Density In Nucleus Research Articles

Suppressed play behaviour and decreased oxytocin receptor binding in the amygdala after prenatal exposure to low-dose valproic acid.

To better understand the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we investigated potential deficits in social play behaviour and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) density alterations in the amygdala in a rodent model of ASD. Pregnant rats were injected daily with 20 or 100 mg/kg valproic acid (VPA) or saline from day 12 until the end of pregnancy. The number of pinning and pouncing events was assessed at postnatal days 29-34. Brains from male offspring (n=7/group) were removed at postnatal day 50. We performed quantitative autoradiography with an OXTR radioligand, the [I]-ornithine vasotocin analogue, in brain slices from the amygdala and other limbic brain regions involved in rat social behaviour. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in pinning behaviour and decreased OXTR density in the central nucleus of the amygdala in the 20 mg/kg VPA group. However, the 100 mg/kg VPA group had no significant changes in the number of play behaviour-related events or OXTR binding in the central nucleus of the amygdala. The reduction in OXTR density in the amygdala may be a critical disrupting mechanism affecting social behaviour in pervasive disorders such as ASD.

Effects of Neonatal Exposure to Zearalenone on Puberty Timing, Hypothalamic Nuclei of AVPV and ARC, and Reproductive Functions in Female Mice.

It is now established that mycoestrogen zearalenone (ZEN) disrupts reproductive physiology, but the specific mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown, especially in brain. Growing evidence suggests that populations of estradiol (E2)-sensitive neurons in anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei, especially kisspeptin neurons, play a pivotal role in the timing of puberty onset, ovulation, and normal reproduction. The present study was conducted to find whether the ZEN can cause estrogen-like actions during the critical period of neonatal differentiation. In this study, we compared the effect of neonatal exposure to sesame oil, E2 benzoate (EB, 20 µg/kg body weight [bw]), and 3 various doses: 0.2, 1, and 2 mg/kg bw of ZEN (0.2, 1, and 2 ZEN) on the onset of puberty and estrus cyclicity as well as ovarian follicular profile, kisspeptin expression, and neuronal density in AVPV and ARC hypothalamic nuclei and E2 and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on postnatal day 70. Control mice received no treatment. Vaginal opening was significantly advanced by EB and 2 ZEN. Disrupted estrus cycles and decreased follicular profiles were observed in EB, 1 ZEN, and 2 ZEN animals. In addition, EB, 1 ZEN, and 2 ZEN reduced the expression of kisspeptin and neuronal density of AVPV and ARC nuclei and caused a decrease in the LH and an increase in E2 plasma levels. Taken together, our observations provide physiological evidence that neonatal exposure to ZEN exerts estrogen-like actions in the estrogen-sensitive hypothalamic AVPV and ARC nuclei, controlling reproductive functions in adult female mice.

A PITX3-EGFP Reporter Line Reveals Connectivity of Dopamine and Non-dopamine Neuronal Subtypes in Grafts Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

SummaryDevelopment of safe and effective stem cell-based therapies for brain repair requires an in-depth understanding of the in vivo properties of neural grafts generated from human stem cells. Replacing dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease remains one of the most anticipated applications. Here, we have used a human PITX3-EGFP embryonic stem cell line to characterize the connectivity of stem cell-derived midbrain dopamine neurons in the dopamine-depleted host brain with an unprecedented level of specificity. The results show that the major A9 and A10 subclasses of implanted dopamine neurons innervate multiple, developmentally appropriate host targets but also that the majority of graft-derived connectivity is non-dopaminergic. These findings highlight the promise of stem cell-based procedures for anatomically correct reconstruction of specific neuronal pathways but also emphasize the scope for further refinement in order to limit the inclusion of uncharacterized and potentially unwanted cell types.

