john

I have been sitting here reading, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_(mathematics... , the idea of an identity since my algebra teacher mentioned it briefly without explanation. I don't get the concept of it.

The one thing, I did get (that may be help to others who respond to me here ) is a little phase from the Wikipedia article which was:

"In other words, A = B is an identity if A and B define the same functions."

because I can picture this as a mapping relationships with functions to their graphs and if A and B are different but map the same then that implies some form of equality despite being totally different equations.

So I guess what I'm asking is confirmation then, in the above quote from Wikipedia does this imply the notion of "equivalent vs equal" in this sense? What I mean, some things are the same even though they don't look the same. Such as some linear equation look different but will graph the same?

I would really appreciate a thoughtful answer to this because I would like to understand what I'm doing in mathematics and not just the algorithms I drill through manipulations.

Thanks

Please start from the beginning,

What is it?

How does the compiler work

and

How does this differ from normal compiling in C or C++ compiling (this is a language I started learning and am learning about the linking and loading phases of the compiler here, so I thought if I could contrast from a C/C++ aspect then JIT might make more sense because I don't understand what it means to "just in time" when compared to normal compiled languages?)

Thanks

This question is really a spin off this question - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201312...

I realize the direct effect of a brain-gut axis, that's nice and all but I feel that maybe we might be ignoring the full effects of bacteria because the obvious influence directly linked by the ENS and immune system.

With all this hype and excitement about the NIH The Human Microbiome project and all the success of things like feces transplants curing not solely things like clostridium difficile infections, IBS, Chrons disease, and even full blown psychiatric illnesses (1), Is it possible that there could be unknown immune modulation functions that have not yet been discovered that effects the brain with infectious agents on other locations of the body such as the skin?

Take a look at the carpenter ants (2), from a biological stand point I don't see how can we be any different with some unknown pathogens modulating our behaviors. I realize that a lot of the proof and thought is that the modulation is taking place at the vegas nerve which is direct communication with the CNS and therefore it's logical to deduce that for psychiatric illnesses being relieved from some mechanism with some form gut bacteria, immune system, and nervous system interaction, but what about skin bacteria?

Can there be a possibility for mental illness from other locations too, not the psychological aspects of having a rash or something but more directly involved in neurotransmission?

I recently came across a interesting blog post listing case studies from a MD who is using a more than normal aggressive approach for treatment against OCD (3). It's interesting to note that the APA guidelines for treatment of OCD here doesn't outlines these tests. the interesting thing about his post is that he cites other bacteria than typical strep, and secondly he references other locations of the body for the strain to be present influencing the autoimmune response .

A Pubmed search isn't turning up much except some studies showing glutamate/GABA modulation in OCD and if recall correctly some bacteria in the gut produce neuromodulating chemicals on glutamate pathways. I found it interesting that a majority of serotonin is found in the stomach and for some reason OCD also hypothesized to be influenced on serotonin modulation. That is as far as I got in that area.

So what do you think about infectious agents on the skin influencing our brain with antibodies or some other indirect immune function?

What am I getting wrong here? This is a serious question too.

1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23759244 - Note it's kind of new concept - 2013 research

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiocordyceps_unilat... - carpenter ants

3) http://beverlyhillsshrink.blogspot.com/2012/03/adu...

Thanks guys

When I say bacteria in the brain, I mean non-pathogenic type bacteria such that is seen in the intestines and colon - probiotic.

I am asking because I want to understand our symbiotic nature with bacteria and how far this can go because we are starting to see these bacteria play a role in biology and immune system more than we thought.

The NIH has invested in a "Human Microbionome project" researching and mapping various regions where bacteria live on humans such as the stomach, lunges, skin, etc.

Now with this out of the way, my question is this: Are there regions directly in the CNS with a more direct access to the brain than through the ENS? That is bacteria be found perhaps on the brain or in places more "near" the nervous system?

Thanks