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Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is considered a promising therapeutic tool for treating neuropsychiatric diseases. Previously, we found intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) rTMS to be most effective in modulating cortical excitation-inhibition balance in rats, accompanied by improved cortical sensory processing and sensory learning performance. Using an animal schizophrenia model based on maternal immune activation (MIA) we tested if iTBS applied to either adult or juvenile rats can affect the behavioral phenotype in a therapeutic or preventive manner, respectively. In a sham-controlled fashion, iTBS effects in MIA rats were compared with rats receiving vehicle NaCl injection instead of the synthetic viral strand. Prior to iTBS, adult MIA rats showed deficits in sensory gating, as tested with prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex, and deficits in novel object recognition (NOR). No differences between MIA and control rats were evident with regard to signs of anxiety, anhedonia and depression but MIA rats were somewhat superior to controls during the training phase of Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. MIA but not control rats significantly improved in PPI following iTBS at adulthood but without significant differences between verum and sham application. If applied during adolescence, verum but not sham-iTBS improved NOR at adulthood but no difference in PPI was evident in rats treated either with sham or verum-iTBS. MIA and control rat responses to sham-iTBS applied at adulthood differed remarkably, indicating a different physiological reaction to the experimental experiences. Although verum-iTBS was not superior to sham-iTBS, MIA rats seemed to benefit from the treatment procedure in general, since differences—in relation to control rats declined or disappeared. Even if classical placebo effects can be excluded, motor or cognitive challenges or the entire handling procedure during the experiments appear to alleviate the behavioral impairments of MIA rats.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used as a therapeutic tool in neurology and psychiatry. While repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) has been shown to induce plasticity of excitatory synapses, it is unclear whether rMS can also modify structural and functional properties of inhibitory inputs. Here we employed 10-Hz rMS of entorhinohippocampal slice cultures to study plasticity of inhibitory neurotransmission on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Our experiments reveal a rMS-induced reduction in GABAergic synaptic strength (2–4 h after stimulation), which is Ca2+-dependent and accompanied by the remodelling of postsynaptic gephyrin scaffolds. Furthermore, we present evidence that 10-Hz rMS predominantly acts on dendritic, but not somatic inhibition. Consistent with this finding, a reduction in clustered gephyrin is detected in CA1 stratum radiatum of rTMS-treated anaesthetized mice. These results disclose that rTMS induces coordinated Ca2+-dependent structural and functional changes of specific inhibitory postsynapses on principal neurons., Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is widely used as a therapeutic tool yet its effect on inhibitory networks in the brain has not been studied. Here, the authors demonstrate that 10Hz rTMS specifically reduces dendritic inhibition onto pyramidal neurons accompanied by remodeling of postsynaptic gephyrin clusters.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are purely ionic, salt-like materials, which are by definition liquids below 100 oC. Their unique properties, such as non-volatility, non-flammability, chemical and thermal stability and high ionic conductivity, make them promising materials for electrochemical devices and as solvents in “green” chemistry. Generally, ILs show a non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the viscosity, η, and the DC conductivity, σDC, characteristic for fragile glass-forming liquids. Recent investigations on the ionic liquid BMIm-BF4 have revealed that curves of σDC and fluidity f (inverse viscosity, 1/η), have the same shape and when suitably shifted, can be exactly superimposed. To describe the non-Arrhenius f and σDC, the most popular approach is the empirical Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) relation. However, when using equations derived for the modeling of conductivity spectra with the MIGRATION concept, we obtain an activation energy E* for an elementary displacive step of an ion, which is the same for both fluidity and conductivity. This strongly suggests that the electrical and mechanical properties can be traced back to the same elementary steps and, consequently, these properties should show similar frequency dependence. Based on this premise, we have measured the fluidity spectra, f(ν) of two ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIm-BF4), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (HMIm-BF4), and compared them with their conductivity spectra σ(ν) in order to obtain a deeper insight into the motions of ions that determine their electrical and mechanical properties.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a popular method to non-invasively stimulate the human brain. The opportunity to modify cortical excitability with repetitive stimulation (rTMS) has especially gained interest for its therapeutic potential. However, details of the cellular mechanisms of the effects of rTMS are scarce. Currently favoured are long-term changes in the efficiency of excitatory synaptic transmission, with low-frequency rTMS depressing it, but high-frequency rTMS augmenting. Only recently has modulation of cortical inhibition been considered as an alternative way to explain lasting changes in cortical excitability induced by rTMS. Adequate animal models help to highlight stimulation-induced changes in cellular processes which are not assessable in human rTMS studies. In this review article, we summarize findings obtained with our rat models which indicate that distinct inhibitory cell classes, like the fast-spiking cells characterized by parvalbumin expression, are most sensitive to certain stimulation protocols, e.g. intermittent theta burst stimulation. We discuss how our findings can support the recently suggested models of gating and homeostatic plasticity as possible mechanisms of rTMS-induced changes in cortical excitability.

