bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Baclofen on Spinal Reflexes and Persistent Inward Currents in Motoneurons of Chronic Spinal Rats With Spasticity
Authors: Li Y. , Li X. , Harvey P. J. , Bennett D. J.
Published: October 2004

In the months after spinal cord injury, motoneurons develop large voltage-dependent persistent inward currents (PICs) that cause sustained reflexes and associated muscle spasms. These muscle spasms are triggered by any excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) that is long enough to activate the PICs, which take >100 ms to activate. The PICs are composed of a persistent sodium current (Na PIC) and a persistent calcium current (Ca PIC). Considering that Ca PICs have been shown in other neurons to be inhibited by baclofen, we tested whether part of the antispastic action of baclofen was to reduce the motoneuron PICs as opposed to EPSPs. The whole sacrocaudal spinal cord from acute spinal rats and spastic chronic spinal rats (with sacral spinal transection 2 mo previously) was studied in vitro. Ventral root reflexes were recorded in response to dorsal root stimulation. Intracellular recordings were made from motoneurons, and slow voltage ramps were used to measure PICs. Chronic spinal rats exhibited large monosynaptic and long-lasting polysynaptic ventral root reflexes, and motoneurons had associated large EPSPs and PICs. Baclofen inhibited these reflexes at very low doses with a 50% inhibition (EC50) of the mono- and polysynaptic reflexes at 0.26 ± 0.07and 0.25 ± 0.09 (SD) μM, respectively. Baclofen inhibited the monosynaptic reflex in acute spinal rats at even lower doses (EC50 = 0.18 ± 0.02 μM). In chronic (and acute) spinal rats, all reflexes and EPSPs were eliminated with 1 μM baclofen with little change in motoneuron properties (PICs, input resistance, etc), suggesting that baclofen's antispastic action is presynaptic to the motoneuron. Unexpectedly, in chronic spinal rats higher doses of baclofen (20–30 μM) significantly increased the total motoneuron PIC by 31.6 ± 12.4%. However, the Ca PIC component (measured in TTX to block the Na PIC) was significantly reduced by baclofen. Thus baclofen increased the Na PIC and decreased the Ca PIC with a net increase in total PIC. By contrast, when a PIC was induced by 5-HT (10–30 μM) in motoneurons of acute spinal rats, baclofen (20–30 μM) significantly decreased the PIC by 38.8 ± 25.8%, primarily due to a reduction in the Ca PIC (measured in TTX), which dominated the total PIC in these acute spinal neurons. In summary, baclofen does not exert its antispastic action postsynaptically at clinically achievable doses (<1 μM), and at higher doses (10–30 μM), baclofen unexpectedly increases motoneuron excitability (Na PIC) in chronic spinal rats.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Activation Produces PKA- and PKC-Dependent Mechanical Hyperalgesia and Central Sensitization
Authors: Sun Rui-Qing , Tu Yi-Jun , Lawand Nada B. , Yan Jing-Yin , Lin Qing , Willis William D.
Published: October 2004

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), acting through CGRP receptors, produces behavioral signs of mechanical hyperalgesia in rats and sensitization of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Although involvement of CGRP receptors in central sensitization has been confirmed, the second-messenger systems activated by CGRP receptor stimulation and involved in pain transmission are not clear. This study tested whether the hyperalgesia and sensitizing effects of CGRP receptor activation on WDR neurons are mediated by protein kinase A or C (PKA or PKC) signaling. Intrathecal injection of CGRP in rats produced mechanical hyperalgesia, as shown by paw withdrawal threshold tests. CGRP-induced hyperalgesia was attenuated significantly by the CGRP1 receptor antagonist, CGRP8–37. The effect was also attenuated significantly by a PKA inhibitor (H89) or a PKC inhibitor (chelerythrine chloride). Electrophysiological experiments demonstrated that superfusion of the spinal cord with CGRP-induced sensitization of spinal dorsal horn neurons. The CGRP effect could be blocked by CGRP8–37. Either a PKA or PKC inhibitor (H89 or chelerythrine) also attenuated this effect of CGRP. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CGRP produces hyperalgesia by a direct action on CGRP1 receptors in the spinal cord dorsal horn and suggest that the effects of CGRP are mediated by both PKA and PKC second-messenger pathways.
Circadian Modulation of Temporal Properties of the Rod Pathway in LarvalXenopus
Authors: Solessio Eduardo , Scheraga David , Engbretson Gustav A. , Knox Barry E. , Barlow Robert B.
Published: October 2004

