Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy associated with severe left ventricular involvement in a cat.

An 8-year-old, 4 kg, intact female, domestic shorthaired cat was referred for tachypnea and pleural effusion. A 24-h Holter recording showed numerous polymorphic ventricular premature complexes with left and right bundle branch block morphology. Echocardiographic examination revealed right atrial and ventricular dilation. The right ventricular free wall was thin and aneurysmal. The cat died 10 days after initiation of antiarrhythmic therapy. Gross and histopathological findings were consistent with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) associated with severe left ventricular involvement

Uncertainty, Attachment, and Narcissism, but most of all Vulnerability: The Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Therapy

The paper aims to investigate the pervasiveness of conspiracy attitudes from a psychological point of view. Starting from one of the most common and shared definitions of conspiracy theories (a defensive strategy to manage stressful social events), we will first focus on cognitive distortions and then move on to the affective dimension. We will suggest that conspiracy beliefs can be explained by combining affective dynamics that occur on two distinct levels, individual and social. On the first, attachment disorders are predictive of anxious behaviour and existential insecurity. On the second, the need for uniqueness and for recognition/confirmation by the group compensates for narcissistic frustrations and the sense of social exclusion

The NASA photovoltaic technology program

The NASA Office of Aeronautical and Space Technology OAST Program in space photovoltaics is reviewed. From the perspective of national landmark mission requirements and five year and 25-year long range plans, the texture of the program is revealed. Planar silicon and concentrator GaAs array technology advances are discussed. Advances in lightweight (50 micro cell) arrays and radiation tolerance research are presented. Recent progress in cascade cells and ultralightweight GaAs planar cells is noted. Progress in raising silicon cell voltage to its theoretical maximum is detailed. Advanced concepts such as plasmon converters and the Long Duration Exposure Facility LDEF flight experiments pertaining to solar cell and array technology are also shown

Robustness of the 0−π0 -\pi transition against compositional and structural ageing in S/F/S heterostructures

We have studied the temperature induced $0 -\pi$ thermodynamic transition in Nb/PdNi/Nb Superconductor/Ferromagnetic/Superconductor (SFS) heterostructures by microwave measurements of the superfluid density. We have observed a shift in the transition temperature with the ageing of the heterostructures, suggesting that structural and/or chemical changes took place. Motivated by the electrodynamics findings, we have extensively studied the local structural properties of the samples by means of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) technique, and the compositional profile by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). We found that the samples have indeed changed their properties, in particular for what concerns the interfaces and the composition of the ferromagnetic alloy layer. The structural and compositional data are consistent with the shift of the $0-\pi$ transition toward the behaviour of heterostructures with different F layers. An important emerging indication to the physics of SFS is the weak relevance of the ideality of the interfaces: even in aged samples, with less-than-ideal interfaces, the temperature-induced $0-\pi$ transition is still detectable albeit at a different critical F thickness.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication on Phys. Rev. B, http://journals.aps.org/prb

TEACHER-EVALUATORS’ NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS IN ASSESSING SELF-LEARNING MODULES (SLM)

This study aims to describe the narrative accounts of teacher-evaluators in assessing the quality of SLMs. This study uses a narrative research approach to examine five teacher-evaluators from the Koronadal City Division. As part of Bruner's theoretical framework, individuals produce new ideas or concepts based on prior information. Their expertise is needed to choose and process data. This study applies this approach because the cognitive structure organizes perceptions and helps individuals go beyond knowledge because evaluating self-learning material quality teaches teachers new concepts (SLMs). The finding reveals that participants feel honored and pressured, some are ready to carry out any assignment, and some are happy and excited. Participants indicated the advantage indicated learning new things and meaningful experiences, while the disadvantage indicated adding workloads. This research may support and motivate teacher-evaluators to tailor instruction to meet individual needs. Whether they differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, ongoing assessment and flexible grouping make this a successful approach to assessing students' SLMs quality. This study would provide a framework to build certain tasks, activities, or modules to motivate teachers and help them focus attention, organize information for understanding and remembering, monitor and assess learning, encourage self-monitoring, and self-correct tools for reflecting on and assessing their own learning in evaluating the quality assurance of SLM's.  Article visualizations

Plasma disposition, concentration in the hair, and anthelmintic efficacy of eprinomectin after topical administration in donkeys

