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Human hippocampus and viewpoint dependence in spatial memory.

Virtual reality was used to sequentially present objects within a town square and to test recognition of object locations from the same viewpoint as presentation, or from a shifted viewpoint. A developmental amnesic case with focal bilateral hippocampal pathology showed a massive additional impairment when tested from the shifted viewpoint compared with a mild, list length-dependent, impairment when tested from the same viewpoint. While the same-view condition could be solved by visual pattern matching, the shifted-view condition requires a viewpoint independent representation or an equivalent mechanism for translating or rotating viewpoints in memory. The latter mechanism was indicated by control subjects' response latencies in the shifted-view condition, although the amnesic case is not impaired in tests of mental rotation of single objects. These results show that the human hippocampus supports viewpoint independence in spatial memory, and suggest that it does so by providing a mechanism for viewpoint manipulation in memory. In addition, they suggest an extremely sensitive test for human hippocampal damage, and hint at the nature of the hippocampal role in episodic recollection.

Adult↗

Spatial resolution dependence of DTI tractography in human occipito-callosal region.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tracking have been used to measure the fiber structural connectivity in humans in a non-invasive manner. However, low sensitivity is a principal limitation of these methods, causing a large number of possibly missing fiber tracts (FTs). Here we studied how the spatial resolution affects the sensitivity of the fiber tracing by rescaling data to different resolutions. Our data suggest that the spatial resolution can change the degree of the asymmetric cross-callosal connections in the lower visual field (loVF) compared to the upper visual field (upVF). Among connections from loVF, a larger voxel size resulted in a smaller number of FTs that was not commensurate to the number of seed points, while the number of connections from upVF was not significantly affected by variation in seeding point numbers. We conclude from our study that the spatial resolution of the acquired data will have to be taken into consideration in interpreting DTI fiber tracking data. Our results further suggest that the acquisition resolution of around 2 mm iso-voxel in the conventional DTI scheme can reconstruct the asymmetric upper and lower white matter structure in occipito-callosal region.

Adult↗

Use of transgenic mice to map cis-acting elements in the liver fatty acid-binding protein gene (Fabpl) that regulate its cell lineage-specific, differentiation-dependent, and spatial patterns of expression in the gut epithelium and in the liver acinus.

Axial pattern formation is sustained in the mammalian gut epithelium despite rapid and continuous renewal of its four principal cell lineages. The mouse and rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) genes (Fabpl) represent an excellent model for understanding the mechanisms that determine differentiation-dependent, cell lineage-specific, and distinct regional patterns of expression along the crypt-to-villus and duodenal-to-ileal axes of the gut, as well as within the liver acinus. We have used transgenic mice to map cis-acting elements in rat Fabpl that control these patterns of gene expression. Seven transgenes were analyzed, representing sequential deletions of the 5'-nontranscribed domain of Fabpl linked to the human growth hormone (hGH) gene beginning at its nucleotide +3 (L-FABP/hGH+3). Several pedigrees of mice containing each one of the L-FABP/hGH+3 transgenes were examined at the end of their 8th and 20th weeks of postnatal life using immunocytochemical and RNA hybridization analyses. A remarkably compact sequence spanning nucleotides -132 to +21 of Fabpl is sufficient to establish and maintain a distribution of reporter mRNA and protein in villus-associated enterocytes located along the duodenal-to-ileal axis of the gut that resembles the pattern of expression of the endogenous Fabpl gene. L-FABP-132 to +21/hGH+3 is also expressed in surface and pit mucous cells of gastric units and in enterocytes located in the colonic homologs of small intestinal villi, the surface epithelial cuffs. This pattern of transgene expression in the stomach and colon recapitulates that of the intact endogenous donor rat Fabpl but not that of mouse Fabpl, which is silent in these proximal and distal segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Analysis of mice containing L-FABP-4000 to +21/hGH+3, L-FABP-1600 to +21/hGH+3, L-FABP-596 to +21/hGH+3, L-FABP-246 to +21/hGH+3, and L-FABP-186 to +21/hGH+3 indicate that Fabpl's cephalocaudal gradient is influenced by cis-acting suppressors of cecal and colonic expression located between nucleotides -4000 and -1600 and by cis-acting activators of cecal and colonic expression located between nucleotides -597 and -351. L-FABP-132 to +21/hGH+3 is precociously activated in proliferating and nonproliferating epithelial cells located in intestinal crypts. The suppressor(s) of L-FABP accumulation in crypt epithelial cell populations are not represented between nucleotides -4000 and +21, indicating that different cis-acting sequences regulate regional and differentiation-dependent patterns of Fabpl expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aging↗

Theoretical signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution dependence on the magnetic field strength for hyperpolarized noble gas magnetic resonance imaging of human lungs.

