bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional Variation of the Dopamine D2Receptor Gene Is Associated with Emotional Control as well as Brain Activity and Connectivity during Emotion Processing in Humans
Authors: Blasi Giuseppe , Lo Bianco Luciana , Taurisano Paolo , Gelao Barbara , Romano Raffaella , Fazio Leonardo , Papazacharias Apostolos , Di Giorgio Annabella , Caforio Grazia , Rampino Antonio , Masellis Rita , Papp Audrey , Ursini Gianluca , Sinibaldi Lorenzo , Popolizio Teresa , Sadee Wolfgang , Bertolino Alessandro
Published: November 2009

Personality traits related to emotion processing are, at least in part, heritable and genetically determined. Dopamine D2receptor signaling is involved in modulation of emotional behavior and activity of associated brain regions such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. An intronic single nucleotide polymorphism within the D2receptor gene (DRD2) (rs1076560, guanine > thymine or G > T) shifts splicing of the two protein isoforms (D2short, mainly presynaptic, and D2long) and has been associated with modulation of memory performance and brain activity. Here, our aim was to investigate the association ofDRD2rs1076560 genotype with personality traits of emotional stability and with brain physiology during processing of emotionally relevant stimuli.DRD2genotype and Big Five Questionnaire scores were evaluated in 134 healthy subjects demonstrating that GG subjects have reduced “emotion control” compared with GT subjects. Functional magnetic resonance imaging in a sample of 24 individuals indicated greater amygdala activity during implicit processing and greater dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) response during explicit processing of facial emotional stimuli in GG subjects compared with GT. Other results also demonstrate an interaction betweenDRD2genotype and facial emotional expression on functional connectivity of both amygdala and dorsolateral prefrontal regions with overlapping medial prefrontal areas. Moreover, rs1076560 genotype is associated with differential relationships between amygdala/DLPFC functional connectivity and emotion control scores. These results suggest that genetically determined D2signaling may explain part of personality traits related to emotion processing and individual variability in specific brain responses to emotionally relevant inputs.
Cleavage of proBDNF to BDNF by a Tolloid-Like Metalloproteinase Is Required for Acquisition ofIn VitroEyeblink Classical Conditioning
Authors: Keifer Joyce , Sabirzhanov Boris E. , Zheng Zhaoqing , Li Wei , Clark Timothy G.
Published: November 2009

The tolloid/bone morphogenetic protein-1 family of metalloproteinases have an important role in the regulation of embryonic pattern formation and tissue morphogenesis. Studies suggest that they participate in mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in adults, but very little is known about their function. Recently, we isolated a reptilian ortholog of the tolloid gene family designated turtle tolloid-like gene (tTll). Here, we examined the role of tTLL in anin vitromodel of eyeblink classical conditioning using an isolated brainstem preparation to assess its role in synaptic plasticity during conditioning. Analysis by real-time reverse transcription-PCR shows that an extracellularly secreted form of tTLL, tTLLs, is transiently expressed in the early stages of conditioning during conditioned response acquisition, whereas a cytosolic form, tTLLc, is not. Short interfering RNA (siRNA)-directed gene knockdown and rescue of tTLL expression demonstrate that it is required for conditioning. Significantly, we show that tTLLs cleaves the precursor proBDNF into mature BDNF in cleavage assay studies, and application of recombinant tTLLs protein alone to preparations results in induction of mature BDNF expression. The mature form of BDNF is minimally expressed in preparations treated with anti-tTLL siRNA, and the synaptic incorporation of both GluR1- and GluR4-containing AMPA receptors is significantly reduced, resulting in suppression of conditioning. This is the first study to demonstrate that expression of an extracellularly secreted tolloid-like metalloproteinase is regulated in the early stages of classical conditioning and functions in the conversion of proBDNF to mature BDNF. The mature form of BDNF is required for synaptic delivery of AMPA receptors and acquisition of conditioned responses.
Basal Cerebral Metabolism May Modulate the Cognitive Effects of Aβ in Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Example of Brain Reserve
Authors: Cohen Ann D. , Price Julie C. , Weissfeld Lisa A. , James Jeffrey , Rosario Bedda L. , Bi Wenzhu , Nebes Robert D. , Saxton Judith A. , Snitz Beth E. , Aizenstein Howard A. , Wolk David A. , DeKosky Steven T. , Mathis Chester A. , Klunk William E.
Published: November 2009

Inverse correlations between amyloid-β (Aβ) load measured by Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebral metabolism using [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, suggest local Aβ-induced metabolic insults. However, this relationship has not been well studied in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or amyloid-positive controls. Here, we explored associations of Aβ deposition with metabolism via both region-of-interest-based and voxel-based analyses in amyloid-positive control subjects and patients with MCI or AD. Metabolism in parietal and precuneus cortices of AD patients was negatively correlated with PiB retention locally, and more distantly with PiB retention in frontal cortex. In amyloid-positive controls, no clear patterns in correlations were observed. In MCI patients, there were essentially no significant, negative correlations, but there were frequent significant positive correlations between metabolism and PiB retention. Metabolism in anterior cingulate showed positive correlations with PiB in most brain areas in MCI, and metabolism and PiB retention were positively correlated locally in precuneus/parietal cortex. However, there was no significant increase in metabolism in MCI compared to age-matched controls, negating the possibility that Aβ deposition directly caused reactive hypermetabolism. This suggests that, in MCI, higher basal metabolism could either be exacerbating Aβ deposition or increasing the level of Aβ necessary for cognitive impairment sufficient for the clinical diagnosis of AD. Only after extensive Aβ deposition has been present for longer periods of time does Aβ become the driving force for decreased metabolism in clinical AD and, only in more vulnerable brain regions such as parietal and precuneus cortices.
Adenosine A2AReceptor Blockade Prevents Synaptotoxicity and Memory Dysfunction Caused by β-Amyloid Peptides via p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway
Authors: Canas Paula M. , Porciúncula Lisiane O. , Cunha Geanne M. A. , Silva Carla G. , Machado Nuno J. , Oliveira Jorge M. A. , Oliveira Catarina R. , Cunha Rodrigo A.
Published: November 2009

