Separation and divorce in the primary school: a critical consideration of the nature, incidence and impact on children, and possible school responses, both proactive and reactive

Many primary school children have to deal with parental separation and divorce. Though some argue it’s a private family matter, the contact that teachers have with pupils places them in an ideal position to provide support through this difficult time. This article proposes proactive and reactive strategies that schools can employ to prepare children with the resilience to cope with and overcome these traumatic events

Testosterone regulates substance P within neurons of the medial nucleus of the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial preoptic area of the male golden hamster

The medial nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and medial preoptic area appear to mediate steroidal regulation of mating behavior in male rodents. The mechanism of action has not been determined. One way testosterone could enhance neuronal function is by increasing neurotransmitter levels, thus altering neuronal transmission. To assess this hypothesis, we examined the effect of castration and testosterone treatment on substance P levels in the neurons of these three brain regions. Brains from male Syrian hamsters that were (1) gonadally intact, (2) castrated for 13 weeks, or (3) castrated for 9 weeks and treated with testosterone for 4 weeks, were processed for substance P, and the numbers of substance P immunoreactive neurons in the medial nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and medial preoptic area were determined. Castration reduced the number of substance P neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area relative to those in intact hamsters: the number of substance P neurons in these regions was restored by testosterone treatment. Castration did not reduce the number of substance P neurons in the medial nucleus of the amygdala; however, testosterone treatment increased the numbers of these neurons when compared to intacts. Thus, testosterone regulates substance P levels in areas that regulate mating behavior. As substance P enhances male copulatory behavior our results suggest that testosterone may regulate copulatory behavior by enhancing substance P levels in medial nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29845/1/0000192.pd

Biogeochemical cycling in the Bering Sea over the onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation

The Bering Sea is one of the most biologically productive regions in the marine system and plays a key role in regulating the flow of waters to the Arctic Ocean and into the subarctic North Pacific Ocean. Cores from IODP Expedition 323 to the Bering Sea provide the first opportunity to obtain reconstructions from the region that extend back to the Pliocene. Previous research at Bowers Ridge, south Bering Sea, has revealed stable levels of siliceous productivity over the onset of major Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG) (c. 2.85-2.73 Ma). However, diatom silica isotope records of oxygen (δ18Odiatom) and silicon (δ30Sidiatom) presented here demonstrate that this interval was associated with a progressive increase in the supply of silicic acid to the region, superimposed on shift to a more dynamic environment characterized by colder temperatures and increased sea ice. This concluded at 2.58 Ma with a sharp increase in diatom productivity, further increases in photic zone nutrient availability and a permanent shift to colder sea surface conditions. These transitions are suggested to reflect a gradually more intense nutrient leakage from the subarctic northwest Pacific Ocean, with increases in productivity further aided by increased sea-ice and wind-driven mixing in the Bering Sea. In suggesting a linkage in biogeochemical cycling between the south Bering Sea and subarctic Northwest Pacific Ocean, mainly via the Kamchatka Strait, this work highlights the need to consider the inter-connectivity of these two systems when future reconstructions are carried out in the region

The colocalization of substance P and prodynorphin immunoreactivity in neurons of the medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial nucleus of the amygdala of the Syrian hamster

To determine the extent of colocalization of substance P (SP) and prodynorphin peptides within neurons of the medial nucleus of the amygdala (AMe), medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTm) and medial preoptic area (MPOA), we incubated colchicine-treated Syrian hamster brain tissue in an antiserum mixture containing rat anti-SP antibody combined with 1 of 3 rabbit antibodies against prodynorphin peptides: anti-dynorphin A(1-17), anti-dynorphin B(1-13) or anti-C-peptide. This was followed by incubation in a secondary antiserum mixture containing fluorescein-labelled anti-rabbit and rhodamine-labelled anti-rat antibodies. Sections were viewed with an epifluorescence microscope using blue light excitation for fluorescein and green light excitation for rhodamine. Colocalization of SP and prodynorphin labelling was observed in neurons of the caudal parts of AMe, BNSTm and MPOA, areas which are essential for male mating behavior. The colocalization was most extensive in the dorsolateral part of the caudal MPOA, the caudodorsal part of the BNSTm, and in the posterodorsal subdivision of AMe. Although all 3 dynorphin peptides coexisted with SP in these areas, dynorphin B did so less than C-peptide, and dynorphin A less than dynorphin B.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27761/1/0000154.pd

