118 research outputs found
Sensory lesioning induces microglial synapse elimination via ADAM10 and fractalkine signaling
No full textFull author list omitted for brevity. For the full list of authors, see article.Microglia rapidly respond to changes in neural activity and inflammation to regulate synaptic connectivity. The extracellular signals, particularly neuron-derived molecules, that drive these microglial functions at synapses remain a key open question. Here we show that whisker lesioning, known to dampen cortical activity, induces microglia-mediated synapse elimination. This synapse elimination is dependent on signaling by CX3CR1, the receptor for microglial fractalkine (also known as CXCL1), but not complement receptor 3. Furthermore, mice deficient in CX3CL1 have profound defects in synapse elimination. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that Cx3cl1 is derived from cortical neurons, and ADAM10, a metalloprotease that cleaves CX3CL1 into a secreted form, is upregulated specifically in layer IV neurons and in microglia following whisker lesioning. Finally, inhibition of ADAM10 phenocopies Cx3cr1(-/-) and Cx3cl1(-/-) synapse elimination defects. Together, these results identify neuron-to-microglia signaling necessary for cortical synaptic remodeling and reveal that context-dependent immune mechanisms are utilized to remodel synapses in the mammalian brain.Neuroscienc
Building on MacNamara v. Korean Air Lines
No full textThis Note explores the possibility of applying Title VII\u27s disparate impact liability theory against foreign companies operating under Treaties of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation (FCN Treaties). The author questions the reasoning of MacNamara v. Korean Air Lines, which applied disparate treatment, but not disparate impact, against a Korean company operating under an FCN Treaty. According to MacNamara, if courts permit plaintiffs in Title VII-FCN Treaty cases to utilize the disparate impact theory and cite statistical disparities in the racial composition of the work force as evidence of discrimination, employers could be held liable merely for exercising their FCN Treaty rights. This Note concludes that the MacNamara court ignored the complexity and costliness of presenting statistical data. More importantly, recovery under the disparate impact theory has become extremely difficult as a result of the Supreme Court\u27s subsequent decision Wards Cove Packing v. Atonio. Furthermore, the author concludes that any increase in Title VII liability--because of either narrowed FCN Treaty rights or the application of disparate impact analysis--likely will not affect foreign investment in the United States. Fear of widespread divestment in the United States should not be the controlling factor in the resolution of tension between Title VII and FCN Treaties. The author advocates that victims of employment discrimination should be entitled to bring disparate impact, as well as disparate treatment, claims in cases involving foreign corporations operating under FCN Treaties
Validating digital evidence for legal argument
No full textDigital evidence is now common in legal cases, but the understanding of the legal fraternity as to how far conventional ideas of evidence can be extended into the digital domain lags behind. Evidence determines the truth of an issue but its weight is subject to examination and verification through existing forms of legal argument. There is a need for a practical ‘roadmap’ that can guide the legal practitioner in identifying digital evidence relevant to support a case and in assessing its weight. A vital, but sometimes under estimated stage is that of validating the evidence before evaluating its weight. In this paper we describe a process by which the validation of relevant evidence required for legal argument can be facilitated, by an interrogative approach that ensures the chain of reasoning is sustained
How to be a woman. Models of masochism and sacrifice in young adult fiction
No full textBuffy, Bella, Veronica, Katniss, Clary, Tris and Saba : For two decades post-feminist heroines have faced life-threatening trials as part of their progress to womanhood. In this chapter I consider how young adult popular fictions operate as forms of pedagogy for young women by offering them particular models of maturity and womanhood. I explore the recurrence and reformulation of a persistent pattern of behaviour in which heroines engage in risky and/or masochistic behaviours for which they are emotionally rewarded.. These recurrences function as a form of vicarious experiential learning in which readers and viewers learn that emotional gratification and adult status are conferred through self-harm and self-sacrifice. Popular culture is not a monolithic form and young adult fictions are no exception. An analysis of fictional examples of this behaviour pattern challenges the idea that heroines today are empowered agents as a result of the legacy of feminism. At the same time, the analysis belies any notion that fictions are universally hegemonic and oppressive – fictions can and do disrupt and interrogate this pattern of emotional masochism. Scholars of public pedagogy have explored the complexities, contradictions and subtleties of the pedagogical process. Sandlin O’Malley and Burdick (2011) in their review of public pedagogy literature acknowledge that some scholarship has demonstrated how “the teaching and learning inherent within daily life can be both oppressive and resistant” (p. 144). Jubas and Knutson (2012) also see public pedagogy as an arena where contradictions and tensions are in play. They argue that we can see “New examples of dialectic or tensions … between the authority of the producer and the consumer; between traditional structures which ground identities and help people make sense of cultural texts, and personal agency which frees people to choose and invent identities and meanings” (p. 86). This analysis aims to contribute to understandings of the complexities of public pedagogy by showing how fictions aimed primarily at young women both resist and accommodate patriarchy
The political socialisation of youth : a comparison of private and state educated girls.
