Partially dissociable roles of OFC and ACC in stimulus-guided and action-guided decision making

Recently, the functional specialization of prefrontal areas of the brain, and, specifically, the functional dissociation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), during decision making have become a particular focus of research. A number of neuropsychological and lesion studies have shown that the OFC and ACC have dissociable functions in various dimensions of decision making, which are supported by their different anatomical connections. A recent single-neuron study, however, described a more complex picture of the functional dissociation between these two frontal regions during decision making. Here, I discuss the results of that study and consider alternative interpretations in connection with other findings

Activation of cannabinoid system in anterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex modulates cost-benefit decision making

Despite the evidence for altered decision making in cannabis abusers, the role of the cannabinoid system in decision-making circuits has not been studied. Here, we examined the effects of cannabinoid modulation during cost-benefit decision making in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), key brain areas involved in decision making. We trained different groups of rats in a delay-based and an effort-based form of cost-benefit T-maze decision-making task. During test days, the rats received local injections of either vehicle or ACEA, a cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) agonist in the ACC or OFC. We measured spontaneous locomotor activity following the same treatments and characterized CB1Rs localization on different neuronal populations within these regions using immunohistochemistry. We showed that CB1R activation in the ACC impaired decision making such that rats were less willing to invest physical effort to gain high reward. Similarly, CB1R activation in the OFC induced impulsive pattern of choice such that rats preferred small immediate rewards to large delayed rewards. Control tasks ensured that the effects were specific for differential cost-benefit tasks. Furthermore, we characterized widespread colocalizations of CB1Rs on GABAergic axonal ends but few colocalizations on glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic neuronal ends. These results provide first direct evidence that the cannabinoid system plays a critical role in regulating cost-benefit decision making in the ACC and OFC and implicate cannabinoid modulation of synaptic ends of predominantly interneurons and to a lesser degree other neuronal populations in these two frontal regions

Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) exhibit novelty preference in the novel location memory task with 24-h retention periods

Novelty preference is pervasive in mammalian species, and describes an inherent tendency to preferentially explore novelty. The novel location memory task studied here assesses the ability of animals to form accurate memories of a spatial configuration, consisting of several identical objects placed within an arena. Tree shrews were first familiarized with a particular object configuration during several sessions, and then an object was displaced during a test session. Tree shrews exhibited enhanced exploration when confronted with this novel configuration. The most reliable indicator associated with novelty preference was an enhancement in directed exploration towards the novel object, although we also observed a non-specific overall increase in exploration in one experiment. During the test session, we also observed an exploration of the location, which had previously been occupied by the displaced object, an effect termed empty quadrant. Our behavioral findings suggest multiple stages of spatial memory formation in tree shrews that are associated with various forms of behavioral responses to novelty. Reduced novelty preference has been linked to major depressive disorder in human patients. Given the established social conflict depression model in tree shrews, we anticipate that the study of the neural circuits of novelty preference and their malfunction during depression may have implications for understanding or treating depression in humans

Distinct frequency specialization for detecting dark transients in humans and tree shrews

Despite well-known privileged perception of dark over light stimuli, it is unknown to what extent this dark dominance is maintained when visual transients occur in rapid succession, for example, during perception of moving stimuli. Here, we address this question using dark and light transients presented at different flicker frequencies. Although both human participants and tree shrews exhibited dark dominance for temporally modulated transients, these occurred at different flicker frequencies, namely, at 11 Hz in humans and 40 Hz and higher in tree shrews. Tree shrew V1 neuronal activity confirmed that differences between light and dark flicker were maximal at 40 Hz, corresponding closely to behavioral findings. These findings suggest large differences in flicker perception between humans and tree shrews, which may be related to the lifestyle of these species. A specialization for detecting dark transients at high temporal frequencies may thus be adaptive for tree shrews, which are particularly fast-moving small mammals