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by memory impairment, neurochemically by accumulation of β-amyloid peptide (namely Aβ1-42) and morphologically by an initial loss of nerve terminals. Caffeine consumption prevents memory dysfunction in different models, which is mimicked by antagonists of adenosine A2Areceptors (A2ARs), which are located in synapses. Thus, we now tested whether A2AR blockade prevents the early Aβ1-42-induced synaptotoxicity and memory dysfunction and what are the underlying signaling pathways. The intracerebral administration of soluble Aβ1-42(2 nmol) in rats or mice caused, 2 weeks later, memory impairment (decreased performance in the Y-maze and object recognition tests) and a loss of nerve terminal markers (synaptophysin, SNAP-25) without overt neuronal loss, astrogliosis, or microgliosis. These were prevented by pharmacological blockade [5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (SCH58261); 0.05 mg · kg−1· d−1, i.p.; for 15 d] in rats, and genetic inactivation of A2ARs in mice. Moreover, these were synaptic events since purified nerve terminals acutely exposed to Aβ1-42(500 nm) displayed mitochondrial dysfunction, which was prevented by A2AR blockade. SCH58261 (50 nm) also prevented the initial synaptotoxicity (loss of MAP-2, synaptophysin, and SNAP-25 immunoreactivity) and subsequent loss of viability of cultured hippocampal neurons exposed to Aβ1-42(500 nm). This A2AR-mediated control of neurotoxicity involved the control of Aβ1-42-induced p38 phosphorylation and was independent from cAMP/PKA (protein kinase A) pathway. Together, these results show that A2ARs play a crucial role in the development of Aβ-induced synaptotoxicity leading to memory dysfunction through a p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)-dependent pathway and provide a molecular basis for the benefits of caffeine consumption in AD.
Striatal Dopamine D2/D3Receptor Availability Is Reduced in Methamphetamine Dependence and Is Linked to Impulsivity
Authors: Lee Buyean , London Edythe D. , Poldrack Russell A. , Farahi Judah , Nacca Angelo , Monterosso John R. , Mumford Jeanette A. , Bokarius Andrew V. , Dahlbom Magnus , Mukherjee Jogeshwar , Bilder Robert M. , Brody Arthur L. , Mandelkern Mark A.
Published: November 2009

While methamphetamine addiction has been associated with both impulsivity and striatal dopamine D2/D3receptor deficits, human studies have not directly linked the latter two entities. We therefore compared methamphetamine-dependent and healthy control subjects using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (version 11, BIS-11) and positron emission tomography with [18F]fallypride to measure striatal dopamine D2/D3receptor availability. The methamphetamine-dependent subjects reported recent use of the drug 3.3 g per week, and a history of using methamphetamine, on average, for 12.5 years. They had higher scores than healthy control subjects on all BIS-11 impulsiveness subscales (p< 0.001). Volume-of-interest analysis found lower striatal D2/D3receptor availability in methamphetamine-dependent than in healthy control subjects (p< 0.01) and a negative relationship between impulsiveness and striatal D2/D3receptor availability in the caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens that reached statistical significance in methamphetamine-dependent subjects. Combining data from both groups, voxelwise analysis indicated that impulsiveness was related to D2/D3receptor availability in left caudate nucleus and right lateral putamen/claustrum (p< 0.05, determined by threshold-free cluster enhancement). In separate group analyses, correlations involving the head and body of the caudate and the putamen of methamphetamine-dependent subjects and the lateral putamen/claustrum of control subjects were observed at a weaker threshold (p< 0.12 corrected). The findings suggest that low striatal D2/D3receptor availability may mediate impulsive temperament and thereby influence addiction.
Robust Coding of Ego-Motion in Descending Neurons of the Fly
Authors: Wertz Adrian , Gaub Benjamin , Plett Johannes , Haag Juergen , Borst Alexander
Published: November 2009

In many species, motion-sensitive neurons responding to optic flow at higher processing stages are well characterized; however, less is known how this representation of ego-motion is further transformed into an appropriate motor response. Here, we analyzed in the blowflyCalliphora vicinathe visuomotor transformation from motion-sensitive neurons in the lobula plate [V2 and vertical system (VS) cells] onto premotor descending neurons [descending neurons of the ocellar and vertical system (DNOVS) cells] feeding into the motor circuit of the fly thoracic ganglion. We found that each of these cells is tuned to rotation of the fly around a particular body axis. Comparing the responses of presynaptic and postsynaptic cells revealed that DNOVS cells have approximately the same tuning widths as V2 and VS cells. However, DNOVS signals cells are less corrupted by fluctuations arising from the spatial structure of the visual input than their presynaptic elements. This leads to a more robust representation of ego-motion at the level of descending neurons. Thus, when moving from lobula plate cells to descending neurons, the selectivity for a particular optic flow remains unaltered, but the robustness of the representation increases.
Inhibition of Adult Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells by D1-Type Dopamine Receptor Activation
Authors: Hayashida Yuki , Rodríguez Carolina Varela , Ogata Genki , Partida Gloria J. , Oi Hanako , Stradleigh Tyler W. , Lee Sherwin C. , Colado Anselmo Felipe , Ishida Andrew T.
Published: November 2009

