Effects of electrical stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus on neuronal response properties of barrel cortex layer IV neurons following long-term sensory deprivation

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on response properties of layer IV barrel cortex neurons following long-term sensory deprivation. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into sensory-deprived (SD) and control (unplucked) groups. In SD group, all vibrissae except the D2 vibrissa were plucked on postnatal day one, and kept plucked for a period of 60 d. After that, whisker regrowth was allowed for 8-10 d. The D2 principal whisker (PW) and the D1 adjacent whisker (AW) were either deflected singly or both deflected in a serial order that the AW was deflected 20 ms before PW deflection for assessing lateral inhibition, and neuronal responses were recorded from layer IV of the D2 barrel cortex. DRN was electrically stimulated at inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from 0 to 800 ms before whisker deflection. Results: PW-evoked responses increased in the SD group with DRN electrical stimulation at ISIs of 50 ms and 100 ms, whereas AW-evoked responses increased at ISI of 800 ms in both groups. Whisker plucking before DRN stimulation could enhance the responsiveness of barrel cortex neurons to PW deflection and decrease the responsiveness to AW deflection. DRN electrical stimulation significantly reduced this difference only in PW-evoked responses between groups. Besides, no DRN stimulation-related changes in response latency were observed following PW or AW deflection in either group. Moreover, condition test (CT) ratio increased in SD rats, while DRN stimulation did not affect the CT ratio in either group. There was no obvious change in 5-HT2A receptor protein density in barrel cortex between SD and control groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that DRN electrical stimulation can modulate information processing in the SD barrel cortex

The Scientific Foundations of Forecasting Magnetospheric Space Weather

The magnetosphere is the lens through which solar space weather phenomena are focused and directed towards the Earth. In particular, the non-linear interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field leads to the formation of highly inhomogenous electrical currents in the ionosphere which can ultimately result in damage to and problems with the operation of power distribution networks. Since electric power is the fundamental cornerstone of modern life, the interruption of power is the primary pathway by which space weather has impact on human activity and technology. Consequently, in the context of space weather, it is the ability to predict geomagnetic activity that is of key importance. This is usually stated in terms of geomagnetic storms, but we argue that in fact it is the substorm phenomenon which contains the crucial physics, and therefore prediction of substorm occurrence, severity and duration, either within the context of a longer-lasting geomagnetic storm, but potentially also as an isolated event, is of critical importance. Here we review the physics of the magnetosphere in the frame of space weather forecasting, focusing on recent results, current understanding, and an assessment of probable future developments.Peer reviewe

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Topological model-based method for 3-D reconstruction of surfaces. Application : cardiac imaging

International audienc

Utilisation des bolus électroniques pour la traçabilité des ruminants : état de la technique, mise en place et évaluation en ovins et bovins

National audienceIndividual animal identification is a key point in the current traceability schemas of animals and their products (meat) which have received few technical updates. The electronic bolus is an identification device consisting in a high density capsule containing a passive transponder working at low-frequencies and being able to be read automatically and from distance. The use of electronic boluses seems to be a technique of interest in the frame of the recent European Regulations on the identification and recording of cattle, sheep and goats. The obtained results show that it is possible to use boluses for the identification of young ruminants early after birth and that, if their dimensions are adequate, it is possible to guarantee their retention (> 99 %) during the life-span of the animal, without effects on health or performances. Moreover, the bolus is an efficient and cost competitive option for the identification and the traceability of ruminants in European practical conditions, as already evaluated in Spain.L’identification individuelle des animaux d’élevage, qui est un point critique des schémas actuels de traçabilité des animaux et de leurs produits (viande), a peu bénéficié des améliorations technologiques récentes. Le bolus électronique est un dispositif d’identification constitué d’un bâtonnet de haute densité contenant un transpondeur passif basses fréquences capable d’être lu automatiquement et à distance. L’utilisation de bolus électroniques apparaît comme une technique intéressante dans le cadre de l’application des règlements européens récents sur l’identification et l’enregistrement des bovins, ovins et caprins. Les résultats montrent qu’il est possible d’identifier les ruminants avec des bolus relativement tôt après la naissance et, si leurs dimensions sont adaptées, on peut garantir des taux de rétention élevés (> 99 %) pendant toute la vie de l’animal, sans effets sur la santé ou sur les niveaux de production. En outre, le bolus est une solution compétitive en termes d’efficacité et de coûts pour l’identification et la traçabilité des ruminants dans les conditions pratiques d’élevage en Europe, comme cela a été montré en Espagne

Utilisation des bolus électroniques pour la traçabilité des ruminants : état de la technique, mise en place et évaluation en ovins et bovins

National audienceIndividual animal identification is a key point in the current traceability schemas of animals and their products (meat) which have received few technical updates. The electronic bolus is an identification device consisting in a high density capsule containing a passive transponder working at low-frequencies and being able to be read automatically and from distance. The use of electronic boluses seems to be a technique of interest in the frame of the recent European Regulations on the identification and recording of cattle, sheep and goats. The obtained results show that it is possible to use boluses for the identification of young ruminants early after birth and that, if their dimensions are adequate, it is possible to guarantee their retention (> 99 %) during the life-span of the animal, without effects on health or performances. Moreover, the bolus is an efficient and cost competitive option for the identification and the traceability of ruminants in European practical conditions, as already evaluated in Spain.L’identification individuelle des animaux d’élevage, qui est un point critique des schémas actuels de traçabilité des animaux et de leurs produits (viande), a peu bénéficié des améliorations technologiques récentes. Le bolus électronique est un dispositif d’identification constitué d’un bâtonnet de haute densité contenant un transpondeur passif basses fréquences capable d’être lu automatiquement et à distance. L’utilisation de bolus électroniques apparaît comme une technique intéressante dans le cadre de l’application des règlements européens récents sur l’identification et l’enregistrement des bovins, ovins et caprins. Les résultats montrent qu’il est possible d’identifier les ruminants avec des bolus relativement tôt après la naissance et, si leurs dimensions sont adaptées, on peut garantir des taux de rétention élevés (> 99 %) pendant toute la vie de l’animal, sans effets sur la santé ou sur les niveaux de production. En outre, le bolus est une solution compétitive en termes d’efficacité et de coûts pour l’identification et la traçabilité des ruminants dans les conditions pratiques d’élevage en Europe, comme cela a été montré en Espagne

Cerebral perfusion pressure in women with preeclampsia is elevated even after treatment of elevated blood pressure

Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is elevated in preeclampsia, and may predispose to cerebrovascular complications and progression to eclampsia. We estimated zero flow pressure (ZFP) and CPP using simultaneously obtained arterial blood pressure and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in 10 women with preeclampsia, all treated with methyldopa with or without nifedipine, and 18 healthy pregnant controls. Mean +/- SD ZFP was lower in women with preeclampsia than in controls (16.8 +/- 10.9 vs. 31.7 +/- 15.0mmHg, p=0.01) whereas CPP was considerably higher (82.3 +/- 17.7 vs. 55.0 +/- 11.7mmHg, p<0.001), as was the cerebral flow index (41.9 +/- 18.0 vs. 25.6 +/- 11.2, p=0.02). There was a significant correlation between blood pressure and CPP in women with preeclampsia, but not in controls. Women with preeclampsia may have an increased cerebral perfusion due to a reduced ZFP and increased CPP despite treatment with antihypertensive medication. More rigorous antihypertensive therapy, aimed at reducing CPP, could result in a decrease in cerebral complications in women with preeclampsia

Limitation of XPS for analysis of wood species containing high amounts of lipophilic extractives

International audienc