An Activity-Based Nanosensor for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Currently, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is detected by medical imaging; however, medical imaging requires expensive capital equipment, is time- and resource-intensive, and is poor at predicting patient prognosis. To date, direct measurement of elevated protease activity has yet to be utilized to detect TBI. In this work, we engineered an activity-based nanosensor for TBI (TBI-ABN) that responds to increased protease activity initiated after brain injury. We establish that a calcium-sensitive protease, calpain-1, is active in the injured brain hours within injury. We then optimize the molecular weight of a nanoscale polymeric carrier to infiltrate into the injured brain tissue with minimal renal filtration. A calpain-1 substrate that generates a fluorescent signal upon cleavage was attached to this nanoscale polymeric carrier to generate an engineered TBI-ABN. When applied intravenously to a mouse model of TBI, our engineered sensor is observed to locally activate in the injured brain tissue. This TBI-ABN is the first demonstration of a sensor that responds to protease activity to detect TBI

ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH NEUROLOGISTS SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (ABN SUSTAINABILITY SIG): FORMATION, OBJECTIVES AND INVITATION

We introduce the ABN Sustainability SIG. We present our aims & objectives, and practical ways of implementing sustainability strategies in Neurology.At the 2016 ABN annual meeting, a keynote speech by Dr. David Pencheon, then director of the National Health Service Sustainability Development Unit, highlighted the relevance and importance of Sustainability in Neurology. This planted the seed for our SIG’s formation. Initial interest was gathered from an ABN newsletter notice, via word-of-mouth and informal discussions at ABN annual meetings (2017, 2018). A series of teleconferences & email discussions enabled the formation of SIG byelaws and application to the ABN council.Our aims and objectivesTo be a positive force within the ABN to highlight issues surrounding global environmental sustainability.To provide a forum to consider the impact of choices made in neurology practice on global environmental sustainability. This will cover all aspects of neurology including, but not limited to, clinical practice, service provision, technological and digital developments, meetings and ABN resources and investments.To identify areas where the choice made could impact positively on global environmental sustainability and disseminate this information to the ABN membership to inform their decisions

Growth conditions for [abn-1] and [abn-2] in liquid media

Growth conditions for [abn-1] and [abn-2] in liquid medi

Abnormal cannabidiol affects production of pro-inflammatory mediators and astrocyte wound closure in primary astrocytic-microglial cocultures

Abnormal cannabidiol (abn-CBD) exerts neuroprotective effects in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the impact of abn-CBD on the glial production of proinflammatory mediators and scar formation within in vitro models. Primary astrocytic-microglial cocultures and astrocytic cultures from neonatal C57BL/6 mice and CB2 receptor knockout mice were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitrite were determined. Furthermore, we performed a live cell microscopy-based scratch-wound assay. After LPS stimulation, TNFα, IL-6 and nitrite production was more strongly increased in cocultures than in isolated astrocytes. Abn-CBD treatment attenuated the LPS-induced production of TNFα and nitrite in cocultures, while IL-6 production remained unaltered. In isolated astrocytes, only LPS-induced TNFα production was reduced by abn-CBD. Similar effects were observed after abn-CBD application in cocultures of CB2 knockout mice. Interestingly, LPS-induced TNFα and nitrite levels were far lower in CB2 knockout cultures compared to wildtypes, while IL-6 levels did not differ. In the scratch-wound assay, treatment with abn-CBD decelerated wound closure when microglial cells were present. Our data shows a differential role of abn-CBD for modulation of glial inflammation and astrocytic scar formation. These findings provide new explanations for mechanisms behind the neuroprotective potential of abn-CBDPublikationsfond ML

Comparison between generalized linear modelling and additive Bayesian network; identification of factors associated with the incidence of antibodies against Leptospira interrogans sv Pomona in meat workers in New Zealand

