The past two decades have seen an explosion in our understanding of the origin and development of the midbrain dopamine system. Much of this work has been focused on the aspects of dopamine neuron ...development related to the onset of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, with the intent of hopefully delaying, preventing or fixing symptoms. While midbrain dopamine degeneration is a major focus for treatment and research, many other human disorders are impacted by abnormal dopamine, including drug addiction, autism and schizophrenia. Understanding dopamine neuron ontogeny and how dopamine connections and circuitry develops may provide us with key insights into potentially important avenues of research for other dopamine‐related disorders. This review will provide a brief overview of the major molecular and genetic players throughout the development of midbrain dopamine neurons and what we know about the behavioral‐ and disease‐related implications associated with perturbations to midbrain dopamine neuron development. We intend to combine the knowledge of two broad fields of neuroscience, both developmental and behavioral, with the intent on fostering greater discussion between branches of neuroscience in the service of addressing complex cognitive questions from a developmental perspective and identifying important gaps in our knowledge for future study.
This article reviews the development of midbrain dopamine neurons and what we know about the functional adult dopamine system.
A ring trial organized by the Association of Applied Hygiene (VAH) on the bactericidal efficacy of an ethanol-based hand rub was carried out in 17 laboratories according to EN 1500 with the aim of ...describing the variability of test results and fulfilment of the methodological acceptance criteria.
As a test product, a hand rub based on 80% ethanol (w/w) was tested in comparison with the reference alcohol (60% iso-propanol, v/v) in a crossover design. After pre-washing and contamination following the norm, hands were treated either with the reference alcohol (2 × 3 mL for 2 × 30 s) or the test product (3 mL in 30 s). Post-decontamination values were determined immediately after the rub-in period. Validated neutralizers were used. The arithmetic means of all individual log10 pre-values, post-values and reduction values were calculated per laboratory. Non-inferiority was assumed when the Hodges–Lehmann 97.5% confidence limit was <0.6 in comparison with the reference. A z-score was calculated to determine the laboratory performance.
Two laboratories did not meet the acceptance criteria and were excluded from the analysis. The bactericidal efficacy of the test product was non-inferior to the reference product in four laboratories and not non-inferior in 11 laboratories. The z-score for the Hodges–Lehmann 97.5% confidence limit indicated a satisfactory performance in all laboratories.
We consider the EN 1500 test method to be robust in terms of the variability of test results. For products of borderline efficacy, the evaluation should be based on more than one test.
The effect of future climate change is poorly studied in the tropics, especially in mountainous areas, yet species living in these environments are predicted to be strongly affected. Newly available ...high‐resolution environmental data and statistical methods enable the development of forecasting models, but the uncertainty related to climate models can be strong, which can lead to ineffective conservation actions. Predictive studies aimed at providing conservation guidelines often account for a range of future climate predictions (climate scenarios and global circulation models). However, very few studies consider potential differences related to the source of climate data and/or do not account for spatial information (overlap) in uncertainty assessments. We modelled the environmental suitability for Phelsuma borbonica, an endangered reptile native to Reunion Island. Using two metrics of species range change (difference in overall suitability and spatial overlap), we quantified the uncertainty related to the modelling technique (n = 10), sample bias correction, climate change scenario, global circulation models (GCM) and data source (CHELSA vs. Worldclim). Uncertainty was mainly driven by GCMs when considering overall suitability, while for spatial overlap, the uncertainty related to data source became more important than that of GCMs. The uncertainty driven by sample bias correction and variable selection was much higher when assessed based on the spatial overlap. The modelling technique was a strong driver of uncertainty in both cases. We provide a consensus ensemble prediction map of the environmental suitability of P. borbonica to identify the areas predicted to be the most suitable in the future with the highest certainty. Predictive studies aimed at identifying priority areas for conservation in the face of climate change need to account for a wide panel of modelling techniques, GCMs and data sources. We recommend the use of multiple approaches, including spatial overlap when assessing uncertainty in species distribution models.
Studies aiming to predict the effect of climate change on species distributions generally use climate data from a single source. We show that the source of climate data is a strong driver of uncertainty, which can lead to erroneous conservation actions. The methods used to assess uncertainty also influence the results and we recommend the use of spatial overlap metrics.
