Nicotinic Receptors Underlying Nicotine Dependence: Evidence from Transgenic Mouse Models.

Nicotine underlies the reinforcing properties of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes. After inhalation and absorption, nicotine binds to various nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes localized on the pre- and postsynaptic membranes of cells, which subsequently leads to the modulation of cellular function and neurotransmitter signaling. In this chapter, we begin by briefly reviewing the current understanding of nicotine's actions on nAChRs and highlight considerations regarding nAChR subtype localization and pharmacodynamics. Thereafter, we discuss the seminal discoveries derived from genetically modified mouse models, which have greatly contributed to our understanding of nicotine's effects on the reward-related mesolimbic pathway and the aversion-related habenulo-interpeduncular pathway. Thereafter, emerging areas of research focusing on modulation of nAChR expression and/or function are considered. Taken together, these discoveries have provided a foundational understanding of various genetic, neurobiological, and behavioral factors underlying the motivation to use nicotine and related dependence processes, which are thereby advancing drug discovery efforts to promote long-term abstinence

The association between transgender-related fiction and transnegativity: Transportation and intergroup anxiety as mediators

Fictional narratives can serve as an indirect contact strategy when direct contact between two groups is not feasible. This study investigated whether exposing cisgender individuals to transgender-related fiction was associated with reduced transnegativity. Two emotion-related mediators were examined in this relationship: transportation into the story (proximal to fiction exposure) and intergroup anxiety (proximal to contact theory). Cisgender participants (N = 84) viewed or read stories involving transgender characters or read a science article. Those who encountered transgender characters reported lower transnegativity than those who read the control story. Transportation into the story and intergroup anxiety serially mediated this relationship. The findings suggest conditions under which a fictional story can expand an audience’s social world and thereby serve as a strategy for prejudice reduction

Labor Migration and Allocation of Human Resources in Taiwan: Return and Onward Cases

[[abstract]]Utilizing the 1990 Population and Housing Census of Taiwan, this paper attempted to examine return and onward labor migration and to identify their determinants by applying a three-level nested logit model. The study found that urban-to-rural movements mainly characterize return migration while onward migration is mostly inter-urban movements. Returnees in general tend to be less “successful” than their onward counterparts in the labor market. Other than the experience of “disappointment” in the market, location-specific capital left behind exerts a strong positive effect on return migration. Onward migrants are rather sensitive to market forces and spatial disparities in economic opportunities. In order to improve the efficiency of relocating human resources, the corresponding policy should focus more on measures that help “open up” market information for the labor force.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[booktype]]http://tkuir.lib.tku.edu.tw:8080/dspace/handle/987654321/68224[[countrycodes]]PH