Background Additive Bayesian Network (ABN) is a graphical model which extends Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) to multiple dependent variables. The present study compares results from GLM with those from ABN analysis used to identify factors associated with Leptospira interrogans sv Pomona (Pomona) infection by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of these two methodologies, to corroborate inferences informing health and safety measures at abattoirs in New Zealand (NZ). Methodology and findings In a cohort study in four sheep slaughtering abattoirs in NZ, sera were collected twice a year from 384 meat workers and tested by Microscopic Agglutination with a 91% sensitivity and 94% specificity for Pomona. The study primarily addressed the effect of work position, personal protective equipment (PPE) and non-work related exposures such as hunting on a new infection with Pomona. Significantly associated with Pomona were “Work position” and two “Abattoirs” (GLM), and “Work position” (ABN). The odds of Pomona infection (OR, [95% CI]) was highest at stunning and hide removal (ABN 41.0, [6.9–1044.2]; GLM 57.0, [6.9–473.3]), followed by removal of intestines, bladder, and kidneys (ABN 30.7, [4.9–788.4]; GLM 33.8, [4.2–271.1]). Wearing a facemask, glasses or gloves (PPE) did not result as a protective factor in GLM or ABN. Conclusions/Significance The odds of Pomona infection was highest at stunning and hide removal. PPE did not show any indication of being protective in GLM or ABN. In ABN all relationships between variables are modelled; hence it has an advantage over GLM due to its capacity to capture the natural complexity of data more effectively

Pengelolaan Laba Melalui Aktivitas-aktivitas Riil Perusahaan Perspektif Islam

Artikel ini membahas tentang manajemen laba riil sebagai perekayasaan laba yang dilakukan melalui manipulasi aktivitasaktivitas riil Perusahaan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Pengukuran manajemen laba riil menggunakan 3 proksi yaitu abnormal cash flow operations (Abn. CFO), abnormal production costs Abn. PROD), dan abnormal discretionary expenses (abn DISCR). Manajemen laba riil dapat dilakukan dengan cara manipulasi penjualan, penurunan beban-beban diskresionari dan produksi yang berlebihan. Dari penelitian yang sudah dilakukan membuktikan bahwa manajemen laba riil sudah banyak dilakukan manajemen lebih menyukai dalam mengelola labanya dengan melakukan manipulasi aktifitas-aktifitas riil (manajemen laba riil). Kata Kunci: Manajemen, Laba, Riil REAL EARNING MANAGEMENT IN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE This article discusses about real earning management as earning manipulation conducted by companies using qualitative approach. Real earning management can be measured using 3 proxies: abnormal cash flow operations (Abn. CFO), abnormal production costs Abn. PROD), and abnormal discretionary expenses (abn DISCR). Real earning management can be conducted through selling manipulation, discretionary expenditure, and overproduction. Result shows that real earning management has been conducted by managements

Pilot Study of the Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Perceived Stress, Perceived Coping Ability, and Resilience in Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students

Objective. The purpose of this quasi-experimental randomized controlled two-group pilot study was to test the effectiveness of a Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) intervention on accelerated baccalaureate nursing (ABN) students’ perceived stress, perceived coping ability, and resilience over four weeks during an academic term of ABN coursework. This study was guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping, with a focus on primary appraisal.Background. ABN students report higher perceived stress and anxiety compared with nursing students in traditional four-year nursing programs due to the compressed and fast-paced format of the ABN curriculum. Qualitative data points to a growing awareness of the high stress associated with ABN programs and the need for adaptive coping strategies, yet few interventional studies have been reported for this population. HRVB reduces autonomic reactivity and regulates homeostatic physiologic mechanisms, which can lead to decreased stress and anxiety, and increased resilience. Interventions such as HRVB are needed for ABN students in order to promote adaptive coping strategies and increase resilience pre-licensure.Methods. Thirty-two students from a nationally accredited nursing program in the upper Midwest region of the U.S. in term four of their ABN curriculum were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: HRVB intervention group or wait-list control group. All participants were given pre- and post-intervention surveys, including demographic information, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE), and the Resilience Scale (RS). HRVB intervention group participants received HRVB training and the use of a personal HRVB device from the Primary Investigator.Results. Findings indicated that HRVB significantly decreased perceived stress (t = 2.8588, p = 0.003832, α = .05), as well as significantly increased perceived coping ability (t = -4.012, p = 0.0001846, α = .05), and resilience (t = -2.7787, p = 0.004663, α = .05), in the ABN participants in the HRVB intervention group as compared to the ABN participants in the wait-list control group.Conclusion. Despite the stressors and demands of the ABN curriculum, study findings support the use of HRVB as an intervention to assist ABN students in managing stress and increasing resilience

