bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASSESSING PORT SERVICE QUALITY DIMENSIONS WITH FERMATEAN FUZZY AHP METHOD
Authors: TATAR Veysel
Published: December 2023

Assessing the quality of businesses and improving them accordingly is critical for sustainable competitive advantage. This study focuses on evaluating the dimensions affecting the service quality of sea ports, which contribute significantly to the development of global trade. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the importance weights of the dimensions of the ROPMIS model presented by Thai (2008). In today's world, Fermatean fuzzy sets (FFSs) are a useful tool in many decision-making problems due to the possibility of better capturing human uncertainty and subjectivity. The weights of dimensions of the ROPMIS model are determined with AHP method under the Fermatean fuzzy environment. The suggested approach is an effective means of managing the ambiguities and errors in the data pertaining to the dimensions' weights. In order to provide a tool for assessing and ranking port global quality dimensions that may have an impact on sustainable port service quality, this study serves as a benchmark for subsequent research.
Nueva localidad para el Cao Ronco (Corvus palmarum minutus; Aves: Corvidae) en Cuba Central
Authors: Cañizares Morera Maikel
Published: December 2023

Resumen: Se registra una nueva población de Cao Ronco (Corvus palmarum minutus) en los alrededores de la comunidad La 23, provincia de Sancti Spíritus, Cuba Central. Esta población se distribuye por la cuenca del río Agabama, en el área de premon­tañas al sur de las Alturas de Fomento, macizo montañoso Guamuhaya. La especie convive con su congénere, el Cao Montero (C. nasicus) y aunque el Cao Ronco es aparentemente más escaso en esta localidad, estimamos que la población total supera los 200 individuos.

Palabras clave: Cao Ronco, Corvus palmarum, Cuba Central, distribución

Abstract: New locality for the Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum minutus) in central Cuba—We report the presence of a new popula­tion of Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum minutus) in the vicinity of the community La 23, Sancti Spíritus Province, central Cuba. This population is distributed around the Agabama river basin, in the foothills to the south of Alturas de Fomento in the Guamuhaya mountain range. The species occurs sympatrically with its congener, the Cuban Crow (C. nasicus), and even though the Palm Crow is apparently rarer in this location, we estimate that the total population size may exceed 200 individuals.

Keywords: central Cuba, Corvus palmarum, distribution, Palm Crow

Résumé: Présence de la Corneille palmiste (Corvus palmarum minutus) dans une nouvelle localité du Cuba centrale—Nous si­gnalons la présence d’une nouvelle population de Corneille palmiste (Corvus palmarum minutus) à proximité de la communauté La 23, province de Sancti Spíritus, au Cuba centrale. Cette population est répartie autour du bassin fluvial de l’Agabama, dans les contreforts du sud d’Alturas de Fomento dans le massif de Guamuhaya. L’espèce est présente de manière sympatrique avec sa congénère, la Corneille de Cuba (C. nasicus), et, bien que la Corneille palmiste soit apparemment plus rare dans cette zone, nous estimons que la taille de la population totale peut dépasser 200 individus.

Mots clés: aire de répartition, Corneille palmiste, Corvus palmarum, Cuba centrale
Indoor Thermal Comfort for Commercial Buildings in Nigeria Urban Environment
Authors: George Solomon Bessie , Sunday Ekanemesang Amaifiok , Sam Aniefiok Itohowo , Patrick Idara Ephraim
Published: December 2023

Providing comfort for building inhabitants is difficult and essential in this era of climate change and global warming. This is a result of growing challenges facing designers to provide buildings that will be fit and comfortable for users in the 21st century. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine indoor thermal comfort in commercial buildings in a warm-humid climate of Uyo Urban, Nigeria. The study revealed that the S-N and N-S orientations were considered optimum for thermal comfort in commercial buildings in Uyo Urban. It was found that higher values of MV corresponded to lower values of temperatures and the lower values of MV corresponded to higher values of temperatures. It was therefore inferred that thermal feelings increased in the direction of coolness with a reduction in temperature and increased in the direction of warmth with an increase in temperature. Therefore, building orientations strongly relate buildings to their natural environment, proper utilization of thermal inertia, sun, wind, prevailing weather patterns and topography which further create optimum thermal comfort for users. Hence, Planners and Designers should consider the S-N orientation and ensure that buildings are not closely clustered to ensure cross ventilation during overheating.
The Principle of Horizontal Separation in the Sale and Purchase of Land which Contains a Building Rental Agreement
Authors: Praptono Eddhie , Rakhmatullah Bha’iq Roza , Margono FX Suyud
Published: December 2023

