bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Sensorimotor Processing of Vestibulo-Ocular Signals during Rotation and Translation
Authors: Angelaki Dora E. , Green Andrea M. , Dickman J. David
Published: April 2018

Rotational and translational vestibulo-ocular reflexes (RVOR and TrVOR) function to maintain stable binocular fixation during head movements. Despite similar functional roles, differences in behavioral, neuroanatomical, and sensory afferent properties suggest that the sensorimotor processing may be partially distinct for the RVOR and TrVOR. To investigate the currently poorly understood neural correlates for the TrVOR, the activities of eye movement-sensitive neurons in the rostral vestibular nuclei were examined during pure translation and rotation under both stable gaze and suppression conditions. Two main conclusions were made. First, the 0.5 Hz firing rates of cells that carry both sensory head movement and motor-like signals during rotation were more strongly related to the oculomotor output than to the vestibular sensory signal during translation. Second, neurons the firing rates of which increased for ipsilaterally versus contralaterally directed eye movements (eye-ipsi and eye-contra cells, respectively) exhibited distinct dynamic properties during TrVOR suppression. Eye-ipsi neurons demonstrated relatively flat dynamics that was similar to that of the majority of vestibular-only neurons. In contrast, eye-contra cells were characterized by low-pass filter dynamics relative to linear acceleration and lower sensitivities than eye-ipsi cells. In fact, the main secondary eye-contra neuron in the disynaptic RVOR pathways (position-vestibular-pause cell) that exhibits a robust modulation during RVOR suppression did not modulate during TrVOR suppression. To explain these results, a simple model is proposed that is consistent with the known neuroanatomy and postulates differential projections of sensory canal and otolith signals onto eye-contra and eye-ipsi cells, respectively, within a shared premotor circuitry that generates the VORs.
Instability in the Place Field Location of Hippocampal Place Cells after Lesions Centered on the Perirhinal Cortex
Authors: Muir Gary M. , Bilkey David K.
Published: April 2018

The perirhinal cortex appears to play a key role in memory, and the neighboring hippocampus is critically involved in spatial processing. The possibility exists, therefore, that perirhinal–hippocampal interactions are important for spatial memory processes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the contribution of the perirhinal cortex to the location-specific firing (“place field”) of hippocampal complex-spike (“place”) cells. The firing characteristics of dorsal CA1 place cells were examined in rats with bilateral ibotenic acid lesions centered on the perirhinal cortex (n= 4) or control surgeries (n= 5) as they foraged in a rectangular environment. The activity of individual place cells was also monitored after a delay period of either 2 min, or 1 or 24 hr, during which time the animal was removed from the environment.

Although the perirhinal cortex lesion did not affect the place field size or place cell firing characteristics during a recording session, it was determined that the location of the place field shifted position across the delay period in 36% (10 of 28) of the cells recorded from lesioned animals. In contrast, none of the place cells (0 of 29) recorded from control animals were unstable by this measure.

These data indicate that although the initial formation of place fields in the hippocampus is not dependent on perirhinal cortex, the maintenance of this stability over time is disrupted by perirhinal lesions. This instability may represent an erroneous “re-mapping” of the environment and suggests a role for the perirhinal cortex in spatial memory processing.
NMDA-Mediated Activation of the Medial Amygdala Initiates a Downstream Neuroendocrine Memory Responsible for Pseudopregnancy in the Female Rat
Authors: Polston Eva K. , Heitz Molly , Barnes William , Cardamone Kristen , Erskine Mary S.
Published: April 2018

In female rats, genitosensory stimulation received during mating initiates twice-daily prolactin (PRL) surges, a neuroendocrine response that is the hallmark of early pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (P/PSP). Nocturnal and diurnal PRL surges are expressed repeatedly for up to 2 weeks after copulation, suggesting that a neuroendocrine memory for vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) is established at the time of mating. These studies investigated whether the processing and retention of VCS involves acute glutamatergic activation orde novoprotein synthesis within the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MEA), a VCS-responsive brain site that is implicated in P/PSP initiation. Pharmacological activation of the MEA with the glutamate agonist, NMDA, initiated nocturnal PRL surges, causing a PSP state in females that had not received VCS. P/PSP initiation by mating was prevented by intra-amygdalar infusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), provided that it was administered before mating. AP-5 treatment also disrupted mating-induced c-fosexpression in the principle bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the ventrolateral division of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, but not in the medial or anteroventral periventricular preoptic nuclei. Neither P/PSP nor downstream cellular activation was prevented when a protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, was administered to the MEA. The results indicate that MEA cells are critical to the early processing of VCS through NMDA channel activation, rapidly conveying information to downstream hypothalamic cell groups that modulate neuroendocrine function.
The Role of Nitric Oxide in Development of Topographic Precision in the Retinotectal Projection of Chick
Authors: Wu Hope H. , Selski Daniel J. , El-Fakahany Esam E. , McLoon Steven C.
Published: April 2018

The axonal projection from the retina to the tectum exhibits a precise topographic order in the mature chick such that neighboring ganglion cells send axons to neighboring termination zones in the contralateral tectum. The initial pattern formed during development is much less organized and is refined to the adult pattern during a discrete period of development. Refinement includes elimination of radically aberrant projections, such as those from the temporal side of the retina to posterior regions of the tectum, as well as a more subtle improvement in the topographic precision of the projection. The enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide is expressed at high levels in the tectum during the developmental period in which the topography improves. Pharmacological blockade of nitric oxide synthesis during this period prevented elimination of topographically inappropriate retinotectal projections in a dose-dependent manner. This effect could not be duplicated by treatment of embryos with a vasoconstrictor, indicating that vascular changes were not a factor. These results show that nitric oxide is involved in refinement of the topography of the retinotectal projection as well as in other aspects of refinement of this projection in developing chick.
GABAergic Inhibition Antagonizes Adaptive Adjustment of the Owl's Auditory Space Map during the Initial Phase of Plasticity
Authors: Zheng Weimin , Knudsen Eric I.
Published: April 2018

