A multiscale analysis of ecosystem services supply in the NW Iberian Peninsula from a functional perspective

In recent years, the assessment of ecosystem services (ES) supply has been based on the use of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) data as proxies for spatial representation of ecosystems. Nevertheless, some shortcomings of this method, such as uncertainties derived from generalization of the ecosystem types and assumptions of invariance across spatial scales, indicate the need for new approaches. Such approaches could be aimed at improving knowledge of the relationships between ecosystem services and landscape structure and the spatial characteristics of ES patterns. In this study, we propose an integrative approach that involves the generation and analysis of continuous maps representing the supply of five ES potentially related to the amount of biomass. Five remote sensing images of the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula, obtained with Landsat-5 TM, were used to generate a proxy for net primary production by combining the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of each image to calculate a ΣNDVI index that could act as a potential indicator of some ecosystem services. This information was combined with three variables – terrain slope, population density and occurrence of protected areas – to produce spatial models for the five ES and eventually a series of five supply maps. Food, materials and energy provision services showed a clustered pattern, with high supply values in flat zones and areas with high population densities. In contrast, mass flow and climate regulation services were more widely distributed throughout the study area. The five ecosystem service patterns were analyzed at different scales by two methods: lacunarity and four term local quadrat variance (4TLQV) analysis. These methods revealed differences in the spatial pattern: lacunarity analysis was useful for detection of scale thresholds at the local level, whereas 4TLQV was more sensitive to scale thresholds at larger spatial levels. Thus, the variance analysis yielded higher values for larger windows sizes, particularly for provisioning services. The results demonstrated the suitability of the proposed approach for the spatially explicit modeling of ecosystem services, avoiding the uncertainty of other assessments such as those based on LULC data, and for the exploratory analysis of ES supply from a spatial point of view.     

Physiological mechanisms and movement analysis in Parkinson's disease

We present new ideas about motor control in the human central nervous system and about pathophysiological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease, and we describe the Posturo-Locomotion-Manual (PLM) method, which is a new technique utilizing optoelectronic camera recording for objective, fully quantitative, and standardized assessment of human motor performance. In the PLM test, recordings of body movements are made during a simple motor task, where the subject repeatedly moves a small object from its starting position on the floor to a shelf located at chin height a few steps forward. The duration of the postural (raising up), locomotor and the goal-directed manual phase of the forward directed body movement is automatically calculated by a small computer as well as the degree of coordination (simultaneity) of these phases. The technique has high resolution and has been used for clinical assessment of motor performance, drug testing, and so on, in neurological and geriatric practice.     

Orofacial and thumb-index finger ramp-and-hold isometric force dynamics in young neurotypical adults

The relation among several parameters of the ramp-and-hold isometric force contraction (peak force and dF/dt_max during the initial phase of force recruitment, and the proportion of hold-phase at target) was quantified for the right and left thumb-index finger pinch, and lower lip midline compression in 40 neurotypical right-handed young adults (20 female/20 males) using wireless force sensors and data acquisition technology developed in our laboratory. In this visuomotor control task, participants produced ramp-and-hold isometric forces as ‘rapidly and accurately’ as possible to end-point target levels at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 Newtons presented to a computer monitor in a randomized block design. Significant relations were found between the parameters of the ramp-and-hold lip force task and target force level, including the peak rate of force change (dF/dt_max), peak force, and the criterion percentage of force within ±5% of target during the contraction hold phase. A significant performance advantage was found among these force variables for the thumb-index finger over the lower lip. The maximum voluntary compression force (MVCF) task revealed highly significant differences in force output between the thumb-index fingers and lower lip (∼4.47–4.70 times greater for the digits versus lower lip), a significant advantage of the right thumb-index finger over the non-dominant left thumb-index finger (12% and 25% right hand advantage for males and females, respectively), and a significant sex difference (∼1.65–1.73 times greater among males).     

