bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case of severe psychosis induced by novel recreational drugs
Authors: Dragogna Filippo , Oldani Lucio , Buoli Massimiliano , Altamura A. Carlo
Published: January 2014

Introduction:  The use of novel recreational drugs is becoming of public interest, especially after recent international alerts about their cardiovascular and neurological toxicity. Additionally, little is known about the psychiatric consequences of the long-term use of these compounds.

Case presentation: We describe a case of severe psychotic episode likely induced by chronic use of a combination of new recreational drugs (methylenedioxypyrovalerone, mephedrone, butylone and alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone). The patient had no psychiatric history and showed poor response to conventional antipsychotic treatment (haloperidol).

Conclusions: This case illustrates the potential negative effects of recreational drugs that cannot be limited to an acute psychotic episode but might determine a condition of prolonged paranoid psychosis. Although the use of these compounds is currently increasing, such molecules might often pass undetected in patients accessing the emergency room, leading to misdiagnosis (e.g. schizophrenic episode) and lack of appropriate treatment.
Case report: congenital dislocation of the radial head –a two-in-one approach
Authors: Karuppal Raju , Marthya Anwar , Raman Rajendran V , Somasundaran Sandhya
Published: January 2014

Background:Congenital dislocation of the radial head of the elbow is rare. It is genetically transmitted in some cases and is often associated with syndromes, such as Nail-Patella syndrome, antecubital pterygium and ulnar dysplasia. About two thirds are posterior, with the remainder being either anterior (15%) or lateral (15%). The natural history of the condition is that symptoms are relatively benign, with only some limitation of motion and deformity. Treatment either involves early attempts at reconstruction or delayed intervention at skeletal maturity with radial head excision. We evaluated the radiographic and functional results of a two-in-one procedure (radial shortening and open reduction) in the treatment of congenital dislocation of the radial head of an eight year old girl.

Objective:To describe a technique for easy reduction and maintenance of normal radiocapitellar joint anatomy in cases of congenital dislocation of the radial head.

Method:We have introduced one modification to the Sachar’s method of open reduction by adding radial shortening. This can be described as a ‘two incision approach’ with the first incision for the radial shortening and the second for the open reduction of the radiocapitellar joint. The radial shaft was osteotomised first before we performed the radial head relocation. Then the overlapping part of radial shaft was trimmed. It was stabilized with a transarticular K wire fixation.

Results:At one year follow up, the elbow is stable with no valgus or fixed flexion deformity. Supination has increased to 40 degrees from zero degrees. An X-ray showed reformation of the radial head with good congruity of the radiocapitellar joint and correction of the radial bow.

Conclusion:As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report of congenital dislocation of the radial head being treated by radial shortening and open reduction of radiocapitellar joint through a two incision approach (two-in-one approach). This paper describes this new technique, which we implemented for easy reduction maintenance of normal radiocapitellar joint anatomy.
The Advisor and Instructor as a Dynamic Duo: Academic Motivation and Basic Psychological Needs
Authors: Burt Tracie D. , Young-Jones Adena D. , Yadon Carly A. , Carr Michael T.
Published: January 2014

Students learn in and out of a formal classroom, and instructors and academic advisors play key roles in academic motivation and learning. Therefore, through the lens of self-determination theory, we examined the ways perceived support from instructors and advisors relates to satisfaction of college students' basic psychological needs. Advisor and instructor support correlated with satisfaction of student needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Also, as hypothesized, instructor and advisor support predicted satisfaction of basic needs, but did so differently. Instructors and academic advisors create a dynamic duo that significantly contributes to satisfaction of basic psychological needs underlying motivation and achievement.
Feasibility, Reproducibility, and Clinical Validity of the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale—Revised for Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Russo-Ponsaran Nicole M. , Yesensky Jessica , Hessl David , Berry-Kravis Elizabeth
Published: January 2014

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and the most common known genetic cause of autism. FXS is associated with psychiatric impairments, including anxiety disorders. There is a paucity of well-developed measures to characterize anxiety in FXS. However, such scales are needed to measure therapeutic responses to interventions. The Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale—Revised (PARS-R) was evaluated in 49 individuals with FXS. Feasibility, reproducibility, and clinical validity were assessed. High inter-rater, test–retest, and cross-site reliability were achieved. PARS-R scores were correlated with parent-report and physician ratings of anxiety, suggesting good clinical validity. Results were similar within gender and age subgroups. The PARS-R is a promising tool for measuring the efficacy of interventions targeting anxiety in FXS.
Effects of Dose Frequency of Early Communication Intervention in Young Children With and Without Down Syndrome
Authors: Yoder Paul , Woynaroski Tiffany , Fey Marc , Warren Steven
Published: January 2014

Children with intellectual disability were randomly assigned to receive Milieu Communication Teaching (MCT) at one 1-hr session per week (low dose frequency, LDF) or five 1-hr sessions per week (high dose frequency, HDF) over 9 months (Fey, Yoder, Warren, & Bredin-Oja, 2013. Non-Down syndrome (NDS) and Down syndrome (DS) subgroups were matched on intelligence, mental age, and chronological age. The NDS group had significantly more growth in spoken vocabulary than the DS group. In the DS subgroup, the HDF group had more spoken vocabulary growth than the LDF group when IQ was controlled. In both etiological subgroups, the HDF group yielded greater vocabulary production outcomes than the LDF group for children who played functionally with a range of objects.
Screening Stringency in the Disability Insurance Program
Authors: Johansson Per , Laun Lisa , Laun Tobias
Published: January 2014

