title: Neuromolecular basis of impaired conditioned taste aversion acquisition in valproate-induced rat model of autism spectrum disorder

authors: Pal, Tapasya

subjects: autism

abstract: Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), defined by social, behavioral, and cognitive anomalies, is also associated with dysregulated appetite. ASD individuals, often described as “picky eaters”, exhibit restricted dietary preferences and a pronounced avoidance of novel foods. This suggests that the perceived safety of specific tastants may be a crucial determinant of dietary acceptance in ASD. Here, we explore the hypothesis that conditioned taste aversion (CTA), a learned avoidance of foods whose intake promotes sickness, is exacerbated in ASD. Methods: We assessed the magnitude of a lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced CTA in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism versus in healthy control rats. We also examined the effect of a standard 3 mEq LiCl dose on transcript and neuronal activation changes in brain circuits mediating feeding behavior and associative learning. Results: Surprisingly, we found that while 3 mEq LiCl induced CTA in healthy controls, even the 6 mEq dose was ineffective in generating aversion in VPA rats. LiCl at 3 mEq affected c-Fos immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and amygdala in controls, whereas in VPA rats it did not produce any c-Fos changes. Gene expression analysis of feeding-related genes (AgRP, NPY, OXT) and those involved in regulating stress and anxiety (DOR and MC3R) were differentially regulated in the VPA rats. Interestingly, transcripts for COMT1, AgRP, OXT, and MC3R were downregulated in saline-treated VPA rats compared to saline-treated controls. Conclusions: We conclude that VPA rats show blunted CTA responsiveness, which is reflected by a differential impact of LiCl on circuits that promote the acquisition of CTA in healthy versus autistic individuals.

text: Neuromolecular basis of impaired conditioned taste aversion acquisition in valproate-induced rat model of autism spectrum disorder Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), defined by social, behavioral, and cognitive anomalies, is also associated with dysregulated appetite. ASD individuals, often described as “picky eaters”, exhibit restricted dietary preferences and a pronounced avoidance of novel foods. This suggests that the perceived safety of specific tastants may be a crucial determinant of dietary acceptance in ASD. Here, we explore the hypothesis that conditioned taste aversion (CTA), a learned avoidance of foods whose intake promotes sickness, is exacerbated in ASD. Methods: We assessed the magnitude of a lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced CTA in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism versus in healthy control rats. We also examined the effect of a standard 3 mEq LiCl dose on transcript and neuronal activation changes in brain circuits mediating feeding behavior and associative learning. Results: Surprisingly, we found that while 3 mEq LiCl induced CTA in healthy controls, even the 6 mEq dose was ineffective in generating aversion in VPA rats. LiCl at 3 mEq affected c-Fos immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and amygdala in controls, whereas in VPA rats it did not produce any c-Fos changes. Gene expression analysis of feeding-related genes (AgRP, NPY, OXT) and those involved in regulating stress and anxiety (DOR and MC3R) were differentially regulated in the VPA rats. Interestingly, transcripts for COMT1, AgRP, OXT, and MC3R were downregulated in saline-treated VPA rats compared to saline-treated controls. Conclusions: We conclude that VPA rats show blunted CTA responsiveness, which is reflected by a differential impact of LiCl on circuits that promote the acquisition of CTA in healthy versus autistic individuals.

year: 2025

title: Weka: practical machine learning tools and techniques with Java Implementations

authors: Witten, Ian H.

abstract: The Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis(Weka) is a comprehensive suite of Java class libraries that implement many state-of-the-art machine learning and data mining algorithms.

Weka is freely available on the World-Wide Weband accompanies a new text on data mining which documents and fully explains all the algorithms it contains. Applications written using the Weka class libraries can be run on anycomputer with a Web browsing capability.

text: Weka: practical machine learning tools and techniques with Java Implementations The Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis(Weka) is a comprehensive suite of Java class libraries that implement many state-of-the-art machine learning and data mining algorithms.

Weka is freely available on the World-Wide Weband accompanies a new text on data mining which documents and fully explains all the algorithms it contains. Applications written using the Weka class libraries can be run on anycomputer with a Web browsing capability.

year: 1999-11-22

title: Kaitiakitanga - Active guardianship, responsibilities and relationships with the world: Towards a bio-cultural future In early childhood education

authors: Paul-Burke, Kura

abstract: The world is a vast family, and humans are children of the earth and sky, and cousins to all living things. Such unity means that nature is the ultimate teacher about life (Royal 2010, p. 9).
For Māori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) the term kaitiakitanga (pronounced, kye-tee-ah-key-tar-ngah) is often used to refer to the active guardianship and management of natural organisms and their environments. Mātauranga Māori or Māori knowledge positions humans within nature and focuses on ways in which cultural understandings and intergenerational connections between people and their biophysical contexts assist in the retention and protection of biodiversity and ecologically sustainable ecosystems. This entry critically reflects notions of kaitiakitanga and bio-cultural connectivity as important and meaningful contributors for young children and their relationships with and for the world.

text: Kaitiakitanga - Active guardianship, responsibilities and relationships with the world: Towards a bio-cultural future In early childhood education The world is a vast family, and humans are children of the earth and sky, and cousins to all living things. Such unity means that nature is the ultimate teacher about life (Royal 2010, p. 9).
For Māori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) the term kaitiakitanga (pronounced, kye-tee-ah-key-tar-ngah) is often used to refer to the active guardianship and management of natural organisms and their environments. Mātauranga Māori or Māori knowledge positions humans within nature and focuses on ways in which cultural understandings and intergenerational connections between people and their biophysical contexts assist in the retention and protection of biodiversity and ecologically sustainable ecosystems. This entry critically reflects notions of kaitiakitanga and bio-cultural connectivity as important and meaningful contributors for young children and their relationships with and for the world.

year: 2015