Identifying Dietary and Migratory Patterns of Illinois Woolly Mammoth Populations Using Isotope Analysis of Carbon, Oxygen, and Strontium

The extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) ranged from Alaska to the Northeastern Seaboard throughout the Late Pleistocene (100-10 Ka). Although it is recognized that woolly mammoths coincided with and lived in a region heavily influenced by glacial ice sheets, little is known about their dietary or migratory behavior. This study classifies and provides insight into the diet and mobility of Midwestern mammoths by analyzing stable isotopes of carbon, oxygen, and strontium preserved in the tooth enamel of these extinct elephantids. A woolly mammoth tooth from Moline, IL, was bulk-sampled and micromilled to extract the aforementioned isotopes from the base of the enamel. Dated to 16,410 ±110 BP (20,085-19,530 calBP), measured 13C (-12.6‰ to -11.1‰, PDB) values indicate that the terminal LGM landscape of western Illinois was dominated by C3 vegetation, which is typical of a cooler climate. This cooler climate during the LGM is also reflected by the resulting high 18O values (-10.8‰ to -8.1‰, PDB). The ratios of 87Sr/86Sr isotopes retained in the tooth enamel were mapped using GIS onto a regional isoscape to determine the mobility of one mammoth across its lifetime. The mobility patterns were compared to seasonal and annual dietary shifts to better understand the underlying cause for migrations. Preliminary analyses of the 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7907 – 0.7156) suggest that there were regional population movements around the northern Mississippi River Valley. The data reveals the climate and landscape during the terminal Pleistocene in western Illinois and how woolly mammoths responded to it

Reducing Anxiety and Increasing Self-efficacy within an Advanced Graduate Psychology Statistics Course

In this study we assessed the usefulness of a multifaceted teaching framework in an advanced statistics course. We sought to expand on past findings by using this framework to assess changes in anxiety and self-efficacy, and we collected focus group data to ascertain whether students attribute such changes to a multifaceted teaching approach. Statistics anxiety significantly decreased and students' current statistics self-efficacy increased. Further, course performance was positively correlated with self-efficacy and a strong negative relationship between statistics anxiety and self-efficacy was documented. Focus group data suggested students appreciated aspects of this teaching framework and that they thought it served to reduce anxiety. In addition to this teaching framework, two instructional techniques were used to teach two specific statistical concepts. These techniques did not result in significant performance differences; however, students reported enjoying the activities and encouraged their use in future classes. Overall, this study suggests a multifaceted teaching framework may be useful in helping graduate students overcome anxiety and increase self-efficacy when completing an advanced statistics course. The research presented here adds to the growing literature concerning the importance of non-cognitive factors when teaching statistics. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed

Nicotinic Receptors Underlying Nicotine Dependence: Evidence from Transgenic Mouse Models.

Nicotine underlies the reinforcing properties of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes. After inhalation and absorption, nicotine binds to various nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes localized on the pre- and postsynaptic membranes of cells, which subsequently leads to the modulation of cellular function and neurotransmitter signaling. In this chapter, we begin by briefly reviewing the current understanding of nicotine's actions on nAChRs and highlight considerations regarding nAChR subtype localization and pharmacodynamics. Thereafter, we discuss the seminal discoveries derived from genetically modified mouse models, which have greatly contributed to our understanding of nicotine's effects on the reward-related mesolimbic pathway and the aversion-related habenulo-interpeduncular pathway. Thereafter, emerging areas of research focusing on modulation of nAChR expression and/or function are considered. Taken together, these discoveries have provided a foundational understanding of various genetic, neurobiological, and behavioral factors underlying the motivation to use nicotine and related dependence processes, which are thereby advancing drug discovery efforts to promote long-term abstinence

The MM-CGI cerebral palsy : modification and testing of an instrument to measure anticipatory grief in parents whose child has cerebral palsy

Aims and objectives: To establish the potential of a modified version of the MM-CGI Childhood Cancer to assess anticipatory grief in parents of children with cerebral palsy, to amend the existing scale for use with the specific patient group, to test the psychometric properties of the modified version (MM-CGI Cerebral Palsy) and to review the clinical potential of the new scale. Background: Parents of children with cerebral palsy may experience reactions similar to parents of children with other enduring or life-limiting conditions, and anticipatory grief may be one such psychological reaction. While the burden of caring is sometimes balanced by positive perceptions of the child, which enhance coping ability, for many parents the outcome is damage to their physical and mental health and impaired family functioning. Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design. Methods: The MM-CGI Cerebral Palsy was administered in structured interviews with 204 parents. Standardised measures of caregivers’ depression, stress and perceived social support were also administered. Mothers and fathers were recruited from healthcare centres and schools for special education. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency, and Pearson’s product–moment correlation was used to assess construct validity. Results: The subscales were each found to measure a single dimension of anticipatory grief, and significant correlations were established with existing instruments. The instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability and good construct validity. Conclusions: The MM-CGI Cerebral Palsy could be useful for diagnosing anticipatory grief among parents of children with cerebral palsy. This preliminary work moves the programme on to testing in intervention studies. Relevance to clinical practice: In the absence of an existing measure for the assessment of anticipatory grief, specifically in parents of children with cerebral palsy, the MM-CGI Cerebral Palsy could prove to be an effective assessment tool for clinicians and researchers