We propose a strategy for assessing how the inflow to the disability insurance program has been governed over time. Using ex-post mortality, we analyze the ex-ante health of individuals entering the program, compared to individuals not entering the program in the same year. Applying this strategy to Sweden, we find large variation in the relative health of new beneficiaries compared to non-beneficiaries over time. Some of the fluctuations correspond well to formal changes to screening stringency. However, we also find large variation in health during periods when no changes to formal eligibility criteria have been pursued.
Strategies to improvise teacher tasking for children suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
Authors: Dilawari Kanchan , Tripathi Nishi
Published: January 2014

This article aimed to review the empirical support for teachers to provide strategies for handling students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Three major aspects discussed are the alarming rise of ADHD among students, interrelated issues with teaching students with ADHD, and unleashing strategies for handling these children. Practical implications of the school-based outcome literature were delineated, including the need for the following: (a) technical-support mediated strategies; (b) classroom strategies; (c) activity-based strategies; (d) peer tutoring strategies; and (e) homework strategies. In order to bridge the gap between the empirical literature and actual practices employed in schools, school-based professionals are urged to implement empirically supported strategies through individualized interventions based on assessment data. Through long-term implications of such evidence-based strategies, the deficit characteristics of ADHD can be minimized and the likelihood of school success for these students optimized.
Innovative Switching Sequences for Sensorless Capacitor Voltage Balancing of Three-Phase NPC Rectifier
Authors: Langer Nitin , Bhat Abdul Hamid , Agarwal Pramod
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a modulation strategy for self-balancing of capacitor voltages of three-phase neutral-point clamped bi-directional rectifier (without feedback controller and sensors). It is identified that regions within a sector are divided into two categories: (a) One small vector among three selected vectors and (b) Two small vectors among three selected vectors. For category (a) positive and negative commutation state of small vector is implemented for equal duty cycle but for category (b) positive and negative commutation state of small vectors is implemented for unequal duty cycle. Based on this observation, an innovative idea is executed to remove these discrepancies. The innovative optimized space vector switching sequences negative and positive commutation state of both the small vectors are implemented for equal duty cycle during each sampling period resulting in self-balancing of DC-bus capacitors with much reduced ripples under steady-state and dynamic load conditions for both rectification and inversion mode of operation. The converter exhibits excellent performance in terms of other critical parameters like unity input power factor, low input current THD, minimum possible switching losses, reduced-rippled and well-regulated DC voltage. The proposed control algorithm is tested through exhaustive simulation of converter using MATLAB Simulink software.
Visual Spatial Attention Has Opposite Effects on Bidirectional Plasticity in the Human Motor Cortex
Authors: Kamke Marc R. , Ryan Alexander E. , Sale Martin V. , Campbell Megan E. J. , Riek Stephan , Carroll Timothy J. , Mattingley Jason B.
Published: January 2014

Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are key mechanisms of synaptic plasticity that are thought to act in concert to shape neural connections. Here we investigated the influence of visual spatial attention on LTP-like and LTD-like plasticity in the human motor cortex. Plasticity was induced using paired associative stimulation (PAS), which involves repeated pairing of peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation to alter functional responses in the thumb area of the primary motor cortex. PAS-induced changes in cortical excitability were assessed using motor-evoked potentials. During plasticity induction, participants directed their attention to one of two visual stimulus streams located adjacent to each hand. When participants attended to visual stimuli located near the left thumb, which was targeted by PAS, LTP-like increases in excitability were significantly enhanced, and LTD-like decreases in excitability reduced, relative to when they attended instead to stimuli located near the right thumb. These differential effects on (bidirectional) LTP-like and LTD-like plasticity suggest that voluntary visual attention can exert an important influence on the functional organization of the motor cortex. Specifically, attention acts to both enhance the strengthening and suppress the weakening of neural connections representing events that fall within the focus of attention.
p140Cap Regulates Memory and Synaptic Plasticity through Src-Mediated and Citron-N-Mediated Actin Reorganization
Authors: Repetto Daniele , Camera Paola , Melani Riccardo , Morello Noemi , Russo Isabella , Calcagno Eleonora , Tomasoni Romana , Bianchi Federico , Berto Gaia , Giustetto Maurizio , Berardi Nicoletta , Pizzorusso Tommaso , Matteoli Michela , Di Stefano Paola , Missler Markus , Turco Emilia , Di Cunto Ferdinando , Defilippi Paola
Published: January 2014

