Dopamine and Alcohol Dependence: From Bench to Clinic

Alcohol dependence, a chronic relapsing psychiatric disorder, is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The role of dopamine in alcohol‐induced reward as well in the development of alcohol dependence is reviewed herein. Both preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that alcohol activates the mesolimbic dopamine system (defined as a dopamine projection from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc, i.e. ventral striatum)) leading to a euphoric sensation. Alcohol dependence is characterized by a disruption in the reward‐related brain areas including fewer dopamine D2 receptors in ventral striatum. Investigations of the underlying dopaminergic mechanisms involved during the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence could identify novel targets. Human and rodent experimental studies show that dopamine receptor antagonists, agonists and partial agonists as well as dopamine stabilizers influencing dopamine transmission, alter alcohol‐mediated behaviours and thus may be potential treatment targets for alcohol dependence. Although there exists promising preclinical results, the majority of placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trials with traditional dopamine antagonists and agonists have so far have been discouraging. Furthermore, the severe side-effect profiles of many of these compounds may limit their clinical use. Newer dopamine agents, such as partial agonists and dopamine stabilizers, attenuate alcohol‐mediated behaviours in rodents as well as humans. Preclinical as well as clinical studies have shown that substances indirectly targeting the mesolimbic dopamine system may be potential targets for attenuation of alcohol reward. Collectively, the data reviewed herein may contribute to further understanding the complex mechanisms involved in development of alcohol dependence and we suggest that the newer dopamine agents as well as indirect modulators of dopamine signalling deserve to be further evaluated for treatment of alcohol dependence

Tradeoffs and synergies in wetland multifunctionality: A scaling issue

Wetland area in agricultural landscapes has been heavily reduced to gain land for crop production, but in recent years there is increased societal recognition of the negative consequences from wetland loss on nutrient retention, biodiversity and a range of other benefits to humans. The current trend is therefore to re-establish wetlands, often with an aim to achieve the simultaneous delivery of multiple ecosystem services, i.e., multifunctionality. Here we review the literature on key objectives used to motivate wetland re-establishment in temperate agricultural landscapes (provision of flow regulation, nutrient retention, climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation and cultural ecosystem services), and their relationships to environmental properties, in order to identify potential for tradeoffs and synergies concerning the development of multifunctional wetlands. Through this process, we find that there is a need for a change in scale from a focus on single wetlands to wetlandscapes (multiple neighboring wetlands including their catchments and surrounding landscape features) if multiple societal and environmental goals are to be achieved. Finally, we discuss the key factors to be considered when planning for re-establishment of wetlands that can support achievement of a wide range of objectives at the landscape scale

Genome sequencing of two Neorhizobium galegae strains reveals a noeT gene responsible for the unusual acetylation of the nodulation factors

Background The species Neorhizobium galegae comprises two symbiovars that induce nodules on Galega plants. Strains of both symbiovars, orientalis and officinalis, induce nodules on the same plant species, but fix nitrogen only in their own host species. The mechanism behind this strict host specificity is not yet known. In this study, genome sequences of representatives of the two symbiovars were produced, providing new material for studying properties of N. galegae, with a special interest in genomic differences that may play a role in host specificity. Results The genome sequences confirmed that the two representative strains are much alike at a whole-genome level. Analysis of orthologous genes showed that N. galegae has a higher number of orthologs shared with Rhizobium than with Agrobacterium. The symbiosis plasmid of strain HAMBI 1141 was shown to transfer by conjugation under optimal conditions. In addition, both sequenced strains have an acetyltransferase gene which was shown to modify the Nod factor on the residue adjacent to the non-reducing-terminal residue. The working hypothesis that this gene is of major importance in directing host specificity of N. galegae could not, however, be confirmed. Conclusions Strains of N. galegae have many genes differentiating them from strains of Agrobacterium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium. However, the mechanism behind their ecological difference is not evident. Although the final determinant for the strict host specificity of N. galegae remains to be identified, the gene responsible for the species-specific acetylation of the Nod factors was identified in this study. We propose the name noeT for this gene to reflect its role in symbiosis.Peer reviewe