Circadian clocks are integral components of visual systems. They help adjust an animal's vision to diurnal changes in ambient illumination. To understand how circadian clocks may adapt visual sensitivity, we investigated the spatial and temporal properties of optomotor responses of young Xenopus laevis tadpoles (Nieuwkoop and Faber, developmental stage 48) using a modified 2-alternative preferential-viewing method. We maintained animals in constant darkness and measured temporal sensitivity during their subjective day and night. We found that their behavioral responses can be explained in terms of 2 mechanisms with different temporal properties. The more sensitive mechanism operates at low temporal frequencies and intermediate wavelengths (λmax= 520 nm), properties consistent with rod signals. Threshold for this mechanism is approximately 0.04 photoisomerizations rod−1s−1, consistent with single-photon detection. A less-sensitive mechanism responds to higher temporal frequencies (cutoff = 12 Hz) and has broad spectral sensitivity (370–720 nm), consistent with multiple classes of cone signals. This cone mechanism does not change, but the cutoff frequency of the more sensitive rod mechanism shifts from 0.35 Hz at night to 1.1 Hz during the subjective day, thereby enhancing the animal's sensitivity to dim rapidly changing stimuli. This day–night shift in rod temporal cutoff frequency cycles in complete darkness, characteristic of an endogenous circadian rhythm. The temporal properties of the behaviorally measured rod mechanism correspond closely with those of the electrophysiologically measured retinal response, indicating that the rod signals are modulated at the level of the outer retina.
Role of Ionotropic Glutamatergic and GABAergic Inputs on the Firing Activity of Neurons in the External Pallidum in Awake Monkeys
Authors: Kita H. , Nambu A. , Kaneda K. , Tachibana Y. , Takada M.
Published: October 2004

The neurons in the external segment of the pallidum (GPe) in awake animals maintain a high level of firing activity. The level and pattern of the activity change with the development of basal ganglia disorders including parkinsonism and hemiballism. The GPe projects to most of the nuclei in the basal ganglia. Thus exploring the mechanisms controlling the firing activity is essential for understanding basal ganglia function in normal and pathological conditions. To explore the role of ionotropic glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs to the GPe, unit recordings combined with local injections of receptor antagonists were performed in awake monkeys. Observations on the effects of local application of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate antagonist 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2, 3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide, the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonist 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid, and the GABAA antagonist gabazine as well as the effects of muscimol blockade of the subthalamic nucleus on the spontaneous firing rate, firing patterns, and cortical stimulation induced responses in the GPe suggested the following: sustained glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs control the level of the spontaneous firing of GPe neurons; both AMPA/kainate and NMDA receptors are activated by glutamatergic inputs; some GPe neurons receive glutamatergic inputs originating from areas other than the subthalamic nucleus; no GPe neurons became silent after a combined application of glutamate and GABA antagonists, suggesting that GPe neurons have intrinsic properties or nonionotropic glutamatergic tonic inputs that sustain a fast oscillatory firing or a combination of a fast and a slow oscillatory firing in GPe neurons.
L-Type Calcium Channels: The Low Down
Authors: Lipscombe Diane , Helton Thomas D. , Xu Weifeng
Published: October 2004

L-type calcium channels couple membrane depolarization in neurons to numerous processes including gene expression, synaptic efficacy, and cell survival. To establish the contribution of L-type calcium channels to various signaling cascades, investigators have relied on their unique pharmacological sensitivity to dihydropyridines. The traditional view of dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channels is that they are high-voltage–activating and have slow activation kinetics. These properties limit the involvement of L-type calcium channels to neuronal functions triggered by strong and sustained depolarizations. This review highlights literature, both long-standing and recent, that points to significant functional diversity among L-type calcium channels expressed in neurons and other excitable cells. Past literature contains several reports of low-voltage–activated neuronal L-type calcium channels that parallel the unique properties of recently cloned CaV1.3 L-type channels. The fast kinetics and low activation thresholds of CaV1.3 channels stand in stark contrast to criteria currently used to describe L-type calcium channels. A more accurate view of neuronal L-type calcium channels encompasses a broad range of activation thresholds and recognizes their potential contribution to signaling cascades triggered by subthreshold depolarizations.
Dopamine Receptor Activation Can Reduce Voltage-Gated Na+ Current by Modulating Both Entry Into and Recovery From Inactivation
Authors: Hayashida Yuki , Ishida Andrew T.
Published: October 2004

We tested whether dopamine receptor activation modulates the voltage-gated Na+ current of goldfish retinal ganglion cells, using a fast voltage-clamp amplifier, perforated-patch whole cell mode, and a physiological extracellular Na+ concentration. As found in other cells, activators of D1-type dopamine receptors and of protein kinase A reduced the amplitude of current activated by depolarizations from resting potential without altering the current kinetics or activation range. However, D1-type dopamine receptor activation also accelerated the rate of entry into inactivation during subthreshold depolarizations and slowed the rate of recovery from inactivation after single, brief depolarizations. Our results provide the first evidence in any preparation that D1-type receptor activation can produce both of these latter effects.
Nicotinic AChR in Subclassified Capsaicin-Sensitive and -Insensitive Nociceptors of the Rat DRG
Authors: Rau K. K. , Johnson R. D. , Cooper B. Y.
Published: October 2004

