Showing papers by "Duquesne University published in 2016"

Rapid endothelial cytoskeletal reorganization enables early blood-brain barrier disruption and long-term ischaemic reperfusion brain injury.

Abstract: The mechanism and long-term consequences of early blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after cerebral ischaemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury are poorly understood. Here we discover that I/R induces subtle BBB leakage within 30-60 min, likely independent of gelatinase B/MMP-9 activities. The early BBB disruption is caused by the activation of ROCK/MLC signalling, persistent actin polymerization and the disassembly of junctional proteins within microvascular endothelial cells (ECs). Furthermore, the EC alterations facilitate subsequent infiltration of peripheral immune cells, including MMP-9-producing neutrophils/macrophages, resulting in late-onset, irreversible BBB damage. Inactivation of actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) causes sustained actin polymerization in ECs, whereas EC-targeted overexpression of constitutively active mutant ADF reduces actin polymerization and junctional protein disassembly, attenuates both early- and late-onset BBB impairment, and improves long-term histological and neurological outcomes. Thus, we identify a previously unexplored role for early BBB disruption in stroke outcomes, whereby BBB rupture may be a cause rather than a consequence of parenchymal cell injury.

Interleukin-4 Is Essential for Microglia/Macrophage M2 Polarization and Long-Term Recovery After Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract: Background and Purpose— Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a unique cytokine that may contribute to brain repair by regulating microglia/macrophage functions. Thus, we examined the effect of IL-4 on long-term recovery and microglia/macrophage polarization in 2 well-established stroke models. Methods— Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in wild-type and IL-4 knockout C57/BL6 mice. In a separate cohort of wild-type animals, IL-4 (60 ng/d for 7 days) or vehicle was infused into the cerebroventricle after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Behavioral outcomes were assessed by the Rotarod, corner, foot fault, and Morris water maze tests. Neuronal tissue loss was verified by 2 independent neuron markers. Markers of classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) microglia were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. Results— Loss of IL-4 exacerbated sensorimotor deficits and impaired cognitive functions ≤21 days post injury. In contrast to the delayed deterioration of neurological functions, IL-4 deficiency increased neuronal tissue loss only in the acute phase (5 days) after stroke and had no impact on neuronal tissue loss 14 or 21 days post injury. Loss of IL-4 promoted expression of M1 microglia/macrophage markers and impaired expression of M2 markers at 5 and 14 days post injury. Administration of IL-4 into the ischemic brain also enhanced long-term functional recovery. Conclusions— The cytokine IL-4 improves long-term neurological outcomes after stroke, perhaps through M2 phenotype induction in microglia/macrophages. These results are the first to suggest that immunomodulation with IL-4 is a promising approach to promote long-term functional recovery after stroke.

Neurotransmitter receptors on microglia

Abstract: As the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, microglia have long been hypothesised to promote neuroinflammation and exacerbate neurotoxicity However, this traditional view has undergone recent revision as evidence has accumulated that microglia exert beneficial and detrimental effects depending on activation status, polarisation phenotype and cellular context A variety of neurotransmitter receptors are expressed on microglia and help mediate the bidirectional communication between neurons and microglia Here we review data supporting the importance of neurotransmitter receptors on microglia, with a special emphasis on glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, cannabinoid and acetylcholine receptors We summarise evidence favouring a significant role for neurotransmitter receptors in modulating microglial activation, phagocytic clearance and phenotypic polarisation Elucidating the effects of neurotransmitter receptors on microglia and dissecting the underlying mechanisms may help accelerate the discovery of novel drugs that tap the therapeutic potential of microglia

A Century of Grading Research: Meaning and Value in the Most Common Educational Measure

Abstract: Grading refers to the symbols assigned to individual pieces of student work or to composite measures of student performance on report cards. This review of over 100 years of research on grading considers five types of studies: (a) early studies of the reliability of grades, (b) quantitative studies of the composition of K–12 report card grades, (c) survey and interview studies of teachers’ perceptions of grades, (d) studies of standards-based grading, and (e) grading in higher education. Early 20th-century studies generally condemned teachers’ grades as unreliable. More recent studies of the relationships of grades to tested achievement and survey studies of teachers’ grading practices and beliefs suggest that grades assess a multidimensional construct containing both cognitive and noncognitive factors reflecting what teachers value in student work. Implications for future research and for grading practices are discussed.

