Transportation Asset Exposure, Adaptation Alternatives, and Infrastructure Resilience: Steering Committee Project Appraisal

PDF of powerpoint presentation at the workshop The Economic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise in Hampton Roads: An Appraisal of the Projects Underway on May 18, 2016 at the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center, 1030 University Blvd, Suffolk, VA 2343

Physical activity levels in female rheumatoid arthritis patients on long term anti-TNF therapy compared to patients with active rheumatoid disease and healthy controls. [Abstract]

Background: Anti-TNF therapy has revolutionised the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with rapid and sustained improvements in pain, function and quality of life. However, we do not know how this impacts upon habitual daily physical activity and whether treated patients attain activity levels seen in healthy controls. This study aimed to compare the physical activity levels of patients whose RA was well controlled on long-term anti-TNF therapy to RA patients with active arthritis and non-RA controls. Methods: Participants were patients on anti-TNF for more than two years (tRA) with DAS3.2 (aRA) and healthy controls (C), matched for age and BMI. Physical activity was assessed using the Actigraph GT3x+ accelerometer, worn throughout waking hours for seven days to determine time spent in light activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was also completed. Groups were compared using analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc tests; Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U- test as appropriate. Results: RA disease duration was significantly greater in tRA than aRA. Groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight or body mass index (Table). Daily step count was significantly lower in aRA than tRA and C. Sedentary time (as a proportion of wear time) was significantly greater in aRA than tRA, whilst the reverse was true for light activity time. MVPA time was significantly lower in both RA groups than in controls. IPAQ questionnaires demonstrated significant differences between groups, with substantially higher values in C than RA groups in total METs and MET-minutes per week in domestic and garden, leisure, walking activities as well as total moderate and vigorous activities. RA patients had lower moderate to vigorous activity time than controls, regardless of treatment. aRA had lower light activity time, and more sedentary time, than tRA Conclusion: Moderate to vigorous physical activity should be promoted in all RA patients as even those with well controlled disease exhibit a deficit in comparison to control

Physical activity and sedentary behavior in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison of patients with low and high disease activity and healthy controls

Objective: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, low levels of physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary behavior (SB) may play a role in enhancing cardiovascular risk. We do not know how long-term control of disease activity impacts upon daily PA levels and if treated patients attain PA levels seen in healthy controls. We therefore compared habitual levels of PA and SB between female RA patients with low disease activity achieved by anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, those with active arthritis (aRA) and non-RA controls. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional comparison of 40 RA patients on anti-TNF therapy for >2 years with DAS28<3.2 (tRA), 32 patients on conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with DAS28>3.2 (aRA) and 34 healthy controls (C) with the groups matched for age and body mass index. PA was assessed using the ActiGraph accelerometer to determine step count and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light activity and sedentary time. Results: Daily step count was 72% higher in tRA and 40% higher in C in comparison to aRA (p<0.01). Sedentary time (as a proportion of wear time) was 10% less in tRA than aRA (p=0.03), while light activity time was 18% higher (p=0.014). Both RA groups had 40% lower MVPA time than C (p=0.001). Only half of either RA group fulfilled current WHO guidelines for PA compared with 82% of controls. Conclusion: RA patients who had long-term disease suppression were more physically active with less SB compared to RA patients with active disease. They had similar light PA and SB to controls although lower MVPA. Behavioral change interventions are likely to be needed in order to restore moderate exercise, further reduce SB and to meet guidelines for daily PA

