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Relationship between crossing the midline and bilateral motor coordination in learning disabled and normal children
(Boston University, 1989) Curtis, Susan F
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between crossing the midline and bilateral motor coordination in normal and learning disabled children. The Space Visualization Contralateral Use score was used as a measure of midline crossing. The Purdue Pegboard Both Hands subtest , Purdue Pegboard Assembly subtest, and Bilateral Coordination subtest of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency were used to assess bilateral motor coordination. Subjects included 148 normal children and 107 learning disabled children, ages 4 through 8 years. The hypotheses that learning disabled subjects would perform significantly more poorly than normal subjects on tests of midline crossing and bilateral motor coordination were supported. The hypothesis that learning disabled children with inadequate midline crossing would perform significantly more poorly than learning disabled children with adequate midline crossing on tests of bilateral motor coordination was only partially supported. There were no differences on two of three measures and differences approached significance on one of three measures. Results were discussed in terms of sensory integrative theory and the reliability and validitiy of the measures employed.
Functional exercise capacity in young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome
(Boston University, 1989) Currie, Bette J
Addressing obesity in the adult with Prader-Willi Syndrome is absolutely vital. However, the complicated nature of obesity in the individual with Prader-Willi Syndrome has made weight control extremely difficult. Because regular exercise has been established as an important aspect of weight control, the purpose of this program was to determine the functional exercise capacity of five adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome. All five adults participated in a 6-month program of exercise. The exercise program included independent implementation of a home exercise program and a supervised in-clinic exercise prog~am. Each one of the clients performed a pre- and posttest 12-minute walking test. The Walsh test was used to determine the results, and no significant difference was found in the pre- and post-test 12-minute walking test scores of the five clients for laps completed, change in heart rate, or change in respiratory rate. It was concluded that successful implementation of an exercise program for adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome would require strict compliance, close supervision, motivating forms of exercise, and an appropriate system of rewards.
An extracellular vesicle therapeutic attenuates inflammation and damage in a Rhesus monkey model of cortical injury
(2026) McCann, Ryan Patrick; Moore, Tara L.
Cortical injury in the aged brain leads to acute cell death and inflammation, which trigger chronic secondary neurodegeneration resulting in long-term cognitive and motor deficits. There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutics that address cortical injury pathologies. Recent studies in rodents and pigs have identified mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) as a promising therapeutic for cortical injury, reducing inflammation and enhancing neuroprotection. We have used MSC-EV treatment in a Rhesus monkey model of primary motor cortex injury which impairs fine motor function of the hand. When treated with MSC-EVs 24 hours and 2 weeks following injury, monkeys recovered pre-injury levels of function within the first 3-5 weeks post-injury, while untreated monkeys had an incomplete recovery. Analysis of brain tissue harvested 16 weeks post-injury found that MSC-EVs promoted homeostatic microglial phenotypes, neuronal plasticity, and myelin maintenance. These findings demonstrated the efficacy of MSC-EVs, but at which stage of recovery MSC-EVs acted remains unclear. Here, we assessed the progression of biomarkers of inflammation and damage across recovery and examined the brain at an earlier timepoint, 6-weeks post injury. The current study addresses the hypothesis that in the early stages of recovery, MSC-EVs attenuate the inflammatory response and reduce tissue damage. We first assessed how MSC-EVs affect the temporal progression of the inflammatory response, using a multiplex protein quantification platform (Olink) on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected across recovery (pre-injury, 24 hours, 2-, 4-, and 6-weeks post-injury). MSC-EV treatment decreased inflammatory proteins in plasma 2 weeks following injury, with reductions in pro-inflammatory proteins persisting throughout recovery. Assessments of brain tissue revealed that at 6-weeks post-injury, MSC-EV treatment increased homeostatic microglial phenotypes, supporting an early shift towards an anti-inflammatory environment. Next, we assessed if MSC-EV treatment affected the progression, clearance and resolution of neurodegeneration across recovery. MSC-EV treatment was associated with increased levels of neurofilament-light (NF-L) chain, an axonal damage biomarker, in CSF after, coupled with increased neuronal structural integrity markers (MAP2) in brain tissue, suggesting an MSC-EV-mediated clearance of neuronal debris. MSC-EV treatment was also associated with a decrease in Galectin-3, presumably phagocytically active, microglia. Finally, to identify potential mechanisms of action, we performed lipidomic and metabolomic analyses of MSC-EV contents. We found sex-differences in MSC-EV cargo, female EVs were enriched in sugars, while male EVs were enriched in nitrogen-rich compounds. MSC-EVs cargo were related to cellular energy metabolism, supporting its potential role in metabolic efficiency in aging and after injury. Overall, these findings present a role of MSC-EVs in the early resolution of inflammation following cortical injury, creating a neuroprotective environment that supports recovery of motor function.
