Manipulating the Level of Sensorimotor Stimulation during LI-rTMS Can Improve Visual Circuit Reorganisation in Adult Ephrin-A2A5-/- Mice

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has the potential to treat a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The extent of rTMS-induced neuroplasticity may be dependent on a subject’s brain state at the time of stimulation. Chronic low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) has previously been shown to induce beneficial structural and functional reorganisation within the abnormal visual circuits of ephrin-A2A5^-/- mice in ambient lighting. Here, we administered chronic LI-rTMS in adult ephrin-A2A5^-/- mice either in a dark environment or concurrently with voluntary locomotion. One day after the last stimulation session, optokinetic responses were assessed and fluorescent tracers were injected to map corticotectal and geniculocortical projections. We found that LI-rTMS in either treatment condition refined the geniculocortical map. Corticotectal projections were improved in locomotion+LI-rTMS subjects, but not in dark + LI-rTMS and sham groups. Visuomotor behaviour was not improved in any condition. Our results suggest that the beneficial reorganisation of abnormal visual circuits by rTMS can be significantly influenced by simultaneous, ambient visual input and is enhanced by concomitant physical exercise. Furthermore, the observed pathway-specific effects suggest that regional molecular changes and/or the relative proximity of terminals to the induced electric fields influence the outcomes of LI-rTMS on abnormal circuitry.     

Modeling the image quality of enhanced reflectance x-ray multilayers as a surface power spectral density filter function

Residual surface roughness over the entire range of relevant spatial frequencies must be specified and controlled in many high-performance optical systems. This is particularly true for enhanced reflectance multilayers if both high reflectance and high spatial resolution are desired. If we assume that the interfaces making up a multilayer coating are uncorrelated at high spatial frequencies (microroughness) and perfectly correlated at low spatial and midspatial frequencies, then the multilayer can be thought of as a surface power spectral density (PSD) filter function. Multilayer coatings thus behave as a low-pass spatial frequency filter acting on the substrate PSD, with the exact location and shape of this cutoff being material and process dependent. This concept allows us to apply conventional linear systems techniques to the evaluation of image quality and to the derivation of optical fabrication tolerances for applications utilizing enhanced reflectance x-ray multilayers.     

Calibration of multiplexed fiber-optic spectroscopy

Large-scale commercial bioprocesses that manufacture biopharmaceutical products such as monoclonal antibodies generally involve multiple bioreactors operated in parallel. Spectra recorded during in situ monitoring of multiple bioreactors by multiplexed fiber-optic spectroscopies contain not only spectral information of the chemical constituents but also contributions resulting from differences in the optical properties of the probes. Spectra with variations induced by probe differences cannot be efficiently modeled by the commonly used multivariate linear calibration models or effectively removed by popular empirical preprocessing methods. In this study, for the first time, a calibration model is proposed for the analysis of complex spectral data sets arising from multiplexed probes. In the proposed calibration model, the spectral variations introduced by probe differences are explicitly modeled by introducing a multiplicative parameter for each optical probe, and then their detrimental effects are effectively mitigated through a "dual calibration" strategy. The performance of the proposed multiplex calibration model has been tested on two multiplexed spectral data sets (i.e., MIR data of ternary mixtures and NIR data of bioprocesses). Experimental results suggest that the proposed calibration model can effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of probe differences and hence provide much more accurate predictions than commonly used multivariate linear calibration models (such as PLS) with and without empirical data preprocessing methods such as orthogonal signal correction, standard normal variate, or multiplicative signal correction.     

System analysis of hydrogen production from gasified black liquor

Hydrogen produced from renewable biofuel is both clean and CO₂ neutral. This paper evaluates energy and net CO₂ emissions consequences of integration of hydrogen production from gasified black liquor in a chemical pulp mill. A model of hydrogen production from gasified black liquor was developed and integration possibilities with the pulp mill's energy system were evaluated in order to maximize energy recovery. The potential hydrogen production is 59 000 tonnes per year if integrated with the KAM reference market pulp mill producing 630 000 Air dried tonnes (ADt) pulp/year. Changes of net CO₂ emissions associated with modified mill electric power balance, biofuel import and end usage of the produced hydrogen are presented and compared with other uses of gasified black liquor such as electricity production and methanol production. Hydrogen production will result in the greatest reduction of net CO₂ emissions and could reduce the Swedish CO₂ emissions by 8% if implemented in all chemical market pulp mills. The associated increases of biofuel and electric power consumption are 5% and 1.7%, respectively.     

The role of the experimental data base used to identify material parameters in predicting the cyclic plastic response of an austenitic steel

The first objective of this paper investigates the influence of the previous strain history on ratcheting. New tests were performed where different strain-controlled histories have been applied prior to ratcheting tests. It is demonstrated that under the same conditions, one can observe ratcheting, plastic shakedown or elasticity according to the prior strain-controlled history. The second objective points out the correlation between the experimental data base devoted to the identification of the material parameters and the quality of the predictions in cyclic plasticity. The results suggest that the choice of the tests should be closely linked to the capabilities of the model. In particular, the presence of non proportional strain-controlled tests in the data base may be not a good choice if the model itself is not able to represent explicitly such a character. All tests considered here were performed on 304L SS at room temperature.     

Incorporating Both Physical and Kinetic Limitations in Quantifying Dissolved Oxygen Flux to Aquatic Sediments

Traditionally, dissolved oxygen (DO) fluxes have been calculated using the thin-film theory with DO microstructure data in systems characterized by fine sediments and low velocities. However, recent experimental evidence of fluctuating DO concentrations near the sediment-water interface suggests that turbulence and coherent motions control the mass transfer, and the surface renewal theory gives a more mechanistic model for quantifying fluxes. Both models involve quantifying the mass transfer coefficient (k) and the relevant concentration difference (ΔC). This study compared several empirical models for quantifying k based on both thin-film and surface renewal theories, as well as presents a new method for quantifying ΔC (dynamic approach) that is consistent with the observed DO concentration fluctuations near the interface. Data were used from a series of flume experiments that includes both physical and kinetic uptake limitations of the flux. Results indicated that methods for quantifying k and ΔC using the surface renewal theory better estimated the DO flux across a range of fluid-flow conditions.     

English editorial

In highland Ecuador, food is a marker of identity on various levels, representing gender, social relationships, and ethnicity. In this article I explore the multiple qualities of food as a nutrient that strengthens and empowers the body, as a medium of exchange in social relationships, and as a symbol that can be manipulated in ritual contexts. I focus on food symbolism among the Salasacan people of the Ecuadorian Andes by analyzing the meanings of food and gender, and the use of food in different contexts including collective rituals for the Day of the Dead, funerals, and festivals. During different historical periods, and in various sociopolitical contexts, certain foods have come to represent indigenous Andean identity in contrast to White/Mestizo identity. I show that in Salasaca food provides strength to individual bodies as well as the collective social body, which is tied to ethnic identity and associated with a unique heritage.     

A Method of Driving a Chopping Disc at Slow or Moderate Speeds

An essential part of the densitometer described by Mr. Neale is a chopping disc rotating at approximately 7 revolutions per second. Various methods of coupling the disc to a small electric motor were tried but none was satisfactory. The problem was finally solved by constructing an eddy current motor of which the disc itself formed the rotating element.