Nociceptive cells of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were subclassified, in vitro, according to patterns of voltage-activated currents. The distribution and form of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) were determined. nAChRs were present on both capsaicin-sensitive and -insensitive nociceptors but were not universally present in unmyelinated nociceptors. In contrast, all Aδ nociceptors (types 4, 6, and 9) expressed slowly decaying nAChR. Three major forms of nicotinic currents were identified. Specific agonists and antagonists were used to demonstrate the presence of α7in two classes of capsaicin-sensitive, unmyelinated nociceptors (types 2 and 8). In type 2 cells, α7-mediated currents were found in isolation. Whereas α7was co-expressed with other nAChR in type 8 cells. These were the only classes in which α7was identified. Other nociceptive classes expressed slowly decaying currents with β4pharmacology. Based on concentration response curves formed by nicotinic agonists [ACh, nicotine, dimethyl phenyl piperazinium (DMPP), cytisine] evidence emerged of two distinct nAChR differentially expressed in type 4 (α3β4) and types 5 and 8 (α3β4α5). Although identification could not be made with absolute certainty, patterns of potency (type 4: DMPP > cytisine > nicotine = ACh; type 5 and type 8: DMPP = cytisine > nicotine = ACh) and efficacy provided strong support for the presence of two distinct channels based on an α3β4platform. Studies conducted on one nonnociceptive class (type 3) failed to reveal any nAChR. After multiple injections of Di-I (1,1′-dilinoleyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate) into the hairy skin of the hindlimb, we identified cell types 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 as skin nociceptors that expressed nicotinic receptors. We conclude that at least three nicotinic AChR are diversely distributed into discrete subclasses of nociceptors that innervate hairy skin.
Early Alcohol Exposure Induces Persistent Alteration of Cortical Columnar Organization and Reduced Orientation Selectivity in the Visual Cortex
Authors: Medina Alexandre E. , Krahe Thomas E. , Ramoa Ary S.
Published: October 2004

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a major cause of learning and sensory deficits in children. The visual system in particular is markedly affected, with an elevated prevalence of poor visual perceptual skills. Developmental problems involving the neocortex are likely to make a major contribution to some of these abnormalities. Neuronal selectivity to stimulus orientation, a functional property thought to be crucial for normal vision, may be especially vulnerable to alcohol exposure because it starts developing even before eye opening. To address this issue, we examined the effects of early alcohol exposure on development of cortical neuron orientation selectivity and organization of cortical orientation columns. Ferrets were exposed to ethanol starting at postnatal day (P) 10, when the functional properties and connectivity of neocortical neurons start to develop. Alcohol exposure ended at P30, just before eye opening at P32. Following a prolonged alcohol-free period (15–35 days), long-term effects of early alcohol exposure on cortical orientation selectivity were examined at P48–P65, when orientation selectivity in normal ferret cortex has reached a mature state. Optical imaging of intrinsic signals revealed decreased contrast of orientation maps in alcohol- but not saline-treated animals. Moreover, single-unit recordings revealed that early alcohol treatment weakened neuronal orientation selectivity while preserving robust visual responses. These findings indicate that alcohol exposure during a brief period of development disrupts cortical processing of sensory information at a later age and suggest a neurobiological substrate for some types of sensory deficits in FAS.
In Vivo Demonstration of a Late Depolarizing Postsynaptic Potential in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
Authors: Fan Yuan , Zou Bende , Ruan Yiwen , Pang Zhiping , Xu Zao C.
Published: October 2004

Previous studies have shown that GABA can have a depolarizing and excitatory action through GABAA receptors in mature CNS neurons in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether this occurs under physiological conditions. In this study, using intracellular recording and staining in vivo technique, we show a late depolarizing postsynaptic potential (L-PSP) in CA1 pyramidal neurons of adult Wistar rats under halothane anesthesia. This L-PSP was elicited in ∼70% of the recorded neurons on stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals or the contralateral commissural path. The size of L-PSP was linearly correlated to the decay time constant but not the rising slope of the initial excitatory PSP (EPSP). Intravenous administration of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker MK-801 and the GABAA receptor blocker picrotoxin significantly reduced the size of the L-PSP. The spine density and apical dendritic branching length of the neurons that displayed L-PSPs was significantly greater than those that do not. These results indicate that NMDA receptor and GABAA receptor-mediated depolarizing postsynaptic potentials can be revealed in CA1 pyramidal neurons of adult rats in vivo, supporting the physiological relevance of GABAA-mediated depolarization in normal neuronal information processing. The difference in electrophysiological properties and morphological features between neurons that display the L-PSP and the other neurons suggest that they might represent two different subtypes of CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Sound-Localization Performance in the Cat: The Effect of Restraining the Head
Authors: Tollin Daniel J. , Populin Luis C. , Moore Jordan M. , Ruhland Janet L. , Yin Tom C. T.
Published: October 2004