We studied the influence of GABA-mediated inhibition on adaptive adjustment of the owl's auditory space map during the initial phase of plasticity. Plasticity of the auditory space map was induced by subjecting owls to a chronic prismatic displacement of the visual field. In the initial stages of plasticity, inhibition suppressed responses to behaviorally appropriate, newly functional excitatory inputs. As a result, adaptive changes in excitatory input were only partially expressed as postsynaptic spike activity. This masking effect of inhibition on map plasticity did not depend on the activity of NMDA receptors at the synapses that supported the newly learned responses. On the basis of these results, we propose that the pattern of feedforward inhibition is less dynamic than the pattern of feedforward excitation at the site of plasticity. As a result, initially in the adjustment process the preexisting pattern of feedforward GABAergic inhibition opposes changes in the auditory space map and tends to preserve the established response properties of the network. The implications of this novel role of inhibition for the functional plasticity of the brain are discussed.
Dynamic and Multimodal Responses of Gustatory Cortical Neurons in Awake Rats
Authors: Katz Donald B. , Simon S. A. , Nicolelis Miguel A. L.
Published: April 2018

To investigate the dynamic aspects of gustatory activity, we recorded the responses of small ensembles of cortical neurons to tastants administered to awake rats. Multiple trials of each tastant were delivered during recordings made in oral somatosensory (SI) and gustatory cortex (GC). When integrated tastant responses (firing rates averaged across 2.5 sec) were compared with water responses, 14.4% (13/90) of the GC neurons responded in a taste-specific manner. When time was considered as a source of information, however, the incidence of taste-specific firing increased: as many as 41% (37/90) of the recorded GC neurons exhibited taste-specific patterns of response. For 17% of the neurons identified as responding with taste-specific patterns, the stimulus that caused the most significant response was a function of the time since stimulus delivery. That is, a single neuron might respond most strongly to one tastant in the first 500 msec of a response and then respond most strongly to another tastant later in the response. Further analysis of the time courses of GC and SI cortical neural responses revealed that modulations of GC firing rate arose from three separable processes: early somatosensory input (less than ∼0.2 sec post-stimulus), later chemosensory input (∼0.2–1 sec), and delayed somatosensory input related to orofacial responses (more than ∼1.0 sec). These data demonstrate that sensory information is available in the time course of GC responses and suggest the viability of views of gustatory processing that treat the temporal structure of cortical responses as an integral part of the neural code.
Network Synchrony in the Nucleus AccumbensIn Vivo
Authors: Goto Yukiori , O'Donnell Patricio
Published: April 2018

Nucleus accumbens neurons show membrane potential fluctuations between a very negative resting membrane potential and periodical plateau depolarizations. Because action potential firing occurs only during the depolarized state, the control of transitions between states is important for information processing within this region, with an impact on accumbens-related behaviors. It has been proposed that ensembles of active neurons in the nucleus accumbens could be based on a population of cells depolarizing simultaneously into the UP state. In this study,in vivointracellular recordings from accumbens neurons were performed simultaneously with local field potential recordings to examine whether the nucleus accumbens can exhibit synchronization of membrane potential states in a population of neurons. These simultaneous recordings indicated that local field potential shifts occurred synchronously with transitions to the UP state. Furthermore, manipulations that evoked prolonged plateau depolarizations also evoked field potentials of similar duration. Such signals likely occurred because of simultaneous membrane potential changes in a population of neurons. Together with our previous studies, these results suggest that membrane potential states in the nucleus accumbens can be synchronized by synaptic inputs from the hippocampus.
Neuroprotection from Delayed Postischemic Administration of a Metalloporphyrin Catalytic Antioxidant
Authors: Mackensen G. Burkhard , Patel Manisha , Sheng Huaxin , Calvi Carla L. , Batinić-Haberle Ines , Day Brian J. , Liang Li Ping , Fridovich Irwin , Crapo James D. , Pearlstein Robert D. , Warner David S.
Published: April 2018

