Bostonia. Volume 6

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Development and Validation of a Sensitive Entropy-Based Measure for the Water Maze

In the water maze, mice are trained to navigate to an escape platform located below the water's surface, and spatial learning is most commonly evaluated in a probe test in which the platform is removed from the pool. While contemporary tracking software provides precise positional information of mice for the duration of the probe test, existing performance measures (e.g., percent quadrant time, platform crossings) fail to exploit fully the richness of this positional data. Using the concept of entropy (H), here we develop a new measure that considers both how focused the search is and the degree to which searching is centered on the former platform location. To evaluate how H performs compared to existing measures of water maze performance we compiled five separate databases, containing more than 1600 mouse probe tests. Random selection of individual trials from respective databases then allowed us to simulate experiments with varying sample and effect sizes. Using this Monte Carlo-based method, we found that H outperformed existing measures in its ability to detect group differences over a range of sample or effect sizes. Additionally, we validated the new measure using three models of experimentally induced hippocampal dysfunction: (1) complete hippocampal lesions, (2) genetic deletion of αCaMKII, a gene implicated in hippocampal behavioral and synaptic plasticity, and (3) a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Together, these data indicate that H offers greater sensitivity than existing measures, most likely because it exploits the richness of the precise positional information of the mouse throughout the probe test

Bostonia. Volume 4

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Parenting Influences on Frontal Lobe Gray Matter and Preterm Toddlers\u27 Problem-Solving Skills

Children born preterm often face challenges with self-regulation during toddlerhood. This study examined the relationship between prematurity, supportive parent behaviors, frontal lobe gray matter volume (GMV), and emotion regulation (ER) among toddlers during a parent-assisted, increasingly complex problem-solving task, validated for this age range. Data were collected from preterm toddlers (n = 57) ages 15–30 months corrected for prematurity and their primary caregivers. MRI data were collected during toddlers’ natural sleep. The sample contained three gestational groups: 22–27 weeks (extremely preterm; EPT), 28–33 weeks (very preterm; VPT), and 34–36 weeks (late preterm; LPT). Older toddlers became more compliant as the Tool Task increased in difficulty, but this pattern varied by gestational group. Engagement was highest for LPT toddlers, for older toddlers, and for the easiest task condition. Parents did not differentiate their support depending on task difficulty or their child’s age or gestational group. Older children had greater frontal lobe GMV, and for EPT toddlers only, more parent support was related to larger right frontal lobe GMV. We found that parent support had the greatest impact on high birth risk (≤27 gestational weeks) toddler brain development, thus early parent interventions may normalize preterm child neurodevelopment and have lasting impacts

Auditory feature perception and auditory hallucinatory experiences in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

Schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SZ) is associated with deficits in auditory perception as well as auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). However, the relationship between auditory feature perception and auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), one of the most commonly occurring symptoms in psychosis, has not been well characterized. This study evaluated perception of a broad range of auditory features in SZ and to determine whether current AVHs relate to auditory feature perception. Auditory perception, including frequency, intensity, duration, pulse-train and temporal order discrimination, as well as an embedded tone task, was assessed in both AVH (n = 20) and non-AVH (n = 24) SZ individuals and in healthy controls (n = 29) with the Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities (TBAC). The Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) was used to assess the experience of auditory hallucinations in patients with SZ. Findings suggest that compared to controls, the SZ group had greater deficits on an array of auditory features, with non-AVH SZ individuals showing the most severe degree of abnormality. IQ and measures of cognitive processing were positively associated with performance on the TBAC for all SZ individuals, but not with the HPSVQ scores. These findings indicate that persons with SZ demonstrate impaired auditory perception for a broad range of features. It does not appear that impaired auditory perception is associated with recent auditory verbal hallucinations, but instead associated with the degree of intellectual impairment in SZ

Optogenetic inhibitor of the transcription factor CREB

Current approaches for optogenetic control of transcription do not mimic the activity of endogenous transcription factors, which act at numerous sites in the genome in a complex interplay with other factors. Optogenetic control of dominant negative versions of endogenous transcription factors provides a mechanism for mimicking the natural regulation of gene expression. Here we describe opto-DN-CREB, a blue light controlled inhibitor of the transcription factor CREB created by fusing the dominant negative inhibitor A-CREB to photoactive yellow protein (PYP). A light driven conformational change in PYP prevents coiled-coil formation between A-CREB and CREB, thereby activating CREB. Optogenetic control of CREB function was characterized in vitro, in HEK293T cells, and in neurons where blue light enabled control of expression of the CREB targets NR4A2 and c-Fos. Dominant negative inhibitors exist for numerous transcription factors; linking these to optogenetic domains offers a general approach for spatiotemporal control of native transcriptional events

Optogenetic inhibitor of the transcription factor CREB

Current approaches for optogenetic control of transcription do not mimic the activity of endogenous transcription factors, which act at numerous sites in the genome in a complex interplay with other factors. Optogenetic control of dominant negative versions of endogenous transcription factors provides a mechanism for mimicking the natural regulation of gene expression. Here we describe opto-DN-CREB, a blue light controlled inhibitor of the transcription factor CREB created by fusing the dominant negative inhibitor A-CREB to photoactive yellow protein (PYP). A light driven conformational change in PYP prevents coiled-coil formation between A-CREB and CREB, thereby activating CREB. Optogenetic control of CREB function was characterized in vitro, in HEK293T cells, and in neurons where blue light enabled control of expression of the CREB targets NR4A2 and c-Fos. Dominant negative inhibitors exist for numerous transcription factors; linking these to optogenetic domains offers a general approach for spatiotemporal control of native transcriptional events