In hyperpolarized noble gas (HNG) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the available polarization is independent of magnetic field strength and for large radiofrequency (rf) coils, such as those used for chest imaging, the body noise becomes the primary noise source making signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) largely frequency independent at intermediate field strengths (0.1-0.5 T). Furthermore, the reduction in the transverse relaxation time, T2, of HNG in lungs with increasing field strength, results in a decrease in the achievable SNR at higher fields. In this work, the optimum field strength for HNG MR imaging was theoretically calculated in terms of both SNR and spatial resolution. SNR calculations used the principle of reciprocity and included contributions to the noise arising from both coil and sample losses in a chest-sized coil for lung imaging. The effects of susceptibility differences, transverse relaxation time, and diffusion were considered in the resolution calculations. The calculations show that the optimum field strength for HNG MR imaging of human lungs is between 0.1 and 0.6 T depending on gas type (helium or xenon) and sample size. At the field strengths currently used by conventional clinical proton MR imaging systems (1-3 T), the predicted SNR are 10%-50% lower than at the optimum field with only slightly worse spatial resolution (10%-20%). At higher fields (>3 T), however, the SNR degrades considerably reducing the achievable spatial resolution. Although HNG of the lung is still feasible at very low field strengths (<50 mT), the available SNR is much lower than at optimum fields and this reduces the achievable spatial resolution. These findings suggest that HNG imaging may be optimally performed at much lower field strengths (0.1-0.6 T) than conventional clinical proton MR imaging systems. This could considerably decrease cost, improve patient access, and reduce chemical shift and susceptibility artifacts and rf heating.

Artifacts↗

Nicotine blocks stress-induced impairment of spatial memory and long-term potentiation of the hippocampal CA1 region.

The effect of chronic nicotine treatment on chronic psychosocial stress-induced impairment of short-term memory and long-term potentiation (LTP) was determined. An "intruder" stress model was used to induce psychosocial stress for 4-6 wk, during which rats were injected with saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.) twice a day. The radial arm water maze memory task was used to test hippocampus-dependent spatial memory. Chronic psychosocial stress impaired short-term memory without affecting the learning phase or long-term memory. Concurrent chronic nicotine treatment prevented stress-induced short-term memory impairment. In normal rats chronic nicotine treatment had no effect on learning and memory. Extracellular recordings from the CA1 region of anaesthetized rats showed severe reduction of LTP magnitude in stressed rats, which was normalized in nicotine-treated stressed rats. Nicotine had no effect on LTP in control animals. These results showed that chronic nicotine treatment improved hippocampus-dependent spatial memory and LTP only when impaired by stress.

Animals↗

Local noise weighted filtering for emphysema scoring of low-dose CT images.

Computed tomography (CT) has become the new reference standard for quantification of emphysema. The most popular measure of emphysema derived from CT is the pixel index (PI), which expresses the fraction of the lung volume with abnormally low intensity values. As PI is calculated from a single, fixed threshold on intensity, this measure is strongly influenced by noise. This effect shows up clearly when comparing the PI score of a high-dose scan to the PI score of a low-dose (i.e., noisy) scan of the same subject. In this paper, the noise variance (NOVA) filter is presented: a general framework for (iterative) nonlinear filtering, which uses an estimate of the spatially dependent noise variance in an image. The NOVA filter iteratively estimates the local image noise and filters the image. For the specific purpose of emphysema quantification of low-dose CT images, a dedicated, noniterative NOVA filter is constructed by using prior knowledge of the data to obtain a good estimate of the spatially dependent noise in an image. The performance of the NOVA filter is assessed by comparing characteristics of pairs of high-dose and low-dose scans. The compared characteristics are the PI scores for different thresholds and the size distributions of emphysema bullae. After filtering, the PI scores of high-dose and low-dose images agree to within 2%-3% points. The reproducibility of the high-dose bullae size distribution is also strongly improved. NOVA filtering of a CT image of typically 400 x 512 x 512 voxels takes only a couple of minutes which makes it suitable for routine use in clinical practice.

Algorithms↗

Dose-dependency in spatial dynamics of [Ca2+]c in pancreatic acinar cells.

