Pharmacological differentiation of species-typical and instrumental responding in mice with septal lesions/

The effect of the dopaminergic drugs amphetamine and pimozide on reinforced and non-reinforced species-typical responding was observed in normal mice and mice with lesions of the septal area. In Experiment 1 amphetamine increased wheel running in the reinforced groups with septal lesioned subjects showing greater enhancement than normal animals. Amphetamine depressed wheel running in non-reinforced septal animals and had no effect on non-reinforced normals. Pimozide decreased wheel running in all groups. In Experiment 2, amphetamine increased string pulling in reinforced normal and septal lesioned mice, but this increase was not dose dependent. Non-reinforced septal and normal animals exhibited amphetamine induced decreases in response rate. Again pimozide decreased string pulling in all groups

Bristol girls dance project feasibility study: Using a pilot economic evaluation to inform design of a full trial

Background: There is currently little guidance for pilot trial economic evaluation where health outcomes and costs are influenced by a range of wider determinants and factors. Objectives: This article presents the findings of a pilot economic evaluation study running alongside the Bristol Girls Dance Project (BGDP) feasibility study. Design: 3-arm, cluster randomised, controlled pilot trial and economic evaluation. 7 schools (n=210) from the Bristol and greater Bristol area, UK were randomly allocated to the intervention arm 3 schools (n=90) and the control arm 4 schools (n=120). Intervention: Girls aged 11-12 years with parental consent were provided with two, 90 min dance sessions per week for 9 weeks at school facilities. Economic outcome measures: Programme costs and girls' preferences for attributes of dance and preferences for competing leisure time activities were measured. Results: The mainstream average cost of the BGDP programme (not including research, control and dance teacher training costs) per school was $2126.40, £1329 and €1555 and per participant was$70.90, £44.31 and €51.84 in 2010-2011 prices. Discrete choice experiment (DCE) methods are acceptable to girls of this age indicating time available for other leisure activities on dance class days is the attribute girls valued most and 2 h leisure time remaining preferred to 3 h. Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that providing full cost data for a future trial of the BGDP programme is feasible and practical. There is no evidence from preference data to support adjustment to intervention design. A future economic evaluation is likely to be successful utilising the resource use checklist developed. The importance of categorising separately resources used to develop, prepare, deliver and maintain the programme to estimate mainstream costs accurately is demonstrated

Why Isn\u27t Everyone an Early Adopter?

The adoption and use of information technology (IT) innovations within an organization are critical to deriving the benefits of IT, yet many innovations are underused or never used. Theoretical perspectives that have been used to analyze individual behavior regarding IT usage include innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). IDT states that adoption of an innovation is influenced by attributes of the innovation. TPB posits that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control will influence an individual’s decision to adopt. While most adoption and diffusion research concentrates on why people adopt an innovation, this research will compare how innovation characteristics and TPB components are perceived by both early and late adopters. We then investigate late adopters’ perceptions at the time of the innovation introduction and the time of actual adoption to determine which, if any, innovation perceptions have changed

Developmental Parameters of a Southern Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Population Reveal Potential Source of Latitudinal Differences in Generation Time

Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae, Hopkins) is a major disturbance agent in pine ecosystems of western North America. Adaptation to local climates has resulted in primarily univoltine generation time across a thermally diverse latitudinal gradient. We hypothesized that voltinism patterns have been shaped by selection for slower developmental rates in southern populations inhabiting warmer climates. To investigate traits responsible for latitudinal differences we measured lifestage-specific development of southern mountain pine beetle eggs, larvae and pupae across a range of temperatures. Developmental rate curves were fit using maximum posterior likelihood estimation with a Bayesian prior to improve fit stability. When compared to previously published data for a northern population (Régnière et al. 2012), optimal development of southern individuals occurred at higher temperatures, with higher development thresholds, as compared with northern individuals. Observed developmental rates of the southern and northern populations were similar across studied lifestages at 20 °C, and southern lifestages were generally faster at temperature extremes (10, 27 °C). At 25 °C southern fourth instars were significantly slower than northern fourth instars. Our results suggest that evolved traits in the fourth instar and remaining unstudied lifestage, teneral (i.e., pre-emergent) adult, likely influence latitudinal differences in mountain pine beetle generation time

