bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurorehabilitation using the virtual reality based Rehabilitation Gaming System: methodology, design, psychometrics, usability and validation
Authors: Cameirão Mónica S , Badia Sergi Bermúdez i , Oller Esther Duarte , Verschure Paul FMJ
Published: September 2010

Background

Stroke is a frequent cause of adult disability that can lead to enduring impairments. However, given the life-long plasticity of the brain one could assume that recovery could be facilitated by the harnessing of mechanisms underlying neuronal reorganization. Currently it is not clear how this reorganization can be mobilized. Novel technology based neurorehabilitation techniques hold promise to address this issue. Here we describe a Virtual Reality (VR) based system, the Rehabilitation Gaming System (RGS) that is based on a number of hypotheses on the neuronal mechanisms underlying recovery, the structure of training and the role of individualization. We investigate the psychometrics of the RGS in stroke patients and healthy controls.

Methods

We describe the key components of the RGS and the psychometrics of one rehabilitation scenario called Spheroids. We performed trials with 21 acute/subacute stroke patients and 20 healthy controls to study the effect of the training parameters on task performance. This allowed us to develop a Personalized Training Module (PTM) for online adjustment of task difficulty. In addition, we studied task transfer between physical and virtual environments. Finally, we assessed the usability and acceptance of the RGS as a rehabilitation tool.

Results

We show that the PTM implemented in RGS allows us to effectively adjust the difficulty and the parameters of the task to the user by capturing specific features of the movements of the arms. The results reported here also show a consistent transfer of movement kinematics between physical and virtual tasks. Moreover, our usability assessment shows that the RGS is highly accepted by stroke patients as a rehabilitation tool.

Conclusions

We introduce a novel VR based paradigm for neurorehabilitation, RGS, which combines specific rehabilitative principles with a psychometric evaluation to provide a personalized and automated training. Our results show that the RGS effectively adjusts to the individual features of the user, allowing for an unsupervised deployment of individualized rehabilitation protocols.
Purinergic Receptors are Involved in Tooth-Pulp Evoked Nocifensive Behavior and Brainstem Neuronal Activity
Authors: Adachi Kazunori , Shimizu Kohei , Hu James W , Suzuki Ikuko , Sakagami Hiroshi , Koshikawa Noriaki , Sessle Barry J , Shinoda Masamichi , Miyamoto Makiko , Honda Kuniya , Iwata Koichi
Published: September 2010

Background:

To evaluate whether P2X receptors are involved in responses to noxious pulp stimulation, the P2X3and P2X2/3receptor agonist α,β-methyleneATP (α,β-meATP) was applied to the molar tooth pulp and nocifensive behavior and extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), trigeminal spinal subnucleus interpolaris (Vi), upper cervical spinal cord (C1/C2) and paratrigeminal nucleus (Pa5) neurons were analyzed in rats.

Results:

Genioglossus (GG) muscle activity was evoked by pulpal application of 100 mM α,β-meATP and was significantly larger than GG activity following vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline PBS) application (p < 0.01). The enhanced GG muscle activity following 100 mM α,β-meATP was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by co-application of 1 mM TNP-ATP (P2X1, P2X3and, P2X2/3antagonist). A large number of pERK-LI cells were expressed in the Vc, Vi/Vc, C1/C2 and Pa5 at 5 min following pulpal application of 100 mM α,β-meATP compared to PBS application to the pulp (p < 0.05). The pERK-LI cell expression and GG muscle activity induced by 100 mM α,β-meATP pulpal application were significantly reduced after intrathecal injection of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 98059 and by pulpal co-application of 1 mM TNP-ATP (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The present findings suggest that activation of P2X3and P2X2/3receptors in the tooth pulp is sufficient to elicit nociceptive behavioral responses and trigeminal brainstem neuronal activity.
A successfully treated case of herpes simplex encephalitis complicated by subarachnoid bleeding: a case report
Authors: Tonomura Yasuyo , Kataoka Hiroshi , Yata Noritaka , Kawahara Makoto , Okuchi Kazuo , Ueno Satoshi
Published: September 2010

Introduction

Histopathologically, herpes simplex virus type 1 causes hemorrhagic necrosis. Overt hemorrhage is infrequent in herpes simplex virus encephalitis but can lead to poor outcomes. This report describes a successfully treated case of herpes simplex virus encephalitis associated with subarachnoid bleeding in which real-time polymerase chain reaction was useful for diagnosis.

Case presentation

A 30-year-old previously healthy Japanese woman who had fever and headache for five days presented with disorganised speech, unusual behavior and delusional thinking. Real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification of herpes simplex virus type 1 in cerebrospinal fluid was positive (38,000 copies/mL) and antivirus treatment was started. During the course of her illness, the level of her consciousness decreased in association with desaturation and tachycardia. Thrombosis of the right pulmonary artery trunk with pulmonary embolism was evident on enhanced chest computed tomography. In addition, cranial computed tomography revealed subarachnoid and intraventricular bleeding. Intravenous heparin (12,000 U/day) was started and the dose was adjusted according to the activated partial thromboplastin time for about a month (maximum dose of heparin, 20,400 U/day). After the treatments, her Glasgow coma score increased and the thrombosis of the pulmonary artery trunk had disappeared.