Self-Efficacy In Online Learning Environments: A Literature Review

Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and online learning environments. Self-efficacy refers to “beliefs in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to produce given attainments” (Bandura, 1997, p. 3). This paper reviews studies on self-efficacy in online learning environments from 1997 to 2015. Three main categories were discussed: computer self-efficacy, Internet and information-seeking self-efficacy and LMS (Learning Management Systems) self-efficacy. Possible areas of research on self-efficacy in online learning environments were suggested.

New multi-scale perspectives on the stromatolites of Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Abstract: A recent field-intensive program in Shark Bay, Western Australia provides new multi-scale perspectives on the world’s most extensive modern stromatolite system. Mapping revealed a unique geographic distribution of morphologically distinct stromatolite structures, many of them previously undocumented. These distinctive structures combined with characteristic shelf physiography define eight ‘Stromatolite Provinces’. Morphological and molecular studies of microbial mat composition resulted in a revised growth model where coccoid cyanobacteria predominate in mat communities forming lithified discrete stromatolite buildups. This contradicts traditional views that stromatolites with the best lamination in Hamelin Pool are formed by filamentous cyanobacterial mats. Finally, analysis of internal fabrics of stromatolites revealed pervasive precipitation of microcrystalline carbonate (i.e. micrite) in microbial mats forming framework and cement that may be analogous to the micritic microstructures typical of Precambrian stromatolites. These discoveries represent fundamental advances in our knowledge of the Shark Bay microbial system, laying a foundation for detailed studies of stromatolite morphogenesis that will advance our understanding of benthic ecosystems on the early Earth.

Psychiatric Disorders and Weight Change in a Prospective Study of Bariatric Surgery Patients: A 3-Year Follow-Up.

Abstract: ObjectivesTo document changes in Axis I psychiatric disorders after bariatric surgery and examine their relationship with postsurgery weight loss.MethodsAs part of a three-site substudy of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery Research Consortium, 199 patients completed the Struct

Alk1 controls arterial endothelial cell migration in lumenized vessels

Abstract: Heterozygous loss of the arterial-specific TGFβ type I receptor, activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1; ACVRL1), causes hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). HHT is characterized by development of fragile, direct connections between arteries and veins, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, how decreased ALK1 signaling leads to AVMs is unknown. To understand the cellular mis-steps that cause AVMs, we assessed endothelial cell behavior in alk1-deficient zebrafish embryos, which develop cranial AVMs. Our data demonstrate that alk1 loss has no effect on arterial endothelial cell proliferation but alters arterial endothelial cell migration within lumenized vessels. In wild-type embryos, alk1-positive cranial arterial endothelial cells generally migrate towards the heart, against the direction of blood flow, with some cells incorporating into endocardium. In alk1-deficient embryos, migration against flow is dampened and migration in the direction of flow is enhanced. Altered migration results in decreased endothelial cell number in arterial segments proximal to the heart and increased endothelial cell number in arterial segments distal to the heart. We speculate that the consequent increase in distal arterial caliber and hemodynamic load precipitates the flow-dependent development of downstream AVMs.

Eating pathology and experience and weight loss in a prospective study of bariatric surgery patients: 3-year follow-up.

