Status and promise of particle interferometry in heavy-ion collisions

After five years of running at RHIC, and on the eve of the LHC heavy-ion program, we highlight the status of femtoscopic measurements. We emphasize the role interferometry plays in addressing fundamental questions about the state of matter created in such collisions, and present an enumerated list of measurements, analyses and calculations that are needed to advance the field in the coming years

Association between a longer duration of illness, age and lower frontal lobe grey matter volume in schizophrenia

The frontal lobe has an extended maturation period and may be vulnerable to the long-term effects of schizophrenia. We tested this hypothesis by studying the relationship between duration of illness (DoI), grey matter (GM) and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) volume across the whole brain. Sixty-four patients with schizophrenia and 25 healthy controls underwent structural MRI scanning and neuropsychological assessment. We performed regression analyses in patients to examine the relationship between DoI and GM and CSF volumes across the whole brain, and correlations in controls between age and GM or CSF volume of the regions where GM or CSF volumes were associated with DoI in patients. Correlations were also performed between GM volume in the regions associated with DoI and neuropsychological performance. A longer DoI was associated with lower GM volume in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), right middle frontal cortex, left fusiform gyrus (FG) and left cerebellum (lobule III). Additionally, age was inversely associated with GM volume in the left dorsomedial PFC in patients, and in the left FG and CSF excess near the left cerebellum in healthy controls. Greater GM volume in the left dorsomedial PFC was associated with better working memory, attention and psychomotor speed in patients. Our findings suggest that the right middle frontal cortex is particularly vulnerable to the long-term effect of schizophrenia illness whereas the dorsomedial PFC, FG and cerebellum are affected by both a long DoI and aging. The effect of illness chronicity on GM volume in the left dorsomedial PFC may be extended to brain structure–neuropsychological function relationships

Child Nutrition and Fitness in Switzerland and the United Kingdom: Analyzing Preventative Solutions for the Developing Obesity and Diabetes Crises

The current study takes a novel approach to analyzing how child nutrition and fitness can be used as preventative measures to solve the ongoing crises of obesity and diabetes. A comparison case-study between two stereotypically different European nations, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, was utilized to address how nutrition and fitness education, policy, culture and programs affect the health of the country. Each nation was analyzed comprehensively, accounting for dietary and exercise practices from infant stages to adolescence. Personal interviews with experts in the fields of breastfeeding, nutrition and fitness provided the main sources of information. Primary research was supplemented with data and studies collected from the literature, to provide a well-rounded depiction of nutrition and fitness cultures in Switzerland and the UK. Following investigation into the countries’ practices, non-communicable disease (NCD) rates were consulted in an attempt to draw a correlation between the observed differences in nutrition and fitness culture and disease trends. While a specific causative relationship was nearly impossible to draw, the anecdotal data support the notion that poorer nutrition and fitness cultures in the UK are an unquestioned factor in the higher obesity and overweight rates seen in this country. The results depicted in this study give credence to the notion that proper public health policy, programs and educational initiatives targeting infant to adolescent nutrition and fitness can be used as powerful preventative mechanisms to slow the spread of NCDs such as obesity and diabetes

Computational Approach to Dendritic Spine Taxonomy and Shape Transition Analysis

The common approach in morphological analysis of dendritic spines of mammalian neuronal cells is to categorize spines into subpopulations based on whether they are stubby, mushroom, thin, or filopodia shaped. The corresponding cellular models of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation, and long-term depression associate the synaptic strength with either spine enlargement or spine shrinkage. Although a variety of automatic spine segmentation and feature extraction methods were developed recently, no approaches allowing for an automatic and unbiased distinction between dendritic spine subpopulations and detailed computational models of spine behavior exist. We propose an automatic and statistically based method for the unsupervised construction of spine shape taxonomy based on arbitrary features. The taxonomy is then utilized in the newly introduced computational model of behavior, which relies on transitions between shapes. Models of different populations are compared using supplied bootstrap-based statistical tests. We compared two populations of spines at two time points. The first population was stimulated with long-term potentiation, and the other in the resting state was used as a control. The comparison of shape transition characteristics allowed us to identify the differences between population behaviors. Although some extreme changes were observed in the stimulated population, statistically significant differences were found only when whole models were compared. The source code of our software is freely available for non-commercial use1

