A Correspondence between Individual Differences in the Brain's Intrinsic Functional Architecture and the Content and Form of Self-Generated Thoughts

Although neural activity often reflects the processing of external inputs, intrinsic fluctuations in activity have been observed throughout the brain. These may relate to patterns of self-generated thought that can occur while not performing goal-driven tasks. To understand the relationship between self-generated mental activity and intrinsic neural fluctuations, we developed the New York Cognition Questionnaire (NYC-Q) to assess the content and form of an individual''s experiences during the acquisition of resting-state fMRI data. The data were collected as a part of the Nathan Kline Rockland Enhanced sample. We decomposed NYC-Q scores using exploratory factor analysis and found that self-reported thoughts clustered into distinct dimensions of content (future related, past related, positive, negative, and social) and form (words, images, and specificity). We used these components to perform an individual difference analysis exploring how differences in the types of self-generated thoughts relate to whole brain measures of intrinsic brain activity (fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, regional homogeneity, and degree centrality). We found patterns of self-generated thoughts related to changes that were distributed across a wide range of cortical areas. For example, individuals who reported greater imagery exhibited greater low frequency fluctuations in a region of perigenual cingulate cortex, a region that is known to participate in the so-called default-mode network. We also found certain forms of thought were associated with other areas, such as primary visual cortex, the insula, and the cerebellum. For example, individuals who reported greater future thought exhibited less homogeneous neural fluctuations in a region of lateral occipital cortex, a result that is consistent with the claim that particular types of self-generated thought depend on processes that are decoupled from sensory processes. These data provide evidence that self-generated thought is a heterogeneous category of experience and that studying its content can be helpful in understanding brain dynamics.     

An analytical model of traumatic diffuse brain injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) with prolonged coma has been produced in the primate using an impulsive, rotational acceleration of the head without impact. This pathophysiological entity has been studied subsequently from a biomechanics perspective using physical models of the skull-brain structure. Subjected to identical loading conditions as the primate, these physical models permit one to measure the deformation within the surrogate brain tissue as a function of the forces applied to the head. An analytical model designed to approximate these experiments has been developed in order to facilitate an analysis of the parameters influencing brain deformation. These three models together are directed toward the development of injury tolerance criteria based upon the shear strain magnitude experienced by the deep white matter of the brain. The analytical model geometry consists of a rigid, right-circular cylindrical shell filled with a Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic material. Allowing no slip on the boundary, the shell is subjected to a sudden, distributed, axisymmetric, rotational load. A Fourier series representation of the load allows unrestricted load-time histories. The exact solution for the relative angular displacement (V) and the infinitesimal shear strain (epsilon) at any radial location in the viscoelastic material with respect to the shell was determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Analysis of a defect in the H-2 genes of SV40 transformed C3H fibroblasts that do not express H-2Kk

C3H fibroblasts transformed in vitro with SV40 were adapted to in vivo growth. Several clones were isolated from a single, highly oncogenic tumor and those that displayed oncogenic potential also no longer expressed the H-2Kk molecule. Using the technique of Southern blot hybridization, the H-2 genes and integrated SV40 sequences present in the genomic DNA of several of these clones have been examined and compared with both the parent line and normal liver genomic DNA from C3H mice. All H-2Kk negative clones had altered H-2 genes that appeared as a gain and, depending on the restriction endonuclease, loss of hybridizing fragments compared to normal C3H DNA. A 5.5-kb fragment missing from the Sstl digests of the H-2Kk negative variants was mapped to the H-2Kk region of the major histocompatability complex with the use of congenic mice. This provided direct evidence that a mutation had occurred in the H-2Kk region. The integrated SV40 sequences were similar to those already seen in other SV40 transformed cells and not closely linked to any of the H-2 genes. There was no indication that the H-2 mutation was caused by integration of SV40.     

