Soma size distinguishes projection neurons from neurokinin 1 receptor-expressing interneurons in lamina I of the rat lumbar spinal dorsal horn

Lamina I of the spinal dorsal horn contains neurons that project to various brain regions, and ∼80% of these projection cells express the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1r), the main receptor for substance P. Two populations of NK1r-immunoreactive neurons have been identified in lamina I: small weakly immunoreactive cells and large cells with strong immunolabelling [Cheunsuang O and Morris R (2000) Neuroscience 97:335–345]. The main aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the large cells are projection neurons and that the small cells are interneurons. Projection neurons were identified by injection of tracers into the caudal ventrolateral medulla and lateral parabrachial area, and this was combined with immunostaining for NK1r. We found a bimodal size distribution for NK1r-immunoreactive neurons. The small cells (with somatic cross-sectional areas <200 μm2) showed weak immunoreactivity, while immunostaining intensity was variable among the large cells. Virtually all (99%) of the immunoreactive cells with soma areas >200 μm2 were retrogradely labelled, while only 10% of retrogradely labelled cells were smaller than this. Soma sizes of retrogradely labelled neurons that lacked NK1r did not differ from those of NK1r-expressing projection neurons. It has been suggested that a population of small pyramidal projection neurons that lack NK1r may correspond to cells activated by innocuous cooling, and we therefore assessed the morphology of retrogradely labelled cells that were not NK1r-immunoreactive. Fifteen percent of these were pyramidal, but these did not differ in size from pyramidal NK1r-immunoreactive projection neurons. These results confirm that large NK1r-immunoreactive lamina I neurons are projection cells, and suggest that the small cells are interneurons. Since almost all of the NK1r-immunoreactive cells with soma size >200 μm2 were retrogradely labelled, cells of this type can be identified as projection cells in anatomical studies

FollowMe: A Bigraphical Approach

In this paper we illustrate the use of modelling techniques using bigraphs to specify and refine elementary aspects of the FollowMe framework. This framework provides the seamless migration of bi-directional user interfaces for users as they navigate between zones within an intelligent environment

The challenges and opportunities faced by Saudi Arabian women leaders in education during a period of rapid change in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

This research examines the challenges and opportunities faced by Saudi Arabian women leaders in education at a time of rapid change in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As one of the largest oil-exporting countries in the world, Saudi Arabia has benefited from an insatiable global demand for oil but has also been impacted by rapid changes, which started in the 1970s as a result of the oil revenues. Change has permeated all aspects of political and economic life in Saudi Arabia with transformative social effects, not least a growing demand for gender equality, in what was hitherto a deeply conservative country. However, with the realisation that it cannot rely on oil revenues indefinitely, Saudi Arabia has begun to invest in the development of human capital, including women’s participation in the labour market, which is crucial in this process, leading to a debate about their importance in the development of society. Nonetheless, the changes have given rise to conflicts and contradictions between men and women in Saudi Arabia, not least because of Saudi society’s tribal and conservative, patriarchal culture. The study’s findings support the claim that a relationship connects Saudi Arabia’s legal patriarchal system, the politics of reputation and resistance to change. This relationship is the origin of many obstacles confronting Saudi women education leaders in both their professional and personal lives. Additionally, the study’s findings highlight issues arising from the gendered division of labour in women’s family lives, frequently leading to a sense of powerlessness among many women leaders, which they regarded as an obstacle to their career development. However, the study also revealed that women education leaders viewed the rapid economic and social change currently transforming Saudi Arabian society as a welcome, but a long-overdue positive development for themselves, their families, the Saudi education sector and Saudi society more broadly

Students’ perceptions of and loyalty towards internet banking: the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The contribution of this study based on the development of a cross-cultural universal framework, which is moderated by the culture dimension (uncertainty avoidance) and examines the factors influencing the individuals’ attitudes and behaviour and, ultimately, the individuals’ loyalty towards Internet banking across different countries (KSA and the UK). The study will contribute towards filling the gap in Internet banking literature by: 1) examining customers’ loyalty as a dependent variable of intention; 2) invariant acceptance of customers across the UK and KSA cultures; 3) and integration of the cultural dimension (i.e. uncertainty avoidance) and demographics (i.e. gender and experience) as factors of invariance across the groups. The framework is based on a number of constructs adopted from the validated theories in information systems (IS), psychology and marketing literature perspectives. Specifically from a psychology perspective, using Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs, Attitude, Intention, Subjective Norms, Self-efficacy and Actual Behaviour (i.e. intention towards loyalty) were integrated. From a technological perspective, using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs, Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use were integrated. Besides these constructs, the model also integrates constructs of privacy, security, communication, customers’ experience, Internet banking reputation, trust and loyalty from IS, as well as a marketing perspective. To examine the hypothetical relationships within the conceptual model, this study applied the positivist philosophical approach with quantitative methodology. Out of 1000 questionnaires distributed amongst undergraduate students in UK and KSA, 532 were useable, i.e. 53%. Due to the multilevel stages of the conceptual model, structural equation modelling (SEM), based on analysis of moment structure (AMOS), was applied to analyse the data. In addition, invariance analyses were applied to see the differences across the groups (i.e. moderation effect). Initially, sixteen hypotheses were developed in the model but due to the merger of three constructs (i.e. trust, security and privacy ) into one construct (i.e. trust), and the deletion of three constructs (i.e. communication, customers’ experience and Internet banking reputation) at the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) process, eleven hypotheses were finally retained for examination. The modification indices (MI) suggested three new paths, and hence, the addition of these new hypotheses brought the number up in total to fourteen hypotheses. The results suggest that the conceptualised model was able to fit with the data in both UK and KSA sample. Within the KSA sample, the model explained 45% variance in customer loyalty, but 60% in UK sample. From the path relationships perspectives, out of fourteen hypotheses ten were supported in the KSA and nine were supported in the UK. The results confirm the study’s argument that customer loyalty is the main construct of individuals’ behavioural intention to accept Internet banking. Within specific countries’ context, after behavioural intention, perceived ease of use was a more important predictor of loyalty in the KSA (i.e. b= 0.28); whereas perceived usefulness was a more important predictor of loyalty (i.e. b= 0.27) in the UK. Furthermore, it was noticed that subjective norm towards behavioural intention, perceived usefulness and ease of use was only significant in the KSA sample. The invariance analysis across the countries revealed significant differences between the KSA and the UK for nine hypotheses. Furthermore, invariance analysis also revealed significant differences across the cultural dimension of uncertainty avoidance (i.e. high and low), and the demographical variable of gender (i.e. male and female). Contrary to this, no difference was found for the demographic variable of experience (i.e. high and low). Based on these results, theoretical and practical implications are advised.King Khalid Universit