Abstract: Objective Bariatric surgery results in significant long-term weight loss, albeit with considerable variability. This study examines the prognostic significance of eating pathology as determined by a structured interview, the Eating Disorder Examination-Bariatric Surgery Version (EDE-BSV). Method Participants (N = 183) in this substudy of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Research Consortium were assessed using the EDE-BSV, independent of clinical care, presurgery and annually postsurgery. We examined eating pathology and experiences at several frequency thresholds (present, ≥ monthly, ≥ weekly) over 3 years, and utilized mixed models to test their associations with percentage weight loss from baseline at years 1, 2, and 3. Results The prevalence of several forms of eating pathology declined pre- to 1-year postsurgery, including ≥weekly objective bulimic episodes (11.6–1.3%), loss of control (LOC) eating (18.3–6.2%) and picking/nibbling (36.0–20.2%) (P for all <0.01), and regular evening hyperphagia (16.5–5.0%, P = 0.01), but not cravings (P = 0.93). Mean EDE global score, and hunger and enjoyment scores, also declined (P for all <0.01). These metrics remained lower than baseline through year-3 (P for all <0.01). Presurgery eating variables were not related to weight loss (P for all ≥0.05). However, postsurgery higher EDE global score and greater hunger were independently associated with less weight loss postsurgery (P for both ≤0.01), while cravings were associated with greater weight loss (P = 0.03). Discussion Pathological eating behaviors and experiences are common presurgery and improve markedly following surgery. Postsurgery pathological eating-related experiences and attitudes and hunger may contribute to suboptimal weight loss. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:1058–1067)

A Decomposition Framework for Image Denoising Algorithms

Abstract: In this paper, we consider an image decomposition model that provides a novel framework for image denoising. The model computes the components of the image to be processed in a moving frame that encodes its local geometry (directions of gradients and level lines). Then, the strategy we develop is to denoise the components of the image in the moving frame in order to preserve its local geometry, which would have been more affected if processing the image directly. Experiments on a whole image database tested with several denoising methods show that this framework can provide better results than denoising the image directly, both in terms of Peak signal-to-noise ratio and Structural similarity index metrics.

Aggregate Earnings Surprises, Monetary Policy, and Stock Returns

Abstract: This paper examines whether the negative association between aggregate earnings and returns is explained by the monetary policy news in aggregate earnings. Using Federal funds futures data to construct a measure of policy news, we find that aggregate earnings convey information about the Fed’s policy actions. Additionally, the negative aggregate earnings-returns association is muted when we control for policy surprises. This result is more pronounced in periods with negative policy surprises, which tend to trigger a more significant market reaction. Taken together, these results suggest that aggregate earnings convey policy news and the market reacts negatively to policy surprises, which drives the negative aggregate earnings-returns association.

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning-Mediated Neuroprotection against Stroke is Associated with Significant Alterations in Peripheral Immune Responses.

Abstract: Summary Aims Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) of a limb is a clinically feasible strategy to protect against ischemia–reperfusion injury after stroke. However, the mechanism underlying RIPC remains elusive. Methods We generated a rat model of noninvasive RIPC by four repeated cycles of brief blood flow constriction (5 min) in the hindlimbs using a tourniquet. Blood was collected 1 h after preconditioning and 3 days after brain reperfusion. The impact of RIPC on immune cell and cytokine profiles prior to and after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was assessed. Results Remote ischemic preconditioning protects against focal ischemia and preserves neurological functions 3 days after stroke. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that RIPC ameliorates the post-MCAO reduction of CD3+CD8+ T cells and abolishes the reduction of CD3+/CD161a+ NKT cells in the blood. In addition, RIPC robustly elevates the percentage of B cells in peripheral blood, thereby reversing the reduction in the B-cell population after stroke. RIPC also markedly elevates the percentage of CD43+/CD172a+ noninflammatory resident monocytes, without any impact on the percentage of CD43−/CD172a+ inflammatory monocytes. Finally, RIPC induces IL-6 expression and enhances the elevation of TNF-α after stroke. Conclusion Our results reveal dramatic immune changes during RIPC-afforded neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia.

Meta-Analysis of the English Version of the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition

Abstract: This meta-analysis reviewed 144 studies from 1996 to 2013 using the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition. Internal consistency was .89 and test–retest reliability .75. Convergent comparisons we...