The spike output of neural pathways can be regulated by modulating output neuron excitability and/or their synaptic inputs. Dopaminergic interneurons synapse onto cells that route signals to mammalian retinal ganglion cells, but it is unknown whether dopamine can activate receptors in these ganglion cells and, if it does, how this affects their excitability. Here, we show D1areceptor-like immunoreactivity in ganglion cells identified in adult rats by retrogradely transported dextran, and that dopamine, D1-type receptor agonists, and cAMP analogs inhibit spiking in ganglion cells dissociated from adult rats. These ligands curtailed repetitive spiking during constant current injections and reduced the number and rate of rise of spikes elicited by fluctuating current injections without significantly altering the timing of the remaining spikes. Consistent with mediation by D1-type receptors, SCH-23390 [R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine] reversed the effects of dopamine on spikes. Contrary to a recent report, spike inhibition by dopamine was not precluded by blockingIh. Consistent with the reduced rate of spike rise, dopamine reduced voltage-gated Na+current (INa) amplitude, and tetrodotoxin, at doses that reducedINaas moderately as dopamine, also inhibited spiking. These results provide the first direct evidence that D1-type dopamine receptor activation can alter mammalian retinal ganglion cell excitability and demonstrate that dopamine can modulate spikes in these cells by a mechanism different from the presynaptic and postsynaptic means proposed by previous studies. To our knowledge, our results also provide the first evidence that dopamine receptor activation can reduce excitability without altering the temporal precision of spike firing.
The Dorsomedial Striatum Reflects Response Bias during Learning
Authors: Kimchi Eyal Y. , Laubach Mark
Published: November 2009

Previous studies have established that neurons in the dorsomedial striatum track the behavioral significance of external stimuli, are sensitive to contingencies between actions and outcomes, and show rapid flexibility in representing task-related information. Here, we describe how neural activity in the dorsomedial striatum changes during the initial acquisition of a Go/NoGo task and during an initial reversal of stimulus-response contingencies. Rats made nosepoke responses over delay periods and then received one of two acoustic stimuli. Liquid rewards were delivered after one stimulus (S+) if the rats made a Go response (entering a reward port on the opposite wall of the chamber). If a Go response was made to other stimulus (S−), rats experienced a timeout. On 10% of trials, no stimulus was presented. These trials were used to assess response bias, the animals' tendency to collect reward independent of the stimulus. Response bias increased during the reversal, corresponding to the animals' uncertainty about the stimulus-response contingencies. Most task-modulated neurons fired during the response at the end of the delay period. The fraction of response-modulated neurons was correlated with response bias and neural activity was sensitive to the behavioral response made on the previous trial. During initial task acquisition and initial reversal learning, there was a remarkable change in the percentages of neurons that fired in relation to the task events, especially during withdrawal from the nosepoke aperture. These results suggest that changes in task-related activity in the dorsomedial striatum during learning are driven by the animal's bias to collect rewards.
CK2 Is a Novel Negative Regulator of NADPH Oxidase and a Neuroprotectant in Mice after Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Kim Gab Seok , Jung Joo Eun , Niizuma Kuniyasu , Chan Pak H.
Published: November 2009

NADPH oxidase is a major complex that produces reactive oxygen species (ROSs) during the ischemic period and aggravates brain damage and cell death after ischemic injury. Although many approaches have been tested for preventing production of ROSs by NADPH oxidase in ischemic brain injury, the regulatory mechanisms of NADPH oxidase activity after cerebral ischemia are still unclear. In this study, we identified casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a critical modulator of NADPH oxidase and elucidated the role of CK2 as a neuroprotectant after oxidative insults to the brain. We found that the protein levels of the catalytic subunits CK2α and CK2α′, as well as the total activity of CK2, are significantly reduced after transient focal cerebral ischemia (tFCI). We also found this deactivation of CK2 caused by ischemia/reperfusion increases expression of Nox2 and translocation of p67phoxand Rac1 to the membrane after tFCI. Interestingly, we found that the inactive status of Rac1 was captured by the catalytic subunit CK2α under normal conditions. However, binding between CK2α and Rac1 was immediately diminished after tFCI, and Rac1 activity was markedly increased after CK2 inhibition. Moreover, we found that deactivation of CK2 in the mouse brain enhances production of ROSs and neuronal cell death via increased NADPH oxidase activity. The increased brain infarct volume caused by CK2 inhibition was restored by apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor. This study suggests that CK2 can be a direct molecular target for modulation of NADPH oxidase activity after ischemic brain injury.
Behavioral and Neural Evidence of Incentive Bias for Immediate Rewards Relative to Preference-Matched Delayed Rewards
Authors: Luo Shan , Ainslie George , Giragosian Lisa , Monterosso John R.
Published: November 2009