No full textThe research explores the political socialisation of young females. Politics is
defined broadly as the perception of patterns of human relationships,
incorporating socio-economic concepts. Two elements of socialisation are
identified which inform both theory and research design. First, political
socialisation content is explored, operationalised in terms of political
attitudes. Second, political socialisation process is explored, operationalised
in terms of history of political exploration and the making of political
commitments (derived from concepts of adolescent identity development
described by Erikson and Marcia). The role of socialising agents is discussed,
the study focussing of the role of school experience in political socialisation.
An empirical study is reported which explored the role of school experience in
political socialisation, operationalised in a comparison of girls attending
private and state sector schools. Questionnaires were completed by 181 girls
aged 15-18 in the two types of school. Individual interviews were conducted
with 127 of this group (67 private, 60 state) from comparable social
backgrounds. The aim was to compare girls matched for family background
but experiencing different types of educational structure. The interviews
explored attitudes to a range of political and socio-economic phenomena (the
content of political socialisation), and history of political exploration and
commitment (the process of political socialisation). The process dimension
was based on the identity categories of achievement, foreclosure, moratorium
and diffusion described by Marcia. Significant differences between the two
school samples are reported for both the content and process of political
socialisation. Factors in the school experience which might lead to these
differences are described. The implications of the results are discussed in
relation to theories of political socialisation, and education theory and policy
Momentary effects of Temstem, an app for voice-hearing individuals:Results from naturalistic data from 1048 users
No full textBackground: Temstem is a mobile application developed in cooperation with voice-hearing persons to help them cope with distressing voices. After psychoeducation about voice hearing, Temstem offers two functions: Silencing is a mode designed to inhibit voice activity through the processing of incompatible language; the Challenging mode introduces dual tasking (as used in eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) designed to reduce the emotionality and vividness of a voice memory. Two different language games, Lingo Tapper and Word Link, are provided, containing both functions. This study aimed to explore the momentary effects of Temstem on voice-hearing distress, emotionality and vividness in a naturalistic sample of voice-hearing app users. Method: Temstem is freely available in the Netherlands. We collected data through the app from 1048 individual users who had given informed consent for the study. We assessed changes in pre- and post-session scores on distress, emotionality and vividness, and we evaluated differences in outcomes between the games and whether effects remained stable over multiple sessions. Results: Users had been hearing voices for an average of 4.95 years; 79 % had been informed about Temstem by a mental health therapist or coach. After a Silencing session, voice-hearing distress was reduced, t(958) = 27.12, p < .001, d = 0.49; the degree of reduction remained stable after repeated use, F(1, 7905.57) = 1.91, p = .167. After a Challenging session, emotionality, t(651) = 23.16, p < .001, d = 0.74, and the vividness of voice memories were reduced, t(651) = 22.20, p < .001, d = 0.71; both diminished slightly with frequent use, F(1, 2222.86) = 7.21, p < .05; F(1, 2289.92) = 4.25, p < .05. In comparison with Lingo Tapper, larger reductions were seen for a Word Link game: emotionality t(226) = 2.88, p < .005, d = 0.21; vividness t(226) = 2.29, p < .05, d = 0.17. Discussion: In this heterogeneous sample of voice-hearing individuals, Temstem appeared to be a promising coping tool; momentary voice-hearing distress and the emotionality and vividness of voice statements were reduced after a Temstem session. Despite important limitations and the need for more research, naturalistic studies of user app data may yield interesting and generalisable findings.</p
Author Correction: A portrait of the Higgs boson by the CMS experiment ten years after the discovery
No full textIn the version of this article initially published, CMS Collaboration author names, affiliations and acknowledgements were omitted and have now been included in the HTML and PDF versions of the articl
P-122: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding: Patient choice and postoperative quality of life
No full textManagement options for symptomatic stenosis after laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy in the morbidly obese
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