Photonic crystal protein hydrogel sensor materials enabled by conformationally induced volume phase transition

Abstract: Hydrogels that change volume in response to specific molecular stimuli can serve as platforms for sensors, actuators and drug delivery devices. There is great interest in designing intelligent hydrogels for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and microfluidics that utilize protein binding specificities and conformational changes. Protein conformational change induced by ligand binding can cause volume phase transitions (VPTs). Here, we develop a highly selective glucose sensing protein photonic crystal (PC) hydrogel that is fabricated from genetically engineered E. coli glucose/galactose binding protein (GGBP). The resulting 2-D PC-GGBP hydrogel undergoes a VPT in response to glucose. The volume change causes the 2-D PC array particle spacing to decrease, leading to a blue-shifted diffraction which enables our sensors to report on glucose concentrations. This 2-D PC-GGBP responsive hydrogel functions as a selective and sensitive sensor that easily monitors glucose concentrations from ∼0.2 μM to ∼10 mM. This work demonstrates a proof-of-concept for developing responsive, "smart" protein hydrogel materials with VPTs that utilize ligand binding induced protein conformational changes. This innovation may enable the development of other novel chemical sensors and high-throughput screening devices that can monitor protein-drug binding interactions.

The Role of Classroom Assessment in Supporting Self-Regulated Learning

Abstract: Self-regulation of learning occurs when learners set goals and then systematically carry out cognitive, affective, and behavioral practices and procedures that move them closer to those goals. Self-regulated learning (SRL) depends, in part, on information gleaned from classroom assessments about student learning and achievement. In this chapter we will discuss how classroom assessment is or could be used to support SRL. We will draw on the literatures on classroom assessment and SRL in order to demonstrate how assessment contributes to each phase of self-regulation, defined here as: (1) goal setting, (2) progress monitoring, and (3) revision and adjustment. For example, the goal-setting phase is influenced by the learning goals and success criteria shared by a teacher. The progress-monitoring phase is affected by feedback provided via formative and summative assessments. The revision-and-adjustment phase is affected by opportunities teachers give students to use feedback and decisions students make based on that feedback. This chapter demonstrates the close relationship between classroom assessment and SRL by reviewing research evidence for each phase, and makes the case that assessment can support the self-regulation of learning in classroom settings. The chapter also addresses challenges of implementing classroom assessment practices that support SRL.

Translational Stroke Research on Blood-Brain Barrier Damage: Challenges, Perspectives, and Goals.

Abstract: Over the past few decades, basic and clinical research has identified numerous risk factors for the development of stroke and led to major improvements in health management in the USA. As a result of these efforts, the relative rate of stroke death dropped by 33.7 %, and the actual occurrence of stroke deaths fell by 18.2 % in the decade spanning from 2003 to 2013, according to the American Heart Association. Thus, stroke fell from the fourth to the fifth leading cause of death in 2013, behind heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and unintentional injuries. These improvements are largely attributed to superior control of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and tobacco use [1]. To date, the treatment of acute ischemic stroke is largely dependent on recanalization using recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in the appropriate patient population [2, 3]. Encouragingly, recent clinical trials have demonstrated significant benefits for intra-arterial thrombectomy in a subset of acute stroke patients with intracranial large artery occlusion [4]. Despite these improvements in population health and stroke treatment, stroke still remains a leading cause of longterm disability and approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke every year [1]. Thus, basic and clinical investigations of the mechanisms underlying ischemic brain injurymust remain an urgent priority in order to promote the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and improve the safety and efficacy of current tPA and thrombectomy treatments. During and after ischemic stroke, loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is a prominent pathological event that contributes to further evolution of the injury. BBB dysfunction is also a hallmark of intracerebral hemorrhage [5, 6]. Despite its obvious clinical relevance, BBB protection has received much less attention than is warranted. An impaired BBB not only facilitates the development of brain edema and neuroinflammation, but also increases the risk of lethal hemorrhagic transformation during thrombolysis, thereby limiting the use of tPA and leading to poor patient outcomes [7, 8]. Recent advances in stroke telemedicine provide an effective and promising method to increase the use of tPA therapy [9], which, together with the growing application of thrombectomy, is likely to improve post-ischemia reperfusion in a larger population of stroke patients in the near future. As this treatment method works better when the BBB remains intact, therapeutic strategies aimed at neurovascular unit protection and prevention of BBB damage after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) need to be better prioritized in stroke research. In earlier reports, it was widely held that all forms of BBB rupture after I/R were the direct consequence of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation of endothelial intercellular junctions and basal lamina [10–14]. However, recent animal models of stroke have revealed a complex, biphasic temporal profile of BBB breakdown, with an immediate phase of early BBB hyperpermeability 4–6 h after stroke, followed by a delayed opening of the BBB 48–72 h after stroke. In recent years, the availability of advanced imaging techniques and novel transgenic animal models have greatly facilitated research on BBB dysfunction after stroke, with * Jun Chen chenj2@upmc.edu

