Effective influences in neuronal networks : attentional modulation of effective influences underlying flexible processing and how to measure them

Selective routing of information between brain areas is a key prerequisite for flexible adaptive behaviour. It allows to focus on relevant information and to ignore potentially distracting influences. Selective attention is a psychological process which controls this preferential processing of relevant information. The neuronal network structures and dynamics, and the attentional mechanisms by which this routing is enabled are not fully clarified. Based on previous experimental findings and theories, a network model is proposed which reproduces a range of results from the attention literature. It depends on shifting of phase relations between oscillating neuronal populations to modulate the effective influence of synapses. This network model might serve as a generic routing motif throughout the brain. The attentional modifications of activity in this network are investigated experimentally and found to employ two distinct channels to influence processing: facilitation of relevant information and independent suppression of distracting information. These findings are in agreement with the model and previously unreported on the level of neuronal populations. Furthermore, effective influence in dynamical systems is investigated more closely. Due to a lack of a theoretical underpinning for measurements of influence in non-linear dynamical systems such as neuronal networks, often unsuited measures are used for experimental data that can lead to erroneous conclusions. Based on a central theorem in dynamical systems, a novel theory of effective influence is developed. Measures derived from this theory are demonstrated to capture the time dependent effective influence and the asymmetry of influences in model systems and experimental data. This new theory holds the potential to uncover previously concealed interactions in generic non-linear systems studied in a range of disciplines, such as neuroscience, ecology, economy and climatology

Die Entwicklung auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt seit den frühen Jahren der Bundesrepublik bis heute

Seit der Gründung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland haben verschiedene Megatrends die Entwicklungen auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt maßgeblich beeinflusst. Insbesondere die voranschreitende Globalisierung hat zur weiteren Öffnung der deutschen Volkwirtschaft geführt und den sektoralen Strukturwandel, das heißt den Wandel von der Industrie- zur Dienstleistungsgesellschaft beschleunigt. Gleichzeitig hat das durchschnittliche Wirtschaftswachstum seit den 1950er-Jahren bedeutend nachgelassen. Auf dem Arbeitsmarkt wurden zudem schon Jahrzehnte vor der Einführung der Hartz-Reformen Flexibilisierungsmaßnahmen durchgesetzt, um einem Anstieg der Arbeitslosigkeit entgegenzuwirken. Insgesamt unterlag der Arbeitsmarkt in den vergangenen 60 Jahren einem starken Wandel. Wir identifizieren Gewinner und Verlierer dieser Entwicklung in einer multidimensionalen Betrachtung der Entwicklung in den Bereichen Bildung, Arbeitsmarkbeteiligung, Qualifikationsniveau der Beschäftigung und Einkommensentwicklung. Die Analyse wird mit harmonisierten Mikrodaten (Mikrozensus 1962-2013) auf Individualebene und auf dem Haushaltslevel durchgeführt

Effect of point-of-purchase calorie labeling on restaurant and cafeteria food choices: A review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eating away from home has increased in prevalence among US adults and now comprises about 50% of food expenditures. Calorie labeling on chain restaurant menus is one specific policy that has been proposed to help consumers make better food choices at restaurants. The present review evaluates the available empirical literature on the effects of calorie information on food choices in restaurant and cafeteria settings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Computer-assisted searches were conducted using the PUBMED database and the Google Scholar world wide web search engine to identify studies published in peer-review journals that evaluated calorie labeling of cafeteria or restaurant menu items. Studies that evaluated labeling only some menu items (e.g. low calorie foods only) were excluded from the review since the influence of selective labeling may be different from that which may be expected from comprehensive labeling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six studies were identified that met the selection criteria for this review. Results from five of these studies provide some evidence consistent with the hypothesis that calorie information may influence food choices in a cafeteria or restaurant setting. However, results from most of these studies suggest the effect may be weak or inconsistent. One study found no evidence of an effect of calorie labeling on food choices. Each of the studies had at least one major methodological shortcoming, pointing toward the need for better designed studies to more rigorously evaluate the influence of point-of-purchase calorie labeling on food choices.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>More research is needed that meets minimum standards of methodological quality. Studies need to include behavioral outcomes such as food purchase and eating behaviors. Also, studies need to be implemented in realistic settings such as restaurants and cafeterias.</p

