bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Separation of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Cho A-Young , Kim Giyoung , Lim Jongguk , Mo Changyeun , Moon Ji-Hea , Park SaetByeol , Park Su-Hee , Om Aeson
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study is to develop a method to separate and purify the Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). The method was based on fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) along with gel filtration (GF) after cation exchange chromatography (CIEX) treatment. Various columns such as CM sepharose HP, Cellufine C-500, WorkBeads 40S for CIEX, and GF on Sephacryl S-100 for GF were compared in terms of separation efficiency. Consequently, Work- Beads 40S along with Sephacryl S-100 produced best separation performance. Separated SEB with developed method was verified with ELISA assay. Purified SEB with the method can be used to manufacture rapid detection kit or antibodies.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Jeju Barley and Extracted β-Glucan
Authors: Kim Hyo Jin , Kim Hyun Jung
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the physicochemical properties of barley varieties grown in Jeju along with the characteristics of soluble dietary fiber β-glucan extracted from barley. Jeju naked barley and blue barley contained greater amounts of starch and total dietary fiber than other varieties of barley, and their β-glucan contents were 8.63 and 7.02%, respectively. Unhulled barley, black barley, and Jeju beer barley contained 4.49-5.86% of β-glucan. The viscosity of barley solution greatly increased by heating and the viscosity values of Jeju naked barley and blue barley at heating were 2350.0 and 4563.3 cP, which were the highest. When compared to unpolished and polished Jeju beer barley, the viscosity increased by polishing. β-Glucan was efficiently extracted from different barley varieties where extraction yield ranged from 70.12 to 85.23%. The resolubilities of extracted β-glucans were significantly different depending on the varieties of barley (p<0.05). The ratio of β(1→3) to β(1→4) linkage composed of β-glucan was measured in the range of 1:2.3-4.49. These results suggested that the barley grown in Jeju containing a high amount of β-glucan presented different physicochemical properties and could possibly be applied to develop various types of food products with beneficial health functions.
The Role of Glucosides on the Thermal Stability of Color Produced by Anthocyanins from Red Cabbage
Authors: Lee J. Michelle , Jin Moonsoo
Published: May 2015

Carbohydrate derivatives of cyanidin, a class of anthocyanin pigments, are major component of red cabbage, which is responsible for the characteristic reddish color. The color of cyanidin derivatives is quite stable against heat, and here we aimed to identify the chemical component of glucoside-derivatives of cyanidin which is responsible for the thermal stability. By comparing the thermal stability of color from unmodified cyanidin and cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside with the color of cyanidin derivatives from red cabbage, we found that the glucoside modification confers the thermal stability. We believe that our finding will contribute to the preparation of heat-resistant anthocyanin pigments for food coloring and other applications.
Cyberidentities at War
Authors: Bräuchler Birgit
Published: May 2015

Konfliktakteure setzen weltweit das Internet in zunehmendem Maße strategisch ein. Lokal ausgetragene Konflikte erhalten so eine neue Dimension: Die veränderte Medialisierung führt zu ihrer Ausdehnung in den globalen Cyberspace. Auf der Grundlage ethnographischer Forschungen zu den Online-Aktivitäten christlicher wie muslimischer Akteure im Molukkenkonflikt (1999-2002) untersucht die Studie Prozesse der Identitätskonstruktion und Gemeinschaftsbildung im Internet. Die Autorin leistet damit einen innovativen Beitrag zur Konflikt- und Internetforschung und ebnet methodisch den Weg für eine neue Cyberethnologie.
File Sharing and Film Revenues: Estimates of Sales Displacement at the Box Office
Authors: McKenzie Jordi , Walls W. David
Published: May 2015

This study examines the impact of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing on the Australian theatrical film industry. Using a large data set of torrent downloads observed on three popular P2P networks, we find evidence of a sales displacement effect on box office revenues. However, although statistically significant, the economic significance of this displacement appears relatively small. To establish causality, we make use of the state-day-level panel data structure permitting the use of film fixed effects to help mitigate the endogeneity between film revenues and downloads. To further assist identification, we propose a downloading cost function that considers other states’ downloading activities as a proxy for the number of peers in the download swarm; the US DVD release date as a supply shock to P2P networks; and the substantial structural progression within the Australian internet service provision industry that occurred over the sample period. We observe that the release gap between the US and Australian markets is a key contributor to piracy early in a film’s theatrical life. This finding provides a partial explanation for the industry’s move towards coordinated worldwide releases.
A nth-order shear deformation theory for
composite laminates in cylindrical bending
Authors: Sayyad A. S. , Ghugal Y. M.
Published: May 2015