Conclusions

The present case raises the question of whether anticoagulant treatment is safe in patients with herpes simplex virus encephalitis complicated by subarachnoid bleeding.
A structural-based statistical approach suggests a cooperative activity of PUM1 and miR-410 in human 3'-untranslated regions
Authors: Leibovich Limor , Mandel-Gutfreund Yael , Yakhini Zohar
Published: September 2010

Background

Micro (mi)RNAs comprise a large family of small non-coding RNAs that are thought to regulate a large fraction of protein-coding genes. Generally, miRNAs downregulate messenger (m)RNA expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the RNA molecules. An important factor for binding specificity is the matching in the seed region. In addition, target site accessibility is thought to be crucial for efficient repression of miRNA targets. Several recent studies indicated that miRNA repression can be facilitated by RNA-binding proteins. In this study, we examine the conjecture that RNA-binding proteins are involved in ushering miRNAs to bind targets that are initially less accessible.

Results

We analyzed human 3'-UTR sequences containing potential binding sites of 153 conserved miRNA families, and ranked sequences around the sites according to their miRNA accessibility. By applying a rank-based motif search tool to these miRNA targets, we found motifs that are enriched among less accessible targets. As expected from our ranking method, most of the significant motifs were GC-rich. However, one AU-rich motif was found to be enriched among miR-410 less accessible targets. This motif resembles the Pumilio homolog 1 (PUM1) consensus binding site. We observed a stronger enrichment of the PUM1 motif in conserved targets than in non-conserved targets; moreover, the enrichment of this motif was found to be conserved in a subset of placental mammals. Further, we analyzed publicly available gene expression data, and found that the mutual expression of PUM1 and miR-410 has a greater negative influence on the expression of low accessibility targets than on other targets, an effect that was stronger than when considering both miR-410 and PUM1 separately.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings suggest a cooperative relationship between miR-410 and PUM1 in regulating human highly structured 3'-UTRs. This kind of cooperation can allow a second level of regulation of such targets. Considering cases in which miRNAs bind low accessibility targets may help to improve current miRNA prediction tools and to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying miRNA regulation activity.
Sequencing and analysis of an Irish human genome
Authors: Tong Pin , Prendergast James GD , Lohan Amanda J , Farrington Susan M , Cronin Simon , Friel Nial , Bradley Dan G , Hardiman Orla , Evans Alex , Wilson James F , Loftus Brendan
Published: September 2010

Background

Recent studies generating complete human sequences from Asian, African and European subgroups have revealed population-specific variation and disease susceptibility loci. Here, choosing a DNA sample from a population of interest due to its relative geographical isolation and genetic impact on further populations, we extend the above studies through the generation of 11-fold coverage of the first Irish human genome sequence.

Results

Using sequence data from a branch of the European ancestral tree as yet unsequenced, we identify variants that may be specific to this population. Through comparisons with HapMap and previous genetic association studies, we identified novel disease-associated variants, including a novel nonsense variant putatively associated with inflammatory bowel disease. We describe a novel method for improving SNP calling accuracy at low genome coverage using haplotype information. This analysis has implications for future re-sequencing studies and validates the imputation of Irish haplotypes using data from the current Human Genome Diversity Cell Line Panel (HGDP-CEPH). Finally, we identify gene duplication events as constituting significant targets of recent positive selection in the human lineage.

Conclusions

Our findings show that there remains utility in generating whole genome sequences to illustrate both general principles and reveal specific instances of human biology. With increasing access to low cost sequencing we would predict that even armed with the resources of a small research group a number of similar initiatives geared towards answering specific biological questions will emerge.
Enhancing Perceptual Learning by Combining Practice with Periods of Additional Sensory Stimulation
Authors: Wright Beverly A. , Sabin Andrew T. , Zhang Yuxuan , Marrone Nicole , Fitzgerald Matthew B.
Published: September 2010

Perceptual skills can be improved even in adulthood, but this learning seldom occurs by stimulus exposure alone. Instead, it requires considerable practice performing a perceptual task with relevant stimuli. It is thought that task performance permits the stimuli to drive learning. A corresponding assumption is that the same stimuli do not contribute to improvement when encountered separately from relevant task performance because of the absence of this permissive signal. However, these ideas are based on only two types of studies, in which the task was either always performed or not performed at all. Here we demonstrate enhanced perceptual learning on an auditory frequency-discrimination task in human listeners when practice on that target task was combined with additional stimulation. Learning was enhanced regardless of whether the periods of additional stimulation were interleaved with or provided exclusively before or after target-task performance, and even though that stimulation occurred during the performance of an irrelevant (auditory or written) task. The additional exposures were only beneficial when they shared the same frequency with, though they did not need to be identical to, those used during target-task performance. Their effectiveness also was diminished when they were presented 15 min after practice on the target task and was eliminated when that separation was increased to 4 h. These data show that exposure to an acoustic stimulus can facilitate learning when encountered outside of the time of practice on a perceptual task. By properly using additional stimulation one may markedly improve the efficiency of perceptual training regimens.
CDKL5, a Protein Associated with Rett Syndrome, Regulates Neuronal Morphogenesis via Rac1 Signaling
Authors: Chen Qian , Zhu Yong-Chuan , Yu Jing , Miao Sheng , Zheng Jing , Xu Li , Zhou Yang , Li Dan , Zhang Chi , Tao Jiong , Xiong Zhi-Qi
Published: September 2010

Mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), also known as serine/threonine kinase 9 (STK9), have been identified in patients with Rett syndrome (RTT) and X-linked infantile spasm. However, the function of CDKL5 in the brain remains unknown. Here, we report that CDKL5 is a critical regulator of neuronal morphogenesis. We identified a neuron-specific splicing variant of CDKL5 whose expression was markedly induced during postnatal development of the rat brain. Downregulating CDKL5 by RNA interference (RNAi) in cultured cortical neurons inhibited neurite growth and dendritic arborization, whereas overexpressing CDKL5 had opposite effects. Furthermore, knocking down CDKL5 in the rat brain byin uteroelectroporation resulted in delayed neuronal migration, and severely impaired dendritic arborization. In contrast to its proposed function in the nucleus, we found that CDKL5 regulated dendrite development through a cytoplasmic mechanism. In fibroblasts and in neurons, CDKL5 colocalized and formed a protein complex with Rac1, a critical regulator of actin remodeling and neuronal morphogenesis. Overexpression of Rac1 prevented the inhibition of dendrite growth caused by CDKL5 knockdown, and the growth-promoting effect of ectopically expressed CDKL5 on dendrites was abolished by coexpressing a dominant-negative form of Rac1. Moreover, CDKL5 was required for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-induced activation of Rac1. Together, these results demonstrate a critical role of CDKL5 in neuronal morphogenesis and identify a Rho GTPase signaling pathway which may contribute to CDKL5-related disorders.
The Embodiment of Emotional Feelings in the Brain
Authors: Harrison Neil A. , Gray Marcus A. , Gianaros Peter J. , Critchley Hugo D.
Published: September 2010

Central to Walter Cannon's challenge to peripheral theories of emotion was that bodily arousal responses are too undifferentiated to account for the wealth of emotional feelings. Despite considerable evidence to the contrary, this remains widely accepted and for nearly a century has left the issue of whether visceral afferent signals are essential for emotional experience unresolved. Here we combine functional magnetic resonance imaging and multiorgan physiological recording to dissect experience of two distinct disgust forms and their relationship to peripheral and central physiological activity. We show that experience of core and body–boundary–violation disgust are dissociable in both peripheral autonomic and central neural responses and also that emotional experience specific to anterior insular activity encodes these different underlying patterns of peripheral physiological responses. These findings demonstrate that organ-specific physiological responses differentiate emotional feeling states and support the hypothesis that central representations of organism physiological homeostasis constitute a critical aspect of the neural basis of feelings.
Frequency-Tuned Distribution of Inhibition in the Dentate Gyrus
Authors: Ewell Laura A. , Jones Mathew V.
Published: September 2010

Granule cells (GCs) of the dentate gyrus use sparse encoding to perform redundancy reduction, pattern separation, and novelty detection. One likely candidate mechanism to enforce low spiking activity is feedforward inhibition, in which the cortical excitatory drive from the perforant path (PP) recruits GABAergic interneurons that then inhibit GCs. Little is known, however, about how PP drive is balanced between GCs versus inhibitory neurons. In simultaneous recordings of GCs and fast-spiking (FS) interneurons from C57BL/6 mice, we find that focal PP stimulation preferentially recruits spiking in FS interneurons over GCs, because GCs require a larger excitatory synaptic current density to reach spike threshold. Blocking inhibition reversed this relationship, revealing a stronger intrinsic coupling between the PP and GCs versus FS interneurons and showing that inhibition can sparsify the output of the dentate gyrus by tightly regulating GC spike probability. Moreover, this regulation is dynamic, because the spiking profile of FS interneurons was frequency tuned, displaying bursting behavior in response to PP stimulation near theta rhythm frequency (∼10 Hz). The later spikes in the bursts were part of the feedback inhibitory pathway because they were driven by late EPSCs, were blocked by an inhibitor of synaptic output from GCs, and shared the same frequency dependence as GC spiking. Therefore, the temporal content of signals arriving via the PP determines whether a FS interneuron participates in only feedforward (one spike) or both feedforward and feedback (burst) inhibition.
Hemispheric Asymmetry in Visuotopic Posterior Parietal Cortex Emerges with Visual Short-Term Memory Load
Authors: Sheremata Summer L. , Bettencourt Katherine C. , Somers David C.
Published: September 2010

Visual short-term memory (VSTM) briefly maintains a limited sampling from the visual world. Activity in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) tightly correlates with the number of items stored in VSTM. This activity may occur in or near to multiple distinct visuotopically mapped cortical areas that have been identified in IPS. To understand the topographic and spatial properties of VSTM, we investigated VSTM activity in visuotopic IPS regions using functional magnetic resonance imaging. VSTM drove areas IPS0–2, but largely spared IPS3–4. Under visual stimulation, these areas in both hemispheres code the contralateral visual hemifield. In contrast to the hemispheric symmetry observed with visual stimulation, an asymmetry emerged during VSTM with increasing memory load. The left hemisphere exhibited load-dependent activity only for contralateral memory items; right hemisphere activity reflected VSTM load regardless of visual-field location. Our findings demonstrate that VSTM induces a switch in spatial representation in right hemisphere IPS from contralateral to full-field coding. The load dependence of right hemisphere effects argues that memory-dependent and/or attention-dependent processes drive this change in spatial processing. This offers a novel means for investigating spatial-processing impairments in hemispatial neglect.
The Dorsal Attention Network Mediates Orienting toward Behaviorally Relevant Stimuli in Spatial Neglect
Authors: Ptak Radek , Schnider Armin
Published: September 2010