Ionske su tekućine (Ionic Liquids) niskotemperaturne taline soli, dakle, tekućine sastavljene isključivo od iona. Njihova jedinstvena svojstva kao što su nehlapljivost, nezapaljivost, kemijska i termička stabilnost te visoka ionska vodljivost čine ih atraktivnim materijalima za brojne primjene od „zelenih“ otapala za sinteze i katalize do elektrolita u različitim elektrokemijskim uređajima. Iako interes za ovu novu vrstu tekućina posljednjih godina rapidno raste, opsežno poznavanje osnovnih dinamičkih procesa koji određuju njihova električna i mehanička svojstva i dalje nedostaje. U ovom je radu istražena dinamika iona u tri ionske tekućine na bazi imidazola ; 1-butil-3-metilimidazol tetrafluoroboratu (BMIm-BF4), 1-heksil-3-metilimidazol tetrafluoroboratu (HMIm-BF4) i 1-butil-3-metilimidazol heksafluorofosfatu (BMIm-PF6) analizom frekvencijski ovisne ionske vodljivosti i fluidnosti (inverzne viskoznosti). Utvrđeno je da sve istražene ionske tekućine pokazuju ne-Arrheniusovu temperaturnu ovisnost DC vodljivosti i DC fluidnosti. Krivulje DC vodljivosti i DC fluidnosti imaju isti oblik i mogu se preklopiti u Arrheniusovom grafu ako su osi njihovih inverznih temperatura međusobno pomaknute za mali iznos. Takvim se pomakom, vrijednosti DC fluidnosti preklapaju s vrijednostima DC vodljivosti na nižoj temperaturi. Također, fluidnost i vodljivost pokazuju istu korelaciju frekvencijske ovisnosti. Analizom fluidnosti i vodljivosti MIGRATION modelom pokazano je da se cijeli spektri fluidnosti mogu usporediti sa spektrima vodljivosti na temperaturama koje su određene razlikom između njihovih inverznih temperatura u Arrheniusovom prikazu. Na temelju toga, može se zaključiti da je još uvijek nepoznata vremenski korelirana funkcija povezana s fluidnošću slična autokorelacijskoj funkciji gustoće struje. U fizikalnom opisu dinamičkih procesa u ovim su tekućinama, viskozni tok i tok naboja različiti, ali povezani fizikalni fenomeni. U oba procesa uključen je isti elementarni pomak iona koji da bi bio uspješan, mora biti popraćen odgovarajućim gibanjima susjednih iona. Kod viskoznog toka, gibanja susjednih iona moraju zadovoljiti više specifičnih zahtjeva nego kod toka naboja što rezultira sporijom ionskom dinamikom. U istraživanim ionskim tekućinama, zamjena aniona (BMIm-PF6) ima veći utjecaj na usporavanje ionske dinamike viskoznog toka od zamjene kationa (BMIm-BF4 i HMIm-BF4).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to alter cortical excitability that lasts beyond the duration of rTMS application itself. High-frequency rTMS leads primarily to facilitation, whereas low-frequency rTMS leads to inhibition of the treated cortex. However, the contribution of rTMS train duration is less clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of nine different rTMS protocols, including low and high frequencies, as well as short and long applications (1, 3 and 10 Hz applied for 1, 5 and 20 min), on visual cortex excitability in anaesthetized and paralysed cats by means of visual evoked potential (VEP) and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. Our results show that 10 Hz rTMS applied for 1 and 5 min significantly enhanced early VEP amplitudes, while 1 and 3 Hz rTMS applied for 5 and 20 min significantly reduced them. No significant changes were found after 1 and 3 Hz rTMS applied for only 1 min, and 10 Hz rTMS applied for 20 min. EEG activity was only transiently (

Submitted by Alberto Vieira (martins_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2018-10-25T23:18:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 719553.pdf: 19130881 bytes, checksum: 1888e5430b9fdbe85dde2c61f8a1b948 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-25T23:18:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 719553.pdf: 19130881 bytes, checksum: 1888e5430b9fdbe85dde2c61f8a1b948 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 CAPES Analisa a forma que o estilo dito pombalino adquiriu nas fachadas religiosas da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, partindo- se do principio que este foi a versão carioca do barroco tardio desenvolvida a partir da segunda metade do século XVIII. Utilizamos as igrejas da Ordem Terceira do Carmo, Santa Cruz dos Militares e Candelária para observar a presença dos traços arquitetônicos e dos ornamentos pertencentes ao maneirismo, ao rococó e às mais diversas vertentes do barroco tardio (entre elas o "rococó romano"), na arquitetura religiosa realizada no período pombalino na capital da colônia. Este hibridismo formal encontrou paralelo no ecletismo ideológico dos principais responsáveis pela implantação do pensamento ilustrado em Portugal. Nesta dissertação procuramos vincular as formas adquiridas pelo estilo pombalino à congregação oratoriana e aos arquitetos cenógrafos que com eles trabalharam, assim como à tradição e à formação dos engenheiros militares aos novos gostos advindos da Itália e da Alemanha. Analyse the pombaline style and its shapes on religious facades in Rio de Janeiro, taking into account that this trend was the local version of the late barroque which had been developed since the second half of the XVIII century. Ordem Terceira do Monte do Carmo, Santa Cruz dos Militares e Candelária were the churches that we used as examples in order to recognize the pombaline architectural basis and elements which belongs to maneirism and rococo styles as well as some other trends of the late barroque (including the "roman rococo") on religious facades of that period in the capital of the colony. This formal hybridism observed in the shapes was also found in the eclectic ideology of the most important of "enlightened" portuguese men in that period. In this dissertation we tried to link not only the pombaline style shapes to the "modern" oratorian congregation and to the architects-scenographers who worked with them, but also the traditional militar engineers’ background to the new fashions deriving from Italy and Germany.