Reactive oxygen species contribute to ischemic brain injury. This study examined whether the porphyrin catalytic antioxidant manganese (III)meso-tetrakis (N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTE-2-PyP5+) reduces oxidative stress and improves outcome from experimental cerebral ischemia. Rats that were subjected to 90 min focal ischemia and 7 d recovery were given MnTE-2-PyP5+(or vehicle) intracerebroventricularly 60 min before ischemia, or 5 or 90 min or 6 or 12 hr after reperfusion. Biomarkers of brain oxidative stress were measured at 4 hr after postischemic treatment (5 min or 6 hr). MnTE-2-PyP5+, given 60 min before ischemia, improved neurologic scores and reduced total infarct size by 70%. MnTE-2-PyP5+, given 5 or 90 min after reperfusion, reduced infarct size by 70–77% and had no effect on temperature. MnTE-2-PyP5+treatment 6 hr after ischemia reduced total infarct volume by 54% (vehicle, 131 ± 60 mm3; MnTE-2-PyP5+, 300 ng, 60 ± 68 mm3). Protection was observed in both cortex and caudoputamen, and neurologic scores were improved. No MnTE-2-PyP5+effect was observed if it was given 12 hr after ischemia. MnTE-2-PyP5+prevented mitochondrial aconitase inactivation and reduced 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine formation when it was given 5 min or 6 hr after ischemia. In mice, MnTE-2-PyP5+reduced infarct size and improved neurologic scores when it was given intravenously 5 min after ischemia. There was no effect of 150 or 300 ng of MnTE-2-PyP5+pretreatment on selective neuronal necrosis resulting from 10 min forebrain ischemia and 5 d recovery in rats. Administration of a metalloporphyrin catalytic antioxidant had marked neuroprotective effects against focal ischemic insults when it was given up to 6 hr after ischemia. This was associated with decreased postischemic superoxide-mediated oxidative stress.
Progressive Neuronal and Motor Dysfunction in Mice Overexpressing the Serine Protease Inhibitor Protease Nexin-1 in Postmitotic Neurons
Authors: Meins Marita , Piosik Petra , Schaeren-Wiemers Nicole , Franzoni Stefania , Troncoso Edgardo , Kiss Jozsef Z. , Brösamle Christian , Schwab Martin E. , Molnár Zoltán , Monard Denis
Published: April 2018

Perturbation of the homeostasis between proteases and their inhibitors has been associated with lesion-induced or degenerative neuronal changes. Protease nexin-1 (PN-1), a secreted serine protease inhibitor, is constitutively expressed in distinct neuronal cell populations of the adult CNS. In an earlier study we showed that transgenic mice with ectopic or increased expression of PN-1 in postnatal neurons have altered synaptic transmission. Here these mice are used to examine the impact of an extracellular proteolytic imbalance on long-term neuronal function. These mice develop disturbances in motor behavior from 12 weeks on, with some of the histopathological changes described in early stages of human motor neuron disease, and neurogenic muscle atrophy in old age. In addition, sensorimotor integration, measured by epicranial multichannel recording of sensory evoked potentials, is impaired. Our results suggest that axonal dysfunction rather than cell death underlies these phenotypes. In particular, long projecting neurons, namely cortical layer V pyramidal and spinal motor neurons, show an age-dependent vulnerability to PN-1 overexpression. These mice can serve to study early stages ofin vivoneuronal dysfunction not yet associated with cell loss.
Stimulation of Endothelin B Receptors in Astrocytes Induces cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein Phosphorylation andc-fosExpression Via Multiple Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways
Authors: Schinelli Sergio , Zanassi Patrizia , Paolillo Mayra , Wang Hang , Feliciello Antonio , Gallo Vittorio
Published: April 2018

The vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin (ET-1) exerts its physiological and pathological effects via activation of ETAand ETBreceptor (ET-R) subtypes. In this study, we demonstrate that both ET-R subtypes are highly expressed in rat astrocytesin vivo, indicating that these cells are potential targets of the biological effects of ET-1 in the brain. In cultured cortical astrocytes, both ET-R subtypes are expressed, and selective stimulation of ETB-R with ET-1 induces phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). The signal transduction pathway activated by ET-1 includes the Rap1/B-Raf and the Ras/Raf-1 complexes, protein kinase C (PKC) together with extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and the ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) isoforms RSK2 and RSK3, two kinases that lie immediately downstream of ERK and are able to phosphorylate CREB. Moreover, ET-1 activates the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent, but not thec-junN-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent pathway. By using selective protein kinase inhibitors and expression of dominant-negative Rap1 protein, we also found that the Rap1/PKC/ERK-dependent pathway induces the phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-1, CREB, and Elk-1, whereas the p38MAPK-dependent pathway only causes CREB phosphorylation. ET-1-induced transcription of the immediate early genec-fosrequires the concomitant activation of both the PKC/ERK- and p38MAPK-dependent pathways, because inhibitors of either pathway block the ET-1-induced increase ofc-fosmRNA. Our findings indicate that changes in the expression of cAMP response element-dependent immediate and delayed response genes could play a pivotal role in the physiological effects elicited by ET-1 in astrocytes.
In VivoImaging of Zebrafish Reveals Differences in the Spinal Networks for Escape and Swimming Movements
Authors: Ritter Dale A. , Bhatt Dimple H. , Fetcho Joseph R.
Published: April 2018

Most studies of spinal interneurons in vertebrate motor circuits have focused on the activity of interneurons in a single motor behavior. As a result, relatively little is known about the extent to which particular classes of spinal interneurons participate in different behaviors. Similarities between the morphology and connections of interneurons activated in swimming and escape movements in different fish and amphibians led to the hypothesis that spinal interneurons might be shared by these behaviors. To test this hypothesis, we took advantage of the optical transparency of zebrafish larvae and developed a new preparation in which we could use confocal calcium imaging to monitor the activity of individual identified interneurons noninvasively, while we simultaneously filmed the movements of the fish with a high-speed digital camera. With this approach, we could directly examine the involvement of individual interneurons in different motor behaviors. Our work revealed unexpected differences in the interneurons activated in swimming and escape behaviors. The observations lead to predictions of different behavioral roles for particular classes of spinal interneurons that can eventually be tested directly in zebrafish by using laser ablations or mutant lines with interneuronal deficits.
Differential Regulation of Exocytosis by α- and β-SNAPs
Authors: Xu Jianhua , Xu Yimei , Ellis-Davies Graham C. R. , Augustine George J. , Tse Frederick W.
Published: April 2018