One example of a legal action that occurs as a result of the principle of horizontal separation is someone who rents out the building only, then sells the land. Normatively, applying the principle of horizontal separation is legal. However, in practice in the field it causes problems, especially for buyers of land objects whose building leases are still for a long period of time.This research aims to describe the application of the principle of horizontal separation in the sale and purchase of land where there is a building lease agreement and legal protection for buyers of land objects on which there is a building lease agreement. This type of research is called library research. The approach used in this research is a normative approach. Data collection techniques include secondary data resulting from library studies which aim to obtain concepts, theories, as well as information and conceptual thinking, both in the form of laws and other scientific works. Meanwhile, the data analysis is descriptive. The results of this research indicate that legal actions regarding land do not necessarily include legal actions regarding buildings and plants on them. The existence of the principle of horizontal separation is a legal loophole to deceive several parties. Someone could sell the land, but the building is still rented to another party. Therefore, the criteria for the principle of horizontal separation of land and/or buildings are important to know and ensure as a basis for providing legal protection to buyers. If a legal action on land is intended to cover buildings and plants on it, then this must be stated expressly in a deed proving the implementation of the legal action.
Governance van infrastructuren
Authors: Veeneman Wijnand , de Bruijne Mark , van der Voort Haiko
Published: December 2023

Governance of infrastructures: Building bridges with technology and governance

Governance research in infrastructure sectors has gained traction in the Netherlands in recent decades. The classic leading disciplines in infrastructure research were economics, which linked capacity, costs and engineering, optimising the design for each specific technological infrastructural context, such as rail, electricity and data. This article follows the path from Delft to a broad linking of governance in the Netherlands to the research classics.

In a transitory world, infrastructure literately connects all the moving parts of energy, transport, water and data systems. Supporting change can only work if decision-making does justice to economic and technical realities, which poses a major challenge in the current dynamic climate. Innovating governance of and in infrastructure sectors in a way that ties these realities together is the next challenge.
Verhitte wetgeving? De controversiële collectieve warmtewet en de inertie in de warmtetransitie
Authors: Rodhouse Toyah , Correljé Aad
Published: December 2023

Heated legislation? The controversial Collective Heating Supply Act and inertia in heat transition

In this article, we show how a combination of technological, economic, institutional, and social aspects lead to inertia in decision-making in the heat transition. We start from the challenges that are experienced by governments, companies, and citizens in three critical collective tasks in the transition. These are: (1) the coordination of various socio-technical system components in the construction of a new system; (2) the assignment of tasks and responsibilities in that system; and (3) the distribution of the costs and benefits. Because of the considerable normative diversity, interdependency and a lack of trust in each other, not enough action is taken regarding these collective tasks. We theorise this as a collective action problem and argue that this problem is the cause of the inertia in the heating market. In the discussion, we discuss the extent to which the currently proposed Collective Heat Act addresses the problem. We conclude that a more flexible interpretation of the Act is critical and should create space for experiments in the design of the developing energy system, in which more diverse solutions can be tried.
Infrastructuurmodellering in een institutioneel gefragmenteerd landschap
Authors: Mooren Sander
Published: December 2023

Infrastructure modelling in an institutionally fragmented landscape: challenges for infrastructure agencies and the role models play

Infrastructure agencies are responsible for maintaining the quality, safety and availability of their infrastructure. This is often done in isolation, without much consideration for cascading effects in other infrastructure. There are interdependencies between the transport infrastructure systems of the different agencies. Meanwhile, all agencies face uncertainty regarding future developments that affect their socio-technical system, for instance, demographic, economic and technological developments. Decisions on investments have to be made in the present, whereas the necessary information only becomes sufficiently available in the future. Simulation models can provide decision-making support for infrastructure agencies in cross-sectoral intervention strategies. To do so, simulation models need to take various modalities into account and explore possible futures, rather than trying to predict the future.
Evaluatie van ‘Beleidskeuzes Uitgelegd’
Authors: van der Knaap Peter
Published: December 2023

‘Policy Choices Explained’ evaluated: The long haul of cost-effectiveness and politics

Since the beginning of the 21st century, initiatives have been taken to improve the information that the Dutch House of Representatives is given about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government policy. This information is important for the parliamentary budget law, especially in a period of budgetary tightness: good efficiency and cost-effectiveness information can help politicians to make responsible decisions about policy measures and expenditure. In practice, however, ‘the supply of’, ‘the demand for’ and ‘use of’ this information are disappointing.

This article discusses the results of the latest initiative to improve this: ‘Beleidskeuzes Uitgelegd’ (‘Policy Decisions Explained’). At the request of the House of Representatives, this initiative explains how policy proposals costing more than 20 million euros must include an explanation of the policy objectives, instruments and effectiveness, and the planned monitoring and evaluation. The Ministry of Finance has evaluated the compliance and use of the required information. It appears that both compliance by the ministries and the use of the efficiency information by parliament still leave room for improvement. Yet both ‘Policy Choices Explained’ and other initiatives – such as the recently launched ‘Policy Compass’, the ‘Evaluation Toolbox’ and the wider contextual interest in ‘broad prosperity’ – offer new perspectives.
Constitutionele toetsing aan hoofdstuk 7 van de Grondwet, een denkoefening
Authors: Munneke S.A.J.
Published: December 2023

