26 research outputs found
Activation of Dopaminergic D2/D3 Receptors Modulates Dorsoventral Connectivity in the Hippocampus and Reverses the Impairment of Working Memory after Nerve Injury
Dopamine plays an important role in several forms of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, a crucial brain structure for working memory (WM) functioning. In this study, we evaluated whether the working-memory impairment characteristic of animal models of chronic pain is dependent on hippocampal dopaminergic signaling. To address this issue, we implanted multichannel arrays of electrodes in the dorsal and ventral hippocampal CA1 region of rats and recorded the neuronal activity during a food-reinforced spatial WM task of trajectory alternation. Within-subject behavioral performance and patterns of dorsoventral neuronal activity were assessed before and after the onset of persistent neuropathic pain using the Spared Nerve Injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain. Our results show that the peripheral nerve lesion caused a disruption in WM and in hippocampus spike activity and that this disruption was reversed by the systemic administration of the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist quinpirole (0.05 mg/kg). In SNI animals, the administration of quinpirole restored both the performance-related and the task-related spike activity to the normal range characteristic of naive animals, whereas quinpirole in sham animals caused the opposite effect. Quinpirole also reversed the abnormally low levels of hippocampus dorsoventral connectivity and phase coherence. Together with our finding of changes in gene expression of dopamine receptors and modulators after the onset of the nerve injury model, these results suggest that disruption of the dopaminergic balance in the hippocampus may be crucial for the clinical neurological and cognitive deficits observed in patients with painful syndromes
Setting performance indicators for coastal marine protected areas: An expert-based methodology
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) require effective indicators to assess their performance, in
compliance with the goals of relevant national and international commitments. Achieving
and prioritizing shortlists of multidisciplinary indicators demands a significant effort from
specialists to depict the multiple conservation and socioeconomic interests, and the large
complexity of natural systems. The present paper describes a structured expert-based
methodology (process and outputs) to co-define a list of multidisciplinary MPA
performance indicators. This work was promoted by the management authority of
coastal MPAs in mainland Portugal to gather a consensual and feasible list of indicators
that would guide the design of a future national monitoring program. Hence, Portuguese
coastal MPAs served as a case study to develop such a process between 2019 and 2020.
In the end, participants (1) agreed on a shortlist of prioritized indicators (i.e., environmental,
governance, and socioeconomic indicators) and (2) defined minimum monitoring
frequencies for the indicators in this list, compatible with the potential replicability of the
associated survey methods. The present approach recommends that management plans
incorporate monitoring procedures and survey methods, with a validated list of indicators
and associated monitoring periodicity, agreed among researchers, MPA managers and
governance experts. The proposed methodology, and the lessons learned from it, can
support future processes aiming to define and prioritize MPA performance indicatorsFundação para a CiĂȘncia e Tecnologia - FCT, European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund (EMFF)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Psychologistsâ dilemmas in career counselling practice
In this study, we explored main dilemmas psychologists face in career
counselling in two main professional settings: employment and education. Participants
included 24 experienced Portuguese psychologists, working in employment
(n = 14) and educational (n = 10) settings. We used consensual qualitative
research to conduct and analyse semi-structured interviews. Results revealed
dilemmasâ in five domains: neutrality, assessment, dual loyalty, role boundaries, and
confidentiality, with the typical dilemma in the domain of neutrality. Differences
between groups were found in the domains of dual loyalty and role boundaries.Dans cette étude, nous avons exploré les principaux dilemmes rencontrés
par les psychologues dans le conseil en orientation dans deux milieux professionnels
centraux: le placement et lâĂ©ducation. Parmi les participants figuraient 24 psychologues
portugais expérimentés travaillant dans des contextes de placement (n = 14)
et dâĂ©ducation (n = 10). Nous avons utilisĂ© la recherche qualitative consensuelle
pour mener et analyser les entretiens semi-structurés. Les reŽsultats ont révé lé des
dilemmes dans cinq domaines: la neutralitĂ©, lâĂ©valuation, la double loyautĂ©, les
limites du rÎle, et la confidentialité, avec le dilemme typique dans le domaine de la
neutralité. Les différences entre les groupes ont été identifiees dans les domaines de
la double loyauté et les limites du rÎle.In dieser Studie untersuchten wir die hauptsÀ chlichen Dilemmata, mit denen Psychologen in der Berufsberatung in zwei wesentlichen professionellen
Einrichtungen konfrontiert sind: Beruf und Bildung. Zu den Teilnehmern geho
šrten 24 erfahrene portugiesische Psychologen, die in Einrichtungen von Beruf
(n = 14) und Bildung (n = 10) arbeiteten. Wir verwendeten einvernehmliche
qualitative Forschung um semi-strukturierte Interviews durchzufušhren und zu
analysieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigten Dilemmata in fĂŒnf Bereichen: NeutralitĂ€t,
Beurteilung, doppelte LoyalitÀt, Rollengrenzen und Vertraulichkeit, mit dem
typischen Dilemma in der DomÀne der NeutralitÀt. Unterschiede zwischen den
Gruppen wurden in den Bereichen der doppelten LoyalitÀt und Rollengrenzen
gefunden
CĂąncer e meio ambiente. Tabaco - agrotĂłxicos - radiaçÔes â dieta. Um documento para a ConferĂȘncia Mundial de Ecologia
Trabalho elaborado como parte de um documento global sobre SaĂșde e Meio Ambiente da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability
Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) â500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications
Thymus zygis and thymus pulegioides as a source of phenolic compounds
Thymus is an important genus in the West Mediterranean region, where many species are cultivated for confection of several dishes, including salads, soups, stews and sauces. Many Thymus, including T. zygis and T. pulegioides are also commonly used in traditional medicine [1]. Whist phenolic compounds are commonly associated to health-beneficial properties of Thymus, the specific phenolic composition of T. zygis and T. pulegioides is presently unknown [2].
The extracts of the aerial parts of T. zygis and T. pulegioides species were prepared with hot water as previously described [3]. Total phenolic contents were determined according to the adapted Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method [4] and the identification of the phenolic compounds was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD).
The extracts of T. zygis and T. pulegioides contained 319±44 and 391±3 ÎŒg GAE/mg, respectively. Likewise other Thymus species [2], both extracts were enriched in caffeic acid derivatives, showing characteristic UV spectra maxima at 290 and 328 nm. The latter included rosmarinic acid (MW 360) and 3âČ-O-(8âł-Z-caffeoyl)rosmarinic acid (MW 538) [2]. The two extracts also contained moderate amounts of the flavone luteolin-7-O-glucoside (MW 448) that has been previously described in others Thymus species [2]. Yet, T. zygis and T. pulegioides phenolic profiles could be clearly distinguished: while the first had high levels of the phenolic acid salvianolic acid K (MW 556; UV spectra maxima at 288, 322), the extract of T. pulegioides was enriched in eriodictyol-O-hexoside and derivatives, with typical UV spectra maxima at 283 nm. Note that salvianolic acid K has been previously described in T. vulgaris while eriodictyol-O-hexoside derivatives were previously found in T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum [2].
The phenolic compounds of T. zygis and T. pulegioides are here described for the first time