Genetic diversity analysis in the section Caulorrhizae (genus Arachis) using microsatellite markers

Diversity in 26 microsatellite loci from section Caulorrhizae germplasm was evaluated by using 33 accessions of A. pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Gregory and ten accessions of Arachis repens Handro. Twenty loci proved to be polymorphic and a total of 196 alleles were detected with an average of 9.8 alleles per locus. The variability found in those loci was greater than the variability found using morphological characters, seed storage proteins and RAPD markers previously used in this germplasm. The high potential of these markers to detect species-specific alleles and discriminate among accessions was demonstrated. The set of microsatellite primer pairs developed by our group for A. pintoi are useful molecular tools for evaluating Section Caulorrhizae germplasm, as well as that of species belonging to other Arachis sections

The Neural Basis of Decision-Making and Reward Processing in Adults with Euthymic Bipolar Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder (BD) share DSM-IV criteria in adults and cause problems in decision-making. Nevertheless, no previous report has assessed a decision-making task that includes the examination of the neural correlates of reward and gambling in adults with ADHD and those with BD

Crecimiento de pulpo común (Octopus vulgaris) en jaulas flotantes

[EN] Two ongrowing experiments were conducted using a raft deployed for rearing mussels during summer and winter in the Ria of Vigo, Galicia, NW Spain. Two 3 m x 1.5 m x 6 m galvanized iron ongrowing cages were suspended from this platform, each equipped with dens constructed from PVC pipe. Small common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) were captured by the small-scale creel fishery in the ria and placed in one of two sex-specific experimental cages. Specimens were fed a standard diet (fish, decapod crustacean and mussels) at a daily feeding rate of 5% of the total weight of the animals in each cage. Due to the very high mortality as a result of decreased salinity in the winter experiment and spawning during the summer experiment, only data from the first 75 days of each experiment were compared. Growth rates were significantly higher in summer than in winter for both sexes, which was probably due to higher ambient culture temperatures during summer. Mortality was also higher during summer than winter. It was concluded that culture of common octopus on mussel rafts may be viable, especially if problems related to salinity, the acquisition of specimens from the wild and losses due to spawning can be reduced.[ES] En este estudio se realizaron dos experimentos de engorde de pulpo común (Octopus vulgaris) en jaulas suspendidas desde una plataforma de cultivo de mejillón en la Ría de Vigo (Galicia, noroeste de España). Las dimensiones de cada jaula de hierro galvanizado fueron 3 x 1,5 x 6 m, y cada una de ellas estaba equipada con cobijos de PVC. Los pulpos de pequeño tamaño se obtuvieron en la pesquería de la Ría de Vigo y se introdujeron por separado, machos y hembras, en cada una de ellas. Los ejemplares fueron alimentados con una tasa de alimento del 5% del peso medio de los animales de cada jaula con una dieta estándar compuesta por peces, crustáceos decápodos y mejillón. Únicamente se utilizaron los datos de los 75 primeros días de cada experimento debido a la elevada mortalidad de los animales al final del experimento de inverno por descenso brusco de la salinidad y al desove de los animales de verano. Las tasas de crecimiento de ambos sexos fueron significativamente más altas en verano que en invierno posiblemente debido a las mayores temperaturas ambientales durante el estío. La mortalidad fue más elevada en verano que en invierno. Esta experiencia indicó que el engorde de pulpo en jaulas sería viable, especialmente si los problemas debidos al descenso de la salinidad, la obtención de ejemplares de la naturaleza y al desove de las hembras pueden reducirse.Peer reviewe

Decision-making, somatic markers and emotion processing in opiate users

Rationale Opiate use is associated with deficits in decision-making. A possible explanation for these deficits is provided by the somatic marker hypothesis, which suggests that substance users may experience abnormal emotional responses during decision-making involving reward and punishment. This in turn may interfere with the brief physiological arousal, i.e. somatic markers that normally occur in anticipation of risky decisions. To date, the applicability of the somatic marker hypothesis to explain decision-making deficits has not been investigated in opiate users. Objectives This study assessed whether decision-making deficits in opiate users were related to abnormal emotional responses and reduced somatic markers. Methods Opiate users enrolled in an opiate substitute treatment program (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 32) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) while their skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded. Participants’ emotional responses to emotion-eliciting videos were also recorded using SCRs and subjective ratings. Results Opiate users displayed poorer decision-making on the IGT than did controls. However, there were no differences between the groups in SCRs; both groups displayed stronger SCRs following punishment than following reward, and both groups displayed stronger anticipatory SCRs prior to disadvantageous decisions than advantageous decisions. There were no group differences in objective or subjective measures of emotional responses to the videos. Conclusions The results suggest that deficits in emotional responsiveness are not apparent in opiate users who are receiving pharmacological treatment. Thus, the somatic marker hypothesis does not provide a good explanation for the decision-making deficits in this group

The neuropsychology of mood disorders

Cognitive dysfunction is central to our understanding of mood disorders in terms of patient experiences, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, and psychological models. In this article, we highlight key findings from studies that have used neuropsychological tests and functional neuroimaging techniques to explore cognitive dysfunction in patients with depression and mania. In particular, we focus on affective processing bias, abnormal response to negative feedback, and decision making. Results are discussed in the context of current conceptualizations of dysfunctional neural circuitry, and in relation to important clinical and research implications.</p