasites and microorganisms that cause diseases that plague the developing world.</p&gt

Investigation of association of Helicobacter pylori and simple nasal polyps

Objective: To investigate a possible contribution of Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) in the etiopathogenesis of simple nasal polyps. Study Design: Prospective clinical trial. Methods: Twenty five patients with simple nasal polyps underwent nasal polypectomy were studied. Helicobacter pylori DNA was investigated for specimens removed from those patients by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Helicobacter pylori DNA was detected in 2 (8%) of total 25 specimens. Conclusion: We could not find strong indicator that H. pylori played a role at the tissue level in the pathogenesis of nasal polyp. Keywords: Nasal polyp - Helicobacter pylori Polymerase chain reaction.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2008: pp. 95-9

Radiative lifetimes of GdI and GdII

Natural radiative lifetimes of 25 even-parity levels in Gd i (4f(7) 5d(2) 6p, 4f(7)5d6s6p and 4f(8)5d6s configurations) and 13 even-parity levels in Gd it (4f(7)5d6p and 4f(7)6s6p configurations) have been measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique in a laser-induced gadolinium plasma. The Gd I and Gd it levels range in energy from 26 866 to 36 395 cm(-1), and 25 960 to 42 746 cm(-1), respectively. In the measurements, stimulated Brillouin scattering techniques were employed to produce I ns laser pulses to enable accurate measurements of short-lived states. The uncertainty of the radiative lifetimes is, with a few exceptions. about +/-5%