An exploration of the influence of animal and object categories on recall of item location following an incidental learning task.

The current study explores the role of attention in location memory for animals and objects. Participants completed an incidental learning task where they rated animals and objects with regard to either their ease of collection to win a scavenger hunt (Experiments 1a and b) or their distance from the centre of the computer screen (Experiment 2). The images of animals and objects were pseudo-randomly positioned on the screen in both experiments. After completing the incidental learning task (and a reverse counting distractor task), participants were then given a surprise location memory recall task. In the location memory recall task, items were shown in the centre of the screen and participants used the mouse to indicate the position the item had been shown during the incidental encoding task. The results of both experiments show that location memory for objects was more accurate than for animals. While we cannot definitively identify the mechanism responsible for the difference in the location memory of objects and animals, we propose that differences in the influence of object-based attention at encoding affect location memory when tested at recall.

Gamification in Biomedical Science Education: The Successful Implementation of Resimion, a Scenario-Based Learning Tool.

Introduction: Scenario-based learning and gamification have many advantages in comparison to traditional didactic teaching methods, including development of many higher-level skills such as analysis and evaluation. It is hoped that these simulations provide a real-world experience in a format accessible to students. Integration of these tools into teaching excelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, an event that completely changed education and initiated the greatest advancement in digital learning to date. We discuss our experiences using Resimion, a novel scenario-based learning tool that was adapted to biomedical science, both for teaching and assessment. Methods: Our cohort included 769 students studying BSc(Hons) Biomedical Science at the University of the West of England from 2020 to 2023. Data was obtained from assessments within four different modules, two at FHEQ level 5 and two at level 6. Students were grouped based on reasonable adjustment (RA) status, including physical issues, specific learning differences and neurodiversity, with differences between student groups and assessment types analysed by ANOVA. Results: Data clearly demonstrate good engagement from students utilising Resimion software, representing 18,436 student interactions in total, across both assessed and non-assessed activities. RAs of any type did not alter submission rates (p = 0.53) or student outcome in any of the assessment types analysed. However, submission rates for Resimion assessments were notably higher than for other assessment types (p = 0.002). Whist outcomes were not significantly different, students with RAs did take significantly longer to complete the Haematology and Transfusion assessments (p = 0.0012). Specifically, neurodiverse students and those with specific learning differences used on average 81% of their allocated time, students with other RAs used 76%, whereas students without RAs used just 56% (p ≤ 0.0001), highlighting the appropriate adjustment of extra time provided for these students. It was further observed that 1.3% of Resimion activities undertaken by students utilised the in-built inclusivity features in the software. Both students with known RAs, and those without, utilised these features, therefore also aiding students without a formal diagnosis. Conclusion: The scenario-based learning tool Resimion was successfully integrated into the teaching of biomedical science and provided an engaging platform for students, with comparable results to other traditional assessment types.

Reliability and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of a Paper- Versus App-Administered Resilience Scale in Scottish Youths: Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Adequately measuring resilience is important to support young people and children who may need to access resources through social work or educational settings. A widely accepted measure of youth resilience has been developed previously and has been shown to be suitable for vulnerable youth. While the measure is completed by the young person on paper, it has been designed to be worked through with a teacher or social worker in case further clarification is required. However, this method is time consuming and, when faced with large groups of pupils who need assessment, can be overwhelming for schools and practitioners. This study assesses app software with a built-in avatar that can guide young persons through the assessment and its interpretation. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective is to compare the reliability and psychometric properties of a mobile software app to a paper version of the Child and Youth Resilience measure (CYRM-28). Second, this study assesses the use of the CYRM-28 in a Scottish youth population (aged 11-18 years). METHODS: Following focus groups and discussion with teachers, social workers, and young people, an avatar was developed by a software company and integrated into an android smartphone app designed to ask questions via the device's inbuilt text-to-voice engine. In total, 714 students from 2 schools in North East Scotland completed either a paper version or app version of the CYRM-28. A cross-sectional design was used, and students completed their allocated version twice, with a 2-week period in between each testing. All participants could request clarification either from a guidance teacher (paper version) or from the in-built software glossary (app version). RESULTS: Test and retest correlations showed that the app version performed better than the paper version of the questionnaire (paper version: r303=0.81; P<.001; 95% CI 0.77-0.85; app version: r413=0.84; P<.001; 95% CI 0.79-0.89). Fisher r to z transformation revealed a significant difference in the correlations (Z=-2.97, P<.01). Similarly, Cronbach α in both conditions was very high (app version: α=.92; paper version: α=.87), suggesting item redundancy. Ordinarily, this would lead to a possible removal of highly correlated items; however, our primary objective was to compare app delivery methods over a pen-and-paper mode and was hence beyond the scope of the study. Fisher r to z transformation revealed a significant difference in the correlations (Z=-3.69, P<.01). A confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3-factor solution (individual, relational, and contextual) and reported a good model fit (χ215=27.6 [n=541], P=.24). CONCLUSIONS: ALEX, an avatar with an integrated voice guide, had higher reliability when measuring resilience than a paper version with teacher assistance. The CFA reports similar structure using the avatar when compared against the original validation.

