First-passage time for many-particle diffusion in space-time random environments.

The first-passage time for a single diffusing particle has been studied extensively, but the first-passage time of a system of many diffusing particles, as is often the case in physical systems, has received little attention until recently. We consider two models for many-particle diffusion-one treats each particle as independent simple random walkers while the other treats them as coupled to a common space-time random forcing field that biases particles nearby in space and time in similar ways. The first-passage time of a single diffusing particle under both models shows the same statistics and scaling behavior.

Assessing morphological preservation of gastrointestinal parasites from fecal samples of wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) stored in ethanol versus formalin.

The copromicroscopic identification of gastrointestinal parasites is a common, cost-effective method vital to understanding host-parasite interactions. However, its efficacy depends on effective preservation of the samples. In this study, we compare the preservation of ethanol and formalin preserved gastrointestinal parasites collected from a wild population of Costa Rican capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator).

Anomalous fluctuations of extremes in many-particle diffusion.

In many-particle diffusions, particles that move the furthest and fastest can play an outsized role in physical phenomena. A theoretical understanding of the behavior of such extreme particles is nascent. A classical model, in the spirit of Einstein's treatment of single-particle diffusion, has each particle taking independent homogeneous random walks.

Information-Rich, Dual-Function C/H-Isotopic Crosstalk NMR Assay for Human Serine Racemase (hSR) Provides a PLP-Enzyme "Partitioning Fingerprint" and Reveals Disparate Chemotypes for hSR Inhibition.

The first dual-function assay for human serine racemase (hSR), the only bona fide racemase in human biology, is reported. The hSR racemization function is essential for neuronal signaling, as the product, d-serine (d-Ser), is a potent -methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) coagonist, important for learning and memory, with dysfunctional d-Ser-signaling being observed in some neuronal disorders. The second hSR function is β-elimination and gives pyruvate; this activity is elevated in colorectal cancer.

Risk Factors for cognitive, motor and language development of preterm children in the first year of life.

Objective: To perform a longitudinal investigation of risk factors in premature infants' cognitive, motor, and language development.

Methods: Thirty-three preterm infants were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 months of corrected age, using the Bayley-III Scales. Parents completed questionnaires regarding development opportunities at home, parenting practices and knowledge.

Constraints on persistent activity in a biologically detailed network model of the prefrontal cortex with heterogeneities.

Persistent activity, the maintenance of neural activation over short periods of time in cortical networks, is widely thought to underlie the cognitive function of working memory. A large body of modeling studies has reproduced this kind of activity using cell assemblies with strengthened synaptic connections. However, almost all of these studies have considered persistent activity within networks with homogeneous neurons and synapses, making it difficult to judge the validity of such model results for cortical dynamics, which is based on highly heterogeneous neurons.

Effective connectivity of the human mirror neuron system during social cognition.

The human mirror neuron system (MNS) can be considered the neural basis of social cognition. Identifying the global network structure of this system can provide significant progress in the field. In this study, we use dynamic causal modeling (DCM) to determine the effective connectivity between central regions of the MNS for the first time during different social cognition tasks.

Family-centered music therapy-Empowering premature infants and their primary caregivers through music: Results of a pilot study.

Background: In Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) premature infants are exposed to various acoustic, environmental and emotional stressors which have a negative impact on their development and the mental health of their parents. Family-centred music therapy bears the potential to positively influence these stressors. The few existing studies indicate that interactive live-improvised music therapy interventions both reduce parental stress factors and support preterm infants' development.

The human mirror neuron system-A common neural basis for social cognition?

According to the theory of embodied simulation, mirror neurons (MN) in our brain's motor system are the neuronal basis of all social-cognitive processes. The assumption of such a mirroring process in humans could be supported by results showing that within one person the same region is involved in different social cognition tasks. We conducted an fMRI-study with 75 healthy participants who completed three tasks: imitation, empathy, and theory of mind.

Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast.

Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), have been compiled in a number of countries, yet there have been few attempts to develop them for the U.S. We explore the potential for U.

Dynamic Causal Modeling for fMRI With Wilson-Cowan-Based Neuronal Equations.

Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) is an analysis technique that has been successfully used to infer about directed connectivity between brain regions based on imaging data such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Most variants of DCM for fMRI rely on a simple bilinear differential equation for neural activation, making it difficult to interpret the results in terms of local neural dynamics. In this work, we introduce a modification to DCM for fMRI by replacing the bilinear equation with a non-linear Wilson-Cowan based equation and use Bayesian Model Comparison (BMC) to show that this modification improves the model evidences.

Selective Phosphodiesterase 1 Inhibitor BTTQ Reduces Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive and Dahl Salt Sensitive Rats: Role of Peripheral Vasodilation.

