Modulation of Auditory and Visual Processing by Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol: an fMRI Study

Although the effects of cannabis on perception are well documented, little is known about their neural basis or how these may contribute to the formation of psychotic symptoms. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the effects of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) during visual and auditory processing in healthy volunteers. In total, 14 healthy volunteers were scanned on three occasions. Identical 10mg THC, 600mg CBD, and placebo capsules were allocated in a balanced double-blinded pseudo-randomized crossover design. Plasma levels of each substance, physiological parameters, and measures of psychopathology were taken at baseline and at regular intervals following ingestion of substances. Volunteers listened passively to words read and viewed a radial visual checkerboard in alternating blocks during fMRI scanning. Administration of THC was associated with increases in anxiety, intoxication, and positive psychotic symptoms, whereas CBD had no significant symptomatic effects. THC decreased activation relative to placebo in bilateral temporal cortices during auditory processing, and increased and decreased activation in different visual areas during visual processing. CBD was associated with activation in right temporal cortex during auditory processing, and when contrasted, THC and CBD had opposite effects in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus, the right-sided homolog to Wernicke`s area. Moreover, the attenuation of activation in this area (maximum 61, -15, -2) by THC during auditory processing was correlated with its acute effect on psychotic symptoms. Single doses of THC and CBD differently modulate brain function in areas that process auditory and visual stimuli and relate to induced psychotic symptoms. Neuropsychopharmacology (2011) 36, 1340-1348; doi:10.1038/npp.2011.17; published online 16 March 2011

Reference distribution of the bioelectrical impedance vector in healthy term newborns

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a new method that is used for the routine monitoring of the variation in body fluids and nutritional status with assumptions regarding body composition values. The aim of the present study was to determine bivariate tolerance intervals of the whole-body impedance vector and to describe phase angle (PA) values for healthy term newborns aged 7-28 d. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy term neonates born at a low-risk public maternity. General and anthropometric neonatal data and bioelectrical impedance data (800 mu A-50 kHz) were obtained. Bivariate vector analysis was conducted with the resistance-reactance (RXc) graph method. The BIVA software was used to construct the graphs. The study was conducted on 109 neonates (52.3% females) who were born at term, adequate for gestational age, exclusively breast-fed and aged 13 (SD 3.6) d. We constructed one standard, reference, RXc-score graph and RXc-tolerance ellipses (50, 75 and 95 %) that can be used with any analyser. Mean PA was 3.14 (SD 0.43)degrees (3.12 (SD 0.39)degrees for males and 3.17 (SD 0.48)degrees for females). Considering the overlapping of ellipses of males and females with the general distribution, a graph for newborns aged 7-28 d with the same reference tolerance ellipse was defined for boys and girls. The results differ from those reported in the literature probably, in part, due to the ethnic differences in body composition. BIVA and PA permit an assessment without the need to know body weight and the prediction error of conventional impedance formulas.

Ecological distribution of mosquito larvae of the Anopheles punctulatus group on Niolam (Lihir) Island, Papua New Guinea

We surveyed the larval habitats of member,, of the Anopheles punctulatus group of mosquitoes on Niolam (Lihir) Island. Papua New Guinea. Identification of this group was undertaken by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the amplified internal transcribed spacer unit 2 of rDNA. because morphologic separation of member species is unreliable. The most widespread malaria vector species and their most common larval habitats identified to aid source-reduction programs for malaria control. The most ubiquitous species was An. punctulatus, followed by An. farauti no. 2. then An. farauti s.s. Anopheles punctulatus has increased relative to An.farauti s.l. since the start of development projects on Lihir Island. The most common larval habitats were shallow temporary pools with clay substrate and with plants or floatage. These habitats. mostly encountered alongside poorly drained roads, may be increased by development projects.