Determination of early cleavage blastomeres in the sea star, ASTERIAS FORBESI
(Boston University, 1988) Mercurio, Kimberly S
Determinative events of early echinoderm blastomeres has been mostly studied in sea urchins (class Echinoidea) because they are excellent subjects for experimental embryological investigations. Comparatively, little is known in sea stars (class Asteroidea) though they are also good subjects for these investigations. We have isolated two-, four-, and eight-cell stage blastomeres and fused early cleavage stage embryos of the sea star Asterias forbesi Desor. Generally, isolated blastomeres took longer to develop than the control embryos. Fully differentiated blastomeres were evaluated as: "normal " larvae, "abnormal" larvae, animalized, and vegetalized. "Normal" larvae derived from the same embryo varied in morphology. A low percentage of all blastomeres isolated from a single embryo of the two-cell stage (22%) or the four-cell stage (22%), differentiated into "normal" dwarf larvae. Overall, a low percentage of any blastomeres isolated from the two- or four-cell stages formed "normal" dwarf larvae. There were no examples of blastomeres isolated from a single eight-cell stage embryo which formed an entire set of "normal" larvae. Five sets (8%) formed four "normal" larvae and four "abnormal" larvae. These results are explained in terms of their relationship to the presumed axial determination of the embryo, and compared to results of other similiar experiments performed by Schaxel (1914) and Dan-Sahkowa and Satoh (1978).
Fused embryos of either two- or four-cell stage have the capacity to form single larvae, including harmonious larvae. No conclusions could be drawn on orientation and cell stage of the fused embryos and how they may relate to the results without further investigation.
Business, politics and cigarettes: an analysis of public policy interventions on cigarette sales
(Boston University, 1988) McGowan, Richard A
The American cigarette industry is again facing enormous pressure from various groups which have their goal to create a "smoke-free" society by the Year 2,000. This renewed effort to eliminate cigarette industry is actually the "Third Wave" of regulation which this industry has had to face in the twentieth century. The driving force behind this renewed interest in the hazzards of smoking has been sparked by the "passive smoking issue." The measures which the opponents of the cigarette industry propose are the traditional ones which have been employed in previous waves of regulation: advertising bans, smoking bans and excise tax increases. However, the present proposals are much more severe than those which were previously enacted at the federal level and are also being supported at the state and local levels of government. It is this role of the various states in regulating the cigarette industry which will become the basis for testing the effectiveness of the various public policy measures to discourage cigarette smoking. The data which this analysis is based upon consists of monthly cigarette sales data for all fifty states from 1967 to 1986. The methodology used to examine whether these measures had a negative impact on cigarette sales was ARIMA Time Series Intervention Analysis. The interventions which were studied included the TV and Radio advertising ban of 1971, the federal excise increase of 1983 as well as numerous state and local anti-smoking measures. The chief advantage of the ARIMA methodology was that it permitted the researcher to model exactly the type of intervention (gradual or abrupt) which a given measure had on a state's cigarette sales. One of the major findings of this research was that the only intervention which decreased cigarette sales significantly in the long run was an substantial increase in the cigarette excise tax of at least $.13/pack or greater. Two other major results also related to the imposition of excise taxes was that the pricing strategy of cigarette firms is related to the size of excise tax increases and that the pricing strategy of these firms does vary from state to state. The findings confirm the general proposition that state level as well as federal policies have a strategic impact on an industry's economic performance.
AIDS and the workplace: the corporate response
(Boston University, 1988) McDonough, James M
AIDS results in many legal, medical and ethical problems in the workplace. These problems are mainly due to the fear of a disease that has claimed the lives of many young and productive American workers. As the number of cases continue to rise, U.S. companies will have to decide how to handle employees with AIDS as well as the fears of their co-workers. To date, only a small number of U.S. corporations have addressed the issue of AIDS in the workplace. Those that have, particularly companies in San Francisco, California, have responded with educational programs and policies.
Through interviews with 19 companies that have instituted AIDS education programs, I identified three approaches to AIDS in the workplace. I interviewed various corporate officials including corporate medical directors, human resource staff and employee assistance counselors. Corporations approaching AIDS as a human issue in the workplace have demonstrated an understanding of the impact of AIDS and the problems it causes. They provide not only support and assistance to employees with AIDS but also provide funds to support community education efforts.