Several theories of self-control [including intertemporal bargaining (Ainslie, 1992) and self-signaling (Bodner and Prelec, 2001)] imply that intertemporal decisions can be more farsighted than would be predicted by the incentive associated with rewards outside a decision context. We examined this hypothesis using behavior and functional neuroimaging. First, subjects expressed preferences between amounts of money delayed by 4 months and smaller amounts available that day. This allowed us to establish “indifference pairs” individualized to each participant: immediate and delayed amounts that were equally preferred. Participants subsequently performed a reaction time functional magnetic resonance imaging task (Knutson et al., 2001a) that provided them with distinct opportunities to win each of the rewards that comprised the indifference pairs. Anatomical region of interest analysis as well as whole-brain analysis indicated greater response recruited by the immediate rewards (relative to the preference-matched delayed rewards) in regions previously implicated as sensitive to incentive value using the same task (including bilateral putamen, bilateral anterior insula, and midbrain). Reaction time to the target was also faster during the immediate relative to delayed reward trials (p< 0.01), and individual differences in reaction time between immediate versus delayed reward trials correlated with variance in magnetic resonance signal in those clusters that responded preferentially to immediate rewards (r= 0.33,p< 0.05). These findings indicate a discrepancy in incentive associated with the immediate versus the preference-matched delayed rewards. This discrepancy may mark the contribution of self-control processes that are recruited during decision-making but that are absent when rewards are individually anticipated.
Fornix Microstructure Correlates with Recollection But Not Familiarity Memory
Authors: Rudebeck Sarah R. , Scholz Jan , Millington Rebecca , Rohenkohl Gustavo , Johansen-Berg Heidi , Lee Andy C. H.
Published: November 2009

The fornix is the main tract between the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and medial diencephalon, both of which are critical for episodic memory. The precise involvement of the fornix in memory, however, has been difficult to ascertain since damage to this tract in human amnesics is invariably accompanied by atrophy to surrounding structures. We used diffusion-weighted imaging to investigate whether individual differences in fornix white matter microstructure in neurologically healthy participants were related to differences in memory as assessed by two recognition tasks. Higher microstructural integrity in the fornix tail was found to be associated with significantly better recollection memory. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between fornix microstructure and familiarity memory or performance on two non-mnemonic tasks. Our findings support the idea that there are distinct MTL–diencephalon pathways that subserve differing memory processes.
Functional But Not Structural Networks of the Human Laryngeal Motor Cortex Show Left Hemispheric Lateralization during Syllable But Not Breathing Production
Authors: Simonyan Kristina , Ostuni John , Ludlow Christy L. , Horwitz Barry
Published: November 2009

The laryngeal motor cortex (LMC) is indispensible for the vocal motor control of speech and song production. Patients with bilateral lesions in this region are unable to speak and sing, although their nonverbal vocalizations, such as laughter and cry, are preserved. Despite the importance of the LMC in the control of voluntary voice production in humans, the literature describing its connections remains sparse. We used diffusion tensor probabilistic tractography and functional magnetic resonance imaging-based functional connectivity analysis to identify LMC networks controlling two tasks necessary for speech production: voluntary voice as repetition of two different syllables and voluntary breathing as controlled inspiration and expiration. Peaks of activation during all tasks were found in the bilateral ventral primary motor cortex in close proximity to each other. Functional networks of the LMC during voice production but not during controlled breathing showed significant left-hemispheric lateralization (p< 0.0005). However, structural networks of the LMC associated with both voluntary voice production and controlled breathing had bilateral hemispheric organization. Our findings indicate the presence of a common bilateral structural network of the LMC, upon which different functional networks are built to control various voluntary laryngeal tasks. Bilateral organization of functional LMC networks during controlled breathing supports its indispensible role in all types of laryngeal behaviors. Significant left-hemispheric lateralization of functional networks during simple but highly learned voice production suggests the readiness of the LMC network for production of a complex voluntary behavior, such as human speech.
Brain Mechanisms Supporting Discrimination of Sensory Features of Pain: A New Model
Authors: Oshiro Yoshitetsu , Quevedo Alexandre S. , McHaffie John G. , Kraft Robert A. , Coghill Robert C.
Published: November 2009

Pain can be very intense or only mild, and can be well localized or diffuse. To date, little is known as to how such distinct sensory aspects of noxious stimuli are processed by the human brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a delayed match-to-sample task, we show that discrimination of pain intensity, a nonspatial aspect of pain, activates a ventrally directed pathway extending bilaterally from the insular cortex to the prefrontal cortex. This activation is distinct from the dorsally directed activation of the posterior parietal cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that occurs during spatial discrimination of pain. Both intensity and spatial discrimination tasks activate highly similar aspects of the anterior cingulate cortex, suggesting that this structure contributes to common elements of the discrimination task such as the monitoring of sensory comparisons and response selection. Together, these results provide the foundation for a new model of pain in which bidirectional dorsal and ventral streams preferentially amplify and process distinct sensory features of noxious stimuli according to top-down task demands.
ADMA concentration changes across the menstrual cycle and during oral contraceptive use: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
Authors: Valtonen Pirjo , Punnonen Kari , Saarelainen Heli , Heiskanen Nonna , Raitakari Olli T , Juonala Markus , Viikari Jorma S A , Alfthan Georg , Kähönen Mika , Laaksonen Reijo , Lyyra-Laitinen Tiina , Laitinen Tomi , Heinonen Seppo
Published: November 2009

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels during different menstrual cycle phases in young adult women with or without oral contraceptive (OC) use.

