3,189 research outputs found
Sexual Selection Revisited — Towards a Gender-Neutral Theory and Practice
In a recent issue of this journal, Vandermassen suggested that feminists should include sexual selection theory and evolutionary psychology in a unifying theory of human nature. In response, this article aims to offer some insight into the development of sexual selection theory, to caution against Vandermassen's unreserved assimilation and to promote the opposite ongoing integration — an inclusion of gender perspectives into evolutionary biology. In society today, opinions about maintaining traditional sex roles are often put forward on the basis of what is natural and how animals behave. However, the natural sciences have proved to be pervaded by gendered values and interests; Darwin's theory of sexual selection has been criticized for being male biased, and partly due to the unwillingness of Darwin's scientific contemporaries to accept female choice, research has been overwhelmingly focused on males. More recently, theory has become less gender biased and research has come to include a large variety of issues not present in the first version of the theory. However, there is a need to increase the awareness of gender bias in order to develop a gender-neutral evolutionary biology
A new approach to model development of water distribution networks with high leakage and burst rates
Modelling real distribution networks can be particularly difficult if they are so leaky that the types of leak and their nature can hardly be determined from scarce field measurements. In this context, a new approach to model development of such WDNs is proposed. The method is based on leakage estimation from MNF and the burst frequency of AZPs. After applying it to a real DMA in Mauritius, the resulting calibrated model from EPANET is found to approach the actual status of the network very closely in terms of overall real losses, coefficients of discharge, nodal flow and pressure
Return to driving after traumatic brain injury : a British perspective
Primary Objective: to identify current legal situation, and professional practice in assisting persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to return to safe driving after injury.
Methods and Procedures
A brief review of relevant literature, a description of the current statutory and quasi-statutory authorities regulating return to driving after TBI in the UK, and a description of the nature and resolution of clinical and practical dilemmas facing professionals helping return to safe driving after TBI. Each of the 15 UK mobility centres was contacted and literature requested; in addition a representative of each centre responded to a structured telephone survey.
Main Outcome and Results: The current situation in Great Britain is described, with a brief analysis of the strengths and weaknesses both of the current statutory situation, and also the practical situation (driving centres), with suggestions for improvements in practice.
Conclusion
Although brain injury may cause serious limitations in driving ability, previous drivers are not routinely assessed or advised regarding return to driving after TBI
Adaptation of an amphibian mucociliary clearance model to evaluate early effects of tobacco smoke exposure
RATIONALE: Inhaled side-stream tobacco smoke brings in all of its harmful components impairing mechanisms that protect the airways and lungs. Chronic respiratory health consequences are a complex multi-step silent process. By the time clinical manifestations require medical attention, several structural and functional changes have already occurred. The respiratory system has to undergo an iterative process of injury, healing and remodeling with every exposure. METHODS: To have a better understanding of the initial changes that take place when first exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, we have developed an exposure model, using the frog palate that closely represents the features of obstructive airways where ciliary dysfunction and mucus hypersecretion occur. RESULTS: Mucus transport was significantly reduced, even after exposure to the smoke of one cigarette (p < 0.05) and even further with 4-cigarettes exposure (p < 0.001). Morphometric and ultrastructural studies by SEM show extensive areas of tissue disruption. Gelatinase zymography shows activation of MMP9 in mucus from palates exposed to tobacco smoke. CONCLUSIONS: The clearance of mucus on the frog palate is significantly reduced after exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Cilia and the extracellular matrix are anatomically disrupted. Tobacco smoke triggers an increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases associated with a substantial defoliation of ciliated epithelium. These studies enhance the knowledge of the changes in the mucociliary apparatus that occur initially after exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, with the goal of understanding how these changes relate to the genesis of chronic airway pathologies in humans
KDM2 proteins constrain transcription from CpG island gene promoters independently of their histone demethylase activity
Wellcome Trust [102349/Z/13/Z to A.H.T., 099677/Z/12/Z to H.W.K., 098024/Z/11/Z, 209400/Z/17/Z to R.J.K.]; Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine; European Research Council [681440]; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, AMEDCREST Programme. Funding for open access charge: Wellcome Trus
The effects of childbirth on the pelvic-floor
Basically, vaginal delivery is associated with the risk of pelvic floor damage. The pelvic floor sequelae of childbirth includes anal incontinence, urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Pathophysiology, incidence and risk factors for the development of the respective problems are reviewed. Where possible, recommendations for reducing the risk of pelvic floor damage are given
Multiple sites and actions of gabapentin-induced relief of ongoing experimental neuropathic pain
Gabapentin is a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain but its mechanisms and sites of action
remain uncertain. We investigated gabapentin-induced modulation of neuropathic pain following
spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in rats. Intravenous or intrathecal gabapentin reversed evoked
mechanical hypersensitivity, produced conditioned place preference (CPP) and dopamine release
in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) selectively in SNL rats. Spinal gabapentin also significantly
inhibited dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neuronal responses to a range of evoked stimuli
in SNL rats. In contrast, gabapentin microinjected bilaterally into the rostral anterior cingulate
cortex (rACC), produced CPP and elicited NAc dopamine release selectively in SNL rats but did
not reverse tactile allodynia and had marginal effects on WDR neuronal activity. Moreover,
blockade of endogenous opioid signaling in the rACC prevented intravenous gabapentin-induced
CPP and NAc dopamine release but failed to block its inhibition of tactile allodynia. Gabapentin
therefore can potentially act to produce its pain relieving effects by (a) inhibition of injury-induced
spinal neuronal excitability, evoked hypersensitivity and ongoing pain and (b) selective supraspinal
modulation of affective qualities of pain, without alteration of reflexive behaviors. Consistent with
previous findings of pain relief from non-opioid analgesics, gabapentin requires engagement of
rACC endogenous opioid circuits and downstream activation of mesolimbic reward circuits
reflected in learned pain motivated behaviors. These findings support the partial separation of
sensory and affective dimensions of pain in this experimental model and suggest that modulation
of affective-motivational qualities of pain may be the preferential mechanism of gabapentin’s
analgesic effects in patients
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