Large-Scale Networks for Auditory Sensory Gating in the Awake Mouse

The amplitude of the brain response to a repeated auditory stimulus is diminished as compared to the response to the first tone (T1) for interstimulus intervals (ISI) lasting up to hundreds of milliseconds. This adaptation process, called auditory sensory gating (ASG), is altered in various psychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and is classically studied by focusing on early evoked cortical responses to the second tone (T2) using 500-ms ISI. However, mechanisms underlying ASG are still not well-understood. We investigated ASG in awake mice from the brainstem to cortex at variable ISIs (125-2000 ms) using high-density EEG and intracerebral recordings. While ASG decreases at longer ISIs, it is still present at durations (500-2000 ms) far beyond the time during which brain responses to T1 could still be detected. T1 induces a sequence of specific stable scalp EEG topographies that correspond to the successive activation of distinct neural networks lasting about 350 ms. These brain states remain unaltered if T2 is presented during this period, although T2 is processed by the brain, suggesting that ongoing networks of brain activity are active for longer than early evoked-potentials and are not overwritten by an upcoming new stimulus. Intracerebral recordings demonstrate that ASG is already present at the level of ventral cochlear nucleus (vCN) and inferior colliculus and is amplified across the hierarchy in bottom-up direction. This study uncovers the extended stability of sensory-evoked brain states and long duration of ASG, and sheds light on generators of ASG and possible interactions between bottom-up and top-down mechanisms

THE RELATION BETWEEN GENERAL HEALTH AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN PERSONNEL OF SHIRAZ CITY EMERGENCY IN 2017

Objectives: Health is the fundamental right of every human and a social goal and all governments and organizations are bound to supply individuals' health and organizational performance is considered one of the most important structures discussed in management projects and undoubtedly the most important criterion of assessing success in commercial companies. The general objective of this study is to examine the relation between general health and organizational performance of authorities and personnel of Shiraz city emergency in 2017. This study is applied in respect of objective. Methods: The statistical population in the present study includes all Shiraz City emergency personnel. And their number according to obtained results is 200 persons that based on the table of Cochran sample content, 125 persons were specified as research sample. In this study, two questionnaires were used. Firstly, for examining the general health, Goldberg and Hiller measurement instrument (1979) was used. Also, for examining the organizational performance, Heresy and Goldsmith questionnaire was used. For analysis of the collected data Pearson correlation coefficient test and regression were used and using SPSS software version 18, the research hypotheses were examined. Results: The results of the research showed that there is a significant and positive relation between general health and organizational performance of Shiraz City emergency personnel and also there is a significant and positive relation between physical symptoms, signs of social function as components of general health and organizational performance of Shiraz city emergency personnel. There is a negative relation between anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms as components of general health and organizational performance of Shiraz city emergency personnel. Conclusion: The results of multiple correlation coefficient show that there is a direct and significant relation between components of general health and organizational performance ( r=0.499) and the determination factor r2 shows that 25% of organizational performance variance is related to the mentioned factors and 75% is related to factors out of model. Therefore, training general health and organizational performance should be one of operational goals of Shiraz city emergency personnel and this should be considered in training planning. Peer Review History: Received 16 February 2018;   Revised 25 February; Accepted 4 March, Available online 15 March 2018 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Taiwo O Elufioye, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Xinwei Li, Jilin University, China, [email protected] Similar Articles: THE EFFECT OF HOSPITAL MANAGERS' SUCCESSION PLANNING ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF SHOUSHTARI MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN SHIRAZ IN 201

DETERMINING THE IMPACT RATE OF TRIAGE TRAINING ON AWARENESS AND SKILL LEVEL OF PRE-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL OF FASA CITY