In oculomotor research, there are two common methods by which the apparent location of visual and/or auditory targets are measured, saccadic eye movements with the head restrained and gaze shifts (combined saccades and head movements) with the head unrestrained. Because cats have a small oculomotor range (approximately ±25°), head movements are necessary when orienting to targets at the extremes of or outside this range. Here we tested the hypothesis that the accuracy of localizing auditory and visual targets using more ethologically natural head-unrestrained gaze shifts would be superior to head-restrained eye saccades. The effect of stimulus duration on localization accuracy was also investigated. Three cats were trained using operant conditioning with their heads initially restrained to indicate the location of auditory and visual targets via eye position. Long-duration visual targets were localized accurately with little error, but the locations of short-duration visual and both long- and short-duration auditory targets were markedly underestimated. With the head unrestrained, localization accuracy improved substantially for all stimuli and all durations. While the improvement for long-duration stimuli with the head unrestrained might be expected given that dynamic sensory cues were available during the gaze shifts and the lack of a memory component, surprisingly, the improvement was greatest for the auditory and visual stimuli with the shortest durations, where the stimuli were extinguished prior to the onset of the eye or head movement. The underestimation of auditory targets with the head restrained is explained in terms of the unnatural sensorimotor conditions that likely result during head restraint.
Comparison of the Spatial Limits on Direction Selectivity in Visual Areas MT and V1
Authors: Churchland Mark M. , Priebe Nicholas J. , Lisberger Stephen G.
Published: October 2004

We recorded responses to apparent motion from directionally selective neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) of anesthetized monkeys and middle temporal area (MT) of awake monkeys. Apparent motion consisted of multiple stationary stimulus flashes presented in sequence, characterized by their temporal separation (Δ t) and spatial separation (Δ x). Stimuli were 8° square patterns of 100% correlated random dots that moved at apparent speeds of 16 or 32°/s. For both V1 and MT, the difference between the response to the preferred and null directions declined with increasing flash separation. For each neuron, we estimated the maximum flash separation for which directionally selective responses were observed. For the range of speeds we used, Δ x provided a better description of the limitation on directional responses than did Δ t. When comparing MT and V1 neurons of similar preferred speed, there was no difference in the maximum Δ x between our samples from the two areas. In both V1 and MT, the great majority of neurons had maximal values of Δ x in the 0.25–1° range. Mean values were almost identical between the two areas. For most neurons, larger flash separations led to both weaker responses to the preferred direction and increased responses to the opposite direction. The former mechanism was slightly more dominant in MT and the latter slightly more dominant in V1. We conclude that V1 and MT neurons lose direction selectivity for similar values of Δ x, supporting the hypothesis that basic direction selectivity in MT is inherited from V1, at least over the range of stimulus speeds represented by both areas.
Dendritic Sodium Spikelets and Low-Threshold Calcium Spikes in Turtle Olfactory Bulb Granule Cells
Authors: Pinato Giulietta , Midtgaard Jens
Published: October 2004

Active dendritic membrane properties were investigated by whole cell recordings from adult turtle olfactory bulb granule cells. The laminar structure of the olfactory bulb allowed differential polarization of the distal apical dendrites versus the somatic part of the cells by an external electric field. Dendritic depolarization evoked small (∼10 mV) all-or-none depolarizing events of ∼10-ms duration. These spikelets often occurred in bursts at high frequency (≤250 Hz); they were present despite the application of synaptic and gap junction antagonists, but were abolished by TTX and intracellularly applied QX314. The spikelets were interpreted as attenuated sodium spikes initiated in different branches of the granule cells dendrites. They occurred spontaneously, but could also be evoked by excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) to the distal dendrites. Spikelets initiated by distal excitation could function as prepotentials for full sodium spikes, in part depending on the level of proximal depolarization. Somatic depolarization by the electric field evoked full sodium spikes as well as low-threshold calcium spikes (LTSs). Calcium imaging revealed that the electrophysiologically identified LTS evoked from the soma was associated with calcium transients in the proximal and the distal dendrites. Our data suggest that the LTS in the soma/proximal dendrites plays a major role in boosting excitability, thus contributing to the initiation of sodium spiking in this compartment. The results furthermore suggest that the LTS and the sodium spikes may act independently or cooperatively to regulate dendritic calcium influx.
Spatiotemporal Tuning of Optic Flow Inputs to the Vestibulocerebellum in Pigeons: Differences Between Mossy and Climbing Fiber Pathways
Authors: Winship Ian R. , Hurd Peter L. , Wylie Douglas R. W.
Published: October 2004

The pretectum, accessory optic system (AOS), and vestibulocerebellum (VbC) have been implicated in the analysis of optic flow and generation of the optokinetic response. Recently, using drifting sine-wave gratings as stimuli, it has been shown that pretectal and AOS neurons exhibit spatiotemporal tuning. In this respect, there are two groups: fast neurons, which prefer low spatial frequency (SF) and high temporal frequency (TF) gratings, and slow neurons, which prefer high SF–low TF gratings. In pigeons, there are two pathways from the pretectum and AOS to the VbC: a climbing fiber (CF) pathway to Purkinje cells (P cells) via the inferior olive and a direct mossy fiber (MF) pathway to the granular layer (GL). In the present study, we assessed spatiotemporal tuning in the VbC of ketamine-anesthetized pigeons using standard extracellular techniques. Recordings were made from 17 optic-flow-sensitive units in the GL, presumably granule cells or MF rosettes, and the complex spike activity (CSA) of 39 P-cells, which reflects CF input. Based on spatiotemporal tuning to gratings moving in the preferred direction, eight GL units were classified as fast units, with a primary response to low SF–high TF gratings (mean = 0.13 cpd/8.24 Hz), whereas nine were slow units preferring high SF–low TF gratings (mean = 0.68 cpd/0.30 Hz). CSA was almost exclusively tuned to slow gratings (mean = 0.67 cpd/0.35 Hz). We conclude that MF input to the VbC is from both fast and slow cells in the AOS and pretectum, whereas the CF input is primarily tuned to slow gratings.
Voltage-Gated Channels and Calcium Homeostasis in Mammalian Rod Photoreceptors
Authors: Cia David , Bordais Agnès , Varela Carolina , Forster Valérie , Sahel José A. , Rendon Alvaro , Picaud Serge
Published: October 2004

