Early experience, binocular competition, and the sculpting of relay cell morphology in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus

Perturbations of early visual experience imposed by either monocular deprivation (MD) or artificially induced strabismus (squint) affect the morphological development of cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of cats. These morphological anomalies are thought to arise from competitive mechanisms which control many features of LGN cell development. Competition between the axon terminals of LGN cells innervated by the right and left eyes for establishing and maintaining synaptic contacts with cells in the visual cortex (i.e., binocular competition) is known to be a very important mechanism for controlling the development of LGN cells. Much of our present understanding regarding the importance of binocular competition is based on the effects of MD and squint on LGN somata. The objective of the present study was to further explore the role of binocular competition in the somatic development of LGN cells and extend these observations to determine the role of binocular competition in the dendritic development of LGN cells. Binocular competition was eliminated in some of the animals reared with either MD or squint by concomitant sagittal transection of the optic chiasm (OX), performed on either postnatal day 27 or 28

Canonical variates of post abortion syndrome

This study extended post abortion research beyond the treatment of negative post abortion adjustment as a univariate construct to the examination of it as post abortion syndrome comprised of anger, guilt, grief, depression, and stress symptoms. When treated as a multivariate construct in a canonical correlation, negative post abortion adjustment presented two different dimensions. The first dimension of post abortion syndrome included high amounts of anger and guilt, with a significant absence of any grief feelings. The variables antecedent to this pattern of post abortion syndrome were social or externally based: pressure from others to abort, a worse relationship with the partner, dissatisfaction with preabortion counseling and information, medical complications with the abortion, inability to bear children at a later time, and a decision based on fear of harm to the mother's health

An examination of library involvement in the literacy education programs of the North Carolina Community College System : a perceptual analysis

This study focused on exploring the interrelationship of library and literacy education programs of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). The primary purpose of the study was to identify the nature of library involvement in the accomplishment of the literacy education mission of the fifty-eight-member organization of two-year institutions. The literacy education client group that was specified was the students enrolled in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program, who were described as functionally illiterate. In order to obtain data for the perceptual analysis, identical three-part surveys were sent to fifty-seven of the institutions of the NCCCS, addressed to the library program director and the director of the ABE program. Respondents instructed to answer independently. A one hundred percent rate of return achieved. The collected data were arranged in tables of rankings and observations were noted

The identification of certain competencies appropriate for secondary school business teachers

This study was conducted to develop a comprehensive list of competencies deemed necessary for secondary school business teachers in North Carolina for use in certifying pre-service teachers and in determining the training needs of in-service teachers. A list of 197 competency statements was compiled and grouped into fourteen categories according to overall knowledge of business and professional skills/techniques/methodologies. A reactionnaire was designed and submitted to a class of business teachers at UNC-Greensboro. Resultant revisions created a 161-competency-statement instrument. This 161-item reactionnaire was sent to 30 randomly selected state/ local supervisors of business education from the 12 states in the Southern Business Education Association (SBEA) and to 75 randomly selected North Carolina secondary school business teachers. Revisions resulted in the retention of the 161 items and the addition of one in Data Processing

Esterification Of Carboxylic Acids For Analysis Via Gas Chromatography Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica As A Nano-Reactor

Gas chromatography is a popular method for the identification and quantification of organic mixtures. Currently, there are no simple methods for the quantitative analysis of carboxylic acids via gas chromatography. This research proposes an efficient universal method for the derivatization of carboxylic acids to methyl esters in the presence of an acid catalyst by using swellable organically modified silica (SOMS) as a nano-reactor. SOMS forces the esterification reaction toward completion in two ways: 1) by forcing reagents to interact and 2) by removing the water byproduct from the reaction vessel to invoke Le Chatelier's principle. This work has shown that esterification reactions of simple carboxylic acids in SOMS produce quantitative yields, efficiently, without excessive heat or expensive catalysts, making it an ideal choice for the chromatographic analysis of carboxylic acids. The esterification of a representative library of simple carboxylic acids using SOMS, along with spectral data collected from proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a proof of concept experiment using gas chromatography were utilized to validate the hypothesis set forth in this project. Through this endeavor, an experimental procedure was established that will set the groundwork for the eventual optimization and application of this esterification method to more complex molecules

Effects of an intermediate care program for inmates with severe persistent mental illnesses