Accuracy of 2 Clinical Tests for Ischiofemoral Impingement in Patients With Posterior Hip Pain and Endoscopically Confirmed Diagnosis

Abstract: Purpose To establish the accuracy of the long-stride walking (LSW) and ischiofemoral impingement (IFI) tests for diagnosing IFI in patients whose primary symptom is posterior hip pain. Methods Confirmed IFI cases and cases in which IFI had been ruled out were identified considering imaging, injections, and endoscopic assessment, combined with pain relief and negative IFI-specific tests after treatment. Demographic data, duration of symptoms, pain location, ischiofemoral space, quadratus femoris space, quadratus femoris edema, surgical findings, and visual analog scale score for pain before and after treatment were computed for all patients included in this study. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios were computed individually for the LSW test and IFI test. Results Cases from 1,166 consecutive hip operations and charts from 564 consecutive outpatients were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent injection and/or endoscopic surgery because of posterior hip pain. Thirty individuals (21 women and 9 men) with a mean age of 49.8 years (range, 20 to 76 years; standard deviation, 13.0 years) were included for analysis. Of the 30 patients, 17 (56.6%) were confirmed as positive for IFI and 13 (43.4%) were confirmed as negative for IFI. The IFI test had a sensitivity of 0.82, specificity of 0.85, positive predictive value of 0.88, negative predictive value of 0.79, positive likelihood ratio of 5.35, negative likelihood ratio of 0.21, and diagnostic odds ratio of 25.6. The LSW test had a sensitivity of 0.94, specificity of 0.85, positive predictive value of 0.89, negative predictive value of 0.92, positive likelihood ratio of 6.12, negative likelihood ratio of 0.07, and diagnostic odds ratio of 88.8. Conclusions In patients with complaints of posterior hip pain and negative evaluation findings for lumbosacral spine involvement or static/dynamic mechanical axis malalignment, the IFI and LSW tests are highly accurate to help identify those with or without IFI. Level of Evidence Level III, diagnostic study.

Transmission of α-synucleinopathy from olfactory structures deep into the temporal lobe.

Abstract: α-synucleinopathy emerges quite early in olfactory structures such as the olfactory bulb and anterior olfactory nucleus (OB/AON) in Parkinson's disease. This may contribute to smell impairments years before the commencement of motor symptoms. We tested whether α-synucleinopathy can spread from the OB/AON to regions of the limbic telencephalon that harbor connections with olfactory structures. α-synuclein fibrils were infused into the OB/AON. Inclusions containing pathologically phosphorylated α-synuclein (pSer129) were observed three months later in the piriform and entorhinal cortices, amygdala, and hippocampal formation. The retrograde tract-tracer FluoroGold confirmed the existence of first-order afferents at these sites. Some sites harbored FluoroGold+ neurons but no inclusions, suggestive of selective vulnerabilities. Multiple areas close to the injection site but not connected with the OB/AON remained free of inclusions, suggesting a lack of widespread uptake of fibrils from interstitial diffusion. Two independent pSer129 antibodies revealed the same labeling patterns and preadsorption control experiments confirmed a loss of pSer129 staining. Dense total α-synuclein (but not pSer129) staining was apparent in the OB/AON 1.5 h following fibril infusions, suggesting that pSer129+ staining did not reflect exogenously infused material. Waterbath sonication of fibrils for 1 h improved α-synucleinopathy transmission relative to 1 min-long probe sonication. Electron microscopy revealed that longer sonication durations reduced fibril size. The Thioflavin stain labeled cells at the infusion site and some, but not all inclusions contained ubiquitin. Three-dimensional confocal analyses revealed that many inclusions ensconced NeuN+ neuronal nuclei. Young and aged mice exhibited similar topographical spread of α-synucleinopathy. 1) α-synucleinopathy in this model is transmitted through some, but not all neuroanatomical connections, 2) pathology is largely confined to first-order afferent sites at three months and this is most parsimoniously explained by retrograde transport, and 3) transmission in aged animals is largely similar to that in young control animals at three months post-infusion.

