This study explored the use of rituals in substance abuse counseling. Data were obtained from a total of 25 mental health workers in the substance abuse field from the northern region of Utah. Four research questions were asked about rituals and their use in substance abuse counseling: (I) Are addictions therapists using rituals? (2) How did therapists determine when to use rituals? (3) What types of rituals do they use? and (4) How do therapists assess ritual effectiveness? Results indicated that about three fourths of the mental health workers questioned were using rituals in their treatment protocol with substance abuse clients. The most common methods used for determining when to implement rituals into treatment were (a) clients were emotionally stuck, (b) client's cognitive ability, and (c) therapist's perception. The findings also suggested that therapists presented means of assessing the effectiveness of the rituals they implemented, but the data also supported past literature findings that showed little empirical means of assessment.

No description available.

The fibrous sheath (FS) is a cytoskeletal structure that encases the axoneme in the principal piece of the spermatozoon tail. In the rat, it is composed of several proteins of which a 75 kDa polypeptide (FS 75) is the most prominent. The objectives of this study were to clone and sequence this protein and to characterize its transcriptional and translational origins during spermatogenesis. We succeeded in isolating two overlapping cDNAs encoding half of the downstream segment of the FS 75 protein. Both clones were obtained by screening a rat testicular phagemid cDNA library with an anti-FS 75 polyclonal antibody. The upstream portion of the FS 75 mRNA containing the initiation codon for translation was obtained by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, a pair of specific primers and a lambdagt11 cDNA rat library. The amino acid sequence of the longest possible open reading frame of the rat FS 75 was found to be almost identical to two previously cloned major FS polypeptides of mouse spermatozoa. Sequence analysis of the rat FS 75 cDNA revealed two A&barbelow;-K&barbelow;inase A&barbelow;nchoring P&barbelow;rotein (AKAP) domains and several kinase phosphorylation sites supporting the idea that this protein plays a crucial role in the motility of spermatozoa. The presence of a potential N-mistoylation site suggests that this protein may bind covalently to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM) which may explain the close relationship between the FS and PM from early development in round spermatids (step 2 of spermiogenesis) to maturation in spermatozoa. Developmental Northern Blot analysis and in situ hybridization revealed that the FS 75 mRNA is mainly haploid expressed with an abundant level of mRNA in round spermatids. Maximum levels of the FS 75 polypeptide, determined by immunocytochemistry, correlated with a rapid decline in corresponding mRNA levels in step 14--16 spermatids. Since transcriptional termination occurs several steps earlier

Cortical synaptic atrophy with aging has long been regarded as the primary substrate of decline in cognitive function. However, little is known about the impact of this structural change on cortical synaptic function. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the functional consequence of age-related synaptic reductions in the parietal cortex. In the first study, I analyzed synaptic density in the parietal cortex and revealed significant age-related presynaptic reductions. Interestingly, I found a preferential disappearance of synapses in deep cortical layers. The functional impact of presynaptic reduction was tested in the second study. Whole cell patch clamp recording of spontaneous synaptic currents (sPSCs) onto layer V pyramidal neurons revealed no age-related change. In contrast, the frequency of action potential - independent miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) was decreased, thus revealing an increase in action potential dependent activity (FrequencysPSCs - frequencymPscs) in aged brains. The third study focused on the ratio between excitation and inhibition in aged impaired and aged unimpaired rats that were divided on the basis of their performance in the Morris Water Maze. Interestingly, I found an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in both aged groups. Finally, to test whether similar age-related modifications occur in other neurotransmitter systems, the fourth study contrasted cholinergic vs. non-cholinergic inputs onto layer V pyramidal neurons. I found a preferential decline in cholinergic inputs onto pyramidal neurons with aging. These findings provide evidence of functional compensation for the lost of synaptic structures in aged brains. However, rather than a general decline in synaptic function, imbalance between different synaptic inputs may be an important cellular substrate for cognitive impairment.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2010. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-05, Section: B, page: . Adviser: Michael S. German.

In this sector analysis I report on my investigation of the International Smallholder Tea Sector and its incorporation into global policy spheres. “Globally, tea smallholder sector covers 70% of the plantation area and produces 60% of the global tea production volume (UNFAO, 2017) Therefore, I argue that smallholder farmers should play a greater role in creating value through representation in dynamic policy discussions, such as the UNFAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea. I address how small landholders are economically developing and overall industry strategy. I suggest governance structures in order to address challenges and opportunities in future development and specifically look at the dynamic position of global policy making and industry trends, as they pertain to the potential for sustainability and long term-success of this important industry. My regional emphasis on South Asia provides a setting to focus on shared global trends as they pertain to social, cultural, biological production atmospheres.

Abstract not available.

This series of studies used an oscillating platform paradigm to investigate the effects of aging on anticipatory and reactive mechanisms of postural control. We hypothesized that young adults would use anticipatory mechanisms in response to predictable postural perturbations and that aging would be characterized by a decrease in anticipatory postural muscle activity resulting in less effective balance control. Young and old healthy adults were asked to maintain standing balance on a force platform that oscillated continuously 20 cm peak-to-peak in the anterior/posterior (A/P) direction at successively increasing frequencies of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 to 0.61 Hz. Subjects completed trials of externally- and self-triggered perturbations. The effect of mechanical stimulation of the foot plantar surface boundaries on postural responses of older adults was tested. Postural responses to perturbations were characterized using centre of pressure (COP), centre of mass (COM), muscle activity (EMG) and number of steps. A mathematical model representing the body motion in response to continuous sinusoidal platform perturbations was implemented. Young adults used anticipatory adjustments regardless of the degree of predictability of postural challenges in externally- and self-triggered perturbations. Old adults responded to a predictable externally-triggered postural challenge using reactive postural adjustments independent of the frequency of platform oscillation, the direction of perturbation and without adapting over multiple trials. Old adults used anticipatory adjustments only in self-triggered perturbations or when additional sensory stimulation from foot plantar surface boundaries was available. The present series of experiments demonstrated for the first time that cutaneous stimulation of the foot plantar surface boundaries increases stability and facilitates the use of anticipatory control strategies. These results support the importance of cutaneous mechanoreceptors at the boundaries of the foot plantar surface for the control of postural reactions evoked by continuous perturbations. The results from these experiments clearly show that the ability to compensate for an impending and highly predictable perturbation decreases with aging. The age-related difference in the control of standing balance on a continuous oscillating platform recorded in experimental data was partially explained through increased levels of sensory noise and neural delays in the simulated data of old adults. Our results support the concept of a dynamic stability, according to which, in addition to the horizontal location of the COM with respect to the base of support, the magnitude and direction of its corresponding velocity provide critical information pertaining to one's ability to control balance. Based on model work, we demonstrated that the acceleration parameters of a perturbation must be taken into account when calculating stability limits. We derived for the first time the equations for calculating these stability limits related to continuous translations of the base of support.

Older adults who provide care for an adult child with a disability have rarely been considered in the planning and preparation literature. As they grow older, these adults face the challenge of arranging care for their dependent children and for themselves. This study investigated influences on planning for one's own future care. Results indicated that parents who prepared for their adult child's future care were more likely to prepare for their own care. When compared to adults without a dependent child, parents caring for an adult child with a disability were equally likely to plan for their own future care.