Recent reports on rod photoreceptor neuroprotection by Ca2+channel blockers have pointed out the need to assess the effect of these blockers on mammalian rods. However, in mammals, rod electrophysiological characterization has been hampered by the small size of these photoreceptors, which were instead extensively studied in nonmammalian vertebrates. To further characterize ionic conductances and to assess the pharmacology of Ca2+channels in mammalian rods, freshly dissociated pig rod photoreceptors were recorded with the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Rod cells expressed 1) a hyperpolarization-activated inward-rectifying conductance ( Ih) sensitive to external Cs+; 2) a sustained outward K+current ( IK) sensitive to tetraethylammonium; 3) a sustained voltage-gated Ca2+current ( ICa) sensitive to benzothiazepine (diltiazem) and phenylalkylamine (verapamil) derivatives; 4) a Ca2+-activated Cl−current ( ICl(Ca)); and 5) a plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase. The Ca2+current showed a range of activation from positive potentials to –60 mV with a maximum between –30 and –20 mV. In contrast to other L-type Ca2+channels, rod Ca2+channels were blocked at similar and relatively high concentrations by the diltiazem isomers and verapamil. The biphasic dose-response for d-diltiazem confirmed the low sensitivity of Ca2+channels for the molecule. The ATPase, which was localized at the axon terminal, was found to contribute to Ca2+extrusion. These results suggest that the electrophysiological features of rod photoreceptors had been preserved during evolution from nonmammalian vertebrates to mammals. This work indicates further that mammalian rods express nonclassic L-type Ca2+channels, showing a low sensitivity to the diltiazem isomers used in neuroprotective studies.
A Common Parieto-Frontal Network Is Recruited Under Both Low Visibility and High Perceptual Interference Conditions
Authors: Marois René , Chun Marvin M. , Gore John C.
Published: October 2004

A fundamental property of visual attention is to select targets from interfering distractors. However, attention can also facilitate the detectability of near-threshold items presented in isolation. The extent to which these two perceptually challenging conditions are resolved by the same neural mechanisms is not well known. In the present event-related fMRI experiment, subjects performed a letter identification task under two perceptually challenging conditions; when the luminance contrast of a target letter was reduced (perceptual visibility manipulation) and when the target letter was flanked by distractors (perceptual interference manipulation). Perceptual interference recruited the right parietal and mid-lateral frontal cortex, while perceptual visibility activated these regions bilaterally. The overlap of activated areas between the two perceptual manipulations suggests that a single parieto-frontal network is summoned under both perceptual visibility and interference conditions.
Continuum model of the two‐component Becker‐Döring equations
Authors: Soheili Ali Reza
Published: October 2004

The process of collision between particles is a subject of interest in many fields of physics, astronomy, polymer physics, atmospheric physics, and colloid chemistry. If two types of particles are allowed to participate in the cluster coalescence, then the time evolution of the cluster distribution has been described by an infinite system of ordinary differential equations. In this paper, we describe the model with a second‐order two‐dimensional partial differential equation, as a continuum model.
Intuitionistic fuzzy proximity spaces
Authors: Lee Seok Jong , Lee Eun Pyo
Published: October 2004

We introduce the concept of the intuitionistic fuzzy proximity as a generalization of fuzzy proximity, and investigate its properties. Also we investigate the relationship among intuitionistic fuzzy proximity and fuzzy proximity, and intuitionistic fuzzy topology.
An extension of q‐zeta function
Authors: Kim T. , Jang L. C. , Rim S. H.
Published: October 2004

We will define the extension of q‐Hurwitz zeta function due to Kim and Rim (2000) and study its properties. Finally, we lead to a useful new integral representation for the q‐zeta function.
What Causes Sudden Death in Heart Failure?
Authors: Tomaselli Gordon F. , Zipes Douglas P.
Published: October 2004

