We present a new method for generating two-dimensional maps of the cerebral cortex. Our computerized, two-stage flattening method takes as its input any well-defined representation of a surface within the three-dimensional cortex. The first stage rapidly converts this surface to a topologically correct two-dimensional map, without regard for the amount of distortion introduced. The second stage reduces distortions using a multiresolution strategy that makes gross shape changes on a coarsely sampled map and further shape refinements on progressively finer resolution maps. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by creating flat maps of the entire cerebral cortex in the macaque monkey and by displaying various types of experimental data on such maps. We also introduce a surface-based coordinate system that has advantages over conventional stereotaxic coordinates and is relevant to studies of cortical organization in humans as well as non-human primates. Together, these methods provide an improved basis for quantitative studies of individual variability in cortical organization.

The prevalence of reciprocal connections in the cerebral cortex indicates that they play a fundamental role in the processing of sensory information. We have investigated the laminar termination patterns of such paired connections between different visual cortical areas of the rat, and have found two basic projection types: one which includes layer 4 and a second which includes layer 1 and avoids layer 4. The projections from primary visual cortex (area 17) to extrastriate visual cortical targets in the cytoarchitectonical areas 18a and 18b, and from 18a to a site in 18b, are of the first type. In contrast, the return projections from 18a and 18b to area 17 and from 18b to 18a, are of the second type. Thus each pair of connections has one element of each type, giving every circuit a nearly identical asymmetric structure. These laminar patterns resemble those of forward and feedback connections in primate cortex, indicating that corticocortical connectivity patterns are highly conserved through evolution, and that, as in monkeys, these connections define a hierarchical organization of areas in rat visual cortex.

We have investigated the development of intrinsic and interareal connections in areas V1 and V2 of the macaque monkey using postmortem transport of the lipophilic fluorescent tracer diI, applied to brains fixed at different pre- and postnatal ages. Intrinsic connections in the deep layers of V1 are evident on embryonic day 108 (E108), but are not robust in the superficial layers until around E118, when migration is largely complete. Both intrinsic horizontal projections and extrinsic projections to V2 initially have a continuous distribution. Patchy projections are first evident in V1 around E145, the same age at which cytochrome oxidase blobs appear, presumably signaling the differentiation of the blob-dominated and interblob-dominated streams in the primary visual cortex. The magnocellular-dominated stream becomes distinct at earlier stages (by E122), as judged by connectional and histochemical criteria. In area V2, intrinsic connections initially (at E108) involve only deep layer cells and do not have a clustered organization. By E130, superficial layer cells are involved and the V2 intrinsic connections have a patchy distribution; by E145, an adult-like pattern is present. The projection from V2 to V1 passes through an early stage (up to E133) of originating principally from deep layer cells, and thereafter originating from superficial as well as deep layers. We found evidence for changes in dendritic morphology during development. Most notably, at E118, many neurons in layer 6 which are involved in intrinsic or interareal connections have dendrites that extend well into the superficial layers, even into layer 1, a characteristic not reported in the adult.

In these experiments we have asked whether the projection from the rat's primary visual cortex, area 17, to the extrastriate visual cortical area 18a is formed in a sequence and whether that sequence resembles the pattern of inside-out cortical neurogenesis. For this purpose fluorescent retrograde tracers were injected into area 18a at different postnatal ages (P1, P5, adult). Animals survived until 3-4 weeks of age, after migration is complete and neurons have arrived at their final laminar location. In the ipsilateral cortex, P1 injections retrogradely labeled cells in layers 5 and 6 of area 17. Labeling after P5 injections extended into more superficial layers and included the bottom of layer 2/3 and layers 4-6. After P5, more labeled cells were found at the top of layer 2/3, producing the adult laminar pattern, where the projection originates predominantly from layer 2/3. A similar sequence of laminar labeling was observed in the transcallosal connection of area 18a. This sequence of labeling, deep layers before superficial, resembles the pattern in which cortical neurons are born and indicates that axons arrive at their cortical targets in the order the cells were generated.

Abstract. In this paper we present a system that performs automatic gesture recognition. The system consists of two main components: (i) A unified technique for segmentation and tracking of face and hands using a skin detection algorithm along with handling occlusion between skin objects to keep track of the status of the occluded parts. This is realized by combining 3 useful features, namely, color, motion and position. (ii) A static and dynamic gesture recognition system. Static gesture recognition is achieved using a robust hand shape classification, based on PCA subspaces, that is invariant to scale along with small translation and rotation transformations. Combining hand shape classification with position information and using DHMMs allows us to accomplish dynamic gesture recognition.

Background: The six licensed operators in the New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Program submit their strains of cannabis flower to a single laboratory, administered by the state's Department of Health, for testing. The results of these tests are made available by the State on a web page for patients, allowing a study of the range of cannabinoid profiles available in the program. Methods: Reports on cannabinoid concentrations were collected from 245 test reports released by the State lab; the relative quantities of cannabinoids on all strains was evaluated, as well as trends in the strain types being tested. Results: The collection of strain profiles available in New Jersey conforms to results of other population studies, revealing three broad classification of strains based on their relative concentration of cannabinoids: the overwhelmingly majority of strains contain only trace (< 1%) CBDA but high THCA concentration; a handful are balanced in CBDA and THCA content; and a very few strains have a high concentration of CBDA and minimal THCA (< 1%). In those strains that contain more than 1% of both THCA and CBDA, those two substances are present in comparable quantities. The concentration of CBGA is higher in those strains that have the highest THCA concentration, though there are strains that have high THCA (> 20%) with CBGA concentrations at the low end of the range (< 0.5%). In the high CBD strains, the concentration of CBGA is positively correlated with CBDA, but the CBGA concentrations are several fold less in CBD-dominant strains than in THC-dominant strains: the highest measured CBGA concentration in a CBD-dominant strain is only at the average value of CBGA concentration in THC-dominant strains. The most-recently tested strains are overwhelmingly of the THC-dominant type. Conclusions: Though some high CBD strains are available in the New Jersey medical marijuana program, the vast majority of strains that have been tested are the THC-dominant strains which contain less than 1% CBDA. The data available from the State does not include any information on how well the different strains sell, but it can be inferred from the trend in strain types tested that the demand in the New Jersey medical market is for THCdominant strains.

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