Inflammation and Proliferation Act Together to Mediate Intestinal Cell Fusion

Cell fusion between circulating bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) and non-hematopoietic cells is well documented in various tissues and has recently been suggested to occur in response to injury. Here we illustrate that inflammation within the intestine enhanced the level of BMDC fusion with intestinal progenitors. To identify important microenvironmental factors mediating intestinal epithelial cell fusion, we performed bone marrow transplantation into mouse models of inflammation and stimulated epithelial proliferation. Interestingly, in a non-injury model or in instances where inflammation was suppressed, an appreciable baseline level of fusion persisted. This suggests that additional mediators of cell fusion exist. A rigorous temporal analysis of early post-transplantation cellular dynamics revealed that GFP-expressing donor cells first trafficked to the intestine coincident with a striking increase in epithelial proliferation, advocating for a required fusogenic state of the host partner. Directly supporting this hypothesis, induction of augmented epithelial proliferation resulted in a significant increase in intestinal cell fusion. Here we report that intestinal inflammation and epithelial proliferation act together to promote cell fusion. While the physiologic impact of cell fusion is not yet known, the increased incidence in an inflammatory and proliferative microenvironment suggests a potential role for cell fusion in mediating the progression of intestinal inflammatory diseases and cancer

Lessons from development: A role for asymmetric stem cell division in cancer

AbstractAsymmetric stem cell division has emerged as a major regulatory mechanism for physiologic control of stem cell numbers. Reinvigoration of the cancer stem cell theory suggests that tumorigenesis may be regulated by maintaining the balance between asymmetric and symmetric cell division. Therefore, mutations affecting this balance could result in aberrant expansion of stem cells. Although a number of molecules have been implicated in regulation of asymmetric stem cell division, here, we highlight known tumor suppressors with established roles in this process. While a subset of these tumor suppressors were originally defined in developmental contexts, recent investigations reveal they are also lost or mutated in human cancers. Mutations in tumor suppressors involved in asymmetric stem cell division provide mechanisms by which cancer stem cells can hyperproliferate and offer an intriguing new focus for understanding cancer biology. Our discussion of this emerging research area derives insight from a frontier area of basic science and links these discoveries to human tumorigenesis. This highlights an important new focus for understanding the mechanism underlying expansion of cancer stem cells in driving tumorigenesis

A Primer in Science and Engineering Collection Development

Collection development librarians often find themselves in charge of selection and deselection for some unfamiliar subjects. While there is extensive literature and courses on general collection development, there are limited courses on science and engineering in particular. This session will focus on science and engineering collection development strategies. It is designed to build self-confidence for people new to the profession, those who are transitioning to collection development in science and engineering, and those with no science subject background. Four librarians from diverse institutions, responsible for science and engineering collection development, will discuss topics important to their roles and strategies learned on the job related to: Negotiating with science and engineering publishers, How faculty relations drive collections, The role of the monograph in science and engineering, Unique usage patterns found within these subjects and their effect on collections decisions. This presentation has a wealth of information to build or bolster confidence, promote professional growth and leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) collection development. It will be beneficial for practicing STEM librarians, particularly those in the up & coming category or those with new collection development responsibilities

Survey of rehabilitation support for children 0-15 years in a rural part of Kenya

Abstract Purpose: Information regarding the nature, availability and distribution of rehabilitation services for children with disabilities across developing countries is scarce, and data that do exist are of variable quality. If planning and development are to progress, information about service provision is vital. The aim was to establish the scope and nature of rehabilitation support available to children with disabilities (0-15 years) and their families in rural Kenya. Method: A comprehensive sample comprising service provision in the health and special education sectors was established. Non-governmental and community-based organisations were also included. A survey of rehabilitation services was conducted through examination of service-related documentation and key informant interviews with the heads of services. Results: Rehabilitation comprised hospital-based occupational therapy, physiotherapy and orthopaedic technology; and seven special education establishments plus an education assessment resource centre. There was one non-government organisation and one community-based organisation relevant to children with disabilities. Activities focused on assessment, diagnosis and raising community awareness. Provision was challenged by inadequate staffing, resources and transport. Government funding was supplemented variously by donations and self-sufficiency initiatives. Rehabilitation approaches appeared to be informed by professional background of practitioner, rather than the needs of child. Service documentation revealed use of inconsistent recording methods. Conclusions: The data highlight the challenges of rehabilitation, demanding greater investment in personnel and their training, more material resources, improved access to the community and better recording mechanisms. Implications for Rehabilitation There needs to be greater investment in rehabilitation provision in developing countries. Consideration of community-based initiatives is required to support better access for all. In order to argue the case for improved resources, better skills and mechanisms for recording, monitoring and evaluating practice are needed