Patients with heart failure experience a number of changes in the electrical function of the heart that predispose to potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Action potential prolongation, the result of functional downregulation of K currents, and aberrant Ca
2+
handling is a recurrent theme. Significant alterations in conduction and activation of a number of initially adaptive but ultimately maladaptive signaling cascades contribute to the generation of a highly arrhythmogenic substrate. We review the changes in active and passive membrane properties, neurohumoral signaling, and genetic determinants that predispose to sudden arrhythmic death in patients with heart failure and highlight the critical unanswered questions that are ripe for future investigation.
Antiinflammatory Properties of HDL
Authors: Barter Philip J. , Nicholls Stephen , Rye Kerry-Anne , Anantharamaiah G.M. , Navab Mohamad , Fogelman Alan M.
Published: October 2004

There are several well-documented functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that may explain the ability of these lipoproteins to protect against atherosclerosis. The best recognized of these is the ability of HDL to promote the efflux of cholesterol from cells. This process may minimize the accumulation of foam cells in the artery wall. However, HDL has additional properties that may also be antiatherogenic. For example, HDL is an effective antioxidants. The major proteins of HDL, apoA-I and apoA-II, as well as other proteins such as paraoxonase that cotransport with HDL in plasma, are well-known to have antioxidant properties. As a consequence, HDL has the capacity to inhibit the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in a process that reduces the atherogenicity of these lipoproteins. HDL also possesses other antiinflammatory properties. By virtue of their ability to inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells, they reduce the recruitment of blood monocytes into the artery wall. These antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of HDL may be as important as its cholesterol efflux function in terms of protecting against the development of atherosclerosis.
Tragic Re-Presentation and the Semantics of Space in Plautus' Casina
Authors:   Andrews
Published: October 2004

This article examines motivations for tragic parody in Plautus' Casina, 621 ff. It details how the Casina, and Pardalisca's parodic scene in particular, treat themes common to Greek tragedy—the spatial opposition between male and female worlds, the on-stage struggle for power between men and women, and female madness—and also explores Plautus' comic manipulation of Aristotle's tragic theory. Through her tragic performance, Pardalisca provides a very different perspective on the absent Casina from the one provided thus far in the play and believably represents Casina's possible actions and state of mind. Pardalisca transgresses the conventional boundaries between male/outside and female/inside established early in the play, and she uses the public space outside of the house to externalize and legitimize the private concerns of women inside the house, and to rupture the physical and emotional constraints on women through her paratragic scene. The final 'wedding' scene then comically mirrors Pardalisca's tragic scene and provides a glimpse of the sexual violence Casina might have been compelled to endure had she been forced to comply with Lysidamus' plan, yet neatly turns male violence back on male characters and makes them the comic victims, not just of the women characters, but of themselves.
Φapmakeytpia Ohne Φapmakon. Überlegungen zur Komposition des zweiten Idylls von Theokrit
Authors:   Petrovic
Published: October 2004

In the first part of the article, the question of Theocritus' treatment of magic in the 2nd Idyll is being discussed. The author's view is that Theocritus not only accurately depicted the contemporary magical practices, but that the very composition of the poem was influenced by the magical texts. The second part of the paper pays attention to a special class of magical texts, the defixiones influenced by the prayers for justice. The author argues that Simaetha's confession to Selene bears close resemblance to the prayers for justice and that Simaetha's argumentative strategy in the description of her short love affair with Delphis serves the purpose of portraying her as the betrayed party, thus enabling her to put the blame on Delphis and demand of the goddess that the justice (e.g. the return of Delphis to Simaetha) should be done. Finally, the effect of Simaetha's magical practice and her prayer is being discussed. Since the motif of ϕαρμακον connects the 2nd with the 11th Idyll, a comparison between Simaetha and Cyclops is called for and some general conclusions about the motif of the healing properties of poetry in the Theocritean corpus are suggested.
The Origin of the Kabeiroi
Authors:   Beekes
Published: October 2004

It is argued that Kadmilos, one of the Kabeiroi, has a typical (non-IE) Anatolian name. And further that the name Kabeiroi itself is a variant of Kabarn-oi. New insight in Pre-Greek shows that this word is a typical Pre-Greek name, and that the original form is * Kabar(y)-. This shows that the old connection with Semitic (kabir- 'great') must be definitely given up.
When Duty Calls
Authors: Kiselica Mark S.
Published: October 2004

In reaction to the pioneering model of social justice education in counseling psychology described by Goodman, Liang, Helms, Latta, Sparks, and Weintraub, several implications of social justice work for policy, education, and practice in the mental health professions are suggested. Specifically, it is recommended that mental health scientists and practitioners (a) lobby for policies that compensate practitioners for social justice work and primary prevention, (b) serve communities by participating in interdisciplinary social justice programs, (c) advocate for promotion and tenure policies that recognize and reward high-quality scholarship whose purpose it to serve communities, (d) identify the trade-offs that occur when social justice work becomes an emphasis in a curriculum, (e) be models of vulnerability to students and colleagues, (f) advocate for clients who are too overwhelmed to advocate for themselves, (g) embrace traditional and nontraditional approaches to helping, and (h) balance confrontation with engagement when challenging unjust systems and practices.
Integrating Social Justice and Psychology
Authors: Watts Roderick J.
Published: October 2004

