The role of posterior pallial amygdala in mediating motor behaviors in pigeons

The posterior pallial amygdala (PoA) is located on the basolateral caudal telencephalon, including the basal division of PoA (PoAb) and the compact division of PoA (PoAc). PoA plays a vital role in emotion regulation and is considered a part of the amygdala in birds. However, the regulatory functions responsible for motor behaviors and emotions between PoAb and PoAc are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the structure and function of PoA by tract-tracing methods, constant current electrical stimulation, and different dopamine receptor drug injections in pigeons (Columba livia domestica). PoAb connects reciprocally with two nuclear groups in the cerebrum: 1) a continuum comprising the temporo–parieto–occipitalis, corticoidea dorsolateralis, hippocampus, and parahippocampalis areas and 2) rostral areas of the hemisphere, including the nucleus septalis lateralis and nucleus taeniae amygdalae. Extratelencephalic projections of PoAb terminate in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus and are scattered in many limbic midbrain regions. PoAb and PoAc mainly mediated the turning movement. In the ‘open-field’ test, D1 agonist and D2 antagonist could significantly reduce the latency period for entering into the central area and increase the residence time in the central area, whereas D1 antagonist and D2 agonist had the opposite effect. PoAb and PoAc are important brain areas that mediate turning behavior.

Effect of Nozzle Outlet Type On the Flow Field Velocity and Impact Pressure of High Pressure Water Jet Peening

Water jet peening can effectively improve the fatigue strength of metal materials, and the outlet shape of nozzle greatly affects the effect of water jet peening. In this paper, the effects of nozzle outlet shape on water jet velocity and impact pressure is studied by numerical simulation, and the jet velocity and dynamic pressure for different standoff distances are also discussed. The results show that the water jets of square, circular and triangular nozzles are highly concentrated, and the water jet of elliptical nozzles is the most divergent. The axial velocity attenuation of the square nozzle along the axis is slower than that of the other three nozzles. The water axial velocity of the elliptical nozzle attenuates fastest and the length of the core segment of the water jet is the smallest. Within a certain axial distance, the dynamic pressure area in the central area of the elliptical water jet is obviously larger than that of the other three nozzles, and the effective treatment range is large, which is more suitable for the welding surface strengthening operation.

Cymbopleura huohuaensis sp. nov. (Cymbellaceae; Bacillariophyceae), a new species from Sichuan Province, China

Cymbopleura huohuaensis sp. nov. is identified as a new species and described from stone surfaces in Huohua Lake, Sichuan Province, China. A detailed morphological description of the new species is presented, based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Cymbopleura huohuaensis sp. nov. has the features that assign it to the genus Cymbopleura, including the raphe with dorsally deflected terminal fissures and ventrally curved central raphe ends, punctate-lineate striae, and the absence of apical pore fields and stigmata. There are five features that easily distinguish the new species from the other similar taxa within the genus: 1) linear-lanceolate central area, 2) mostly slit-like, partly T-shaped, V-shaped or irregularly-shaped areolae, 3) strongly reverse-lateral raphe, 4) slightly truncate to obtusely rounded ends and 5) the highest density of areolae (30–50 in 10 μm). Among the currently described species of Cymbopleura, the new species is in general most similar to C. subaequalis var. pertruncata in valve shape and possessing a reverse-lateral raphe, but is easily distinguished from that taxon by the size and shape of valve, shape of central area, and the degree of asymmetry about the apical axis and its notable lack of an intermissio. This species might be better placed in the C. austriaca group due to its lack of an intermissio. These findings increase our understanding the morphology and distribution of the genus Cymbopleura in China.

Archaeometric perspective on the emergence of brass north of the Alps around the turn of the Era

Ancient brass (aurichalcum) was a valued commodity in the Antiquity, notably because of its gold-like appearance. After mastering brass fabrication using the cementation procedure in the first century BC in the Mediterranean, this material became widely used by the Romans for coins, jewellery and other artefacts. Because of its visual qualities, it is believed that since this period, brass played an important role in diplomatic and economic contacts with indigenous communities, notably Celtic and Germanic tribes north of Danube and west of Rhine. To test this hypothesis, we performed for the first time the advanced statistical multivariate analysis based on chemical composition and lead isotope systematics, coupled with informed typo-chronological categorisation, of a suite of late Iron Age and Early Roman period (first century BC – first century AD) brass and other copper-alloy artefacts from the territory of Bohemia. In order to to discuss their provenance, the results were compared to known contemporary sources of material. The new results for brass artefacts from this early phase of the massive occurrence of Roman aurichalcum in the Barbarian territories point to the ore deposits in the western Mediterranean or the Massif Central area in Gaul, consistent with historical events. These new findings underscore the great economic and political importance of the new and rich mineral resources in the Transalpine Gaul acquired due to Caesar's military campaigns.

Knowledge management activities: Conceptual foundations and research issues

Knowledge is a broad concept whose epistemological construct has been debated since the days of the early Greek philosophers. Knowledge was discussed extensively during the Renaissance, became a central area of study during the Scientific Revolution and was applied extensively within organisations throughout the Industrial Revolution. Knowledge became an organisational resource of significant interest, emerging over the past 25 years as a unique field of study called knowledge management (KM). Much of the KM literature addresses matters of practice and application; what is missing is a deep and conceptual analysis of the activities that drive KM processes. This article provides a conceptualisation of KM activities focusing on the underlying foundations of these activities. The result is a rich framework of KM activities that can be used to pursue important research areas involved in studying KM processes, including theory development, areas of overlap and where further research is needed.