Constitutionele toetsing aan hoofdstuk 7 van de Grondwet, een denkoefening

Rechterlijke constitutionele toetsing aan institutionele bepalingen wordt soms voorzichtig voorgesteld als middel om de democratische rechtsstaat verder te versterken en de positie van overheid en burger nader te verduidelijken. In deze bijdrage wordt, als gedachte-experiment, nagegaan met welk type vragen en keuzes een rechter geconfronteerd zou worden als hij tot een dergelijke toetsing zou overgaan. Aan de hand van hoofdstuk 7 van de Grondwet, de bepalingen over provincies en gemeenten, wordt onderzocht in hoeverre de daarin opgenomen bepalingen zich voor interpretatie en toepassing door de rechter lenen. Dat blijkt maar zeer beperkt het geval te zijn. De grondwettelijke normen blijken veelal onderling nauw verweven, en soms ook tegenstrijdig. Daarnaast rijzen ingewikkelde vragen omtrent de verhouding tot onder andere organieke wetgeving, en de uitleg daarvan. Als laatste kan de vraag worden gesteld door wie dergelijke abstracte normen eigenlijk zouden kunnen worden ingeroepen en wat dat voor de aard van de toetsing betekent.
Lipid metabolism parameters in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their first degree relatives
Authors: K. Czyzewski , M.M. Lalowski , A. Pfeffer , M. Barcikowska
Published: December 2023

Recently, it was suggested that the presence of total cholesterol (TC), age and sex interaction in Alzheimer’s type dementia (AD) is linked with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Our objective was to determine whether the serum lipid profile in AD patients and their first degree non-demented relatives of a certain age (NDR) was dependent on APOE genotype. We included 28 mild to moderate AD and 30 NDR according to DSM-III-R and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. NDR individuals were investigated in an age group similar to the AD group (brother-sister relationship) and in a group including younger individuals (AD patients-children relationship). Our data indicate significant differences between decreased total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in the group of AD patients versus NDR individuals of similar age, independent of APOE genotype, and an increased total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in a group of AD patients versus their children of the same genotype. There was no significant correlation between triglycerides and high density lipoprotein levels with APOE genotype in any of the tested groups. In conclusion, there was a decreased selected lipid serum profile parameters in AD compared to age matched non demented first degree relatives.
Heart rate changes in partially restrained rats during behaviorally and pharmacologically evoked emotional states
Authors: Jeleń P , Zagrodzka J
Published: December 2023

The effect of fear and relief from fear on heart rate (HR) was studied in partially restrained adult male rats. The emotional state was influenced behaviorally with the use of Pavlovian aversive conditioning procedure, and pharmacologically by injections of the selected anxiolytics and anxiogenics. A signal of danger (DS) - light or tone, preceded tail-shock (excitatory trials), while a signal of safety (SS), respectively tone or light, overlapped last 3s of 5s DS and predicted an omission of this expected aversive event (inhibitory trials). To assess the stability of HR changes to DS and SS we analyzed whether and how the experimental conditions (modality and position of signals, the ratio of numbers of excitatory to inhibitory trials in the session) influenced HR. HR changes to DS were different in pattern, stability and direction when compared to HR changes in response to SS. Reactions to DS, although accompanied mainly by conditioned bradycardia, were not consistent and depended on experimental conditions. However, the SS always evoked conditioned tachycardia. Anxiolitycs - benzodiazepines (diazepam and midazolam) and buspirone - influenced HR in nonconsistent manner. Anxiogenics - PTZ and FG7142 were without significant effects on HR. HR could not be trusted therefore as direct index of pharmacologically induced emotional states. The results are discussed in the context of possible biobehavioral meaning of HR changes in response to danger and safety and their reliability as fear/relief correlates.
Behavioural responsiveness to amphetamine or scopolamine following repeated exposure to chlorphenvinphos in rats
Authors: Gralewicz Sławomir , Lutz Piotr , Tomas Tadeusz
Published: December 2023

A number of reports indicate that exposure to organophosphates (OPs), inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), may result in long-lasting neurobehavioural alterations suggestive of an increased cholinergic tone. It is known that rats with cholinergic hyperreactivity are behaviourally hyposensitive to cholinergic antagonists and dopaminergic agonists.The purpose of the present study was to find out whether a similar trait would develop in rats exposed to chlorphenvinphos (CVP), an OP pesticide, in the past. The rats were given ten daily i.p. injections of CVP at doses of 0.5 mg/kg (group P-0.5) or 1.0 mg/kg (group P-1.0). The locomotion stimulating effect of i.p. injection of 1.0 mg/kg amphetamine (AMPH), or 0.7 mg/kg scopolamine (SCOP), was assessed on postexposure day 21 (group P-0.5) or 42 (group P-1.0), i.e. after a time sufficient for AChE recovery. The assessment revealed that in group P-1.0 the behavioural response to AMPH and SCOP was significantly depressed. In rats of the P-0.5 group, however, the behavioural response to each of the drugs was increased. The results suggest that, depending on the exposure level, contrasting alterations in some neurotransmitter systems may be induced by repeated exposure to CVP.
Molecular biology of prions
Authors: Weissmann Charles , Enari Masato , Klöhn Peter-Christian , Rossi Daniela , Flechsig Eckhard
Published: December 2023

