bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dendritic excitability during increased synaptic activity in rat neocortical L5 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Bar‐Yehuda Dan , Ben‐Porat Hana , Korngreen Alon 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRecent years have seen increased study of dendritic integration, mostly in acute brain slices. However, due to the low background activity in brain slices the integration of synaptic input in slice preparations may not truly reflect conditions in vivo. To investigate dendritic integration, back‐propagation of the action potential (AP) and initiation of the dendritic Ca2+ spike we simultaneously recorded membrane potential at the soma and apical dendrite of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons in quiescent and excited acute brain slices. After excitation of the brain slice the somatic input resistance decreased and the apparent passive space constant shortened. However, the back‐propagating AP and dendritic Ca2+ spike were robust during increased synaptic activity. The dendritic Ca2+ spike was suppressed by the ionic composition of the bath solution required for slice excitation, suggesting that Ca2+ spikes may be smaller in vivo than in the acute slice preparation. The results presented here suggest that, under the conditions of slice excitation examined in this study, the increased membrane conductance induced by activation of voltage‐gated channels during back‐propagation of the AP and dendritic Ca2+ spike initiation is sufficiently larger than the membrane conductance at subthreshold potentials to allow these two regenerative dendritic events to remain robust over several levels of synaptic activity in the apical dendrite of L5 pyramidal neurons.
Developmental maturation of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in rat vestibular nuclear neurons responsive to vertical linear acceleration
Authors: Lai Suk‐King , Lai Chun‐Hong , Tse Yiu‐Chung , Yung Ken K. L. , Shum Daisy K. Y. , Chan Ying‐Shing 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe investigated the maturation profile of subunits of ionotropic glutamate receptors in vestibular nuclear neurons that were activated by sinusoidal linear acceleration along the vertical plane. The otolithic origin of Fos expression in these neurons was confirmed as a marker of functional activation when labyrinthectomized and/or stationary control rats contrasted by showing sporadically scattered Fos‐labeled neurons in the vestibular nuclei. By double immunohistochemistry for Fos and one of the receptor subunits, otolith‐related neurons that expressed either α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionate or N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate subunits were first identified in the medial vestibular nucleus, spinal vestibular nucleus and Group x by postnatal day (P)7, and in the lateral vestibular nucleus and Group y by P9. No double‐labeled neurons were found in the superior vestibular nucleus. Within each vestibular subnucleus, these double‐labeled neurons constituted ∼90% of the total Fos‐labeled neurons. The percentage of Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the GluR1 or NR2A subunit showed developmental invariance in all subnuclei. For Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the NR1 subunit, similar invariance was observed except that, in Group y, these neurons decreased from P14 onwards. For Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the GluR2, GluR2/3, GluR4 or NR2B subunit, a significant decrease was found by the adult stage. In particular, those expressing the GluR4 subunit showed a two‐ to threefold decrease in the medial vestibular nucleus, spinal vestibular nucleus and Group y. Also, those expressing the NR2B subunit showed a twofold decrease in Group y. Taken together, the postsynaptic expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in different vestibular subnuclei suggests that glutamatergic transmission within subregions plays differential developmental roles in the coding of gravity‐related vertical spatial information.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor functions as a metabotrophin to mediate the effects of exercise on cognition
Authors: Gomez‐Pinilla Fernando , Vaynman Shoshanna , Ying Zhe 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBrain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to mediate the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function, in a process in which energy metabolism probably plays an important role. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of exercise on rat hippocampal expression of molecules involved in the regulation of energy management and cognitive function, and to determine the role of BDNF in these events. One week of voluntary exercise that enhanced learning and memory performance elevated the expression of molecular systems involved in the metabolism of energy [AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) and uncoupling protein 2] and molecules that work at the interface of energy and synaptic plasticity [BDNF, insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) and ghrelin]. The levels of BDNF mRNA were associated with the mRNA levels of AMPK, uMtCK, IGF‐I and ghrelin. Inhibiting the action of BDNF during exercise abolished an exercise‐mediated enhancement in spatial learning and increased the expression of all of the molecular systems studied. BDNF blocking also disrupted the association between learning speed and levels of AMPK, uMtCK, ghrelin and IGF‐I mRNAs. These findings suggest that the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function involve elements of energy metabolism, and that BDNF seems to work at the interface between the two processes as a metabotrophin.
