Extensive neural connections between the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) and the hippocampal system may explain the overlapping amnesic syndromes associated with diencephalic and medial temporal lobe brain injury. Despite the debilitating nature of the diencephalic amnesia, treatments for this condition are lacking. In rats, lesions to the ATN or hippocampus generally produce similar memory deficits, which further implicate these structures in a single functional memory system. First evidence is presented here that seemingly permanent and robust spatial working memory deficits seen after lesions to the ATN in rats are ameliorated by environmental intervention and pharmacological treatment. Post-operative housing of ATN-lesioned rats for 30 days in enriched environment resulted in marked improvements in performance on the spatial working memory task in the cross-maze irrespective of whether rats were exposed to enrichment immediately after surgery or enrichment was delayed by 40 days post-surgery. Long-term beneficial effects of enrichment were also demonstrated. Behavioural improvements were observed when Cerebrolysin - a neurotrophic compound - was injected intraperitoneally for 30 days post-surgery. The combination of enrichment and Cerebrolysin treatment was more effective in inducing recovery on a delayed memory test in the cross-maze task. The influence of enrichment and Cerebrolysin on the neural changes produced by ATN lesions was examined utilising an immediate early gene marker c-fos. Replicating previous studies, ATN lesions produced marked hypoactivity in the retrosplenial cortex, but this effect was not reversed by either enrichment or Cerebrolysin. Unexpectedly, enrichment produced further hypoactivation in this region. Although lesion-induced deficits in a radial-arm maze spatial discrimination task were not improved by enrichment, a related study in our laboratory showed that spatial reference memory can also be improved by enrichment in ATN rats. The current research provides strong support for potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention in the human domain.

Thesis (MEd (Human Resource Studies))--University of South Australia, 1997

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [343]-354).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Berlin.

Thesis (LLM) - University of Queensland, / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

"Learning to read is a lifetime process." It is no longer an ability to be acquired at any age or grade level. Rather it is a continuing process, a working medium, a tool by which we gather information, deepen understanding and appreciation, and acquire insight into life, from the primary stages throughout the entire span. This tool must necessarily require a lifetime of sharpening as a result of the rapid development of urban society. The individual of today now faces more complicated problems than in any previous generation. Recent reading conferences indicate a trend toward a far broader concept than in the past. The challenging age in which we are living requires that "Reading must provide more largely in the future than in the past for promoting clear understanding, developing habits of good thinking, stimulating broad interests, cultivating appreciation and establishing stable personalities." / Typescript. / "August, 1945." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Advisor: R. L. Eyman. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-51).

Salmonella is one of the leading foodborne pathogens causing illness today. Because of this, Salmonella rapid detection methods are under immense study for use in food. The traditional method, using the Food and Drug Administration- approved Bacterial Analytical Manual procedure, takes 4-6 days for Salmonella detection in food. Other rapid methods still take at least 16 h for detection due to their enrichment steps. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of immobilized antibodies coupled with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used for the rapid capture and detection of Salmonella spp. in food without the need for pre-enrichment. The rapid detection system was developed using immobilized anti-Salmonella antibody beads to capture and separate Salmonella from food without using an enrichment step. Detection of the immunocaptured Salmonella was done through PCR or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based system entitled Rapid Immuno-Capture (RIC). The detection limit for buffer, chicken rinse, and shell eggs with static antibody capture PCR and RIC, was determined by inoculation of the Salmonella-free samples. The RIC assay detected Salmonella spp. in buffer at concentrations as low as 4 x 101 CFU/ml, and in chicken rinse and shell eggs, the assay detected Salmonella at 4 x 103 CFU/ml. The antibody capture with PCR detected Salmonella in buffer at concentrations as low as 4 x 102 CFU/ml, in chicken rinse at concentrations as low as 4 x 105 CFU/ml, and in shell egg at bacteria concentrations of 4 x 106 CFU/ml.

No description available.

No description available.