The Influence of HSV-1 Infection on Circadian Rhythms and Behavior in Mice

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection is a lifelong viral infection that affects approximately half of the human population (McQuillan et al., 2018), yet little is known about its neurological effects. There is correlational evidence that infection with HSV-1 can induce cognitive decline and increased anxiety behaviors (Harris & Harris, 2015; Steel & Eslick, 2015; Tarter, Simanek, Dowd, & Aiello, 2014). In addition, HSV-1 may be associated with disruptions to circadian rhythms because HSV-1 is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (Bond & Dinan, 2006), the time of HSV-1 infection impacts the viral replication (Edgar, 2016), and HSV impacts CLOCK machinery (Zhuang et al., 2017). Despite all of these associations of HSV-1 mediated neurological changes, a direct cause-effect relationship has yet to be established. This gap is vital to address in order to understand how viral infections impact behavior. In the current study, we examined causal relationships between HSV-1 infection and anxiety-like behaviors, and between HSV-1 infection and circadian rhythms. To achieve these aims, 20 BALB/c mice were infected with HSV-1 or vehicle via corneal scarification. Then, in various lighting conditions, infrared sensors tracked activity in order to non-invasively measure circadian rhythms. Next, potential differences in anxiety-levels were examined through behavioral testing (i.e., open field test, elevated zero maze, light-dark box). After behavioral testing, the animals were sacrificed and brain tissue was harvested. We hypothesized that adult mice infected with HSV-1 would exhibit increased anxiety-like behaviors and disrupted circadian rhythms as compared to control mice. Preliminary data suggest that the groups did not significantly differ in total activity during the pre-inoculation phase. There were short-term (one week post inoculation) significant decreases in activity in the HSV-1 group; however, these differences disappeared by four weeks post inoculation. These results will have important implications for understanding viral infections, specifically HSV-1, and how these infections impact anxiety-like behaviors and circadian rhythmicity

Baltasar Gracián o la egolatría heroica disfrazada de heroísmo (Baltasar Gracián or heroic egomania disguised as heroism)

Thesis advisor: Elizabeth RhodesHegemonic groups perceive changes, political, economical or social unrest as a direct threat to their status quo. One way to confront the dangers of loosing old privileges is through the redefinition and revival of old codes of conduct and behavior that in the past set them apart from the rest. In the process, old heroes considered instrumental in establishing and shaping their power are retrieved and glorified, and their heroic deeds offered as examples to emulate in the present. During the XVII Century, and in analogous circumstances, the Spanish Baroque writer Baltasar Gracián observes with trepidation the rapid changes in his own society, the breaking down of the social and political order of Imperial Spain. To protect his interests as member of the hegemonic group: —male, Catholic, noble and scholar—, he looks back in history and constructs heroic paradigms utilizing old heroes whose values embody his own. Since the heroic figures incarnate the ideals of the elite, there are neither heroes nor heroism outside the hegemonic class. This dissertation studies three texts by Baltasar Gracián (1601-1658): El Héroe (1637), El Discreto (1646), and El Criticón (Part I, 1651, Part II, 1653, Part III, 1657), that are centered on the heroic male, analyzing changes in the consecutive male heroic prototypes in light of the author's social and historical experience. Gracián's evolving heroic models respond to transformations in the hegemonic position of the Spanish state, moving from profuse optimism and idealism in his first text to disillusion and abandonment in the last one. The Jesuit's work is a crucible in which he tests Occidental values and heroics over his lifetime, adapting each heroic prescription to satisfy the political, historical, social and religious necessities of his present. Although Gracián's heroic formula changes over time, the connecting thread remains: the blood nobility of Castile/Aragón will save the hegemony of the nation. This elitism verbalizes a reactionary anachronism that negates the heroic essence, which is to act in the world on behalf of others. Gracián's texts are progressive, specular images of the author and his society. In all cases, the heroic figure functions as metonym of the Empire in which the strength of the hero confirms the power of the State.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Romance Languages and Literatures

Traumatic brain injury: Age at injury influences dementia risk after TBI

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for dementia. New data provide further support for this association and demonstrate the influence of age at injury and injury severity on dementia risk after TBI, revealing that even mild TBI increases dementia risk in those aged ≥65 years

Perceptions of European medical staff on the facilitators and barriers to physical closeness between parents and infants in neonatal units

Aim Studies have provided insights into factors that may facilitate or inhibit parent–infant closeness in neonatal units, but none have specifically focused on the perspectives of senior neonatal staff. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions and experiences of consultant neonatologists and senior nurses in five European countries with regard to these issues. Methods Six small group discussions and three-one-to-one interviews were conducted with 16 consultant neonatologists and senior nurses representing nine neonatal units from Estonia, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden. The interviews explored facilitators and barriers to parent–infant closeness and implications for policy and practice, and thematic analysis was undertaken. Results Participants highlighted how a humanising care agenda that enabled parent–infant closeness was an aspiration, but pointed out that neonatal units were at different stages in achieving this. The facilitators and barriers to physical closeness included socio-economic factors, cultural norms, the designs of neonatal units, resource issues, leadership, staff attitudes and practices and relationships between staff and parents. Conclusion Various factors affected parent–infant closeness in neonatal units in European countries. There needs to be the political motivation, appropriate policy planning, legislation and resource allocation to increase measures that support closeness agendas in neonatal units

