In vivo assessment of use-dependent brain plasticity--beyond the "one trick pony" imaging strategy.

This article has been written as a comment to Dr Thomas and Dr Baker's article "Teaching an adult brain new tricks: A critical review of evidence for training-dependent structural plasticity in humans". We deliberately expand on the key question about the biological substrates underlying use-dependent brain plasticity rather than reiterating the authors' main points of criticism already addressed in more general way by previous publications in the field. The focus here is on the following main issues: i) controversial brain plasticity findings in voxel-based morphometry studies are partially due to the strong dependency of the widely used T1-weighted imaging protocol on varying magnetic resonance contrast contributions; ii) novel concepts in statistical analysis allow one to directly infer topological specificity of structural brain changes associated with plasticity. We conclude that iii) voxel-based quantification of relaxometry derived parameter maps could provide a new perspective on use-dependent plasticity by characterisation of brain tissue property changes beyond the estimation of volume and cortical thickness changes. In the relevant sections we respond to the concerns raised by Dr Thomas and Dr Baker from the perspective of the proposed data acquisition and analysis strategy.

Monitoring of biological markers indicative of doping: the athlete biological passport

The athlete biological passport (ABP) was recently implemented in anti-doping work and is based on the individual and longitudinal monitoring of haematological or urine markers. These may be influenced by illicit procedures performed by some athletes with the intent to improve exercise performance. Hence the ABP is a valuable tool in the fight against doping. Actually, the passport has been defined as an individual and longitudinal observation of markers. These markers need to belong to the biological cascade influenced by the application of forbidden hormones or more generally, affected by biological manipulations which can improve the performance of the athlete. So far, the haematological and steroid profile modules of the ABP have been implemented in major sport organisations, and a further module is under development. The individual and longitudinal monitoring of some blood and urine markers are of interest, because the intraindividual variability is lower than the corresponding interindividual variability. Among the key prerequisites for the implementation of the ABP is its prospect to resist to the legal and scientific challenges. The ABP should be implemented in the most transparent way and with the necessary independence between planning, interpretation and result management of the passport. To ensure this, the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) was developed and the WADA implemented different technical documents associated to the passport. This was carried out to ensure the correct implementation of a profile which can also stand the challenge of any scientific or legal criticism. This goal can be reached only by following strictly important steps in the chain of production of the results and in the management of the interpretation of the passport. Various technical documents have been then associated to the guidelines which correspond to the requirements for passport operation. The ABP has been completed very recently by the steroid profile module. As for the haematological module, individual and longitudinal monitoring have been applied and the interpretation cascade is also managed by a specific APMU in a similar way as applied in the haematological module. Thus, after exclusion of any possible pathology, specific variation from the individual norms will be then considered as a potential misuse of hormones or other modulators to enhance performance.

La biografia catalana contemporània (notes sense ànim d'exhaustivitat)

Notes and comments about the importance of the historical biography in contemporary Catalonia, emphasizing the overcoming of the expectation and of the criticism of the historiography influenced by Marxism.

La biografia catalana contemporània (notes sense ànim d'exhaustivitat)

Notes and comments about the importance of the historical biography in contemporary Catalonia, emphasizing the overcoming of the expectation and of the criticism of the historiography influenced by Marxism.

La crítica feminista y el problema de la forma

Dice Beatriz Sarlo (2001, p. 28) que un intelectual es aquel que pone en escena los términos de un problema y obliga a una definición colectiva que los tome en cuenta. Para que esto suceda el intelectual debe ser también quien se interroga por las categorías con las que opera. Si la literatura existe como problema, según mi perspectiva, para la crítica feminista, esto se debe a que la operación que vincula el concepto de literatura y el de crítica feminista debe necesariamente definirse en relación con un horizonte hoy en retirada, pero cuya crepuscular energía obliga constantemente a apelar a sus herramientas: la estética.

Käännökset antiikin kulttuuriperinnön välittäjinä

Kirjoitus perustuu esitelmään Tieteen päivillä 8.-12.1.2003.