We examined the role of SNAPs, soluble proteins that attachN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), in regulating exocytosis in single rat adrenal chromaffin cells. Whole-cell dialysis of Ca2+-buffered solution or photolysis of caged-Ca2+was used to manipulate cytosolic Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i), whereas exocytosis was measured via carbon fiber amperometry or membrane capacitance. Buffering [Ca2+]ito ∼170 nmproduced a mean rate of exocytosis of approximately one amperometric event per minute. Including α-SNAP (60 or 500 nm) in the intracellular solution dramatically increased the mean rate of exocytosis. The stimulatory action of α-SNAP requires ATP hydrolysis mediated via NSF, because this action was blocked by intracellular dialysis of ATP-γ-S (2 mm) and could not be mimicked by a mutant α-SNAP that does not stimulate the ATPase activity of NSF. This action of α-SNAP was significant only at [Ca2+]ibetween 100 and 300 nmand was not shared by β-SNAP (500 nm), suggesting that α-SNAP enhanced a component of exocytosis that is regulated by a high-affinity Ca2+sensor. In cells dialyzed with both α- and β-SNAP, the rate of exocytosis was smaller than that produced by α-SNAP alone, suggesting that α- and β-SNAP interact competitively. Although only α-SNAP stimulated exocytosis at [Ca2+]ibetween 100 and 300 nm, both α- and β-SNAP isoforms equally slowed the time-dependent rundown of the exocytic response. Our results indicate that α- and β-SNAP have different actions in exocytosis. Thus, the ratio of different isoforms of SNAPs can determine release probability at the levels of [Ca2+]ithat are involved in regulation of exocytosis.
Multiple Channel Interactions Explain the Protection of Sympathetic Neurons from Apoptosis Induced by Nerve Growth Factor Deprivation
Authors: Xia Shuli , Lampe Patricia A. , Deshmukh Mohanish , Yang Aizhen , Brown Barry S. , Rothman Steve M. , Johnson Eugene M. , Yu Shan Ping
Published: April 2018

We investigated the neuroprotective properties of two M-type K+channel blockers, linopirdine and its analog XE991, in rat sympathetic neurons deprived of nerve growth factor (NGF). Linopirdine and XE991 promoted sympathetic neuronal survival 48–72 hr after NGF withdrawal in a concentration-dependent manner. Both drugs prevented neuronal apoptosis by blocking the pathway leading to the release of cytochrome c and development of “competence-to-die” after NGF deprivation. Fura-2 Ca2+imaging showed no significant difference in intracellular free Ca2+([Ca2+]i) in the presence or absence of NGF; linopirdine and XE991, on the other hand, caused membrane depolarization and increases in [Ca2+]i. Whole-cell recordings showed that linopirdine and XE991 selectively blocked the M current at neuroprotective concentrations, although they additionally inhibited other K+currents at high concentrations. Membrane depolarization and [Ca2+]iincreases induced by linopirdine and XE991 were blocked by the Na+channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) or by the L-type Ca2+channel antagonist nifedipine. TTX and nifedipine also prevented the neuroprotection elicited by linopirdine or XE991.

We propose that Na+channel activation amplifies the membrane depolarization produced by M channel blockade and is essential for subsequent Ca2+entry via the L-type Ca2+channel. The interaction of these three classes of ion channels highlights an integrated anti-apoptosis mechanism in sympathetic neurons.
Neurodegeneration with Tau Accumulation in a Transgenic Mouse Expressing V337M Human Tau
Authors: Tanemura Kentaro , Murayama Miyuki , Akagi Takumi , Hashikawa Tsutomu , Tominaga Takashi , Ichikawa Michinori , Yamaguchi Haruyasu , Takashima Akihiko
Published: April 2018

Formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) is a common neuropathological feature found in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. We have developed a transgenic (Tg) mouse expressing mutant human tau (V337M), derived from frontotemporal dementia parkinsonism-17. V337M Tg mice revealed tau aggregations in the hippocampus, which fulfills the histological criteria for NFTs in human neurodegenerative diseases. Concurrent with the accumulation of RNA and phosphorylated tau, neurons exhibited morphological characteristics of degenerating neurons, which include a loss of microtubules, accumulation of ribosomes, plasma and nuclear membrane ruffling, and swelling of the Golgi network. Thus, mutant tau induces neuronal degeneration associated with the accumulation of RNA and phosphorylated tau. The functional consequences of this neuronal degeneration was evidenced by the reduction of hippocampal neural activity and behavioral abnormality in Tg mice.
Growth-Associated Protein-43 Is Required for Commissural Axon Guidance in the Developing Vertebrate Nervous System
Authors: Shen Yiping , Mani Shyamala , Donovan Stacy L. , Schwob James E. , Meiri Karina F.
Published: April 2018

Growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) is a major growth cone protein whose phosphorylation by PKC in response to extracellular guidance cues can regulate F-actin behavior. Here we show that 100% of homozygote GAP-43 (−/−) mice failed to form the anterior commissure (AC), hippocampal commissure (HC), and corpus callosum (CC)in vivo. Instead, although midline fusion was normal, selective fasciculation between commissural axons was inhibited, and TAG-1-labeled axons tangled bilaterally into Probst's bundles. Moreover, their growth cones had significantly smaller lamellas and reduced levels of F-actinin vitro. Likewise, 100% of GAP-43 (+/−) mice with one disrupted allele also showed defects in HC and CC, whereas the AC was unaffected. Individual GAP-43 (+/−) mice could be assigned to two groups based on the amount that PKC phosphorylation of GAP-43 was reduced in neocortical neurons. In mice with ∼1% phosphorylation, the HC and CC were absent, whereas in mice with ∼10% phosphorylation, the HC and CC were smaller. Both results suggest that PKC-mediated signaling in commissural axons may be defective. However, although Probst's bundles formed consistently at the location of the glial wedge, both GAP-43 (−/−) and GAP-43 (+/+) cortical axons were still repulsed by Slit-2in vitro, precluding failure of this deflective signal from the glial wedge as the source of the phenotype. Nonetheless, the data show that a functional threshold of GAP-43 is required for commissure formation and suggests that failure to regulate F-actin in commissural growth cones may be related to inhibited PKC phosphorylation of GAP-43.
Changes in Gene Expression Linked to Methamphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity
Authors: Xie Tao , Tong Liqiong , Barrett Tanya , Yuan Jie , Hatzidimitriou George , McCann Una D. , Becker Kevin G. , Donovan David M. , Ricaurte George A.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of these studies was to examine the role of gene expression in methamphetamine (METH)-induced dopamine (DA) neurotoxicity. First, the effects of the mRNA synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin-D, and the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, were examined. Both agents afforded complete protection against METH-induced DA neurotoxicity and did so independently of effects on core temperature, DA transporter function, or METH brain levels, suggesting that gene transcription and mRNA translation play a role in METH neurotoxicity. Next, microarray technology, in combination with an experimental approach designed to facilitate recognition of relevant gene expression patterns, was used to identify gene products linked to METH-induced DA neurotoxicity. This led to the identification of several genes in the ventral midbrain associated with the neurotoxic process, including genes for energy metabolism [cytochromecoxidase subunit 1 (COX1), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 2, and phosphoglycerate mutase B], ion regulation (members of sodium/hydrogen exchanger and sodium/bile acid cotransporter family), signal transduction (adenylyl cyclase III), and cell differentiation and degeneration (N-myc downstream-regulated gene 3 and tau protein). Of these differentially expressed genes, we elected to further examine the increase in COX1 expression, because of data implicating energy utilization in METH neurotoxicity and the known role of COX1 in energy metabolism. On the basis of time course studies, Northern blot analyses,in situhybridization results, and temperature studies, we now report that increased COX1 expression in the ventral midbrain is linked to METH-induced DA neuronal injury. The precise role of COX1 and other genes in METH neurotoxicity remains to be elucidated.
Differential Metabolic Activity in the Striosome and Matrix Compartments of the Rat Striatum during Natural Behaviors
Authors: Brown Lucy L. , Feldman Samuel M. , Smith Diane M. , Cavanaugh James R. , Ackermann Robert F. , Graybiel Ann M.
Published: April 2018

The striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum are clearly identified by their neurochemical expression patterns and anatomical connections. To determine whether these compartments are distinguishable functionally, we used [14C]deoxyglucose metabolic mapping in the rat and tested whether neutral behavioral states (free movement, gentle restraint, and focal tactile stimulation under gentle restraint) were associated with regions of high metabolic activity in the matrix, in striosomes, or in both. We identified metabolic peaks in the striatum by means of image analysis, striosome–matrix boundaries by [3H]naloxone binding, and primary somatosensory corticostriatal input clusters by injections of anterograde tracer into electrophysiologically identified sites in SI. Peak metabolic activity was primarily confined to the matrix compartment under each behavioral condition. These findings show that during relatively neutral behavioral conditions the balance of activity between the two compartments favors the matrix and suggest that this balance is present in the striatum as part of normal behavior and processing of afferent activity.
A campesiña no cambio de paradigma da poesía irlandesa contemporánea
Authors: Palacios González Manuela
Published: April 2018

A escritora irlandesa Eavan Boland publicou en 1989 o ensaio A Kind of Scar, no que salienta a relevancia da muller campesiña para o cambio de paradigma poético que está tendo lugar en Irlanda arredor desa década. Tanto o ensaio como o poema que inclúe a modo de epígrafe “The Achill Woman” constitúen un bo exemplo do xénero anti-pastoral e evidencian a exclusión tanto da experiencia real da muller campesiña como a da muller poeta da historia e a tradición literaria nacionais. O presente artigo restitúe, fronte ao desinterese de prácticas críticas recentes, a importancia da muller campesiña para a argumentación de Eavan Boland neste ensaio.
Que foi das mulleres da terra e do mar na literatura galega?
Authors: Otero Varela Inma
Published: April 2018

O tratamento que os autores fan das personaxes femininas asociadas ao mar e o medio rural ata finais do século XX vai parella á mitificación da muller popular que realizan os homes do nacionalismo. As escritoras, en cambio, refugaron maioritariamente os traballos precapitalistas das mulleres para apostaren por modelos que superasen a discriminación institucionalizada que asenta o patriarcado. Naquelas escasísimas obras escritas por mulleres onde se acollen suxeitos femininos relacionados co sector primario, estes adoitan ser máis reivindicativos e conscientes da súa dignidade laboral que os representados polos autores. A situación descrita muda en parte coa eclosión das poetas dos 90. A partir deste momento, percíbese un incremento de referencias ás traballadoras da terra e do mar como entes activos, tanto na produción literaria de autoras como de autores.
Estereotipos de barro. Mulleres na olería tradicional galega
Authors: Freire Paz Elena
Published: April 2018