Cost-effectiveness of a patient-centred approach to managing multimorbidity in primary care:a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective Patients with multiple chronic health conditions are often managed in a disjointed fashion in primary care, with annual review clinic appointments offered separately for each condition. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the 3D intervention, which was developed to improve the system of care. Design Economic evaluation conducted alongside a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial. Setting General practices in three centres in England and Scotland. Participants 797 adults with three or more chronic conditions were randomised to the 3D intervention, while 749 participants were randomised to receive usual care. Intervention The 3D approach: comprehensive 6-monthly general practitioner consultations, supported by medication reviews and nurse appointments. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary economic evaluation assessed the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from the perspective of the National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services (PSS). Costs were related to changes in a range of secondary outcomes (QALYs accrued by both participants and carers, and deaths) in a cost-consequences analysis from the perspectives of the NHS/PSS, patients/carers and productivity losses. Results Very small increases were found in both QALYs (adjusted mean difference 0.007 (-0.009 to 0.023)) and costs (adjusted mean difference 126 pound (-739 pound to 991)) pound in the intervention arm compared with usual care after 15 months. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 18 pound 499, with a 50.8% chance of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 20 pound 000 per QALY (55.8% at 30 pound 000 per QALY). Conclusions The small differences in costs and outcomes were consistent with chance, and the uncertainty was substantial; therefore, the evidence for the cost-effectiveness of the 3D approach from the NHS/PSS perspective should be considered equivocal

Electric Propulsion Interactions Code (EPIC): Recent Enhancements and Goals for Future Capabilities

The Electric Propulsion Interactions Code (EPIC) is the leading interactive computer tool for assessing the effects of electric thruster plumes on spacecraft subsystems. EPIC, developed by SAIC under the sponsorship of the Space Environments and Effects (SEE) Program at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, has three primary modules. One is PlumeTool, which calculates plumes of electrostatic thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters by modeling the primary ion beam as well as elastic scattering and charge-exchange of beam ions with thruster-generated neutrals. ObjectToolkit is a 3-D object definition and spacecraft surface modeling tool developed for use with several SEE Program codes. The main EPIC interface integrates the thruster plume into the 3-D geometry of the spacecraft and calculates interactions and effects of the plume with the spacecraft. Effects modeled include erosion of surfaces due to sputtering, re-deposition of sputtered materials, surface heating, torque on the spacecraft, and changes in surface properties due to erosion and deposition. In support of Prometheus I (JIMO), a number of new capabilities and enhancements were made to existing EPIC models. Enhancements to EPIC include adding the ability to scale and view individual plume components, to import a neutral plume associated with a thruster (to model a grid erosion plume, for example), and to calculate the plume from new initial beam conditions. Unfortunately, changes in program direction have left a number of desired enhancements undone. Variable gridding over a surface and resputtering of deposited materials, including multiple bounces and sticking coefficients, would significantly enhance the erosion/deposition model. Other modifications such as improving the heating model and the PlumeTool neutral plume model, enabling time dependent surface interactions, and including EM1 and optical effects would enable EPIC to better serve the aerospace engineer and electric propulsion systems integrator. We review EPIC S overall capabilities and recent modifications, and discuss directions for future enhancements

The disconnect between researcher ambitions and reality in achieving impact in the Earth & Environmental Sciences – author survey [version 3; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved]

Background: There is an increasing desire for research to provide solutions to the grand challenges facing our global society, such as those expressed in the UN SDGs (“real-world impact”). Herein, we undertook an author survey to understand how this desire influenced the choice of research topic, choice of journal, and preferred type of impact. Methods: We conducted a survey of authors who had published in >100 of our Earth & Environmental Science journals. The survey was sent to just under 60,000 authors and we received 2,695 responses (4% response rate).   Results: Respondents indicated that the majority of their research (74%) is currently concerned with addressing urgent global needs, whilst 90% of respondents indicated that their work either currently contributed to meeting real-world problems or that it would be a priority for them in the future; however, the impetus for this research focus seems to be altruistic researcher desire, rather than incentives or support from publishers, funders, or their institutions. Indeed, when contextualised within existing reward and incentive structures, respondents indicated that citations or downloads were more important to them than contributing to tackling real-world problems. Conclusions: At present, it seems that the laudable and necessary ambition of researchers in the Earth & Environmental Sciences to contribute to the tackling of real-world problems, such as those included in the UN SDGs, is seemingly being lost amidst the realities of being a researcher, owing to the prioritisation of other forms of impact, such as citations and downloads

Responsiveness of a 1-year recall modified DASH Work module in active workers with upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the responsiveness to change of a modified version of the Work module of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH-W) in a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of active workers. METHODS: We compared change on a 1-year recall modified DASH-W to change on work ability, work productivity, and symptom severity, according to predetermined hypotheses following the Consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN). We evaluated concordance in the direction of change, and magnitude of change using Spearman rank correlations, effect sizes (ES), standardized response means (SRM), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). RESULTS: In a sample of 551 workers, change in 1-year recall modified DASH-W scores showed moderate correlations with changes in work ability, work productivity, and symptom severity (r=0.47, 0.44, and 0.36, respectively). ES and SRM were moderate for 1-year recall modified DASH-W scores in workers whose work ability (ES=−0.58, SRM=−0.52) and work productivity improved (ES=−0.59, SRM=−0.56), and larger for workers whose work ability (ES=1.24, SRM=0.68) and work productivity worsened (ES=1.02, SRM=0.61). ES and SRM were small for 1-year recall modified DASH-W scores of workers whose symptom severity improved (−0.32 and −0.29, respectively). Responsiveness of the 1-year recall modified DASH-W was moderate for those whose symptom severity worsened (ES=0.77, SRM=0.50). AUC met responsiveness criteria for work ability and work productivity. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year recall modified DASH-W is responsive to changes in work ability and work productivity in active workers with upper extremity symptoms