Use of GPS for Photogrammetry, HR-342, 1993

Five test flights were conducted to study the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) in Photogrammetry, three in Iowa, one each in California and Texas. These tests show that GPS can be used to establish ground control by the static method and to determine camera location by the kinematic method. In block triangulation, six GPS controls are required and additional elevation control along the centerline is also required in strip triangulation. The camera location determined by aerial triangulation depends on the scale of the photography. The 1:3000 scale photography showed that the absolute accuracy of the camera location by GPS is better than five centimeters. The 1:40000 scale photography showed that the relative accuracy of the camera location by GPS is about one millimeter. In a strip triangulation elevation control is required in addition to the camera location by GPS. However, for block triangulation camera location by GPS is sufficient. Pre-targeting of pass and tie points gives the best results in both block and strip triangulation. In normal mapping for earth work computations the use of 1:6000 scale photography with GPS control instead of 1:3000 scale is recommended. It is recommended that research be done in the use of GPS for navigation in aerial photographic missions. It is highly recommended that research be done in the use of GPS to determine tip and tilt of the aerial camera, that is required in stereoplotting.

El Teatro Español bajo la mirada Crítica de Emilia Pardo Bazán en 'La Vida Contemporánea'

Desde 1896 hasta 1916, Emilia Pardo Bazán colaboró periódicamente en el semanario barcelonés La ilustración artística con una sección fija titulada «La vida contemporánea». Este trabajo se centra en la crítica teatral que la autora vertía en estas crónicas. Asimismo, al final se recoge un índice temático de aquellas colaboraciones en las que trataba sobre cualquier aspecto relacionado con las artes escénica. Abstract: From 1896 to 1916, Emilia Pardo Bazán collaborated regurarly in the weekly from Barcelona La ilustración artística with a permanent column entitled «La vida contemporánea». This work focuses on the theatrical criticism that the author poured into these chronicles. Also, at the end, I give a thematic index of those collaborations in which it was about any aspect of the performing arts

Jane Eyre: una lectura para el verano y la película que nos espera a la vuelta del otoño.

Siguiendo con la costumbre de hablar del cine de literatura, hoy proponemos la novela Jane Eyre1, escrita por Charlotte Brönte en 1847, recomendada para jóvenes a partir de los catorce años, con madurez y formación lectora previa, y con una versión cinematográfica que se estrenará en España a finales del mes de septiembre. En tiempo vacacional es un privilegio contar con historias que nos ocupen las siestas de las calurosas y largas tardes de verano con tiempo para todo, nos metan en relatos que nos absorban, nos lleven a mundos distantes y nos permitan acercarnos a vidas muy atractivas, con historias de valentía y de superación que nos impulsen a ser mejores. Es el momento de disfrutar con novela que pueden quedar a medias en otros momentos del año con más obligaciones.

Evaluating effects of spectral training data distribution on continuous field mapping performance

Continuous field mapping has to address two conflicting remote sensing requirements when collecting training data. On one hand, continuous field mapping trains fractional land cover and thus favours mixed training pixels. On the other hand, the spectral signature has to be preferably distinct and thus favours pure training pixels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of training data distribution along fractional and spectral gradients on the resulting mapping performance. We derived four continuous fields (tree, shrubherb, bare, water) from aerial photographs as response variables and processed corresponding spectral signatures from multitemporal Landsat 5 TM data as explanatory variables. Subsequent controlled experiments along fractional cover gradients were then based on generalised linear models. Resulting fractional and spectral distribution differed between single continuous fields, but could be satisfactorily trained and mapped. Pixels with fractional or without respective cover were much more critical than pure full cover pixels. Error distribution of continuous field models was non-uniform with respect to horizontal and vertical spatial distribution of target fields. We conclude that a sampling for continuous field training data should be based on extent and densities in the fractional and spectral, rather than the real spatial space. Consequently, adequate training plots are most probably not systematically distributed in the real spatial space, but cover the gradient and covariate structure of the fractional and spectral space well. (C) 2009 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Inc. (ISPRS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thin Bonded Concrete Overlay with Fast Track Concrete, Final Report, HR-531, 1990

