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Summary Many learned responses depend on the coordinated activation and inhibition of synaptic pathways in the striatum. Local dopamine neurotransmission acts in concert with a variety of neurotransmitters to regulate cortical, thalamic, and limbic excitatory inputs to drive the direct and indirect striatal spiny projection neuron outputs that determine the activity, sequence, and timing of learned behaviors. We review recent advances in the characterization of stereotyped neuronal and operant responses that predict and then obtain rewards. These depend on the local release of dopamine at discrete times during behavioral sequences, which, acting with glutamate, provides a presynaptic filter to select which excitatory synapses are inhibited and which signals pass to indirect pathway circuits. This is followed by dopamine-dependent activation of specific direct pathway circuits to procure a reward. These steps may provide a means by which higher organisms learn behaviors in response to feedback from the environment.

Modulation of corticostriatal synaptic activity by dopamine is required for normal sensorimotor behaviors. After loss of nigrostriatal dopamine axons in Parkinson's disease, l-3,4-dihydroxyphenlalanine (l-DOPA) and dopamine D2-like receptor agonists are used as replacement therapy, although these drugs also trigger sensitized sensorimotor responses including dyskinesias and impulse control disorders. In mice, we lesioned dopamine projections to the left dorsal striatum and assayed unilateral sensorimotor deficits with the corridor test as well as presynaptic corticostriatal activity with the synaptic vesicle probe, FM1-43. Sham-lesioned mice acquired food equivalently on both sides, while D2 receptor activation filtered the less active corticostriatal terminals, a response that required coincident co-activation of mGlu-R5 metabotropic glutamate and CB1 endocannabinoid receptors. Lesioned mice did not acquire food from their right, but overused that side following treatment with l-DOPA. Synaptic filtering on the lesioned side was abolished by either l-DOPA or a D2 receptor agonist, but when combined with a CB1 receptor antagonist, l-DOPA or D2 agonists normalized both synaptic filtering and behavior. Thus, high-pass filtering of corticostriatal synapses by the coordinated activation of D2, mGlu-R5, and CB1 receptors is required for normal sensorimotor response to environmental cues.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) mediates higher cognition but is impaired by stress exposure when high levels of catecholamines activate calcium-cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. The current study examined whether stress and increased cAMP-PKA signaling in rat medial PFC (mPFC) reduce pyramidal cell firing and impair working memory by activating KCNQ potassium channels. KCNQ2 channels were found in mPFC layers II/III and V pyramidal cells, and patch-clamp recordings demonstrated KCNQ currents that were increased by forskolin or by chronic stress exposure, and which were associated with reduced neuronal firing. Low dose of KCNQ blockers infused into rat mPFC improved cognitive performance and prevented acute pharmacological stress-induced deficits. Systemic administration of low doses of KCNQ blocker also improved performance in young and aged rats, but higher doses impaired performance and occasionally induced seizures. Taken together, these data demonstrate that KCNQ channels have powerful influences on mPFC neuronal firing and cognitive function, contributing to stress-induced PFC dysfunction., Graphical abstract Image 1

A portable focused-beam XRF spectrometer was designed, constructed, and manufactured. The spectrometer allows to detect and perform analysis of chemical elements from Na upwards. The system is equipped with a compact vacuum chamber to reduce absorption of both the excitation and the fluorescence radiation in air. A low power Pd-anode tube operated up to 50 kV and 1 mA with a point focus of 400 μm is used as excitation source. A polycapillary lens with a spot size of about 160 μm, or a collimator with a 1 mm inner diameter can be used alternatively for either focusing or collimating the primary beam. The fluorescence radiation is collected by an Si drift detector with an active area of 10 mm2 and equipped with an 8 μm Be entrance window. A compact vacuum chamber was designed to house the X-ray beam optics and the detector snout. The chamber is attached to the X-ray tube and can be pumped down to 0.1 mbar. A Kapton™ window of 7.5 μm thickness allows to locate the investigated spot at about 1–2 mm distance outside of the chamber, thus minimizing absorption losses in the excitation and X-ray fluorescence radiation paths. Two lasers pointers are mounted inside the chamber. The laser beams cross at a point outside the chamber in front of the entrance window and coincide with the focal spot of the polycapillary. This paper reports some preliminary results obtained from an in situ analysis of bronze samples as well as a comparison of these data with those given by other laboratory spectrometers and the reference values provided by the Italian bronze foundry Venturi Arte Bologna, Italy.