The "protein only" hypothesis holds that the infectious agent causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a conformational isomer of PrP, a host protein predominantly expressed in brain and is strongly supported by many lines of evidence. Prion diseases are so far unique among conformational diseases in that they are transmissible, not only experimentally but also by natural routes, mainly by ingestion. The pathway of prions to the brain has been elucidated in outline. A striking feature of prions is their extraordinary resistance to conventional sterilisation procedures, and their capacity to bind to surfaces of metal and plastic without losing infectivity. This property, first observed in a clinical setting, is now being investigated in experimental settings, both in animals and in cell culture.
Prion Diseases: a dual view of the prion hypothesis as seen from a distance
Authors: Liberski Paweł P , Jaskólski Mariusz
Published: December 2023

We review the historical background and principles of the prion theory in its current shape. We showed that most of data may be still interpreted dually according to the protein only hypothesis and according to the theory in which additional component is necessary to comprise the infectivity. The enormous impact of structural biological studies is also stressed.
Alterations in pattern of rapid eye movement activity during REM sleep in depression
Authors: Wichniak Adam , Antczak Jakub , Wierzbicka Aleksandra , Jernajczyk Wojciech
Published: December 2023

The aim of the study was to evaluate REM sleep parameters, especially the temporal characteristics of rapid eye movement activity, in depressed patients, and to compare three different methods for scoring of REM density. The sleep of 15 nonmedicated depressed patients and 13 healthy controls was recorded during two consecutive nights. Sleep recordings were scored by raters blinded to the diagnosis. In comparison to healthy controls depressed patients showed an increased REM density and increased REM activity. Both groups differed also regarding the pattern of REM density changes between REM sleep periods (REMPs). Whereas in healthy controls REM density in the first REMP was significantly lower than in the successive REMPs, no such difference was found in depressed patients. On visual inspection we failed to find any significant differences in the time course of REM activity within the first REMP in depressed patients. All applied methods for scoring of REM density distinguished depressed patients from healthy controls with comparable accuracy.
Effect of sound source position on learning and performance of auditory delayed matching-to-sample task in dogs
Authors: Kuśmierek Paweł , Kowalska Danuta M
Published: December 2023

Spatial adjacency of stimulus source and response site has been proven important for learning of simple behavioural tasks, including auditory quality and location discrimination. We investigated effect of sound source position (adjacent or not adjacent to manipulanda) on learning and performance of a complex auditory recognition memory task. Spatial adjacency of stimuli and manipulanda improved learning of a simple auditory directional task, which was an intermediate stage of training. In contrast, no improvement of learning and performance of the recognition task was found.
Neuroprotective effect of ACTH (4-9) in degeneration of hippocampal nerve cells caused by dexamethasone: morphological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies
Authors: Sekita-Krzak Joanna , Żebrowska-Łupina Iwona , Czerny Krystyna , Stępniewska Maria , Wróbel Andrzej
Published: December 2023

Sustained exposure to glucocorticosteroids (GCs), adrenal hormones secreted during stress, can cause neural degeneration. This is particularly so in the hippocampus, a principal neural target site for GCs. The purpose of this research was an assessment of the neuroprotective effect of ACTH (4-9) in degenerative changes of hippocampal neurons induced by synthetic GC - dexamethasone. Experiments were conducted on male Albino-Swiss mice. We studied the morphology of neurons in the dorsal hippocampus in slides stained with cresyl violet. Immunocytochemical analysis was carried out with the use of monoclonal antibody anti-MAP2 in order to detect alterations in the neuronal cytoskeleton. We also performed ultrastructural examinations of hippocampal neurons. Quantitative analysis of morphological changes was completed using a computer analyser of histological pictures. It was shown that dexamethasone administered in toxic doses evokes neuronal death in layer CA3 of the hippocampus. Results indicate that ACTH (4-9) shows protective effects in that model. Dexamethasone-induced damage to hippocampal pyramidal neurons (assessed by cell counts, immunocytochemical analysis of cytoskeletal alterations and ultrastructural studies) was significantly reduced in animals administered ACTH (4-9).
Individual variation in the spatial reference and working memory assessed under allothetic and idiothetic orientation cues in rat
Authors: Jakubowska-Doğru Ewa , Gümüşbaş Umut , Kara Firat
Published: December 2023

The present study was designed to examine which kind of memory: reference or working, better correlates with individual variation in rats' spatial learning abilities. To answer this question two groups of rats were trained to an arbitrary criterion in a partially baited 12-arm radial maze under two different experimental conditions: with or without allothetic cues. After 10 days break, rats were examined under the same conditions for memory retention. Within- and between-group variation in the length of training to criterion, and in the frequency of reference and working memory errors were analysed. The present experiment confirmed the facilitating effect of the presence of distal visual cues on place learning in rats. Task-dependent (between-group) differences in the rate of learning were attributed to differences in the frequency of reference memory errors. Conversely, within-group variation in the rate of task acquisition reflected individual variation in the frequency of working memory errors. These results were looked upon from an evolutionary perspective. Low correlation between reference and working memory errors confirms that these two types of memory have different mechanisms. The fact that differences in the rate of learning were not paralleled by the differences in the memory retention supports the notion that memory acquisition and memory retention are two independent processes.
Startle response to short acoustic stimuli in rats
Authors: Błaszczyk Janusz
Published: December 2023