The dorsomedial visual areas in New World and Old World monkeys: homology and function

The extrastriate cortex near the dorsal midline has been described as part of an 'express' pathway that provides visual input to the premotor cortex. This pathway is considered important for the integration of sensory information about the visual field periphery and the skeletomotor system, especially in relation to the control of arm movements. However, a better understanding of the functional contributions of different parts of this complex has been hampered by the lack of data on the extent and boundaries of its constituent visual areas. Recent studies in macaques have provided the first detailed view of the topographical organization of this region in Old World monkeys. Despite differences in nomenclature, a comparison of the visuotopic organization, myeloarchitecture and connections of the relevant visual areas with those previously studied in New World monkeys reveals a remarkable degree of similarity and helps to clarify the subdivision of function between different areas of the dorsomedial complex. A caudal visual area, named DM or V6, appears to be important for the detection of coherent patterns of movement across wide regions of the visual field, such as those induced during self-motion. A rostral area, named M or V6A, is more directly involved with visuomotor integration. This area receives projections both from DM/V6 and from a separate motion analysis channel, centred on the middle temporal visual area (or V5), which detects the movement of objects in extrapersonal space. These results support the suggestion, made earlier on the basis of more fragmentary evidence, that the areas rostral to the second visual area in dorsal cortex are homologous in all simian primates. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of determining the anatomical organization of the cortex as a prerequisite for elucidating the function of different cortical areas.

Relationship of glycosaminoglycan and matrix changes to vascular smooth cell phenotype modulation in rabbit arteries after acute injury

Purpose: The phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is altered in several arterial pathologies, including the neointima formed after acute arterial injury. This study examined the time course of this phenotypic change in relation to changes in the amount and distribution of matrix glycosaminoglycans. Methods: The immunochemical staining of heparan sulphates (HS) and chondroitin sulphates (CS) in the extracellular matrix of the arterial wall was examined at early points after balloon catheter injury of the rabbit carotid artery. SMC phenotype was assessed by means of ultrastructural morphometry of the cytoplasmic volume fraction of myofilaments. The proportions of cell and matrix components in the media were analyzed with similar morphometric techniques. Results: HS and CS were shown in close association with SMCs of the uninjured arterial media as well as being more widespread within the matrix. Within 6 hours after arterial injury, there was loss of the regular pericellular distribution of both HS and CS, which was associated with a significant expansion in the extracellular space. This preceded the change in ultrastructural phenotype of the SMCs. The glycosaminoglycan loss was most exaggerated at 4 days, after which time the HS and CS reappeared around the medial SMCs. SMCs of the recovering media were able to rapidly replace their glycosaminoglycans, whereas SMCs of the developing neointima failed to produce HS as readily as they produced CS. Conclusions: These studies indicate that changes in glycosaminoglycans of the extracellular matrix precede changes in SMC phenotype after acute arterial injury. In the recovering arterial media, SMCs replace their matrix glycosaminoglycans rapidly, whereas the newly established neointima fails to produce similar amounts of heparan sulphates.

Development of disabled, replication-defective gene transfer vectors from the Jembrana disease virus, a new infectious agent of cattle

Jembrana disease virus (JDV) is a newly isolated and characterised bovine lentivirus. It causes an acute disease in Ball cattle (Bos javanicus). which can be readily transmitted to susceptible cattle with 17% mortality. There is as yet no treatment or preventive vaccine. We have developed a gene transfer vector system based on JDV that has three components. The first of the components is a bicistronic transfer vector plasmid that was constructed to contain cis-sequences from the JDV genome, including 5 '- and 3 ' -long terminal repeats (LTRs), 0.4 kb of truncated gag and 1.1 kb of 3 ' -env, a multiple cloning site to accommodate the gene(s) of interest for transfer, and an internal ribosome entry site plus the neomycin phosphotransferase (Neo) gene cassette for antibiotic selection. The second element is a packaging plasmid that contains trans-sequences. including gag, pol. vif, tar and rev: but without the env and packaging signals. The third is a plasmid encoding the G glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) to supply the vector an envelope for pseudotyping. Cotransfection of 293T cells with these three plasmid components produced VSV-G pseudotyped. disabled, replication defective, bicistronic JDV vectors encoding the green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and the Neo resistance selection maker simultaneously with a titre range of (0.4-1.2) x 10(6) CFU/ml. Transduction of several replicating primary and transformed cells from cattle, primate and human sources and importantly growth-arrested cells with the JDV vectors showed high efficiency of EGFP gene transfer at 35-75%, which was stable and the expression of EGFP was long term. Furthermore, these JDV vectors were designed to suit the inclusion and expression of genes corresponding to JDV specific proteins, such as gag or env, for the development of vaccines for Jembrana disease. This strategy should also be applicable to other bovine diseases as wall. The design and construction of the JDV vector system should facilitate the study of the lentivirology and pathogenesis of the diseases associated with JDV or other bovine virus infections. To our knowledge, this is the first such vector system developed from a cattle virus. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Operating space diagrams: a tool for designers of wastewater treatment plants