AQP4 expression in striatal primary cultures is regulated by dopamine – implications for proliferation of astrocytes
Authors: Küppers Eva , Gleiser Corinna , Brito Veronica , Wachter Britta , Pauly Thorsten , Hirt Bernhard , Grissmer Stephan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractProliferation of astrocytes plays an essential role during ontogeny and in the adult brain, where it occurs following trauma and in inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases as well as in normal, healthy mammals. The cellular mechanisms underlying glial proliferation remain poorly understood. As dopamine is known to modulate proliferation in different cell populations, we investigated the effects of dopamine on the proliferation of striatal astrocytes in vitro. We found that dopamine reduced proliferation. As proliferation involves, among other things, a change in cell volume, which normally comes with water movement across the membrane, water channels might represent a molecular target of the dopamine effect. Therefore we studied the effect of dopamine on aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression, the main aquaporin subtype expressed in glial cells, and observed a down‐regulation of the AQP4‐M23 isoform. This down‐regulation was the cause of the dopamine‐induced decrease in proliferation as knockdown of AQP4 using siRNA techniques mimicked the effects of dopamine on proliferation. Furthermore, stimulation of glial proliferation by basic fibroblast growth factor was also abolished by knocking down AQP4. In addition, blocking of AQP4 with 10 μm tetraethylammonium inhibited osmotically induced cell swelling and stimulation of glial cell proliferation by basic fibroblast growth factor. These results demonstrate a clear‐cut involvement of AQP4 in the regulation of proliferation and implicate that modulation of AQP4 could be used therapeutically in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases as well as in the regulation of reactive astrogliosis by preventing or reducing the glia scar formation, thus improving regeneration following ischemia or other trauma.
Dynamic changes in DNA methylation during thermal control establishment affect CREB binding to the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor promoter
Authors: Yossifoff Maya , Kisliouk Tatiana , Meiri Noam 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThermal control establishment develops during a critical period by alterations in cellular properties in the frontal hypothalamus. These alterations may be modulated by the epigenetic code that determines the repertoire of transcribed proteins. Here we demonstrate transient changes in the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) during both thermal conditioning and re‐exposure of conditioned chicks to heat stress, relative to their age‐matched naive counterparts. These changes coincide with changes in CpG methylation pattern in the avian Bdnf promoter region. Reduction in methylation during heat conditioning was observed at a cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) site which coincided with both elevation in phospho‐CREB levels and its binding to the Bdnf promoter. At the same time, an increase in methylation was observed at two other CpG sites, accompanied by elevation of the DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) expression. DNMT3a was also found to bind to the two elevated methyl CpG sites, but not to the CREB binding site. These data suggest that complex and dynamic changes in DNA methylation are involved in the regulation of Bdnf expression during thermotolerance acquisition.
Evolutionary constraints on regional faunas: whom, but not how many
Authors: Algar Adam C. , Kerr Jeremy T. , Currie David J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe latitudinal diversity gradient has been hypothesized to reflect past evolutionary dynamics driven by climatic niche conservation during cladogenesis, i.e. the tropical conservatism hypothesis. Here we show that the species diversity of treefrogs (Hylidae) across the western hemisphere is actually independent of evolutionary niche dynamics. We evaluated three key predictions of the tropical conservatism hypothesis that relate to the relationships between climate, species richness and the phylogenetic structure of regional treefrog faunas across the continental Americas. Species composition was dependent on the inability of some lineages to evolve cold tolerance, but the actual number of species in a region was strongly predicted by precipitation, not temperature. Moreover, phylogenetic structure was independent of precipitation. Thus, species in low‐richness areas were no more closely related than species in highly diverse regions. These results provide no support for the tropical conservatism hypothesis. Instead, they show that regional species composition and richness are constrained by different climatic components, demonstrating that global biodiversity gradients can be independent of niche stasis during cladogenesis.
Seascape genetics and the spatial ecology of marine populations
Authors: Selkoe Kimberly A , Henzler Christine M , Gaines Steven D 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMolecular tools perform at their best when integrated with other data and approaches. The value of integrating approaches is especially high when the underlying genetic signal is relatively weak, as occurs in many marine species. Recently, studies combining genetic, oceanographic, behavioural and modelling approaches have provided new insights into the spatial ecology of marine populations, in particular regarding larval migration, barriers to dispersal and source‐sink population dynamics. In this perspectives piece, we explore the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach to marine population genetics by (i) providing a synthesis of what has been learned about connectivity from studies that combine genetic data with other tools, (ii) discussing how incorporation of ecological and oceanographic information into alternative hypotheses can boost inference when genetic power is low, and (iii) summarizing recent innovations in statistical population genetics that enable seamless integration of ecological, environmental and genetic data. These topics are covered in the context of how genetic inferences of connectivity and dispersal can contribute to pressing questions facing marine conservation and management.
