The effects of (RS)-MCPG on amphetamine-induced sensitization in neonatal rats

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) in the ontogeny of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization. Eleven-day-old rat pups were given five daily bilateral infusions of the mGluR antagonist, (RS)-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) followed by a systemic injection of amphetamine and locomotor activity was measured. It was hypothesized that rats receving amphetamine pretreatment and an amphetamine challenge would exhibit a significant increase in activity, indicating short-term behavioral sensitization. As predicted, repeated amphetamine administration during the pretreatment phase produced progressively enhanced locomotor activity, indicating the development of behavioral sensitization. The effect of MCPG on locomotor activity appears to be independent from the effects of amphetamine-induced locomotor activity and MCPG pretreatment failed to consistently block the expression of behavioral sensitization in rats pretreated with amphetamine and challenged with amphetamine. This study demonstrated that contrary to previous studies on adult rats, the mGluR system does not appear to consistently mediate the development of amphetamine-induced sensitization in neonatal rats

Does ethnicity influence judicial decisions in Kenya?

Research on judicial discrimination in Africa has typically focused on the socio-economic determinants of bias in the courtroom. But according to a new study, ethnicity can also play a role in shaping judicial outcomes. The findings from this work are relevant to wider debates on the challenges of establishing rule of law and due process in multiethnic societies

Interaction between absolute and positional-sensitive frequency of logographemes on writing across primary grades

Also available in print.Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2006."A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 2006."published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

2002-2003 The Silken Phoenix

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_otherseasonalconcerts/1076/thumbnail.jp

The role of the Cucumber mosaic virus 2b protein in viral movement and symptom induction

The Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) 2b protein is a counter-defense factor and symptom determinant. Conserved domains in the 2b protein sequence were mutated in the 2b gene of strain Fny-CMV. The effects of these mutations were assessed by infection of Nicotiana tabacum, N. benthamiana, and Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Col-0) with mutant viruses and by expression of mutant 2b transgenes in A. thaliana. We confirmed that two nuclear localization signals were required for symptom induction and found that the N-terminal domain was essential for symptom induction. The C-terminal domain and two serine residues within a putative phosphorylation domain modulated symptom severity. Further infection studies were conducted using Fny-CMVΔ2b, a mutant that cannot express the 2b protein and that induces no symptoms in N. tabacum, N. benthamiana, or A. thaliana ecotype Col-0. Surprisingly, in plants of A. thaliana ecotype C24, Fny-CMVΔ2b induced severe symptoms similar to those induced by the wild-type virus. However, C24 plants infected with the mutant virus recovered from disease while those infected with the wild-type virus did not. Expression of 2b transgenes from either Fny-CMV or from LS-CMV (a mild strain) in Col-0 plants enhanced systemic movement of Fny-CMVΔ2b and permitted symptom induction by Fny-CMVΔ2b. Taken together, the results indicate that the 2b protein itself is an important symptom determinant in certain hosts. However, they also suggest that the protein may somehow synergize symptom induction by other CMV-encoded factors

Epidemiology of Pathogenic Retroviruses and Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus in Community and Client-Owned Cats in Hong Kong

Understanding the local epidemiology of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in Hong Kong will inform retrovirus prevention strategies. Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH), a novel hepatitis-B-like virus, is commonly detected among client-owned cats in Hong Kong, but community cats have not been studied. The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency and potential risk factors for (i) FeLV and FIV among community and client-owned cats and (ii) perform molecular detection of DCH among community cats in Hong Kong. Blood samples from 713 cats were obtained from client-owned (n = 415, residual diagnostic) and community cats (n = 298, at trap-neuter-return). Point-of-care (POC) testing for FeLV antigen and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) anti-p15 and p24 antibodies was performed. FeLV-positive samples were progressed to p27 sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whole blood DNA was tested with qPCRs for FeLV U3 and gag, and nested PCRs where additional information was required. DCH qPCR was performed on a subset of community cats (n = 193). A single, regressive, FeLV infection was detected in a client-owned cat (1/415 FeLV U3 qPCR positive, 0.2%, 95% CI 0.0–1.3%). Five/415 client-owned cats tested presumably false FeLV-antigen positive (qPCR negative). No markers of FeLV infection were detected in community cats (0/298; 0%). FIV seroprevalence was much higher in community cats (46/298, 15.4%) than in client-owned cats (13/415, 3.1%) (p < 0.001). Mixed breed was a risk factor for FIV infection in client-owned cats. Neither sex nor age were associated with FIV infection. DCH DNA was detected in 34/193 (17.6%) community cats (median viral load 6.32 × 103 copies/reaction). FeLV infection is rare in Hong Kong, negatively impacting the positive predictive value of diagnostic tests. FeLV-antigen testing remains the screening test of choice, but confirmation of a positive result using FeLV qPCR is essential. FIV infection is common in community cats and the absence of a sex predisposition, seen previously in cats managed similarly, raises questions about virus-transmission dynamics in these groups. DCH infection is very common in Hong Kong, both in client-owned and community cats, highlighting the importance of understanding the pathogenic potential of this virus for cats

Minimal clinically important difference of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 for worsening peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.