Neste artigo tentaremos escrutar, desde a perspectiva antropolóxica, todo canto de feminino hai na olería tradicional galega alén dos estereotipos asignados. Somos conscientes das dificultades para aplicar a perspectiva de xénero ó eido dos oficios tradicionais alén daqueles relacionados co tecido. O noso interese, centrarase en atopar as mulleres nun oficio que a propia tradición reservou, cando menos no seu discurso, como un campo de traballo masculino.
"Os poemas de Ilduara Eriz", de Chus Pato
Authors: Nogueira Pereira María Xesús
Published: April 2018

Recuperación e edición dunha colección de poemas de Chus Pato aparecida nunha carpeta de edición artesanal.
Naturaleza y exigibilidad de los derechos recogidos en los Estatutos de Autonomía
Authors: Jove Villares Daniel
Published: April 2018

En la primera década del siglo XXI algunas Comunidades Autónomas, en el marco de los procesos de reforma de sus Estatutos de Autonomía, incorporaron a su norma institucional básica declaraciones de derechos. Resulta determinante conocer cuál es la naturaleza jurídica de dichos derechos en la medida en que la subjetividad, o no, de los mismos va a tener importantes consecuencias para el acervo jurídico de los ciudadanos.  Así, en esta primera parte se aborda el estudio de las cartas de derechos autonómicas, atendiendo para ello a cómo han sido formuladas así como al grado de concreción con que cada derecho ha sido enunciado. Se reserva para un segundo artículo el análisis de la exigibilidad que tales proclamaciones puedan tener, aspecto que será fundamental a la hora de valorar las consecuencias que para los ciudadanos han tenido las reformas estatutarias en lo que a protección de sus derechos se refiere.
As raízes populares na produção literária infantil e seus impactos no leitor: análise da obra "Contos de enganar a morte", de Ricardo Azevedo
Authors: Ferreira Eliane Aparecida Galvão Ribeiro , Bulhões Ricardo Magalhães
Published: April 2018

Tem-se por objetivo neste texto apresentar uma possibilidade de leitura da obra Contos de enganar a morte (2003), de Ricardo Azevedo, na qual se considera o papel do leitor e da linguagem híbrida, resultante da junção de dois discursos: o literário e o da tradição popular. Para a consecução do objetivo, pretende-se apresentar uma reflexão fundamentada pela estética da recepção acerca do que propicia o prazer na leitura e quais elementos determinam o papel do leitor implícito. Constrói-se, neste texto, a hipótese de que a estratégia do escritor em resgatar a cultura, pela apresentação de contos breves e cômicos, retirados do imaginário popular, tanto permite ao seu leitor contato com um texto atraente e lúdico, quanto lhe faculta a ampliação de conhecimentos e de conceitos prévios, por meio do emprego da memória. Norteia a análise dessa obra,a concepção de que a leitura literária pode atuar como fator de valoração da identidade do jovem leitor, pois por meio dela, ele é capaz de elevar sua autoestima, pois se reconhece como herdeiro de um patrimônio cultural, além de servir como instrumento de reflexão acerca de questões que inquietam e amedrontam a criança, como a morte. Justamente, por isso, o texto literário atua como instrumento de emancipação pessoal e de formação do leitor.
Erotetic Reasoning Corpus. A data set for research on natural question processing
Authors: Łupkowski Paweł , Urbański Mariusz , Wiśniewski Andrzej , Błądek Wojciech , Juska Agata , Kostrzewa Anna , Pankow Dominika , Paluszkiewicz Katarzyna , Ignaszak Oliwia , Urbańska Joanna , Żyluk Natalia , Gajda Andrzej , Marciniak Bartosz
Published: April 2018

The aim of this paper is to present the Erotetic Reasoning Corpus (ERC) which constitutes a data set for research on natural question processing. We describe the theoretical background, linguistic data and tags used for the annotation process. We also discuss potential areas of ERC exploitation.
Inpatient Quality Improvement Interventions for Asthma: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Parikh Kavita , Keller Susan , Ralston Shawn
Published: April 2018

CONTEXT:

Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for the management of pediatric asthma, health care utilization remains high.

OBJECTIVE:

Systematically review the inpatient literature on asthma quality improvement (QI) and synthesize impact on subsequent health care utilization.

DATA SOURCES:

Medline and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (January 1, 1991–November 16, 2016) and bibliographies of retrieved articles.

STUDY SELECTION:

Interventional studies in English of inpatient-initiated asthma QI work.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Studies were categorized by intervention type and outcome. Random-effects models were used to generate pooled risk ratios for health care utilization outcomes after inpatient QI interventions.

RESULTS:

Thirty articles met inclusion criteria and 12 provided data on health care reutilization outcomes. Risk ratios for emergency department revisits were: 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06–14.47) <30 days, 1.70 (95% CI: 0.67–4.29) for 30 days to 6 months, and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.52–2.85) for 6 months to 1 year. Risk ratios for readmissions were: 2.02 (95% CI: 0.73–5.61) for <30 days, 1.68 (95% CI: 0.88–3.19) for 30 days to 6 months, and 1.27 (95% CI 0.85–1.90) for 6 months to 1 year. Subanalysis of multimodal interventions suggested lower readmission rates (risk ratio: 1.49 [95% CI: 1.17–1.89] over a period of 30 days to 1 year after the index admission). Subanalysis of education and discharge planning interventions did not show effect.

LIMITATIONS:

Linkages between intervention and outcome are complicated by the multimodal approach to QI in most studies.