The effects of the Brown Creek Correctional Institute’s Intermediate Care Social Skills Day Training Program were investigated using a population of forty-three adult male inmates with severe persistent mental illness. Comparisons were made for similar time periods before, during and after in regard to level of care, inpatient hospitalizations, behavioral infractions, and disciplinary segregations. Cost benefits were also investigated. Results indicate that the number and length of hospitalizations, length and number of disciplinary segregations, and number of behavioral infractions were lower for inmates during the program. However, some increases were found in these variables after inmates were transferred to other institutions. This increase could possibly be explained because of transfer to a lower level of care after participating in the Social Skills Day Training Program. Cost benefits were also found as a result of the lower number of hospitalizations, behavioral infractions, and segregations

The role of selected administrative units in the recruitment, training and supervision of graduate teaching assistants on the campuses of the University of North Carolina

A survey of deans, department heads and academic vice chancellors throughout the North Carolina University System asked for factual information and opinions about the recruitment, training and supervision of graduate teaching assistants. Correlations were sought using the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference test. It was found that programs for administering graduate teaching assistants existed in all departments completing the survey. The details of these programs differed among academic disciplines (p < 0.01). In general respondents were satisfied with the programs operating in their departments. They believed that instruction should be given to assistants in pedagogy, but that recruiting decisions should be based mainly on academic standards. At all institutions the primary responsibility for teaching assistant training and administration rested with the department. The degree of involvement of the central administration differed among institutions (p < 0.05). Faculty at institutions with greater involvement of the central administration in teaching assistant administration were more in favor of such involvement (p < 0.05)

Alkane Distribution And Chemotaxonomy Of Tree Ferns (Cyatheaceae)

A gas chromatographic study was made of the total n-alkane content of several species of Central American tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). Some species of commonly occuring North American ferns were also studied for comparison. The species studied exhibited the expected n-alkane distribution pattern. Attempted taxonomic correlations had very limited success. The possible existence of a comprehensive taxonomic classification utilizing n-alkanes should be studied more fully when larger samples are available

The value of the physical examination in clinical practice: an international survey

A structured online survey was used to establish the views of 2,684 practising clinicians of all ages in multiple countries about the value of the physical examination in the contemporary practice of internal medicine. 70% felt that physical examination was 'almost always valuable' in acute general medical referrals. 66% of trainees felt that they were never observed by a consultant when undertaking physical examination and 31% that consultants never demonstrated their use of the physical examination to them. Auscultation for pulmonary wheezes and crackles were the two signs most likely to be rated as frequently used and useful, with the character of the jugular venous waveform most likely to be rated as -infrequently used and not useful. Physicians in contemporary hospital general medical practice continue to value the contribution of the physical examination to assessment of outpatients and inpatients, but, in the opinion of trainees, teaching and demonstration could be improved

Measuring nasal bacterial load and its association with otitis media

BACKGROUND: Nasal colonisation with otitis media (OM) pathogens, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, is a precursor to the onset of OM. Many children experience asymptomatic nasal carriage of these pathogens whereas others will progress to otitis media with effusion (OME) or suppurative OM. We observed a disparity in the prevalence of suppurative OM between Aboriginal children living in remote communities and non-Aboriginal children attending child-care centres; up to 60% and <1%, respectively. This could not be explained by the less dramatic difference in rates of carriage of respiratory bacterial pathogens (80% vs 50%, respectively). In this study, we measured nasal bacterial load to help explain the different propensity for suppurative OM in these two populations. METHODS: Quantitative measures (colony counts and real-time quantitative PCR) of the respiratory pathogens S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis, and total bacterial load were analysed in nasal swabs from Aboriginal children from remote communities, and non-Aboriginal children attending urban child-care centres. RESULTS: In both populations nearly all swabs were positive for at least one of these respiratory pathogens. Using either quantification method, positive correlations between bacterial load and ear state (no OM, OME, or suppurative OM) were observed. This relationship held for single and combined bacterial respiratory pathogens, total bacterial load, and the proportion of respiratory pathogens to total bacterial load. Comparison of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, all with a diagnosis of OME, demonstrated significantly higher loads of S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis in the Aboriginal group. The increased bacterial load despite similar clinical condition may predict persistence of middle ear effusions and progression to suppurative OM in the Aboriginal population. Our data also demonstrated the presence of PCR-detectable non-cultivable respiratory pathogens in 36% of nasal swabs. This may have implications for the pathogenesis of OM including persistence of infection despite aggressive therapies. CONCLUSION: Nasal bacterial load was significantly higher among Aboriginal children and may explain their increased risk of suppurative OM. It was also positively correlated with ear state. We believe that a reduction in bacterial load in high-risk populations may be required before dramatic reductions in OM can be achieved