Time is of the essence: Exploring temporal and spatial organisation in episodic memory.

There is disagreement in the literature as to whether episodic memory maintains an inherent temporal organisation, that is, whether learned items are necessarily organised along some temporal dimension or whether temporal organisation is a task-specific occurrence. The current series of experiments explored this issue. In Experiment 1, we tested whether temporal or spatial contiguity was present in an incidental encoding task where either strategy (but not both together) could be employed at test. In Experiment 2, we attempted to facilitate the use of a spatial retrieval strategy at test by asking participants to recall the location where target items had been displayed at study, after incidental encoding. Experiment 3 explored the role of study-test congruency by informing participants at encoding that they would be tested on either their memory for the temporal sequence or spatial locations, and then testing both at retrieval. Finally, Experiment 4 employed a masking task at encoding to ensure participants could not predict the true nature of the task, despite it being incidental, and a surprise free recall task. Predominantly, participants displayed recall performance consistent with temporal contiguity, although there was evidence for spatial contiguity under certain conditions. These results are consistent with the notion that episodic memory has a stable and predictable temporal organisation.

Age-related prefrontal cortex activation in associative memory: An fNIRS pilot study.

Older adults typically perform more poorly than younger adults in free recall memory tests. This age-related deficit has been linked to decline of brain activation and brain prefrontal lateralization, which may be the result of compensatory mechanisms. In the present pilot study, we investigated the effect of age on prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation during performance of a task that requires memory associations (temporal vs. spatial clustering), using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Ten younger adults, ten cognitively high-performing older individuals, and ten low-performing older individuals completed a free recall task, where either a temporal or spatial strategy (but not both simultaneously) could be employed to retrieve groups of same-category stimuli, whilst changes in PFC hemodynamics were recorded by means of a 12-channel fNIRS system. The results suggest PFC activation, and right lateralization specific to younger adults. Moreover, age did not affect use of memory organization, given that temporal clustering was preferred over spatial clustering in all groups. These findings are in line with previous literature on the aging brain and on temporal organization of memory. Our results also suggest that the PFC may be specifically involved in memory for temporal associations. Future research may consider whether age-related deficits in temporal organization may be an early sign of PFC pathology and possible neurodegeneration.

Effects of Aging on Fracture Healing.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes research on the physiological changes that occur with aging and the resulting effects on fracture healing. RECENT FINDINGS: Aging affects the inflammatory response during fracture healing through senescence of the immune response and increased systemic pro-inflammatory status. Important cells of the inflammatory response, macrophages, T cells, mesenchymal stem cells, have demonstrated intrinsic age-related changes that could impact fracture healing. Additionally, vascularization and angiogenesis are impaired in fracture healing of the elderly. Finally, osteochondral cells and their progenitors demonstrate decreased activity and quantity within the callus. Age-related changes affect many of the biologic processes involved in fracture healing. However, the contributions of such changes do not fully explain the poorer healing outcomes and increased morbidity reported in elderly patients. Future research should address this gap in understanding in order to provide improved and more directed treatment options for the elderly population.