The acoustic startle (ASR) is a transient motor response to an unexpected, intensive stimulus. The response is determined by stimulus parameters such as its intensity, rise time and duration. The dependence of the ASR on the stimulus duration is more complex than could be assumed from physical properties of acoustic pulse. This effect attracted the attention of few researchers. Some authors reported noticeable changes in the ASR amplitude only for very short (less than 4-6 ms) acoustic pulses. The systematic studies on the effect, however, have not been performed so far. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the ASR parameters are affected by the durations of the short stimulus. The amplitude of the acoustic startle reflex was assessed for a fixed tonal frequency (6.9 kHz), and for a variety of stimulus durations ranging between 2 and 10 ms. ASRs were studied in 11 adult, hooded rats exposed to a sequence of tone pulses (110 dB SPL) of different durations, presented in random order, with or without 70 dB white noise as a background. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between ASR amplitudes for different durations. The startle amplitude increased with acoustic pulse duration and distinguishable differences were seen for stimulus duration between 2 and 8 ms. Further increase of pulse duration had no effect on ASR amplitude. The same pattern of changes was observed when the acoustic stimulus was presented with the white noise. In the tested range of stimulus duration no significant differences in the ASR latency were found. The observed differences may be attributed to changes of stimulus acoustic energy and to physiological characteristic of auditory system in the rat.
Event-Related Potentials - the P3 Wave
Authors: Hruby Tomas , Marsalek Petr
Published: December 2023

Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) are a basic, non-invasive method of neurophysiological investigation. They can be used to assess aspects of human cognitive information processing. They also can be used in experiments on higher mammals. The most important and the most studied component of the ERP record is the P3 wave. It consists of two parts, P3a and P3b. There is no doubt that, besides the use in neurophysiological and psychophysiological research, the P3 wave also has clinical importance. Changes in its latency, amplitude and topography are correlated with clinical findings in a wide range of different ailments. The mini-review we present summarises the current state of the P3 wave research in experimental and clinical studies.
Rate coding: neurobiological network performing detection of the difference between mean spiking rates
Authors: Pavlásek Juraj , Jenča Ján , Harman Radoslav
Published: December 2023

We propose a network of model neurones that "reads" the information encoded as a mean spiking rate by mechanisms relevant to the organism. The streams of independent irregular spiking activity with a Poisson distribution enters the network in parallel via two inputs. The network integrates both synaptic inputs and at the same time acts as a counter allowing their continuous comparison. Detection of the mean spiking rate difference is signalled by spikes emitted at the output. The exactness of the mean-rate discrimination was quantified by the probability of theoretically best comparison.
Thyroid function in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with cholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Kapaki Elisabeth , Ilias Ioannis , Paraskevas George , Christakopoulou Ioulia
Published: December 2023

The aim of the present study was to explore a possible interplay between cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and thyroid function tests (TFTs) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We reviewed thyroid function tests in 19 patients with AD before and after treatment (Rx) with ChEIs. Immunoradiometric assays were used for measuring serum thyrotropin, free thyroxin (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3). Significant differences were observed among FT3 levels according to the duration of therapy. Subtle variations in thyroid function tests - before and after therapy - could be possibly related to ChEIs-induced altered thyroid function.
Thalidomide-based TNF-α inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Greig Nigel , Giordano Tony , Zhu Xiaoxiang , Yu Qian-sheng , Perry Tracy , Holloway Harold , Brossi Arnold , Rogers Jack , Sambamurti Kumar , Lahiri Debomoy
Published: December 2023

Inflammatory processes associated with the over-production of cytokines, particularly of TNF-α, accompany numerous neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, in addition to numerous systemic conditions, exemplified by rheumatoid arthritis and erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). TNF-α has been validated as a drug target with Remicade and Enbrel available as prescription medications. Both, however, are large macromolecules, require injection and have limited brain access. The classical drug, thalidomide is being increasingly used in the clinical management of a wide spectrum of diseases. As its clinical value in treating ENL derives from its TNF-α inhibitory activity, thalidomide was chosen for structural modification for the discovery of novel and more potent isosteric analogues with appropriate lipophilicity to insure high brain penetration. TNF-α inhibitory activity was evaluated against lipopolysacharide (LPS) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in cell culture, whose viability was quantified to differentiate reductions in TNF-α secretion from that associated with cellular toxicity. Specific analogues potently inhibited TNF-α secretion, compared to thalidomide. This involved a post-transcriptional mechanism, as they decreased TNF-α mRNA stability via its 3'-untranslated region (UTR), as determined by luciferase activity in stably transfected cells with and without the 3'-UTR of human TNF-α.
Prion disease and Alzheimer's disease: pathogenic overlap
Authors: Castellani Rudy , Perry George , Smith Mark
Published: December 2023