A major challenge in the neuroscience field is the identification of molecules and pathways that control synaptic plasticity and memory. Dendritic spines play a pivotal role in these processes, as the major sites of excitatory synapses in neuronal communication. Previous studies have shown that the scaffold protein p140Cap localizes into dendritic spines and that its knockdown negatively modulates spine shape in culture. However, so far, there is no information on itsin vivorelevance. By using a knock-out mouse model, we here demonstrate that p140Cap is a key element for both learning and synaptic plasticity. Indeed,p140Cap−/−mice are impaired in object recognition test, as well as in LTP and in LTD measurements. Thein vivoeffects of p140Cap loss are presumably attenuated by noncell-autonomous events, since primary neurons obtained fromp140Cap−/−mice show a strong reduction in number of mushroom spines and abnormal organization of synapse-associated F-actin. These phenotypes are most likely caused by a local reduction of the inhibitory control of RhoA and of cortactin toward the actin-depolymerizing factor cofilin. These events can be controlled by p140Cap through its capability to directly inhibit the activation of Src kinase and by its binding to the scaffold protein Citron-N. Altogether, our results provide new insight into how protein associated with dynamic microtubules may regulate spine actin organization through interaction with postsynaptic density components.
Working Memory Load-Dependent Brain Response Predicts Behavioral Training Gains in Older Adults
Authors: Heinzel Stephan , Lorenz Robert C. , Brockhaus Wolf-Rüdiger , Wüstenberg Torsten , Kathmann Norbert , Heinz Andreas , Rapp Michael A.
Published: January 2014

In the domain of working memory (WM), a sigmoid-shaped relationship between WM load and brain activation patterns has been demonstrated in younger adults. It has been suggested that age-related alterations of this pattern are associated with changes in neural efficiency and capacity. At the same time, WM training studies have shown that some older adults are able to increase their WM performance through training. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging during ann-back WM task at different WM load levels was applied to compare blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses between younger and older participants and to predict gains in WM performance after a subsequent 12-session WM training procedure in older adults. We show that increased neural efficiency and capacity, as reflected by more “youth-like” brain response patterns in regions of interest of the frontoparietal WM network, were associated with better behavioral training outcome beyond the effects of age, sex, education, gray matter volume, and baseline WM performance. Furthermore, at low difficulty levels, decreases in BOLD response were found after WM training. Results indicate that both neural efficiency (i.e., decreased activation at comparable performance levels) and capacity (i.e., increasing activation with increasing WM load) of a WM-related network predict plasticity of the WM system, whereas WM training may specifically increase neural efficiency in older adults.
Decoding the Dynamics of Action, Intention, and Error Detection for Conscious and Subliminal Stimuli
Authors: Charles Lucie , King Jean-Rémi , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: January 2014

How do we detect our own errors, even before we receive any external feedback? One model hypothesizes that error detection results from the confrontation of two signals: a fast and unconscious motor code, based on a direct sensory–motor pathway; and a slower conscious intention code that computes the required response given the stimulus and task instructions. To test this theory and assess how the chain of cognitive processes leading to error detection is modulated by consciousness, we applied multivariate decoding methods to single-trial magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography data. Human participants performed a fast bimanual number comparison task on masked digits presented at threshold, such that about half of them remained unseen. By using both erroneous and correct trials, we designed orthogonal decoders for the actual response (left or right), the required response (left or right), and the response accuracy (correct or incorrect). While perceptual stimulus information and the actual response hand could be decoded on both conscious and non-conscious trials, the required response could only be decoded on conscious trials. Moreover, whether the current response was correct or incorrect could be decoded only when the target digits were conscious, at a time and with a certainty that varied with the amount of evidence in favor of the correct response. These results are in accordance with the proposed dual-route model of conscious versus nonconscious evidence accumulation, and suggest that explicit error detection is possible only when the brain computes a conscious representation of the desired response, distinct from the ongoing motor program.
Suboptimal Use of Neural Information in a Mammalian Auditory System
Authors: Carney Laurel H. , Zilany Muhammad S. A. , Huang Nicholas J. , Abrams Kristina S. , Idrobo Fabio
Published: January 2014

Establishing neural determinants of psychophysical performance requires both behavioral and neurophysiological metrics amenable to correlative analyses. It is often assumed that organisms use neural information optimally, such that any information available in a neural code that could improve behavioral performance is used. Studies have shown that detection of amplitude-modulated (AM) auditory tones by humans is correlated to neural synchrony thresholds, as recorded in rabbit at the level of the inferior colliculus, the first level of the ascending auditory pathway where neurons are tuned to AM stimuli. Behavioral thresholds in rabbit, however, are ∼10 dB higher (i.e., 3 times less sensitive) than in humans, and are better correlated to rate-based than temporal coding schemes in the auditory midbrain. The behavioral and physiological results shown here illustrate an unexpected, suboptimal utilization of available neural information that could provide new insights into the mechanisms that link neuronal function to behavior.
Firing of Hippocampal Neurogliaform Cells Induces Suppression of Synaptic Inhibition
Authors: Li Gengyu , Stewart Robert , Canepari Marco , Capogna Marco
Published: January 2014

