The role and therapeutic targeting of α-, β- and γ-secretase in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly and its prevalence is set to increase rapidly in coming decades. However, there are as yet no available drugs that can halt or even stabilize disease progression. One of the main pathological features of AD is the presence in the brain of senile plaques mainly composed of aggregated β amyloid (Aβ), a derivative of the longer amyloid precursor protein (APP). The amyloid hypothesis proposes that the accumulation of Aβ within neural tissue is the initial event that triggers the disease. Here we review research efforts that have attempted to inhibit the generation of the Aβ peptide through modulation of the activity of the proteolytic secretases that act on APP and discuss whether this is a viable therapeutic strategy for treating AD.<p></p> Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly but as yet there are no drugs that can halt the progression of this disease. In a theory called the ‘amyloid hypothesis’, researchers have proposed that the accumulation of a small protein fragment called beta amyloid or Aβ within brain tissue is the event which triggers Alzheimer's disease. Aβ is a derivative of the longer amyloid precursor protein (APP). Here we review research efforts that have attempted to inhibit the generation of Aβ through modulation of proteins called secretases which cut APP into Aβ. Author edits made on: 20 May 2015

Getting What You Ask For: Barriers to Proper Use of Service Monitoring Tools

This article provides a greater understanding of the contract monitoring process by identifying barriers that prevent contracted providers from using service monitoring tools properly. To evaluate barriers to proper tool use, seven case studies were conducted on early childhood programs in three communities in upstate New York. The case studies specifically focused on the reporting forms that the early childhood programs completed. Data sources included (a) interviews with government agency and contracted provider employees, (b) content analysis of key documents relating to the service monitoring tools, and (c) attendance at meetings between government agencies and contracted providers on the service monitoring tools. This article identifies lack of contracted provider ability and misunderstandings between government and contracted providers as key barriers to proper tool use. This study also finds evidence suggesting a link between the overall strength of technical assistance systems and understanding problems

Sheer Force of Tweet: Testing the Limits of Executive Power on Twitter

President Donald Trump’s affinity for Twitter has raised novel issues of constitutional law, tested the norms for presidential etiquette, and opened up a dialogue about whether tweets are considered the actual directives of the President. This note explores four subject areas that the President has tweeted about: judicial legitimacy, executive orders, removal of appointees, and entering into armed conflicts. Then, these topics will be considered in terms of whether presidential speech on social media should be regulated to protect against the risks of posting on the Internet and to ensure the preservation of the principles of democracy embedded in the Constitution. This note concludes with four legislative policy recommendations for regulating the President’s use of Twitter and other social media platforms while balancing government interests and considers related concerns about President Trump’s use of Twitter for official presidential matters

Monitoring Contracted Provider Service Delivery in the Hollow state: Understanding Barriers Preventing Proper Use of Service Monitoring Tools

The article discusses the barriers that prevent a contracted provider from using service monitoring tool, any source of information used by a government agency to monitor service inputs, outputs, and outcomes that a contracted provider is required to give to a government agency. A motivation barrier exists when the contracted provider is unwilling to use the tool properly. In addition, an ability barrier exists when the contracted provider lacks the resources or skills to use to tool

Vaginal Acidity and Whiff Test for Screening Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Women Tri Nur

Keasaman vagina dan tes whiff untuk penapisan bacterial vaginosis pada ibu hamil.Background: It has been acknowledged that bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnant women is associated with miscarriage and premature delivery. Microscopic examination of vaginal secretion should be used in the diagnosis of BV. Nevertheless, usually microscope does not exist in antenatal care facility in the community based setting. Therefore, screening tool of BV among pregnant women attending antenatal care that is simple, cheap, and fast is needed.Methods: Diagnostic study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the Community Health Centre. Vaginal acidity combines with whiff test were used as a screening tool, and compared blindly with Gram stain of vaginal smear as a gold standard to diagnose BV.Results: This study showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the vaginal acidity combine with whiff test to diagnose BV were 93.1% and 69% respectively. It means that false negative and false positive were 6.9% and 31% respectively. In the screening method, high sensitivity or less false negative is needed. Therefore, only few people who really have the disease (the false negative) can\u27t be reached by the gold standard of diagnostic test.Conclusions: It could be concluded that the combination of vaginal acidity and whiff test is a useful tool for screening BV in pregnant women especially in the community-based health facility

Looking beyond the Undergraduate Classroom: Factors Influencing Service Learning\u27s Effectiveness at Improving Graduate Students\u27 Professional Skills

This study provides a greater understanding of which factors influence the effectiveness of service learning projects at improving graduate students’ professional skills. Data for this study was gathered from students in eight Master of Public Administration (MPA) courses taught during two semesters at a large state university. Younger students were more likely than older students to believe that their service learning project was helpful in improving their professional skills. We also find that students who spent more time working on a service learning project outside of class reported their projects were more helpful in improving their professional skills. In addition, our ANOVA analysis indicates that for projects involving group activities, students who were members of groups that worked as teams reported that their projects were more helpful in improving their professional skills than students in less cohesive groups

Making Communities More Viable: Four Essential Factors for Successful Community Leadership

A recent study was undertaken to compare two particularly successful rural communities, focusing on the importance of leadership within the community. Four significant factors set these successful communities apart from those less viable-effective communication, development of social capital, community engagement, and collaboration across and within communities. This article describes each component and provides specific suggestions for improvement. Ultimately, these factors could be used as focus areas to improve community leadership through the development of community-appropriate curricula, seminars, and workshops