Prion diseases are widely recognized for their transmissibility, and it is this feature that has been studied most extensively. In recent years, public health concerns over the transmission of animal forms of prion disease, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and chronic wasting disease, to humans has only augmented the notion that prion diseases are primarily infectious. Yet within the spectrum of human prion diseases, often overlooked is the fact that the overwhelming majority of cases are age-dependent sporadic, or inherited processes. Closer examination of the pathophysiological processes involved in prion disease further indicates a neurodegenerative, rather than infectious disease. Indeed, the age requirement, the numerous kindreds carrying point mutations in an amyloidogenic protein, the copper binding properties of the amyloidogenic protein, the evidence of free radical damage, the presence of polymorphisms that influence disease susceptibility, the formation of amyloid plaques, and in some cases the presence of neurofibrillary pathology, are features common to both prion disease and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, while transmissibility will continue to be a major subject of prion disease research, we suspect that further characterization of its pathophysiological mechanisms will only substantiate the notion that prion disease is fundamentally a neurodegenerative process.
Fluoro-Jade and TUNEL staining as useful tools to identify ischemic brain damage following moderate extradural compression of sensorimotor cortex
Authors: Kundrotienė Jurgita , Wägner Anna , Liljequist Sture
Published: December 2023

Cerebral ischemia was produced by moderate compression for 30 min of a specific brain area in the sensorimotor cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats. On day 1, that is 24 h after the transient sensorimotor compression, ischemia-exposed animals displayed a marked focal neurological deficit documented as impaired beam walking performance. This functional disturbance was mainly due to contralateral fore- and hind-limb paresis. As assessed by daily beam walking tests it was shown that there was a spontaneous recovery of motor functions over a period of five to seven days after the ischemic event. Using histopathological analysis (Nissl staining) we have previously reported that the present experimental paradigm does not produce pannecrosis (tissue cavitation) despite the highly reproducible focal neurological deficit. We now show how staining with fluorescent markers for neuronal death, that is Fluoro-Jade and TUNEL, respectively, identifies regional patterns of selective neuronal death. These observations add further support to the working hypothesis that the brain damage caused by cortical compression-induced ischemia consists of scattered, degenerating neurons in specific brain regions. Postsurgical administration of the AMPA receptor specific antagonist, LY326325 (30 mg/kg; i.p, 70 min after compression), not only improved beam walking performance on day 1 to 3, respectively but also significantly reduced the number of Fluoro-Jade stained neurons on day 5. These results suggest that enhanced AMPA/glutamate receptor activity is at least partially responsible for the ischemia-produced brain damage detected by the fluorescent marker Fluoro-Jade.
Slow oscillation circuit of the intergeniculate leaflet
Authors: Lewandowski Marian , Błasiak Tomasz
Published: December 2023

The slow oscillation circuit of the intergeniculate leaflet seems to constitute a natural basic rhythm of the neuronal mechanism of mammalian biological clock. The results of studies conducted so far indicate that photic information flowing from ganglion cells of the retina is necessary for its generation. On the other hand, this circuit is maintained thanks to the oscillatory activity of GABAergic interneurons, the majority of which build up this structure, mainly in combination with neuropeptide Y and enkephalins. The activity of non-specific projections of the brain, whose terminals are present in the intergeniculate leaflet, modulates the slow oscillation circuit of the leaflet neurons, without changing its oscillatory pattern, though. Our hypothesis predicts a role of the oscillatory activity of intergeniculate leaflet neurons in facilitation the secretion of neuropeptides and neurohormones present in the very elements making up the mechanism of mammalian biological clock and structures linked to it. This constitutes a kind of functional junction between the central mechanism of mammalian biological clock with an ultradian rhythm and its peripheral clocks whose rhythm is circadian.
Inflammatory and reparative tissue reaction in developing human central nervous system
Authors: Dąmbska Maria , Maślińska Danuta , Laure-Kamionowska Milena , Toborowicz Jolanta
Published: December 2023

Morphologic features of inflammatory reactions in the immature central nervous system (CNS) develop in the second half of pregnancy. The cells composing the infiltrations arise early during development but their presence in circulation and final localization in fully mature inflammatory reactions is prolonged in time. The aim of this work was to compare the picture of inflammatory infiltrations in a group of fetal brains following various infections and aseptic injuries. It was found that numerous granulocytes appeared in bacterial infections, but not in aseptic lesions of the brain. The young maturing blood cells and granulocytes demonstrate the subsequent stages in the development of the inflammatory reaction. The changes depend on the character of the injurious factor and the level of maturation of the CNS. The topography of maturing brain lesions due to infections and anoxic/ischemic damage was similar and localized most often in the periventricular white matter.
Behavioral responses of 129/Sv, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice to a non-predator aversive olfactory stimulus
Authors: Capone Francesca , Venerosi Aldina , Puopolo Maria , Alleva Enrico , Cirulli Francesca
Published: December 2023

