Through an animal's eye: the implications of diverse sensory systems in scientific experimentation.

'Accounting for the sensory abilities of animals is critical in experimental design.' No researcher would disagree with this statement, yet it is often the case that we inadvertently fall for anthropocentric biases and use ourselves as the reference point. This paper discusses the risks of adopting an anthropocentric view when working with non-human animals, and the unintended consequences this has on our experimental designs and results.

Animal Cognition: The Self-Image of a Bumblebee.

Knowing one's body dimensions is a core aspect of individual experience and self-awareness. A recent study illustrates how bees take into account their own body size both in preparation for and while traversing small gaps.

A generalized equation for the calculation of receptor noise limited colour distances in -chromatic visual systems.

Researchers must assess similarities and differences in colour from an animal's eye view when investigating hypotheses in ecology, evolution and behaviour. Nervous systems generate colour perceptions by comparing the responses of different spectral classes of photoreceptor through colour opponent mechanisms, and the performance of these mechanisms is limited by photoreceptor noise. Accordingly, the receptor noise limited (RNL) colour distance model of Vorobyev and Osorio (Vorobyev & Osorio 1998 , 351-358 (doi:10.

The self-reference effect on memory in early childhood.

The self-reference effect in memory is the advantage for information encoded about self, relative to other people. The early development of this effect was explored here using a concrete encoding paradigm. Trials comprised presentation of a self- or other-image paired with a concrete object.

Recent advances in α-1-antitrypsin deficiency-related lung disease.

α-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is an under-recognized hereditary disorder associated with the premature onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There is considerable heterogeneity in the phenotypic expression of lung disease in A1ATD and the pathophysiology is complex, involving the interaction of multiple pathways. Other genetic factors that may contribute to emphysema risk in A1AT-deficient individuals are beginning to be identified.

Polyclonal free light chains: a biomarker of inflammatory disease or treatment target?

Free light chains are proteins produced by B lymphocytes during the process of antibody synthesis. Their production, as a reflection of B cell activation, can give insight into the activity of the adaptive immune system. In recent years, an automated immunoassay that provides quantitative measurement of free light chains in the serum has been developed.

"Lipid rescue" for tricyclic antidepressant cardiotoxicity.

Background: Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) toxicity results predominantly from myocardial sodium-channel blockade. Subsequent ventricular dysrhythmias, myocardial depression, and hypotension cause cardiovascular collapse. Animal studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of intravenous lipid-emulsion in treating TCA cardiotoxicity.

When "it" becomes "mine": attentional biases triggered by object ownership.

Previous research has demonstrated that higher-order cognitive processes associated with the allocation of selective attention are engaged when highly familiar self-relevant items are encountered, such as one's name, face, personal possessions and the like. The goal of our study was to determine whether these effects on attentional processing are triggered on-line at the moment self-relevance is established. In a pair of experiments, we recorded ERPs as participants viewed common objects (e.

Anthropometric characteristics and obesity among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates.

Anthropometric measurements and the prevalence of overweight and obesity were studied in 661 adolescents aged 12-17 years from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mean values for height and weight increased steadily with age in both sexes. Mean values for waist circumference ranged from 70.

The importance of skin color and facial structure in perceiving and remembering others: an electrophysiological study.

The own-race bias (ORB) is a well-documented recognition advantage for own-race (OR) over cross-race (CR) faces, the origin of which remains unclear. In the current study, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while Caucasian participants age-categorized Black and White faces which were digitally altered to display either a race congruent or incongruent facial structure. The results of a subsequent surprise memory test indicated that regardless of facial structure participants recognized White faces better than Black faces.

Planar Bragg gratings made by excimer-laser modification of ion-exchanged waveguides.

The refractive indices of planar silver-ion-exchanged waveguides have been modified by UV excimer laser irradiation (lambda=193 nm) . The effective index changes of the fundamental modes of the waveguides after exposition are as large as 2x10(-2) . The procedure permits the fabrication of integrated optical components in a direct way, with neither the use of standard lithography nor previous sensitizing of the substrate.

Fabrication of long-period optical fiber gratings by use of ion implantation.

We report the fabrication of long-period optical fiber gratings by use of a refractive-index increase induced by ion implantation. Helium ions were implanted in an optical fiber core through a metal mask that had a 170-microm -pitch grating with spacing of 60 microm . We obtained a wavelength-dependent effective transmission loss by use of the grating.

TELEMAM: a cluster randomised trial to assess the use of telemedicine in multi-disciplinary breast cancer decision making.

Aim: The TELEMAM trial aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and costs of telemedicine in conducting breast cancer multi-disciplinary meetings (MDTs).

Methods: Over 12 months 473 MDT patient discussions in two district general hospitals (DGHs) were cluster randomised (2:1) to the intervention of telemedicine linkage to breast specialists in a cancer centre or to the control group of 'in-person' meetings. Primary endpoints were clinical effectiveness and costs.

