Intermittent Testing Reduces Proactive Interference In Multiple Document Comprehension

The current research examined whether proactive interference (PI)—when old knowledge interferes with the learning of, and memory for, new knowledge—occurred when reading several argumentative texts on the same topic. We also examined whether retrieval practice could successfully reduce PI in this setting. In Experiment 1, participants read either eight or 24 texts on the same topic; some who read 24 texts completed retrieval practice on the first 16. All participants completed a distractor task, then a final free recall of the texts that they read. Experiment 2 explicitly measured memory for supporting evidence and sources, altered the final recall task to assess prior-text intrusions, and added a condition to rule out fatigue. Across both experiments, analyses suggest that PI occurs in a multiple document context and that this finding is not due to fatigue. Additionally, PI in this context can be reduced—if not eliminated—through retrieval practice

The American Frontier and its Cultural Forms

Using an interdisciplinary perspective, I have drawn materials from writers who took a philosophical view of the frontier, from the daring and hardy people who pushed the frontier across the American continent, and from historians who recorded the whole experience. I then compared those records with literary formulations. I came to the conclusion, which is the thesis of my work, that the frontier experience, both in theory and actuality, had a great deal of influence on the culture and development of America. In turn, cultural and literary expressions of the frontiering process modified or expanded our concepts of the frontier

APPLICATIONS OF Rh(I)-CATALYSIS TO NATURAL PRODUCT SYNTHESIS: ROUTES TO OVALICIN AND GUANACASTEPENE A

Transition metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation is an efficient method to rapidly increase molecular complexity via skeletal reorganization and/or cycloaddition processes. The mild conditions, functional group compatibility, and high regio- and stereoselectivities of these transition metal-catalyzed reactions are just a few reasons for their prominence in natural product synthesis. The first section describes a route to ovalicin via an allenic Alder-ene reaction using Rh(I)-catalysis. The scope of the novel allenic Alder-ene reaction using Rh(I) and Ir(I) catalysts has been extended to differentially substituted 1,1,3-trisubstituted allenes. The allenyl substitution pattern can give three possible cross-conjugated triene products. The selectivity of this transformation can be controlled by varying reaction temperature, solvent, catalyst and functional groups. Progress towards the synthesis of ovalicin using this triene forming protocol is described. The second section describes a route to guanacastepene A via a Rh(I)-catalyzed allenic cyclocarbonylation reaction. Efficient synthetic reactions, readily available and inexpensive starting materials and practical and convenient conditions all contribute to the success of a synthesis of the carbocyclic core of guanacastepene A and are the primary focus of the first half on this chapter. Upon the highly efficient formation of the carbocyclic core to guanacastepene A, our attention turned to the installation of an angular methyl group at C13. The routes evaluated to effect this transformation were a 1,4-conjugate addition, a reductive ring opening of a cyclopropyl ketone, and a radical cyclization of a bromo-silane moiety

INFLUENCING THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT ENVIRONMENT: THE EFFECT OF POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION FOREIGN AID ON SOCIAL MOVEMENT SUCCESS ABROAD

The question of how the United States Government can best support democratic social movements abroad has not been satisfactorily addressed by policy research thus far. Military support, coercive diplomacy, economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and direct financial support have all been shown to be ineffective strategies. By using a mixed method approach of studying comparative cases as well as quantitatively analyzing data through descriptive graphs and bivariate regression models, this paper considers the possible alternative policy option of soft power influence as a solution for supporting social movements abroad. Although the study concluded that no significant relationship exists between foreign aid designated for post-primary education and the number of successful social movements that emerge, policy researchers should continue to be encouraged to find soft power alternatives to the detrimental hard power tactics that are being used today

