From synaptic transmission to cognition: an intermediary role for dendritic spines

Dendritic spines are cytoplasmic protrusions that develop directly or indirectly from the filopodia of neurons. Dendritic spines mediate excitatory neurotransmission and they can isolate the electrical activity generated by synaptic impulses, enabling them to translate excitatory afferent information via several types of plastic changes, including neoformation, disappearance, redistribution and changes in geometric shape. The fine line between normal and abnormal excitatory neurotransmission is mediated by the concerted action of glutamate-mediated stimulation and calcium ion entry into spines. Moreover, within the range of normal excitatory activity, dendritic spines undergo specific plastic changes to regulate different forms of afferent information that are often related to distinct modes of cognition-related electrophysiological stimulation, such as long-term potentiation or long-term depression.     

Thomas Aquinas Holds Fast: Objections to Aquinas within Today's Debate on Divine Action

Various authors within the contemporary debate on divine action in nature and contemporary science argue both for and against a Thomistic account of divine action through the notions of primary and secondary causes. In this paper I argue that those who support a Thomistic account of divine action often fail to explain Aquinas' doctrine in full, while those who argue against it base their objections on an incomplete knowledge of this doctrine, or identify it with Austin Farrer's doctrine of double agency – again failing to do Aquinas justice. I analyse these objections, indicating how they do not address Aquinas' doctrine by offering a brief but full account of the latter.     

Taste aversion after ingestion of lithium chloride: An associative analysis

In five experiments with rats we examined the aversion established by consumption of a solution of lithium chloride (LiCl). Experiment 1 showed that consumption of LiCl established an aversion to saline (NaCl). Experiment 2 showed that the size of the aversion was reduced in rats given pre-exposure to saline (a latent inhibition effect). Experiment 3 showed that experience of a sucrose-saline compound prior to consumption of LiCl generated an aversion to sucrose (a sensory preconditioning effect). Experiments 4 and 5 examined the effects produced by consumption of a sucrose-LiCl compound and demonstrated reciprocal overshadowing between the two tastes. These results confirm that consumption of LiCl establishes an aversion to the taste of this substance. Their implications for the use of orally consumed LiCl as a technique for the control of predatory behaviour are discussed.     

Semi-intuitionistic Logic with Strong Negation

Motivated by the definition of semi-Nelson algebras, a propositional calculus called semi-intuitionistic logic with strong negation is introduced and proved to be complete with respect to that class of algebras. An axiomatic extension is proved to have as algebraic semantics the class of Nelson algebras.     

Marcos de referencia en el estudio de los mapas cognitivos de ambientes urbanos

Resumen

El presente artículo ofrece una revisión de los estudios realizados en las dos últimas décadas sobre mapas cognitivos aplicados al mundo urbano a partir de las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por los autores de primera línea en el tema. El conjunto de tales trabajos hace patente la falta de articulación en que se encuentra el constructo «mapa cognitivo». Sin embargo, ofrecen unas orientaciones a tener en cuenta necesariamente en cualquier futura investigación.     

Discrepancy between radiographic damage and functional disability in elderly people with osteoarthritis: the role of pain coping strategies

The aim of this study is twofold. First, to assess the level of agreement between radiographic damage and functional disability in older people with osteoarthritis. And second, to assess the role of coping skills and sensory pain parameters as sources of disagreement between these variables. To achieve this objective we assess, in a sample of 104 older people with osteoarthritis, the following variables: functional capacity, radiographic damage, pain coping strategies, pain intensity, pain frequency and pain duration. The results show a non-linear relationship between radiographic damage and functional disability, modified by the levels of the two variables. There was maximum agreement between low levels of radiographic damage and of functional impairment, whilst agreement decreased for moderate and high levels of radiographic damage. Certain coping strategies may help to explain this disparity.     

Assessment of depressive symptoms in old visually-impaired people: a study of the Geriatric Depression Scale

This study has two main purposes: (a) to assess the functioning of the Geriatric Depression Scale in its Spanish version in old visually-impaired people, and (b) to assess the relevance of measuring depressive symptoms within a comprehensive assessment of psychological adjustment related to vision impairment in that population. Respondents were 329 people affiliated to the ONCE who were a representative sample of the target population. The assessment of the first goal let us to establish two cut-off points, and led to new methodological developments that combine Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory. The results indicated that the scale is particularly useful in the target population and that it is very relevant in the assessment of psychological adjustment related to visual impairment in old people.     

Can a before-school physical activity program decrease bullying victimization in disadvantaged children? The Active-Start Study

Background/ObjectiveTo test the effectiveness of an 8-week before-school physical activity program to reduce bullying victimization among a group of socially disadvantaged children in the Active-Start study.MethodA non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in three public schools classified as highly vulnerable and located in a deprived area of Santiago (Chile). A total of 5 classes participated, totaling 170 fourth grade children. The intervention was delivered before starting the first school-class (8:00–8:30 a.m.). The program lasted for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measurement on bullying victimization was assessed by the CUBE questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsThere was a statistically significant reduction in the probability of suffering physical bullying (OR= 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; p= .027) and verbal bullying (OR=0.13, 95% CI, 0.02-0.97; p= .046) after the 8-week program.ConclusionsParticipation in an 8-week before-school physical activity intervention implemented in schools located in a disadvantaged district in Santiago (Chile) resulted in lower levels of bullying victimization among study participants. The Active-Start program may be a feasible and potentially scalable intervention option to improve the climate and pro-sociality environment at schools.     

Die Atomistik bei Ludwig Boltzmann. Zur wissenschaftlichen und philosophischen Bedeutung einer kontroversen Position am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts

The atomic hypothesis according to Ludwig Boltzmann. The scientific and philosophical importance of a controversial position at the close of the 19th century. This paper examines Boltzmann’s standpoint in the controversy over the existence of atoms between himself on the one hand and Mach, Ostwald, Helm and to some extent Duhem on the other hand. The latter wanted to develop a physics only constructed with perceptible phenomena. Because of the lack of empirical evidence of the atoms at that time they did not accept them for the construction of physics. In contrast, Boltzmann found the acceptance of atoms to be a fruitful assumption, since for him the construction of physics required going beyond perceptible phenomena. Two different conceptions of nature and of the ways to know nature clashed in this disagreement between Boltzmann and his opponents. Op-posing one-sided positions, Boltzmann supported the hypothetical character of science, in which more than one basic hypothesis can be advanced: he was open to the possibility of fundamental revolutions in science.

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Die Atomistik bei Ludwig Boltzmann. Zur wissenschaftlichen und philosophischen Bedeutung einer kontroversen Position am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts

     

Personality,amphetamine and intracranial self-stimulation in rats

The relationship between open-field ambulation and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) at the lateral hypothalamic area was studied in rats. A treatment with i.p. saline of d-amphetamine was also applied to the animals prior to ICSS tests. High-ambulatory rats (comparable to human extraverts) showed an equally higher susceptibility to ICSS reward than low-ambulatory rats (comparable to human introverts) with both saline and amphetamine. These findings were interpreted comsidering the ICSS as a strong stimulation which would tend to produce ‘unconditioned inhibition’ much earlier in low-ambulatory rats than high-ambulatory rats thus leading to a better conditioning among the high-ambulatory Ss.