Relationship between platelet parameters and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Sudden deafness or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHO is defined as sensorineural hearing loss of greater than 30 dB over 3 contiguous puretone frequencies occurring within 3 days' periodObjective: To investigate the relationship of some platelet parameters including platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) with the occurrence of SSNHL.Data source: A PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, OVID, EMBASE and Google Scholar search (date last searchedApril2016) search was done. No restrictions of time, language and location were placed.Study selection: All case-control studies which have been studied the relationship of PC, MPV and PDW with the occurrence of SSNHL were included in the meta-analysis.Data extraction: The required data from selected studies including the title, authors, publication date, location of study, sample size of patients and control groups, number of withdrawals, the mean and standard deviation of PC, MPV and PDW for patients and control groups and the result of different tests were extracted and entered to EX CELL.Data synthesis: A total of 9 case-control studies were r found in our search from them 8 studies have reported mean PC, 7 studies have reported mean MPV and 4 studies have reported mean PDW. Our analysis showed that mean PC of patients is 0.03 (-0.14-0.20) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is not statistically significant. Also, mean MPV of patients is 0.31 (-0.03-0.65) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is statistically not significant too. Finally, mean PDW of patients is 0.70 (0.03- 1.37) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is statistically significant.Conclusions: Our study confirmed only the probable relationship of PDW and SSNHL but due to the limited studies on this subject more studies is needed

Content Analysis of the Omani Sciences Textbooks of Grades (5-8) in the Light of TIMSS 2019 Requirements

ملخص: هدف البحث إلى تحديد متطلبات دراسة التوجهات الدولية للرياضيات والعلوم (TIMSS 2019) والتعرف على مدى تضمين محتوى كتب العلوم للصفوف (5-8) الأساسي في سلطنة عمان لمتطلبات (TIMSS 2019) لبعد المحتوى فقط. استخدم البحث أسلوب تحليل المحتوى للإجابة عن أسئلة البحث، وقد اشتمل مجتمع الدراسة على جميع كتب العلوم من الصف الخامس إلى الثامن الأساسي بالإضافة إلى كتاب النشاط للعام الدراسي 2021-2022. تم تحديد قائمة المتطلبات وتنظيمها في أداة الدراسة، وبعد التأكد من صدقها وثباتها تم إجراء التحليل وجمع البيانات وتحليلها إحصائياً باستخدام التكرارات والنسب المئوية. أظهرت نتائج الدراسة اختلافا بين النسب المتضمنة والنسب المحددة وفق متطلبات TIMSS 2019 وفي جميع الصفوف من (5-8)، حيث تم تضمين ما نسبته (14.2%) فقط من متطلبات TIMSS 2019 في كتاب الصف الخامس الأساسي، ونسبة (27.4%) في كتاب الصف السادس، ونسبة (56،6%) في الصف السابع، ونسبة (36.8%) في الصف الثامن. وعند دراسة نسبة تضمين معايير TIMSS 2019 بشكل تراكمي في الصفوف (5-8)، وجد أن هناك تماثلاً في النسبة في مجال الأحياء، وفرقاً مقداره (4.5%) في مجال الكيمياء، وفرقاً في مجال الفيزياء مقداره (13.5%)، وفرقاً مقداره (9.5%) في مجال علوم الأرض. توصي الدراسة بإعادة النظر في محتوى كتب العلوم للصفوف (5-8) في سلطنة عمان وتضمين متطلبات TIMSS 2019 الناقصة في محتوى كتب العلوم لهذه الصفوف.Abstract: The current study aimed to determine the requirements of Trends of International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2019) and to find out the extent to which the content of science textbooks for grades (5-8) in the Sultanate of Oman includes the requirements of (TIMSS 2019). Only the content dimension has been taken into account when conducting the content analysis. The study population includes all science books from the fifth to the eighth grade for the academic year 2021-2022. The study identified and organized the requirements in the study tool, and after confirming its validity and reliability, the analysis was performed, and data were collected and analyzed statistically using frequencies and percentages. The results showed a general lack of inclusion of TIMSS 2019 requirements in all grades (5-8), with )14.15% (of TIMSS 2019 requirements included in the fifth grade and 27.36%in the sixth grade, and 56,60% in the seventh grade and 36,79%&nbsp; in the eighth grade. When studying the cumulative inclusion of TIMSS 2019 standards in classes (5-8) it was found that there was a similarity in the ratio in biology, a 4.5 % difference in chemistry, a 13.5 % (difference in physics, and a 9.5 % difference in Earth sciences. The study recommends reconsidering the content of science books for grades (5-8) in the Sultanate of Oman and including the missing requirements of (TIMSS 2019) in the content of science books for these grades and benefiting from the tool that was prepared to apply it to current and future science books