Little is known about how neuron firing recordedin vivoretrogradely influences synaptic strength. We injected the firing of a rat hippocampal neurogliaform cell (NGFC), a widely expressed GABAergic neuron type, detectedin vivoduring theta rhythm, into NGFCs of rat or neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-Cre-tdTomato mouse recordedin vitro. We found that the “in vivofiring pattern” produced a transient firing-induced suppression of synaptic inhibition (FSI) evoked by a presynaptic NGFC. Imaging experiments demonstrate that FSI was associated with action potential backpropagation (bAP) and a supralinear increase in dendritic Ca2+. The application of the L-type Ca2+channel antagonist nimodipine blocked FSI. Further pharmacological experiments, such as the application of a nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-sGC) receptor antagonist, a NOS inhibitor, and NO donors, suggested that NO released from postsynaptic cells mediated FSI and likely activated presynaptic receptors to inhibit GABA release. Thein vivofiring pattern modulated the size of unitary EPSPs impinging on NGFCs through FSI and not via a direct effect on excitatory synaptic transmission. Our data demonstrate: (1) retrograde signaling initiated byin vivofiring pattern, (2) interneuron bAPs detected with fast temporal resolution, and (3) a novel role for NO expressed by specific interneuron types.
A Hierarchy of Responses to Auditory Regularities in the Macaque Brain
Authors: Uhrig Lynn , Dehaene Stanislas , Jarraya Béchir
Published: January 2014

Can monkeys learn simple auditory sequences and detect when a new sequence deviates from the stored pattern? Here we tested the predictive-coding hypothesis, which postulates that cortical areas encode internal models of sensory sequences at multiple hierarchical levels, and use these predictive models to detect deviant stimuli. In humans, hierarchical predictive coding has been supported by studies of auditory sequence processing, but it is unclear whether internal hierarchical models of auditory sequences are also available to nonhuman animals. Using fMRI, we evaluated the encoding of auditory regularities in awake monkeys listening to first- and second-order sequence violations. We observed distinct fMRI responses to first-order violations in auditory cortex and to second-order violations in a frontoparietal network, a distinction only demonstrated in conscious humans so far. The results indicate that the capacity to represent and predict the structure of auditory sequences is shared by humans and nonhuman primates.
Temporal Windows in Visual Processing: “Prestimulus Brain State” and “Poststimulus Phase Reset” Segregate Visual Transients on Different Temporal Scales
Authors: Wutz Andreas , Weisz Nathan , Braun Christoph , Melcher David
Published: January 2014

Dynamic vision requires both stability of the current perceptual representation and sensitivity to the accumulation of sensory evidence over time. Here we study the electrophysiological signatures of this intricate balance between temporal segregation and integration in vision. Within a forward masking paradigm with short and long stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA), we manipulated the temporal overlap of the visual persistence of two successive transients. Human observers enumerated the items presented in the second target display as a measure of the informational capacity read-out from this partly temporally integrated visual percept. We observed higher β-power immediately before mask display onset in incorrect trials, in which enumeration failed due to stronger integration of mask and target visual information. This effect was timescale specific, distinguishing between segregation and integration of visual transients that were distant in time (long SOA). Conversely, for short SOA trials, mask onset evoked a stronger visual response when mask and targets were correctly segregated in time. Examination of the target-related response profile revealed the importance of an evoked α-phase reset for the segregation of those rapid visual transients. Investigating this precise mapping of the temporal relationships of visual signals onto electrophysiological responses highlights how the stream of visual information is carved up into discrete temporal windows that mediate between segregated and integrated percepts. Fragmenting the stream of visual information provides a means to stabilize perceptual events within one instant in time.
Hemispheric Asymmetry in Auditory Processing of Speech Envelope Modulations in Prereading Children
Authors: Vanvooren Sophie , Poelmans Hanne , Hofmann Michael , Ghesquière Pol , Wouters Jan
Published: January 2014

The temporal envelope of speech is an important cue contributing to speech intelligibility. Theories about the neural foundations of speech perception postulate that the left and right auditory cortices are functionally specialized in analyzing speech envelope information at different time scales: the right hemisphere is thought to be specialized in processing syllable rate modulations, whereas a bilateral or left hemispheric specialization is assumed for phoneme rate modulations. Recently, it has been found that this functional hemispheric asymmetry is different in individuals with language-related disorders such as dyslexia. Most studies were, however, performed in adults and school-aged children, and only a little is known about how neural auditory processing at these specific rates manifests and develops in very young children before reading acquisition. Yet, studying hemispheric specialization for processing syllable and phoneme rate modulations in preliterate children may reveal early neural markers for dyslexia. In the present study, human cortical evoked potentials to syllable and phoneme rate modulations were measured in 5-year-old children at high and low hereditary risk for dyslexia. The results demonstrate a right hemispheric preference for processing syllable rate modulations and a symmetric pattern for phoneme rate modulations, regardless of hereditary risk for dyslexia. These results suggest that, while hemispheric specialization for processing syllable rate modulations seems to be mature in prereading children, hemispheric specialization for phoneme rate modulation processing may still be developing. These findings could have important implications for the development of phonological and reading skills.
Reward-Related Activity in Ventral Striatum Is Action Contingent and Modulated by Behavioral Relevance
Authors: FitzGerald Thomas H. B. , Schwartenbeck Philipp , Dolan Raymond J.
Published: January 2014

