Redes de vigilancia de parámetros meteorológicos

Número monográfico dedicado a la meteorología.Para obtener una adecuada vigilancia de los fenómenos meteorológicos, es necesario contar con una serie de sistemas que controlen los distintos parámetros. Dentro de estos sistemas de control, se encuentran las estaciones meteorológicas automáticas, y las técnicas de teledetección o medida a distancia: satélites meteorológicos y detección de rayos. El autor, en el artículo, hace una breve descripción de cada uno de ellos

El futuro de las redes de observación europeas, Programa EUCOS

Ponencia presentada en: V Simposio Nacional de Predicción, celebrado en 2001 en Madrid.Con la implantación del Programa EUCOS, las redes de observación europeas evolucionarán probablemente en el año 2006 hacia un escenario en el que se reduzca el número de estaciones de observación en altura del continente europeo, a la vez que se produzca un considerable incremento en las observaciones procedentes de aeronaves (observaciones AMDAR) y en los sondeos termodinámicos realizados en zonas oceánicas (observaciones ASAP). En este escenario de evolución se integrarán las estaciones españolas de A Coruña, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca y Tenerife, operando las tres primeras con cuatro sondeos diarios. Con el incremento de las observaciones AMDAR y ASAP, se esperan beneficios, no solo para la predicción a corto plazo basada en modelos numéricos, sino también para la vigilancia y predicción a muy corto plazo, debido a la mayor densidad y frecuencia de las observaciones de altura

Minimising fear and anxiety in working dogs:a review

The causes of fear and anxiety in working dogs are multifactorial and may include inherited characteristics that differ between individuals (e.g. Goddard and Beilharz, 1982; 1984a,b ), influences of the environment ( Lefebvre et al., 2007 ), and learned experiences during particular sensitive periods ( Appleby et al., 2002 ) and throughout life. Fear-related behavior compromises performance, leads to significant numbers of dogs failing to complete training (e.g., Murphy, 1995; Batt et al., 2008 ), early withdrawals from working roles ( Caron-Lormier et al., 2016 ), and can jeopardize dog and handler safety. Hence, amelioration of fear and anxiety is critical to maintain dogs in working roles and to ensure their well-being. Although current methods of selection and training are seemingly effective at producing many dogs which work in a remarkable array of environments, some dogs do not make the grade, and longevity of service is not always maximized. Programs should strive for optimal efficiency and they need to continually analyze the value of each component of their program, seek evidence for its value and explore potential evidence-based improvements. Here we discuss scientific evidence for methods and strategies which may be of value in reducing the risk of fear behaviors developing in the working dog population and suggest potentially valuable techniques and future research to explore the benefit of these approaches. The importance of environmental influences, learning opportunities, and effects of underlying temperament on the outward expression of fear and anxiety should not be underestimated. Identification of characteristics which predict resilience to stress are valuable, both to enable careful breeding for these traits and to develop predictive tests for puppies and procured animals. It is vitally important to rear animals in optimal environments and introduce them to a range of stimuli in a positive, controlled, and gradual way, as these can all help minimize the number of dogs which develop work-inhibiting fears. Future research should explore innovative methods to best measure the relative resilience of dogs to stressful events. This could include developing optimal exposure protocols to minimize the development of fear and anxiety, and exploring the influence of social learning and the most effective elements of stimulus presentation

In vivo effects of pardoprunox (SLV308), a partial D2/D3 receptor and 5-HT1A receptor agonist, on rat dopamine and serotonin neuronal activity

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Astrocytes and gliotransmitters: new players in the treatment of major depression?

International audienceWith a lifetime prevalence of more than 16% worldwide, major depressive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Only one third of patients experience a complete therapeutic improvement with the use of current antidepressant drugs, with a therapeutic effect appearing only after several weeks of treatment. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of current antidepressant treatments is needed to ultimately identify new targets and enhance beneficial effects. Given the intimate relationships between astrocytes and neurons at synapses and the ability of astrocytes to "sense" neuronal communication and release gliotransmitters, an attractive hypothesis is emerging stating that the effects of antidepressants on brain function could be, at least in part, mediated by direct influences of astrocytes on neuronal networks. This review aims at highlighting the involvement of astrocytes and gliotransmission in the antidepressant effects of both non- and pharmacological therapies

Protein Kinase C Inhibition Rescues Manic-Like Behaviors and Hippocampal Cell Proliferation Deficits in the Sleep Deprivation Model of Mania

International audienceBackground: Recent studies revealed that bipolar disorder may be associated with deficits of neuroplasticity. Additionally, accumulating evidence has implicated alterations of the intracellular signaling molecule protein kinase C (PKC) in mania.Methods: Using sleep deprivation (SD) as an animal model of mania, this study aimed to examine the possible relationship between PKC and neuroplasticity in mania. Rats were subjected to SD for 72 h and tested behaviorally. In parallel, SD-induced changes in hippocampal cell proliferation were evaluated with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling. We then examined the effects of the mood stabilizer lithium, the antipsychotic agent aripiprazole, and the PKC inhibitors chelerythrine and tamoxifen on both behavioral and cell proliferation impairments induced by SD. The antidepressant fluoxetine was used as a negative control.Results: We found that SD triggered the manic-like behaviors such as hyperlocomotion and increased sleep latency, and reduced hippocampal cell proliferation. These alterations were counteracted by an acute administration of lithium and aripiprazole but not of fluoxetine, and only a single administration of aripiprazole increased cell proliferation on its own. Importantly, SD rats exhibited increased levels of phosphorylated synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, suggesting PKC overactivity. Moreover, PKC inhibitors attenuated manic-like behaviors and rescued cell proliferation deficits induced by SD.Conclusions: Our findings confirm the relevance of SD as a model of mania, and provide evidence that antimanic agents are also able to prevent SD-induced decrease of hippocampal cell proliferation. Furthermore, they emphasize the therapeutic potential of PKC inhibitors, as revealed by their antimanic-like and pro-proliferative properties

Protein kinase C regulates mood-related behaviors and adult hippocampal cell proliferation in rats

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