University of Bedfordshire

About: University of Bedfordshire is a education organization based out in Luton, Bedford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.

A general factor involved in dual-task performance decrement

Abstract: Beyond specific conflicts between tasks that are obviously similar (e.g. two verbal tasks) and limits specific to speeded responses, is there a general limitation on what tasks can be done simultaneously? In two experiments, we examined dual-task combinations designed to avoid known sources of specific interference. Under these circumstances, a general factor model predicts consistency in the pattern of results. Tasks should be ordered in demands on the general factor as measured by interference with concurrent tasks; this order should be the same for any concurrent task used to measure it. This prediction was confirmed in both experiments, each involving 12 dual task combinations of four tasks. In Experiment 1, the tasks were tone discrimination, random letter generation, a manual-tactile manipulation task, and recognition memory for photographs. In Experiment 2, the first of these was replaced by an easier tone-monitoring task, and the last by a visual prototype learning task.

Making Sense of ADHD: A Battle for Understanding? Parents' Views of Their Children Being Diagnosed with ADHD:

Abstract: Much of the extensive body VLf research into attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has concentrated on understanding the aetiology of the disorder. This research has generated a number of very different conceptualizations of ADHD, ranging from purely medical descriptions to theories that incorporate a range of social and psychological factors. Although a large amount of research has been undertaken in this area, little is known about the individual experiences of those directly affected by the disorder and, in particular, how parents make sense of the variety of different aetiological models. The aim of this study was to investigate this issue. The mothers of nine boys, aged between 8 and 11 years, agreed to participate in the study. One father also participated. In-depth interviews, following a semi-structured format, were held with each participant. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Data analysis revealed that the key issue for parents was the ...

An investigation into the effect and mechanisms of action of nicotine in inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: Objective and Design: To determine the effect of nicotine on colonic inflammation in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of inflammatory bowel disease in comparison with sulphasalazine.¶Materials: Male Wistar rats were used for the in-vivo and ex-vivo studies. In-vitro studies were performed using human leukemia peripheral blood monocyte cells (THP-1 cells) grown in continuous culture.¶Treatment: Rats were given access to either nicotine (5 or 100 μg/mL) or sulphasalazine (375 μg/mL) in their drinking water for 10 or 2 days respectively before and 3 days after TNBS administration. THP-1 cells were treated with nicotine (10-14 to 10-11 M) for 2h before and after stimulation with 3 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS).¶Methods: Inflammation in the TNBS model was assessed by measuring the tissue myeloperoxidase activity, leukotriene B4 concentration, inducible nitric oxide protein expression, the ex-vivo production of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), macroscopic damage score, plasma corticosterone levels and by a qualitative histological evolution. The effect of nicotine on TNFα production in LPS stimulated THP-1 monocyte cells in-vitro was also determined. Statistical comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U-test for the macroscopic damage score and an ANOVA for all other parameters.¶Results: TNBS treated rats given access to 100 μg/mL nicotine in their drinking water had a marked reduction in several of the markers of inflammation compared to control TNBS treated rats, but a greater reduction was found at 5 μg/mL nicotine or 375 μg/mL sulphasalazine, the latter producing comparable reductions in inflammation to the low dose nicotine. Nicotine also caused a significant reduction in TNFα release from THP-1 cells.¶Conclusions: Nicotine reduced inflammation in the TNBS model of colonic damage confirming the use of nicotine in IBD although the choice of dose requires further investigation. The mechanism of action of nicotine does not involve increased corticosterone levels, but may be a consequence of a reduction in TNFα or leukotriene B4 production.

Heterocyclic triazines as hypoxic selective protein kinase inhibitors

Abstract: The invention relates to novel heterocyclic triazines which are useful as hypoxic selective cytotoxic agents that mediate and/or inhibit cell proliferation, for example, through the activity of protein kinases. The invention is further related to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and compositions, and to methods of treating cancer as well as other disease states associated with unwanted angiogenesis and/or cellular proliferation by administering effective amounts of such compounds.