Spatial dynamics of cytosolic concentration of Ca2+, [Ca2+]c, in stimulus-secretion coupling of rat pancreatic acinar cell was monitored by a digital image analysing technique using Fura-2. When freshly isolated acini were stimulated with lower concentrations of CCK-8 (5-30 pM), [Ca2+]c increase began at the region beneath the basolateral membrane and the [Ca2+]c increase depended on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o). CCK-8 at higher concentrations (100 pM and 1 nM), however, caused [Ca2+]c increase even in the absence of [Ca2+]o. Low concentrations of G-protein activator, NaF (10 mM or lower), caused [Ca2+]o-dependent increase in [Ca2+]c, whereas higher concentrations of NaF (15 mM or higher) increased [Ca2+]c in the absence of [Ca2+]o. These results are compatible with the view that G-protein activated by a physiological concentration of secretagogue accelerates Ca2+ entry. This process is in contrast to the process of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, which can be predominant when pharmacological or toxic concentration of the secretagogue was applied.

Animals↗

Dose-dependency in spatial dynamics of [Ca2+]c in adrenal chromaffin cells.

The spatial dynamics of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]c, in guinea pig adrenal chromaffin cells was monitored by a digital image analysing technique using Fura-2. When a freshly isolated cluster of cells was stimulated with lower concentrations of carbachol (CCh; 0.3-1 microM), the [Ca2+]c began to increase in the region beneath the plasma membrane facing the extracellular environment. The [Ca2+]c increase depended on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o). CCh at a higher concentration (100 microM), however, caused [Ca2+]c increase even in the absence of [Ca2+]o. These results are compatible with the view that the receptor activation with a physiological concentration of secretagogue accelerates Ca2+ entry, and that stimulation with a higher concentration of the secretagogue induces small transient Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and predominant continuous Ca2+ entry.

Animals↗

Interpretation of skeletal muscle four-electrode impedance measurements using spatial and temporal frequency-dependent conductivities.

Spatial and temporal frequency-dependent conductivities are used to interpret four-electrode conductivity measurements on skeletal muscle. The model qualitatively explains the observed dependence of the experimental data on the temporal frequency of the injected current, the angle between the electrode array and the fibre direction, and the distance between the electrodes.

Electric Conductivity↗

Binocular summation to gratings in the peripheral field in older subjects is spatial frequency dependent.

PURPOSE: Binocular summation for contrast detection in the fovea is lower in older normal subjects. At present, no binocular summation data exist for contrast detection in older subjects in the peripheral field. METHODS: Monocular and binocular contrast thresholds were measured for sine-wave gratings of 1 c/deg (F1) and 4 c/deg (F4) in the fovea in young and older visually normal subjects. Measurements were also obtained at 8 degrees in the superior field for gratings of 1 c/deg (P1) and 4 c/deg (P4). RESULTS: Binocular summation ratios in young subjects at the fovea and periphery were not statistically different at either spatial frequency. In older subjects, analysis of the relevant conditions showed significantly lower summation ratios for: P4/F4 combination (p = 0.05), and P4/P1 combination (p = 0.03). No significant differences existed for F1/P1 and F1/F4 combinations (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lowest binocular summation ratio is shown with older subjects for gratings of 4 c/deg in the periphery (P4). Further analysis suggests the possibility that this is due to a larger relative loss in binocular sensitivity. Data are discussed in terms of selective loss of binocular neurons mediating peripheral sensitivity in the ageing eye.

Adult↗

Risk factors and spatial patterns of hookworm infection among schoolchildren in a rural area of western Côte d'Ivoire.

This study is aimed at investigating the risk factors for hookworm infection among schoolchildren in a rural area of western Côte d'Ivoire and predicting and mapping the spatial distribution of infection. We used demographic and socio-economic data from a cross-sectional survey of 6-16-year-old schoolchildren from 56 schools. Infection with hookworm was determined by microscopic examination of stool samples employing the Kato-Katz technique and an ether-concentration method. Environmental data were derived from satellite images and digitised maps. Bayesian variogram models were applied to investigate the variation of hookworm infection in relation to demographic, socio-economic and environmental factors. The overall hookworm infection prevalence, based on the pooled microscopic diagnoses, was 43.3% and ranged from 5.4 to 79.1% in the schools surveyed. Bivariate analyses showed that sex, age, socio-economic status, elevation, rainfall and land cover were significantly associated with the spatial distribution of hookworm infection. The final multivariate spatial model consisted of the covariates age, sex, socio-economic status, elevation and land cover. When assuming non-stationary underlying spatial dependency, the results of the model suggested that spatial correlation depended on the location only marginally. We conclude that, at the current resolution, it seems more reasonable to target interventions based on well-established epidemiologic risk factors, rather than on spatial factors.

Adolescent↗

Estimating smoothness in statistical parametric maps: variability of p values.