Ventricular Fibrillation-Induced Cardiac Arrest Results in Regional Cardiac Injury Preferentially in Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Territory in Piglet Model.

Objective. Decreased cardiac function after resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA) results from global ischemia of the myocardium. In the evolution of postarrest myocardial dysfunction, preferential involvement of any coronary arterial territory is not known. We hypothesized that there is no preferential involvement of any coronary artery during electrical induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) in piglet model. Design. Prospective, randomized controlled study. Methods. 12 piglets were randomized to baseline and electrical induced VF. After 5 min, the animals were resuscitated according to AHA PALS guidelines. After return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), animals were observed for an additional 4 hours prior to cardiac MRI. Data (mean ± SD) was analyzed using unpaired t-test; p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Segmental wall motion (mm; baseline versus postarrest group) in segment 7 (left anterior descending (LAD)) was 4.68 ± 0.54 versus 3.31 ± 0.64, p = 0.0026. In segment 13, it was 3.82 ± 0.96 versus 2.58 ± 0.82, p = 0.02. In segment 14, it was 2.42 ± 0.44 versus 1.29 ± 0.99, p = 0.028. Conclusion. Postarrest myocardial dysfunction resulted in segmental wall motion defects in the LAD territory. There were no perfusion defects in the involved segments.

Using the CLOX drawing task to educate the public of the effects of hearing loss.

We describe a task used to educate the public on the importance of hearing and the experience of hearing loss. During an open day at Nottingham University, participants were presented with verbal instructions (with or without a background masker) and asked to draw the image of a clock face as accurately as possible. Poorest performance was observed when the instructions were presented with a background masker. We suggest that the task could be applied effectively by healthcare professionals who aim to educate younger individuals of the difficulties associated with hearing loss.

STR data for the AmpFlSTR SGM Plus loci from two South Asian populations.

Using the Applied Biosystems' AmpFlSTR SGM Plus PCR amplification kit, we studied the allele frequency distribution of 10 STR loci in two south Asian populations: one from the Gujarat region of India represented by 172 unrelated Gujaratis, now resident in England; and a Pakistani population, represented by 155 unrelated individuals. Gujarat borders southeast Pakistan. There were no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in either population after Bonferroni correction. The combined power of discrimination and exclusion for the Indian population were 0.999999999999544 and 0.9999785, respectively; for the Pakistani population, they were 0.999999999999865 and 0.9998975, respectively. F(ST) (or theta) between these two populations was estimated as 0.00146.

An investigation of the alpha1A-adrenergic receptor gene and antipsychotic-induced side-effects.

Antipsychotic treatment is hampered by the induction of side-effects such as tardive dyskinesia (TD), weight gain, sedation and extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS). Identification of the factors related to their development would facilitate their avoidance and the improvement of antipsychotic treatment. It has been hypothesised that genetic variants in drug targeted receptors may contribute to the development of side-effects. In this study, we have investigated the possible influence of genetic variants (-563-C/T, -4155-G/C and -4884-A/G) of the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor, an important target of atypical antipsychotic drugs, and development of side-effects after antipsychotic medication in a sample of N = 427 US Caucasian patients. We found several marginal associations (p < 0.05) between alpha(1A)-adrenergic genetic variants and antipsychotic-induced side-effects which did not reach statistical significance after corrections for multiple analyses. These results do not support a major role of alpha(1A)-adrenergic genetic variants in obesity and other side-effects observed after prolonged treatment with antipsychotic medications.

Stem cells act through multiple mechanisms to benefit mice with neurodegenerative metabolic disease.