Bridging the gap between the genotype and the phenotype: linking genetic variation, selection and adaptation in fishes
Authors: Naish Kerry A , Hard Jeffrey J 
Published: November 2008

AbstractOne of the most challenging problems in evolutionary biology is linking the evolution of the phenotype with the underlying genotype, because most phenotypes are encoded by many genes that interact with each other and with the environment. Further, many phenotypes are correlated and selection on one can affect evolution of the other. This challenge is especially important in fishes, because their evolutionary response to harvest, global warming and conservation actions are among the least understood aspects of their management. Here, we discuss two major genetic approaches to studying the evolution of complex traits, multivariate quantitative genetics and molecular genetics, and examine the increasing interaction between the two fields. These interactions include using pedigree‐based methods to study the evolution of multivariate traits in natural populations, comparing neutral and quantitative measures of population structure, and examining the contribution that the two approaches have made to each other. We then explore the major role that quantitative genetics is playing in two key issues in the conservation and management of fish populations: the evolutionary effects of fishing and adaptation to climate change. Throughout, we emphasize that it is important to anticipate the availability of improvements in molecular technology and statistical analyses by creating research populations such as inbred lines and families segregating at fitness traits, developing approaches to measuring the full range of phenotypes related to fitness, and collecting biological material and ecological data in natural populations. These steps will facilitate studies of the evolution of complex traits over informative temporal and spatial scales.
Waking the dead: the value of population genetic analyses of historical samples
Authors: Nielsen Einar Eg , Hansen Michael Møller 
Published: November 2008

AbstractArchived scales and otoliths constitute a unique source of DNA that potentially enables extension of the temporal scale of genetic studies of fish populations by decades and even centuries. We review recent insights into fish population and conservation genetics obtained using analysis of DNA from archived samples. This involves both new knowledge about demographic parameters and population structure in wild populations and insights into consequences of anthropogenic pressure resulting from over‐harvesting, habitat degradation and stocking. We show that the latter category of studies have led to significant changes of management practices. Ongoing improvement of genetic methods will undoubtedly further expand the ability to utilize historical DNA samples. We envisage that temporal comparisons of large numbers of coding genes will lead to novel insights into selective responses of fish populations to anthropogenic challenges, particularly fisheries‐induced selection and global warming. However, both acquisition and storage of historical DNA samples can be hurdles to temporal genetic analyses, while degradation and low copy number in historical DNA samples render genetic data from such sources prone to technical artefacts. We summarize recommendations for storage of samples and DNA extraction and provide checklists for validation of genotyping results. Finally, we stress that validation procedures also involve documentation of the time and population of origin of historical samples, and the inferences drawn should account for the technical and statistical uncertainties associated with historical DNA analysis.
Fisheries forensics: the use of DNA tools for improving compliance, traceability and enforcement in the fishing industry
Authors: Ogden Rob 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThere is an increasing requirement for traceability of fish and fish products, both for consumer protection and for regulatory enforcement, in particular with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing is a serious global problem and one of the main impediments to the achievement of sustainable world fisheries. Genetic markers are used for the identification of species and populations in fisheries biology and can potentially also be used to support investigations and deter IUU fishing and food fraud. This review examines the development and application of non‐human forensic genetic techniques for the purposes of species identification, population assignment and supply chain traceability in world fisheries. Key issues in the transfer from academic research to validated forensic methods are presented highlighting differences in how data are produced and interpreted. The rapid increase in genomic data production and subsequent future potential for greater spatial resolution of fish stocks is discussed alongside the biological and practical limitations of using DNA markers for fisheries enforcement.
IS THE UNIVERSE OPEN FOR SURPRISE? PENTECOSTAL ONTOLOGY AND THE SPIRIT OF NATURALISM
Authors: Smith James K. A. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Given the enchanted worldview of pentecost‐alism, what possibility is there for a uniquely pentecostal intervention in the science‐theology dialogue? By asserting the centrality of the miraculous and the fantastic, and being fundamentally committed to a universe open to surprise, does not pentecostalism forfeit admission to the conversation? I argue for a distinctly pentecostal contribution to the dialogue that is critical of regnant naturalistic paradigms but also of a naive supernaturalism. I argue that implicit in the pentecostal social imaginary is a distinct conception of nature that is amenable to science but in conflict with naturalism.