Central depression in nucleonic densities: Trend analysis in the nuclear density functional theory approach

Central depression of nucleonic density, i.e., a reduction of density in the nuclear interior, has been attributed to many factors. E.g., bubble structures in superheavy (SH) nuclei are believed to be due to the electrostatic repulsion. In light nuclei, the mechanism has been discussed in terms of shell effects associated with occupations of s-orbits. The objective of this work is to reveal mechanisms behind the formation of central depression in nucleonic densities in light and heavy nuclei. We introduce several measures of the internal nucleonic density. Through the statistical analysis, we study the information content of these measures with respect to nuclear matter properties. We apply nuclear density functional theory with Skyrme functionals. Using the statistical tools of linear least square regression, we inspect correlations between various measures of central depression and model parameters, including nuclear matter properties. We study bivariate correlations with selected quantities as well as multiple correlations with groups of parameters. Detailed correlation analysis is carried out for $^{34}$Si for which a bubble structure has been reported recently, $^{48}$Ca, and N=82, 126, and 184 isotonic chains. We show that the central depression in medium-mass nuclei is very sensitive to shell effects, whereas for SH systems it is firmly driven by the electrostatic repulsion. An appreciable semi-bubble structure in proton density is predicted for $^{294}$Og, which is currently the heaviest nucleus known experimentally. Our correlation analysis reveals that the central density indicators in nuclei below $^{208}$Pb carry little information on parameters of nuclear matter; they are predominantly driven by shell structure. On the other hand, in the SH nuclei there exists a clear relationship between the central nucleonic density and symmetry energy.

Calretinin interneuron density in the caudate nucleus is lower in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder is a debilitating condition with possible neurodevelopmental origins but unknown neuroanatomical correlates. Whereas investigators have paid much attention to the cerebral cortex, few studies have detailed the basal ganglia in autism. The caudate nucleus may be involved in the repetitive movements and limbic changes of autism. We used immunohistochemistry for calretinin and neuropeptide Y in 24 age- and gender-matched patients with autism spectrum disorder and control subjects ranging in age from 13 to 69 years. Patients with autism had a 35% lower density of calretinin+ interneurons in the caudate that was driven by loss of small calretinin+ neurons. This was not caused by altered size of the caudate, as its cross-sectional surface areas were similar between diagnostic groups. Controls exhibited an age-dependent increase in the density of medium and large calretinin+ neurons, whereas subjects with autism did not. Diagnostic groups did not differ regarding ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1+ immunoreactivity for microglia, suggesting chronic inflammation did not cause the decreased calretinin+ density. There was no statistically significant difference in the density of neuropeptide Y+ neurons between subjects with autism and controls. The decreased calretinin+ density may disrupt the excitation/inhibition balance in the caudate leading to dysfunctional corticostriatal circuits. The description of such changes in autism spectrum disorder may clarify pathomechanisms and thereby help identify targets for drug intervention and novel therapeutic strategies.

Promoting effect of In2O3 on CuO for the Rochow reaction: The formation of P–N junctions at the hetero-interfaces

Here we report the first work on the synthesis of a series of xIn-CuO model catalysts for the Rochow reaction with formed P–N junctions at interfaces and with different In/Cu molar ratios. These composites were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method using metal nitrate salts and K2CO3 as the precursors and precipitant, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy characterization revealed the formation of the P–N junctions at the hetero-interfaces between CuO and In2O3, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and H2 temperature-programmed reduction demonstrated a strong interaction between the CuO and In2O3 phases. The addition of In2O3 increased the electron density in the Cu nucleus, causing Cu2+ and In3+ to become less and more positively charged, respectively. When used for the Rochow reaction, the catalyst 2In–CuO (2wt.% In on CuO) exhibited a significantly higher Si conversion and dimethyldichlorosilane ((CH3)2SiCl2, M2) selectivity than CuO, which is attributed to the formation of P–N junctions that can facilitate the charge transfer. In addition, the detailed characterizations of the fresh and spent contact masses indicated that the Rochow reaction occurred on the Si surface and probably in the areas between ultrathin two-dimensional Cu–Si species and Cu doping deposits. In2O3 species promote the outward spreading of Cu∗ (intermediate species) and improve the Cu∗ diffusion rate at the reactive interfaces. This work not only deepens the fundamental understanding of the Rochow reaction, but also provides a new approach for the design of more efficient Cu-based catalysts by adding promoters such as In2O3 and by engineering the interfaces.

Accessing transverse nucleon and gluon distributions in heavy nuclei using coherent vector meson photoproduction at high energies in ion ultraperipheral collisions

By using the theoretical approaches describing well the available data on $t$-integrated coherent photoproduction of light and heavy vector mesons in Pb-Pb ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Run 1, we calculate the momentum transfer distributions for this process for $\rho$ and $J/\psi$ vector mesons in the kinematics of Run 2 at the LHC. We demonstrate that nuclear shadowing not only suppresses the absolute value of the cross sections, but also shifts the momentum transfer distributions toward smaller values of the momentum transfer $|t|$. This result can be interpreted as a broadening in the impact parameter space of the effective nucleon density in nuclei by 14\% in the case of $\rho$ and the nuclear gluon distribution by $5-11$\% in the case of $J/\psi$.

