6 research outputs found
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Addressing ecological effects of radiation on populations and ecosystems to improve protection of the environment against radiation: Agreed statements from a Consensus Symposium
This paper reports the output of a consensus symposium organized by the International Union of Radioecology in November 2015. The symposium gathered an academically diverse group of 30 scientists to consider the still debated ecological impact of radiation on populations and ecosystems. Stimulated by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters' accidental contamination of the environment, there is increasing interest in developing environmental radiation protection frameworks. Scientific research conducted in a variety of laboratory and field settings has improved our knowledge of the effects of ionizing radiation on the environment. However, the results from such studies sometimes appear contradictory and there is disagreement about the implications for risk assessment. The Symposium discussions therefore focused on issues that might lead to different interpretations of the results, such as laboratory versus field approaches, organism versus population and ecosystemic inference strategies, dose estimation approaches and their significance under chronic exposure conditions. The participating scientists, from across the spectrum of disciplines and research areas, extending also beyond the traditional radioecology community, successfully developed a constructive spirit directed at understanding discrepancies. From the discussions, the group has derived seven consensus statements related to environmental protection against radiation, which are supplemented with some recommendations. Each of these statements is contextualized and discussed in view of contributing to the orientation and integration of future research, the results of which should yield better consensus on the ecological impact of radiation and consolidate suitable approaches for efficient radiological protection of the environment.Keywords: Consensus development, Environmental protection, Populations, Radiation effects, Ecosystems, Ecological risk assessmen
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Stress Impairs Prefrontal Cortical Function via D1 Dopamine Receptor Interactions With Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
BackgroundPsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia are worsened by stress, and working memory deficits are often a central feature of illness. Working memory is mediated by the persistent firing of prefrontal cortical (PFC) pyramidal neurons. Stress impairs working memory via high levels of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling, which reduces PFC neuronal firing. The current study examined whether D1R-cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling reduces neuronal firing and impairs working memory by increasing the open state of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) cation channels, which are concentrated on dendritic spines where PFC pyramidal neurons interconnect.MethodsA variety of methods were employed to test this hypothesis: dual immunoelectron microscopy localized D1R and HCN channels, in vitro recordings tested for D1R actions on HCN channel current, while recordings in monkeys performing a working memory task tested for D1R-HCN channel interactions in vivo. Finally, cognitive assessments following intra-PFC infusions of drugs examined D1R-HCN channel interactions on working memory performance.ResultsImmunoelectron microscopy confirmed D1R colocalization with HCN channels near excitatory-like synapses on dendritic spines in primate PFC. Mouse PFC slice recordings demonstrated that D1R stimulation increased HCN channel current, while local HCN channel blockade in primate PFC protected task-related firing from D1R-mediated suppression. D1R stimulation in rat or monkey PFC impaired working memory performance, while HCN channel blockade in PFC prevented this impairment in rats exposed to either stress or D1R stimulation.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that D1R stimulation or stress weakens PFC function via opening of HCN channels at network synapses
Addressing ecological effects of radiation on populations and ecosystems to improve protection of the environment against radiation : agreed statements from a Consensus Symposium
This paper reports the output of a consensus symposium organized by the International Union of
Radioecology in November 2015. The symposium gathered an academically diverse group of 30 scientists
to consider the still debated ecological impact of radiation on populations and ecosystems. Stimulated by
the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters' accidental contamination of the environment, there is increasing
interest in developing environmental radiation protection frameworks. Scientific research conducted in a
variety of laboratory and field settings has improved our knowledge of the effects of ionizing radiation on
the environment. However, the results from such studies sometimes appear contradictory and there is
disagreement about the implications for risk assessment. The Symposium discussions therefore focused
on issues that might lead to different interpretations of the results, such as laboratory versus field approaches,
organism versus population and ecosystemic inference strategies, dose estimation approaches
and their significance under chronic exposure conditions. The participating scientists, from across the
spectrum of disciplines and research areas, extending also beyond the traditional radioecology community,
successfully developed a constructive spirit directed at understanding discrepancies. From the
discussions, the group has derived seven consensus statements related to environmental protection
against radiation, which are supplemented with some recommendations. Each of these statements is
contextualized and discussed in view of contributing to the orientation and integration of future
research, the results of which should yield better consensus on the ecological impact of radiation and
consolidate suitable approaches for efficient radiological protection of the environment.peerReviewe
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BrechignacAddressingEcologicalEffectsAppendix.pdf
This paper reports the output of a consensus symposium organized by the International Union of Radioecology in November 2015. The symposium gathered an academically diverse group of 30 scientists to consider the still debated ecological impact of radiation on populations and ecosystems. Stimulated by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters' accidental contamination of the environment, there is increasing interest in developing environmental radiation protection frameworks. Scientific research conducted in a variety of laboratory and field settings has improved our knowledge of the effects of ionizing radiation on the environment. However, the results from such studies sometimes appear contradictory and there is disagreement about the implications for risk assessment. The Symposium discussions therefore focused on issues that might lead to different interpretations of the results, such as laboratory versus field approaches, organism versus population and ecosystemic inference strategies, dose estimation approaches and their significance under chronic exposure conditions. The participating scientists, from across the spectrum of disciplines and research areas, extending also beyond the traditional radioecology community, successfully developed a constructive spirit directed at understanding discrepancies. From the discussions, the group has derived seven consensus statements related to environmental protection against radiation, which are supplemented with some recommendations. Each of these statements is contextualized and discussed in view of contributing to the orientation and integration of future research, the results of which should yield better consensus on the ecological impact of radiation and consolidate suitable approaches for efficient radiological protection of the environment.Keywords: Environmental protection, Populations, Radiation effects, Consensus development, Ecosystems, Ecological risk assessmen