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a rare disease characterized by progressive fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium, primarily involving the right ventricle (RV). The structural changes in the ventricular myocardium form a substrate for ventricular arrhythmia ranging from premature ventricular complexes to ventricular tachycardia typically of RV origin and may result in RV failure and progress to congestive heart failure at a later stage. ARVC/D is a recognized cause of sudden cardiac death in young people, but it may occur at any age. With the discovery of underlying pathogenic mutations involved in the disease development and insight from long‐term follow‐up of ARVC/D patients, ARVC/D is an inherited cardiomyopathy. Mutations in at least eight genes have been involved in ARVC/D genesis in 30–50% of patients. Most of these genes are involved in the function of desmosomes, which are structures that attach heart muscle cells to one another. Desmosomes provide strength to the myocardium and play a role in signaling between neighboring cells. Mutations in the genes responsible for ARVC/D often impair the normal desmosomal function. There has been significant advancement in the diagnosis and management of ARVC/D in the past few decades. This chapter provides an overview of ARVC/D pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, and management

Arrhythmias Post Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Arrhythmias are common after cardiac surgery such as coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Although most of these arrhythmias are transient and have a benign course, it may represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Postoperative arrhythmias (POAs) include atrial tachyarrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias. The incidence of POAs has not changed despite improvements in anesthetic and surgical techniques. The tachyarrhythmias in the postoperative period include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. The clinical significance of each arrhythmia depends on several factors that include cardiac function, patient’s comorbidities, arrhythmia duration, and ventricular response rate. Tachycardia with uncontrolled ventricular rates can cause diastolic and later on systolic dysfunction, reduce cardiac output, and result in hypotension or myocardial ischemia. In the other hand, bradyarrhythmias may have a remarkable influence on patients with systolic or diastolic ventricular dysfunction. Arrhythmia management starts preoperatively with optimizing the patient’s condition and controlling patient’s risk factors, intra-operatively with careful attention to hemodynamic changes during surgery and uses appropriate anesthesia, and postoperatively with correction of temporary and correctable predisposing factors, as well as specific therapy for the arrhythmia itself. The POAs treatment urgency and management options are determined by the clinical presentation of the arrhythmia

Assessment of Radium Isotopes in Some Hot Springs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Radioactivity measurements have been conducted to determine the activity concentrations of radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) in water Samples acquired from some hot springs at the south and south-western area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The radium isotopes were measured by gamma spectrometry using high purity germanium detector, after radiochemical separation of the isotopes with ion-exchange chromatography using a strong cation resin.  The 226Ra showed an average activity concentration of 82.4mBq/L, while the average activity concentration of 228Ra was 236.4 mBq/L. These values were comparable to the values of radium activities in thermal waters reported in literature. The chemical analyses showed that good correlations have been observed between the radium activities and the concentrations of sulphates and total dissolved soilds in the investigated thermal waters. Further studies regarding The radon concentrations, the immersion time for bathers and the resulting annual committed effective dose are considered. Keywords: Hot springs, radium, cation exchange resin, TDS, Sulphates, Saudi Arabia

An investigation of heterogeneous base catalysed acetone conversion

A series of materials have been compared for their activity in the base catalysed condensation of acetone. Activities have been compared after extended times on stream (18 h) and under a H2 containing atmosphere at elevated pressure which is designed to mimic conditions applicable for the single stage transformation of acetone to MIBK. In general, catalysts without a strong hydrogenation function have been screened and so mesityl oxide is the dominant reaction product. However, 1%Pd5%MgO/SiO2 does exhibit high selectivity towards MIBK, demonstrating that single-stage conversion is possible under the conditions investigated. Catalytic activity is found to be a strong function of the material tested. However, when the influence of surface area is taken into account, a spectrum of area normalised conversion rates is evident. These rates were found to vary in the order 36.5% KNO3/Al2O3 > Li/MgO > 36.5% KNO3/ZrO2 > 36.5% KNO3/Zr(OH)4 > MgO derived from Mg(OH)2.MgCO3 > 14% KNO3/Al2O3 > MgO derived from Mg(OH)2 > 14% KNO3/Zr(OH)4 > ZrO2 > 14% KNO3/ZrO2 > Y-Zr(OH)4. When comparing materials produced from different precursors, differences in catalytic behaviour are apparent implying structure-sensitivity and/or the influence of different impurity contents. The role of dopant, additional phase level and precursor phase has also been examined demonstrating that all these parameters are important