Greenpoint\u27s Superfund Problem

A feature observing a community living in the shadow of a superfund site, a toxic industrial site in need of cleanup, that was recently purchased for development. The story looks at the complicated nature of this particular superfund and the problems the community around it has--including potential health risks during cleanup, rapid development, and an inescapable industrial past

Evaluation and implication of noise and vibration levels to the operators and proxy population around selected block molding industries in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction: Block-making industries owned by private individuals are cited in cities to utilize the existing market opportunity of supplying concrete blocks to developers. The study aimed to measure noise and vibration levels at selected block-molding industries and assess their health implications. Methods: The study design involves twenty-five block molding industries randomly selected in the Ibadan metropolis. These industries voluntarily agreed to participate in the research, and measurements were done between January and May 2022. The noise and vibration levels were measured using a digital multi-function environmental meter, Model DT-8820, and a vibration meter, Model VM-6360, respectively. Results: An overall mean noise level of 101.81 dB(A), 85.62 dB(A), 76.40 dB(A), 70.21 dB(A), 65.91 dB(A), and 63.61 dB(A) at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 m, respectively, away from the source to residential buildings were obtained. Results indicate that the noise level at 0 m and 10 m exceeded the occupational noise level standard. The results obtained for the vibration levels on the hand of the operators ranged from 42.2 ms-2  to 59.7 ms-2  and these exceeded the occupational vibration level standard. This may indicate that the operators of the block-moulding machine may be exposed to various adverse health detriments due to high noise and vibration levels at their workplace. Conclusion: The study recommends using safety gadgets such as hearing protection and anti-vibration gloves for workers in these industries. Moreover, environmental education and awareness should be carried out, and residential structures should be situated at least 20 meters from the block industries

Cerebral activations related to ballistic, stepwise interrupted and gradually modulated movements in parkinson patients

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience impaired initiation and inhibition of movements such as difficulty to start/stop walking. At single-joint level this is accompanied by reduced inhibition of antagonist muscle activity. While normal basal ganglia (BG) contributions to motor control include selecting appropriate muscles by inhibiting others, it is unclear how PD-related changes in BG function cause impaired movement initiation and inhibition at single-joint level. To further elucidate these changes we studied 4 right-hand movement tasks with fMRI, by dissociating activations related to abrupt movement initiation, inhibition and gradual movement modulation. Initiation and inhibition were inferred from ballistic and stepwise interrupted movement, respectively, while smooth wrist circumduction enabled the assessment of gradually modulated movement. Task-related activations were compared between PD patients (N = 12) and healthy subjects (N = 18). In healthy subjects, movement initiation was characterized by antero-ventral striatum, substantia nigra (SN) and premotor activations while inhibition was dominated by subthalamic nucleus (STN) and pallidal activations, in line with the known role of these areas in simple movement. Gradual movement mainly involved antero-dorsal putamen and pallidum. Compared to healthy subjects, patients showed reduced striatal/SN and increased pallidal activation for initiation, whereas for inhibition STN activation was reduced and striatal-thalamo-cortical activation increased. For gradual movement patients showed reduced pallidal and increased thalamo-cortical activation. We conclude that PD-related changes during movement initiation fit the (rather static) model of alterations in direct and indirect BG pathways. Reduced STN activation and regional cortical increased activation in PD during inhibition and gradual movement modulation are better explained by a dynamic model that also takes into account enhanced responsiveness to external stimuli in this disease and the effects of hyper-fluctuating cortical inputs to the striatum and STN in particular

ECOTOURISM POTENTIALS OF THE MAJANG FOREST BIOSPHERE RESERVE. GAMBELLA, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Purpose – the purpose of this study was to identify ecotourism potentials of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve. Methodology – The study employed qualitative research approach using an exploratory research design. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion besides to field observations. Accordingly, key informants interviewees were held with 12 villages senior leaders (n=60), key informants from 6 departments (n=30) and NGO experts (n=5). Altogether, 95 respondents were involved in this study Findings – The results of this research revealed that fauna and flora (87%), water bodies (waterfalls, rivers, and lakes) (82%), cultural attractions (54%), manmade attractions as well as historical sites are found to be the major ecotourism potentials of the Biosphere Reserve. Originality – The study provides complied information of ecotourism potentials of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve, which has not been explored before. It enhances the concept of ecotourism and level of understanding of stakeholders in ecotourism potentials of the biosphere. Its findings contributes to better conservation of the biosphere reserve through creating awareness and commitment to decision makers, politicians, experts, leaders, eco-tourists, local community, etc. Social Implications - Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve has endowed numerous ecotourism potentials. However, the flow of eco-tourists to the destination and ecotourism activities are very weak. As a result, local communities living around biosphere reserve are less benefited from the ecotourism development. This study promotes ecotourism potentials of the biosphere reserve. It enhances the benefit of local communities through ecotourism activities like tour guiding association, beekeeping, souvenir shops, cultural shows, horse riding services, offering cultural foods, drinks and dressings. Limitations – Further deep study is vital to identify more ecotourism potentials. Promotion and marketing strategies need to be adopted and promoted wherein using internet, big hoardings, billboards, posters, and travel desks. Infrastructures should be improved eco-friendly to facilitate ecotourism activities