Low-energy accelerators have in the past produced a major part of our current knowledge of nuclear physics. Today they are mainly used for applied research and industrial applications. In view of this, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has during recent years initiated several Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs) concerning Ion Beam Analysis of Materials, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Microprobe Techniques. The CRPs involve laboratories from developing as well as developed Member States, networking on a common topic coordinated by the IAEA. In order to facilitate networking, the IAEA has recently published the “World Survey of Accelerator Based Analytical Techniques” available on the Internet and as a CD-ROM. The IAEA maintains also a beamline at a 6 MV Van de Graaff accelerator in the Ru đ jer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia. Small and medium power accelerator driven spallation neutron sources will become more important as many small neutron producing research reactors are approaching the end of their useful working life. The IAEA has, within its Department for Nuclear Sciences and Applications, a programme on the Effective Utilization of Accelerators. This programme helps Member States, in particular developing Member States, in finding new areas of applications for their low and medium energy accelerators through increased participation in activities such as Coordinated Research Projects, Technical Meetings and Conferences. This paper describes the IAEA's current programme on accelerator utilization and proposed future activities.

Six radioactive particles stemming from Thule area (NW-Greenland) were investigated by gamma-ray and L X-ray spectrometry based on radioactive disintegration, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, synchrotron radiation based techniques as microscopic X-ray fluorescence, microscopic X-ray absorption near-edge structure (A-XANES) as well as combined X-ray absorption and fluorescence microtomography. Additionally, one particle from Mururoa atoll was examined by microtomography. From the results obtained, it was found out that the U and Pu were mixed in the particles. The U/Pu intensity ratios in the Thule particles varied between 0.05 and 0.36. The results from the microtomography showed that U/Pu ratio was not homogeneously distributed. The 241 Am/ 238+239+240 Pu activity ratios varied between 0.13 and 0.17, indicating that the particles originate from different source terms. The oxidation states of U and Pu as determined by A-XANES showed that U(IV) is the preponderant species and for Pu, two types of particles could be evidenced. One set had about 90% Pu(IV) while in the other the ratio Pu(IV)/Pu(VI) was about one third. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

X-ray tube based, micro-beam X-ray fluorescence scanning spectrometer has been equipped with two energy dispersive X-ray detectors. The two-detector configuration allows for simultaneous collection of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and transmitted X-ray beam signals with a spatial resolution in the range of 10–50 μm, depending on the X-ray focussing element in use. The XRF signal is collected with a standard, liquid nitrogen cooled Si(Li) detector. The X-ray beam transmitted through the sample is acquired with a thermoelectrically cooled, silicon drift (SD) detector. The data acquisition is carried out in a fully automatic way under control of the SPECTOR-LOCATOR software. The software controls the scanning procedure and X-ray spectra acquisition during the scan. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra collected at every “pixel” are stored for off-line processing. For selected regions of interest (ROI’s), the element maps are constructed and displayed on-line. The spectrometer has been used for mapping elemental distributions and for performing 2D- and 3D-tomograpic imaging of minute objects in X-ray absorption and in X-ray fluorescence mode. A unique feature of the described system is simultaneous utilization of the two detectors, Si(Li) and SD, which adds new options for quantitative analysis and data interpretation. Examples of elemental mapping and 3D tomographic imaging as well as the advanced features of the SPECTOR-LOCATOR measurement control and data acquisition software are presented in this work.

A 34-week floppy preterm infant born to a mother with acute ulcerative colitis presented with a progressive reduction in spontaneous limb movements, severe generalized hypotonia, areflexia, autonomic dysfunction and respiratory failure. Electromyography revealed pronounced denervation activity and markedly slow nerve conduction velocity (3 m/s) with evidence of conduction block. These findings indicated demyelination with additional axonal features. The infant was diagnosed with congenital Guillain-Barré syndrome, was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and showed clinical improvement within 48 hours of treatment. The relationship between inflammatory bowel syndrome and inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is discussed.

