Estrogen Sensitive Neurons in the Medial Preoptic Area of the Hypothalamus Regulate Temperature in Mice

Reduced estrogen levels in menopausal and perimenopausal women are associated with hot flashes. The medial preoptic area (MPA) of the hypothalamus is region of the brain with many physiological functions including temperature regulation. While this region of the brain is rich in estrogen responsive neurons, it is unknown whether or not estrogen plays a role in the MPA’s temperature regulation. Thus, we hypothesized that temperature sensitive neurons in the MPA are responsive to estrogen and could mediate thermoregulation via thermogenesis and heat dissipation. To define the role of estrogen sensitive neurons in the MPA we selectively activated the neurons using chemogenetics or ablated by delivering a virus expressing caspase3 into Esr1-Cre mice. We recorded core body temperature using intraperitoneal telemetry probes. Ablation of the neurons led to an increase in core body temperature. In contrast, chemogenetic activation of the neurons led to a drop in core body temperature. Thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and head dissipation of skin temperature on the tail were observed using an infrared camera and analysis software. Upon activation, there was a decrease in temperature of BAT suggesting a reduction of thermogenesis. We also observed an initial increase in tail temperature suggesting vasodilation and a release of heat, lowering core body temperature. To further analyze the MPA’s role in temperature regulation we took advantage of the physiological state of torpor which mice enter upon fasting. Torpor is associated with a decrease in temperature, metabolism, activity, cardiac function, and mental activity. We saw that ablation of estrogen sensitive neurons in the MPA impedes the temperature drop seen in torpor. These complementary loss of function and gain of function studies suggest a critical role for estrogen signaling in the MPA in temperature regulation. Building an understanding of the estrogen-sensitive temperature populations of the brain will help model and study hot flashes

The effect of social stories on the positive play behaviors and social interactions of preschool students with developmental disabilities

The purpose of this single subject design study was to determine the effectiveness of social stories on the positive play behaviors and social interactions of preschool students with developmental disabilities. The satisfaction of staff members with the implementation of social stories in the classroom was also examined. Preschool students in the study showed an increase in positive social interactions including turn-taking, using verbal and non-verbal communication to express their feelings during play, and overall positive play behaviors after implementation of social stories. Staff members reported positive social validity of the intervention. Implications for using social stories with preschool students with developmental disabilities are discussed

SILLVR: Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources

This paper is an overview of SILLVR (Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources), an innovative, collaborative pilot project that facilitates interlibrary loan (ILL) for streaming video. Conceived of by Auraria Library staff, SILLVR leverages partnerships with streaming video vendors and the Colorado Alliance for Research Libraries to enable library-to-library borrowing of streaming video media. This paper begins by briefly investigating the history and landscape of interlibrary loan, the loaning of electronic and “new” media, as well as how libraries collaboratively work towards increased ILL access and how this work supports equity. The second half of the paper details the creation of SILLVR, from its conception to the partnerships it has engendered and the workflows that will make it a reality

Targeting of anionic membrane species by lanthanide(III) complexes: towards improved MRI contrast agents for apoptosis

No abstract available

Clinical consensus statement: Diagnosis and management of nasal valve compromise

OBJECTIVE: To create a clinical consensus statement to address ambiguities and disparities in the diagnosis and management of nasal valve compromise (NVC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An updated systematic review of the literature was conducted. In addition, a Modified Delphi Method was used to refine expert opinion and facilitate a consensus position. RESULTS: After two rounds of surveys and conference calls, 36 items reached consensus, six items reached near consensus, and 10 items reached no consensus. The categories that had the greatest percentage of consensus or near consensus items were as follows: definition, history and physical examination, outcome measures, and management. Conversely, the categories with greater percentage of no consensus items were adjunctive tests and coding. CONCLUSION: The consensus panel agreed that NVC is a distinct clinical entity that is best evaluated with history and physical examination findings. Endoscopy and photography are useful but not routinely indicated, whereas radiographic studies are not useful in evaluating NVC. Other objective nasal outcome measures may not be useful or accepted for NVC. Nasal steroid medication is not useful for treatment of NVC in the absence of rhinitis, and mechanical treatments may be useful in selected patients. Surgical treatment is the primary mode of treatment of NVC, but bill coding remains ambiguous and confusing