Pavements have been overlaid with thin bonded portland cement concrete (PCC) for several years. These projects have had traffic detoured for a period of 5-10 days. These detours are unacceptable to the traveling public and result in severe criticism. The use of thin bonded fast track overlay was promoted to allow a thin bonded PCC overlay with minimal disruption of local traffic. This project demonstrated the concept of using one lane of the roadway to maintain traffic while the overlay was placed on the other and then with the rapid strength gain of the fast track concrete, the construction and local traffic is maintained on the newly placed, thin bonded overlay. The goals of this project were: 1. Traffic usage immediately after placement and finishing. 2. Reduce traffic disruption on a single lane to less than 5 hours. 3. Reduce traffic disruption on a given section of two-lane roadway to less than 2 days. 4. The procedure must be economically viable and competitive with existing alternatives. 5. Design life for new construction equivalent to or in excess of conventional pavements. 6. A 20 year minimum design life for rehabilitated pavements.

Prólogo: Feminismo y crítica literaria

El feminismo ha sido una de las revoluciones más importantes de este siglo que termina. Ha demostrado que discursos aparentemente neutros y universales como la filosofía, la historia, el psicoanálisis, la religión e incluso la ciencia están en realidad sexuados en masculino. Esta recopilación de artículos (primer volumen de la Serie Mujeres y culturas) quiere reflejar el diálogo entre los estudios feministas y estos campos del saber, combinando una clara vocación divulgativa y pedagógica con el rigor de la investigación académica. Sus autores, especialistas en la materia, ilustran el debate teórico con ejemplos procedentes del cine, la literatura y el arte, acompañados de una amplia bibliografía.Este libro, en definitiva, interesa a todas las personas que quieran reflexionar sobre las relaciones entre los sexos, entre el yo y el otro, y sobre la legitimación teórica de las prácticas políticas destinadas a acabar con las desigualdades reales y simbólicas que perviven en nuestra sociedad.

Iowa Historic Property Study of the Zeman Barn, 2009

The Zeman Barn (86-00028) is an early twentieth-century example of a gothic roofed barn and is part of the Zeman Farmstead located along U.S. Highway 30 in Otter Creek Township (Township 38N, Range 14W), Tama County, Iowa (Figures 1 and 2). The farmstead was initially evaluated in a reconnaissance architectural survey conducted in 1998 by The Louis Berger Group, Inc (Berger). An intensive architectural survey of the property by Berger’s Principal Architectural Historian, Martha H. Bowers, evaluated the farmstead as not being eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) but noted that the barn appears to be eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion C (Bowers 1998). At the request of the Iowa Department of Transportation, Berger completed the recordation project to provide a documentary record of the Zeman Barn in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office regarding historic property studies for barns. Background research for this project was conducted in September 2008 and April 2009. The property was inspected and photographed in May 2008. Information on the property was gathered through background research, interviews with Zeman family members, field investigation, and photo documentation. Historical maps of the project area were used to collect data necessary for developing regional and local historic contexts. The research for this report was conducted at the Tama County Courthouse and the Tama County Historical Museum Genealogical Library, both in Toledo. Much of the background research for the project was conducted by Camilla Deiber and Michael Dulle. Ms. Deiber also prepared the photographic documentation, plan drawings, and the graphics used in this report. Mr. Roger L. Ciuffo conducted interviews with Zeman family members and wrote this report.

La crítica feminista y el problema de la forma

Dice Beatriz Sarlo (2001, p. 28) que un intelectual es aquel que pone en escena los términos de un problema y obliga a una definición colectiva que los tome en cuenta. Para que esto suceda el intelectual debe ser también quien se interroga por las categorías con las que opera. Si la literatura existe como problema, según mi perspectiva, para la crítica feminista, esto se debe a que la operación que vincula el concepto de literatura y el de crítica feminista debe necesariamente definirse en relación con un horizonte hoy en retirada, pero cuya crepuscular energía obliga constantemente a apelar a sus herramientas: la estética.