Amygdala Underlies the Environment Dependency of Defense Responses Induced via Superior Colliculus

In our previous study, we showed that the defense responses induced by the selective optogenetic activation of the uncrossed output pathway from the deeper layer of the superior colliculus were environment dependent in the mouse. In a small closed box, the stimulus frequently induced flight (fast forward run away) responses, while in a large open field, the stimulus tended to induce backward retreat responses. We tested a hypothesis that the amygdala is involved in such environment dependency of the innate defense responses. For this purpose, we made a bilateral lesion of the amygdala induced by the ibotenic acid injections in male mice. As a result, in the mice with lesions of substantial portions of the basolateral and basomedial complex, the flight responses in the closed box disappeared and retreat responses were mainly induced. The retreat responses on the open platform were unchanged. Classically, the amygdala has been considered to be involved in the memory-dependent contextual modulation of the fear responses. In contrast, the present results suggest a novel view on the role of the amygdala in which the amygdala plays a key role in sensing the current environmental setting for making a quick decision of action upon emergency, which is critical for survival in the natural environment.

Debunking the myth of ‘Blue Mondays’: No evidence of affect drop after taking clinical MDMA

Background: Incorporating 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as an adjunct to psychotherapy has shown promise in recent years for treating various mental health conditions, particularly those involving trauma. However, concerns about declines in mood and cognition during the days following dosing, also known as ‘Blue Mondays’, have been raised as limitations to its clinical use. Although these changes have been well-documented among recreational users, there are critical confounds to these reports that limit generalizability to clinically administered MDMA. Aims: Here, we aimed to evaluate the evidence basis for the negative side effects associated with MDMA as well as inform our understanding of the drug’s post-acute effects in a clinical context with an open-label study. Methods: The current open-label study examined MDMA therapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD; N = 14) and measured mood, sleep quality, illicit MDMA consumption and anecdotal reports after the acute drug effects had worn off. Results: Participants maintained a positive mood during the week following drug administration in a clinical context. Relative to baseline, self-reported sleep quality improved at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Finally, no participants reported using or desiring to use illicit MDMA, and the anecdotal reports indicated that they perceived the treatment favourably. Conclusion: The results support the overall safety and tolerability of clinically administered MDMA and, importantly, suggest that the ‘come downs’ previously associated with the substance may be explained by confounds in research relating to the illicit sourcing of the drug and specific environmental setting for recreational consumption.

A pilot study investigating the rapid estimation of intact dry density of chalk using low impact energy hardness measurements taken with an Equotip Leeb hardness tester

Intact dry density (IDD) is a key parameter for characterising the rock mass behaviour of chalk and is often the main classification property reported for engineering design. The role of IDD in coastal chalk settings has been discussed in literature as an important rock control for coastal cliff recession behaviour. This study demonstrates a tool that can reliably estimate the IDD of chalk samples. Originally developed for testing sheet steel materials, the Equotip has been shown to be adaptable for geological applications and the results of this study show that the Equotip can be used to derive a surface hardness value of dry chalk samples that has a positive correlation with IDD. Furthermore, the results show that the device is sensitive to the anisotropy of chalk and that testing undertaken in the diametral orientation give more accurate correlations. The results of this study also show that the Equotip is sensitive to environmental setting and the effects of weathering, giving a separate correlation for samples collected along the Sussex coastline to those obtained inland. A statistical assessment of the results shows that a characteristic hardness within an acceptable margin of error can be achieved from an optimal number of single impacts.

POLA PEMANFAATAN ALUN-ALUN SEBAGAI RUANG TERBUKA PUBLIK DI KOTA MAGELANG

Alun – alun kota Magelang merupakan salah satu ruang terbuka publik sekaligus Landmark Kota yang sering dikunjung oleh banyak orang, dimana banyak orang melakukan kegiatan sosial, ekonomi, dan berwisata. Setting lingkungan yang ditawarkan pada ruang terbuka publik mempengaruhi bagaimana pelakunya berkegiatan. Adanya kegiatan atraksi wisata, kuliner, permainan anak, dan olahraga menimbulkan adanya pola pemanfaatan ruang yang terjadi pada kawasan tersebut. Pola yang terebentuk didominasi oleh pelaku dan aktivitas yang menimbulkan intensitas kepadatan pada area tertentu. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah teknik behavioral mapping yang bertujuan untuk menggambarkan pola pemanfaatan ruang didalam sebuah peta kemudian mengidentifikasi frekuensi pelaku dan aktivitas yang dilakukan serta menunjukan kaitannya dengan setting lingkungan yang ditawarkan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pola pemanfaatan ruang pada area tertentu kemudian memberikan berupa usulan desain yang dapat menunjang kegiatan pelaku dan aktifitas pada alun – alun Kota Magelang. Hasil temuan yang didapat adalah dapat diketahui bahwa, intensitas pemanfaatan ruang tertinggi terdapat pada setting fisik dancing fountain sebagai atraksi wisata yang dapat dinikmati oleh semua kalangan pengguna pada periode waktu akhir pekan.THE PATTERN OF UTILIZING THE PLANES AS A PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IN MAGELANG CITYMagelang City Square is one of the public open spaces as well as a City Landmark that is often visited by many people, where many people carry out social, economic, and tour activities. Environmental settings offered in public open spaces affect how the perpetrators carry out activities. The activities of tourist attractions, culinary delights, children's games, and sports have led to a pattern of spatial use that occurs in the area. The formed pattern is dominated by actors and activities that cause density intensity in certain areas. The analytical method used is the behavioral mapping technique which aims to describe the pattern of spatial use in a map, then identify the frequency of actors and activities carried out and show their relation to the environmental setting offered. The purpose of this study is to determine the pattern of space utilization in a certain area and then provide a form of design proposals that can support the activities of the actors and activities in Magelang City Square. The findings show that the highest intensity of space utilization is found in the physical setting of the dancing fountain as a tourist attraction that can be enjoyed by all users during the weekend.