Humans control stride-to-stride stepping movements differently for walking and running,independent of speed

As humans walk or run, external (environmental) and internal (physiological) disturbances induce variability. How humans regulate this variability from stride-to-stride can be critical to maintaining balance. One cannot infer what is “controlled” based on analyses of variability alone. Assessing control requires quantifying how deviations are corrected across consecutive movements. Here, we assessed walking and running, each at two speeds. We hypothesized differences in speed would drive changes in variability, while adopting different gaits would drive changes in how people regulated stepping. Ten healthy adults walked/ran on a treadmill under four conditions: walk or run at comfortable speed, and walk or run at their predicted walk-to-run transition speed. Time series of relevant stride parameters were analyzed to quantify variability and stride-to-stride error-correction dynamics within a Goal-Equivalent Manifold (GEM) framework. In all conditions, participants’ stride-to-stride control respected a constant-speed GEM strategy. At each consecutively faster speed, variability tangent to the GEM increased (p ≤ 0.031), while variability perpendicular to the GEM decreased (p ≤ 0.044). There were no differences (p ≥ 0.999) between gaits at the transition speed. Differences in speed determined how stepping variability was structured, independent of gait, confirming our first hypothesis. For running versus walking, measures of GEM-relevant statistical persistence were significantly less (p ≤ 0.004), but showed minimal-to-no speed differences (0.069 ≤ p ≤ 0.718). When running, people corrected deviations both more quickly and more directly, each indicating tighter control. Thus, differences in gait determined how stride-to-stride fluctuations were regulated, independent of speed, confirming our second hypothesis.     

Effects of Kinect-based virtual reality game training on upper extremity motor recovery in chronic stroke

Background: Therapeutic benefits of Kinect-based virtual reality (VR) game training in rehabilitation encourage its use to improve motor function.

Objective: To assess the effects of Kinect-based VR training on motor recovery of the upper extremity and functional outcomes in patients with chronic stroke.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, group A received 20 sessions of physical therapy (PT)?+?20 sessions of Kinect-based VR training and group B received only 20 sessions of PT. Clinical outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at the end of the treatments. Primary outcome measures that assess stroke patients’ motor function included upper extremity (UE) Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Secondary outcome measures were Brunnstrom Recovery Stages (BRS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Box and Block test (BBT), Motricity index (MI), and active range of motion (AROM) measurement.

Results: Statistically significant improvements in game scores (p?p?Conclusions: To conclude, our results suggest that the adjunct use of Kinect-based VR training may contribute to the improvement of UE motor function and AROM in chronic stroke patients. Further studies with a larger number of subjects with longer follow-up periods are needed to establish its effectiveness in neurorehabilitation.     

Quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis using deep learning based on a novel molecular image input technique

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analysis uses structural, quantum chemical, and physicochemical features calculated from molecular geometry as explanatory variables predicting physiological activity. Recently, deep learning based on advanced artificial neural networks has demonstrated excellent performance in the discipline of QSAR research. While it has properties of feature representation learning that directly calculate feature values from molecular structure, the use of this potential function is limited in QSAR modeling. The present study applied this function of feature representation learning to QSAR analysis by incorporating 360° images of molecular conformations into deep learning. Accordingly, I successfully constructed a highly versatile identification model for chemical compounds that induce mitochondrial membrane potential disruption with the external validation area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ≥0.9.     

The value of paddock trees for regional conservation in an agricultural landscape

Summary Isolated trees and small patches of trees – paddock trees – are a prominent feature of agricultural landscapes in Australia, but are declining in many areas due to natural senescence, clearing, dieback and the general absence of recruitment. We assessed the importance of paddock trees for woodland conservation in a 30 000 ha sample of the New South Wales (NSW) South‐west Slopes using Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) panchromatic satellite imagery combined with models predicting the original distribution of vegetation communities. Tree‐cover occurred over 12% of the study area. The patch‐size distribution of vegetation in the study area varied between woodland types. For woodland communities that were confined to hills and ridges, most tree‐cover occurred as few, large remnants. For woodland communities of the foothills and plains (Blakely's Red Gum, Eucalyptus blakelyi and Yellow Box, Eucalyptus melliodora, or White Box, Eucalyptus albens and Red Stringybark), 54% of remnant tree‐cover occurred as patches < 1 ha. The loss of paddock trees will cause substantial reductions to some woodland communities. For example, the loss of patches < 1 ha in woodlands dominated by Blakely's Red Gum and Yellow Box would reduce this association from 7.4% to 3.4% of its predicted pre‐1750 distribution. Mean distance to tree‐cover across the study area increased almost fourfold if patches < 1 ha were removed from the landscape, which may have consequences for movements of some flora and fauna. Failure to protect and perpetuate paddock trees will diminish the likelihood of achieving the conservation objectives of comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness in agricultural landscapes.     