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Background: Treatment of cancer with chemotherapy is becoming increasingly more effective but is associated with short and long-term side effects. Oral side effects remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to prevent them. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of oral (and topical) prophylactic agents for oral mucositis and oral candidiasis in patients with cancer (excluding head and neck cancer), compared with placebo or no treatment. Search Strategy: Computerised MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CANCERLIT, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and the Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialist Register search up to July 1999. Reference lists from relevant articles were scanned and the authors of eligible studies were contacted to identify trials and obtain additional information. Selection Criteria: Studies were selected if they met the following criteria: design - random or quasi-random allocation of participants; participants - anyone with cancer receiving chemotherapy (excluding head and neck cancer); interventions - prophylactic agents prescribed to reduce oral conditions arising from cancer or its treatment; outcomes - mucositis and oral candidiasis. Data Collection and Analysis: Information regarding methods, participants, interventions and outcome measures and results were independently extracted, in duplicate, by two reviewers (JC &amp; HW). Specialist advice was sought to categorise interventions. Authors were contacted for details of randomisation and withdrawals and a quality assessment was carried out using the Jadad criteria (Jadad 1998). The Cochrane Oral Health Group statistical guidelines were followed and relative risk values calculated using random effects models where significant heterogeneity was detected (P &lt; 0.1). Main Results: Thirty-eight reports of trials were initially included. Two were duplicate reports and nine were excluded as there was no useable information. Of the 27 useable studies 14 had data for mucositis comprising 945 randomised patients and 15 included data for oral candidiasis with 1164 randomised patients. Of the eight prophylactic agents used for mucositis only one, ice chips, was effective (Relative risk 0.57, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.77, chi-square for heterogeneity = 0.26 (df = 1), p = 0.61). The NNT to prevent one extra case of mucositis over the baseline incidence using ice chips was 4 (95%CI: 3 to 7). The NNT for when the baseline incidence of mucositis in the population ranges from 50% to 80% are 5 to 4 respectively. There is evidence that antifungal agents which are partially or fully absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract prevent oral candidiasis and that the partially absorbed agents may be more effective than the fully absorbed agents. The RR for partially absorbed agents was 0.13 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.27, chi-square for heterogeneity = 5.3 (df = 3), P = 0. 15). The NNT to prevent one extra case of oral candidiasis over the baseline incidence using partially absorbed drugs was 3 (95% CI: 3 to 5). The NNT for when the baseline incidence of oral candidiasis in the population ranges from 30% to 70% are 4 to 2 respectively. The general reporting of RCT's was poor however the median Jadad score was acceptable and improved further when the authors provided additional information. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the findings for oral candidiasis. Reviewer's Conclusions: There is some evidence that ice chips prevent mucositis. None of the other prophylactic agents included in this review prevented mucositis. There is evidence that prophylactic use of antifungal agents which are absorbed or partially absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract reduce the clinical signs of oral candidiasis, and the partially absorbed drugs may be more effective. Future trials in this area should address the link between oral and general health including outcomes relevant to the patient. Collaboration between medical and dental teams is indicated.</p

Exploring the Relationships Between Altered Body Perception, Limb Position Sense, and Limb Movement Sense in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

© 2018 The Authors Chronic pain is often accompanied by patient-reported distorted body perception and an altered kinesthesia (referring to the senses of limb position and limb movement), but the association between these deficits is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess body perception and the senses of limb position and limb movement in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and to test whether these variables are related to each other and to pain intensity. Thirteen patients with upper limb CRPS (mean pain intensity, 4.2 ± 2.4 out of 10) and 13 controls were recruited. Body perception was self-reported with a questionnaire, and the senses of limb position (task 1) and of limb movement (task 2) were assessed with a robotic system combined with a 2D virtual reality display. The results showed altered kinesthesia in the patients with CRPS compared with controls (all

Virtual reality-induced sensorimotor conflict evokes limb-specific sensory disturbances in complex regional pain syndrome

Sensory disturbances are frequently observed in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). They are characterized by changes in the perception of limb weight and temperature, a distorted mental image of the affected limb, feeling the limb as a foreign body part, etc. However, the origin of such disturbances remains unclear. It has been hypothesized that such disturbances are due to attentional effects and/or sensorimotor integration deficits. If sensory disturbances are explained by sensorimotor integration deficits rather than by attentional factors (as hypervigilance toward pain and pain-related sensations), they would be expected to be specific in terms of the type of sensation evoked and in terms of localization.Objectives: The first objective was to test whether sensory disturbances evoked by a unilateral sensorimotor conflict are specific to the painful limb and differ according to the type of sensory disturbances in individuals with a unilateral CRPS compared to healthy controls (HC). The second objective was to assess the association between clinical characteristics and sensory disturbances evoked by a unilateral sensorimotor conflict. The third objective was to assess motor disturbances induced by a unilateral sensorimotor conflict.Methods: Ten adults with upper limb (UL) CRPS and 23 HC were recruited. Sensorimotor conflict was elicited with a KINARM robotized exoskeleton interfaced with a 2D virtual environment allowing the projection of a virtual UL that was moving in either a congruent or incongruent manner relative to the actual UL movement. Participants were required to rate the sensory disturbances evoked from 0 (no change) to 3 (high change) on a questionnaire (8 items). According to a previous study, items were categorized in two Types (Type 1: pain, discomfort, the feeling of losing a limb, change in weight and temperature; Type 2: feelings of peculiarity, the impression of gaining a limb and losing control). Motor disturbances were quantified as mediolateral drift and changes in amplitude of UL movement. Recorded clinical characteristics included the intensity and duration of pain, proprioception deficits, and body perception disturbances.Results and conclusion: CRPS participants report higher Type 1 than Type 2 disturbances for the Affected limb (while the reverse was observed for HC and for the Unaffected limb). In addition, no difference was observed between the Unaffected limb in CRPS and the Dominant limb in HC for Type 2 disturbances, while higher conflict sensitivity was observed for Type 1 disturbances. Conflict sensitivity was related to higher pain (but not to other clinical characteristics) only for Type 1 disturbances in the Affected limb. Finally, no difference in motor disturbances was observed between CRPS and HC. While this does not completely rule out the attentional hypothesis, these results are in line with the hypothesis that sensory disturbances in CRPS are due to deficits in sensorimotor integration