Regulation of the peripheral vascular resistance via modulating the vessel diameter has been considered as a main determinant of the arterial blood pressure. Phosphodiesterase enzymes (PDE1-11) hydrolyse cyclic nucleotides, which are key players controlling the vessel diameter and, thus, peripheral resistance. Here, we have tested and reported the effects of a novel selective PDE1 inhibitor (BTTQ) on the cardiovascular system.

What kind of seed dormancy occurs in the legume genus Cassia?

Cassia is a diverse legume genus widespread in the (sub-)tropical zone of the world. Several studies have been done on this genus; however, significant changes have occurred at the taxonomic level over the years. This has led to inaccurate information about seed dormancy in Cassia since many species are no longer included in the genus.

Do fertility treatments affect labor induction success rate? A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate labor induction success rate by Foley catheter (FC) on patients who conceived spontaneously, as compared to those who underwent fertility treatments.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all pregnant women hospitalized at a single tertiary care center between January 2011 and May 2018 for induction of labor with FC. The study groups included patients with a singleton pregnancy who conceived after fertility treatments: controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) or fertilization (IVF), while control group included patients who conceived spontaneously.

fMRI adaptation reveals: The human mirror neuron system discriminates emotional valence.

Our ability to infer other individuals' emotions is central for successful social interactions. Based on the theory of embodied simulation, our mirror neuron system (MNS) provides the essential link between the observed facial configuration of another individual and our inference of the emotion by means of common neuronal activation. However, so far it is unknown, whether the MNS differentiates the valence of facial configurations.

The effects of concentric and eccentric training in murine models of dysferlin-associated muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: Dysferlin-deficient murine muscle sustains severe damage after repeated eccentric contractions.

Methods: With a robotic dynamometer, we studied the response of dysferlin-sufficient and dysferlin-deficient mice to 12 weeks of concentrically or eccentrically biased contractions. We also studied whether concentric contractions before or after eccentric contractions reduced muscle damage in dysferlin-deficient mice.

Hyperfunctioning of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus in response to neutral facial expressions presents an endophenotype of schizophrenia.

Deficits in social cognition have been proposed as a marker of schizophrenia. Growing evidence suggests especially hyperfunctioning of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) in response to neutral social stimuli reflecting the neural correlates of social-cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. We characterized healthy participants according to schizotypy (n = 74) and the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1344706 in ZNF804A (n = 73), as they represent risk variants for schizophrenia from the perspectives of personality traits and genetics, respectively.

Biased competition in the absence of input bias revealed through corticostriatal computation.

Classical accounts of biased competition require an input bias to resolve the competition between neuronal ensembles driving downstream processing. However, flexible and reliable selection of behaviorally relevant ensembles can occur with unbiased stimulation: striatal D1 and D2 spiny projection neurons (SPNs) receive balanced cortical input, yet their activity determines the choice between GO and NO-GO pathways in the basal ganglia. We here present a corticostriatal model identifying three mechanisms that rely on physiological asymmetries to effect rate- and time-coded biased competition in the presence of balanced inputs.

Computing trisections of 4-manifolds.

We describe an algorithm to compute trisections of orientable four-manifolds using arbitrary triangulations as input. This results in explicit complexity bounds for the trisection genus of a 4-manifold in terms of the number of pentachora (4-simplices) in a triangulation.

Flexible resonance in prefrontal networks with strong feedback inhibition.

Oscillations are ubiquitous features of brain dynamics that undergo task-related changes in synchrony, power, and frequency. The impact of those changes on target networks is poorly understood. In this work, we used a biophysically detailed model of prefrontal cortex (PFC) to explore the effects of varying the spike rate, synchrony, and waveform of strong oscillatory inputs on the behavior of cortical networks driven by them.

Does the distribution frequency matter? A subgroup specific analysis of the effectiveness of the EU School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme in Germany comparing twice and thrice weekly deliveries.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of two different implementation forms of the EU School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS).

Design: A quasi-experimental design was applied including a thrice as well as a twice weekly intervention group. Repeated 24 h dietary recalls were used to measure children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake.

What determines the fruit and vegetables intake of primary school children? - An analysis of personal and social determinants.

The high prevalence of childhood obesity is a major concern in developed and developing countries. An increase in fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is perceived as one of the numerous strategies to prevent and reduce the risk of adiposity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of personal and social determinants in explaining children's F&V intake.

Radio frequency-mediated local thermotherapy for destruction of pancreatic tumors using Ni-Au core-shell nanowires.

We present a novel method of radio frequency (RF)-mediated thermotherapy in tumors by remotely heating nickel (Ni)-gold (Au) core-shell nanowires (CSNWs). Ectopic pancreatic tumors were developed in nude mice to evaluate the thermotherapeutic effects on tumor progression. Tumor ablation was produced by RF-mediated thermotherapy via activation of the paramagnetic properties of the Ni-Au CSNWs.