Prevention of Catastrophic Volcanic Eruptions

Giant volcanic eruptions emit sulphate aerosols as well as volcanic ash. Needless to say that volcanic ash causes significant damage to the environment and human at large. However, the aerosols are even worse. They reach the Stratosphere and stay there for months to years reflecting insolation. As a result, air temperature at the Earth's surfaces drops. Even a slight temperature drop may cause severe food shortage. Yellowstone supervolcano, for example, can even make human in the Northern Hemisphere extinct in several hundred thousand years. Therefore, gradual energy release by supercritical geothermal power generation was proposed to prevent such catastrophic eruptions. The necessary technical innovation is drilling into the depth. However, after the innovation, the power generation itself would be profitable. The risk is unpredicted induction of unwanted catastrophic eruptions.ISERME 2017:International Symposium on Earth Resources Management & Environment. 29-30 August 2017, Colombo, Sri Lank

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using HLA-matched donors for acute myeloid leukemia with deletion 5q or monosomy 5 : a study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT

Deletion 5q or monosomy 5 (-5/5q-) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common high-risk feature that is referred to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, -5/5q- is frequently associated with other high-risk cytogenetic aberrations such as complex karyotype, monosomal karyotype, monosomy 7 (-7), or 17p abnormalities (abn (17p)), the significance of which is unknown. In order to address this question, we studied adult patients with AML harboring -5/5q- having their first allogeneic transplantation between 2000 and 2015. Five hundred and one patients with -5/5q- have been analyzed. Three hundred and thirty-eight patients (67%) were in first remission and 142 (28%) had an active disease at time of allogeneic transplantation. The 2-year probabilities of overall survival and leukemia-free survival were 27% and 20%, respectively. The 2-year probability of treatment-related mortality was 20%. We identified four different cytogenetic groups according to additional abnormalities with prognostic impact: -5/5q- without complex karyotype, monosomal karyotype or abn(17p), -5/5q- within a complex karyotype, -5/5q- within a monosomal karyotype and the combination of -5/5q- with abn(17p). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with worse overall survival and leukemia-free survival across the four groups were active disease, age, monosomal karyotype, and abn(17p). The presence of -5/5q- without monosomal karyotype or abn(17p) was associated with a significantly better survival rate while -5/5q- in conjunction with monosomal karyotype or abn(17p) translated into a worse outcome. The patients harboring the combination of -5/5q- with abn(17p) showed very limited benefit from allogeneic transplantation.Peer reviewe

Differences in mathematical learning between ABN and CBC teaching methods

Resumen: Para prevenir dificultades de aprendizaje de las matemáticas es conveniente emplear metodologías de enseñanza que se adapten al nivel y al ritmo de aprendizaje de los alumnos. Uno de estos métodos es el Algoritmo Abierto Basado en Números (ABN) que se caracteriza por ser flexible, transparente y contextualizado. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue analizar las diferencias existentes en las habilidades matemáticas tempranas evaluadas mediante el TEMT-i entre alumnos instruidos con ABN (n=68) y enseñanza tradicional (n=54). Los resultados muestran diferencias en las ganancias en los distintos componentes evaluados, siendo significativas a favor del grupo experimental en el subtest relacional, y en las habilidades numéricas de estimación y conocimiento general de los números. Differences in mathematical learning between ABN and CBC teaching methods Abstract: To prevent difficulties in learning mathematics is appropriate to use teaching methods that methods that fit the level and rhythm of student learning. One of these methods is the Open Algorithm Based on Numbers (ABN) which is characterized by flexibility, transparency and contextualization. The main objective of this study was to analyze the differences in early math skills assessed by TEMTt-i between students trained with ABN (n = 68) and traditional teaching (n = 54). The results show gains differences in components assessed, being significant in favor of the experimental group in relational subtest, numerical estimation skills and general knowledge of numbers.</jats:p