Multiple features of the environment are often imbued with motivational significance, and the relative importance of these can change across contexts. The ability to flexibly adjust evaluative processes so that currently important features of the environment alone drive behavior is critical to adaptive routines. We know relatively little about the neural mechanisms involved, including whether motivationally significant features are obligatorily evaluated or whether current relevance gates access to value-sensitive regions. We addressed these questions using functional magnetic resonance imaging data and a task design where human subjects had to choose whether to accept or reject an offer indicated by visual and auditory stimuli. By manipulating, on a trial-by-trial basis, which stimulus determined the value of the offer, we show choice activity in the ventral striatum solely reflects the value of the currently relevant stimulus, consistent with a model wherein behavioral relevance modulates the impact of sensory stimuli on value processing. Choice outcome signals in this same region covaried positively with wins on accept trials, and negatively with wins on reject trials, consistent with striatal activity at feedback reflecting correctness of response rather than reward processing per se. We conclude that ventral striatum activity during decision making is dynamically modulated by behavioral context, indexed here by task relevance and action selection.
Functional Reorganization of a Prefrontal Cortical Network Mediating Consolidation of Trace Eyeblink Conditioning
Authors: Hattori Shoai , Yoon Taejib , Disterhoft John F. , Weiss Craig
Published: January 2014

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been studied for its role in various cognitive functions, but the roles of its subregions remain unclear. We performed tetrode recordings simultaneously from prelimbic (PL) and rostral (rACC) and caudal (cACC) anterior cingulate subregions of the rabbit mPFC to understand their interactions during learning and tests of remote memory retention for whisker-signaled trace eyeblink conditioning. cACC neurons exhibited an innate response to the conditioning stimulus (CS) that rapidly decreased across sessions, suggesting an attentional role for facilitating CS–US associations. rACC neurons from conditioned rabbits exhibited robust responses to the CS that decreased within each session, possibly evaluating its emotional salience. PL neurons exhibited robust persistent activity during the trace interval during tests of remote memory retention, suggesting its involvement in retrieval and execution of a consolidated response. Mechanistically, conditioning was associated with a greater percentage of persistently responsive neurons than neurons from pseudoconditioned control rabbits, and responses differed significantly between trials with and without conditioned responses. Collectively, these responses reflect a functional reorganization of neural activity within the prefrontal network from an attentional mode to one that orchestrates the retrieval and execution of the learned response.
Cell Type-Specific Expression Analysis to Identify Putative Cellular Mechanisms for Neurogenetic Disorders
Authors: Xu Xiaoxiao , Wells Alan B. , O'Brien David R. , Nehorai Arye , Dougherty Joseph D.
Published: January 2014

Recent advances have substantially increased the number of genes that are statistically associated with complex genetic disorders of the CNS such as autism and schizophrenia. It is now clear that there will likely be hundreds of distinct loci contributing to these disorders, underscoring a remarkable genetic heterogeneity. It is unclear whether this genetic heterogeneity indicates an equal heterogeneity of cellular mechanisms for these diseases. The commonality of symptoms across patients suggests there could be a functional convergence downstream of these loci upon a limited number of cell types or circuits that mediate the affected behaviors. One possible mechanism for this convergence would be the selective expression of at least a subset of these genes in the cell types that comprise these circuits. Using profiling data from mice and humans, we have developed and validated an approach, cell type-specific expression analysis, for identifying candidate cell populations likely to be disrupted across sets of patients with distinct genetic lesions. Using human genetics data and postmortem gene expression data, our approach can correctly identify the cell types for disorders of known cellular etiology, including narcolepsy and retinopathies. Applying this approach to autism, a disease where the cellular mechanism is unclear, indicates there may be multiple cellular routes to this disorder. Our approach may be useful for identifying common cellular mechanisms arising from distinct genetic lesions.
Hexameric GFP and mCherry Reporters for the Drosophila GAL4, Q, and LexA Transcription Systems
Authors: Shearin Harold K , Macdonald Ian S , Spector Laura P , Stowers R Steven
Published: January 2014

The ability to distinguish cells and tissues of interest is critical for understanding their biological importance. In genetic model organisms, a prominent approach for discerning particular cells or tissues from others is the use of cell or tissue-specific enhancers to drive fluorescent reporters. This approach, however, is often limited by the brightness of the fluorescent reporter. To augment the ability to visualize cells or tissues of interest in Drosophila melanogaster, homo-hexameric GFP and mCherry reporters were developed for the GAL4, Q, and LexA transcription systems and functionally validated in vivo. The GFP and mCherry homo-hexameric fusion proteins exhibited significantly enhanced fluorescence as compared to monomeric fluorescent reporters and could be visualized by direct fluorescence throughout the cytoplasm of neurons, including the fine processes of axons and dendrites. These high-sensitivity fluorescent reporters of cell morphology can be utilized for a variety of purposes, especially facilitating fluorescence-based genetic screens for cell morphology phenotypes. These results suggest that the strategy of fusing monomeric fluorescent proteins in tandem to enhance brightness should be generalizable to other fluorescent proteins and other genetic model organisms.
Avaliação da resistência de variedades de Citrus spp. à Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri na região Noroeste Paranaense, em condições de campo
Authors: Vargas Rosa Gabriella , Gonçalves-Zuliani Aline Maria Orbolato , Croce Filho José , Carvalho Sérgio Alves de , Nocchi Paula Thais Requena , Nunes William Mário de Carvalho
Published: January 2014