Experimental neurophysiology and functional neuroimaging have identified a dorsal attention network that encodes neural signals related to the behavioral significance of a stimulus. The core anatomical areas of this network are the frontal eye fields and the posterior parietal cortex, which are interconnected by the superior longitudinal fasciculus. Here, we show that damage or disconnection of this network predicts the extent to which task-relevant stimuli capture attention of human stroke patients with spatial neglect. Healthy volunteers, right-hemisphere-damaged control participants, and patients with left neglect reacted to peripheral targets defined by their color, which were preceded by a brief distracter stimulus. The position of the distracter and its relevance for the current trial were independently varied. In neglect patients with damage including the frontal eye fields and the superior longitudinal fasciculus, ipsilesional distracters impaired orienting into contralesional space regardless of their relevance for the current task. In contrast, patients with sparing of these regions were only impaired when distracters were task-relevant. These findings indicate that the dorsal attention network controls spatial orienting by modulating the saliency of distracter stimuli according to current action goals.
Loss of Quinone Reductase 2 Function Selectively Facilitates Learning Behaviors
Authors: Benoit Charles-Etienne , Bastianetto Stephane , Brouillette Jonathan , Tse YiuChung , Boutin Jean A. , Delagrange Philippe , Wong TakPan , Sarret Philippe , Quirion Rémi
Published: September 2010

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with deficits in learning and memory with age as well as in Alzheimer's disease. Using DNA microarray, we demonstrated the overexpression of quinone reductase 2 (QR2) in the hippocampus in two models of learning deficits, namely the aged memory impaired rats and the scopolamine-induced amnesia model. QR2 is a cytosolic flavoprotein that catalyzes the reduction of its substrate and enhances the production of damaging activated quinone and ROS. QR2-like immunostaining is enriched in cerebral structures associated with learning behaviors, such as the hippocampal formation and the temporofrontal cortex of rat, mouse, and human brains. In cultured rat embryonic hippocampal neurons, selective inhibitors of QR2, namely S26695 and S29434, protected against menadione-induced cell death by reversing its proapoptotic action. S26695 (8 mg/kg) also significantly inhibited scopolamine-induced amnesia. Interestingly, adult QR2 knock-out mice demonstrated enhanced learning abilities in various tasks, including Morris water maze, object recognition, and rotarod performance test. Other behaviors related to anxiety (elevated plus maze), depression (forced swim), and schizophrenia (prepulse inhibition) were not affected in QR2-deficient mice. Together, these data suggest a role for QR2 in cognitive behaviors with QR2 inhibitors possibly representing a novel therapeutic strategy toward the treatment of learning deficits especially observed in the aged brain.
Time-Dependent Effects of Corticosteroids on Human Amygdala Processing
Authors: Henckens Marloes J. A. G. , van Wingen Guido A. , Joëls Marian , Fernández Guillén
Published: September 2010

Acute stress is associated with a sensitized amygdala. Corticosteroids, released in response to stress, are suggested to restore homeostasis by normalizing/desensitizing brain processing in the aftermath of stress. Here, we investigated the effects of corticosteroids on amygdala processing using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Since corticosteroids exert rapid nongenomic and slow genomic effects, we administered hydrocortisone either 75 min (rapid effects) or 285 min (slow effects) before scanning in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Seventy-two healthy males were scanned while viewing faces morphing from a neutral facial expression into fearful or happy expressions. Imaging results revealed that hydrocortisone desensitizes amygdala responsivity rapidly, while it selectively normalizes responses to negative stimuli slowly. Psychophysiological interaction analyses suggested that this slow normalization is related to an altered coupling of the amygdala with the medial prefrontal cortex. These results reveal a temporarily fine-tuned mechanism that is critical for avoiding amygdala overshoot during stress and enabling adequate recovery thereafter.
Low Nociceptor GRK2 Prolongs Prostaglandin E2Hyperalgesia via Biased cAMP Signaling to Epac/Rap1, Protein Kinase Cε, and MEK/ERK
Authors: Eijkelkamp Niels , Wang Huijing , Garza-Carbajal Anibal , Willemen Hanneke L. D. M. , Zwartkruis Fried J. , Wood John N. , Dantzer Robert , Kelley Keith W. , Heijnen Cobi J. , Kavelaars Annemieke
Published: September 2010

Hyperexcitability of peripheral nociceptive pathways is often associated with inflammation and is an important mechanism underlying inflammatory pain. Here we describe a completely novel mechanism via which nociceptor G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) contributes to regulation of inflammatory hyperalgesia. We show that nociceptor GRK2 is downregulated during inflammation. In addition, we show for the first time that prostaglandin E2(PGE2)-induced hyperalgesia is prolonged from <6 h in wild-type (WT) mice to 3 d in mice with low GRK2 in Nav1.8+nociceptors (SNS–GRK2+/−mice). This prolongation of PGE2hyperalgesia inSNS–GRK2+/−mice does not depend on changes in the sensitivity of the prostaglandin receptors because prolonged hyperalgesia also developed in response to 8-Br-cAMP. PGE2or cAMP-induced hyperalgesia in WT mice is PKA dependent. However, PKA activity is not required for hyperalgesia inSNS–GRK2+/−mice.SNS–GRK2+/−mice developed prolonged hyperalgesia in response to the Exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) activator 8-pCPT-2′-O-Me-cAMP (8-pCPT). Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that GRK2 binds to Epac1.In vitro, GRK2 deficiency increased 8-pCPT-induced activation of the downstream effector of Epac, Rap1, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).In vivo, inhibition of MEK1 or PKCε prevented prolonged PGE2, 8-Br-cAMP, and 8-pCPT hyperalgesia inSNS–GRK2+/−mice. In conclusion, we discovered GRK2 as a novel Epac1-interacting protein. A reduction in the cellular level of GRK2 enhances activation of the Epac–Rap1 pathway.In vivo, low nociceptor GRK2 leads to prolonged inflammatory hyperalgesia via biased cAMP signaling from PKA to Epac–Rap1, ERK/PKCε pathways.
Synaptic Estrogen Receptor-α Levels in Prefrontal Cortex in Female Rhesus Monkeys and Their Correlation with Cognitive Performance
Authors: Wang Athena C. J. , Hara Yuko , Janssen William G. M. , Rapp Peter R. , Morrison John H.
Published: September 2010