Recent years have seen the introduction of new and varied designs of activated sludge plants. With increasing needs for higher efficiencies and lower costs, the possibility of a plant that operates more effectively has created the need for tools that can be used to evaluate and compare designs at the design stage. One such tool is the operating space diagram. It is the aim of this paper to present this tool and demonstrate its application and relevance to design using a simple case study. In the case study, use of the operating space diagram suggested changes in design that would improve the flexibility of the process. It also was useful for designing suitable control strategies.

A(2)((2)) parafermions: a new conformal field theory

A new parafermionic algebra associated with the homogeneous space A(2)((2))/U(1) and its corresponding Z-algebra have been recently proposed. In this paper, we give a free boson representation of the A(2)((2)) parafermion algebra in terms of seven free fields. Free field realizations of the parafermionic energy-momentum tensor and screening currents are also obtained. A new algebraic structure is discovered, which contains a W-algebra type primary field with spin two. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Controlling the complex Lorenz equations by modulation

We demonstrate that a system obeying the complex Lorenz equations in the deep chaotic regime can be controlled to periodic behavior by applying a modulation to the pump parameter. For arbitrary modulation frequency and amplitude there is no obvious simplification of the dynamics. However, we find that there are numerous windows where the chaotic system has been controlled to different periodic behaviors. The widths of these windows in parameter space are narrow, and the positions are related to the ratio of the modulation frequency of the pump to the average pulsation frequency of the output variable. These results are in good agreement with observations previously made in a far-infrared laser system.

Distribution and evolution of the Anopheles punctulatus group (Diptera : Culicidae) in Australia and Papua New Guinea

The members of the Anopheles punctulatus group are major vectors of malaria and Bancroftian filariasis in the southwest Pacific region. The group is comprised of 12 cryptic species that require DNA-based tools for species identification. From 1984 to 1998 surveys were carried out in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and on islands in the southwest Pacific to determine the distribution of the A. punctulatus group. The results of these surveys have now been completed and have generated distribution data from more than 1500 localities through this region. Within this region several climatic and geographical barriers were identified that restricted species distribution and gene flow between geographic populations. This information was further assessed in light of a molecular phylogeny derived from the ssrDNA (18S). Subsequently, hypotheses have been generated on the evolution and distribution of the group so that future field and laboratory studies may be approached more systematically. This study suggested that the ability for widespread dispersal was found to have appeared independently in species that show niche-specific habitat preference (Anopheles farauti s.s. and A. punctulatus) and conversely in species that showed diversity in their larval habitat (Anopheles farauti 2). Adaptation to the monsoonal climate of northern Australia and southwest Papua New Guinea was found to have appeared independently in A. farauti s.s., A. farauti 2 and Anopheles farauti 3. Shared or synapomorphic characters were identified as saltwater tolerance (A. farauti s.s. and Anopheles farauti 7) and elevational affinities above 1500 m (Anopheles farauti 5, Anopheles farauti 6 and A. farauti 2). (C) 2002 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Malaria vectors on Buka and Bougainville islands, Papua New Guinea