Copyright © 2022 The Author(s) and International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Transcranial (electro)magnetic stimulation (TMS) is currently the method of choice to non-invasively induce neural activity in the human brain. A single transcranial stimulus induces a time-varying electric field in the brain that may evoke action potentials in cortical neurons. The spatial relationship between the locally induced electric field and the stimulated neurons determines axonal depolarization. The induced electric field is influenced by the conductive properties of the tissue compartments and is strongest in the superficial parts of the targeted cortical gyri and underlying white matter. TMS likely targets axons of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The propensity of individual axons to fire an action potential in response to TMS depends on their geometry, myelination and spatial relation to the imposed electric field and the physiological state of the neuron. The latter is determined by its transsynaptic dendritic and somatic inputs, intrinsic membrane potential and firing rate. Modeling work suggests that the primary target of TMS is axonal terminals in the crown top and lip regions of cortical gyri. The induced electric field may additionally excite bends of myelinated axons in the juxtacortical white matter below the gyral crown. Neuronal excitation spreads ortho- and antidromically along the stimulated axons and causes secondary excitation of connected neuronal populations within local intracortical microcircuits in the target area. Axonal and transsynaptic spread of excitation also occurs along cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical connections, impacting on neuronal activity in the targeted network. Both local and remote neural excitation depend critically on the functional state of the stimulated target area and network. TMS also causes substantial direct co-stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral co-excitation propagates centrally in auditory and somatosensory networks, but also produces brain responses in other networks subserving multisensory integration, orienting or arousal. The complexity of the response to TMS warrants cautious interpretation of its physiological and behavioural consequences, and a deeper understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of TMS will be critical for advancing it as a scientific and therapeutic tool. Aman S. Aberra was supported by a U. S. A. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (No. DGF 1106401). Andrea Antal has been supported by a grant of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of Germany (Grant 01GP2124B) and by a grant of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (Grant 76251-12-7/19 ZN 3456). Marco Davare has been supported by a BBSRC responsive mode grant. Klaus Funke has been supported by a grant of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of Germany (Grant 01EE1403B) as part of the German Center for Brain Stimulation (GCBS) and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (Grants FU256/3-2; 122679504–SFB874). Mark Hallett is supported by the NINDS Intramural Program. Anke N. Karabanov holds a 4-year Sapere Aude Fellowship which is sponsored by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (Grant Nr. 0169-00027B). The sponsor had no direct involvement in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data and in the writing of the manuscript. Giacomo Koch has been supported by na EU grant H2020-EU.1.2.2. - FET Proactive (Neurotwin ID: 101017716). Sabine Meunier is Emeritus Research Director at INSERM, this has no direct involvement in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data and in the writing of the manuscript. Carlo Miniussi has been supported by a grant of the Caritro Foundation, Italy. Walter Paulus received grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and BMBF. Angel V. Peterchev was supported by grants from the U. S. A. National Institutes of Health (Grants Nos. R01NS117405, R01NS088674, RF1MH114268, R01MH111865). Traian Popa has been supported by the Defitech Foundation and NIBS-iCog grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation. Hartwig R. Siebner holds a 5-year professorship in precision medicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Copenhagen which is sponsored by the Lundbeck Foundation (Grant Nr. R186-2015-2138). The salary for Janine Kesselheim (PhD project) has been covered by a project grant “Biophysically adjusted state-informed cortex stimulation” (BASICS) funded by a synergy grant from Novo Nordisk Foundation (PI: Hartwig R Siebner, Interdisciplinary Synergy Program 2014; grant number NNF14OC001). Axel Thielscher has been supported by grants of the Lundbeck foundation (R118-A11308, R244-2017-196 and R313-2019-622). Yoshikazu Ugawa has been supported in part by grants from the Research Project Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Grants 15H05881, 16H05322, 19H01091, 20K07866). Ulf Ziemann received grants from the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), European Research Council (ERC), and German Research Foundation (DFG).