In rat hippocampus, estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) can initiate nongenomic signaling mechanisms that modulate synaptic plasticity in response to either circulating or locally synthesized estradiol (E). Here we report quantitative electron microscopic data demonstrating that ER-α is present within excitatory synapses in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of young and aged ovariectomized female rhesus monkeys with and without E treatment. There were no treatment or age effects on the percentage of excitatory synapses containing ER-α, nor were there any group differences in distribution of ER-α within the synapse. However, the mean size of synapses containing ER-α was larger than that of unlabeled excitatory synapses. All monkeys were tested on delayed response (DR), a cognitive test of working memory that requires dlPFC. In young ovariectomized monkeys without E treatment, presynaptic ER-α correlated with DR accuracy across memory delays. In aged monkeys that received E treatment, ER-α within the postsynaptic density (30–60 nm from the synaptic membrane) positively correlated with DR performance. Thus, although the lack of group effects suggests that ER-α is primarily in synapses that are stable across age and treatment, synaptic abundance of ER-α is correlated with individual performance in two key age/treatment groups. These data have important implications for individual differences in the cognitive outcome among menopausal women and promote a focus on cortical estrogen receptors for therapeutic efficacy with respect to cognition.
Spatiotemporal Representation of the Pitch of Harmonic Complex Tones in the Auditory Nerve
Authors: Cedolin Leonardo , Delgutte Bertrand
Published: September 2010

The pitch of harmonic complex tones plays an important role in speech and music perception and the analysis of auditory scenes, yet traditional rate–place and temporal models for pitch processing provide only an incomplete description of the psychophysical data. To test physiologically a model based on spatiotemporal pitch cues created by the cochlear traveling wave (Shamma, 1985), we recorded from single fibers in the auditory nerve of anesthetized cat in response to harmonic complex tones with missing fundamentals and equal-amplitude harmonics. We used the principle of scaling invariance in cochlear mechanics to infer the spatiotemporal response pattern to a given stimulus from a series of measurements made in a single fiber as a function of fundamental frequencyF0. We found that spatiotemporal cues to resolved harmonics are available forF0values between 350 and 1100 Hz and that these cues are more robust than traditional rate–place cues at high stimulus levels. The lowerF0limit is determined by the limited frequency selectivity of the cochlea, whereas the upper limit is caused by the degradation of phase locking to the stimulus fine structure at high frequencies. The spatiotemporal representation is consistent with the upperF0limit to the perception of the pitch of complex tones with a missing fundamental, and its effectiveness does not depend on the relative phase between resolved harmonics. The spatiotemporal representation is thus consistent with key trends in human psychophysics.
RNG105 Deficiency Impairs the Dendritic Localization of mRNAs for Na+/K+ATPase Subunit Isoforms and Leads to the Degeneration of Neuronal Networks
Authors: Shiina Nobuyuki , Yamaguchi Kazuhiko , Tokunaga Makio
Published: September 2010

mRNA transport and local translation in dendrites play key roles in use-dependent synaptic modification and in higher-order brain functions. RNG105, an RNA-binding protein, has previously been identified as a component of RNA granules that mediate dendritic mRNA localization and local translation. Here, we demonstrate that RNG105 knock-out in mice reduces the dendritic localization of mRNAs for Na+/K+ATPase (NKA) subunit isoforms (i.e., α3, FXYD1, FXYD6, and FXYD7). The loss of dendritic mRNA localization is accompanied by the loss of function of NKA in dendrites without affecting the NKA function in the soma. Furthermore, we show that RNG105 deficiency affects the formation and maintenance of synapses and neuronal networks. These phenotypes are partly explained by an inhibition of NKA, which is known to influence synaptic functions as well as susceptibility to neurotoxicity. The present study first demonstrates thein vivorole of RNG105 in the dendritic localization of mRNAs and uncovers a novel link between dendritic mRNA localization and the development and maintenance of functional networks.
Reported speech constructions and the grammaticalization of hearsay evidentiality: a cross-linguistic survey
Authors: Jäger Andreas
Published: September 2010

Functional similarities between the expression of reportative evidentiality and the grammatical representation of reported speech manifest themselves in varying degrees of corresponding formal similarity across languages. Assuming a systematic correlation between these domains this paper investigates and compares two likely sources for the expression of reportative evidentiality: non-referential reportative matrix clauses with generic utterance verbs and functionally specialized dependent clauses. The argument is based primarily on parallels in the development from biclausal to monoclausal structures in a number of genetically and areally diverse languages.
Tones and intonation in Prinmi – a first survey
Authors: Greif Markus
Published: September 2010