A identificação de cultivares com determinados níveis de resistência ao cancro cítrico, com características agronômicas e comerciais desejáveis, assume grande importância para o manejo desta doença. A avaliação de genótipos promissores pode ser fetuada em condições controladas ou em campo. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar genótipos de laranja doce (Citrus sinensis), tangerinas (Citrus reticulata) e híbridos quanto à resistência ao cancro cítrico, em diferentes épocas de avaliação. O experimento foi conduzido em pomar experimental no município de Maringá, Paraná. Para a determinação da severidade média da doença, foram utilizadas escalas diagramáticas, sendo avaliadas quatro plantas por bloco e amostrados ramos na porção mediana de cada planta. Além disso, foi calculada a Área Abaixo da Curva de Progresso da Severidade (AACPS). De acordo com os dados obtidos, ocorreram diferenças significativas na severidade e na AACPS, ao longo das avaliações, sendo que a severidade variou de 0,25% a 4,88% e a AACPS de 49,80 a 742,65. As variedades cítricas Tang. Ponkan, Rosehaugh Nartjee, Harris, De wildt, Dekopon, Lee, África do Sul, Tarocco#23, Solid Scarlet, Satsuma Okitsu SPA 29, Cristalina, Shamouti e Pêra Olimpia se destacaram e apresentaram as menores médias de severidade, sendo essas classificadas como resistentes. Os resultados sugerem que esses genótipos podem ser importantes ferramentas nos programas de melhoramento de genótipos de citros, visando resistência a Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.
Development of an indirect ELISA to detect Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis specific antibodies in sheep employing T1 strain culture supernatant as antigen
Authors: Rebouças Miriam F. , Loureiro Dan , Bastos Bruno L. , Moura-Costa Lilia F. , Hanna Samira A. , Azevedo Vasco , Meyer Roberto , Portela Ricardo W.
Published: January 2014

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic disease that affects goats and sheep, characterized by granuloma formation in subcutaneous and internal lymph nodes. CLA causes significant economic losses to commercial goat herds. In this study, we aimed to test secreted antigens secreted from T1 strain bacteria grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth in an indirect ELISA system to determine the presence of specific immunoglobulins against C. pseudotuberculosis. We analyzed the BHI antigen electrophoretic profile and the recognition pattern by infected sheep sera samples. The ELISA results were compared with multiplex PCR assay and IFN-gamma production. The ELISA was able to discriminate between negative and positive animals, with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 99%, using microbiological isolation as gold standard. When this assay was compared with multiplex PCR and specific IFN-gamma quantification, six discrepant results were found among thirty-two samples. We concluded that the ELISA using antigens secreted from C. pseudotuberculosis T1 strain growth in BHI broth culture can be used for the serodiagnosis of CLA in sheep.
Análise de detecção de cluster na caracterização espaço-temporal da tuberculose bovina no estado da Bahia
Authors: Ávila Luciana N. , Perez Andrés M. , Ferreira Neto José S. , Ferreira Fernando , Telles Evelise O. , Dias Ricardo A. , Amaku Marcos , Gonçalves Vitor S.P.
Published: January 2014

A tuberculose bovina (BTB) é uma enfermidade causada pela infecção pelo Mycobacterium bovis que acomete o homem e diversas espécies de mamíferos. A BTB tem grande importância por causar prejuízos econômicos nas regiões infectadas e por seu impacto na saúde pública. Foi realizado inquérito epidemiológico no Estado da Bahia, entre 2008 e 2010, com o objetivo de estimar a prevalência e conhecer a distribuição espaço temporal da enfermidade. O Estado foi estratificado em quatro regiões, cada uma com características epidemiológicas e demográficas homogêneas representativas de formas de produção pecuária. Um total de 18.810 cabeças com idade superior a 2 anos foi amostrado em 1350 propriedades. O teste cervical comparativo foi aplicado em cada animal selecionado, sendo considerados positivos os animais reagentes positivos ou duas vezes inconclusivos. Latitude e Longitude foram tomadas para cada propriedade amostrada com o auxilio do aparelho de Global Positioning System (GPS). O teste de Cuzick-and-Edwards e a análise de rastreio espacial (spatial scan statistic) foram utilizados para identificar qualquer agrupamento espacial de BTB. A prevalência de rebanho na Bahia, indicando a proporção de propriedades foco, foi de 1,6% (IC 95%: 1,0% - 2,69% por região). Nenhuma evidência significativa (P<0.05) de aglomeração espacial ou clustering foi detectada, possivelmente devido à baixa prevalência da doença. Estes resultados sugerem que a BTB tem baixa prevalência no estado da Bahia e que, nestas condições epidemiológicas, os focos encontrados não podem ser explicados por fatores espacialmente estruturados.
Efeitos de perguntas e de respostas às perguntas sobre o seguir regras apresentadas em uma história infantil
Authors: Paracampo Carla Cristina Paiva , Albuquerque Luiz Carlos de , Mescouto Wandria de Andrade , Farias Andréa Fonseca
Published: January 2014