Rare and low-frequency coding variants alter human adult height

Height is a highly heritable, classic polygenic trait with ~700 common associated variants identified so far through genome - wide association studies . Here , we report 83 height - associated coding variants with lower minor allele frequenc ies ( range of 0.1 - 4.8% ) and effects of up to 2 16 cm /allele ( e.g. in IHH , STC2 , AR and CRISPLD2 ) , >10 times the average effect of common variants . In functional follow - up studies, rare height - increasing alleles of STC2 (+1 - 2 cm/allele) compromise d proteolytic inhibition of PAPP - A and increased cleavage of IGFBP - 4 in vitro , resulting in higher bioavailability of insulin - like growth factors . The se 83 height - associated variants overlap genes mutated in monogenic growth disorders and highlight new biological candidates ( e.g. ADAMTS3, IL11RA, NOX4 ) and pathways ( e.g . proteoglycan/ glycosaminoglycan synthesis ) involved in growth . Our results demonstrate that sufficiently large sample sizes can uncover rare and low - frequency variants of moderate to large effect associated with polygenic human phenotypes , and that these variants implicate relevant genes and pathways

Formell och fullvärdig kompetens : en studie om sjukskötares kompetens på en medicinsk bäddavdelning

Kompetens är viktigt i en föränderlig värld. För att en organisation ska kunna ha förmåga till anpassning måste de rätta kompetenserna finnas hos arbetstagarna.Studiens syfte är att utreda vad sjukskötares kompetens kan innebära på en medicinsk bäddavdelning. Målet är att utveckla en struktur som visar hur man kan se skillnader mellan formell- och fullvärdig kompetens. Studien genomfördes som en praktikforskning bestående av litteraturöversikt, arbetsgivarens beställning, kompetensskalor, workshops och fokusgruppintervju. I den här praktikforskningen har åtta sjukskötare och tre av deras ledare från en medicinsk bäddavdelning deltagit. Studien visade att begreppet fullvärdig kompetens inte finns helt klart definierat, varken i litteraturen eller hos studiens deltagare. Resultatet av vad fullvärdig kompetens är för sjukskötare på en medicinsk bäddavdelning är beskrivet enligt substanskompetens, personlighetskompetens, framtidskompetens samt kultur och hierarki.Begreppet fullvärdig kompetens är beskrivet i nutid och i framtid. Studien resulterade i en strukturmodell som visar på skillnader i vad som ingår i formell- och fullvärdig kompetens. Vår förhoppning är att strukturen ska kunna fungera som ett stöd för ledare i planering och rekrytering av olika kompetenser på sin enhet.Muuttuvassa maailmassa pätevyys on tärkeää. Organisaation sopeutumiskyky edellyttää työntekijöitä, jotka omaavat oikeita pätevyyksiä. Tutkielman tarkoitus on selvittää mitä pätevyys voi tarkoittaa sisätautien vuodeosastolla työskentelevän sairaanhoitajan kohdalla. Tavoitteena on kehittää rakenne, joka osoittaa eroja muodollisesti pätevän ja täysin pätevän välillä. Tutkielma toteutettiin käytäntötutkimuksena koostuen kirjallisuuskatsauksesta, työnantajan tilauksesta, pätevyysasteikoista, työpajoista ja fokusryhmähaastattelusta. Tähän käytäntötutkimukseen osallistui kahdeksan sairaanhoitajaa ja kolme heidän esimiestään sisätautien vuodeosastolta. Tutkielma osoittaa, ettei käsitteelle täysin pätevä ole selkeää määritelmää kirjallisuudessa tai tutkimukseen osallistujilla. Sisätautien vuodeosaston täysin pätevän sairaanhoitajan pätevyys on kuvattu ydinosaamisen, henkilökohtaisten ominaisuuksien, tulevaisuusosaamisen sekä kulttuurin ja hierarkian osalta. Käsite täysin pätevä on kuvattu sekä nykyhetkessä että tulevaisuudessa. Tutkielma tuotti myös metodin joka osoittaa eroavaisuuksia muodollisen pätevyyden ja täysin pätevän välillä. Toivomme, että menetelmä voi toimia tukena johtajalle suunnittelussa erilaisten pätevyyksien ja rekrytoinnissa yksikköön.Competence is important in a changing world. In order for a organisation to be availabel to adapt to the changing environment the right skills must be found within the employees. The purpose of the study is to discover nurses´skills in complete competence at a medicial inpatient unit. The goal is to develop a structure that shows how to see differences between formal and completet competence. The study was conducted as applied research consisting of litterature review, employer´s request, skills scales, workshops and focusgroupinterview. In this study, eight nurses and three of their managers from a medical inpatient unit have participated. The study showed that the concept of complete competence is not clearly defiened in the litterature or for the study´s participants. The true requirements of what a completet competence is for nurses in a medical inpatient facility are described in terms of substantive competence, personality competence, future competence as well as in cultural and hierarchy understandings. The term completet competence is described in both present and for the future. The study has also resulted in a structural model that shows differences in what forms part or formal and complete competence skills. Our hope is that the structure should serve as a support for leaders in planning and recuirement of different skills on their unit