Objective-To investigate plasma disposition, concentration in the hair, and anthelmintic efficacy of eprinomectin after topical administration in donkeys. Animals-12 donkeys naturally infected with strongyle nematodes. Procedures-The pour-on formulation of eprinomectin approved for use in cattle was administered topically to donkeys at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg. Heparinized blood samples and hair samples were collected at various times between 1 hour and 40 days after administration. Samples were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Fecal strongyle egg counts were performed by use of a modified McMaster technique before and at weekly intervals for 8 weeks after treatment. Results-Plasma concentration and systemic availability of eprinomectin were relatively higher in donkeys, compared with values reported for other animal species. Concerning the anthelmintic efficacy against strongyle nematodes, eprinomectin was completely effective (100%) on days 7 and 14 and highly effective (> 99%) until the end of the study at 56 days after treatment. No abnormal clinical signs or adverse reactions were observed for any donkeys after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Eprinomectin had excellent safety. The relatively high plasma concentration after topical administration could result in use of eprinomectin for the control and treatment of parasitic diseases in donkeys

Sex-Specific Alterations in NOS Regulation of Vascular Function in Aorta and Mesenteric Arteries from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Compared to Wistar Kyoto Rats

The present study tested the hypothesis that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have impaired nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-mediated regulation of vascular function versus Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Aorta and small mesenteric arteries were studied from male and female SHR (M SHR and F SHR) and WKY (M WKY and F WKY). Phenylephrine (PE)-induced vasoconstriction was greater in aorta of M SHR versus all others (P \u3c 0.05); there were neither sex nor strain differences in PE contraction in mesenteric arteries. The NOS inhibitor l-Nitro-Arginine Methyl Ester (l-NAME) increased PE-induced vasoconstriction in all rats, although the increase was the least in male SHR (P \u3c 0.05), revealing a blunted vasoconstrictor buffering capacity of NOS. l-NAME increased sensitivity to PE-induced constriction only in mesenteric arteries of SHR, although, the maximal percent increase in contraction was comparable among groups. ACh-induced relaxation was also less in aorta from M SHR versus all others (P \u3c 0.05). ACh relaxation was comparable among groups in mesenteric arteries, although SHR exhibited a greater NOS component to ACh-induced relaxation than WKY. To gain mechanistic insight into sex and strain differences in vascular function, NOS activity and NOS3 protein expression were measured. Aortic NOS activity was comparable between groups and M SHR had greater NOS3 expression than M WKY. In contrast, although vascular function was largely maintained in mesenteric arteries of SHR, NOS activity was less in SHR versus WKY. In conclusion, M SHR exhibit a decrease in NOS regulation of vascular function compared to F SHR and WKY, although this is not mediated by decreases in NOS activity and/or expression

Efficacy of eprinomectin pour-on against Dictyocaulus arnfieldi infection in donkeys (Equus asinus).

A trial to assess the efficacy of eprinomectin (EPM) against the lungworm Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was carried out on 15, naturally-infected donkeys. Ten animals were treated with a 'pour-on' EPM preparation (at a dose of 0.5mg/kg bodyweight), and five animals acted as controls. EPM was 100% effective in eliminating faecal larvae from day 7, until the end of study at day 28. No adverse drug-reactions or side-effects were observed in any of the treated donkeys

Le motivazioni del cospirazionismo

Che cosa comporta abbracciare una teoria cospirazionista? Perché il cospirazionista, indipendentemente dal livello di istruzione e dalla professione, cerca di difenderla e diffonderla addirittura, nonostante palesi contraddizioni talvolta molto fantasiose? Secondo gli autori, l’unico modo per dare una risposta soddisfacente alla comprensione del fenomeno del cospirazionismo - un fenomeno sociale che ha raggiunto una diffusione preoccupante con serie implicazioni a livello psicologico, culturale e politico – è riuscire a comprendere le ragioni del suo fascino. Gli autori illustrano una possibile ‘ricetta perfetta’ perché si inneschi e si autoalimenti la mentalità cospirazionista. Dalla revisione della letteratura più recente emerge che sentimenti di insicurezza esistenziale e ansia generalizzata possono essere indicati quali il primo ingrediente della ricetta; essi sarebbero anche in grado di distorcere i meccanismi di ragionamento e acquisizione delle informazioni. Peculiari tratti e difese narcisistiche unite a una condizione di isolamento e frustrazione sociale sono i composti del secondo ingrediente. Quest’ultimi tratti danno corpo a quelle ideazioni di stampo paranoideo, che colpiscono tanto l’attenzione dei media. Il terzo ingrediente è il bisogno di integrazione (e riconoscimento sociale), una spinta motivazionale incontenibile, autentico collante delle reti cospirazioniste