We do have a voice: using a Personal Construct Psychology technique to explore how children and young people with Selective Mutism construct their current and 'ideal' selves

Within published Selective Mutism (SM) research, few studies have gained the views of children and young people (CYP) with SM themselves, meaning their unique experiences are largely missing from the literature. Whilst contextual non-speaking may restrict traditional ‘pupil voice’ interview approaches, alternative non-verbal methods should be sought to enable CYP with SM to be involved in decision-making and person-centred planning regarding their future. In this study, five CYP with SM were interviewed, using an adaptation of the Personal Construct Psychology technique ‘Drawing the Ideal Self’ (Moran, 2001), to explore how they constructed their current and ‘ideal’ selves, their ‘movement’ over time, and their goals for the future. This was done without the need for verbal communication. Common themes were identified regarding CYP’s ‘non-speaking’ selves, their desire to change, factors which had contributed to their SM, factors which had helped and hindered progress over time, and their action plans for the future, which addressed the research questions. Conclusions advocate that educational psychologists are well placed to support CYP with SM using this novel technique and implications for future research and practice in this area are considered

Getting to the heart of the matter: an investigation into captive great ape mortality and cardiovascular disease

Great apes housed in zoological collections have an important role to play in conservation. A sound understanding about their health and welfare forms a critical part of their custodianship. Chapter 1 of this thesis outlines a systematic review of 189 published articles relating to the topic of great ape morbidity and mortality (Strong et al. 2016). It concluded that there was a critical need for an up-to-date review of zoo-housed great ape mortality, especially among the European population, to be carried out. Such a review of data relating to 681 great ape deaths was therefore performed and is outlined in Chapter 2 of this thesis. This mortality review identified the main causes of death within each taxa and age group, and allowed for a series of recommendations about future disease investigation and monitoring to be generated. Diseases of the cardiovascular system specifically, were identified as being associated with significant proportional mortality. Despite this, however, understanding about the epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders among great apes remains poor. The remainder of the thesis therefore outlines a series of further projects and studies designed to confront this lack of knowledge and understanding: Chapter 3 focuses on cardiovascular disease epidemiology and identifies similarities and differences in disease risk between the taxa, highlighting age and male sex as potential risk factors. Chapter 4 is dedicated to the development of two protocols designed to standardise both the ante- and post-mortem investigation of cardiovascular disease in great apes. Chapter 5 addresses the controversial topic of carrying out cardiovascular disease screening in immobilised animals by comparing the effects of two anaesthetic protocols. Finally, Chapter 6 outlines a detailed study of great ape cardiovascular pathology and specifically idiopathic myocardial fibrosis in chimpanzees. The findings of each of the studies outlined in this thesis are informative, not only for the day-to-day management of zoo-housed great apes, but also for future research into their health, disease and therefore welfare

IL-10-conditioned dendritic cells, decommissioned for recruitment of adaptive immunity, elicit innate inflammatory gene products in response to danger signals

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional APCs of the immune system, enabling T cells to perceive and respond appropriately to potentially dangerous microbes, while also being able to maintain T cell tolerance toward self. In part, such tolerance can be determined by IL-10 released from certain types of regulatory T cells. IL-10 has previously been shown to render DCs unable to activate T cells and it has been assumed that this process represents a general block in maturation. Using serial analysis of gene expression, we show that IL-10 pretreatment of murine bone marrow-derived DCs alone causes significant changes in gene expression. Furthermore, these cells retain the ability to respond to Toll-like receptor agonists, but in a manner skewed toward the selective induction of mediators known to enhance local inflammation and innate immunity, among which we highlight a novel CXCR2 ligand, DC inflammatory protein-1. These data suggest that, while the presence of a protolerogenic and purportedly anti-inflammatory agent such as IL-10 precludes DCs from acquiring their potential as initiators of adaptive immunity, their ability to act as initiators of innate immunity in response to Toll-like receptor signaling is enhanced

Discovery of os cordis in the cardiac skeleton of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

© 2020, The Author(s). Cardiovascular diseases, especially idiopathic myocardial fibrosis, is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in captive great apes. This study compared the structure and morphology of 16 hearts from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) which were either healthy or affected by myocardial fibrosis using X-ray microtomography. In four hearts, a single, hyperdense structure was detected within the right fibrous trigone of the cardiac skeleton. High resolution scans and histopathology revealed trabecular bones in two cases, hyaline cartilage in another case and a focus of mineralised fibro-cartilaginous metaplasia with endochondral ossification in the last case. Four other animals presented with multiple foci of ectopic calcification within the walls of the great vessels. All hearts affected by marked myocardial fibrosis presented with bone or cartilage formation, and increased collagen levels in tissues adjacent to the bone/cartilage, while unaffected hearts did not present with os cordis or cartilago cordis. The presence of an os cordis has been described in some ruminants, camelids, and otters, but never in great apes. This novel research indicates that an os cordis and cartilago cordis is present in some chimpanzees, particularly those affected by myocardial fibrosis, and could influence the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death

Assessing the Educational Value of a Zoo Placement for Veterinary Students: A Report on Student Feedback and Perceptions

