613 research outputs found
Preoptic Inputs and Mechanisms that Regulate Maternal Responsiveness
The preoptic area is a well-established centre for the control of maternal behaviour. An intact medial preoptic area (mPOA) is required for maternal responsiveness because lesion of the area abolishes maternal behaviours. Although hormonal changes in the peripartum period contribute to the initiation of maternal responsiveness, inputs from pups are required for its maintenance. Neurones are activated in different parts of the mPOA in response to pup exposure. In the present review, we summarise the potential inputs to the mPOA of rodent dams from the litter that can activate mPOA neurones. The roles of potential indirect effects through increased prolactin levels, as well as neuronal inputs to the preoptic area, are described. Recent results on the pathway mediating the effects of suckling to the mPOA suggest that neurones containing the neuropeptide tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues in the posterior thalamus are candidates for conveying the suckling information to the mPOA. Although the molecular mechanism through which these inputs alter mPOA neurones to support the maintenance of maternal responding is not yet known, altered gene expression is a likely candidate. Here, we summarise gene expression changes in the mPOA that have been linked to maternal behaviour and explore the idea that chromatin remodelling during mother-infant interactions mediates the long-term alterations in gene expression that sustain maternal responding
Recycled water causes no salinity or toxicity issues in Napa vineyards
In response to Napa Sanitation District's interest in expanding its delivery of recycled
water to vineyards for irrigation, we conducted a feasibility study to assess the
suitability of the water for this use. We adopted two approaches: comparing the water
quality characteristics of the recycled water with those of other local sources of
irrigation water, and evaluating soil samples from a vineyard that was irrigated for
8 years with the recycled water. Results indicate that the quality of the recycled
water is suitable for irrigation, and also that long-term accumulation of salts and
toxic ions have not occurred in the vineyards studied and are unlikely to occur. Nutrients
in the recycled water may be beneficial to vineyards, though the levels of nitrogen
may need to be reduced by planting cover crops in some vineyards
Ten Misconceptions from the History of Analysis and Their Debunking
The widespread idea that infinitesimals were "eliminated" by the "great
triumvirate" of Cantor, Dedekind, and Weierstrass is refuted by an
uninterrupted chain of work on infinitesimal-enriched number systems. The
elimination claim is an oversimplification created by triumvirate followers,
who tend to view the history of analysis as a pre-ordained march toward the
radiant future of Weierstrassian epsilontics. In the present text, we document
distortions of the history of analysis stemming from the triumvirate ideology
of ontological minimalism, which identified the continuum with a single number
system. Such anachronistic distortions characterize the received interpretation
of Stevin, Leibniz, d'Alembert, Cauchy, and others.Comment: 46 pages, 4 figures; Foundations of Science (2012). arXiv admin note:
text overlap with arXiv:1108.2885 and arXiv:1110.545
IgE Mediated Autoallergy against Thyroid Peroxidase â A Novel Pathomechanism of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria?
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (csU), which is characterized by recurrent episodes
of mast cell-driven wheal and flare-type skin reactions, is often associated with
elevated total IgE levels and thyroid autoimmunity. We speculate that some csU
patients express IgE autoantibodies against thyroid antigens such as thyroid
peroxidase (TPO), which could bind to skin mast cells and induce their
activation.We developed and used a site-directed human IgE capture ELISA to quantify
IgE-anti-TPO. We used this assay and investigated csU patients
(nâ=â478) and healthy control subjects
(nâ=â127) for IgE-anti-TPO and then assessed
IgE-anti-TPO-positive and -negative csU patients for clinical and serological
differences. (â=â61%, IgE-anti-TPO:
median 6.67, interquartile range 5.39â8.24). IgE-anti-TPO-positive and
-negative csU patients had very similar distributions of age and gender as well as
disease activity and duration. IgE-anti-TPO-positive csU patients exhibited
significantly higher IgG-anti-TPO levels and lymphocyte counts as well as
decreased C4 complement levels.Our findings show that a sizeable subgroup of csU patients expresses IgE
antibodies against thyroid peroxidase. These autoantibodies could cause
âautoallergicâ mast cell activation, a novel pathomechanism of chronic
spontaneous urticaria
Leibniz's Infinitesimals: Their Fictionality, Their Modern Implementations, And Their Foes From Berkeley To Russell And Beyond
Many historians of the calculus deny significant continuity between
infinitesimal calculus of the 17th century and 20th century developments such
as Robinson's theory. Robinson's hyperreals, while providing a consistent
theory of infinitesimals, require the resources of modern logic; thus many
commentators are comfortable denying a historical continuity. A notable
exception is Robinson himself, whose identification with the Leibnizian
tradition inspired Lakatos, Laugwitz, and others to consider the history of the
infinitesimal in a more favorable light. Inspite of his Leibnizian sympathies,
Robinson regards Berkeley's criticisms of the infinitesimal calculus as aptly
demonstrating the inconsistency of reasoning with historical infinitesimal
magnitudes. We argue that Robinson, among others, overestimates the force of
Berkeley's criticisms, by underestimating the mathematical and philosophical
resources available to Leibniz. Leibniz's infinitesimals are fictions, not
logical fictions, as Ishiguro proposed, but rather pure fictions, like
imaginaries, which are not eliminable by some syncategorematic paraphrase. We
argue that Leibniz's defense of infinitesimals is more firmly grounded than
Berkeley's criticism thereof. We show, moreover, that Leibniz's system for
differential calculus was free of logical fallacies. Our argument strengthens
the conception of modern infinitesimals as a development of Leibniz's strategy
of relating inassignable to assignable quantities by means of his
transcendental law of homogeneity.Comment: 69 pages, 3 figure
Clinical course, therapeutic responses and outcomes in relapsing MOG antibody-associated demyelination.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
We characterised the clinical course, treatment and outcomes in 59 patients with relapsing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated demyelination.
METHODS:
We evaluated clinical phenotypes, annualised relapse rates (ARR) prior and on immunotherapy and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), in 218 demyelinating episodes from 33 paediatric and 26 adult patients.
RESULTS:
The most common initial presentation in the cohort was optic neuritis (ON) in 54% (bilateral (BON) 32%, unilateral (UON) 22%), followed by acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (20%), which occurred exclusively in children. ON was the dominant phenotype (UON 35%, BON 19%) of all clinical episodes. 109/226 (48%) MRIs had no brain lesions. Patients were steroid responsive, but 70% of episodes treated with oral prednisone relapsed, particularly at doses <10\u2009mg daily or within 2 months of cessation. Immunotherapy, including maintenance prednisone (P=0.0004), intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab and mycophenolate, all reduced median ARRs on-treatment. Treatment failure rates were lower in patients on maintenance steroids (5%) compared with non-steroidal maintenance immunotherapy (38%) (P=0.016). 58% of patients experienced residual disability (average follow-up 61 months, visual loss in 24%). Patients with ON were less likely to have sustained disability defined by a final EDSS of 652 (OR 0.15, P=0.032), while those who had any myelitis were more likely to have sustained residual deficits (OR 3.56, P=0.077).
CONCLUSION:
Relapsing MOG antibody-associated demyelination is strongly associated with ON across all age groups and ADEM in children. Patients are highly responsive to steroids, but vulnerable to relapse on steroid reduction and cessation
- âŠ