Investigation of constraints on few-neutron forces in neutron matter by empirical information on the neutron skin of Ca48 and Pb208

The neutron matter equation of state is calculated from two-neutron forces up to fifth order of the chiral expansion and the order-by-order convergence of the predictions is investigated. Based on these equations of state, the binding energies and the neutron and proton density distributions in 208Pb and 48Ca are derived, with particular attention to the neutron skins, the focal point of this paper. Anticipating future experiments which will provide reliable information on the weak charge density in nuclei, the theoretical uncertainties and the possibility of constraining the size of few-neutron forces in neutron matter are discussed.

α3β4 nicotinic receptors in the medial habenula and substance P transmission in the interpeduncular nucleus modulate nicotine sensitization

The medial habenula-interpeduncular nucleus (MHb-IPN) pathway has recently been shown to modulate multiple effects nicotine in vivo, however it remains unclear which receptor subtypes in this pathway are critical for mediating these responses. To identify MHb and IPN receptors that play a role in nicotine reward, we studied receptors prevalent in these nuclei, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the receptor for substance P (neuokinin-1; NK1 receptor) using a model of behavioral and neurochemical sensitization to nicotine. Our results show that blockade of the α3β4 nAChR in the MHb, but not the IPN prevented increases in locomotor responding as well as increases in accumbal dopamine overflow in sensitized animals. Additionally, when NK1 receptors were blocked in the IPN, but not the MHb, a similar effect on sensitized responding was seen. Together, these results suggest that the MHb and IPN differentially modulate nicotine sensitization. Because the neurotransmission within these brain regions is primarily cholinergic and substance P ergic and these receptors are expressed in high density in both nuclei, these results could suggest a different neurophysiological signaling role or different neuroanatomical location of these receptors in this pathway. Furthermore, while α3β4 nAChRs have been suggested as a possible pharmacological target for nicotine addiction, this is the first evidence that substance P also plays a role in mediating responding to nicotine.

Effect of properties of superheavy nuclei on their production and decay

Properties and stability of superheavy nuclei resulting from hot fusion are discussed. It is shown that the microscopic–macroscopic approach allows obtaining the closed proton shell at Z ≥ 120. Isotopic trends of K-isomeric states in superheavy nuclei are predicted. Evaporation residue cross sections in hot fusion reactions are calculated using the predicted properties of superheavy nuclei. Interruption of α decay chains by spontaneous fission is analyzed. Alpha decay chains through isomeric states are considered. Internal level densities in superheavy nuclei are microscopically calculated.

Some universal properties of density matrices for finite nuclei (bound systems)

The properties of one-body and two-body density matrices of a nucleus as a nonrelativistic system are studied. Unlike the usual procedure applied in the theory of infinite systems, for a nucleus of A nucleons these quantities are determined as the expectation values of A-body multiplicative operators that depend on the relative coordinates and momenta (Jacobi variables) and affect the intrinsic wave functions. The translational invariance of these operators is thus ensured. An algebraic technique based on the Cartesian representation is developed for handling such operators. Within this technique, the coordinate and momentum operators are linear combinations of production and annihilation operators \(\hat \vec a^ + \) and \(\hat \vec a\) with commutation relations for bosons (oscillators). Each of the multiplicative operators reduces to the normally ordered product of two exponents, one of which depends on set \(\left\{ {\hat \vec a^ + } \right\}\) only and is located to the left of the second, which depends on \(\left\{ {\hat \vec a} \right\}\) only. This procedure offers a new view of the origin of the so-called Tassie–Barker factors and other model-independent results. In addition, the proposed method yields a fair description of the available experimental data and can easily be extended to investigate the role of short-range nucleon-nucleon correlations within these translationally invariant calculations of nucleon density and momentum distributions in light nuclei.