Seroprevalencia del virus de Lengua Azul en cabras (Capra hircus) de la Región Norte del Perú

Bluetongue is an endemic disease in tropical and subtropical regions and the virus that causes the disease is transmitted by mosquito vectors of the genus Culicoides. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of the Bluetongue virus (BTV) in goats from the departments of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca and La Libertad (Peru). Blood samples (n=424) were collected from goats older than 6 months of age, without clinical signs of disease and reared in extensive production systems between June and October 2017. The sera were analysed with commercial ELISA competition kits to determine antibodies against BTV. A seroprevalence of 23.8% (95% CI 19.84-28.16) was found. The results by department indicate that 34.9% (81/232), 20.9% (13/62), 9.5% (4/42) and 6.0% (3/50) and 0% (0/38) of samples from Piura, Tumbes, Cajamarca. Lambayeque and La Libertad, respectively, had antibodies against BTV. The seropositivity showed a positive association (p<0.05) with the age of the goats and negative (p<0.05) with the altitude of rearing.Lengua Azul es una enfermedad endémica en regiones tropicales y subtropicales y el virus causante de la enfermedad es transmitido por mosquitos vectores del género Culicoides. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la seroprevalencia del virus de Lengua azul (VLA) en cabras de los departamentos de Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca y La Libertad (Perú). Se colectaron muestras de sangre (n=424) entre junio a octubre de 2017 de cabras mayores a 6 meses de edad, sin signos clínicos de enfermedad y criadas en forma extensiva. Los sueros fueron analizados con kits comerciales de ELISA de competición para determinar anticuerpos contra VLA. Se encontró una seroprevalencia de 23.8% (IC 95% 19.84-28.16). Los resultados por departamento indican que 34.9% (81/232), 20.9% (13/62), 9.5% (4/42) y 6.0% (3/50) y 0% (0/38) de las cabras de Piura, Tumbes, Cajamarca. Lambayeque y La Libertad, respectivamente, tuvieron anticuerpos contra el VLA. La seropositividad al VLA mostró una asociación positiva (p<0.05) con la edad de las cabras y negativa (p<0.05) con la altitud (msnm) de crianza

Easing the transition to secondary education for children with autism spectrum disorder: An evaluation of the Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD)

In mainstream education, the transition from primary to secondary school ('school transition') is difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder, being marked by high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD) is a new, manualised school transition intervention. We investigated its feasibility and efficacy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (N = 37; mean age = 11.47 years; mean IQ = 85.24) using an unblinded, non-randomised, controlled design. Teachers found the intervention feasible and acceptable. Children receiving STEP-ASD (n = 17) showed a large (Cohen's d = 0.88) reduction in school-reported emotional and behavioural difficulties, whereas controls (n = 20) showed a slight increase (d = -0.1) (p = 0.010). These encouraging findings suggest the value of STEP-ASD as a low-intensity intervention for reducing problem behaviours and distress in children with autism spectrum disorder as they transition to mainstream secondary school

Efecto de cinco niveles de goma de tara sobre el comportamiento productivo, mineralización ósea y morfometría intestinal en pollos de carne

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of five levels of tara gum on productive performance, bone mineralization, glucose and cholesterol levels, and intestinal morphometry in broilers from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 200 male BB cobs of the Cobb500 line were used, distributed in five treatments with four repetitions and 10 animals per repetition: T1, basal diet without tara gum (control); T2, T3, T4 and T5, basal diet with tara gum (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% respectively). All diets contained 3072 kcal ME/kg and 20.5% crude protein. The feed meal and water were offered ad libitum. The data were analyzed under a completely randomized design using the ANOVA procedure and the Duncan test for comparison of means. The results showed that body weight and body-weight gain were better in T3 than in T4 and T5 (p<0.05), both in the second and in the third week of age. Also, tara gum influenced the depth of the crypt and the height of the villus and crypt in the jejunum compared to the control group. No statistical difference was found in indicators of bone mineralization, cholesterol or glucose levels. It is concluded that the addition of 0.1% tara gum favors body weight, body-weight gain and intestinal morphology in broilers.El estudio tuvo por objetivo evaluar el efecto de cinco niveles de goma de tara sobre el comportamiento productivo, mineralización ósea, niveles de glucosa y colesterol y morfometría intestinal en pollos de 1 a 21 días de edad. Se emplearon 200 pollos BB machos de la Línea Cobb500, distribuidos en cinco tratamientos con cuatro repeticiones y 10 animales por repetición: T1, dieta basal sin goma de tara (control); T2, T3, T4 y T5, dieta basal con goma de tara (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 y 0.20%, respectivamente). Todas las dietas contuvieron 3072 kcal ME/kg y 20.5% de proteína cruda. El alimento, en forma de harina, y el agua fueron ofrecidos ad libitum. Los datos fueron analizados bajo un diseño completamente randomizado usando el procedimiento ANOVA y el test de Duncan para comparación de medias. Los resultados mostraron que el peso corporal y ganancia de peso fueron mejores en T3 que en T4 y T5 (p<0.05), tanto en la segunda como en la tercera semana de edad. Asimismo, la goma de tara influyó en la profundidad de cripta y en la relación altura de vellosidad y cripta en el yeyuno comparado al grupo control. No se encontró diferencia estadística en indicadores de mineralización ósea, niveles de colesterol o glucosa. Se concluye que la adición de goma de tara al 0.1% favorece al peso vivo, la ganancia de peso y la morfología intestinal en pollos de carne