This article seeks to extend the model Goodman et al. advanced for making counseling psychology training more useful in the struggle for social justice. In addition to affirming the ideas of Goodman et al., this article offers some specific examples of how conventional, micro-level ideas in U.S. psychology can be scaled upward to be useful across multiple levels of social analysis. The author offers a critique of Goodman et al.’s near exclusive focus on multicultural perspectives in psychology by introducing ideas from the “radical school” of Black psychology to make the point that people with a history of oppression can have different training needs than those with a history of privilege.
Warts and All
Authors: Goodman Lisa A. , Liang Belle , Weintraub Sarah R. , Helms Janet E. , Latta Rachel E.
Published: October 2004

In their comments regarding Goodman, Liang, Helms, Latta, Sparks, and Weintraub’s article “Training Counseling Psychologists as Social Justice Agents: Feminist and Multicultural Principles in Action,” Kiselica, Palmer, Thompson and Shermis, and Watts offered a number of useful suggestions for elaborating on social justice theory, practice, and training. Their reactions and feedback challenged Goodmanet al. to revisit and clarify their thinking about several related issues, including(a)the importance of student and faculty self-examination,(b)the need to ground our social justice theories and practice in organizing philosophies, (c) the difficulties of educating students about social justice work, and (e) the imperative to collaborate across professions. In this reply, the authors discuss each of these issues in turn, noting points of agreement and disagreement with their colleagues.
Tapping the Talents Within
Authors: Thompson Chalmer E. , Shermis S. Samuel
Published: October 2004

Goodman, Liang, Helms, Latta, Sparks, and Weintraub identify principles that drive the social justice work of the faculty and students at Boston College. Significantly, they present concrete examples of the successes, personal struggles, and institutional restrictions that are encountered in this work. An extremely valuable contribution of the authors is that they stimulate thinking about counseling theory relative to its application to mental health practice in oppressive societies. In encouraging the development of social change agents in counseling psychology, we build on the contribution by emphasizing the relevance of (a) instruction on philosophy to inform theory development and research on social justice, (b) racial identity theory as a framework for explaining and tackling oppression, and (c) anthropological approaches to gain an understanding of the contexts in which social justice research and practice are conducted. Implications of these recommendations are addressed in the conclusion.
The Call to Social Justice
Authors: Palmer Laura K.
Published: October 2004

The theories and tenets of multiculturalism and feminism require psychologists to extend awareness, knowledge, and skills for competent practice, research, and teaching. In addition, these theories and tenets challenge us to become social change agents. In the article “Training Counseling Psychologists as Social Justice Agents: Feminist and Multicultural Principles in Action,” Goodman, Liang, Helms, Latta, Sparks, and Weintraub have carefully crafted an experience-informed template that will assist training programs in becoming active agents for social justice. This commentary raises questions and challenges that extend collaboration across and within disciplines to achieve a broader platform to support specific social justice agendas. Questions are raised and explored regarding the engagement and retention of student interest in engaging in social justice activism.
Vocational Research for the Liberation of Battered Women
Authors: Chronister Krista M. , Wettersten Kara Brita , Brown Chris
Published: October 2004

Domestic violence interferes with women’s exploration of career interests, pursuit of career goals, and attainment of economic independence. Vocational research may contribute significantly to preventive-intervention efforts against domestic violence and to the liberation of battered women by increasing their economic stability and strengthening their support network. In this article, the authors’ aim is to inspire vocational research with battered women. We use Prilleltensky’s emancipatory communitarian approach to outline a vocational research agenda with battered women and to describe research practices that facilitate collaboration among researchers and community stake-holders and that increase battered women’s self-determination and contribution to their communities. We discuss general research and specific vocational research practices to assist researchers with building research partnerships, recruiting and retaining participants, and disseminating vocational research results to effect social change.
Intentionality, Pluralism, and Redescription
Authors: McIntyre Lee
Published: October 2004

Donald Davidson, and others, have sometimes claimed that the subject matter of social science properly consists only of intentional actions. The author disputes this claim and explores an example drawn from social psychology that shows that some social scientific phenomena cannot be explained unless they are redescribed in nonintentional language.
Individualism and Holism, Reduction and Pluralism: A Comment on Keith Sawyer and Julie Zahle
Authors: van Bouwel Jeroen
Published: October 2004

Commenting on recent articles by Keith Sawyer and Julie Zahle, the author questions the way in which the debate between methodological individualists and holists has been presented and contends that too much weight has been given to metaphysical and ontological debates at the expense of giving attention to methodological debates and analysis of good explanatory practice. Giving more attention to successful explanatory practice in the social sciences and the different underlying epistemic interests and motivations for providing explanations or reducing theories (which ask for different kinds of explanatory information to be found on the social or on the individual level) might lead to real progress in the debate on methodological individualism, and away from the unending battles of (metaphysical) intuitions.
Systemism, Social Laws, and the Limits of Social Theory: Themes Out of Mario Bunge’s
Authors: Sadovnikov Slava
Published: October 2004