The present study investigates whether an nthorder
shear deformation theory is applicable for the composite
laminates in cylindrical bending. The theory satisfies
the traction free conditions at top and bottom surfaces
of the plate and does not require problem dependent
shear correction factor which is normally associated with
the first order shear deformation theory. The well-known
classical plate theory at (n = 1) and higher order shear
deformation theory of Reddy at (n = 3) are the perticular
cases of the present theory. The governing equations
of equilibrium and boundary conditions are obtained using
the principle of virtual work. A simply supported laminated
composite plate infinitely long in y-direction is considered
for the detail numerical study. A closed form solution
for simply supported boundary conditions is obtained
using Navier’s technique. The displacements and stresses
are obtained for different aspect ratios and modular ratios.
Humor perception in bilinguals: Is language more than a code?
Authors: Erdodi Laszlo , Lajiness-O'Neill Renee
Published: May 2015

Three samples (English, Hungarian and bilingual speakers, N = 91) were asked to rate 32 jokes covering various topics. Funniness ratings revealed several between- and within-group differences. Hungarians perceived jokes with ethnic stereotypes to be funnier than did either bilingual or English speakers. Bilinguals with Hungarian dominance rated jokes presented in Hungarian higher than jokes presented in English. No such preference was observed in bilinguals with English dominance. The implications of the findings to multicultural research and clinical practice are discussed.
Characteristics of Job Burnout and Humor among Psychotherapists
Authors: Malinowski Alfred J.
Published: May 2015

Job burnout is one factor that has led many individuals to be ineffective in their profession. Psychotherapists have been shown to be especially vulnerable to the effects of job burnout in their field of specialization. Because of this fact, coping strategies are needed to protect the psychological well-being of the therapist and the therapeutic process. Humor is one coping technique that has been used in dealing with job burnout in various professions, but humor has also been shown to be detrimental to psychological well-being. In this study, a total of 133 doctoral degreed psychotherapists responded to a survey to determine the relationship between different types of humor (affiliative humor, self-enhancing humor, aggressive humor, and self-defeating humor) and various characteristics of job burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of a sense of personal accomplishment). Regression results indicated that self-defeating humor contributed to the job burnout characteristics of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas self-enhancing humor contributed to a therapist's sense of personal accomplishment. The results seem to indicate that different types of humor may either buffer or contribute to job burnout depending on how humor is used.
Humor styles, optimism, and their relationships with distress among undergraduates in three Chinese cities
Authors: Cheung Chau-Kiu , Yue Xiao Dong
Published: May 2015

The supposed benefit of humor for the relief of distress has not been demonstrated with certainty amongst Chinese people. In particular, an empirical study of this benefit is necessary in order to clarify the differential effects of different styles of humor, after controlling for optimism. With this aim, the present study investigates the effects based on data from 493 university students in three Chinese cities, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau. Results reveal some negative and positive effects of different humor styles on distress, independently of effects due to optimism. These effects did not vary among the three cities. Nevertheless, some limitations of the effects of humor are notable.
The role of social context in the interpretation of sexist humor
Authors: Gray Jared Alan , Ford Thomas E.
Published: May 2015

An experiment supported our hypotheses about the relationship between the social context in which sexist humor is delivered and the adoption of a non-critical humor mindset to interpret it. First, a professional workplace setting implied a local norm that is more prohibitive of sexist jokes than the general societal norm, whereas a comedy club implied a local norm of greater approval of sexist jokes. Second, offensiveness ratings revealed that participants were less likely to adopt a non-critical humor mindset to interpret sexist jokes delivered in a professional workplace setting and more likely to do so in a comedy club setting, compared to a setting governed by only the general societal norm. Finally, meditational analyses revealed that participants used the local norm of acceptability of sexist jokes to determine whether they could interpret the jokes in a non-critical humor mindset.
From Ice Age to Madagascar: Appreciation of slapstick humor in children with Asperger's syndrome
Authors: Weiss Elisabeth M. , Gschaidbauer Bianca C. , Samson Andrea C. , Steinbäcker Krista , Fink Andreas , Papousek Ilona
Published: May 2015

The aim of the present study was to examine whether children with Asperger's syndrome differ from typically developing children in the appreciation of and behavioral responses to simple slapstick type humor, in which cognitive requirements that are commonly impaired in autism spectrum disorders are reduced to a minimum. Short slapstick scenes and matched non-humorous control scenes were extracted from popular movies to produce an appropriate humor assessment material. Twenty-four boys with Asperger's syndrome (5 to 14 years) and 24 age-matched typically developed controls were tested. The results indicated that children with Asperger's syndrome enjoy humorous material as much as healthy children do, if the humor elements are simple and the incongruence can be perceived independently from theory of mind requirements, inferential demands, or language abilities. However, similar funniness ratings and behavioral expressions of mirth to the humorous scenes, but relatively higher values in response to the non-humorous scenes, suggested that the autistic children did not discriminate non-humorous from humorous stimuli as sensitively as the typically developing children did. Moreover, in autistic children, the outwards displays of emotion did not match their reports of subjective amusement. This dissociation may relate to the social interaction and communication difficulties in autism spectrum disorders.
Autism-spectrum traits predict humor styles in the general population
Authors: Eriksson Kimmo
Published: May 2015