O estudo investigou os efeitos de perguntas e respostas às perguntas sobre o seguir regras por 15 crianças, distribuídas em três grupos. Nas fases 1 e 3 era medido o comportamento de doar bombons e na Fase 2 era contada uma história com uma regra especificando que quem doa alimentos tem amigos para brincar. Os grupos diferiram na Fase 2: para o Grupo 1 não eram feitas perguntas; para o Grupo 2 eram feitas perguntas ao longo da história; e para o Grupo 3 eram feitas perguntas ao final da história. Dos participantes que não doaram bombons na Fase 1 dos grupos 1, 2 e 3, 50%, 100% e 100%, respectivamente, doaram na Fase 3. Sugere-se que perguntas e respostas podem interferir na ocorrência do seguir regras.
Corpos mutantes, mulheres intrigantes: transexualidade e cirurgia de redesignação sexual
Authors: Galli Rafael Alves , Vieira Elisabeth Meloni , Giami Alain , Santos Manoel Antônio dos
Published: January 2014

Algumas definições de transexualidade incluem a questão da cirurgia de redesignação sexual como um desejo inerente aos(às) transexuais. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar os significados atribuídos à cirurgia por quatro mulheres transexuais, destacando as concepções a respeito das mudanças que a redesignação acarreta na vida da pessoa transexual. Os dados foram colhidos mediante aplicação individual de entrevista aberta na modalidade história de vida temática. O material transcrito foi organizado sob a forma de estudos de caso e analisado com base na Teoria Queer. Os resultados sugerem que os significados atribuídos à cirurgia são polissêmicos e mutáveis ao longo do processo de desenvolvimento e que o desejo de se submeter ao procedimento não deve ser um critério definidor da transexualidade.
O Sonhar social: uma experiência no Brasil
Authors: Gui Roque Tadeu , Coelho Vera Lúcia Decnop
Published: January 2014

A matriz do sonhar social é um dispositivo criado com a finalidade de apreender o significado social dos sonhos. Buscamos avaliar sua aplicação no contexto brasileiro e cogitamos sobre suas potencialidades em processos de intervenção psicológica. Foram realizados encontros de compartilhamento de sonhos com dois grupos: 14 profissionais de gestão de pessoas de uma instituição financeira nacional e seis psicólogos formandos e recém-formados de uma universidade pública federal. Utilizamos a técnica de observação participante e questionários de avaliação de reação, procedendo à avaliação qualitativa das informações. Constatamos a aplicabilidade do dispositivo e formulamos hipótese sobre a utilização da matriz em intervenção psicológica.
Pelos caminhos da universitarização: reflexões a partir da masterização dos IUFM franceses
Authors: Sarti Flavia Medeiros
Published: January 2014

O artigo problematiza as vinculações comumente estabelecidas entre a universitarização da formação docente e o movimento de profissionalização e, portanto, de valorização do magistério. O tema é discutido a partir dos resultados de uma pesquisa sobre o lugar que os professores da Educação Básica assumem no campo da formação docente, hoje, internacionalmente, caracterizado pela universitarização do magistério. Tomando o contexto francês como referência, a investigação focalizou o espaço que os professores formadores, tradicionalmente atuantes nos estágios curriculares docentes e no interior dos Instituts Universitaires de Formation de Maîtres - IUFM, ocuparam na formação para o magistério, quando, naquele país, tal formação foi elevada ao nível mestrado e incorporada à estrutura universitária. Os desafios então enfrentados por esses formadores sugerem que a universitarização, sob certas condições, pode fragilizar significativamente a dimensão socioprofissional da formação inicial docente, comprometendo a legitimidade dessa modalidade de formação no campo educativo e produzindo um cenário paradoxalmente próximo à antiuniversitarização.
Atenção à saúde mental na Estratégia Saúde da Família: recursos não reconhecidos
Authors: Ribeiro Mariana de Oliveira Pasqualin , Caccia-Bava Maria do Carmo Gullaci Guimarães , Guanaes-Lorenzi Carla
Published: January 2014

Um dos pilares da política de Atenção Básica, a Estratégia Saúde da Família, realiza assistência descentralizada nos territórios adscritos, atendendo diferentes demandas, incluindo a saúde mental. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo produzir sentidos com profissionais da Saúde da Família sobre seus recursos para o cuidado em saúde mental. Para tanto, foram realizados grupos focais com profissionais da saúde da família de um município do interior do estado de São Paulo. A análise do material foi realizada por procedimentos qualitativos de análise temática, com base nas contribuições do movimento construcionista social. Essa análise permitiu dar visibilidade a importantes recursos técnicos e relacionais da equipe para o cuidado em saúde mental, mas que pareciam pouco legitimados em seu cotidiano. Discutimos a necessidade de criação de espaços de reflexão onde os trabalhadores de saúde possam ressignificar suas ações, o que pode contribuir para a qualificação do atendimento em saúde mental na Atenção Básica.
A dimensão pulsional do sensível: elaborações acerca da percepção em Renaud Barbaras
Authors: Verissimo Danilo Saretta
Published: January 2014

