Action Intention Modulates the Activity Pattern in Early Visual Areas

The activity pattern in the early visual cortex (EVC) can be used to predict upcoming actions as it is functionally connected to higher-order motor areas. However, the mechanism by which the EVC enhances action-relevant features is unclear. We explored this using fMRI. Participants performed Align or Open Hand movements to two oriented objects. We localized the calcarine sulcus, corresponding to the periphery, and the occipital pole, corresponding to the fovea. During planning, univariate analysis did not reveal significant results so we used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to decode action type and object orientation. Though objects were located in the periphery, we found a significant decoding accuracy for orientation in an action-dependent manner in the occipital pole and action network areas. We established the functional connectivity between the EVC and somatomotor areas during planning using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. Taken together, our results show object orientation is modulated by action preparation

Using Cognitive Interviewing to Develop an Online Survey of Parent Perspectives on Data Sharing

Cognitive interviewing is a qualitative method to identify survey problems. This method can advance survey validity and reliability by incorporating participant perspectives during questionnaire development. Despite its utility, cognitive interviewing is rarely used in pediatric and perinatal epidemiology. This paper discusses the use and implications of cognitive interviewing in the development of an online survey of a complex, uncommon topic in the parenting population: parental perspectives on data sharing with secondary researchers via repositories. Participants were recruited randomly from two Alberta birth cohorts. Participation entailed a one-on-one interview, where participants completed a draft online questionnaire and answered probing questions. The cognitive interviews yielded three major insights for survey improvement. First, the interviewer witnessed varied participant experiences with the survey: some participants enjoyed the process, while others struggled to point of frustration. Reframing the language and adding polar questions aimed to promote comprehension. Second, the topic’s complexity revealed the utility of “educational” questions, which may not provide new information, but would allow participants to think through issues. Third, “educational” questions and sufficiency of background information must be tempered to avoid the survey length being overly-burdensome to participants. By increasing comprehension and lessening frustration, researchers increase the accuracy of data collected from parents on a complex, uncommon topic

Discriminatory ability of hypervariable variable number tandem repeat loci in population-based analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, London, UK

To address conflicting results about the stability of variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci and their value in prospective molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we conducted a large prospective population-based analysis of all M. tuberculosis strains in a metropolitan setting. Optimal and reproducible conditions for reliable PCR and fragment analysis, comprising enzymes, denaturing conditions, and capillary temperature, were identified for a panel of hypervariable loci, including 3232, 2163a, 1982, and 4052. A total of 2,261 individual M. tuberculosis isolates and 265 sets of serial isolates were analyzed by using a standardized 15-loci VNTR panel, then an optimized hypervariable loci panel. The discriminative ability of loci varied substantially; locus VNTR 3232 varied the most, with 19 allelic variants and Hunter-Gaston index value of 0.909 . Hypervariable loci should be included in standardized panels because they can provide consistent comparable results at multiple settings, provided the proposed conditions are adhered to

Change Your Look, Change Your Luck: Religious Self-Transformation and Brute Luck Egalitarianism

My intention in this paper is to reframe the practice of veiling as an embodied practice of self-development and self- transformation. I argue that practices like these cannot be handled by the choice/chance distinction relied on by those who would restrict religious minority accommodations. Embodied self- transformation necessarily means a change in personal identity and this means the religious believer cannot know if they will need religious accommodation when they begin their journey of piety. Even some luck egalitarians would find leaning exclusively on preference and choice to find who should be burdened with paying the full costs of certain choices in one’s life too morally harsh to be justifiable. I end by briefly illustrating an alternative way to think about religious accommodation that does not rely on the choice/chance distinction

Are entrepreneurs becoming more risk averse?

Are entrepreneurs becoming more risk averse? When you mention the word ‘entrepreneur’ most people will automatically think of someone who is a risk taker. Our traditional view of entrepreneurs is that they are innovative, opportunists and have a low aversion to risk taking. However, we have observed an interesting trend in the UK Independent TV Production Industry. Entrepreneurs are becoming more risk averse

Phasing out the general nursing diploma programme at Aga khan university school of nursing Karachi, Pakistan

Aga Khan University was established as medical complex in 1980 and in 1983 received charter as first private university in Pakistan. Thus nursing education moved under the umbrella of a university which allowed starting under graduate and graduate degree education and in light of global trends in nursing profession and staffing and financial impact of nursing education, 2010 was the last intake of university\u27s founding programme; general nursing diploma. Concerns; male vs female nurses and taking nursing education as an easy route to enter in higher education resulting in unattained staffing require deliberations by stake holder including Pakistan Nursing Council

P-Selectin or Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (Icam)-1 Deficiency Substantially Protects against Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

The expression of leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is essential for the emigration of leukocytes during an inflammatory response. The importance of the inflammatory response in the development of atherosclerosis is indicated by the increased expression of adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors in lesions and lesion-prone areas and by protection in mice deficient in various aspects of the inflammatory response. We have quantitated the effect of deficiency for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, P-selectin, or E-selectin on atherosclerotic lesion formation at 20 wk of age in apolipoprotein (apo) E−/− (deficient) mice fed a normal chow diet. All mice were apo E−/− and CAM+/+ or CAM−/− littermates, and no differences were found in body weight or cholesterol levels among the various genotypes during the study. ICAM-1−/− mice had significantly less lesion area than their ICAM-1+/+ littermates: 4.08 ± 0.70 mm2 for −/− males vs. 5.87 ± 0.66 mm2 for +/+ males, and 3.95 ± 0.65 mm2 for −/− females vs. 5.59 ± 1.131 mm2 for +/+ females, combined P < 0.0001. An even greater reduction in lesion area was observed in P-selectin−/− mice: 3.06 ± 1.04 mm2 for −/− males vs. 5.09 ± 1.22 mm2 for +/+ males, and 2.85 ± 1.26 mm2 for −/− females compared with 5.60 ± 1.19 mm2 for +/+ females, combined P < 0.001. The reduction in lesion area for the E-selectin null mice, although less than that seen for ICAM-1 or P-selectin, was still significant (4.54 ± 2.14 mm2 for −/− males vs. 5.92 ± 0.63 mm2 for +/+ males, and 4.38 ± 0.85 mm2 for −/− females compared with 5.94 ± 1.44 mm2 for +/+ females, combined P < 0.01). These results, coupled with the closely controlled genetics of this study, indicate that reductions in the expression of P-selectin, ICAM-1, or E-selectin provide direct protection from atherosclerotic lesion formation in this model