Mesotocin influences pinyon jay prosociality

Many species exhibit prosocial behavior , in which one individual’s actions benefit another individual, often without an immediate benefit to itself. The neuropeptide oxytocin is an important hormonal mechanism influencing prosociality in mammals, but it is unclear whether the avian homologue mesotocin plays a similar functional role in birds. Here, we experimentally tested prosociality in pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), a highly social corvid species that spontaneously shares food with others. First, we measured prosocial preferences in a prosocial choice task with two different pay-off distributions: Prosocial trials delivered food to both the subject and either an empty cage or a partner bird, whereas Altruism trials delivered food only to an empty cage or a partner bird (none to subject). In a second experiment, we examined whether administering mesotocin influenced prosocial preferences. Compared to choices in a control condition, we show that subjects voluntarily delivered food rewards to partners, but only when also receiving food for themselves (Prosocial trials), and administration of high levels of mesotocin increased these behavior s. Thus, in birds, mesotocin seems to play a similar functional role in facilitating prosocial behavior s as oxytocin does in mammals, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved hormonal mechanism for prosociality

Effect of a Pre-Dinner Walnut Snack on Nutrient Intake Among University Students

https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2018/1021/thumbnail.jp

O problema da perceção e da intensidade na prática do desenho

Este texto procura refletir acerca de algumas questões que resultam diretamente da prática do desenho. O desenho é visto aqui enquanto acontecimento diretamente associado à linha, uma linha ativa que se vai movendo de acordo com as forças encontradas; entre as quais se incluem as agitações, as dúvidas, os desejos e os medos que atravessam o corpo do desenhador – e do próprio desenho – naquele exato instante em que ficam gravados no papel. Por vezes o traçado da linha avança lentamente, outras vezes entra em ondulações, curvando-se gradualmente. Mas também se pode impor direito para, logo de seguida, retomar o seu percurso num outro ponto, qualquer — retirando um prazer inusitado dessa mobilidade. A linha ao ser inscrita está sempre sujeita a turbulências; os acidentes que surgem no percurso desta têm de ser aprisionados, seguidos por um gesto que não pode deixar de ser emprestado do presente que é esse desenho. E assim se verifica um abandono da vontade, no sentido em que o que conta já não é a representação disto ou daquilo, mas antes o próprio uso intensivo das formas: na sua leitura os desenhos podem ser percorridos de cima para baixo ou num ou noutro sentido, pois a tónica não se encontra agora na representação, mas antes no próprio percurso, na sua história e significados. Não são raras as vezes em que, naturalmente, emergem associações e formas reconhecíveis. Ora associadas a um ambiente urbano onde se entreveem traços arquitetónicos, encruzilhadas, estruturas compostas, fundidas umas com as outras, indiciando casas ou terrenos, ora a sugerir figuras com um aspecto biomórfico. A inscrição acontece mais por atraso, por dissonância, do que pela intencionalidade na realização de formas elegantes e harmoniosas. Esta é antes uma tentativa de desorganizar as formas e encontrar um certo estranhamento dos conteúdos. O gesto fluente e decidido dá lugar ao aparecimento de formas mais frágeis que se deixam arrastar pela força da aridez e que renunciam às qualidades virtuosas da mão

Emerging communities of child-healthcare practice in the management of long-term conditions such as chronic kidney disease: Qualitative study of parents' accounts