The Neel IRAM KIDs Array (NIKA) is a fully integrated measurement system based on kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) currently being developed for millimeter wave astronomy. The instrument includes ...dual-band optics allowing simultaneous imaging at 150 GHz and 220 GHz. The imaging sensors consist of two spatially separated arrays of KIDs. The first array, mounted on the 150 GHz branch, is composed of 144 lumped-element KIDs. The second array (220 GHz) consists of 256 antenna-coupled KIDs. Each of the arrays is sensitive to a single polarization; the band splitting is achieved by using a grid polarizer. The optics and sensors are mounted in a custom dilution cryostat, with an operating temperature of ~70 mK. Electronic readout is realized using frequency multiplexing and a transmission line geometry consisting of a coaxial cable connected in series with the sensor array and a low-noise 4 K amplifier. The dual-band NIKA was successfully tested in 2010 October at the Institute for Millimetric Radio Astronomy (IRAM) 30 m telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain, performing in-line with laboratory predictions. An optical NEP was then calculated to be around 2 X 10--16 W Hz--1/2 (at 1 Hz) while under a background loading of approximately 4 pW pixel--1. This improvement in comparison with a preliminary run (2009) verifies that NIKA is approaching the target sensitivity for photon-noise limited ground-based detectors. Taking advantage of the larger arrays and increased sensitivity, a number of scientifically relevant faint and extended objects were then imaged including the Galactic Center SgrB2 (FIR1), the radio galaxy Cygnus A, and the NGC1068 Seyfert galaxy. These targets were all observed simultaneously in the 150 GHz and 220 GHz atmospheric windows.
The orbitofrontal cortex, as a part of prefrontal cortex, is implicated in executive function. However, within this broad region, the orbitofrontal cortex is distinguished by its unique pattern of ...connections with crucial subcortical associative learning nodes, such as basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens. By virtue of these connections, the orbitofrontal cortex is uniquely positioned to use associative information to project into the future, and to use the value of perceived or expected outcomes to guide decisions. This review will discuss recent evidence that supports this proposal and will examine evidence that loss of this signal, as the result of drug-induced changes in these brain circuits, might account for the maladaptive decision-making that characterizes drug addiction.
Ovariectomized (OVX) rats eat more and gain weight more rapidly than sham-operated (SO) rats and estradiol (E
2) treatment attenuates food intake and body weight gain in OVX rats. Studies were ...designed to test the hypothesis that the alpha subtype of the estrogen receptor (ERα) mediates the attenuating effects of E
2 on food intake and body weight gain while the beta subtype (ERβ) mediates opposing actions that lead to increased food intake and body weight gain. Female rats were SO or OVX and treated daily with vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO) or E
2 (10 μg/day), or the ERα−selective agonist, 4,4′,4″-(4-propyl-1H-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT, 0.5 mg/day), or the ERβ−selective agonist, 2,3-bis(4-hyroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN, 0.5 mg/day) for 14 days. Total food intake was significantly reduced by E
2 and PPT, but not DPN. Total body weight gain was significantly increased in OVX rats compared to SO rats and treatment with E
2 or PPT, but not DPN, significantly decreased total body weight gain to levels that were not significantly different from SO rats. A dose–response study of PPT indicated that at 0.25 mg/day, PPT significantly reduced total 21-day food intake and body weight gain and, at 0.13 and 0.06 mg/day, PPT significantly reduced total body weight gain compared to OVX rats without significantly reducing total food intake. A dose–response study of DPN indicated that none of the three doses of DPN significantly altered total 21-day food intake or total body weight gain. These results suggest ERα mediates the attenuating effects of estrogens on food intake and body weight gain while ERβ has no effect on these variables.
The high prevalence of adverse health outcomes related to intimate partner violence (IPV) is well documented. Yet we know little about the pathways that lead to adverse health outcomes. Research ...concerning the psychological, biological, neurological, behavioral, and physiological alterations following exposure to IPV—many of which are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—represents a promising area of empirical discovery. New technologies and interdisciplinary collaborative efforts are required to integrate diverse methodologies and to apply new findings to improving the health and well being of those affected by IPV. This article focuses on victimization by IPV and addresses the most important research findings in the last 20 years (health and mental health burden of IPV), the most important research issue for the next decade (pathways between IPV and adverse health outcomes), and the most promising methodological innovation for the study of IPV (integrated, interdisciplinary, biobehavioral methodology).
In several areas of the macaque brain, neurons fire during delayed-response tasks at a rate determined by the value of the reward expected at the end of the trial. The activity of these neurons might ...be related to the value of the expected reward or to the degree of motivation induced by expectation of the reward. We describe results indicating that the nature of reward-dependent activity varies across areas. Neuronal activity in orbitofrontal cortex represents the value of the expected reward, whereas neuronal activity in premotor cortex reflects the degree of motivation.
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