Previous research shows that individuals with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism tend to have impaired processing of humor and laugh at things that are not commonly found funny. Here the relationship between humor styles and the broader autism phenotype was investigated in a sample of the general population. The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) and the humor styles questionnaire (HSQ) were administered to six hundred US participants recruited through an Internet-based service. On the whole, high scores on AQ were negatively related to positive humor styles and unrelated to negative humor styles. However, AQ subscales representing different autism-spectrum traits exhibited different patterns. In particular, the factor “poor mind-reading” was associated with higher scores on negative humor styles and the factor “attention to detail” was associated with higher scores on all humor styles, suggesting a more nuanced picture of the relationship between autism-spectrum traits and humor.
Modeling Study of Crude Oil Enhanced Removal in a Two-Liquid Phase Partitioning Bioreactor
Authors: Ismail Zainab Z. , Abdulrazzak Ibtihaj A.
Published: May 2015

A combined process of solvent extraction and two-phase biodegradation was carried out to remove crude oil from water by mixed cultures, where silicone oil was selected as the organic solvent due to its biocompatibility and non-biodegradability. The crude oil removal and cell growth was experimentally studied. A simple model that combined steady mass transfer equations and dynamic growth kinetics of suspended cells was suggested to follow the entire process. Under the conditions studied, complete removal of crude oil from water was achieved at initial crude oil concentration of 5,000 mg/L. Results revealed that the proposed model satisfactorily described the process as long as crude oil level in the cell medium did not exceed the toxicity limit of suspended cells.
Application Of Artificial Intelligence Methods In Drilling System Design And Operations: A Review Of The State Of The Art
Authors: Bello Opeyemi , Holzmann Javier , Yaqoob Tanveer , Teodoriu Catalin
Published: May 2015

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be defined as the application of science and engineering with the intent of intelligent machine composition. It involves using tool based on intelligent behavior of humans in solving complex issues, designed in a way to make computers execute tasks that were earlier thought of human intelligence involvement. In comparison to other computational automations, AI facilitates and enables time reduction based on personnel needs and most importantly, the operational expenses.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an area of great interest and significance in petroleum exploration and production. Over the years, it has made an impact in the industry, and the application has continued to grow within the oil and gas industry. The application in E & P industry has more than 16 years of history with first application dated 1989, for well log interpretation; drill bit diagnosis using neural networks and intelligent reservoir simulator interface. It has been propounded in solving many problems in the oil and gas industry which includes, seismic pattern recognition, reservoir characterisation, permeability and porosity prediction, prediction of PVT properties, drill bits diagnosis, estimating pressure drop in pipes and wells, optimization of well production, well performance, portfolio management and general decision making operations and many more.

This paper reviews and analyzes the successful application of artificial intelligence techniques as related to one of the major aspects of the oil and gas industry, drilling capturing the level of application and trend in the industry. A summary of various papers and reports associated with artificial intelligence applications and it limitations will be highlighted. This analysis is expected to contribute to further development of this technique and also determine the neglected areas in the field.
Emerging heterogeneous integrated photonic platforms on silicon
Authors: Fathpour Sasan
Published: May 2015

Silicon photonics has been established as a mature and promising technology for
optoelectronic integrated circuits, mostly based on the silicon-on-insulator
(SOI) waveguide platform. However, not all optical functionalities can be
satisfactorily achieved merely based on silicon, in general, and on the SOI
platform, in particular. Long-known shortcomings of silicon-based integrated
photonics are optical absorption (in the telecommunication wavelengths) and
feasibility of electrically-injected lasers (at least at room temperature). More
recently, high two-photon and free-carrier absorptions required at high optical
intensities for third-order optical nonlinear effects, inherent lack of
second-order optical nonlinearity, low extinction ratio of modulators based on
the free-carrier plasma effect, and the loss of the buried oxide layer of the
SOI waveguides at mid-infrared wavelengths have been recognized as other
shortcomings. Accordingly, several novel waveguide platforms have been
developing to address these shortcomings of the SOI platform. Most of these
emerging platforms are based on heterogeneous integration of other material
systems on silicon substrates, and in some cases silicon is integrated on other
substrates. Germanium and its binary alloys with silicon, III–V compound
semiconductors, silicon nitride, tantalum pentoxide and other high-index
dielectric or glass materials, as well as lithium niobate are some of the
materials heterogeneously integrated on silicon substrates. The materials are
typically integrated by a variety of epitaxial growth, bonding, ion implantation
and slicing, etch back, spin-on-glass or other techniques. These wide range of
efforts are reviewed here holistically to stress that there is no pure silicon
or even group IV photonics per se. Rather, the future of the
field of integrated photonics appears to be one of heterogenization, where a
variety of different materials and waveguide platforms will be used for
different purposes with the common feature of integrating them on a single
substrate, most notably silicon.
Alumina modified by niobia supported nickel catalysts for hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane
Authors: Śrębowata Anna
Published: May 2015

Nb
Genetic Variations in the Serotonergic System Mediate a Combined, Weakened Response to SSRI Treatment: A Proposed Model
Authors: Pettitt Adam
Published: May 2015