The present paper provides a concise survey of the tonal inventory of Prinmi as well as some discussion of intonation proper. The approach is largely based on observable surface phenomena found in a corpus of several semi-controlled production studies. Unlike in earlier frameworks, three tonal classes are assumed: H, L (with the lexical tones H, L, L+H, H+L) and a Toneless category. The use of Toneless lexemes, which mainly comprise discourse particles, seems to be strongly intertwined with certain pragmatic functions presumably licensing emphasis and the boundary tone L%. Finally, a strong intonational downtrend and possible tone sandhi effects may trigger tonal alternations. These alternations as well as the complex interaction between intonation, pragmatics and the Toneless particles require further research.
Principle of Least Time in Chemical Kinetics
Authors: Mosienko B. A.
Published: September 2010

The analogy between the principle of least time in optics (Fermat’s principle) and Ostwald’s rule of intermediate steps made it possible to set up the principle of least time for first-order phase transitions. In its turn, the analogy between first-order phase transitions and chemical reactions allows assume that the principle of least time is also valid in chemical kinetics. This assumption is substantiated in the given work. Also proposed is a different derivation of the indicated principle based on generalization of empirical data.
Perspectiva histórica em administração: novos objetos, novos problemas, novas abordagens
Authors: Costa Alessandra de Sá Mello da , Barros Denise Franca , Martins Paulo Emílio Matos
Published: September 2010

A pesquisa busca contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do pensamento administrativo por meio da análise da utilização da perspectiva histórica em administração. Embora a aproximação entre administração e história não seja recente, ainda não avançou substancialmente de forma a viabilizar seu potencial ontológico, epistemológico e metodológico. De forma a aprofundar essa discussão, classificamos três abordagens do pensar administrativo relacionando-as com a discussão paradigmática da história, quais sejam: a história dos negócios (business history); a história da gestão (management history); e a história organizacional (organizational history). Tal enquadramento permitiu identificar que a perspectiva histórica da nova história inserida numa posição reorientacionista possibilita: a) refletir sobre a práxis social do pesquisador; b) considerar novos objetos, problemas e abordagens de pesquisa; e c) perceber que novas perguntas podem deslocar o foco de análise do exógeno para o local, o que contribui para o desenvolvimento de análises mais críticas sobre ideologias administrativas.
Envolvimento do consumidor em processos de desenvolvimento de produtos: um estudo qualitativo junto a empresas de bens de consumo
Authors: Santos Carolina Rosado dos , Brasil Vinícius Sittoni
Published: September 2010

Na última década, emergiu na literatura de Marketing a discussão sobre coprodução de valor, destacando-se o envolvimento de consumidores nos processos de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP), conceito associado à interação e inserção de consumidores nos processos de criação de valor. O presente estudo foi realizado por meio de análise de conteúdo com empresas brasileiras de bens de consumo para examinar o envolvimento de consumidores nos PDP. Apesar de as empresas apresentarem características de inovação e de sucesso em novos produtos, o envolvimento dos consumidores nos PDP ocorre com intensidade variada e a partir de mecanismos bastante distintos. Nos resultados são caracterizados os mecanismos de envolvimento, os estágios dos PDP em que o envolvimento ocorre e os níveis de intensidade de envolvimento dos consumidores. Finalmente, são apresentadas as implicações gerenciais e acadêmicas do estudo, seguidas de suas limitações, e recomendações para estudos futuros.
Produção de porta-enxertos em tubetes e enxertia precoce da pinheira (Annona squamosa L.)
Authors: Lemos Eurico Eduardo Pinto de , Salvador Taciana de Lima , Santos Maria Quiteria Cardoso dos , Rezende Leila de Paula , Salvador Tatiana de Lima , Lima Hully Monaísy Alencar
Published: September 2010

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer um protocolo para a enxertia precoce de pinheira em porta-enxertos produzidos em tubetes como substituto do tradicional sistema de enxertia que utiliza porta-enxertos de 12 meses produzidos em sacolas plásticas. O trabalho foi conduzido com três métodos de enxertia (borbulhia em escudo, garfagem de topo em fenda cheia e garfagem lateral em fenda cheia) e quatro idades dos porta-enxertos (3; 5; 7 e 9 meses). Os porta-enxertos foram avaliados durante nove meses com relação às variáveis: comprimento da planta, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas e área foliar. Cada procedimento de enxertia foi avaliado por 30 dias através da percentagem de pegamento. Os porta-enxertos produzidos nos tubetes maiores apresentaram-se mais desenvolvidos para todas as variáveis, todavia a percentagem de pegamento dos enxertos foi mais influenciada pelo método de enxertia do que pelo tamanho de tubete. A garfagem de topo em fenda cheia mostrou-se como o melhor método para a enxertia precoce, pois já aos três meses de idade dos porta-enxertos apresentou taxa de pegamento de 96,69%. O método de garfagem lateral em fenda cheia apresentou taxas semelhantes a partir dos cinco meses de idade dos porta-enxertos. O método de borbulhia apresentou baixo pegamento inicial (<50%), mas a cada nova data de enxertia o pegamento foi aumentando e atingiu valores superiores a 80% aos sete meses de idade.
Volumes de calda e pontas de pulverização no controle químico de Spodoptera frugiperda na cultura do sorgo forrageiro
Authors: Cunha João P. A. R. Da , Silva Júnior Ademilson D. Da
Published: September 2010