Nuclear Parton Distributions with the LHeC

Nuclear parton distributions are far from being known today because of an infant experimental base. Based on design studies of the LHeC and using new simulations, of the inclusive neutral and charged current cross section measurements and of the strange, charm and beauty densities in nuclei, it is demonstrated how that energy frontier electron-ion collider would unfold the complete set of nuclear PDFs in a hugely extended kinematic range of deep inelastic scattering, extending in Bjorken x down to values near to 10−6 in the perturbative domain. Together with a very precise and complete set of proton PDFs, the LHeC nPDFs will thoroughly change the theoretical understanding of parton dynamics and structure inside hadrons.

Persistence of Vibrational Collectivity in Nuclear Level Densities

By applying the particle-number projection to the finite-temperature BCS theory to the state densities in the rare-earth nuclei and comparing its results to the SMMC ones, we investigate effects of the particle-number conservation on the collective enhancement factor for the state densities. Once we restore the particle-number conservation, the rapid decay of vibrational enhancement disappears. This suggests that the vibrational collectivity may survive up to higher energy and the relevant enhancement factor is insensitive to the excitation energy.

Energy dependence and systematics of level-density parameters in nuclei of mass number in the range of A = 20–60

Existing direct and indirect experimental data on level densities in excited nuclei of mass and charge number in the ranges of A = 20–60 and Z = 11–27, respectively, were compiled and analyzed. Contradictions between values extracted from the results of measurements performed by different methods were revealed. Consistent input data were selected, and a systematics of level-density parameters was created on this basis within the generalized model of superfluid nuclei. The effect of the first discrete vibrational levels on extracted parameters was studied.

Elevated plasma oxytocin levels in children with Prader-Willi syndrome compared with healthy unrelated siblings.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with distinct abnormal behaviors including hyperphagia, profound social deficits, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. PWS males showed reduced oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene expression and density in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus that may play a role in PWS psychopathology. Oxytocin is an anorexigenic neuropeptide similar to vasopressin that is associated with social cognition and obsessive-compulsive behavior. To evaluate oxytocin biology in PWS, we examined overnight fasting plasma oxytocin levels in 23 children with PWS (mean ± SD age: 8.2 ± 2.0 year) having genetic confirmation and 18 age matched healthy unrelated siblings without PWS (mean ± SD age: 8.2 ± 2.3 year) and a similar gender ratio under the same clinical assessments, specimen processing and laboratory conditions. Multiplex immune assays were carried out using the Milliplex Human Neuropeptide Magnetic panel and the Luminex system. Natural log-transformed oxytocin levels were analyzed using general linear model adjusting for diagnosis, gender, age and body mass index (BMI). Oxytocin plasma levels were significantly elevated in children with PWS (168 ± 121 pg/ml) compared with unrelated and unaffected siblings without the diagnosis of PWS (64.8 ± 83.8 pg/ml, F = 8.8, P < 0.01) and the diagnosis of PWS predicted oxytocin level (F = 9.5, P < 0.003) in controlled regression analysis with an overall model fit R(2) = 0.33 (P < 0.01). The symptoms of hyperphagia, anxiety and repetitive behaviors classically seen in PWS may be related to the disruption of oxytocin responsivity or feedback in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus possibly influencing vasopressin signaling. Further study is needed to characterize oxytocin function in PWS.

Forebrain neuroanatomy of the neonatal and juvenile dolphin (T. truncatus and S. coeruloalba).

Knowledge of dolphin functional neuroanatomy mostly derives from post-mortem studies and non-invasive approaches (i.e., magnetic resonance imaging), due to limitations in experimentation on cetaceans. As a consequence the availability of well-preserved tissues for histology is scarce, and detailed histological analyses are referred mainly to adults. Here we studied the neonatal/juvenile brain in two species of dolphins, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), with special reference to forebrain regions. We analyzed cell density in subcortical nuclei, white/gray matter ratio, and myelination in selected regions at different anterior–posterior levels of the whole dolphin brain at different ages, to better define forebrain neuroanatomy and the developmental stage of the dolphin brain around birth. The analyses were extended to the periventricular germinal layer and the cerebellum, whose delayed genesis of the granule cell layer is a hallmark of postnatal development in the mammalian nervous system. Our results establish an atlas of the young dolphin forebrain and, on the basis of occurrence/absence of delayed neurogenic layers, confirm the stage of advanced brain maturation in these animals with respect to most terrestrial mammals.