Design and methods

The subjects (n=1079) originated from a large population-based, prospective cohort study conducted in Finland. Plasma ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), l-arginine, C-reactive protein, creatinine, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. The use of OCs and menstrual cycle phase were determined from a questionnaire.

Results

In non-OC users, ADMA (P=0.017), l-arginine (P=0.002), and ADMA/SDMA ratio (P<0.001) were significantly lower in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Non-OC users also had significantly higher ADMA and SDMA concentrations (P<0.001) and lower l-arginine concentrations (P<0.001) compared to OC users of estrogen-containing pills. Progestin-only contraceptive pills (POPs) did not lower the ADMA level, but maintained it at the same level as in non-OC users. In OC users, there were no significant differences found in ADMA, FMD, or FMD% across menstrual cycle, whereas brachial artery diameter was significantly more decreased in the luteal phase (P=0.013) than in the follicular phase.

Conclusion

We observed that the circulating ADMA concentration varies across the menstrual cycle in young women not using OCs, and women on OCs displayed significantly lower circulating ADMA concentrations than non-OC users, though this was not the case with POP contraception.
Circulating white blood cell count and measures of adipose tissue inflammation predict higher 24-h energy expenditure
Authors: He Jianying , Le Duc Son , Xu Xiaoyuan , Scalise Michael , Ferrante Anthony W , Krakoff Jonathan
Published: November 2009

Objective

Energy expenditure (EE) and measures of inflammation increase with adiposity, and this obesity-induced chronic and subclinical inflammation was extensively reported to be a cause of insulin resistance. However, whether subclinical inflammation has a role in increasing EE, which may be at the cost of developing insulin resistance, is not clear.

Methods

We investigated the association between circulating white blood cell count (WBC) in a population of Native Americans (n=243) with measurement of EE in a respiratory chamber, and in a subset of the same population (n=34), with gene expression measures of inflammation in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT). All subjects were healthy on oral glucose tolerance test. Statistically, nonnormally distributed variables were logarithmically transformed before analyses to approximate normal distributions.

Results

WBC was associated with 24-h EE adjusted for age, sex, fat-free mass, and fat mass (r=0.13, P=0.04). In SAAT, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), shown as log10-transformed TNF-α (r=0.36, P=0.05), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), shown as log10-transformed PAI-1 (lPAI-1; r=0.41, P=0.02), expressions were also positively correlated with adjusted 24-h EE. lPAI-1 was also correlated with adjusted sleep EE (r=0.34, P=0.07).

Conclusions

In conclusion, circulating markers of inflammation (WBC) and markers of inflammation within adipose tissue (TNF-α and PAI-1) are positively associated with EE, indicating a role of chronic subclinical inflammation in the regulation of metabolic rate.
Canine placenta: a source of prepartal prostaglandins during normal and antiprogestin-induced parturition
Authors: Kowalewski Mariusz Pawel , Beceriklisoy Hakki Bülent , Pfarrer Christiane , Aslan Selim , Kindahl Hans , Kücükaslan Ibrahim , Hoffmann Bernd
Published: November 2009

Expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2, now known as PTGS2), prostaglandin E2 synthase (PTGES, PGES), and prostaglandin F2α synthase (PGFS), of the respective receptors PTGFR (FP), PTGER2 (EP2), and PTGER4 (EP4) and of the progesterone receptor (PGR, PR) was assessed by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), or in situ hybridization (ISH) in utero/placental tissue samples collected from three to five bitches on days 8–12 (pre-implantation), 18–25 (post-implantation), and 35–40 (mid-gestation) of pregnancy and during the prepartal luteolysis. Additionally, ten mid-pregnant bitches were treated with the antiprogestin aglepristone (10 mg/kg bw (2×/24 h)); ovariohysterectomy was 24 and 72 h after the second treatment. Plasma progesterone and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2α (PGFM) concentrations were determined by RIA. Expression of the PGR was highest before implantation and primarily located to the endometrium; expression in the placenta was restricted to the decidual cells. PTGS2 was constantly low expressed until mid-gestation; a strong upregulation occurred at prepartal luteolysis concomitant with an increase in PGFM. PGFS was upregulated after implantation and significantly elevated through early and mid-gestation. PTGES showed a gradual increase and a strong prepartal upregulation. PTGFR, PTGER2, and PTGER4 were downregulated after implantation; a gradual upregulation of PTGFR and PTGER2 occurred towards parturition. ISH and IHC co-localized PGFS, PTGFR, PTGES, and PTGS2 in the trophoblast and endometrium. The changes following application of aglepristone were in the same direction as those observed from mid-gestation to prepartal luteolysis. These data suggest that the prepartal increase of PGF2α results from a strong upregulation of PTGS2 in the fetal trophoblast with the withdrawal of progesterone having a signalling function and the decidual cells playing a key role in the underlying cell-to-cell crosstalk.
The frequency of nasal injury in newborns due to the use of continuous positive airway pressure with prongs
Authors: Nascimento Renata Medeiros do , Ferreira Anne Laura Costa , Coutinho Ana Cláudia Ferreira Pinheiro , Veríssimo Regina Célia Sales Santos
Published: November 2009