Individuals with the short (S) allele in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) show a less favorable response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment than individuals with the long (L) allele. Similarly, individuals with the C(-1019)G allele for the mutation found in the promoter region of the serotonin 1A receptor gene (5-HTR1A) have shown blunted responses to SSRI treatment when compared with individuals lacking this polymorphism. While these findings have been replicated across multiple studies, only two studies to date have reported data for a gene–gene interaction associated with response to SSRI treatment. Both of these studies reported a combined effect for these genotypes, with individuals homozygous for the L allele and the C allele (5-HTTL/L−1AC/C) reporting the most favorable response to SSRI treatment, and individuals homozygous for the S allele and the G allele (5-HTTS/S–1AG/G) reporting the least favorable response to SSRI treatment. Additionally, no neural mechanisms have been proposed to explain why this gene–gene interaction has been observed. To that end, this article provides a review of the relevant literature associated with these polymorphisms and proposes a feasible model that describes a genotype-dependent modulation of postsynaptic serotonin signaling associated with the 5-HTT and 5-HTR1A genes.
Purification of Neural Precursor Cells Reveals the Presence of Distinct, Stimulus-Specific Subpopulations of Quiescent Precursors in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus
Authors: Jhaveri Dhanisha J. , O'Keeffe Imogen , Robinson Gregory J. , Zhao Qiong-Yi , Zhang Zong Hong , Nink Virginia , Narayanan Ramesh K. , Osborne Geoffrey W. , Wray Naomi R. , Bartlett Perry F.
Published: May 2015

The activity of neural precursor cells in the adult hippocampus is regulated by various stimuli; however, whether these stimuli regulate the same or different precursor populations remains unknown. Here, we developed a novel cell-sorting protocol that allows the purification to homogeneity of neurosphere-forming neural precursors from the adult mouse hippocampus and examined the responsiveness of individual precursors to various stimuli using a clonal assay. We show that within the Hes5-GFP+/Nestin-GFP+/EGFR+cell population, which comprises the majority of neurosphere-forming precursors, there are two distinct subpopulations of quiescent precursor cells, one directly activated by high-KCl depolarization, and the other activated by norepinephrine (NE). We then demonstrate that these two populations are differentially distributed along the septotemporal axis of the hippocampus, and show that the NE-responsive precursors are selectively regulated by GABA, whereas the KCl-responsive precursors are selectively modulated by corticosterone. Finally, based on RNAseq analysis by deep sequencing, we show that the progeny generated by activating NE-responsive versus KCl-responsive quiescent precursors are molecularly different. These results demonstrate that the adult hippocampus contains phenotypically similar but stimulus-specific populations of quiescent precursors, which may give rise to neural progeny with different functional capacity.
Mutant Alpha-Synuclein Causes Age-Dependent Neuropathology in Monkey Brain
Authors: Yang Weili , Wang Guohao , Wang Chuan-En , Guo Xiangyu , Yin Peng , Gao Jinquan , Tu Zhuchi , Wang Zhengbo , Wu Jing , Hu Xintian , Li Shihua , Li Xiao-Jiang
Published: May 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that often occurs in those over age 60. Although rodents and small animals have been used widely to model PD and investigate its pathology, their short life span makes it difficult to assess the aging-related pathology that is likely to occur in PD patient brains. Here, we used brain tissues from rhesus monkeys at 2–3, 7–8, and >15 years of age to examine the expression of Parkin, PINK1, and α-synuclein, which are known to cause PD via loss- or gain-of-function mechanisms. We found that α-synuclein is increased in the older monkey brains, whereas Parkin and PINK1 are decreased or remain unchanged. Because of the gain of toxicity of α-synuclein, we performed stereotaxic injection of lentiviral vectors expressing mutant α-synuclein (A53T) into the substantia nigra of monkeys and found that aging also increases the accumulation of A53T in neurites and its associated neuropathology. A53T also causes more extensive reactive astrocytes and axonal degeneration in monkey brain than in mouse brain. Using monkey brain tissues, we found that A53T interacts with neurofascin, an adhesion molecule involved in axon subcellular targeting and neurite outgrowth. Aged monkey brain tissues show an increased interaction of neurofascin with A53T. Overexpression of A53T causes neuritic toxicity in cultured neuronal cells, which can be attenuated by transfected neurofascin. These findings from nonhuman primate brains reveal age-dependent pathological and molecular changes that could contribute to the age-dependent neuropathology in PD.
Incubation of Methamphetamine Craving Is Associated with Selective Increases in Expression ofBdnfandTrkb, Glutamate Receptors, and Epigenetic Enzymes in Cue-Activated Fos-Expressing Dorsal Striatal Neurons
Authors: Li Xuan , Rubio F. Javier , Zeric Tamara , Bossert Jennifer M. , Kambhampati Sarita , Cates Hannah M. , Kennedy Pamela J. , Liu Qing-Rong , Cimbro Raffaello , Hope Bruce T. , Nestler Eric J. , Shaham Yavin
Published: May 2015