Corporations approaching AIDS as a medical issue provide education to employees on a limited basis. They generally address only the epidemiologic aspects of the disease. Their programs are generally a one shot effort with little follow-up.
Corporations dealing with AIDS as a crisis are those that have had employees panic as a result of knowledge of an infected co-worker, client or customer. These companies have often faced lawsuits brought on employees with AIDS charging them with discrimination. In order to end these workplace problems these companies have had to institute education programs.
Corporations that provide comprehensive AIDS policies and education programs are better prepared in the event an employee develops the disease. There have been predictions that all U.S. workplaces will be affected by the AIDS crisis in some manner. Companies failing to address the AIDS crisis are risk not only legal and financial exposure but worker productivity.
Finally, companies that address AIDS in the workplace are fighting the disease the only way known--through education.
Environmental factors associated with emergent literacy in deaf and hearing children
(Boston University, 1989) Gaar, Sara J
The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate environmental factors associated with emergent literacy in deaf and hearing children. Research with hearing children has continued to support the importance of early home experiences with literacy.
Mafic enclaves in the Eastern White Mountain Batholith, New Hampshire
(Boston University, 1989) Fluk, Linda
Mafic enclaves (inclusions) are distributed throughout a syenitic ring dike of the Jurassic age White Mountain Batholith (New Hampshire). The enclaves represent droplets of magmas which were injected, and quenched as pillows in the host Albany Syenite. The compositions of the enclaves range from trachyte to trachyandesite. The enclaves formed from a mixed magma suite, as shown by field, petrographic, and compositional data. In the field, some enclaves show light and dark layering; both structures suggest mixing of mafic and silicic parents. Petrographically, the enclaves contain abundant feldspar phenocrysts with resorbed and rimmed layers. Chemically, abundances of many elements in the enclaves fall on reasonable mixing lines. The elements which do not follow mixing lines are likely to have been affected by post-magmatic processes. Crystal fractionation is not consistent with the compositional trends of the enclaves. The composition of the mixing end members is not known for certain, although they may be similar to the most mafic and silicic enclaves. The most mafic enclave has the composition of a trachyandesite (Si02 = 56%, MgO = 2.3%). However, the actual mixing magma may have been more mafic than the most mafic enclave. The most silicic enclave is a trachyte (Si02 = 62%, MgO = 0.5%). Again, it is not known if this was the actual composition of the silicic end member magma. The enclaves represent droplets of the mixed magma suite, injected, and mingled, into a partially molten Albany Syenite magma. The rounded and ellipsoidal enclaves have fine-grained rims and typical quench textures like radiate sprays of amphiboles and acicular apatite grains. The most mafic enclaves typically have very sharp rims, while the more silicic enclaves have diffuse margins. The differences are in accord with predictions of the thermophysical behavior of interacting magmas.
Photoproduction of neutral pi-mesons on helium at three energies
(Boston University, 1988) Fleming, Dennis P
The differential cross section for coherent photoproduction of neutral pi mesons from helium has been measured for three energies at a total of five laboratory angles in the kinematic range where delta resonance production is expected to be important. The measurements were made using a twin arm piO spectrometer. The experiment employed bremsstrahlung photon beams derived from electron beams having energies of 338 MeV, 260 MeV and 220 MeV. The cross sections were measured at laboratory angles of 32 and 55 degrees using the 338 MeV beam, 72.5 and 45 degrees using the 260 MeV beam and 50 degrees using the 220 MeV beam. The results are compared with previous measurements and an isobar-doorway model calculation at 330 MeV. The data at 330 MeV fall below the values predicted by the isobar-doorway model with one point (at 32 degrees) coming within experimental errors of the theory. Total cross sections at each energy are estimated from the data. These cross sections differ from the theoretical values both in magnitude and in the shape of the dependence of the total cross section upon incident photon energy. The experiment was carried out at the Bates Linear Accelerator Center at Middleton, Massachusetts in June of 1984.
Participation in community organizations: effects on political efficacy, personal efficacy, and self-esteem
(Boston University, 1988) Dougherty, Denise
Political philosophers, notably Arendt, Dewey, Mill, and Rousseau, have posited that political participation has salutary effects on individuals. The full development of human beings requires, in the view of these philosophers, that individuals speak and be heard in the public realm.