Modulation of basal ganglia neurotransmission by the classical antipsychotic fluphenazine is due in part to the blockade of dopamine D1-receptors

Classical antipsychotics, such as fluphenazine, influence neurotransmission by blocking both dopamine D1- and D2-receptors which in turn results in widespread adaptive changes in the neurochemistry of the basal ganglia. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of D1-receptors in mediating some of these neurochemical events, including changes in D1- and D2-receptor binding, and the expression of preproenkephalin and glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNAs. For these experiments, rats were given a depot injection of fluphenazine decanoate or injected twice daily for 21 days with the D1-receptor antagonist SCH-23390. An additional group received both fluphenazine and SCH-23390 and controls were given saline. Fluphenazine administration decreased D2-receptor binding throughout the basal ganglia while SCH-23390 was without effect. In contrast to the uniform reduction in D2-receptor binding, fluphenazine altered D1-receptor binding in a region-dependent manner. Region-dependent changes were also observed in animals given SCH-23390 which increased binding in the entopeduncular nucleus and posterior caudate-putamen without affecting other brain regions. Both fluphenazine and SCH-23390 significantly enhanced preproenkephalin and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA expression in the anterior striatum. Fluphenazine also increased GAD mRNA levels in the entopeduncular nucleus. Together, these results indicate that the attenuation of D1-receptor-mediated neurotransmission modulates a number of clinically relevant neurochemical processes in the basal ganglia.     

Owner-Driven Suburban Renewal: Motivations,Risks and Strategies in ‘Knockdown and Rebuild’ Processes in Sydney,Australia

Decisions by individual owners about reinvesting capital in their homes are important drivers of wider processes of suburban renewal. This paper examines the motivations for owners in mostly middle-ring suburbs of Sydney, Australia, to reinvest through ‘knockdown and rebuild’ (KDR). This process—not unique to Australia—involves the wholesale demolition of older detached houses and their replacement with completely new dwellings. Until recently, existing literature on housing reinvestment has focused on practices such as renovations or modifications to existing dwellings. Yet, KDR is becoming increasingly popular and moreover appears to involve a distinctive set of actors, drivers and potential impacts. On the basis of a statistical survey of activity followed up by a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews, the general scale and attributes of KDR are summarised and then explored to discern the main perceived benefits, risks and types of development scenarios pursued. The results reveal a genuine diversity of motivations and circumstances involved in this latest physical makeover of the traditional Australian suburb.     

Decomposable Principal Component Analysis

In this paper, we consider principal component analysis (PCA) in decomposable Gaussian graphical models. We exploit the prior information in these models in order to distribute PCA computation. For this purpose, we reformulate the PCA problem in the sparse inverse covariance (concentration) domain and address the global eigenvalue problem by solving a sequence of local eigenvalue problems in each of the cliques of the decomposable graph. We illustrate our methodology in the context of decentralized anomaly detection in the Abilene backbone network. Based on the topology of the network, we propose an approximate statistical graphical model and distribute the computation of PCA.     

Linear Regression With Gaussian Model Uncertainty: Algorithms and Bounds

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating an unknown deterministic parameter vector in a linear regression model with random Gaussian uncertainty in the mixing matrix. We prove that the maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator is a (de)regularized least squares estimator and develop three alternative approaches for finding the regularization parameter that maximizes the likelihood. We analyze the performance using the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the mean squared error, and show that the degradation in performance due the uncertainty is not as severe as may be expected. Next, we address the problem again assuming that the variances of the noise and the elements in the model matrix are unknown and derive the associated CRB and ML estimator. We compare our methods to known results on linear regression in the error in variables (EIV) model. We discuss the similarity between these two competing approaches, and provide a thorough comparison that sheds light on their theoretical and practical differences.     

The Choice Agenda in Disability Housing Provision

The notion of choice is emerging as fundamental to new approaches to the provision of housing for people with intellectual disabilities. In order to achieve a more coherent and informed understanding of choice as a basis for theory, policy and practice in housing for people with intellectual disabilities, what is necessary is a clearer understanding of the complexities and tensions inherent in the idea of choice and their implications. Therefore, this paper considers three main themes which give rise to a more critical conceptualization of choice: a tension between the formalist and the redistributive approach to social justice; a tension between the individuality implied by choice and the community-care ethos of disability housing; and the institutional implications of the choice agenda within and beyond state-administration. The manifestation of these tensions is illustrated using a case study: housing for people with intellectual disabilities in the State of Victoria, Australia.     

The National Disability Insurance Scheme in an Urban Context: Opportunities and Challenges for Australian Cities

The NDIS will directly affect the lives of close to half a million people with a disability as well as significantly wider impacts on Australian cities. This review paper examines the urban policy and practice context for the NDIS, focusing specifically on housing, employment, governance, mainstream services (particularly health and education) and multiculturalism. Although the current Australian urban condition is hardly ideal for the implementation of such an ambitious scheme, the funding provided by the NDIS, coupled with appropriate adjustments to mainstream urban policy, can make important contributions to the social, cultural and economic thriving of Australian cities.     

Predominance of supraspinal innervation of the left ovary

In our previous studies using the viral transneuronal tracing technique we demonstrated the spinal and supraspinal components of the ovarian innervation. Since increasing number of data indicate the presence of morphological and functional laterality in the control of gonadal functions, we aimed to investigate whether cerebral structures trans-synaptically involved in the innervation of the ovary exhibit asymmetry or not. In one of the studies the left or the right ovary was injected with the red fluorescent protein expressing pseudorabies virus and the number of infected "red" autofluorescent neurons from the right and the left ovary was compared. In another study in order to have distinct labeling of cell groups connected with the right- and left-sided ovary in the same animal, a dual viral labeling was applied. The left- and right-sided ovary were inoculated with genetically engineered pseudorabies virus expressing a red fluorescent protein or a green fluorescent protein gene. Viral infection of brain nuclei including the dorsal vagal nucleus, caudal raphe nuclei, A5 noradrenergic cell group, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, from the left ovary in each case was enhanced when compared with labeling from the right gonad. Data suggest a predominance in the supraspinal innervation of the left ovary.