Objectives: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the impact of triage training on awareness and skill level of pre-hospital emergency personnel of Fasa City. The present study is applied in respect of objective. Methods: The statistical population of this study includes all members of crisis management system of Fasa emergency 115 (n=103) that the sample was considered equal to the population. The questionnaire has been adjusted based on 5-value Likert scale. For analysis of data collected from Pearson correlation coefficient, the research hypotheses were examined and tested using SPSS software version 18. Results: There is a significant positive relation between participating in training courses and triage awareness of Fasa city pre-hospital emergency personnel. Also, there is a significant and positive relation between participating in training courses and triage skill of Fasa City pre-hospital emergency personnel. Conclusion: Study concludes that, with healthcare information, it is recommended that the topics relating to performance and awareness to be noticed by authorities. Peer Review History: Received 16 February 2018;   Revised 25 February; Accepted 5 March, Available online 15 March 2018 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Lucky Llegbosi Nwidu, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Luisetto Mauro, AUSL PC, Piacenza Area,  Italy, [email protected] Similar Articles: THE RELATION BETWEEN GENERAL HEALTH AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN PERSONNEL OF SHIRAZ CITY EMERGENCY IN 201

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN MEDICAL TOURISM INDUSTRY IN POINT OF VIEW OF MEDICAL TOURISM POLICY MAKERS OF SHIRAZ IN 2017

Objectives: Medical tourism refers to traveling to places where the individual could use medical services. Therefore, such a travel requires various activities in any of which the individual health is considered. Main samples of these types of travels include healthcare, beauty of organs, passing convalescence and rehabilitation, using hydrotherapy springs and good climate regions. The general objective of this study is to analyze the relation between digital marketing and medical tourism in point of view of Shiraz medical tourism policy makers. Methods: This study is applied in respect of objective and in respect of collecting descriptive information it is of correlation studies type in which data collection was performed through library and field method. The statistical population of this study includes all strategic personnel and managers of Shiraz Medical Sciences University which is equal to 97. Regarding Cochran table for low number societies, the sample number was considered equal to the population. For collecting data, for the role of digital marketing in medical tourism industry from view of Shiraz medical tourism policy makers, scholar made questionnaire was used. This questionnaire includes 40 questions. The questionnaires were regulated based on 5-value Likert scale. Reliability and validity of this questionnaire was confirmed. For statistical techniques used for analysis of data obtained from the questionnaire, various statistical methods have been used. In the research descriptive section, descriptive statistical methods, relative frequency distribution and its percent diagrams have been used. And in the inferential statistics analysis, Kolmogorov- Smirnov test has been used for investigating data normality and then Pearson correlation factor and route analysis have been used Results: The study results showed that there is a relation between digital marketing and medical tourism from viewpoint of Shiraz medical tourism policy makers. Also, there is a relation between factors relating to product or service, advertising, place, individuals, evidences and physical facilities and price and medical tourism from viewpoint of Shiraz medical tourism policy makers. Conclusion: Study concludes that, educating usage of modern marketing methods and mixing them should be one of operational objectives of healthcare organization and this should be considered in educational planning. Peer Review History: Received 18 February 2018;   Revised 23 February; Accepted 4 March, Available online 15 March 2018 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 4.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Sabah Hussien El-Ghaiesh, Tanta University, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Taiwo O Elufioye, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, [email protected]

A Corpus-driven Scoping Systematic Review of Four Decades of Teacher Professional Development Research: Exploring Research Foci, Content Areas, Designs Methods and Trends

This study represents the findings of a systematic review (SR) of literature in the teacher professional development (TPD) domain to outline the research patterns through content examination of 199 research articles (RAs) in the area of TPD over the previous 40 years (1982 -2021). RAs were investigated and their research content areas, utilized research methods, data collection procedures, and findings were analyzed and coded. The broad investigation of the RAs showed a wide variety of themes that corresponded to 22 research areas. TPD program effects, TPD & technology, and TPD & Sociolinguistics were the most searched content areas. It was also found that the qualitative method with 52.26% of occurrences appeared to be the dominant research method used in RAs. Exploring data collection procedures, it was uncovered that interview, questionnaire and observation were the main data collection strategies utilized within the TPD RAs. Analyzing the findings, changes in teacher practices, attitudes and knowledge, learner achievements, and determining priorities for TPD programs were the most reported findings in TPD RAs. This corpus-driven SR underpins the notion that TPD makes a difference in altering teachers’ practices and attitudes and improves learner abilities if specific characteristics are taken into account in the planning and administration of TPD programs