Reduced GABA-B/GIRK-mediated regulation of the VTA following a single exposure to cocaine

In this paper, Arora and colleagues expand on their previous work on GIRK channels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) presenting evidence that a single exposure to cocaine reduces inhibitory GABAergic transmission to dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Mice receiving i.p. injections of cocaine saw a short lived (1-5 days) decrease in GABAb mediated G-protein coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium (GIRK) currents in DA neurons in the VTA. This decrease parallels an NMDA-mediated increase in the frequency of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Chronic cocaine injections had no additional effects beyond those seen with single injections. Though they found no change in mRNA levels for GABAb receptors, GIRK channels, or RGS-2 (a G-protein regulator), immunoelectron microscopy indicated a decrease in levels of GIRK channels in the plasma membrane of the dendrites of VTA DA neurons. The cocaine-mediated decrease in GIRK currents was abolished in the presence of D2/3R antagonist sulpiride, but not in the presence of D1/5 antagonist SCH23390, indicating a link between D2/3 receptor activation and GIRK activity. Interestingly, the addition of quinpirole, a D2/3 agonist, elicited similar GIRK currents, though they were smaller than those mediated by GABAb receptors. Similarly, acute injections of cocaine significantly diminished quinpirole-evoked currents

Effects of Using a Neuroeducational Intervention to Enhance Perseverance for Online EdD and EdS Students

Developing and maintaining a completion mindset is a necessary mental condition for online educational doctorate (EdD) and educational specialist (EdS) students to obtain their advanced degrees. The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect of a neuroeducational intervention on a volunteer convenience sample of EdD and EdS students enrolled in online research and analysis courses at a private central Virginia university to determine if the intervention would have a positive effect on the level of perseverance through the stages of practical inquiry when compared to a control group. The independent variable was a web-based instructional method consisting of seven weekly multi-media modules, a creativity survey to enhance intrapersonal knowledge, and a weekly self-report instrument to foster relatedness and to protect for treatment fidelity. The four dependent variables were end-of-course grades, a self-determination survey, and two persistence instruments. An experimental posttest, control-group only research design was used to measure the magnitude of the effect for this intervention. The problem addressed by this study was the high attrition rate for online doctoral students, and the potential for using a neuroeducational intervention to positively affect perseverance. Due to the short-term nature of this intervention (seven weeks), perseverance was defined as completion of the practical inquiry cycle; therefore, additional research will be required to explore the longitudinal impact on perseverance related to attrition rates. The null hypotheses were not rejected; however, the means of the treatment group were higher than the control group for all measures except autonomy

Determining appropriate loss coefficients for use in the nozzle-model of a stage-by-stage turbine model

A previously developed turbine modelling methodology, requiring minimal blade passage information, produced a customizable turbine stage component. This stage-by-stage turbine nozzlemodel component was derived from the synthesis of classical turbine theory and classical nozzle theory enabling the component to accurately model a turbine stage. Utilizing Flownex, a thermohydraulic network solver, the turbine stage component can be expanded to accurately model any arrangement and category of turbine. This project focused on incorporating turbine blade passage geometrical information, as it relates to the turbine specific loss coefficients, into the turbine stage component to allow for the development of turbine models capable of predicting turbine performance for various structural changes, anomalies and operating conditions. The development of turbine loss coefficient algorithms as they relate to specific blade geometry data clusters required the investigation of several turbine loss calculation methodologies. A stage-by-stage turbine nozzle-model incorporating turbine loss coefficient algorithms was developed and validated against real turbine test cases obtained from literature. Several turbine models were developed using the loss coefficient governed turbine stage component illustrating its array of capabilities. The incorporation of the turbine loss coefficient algorithms clearly illustrates the correlation between turbine performance deviations and changes in specific blade geometry data clusters