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with prongs is the ventilatory support most used in newborns. Nasal injuries are complications that may arise due to the prolonged use of this device. This study aimed to determine the frequency of nasal injuries in newborns through the use of continuous positive airway pressure with prongs. A convenience sample composed of hospitalized newborns using prongs for more than two days was used. Data were collected through a structured form. Lesions were observed in all newborns, which were classified as: mild (79.6%), moderate (19.7%) and severe (0.7%). The conclusion is that the use of prongs for more than two days represents a risk factor for the lesions to develop.
How One Elementary School Uses Data to Help Raise Students' Reading Achievement
Authors: Mokhtari Kouider , Thoma Jennifer , Edwards Patricia
Published: November 2009

In this column, we share the collective reflections of a group of teachers and a school administrator in one Midwestern elementary school, which highlight the value of using data collaboratively to bring about instructional change and to improve student reading achievement.

في هذا العمود نشارك التأملات الجماعية من مجموعة المعلمين ومدير مدرسي من مدرسة ابتدائية واقعة في غرب وسط أمريكا التي تسلط الضوء على قيمة استخدام معطيات بشكل تعاوني كي تُحدِث التغيرات التعليمية وتحسين إنجازات الطلاب القرائية.

在本期专栏中，我们与读者分享一组教师及一位学校行政人员的集体反思，他们来自一所位于美国中西部的小学。他们的集体反思凸显出为求促成教学转变及改善学生阅读成绩而协同使用资料的价值。

Dans cette rubrique, nous présentons la réflexion collective d'un groupe d'enseignants et d'un administrateur scolaire d'une école élémentaire du middle‐ouest qui met en évidence l'intérêt qu'il y a à se servir ensemble de données pour apporter des changements dans l'enseignement et pour améliorer la lecture des élèves.

В этом выпуске рубрики мы предлагаем размышления целой группы учителей и школьного администратора одной из начальных школ на Среднем Западе США. Они подчеркивают, как важно совместно использовать получаемые каждым отдельным специалистом данные – только так можно достигнуть кардинальных перемен и вырастить успешных читателей.

En esta columna compartimos las reflexiones de un grupo de maestros y un administrador de escuela en una escuela primaria del medio oeste americano que resalta el valor de la colaboración en el uso de datos para lograr cambios en la enseñanza y mejorar la lectura de los estudiantes.
Effective Literacy Instruction for Urban Children: Voices From the Classroom
Authors: Scott Jerrie L. , Teale William H. , Carry Diana Dumetz , Johnson Neshellda , Morgan Des Remona
Published: November 2009

This article draws upon the voices and ideas of three urban literacy practitioners who suggest what it takes to have effective elementary and middle school literacy instruction for urban students.

تستدعي هذه المقالة أصوات ثلاثة معلمين مدنيين وأفكارهم الذين يقدمون اقتراحاتهم بما يستلزم لإنجاز التعليم الفعال في المدرسة الابتدائية والإعدادية بالنسبة إلى الطلاب المدنيين.

本文借鉴了三位在城市工作的读写能力教学从业人员所表达的声音和意见。他们就为城市中、小学生提供有效读写能力教学所需之条件，提出了一些建议。

Cet article provient des propos et des idées de trois praticiens de littératie de banlieues qui disent ce qu'il faudrait faire pour qu'il y ait un enseignement efficace de la littératie à l'école et au collège pour les élèves des banlieues.

В статье звучат голоса трех учителей‐практиков, преподающих в городских школах. Они делятся своими соображениями о том, как обеспечить эффективное обучение грамотности в начальной и средней школе, где учатся дети из малообразованных семей с весьма скромным достатком.

Este artículo se basa en las voces y las ideas de tres practicantes urbanos de competencias que sugieren lo que es necesario para que la instrucción de competencias a estudiantes urbanos a nivel de primaria e intermedia sea eficaz.
Floating on a Sea of Talk: Reading Comprehension Through Speaking and Listening
Authors: Mills Kathy A.
Published: November 2009

Talk is the foundation for thought and understanding and the key to literacy learning. Research demonstrates that powerful metacognitive strategies can be taught to help students self‐monitor their comprehension when reading print and digital texts. This article provides a repertoire of speaking and listening strategies to develop the metacognitive thinking of students in the elementary years.

إن الكلام أساس التفكير والفهم ومفتاح تعلم القراءة والكتابة وتُظهِر الأبحاث العلمية أن الإستراتيجيات القوية بصدد التفكير ما وراء المعرفة قد تُعلَّم لمساعدة الطلاب في القيام بمراقبة قهمهم بشكل ذاتي حين يقرؤون النصوص المطبوعة والرقمية. إذ تقدم هذه المقالة ذخيرة من إستراتيجيات المحادثة والاستماع من أجل تنمية تفكير ما وراء المعرفة لدى الطلاب في الصفوف الابتدائية.

谈话是思想和理解的基础，也是读写文化学习的关键要素。研究显示高效能的元认知策略可以教给学生，帮助他们在阅读印刷及数字文本时，能自我监察自己的阅读理解过程。本文提供一套说话与聆听策略，以培养学生在小学期间的元认知思维发展。

La parole est la base de la pensée et de la compréhension et la clé de l'apprentissage de la littératie. Les recherches montrent que l'on peut enseigner de puissantes stratégies métacognitives pour aider les élèves à piloter eux‐mêmes leur compréhension quand ils lisent des textes imprimés ou numérisés. Cet article fournit un répertoire de stratégies à l'émission et à la réception pour développer la réflexion métacognitive des élèves pendant les années d'école élémentaire.

