Demarcating the boundary conditions of memory reconsolidation: An unsuccessful replication

Disrupting memory reconsolidation provides an opportunity to abruptly reduce the behavioural expression of fear memories with long-lasting effects. The success of a reconsolidation intervention is, however, not guaranteed as it strongly depends on the destabilization of the memory. Identifying the necessary conditions to trigger destabilization remains one of the critical challenges in the field. We aimed to replicate a study from our lab, showing that the occurrence of a prediction error (PE) during reactivation is necessary but not sufficient for destabilization. We tested the effectiveness of a reactivation procedure consisting of a single PE, compared to two control groups receiving no or multiple PEs. All participants received propranolol immediately after reactivation and were tested for fear retention 24 h later. In contrast to the original results, we found no evidence for a reconsolidation effect in the single PE group, but a straightforward interpretation of these results is complicated by the lack of differential fear retention in the control groups. Our results corroborate other failed reconsolidation studies and exemplify the complexity of experimentally investigating this process in humans. Thorough investigation of the interaction between learning and memory reactivation is essential to understand the inconsistencies in the literature and to improve reconsolidation interventions

Governance of Nanotechnology in the Netherlands - Informing and Engaging in Different Social Spheres

Nanotechnology has provided a new window of opportunity to reframe state-science-society relationships. In particular the notion of upstream public engagement has been put forward. But while public engagement is seen as indispensable in the governance of science and technology (S&T) there still is a need to reflect on why, how, for who and by whom public engagement has to be organised. This paper describes a wide range of activities that were organised in the Netherlands to bring a public perspective into the development of nanotechnology. Our study shows that in order to better understand the complexities of the governance of science and technology, a new research perspective is needed. By reflecting on the relationship between informing and engaging, on the interaction between engagement processes within the societal, scientific and political sphere, and on organisational and institutional constraints, we present an outline of such a new research perspective. As well, we identify key themes for comparative research in governance of S&T within different countries. © 2012 International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society

ქ. თბილისში გამოყოფილი S. aureus–ის ანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობა (2008-2012 წლები)

ანოტაცია -- Suummary -- შესავალი -- I. ლიტერატურის მიმოხილვა -- 1.1. Staphylococcus aureus – დაავადების აღმძვრელი, დახასიათება, პათოგენეზის თავისებურება -- 1.2. ანტიბიოტიკები -- 1.3. S. aureus – ის ანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობა -- 1.4. მეტიცილინ–რეზისტენტული S. aureus (MRSA) -- 1.5. ბაქტერიების ანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობის გენეტიკური მექანიზმები -- 1.6. S. aureus – ის ანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობის გენეტიკა -- II. მასალები და მეთოდები -- III. კვლევის შედეგები -- 3.1. S. aureus–ის ბიოლოგიური დახასიათება -- 3.1.2. S. aureus–ის პათოგენობის ფაქტორები -- 3.1.3. S. aureus–ის ფერმენტები და საიდენტიფიკაციო სუბსტრატები -- 3.1.4. ონკოლოგიური პაციენტებიდან გამოყოფილი S. aureus-ის პათოგენობის ფაქტორების თავისებურებანი -- 3.2. ქ.თბილისში გამოყოფილი S. aureus-ის რეზისტენტობა ანტიბიოტიკებისადმი (2008 – 2012 წლები) -- 3.2.1. მულტირეზისტენტული S. aureus–ის გავრცელება -- 3.2.2. ქ. თბილისში 2008–2012 წლებში გამოყოფილი S. aureus–is მულტირეზისტენტული შტამების გამძლეობა ანტიბიოტიკებისადმი -- 3.2.3. მულტირეზისტენტობის განმსაზღვრელი ანტიბიოტიკების რაოდენობები -- 3.3. S. aureus-ის შტამების არაქრომოსომული რეზისტენტობა -- 3.3.1. R-პლაზმიდების გავრცელება S. aureus-ის მულტირეზისტენტულ შტამებში -- 3.3.2. R-პლაზმიდის შემცველი S. aureus-ის მულტირეზისტენტული შტამების ანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობა -- 3.3.3. S.aureus -ის მულტირეზისტენტულ შტამებშიანტიბიოტიკორეზისტენტობის ელიმინაცია -- 4. მიღებული შედეგების განსჯა-განხილვა -- დასკვნები -- გამოყენებული ლიტერატურა

A priority paper for the societal and ethical aspects of synthetic biology

As synthetic biology develops into a promising science and engineering field, we need to have clear ideas and priorities regarding its safety, security, ethical and public dialogue implications. Based on an extensive literature search, interviews with scientists, social scientists, a 4 week long public e-forum, and consultation with several stakeholders from science, industry and civil society organisations, we compiled a list of priority topics regarding societal issues of synthetic biology for the years ahead. The points presented here are intended to encourage all stakeholders to engage in the prioritisation of these issues and to participate in a continuous dialogue, with the ultimate goal of providing a basis for a multi-stakeholder governance in synthetic biology. Here we show possible ways to solve the challenges to synthetic biology in the field of safety, security, ethics and the science–public interface

Exploiting the archive: and the animals came in two by two, 16mm, CD-ROM and BetaSp

This a post-print, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Area. Copyright © 1999 Wiley Blackwell. The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comUsing an account of the construction and subsequent exploitation of the film archive at the BBC's Natural History Unit, this paper explores the ways in which animals are embedded in the different cultures of care, control and commodification in the zoo and the wildlife film-making unit. Network analysis is used to account for the similarities and tensions between these forms of animal exhibition, as revealed in the electronic zoo at Wildscreen World

Genetic screening and democracy: lessons from debating genetic screening criteria in the Netherlands

Recent decades have witnessed increasing possibilities for genetic testing and screening. In clinical genetics, the doctor’s office defined a secluded space for discussion of sensitive reproductive options in cases of elevated risk for genetic disorders in individuals or their offspring. When prenatal screening for all pregnant women became conceivable, the potential increase in scale made social and ethical concerns relevant for the whole of society. Whereas genetic testing in clinical genetic practice was widely accepted, prenatal screening at a population level met with unease. Concerns were raised regarding social pressure to screen: the sum of individual choice might result in a ‘collective eugenics’. The government’s involvement also raised suspicion: actively offering screening evoked associations with eugenic population policies from the first half of the 20th century. By reconstructing elements of policy and public debate on prenatal screening in the Netherlands from the past 30 years, this article discusses how the government has gradually changed its role in balancing the interest of the individual and the collective on genetic reproductive issues. Against a background of increasing knowledge about and demand for prenatal screening among the population, governmental policy changed from focusing on protection by banning screening toward facilitating screening in a careful and ethically sound way by providing adequate information, decision aids and quality assessment instruments. In the meanwhile, invigorating democracy in public debate may entail discussing concepts of ‘the good life’ in relation to living with or without impairments and dealing with genetic information about oneself or one’s offspring