CONCLUSIONS:

We did not identify any inpatient strategies impacting health care reutilization within 30 days of index hospitalization. Multimodal interventions demonstrated impact over the longer interval.
Biodiversity and dynamics of plant groups of Chebket El Melhassa region (Algeria)
Authors: Maamar B. , Nouar B. , Soudani L. , Maatoug M. , Azzaoui M. , Kharytonov M. , Wiche O. , Zhukov O.
Published: April 2018

This article examines phytoecological aspects of plant groups in the Chebket El Melhassa region (Tiaret-Ouest Algérien) by several types of analysis: biological, biogeographic and statistical. From the plant analysis, a list of 103 taxa distributed in 36 families was compiled, biologically characterized by a dominance of therophytes (45.6%) with species of the Mediterranean biogeographic type 20 species (19.8%) assuming particular importance. The ordination of the plant community was performed in the search for the optimum solution based on correlation with environmental factors, estimated using the phytoindication approach. The results reveal that the plants represented in the community, mostly prefer strongly lit places. Phytoindication shows a warm sub Mediterranean climate. Continentality corresponds to the sub-oceanic climate. The moisture regime ranges from strongly dry to dry soil. The plant community is formed on moderately acid soils. Plants are able to grow on both strongly acidic and neutral soils. The soil is very poor or poor in nitrogen. A four dimension variant of multidimensional scaling procedure was selected as the most appropriate decision. Dimensions selected after nonmetric multidimensional scaling were interpreted by computing weighted average scores of ecological factors for ordination configuration. Four of the plant species clusters were found to be the optimal solution on the basis of the Calinsky-Harabasz criteria. The clusters can be viewed as a functional group. Functional group A is quite diverse and represented by 42 species. This functional group is closest to the community optimum because in all four space dimensions the corresponding cluster is near the origin, which corresponds to the most typical ecological conditions. Species that constitute the group B prefer minimum values of dimension 2. This indicates a preference for illuminated sites with high temperature regime and low soil humidity. This group includes 32 species. A feature of group С is that it is located in the area of maximum values for dimension 2. Thus, this functional group is opposite to functional group B. This indicates a preference of species included in the functional group C for wetter soils. Functional group C comprises 21 species. Functional group D differs considerably from all others in its ecological characteristics. The difference is in the preference for minimum values for measurement 1. This suggests that more acid soils are optimal for a given functional group. Functional group E comprises 8 species.
Representações Poéticas da Morte nas Narrativas Midiáticas: Um Conto Chinês
Authors: Silva Míriam Cristina Carlos
Published: April 2018

Este artigo é parte de uma pesquisa amparada pela FAPESP, com o tema “Representações Poéticas da Morte nas Narrativas Midiáticas”. Busca-se compreender: as representações da morte em narrativas midiáticas; os conceitos de comunicação e incomunicabilidade, em suas relações com a cultura e a consciência da morte; a possibilidade de uma comunicação poética como forma de representação / construção complexa do fenômeno da morte e, entendendo-se o cinema como mídia, as representações da morte contidas nestas narrativas, a partir de seus aspectos poéticos. Utiliza-se: a pesquisa bibliográfica; a exploratória, para delimitação do corpus; a análise das narrativas selecionadas, no caso deste artigo, do filme argentino Um Conto Chinês (2011, Sebastián Borensztein). Com as análises, são desvelados aspectos poéticos nas representações da morte, que podem apontar para a possibilidade de uma comunicação poética, norteadora de nossa hipótese sobre o poético como forma complexa de representação / construção do fenômeno da morte nas narrativas midiáticas.
Circuito produtivo da Agência Pública e as possibilidades para a expansão das liberdades
Authors: Felippi Ângela Cristina Trevisan , Oliveira Vanessa Costa de
Published: April 2018

Experiências de produção jornalísticas alternativas ao modelo hegemônico são registradas há pelo menos um século no Brasil. Entre os representantes contemporâneos dessa prática jornalística está a agência de reportagens investigativas Pública. O artigo busca compreender a proposta de produção da Agência Pública e sua possível autonomia na produção de conteúdos, examinando a possibilidade do conteúdo veiculado pela agência potencialmente contribuir para expansão das liberdades individuais, propostas por Amartya Sen (2010), capazes de levar ao desenvolvimento da sociedade. Utiliza-se como protocolo teórico-metodológico o circuito da cultura, de Richard Johnson (2010), com categorias pré-definidas. Faz-se uso da entrevista e da análise documental. A pesquisa conclui que a estratégia produtiva da Pública, de operar com autonomia em relação à publicidade e sem fins lucrativos, com distribuição gratuita do conteúdo e tendo como foco a exposição das fragilidades da realidade social brasileira, materializada numa reportagem analisada, pode contribuir para a expansão das liberdades.
Análise das mediações do pop-popular do videoclipe Flei
Authors: Janotti Junior Jeder , Alcantara João André
Published: April 2018

Este artigo propõe uma análise do videoclipe Flei, levando em consideração as articulações entre gênero, gênero musical e plataformas on-line de disponibilização de conteúdos musicais. Acredita-se que para compreender o que é um videoclipe devemos levar em consideração o papel que as novas mediações audiovisuais desempenham em um ambiente onde a grade televisiva já não tem a importância que tinha na era MTV. Assim, buscamos analisar o videoclipe da canção “Flei”, do cantor Daniel Peixoto, apontando como as assinaturas de gênero e gênero musical são articuladas de modo político e estético. A partir do desenvolvimento do arcabouço teórico formado pelos conceitos de videoclipe pós-MTV, mediação, gênero e gêneros musicais chegamos à conclusão de que os videoclipes no atual cenário cultural antes de serem produtos de divulgação de produtos musicais são mediações de performances públicas de gostos associadas aos gêneros musicais.
Exu, o andrógino canibal: aproximações entre mitologia e imaginário antropófago brasileiro para pensar alteridade
Authors: Dravet Florence
Published: April 2018