Habitat Complexity Affects the Structure but Not the Diversity of Sessile Communities on Tropical Coastal Infrastructure

Increasing human population, urbanisation, and climate change have resulted in the proliferation of hard coastal infrastructure such as seawalls and breakwaters. There is increasing impetus to create multifunctional coastal defence structures with the primary function of protecting people and property in addition to providing habitat for marine organisms through eco-engineering - a nature-based solutions approach. In this study, the independent and synergistic effects of physical complexity and seeding with native oysters in promoting diversity and abundances of sessile organisms were assessed at two locations on Penang Island, Malaysia. Concrete tiles with varying physical and biological complexity (flat, 2.5 cm ridges and crevices, and 5 cm ridges and crevices that were seeded or unseeded with oysters) were deployed and monitored over 12 months. The survival of the seeded oysters was not correlated with physical complexity. The addition of physical and biological complexity interacted to promote distinct community assemblages, but did not consistently increase the richness, diversity, or abundances of sessile organisms through time. These results indicate that complexity, whether physical or biological, is only one of many influences on biodiversity on coastal infrastructure. Eco-engineering interventions that have been reported to be effective in other regions may not work as effectively in others due to the highly dynamic conditions in coastal environment. Thus, it is important that other factors such as the local species pools, environmental setting (e.g., wave action), biological factors (e.g., predators), and anthropogenic stressors (e.g., pollution) should also be considered when designing habitat enhancements. Such factors acting individually or synergistically could potentially affect the outcomes of any planned eco-engineering interventions.

The smooth, spire-bearing brachiopods after the terminal Ordovician extinction through lower Llandovery in the central Oslo region, Norway

Strata of the Solvik Formation in the central Oslo region (upper Hirnantian to upper Aeronian) are rich in atrypides that elucidate the evolution of this group. A few athyridide brachiopods are also present. Eleven taxa of smooth spire-bearers are described taxonomically using fossils and peels. Among these occur one new genus, Eisaella, and five new species: Eisaella uniplicata, Thulatrypa huangi, T. vikenensis, ?Becscia pentagona, and Shelvothyris bivittata. Atrypides make up 30% (24 genera) of the total brachiopod genera in the Solvik Formation, more than one third of the known global atrypide fauna during that interval. Most are members of the family Lissatrypidae, illustrating the evolution of this group from upper Hirnantian and lower Silurian strata. These show close affinity to each other attesting to ongoing radiation. The new genus Eisaella is a likely ancestor of Lissatrypa, while Meifodia displays a gradual evolution through the formation. Atrypides were most diverse at the base and top of the Solvik Formation due to heterogony in environments and water depth, but were less diverse in the comparatively constant environmental setting of the late Rhuddanian time. The basal assemblages with few atrypides from shallow facies may be compared to the shallow Cathay Fauna of China. Most of the abundant Norwegian atrypide fauna is found in deeper water with few comparable faunas known globally. The Oslo region may have served as a center for the evolution and spread of atrypides immediately following the end-Ordovician glacial drawdown in sea level. UUID: http://zoobank.org/508dba95-5501-403d-9a4d-deeb324847c9

Research on the influence of accounting computerization and networking on E-commerce

E-commerce has broken through the pattern and boundary of traditional commodity exchange, so that there is no need for face-to-face transactions between merchants and consumers. This has impacted the traditional accounting industry, which broke the environmental setting of traditional accounting industry. This requires the extension and expansion of the economic environment of the new accounting industry, which has led to the computerization of accounting and the network of further upgrades. Accounting computerization and networking have greatly improved the speed and accuracy of accounting information processing, and at the same time made the classification of accounting duties more clear. However, accounting computerization and higher-level networking have in turn affected the development of e-commerce. Due to the rapid development of e-commerce, the corresponding internal auditing schemes of traditional enterprises have been unable to meet accounting and computerization. The impact of this will constrain the further development of e-commerce. Accounting computerization and networking the internal audit of e-commerce is mainly reflected in clues, internal control, and content and environment issues. This paper analyses the impact of accounting computerization and networking on the internal auditing of e-commerce, and finally analyse the auditing setup and experience based on a company H in the accounting information system, and explore the accounting calculation. In the context of globalization and networking, the strategy of how to deal with the trial and control part of e-commerce.