Role of the monkey ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the integration of contextual information for the selection and understanding of goal-directed actions

Action selection and organization are very complex processes that need to exploit contextual information and the retrieval of previously memorized information, as well as the integration of these different types of data. On the basis of anatomical connection with premotor and parietal areas involved in action goal coding, and on the data about the literature it seems appropriate to suppose that one of the most candidate involved in the selection of neuronal pools for the selection and organization of intentional actions is the prefrontal cortex. We recorded single ventrolateral prefrontal (VLPF) neurons activity while monkeys performed simple and complex manipulative actions aimed at distinct final goals, by employing a modified and more strictly controlled version of the grasp-to-eat(a food pellet)/grasp-to-place(an object) paradigm used in previous studies on parietal (Fogassi et al., 2005) and premotor neurons (Bonini et al., 2010). With this task we have been able both to evaluate the processing and integration of distinct (visual and auditory) contextual sequentially presented information in order to select the forthcoming action to perform and to examine the possible presence of goal-related activity in this portion of cortex. Moreover, we performed an observation task to clarify the possible contribution of VLPF neurons to the understanding of others’ goal-directed actions. Simple Visuo Motor Task (sVMT). We found four main types of neurons: unimodal sensory-driven, motor-related, unimodal sensory-and-motor, and multisensory neurons. We found a substantial number of VLPF neurons showing both a motor-related discharge and a visual presentation response (sensory-and-motor neurons), with remarkable visuo-motor congruence for the preferred target. Interestingly the discharge of multisensory neurons reflected a behavioural decision independently from the sensory modality of the stimulus allowing the monkey to make it: some encoded a decision to act/refraining from acting (the majority), while others specified one among the four behavioural alternatives. Complex Visuo Motor Task (cVMT). The cVMT was similar to the sVMT, but included a further grasping motor act (grasping a lid in order to remove it, before grasping the target) and was run in two modalities: randomized and in blocks. Substantially, motor-related and sensory-and-motor neurons tested in the cVMTrandomized were activated already during the first grasping motor act, but the selectivity for one of the two graspable targets emerged only during the execution of the second grasping. In contrast, when the cVMT was run in block, almost all these neurons not only discharged during the first grasping motor act, but also displayed the same target selectivity showed in correspondence of the hand contact with the target. Observation Task (OT). A great part of the neurons active during the OT showed a firing rate modulation in correspondence with the action performed by the experimenter. Among them, we found neurons significantly activated during the observation of the experimenter’s action (action observation-related neurons) and neurons responding not only to the action observation, but also to the presented cue stimuli (sensory-and-action observation-related neurons. Among the neurons of the first set, almost the half displayed a target selectivity, with a not clear difference between the two presented targets; Concerning to the second neuronal set, sensory-and-action related neurons, we found a low target selectivity and a not strictly congruence between the selectivity exhibited in the visual response and in the action observation.

Efeitos de dois modelos experimentais de dietas hipercalóricas sobre parâmetros comportamentais e biológicos em ratos da linhagem Wistar

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos de dois modelos experimentais de dietas hipercalóricas em comportamentos de ansiedade, processos de aprendizagem e memória e alterações metabólicas. Os animais foram divididos em seis grupos experimentais, de acordo com a condição nutricional. 1) Controle (C); 2) Dieta de Cafeteria (DC); 3) Dieta Hiperlipídica (DH); 4) Controle AIN-93 (C/AIN-93); 5) Dieta de Cafeteria AIN-93 (DC/AIN-93), e 6) Dieta Hiperlipídica AIN-93 (DH/AIN-93). Posteriormente, os grupos foram subdivididos em dois grupos independentes, conforme a tarefa à qual foram submetidos. Pesagens foram realizadas semanalmente até os 98 dias de vida; foram verificados os pesos do fígado, do coração e o peso de tecido adiposo retroperitoneal e epididimal e foram realizadas dosagens de glicose, triglicérides, TGO e TGP no soro e gordura total, colesterol total e triglicérides no fígado. Os testes utilizados: Labirinto em T Elevado (LTE), Caixa Claro/Escuro e Labirinto Aquático de Morris (LAM). Os resultados de peso corporal, os dados comportamentais do LAM, do LTE e os dados de peso dos tecidos extraídos no dia do sacrifício e as análises bioquímicas foram submetidos a uma Análise de Variância (ANOVA). Quando apropriado, foi utilizado o teste de comparações múltiplas de Newman-Keuls (p< 0,05). Os dados comportamentais do teste claro/escuro foram submetidos ao teste t-Student (p< 0,05). Animais tratados com dieta hiperlipídica apresentaram maiores medidas de peso e ganho de peso comparados aos animais controle e dieta de cafeteria, tratados com pellet e com dieta AIN-93. Animais DH1, DC1, DH1 AIN-93, DH2 AIN-93 e DH2 apresentaram maior peso no dia do sacrifício. Animais DH1, DH1 AIN-93, DH2 e DH2 AIN-93 apresentaram maior acúmulo dos tecidos adiposos retroperitoneal e epididimal. Animais DH1 AIN-93 e DC2 AIN-93 apresentaram maiores níveis de glicose. Animais C2, DH2 e DC2 apresentaram maiores níveis de triglicérides. Animais DH1 e C1 apresentaram menores valores de TGO. Animais C2 e C2 AIN-93 apresentaram maiores níveis de TGO. Animais C1, DH1, C2 e DH2 apresentaram maiores níveis de TGP. Animais DH1 AIN-93, DH1, DH2 e DH2 AIN-93 apresentaram maiores valores de gordura total no fígado. Animais DH1 AIN-93 e DH2 apresentaram maiores níveis de colesterol no fígado. Animais DH1, DC1, DH2 e DH2 AIN-93 apresentaram maiores níveis de triglicérides no fígado. Com relação ao consumo alimentar, animais DH apresentaram maior consumo calórico e maior consumo lipídico quando comparados aos animais C e DC, com ração em pellet ou dieta AIN-93. Com relação ao LTE, não foram verificadas diferenças nas esquivas e na fuga. Animais DC1, DH1 e DH1 AIN-93 apresentaram menores níveis de ansiedade verificados a partir dos dados do teste da caixa claro-escuro. Animais DC2 AIN-93 apresentaram pior desempenho em tarefa de memória. Os dados obtidos a partir deste estudo demonstraram que as dietas utilizadas foram capazes de acarretar ganho de peso, acúmulo de tecido adiposo, alterações metabólicas, diminuição da ansiedade nos animais e pior desempenho em uma tarefa de memória em um dos grupos nutricionais.