O presente artigo propõe explorar o mito de Exu e o imaginário antropófago brasileiro em suas concepções indígenas a fim de extrair uma proposta epistemológica para a comunicação que parta de uma metafísica canibal afro-brasileira. Após estudarmos o mito de “Exu come tudo”, e a interpretação indígena do fenômeno da antropofagia, fazemos uma releitura do Manifesto Antropófago modernista e, por aproximação, o atualizamos na mitologia afro-brasileira. Ao abordar essa realidade pelo viés do mito e do imaginário, propomos ultrapassar as barreiras das representações ocidentais em torno da antropofagia e contribuir para uma compreensão desta noção como a de um trajeto digestivo que permite construir-se através do outro. Desta forma, concluímos que o mito de Exu, enquanto andrógino canibal, pode permitir expressar as bases de uma episteme comunicacional própria, brasileira e contemporânea.
Remix e sampling: identidades e memória dos DJs na música eletrônica
Authors: Vargas Herom , Carvalho Nilton Faria de , Perazzo Priscila Ferreira
Published: April 2018

Este artigo versa sobre o uso das técnicas do sampling e do remix como parte dos processos criativos na música eletrônica que, em determinados casos, trazem memórias e identidades musicais dos DJs (disc-jóqueis). Por meio dos Estudos Culturais, a presente pesquisa investiga o hibridismo nas produções musicais de quatro DJs brasileiros: KL Jay (Racionais MC’s), Alfredo Bello (DJ Tudo), Luana Hansen (DJ e MC) e Rodrigo Gorky (Bonde do Rolê e Fatnotronic) – cujas subjetividades são percebidas nos sampleamentos e/ou remixagens. A ideia é compreender como a memória musical proporciona ao disc-jóquei determinados elementos que articulam hibridismos na linguagem musical. O sampling e as técnicas de remixagem oferecem a esses DJs meios de reforçar a diversidade musical nas mídias. Dessa forma, o aspecto fugidio das identidades desses artistas, que opera nas substâncias híbridas de suas canções, subverte padronizações e discursos hegemônicos na cultura midiática.
A noção de espaço na apropriação de tecnologias de comunicação no rural contemporâneo
Authors: Escosteguy Ana Carolina , Bianchini Aline , Ribas João Vicente
Published: April 2018

Na pesquisa Tecnologias de comunicação nas práticas cotidianas: o caso de famílias relacionadas à cadeia agroindustrial do tabaco, desenvolvida no município de Vale do Sol (RS), uma das estratégias de coleta de informações em campo foi focar na predileção dos entrevistados sobre um meio de comunicação. As perguntas “qual o seu meio de comunicação preferido?” e “onde você costuma usá-lo?” geraram a problematização da dinâmica do espaço, tomado aqui como categoria de análise. A partir das tensões e complexidades espaciais, a exemplo das relações entre rural e urbano, ou casa e rua, a proposta é compreender os usos e apropriações de tecnologias de comunicação. Para tanto, consideramos o aspecto físico dos locais de moradia e trabalho das famílias, e o abstrato, a exemplo da implicação simbólica de outra dualidade: modernidade e tradição.
Construindo séries de TV complexas: a concepção diegética de Westworld
Authors: Anaz Sílvio Antonio Luiz
Published: April 2018

A nova era de ouro da televisão caracteriza-se principalmente por séries dramáticas intrincadas, com múltiplas tramas, temas áridos, diegese não convencional e produção com recursos técnicos, humanos (elencos, roteiristas, diretores, produtores) e orçamentários comparáveis às grandes produções do cinema. Por meio da análise da série Westworld (HBO, 2016), este artigo examina o contexto de sua produção e aspectos estruturantes da narrativa para entender como que os criadores construíram sua complexidade. Para tanto, a análise recorre aos estudos de Mittell sobre complexidade narrativa na TV e às reflexões sobre a imaginação de Bachelard e  Durand. A conclusão é que a complexidade em Westworld é construída, entre outras estratégias, a partir de intrincadas concepções temporais e espaciais em sua diegese.
Crise reputacional e comunicação de marca: a estratégia da Odebrecht para “lavar” a sua imagem
Authors: Bueno Wilson Da Costa
Published: April 2018

Muitas empresas têm desenvolvido esforço permanente no sentido de dar visibilidade às suas marcas, valendo-se de estratégias ou técnicas que afrontam a ética e a transparência. A comunicação de marca, nesse caso, assume um tom ao mesmo tempo grandiloquente, de auto-elogio, e quase sempre  falso , que subestima a capacidade dos cidadãos de identificarem as intenções ocultas em seu discurso. O artigo discute algumas estratégias contemporâneas da comunicação de marca, com foco nas ações desenvolvidas pelo grupo Odebrecht para “lavar” a sua marca e, desta forma, resgatar a sua reputação degradada por posturas não éticas reveladas pela Operação Lava-Jato. É possível destacar, entre estas ações, o uso de vídeos institucionais, do marketing de conteúdo em veículos da grande imprensa e a mudança dos nomes e logotipos das empresas do Grupo.