No manejo de Spodoptera frugiperda na cultura do sorgo, a utilização de inseticida ainda é a principal tática recomendada, contudo este método de controle precisa ser otimizado. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da utilização de três pontas e dois volumes de calda na aplicação de inseticida para o controle químico de Spodoptera frugiperda na cultura do sorgo. O ensaio foi conduzido no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial (3 x 2) + 1: três tipos de pontas de pulverização (jato cônico vazio, jato plano defletor duplo e jato plano defletor com indução de ar), dois volumes de calda (200 e 130 L ha-1) e um tratamento adicional que não recebeu inseticida. Realizou-se a semeadura direta de uma cultivar de sorgo forrageiro, avaliando-se, após a aplicação do inseticida clorpirifós, a deposição de calda no dossel da cultura, o controle de Spodoptera frugiperda e a produtividade. Pôde-se concluir que as pontas de jato plano defletor duplo e jato plano defletor com indução de ar proporcionaram maior cobertura do dossel das plantas de sorgo do que a ponta de jato cônico, resultando em maior eficácia de controle de Spodoptera frugiperda e maior produtividade. O volume de calda de 200 L ha-1; quando comparado ao volume de 130 L ha-1; também proporcionou melhor eficácia de controle.
Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de trigo em resposta aos efeitos de anos e épocas de semeadura
Authors: Viganó Joselaine , Braccini Alessandro de L. e , Scapim Carlos A , Franco Francisco de A , Schuster Ivan , Moterle Lia M , Texeira Leandra R
Published: September 2010

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de cultivares de trigo em resposta aos efeitos de anos e épocas de semeadura. Para tanto, nos anos de 2006 e 2007, sementes de trigo das cultivares CD 104, CD 105, CD 108, CD 110, CD 111 e CD 114 foram semeadas em 22/03, 07 e 20/04, 04 e 18/05, na região de Palotina, PR. Foram analisados as seguintes características: germinação, classificação do vigor das plântulas e envelhecimento acelerado. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância conjunta entre os dois anos de experimento e realizaram-se os desdobramentos entre cultivares, épocas de semeadura e anos, em todas as combinações. Em relação à germinação, verificou-se que as cultivares CD 105 e CD 108 foram menos influenciadas pelas épocas de semeadura nos dois anos de cultivo. Observou-se ainda, que as épocas 22/03, 07/04 e 18/05, em 2006, não foram ideais para as cultivares CD 110, CD 111 e CD 114, avaliadas pelos testes de germinação, classificação de vigor das plântulas e envelhecimento acelerado. Conclui-se que, para a maioria das épocas de semeadura e cultivares, em 2007, foram obtidas maiores porcentagens de plântulas normais do que em 2006. Constatou-se ainda que, a maioria das cultivares apresentou maior similaridade entre os anos, na época de semeadura de 20/04 em relação aos testes de germinação e classificação do vigor das plântulas.
Nitrogênio em cobertura e qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de painço (Panicum miliaceum L.)
Authors: Abrantes Fabiana L , Kulczynski Stela Maris , Soratto Rogério P , Barbosa Manoel Murilo M
Published: September 2010

O nitrogênio pode influenciar a qualidade das sementes de várias culturas e os seus efeitos variam com as condições ambientais e o estádio de desenvolvimento da planta em que a aplicação é realizada. Porém, pouco se sabe sobre a influência da adubação nitrogenada na qualidade de sementes da cultura do painço (Panicum miliaceum L.). O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura na qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de painço, cv. AL Tibagi, produzidas em condições de campo. As sementes foram produzidas no período de dezembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006 e as avaliações laboratoriais realizadas de março a agosto de 2006. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, constituído pela combinação de quatro doses (0, 30, 60 e 120 kg ha-1 de N) e duas épocas de aplicação (14 e 28 dias após a emergência - DAE) do fertilizante nitrogenado (uréia) em cobertura, com quatro repetições. A aplicação de N aumentou o vigor das sementes, expresso pelos testes de envelhecimento acelerado e emergência em campo. A aplicação de nitrogênio aos 28 DAE da cultura do painço proporciona maiores IVE e porcentagem de emergência em campo. A sanidade de sementes de painço não é influenciada pelas doses e épocas de aplicação da adubação nitrogenada.
Os estudos de segurança na Turquia: situando a Turquia no "ocidente" por meio de "escrever a segurança"
Authors: Bilgin Pinar
Published: September 2010

