Spatial cognition, body representation and affective processes: the role of vestibular information beyond ocular reflexes and control of posture

A growing number of studies in humans demonstrate the involvement of vestibular information in tasks that are seemingly remote from well-known functions such as space constancy or postural control. In this review article we point out three emerging streams of research highlighting the importance of vestibular input: (1) Spatial Cognition: Modulation of vestibular signals can induce specific changes in spatial cognitive tasks like mental imagery and the processing of numbers. This has been shown in studies manipulating body orientation (changing the input from the otoliths), body rotation (changing the input from the semicircular canals), in clinical findings with vestibular patients, and in studies carried out in microgravity. There is also an effect in the reverse direction; top-down processes can affect perception of vestibular stimuli. (2) Body Representation: Numerous studies demonstrate that vestibular stimulation changes the representation of body parts, and sensitivity to tactile input or pain. Thus, the vestibular system plays an integral role in multisensory coordination of body representation. (3) Affective Processes and Disorders: Studies in psychiatric patients and patients with a vestibular disorder report a high comorbidity of vestibular dysfunctions and psychiatric symptoms. Recent studies investigated the beneficial effect of vestibular stimulation on psychiatric disorders, and how vestibular input can change mood and affect. These three emerging streams of research in vestibular science are—at least in part—associated with different neuronal core mechanisms. Spatial transformations draw on parietal areas, body representation is associated with somatosensory areas, and affective processes involve insular and cingulate cortices, all of which receive vestibular input. Even though a wide range of different vestibular cortical projection areas has been ascertained, their functionality still is scarcely understood.

A Quantitative Analysis of Developer Information Needs in Software Ecosystems

We present the results of an investigation into the nature of information needs of software developers who work in projects that are part of larger ecosystems. This work is based on a quantitative survey of 75 professional software developers. We corroborate the results identified in the sur- vey with needs and motivations proposed in a previous sur- vey and discover that tool support for developers working in an ecosystem context is even more meager than we thought: mailing lists and internet search are the most popular tools developers use to satisfy their ecosystem-related information needs.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 543 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Leo Löwenthal und Henryk Grossmann (p. VI 17, 1 - 156)

106 Briefe zwischen Max Horkheimer und Leo Löwenthal; 5 Briefe zwischen Paul Massing und Max Horkheimer, 1944; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Philip Klein, 24.07.1944; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Gerhard H. Seger, 22.07.1944; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an Elliot Cohen, 23.06.1944; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an Henryk Grossman, 21.04.1944; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Henryk Grossman, 03.07.1944; 2 Briefe zwischen Frederick Pollock und Leo Löwenthal, April u. September 1944; 1 Brief von Leo Löwenthal an H. Schickel, 07.04.1944; 2 Briefe von der Biographical Encyclopedia of the World (New York) an Max Horkheimer, 1944; 1 Brief von dem Office of War Information (Washington D.C.) an Leo Löwenthal, 17.01.1944;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 654 - "The Aftermath of National Socialism"; "National Socialism and Philosophy"; "The Idea of Philosophy"; "Programm einer Intereuropäischen Akademie" (p. IX 36a.1-4-IX 39.1-2)