Intoxicación por munición de plomo en aves silvestres en España y medidas para reducir el riesgo

La intoxicación por ingestión de munición de plomo en aves silvestres es conocida en España desde finales del siglo pasado. Elevadas densidades de perdigones de plomo en diversos humedales de importancia internacional producen tasas de ingestión de perdigones cercanas al 70% en especies como el ánade rabudo (Anas acuta) y el plumbismo llega a ser una de las principales causas de mortalidad de la amenazada malvasía cabeciblanca (Oxyura leucocephala). El plumbismo también ha sido descrito en diversas especies de aves rapaces y se ha comprobado que la exposición al plomo es elevada en las especies más carroñeras y oportunistas. La contaminación de la carne de caza también ha sido objeto de estudio, debido a que en España se da la particularidad de cocinarla en escabeche, lo que incrementa la transferencia de plomo de la munición a la carne. Por el momento, la única acción llevada a cabo para reducir el riesgo de exposición al plomo de la munición en aves y humanos ha sido la prohibición desde 2001 del uso de perdigones de plomo en humedales protegidos. En esta revisión se hace un repaso a los estudios llevados a cabo en España sobre la contaminación por el plomo de la munición y el efecto que están teniendo las medidas hasta el momento adoptadas para reducir este riesgo.

Quitclaim, 1746 June 3

Handwritten quitclaim by Samuel Pellet as beneficiary of the estate of Benjamin Wadsworth, acknowledging payment by Andrew Bordman.

Evaluating Spirulina as a protein source in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) grow-out diets

Aquaculture growth has intensified the need for a diversification of nutritionally appropriate aquafeed ingredients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Spirulina, a blue-green microalgae, and soybean meal as the sole protein sources in grow-out Tilapia diets. We constructed 3 experimental diets with soybean meal and 0,15, 30, and 45% Spirulina (SBM, SP15, SP30, and SP45 respectively) as their main protein sources. We compared these diets to a commercial Tilapia diet (CC). Additionally, to evaluate the benefit of fishmeal inclusion, fishmeal was added (2 and 10%) to the most successful Spirulina containing diet (FM2, FM10). We evaluated these experimental diets based on their physical properties, palatability, growth potential, waste production, and overall cost. No significant differences in growth performance were found between any of the diets. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and total phosphorus (TP) levels in each tank were significantly affected by diet (p<0.05). CC had significantly higher TP than the experimental diets and SP15 had significantly higher TAN than the other diets. Only CC was found to be significantly more palatable than the experimental diets, and Spirulina inclusion was inversely correlated to pellet stability. Lastly, SP15 was the most profitable experimental diet. We recommend eliminating fishmeal from grow-out Tilapia diets in favour of soybean meal and Spirulina. Spirulina should, however, be limited to 15% to avoid the negative effects it has on stability and profitability, and its possible effect on feed intake.

Development of a Mechanism and Process to Continuously Produce Spherical, Torrefied Biomass

Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2016-06-17 02:15:25.215

Petri Petiti ... In tres priores Aretaei Cappadocis libros commentarii.

Mode of access: Internet.

Glosario de terminos ferroviarios seleccionados : inglés/español /

Includes indexes.

Productive bee-keeping; modern methods of production and marketing of honey; 134 illustrations in the text.

Mode of access: Internet.

Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers,

Vol. 30 has imprint.: Neufchatel, Société Typographique, 1779. Troisieme édition.

Histoire philosophique et politique des établissemens et du commerce des européens dans les deux Indes /

Contiene: Livre dix-neuvieme.

Histoire philosophique et politique des établissemens et du commerce des européens dans les deux Indes /

Las h. plegadas: "Etat des navires expédies aux Indes orientales par la Compagnie de Hollande, depuis 1720 jusqu'en 1729", "Etat des fonds faits en 1602 par la Compagnie Hollandoise des Indes Orientales"

Histoire philosophique et politique des établissemens et du commerce des européens dans les deux Indes /

Las h. plegadas: "Commerce de la Grande-Bretagne avec les Indes Orientales, depuis 1697 jusqu'en 1773", "Etat des finances de la France en 1774", "Compagnie des Indes Orientales de France", "Relevé général du produit net ... des marchandises des Indes, de la Chine [et] des Isles de France [et] de Bourbon, provenant du commerce particulier, depuis la suspension du privilege exclusif de la Compagnie des Indes de France"

Histoire philosophique et politique des établissemens et du commerce des européens dans les deux Indes /

Contiene: Livre cinquieme: Commerce du Danemarc, d'Ostende, de la Suede, de la Prusse, de l'Espagne, de la Russie, aux Indes Orientales... ; Livre sixieme: Découverte de l'Amérique. Conquète du Mexique, Etablissemens des espagnols dans cette partie du Nouveau-Monde.