OBJECTIVE: The smoothness parameter that characterises the spatial dependence of pixel values in functional brain images is usually estimated empirically from the data. Since this parameter is essential for the assessment of significant changes in brain activity, it is important to know (a) the variance of its estimator and (b) how this variability affects the results of the ensuing statistical analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this article, we derive an approximate expression for the variance of the smoothness estimator and investigate the effects of this variability on assessing the significance of cerebral activation in statistical parametric maps using a verbal fluency PET activation experiment. RESULTS: Our results suggest that, for p values around 0.05, the variability in the p value (due to smoothness estimation) is approximately 20%. CONCLUSION: The effect of the assessment of the spatial dependency of the data is far from being negligible, and this suggests a more comprehensive methodology for functional imaging than the one used so far. This work provides a simple tool for taking into account this effect.

Algorithms↗

Trend and area variation in amphetamine prescription usage among children and adolescents in Michigan.

The increased use of stimulant medications for children and teenagers is an ongoing issue of professional and public concern. Unlike methylphenidate, the growth of prescriptions and patterns of utilization of amphetamines for pediatric populations have not been well documented. The study objectives were to describe the trends of amphetamine prescription utilization among pediatric age groups in Michigan and to compare area variations. A population-based computerized data set from the state of Michigan was used to extract all outpatient prescriptions for Schedule II amphetamines dispensed from 1990 to 1997. The prescribing rates by age groups and by counties were computed with the projected population size of corresponding years, and mapped and analyzed with spatial statistical methods. Counties that did not conform to the global spatial dependence pattern in the prescription rate were identified using Moran scatter plot. A total of 236,661 outpatient prescriptions for amphetamines were dispensed in Michigan during the time frame, including less than 1% for methamphetamine, 24.5% for amphetamine, and 74.8% for dextroamphetamine. The prescribing rate was highest among children 10-14 years old (380 prescriptions per 10,000 people) in 1997, followed by children 5-9 years old (253 prescriptions per 10,000). Over the 8-year period, the prescribing rates of amphetamines increased significantly, ranging from 380% for children 2-4 years to 817% for teenagers older than 14 years. The rates among counties ranged from 60 to 1648 per 10,000 children 5-14 years old, with the highest prescribing rates in the northwestern regions of Michigan. Although spatial dependence explained 36% of the variance, the area variations that are unaccounted for are still considerable. In conclusion, there were substantial increases and unexplained area variations in amphetamine usage in Michigan during the study period. Both phenomena require awareness and evaluation from researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and the public.

Adolescent↗

Primary open-angle glaucoma alters retinal recovery from a thiobarbiturate: spatial frequency dependence.

Electrophysiological responses of the retina to a series of grating stimuli (6-768 min of arc/phase) were recorded in seven sessions using normal Beagles and in 21 sessions using Beagles afflicted with inherited glaucoma. A 15 degrees and a 30 degrees field, centered around the animal's area centralis, were used to stimulate the central retina. Two recording series were completed on each animal, with both stimulus sizes presented in each recording session. The first recording took place 30 min, and the second 2 hr, after the injection of thiamylal sodium. The signals recorded from the toroidal 15 degrees of the retina of the glaucomatous dogs during the second recording were significantly larger than those of the first recording. This difference was found only for the larger (> 48 min of arc/phase) gratings. No significant differences were found between the first and second recordings from the central 15 degrees of glaucomatous dogs, nor at any site in the normal dogs.

Animals↗

Eye-hand tracking using afterimages. Evidence that sense of effort is dependent on spatial constancy mechanisms.

Oculomotor tracking of one's unseen hand is greatly enhanced when a positive afterimage of the arm is projected onto its changing apparent position. The "afterimage arm" also influences the perception of real arm motion. The nature of this influence indicates that sense of effort or will derives from spatial computations potentially involving sensory and motor information about the ongoing orientation of the entire body.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Hypercycles versus parasites in the origin of life: model dependence in spatial hypercycle systems.

Spatial hypercycle systems can be modelled by means of cellular automata or partial differential equations. In either model, two dimensional spirals or clusters can be formed. Different models give rise to slightly different spatial structures, but the response to parasites is fundamentally different: In cellular automata the hypercycle is resistant to parasites that are fatal in a partial differential equations model. In three dimensions scroll rings correspond to the two dimensional spirals. Numerical simulations on a partial differential equations model indicate that the scroll rings are unstable: The contract by a power law and disappear. Therefore, in three dimensions clusters seem to be the best candidate for the hypercycle resistant to parasites.

Computer Simulation↗