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<p>Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are neurodegenerative conditions that involve similar neurobiological pathways and affect motivation and reward dysregulations. This project aims to explore whether PD-related insults affect alcohol-related motivation and reward. We utilized paraquat (PQ) exposure as a neurotoxicant-induced model for PD and mice selectively bred for a differential in alcohol preference as a model for genetic and neurobiological susceptibility for high/low alcohol consumption. In Experiment 1, binge-like alcohol drinking after three weeks of PQ exposure (10 mg/kg, i.p. once per week) or saline was assessed in HAP male and female mice. The four-day Drinking in the Dark (DID) procedure was used to induce binge-like alcohol drinking. Dorsal (DS) and ventral (VS) striatal catecholamines were analyzed after DID. Overall, PQ-treated HAP males had significantly lower alcohol intake than saline-treated males. This effect was absent in female HAP mice. Catecholamine quantification showed lower DOPAC levels in VS of PQ-treated vs. saline-treated HAP male mice. Experiment 2 assessed alcohol-induced locomotor sensitization in adult male and female high (HAP) and low-alcohol-preferring (LAP) mice after PQ exposure. Following the same 3 weeks of PQ or saline exposure, mice received 6 sensitization induction days with either 3 g/kg i.p. EtOH or saline. On test day, an alcohol challenge dose of 2 g/kg in all mice was used to determine the expression of locomotor sensitization. PQ exposure had no significant effect on locomotor activity and sensitization. However, PQ-treated mice showed great variability in their alcohol-induced locomotor activity compared to other groups. These data suggest a sex difference in PQ’s effect on alcohol binge-like drinking. However, PQ’s effect on alcohol-induced locomotor sensitization is not conclusive. This project will elucidate potential mechanisms behind PD-related neuropsychiatric comorbid conditions like AUD. Such findings may assist in early diagnosis and treatment refinement, as these comorbidities precede the motor manifestation of PD by decades and significantly impact the quality of life.</p>

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第24076号 / 理博第4843号 / 新制||理||1693(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 中川 尚史, 准教授 中村 美知夫, 教授 中務 真人 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

In this thesis I investigate aesthetic preference for picture books among children aged 3–6 as well as criteria for preference among parents. Through my design project: illustration of a picture book, I aim to put my research on preference in the context of illustration and design. By using the design project as an applied method for research I have sought to answer how one as an illustrator can apply knowledge regarding preferences of the target groups when illustrating for picture books. I have primarily based my research within the field of cognitive developmental psychology, with primary focus on stage theory, and the field of literature. I also performed small scale studies on preference as well as a web survey. The results regarding childrens preferences confirm previous studies. It shows that children base preference mainly on subject matter and colour. They also show preference for saturated colours and pictures with less realism. The parents tended to like what their children like regarding colour. Message, conversation and humour were found to be significant, but not generalizable criteria for preference among parents. These findings were summarized and used as guide lines during the process of illustrating a picture book.

Decision-making in healthcare is a complex and, at times, uncertain process. In the United States Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) administer the majority of anesthesia. Nurse Anesthetists must draw on their educational background, clinical experience, and cognitive processes to make sound clinical judgments. To avoid errors understanding the relationship between cognitive preference and skill acquisition is critical. This study was designed to describe the cognitive preferences of Student Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) and CRNAs in the United States. The 2 cognitive preferences explored are rational (analytical) and experiential (intuitive) decision-making. The researcher used a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design. The researcher administered the Rational Experiential Inventory (REI-40) via electronic survey to enrolled SRNAs and practicing CRNAs. The REI-40 is a validated psychometric tool involving 40 questions. Twenty questions evaluate each decision-making style. Ten questions assess engagement (e.g., enjoyment and reliance), and 10 questions assess the ability (e.g., capability and use) of each style. The demographics (e.g., age, gender, clinical experience, setting, and education) were collected and compared with the cognitive preference. This study revealed that SRNAs’ and CRNAs’ dominant cognitive preference was rational thinking and experiential thinking was greater than mid-scale. There was no statistical difference in how SRNAs and CRNAs scored on the REI-40 Inventory. Furthermore, there were no strong correlations between years of experience and cognitive preferences. However, there was a statistically significant difference in experiential cognitive ability and engagement when compared by gender identity. Ideally how one feels, and thinks should be aligned when making clinical decisions. This is the art and science of the profession. Research has revealed that human factors such as cognitive biases, heuristics, personal experience, and emotions play a role in decision-making. The development and integration of experiential decision-making is essential to aligning clinical judgment and safe patient care. This study describes SRNAs’ and CRNAs’ cognitive preferences and the relationship to the level of skill acquisition. This knowledge contributes to the understanding of CRNAs’ decision-making processes. Furthermore, there are ramifications for developing continuing education and clinical support tools for the profession.

<p>The purpose of this thesis was to improve the understanding of pain measurement and management in people with knee OA through: 1) Developing a theoretical model that may help in pain management and measurement; 2) Exploring the knee OA individuals’ views about three pain measures and 3) To determine if low frequency (≤100 Hz) pulsed subsensory threshold electrical stimulation produced either through pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) or pulsed electrical stimulation (PES) versus sham PEMF/PES intervention is effective in improving pain and physical function in the knee OA population.</p> <p>After pain theories literature review, a theoretical model was developed to address the gap between pain theories and clinical pain measurement and management. The patient’s views about three pain measures were not explored before 96 participants were recruited and completed the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS), Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis pain Questionnaire (ICOAP) and the Short Form-McGill Pain Quetionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2). Participants were asked how well each pain measure describes their pain on a 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (0 = does not describe your pain at all, and 10 = describes your pain completely. The time taken to complete and score the pain measure as well as the number of errors and questions while filling the pain measures were recorded. Systematic electronic searches were performed. Duplicate title, abstract and full text screening, risk of bias assessment, data extraction and grading the quality of evidence were performed. Data analysis was performed using Revman 5 software.</p> <p>Our sample of individuals with knee OA showed that VNRS, SF-MPQ-2 and ICOAP describe knee OA pain experience with no preference of one over the others. The systematic review conclusion was that PEMF/PES may be beneficial to improve physical function but not pain in people with knee OA with low and very low quality of evidence respectively</p> / Master of Health Sciences (MSc)