A Social Work Assessment of Interventions with the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Population with Regards to Intimacy

Social work by nature has always been a hands on type of profession. With the explosion of new technology, social workers are being called upon to utilize technology to intervene with clients. Telecommunication is technology which can bring programs and images of people from one place to another with the use of television screens and phone lines. This study explored the effectiveness of the utilization of interactive video within a classroom setting for the purpose of social work intervention. The study examined the impact social work intervention has upon a sample of individuals diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease participating in an educational program through the use of interactive video. Data suggests most participants appreciated an on-site presenter, however; it was not a determinant in if they would participate in the program. All participants found some level of satisfaction with interactive video. This study was the first of its kind in terms of social work intervention. Utilization of interactive video by social work is young and in need of further exploratory research

Personal Beliefs About the Effectiveness of a Primary Seat Belt Law in Virginia Versus North Carolina

Seat belt law strength (primary versus secondary) affects the ability of law enforcement to enforce consistent seat belt use, especially in secondary seat belt law states. Certain demographics correlate with seat belt law effectiveness beliefs and overall seat belt use. The current study used an overall omnibus model to determine the strength of the relationship among demographics and beliefs in the effectiveness of primary seat belt laws. A survey was deployed to Mechanical Turk (MTurk) users who were Virginia or North Carolina residents, held a valid United States driver’s license, and were at least 18 years old. Three hundred twenty-four participants were analyzed using ANCOVA and regression techniques to address hypotheses concerning primary law effectiveness beliefs and self-reported seat belt use as a driver, and the role demographics such as gender, self-rated driving behaviors as measured by the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), education level, health insurance status, population density, and state of residence correlate with these beliefs. Education level and the sum of the DBQ Errors subscale were the two significant contributors in the omnibus model for how effective one believed a primary seat belt law would be in increasing overall seat belt use. This study helped further identify demographics that contribute to an understanding of a traffic culture model hypothesized by Özkan and Lajunen (2011)

Exhumation of the southern Pyrenean fold-thrust belt from orogenic growth to decay

We quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of exhumation across the southern fold-thrust belt (FTB) margin with apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology and compare the results with existing deformation, exhumation, and sedimentation chronologies. Eighteen bedrock samples record exhumation ~90 to 10 Ma. Rocks from the range core (Axial Zone) record rapid exhumation that progresses east to west and north to south consistent with patterns of tectonically-driven uplift. Sediments shed into piggyback basins retain a detrital exhumation signal. Samples from other FTB structures record in situ exhumation, suggesting sedimentary burial of sufficient magnitudes to reset the AFT system. A major exhumation phase occurs at the boundary between the thick- and thin-skinned portions of the FTB wedge at 25-20 Ma. We suggest that this exhumation records uplift from sediment overloading the outboard FTB structures and/or wetter climate conditions. A final exhumation phase between ~20-10 Ma may be a response to base level lowering.Master of Scienc

The Drosophila Gene brinker Reveals a Novel Mechanism of Dpp Target Gene Regulation

Abstractdecapentaplegic (dpp), a Drosophila member of the TGFβ family of secreted molecules, functions as a long-range morphogen in patterning of the embryo and the adult appendages. Dpp signals via the SMAD proteins Mad and Medea. Here we show that in the absence of brinker (brk), Mad is not required for the activation of Dpp target genes that depend on low levels of Dpp. brk encodes a novel protein with features of a transcriptional repressor. brk itself is negatively regulated by Dpp. Dpp signaling might relieve brk’s repression of low-level target genes either by transcriptional repression of brk or by antagonizing a repressor function of brk at the target gene promoters

Effects of Adolescent THC Exposure on the Prefrontal GABAergic System: Implications for Schizophrenia-Related Psychopathology.