Cue-induced methamphetamine seeking progressively increases after withdrawal (incubation of methamphetamine craving), but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. We determined whether this incubation is associated with alterations in candidate genes in dorsal striatum (DS), a brain area implicated in cue- and context-induced drug relapse. We first measured mRNA expression of 24 candidate genes in whole DS extracts after short (2 d) or prolonged (1 month) withdrawal in rats following extended-access methamphetamine or saline (control condition) self-administration (9 h/d, 10 d). We found minimal changes. Next, using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, we compared gene expression in Fos-positive dorsal striatal neurons, which were activated during “incubated” cue-induced drug-seeking tests after prolonged withdrawal, with nonactivated Fos-negative neurons. We found significant increases in mRNA expression of immediate early genes (Arc, Egr1),Bdnfand its receptor (Trkb), glutamate receptor subunits (Gria1, Gria3, Grm1),and epigenetic enzymes (Hdac3, Hdac4, Hdac5, GLP, Dnmt3a, Kdm1a) in the Fos-positive neurons only. Using RNAscope to determine striatal subregion and cell-type specificity of the activated neurons, we measured colabeling ofFoswithDrd1andDrd2in three DS subregions.Fosexpression was neither subregion nor cell-type specific (52.5 and 39.2% ofFosexpression colabeled withDrd1andDrd2, respectively). Finally, we found that DS injections of SCH23390 (C17H18ClNO), a D1-family receptor antagonist known to block cue-induced Fos induction, decreased incubated cue-induced methamphetamine seeking after prolonged withdrawal. Results demonstrate a critical role of DS in incubation of methamphetamine craving and that this incubation is associated with selective gene-expression alterations in cue-activated D1- and D2-expressing DS neurons.
Role of DNA Methylation in the Nucleus Accumbens in Incubation of Cocaine Craving
Authors: Massart Renaud , Barnea Royi , Dikshtein Yahav , Suderman Matthew , Meir Oren , Hallett Michael , Kennedy Pamela , Nestler Eric J. , Szyf Moshe , Yadid Gal
Published: May 2015

One of the major challenges of cocaine addiction is the high rate of relapse to drug use after periods of withdrawal. During the first few weeks of withdrawal, cue-induced cocaine craving intensifies, or “incubates,” and persists over extended periods of time. Although several brain regions and molecular mechanisms were found to be involved in this process, the underlying epigenetic mechanisms are still unknown. Herein, we used a rat model of incubation of cocaine craving, in which rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.75 mg/kg, 6 h/d, 10 d), and cue-induced cocaine-seeking was examined in an extinction test after 1 or 30 d of withdrawal. We show that the withdrawal periods, as well as cue-induced cocaine seeking, are associated with broad, time-dependent enhancement of DNA methylation alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). These gene methylation alterations were partly negatively correlated with gene expression changes. Furthermore, intra-NAc injections of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (RG108, 100 μm) abolished cue-induced cocaine seeking on day 30, an effect that persisted 1 month, whereas the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (500 μm) had an opposite effect on cocaine seeking. We then targeted two proteins whose genes were demethylated by RG108-estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5). Treatment with an intra-NAc injection of the ESR1 agonist propyl pyrazole triol (10 nm) or the CDK5 inhibitor roscovitine (28 μm) on day 30 of withdrawal significantly decreased cue-induced cocaine seeking. These results demonstrate a role for NAc DNA methylation, and downstream targets of DNA demethylation, in incubation of cocaine craving.
Abnormal Contrast Responses in the Extrastriate Cortex of Blindsight Patients
Authors: Ajina Sara , Rees Geraint , Kennard Christopher , Bridge Holly
Published: May 2015

When the human primary visual cortex (V1) is damaged, the dominant geniculo-striate pathway can no longer convey visual information to the occipital cortex. However, many patients with such damage retain some residual visual function that must rely on an alternative pathway directly to extrastriate occipital regions. This residual vision is most robust for moving stimuli, suggesting a role for motion area hMT+. However, residual vision also requires high-contrast stimuli, which is inconsistent with hMT+ sensitivity to contrast in which even low-contrast levels elicit near-maximal neural activation. We sought to investigate this discrepancy by measuring behavioral and neural responses to increasing contrast in patients with V1 damage. Eight patients underwent behavioral testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging to record contrast sensitivity in hMT+ of their damaged hemisphere, using Gabor stimuli with a spatial frequency of 1 cycle/°. The responses from hMT+ of the blind hemisphere were compared with hMT+ and V1 responses in the sighted hemisphere of patients and a group of age-matched controls. Unlike hMT+, neural responses in V1 tend to increase linearly with increasing contrast, likely reflecting a dominant parvocellular channel input. Across all patients, the responses in hMT+ of the blind hemisphere no longer showed early saturation but increased linearly with contrast. Given the spatiotemporal parameters used in this study and the known direct subcortical projections from the koniocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus to hMT+, we propose that this altered contrast sensitivity in hMT+ could be consistent with input from the koniocellular pathway.
Progressive Functional Impairments of Hippocampal Neurons in a Tauopathy Mouse Model
Authors: Ciupek Sarah M. , Cheng Jingheng , Ali Yousuf O. , Lu Hui-Chen , Ji Daoyun
Published: May 2015