"The Aftermath of National Socialism. On the Cultural Aspects of the Collapse of National Socialism". Vorlesungsreihe des Instituts für Sozialforschung, März 1945; 1. Vorlesungsankündigung und Typoskripte der Beiträge von: Theodor W. Adorno, "The Fate of the Arts" (= "What National Socialism Has Done to the Arts"); Frederick Pollock, "Prejudice and the Social Classes"; Leo Löwenthal, "The Aftermath of Totalitarian Terror". Bibliographie, Typoskripte, geheftet, mit eigenhändiger Korrektur von Frederick Pollock, 93 Blatt; 2. Vorlesungsankündigung, als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 1 Blatt; 3. Max Horkheimer: "Totalitarism and the Crisis of European Culture". Eigene Notizen zur Vorlesung, 3 Blatt; 4. Theodor W. Adorno: Notizen zur Vorlesungsreihe. Typoskript, 2 Blatt; Max Horkheimer: "National Socialism and Philosophy". Seminar Frühjahr 1945; 1. Protokolle zu den Sitzungen vom 5.2, 24.4., 1.5. und 8.5.1945. Typoskript mit eigenhändiger Korrektur, 16 Blatt; 2. Dasselbe. Gebunden, 16 Blatt; 3. Eigenhändige Notizen, 8 Blatt; Max Horkheimer: "The Idea of Philosophy". Vorlesung Winter 1945/46; 1. Eigenhändige Notizen, 3 Blatt; 2. Eigenhändige Notizen, 4 Blatt; 3. Eigenhändige Notizen, 2 Blatt; 4. Abschriften aus Werken unter anderem von Friedrich von Bezold, Karl Lamprecht, Richard Pietchman, Leopold von Ranke, Edwin R.A. Seligman. Typoskripte, 8 Blatt; 5. Paul Tillich: "Conscience in Western Thought and the Idea a Transmoral Conscience". Sonderdruck aus: Crozer Quarterly, Vol. XXII, Nr. 4, Oktober 1945, 6 Blatt; Max Horkheimer: Programm einer Intereuropäischen Akademie, 1944/45 (?); 1. Typoskriptfassungen, englisch. a) Typoskript, 18 Blatt b) Typoskript mit handschriftlicher Korrektur von Theodor W. Adorno (GS 12, S.195-213), 18 Blatt c) Typoskript (Kopie) mit handschriftliche Korrektur, 18 Blatt (Kopie 1989 aus der Hoover Institution, Standford, California) d) Typoskript mit eigenhändiger Korrektur, 17 Blatt e) Korrektur-Teilstücke, Typoskripte mit eigenhändiger Korrektur, 2 Blatt; 2. Zeitungsausschnitt 1944, 1 Blatt;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 565 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Herbert Marcuse und Leo Löwenthal (p. VI 27 A, 1-292)

183 Briefe zwischen Herbert Marcuse und Max Horkheimer; 6 Briefe zwischen Margot von Mendelssohn und Herbert Marcuse, 1942 - 1949; 1 Brief von Friedrich Pollock an Max Horkheimer, 20.04.1943; 1 Brief von dem Office of Strategic Services (Washington) an Herbert Marcuse, 07.12.1942; 1 Brief von dem Office of War Information (Washington) an Herbert Marcuse, 16.11.1942; 3 Briefe zwischen Herbert Marcuse und Francis K. Ballaine, Januar 1942; 1 Brief an Friedrich Pollock von Herbert Marcuse, 18.07.1949; 1 Brief von Herbert Marcuse an Leo Löwenthal, 11.04.1949;

Access to health care among children in the U.S.: Use of health inequalities measures to evaluate progress in reduction of disparities from 1997 to 2005

Much of the literature on disparities in access to health care among children has focused on measuring absolute and relative differences experienced by race/ethnic groups and, to a lesser extent, socioeconomic groups. However, it is not clear from existing literature how disparities in access to care may have changed over time for children, especially following implementation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The primary objective of this research was to determine if there has been a decrease in disparities in access to care for children across two socioeconomic groups and race/ethnicity groups after SCHIP implementation. Methods commonly used to measure ‘health inequalities’ were used to measure disparities in access to care including population-attributable risk (PAR) and the relative index of inequality (RII). Using these measures there is evidence of a substantial decrease in socioeconomic disparities in health insurance coverage and to a lesser extent in having a usual source of care since the SCHIP program began. There is also evidence of a considerable decrease in non-Hispanic Black disparities in access to care. However, there appears to be a slight increase in disparities in access to care among Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic White children. While there were great improvements in disparities in access to care with the introduction of the SCHIP program, continuing progress in disparities may depend on continuation of the SCHIP program or similar targeted health policy programs. ^

Trends in health information seeking among cancer and non-cancer adults between 2003 and 2005: A descriptive analysis of Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. With the advent of new technologies, changes in health care delivery, and multiplicity of provider types that patients must see, cancer care management has become increasingly complex. The availability of cancer health information has been shown to help cancer patients cope with the management and effects of their cancers. As a result, more cancer patients are using the internet to find resources that can aid in decision-making and recovery. ^ The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) is a nationally representative survey designed to collect information about the experiences of cancer and non-cancer adults with health information sources. The HINTS survey focused on both conventional sources as well as newer technologies, particularly the internet. This study is a descriptive analysis of the HINTS 2003 and HINTS 2005 survey data. The purpose of the research is to explore the general trends in health information seeking and use by US adults, and especially by cancer patients. ^ From 2003 to 2005, internet use for various health-related activities appears to have increased among adults with and without cancer. Differences were found between the groups in the general trust in information media, particularly the internet. Non-cancer respondents tended to have greater trust in information media than cancer respondents. ^ The latter portion of this work examined characteristics of HINTS respondents that were thought to be relevant to how much trust individuals placed in the internet as a source of health information. Trust in health information from the internet was significantly greater among younger adults, higher-earning households, internet users, online seekers of health or cancer information, and those who found online cancer information useful. ^