We examined the behavior of three inbred mouse strains (129/SvPasIco, C57BL/6J, and DBA/2J) exposed to an object soaked with the chemical component of the aversive scent (toluquinone odor) emitted by a myriapod species (Ommatoiulus sabulosus) in the presence of a predator. Subjects were exposed to the odor for three consecutive days. Behavioral responses to the toluquinone odor were characterized both by an approach phase of risk assessment and by a repeated series of approach-avoid episodes. Results indicate that toluquinone exposure reduced completely, and in a strain independent fashion, selected behaviors such as crouching, catching and eating object. Other responses were strain-dependent: the DBA (DBA/2J) strain displayed defensive burying at high levels, C57 (C57BL/6J) mice performed high levels of withdrawal while the 129/Sv (129/SvPasIco) strain showed also high levels of stretch attend posture. Compared to other tasks, this test is ethological, simple, cheap and is not affected by strain differences in appetitive-sensory responses, as shown by some strain-independent responses. These features make this task as a good complement to any exploration-anxiety test battery.
Limits of learning enhancements with nicotine in old male rats
Authors: Taylor George , Bassi Carl , Weiss Juergen
Published: December 2023

Findings with young adult humans and animal models suggest that nicotine may serve both neuroprotective and cognition enhancing roles in old animals. A pair of experiments was conducted to examine drug-induced modification of the cholinergic nicotinic receptor subtype on rates of learning by young and aged rats. In experiment I males (4-7 months or 20-25 months old) were administered nicotine (0.0, 0.3 or 0.7 mg/kg injected s.c. daily) and tested in both a T-maze non-spatial discrimination paradigm and a hole board spatial task. Nicotine failed to improve acquisition by young animals on either task. Nicotine also failed to improve non-spatial learning by old animals. However, both dosages of nicotine improved performance by the old males in the spatial paradigm. In experiment II, a 5-choice serial discrimination paradigm designed to better evaluate visual attention and spatial working memory in aging was used. Groups of old male rats were administered nicotine or mecamylamine (2 or 8 mg/kg), an antagonist of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor. Results were that the 0.3 mg nicotine group learned the task fastest and achieved the highest learning asymptote. Both learning rates and final levels of performance were worst in the 8 mg mecamylamine group. However, the 2 mg mecamylamine rats were the equals of the control group and both reached a higher asymptote than the
0.7 mg nicotine group. These data suggest that healthy old animals can accrue benefits from nicotinic activation but that the benefits are complex, being limited to certain dosages and to specific cognitive skills.
NG2 expressing cells in hippocampal cultures survive neurotoxic insult and retain the ability to divide
Authors: Dzwonek Karolina
Published: December 2023

It has been recently proposed that NG2 proteoglycan expressing cells may stand for a unique class of glia in adult CNS referred to as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). These NG2 positive cells can give rise to mature oligodendrocytes, however a large number of them persists in immature stage throughout a lifetime and responds to various types of injury. In order to investigate OPCs reactivity in vitro, a model of trimethyltin evoked neurodegeneration was used. The results demonstrate that NG2 expressing cells survive treatment with the neurotoxin in a concentration that injures most of neurons in the culture. Moreover, progenitors change their morphology when treated with trimethyltin, upregulate the NG2 proteoglycan expression and retain the ability to divide.
Confocal visualization of the effect of short-term locomotor exercise on BDNF and TrkB distribution in the lumbar spinal cord of the rat: The enhancement of BDNF in dendrites?
Authors: Macias Matylda , Dwornik Anna , Skup Małgorzata , Czarkowska-Bauch Julita
Published: December 2023

Locomotor exercise increases neurotrophin BDNF and its receptor TrkBFL expression in the lumbar spinal cord. Involvement of BDNF/TrkBFL in synaptic transmission raises the questions which intracellular compartments are involved in this upregulation and whether exercise leads to redistribution of these proteins related to the duration of exercise. We have investigated the influence of short-term (7 days) locomotor exercise (ST) on intracellular distribution of BDNF and TrkBFL in the rat lumbar spinal cord comparing it with the effects of long-term (28 days) exercise (LT) described earlier. Immunofluorescence (IF) of proteins was analyzed with confocal microscopy. ST exercise caused a redistribution of perikaryonal BDNF IF toward periphery resulting in an increase of dendritic signal. In contrast to an enhancement of perikaryonal BDNF staining following LT, no increase of BDNF IF in cell bodies was observed after ST. An increase of TrkBFL IF in oligodendrocytes was consistent with that caused by LT. The fibers of TrkBFL IF oligodendrocytes surrounding the largest neurons were in close apposition to neuronal membrane. We propose that ST exercise causes (1) BDNF translocation to dendrites and/or local dendritic synthesis to serve increased synaptic activity (2) sensitization of oligodendroglia to BDNF mediated responses.
Brain preconditioning and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Brzecka Anna
Published: December 2023