The Behavior Of Matter Under Extreme Conditions

The cores of neutron stars harbor the highest matter densities known to occur in nature, up to several times the densities in atomic nuclei. Similarly, magnetic field strengths can exceed the strongest fields generated in terrestrial laboratories by ten orders of magnitude. Hyperon-dominated matter, deconfined quark matter, superfluidity, even superconductivity are predicted in neutron stars. Similarly, quantum electrodynamics predicts that in strong magnetic fields the vacuum becomes birefringent. The properties of matter under such conditions is governed by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), and the close study of the properties of neutron stars offers the unique opportunity to test and explore the richness of QCD and QED in a regime that is utterly beyond the reach of terrestrial experiments. Experimentally, this is almost virgin territory.

The pulsar PSR J0348-0432 and strange stars

The possible constraints on the equation of state for superdense baryonic matter to which an accurate measurement of the mass for the binary radio pulsar PSR J0348-0432 (M/M⊙ = 2.01 ± 0.04) leads have been determined. We use the bag model for strange quark matter (SQM), where the transition to the SQM state occurs at an energy density that does not exceed twice the density in atomic nuclei. Therefore, on the curve of massM for equilibrium superdense configurations versus central energy density ρ c (the M(ρ c ) curve), low-mass neutron stars and configurations consisting of SQM form one family in central density. The sets of three phenomenological bag constants (the vacuum pressure B, the quarkgluon interaction constant α c , and the strange quark mass ms) have been determined. Using them in the equation of state for SQM leads to maximum massesM max of equilibrium configurations greater than 2.01M ⊙ (M max ≥ 2.01M ⊙). For such equations of state for configurations withM max and M/M ⊙ = 2.01, we have calculated themass, the radius, the total number of baryons, and the redshift fromthe stellar surface as a function of the central energy density ρ c . It turns out that if we restrict the quark-gluon interaction constant α c , in terms of which the expansion is performed in the perturbation theory when determining the thermodynamic potentials Ω i , i = u, d, and s, to α c < 0.6, then, according to the derived equations of state, the above-mentioned pulsar can be a possible candidate for strange stars.

Maximum Mass of Strange Stars and Pulsars with the Most Accurately Measured Masses

Strange quark matter (SQM) is studied using a bag model in which the transition to the SQM state takes place at energy densities of no more than twice the density in atomic nuclei. Thus, low mass neutron stars with a configuration consisting of SQM form a single family on a plot of the mass M of equilibrium superdense configurations as a function of central energy density ρ c (the M(ρ c ) curve). The bag model considered here depends on three constants: the vacuum pressure B, the quark-gluon interaction constant α c , and the strange quark mass m s . Sets of values of these constants are determined, which if used in the equation of state for SQM yield a maximal mass M max of the equilibrium quark configurations which exceeds the recently accurately determined mass of 2.01M ⊙ for the binary radio pulsar PSR J0348+0432. The mass, radius, total baryon number, and red shift from the surface of the strange star are calculated for these configurations as a function of central energy density ρ c . The values of these integrated parameters are also calculated for each series with M max > 2.01M ⊙ for superdense configurations with masses of 2.01, 1.97, and 1.44 solar masses, which have been determined with great accuracy from observations. It turns out that, according to the resulting equations of state, all of the three pulsars with the most accurately measured masses, may be possible candidate strange stars.

Enhanced Nuclear State Density Equation in a Two-Component Pre-Equilibrium Exciton Model for Heavy Nuclei

The properties of nuclear state density which increases with increasing excitation energy are very important in many nuclear reactions. Previously, several theoretical calculations were performed and added to correct the state density equation. In this work, various corrections, i.e. the pairing effect, Pauli exclusion principle, parity, spin distribution, the finite depth and the bound state effect were added to enhance the state density results using the energy-dependent single-particle level densities (non-ESM) in 114Sn and 116Sn nuclei. The results of this work were compared to the available experimental (OSLO technique), and theoretical (E&B and HF-BCS) results. The calculations were performed for energies up to 80 MeV and show a reasonable match with experimental and theoretical results at low energies. At high energies the deformation effect affects the results and leads to mismatch between the results of this work and other results. The inclusion of the spin distribution function in case of j=1/(2 ), gives results far from the experimental data and previous theoretical results, which shows the importance of the introduction of a new formula that deals with a non-ESM system.