Intracranial transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) delayed disease onset, preserved motor function, reduced pathology and prolonged survival in a mouse model of Sandhoff disease, a lethal gangliosidosis. Although donor-derived neurons were electrophysiologically active within chimeric regions, the small degree of neuronal replacement alone could not account for the improvement. NSCs also increased brain beta-hexosaminidase levels, reduced ganglioside storage and diminished activated microgliosis. Additionally, when oral glycosphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitors (beta-hexosaminidase substrate inhibitors) were combined with NSC transplantation, substantial synergy resulted. Efficacy extended to human NSCs, both to those isolated directly from the central nervous system (CNS) and to those derived secondarily from embryonic stem cells. Appreciating that NSCs exhibit a broad repertoire of potentially therapeutic actions, of which neuronal replacement is but one, may help in formulating rational multimodal strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Correlates of health literacy in patients with chronic heart failure.

PURPOSE: Many older adults have inadequate health-related literacy, which is associated with poor health outcomes. Thus, it is important to identify determinants of health literacy. We investigated relationships between health literacy and general cognitive and sensory abilities, as well as education, health, and demographic variables, in a community sample of middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were 314 community-dwelling adults (67% female, 48% African American) diagnosed with chronic heart failure recruited for a pharmacist-based intervention study to improve adherence to chronic heart failure medications. We adminstered demographic, health, education, cognitive (e.g., processing speed, working memory), and sensory measures, and the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA), as part of the baseline condition of this study. RESULTS: STOFHLA scores were lower for participants who were older, less educated, male, African American, had more comorbidities, or scored lower on all cognitive ability measures. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that education and cognitive ability were independently associated with the STOFHLA measure and explained age differences in health literacy. IMPLICATIONS: The association of cognitive abilities and literacy has important implications for health literacy models and for interventions to reduce the impact of low health literacy on health outcomes. For example, medication instructions should be designed to reduce comprehension demands on general cognitive abilities as well as literacy skills.

Expression of the alpha1A-adrenergic receptor in schizophrenia.

The alpha1-adrenergic receptors may contribute to cognitive functions relevant to schizophrenia. Following the discovery of an association between polymorphisms in the regulatory region of the alpha1A-adrenergic receptor and schizophrenia we investigated the expression of mRNA for this receptor between schizophrenics (n=19) and controls (n=19) using a TaqMan approach in post-mortem brains. No differences were found suggesting that mRNA levels are not altered in schizophrenia. Genotypic data for the subjects found that possession of the previously associated genotypes did not convey a difference in mRNA expression suggesting that these polymorphisms do not affect the level of transcription.

Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the alpha1A-adrenoceptor gene are associated with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder in a Spanish isolate population.

BACKGROUND: Animal models have implicated the alpha(1)-adrenergic subtypes in cognitive functions relevant to schizophrenia, but no consensus exists with regard to the status of noradrenergic receptor populations in psychiatric patients. We focused on one alpha(1)-adrenergic subtype, the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor, and proposed that genetic variants within the regulatory region of this gene (ADRA1A) alter the expression of this receptor, influencing susceptibility toward schizophrenia. METHODS: This study examined this proposal by testing the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the alpha(1A)-adrenergic gene were associated with schizophrenia by performing case-control association analysis on SNPs found in a 5' upstream region, which included the putative promoter region and 5' untranslated region. Our sample consisted of 103 schizophrenia and 14 schizoaffective disorder patients and 176 control subjects. All recruits were from a Spanish population isolate of Basque origin that is characterized by low heterogeneity, which was selected with the intent that it might facilitate the identification of disease-related polymorphisms. RESULTS: A total of eight SNPs (-9625 G/A, -7255 A/G, -6274 C/T, -4884 A/G, -4155 C/G, -2760 A/C, -1873 G/A, and -563 C/T) were confirmed at a rare allele frequency of >5%. Association with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder was found for the -563 C/T SNP (p = .0005 for allele and p = .007 for genotype, Bonferroni corrected) and -9625 G/A SNP (p = .02 for allele and p = .03 for genotype, Bonferroni corrected). Significant differences in the 54 haplotypes formed by these eight SNPs were also found between patients and control subjects (p = .008, Bonferroni corrected). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the strength of these results and the location of these SNPs in the regulatory region of this gene, functional studies investigating the possible influence of these SNPs on receptor expression levels in schizophrenia are warranted.