The age-dependent progression of tau pathology is a major characteristic of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and plays an important role in the behavioral phenotypes of AD, including memory deficits. Despite extensive molecular and cellular studies on tau pathology, it remains to be determined how it alters the neural circuit functions underlying learning and memoryin vivo. In rTg4510 mice, a Tau-P301L tauopathy model, hippocampal place fields that support spatial memories are abnormal at old age (7–9 months) when tau tangles and neurodegeneration are extensive. However, it is unclear how the abnormality in the hippocampal circuit function arises and progresses with the age-dependent progression of tau pathology. Here we show that in young (2–4 months of age) rTg4510 mice, place fields of hippocampal CA1 cells are largely normal, with only subtle differences from those of age-matched wild-type control mice. Second, high-frequency ripple oscillations of local field potentials in the hippocampal CA1 area are significantly reduced in young rTg4510 mice, and even further deteriorated in old rTg4510 mice. The ripple reduction is associated with less bursty firing and altered synchrony of CA1 cells. Together, the data indicate that deficits in ripples and neuronal synchronization occur before overt deficits in place fields in these mice. The results reveal a tau-pathology-induced progression of hippocampal functional changesin vivo.
Interactions between the Salience and Default-Mode Networks Are Disrupted in Cocaine Addiction
Authors: Liang Xia , He Yong , Salmeron Betty Jo , Gu Hong , Stein Elliot A. , Yang Yihong
Published: May 2015

Cocaine dependence is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder manifested as dysregulation of multiple behavioral, emotional, and cognitive constructs. Neuroimaging studies have begun to identify specific neurobiological circuit impairments in cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals that may underlie these symptoms. However, whether, where, and how the interactions within and between these circuits are disrupted remain largely unknown. We used resting-state fMRI and modularity network analysis to identify brain modules of a priori interest (default-mode network [DMN], salience network [SN], executive control network [ECN], medial temporal lobe [MTL], and striatum) in 47 CD and 47 matched healthy control (HC) participants and explored alterations within and between these brain modules as a function of addiction. At the module level, intermodule connectivity decreased between DMN and SN in CD. At the nodal level, several regions showed decreased connections with multiple modules in CD: the rostral anterior cingulate connection strength was reduced with SN and MTL; the posterior cingulate had reduced connections with ECN; and the bilateral insula demonstrated decreased connections with DMN. Furthermore, alexithymia, a personality trait previously associated with addiction, correlated negatively with intramodule connectivity within SN only in cocaine users. Our results indicate that cocaine addiction is associated with disrupted interactions among DMN, MTL, and SN, which have been implicated, respectively, in self-referential functions, emotion and memory, and coordinating between internal and external stimuli, providing novel and important insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of cocaine addiction.
Nonlinear Transfer of Signal and Noise Correlations in Cortical Networks
Authors: Lyamzin Dmitry R. , Barnes Samuel J. , Donato Roberta , Garcia-Lazaro Jose A. , Keck Tara , Lesica Nicholas A.
Published: May 2015

Signal and noise correlations, a prominent feature of cortical activity, reflect the structure and function of networks during sensory processing. However, in addition to reflecting network properties, correlations are also shaped by intrinsic neuronal mechanisms. Here we show that spike threshold transforms correlations by creating nonlinear interactions between signal and noise inputs; even when input noise correlation is constant, spiking noise correlation varies with both the strength and correlation of signal inputs. We characterize these effects systematicallyin vitroin mice and demonstrate their impact on sensory processingin vivoin gerbils. We also find that the effects of nonlinear correlation transfer on cortical responses are stronger in the synchronized state than in the desynchronized state, and show that they can be reproduced and understood in a model with a simple threshold nonlinearity. Since these effects arise from an intrinsic neuronal property, they are likely to be present across sensory systems and, thus, our results are a critical step toward a general understanding of how correlated spiking relates to the structure and function of cortical networks.
Dynamics of Multistable States during Ongoing and Evoked Cortical Activity
Authors: Mazzucato Luca , Fontanini Alfredo , La Camera Giancarlo
Published: May 2015

Single-trial analyses of ensemble activity in alert animals demonstrate that cortical circuits dynamics evolve through temporal sequences of metastable states. Metastability has been studied for its potential role in sensory coding, memory, and decision-making. Yet, very little is known about the network mechanisms responsible for its genesis. It is often assumed that the onset of state sequences is triggered by an external stimulus. Here we show that state sequences can be observed also in the absence of overt sensory stimulation. Analysis of multielectrode recordings from the gustatory cortex of alert rats revealed ongoing sequences of states, where single neurons spontaneously attain several firing rates across different states. This single-neuron multistability represents a challenge to existing spiking network models, where typically each neuron is at most bistable. We present a recurrent spiking network model that accounts for both the spontaneous generation of state sequences and the multistability in single-neuron firing rates. Each state results from the activation of neural clusters with potentiated intracluster connections, with the firing rate in each cluster depending on the number of active clusters. Simulations show that the model's ensemble activity hops among the different states, reproducing the ongoing dynamics observed in the data. When probed with external stimuli, the model predicts the quenching of single-neuron multistability into bistability and the reduction of trial-by-trial variability. Both predictions were confirmed in the data. Together, these results provide a theoretical framework that captures both ongoing and evoked network dynamics in a single mechanistic model.
Phrenic Long-Term Facilitation Requires PKCθ Activity within Phrenic Motor Neurons
Authors: Devinney Michael J. , Fields Daryl P. , Huxtable Adrianne G. , Peterson Timothy J. , Dale Erica A. , Mitchell Gordon S.
Published: May 2015

Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) induces a form of spinal motor plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF); pLTF is a prolonged increase in phrenic motor output after AIH has ended. In anesthetized rats, we demonstrate that pLTF requires activity of the novel PKC isoform, PKCθ, and that the relevant PKCθ is within phrenic motor neurons. Whereas spinal PKCθ inhibitors block pLTF, inhibitors targeting other PKC isoforms do not. PKCθ is highly expressed in phrenic motor neurons, and PKCθ knockdown with intrapleural siRNAs abolishes pLTF. Intrapleural siRNAs targeting PKCζ, an atypical PKC isoform expressed in phrenic motor neurons that underlies a distinct form of phrenic motor plasticity, does not affect pLTF. Thus, PKCθ plays a critical role in spinal AIH-induced respiratory motor plasticity, and the relevant PKCθ is localized within phrenic motor neurons. Intrapleural siRNA delivery has considerable potential as a therapeutic tool to selectively manipulate plasticity in vital respiratory motor neurons.
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulate Performance Monitoring Functions But Not Their Electrophysiological Correlates
Authors: Fischer Adrian G. , Endrass Tanja , Reuter Martin , Kubisch Christian , Ullsperger Markus
Published: May 2015

Serotonin (5-HT) has been hypothesized to be implicated in performance monitoring by promoting behavioral inhibition in the face of aversive events. However, it is unclear whether this is restricted to external (punishment) or includes internal (response errors) events. The aim of the current study was to test whether higher 5-HT levels instigate inhibition specifically in the face of errors, measured as post-error slowing (PES), and whether this is represented in electrophysiological correlates of error processing, namely error-related negativity (ERN) and positivity. Therefore, from a large sample of human subjects (n= 878), two extreme groups were formed regarding hypothesized high and low 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) expression based on 5-HTTLPR and two additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs25531, rs25532). Seventeen higher (LL) and 15 lower (SS) expressing Caucasian subjects were administered the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram (10 mg) intravenously in a double-blind crossover design. We found pharmacogenetic evidence for a role of 5-HT in mediating PES: SSRI administration increased PES in both genetic groups, and SS subjects displayed higher PES. These effects were absent on post-conflict slowing. However, ERN and error positivity were unaffected by pharmacogenetic factors, but ERN was decoupled from behavioral adaptation by SSRI administration in the LL group. Thus, pharmacogenetic evidence suggests that increased 5-HT levels lead to behavioral inhibition in the context of internal aversive events, but electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring appear unrelated to the 5-HT system. Therefore, our findings are consistent with theories suggesting that 5-HT mediates the link between aversive processing and inhibition.
Segmental Organization of Vestibulospinal Inputs to Spinal Interneurons Mediating Crossed Activation of Thoracolumbar Motoneurons in the Neonatal Mouse
Authors: Kasumacic Nedim , Lambert François M. , Coulon Patrice , Bras Helene , Vinay Laurent , Perreault Marie-Claude , Glover Joel C.
Published: May 2015

Vestibulospinal pathways activate contralateral motoneurons (MNs) in the thoracolumbar spinal cord of the neonatal mouse exclusively via axons descending ipsilaterally from the vestibular nuclei via the lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST; Kasumacic et al., 2010). Here we investigate how transmission from the LVST to contralateral MNs is mediated by descending commissural interneurons (dCINs) in different spinal segments. We test the polysynaptic nature of this crossed projection by assessing LVST-mediated ventral root (VR) response latencies, manipulating synaptic responses pharmacologically, and tracing the pathway transynaptically from hindlimb extensor muscles using rabies virus (RV). Longer response latencies in contralateral than ipsilateral VRs, near-complete abolition of LVST-mediated calcium responses in contralateral MNs by mephenesin, and the absence of transsynaptic RV labeling of contralateral LVST neurons within a monosynaptic time window all indicate an overwhelmingly polysynaptic pathway from the LVST to contralateral MNs. Optical recording of synaptically mediated calcium responses identifies LVST-responsive ipsilateral dCINs that exhibit segmental differences in proportion and dorsoventral distribution. In contrast to thoracic and lower lumbar segments, in which most dCINs are LVST responsive, upper lumbar segments stand out because they contain a much smaller and more ventrally restricted subpopulation of LVST-responsive dCINs. A large proportion of these upper lumbar LVST-responsive dCINs project to contralateral L5, which contains many of the hindlimb extensor MNs activated by the LVST. A selective channeling of LVST inputs through segmentally and dorsoventrally restricted subsets of dCINs provides a mechanism for targeting vestibulospinal signals differentially to contralateral trunk and hindlimb MNs in the mammalian spinal cord.
Selective Inhibition of KCC2 Leads to Hyperexcitability and Epileptiform Discharges in Hippocampal Slices andIn Vivo
Authors: Sivakumaran Sudhir , Cardarelli Ross A. , Maguire Jamie , Kelley Matt R. , Silayeva Liliya , Morrow Danielle H. , Mukherjee Jayanta , Moore Yvonne E. , Mather Robert J. , Duggan Mark E. , Brandon Nicholas J. , Dunlop John , Zicha Stephen , Moss Stephen J. , Deeb Tarek Z.
Published: May 2015