Anophelines were sampled from 82 locations oil Buka and Bougainville islands in Papua New Guinea by larval collections, carbon dioxide-baited Mosquito traps, and human biting catches. Anopheles farauti s.s. was collected in larval Surveys but infrequently in mosquito traps on both islands; on Buka Island this species was readily collected in human biting catches. Anopheles faraunti 2 was commonly collected in larval surveys on both islands however. it was not collected in either mosquito traps or human biting catches. Anopheles punctulatus was found only on Buka Island, where it was commonly collected as larvae, but rarely in human biting catches and mosquito traps. Anopheles lungae was collected Lis larvae from only I site on Bougainville. Anopheles farauti s.s. led consistently throughout the night (1900-0600 h): small peaks at midnight and dawn were not statistically significant. Of 1,156 An. farauti s.s. specimens examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for malaria sporozoites. 20 were found to be positive: 12 were positive for Plasmodium falciparum and 8 were positive for P. vivax (247 variant = 5: 210 variant = 3). Anopheles farauti s.s. seems to be the major malaria vector on these islands, whereas An. punctulatus may play a minor role on Buka Island. Anophele farauti 2 is unlikely to be involved in malaria transmission on Buka or Bougainville islands.

DNA vaccine coding for the full-length infectious Kunjin virus RNA protects mice against the New York strain of West Nile virus

A plasmid DNA directing transcription of the infectious full-length RNA genome of Kunjin (KUN) virus in vivo from a mammalian expression promoter was used to vaccinate mice intramuscularly. The KUN viral cDNA encoded in the plasmid contained the mutation in the NS1 protein (Pro-250 to Leu) previously shown to attenuate KUN virus in weanling mice. KUN virus was isolated from the blood of immunized mice 3-4 days after DNA inoculation, demonstrating that infectious RNA was being transcribed in vivo; however, no symptoms of virus-induced disease were observed. By 19 days postimmunization, neutralizing antibody was detected in the serum of immunized animals. On challenge with lethal doses of the virulent New York strain of West Nile (WN) or wild-type KUN virus intracerebrally or intraperitoneally, mice immunized with as little as 0.1-1 mug of KUN plasmid DNA were solidly protected against disease. This finding correlated with neutralization data in vitro showing that serum from KUN DNA-immunized mice neutralized KUN and WN,viruses with similar efficiencies. The results demonstrate that delivery of an attenuated but replicating KUN virus via a plasmid DNA vector may provide an effective vaccination strategy against virulent strains of WN virus.

«Corruption» and social and economic criminal law: criminology, criminal policy, political science and law&economics - a new idea about criminal liability of legal entities

Abstract: If we think there is a significant number of legal offshore in the globalized world, then there is not even a global consensus about what «corruption» is. The «illegal corruption» in a country may be legal in another. Moreover, the great global corruption is above the law or above democratic States. And not all democratic States are «Rule of Law». Therefore, the solution is global earlier in time and space law, democratic, free and true law. While the human being does not reach a consensus of what «corruption» really is, the discussion will not go further than a caricature. One of the other problems about «corruption» is that it is very difficult to establish the imputation of crimes, including «corruption» (v.g. Portugal) on some «companies», corporations. We have a juridical problem in the composition of the art. 11. of the Portuguese Penal Code.

Survey of cyclopids (Crustacea, Copepoda) in Brazil and preliminary screening of their potential as dengue vector predators

INTRODUCTION: Cyclopid copepods are known to be good mosquito controllers, specially as regards the larvae of the dengue vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The objective of the study was to survey the local copepod fauna and search for new strains of M. longisetus var. longisetus, comparing the potential of the samples found with the current strain ML-01 against Ae. albopictus larvae, under laboratory conditions. Eleven bodies of water in Campinas, SP, Brazil, were screened for copepods by collecting 1.5 l of water from each of then. The predatory potential of adults copepods was evaluated over 24 h, in the laboratory, for groups of 5 individuals preying upon 30 first instar Ae. albopictus larvae. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The following cyclopid species were found: Metacyclops mendocinus, Tropocyclops prasinus, Eucyclops sp, Eucyclops serrulatus, Eucyclops solitarius, Eucyclops ensifer, Macrocyclops albidus var. albidus and Mesocyclops longisetus var. longisetus. The predatory potential of these copepods ranged from nil to 97.3%. A sample collected in the field containing only M. longisetus var. longisetus showed the best control efficiency with no significant difference from a three-year old laboratory culture (ML-01) of the same species evaluated for comparison. The sample with few M. albidus var. albidus was ranked in second place showing an average 25.9% efficiency. The use of copepods in trap tires as dengue vector controllers is discussed.