Беседа – основа мышления и понимания и ключ к развитию грамотности. Исследования подтверждают, что детей можно обучить мощным метакогнитивным стратегиям, чтобы помочь им контролировать собственный уровень понимания при чтении печатных и электронных текстов. В статье предложен целый ряд стратегий, связанных с говорением и аудированием, которые развивают метакогнитивное мышление младших школьников.

El habla es la base para el pensamiento y el entendimiento y es central a la alfabetización. La investigación ha mostrado que es posible enseñar estrategias metacognoscitivas importantes que ayudan a los estudiantes a supervisar su comprensión al leer textos impresos y digitales. Este artículo proporciona toda una gama de estrategias para hablar y escuchar que desarrollan el pensamiento metacognoscitivo de los estudiantes en los primeros grados.
Impact of Water-Based Drilling-In Fluids on Solids Invasion and Damage Characteristics
Authors: Al-Yami A.S.. S. , Nasr-El-Din H.A.. A. , Al-Shafei M.. , Bataweel M.A.. A.
Published: November 2009

Drilling the U-formation (shale and sandstone) in Saudi Arabia requires high drilling fluid density (±95 lbm/ft3) to mechanically stabilize the shale and balance the reservoir pressure. Two fluids have been used to drill this formation: KCl/BaSO4/CaCO3 and potassium formate/CaCO3 drilling fluids. Barite is added in the first fluid with CaCO3 to reduce the amount of solids needed to formulate the drillin fluid. However, BaSO4 is insoluble in acids and requires chelating agents (DTPA) to remove it from the formation. Formate drill-in fluids with low solids content can be used, but they are expensive and corrosive at pH values less than 7-8. A third drilling fluid was developed recently by Al-Yami et al. (2007) to overcome some of the problems associated with these two systems.

The objectives of this study are to determine solids invasion and damage characteristics for the three fluids. Coreflood tests were conducted using reservoir cores at bottomhole conditions. The cores were then examined by environmental-scanning-electron-microscope (ESEM) analysis to investigate solids invasion, solids type, and location of damage.

The three drilling fluids examined did damage the core plugs either through external filter cake, internal filter cake, or both. The ESEM images showed that the least damage occurred when Mn3O4 water-based drill-in fluid was used. The highest damage was observed when barite/CaCO3 mud was examined. This was followed by the potassium formate drill-in fluids. Kaolinite booklets were not attacked by the filtrate of the three drill-in fluids examined. The damage that was noted with potassium formate mud resulted from incompatibility of mud filtrate with the formation brine where potassium chloride crystals were noted in the cores.
Optimization of SAGD Wellbore Completions: Short-Production-TubingString Sensitivities
Authors: Cokar Marya , Graham John
Published: November 2009

A simulation study was conducted to examine the effects of changing the landing position of the short production-tubing string relative to the heel of a steam-assisted gravity-drainage (SAGD) production well. A homogeneous discretized wellbore model with the riser section was used in this study. Generally, a reservoir is modeled independently of the wellbore. However, this study models the reservoir and wellbore simultaneously in order to understand their interactions. SAGD performance is affected by many interrelated parameters; however, this paper is focused only on the effects of changing the short production-tubing string relative to the heel of the well.

This paper outlines two independent case studies: The first study involves shortening the short production-tubing string relative to the heel of the well. It was found that as the short tubing string was pulled back from the heel of the well, the bitumen-production rate decreased, and the amount of steam produced through the short production-tubing string increased.The second case study outlines the impact of extending the short production-tubing string past the heel of the well on bitumen production and steam/oil ratio (SOR). From this case study, it was found that as the short production-tubing string was pushed past the heel of the well, the bitumen-production rate stayed the same, but the steam-injection rate decreased, which consequently decreased the SOR. It was also observed that a lower pressure differential between the injector and producer well was established when the short production-tubing string was extended.

The results for this study will assist SAGD producers in re-evaluating the position of the short production-tubing string and find the most economical position for this string. This paper creates the foundation for further simulation efforts to incorporate a discretized model with the build section coupled to the reservoir. This will allow production engineers to optimize bitumen production by simultaneously simulating the reservoir and wellbore strings together. However, it must be kept in mind that the sensitivity study outlined in this paper only includes different placements of the short production-tubing string while keeping all other parameters constant. More work should be done in order to evaluate the interrelated effects of changing the location of the short production-tubing string with other wellbore and reservoir parameters.
Updating Ambiguity Averse Preferences
Authors: Hanany Eran , Klibanoff Peter
Published: November 2009