Sexual knowledge acquisition and retention for individuals with autism

Abstract: Healthy Relationships & Autism is a developmentally sequenced, manualized intervention intended for children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The curriculum is designed to facilitate healthy interpersonal relationships; three modules cover personal hygiene, sexual knowledge, and a variety of productive interpersonal relations. The current study investigates the effectiveness of the strategies used to increase sexual knowledge for individuals with ASD. Specifically, short step-by-step concrete explanations that are paired with visual modeling and repeated practice accompanied by corrective feedback were delivered to six adolescents who showed a wide range of functional abilities. Pre, post, and one month follow-up measures show that the HR curriculum was effective in increasing sexual knowledge acquisition and retention regardless of the child's level of difficulties.

Genetic differences in the response to landscape fragmentation by a habitat generalist, the bobcat, and a habitat specialist, the ocelot

Abstract: The ecology of a species strongly influences genetic variation and population structure. This interaction has important conservation implications because taxa with low dispersal capability and inability to use different habitats are more susceptible to anthropogenic stressors. Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis albescens) and bobcats (Lynx rufus texensis) are sympatric in Texas and northeastern Mexico; however, their ecology and conservation status are markedly different. We used 10 microsatellite loci and a 397-bp segment of the mitochondrial control region to examine how historical and ecological differences in these two species have influenced current patterns of genetic diversity in a landscape heavily altered by anthropogenic activities. Substantially higher genetic diversity (heterozygosity and haplotype diversity) and population connectivity was observed for bobcats in comparison to ocelots. The level of divergence among proximate ocelot populations ( 100 km. Ocelot populations in the US have never recovered from reductions experienced during the twentieth century, and their low genetic variation and substantial isolation are exacerbated by strong preference for dense native thornshrub and avoidance of open habitat. In contrast, despite continued legal harvesting and frequent road-related mortality, bobcats have maintained wide distribution, high abundance, and population connectivity. Our study illustrates that sympatric species with a similar niche can still have sufficient ecological differences to alter their response to anthropogenic change. Sensitive species, such as the ocelot, require additional conservation actions to sustain populations. Ecological differences among species occupying a similar guild are important to consider when developing conservation plans.

French Ministry of Health’s response to Paris attacks of 13 November 2015

Abstract: On Friday November 13th at 9:20 pm, three kamikaze bombs went off around the Stade de France a stadium in Saint-Denis just outside Paris, 4 different shootings took place and bombings in Paris and hundreds of people were held hostage in a theater.This multi-site terrorist attack was the first of this magnitude in France. Drawing the lessons of these attacks and those which occurred in other countries from a health perspective is essential to continuously adapt and improve the French response to possible future attacks. Several issues would need to be further explored: Management of uncertainties: When to trigger the plans: after the 1st attack, the 2nd? When do attacks end and when to release mobilized resources? Management of victims: How to ensure that all victims are secured or taken care of? How to provide assistance when attacks are ongoing? Management of teams: Proper follow-up of persons involved in the response: health professionals, police and firemen, emergency call centers but also civil servants within administration that contributed to the response. Communication: Reactivity of all is a key element to secure appropriate resource is mobilized for the response. All actors have to be able to communicate quickly in a secured way.

Relationship Between Cognitive Assessment and Balance Measures in Adolescents Referred for Vestibular Physical Therapy After Concussion.