Zoological medicine is an expanding field with limited practical training opportunities for veterinary students. Those training programs that do exist require significant financial and resource investment by both veterinary schools and the zoological organizations involved. This article summarizes the findings of a retrospective survey of students carried out to ascertain the educational value of a compulsory 5-day-long zoo clinical placement for final-year veterinary students. We aimed to explore the placement’s potential impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes toward zoological medicine and the role of modern zoos and conservation. Data were collected by means of an end-of-placement questionnaire (N = 200) and statistically analyzed for pre- versus post-placement changes and the effect of pre-placement interest and experience on student responses. Despite the placement’s short time frame and lack of opportunity for in-depth comprehensive training in zoological medicine, students reported that the placement had a positive educational impact. More than 90% of students stated that their understanding about modern zoos was good or excellent at the end of the placement (compared with 35.0% before the placement), and 43.0% reported that the placement had a positive impact on their attitudes toward zoos. Students self-reported an increased understanding of the work of zoo clinicians, and there was a highly significant positive change in the students’ reported opinions regarding wildlife conservation in general. We provide preliminary evidence to suggest that even short-duration but immersive zoo-based practical training has positive educational value for veterinary students

Background and Method of the Striving to be Strong Study a RCT Testing the Efficacy of a M-health Self-management Intervention

Background Osteoporosis is a prevalent and debilitating condition affecting \u3e50% of post-menopausal women. Yet, a low percentage of women regularly engage in health promoting behaviors associated with osteoporosis prevention. Complex, multidimensional, m-Health interventions hold promise to effect engagement in health behavior change related to calcium and vitamin D intake, balance, core and leg strength, and physical activity. Methods Striving to be Strong study (R01NR013913-01) tests the efficacy of a research and theory based, patient centered, dynamically tailored intervention delivered via smart phone apps. Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) enhance immediate feedback and complement traditional measures. The desired outcomes are the maintenance of osteoporosis self-management behaviors and a decrease in the loss of bone density over time. The Individual and Family Self-management Theory provided the conceptual foundation for the study. The sample consists of 290 healthy women between the ages of 40 and 60 with an anticipated attrition of 33%. This three group repeated measures Randomized Clinical Trial spans a 12-month time period. Data collected occurs via web site, smart-phone app, self-report, observation, and measures. Proximal (engagement in osteoporosis health behaviors) and distal (serum vitamin D, DXA, and body composition) outcomes are collected for testing of the efficacy of the intervention and theory evaluation. Discussion Active and rigorous quality management processes continually evaluate enrollment and retention goals, functionality of the automated intervention delivery and data collection systems, EMAs, and dispersion of incentives

A clinical study to evaluate the cardiopulmonary characteristics of two different anaesthetic protocols (tiletamine/zolazepam +/- medetomidine) and to evaluate their suitability for the immobilisation of healthy chimpanzees

Objective: To characterise the cardiopulmonary characteristics of two different anaesthetic protocols (tiletamine/zolazepam +/- medetomidine) and their suitability for the immobilisation of healthy chimpanzees undergoing cardiac assessment. Study design: Prospective, clinical, longitudinal study Animals: Six chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) aged 4 - 16 years weighing 19.5 - 78.5 kg were anaesthetized on two occasions Methods: Anaesthesia was induced with tiletamine/zolazepam (TZ) (3-4 mg kg-1) or tiletamine/zolazepam (2 mg kg-1) and medetomidine (0.02 mg kg-1) (TZM) via blow dart (IM) and maintained with intermittent boluses of ketamine (IV) or zolazepam/tiletamine (IM) as required. The overall quality of the anaesthesia was quantified based on scores given for: quality of induction, degree of muscle relaxation and ease of intubation. The time to achieve a light plane of anaesthesia, number of supplemental boluses needed and recovery characteristics were also recorded. Chimpanzees were continuously monitored and heart rate (HR), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (fR) oxygen saturation of heamoglobin (SpO2), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), rectal temperature, mucous membrane colour and capillary refill time recorded. During the first procedure (TZ) animals underwent a 12 channel ECG, hematology, biochemistry and cardiac biomarker assessment to rule out the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease. A detailed echocardiographic examination was carried out by the same blinded observer during both procedures. Data were compared using Student’s paired t-test or Wilcoxon rank tests as appropriate. Results: There was a significant difference for the area under the curves between anaesthetic protocols for HR, SAP, MAP and fR. No significant differences in the echocardiographic measurements were evident. Quality of anaesthesia was significantly better with TZM and no additional boluses were required. The TZ protocol required multiple supplemental boluses. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Both combinations are suitable for immobilization and cardiovascular evaluation of healthy chimpanzees. Further work is required to evaluate the effect of medetomidine in cardiovascular disease

Kapsula

Selections from the 2015 Conference of the Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories Masters Progra

Kapsula

Selections from the 2015 Conference of the Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories Masters Progra

Increasing functional avidity of TCR-redirected T cells by removing defined N-glycosylation sites in the TCR constant domain

Adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes transduced with a T cell receptor (TCR) to impart tumor reactivity has been reported as a potential strategy to redirect immune responses to target cancer cells (Schumacher, T.N. 2002. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2:512–519). However, the affinity of most TCRs specific for shared tumor antigens that can be isolated is usually low. Thus, strategies to increase the affinity of TCRs or the functional avidity of TCR-transduced T cells might be therapeutically beneficial. Because glycosylation affects the flexibility, movement, and interactions of surface molecules, we tested if selectively removing conserved N-glycoslyation sites in the constant regions of TCR α or β chains could increase the functional avidity of T cells transduced with such modified TCRs. We observed enhanced functional avidity and improved recognition of tumor cells by T cells harboring TCR chains with reduced N-glycosylation (ΔTCR) as compared with T cells with wild-type (WT) TCR chains. T cells transduced with WT or ΔTCR chains bound tetramer equivalently at 4°C, but tetramer binding was enhanced at 37°C, predominantly as a result of reduced tetramer dissociation. This suggested a temperature-dependent mechanism such as TCR movement in the cell surface or structural changes of the TCR allowing improved multimerization. This strategy was effective with mouse and human TCRs specific for different antigens and, thus, should be readily translated to TCRs with any specificity