Dynamic Changes in Groundwater Level under Climate Changes in the Gnangara Region, Western Australia

The groundwater-dependent ecosystem in the Gnangara region is confronted with great threats due to the decline in groundwater level since the 1970s. The aim of this study is to apply multiple trend analysis methods at 351 monitoring bores to detect the trends in groundwater level using spatial, temporal and Hydrograph Analysis: Rainfall and Time Trend models, which were applied to evaluate the impacts of rainfall on the groundwater level in the Gnangara region, Western Australia. In the period of 1977–2017, the groundwater level decreased from the Gnangara’s edge to the central-north area, with a maximum trend magnitude of −0.28 m/year. The groundwater level in 1998–2017 exhibited an increasing trend in December–March and a decreasing trend in April–November with the exception of September when compared to 1978–1997. The rainfall + time model based on the cumulative annual residual rainfall technique with a one-month lag during 1990–2017 was determined as the best model. Rainfall had great impacts on the groundwater level in central Gnangara, with the highest impact coefficient being 0.00473, and the impacts reduced gradually from the central area to the boundary region. Other factors such as pine plantation, the topography and landforms, the Tamala Limestone formation, and aquifer groundwater abstraction also had important influences on the groundwater level.

Novel Method of Measuring Corneal Viscoelasticity Using the Corvis ST Tonometer

Background: The process of rapid propagation of the corneal deformation in air puff tonometer depends not only on intraocular pressure, but also on the biomechanical properties of the cornea and anterior eye. One of the biomechanical properties of the cornea is viscoelasticity, which is the most visible in its high-speed deformations. It seems reasonable to link the corneal viscoelasticity parameter to two moments of the highest speed of corneal deformations, when the cornea buckles. The aim of this work is to present a method of determining the time and place of occurrence of corneal buckling, examine spatial and temporal dependencies between two corneal applanations and bucklings in the Corvis ST tonometer, and correlate these dependencies with corneal viscoelastic properties. Methods: Images of the horizontal cross section of the Corvis ST deformed cornea from the air puff tonometer Corvis ST were used. 14 volunteers participated in the study, each of them had one eye measured eight times. Mutual changes in the profile slopes of the deformed corneas were numerically determined. They describe pure corneal deformation, eliminating the influence of rotation, and displacement of the entire eyeball. For each point in the central area of the corneal profile, the maximum velocities of mutual slope changes accompanying the applanations were estimated. The times of their occurrence were adopted as buckling times. Results: The propagation of buckling along the corneal profile is presented, as well as the repeatability and mutual correlations between the buckling parameters and intraocular pressure. Based on the relationship between them, a new parameter describing corneal hysteresis: Corvis Viscoelasticity (CVE) is introduced. It is characterized by high repeatability: ICC = 0.82 (0.69–0.93 CI) and low and insignificant correlation with intraocular pressure: r = 0.25 (p-value = 0.38). Conclusion: The results show for the first time how to measure the corneal buckling and viscoelastic effects with Corvis ST. CVE is a new proposed biomechanical parameter related to the viscoelastic properties of the cornea, which has high repeatability for the examined subject. The distribution of its values is planned to be tested on different groups of patients in order to investigate its clinical applicability.

Decomposition Kinetics and Cook-Off Numerical Simulation of Insensitive Energetic Plasticizer Plasticized Propellants

Aiming at the thermal safety issues between the insensitive energetic plasticizer and propellant components, NG/BTTN and insensitive energetic plasticizer BuNENA plasticized propellant was compared by DSC test and cook-off numerical simulation, with the thermal safety property evaluated. The decomposition activation energy Ea and self-ignition temperature Tb of BuNENA plasticized propellant was lower than that of NG/BTTN plasticized propellant. Two kinds of propellant responded in the central area during slow cook-off simulation while in the near shell area during medium cook-off simulation. During fast cook-off simulation, depending on the different thickness of insulator, propellant responded at the area near shell or the area near the caps. The response temperature of two propellants in cook-off simulation agreed with decomposition and self-ignition temperature by DSC, and the decomposition of plasticizer could trigger the response. In cook-off simulation, BuNENA plasticized propellant showed a lower response temperature with a smaller high temperature area before response, resulting a milder response and better thermal safety than NG/BTTN plasticized propellant.

Using VIIRS nightlights to estimate the impact of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes

We use Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) nightlight data to model the impact of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. More specifically, the data—showing nightlight emissions—are used to examine the extent to which there is a difference in nightlight intensity between cells damaged in the earthquake versus undamaged cells based on (1) mean comparisons; and (2) fixed effect regression models akin to the double difference method. The analysis is carried out for the entire country as well as smaller regions in and around the Central area and Kathmandu, which were the hardest hit areas. Overall, the regressions find a significant and negative effect from the initial shock, followed by a positive net effect from aid and relief efforts, which is consistent with what one would expect to find. However, the mean analysis results are inconclusive and there is substantial noise in the nightlight measurements due to how the values are produced and persistent cloud cover over Nepal.