Background: Parents of children and young people with long-term conditions who need to deliver clinical care to their child at home with remote support from hospital-based professionals, often search the internet for care-giving information. However, there is little evidence that the information available online was developed and evaluated with parents or that it acknowledges the communities of practice that exist as parents and healthcare professionals share responsibility for condition management. Methods. The data reported here are part of a wider study that developed and tested a condition-specific, online parent information and support application with children and young people with chronic-kidney disease, parents and professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 fathers and 24 mothers who had recently tested the novel application. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis and the Communities of Practice concept. Results: Evolving communities of child-healthcare practice were identified comprising three components and several sub components: (1) Experiencing (parents making sense of clinical tasks) through Normalising care, Normalising illness, Acceptance & action, Gaining strength from the affected child and Building relationships to formalise a routine; (2) Doing (Parents executing tasks according to their individual skills) illustrated by Developing coping strategies, Importance of parents' efficacy of care and Fear of the child's health failing; and (3) Belonging/Becoming (Parents defining task and group members' worth and creating a personal identity within the community) consisting of Information sharing, Negotiation with health professionals and Achieving expertise in care. Parents also recalled factors affecting the development of their respective communities of healthcare practice; these included Service transition, Poor parent social life, Psycho-social affects, Family chronic illness, Difficulty in learning new procedures, Shielding and avoidance, and Language and cultural barriers. Health care professionals will benefit from using the communities of child-healthcare practice model when they support parents of children with chronic kidney disease. Conclusions: Understanding some of the factors that may influence the development of communities of child-healthcare practice will help professionals to tailor information and support for parents learning to manage their child's healthcare. Our results are potentially transferrable to professionals managing the care of children and young people with other long-term conditions. © 2014 Carolan et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Diabetes care: reasons for missing HbA1c measurements in general practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) is often used as one of the indicators to measure the quality of diabetes care. Complete registration is difficult to obtain. This study investigated the reasons for missing HbA_1cmeasurements.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>HbA_1cmeasurements for 1485 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 who were attended by 19 general practitioners at 4 primary care health centres in south-east Amsterdam were studied. HbA_1cmeasurements were missing for 356 (23.9%) of the patients. The main reason stated in 50% of the cases was that the patient was under specialized care.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The general practitioners provided multiple reasons for the missing HbA_1cmeasurements. This study provides insight into why HbA_1cmeasurements were not present in the patients' electronic medical record.</p

Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy for A1C Reduction (STAR 3) Study: Results from the 6-month continuation phase

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of crossing over from optimized multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy to sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy for 6 months, and the effects of 18 months' sustained use of SAP. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The 6-month, single-crossover continuation phase of Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy for A1C Reduction (STAR 3) provided SAP therapy to 420 subjects who completed the 1-year randomized study. The primary outcome was change in A1C in the crossover group. RESULTS A1C values were initially lower in the continuing-SAP group than in the crossover group (7.4 vs. 8.0%, P < 0.001). A1C values remained reduced in the SAP group. After 3 months on the SAP system, A1C decreased to 7.6% in the crossover group (P < 0.001); this was a significant and sustained decrease among both adults and children (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Switching from optimized MDI to SAP therapy allowed for rapid and safe A1C reductions. Glycemic benefits of SAP therapy persist for at least 18 months

Threshold-based insulin-pump interruption for reduction of hypoglycemia

*Q1Artículo original224-232Background The threshold-suspend feature of sensor-augmented insulin pumps is designed to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia by interrupting insulin delivery at a preset sensor glucose value. We evaluated sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy with and without the threshold-suspend feature in patients with nocturnal hypoglycemia. Methods We randomly assigned patients with type 1 diabetes and documented nocturnal hypoglycemia to receive sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy with or without the threshold-suspend feature for 3 months. The primary safety outcome was the change in the glycated hemoglobin level. The primary efficacy outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) for nocturnal hypoglycemic events. Two-hour threshold-suspend events were analyzed with respect to subsequent sensor glucose values. Results A total of 247 patients were randomly assigned to receive sensor-augmented insulinpump therapy with the threshold-suspend feature (threshold-suspend group, 121 patients) or standard sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy (control group, 126 patients). The changes in glycated hemoglobin values were similar in the two groups. The mean AUC for nocturnal hypoglycemic events was 37.5% lower in the thresholdsuspend group than in the control group (980±1200 mg per deciliter [54.4±66.6 mmol per liter]×minutes vs. 1568±1995 mg per deciliter [87.0±110.7 mmol per liter]×minutes, P<0.001). Nocturnal hypoglycemic events occurred 31.8% less frequently in the threshold-suspend group than in the control group (1.5±1.0 vs. 2.2±1.3 per patientweek, P<0.001). The percentages of nocturnal sensor glucose values of less than 50 mg per deciliter (2.8 mmol per liter), 50 to less than 60 mg per deciliter (3.3 mmol per liter), and 60 to less than 70 mg per deciliter (3.9 mmol per liter) were significantly reduced in the threshold-suspend group (P<0.001 for each range). After 1438 instances at night in which the pump was stopped for 2 hours, the mean sensor glucose value was 92.6±40.7 mg per deciliter (5.1±2.3 mmol per liter). Four patients (all in the control group) had a severe hypoglycemic event; no patients had diabetic ketoacidosis. Conclusions This study showed that over a 3-month period the use of sensor-augmented insulinpump therapy with the threshold-suspend feature reduced nocturnal hypoglycemia, without increasing glycated hemoglobin values. (Funded by Medtronic MiniMed; ASPIRE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01497938.