Milestone Reinforcer Survey

Abstract: The Milestone Reinforcer Survey was developed to assess reinforcer preferences of adults with mild to profound retardation living in a variety of community settings. The survey, which includes 42 items in three categories-primary, secondary, and self reinforcers, can be administered by all levels of staff in about ten minutes. Psychometric properties of the survey were established with 120 adults, 15 males and 15 females representing each level of retardation. The total reinforcer scores for the survey are internally consistent (r = .90), consistent across raters (r = .68) and stable over time (r = .93). The potential uses for this survey for research and practice are discussed

The Role of the Qur'an and Sunnah in Oral Health.

The aim of this study was to explore the ways in which the main texts in Islam, Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), contribute to understandings of oral health. The AHadith provide guidance for oral health-related behaviour but were written at a time when their symbolic meanings were perhaps vastly different to those of today. In gaining more insight into the ways Islamic HRB shape oral health-related practices and outcomes, if at all, we may be better placed to develop a more culturally sensitive and diverse dental public health and oral health promotion which takes into account religious dimensions, mediating factors, HRB and salutogenic mechanisms

Antibody to Cryptococcus neoformans capsular glucuronoxylomannan promotes expression of interleukin-12Rβ2 subunit on human T cells in vitro through effects mediated by antigen-presenting cells

The results reported herein show that T cells responding to encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans cells had reduced expression of interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) in comparison to those responding to non-encapsulated cells. This suggested that encapsulation with glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), the principal constituent of the C. neoformans polysaccharide antiphagocytic capsule, inhibited expression of the IL-12Rβ2 subunit on T cells responding to cryptococcal antigens. Addition of GXM-binding monoclonal antibody (mAb) overcame this effect by promoting IL-12Rβ2 expression and by decreasing IL-1R expression on T cells. This effect may be a consequence of mAb-induced changes on antigen-presenting cells (APC) that are closely related to increased phagocytosis. Blocking of phagocytosis with monoiodacetic acid (MIA) precluded up-regulation of B7 expression on APC and was associated with diminished IL-12Rβ2 expression on T cells. The observed effects on T cells were interpreted as a consequence of increased APC function due to enhanced phagocytosis. These findings suggest a mechanism by which specific antibody can promote the polarization of the cellular immune response towards a Th1-like response and thus contribute to an enhanced cellular immune response against C. neoformans