Biases in the Explore-Exploit Tradeoff in Addictions: The Role of Avoidance of Uncertainty.

We focus on exploratory decisions across disorders of compulsivity, a potential dimensional construct for the classification of mental disorders. Behaviors associated with the pathological use of alcohol or food, in alcohol use disorders (AUD) or binge-eating disorder (BED), suggest a disturbance in explore-exploit decision-making, whereby strategic exploratory decisions in an attempt to improve long-term outcomes may diminish in favor of more repetitive or exploitatory choices. We compare exploration vs exploitation across disorders of natural (obesity with and without BED) and drug rewards (AUD). We separately acquired resting state functional MRI data using a novel multi-echo planar imaging sequence and independent components analysis from healthy individuals to assess the neural correlates underlying exploration. Participants with AUD showed reduced exploratory behavior across gain and loss environments, leading to lower-yielding exploitatory choices. Obese subjects with and without BED did not differ from healthy volunteers but when compared with each other or to AUD subjects, BED had enhanced exploratory behaviors particularly in the loss domain. All subject groups had decreased exploration or greater uncertainty avoidance to losses compared with rewards. More exploratory decisions in the context of reward were associated with frontal polar and ventral striatal connectivity. For losses, exploration was associated with frontal polar and precuneus connectivity. We further implicate the relevance and dimensionality of constructs of compulsivity across disorders of both natural and drug rewards.The study was funded by the Wellcome Trust Fellowship grant for VV (093705/Z/10/Z) and Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. VV and NAH are Wellcome Trust (WT) intermediate Clinical Fellows. LSM is in receipt of an MRC studentship. The BCNI is supported by a WT and MRC grant. MF is funded by NIMH and NSF grants and is consultant for Hoffman LaRoche pharmaceuticals. The remaining authors declare no competing financial interests.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from NPG via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.20

Prefrontal response and frontostriatal functional connectivity to monetary reward in abstinent alcohol-dependent young adults

Although altered function in neural reward circuitry is widely proposed in models of addiction, more recent conceptual views have emphasized the role of disrupted response in prefrontal regions. Changes in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are postulated to contribute to the compulsivity, impulsivity, and altered executive function that are central to addiction. In addition, few studies have examined function in these regions during young adulthood, when exposure is less chronic than in typical samples of alcohol-dependent adults. To address these issues, we examined neural response and functional connectivity during monetary reward in 24 adults with alcohol dependence and 24 psychiatrically healthy adults. Adults with alcohol dependence exhibited less response to the receipt of monetary reward in a set of prefrontal regions including the medial prefrontal cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Adults with alcohol dependence also exhibited greater negative correlation between function in each of these regions and that in the nucleus accumbens. Within the alcohol-dependent group, those with family history of alcohol dependence exhibited lower mPFC response, and those with more frequent drinking exhibited greater negative functional connectivity between the mPFC and the nucleus accumbens. These findings indicate that alcohol dependence is associated with less engagement of prefrontal cortical regions, suggesting weak or disrupted regulation of ventral striatal response. This pattern of prefrontal response and frontostriatal connectivity has consequences for the behavior patterns typical of addiction. Furthermore, brain-behavior findings indicate that the potential mechanisms of disruption in frontostriatal circuitry in alcohol dependence include family liability to alcohol use problems and more frequent use of alcohol. In all, these findings build on the extant literature on reward-circuit function in addiction and suggest mechanisms for disrupted function in alcohol dependence. © 2014 Forbes et al