Intermittent hypoxia stimulates the development of adaptive responses, called preconditioning. This process is partially mediated by genetic remodeling, via hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), which induces long-term adaptation processes and is responsible for the increase of levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erythropoietin (Epo), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and nitric oxide (NO). The synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) participates in the control of neural plasticity after hypoxia. The mechanisms of neuroprotection against hypoxia may be related to vascular adjustments and to central neurogenic neuroprotection. Some of the factors known to be involved in the development of the mechanism of neuroprotection are also present in the responses to repetitive apneas that occur during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, who are frequently exposed to severe sleep hypoxemia. It appears that OSA syndrome represents a clinical example of preconditioning and the development of adaptive responses to intermittent hypoxia.
Maximizing the entropy of histogram bar heights to explore neural activity: A simulation study on auditory and tactile fibers
Authors: Guclu Burak
Published: December 2023

Neurophysiologists often use histograms to explore patterns of activity in neural spike trains. The bin size selected to construct a histogram is crucial: too large bin widths result in coarse histograms, too small bin widths expand unimportant detail. Peri-stimulus time (PST) histograms of simulated nerve fibers were studied in the current article. This class of histograms gives information about neural activity in the temporal domain and is a density estimate for the spike rate. Scott's rule based on modern statistical theory suggests that the optimal bin size is inversely proportional to the cube root of sample size. However, this estimate requires a priori knowledge about the density function. Moreover, there are no good algorithms for adaptive-mesh histograms, which have variable bin sizes to minimize estimation errors. Therefore, an unconventional technique is proposed here to help experimenters in practice. This novel method maximizes the entropy of histogram-bar heights to find the unique bin size, which generates the highest disorder in a histogram (i.e., the most complex histogram), and is useful as a starting point for neural data mining. Although the proposed method is ad hoc from a density-estimation point of view, it is simple, efficient and more helpful in the experimental setting where no prior statistical information on neural activity is available. The results of simulations based on the entropy method are also discussed in relation to Ellaway's cumulative-sum technique, which can detect subtle changes in neural activity in certain conditions.
Visceral signals reach visual cortex during slow wave sleep: Study in monkeys
Authors: Pigarev Ivan , Almirall Helena , Pigareva Marina , Bautista Victor , Sanchez-Bahillo Angel , Barcia Carlos , Herrero And
Published: December 2023

Propagation of signals from the gastro-intestinal system towards the occipital cortex within sleep-wake cycle was investigated in three monkeys used in the study of sleep impairment in a chronic MPTP model of parkinsonism. The monkeys differed in motor abilities and sleep structure. One animal (M1) was non-motor disabled and had no sleep alterations. The other two monkeys were severely motor affected, but one (M2) had normal sleep cycles; meanwhile, the other (M3) had no complete sleep cycles. To evaluate the level of sleep and to record cortical evoked responses screw electrodes were implanted over the occipital cortex. Two hours before overnight recordings, two hook electrodes were injected intraperitoneally (under light Ketanest anesthesia) and anchored in gut. Using these electrodes, electric stimulation was applied during slow wave sleep, and in wakefulness. Cortical evoked responses to intraperitoneal stimulation were found indeed during sleep in experiments with M1 and M2. These results show that also in primates with normal sleep pattern visceral information is transferred to the cerebral cortex during slow wave sleep.
Konorski and conditional reflexes: a historical summary and an addendum [With comments by K. Turlejski]
Authors: Doty Robert
Published: December 2023

There have been four major pioneers from Eastern Europe in the neuroscientific study of memory and learning: Pavlov, Bekhterev, Beritashvili and Konorski. The thinking of each evolved with the progress of neuroscientific knowledge throughout the world, and save for Pavlov, each encountered governmental opposition to their views. Among the clues largely overlooked in their examination of conditional reflexes was the fact that the animal appreciates not only its own appetitive state but its immersion in the experimental setting. The latter in itself must require considerable, ongoing neuronal activity to sustain it. There is also the question as to whether "motivation" is an essential feature for the formation of conditional connections; and in cases where it is seemingly absent, as in recognition memory, the processes that underlie the astonishing efficacy of such memory formation remain almost wholly obscure. Finally, it is remarked that the cerebral cortex, as initially supposed, may indeed be the governing locus, even of such simple effects as habituation.
Asymmetry of the discrimination function for temporal durations in human subjects
Authors: Wackermann Jiri , Spati Jakub
Published: December 2023

Ten human subjects were comparing durations of pairs of visual stimuli in a two-way forced-choice task. Mean durations of presented time intervals were ~3 s ("short") or ~6 s ("long"); the duration ratio was varied at nine levels. The Weber fractions for the short and long durations were approximately equal, ~0.22. The ratio of subjective equality was almost exactly unity for the short durations, but it was significantly reduced (~0.76) for the long durations. This asymmetry of the discrimination function indicates time-dependent change of internal representations of past durations, and is well compatible with the "dual klepsydra model". Model-based estimates of the internal time representation loss rate, derived from the present data, are in a good agreement with values obtained from earlier studies on duration reproduction.
The correspondence should be addressed to J. Wackermann, Email: jw@igpp.de