Abstract: Objective:To examine the relationship between cognitive and balance performance in adolescents with concussion.Design:Retrospective case series.Setting:Tertiary.Patients:Sixty patients.Interventions:Correlation analyses were performed to describe the relationship between symptoms, cognitive measure,

Crystal structures and binding dynamics of Odorant-Binding Protein 3 from two aphid species Megoura viciae and Nasonovia ribisnigri

Abstract: Aphids use chemical cues to locate hosts and find mates. The vetch aphid Megoura viciae feeds exclusively on the Fabaceae, whereas the currant-lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri alternates hosts between the Grossulariaceae and Asteraceae. Both species use alarm pheromones to warn of dangers. For N. ribisnigri this pheromone is a single component (E)-β-farnesene but M. viciae uses a mixture of (E)-β-farnesene, (−)-α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene. Odorant-binding proteins (OBP) are believed to capture and transport such semiochemicals to their receptors. Here, we report the first aphid OBP crystal structures and examine their molecular interactions with the alarm pheromone components. Our study reveals some unique structural features: 1) the lack of an internal ligand binding site; 2) a striking groove in the surface of the proteins as a putative binding site; 3) the N-terminus rather than the C-terminus occupies the site closing off the conventional OBP pocket. The results from fluorescent binding assays, molecular docking and dynamics demonstrate that OBP3 from M. viciae can bind to all four alarm pheromone components and the differential ligand binding between these very similar OBP3s from the two aphid species is determined mainly by the direct π-π interactions between ligands and the aromatic residues of OBP3s in the binding pocket.

Do Professional Reviews Affect Online User Choices through User Reviews?: An Empirical Study

Abstract: With the broad reach of the Internet, online users frequently resort to various word-of-mouth (WOM) sources, such as online user reviews and professional reviews, during online decision making. Although prior studies generally agree on the importance of online WOM, we have little knowledge of the interplay between online user reviews and professional reviews. This paper empirically investigates a mediation model in which online user reviews mediate the impact of professional reviews on online user decisions. Using software download data, we show that a higher professional rating not only directly promotes software download but also results in more active user-generated WOM interactions, which indirectly lead to more downloads. The indirect impact of professional reviews can be as large as 20% of the corresponding total impact. These findings deepen our understanding of online WOM effect, and provide managerial suggestions about WOM marketing and the prediction of online user choices.

Learning with Technology: Video Modeling with Concrete–Representational–Abstract Sequencing for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a video modeling intervention with concrete–representational–abstract instructional sequence in teaching mathematics concepts to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A multiple baseline across skills design of single-case experimental methodology was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention on the acquisition and maintenance of addition, subtraction, and number comparison skills for four elementary school students with ASD. Findings supported the effectiveness of the intervention in improving skill acquisition and maintenance at a 3-week follow-up. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

hnRNP-Q1 represses nascent axon growth in cortical neurons by inhibiting Gap-43 mRNA translation.

Abstract: Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by mRNA-binding proteins is critical for neuronal development and function. hnRNP-Q1 is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates mRNA processing events, including translational repression. hnRNP-Q1 is highly expressed in brain tissue, suggesting a function in regulating genes critical for neuronal development. In this study, we have identified Growth-associated protein 43 (Gap-43) mRNA as a novel target of hnRNP-Q1 and have demonstrated that hnRNP-Q1 represses Gap-43 mRNA translation and consequently GAP-43 function. GAP-43 is a neuronal protein that regulates actin dynamics in growth cones and facilitates axonal growth. Previous studies have identified factors that regulate Gap-43 mRNA stability and localization, but it remains unclear whether Gap-43 mRNA translation is also regulated. Our results reveal that hnRNP-Q1 knockdown increased nascent axon length, total neurite length, and neurite number in mouse embryonic cortical neurons and enhanced Neuro2a cell process extension; these phenotypes were rescued by GAP-43 knockdown. Additionally, we have identified a G-quadruplex structure in the 5' untranslated region of Gap-43 mRNA that directly interacts with hnRNP-Q1 as a means to inhibit Gap-43 mRNA translation. Therefore hnRNP-Q1-mediated repression of Gap-43 mRNA translation provides an additional mechanism for regulating GAP-43 expression and function and may be critical for neuronal development.

First Impressions Matter: Navigating Graphic Novels Utilizing Linguistic, Visual, and Spatial Resources.

Abstract: Graphic novels in the K-12 classroom are most often used to motivate marginalized readers because of the lower text load and assumption of easy reading. This assumption has thus far been unexplored...