U/Th systematics of authigenic carbonates and d18O records from Hydrate Ridge, off the coast of Oregon, USA

Uranium (U) concentrations and activity ratios (d234U) of authigenic carbonates are sensitive recorders of different fluid compositions at submarine seeps of hydrocarbon-rich fluids ("cold seeps") at Hydrate Ridge, off the coast of Oregon, USA. The low U concentrations (mean: 1.3 ± 0.4 µg/g) and high 234U values (165-317 per mil) of gas hydrate carbonates reflect the influence of sedimentary pore water indicating that these carbonates were formed under reducing conditions below or at the seafloor. Their 230Th/234U ages span a time interval from 0.8 to 6.4 ka and cluster around 1.2 and 4.7 ka. In contrast, chemoherm carbonates precipitate from marine bottom water marked by relatively high U concentrations (mean: 5.2 ± 0.8 µg/g) and a mean d234U ratio of 166 ± 3 per mil. Their U isotopes reflect the d234U ratios of the bottom water being enriched in 234U relative to normal seawater. Simple mass balance calculations based on U concentrations and their corresponding d234U ratios reveal a contribution of about 11% of sedimentary pore water to the bottom water. From the U pore water flux and the reconstructed U pore water concentration a mean flow rate of about 147 ± 68 cm/a can be estimated. 230Th/234U ages of chemoherm carbonates range from 7.3 to 267.6 ka. 230Th/234U ages of two chemoherms (Alvin and SE-Knoll chemoherm) correspond to time intervals of low sealevel stands in marine isotope stages (MIS) 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. This observation indicates that fluid flow at cold seep sites sensitively reflects pressure changes of the hydraulic head in the sediments. The d18OPDB ratios of the chemoherm carbonates support the hypothesis of precipitation during glacial times. Deviations of the chemoherm d18O values from the marine d18O record can be interpreted as to reflect temporally and spatially varying bottom water and/or vent fluid temperatures during carbonate precipitation between 2.6 and 8.6°C.

Table 5 Comparison of surface elevations by Seasat and optical survey along EGIG line

Surface elevation maps of the southern half of the Greenland subcontinent are produced from radar altimeter data acquired by the Seasat satellite. A summary of the processing procedure and examples of return waveform data are given. The elevation data are used to generate a regular grid which is then computer contoured to provide an elevation contour map. Ancillary maps show the statistical quality of the elevation data and various characteristics of the surface. The elevation map is used to define ice flow directions and delineate the major drainage basins. Regular maps of the Jakobshavns Glacier drainage basin and the ice divide in the vicinity of Crete Station are presented. Altimeter derived elevations are compared with elevations measured both by satellite geoceivers and optical surveying.

Carbonate minerals, uranium and thorium concentration and U-Th ages of sediments from ODP Leg 166 sites

We have performed U-Th isotope analyses on pure aragonite samples from the upper sections of Leg 166 cores to assign each aragonite-rich sediment package to the correct sea-level highstand. The uppermost sediment package from each of the four sites investigated (Sites 1003, 1005, 1006, and 1007) yielded a Holocene U-Th age. Sediment packages from deeper in the cores have suffered diagenesis. This diagenesis consists of significant U loss (up to 40%) in the site nearest the platform (Site 1005), slight U gain in sites further from the platform, and continuous loss of pure 234U caused by alpha recoil at all sites. The difference in diagenesis between the sites can be explained by the different fluid-flow histories they have experienced. Site 1005 is sufficiently close to the platform to have probably experienced a change in flow direction whenever the banks have flooded or become exposed. Other sites have probably experienced continuous flow into the sediment. Although diagenesis prevents assignment of accurate ages, it is sufficiently systematic that it can be corrected for and each aragonite-rich package assigned to a unique highstand interval. Site 1005 has sediment packages from highstands associated with marine isotope Stages 1, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Site 1006 is similar, except that the Stage 7 highstand is missing, at least in Hole 1006A. Site 1003 has sediment only from Stage 1 and 11 highstands within the U-Th age range. And Site 1007 has sediment only from the stage 1 highstand. This information will allow the construction of better age models for these sites. No high-aragonite sediments are seen for Stage 3 or Substages 5a and 5c. Unless rather unusual erosion has occurred, this indicates that the banks did not flood during these periods. If true, this would require the sea level for Substages 5a and 5c to have remained at least ~10 m lower than today.