The Role the N-terminal Domain Plays in Spidroin Assembly

One of the most interesting biomaterials known to man is spider silk. These fibers, composed primarily of protein, show beneficial mechanical and biological properties that have many uses in medical and industrial fields. Spider silk proteins (spidroins) are composed of three core components that consists of a C-terminal domain (CTD), repeat domain (R), and N-terminal domain (NTD). The NTD and CTD are highly conserved and are believed to form “multimeric strands” that make up spider silk. Although it is known that the NTD undergoes a conformational change that results in stable homodimer formation at acidic pH , the way in which the NTD contributes to fiber assembly is still under investigation. . Here we provide label-free, real-time dimerization data of the wild-type major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) NTD from Nephila clavipes using the Octet RED96 system. This data shows over 25-fold increase in the affinity of wild-type NTD monomers at pH 5.5 compared to pH 7.0. These results are in agreement with previous work from our lab and others that show an increase in homodimer stability at acidic pH. This information correlates with the conformational change seen as the wild-type NTD transitions from a neutral to acidic pH environment. We found that NTD variants D45K and E84K abolished the conformational change that occurs at pH 5.5 and decreased dimer stability compared to wild-type MaSp1 NTD. We also found showed that variant K70D and double variant D45K/K70D exist in an intermediate conformation between that seen at pH 5.5 and pH 7.0 for wild-type NTD. This new information provides additional evidence to support the idea that a conformational change is directly connected to dimerization. Our data provides additional insight into which residues are necessary for this conformational change and subsequent dimerization, which allows for a better understanding of the homodimerization process. We also demonstrate production of MaSp2 “mini spidroins” in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These “mini spidroins” contained a native CTD and NTD and eight repeat units and preliminary results show that glucose and raffinose preinduction media result in better protein expression using 24 hr and 72hr induction times, respectively

Sewer System Evaluation Surveys Conducted in Industrial Plants

Sewer System Evaluation Surveys Conducted in Industrial Sewers, describes the methods employed and the results of Sewer System Evaluation Survey studies conducted at two industrial complexes. The procedural techniques for locating and quantifying infiltration and inflow into sewer systems represented to provide a basic understanding of the steps required to complete such studies. Case studies of actual surveys conducted at two privately operated industrial plants in Tennessee are presented to illustrate the utilization of the investigative techniques. The results of the studies are compared with each other and with similar studies conducted in municipal sewer systems

Knowledge and skills essential for secondary campus-based administrators to appropriately serve students with special needs

textTo explore the reported knowledge and skills held by secondary campus-based administrators pertaining to the instructional and programmatic needs of students with disabilities, a mixed-methods nationwide study of administrators was conducted. Data were collected through an internet survey delivered via email, yielding a total of 159 secondary campus-based administrators. The theoretical framework of Critical Pedagogy served as an analytical tool for investigating whether the lack of knowledge and skills of special education policy and procedures on the part of participating secondary campus-based administrators may contribute to the use of oppressive practices when serving the needs of students with disabilities. Additionally, using the lens of Critical Pedagogy, three national sets of leadership standards (CEC, 2008; ISLLC, 2008; and ELCC, 2011) for general and special education administrators were compared. The analysis of national leadership standards revealed a gradual yet limited progression toward a moral imperative (Burrello, Wayne-Sailor, & Kleinhammer-Tramill, 2012) to include more stakeholders in the education process and development of individual education programs at the secondary level for students with disabilities. Quantitative data obtained from the internet-based survey were analyzed using a frequency distribution. Using naturalistic inquiry without a predetermined focus or preordinate categories of analysis (Patton, 2002), qualitative responses to open-ended survey questions were investigated to discover and identify emergent themes. Findings indicate a breakdown in communication between administrators and students with disabilities and their families has occurred. Secondary campus-based administrators need and want more training in all areas of special education policy and procedures. Specifically they would like more coursework and professional development concerning special education law, information concerning specific disabilities, accommodations or modifications appropriate for said disabilities, RTI and Identification, discipline, understanding the IEP/BIP process, and how to work with teachers concerning special education requirements. Critical Pedagogy is advanced as a useful tool to be used by program directors for leadership preparation and professional development to assist them in determining the most appropriate and beneficial type(s) of leadership preparation, mentoring, and follow-up training to facilitate the transformation of secondary campus-based administrators' leadership practices on behalf of students with disabilities and their families.Special Educatio

Cocaine self-administration in the mouse: A low-cost, chronic catheter preparation

Intravenous drug self-administration is the most valid animal model of human addiction because it allows volitional titration of the drug in the blood based on an individual’s motivational state together with the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug. Here we describe a reliable low-cost mouse self-administration catheter assembly and protocol that that can be used to assess a variety of drugs of abuse with a variety of protocols. We describe a method for intravenous catheter fabrication that allows for efficient and long-lasting intravenous drug delivery. The intravenous catheters remained intact and patent for several weeks allowing us to establish stable maintenance of cocaine acquisition. This was followed by a dose response study in the same mice. For collaborators interested in premade catheters for research please make a request at www.neuro-cloud.net/nature-precedings/pomerenze

Marshall University Music Department Presents a Senior Recital, David Cadle, Tuba, Roy Webb, Trombone

https://mds.marshall.edu/music_perf/1107/thumbnail.jp