Study Objective: To investigate the efficacy of warmed, humidified inspired oxygen (O 2 ) for the treatment of mildly hypothermic postoperative patients. Design: Prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial. Setting: Postanesthesia care unit in a tertiary care hospital. Patients and Interventions: 30 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients following intraabdominal surgical procedures were randomly assigned to receive either routine O 2 therapy (control group, n=15), or warmed (42°C) humidified O 2 (treatment group, n=15) for the initial 90 postoperative minutes. Measurements: Core (tympanic) temperature, dry mouth score and shivering score. Main Results: Tympanic temperature was similar in both groups on admission (≈35.8°C). Rewarming rate in the first postoperative hour was greater in the treatment group (0.7 ± 0.1°C · hr −1 ) compared to the control group (0.4 ± 0.1°C · hr −1 ) (p = 0.03). Patients receiving the warmed, humidified O 2 had a lower incidence of dry mouth compared to the control group (p = 0.03). The incidence of shivering was low and similar in both groups. Conclusions: Warming and humidifying inspired O 2 hastens recovery from hypothermia in postoperative patients.

Two thin film technological materials (A/B) from the aerospace industry have been characterized for their elemental composition, for the purpose of determining their purity and trace element distribution. The results contribute to the assessment of the materials’ suitability as part of a spacecraft’ s thermal hardware. Analysis was done using a combination of PIXE/RBS and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analytical techniques. Samples of the materials were analyzed with PIXE/RBS system using 2 MeV proton beam from a 1 MV Tandetron accelerator and also with separate EDXRF systems employing Am-241 and Mo-secondary target as excitation sources. PIXE/RBS measurements enabled identification of the elemental composition and elucidation of the layer structure of the materials. From the PIXE/RBS results, Am-241-excited EDXRF technique was selected for quantitative determination of indium (In) and tin (Sn) by their K-X-rays, after reasonable absorption corrections. A comparison has been made of the results obtained from EDXRF and PIXE/RBS. Material A has been found to be a thin film with three layers, while material B is a thin film comprised of four layers. Thicknesses and compositions (including trace elements) of all layers have been determined. The limitation of EDXRF in the analysis of inhomogeneously distributed elements was overcome by using PIXE/RBS as an appropriate complimentary technique.

Maternal smoking increases the risk of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 2-4-fold. The mechanism is unknown but may be related to hypoxia responses. Recovery from hypoxic apnea by young mammals depends on gasping and bradycardia. We asked whether prenatal nicotine exposure, reported to reduce hypoxic survival in 2 day old rat pups, acted by impairing gasping or bradycardia. Pregnant rats were infused throughout gestation and 1 week postnatally with nicotine tartrate (NIC) 12 mg/kg per day or saline (CON). Maternal plasma nicotine was 134.4 +/- 42 ng/ml, significantly reducing pup body weight. Pups at 3-28 days were exposed to anoxia (97% N2/3% CO2) until gasping ceased, while breathing and heart rate were recorded. NIC and CON groups were not significantly different at any age, in baseline heart rate, respiratory rate, the time course for bradycardia, time to gasp onset, duration of gasping, or number of gasps, although most of these variables declined significantly with age. We conclude that responses to anoxia are not affected by prenatal high-dose nicotine.

Purpose To determine the cause of bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis followed by progressive outer retinal necrosis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods Extensive ophthalmologic, neurologic, infectious disease, rheumatologic, and radiologic examinations were performed. Results Cerebrospinal fluid samples taken after the onset of bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis and before the development of clinical progressive outer retinal necrosis disclosed varicella-zoster virus from polymerase chain reaction and viral culture. Conclusion Ophthalmologists and neurologists should consider varicella-zoster virus optic neuritis as a potential precursor of progressive outer retinal necrosis and as a cause of retrobulbar optic neuritis in patients infected with HIV.