GABAAreceptors form Cl−permeable channels that mediate the majority of fast synaptic inhibition in the brain. The K+/Cl−cotransporter KCC2 is the main mechanism by which neurons establish low intracellular Cl−levels, which is thought to enable GABAergic inhibitory control of neuronal activity. However, the widely used KCC2 inhibitor furosemide is nonselective with antiseizure efficacy in slices andin vivo, leading to a conflicting scheme of how KCC2 influences GABAergic control of neuronal synchronization. Here we used the selective KCC2 inhibitor VU0463271 [N-cyclopropyl-N-(4-methyl-2-thiazolyl)-2-[(6-phenyl-3-pyridazinyl)thio]acetamide] to investigate the influence of KCC2 function. Application of VU0463271 caused a reversible depolarizing shift inEGABAvalues and increased spiking of cultured hippocampal neurons. Application of VU0463271 to mouse hippocampal slices under low-Mg2+conditions induced unremitting recurrent epileptiform discharges. Finally, microinfusion of VU0463271 alone directly into the mouse dorsal hippocampus rapidly caused epileptiform discharges. Our findings indicated that KCC2 function was a critical inhibitory factorex vivoandin vivo.
Prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes in Punjab, North India: results from a population screening program
Authors: Arora Geeti P , Thaman Richa G , Prasad Rashmi B , Almgren Peter , Brøns Charlotte , Groop Leif C , Vaag Allan A
Published: May 2015

Objective

The World Health Organization (WHO) has in 2013 changed the diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to acknowledge the putative effect of mildly elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels on pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of GDM comparing the previous WHO 1999 criteria to the WHO 2013 criteria in North India.

Methods

In a population-based screening programme, 5100 randomly selected North Indian women were studied using a cross-sectional design with a questionnaire, venous FPG and 2-h capillary plasma glucose (PG) after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Results

The prevalence of GDM was 35% using WHO 2013 criteria vs 9% using WHO 1999 criteria. FPG measurements identified 94% of WHO 2013 GDM cases as opposed to 11% of WHO 1999 GDM cases. In contrast, 2-h PG measurements identified only 13% of WHO 2013 GDM cases compared with 96% of the WHO 1999 GDM cases. Using logistic regression with backward elimination, urban habitat, illiteracy, non-vegetarianism, increased BMI, Hindu religion and low adult height were all independent risk factors of GDM using the 1999 criteria, whereas only urban habitat, low adult height and increased age were independent risk factors of GDM using the 2013 criteria.

Conclusions

Intervention studies are needed to justify the WHO 2013 GDM criteria increasing the prevalence four fold to include more than one third of North Indian pregnant women.
A field study of exposure to whole‐body vibration due to agricultural machines in a full‐time rice farmer over one year
Authors: Tsujimura Hiroji , Taoda Kazushi , Kitahara Teruyo
Published: May 2015

A field study of exposure to whole‐body vibration due to agricultural machines in a full‐time rice farmer over one year: Hiroji Tsujimura, et al. Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Social Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science

Objective

The aims of this study were to clarify in detail the levels of whole‐body vibration (WBV) exposure from a variety of agricultural machines in a rice farmer over one year, and to evaluate the daily level of exposure compared with European and Japanese threshold limits.

Methods

The subject was a full‐time, male rice farmer. We measured vibration accelerations on the seat pan and at the seat base of four tractors with various implements attached, one rice‐planting machine, two combine harvesters, produced by the same manufacturer, and one truck used for transportation of agricultural machines. The position and velocity of the machines were recorded in parallel with WBV measurements. In addition, during the year starting in April 2010, the subject completed a questionnaire regarding his work (date, place, content, hours worked, machines used). We calculated the daily exposure to WBV, A(8), on all the days on which the subject used the agricultural machines.

Results

The WBV magnitude in farm fields was relatively high during tasks with high velocity and heavy mechanical load on the machine, and had no dominant axis. The subject worked for 159 days using the agricultural machines during the year, and the proportion of days on which A(8) values exceeded the thresholds was 90% for the Japan occupational exposure limit and 24% for the EU exposure action value.

Conclusions

Our findings emphasize the need for rice farmers to have health management strategies suited to the farming seasons and measures to reduce WBV exposure during each farm task.