Reproducibility of a peripheral quantitative computed tomography scan protocol to measure the material properties of the second metatarsal

Background: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is an established technology that allows for the measurement of the material properties of bone. Alterations to bone architecture are associated with an increased risk of fracture. Further pQCT research is necessary to identify regions of interest that are prone to fracture risk in people with chronic diseases. The second metatarsal is a common site for the development of insufficiency fractures, and as such the aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of a novel scanning protocol of the second metatarsal using pQCT. Methods. Eleven embalmed cadaveric leg specimens were scanned six times; three times with and without repositioning. Each foot was positioned on a custom-designed acrylic foot plate to permit unimpeded scans of the region of interest. Sixty-six scans were obtained at 15% (distal) and 50% (mid shaft) of the second metatarsal. Voxel size and scan speed were reduced to 0.40 mm and 25 mm.sec-1. The reference line was positioned at the most distal portion of the 2nd metatarsal. Repeated measurements of six key variables related to bone properties were subject to reproducibility testing. Data were log transformed and reproducibility of scans were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficients of variation (CV%). Results: Reproducibility of the measurements without repositioning were estimated as: trabecular area (ICC 0.95; CV% 2.4), trabecular density (ICC 0.98; CV% 3.0), Strength Strain Index (SSI) - distal (ICC 0.99; CV% 5.6), cortical area (ICC 1.0; CV% 1.5), cortical density (ICC 0.99; CV% 0.1), SSI - mid shaft (ICC 1.0; CV% 2.4). Reproducibility of the measurements after repositioning were estimated as: trabecular area (ICC 0.96; CV% 2.4), trabecular density (ICC 0.98; CV% 2.8), SSI - distal (ICC 1.0; CV% 3.5), cortical area (ICC 0.99; CV%2.4), cortical density (ICC 0.98; CV% 0.8), SSI - mid shaft (ICC 0.99; CV% 3.2). Conclusions: The scanning protocol generated excellent reproducibility for key bone properties measured at the distal and mid-shaft regions of the 2 nd metatarsal. This protocol extends the capabilities of pQCT to evaluate bone quality in people who may be at an increased risk of metatarsal insufficiency fractures

California annual grass invaders: the drivers or passengers of change?

The dominance of invasive species is often assumed to reflect their competitive superiority over displaced native species. However, invasive species may be abundant because of their greater tolerance to anthropogenic impacts accompanying their introduction. Thus, invasive species can either be the drivers or passengers of change.We distinguish between these two possibilities in California grasslands currently dominated by Mediterranean annuals (exotics) and subjected to livestock grazing since European settlement. We focused on native annual grasses and forbs, an understudied species-rich component of the California flora, and Mediterranean annual grasses, currently dominant and among the first non-native plants introduced to the area.We established a field experiment with fenced and unfenced blocks in a cattle pasture. We measured concentrations of limiting resources (nitrogen, phosphorus, light and soil moisture) in monoculture plots as an index of competitive ability (i.e. R*). We then quantified grazing impacts on biomass and seed production in grazed vs. ungrazed monoculture plots. Finally, we measured biomass and seed production of each species competing in mixture plots, in the presence and absence of grazers.We found that native and exotic species did not differ in R* indices of competitive ability, i.e. concentrations of limiting resources in ungrazed native monoculture plots did not differ from concentrations in ungrazed exotic monoculture plots. By contrast, exotic annuals suffered less from grazing than native annuals, perhaps reflecting their longer evolutionary history with cattle grazing. Consistent with these results, native and exotic annuals were equally abundant in ungrazed mixtures, but exotic species overwhelmingly dominated grazed mixtures.Species able to draw down nitrogen and light to lower levels in monocultures (i.e. those with lower R* values) dominated biomass and seeds in mixed plots without grazers. However, R* did not predict the relative abundance of species in grazed plots. Moreover, the relative abundance of species in mixtures did not correlate with grazing impacts on their monocultures, implying that grazing alters inter-specific competitive dynamics.Synthesis. We demonstrate that the displacement of native annuals by Mediterranean annual grasses in California may largely have been driven by cattle grazing