A high level of hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila: High thermosensitivity, dependence on DNA repair, and incomplete cytotype regulation

Summary An unusually high level of P-M hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster is characteristic of hybrid offspring originating from both, A (M × ) and B (P × M) crosses of a subline of the Harwich P strain, termed H ^s . The novel properties induced by mobility of P elements carried by H ^s paternal chromosomes include: very high (over 95%) gonadal dysgenesis (GD) in both sexes at the low restrictive temperature of 21°C, and highly premature sterility when males are reared at 18°C and aged at 21°C. Although all three major chromosomes of the H ^s subline contributed to this atypical pattern of gonadal dysgenesis, chromosome 3 had the largest effect. Gonadal dysgenesis showed a temperature- and sex-dependent repression pattern by the defective P elements of Muller-5 Birmingham chromosomes; at 21°C there was virtually no repression of male sterility, but most effective repression of GD in females. At 29°C repression was effective in males, but declined in females. The high thermosensitive sterility, low fecundity, and premature aging of the male germ line were greatly exacerbated when males derived from either A or B crosses were deficient either in excision repair (mei-9 mutation) or in post-replication repair (mei-41 mutation). These findings demonstrate that both DNA repair pathways are essential for the repair of lesions induced by P element transposition and support the hypothesis that P element-induced chromosome breaks are responsible for the virtual abolition of the germ line. The relatively high premature sterility of cross B DNA repair-deficient males, reared at 18°C and aged at 21°C, indicates that there is incomplete cytotype regulation in H ^s subline hybrids.     

Regional ventilation in statically and dynamically hyperinflated dogs

Hubmayr, Rolf D., and Susan S. Margulies. Regionalventilation in statically and dynamically hyperinflated dogs.J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4):1815-1821, 1996.Using the parenchymal marker technique innormal anesthetized dogs, we compared the dynamics of regional lungexpansion between two ventilation strategies designed to increase meanthoracic volume. Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) was produced byventilating the lungs at a rate of 50 breaths/min and with a duty cycleof 0.5. Static hyperinflation (SH) was produced throughthe application of extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure while thelungs were ventilated at a rate of 15 breaths/min and with a duty cycleof 0.15. Regional tidal volume(VT,r), regional functionalresidual volume, and the time delay between regional expansion and the flow signal at the common airway were computed for upto 100 regions/lobe in 5 animals. Ventilation strategy had no effect onthe overall variance of VT,rwithin lobes. Although the VT,rmeasured during SH correlated withVT,r measured during DH, theaverage correlation coefficient was only 0.69. Ventilation rate-relateddifferences in VT,r and regionalfunctional residual capacity varied with the regional time delay inways qualitatively consistent with parallel inhomogeneity of unit timeconstants. However, a large component of frequency-dependent behaviorremains unexplained by established mechanisms. We conclude that DH and SH should not be considered equivalent lung unit recruitmentstrategies.

     

Static lung-lung interactions in unilateral emphysema.

Motivated by the introduction of single-lung transplantation into clinical practice, we compared the static mechanical properties of the respiratory system in six supine dogs before (at baseline) with those after the induction of unilateral emphysema. Relaxation volume (Vrel), total lung capacity (TLC), and static compliance of the emphysematous lung increased to 214 +/- 68, 186 +/- 39, and 253 +/- 95% (SD) of baseline, respectively. Vrel of the nonemphysematous lung fell to 81 +/- 28% of baseline, with no significant change in TLC of the nonemphysematous lung or its pressure-volume relationship, indicating that unilateral hyperinflation does not cause dropout of contralateral lung units. After unilateral emphysema, the chest wall shifted to a higher unstressed or neutral volume (when pleural pressure equals atmospheric pressure) in three of six animals, minimizing the anticipated decrease in lung recoil pressure at the higher respiratory system Vrel. The pattern of relative lung emptying in the intact dog and in the excised lungs was similar during stepwise deflations from TLC, suggesting that mean pleural pressure of the hemithoraces is equal. We conclude that in the dog the static volume distribution between emphysematous and nonemphysematous lungs is determined only by differences in lung recoil and compliance.     