Quantitation of alpha-linolenic acid elongation to eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid as affected by the ratio of n6/n3 fatty acids

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conversion of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) to their higher chain homologues in humans depends on the ratio of ingested n6 and n3 fatty acids.</p> <p>Design and methods</p> <p>In order to determine the most effective ratio with regard to the conversion of ALA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), human hepatoma cells were incubated with varying ratios of [¹³C] labeled linoleic acid ([¹³C]LA)- and alpha-linolenic acid ([¹³C]ALA)-methylesters. Regulative cellular signal transduction pathways involved were studied by determinations of transcript levels of the genes encoding delta-5 desaturase (D5D) and delta-6 desaturase (D6D), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c). Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) were also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Maximum conversion was observed in cells incubated with the mixture of [¹³C]LA/[¹³C]ALA at a ratio of 1:1, where 0.7% and 17% of the recovered [¹³C]ALA was converted to DHA and EPA, respectively. Furthermore, differential regulation of enzymes involved in the conversion at the transcript level, dependent on the ratio of administered n6 to n3 fatty acids in human hepatocytes was demonstrated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Formation of EPA and DHA was highest at an administered LA/ALA ratio of 1:1, although gene expression of PPARα, SREBP-1c and D5D involved in ALA elongation were higher in the presence of ALA solely. Also, our findings suggest that a diet-induced enhancement of the cell membrane content of highly unsaturated fatty acids is only possible up to a certain level.</p

the role of parenthood

To obtain a more complete understanding of the persisting gender earnings gap in Germany, this paper investigates both the cross-sectional and biographical dimension of gender inequalities. Using an Oaxaca Blinder decomposition, we show that the gender gap in annual earnings is largely driven by women’s lower work experience and intensive margin of labor supply. Based on a dynamic microsimulation model, we then estimate how gender di↵erences accumulate over work lives to account for the biographical dimension of the gender gap. We observe an average gender lifetime earnings gap of 51.5 percent for birth cohorts 1964-1972. We show that this unadjusted gender lifetime earnings gap increases strongly with the number of children, ranging from 17.8 percent for childless women to 68.0 percent for women with three or more children. However, using a counterfactual analysis we find that the adjusted gender lifetime earnings gap of 10 percent di↵ers only slightly by women’s family background

In die Zange genommen

Im Zusammenhang mit den grundlegenden gesellschaftskritischen Bewegungen, die sich um 1968 in Europa etablieren, setzt in Westdeutschland auch die Kritik am modernen Wohnungsbau des Wiederaufbaus ein. Unterschiedliche konvergierende Linien der Kritik – sowohl aus dem progressiven wie aus dem konservativen Spektrum – führen im Ergebnis zu einer bis heute fortwirkenden negativen Sicht auf den Siedlungsbau der Nachkriegsmoderne und einer bisweilen klischeehaften, positiven Sicht auf den Altbaubestand der Gründerzeit. Beide Linien der Kritik geben primär die Stimme der akademischen Mittelschicht wieder, die sie in die Presse und in den Architektur- und Planungsdiskurs eingebracht hat und diesen bis heute dominiert. Beide Linien der Kritik vernachlässigen den zeitgenössischen gesellschaftlichen, wirtschaftlichen und politischen Kontext und insbesondere die Sicht der Bewohner_innen, was zu einer verzerrten Darstellung führ

Die kirchliche Verwaltung des heiligen Abendmahls

Separaati väljaandest Dorpater Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche. Bd. 10. Jg. 1868http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b1757534~S1*es