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug of abuse among adolescents. Considerable clinical evidence supports the hypothesis that adolescent neurodevelopmental exposure to high levels of the principal psychoactive component in marijuana, -delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), is associated with a high risk of developing psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia later in life. This marijuana-associated risk is believed to be related to increasing levels of THC found within commonly used marijuana strains. Adolescence is a highly vulnerable period for the development of the brain, where the inhibitory GABAergic system plays a pivotal role in the maturation of regulatory control mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS). Specifically, adolescent neurodevelopment represents a critical period wherein regulatory connectivity between higher-order cortical regions and sub-cortical emotional processing circuits such as the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system is established. Emerging preclinical evidence demonstrates that adolescent exposure to THC selectively targets schizophrenia-related molecular and neuropharmacological signaling pathways in both cortical and sub-cortical regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and mesolimbic DA pathway, comprising the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Prefrontal cortical GABAergic hypofunction is a key feature of schizophrenia-like neuropsychopathology. This GABAergic hypofunction may lead to the loss of control of the PFC to regulate proper sub-cortical DA neurotransmission, thereby leading to schizophrenia-like symptoms. This review summarizes preclinical evidence demonstrating that reduced prefrontal cortical GABAergic neurotransmission has a critical role in the sub-cortical DAergic dysregulation and schizophrenia-like behaviors observed following adolescent THC exposure

PPARG SIGNALING IN THE NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS REGULATES MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE ACTIVITY

Background: The mesolimbic dopamine system consists of dopamine neuron projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The NAc regulates VTA dopamine release through inhibitory GABA projections to the VTA. Hyperactive mesolimbic dopamine signaling is implicated in anxiety. Cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis, demonstrates promising therapeutic potential for anxiety through the regulation of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Previous studies have revealed that cannabidiol infusions into the NAc decreases mesolimbic dopamine activity - potentially through the inhibitory GABA signaling to the VTA. However, the receptor mechanism in the NAc through which CBD produces its effects is unknown. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) is a nuclear transcription factor that binds to CBD and colocalizes with GABA neurons. Recent evidence suggests that PPARG activation can decrease mesolimbic dopamine activity through inhibitory GABA signaling. Considering that the NAc expresses high levels of PPARG, intra-NAc CBD may regulate mesolimbic dopamine activity through PPARG activation. Hypothesis: PPARG activation in the NAc regulates mesolimbic dopamine transmission through the modulation of the GABAergic inhibition of the VTA. Methods: In-vivo electrophysiology was used to investigate the effects of intra-NAc PPARG activation on mesolimbic dopamine activity. The anxiolytic effects of intra-NAc PPARG activation was measured using the light-dark box and elevated plus maze behavioural tests. Results: We report that PPARG activation in the NAc significantly decreases mesolimbic dopamine activity whereas PPARG antagonists block this effect. Additionally, we reveal that intra-NAc PPARG activation produces anxiolytic effects as measured in the light-dark box and elevated plus maze behavioural tests

Fear Memory Recall Potentiates Opiate Reward Sensitivity through Dissociable Dopamine D1 versus D4 Receptor-Dependent Memory Mechanisms in the Prefrontal Cortex.

Disturbances in prefrontal cortical (PFC) dopamine (DA) transmission are well established features of psychiatric disorders involving pathological memory processing, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. Transmission through PFC DA D4 receptors (D4Rs) has been shown to potentiate the emotional salience of normally nonsalient emotional memories, whereas transmission through PFC DA D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been demonstrated to selectively block recall of reward- or aversion-related associative memories. In the present study, using a combination of fear conditioning and opiate reward conditioning in male rats, we examined the role of PFC D4/D1R signaling during the processing of fear-related memory acquisition and recall and subsequent sensitivity to opiate reward memory formation. We report that PFC D4R activation potentiates the salience of normally subthreshold fear conditioning memory cues and simultaneously potentiates the rewarding effects of systemic or intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) morphine conditioning cues. In contrast, blocking the recall of salient fear memories with intra-PFC D1R activation, blocks the ability of fear memory recall to potentiate systemic or intra-VTA morphine place preference. These effects were dependent upon dissociable PFC phosphorylation states involving calcium-calmodulin-kinase II or extracellular signal-related kinase 1-2, following intra-PFC D4 or D1R activation, respectively. Together, these findings reveal new insights into how aberrant PFC DAergic transmission and associated downstream molecular signaling pathways may modulate fear-related emotional memory processing and concomitantly increase opioid addiction vulnerability. Disturbances in prefrontal cortical (PFC) dopamine (DA) transmission are well established features of psychiatric disorders involving pathological memory processing, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. Transmission through PFC DA D4 receptors (D4Rs) has been shown to potentiate the emotional salience of normally nonsalient emotional memories, whereas transmission through PFC DA D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been demonstrated to selectively block recall of reward-or aversion-related associative memories. In the present study, using a combination of fear conditioning and opiate reward conditioning in male rats, we examined the role of PFC D4/D1R signaling during the processing of fear-related memory acquisition and recall and subsequent sensitivity to opiate reward memory formation. We report that PFC D4R activation potentiates the salience of normally subthreshold fear conditioning memory cues and simultaneously potentiates the rewarding effects of systemic or intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) morphine conditioning cues. In contrast, blocking the recall of salient fear memories with intra-PFC D1R activation, blocks the ability of fear memory recall to potentiate systemic or intra-VTA morphine place preference. These effects were dependent upon dissociable PFC phosphorylation states involving calcium-calmodulin-kinase II or extracellular signal-related kinase 1-2, following intra-PFC D4 or D1Ractivation, respectively. Together, these findings reveal new insights into how aberrant PFC DAergic transmission and associated downstream molecular signaling pathways may modulate fear-related emotional memory processing and concomitantly increase opioid addiction vulnerability

