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Faculties of Education and Science at Monash University have designed a Masters unit to assist pre-service and in-service science teachers in exploring the practices of contemporary science and examine how varied understandings can influence science communication. Teachers are encouraged to explore their current understandings of the Nature of Science (NoS) and to contrast their views with those known to be widely held by society (Cobern & Loving, 1998). Teachers are challenged to provide insights into their thinking relating to the NoS. In order to build understandings of contemporary science practice each teacher shadows a research scientist and engages them in conversations intended to explore the scientists' views of NoS and practice. Findings suggest that teachers were initially uncomfortable with the challenge to express ideas relating to their NoS and were also surprised how diverse the views of NoS can be among teachers, scientists and their peers, and that these views can directly impact ways of communicating contemporary science practice.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence of overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome (MbS) and its criteria, and nutrient intakes of college-age men and women via a large-scale screening. Participants and Methods: From August 2005 to July 2008, 2,722 subjects were recruited for the ongoing, cross-sectional Young Adult Health Risk Screening Initiative project. Anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data were collected. Results: Approximately one-half of men and more than one-quarter of women were overweight or obese. MbS was identified in 9.9% of men and 3.0% of women; 77% of men and 54% of women had at least 1 MbS criterion. Intakes of saturated fat, magnesium, and fiber, as well as body mass index and reported physical activity levels were related to MbS. Conclusions: Because of high rates of overweight/obesity and MbS, college-age adults are at risk for developing chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

Increasing numbers of "teaching-only" staff are being appointed in higher education institutions in the UK. At one research-intensive university, a new category of academic staff was recently introduced: University Teachers, who are required to engage in scholarly activity as part of their conditions of employment. For many this scholarly activity equates to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). In an attempt to support this growing body of staff in their engagement with SoTL, a year-long Learning Community (LC) was formed. This paper outlines the activities of the LC and presents the outcomes of a collaborative project to explore its members' experiences. We describe the developmental process of LC membership and consider the parallels between our findings and theories of social capital and transformative learning. We conclude with a consideration of how LCs might be used as an engaging form of academic staff development.

To evaluate a dog-walking program (called "Dog Buddies") designed to address the need for evidence-based programs that create opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities to be more socially included in mainstream society. The research question was: Does community dog walking foster social interaction for people with cognitive disabilities? Single-case experimental design was used with four individuals (three with intellectual disability; one with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)) recruited via two disability service providers in Victoria. Target behaviours included frequency and nature of encounters between the person with disability and community members. Change was measured from baseline (five community meetings with a handler but no dog) to intervention period (five meetings minimum, with a handler and a dog). Semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, provided three participants' subjective experiences of the program. Dog Buddies increased the frequency of encounters for all participants. The presence of the dog helped to foster convivial encounters, community members were found to be more welcoming, and some participants were recognised or acknowledged by name over time in the intervention phase. The dog-walking program offered a simple means of influencing the frequency and depth of community-based social interactions for people with cognitive disabilities. The co-presence of people with disabilities in the community with the general population does not ensure social interaction occurs. Both disability policy, and the programs or support that is provided to people with disabilities, needs to have a strong commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream communities. Dog Buddies is a promising example of a program where the presence of a pet dog has been demonstrated to support convivial, bi-directional encounters of people with cognitive disabilities and other community members. Dog-walking offers a simple means of influencing the frequency and depth of community-based social interactions for people with cognitive disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This single-center, open-label, 2-period crossover study investigated the effects of multiple-dose ezetimibe (EZE) on a single dose of cyclosporine (CyA). Healthy subjects received 2 treatments in random order with a [...]

This open-label, single-period study evaluated the single-dose pharmacokinetics of ezetimibe (EZE) 10 mg in the setting of steady-state cyclosporine (CyA) dosing in renal transplant patients. A single 10-mg dose of [...]

The dietary carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are the principal components of macular pigment (MP). Protection of the central retina by MP is suggested, but data are limited. Dietary practices and serum carotenoid concentrations were investigated in 98 adults, 45-73 y old, in relation to MP. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured at 4 loci: 10 min (10', 30 min (30'), 60 min (60'), and 120 min (120') retinal eccentricity. Serum L + Z concentrations in fasting subjects were correlated with MPOD: 10' (r = 0.29, P = 0.008), 30' (r = 0.342, P = 0.0006), and 60' (r = 0.73, P = 0.001) eccentricity. Dietary L + Z was positively correlated with MPOD: 10' (r = 0.24, P = 0.02), 30' (r = 0.237, P = 0.02), 60' (r = 0.27, P = 0.009), and 120' (r = 0.25, P = 0.02) eccentricity. The lowest fruit and vegetable consumers had lower MPOD at 30' (P = 0.01), 60' (P = 0.03), and 120' (P = 0.006) eccentricity compared with the highest consumers. Based on age quartiles (45-49 y), (50-55 y), (56-61 y), and (62-74 y), the youngest and oldest had higher MPOD than those 56-61 y at 60' (P < 0.05). Compared with those with a BMI (kg/[m.sup.2]) [greater than or equal to] 27, those with a BMI < 27 had higher serum concentrations of [beta]-carotene (P = 0.002), and higher MPOD at 60' (P = 0.04) and 120' (P = 0.01). These findings suggest that carotenoid-rich diets and serum carotenoids positively contribute to MP status. KEY WORDS: * aging * carotenoids * macular pigment

Of the many carotenoids found within human tissue, only the carotenoids within the human retina can be assessed noninvasively at present. Such assessment should eventually provide a more complete understanding of the functional role of retinal lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) (termed macular pigment, MP) in human vision. The emerging data allow for some initial observations. For example, there appears to be wide variation (>factor of 10) in the concentration of MP. Although MP levels have been recorded from nondetectable to 1.20 OD (optical density), the 'average' levels, relative to what is possible, appear low. This may be due in part to the low average dietary intake of L and Z in the typical U.S. diet. Nonetheless, individual differences in MP may also be influenced by nondietary factors such as genetics, demographics and lifestyle characteristics. Some evidence indicates that the MP carotenoids may protect the retina and lens, and could improve vision through some optical mechanisms. Consequently, efforts to determine typical MP levels and the factors that influence individual differences in MP density should be continued. KEY WORDS: * lutein * macular pigment * retinal carotenoids

Mice infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei and treated subcuratively with the trypanocidal drug diminazene aceturate develop an acute inflammatory meningoencephalitis with associated astrocytic proliferation. This reaction is very similar to that seen in the fatal posttreatment reactive encephalopathies that can occur in human African trypanosomiasis. The 11-amino acid neuropeptide substance P (SP) has recently been identified as a mediator in many inflammatory responses, and the development of potent, highly specific, nonpeptide SP antagonists has provided a new opportunity to investigate the possible involvement of SP in a variety of pathological conditions. We therefore postulated that SP may play a role in the development of the posttreatment inflammatory encephalopathy found in this experimental mouse model of African trypanosomiasis. In the present study RP-67,580, a SP antagonist that binds specifically to NK-1 receptors, was given intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 mg/kg twice daily to mice in which a severe meningoencephalitis had been produced. A significant reduction in both the severity of the inflammatory response (P = 0.0001) as well as the degree of astrocyte activation (P < 0.001) was found in the brains of these animals as compared with control mice that had not received RP-67,580. An inactive enantiomer of this SP antagonist, RP-68,651, had no effect on the central nervous system inflammatory reaction. We conclude from these findings that the neuropeptide SP plays a key role in the development of the severe central nervous system inflammatory response associated with African trypanosomiasis.