A concepção de segurança nacional orientada externamente e focada militarmente não lida suficientemente bem com as inseguranças turcas, inseguranças estas compartilhadas com outros países em desenvolvimento. Apesar disso, durante toda a Guerra Fria, houve pouca discussão acerca da limitada relevância de tais conceitos e teorias tradicionais das Relações Internacionais para tratar das inseguranças turcas. O artigo procura explicar este fato fazendo referência à preocupação política prevalecente no período, qual seja, a de situar a Turquia no "Ocidente". Os trabalhos acadêmicos sobre segurança nesse período, sugere o artigo, ajudaram a situar a Turquia no "Ocidente" mediante a representação de suas preocupações como aspectos da segurança "ocidental", e não como preocupações típicas de países em desenvolvimento. O ponto é que, ao longo da Guerra Fria, as representações da Turquia como "parceira júnior" dos Estados Unidos na luta contra o comunismo não só ajudaram a reproduzir sua identidade "ocidental", mas também embasaram os escritos sobre segurança na Turquia. O artigo está dividido em três partes. A primeira discute o problema da disjunção entre os conceitos e teorias de Relações Internacionais e as "realidades" do mundo em desenvolvimento, enfatizando a importância do contexto histórico para a compreensão de por que e como conceitos e teorias viajam entre mundos. A segunda parte analisa de que maneira a questão da irrelevância dos conceitos e teorias tradicionais foi tratada pela literatura de Relações Internacionais turca durante a Guerra Fria. A terceira analisa os debates da década de 90 sobre a concepção turca de "segurança nacional".
Mycobacterium massiliense BRA100 strain recovered from postsurgical infections: resistance to high concentrations of glutaraldehyde and alternative solutions for high level disinfection
Authors: Lorena Nádia Suely de Oliveira , Pitombo Marcos Bettini , Côrtes Patrícia Barbur , Maya Maria Cristina Araújo , Silva Marlei Gomes da , Carvalho Ana Carolina da Silva , Coelho Fábrice Santana , Miyazaki Neide Hiromi Tokumaru , Marques Elizabeth Andrade , Chebabo Alberto , Freitas Andréa D'Ávila , Lupi Otília , Duarte Rafael Silva
Published: September 2010

PURPOSE: To evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of GTA against these microorganisms and alternative disinfectants for high-level disinfection (HLD). METHODS: Reference mycobacteria and clinical M. massiliense strains were included in this study. Active cultures were submitted to susceptibility qualitative tests with GTA dilutions (ranging from 1.5% to 8%), and commercial orthophthaldehyde (OPA) and peracetic acid (PA) - based solutions, during the period of exposure as recommended by National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance for HLD. RESULTS: All reference and M. massiliense non-BRA100 strains, recovered from sputum, were susceptible to any GTA concentration, OPA and PA solutions. M. massiliense BRA100 strains presented MIC of 8% GTA and were susceptible to OPA and PA. CONCLUSION: M. massiliense BRA100 strain is resistant to high GTA concentrations (up to 7%), which proves that this product is non-effective against specific rapidly growing mycobacteria and should be substituted by OPA or PA - based solutions for HLD.
Identificação de cargas lineares e não-lineares em sistemas elétricos residenciais usando técnicas para seleção de atributos e redes neurais artificiais
Authors: Fernandes Ricardo A. S. , Silva Ivan N. da , Oleskovicz Mário
Published: September 2010

Este trabalho consiste em apresentar um método para a identificação de cargas lineares e não-lineares comumente encontradas em sistemas elétricos residenciais. Desta identificação, soluções viáveis poderão ser aplicadas com o intuito de mitigar os níveis de emissão das correntes harmônicas geradas, advindas principalmente por cargas com características não-lineares. No desenvolvimento do método, utilizaram-se de técnicas para a seleção de atributos, de forma a minimizar a dificuldade em se identificar as cargas conectadas ao sistema. A etapa posterior de identificação foi realizada pela aplicação de redes neurais artificiais. Todas as situações de distorção harmônica foram geradas em laboratório por uma fonte de alimentação, onde em sua saída foram alocados analisadores de energia, responsáveis pela extração das medidas necessárias sobre as cargas residenciais em análise. Os resultados obtidos foram considerados satisfatórios, mostrando-se que a metodologia proposta pode ser também empregada pelas concessionárias de energia elétrica para que estas obtenham informações sobre o perfil das cargas instaladas em consumidores residenciais.
Corpos sonhados-vividos: a dimensão onírica do poder em Michel Foucault e sua relação com a psicologia
Authors: Silveira Fernando de Almeida
Published: September 2010

A obra de Michel Foucault destaca o corpo, “interpenetrado de história”, enquanto expressão das forças de poder e de saber, que se articulam estrategicamente, na história da sociedade ocidental. Na medida em que “o poder é um produtor de individualidade e que o indivíduo é uma produção do poder e do saber”, o corpo é uma peça dentro de um jogo de dominações e de submissões, presente em toda a rede social, no processo histórico de produção da subjetividade. Esta pesquisa analisa a dimensão onírica na genealogia de Foucault e visa verificar os efeitos históricos do poder e do saber na construção do imaginário subjetivo, através do corpo, em uma relação recíproca entre o campo da Psicologia e da Filosofia.
Meiose e viabilidade polínica em acessos de Capsicum annuum e Capsicum baccatum
Authors: Martins Kellen Coutinho , Pereira Telma Nair Santana , Souza Sérgio Alessandro Machado , Costa Fabiane Rabelo da
Published: September 2010

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento meiótico e a viabilidade polínica em quatro acessos das espécies Capsicum annuum e Capsicum baccatum. Em todos os acessos, foram observados 12 bivalentes, confirmando o número e nível de ploidia relatados na literatura para essas espécies. Os resultados mostraram uma divisão celular normal, porém algumas anormalidades foram detectadas, tais como migração precoce dos cromossomos em metáfases I e II, cromossomos retardatários em anáfase I e divisão assincrônica. Os acessos estudados apresentaram um índice meiótico variando de 75,6 a 93,6%, e a viabilidade polínica em todos os acessos foi superior a 90%, demonstrando que as irregularidades meióticas observadas não comprometeram a viabilidade destes.