Caffeine enhancement of digestion of DNA by nuclease S1

The activity of Aspergillus orzae nuclease S1 on DNA has been investigated under varying pH and metal ion conditions. Nuclease S1 was found to preferentially digest denatured DNA. With native DNA as substrate the enzyme could only digest the DNa when caffeine was added to the reaction mixture. The enzyme was more active in sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.5), than in either standard saline citrate (pH 7.0) or sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8).Caffeine was also found to affect the thermal stability of DNA, resulting in a melting profile characterized by two transitions. The first transition (poorly defined) was below the normal melting temperature of the DNA, while the next transition was at the normal melting temperature of the DNA. The susceptibity of caffeine-treated DNA to nuclease digestion seems to be a result of the local unwinding that caffeine causes in the regions of DNA that melt in the first transition. This selective destabilization presumably sensitizes the unwound regions to nuclease hydrolysis.The hydrolysates of the DNA digested by nuclease S1 were subjected first to ion exchange chromatography followed by paper chromatography. The results from this partial characterization of the digestion products showed that they contain mononucleotides as well as oligonucleotides of varying lengths. The base composition of the mononucleotide digests suggests that caffeine has greater preference for interacting with A---T base-pairs in DNA.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/21852/1/0000256.pd

L. rubellus preference for Quercus spp. demonstrated by isotopic and density analysis in a northern temperate forest.

General EcologyDetritivores by nature, earthworms feed on multiple sources of organic matter. We hypothesized that they exhibit selective foraging habits, which would be reflected in their isotopic composition. We sampled at FASET and Ameriflux at the University of Michigan Biological Station, where we obtained earthworm specimens by using an electro shocking technique. We measured organic soil depth, soil moisture, and mass of leaf litter, and collected leaf and soil samples. We compared the density of worms to the organic soil depths, moisture of soil, and mass of leaf litter and found no significance, although there were definite trends. The composition of the tree species relative to worm densities showed a correlation between oak LAI (leaf area index) and density of L. rubellus worms. Our isotopic analysis of the L. rubellus worm, leaf litter, and soil samples showed that L. rubellus worms have a preference of oak litter.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64581/1/Ager_Rourk_Rushlow_Bredell_2009.pd

Adolescent Cannabinoid Exposure Induces a Persistent Sub-Cortical Hyper-Dopaminergic State and Associated Molecular Adaptations in the Prefrontal Cortex.

Considerable evidence suggests that adolescent exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in marijuana, increases the risk of developing schizophrenia-related symptoms in early adulthood. In the present study, we used a combination of behavioral and molecular analyses with in vivo neuronal electrophysiology to compare the long-term effects of adolescent versus adulthood THC exposure in rats. We report that adolescent, but not adult, THC exposure induces long-term neuropsychiatric-like phenotypes similar to those observed in clinical populations. Thus, adolescent THC exposure induced behavioral abnormalities resembling positive and negative schizophrenia-related endophenotypes and a state of neuronal hyperactivity in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway. Furthermore, we observed profound alterations in several prefrontal cortical molecular pathways consistent with sub-cortical DAergic dysregulation. Our findings demonstrate a profound dissociation in relative risk profiles for adolescent versus adulthood exposure to THC in terms of neuronal, behavioral, and molecular markers resembling neuropsychiatric pathology