A covalently bound photoisomerizable agonist. Comparison with reversibly bound agonists at electrophorus electroplaques

After disulphide bonds are reduced with dithiothreitol, trans-3- (α-bromomethyl)-3’-[α- (trimethylammonium)methyl]azobenzene (trans-QBr) alkylates a sulfhydryl group on receptors. The membrane conductance induced by this “tethered agonist” shares many properties with that induced by reversible agonists. Equilibrium conductance increases as the membrane potential is made more negative; the voltage sensitivity resembles that seen with 50 [mu]M carbachol. Voltage- jump relaxations follow an exponential time-course; the rate constants are about twice as large as those seen with 50 μM carbachol and have the same voltage and temperature sensitivity. With reversible agonists, the rate of channel opening increases with the frequency of agonist-receptor collisions: with tethered trans-Qbr, this rate depends only on intramolecular events. In comparison to the conductance induced by reversible agonists, the QBr-induced conductance is at least 10-fold less sensitive to competitive blockade by tubocurarine and roughly as sensitive to “open-channel blockade” bu QX-222. Light-flash experiments with tethered QBr resemble those with the reversible photoisomerizable agonist, 3,3’,bis-[α-(trimethylammonium)methyl]azobenzene (Bis-Q): the conductance is increased by cis {arrow} trans photoisomerizations and decreased by trans {arrow} cis photoisomerizations. As with Bis-Q, ligh-flash relaxations have the same rate constant as voltage-jump relaxations. Receptors with tethered trans isomer. By comparing the agonist-induced conductance with the cis/tans ratio, we conclude that each channel’s activation is determined by the configuration of a single tethered QBr molecule. The QBr-induced conductance shows slow decreases (time constant, several hundred milliseconds), which can be partially reversed by flashes. The similarities suggest that the same rate-limiting step governs the opening and closing of channels for both reversible and tethered agonists. Therefore, this step is probably not the initial encounter between agonist and receptor molecules.     

Trichothecenes and zearalenone production by fusarium species isolated from Argentinean black beans

Isolates of Fusarium species obtained from freshly harvested bean grains for human consumption collected from different Argentinean regions, were investigated for their ability to biosynthesise trichothecenes and zearalenone either on rice grains or beans. Low incidence of toxigenic fungi was observed. These mycotoxigenic species produced several toxins when grown on rice but none or little amount when cultured on beans. The results of this report suggest that contamination of Argentinean beans with Fusarium mycotoxins will not be common and therefore people would be at low mycotoxicosis risk through consumption of beans.     

Combination radioprotectors maintain proliferation better than single agents by decreasing early parathyroid hormone-related protein changes after growth plate irradiation

Our hypothesis was that combinations of radioprotectors would be more effective than individual agents in minimizing the effects of radiation on the growth plate after single-fraction hind-limb irradiation of Sprague-Dawley rats. At 2 days postirradiation, the decrease in parathyroid hormone-related protein and parathyroid hormone receptor 1 expression in the irradiated growth plate transitional and hypertrophic zones was reversed in both of the combination groups but persisted in the groups treated with the individual drugs. By 2 weeks, positive findings unique to the combination-treatment animals included greater mean proliferation in the irradiated growth plate than on the contralateral side, smaller limb length discrepancies, reversal of the increased overall matrix area fraction, and reversal of the usual deficiency in Indian hedgehog staining in the irradiated hypertrophic zone. While all treatments had a positive effect in reversing the decrease in B-cell leukemia 2 protein and coincident increase in Bax previously observed 2 weeks postirradiation, the two combination groups had a more robust effect. Combinations of radioprotectors may achieve their beneficial additive effects in the growth plate by decreasing the usual early drop in parathyroid hormone-related protein and parathyroid hormone receptor 1 after irradiation, resulting in a cascade of parathyroid hormone-related protein-mediated events.