Day care for people with dementia: A qualitative study comparing experiences from Norway and Scotland

Potential benefits from day care attendance are reported in the literature for both people with dementia and caregivers, although the evidence-base is limited. The study aimed to explore and compare experiences of day care services for people with dementia as described by day care attendees and their caregivers in Norway and Scotland. Whereas day care receives prominence in Norway’s national dementia plan, Scotland does not highlight day care in its national dementia strategy. A qualitative cross-national comparative study was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 people with dementia and 17 caregivers in Norway, and 19 people with dementia and 15 caregivers in Scotland. Data were analyzed thematically and comparatively to explore the experiences and outcomes of the participants. Findings indicate positive outcomes from day care for both people with dementia and caregivers. Satisfaction with services related to meaningful activities, getting out of the home, strengthening social connections and careful staff facilitation to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere. There were strong similarities in the content of services and experiences reported in the two countries. Some minor differences were noted, with caregiver support being an area of notable divergence in experiences. Specialist day care for people with dementia seems to provide important support and positive outcomes for people with dementia, and respite and reassurance for their caregivers. More research is needed to further explore the effect of day care designed for people with dementia both on the attendees and their caregivers

The Structural and Functional Capacity of Ruminal and Cecal Microbiota in Growing Cattle Was Unaffected by Dietary Supplementation of Linseed Oil and Nitrate

peer-reviewedMicroorganisms in the digestive tract of ruminants differ in their functionality and ability to use feed constituents. While cecal microbiota play an important role in post-rumen fermentation of residual substrates undigested in the rumen, limited knowledge exists regarding its structure and function. In this trial we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with linseed oil and nitrate on methane emissions and on the structure of ruminal and cecal microbiota of growing bulls. Animals were allocated to either a CTL (control) or LINNIT (CTL supplemented with 1.9% linseed and 1.0% nitrates) diet. Methane emissions were measured using the GreenFeed system. Microbial diversity was assessed using amplicon sequencing of microbial genomic DNA. Additionally, total RNA was extracted from ruminal contents and functional mcrA and mtt genes were targeted in amplicon sequencing approach to explore the diversity of functional gene expression in methanogens. LINNIT had no effect on methane yield (g/kg DMI) even though it decreased methane production by 9% (g/day; P < 0.05). Methanobrevibacter- and Methanomassiliicoccaceae-related OTUs were more abundant in cecum (72 and 24%) compared to rumen (60 and 11%) irrespective of the diet (P < 0.05). Feeding LINNIT reduced the relative abundance of Methanomassiliicoccaceae mcrA cDNA reads in the rumen. Principal component analysis revealed significant differences in taxonomic composition and abundance of bacterial communities between rumen and cecum. Treatment decreased the relative abundance of a few Ruminococcaceae genera, without affecting global bacterial community structure. Our research confirms a high level of heterogeneity in species composition of microbial consortia in the main gastrointestinal compartments where feed is fermented in ruminants. There was a parallel between the lack of effect of LINNIT on ruminal and cecal microbial community structure and functions on one side and methane emission changes on the other. These results suggest that the sequencing strategy used here to study microbial diversity and function accurately reflected the absence of effect on methane phenotypes in bulls treated with linseed plus nitrate.This experiment is a part of a large collaborative project led by INRA granted by 11 companies: Adisseo France SAS, Agrial, Apis Gene, Deltavit, DSM Nutritional Products AG, Institut de l'Elevage, Lallemand, Moy Park Beef Orléans, Neovia, Techna France Nutrition, Valorex. This project aims to reduce enteric methane emission by nutrition. MP was the recipient of a PHC Ulysses travel scholarship to Ireland, provided by the French ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (Ministères des Affaires Etrangères et du Développement International, MAEDI) and the ministry of National Education, Higher Education, and Research (Ministère de l'Education Nationale, de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche, MENESR). EM was the recipient of a FACCE-JPI scholarship