Motor unit activation patterns during concentric wrist flexion in humans with different muscle fibre composition

Muscle activity was recorded from the flexor carpi radialis muscle during static and dynamic-concentric wrist flexion in six subjects, who had exhibited large differences in histochemically identified muscle fibre composition. Motor unit recruitment patterns were identified by sampling 310 motor units and counting firing rates in pulses per second (pps). During concentric wrist flexion at 30% of maximal exercise intensity the mean firing rate was 27 (SD 13) pps. This was around twice the value of 12 (SD 5) pps recorded during sustained static contraction at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, despite a larger absolute force level during the static contraction. A similar pattern of higher firing rates during dynamic exercise was seen when concentric wrist flexion at 60% of maximal exercise intensity [30 (SD 14) pps] was compared with sustained static contraction at 60% of maximal voluntary contraction [19 (SD 8) pps]. The increase in dynamic exercise intensity was accomplished by recruitment of additional motor units rather than by increasing the firing rate as during static contractions. No difference in mean firing rates was found among subjects with different muscle fibre composition, who had previously exhibited marked differences in metabolic response during corresponding dynamic contractions. It was concluded that during submaximal dynamic contractions motor unit firing rate cannot be deduced from observations during static contractions and that muscle fibre composition may play a minor role. Accepted: 5 May 1998     

Coordination of wing motion and walking suggests common control of zigzag motor program in a male silkworm moth

The male silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, exhibits a zigzagging pattern as it walks upwind to pheromones. This species usually does not fly, but obvious wing-beating accompanies the pheromone-mediated walking. Males supported by a `sled', after having their legs removed, also moved upwind in a pheromone plume along zigzagging tracks, indicating that wing-generated thrust and torque result in locomotory paths similar to those observed from walking moths. Using a high-speed video system we investigated the correlation between the wing movements and zigzag walking. The wing ipsilateral to the direction of the turn showed a greater degree of retraction with respect to the contralateral wing. The timing of the wing retraction pattern was synchronized with changes of direction in the walking track. Coordination of wing movements and walking pattern was not dependent on visual feedback or sensory feedback generated from neck movements associated with turning. The results presented here, taken together with our previous studies of descending interneurons suggest that the coordination of wing movements with the walking pattern may result from the activity of a set of identified interneurons descending from the brain to the thoracic ganglia and/or may be coordinated by coupling of oscillating circuits for walking and wing beating. Accepted: 15 May 1997     

大鼠脊髓不完全性损伤后前角运动神经元的酶细胞化学改变

以改良Ａｌｅｎ氏法造成Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠不完全性脊髓损伤,采用神经学功能评分法评定大鼠运动功能,应用定量酶细胞化学方法观察脊髓前角运动神经元内乙酰胆碱酯酶（ＡＣｈＥ）和酸性磷酸酶（ＡｃＰ）活性变化。结果显示：１．脊髓损伤后大鼠运动功能障碍,随后逐渐恢复。２．前角运动神经元内ＡＣｈＥ活性减弱、ＡｃＰ活性增强;随后酶活性呈逐渐恢复,四周时ＡＣｈＥ活性基本恢复正常。结果说明：大鼠脊髓不完全性损伤后运动功能变化与前角运动神经元的功能状态具有较强的相关性;前角运动神经元在不完全性脊髓损伤运动功能恢复中起重要作用。