The four sections of this article are reactions to a few interconnected problems that Mario Bunge addresses in his The Sociology-Philosophy Connection, which can be seen as a continuation and summary of his two recent major volumes Finding Philosophy in Social Science and Social Science under Debate: A Philosophical Perspective. Bunge’s contribution to the philosophy of the social sciences has been sufficiently acclaimed. (See in particular two special issues of this journal dedicated to his social philosophy: “Systems and Mechanisms. A Symposium on Mario Bunge’s Philosophy of Social Science,” Philosophy of the Social Sciences 34, nos. 2 and 3.) The author discusses therefore only those solutions in Bunge’s book that seem most problematic, namely, Bunge’s proposal to expel charlatans from universities; his treatment of social laws; his notions of mechanisms, “mechanismic explanation,” and systemism; and his reading of Popper’s social philosophy.
Factors Influencing Middle and High Schools’ Active Parental Consent Return Rates
Authors: Ji Peter Y. , Pokorny Steven B. , Jason Leonard A.
Published: October 2004

The authors examined factors influencing the return rates for attempting to collect active parental consent forms from 21,123 students in the 7th through 10th grades in 41 middle and high schools. Overall return rates from middle schools were higher than from high schools. Schools that offered high levels of staff support for collecting consent forms had higher return rates. Procedures where the consent form was attached to a school form that parents had to complete and return to the school yielded the highest return rate. Implications for how researchers can obtain a high parent consent form return rate are discussed.
The Doubles
Authors: Epstein Joel , Collins Karen Kadela , Pancella Thom
Published: October 2004

The Doubles, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is a seven-episode series of media tools designed to teach third and fourth grade students about the science of drug addiction. The program’s curriculum is delivered via a set of videos, interactive CD-ROMs, workbooks, or an Internet site. This article examines the process used to develop The Doubles and argues that its success stems from the careful balancing of the needs of the funding agency, state and national curricular guidelines, and the target audience.
Measuring the Impacts of Community Development Initiatives
Authors: Galster George , Temkin Kenneth , Walker Chris , Sawyer Noah
Published: October 2004

The authors contribute to the development of empirical methods for measuring the impacts of place-based local development strategies by introducing the adjusted interrupted time-series (AITS) approach. It estimates a more precise counterfactual scenario, thus offering a stronger basis for drawing causal inferences about impacts. The authors applied the AITS approach to three community development initiatives using single-family home prices as the outcome indicator and found that it could measure impacts on both the base level of prices and the rate of price appreciation. The authors also found a situation in which the method appears unreliable, however. The AITS approach benefits from more recurrent data on outcomes during the pre-and post-intervention periods, with an intertemporal pattern that avoids great volatility. The AITS approach to measuring effects of community development initiatives holds strong promise, with caveats.
Funding Collaborative Juvenile Crime Prevention Programs
Authors: Worrall John L.
Published: October 2004

Panel data were analyzed to determine whether funding for collaborative juvenile crime prevention programs reduced arrests in California counties. Because the data were a population (i.e., all 58 counties in the state), regression results were summarized descriptively, and special attention was given to the direction and magnitude of key coefficients. Funding was associated with little to no overall reductions in arrests for felonies, misdemeanors, and status offenses. However, estimates of arrests prevented varied across each of the 14 counties that received funding.
A Broadened Sales Curriculum: Exploratory Evidence
Authors: Leisen Birgit , Tippins Michael J. , Lilly Bryan
Published: October 2004

This article describes research aimed at aligning education offerings with practitioner views of what topics should be offered in a marketing education. Data were collected across two investigations. In Study 1, a typical profile of marketing curriculum was developed by reviewing marketing programs at AACSB-accredited schools. This typical profile was then reviewed and critiqued by business executives who also offered ideas they felt would improve the curriculum, resulting in a main focus on sales. Study 2 entailed a survey of practitioners to determine which marketing topics would be most useful in an expanded sales education. Implementation ideas are presented to suggest ways in which marketing curricula could be adapted to include these curriculum ideas.
Creating and Diffusing a Technology Champion Course
Authors: Granitz Neil , Hugstad Paul
Published: October 2004

Excitement has been generated for using Internet technology as a vehicle to further numerous educational objectives, including enhanced student learning, greater integration of business school functional areas, and increased job market relevance. This article discusses how the Introductory Internet Marketing course can be positioned as a technology champion to accomplish a number of these marketing education objectives. Following this, a plan to diffuse the activities from the champion course to other marketing courses is presented.
Doctoral Comprehensive Exams in Marketing: Current Practices and Emerging Perspectives
Authors: Ponder Nicole , Beatty Sharon E. , Foxx William
Published: October 2004

Current and emerging issues concerning the written comprehensive exam process are addressed. Both the purpose and structure of this exam are considered. Survey results are presented that describe the purposes of the exam from the perspective of doctoral coordinators. Also included is a description of how marketing departments are currently administering these exams. The movement to nontraditional exam structures is documented, and a description of several of these nontraditional approaches is provided. The authors conclude with a discussion of comprehensive exam issues and provide a recommendation for ongoing assessments of exam choices based on specific program objectives.