PNEUMATOLOGICAL RELATIONS AND CHRISTIAN DISUNITY IN THEOLOGY‐SCIENCE DIALOGUE
Authors: Work Telford 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Ecclesial divisions shape and distort the developing interdisciplinary dialogue between Christian theology and the natural and social sciences in ways that can be better understood by focusing on pneumatology, specifically on the variety of ways in which by grace we relate to the Holy Spirit—as giver of life, as Lord, as powerful anointing, as God's gift of wisdom, and as wellspring from Jesus Christ. Each denominational camp of Christians has centered its appreciation of the Holy Spirit on one of these relationships, sometimes to the neglect or marginalization of others. This appreciation drives the favoring of some scientific disciplines and suspicion of others. For instance, Pentecostals and charismatics emphasize the Spirit upon us, speaking through the prophets. This tends to privilege personal narrative and testimony. The closest cognate science is cultural anthropology. Issues of social construction of reality, cultural imperialism and relativism, and narrative history dominate consideration of science's theological possibilities and pitfalls in ways distinctive to that pneumatological camp. Engagement and disengagement with other disciplines of learning are driven in part by our theological loyalties and antipathies to unreconciled bodies. Hence a fuller engagement with the sciences becomes an ecumenical task, not just a generically Christian or specifically Pentecostal or Wesleyan one.
A PENTECOSTAL PERSPECTIVE ON ENTROPY, EMERGENT SYSTEMS, AND ESCHATOLOGY
Authors: Bradnick David 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Many contemporary theologies have given considerable attention to the inbreaking work of God whereby the Spirit imbues creation with life and vitality, but in the process the seriousness of the destructive forces that plague the world has been overlooked. This oversight not only has significant theological consequences, but it also generates a tension with scientific postulates about physical reality. Paradoxically, increasing complexity, including emergent life systems, arise in spite of the overarching conditions. I posit from a theological perspective that the Spirit acts within the world to generate pockets of organization out of disorder. The Spirit not only was present and active at initial creation but also continues to act within the cosmos, sustaining the natural order and giving rise to innovative acts of creation. The world, which groans for and anticipates transformation, experiences local decreases in entropy as proleptic events of God's inbreaking kingdom. This theological hypothesis provides the framework for considering an eschatological response to the world's decay.
This is my truth, tell me yours: exploring the internal tensions within collaborative learning disability research
Authors: McClimens Alex 
Published: November 2008

Accessible summary

People labelled with learning disability are now more involved in research that is about them and their lives.
When research about the lives of people labelled with learning disability gets published in journals the accounts are written by professionals or academics.
Working and writing together is a good idea but we all need to decide on who is in control.
Being in control of language often means being in control.

SummaryCollaboration within the research and publishing process provides opportunities for shared learning and increased knowledge production and dissemination. It can also provide opportunities for conflict if the contributors are divided over issues of authority and authorship. While this situation can be managed, the potential for misunderstanding to arise is heightened when the combination of academics/professionals and individuals labelled with learning disability work together. The scenario described here outlines some of the difficulties that can threaten successful collaboration. Possible remedies are suggested.Disclaimerthe six o’clock news this is thi six a clock news thi man said n thi reason a talk wia BBC accent iz coz yi widny wahnt mi ti talk aboot thi trooth wia voice lik wanna yoo scruff. if a toktaboot thi trooth lik wanna yoo scruff yi widny thingk it wuz troo. jist wonna yoo scruff tokn. thirza right way ti spell ana right way ti tok it. this is me tokn yir right way a spellin. this is ma trooth yooz doant no thi trooth yirsellz cawz yi canny talk right. this is the six a clock nyooz. belt up. Tom Leonard (1984)
Factor structure of the revised Jalowiec Coping Scale in patients admitted for elective coronary angiography*
Authors: Ulvik Bjørg , Johnsen Tom Backer , Nygård Ottar , Hanestad Berit R. , Wahl Astrid K. , Wentzel‐Larsen Tore 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:  The way patients cope with their illness may influence their well‐being, and for the assessment of coping relevant and valid instruments are required.The objective of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the frequently used Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS) in patients admitted for elective coronary angiography. We examined the original eight‐factor model of the 60‐item revised JCS and two three‐factor models later proposed in the literature.Methods:  Using a cross‐sectional design the JCS was completed by outpatients with suspected coronary artery disease 1–4 days prior to angiography. Item analyses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for each model were performed, for those among the 647 participating patients that completed at least half the questions in the JCS. Exploratory post hoc analyses based on modification indices were performed in the case of unsatisfactory model fit.Results:  Neither of the proposed structures had satisfactory fit without modifications allowing some items to load on more than one factor. However, one of the two three‐factor models performed well in item analysis and the CFA performed mostly satisfactory after some modifications.Conclusion:  As for most coping scales reported in the literature, the CFA in the present study showed problems with all three proposed models of the JCS. Despite these problems one of the models may be used with caution. Further improvement of the quality of coping instruments, including CFA based on large samples is recommended.