Quantum-limited optical time transfer for future geosynchronous links

The combination of optical time transfer and optical clocks opens up the possibility of large-scale free-space networks that connect both ground-based optical clocks and future space-based optical clocks. Such networks promise better tests of general relativity, dark matter searches, and gravitational wave detection. The ability to connect optical clocks to a distant satellite could enable space-based very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), advanced satellite navigation, clock-based geodesy, and thousand-fold improvements in intercontinental time dissemination. Thus far, only optical clocks have pushed towards quantum-limited performance. In contrast, optical time transfer has not operated at the analogous quantum limit set by the number of received photons. Here, we demonstrate time transfer with near quantum-limited acquisition and timing at 10,000 times lower received power than previous approaches. Over 300 km between mountaintops in Hawaii with launched powers as low as 40 $\mu$W, distant timescales are synchronized to 320 attoseconds. This nearly quantum-limited operation is critical for long-distance free-space links where photons are few and amplification costly -- at 4.0 mW transmit power, this approach can support 102 dB link loss, more than sufficient for future time transfer to geosynchronous orbits

Androgen and estrogen concentrating neurons in chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain

The medial preoptic area (MPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and medial amygdaloid nucleus (Me) are essential for male sexual behavior in the Syrian hamster. These nuclei received chemosensory stimuli and gonadal steroid signals, both of which are required for mating behavior. The objective of this study was to compare the distribution of androgen- and estrogen-concentrating neurons in MPOA, BNST, and Me in the adult male hamster using steroid autoradiography for estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Adult males (n = 4 per group) received two i.p. injections of tritiated steroid 4-7 days after castration. Six-[mu]m frozen sections through the brain were mounted onto emulsion-coated slides, and exposed for 11-16 months. In MPOA, BNST, and Me, neurons were more abundant and heavily labelled after [3H]E2 treatment than after either [3H]T or [3H]DHT. Tritiated estradiol- and DHT-labeled cells were found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of Me, with a high concentration in posterodorsal Me. Tritiated testosterone treatment labelled cells largely within posterodorsal Me. In MPOA, the majority of E2-, T-, and DHT-labelled neurons were in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and the preoptic continuation of the posteromedial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTpm). Few T-labelled cells were present outside these subdivisions. In the BNST, E2- and DHT-labelled neurons were present in all subdivisions, whereas T labelling was confined to the antero- and posteromedial subdivisions of BNST. These results suggest that the distribution of androgen- and estrogen receptor-containing neurons overlap considerably in nuclei which transmit chemosensory signals in the control of mating behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29724/1/0000058.pd

Concert recording 2015-03-15a

[Track 01]. Bel piacere / George Frederick Handel -- [Track 02]. Non é ver! / Tito Mattei -- [Track 03]. Caro mio ben / Giuseppe Giordani -- [Track 04]. Flow, my tears / John Dowland -- [Track 05]. Si mes vers avaient des ailes / Reynaldo Hahn -- [Track 06]. Do not go, my love / Richard Hageman -- [Track 07]. Italienisches Liederbuch. Auch kleine Dinge können uns entzücken ; [Track 08]. Du denkst mit einem Fädchen mich zu fangen ; [Track 09]. Schweig einmal still, du garst\u27ger Schwätzer dort ; [Track 10]. Ich hab\u27 in Penna einen liebsten wohnnen / Hugo Wolf -- [Track 11]. Erbarme dich, mein Gott from St. Matthew passion / Johann Sebastian Bach -- [Track 12]. Faites-lui mes aveux from Faust / Charles Gounod -- [Track 13]. La mi sola, Laureola / Fernando Obradors -- [Track 14]. Air vif / Francis Poulenc -- [Track 15]. Money, O! / Michael Head -- [Track 16]. Chason à boire / Maurice Ravel -- [Track 17]. De soir / Claude Debussy -- [Track 18]. Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre from Les contes d\u27Hoffmann / Jacques Offenbach

Microbiota supplementation with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus modifies the preterm infant gut microbiota and metabolome: An observational study

Supplementation with members of the early-life microbiota as “probiotics” is increasingly used in attempts to beneficially manipulate the preterm infant gut microbiota. We performed a large observational longitudinal study comprising two preterm groups: 101 infants orally supplemented with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (Bif/Lacto) and 133 infants non-supplemented (control) matched by age, sex, and delivery method. 16S rRNA gene profiling on fecal samples (n = 592) showed a predominance of Bifidobacterium and a lower abundance of pathobionts in the Bif/Lacto group. Metabolomic analysis showed higher fecal acetate and lactate and a lower fecal pH in the Bif/Lacto group compared to the control group. Fecal acetate positively correlated with relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, consistent with the ability of the supplemented Bifidobacterium strain to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides into acetate. This study demonstrates that microbiota supplementation is associated with a Bifidobacterium-dominated preterm microbiota and gastrointestinal environment more closely resembling that of full-term infants