A BAC clone fingerprinting approach to the detection of human genome rearrangements.

We present a method, called fingerprint profiling (FPP), that uses restriction digest fingerprints of bacterial artificial chromosome clones to detect and classify rearrangements in the human genome. The approach uses alignment of experimental fingerprint patterns to in silico digests of the sequence assembly and is capable of detecting micro-deletions (1-5 kb) and balanced rearrangements. Our method has compelling potential for use as a whole-genome method for the identification and characterization of human genome rearrangements.

Faces, flowers and football boots: capacity limits in distractor processing.

While visual attention can be attracted by task-irrelevant stimuli, questions remain regarding how many irrelevant items can be processed simultaneously and whether capacity limits are equivalent for all types of stimuli. To explore these issues, participants were required to classify verbal stimuli that were flanked by either one or two response-matching or response-mismatching faces (Expts. 1 and 2) or objects (Expt.

Accident and emergency teleconsultation for primary care--a systematic review of technical feasibility, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and level of local management.

A systematic review of accident and emergency teleconsultation services was carried out. Studies (English language only) conducted worldwide and published between 1996 and 2003 were included. Evidence relating to technical feasibility, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and level of local management was used as the main outcome measure.

Decoding the fine-scale structure of a breast cancer genome and transcriptome.

A comprehensive understanding of cancer is predicated upon knowledge of the structure of malignant genomes underlying its many variant forms and the molecular mechanisms giving rise to them. It is well established that solid tumor genomes accumulate a large number of genome rearrangements during tumorigenesis. End Sequence Profiling (ESP) maps and clones genome breakpoints associated with all types of genome rearrangements elucidating the structural organization of tumor genomes.

Attitudes of breast cancer professionals to conventional and telemedicine-delivered multidisciplinary breast meetings.

We surveyed the attitudes of breast cancer professionals to standard face-to-face and future telemedicine-delivered breast multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings. Interviews, which included the Group Behaviour Inventory, were conducted face-to-face (n = 19) or by telephone (n = 26). The mean total score on the Group Behaviour Inventory was 96 (SD 19) for 33 respondents, which indicated satisfaction with standard MDT meetings, irrespective of role and base hospital.

A comprehensive approach for evaluating telemedicine-delivered multidisciplinary breast cancer meetings in southern Scotland.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings for decisions on cancer management are a cornerstone of UK cancer policy. We have proposed a comprehensive methodology to assess the clinical and economic effectiveness of telemedicine in this setting, which is being tested in a randomized breast cancer trial. Pre- and post-telemedicine assessment includes attitudes to and expectations of telemedicine, based on semistructured interviews.

Experience-based guidelines for the implementation of telemedicine services.

Many telemedicine projects fail to survive beyond the funded research phase. A review of seven Scottish telemedicine services was conducted to identify successes and failures. Qualitative interviews were conducted with key individuals in each project.

Study of mortality risk factors for children under age 5 in Abu Dhabi.

We investigated the association of biological, sociocultural and economic risk factors with child mortality in Abu Dhabi from 1 January-31 December 1997. With McNemar chi-squared test, most selected biological risk factors were statistically associated with child mortality, although maternal age older than 40 years and history of fetal death were not positively correlated with neonate, infant or age under 5 mortality. Among sociocultural and economic risk factors, maternal lack of formal education and low monthly income were significantly associated with child death.

Whole genome scanning identifies genotypes associated with recurrence and metastasis in prostate tumors.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous neoplasm among American males and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Prostate specific antigen screening has resulted in earlier disease detection, yet approximately 30% of men will die of metastatic disease. Slow disease progression, an aging population and associated morbidity and mortality underscore the need for improved disease classification and therapies.

Evaluation of an accident and emergency teleconsultation service for north-east Scotland.

We evaluated an accident and emergency teleconsultation service provided to 14 community hospitals in north-east Scotland. Each community hospital was equipped with a videoconferencing system and a document camera to allow transmission of radiographs. The network used 384 kbit/s ISDN connections.

A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of eating disorders via videoconferencing in north-east Scotland.

Until recently many remote communities in Scotland, especially on the northern islands, were unable to access specialist eating disorder services. The Grampian Eating Disorder Service, based in the north-east of Scotland, has developed a video-therapy service that offers specialist psychological and nutritional therapy for sufferers of eating disorders. Twelve patients have been treated via videoconferencing.

The importance of setting and evaluating standards of telemedicine training.

The importance of appropriate training in the use of videoconferencing equipment for clinical purposes is often underestimated when telemedicine projects are established. We developed a user training programme which was delivered via videoconferencing to a group of 130 nurses. Training was delivered on a one-to-one basis.