IKT verktyg – befrielse eller belastning? : Elever i behov av särskilt stöd och deras uppfattningar om IKT verktyg i lärandet.

The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the perceptions that ten 12-15 yearold pupils with special educational need, who had been assigned a personal computer, have about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the learning process. Data was collected by personal interviews and observations. Sociocultural perspective and phenomenographic research approach were used as theoretical and methodological frameworks in analyzing and understanding the result. The major conclusions were that most respondents perceived the computer as beneficial assistive technology for learning, but some felt singled out by having a computer to assist in learning. Students had various opportunities to succeed in using their tool depending on e.g. knowledge, accessibility and infrastructure around the ICT tool.To identify each pupil’s most successful way of learning with ICT, communication between pupil and teacher were essential

Change of Power in the WTO – Reality or Illusion? : A study of developing countries' bargaining power in the GATT/WTO negotiations from the Tokyo round to the Doha round

The agenda of the multilateral trade negotiations has since the beginning of the creation of GATT in 1947, traditionally been dominated by the industrialised countries' interests. The last decade has, however, shown signs of a possible change in the power relations between developed and developing countries, in favour of the developing countries. The aim of this study is to document and analyse whether the developing countries have managed to increase their bargaining power in the GATT/WTO negotiations, and if this is the case, how this change can be explained. By providing a broad overview of the evolvement of developing countries' bargaining power in the Tokyo round, Uruguay round and the ongoing Doha round, it can be shown that over time, developing countries have strengthened their bargaining power, resulting in their interests being better reflected on the agenda of the multilateral trade negotiations. Possible explanatory factors for this change can in particular be found in developing countries having increased their ability to build sustainable coalitions, and in having enhanced their market shares in world trade. Yet, developing countries' ability to influence the actual substance and practical implementation of their bargained agreements is deficient.The thesis has also been published in the form of a book (May 2010).Published by: VDM Verlag. ISBN: 978-3639248234

Bedömning av yrkeskunnande vid APL : Redskap och situatuioner inom Vård- och omsorgsprogrammet

The subject of study of this research is the assessment of vocational knowledge in the health andsocial care program in upper secondary school. The study focuses on the first period of workplacelearning in health and social care program, which mostly occurs in elderly care. Eight tutors invarious nursing homes and seven nursing teachers at three schools participated in the interviews. Thestudy was conducted using qualitative analysis grounded on socio-cultural theory. The purpose ofthis study was to examine how tutors and health teachers interact and assess skills and knowledge inworkplace-based learning. The study reveals core aspects of vocational knowledge in health andsocial care. Findings of the study allow identifying four different categories of vocationalknowledge: Relational-, Medical-, Organizational- and administrative- and Theoretical skills inworkplace learning. The study highlights various tools and situations used in the assessment ofvocational knowledge, such as various checklists, assessment forms and student self-assessment. Thestudy also showed situations that consisted of consulting colleagues, consulting health teachers andtutors. The results of the study shows that students` personal qualities such as sociable, empathetic,initiative taking and being punctual was highly valued in the assessment. The study also showeddifferences in the assessment made by health teachers and tutors. Health teachers strongly focus onthe key goals of the course when they assessed the student's professionalism, whereas the tutorsfocused more on personal qualities important in the field