Comparative Cranial Geometric Morphometrics among Wistar Albino, Sprague Dawley, and WAG/Rij Rat Strains

This research utilizes geometric morphometrics to investigate shape variation in the skull, mandible, and teeth among three rat strains: Wistar Albino (WA), Sprague Dawley (SD), and WAG/Rij (WR). Through the analysis of 48 rats using 2D geometric morphometric techniques, significant differences in their skull morphology were identified. This study indicates a shift from a rectangular to an oval cranial shape across strains, with notable size and morphological variances. Particularly, the WR strain’s skull shape significantly differs from the SD and WA strains, suggesting distinct ecological or genetic pathways. Compared to the skull, mandible shape differences are less pronounced, but still significant. The WR strain exhibits a distinct mandible shape, potentially reflecting ecological adaptations like dietary habits. The teeth shape of WR rats is the most distinct. SD rats consistently exhibited larger sizes in both skull and mandible measurements, while WR rats were notably smaller. Interestingly, sexual dimorphism was not statistically significant in skull and teeth sizes, aligning with findings from previous studies. However, the mandible showed clear size differences between sexes, underscoring its potential for adaptive or behavioral studies. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of morphological variations in rat strains, highlighting the intricate interplay of size, shape, and ecological factors. These findings lay a foundation for deeper explorations into the adaptive, ecological, or genetic narratives influencing rat morphology

Interaction of synthetic opioid metenkephalin peptide analogs, lilly 127623 and FK 33-824 with indole hallucinogens: Antagonism of N,N-dimethyltryptamine- and LSD-induced disruption of food-rewarded bar pressing behavior in the rat

The selected opioid metenkephalin synthetic peptide analogs Lilly (LY) 127623 and FK 33-824 were tested for behavioral dose effects and potential interaction with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and lysergic acid diethylamide-25 (LSD) in adult male Holtzman rats trained on a positive reinforcement fixed-ratio 4 (FR-4) behavioral bar pressing schedule, i.e., a reward of 0.01 ml sugar-sweetened evaporated milk was earned on every fourth bar press. DMT (3.2 mg/kg) and LSD (0.1 mg/kg), administered IP following a 0.9% NaCl 15–20-min control pretreatment, disrupted established food-rewarded FR-4 bar pressing in a consistent and reproducible manner. Animals pretreated IP with predetermined behaviorally noneffective doses of LY 127623 (0.01–0.32 mg/kg) and FK 33-824 (0.001–0.01 mg/kg) 15–20 min prior to receiving DMT demonstrated significant antagonism to DMT-induced disruption of FR-4 bar pressing, while doses of 0.10–0.32 mg/kg LY 127623 and 0.00032–0.0032 mg/kg FK 33-824 significantly antagonized LSD-induced behavioral effects.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46430/1/213_2004_Article_BF00432112.pd

Review of research instruments for assessment of organizational culture in health care system

Kultura organizacyjna to pojęcie wieloznaczne, które wyraża się w podzielanych przez członków organizacji wartościach, w języku i symbolach oraz obowiązujących metodach postępowania i rutynowych procedurach. Uznawana jest za znaczący czynnik sukcesu organizacji. Kultura organizacyjna odzwierciedla także umiejętności kadry zarządzającej oraz pracowników w zakresie formułowania celów, metod ich realizacji oraz sposobu funkcjono-wania organizacji. Celem pracy była analiza piśmiennictwa dotycząca struktury oraz zasad stosowania narzędzi używanych w pomiarze kultury organizacyjnej w systemie opieki zdrowotnej. Przegląd literatury dotyczącej narzędzi do oceny kultury organizacyjnej w systemie opieki zdrowotnej wykazał ich dużą liczbę w bibliografii zagranicznej. Większość narzędzi badawczych było poddanych standaryzacji, jednak wiele z nich nie zawiera wszystkich czynników oceny kultury organizacyjnej. Stąd ich stosowanie budzi wątpliwości natury metodolo-gicznej. Z przeprowadzonego przeglądu wynika, iż wśród zaprezentowanych narzędzi badawczych najcenniejsze wydają się być te, które umożliwiają ocenę kultury organizacyjnej w kontekście wieloaspektowym, mają wysoki współ-czynnik rzetelności i trafności, a także pozwalają na wyznaczenie typu kultury organizacyjnej.Organizational culture is an ambiguous concept, expressed in values, language, and symbols shared by the members of the organization, and the valid practices and routine procedures. It is considered an important success factor of an organization. Organizational culture reflects also the skills of the management staff and employees in the areas of the formulation of goals, methods of their attainment, and ways of functioning of the organization. The objective of the study was analysis of literature concerning the structure and principles of using instruments applied in the measurement of organizational culture in the system of health care. The review of literature concerning instruments for the measurement of organizational culture in the health care system showed a high number of international reports. The majority of the research instruments were subjected to standardization. However, many of them do not contain all the elements for evaluation of organizational culture. Hence, the use of these instruments evokes doubts about their methodological nature. The conducted review of research instruments shows that among the presented instruments, those which enable evaluation of organizational culture in a multi-aspect context, possess a high reliability and validity coefficient and allow determination of the type of organizational culture, seem to be the most valuable

Biomechanical study in vitro on the use of self-designed external fixator in diaphyseal III metacarpal fractures in horses

Diaphyseal fractures of the III metacarpal bone represent 22% of all fractures of the long bones in horses. Treatment of such cases is difficult. The most popular solution used in these types of fractures is two plates applied directly to the bone surface, but they are not applicable on contaminated and infected fractures. External fixators are quite commonly used in human medicine, although in veterinary practice there is no typical stabilizer designed for the treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the III metacarpal bone so far. In this study, an external semicircular fixator of our own design was used and in vitro strength tests were conducted to determine the maximum force which would lead to the destruction of non-fractured bone and fractured bone treated with the stabilizer. On the basis of the strength tests, we can conclude that the stabilizer can be strong enough to allow the horse to stand up after surgery. It also has many favorable features which make it easy to assemble and to take care of a wound, while being safe enough for the animal at the same tim

Examination of Shape Variation of the Skull in British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, and Van Cats

A variety of skull shapes are frequently used for discrimination between animal species, breeds, and sexes. In this study, skulls of three different breeds of cats were examined by the geometric morphometric method, with the aim of revealing skull shape differences. For this purpose, 27 cats (6 British Shorthair, 7 Scottish Fold, and 14 Van cats) were used. The skulls of cats were modeled by computed tomography. Geometric morphometrics was applied using dorsal (8 landmarks, 63 semilandmarks) and lateral (8 landmarks, 63 semilandmarks) skull projections on these models. Centroid size differences between the breeds were statistically insignificant. However, the differences in shape were statistically significant for both the dorsal view and lateral view. Shape variation was less in the British Shorthair than in other breeds. Shape differences generally occurred around the orbit. In the skull of Scottish Folds, the orbit was situated more caudally than in other breeds. The British Shorthair had the largest orbital ring. In dorsal view, the Scottish Fold had the largest orbital diameter. The orbital ring of Van cats was smallest in both dorsal and lateral views. In the canonical variate analysis, it was seen that the breeds were separated from each other. The shape difference in the skull between different cat breeds could be revealed by geometric morphometrics. The results of this study provide useful information for taxonomy