Dynamic consistency leads to Bayesian updating under expected utility. We ask what it implies for the updating of more general preferences. In this paper, we characterize dynamically consistent update rules for preference models satisfying ambiguity aversion. This characterization extends to regret-based models as well. As applications of our general result, we characterize dynamically consistent updating for two important models of ambiguity averse preferences: the ambiguity averse smooth ambiguity preferences (Klibanoff, Marinacci and Mukerji [Econometrica 73 2005, pp. 1849-1892]) and the variational preferences (Maccheroni, Marinacci and Rustichini [Econometrica 74 2006, pp. 1447-1498]). The latter includes max-min expected utility (Gilboa and Schmeidler [Journal of Mathematical Economics 18 1989, pp. 141-153]) and the multiplier preferences of Hansen and Sargent [American Economic Review 91(2) 2001, pp. 60-66] as special cases. For smooth ambiguity preferences, we also identify a simple rule that is shown to be the unique dynamically consistent rule among a large class of rules that may be expressed as reweightings of the Bayes' rule.
Die Bedeutung von Musiker- und Komponistenbriefe für die regionale und europäische Kulturgeschichte
Authors: Buschmeier Gabriele
Published: November 2009

(nemacki) Die Entwicklung der Musikkultur insbesondere in Mittel- und Osteuropa ist von einem ?u?erst regen Austausch und lebendigen Beziehungen gekennzeichnet. Die Dokumente dieser Beziehungen sind zum Teil die erhaltene Briefe. F?r den Musikwissenschaftler sind dabei alle Arten von Briefen sowohl privaten als auch gesch?ftlichen Charakters, von Interesse und zwar nicht nur Briefe von den sogenannten "Heroen" der Musikgeschichte, sondern insbesondere auch von nur lokal bekannten Musikern oder Menschen, die sich mit Musik besch?ftigen.
The importance and role of correspondence in researching the personality and work of Milenko Paunovic
Authors: Milanovic Biljana
Published: November 2009

The correspondence of the composer and writer Milenko Paunovic (1889-1924) has a great role in revealing different aspects of his life, work and mind. Nearly 100 letters are preserved, most of which belong to his correspondence with his family and particularly with his sister Jelena Paunovic, a pianist. One part of Jelena's correspondence with other persons gives us also diverse information about her brother. All the saved letters are kept in the holdings of the Institute of Musicology and the Serbian Archive. Paunovic's correspondence is discussed from several viewpoints. In the introduction of the article is given a brief survey and description of the correspondence (according to the list enclosed at the end of the text). This is followed by analysis of some of Jelena's letters that clarify certain facts about the posthumous fate of Paunovic's works. In the two central parts of the article the correspondence is observed as a source rich with information concerning Paunovic's biography, dating and chronological systematization of his works as well as his (un)realized plans for performance. The concluding discussing is devoted to Paunovic's personality, his ambitions, aspirations, relations to the others: it is possible to determine and explain his artistic creation like a specific autobiography and his correspondence speaks in favor of this thesis.
Osterc's letters to Milojevic
Authors: Milin Melita
Published: November 2009

The correspondence between two of the most important composers in Yugoslavia during the period between the two world wars: Miloje Milojevic (1884-1946), a Serb living in Belgrade, and Slavko Osterc (1895-1946), Slovene living in Ljubljana, gives us valuable insight into their musical aspirations ambitions, relations to other colleagues, the functioning of musical institutions and the cultural and even political climate of the times. The stylistic features of their works are basically different, Milojevic being a modernist with late romantic roots, while Osterc was inclined to objectivity of the neoclassical and "constructive expressionist type. The main topics of their correspondence include: the activities of the Yugoslav section of the International Society for Contemporary Music, in which they were very much involved, and the efforts they made to have their works performed both in the country and abroad. Milojevic and Osterc maintained very good relations throughout the period covered by this exchange of letters, that is from 1933-1941 (Osterc's last letter was sent three months before his death in May 1941) and their correspondence provides evidence of several instances of the mutual generosity, as they helped each other in their careers. The portion of this correspondence that is kept in Ljubljana - Milojevic's letters to Osterc - has already been published and analyzed by Dragotin Cvetko. As such, the edition of the remaining correspondence, Osterc's letters to Milojevic, that is kept in the private archive of Milojevic's grandson Vlastimir Trajkovic in Belgrade, completes the picture. The language Osterc used was his mother tongue, Slovenian, with "borrowings" from the Serbian, the result being an often amusing mixture of the two.
Der Briefwechsel der Wiener Schule
Authors: Dobretsberger Barbara
Published: November 2009

(nemacki) Der Stil von Sch?nbergs Briefen ist impulsiv, auf Mitteilung ausgerichtet, iM Vergleich zur Schreibart manches Zeitgenossen vielleicht weniger ausgefeilt, spontaner. Die Parallelit?t zwischen dem sprechenden handelnden und komponierenden Sch?nberg und dem lebendigen Ausdruck der Briefe, mag ihre Berechtigung haben. Der wissenschaftlich bedeutsamste Teil des Briefwechsels sind jene Dokumente, die den geistigen Austausch zwischen Sch?nberg und seinen Sch?lern belegen. Die Briefe, die vom engsten Sch?lerkreis - Berg und Webern an erster Stelle, aber nicht minder bedeutsam Josef Polnauer, Erwin Stein und Heinrich Jalowetz - an Sch?nberg geschickt wurden bzw. die Briefe des Meisters an die Sch?ler sind von unsch?tzbarem Wert. Das keinesfalls unbelastete Verh?ltnis der Trias der Wiener Schule, die Konflikte, die durch Sch?nbergs oftmals fordernden Character entstanden, aber auch die starke Solidarit?t der drei Avantgardisten untereinander sind unmittelbar aus den Schreiben abzulesen.