Neste artigo, analisamos o trabalho teórico realizado por Renaud Barbaras a partir de seu propósito de destacar e desenvolver a potencialidade da teoria husserliana da percepção, fundamentada na doutrina de doação perceptiva por perfis. Centramo-nos principalmente em sua obra intitulada O desejo e a distância: introdução a uma fenomenologia da percepção. Destacamos a descrição, operada pelo autor, do movimento vital como desejo e a caracterização do sujeito da percepção como vivente. Sob esta condição, emerge a formulação da prioridade de uma dimensão qualificada por Barbaras como "pulsional" frente à dimensão objetivante da epistemologia clássica da relação sujeito-objeto. Sinalizamos que, para o autor, estes remanejamentos conduzem à necessidade de pensar o corpo, a percepção e o movimento com base na categoria de vida.
Trauma, memória e justiça em "A Morte e a Donzela", de Roman Polanski
Authors: Goldstein Thaís Seltzer
Published: January 2014

O presente artigo analisa um filme inspirado em uma peça teatral de Ariel Dorfman, traduzida para o português como "A Morte e a Donzela". A película, que leva o mesmo título, foi lançada em 1994 sob direção de Roman Polanski. Trata-se de um suspense psicológico que conta com a participação de apenas três personagens: Paulina, Miranda e Escobar, interpretados por Sigorney Weaver, Ben Kingsley e Stuart Wilson, respectivamente. Colocando em pauta discussões de grande relevância para a Psicologia - como a questão da memória de um trauma, da elaboração psíquica e do potencial restaurador da justiça - este filme, juntamente com algumas contribuições de teóricos da atualidade, suscita reflexões de grande valia ao enfrentamento de impasses ligados à rememoração de catástrofes sociais em âmbito intersubjetivo e comunitário.
Implementação de políticas públicas: perspectivas analíticas
Authors: Lima Luciana Leite , D'Ascenzi Luciano
Published: January 2014

O artigo tem dois objetivos inter-relacionados. O primeiro é sistematizar e analisar a literatura sobre modelos analíticos de implementação de políticas públicas. Identificamos dois principais modelos. Um deles é operado com base na valorização de variáveis independentes relacionadas à hierarquia organizacional, com foco no processo de formulação. O outro enfatiza variáveis referentes às características dos espaços locais de implementação e à atuação das burocracias implementadoras. Em comum, os modelos enfatizam as condições materiais do desenvolvimento do processo de implementação. A partir dessa constatação, o segundo objetivo é propor um modelo analítico para o processo de implementação de políticas públicas baseado na integração entre as variáveis centrais daqueles modelos e as ligadas às ideias, aos valores e às concepções de mundo dos atores. Trata-se de uma discussão dos modelos analíticos de implementação de políticas públicas à luz da literatura específica e pesquisas empíricas realizadas pelos autores sobre políticas de saúde e educação. Verificou-se que elementos dos contextos locais de ação como as representações e valores dos atores influenciaram a execução das políticas públicas na medida em que conformaram sua compreensão sobre o problema social e sobre a forma de confrontá-lo. A discussão contribui para a integração dos modelos analíticos sobre implementação e políticas públicas e para sua operacionalização.
Democracia e tolerância à subordinação: livre-escolha e consentimento na teoria política feminista
Authors: Biroli Flávia
Published: January 2014

O artigo apresenta e analisa críticas feministas à acomodação entre a valorização liberal da livre-escolha dos indivíduos e as desigualdades materiais e simbólicas que restringem a autonomia individual. O foco da análise apresentada é, primeiramente, a crítica à noção de consentimento voluntário que é base fundamental para o liberalismo. Para expor a insuficiência da dualidade liberal entre coerção e livre-escolha para a análise das fronteiras entre consentimento voluntário e recusa, o artigo discute as relações entre consentimento e estupro. Torna-se possível, assim, analisar as conexões entre o consentimento na vida cotidiana e o consentimento no estado liberal-democrático, tomando como ponto de partida as relações de gênero e as formas de vulnerabilidade associadas à posição social das mulheres. O resultado é o deslocamento do foco da análise, do caráter voluntário da expressão de uma preferência ou da realização de uma escolha, para uma abordagem orientada pela autodeterminação como valor prioritário para a democracia. São destacados dois conjuntos de problemas: aqueles que emergem das situações nas quais a diferença entre consentimento e não-consentimento é anulada e, com ela, a condição de agentes morais daquelas que consentem ou deixam de consentir e aqueles que são expostos pela análise das situações em que há consentimento, mas este conduz à subordinação ou reforça a vulnerabilidade do próprio indivíduo.
Concretude simbólica e descrição etnográfica (sobre a relação entre antropologia e filosofia)
Authors: Oliveira Luís R. Cardoso de
Published: January 2014

O artigo procura refletir sobre a relação entre antropologia e filosofia a partir de características centrais da descrição etnográfica e da importância da dimensão simbólica da vida social. Tendo como referência as diferentes manifestações da vida social e a diversidade das sociedades e grupos ou segmentos sociais estudados pelos antropólogos, o artigo examina as condições de inteligibilidade do trabalho etnográfico como uma questão que perpassa a pesquisa antropológica onde quer que ela tenha lugar, impondo permanentemente uma reflexão de caráter filosófico para dar conta de problemas concretos, bem circunscritos e empiricamente delimitados. Neste empreendimento, o texto explora inicialmente as condições de inteligibilidade de práticas de bruxaria estudadas pelos antropólogos, para concluir com uma discussão sobre a inteligibilidade das disputas judiciais e das demandas por direitos em sociedades modernas.