Longitudinal training dams mitigate effects of shipping on environmental conditions and fish density in the littoral zones of the river Rhine.

The stability of habitat conditions in littoral zones of navigated rivers is strongly affected by shipping induced waves and water displacements. In particular, the increase of variability in flow conditions diminishes the suitability of these habitats for juvenile fishes. Recently, a novel ecosystem based river management strategy has resulted in the replacement of traditional river training structures (i.

Reducing Ventral Tegmental Dopamine D2 Receptor Expression Selectively Boosts Incentive Motivation.

Altered mesolimbic dopamine signaling has been widely implicated in addictive behavior. For the most part, this work has focused on dopamine within the striatum, but there is emerging evidence for a role of the auto-inhibitory, somatodendritic dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in addiction. Thus, decreased midbrain D2R expression has been implicated in addiction in humans.

Making a diagnosis in patients with an isolated spinal cord syndrome.

In this study, a retrospective comparison was made between 40 patients with an isolated spinal cord syndrome in whom an ultimate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was made and 40 patients with a spinal cord syndrome due to other diseases. The results of the study indicate which anamnestic items and laboratory findings at the time of presentation can provide additional support for making a diagnosis in the individual patient with myelopathy without clinical evidence of supraspinal lesions.

The relationship of cold and warmth cutaneous sensation to age and gender.

To evaluate cold and warmth cutaneous sensation separately, thermal discrimination thresholds (TDTs) for the foot were estimated for cold and warm stimuli in 71 normal subjects aged between 21 and 92 years. A "thermoaesthesiometer" operating on the Peltier principle was used. A rise of TDTs with age was found.

Peripheral nerve function in children with end-stage renal failure.

Information on clinical and subclinical peripheral neuropathy in children with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) is scarce. We have studied the presence of clinical and subclinical peripheral neuropathy in children with ESRF comparing recently developed non-invasive methods with the measurement of nerve conduction velocities. Twelve children (7 boys, 5 girls; age range: 5-17 years; duration of haemodialysis: 0.