Context/objectivesThis is the first study to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20), a validated instrument designed to elicit cancer patients' experience of symptoms and functional limitations related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.MethodsCancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy completed EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity [FACT/GOG-NTX] at baseline, second cycle of chemotherapy (T2, n = 287), and 12&nbsp;months after chemotherapy (T3, n = 191). Anchor-based approach used the validated FACT/GOG-NTX neurotoxicity (Ntx) subscale to identify optimal MCID cutoff for deterioration. Distribution-based approach used one-third standard deviation (SD), half SD, and one standard error of measurement of the total EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score.ResultsThere was a moderate correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and sensory and motor subscales of QLQ-CIPN20 (T2: r = - 0.722, p &lt; 0.001 and r = - 0.518, p &lt; 0.001, respectively; T3: r = - 0.699; p &lt; 0.001 and r = - 0.523, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). The correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and the QLQ-CIPN20 autonomic subscale was poor (T2: r = - 0.354, p &lt; 0.001; T3: r = 0.286, p &lt; 0.001). Based on the MCID derived using distribution-based method, the MCID for the QLQ-CIPN20 sensory subscale was 2.5-5.9 (6.9% to 16.4% of the subdomain score) and for motor subscale was 2.6-5.0 (8.1%-15.6% of the subdomain score).ConclusionThe MCID for the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 established using distribution-based approaches was 2.5-5.9 for the sensory subscale and 2.6-5.0 for the motor subscale. When noted in assessments even with small change in scores, clinicians can be alerted for appropriate intervention

Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications

Endometriosis is a common, oestrogen driven chronic condition, where endometrium-like epithelial and stromal cells exist in ectopic sites. At present, no curative treatments are available and the existing evidence for disease progression is conflicting. The pathogenesis is still unknown and evidently complex, as mechanisms of initiation may depend on the anatomical distribution of endometriotic lesions. However, amongst the numerous theories and plethora of mechanisms, contributions of the fallopian tubes (FT) to endometriosis are rarely discussed. The FT are implicated in all endometriosis associated symptomatology and clinical consequences; they may contribute to the origin of endometriotic tissue, determine the sites for ectopic lesion establishment and act as conduits for the spread of proinflammatory media. Here, we examine the available evidence for the contribution of the human FT to the origin, pathogenesis and symptoms/clinical consequences of endometriosis. We also examine the broader topic linking endometriosis and the FT epithelium to the genesis of ovarian epithelial cancers. Further studies elucidating the distinct functional and phenotypical characteristics of FT mucosa may allow the development of novel treatment strategies for endometriosis that are potentially curative

Realizing Artin-Schreier Covers with Minimal aa-numbers in Positive Characteristic

Suppose $X$ is a smooth projective connected curve defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$ and $B \subset X$ is a finite, possibly empty, set of points. Booher and Cais determined a lower bound for the $a$-number of a $\mathbf{Z}/p \mathbf{Z}$-cover of $X$ with branch locus $B$. For odd primes $p$, in most cases it is not known if this lower bound is realized. In this note, when $X$ is ordinary, we use formal patching to reduce that question to a computational question about $a$-numbers of $\mathbf{Z}/p\mathbf{Z}$-covers of the affine line. As an application, when $p=3$ or $p=5$, for any ordinary curve $X$ and any choice of $B$, we prove that the lower bound is realized for Artin-Schreier covers of $X$ with branch locus $B$.Comment: 25 pages; parts from PROMYS 201

Photometric Properties of Void Galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7 Data Release

Using the sample presented in Pan:2011, we analyse the photometric properties of 88,794 void galaxies and compare them to galaxies in higher density environments with the same absolute magnitude distribution. In Pan et al. (2011), we found a total of 1054 dynamically distinct voids in the SDSS with radius larger than 10h^-1 Mpc. The voids are underdense, with delta rho/rho < -0.9 in their centers. Here we study the photometric properties of these void galaxies. We look at the u - r colours as an indication of star formation activity and the inverse concentration index as an indication of galaxy type. We find that void galaxies are statistically bluer than galaxies found in higher density environments with the same magnitude distribution. We examine the colours of the galaxies as a function of magnitude, and we fit each colour distribution with a double-Gaussian model for the red and blue subpopulations. As we move from bright to dwarf galaxies, the population of red galaxies steadily decreases and the fraction of blue galaxies increases in both voids and walls, however the fraction of blue galaxies in the voids is always higher and bluer than in the walls. We also split the void and wall galaxies into samples depending on galaxy type. We find that late type void galaxies are bluer than late type wall galaxies and the same holds for early galaxies. We also find that early type, dwarf void galaxies are blue in colour. We also study the properties of void galaxies as a function of their distance from the center of the void. We find very little variation in the properties, such as magnitude, colour and type, of void galaxies as a function of their location in the void. The only exception is that the dwarf void galaxies may live closer to the center. The centers of voids have very similar density contrast and hence all void galaxies live in very similar density environments (ABRIDGED)Comment: 10 pages, 25 figure