RNPC1 modulates the RNA-binding activity of, and cooperates with, HuR to regulate p21 mRNA stability

P21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, plays a pivotal role in the cell-cycle regulation in response to stress stimuli. P21 expression is highly regulated through transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. Previously, we and others showed that p21 expression is regulated through p21 mRNA stability by RNPC1, a target of the p53 family and HuR, a member of the ELAV family RNA-binding proteins. HuR carries three highly conserved RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) whereas RNPC1 carries one. Here we found that the ability of RNPC1 to regulate p21 mRNA stability is dependent on HuR. We also found that RNPC1 and HuR physically interact, and the RRM domain in RNPC1 and RRM3 in HuR are necessary for their interaction. Interestingly, we found that RNPC1 and HuR, both of which can bind AU-rich elements (AREs) in p21 3′-UTR, preferentially bind the upstream and downstream AREs, respectively. Finally, we showed that the RNA-binding activity of HuR to p21 transcript was enhanced by RNPC1 in vitro and in vivo. Together, we hypothesize that RNPC1 modulates the RNA-binding activity of, and cooperates with, HuR to regulate p21 mRNA stability

Resistance of stem-like cells from neuroblastoma cell lines to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents

Background Cancer stem cell theory suggests that the presence of tumor initiating stem-like cells in cancers may be responsible for cancer progression and relapse. CD133 cell surface maker expression has been used to identify stem-like cells in cancer cell lines. Our goal was to identify such cells in neuroblastoma cell lines and to study the cytotoxicity of common anticancer drugs for those cells. Materials and Methods CD133+ cells from SK-N-SH and SK-N-BE cell lines were isolated using magnetic microbeads. Cytotoxicity of four anticancer drugs was studied on CD133+ and CD133− populations. The percentage of live, apoptotic, and dead cells in each population after drug treatment was estimated by MTT and PI/Annexin-binding assays. Western blot analyses were used to identify differences in the expression of kinases. Results Eight to 10% of SK-N-SH and 3–5% of SK-N-BE cells were CD133+. These cells were more resistant than CD133− cells to all four chemotherapeutic agents tested in the MTT assay. Decreased apoptosis was observed in CD133+ cells compared to CD133− cells by PI/Annexin V-binding assay. Western blot analysis showed that CD133+ cells expressed less MKP-1. Phosphorylated forms of both ERK and P-38 kinases were expressed at higher levels in CD133+ cells than in CD133− cells. Conclusions This study suggests that CD133+ cells are more resistant to anticancer drugs than CD133− cells. Differences in the expression and phosphorylation of kinases could be partially responsible for this difference. Targeting CD133-expressing cells could be a strategy to develop more effective treatments for neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:361–368. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64907/1/22351_ftp.pd

Incomplete and Inaccurate Vocal Imitation after Knockdown of FoxP2 in Songbird Basal Ganglia Nucleus Area X

The gene encoding the forkhead box transcription factor, FOXP2, is essential for developing the full articulatory power of human language. Mutations of FOXP2 cause developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD), a speech and language disorder that compromises the fluent production of words and the correct use and comprehension of grammar. FOXP2 patients have structural and functional abnormalities in the striatum of the basal ganglia, which also express high levels of FOXP2. Since human speech and learned vocalizations in songbirds bear behavioral and neural parallels, songbirds provide a genuine model for investigating the basic principles of speech and its pathologies. In zebra finch Area X, a basal ganglia structure necessary for song learning, FoxP2 expression increases during the time when song learning occurs. Here, we used lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) to reduce FoxP2 levels in Area X during song development. Knockdown of FoxP2 resulted in an incomplete and inaccurate imitation of tutor song. Inaccurate vocal imitation was already evident early during song ontogeny and persisted into adulthood. The acoustic structure and the duration of adult song syllables were abnormally variable, similar to word production in children with DVD. Our findings provide the first example of a functional gene analysis in songbirds and suggest that normal auditory-guided vocal motor learning requires FoxP2

High glucose-induced hyperosmolarity impacts proliferation, cytoskeleton remodeling and migration of human induced pluripotent stem cells via aquaporin-1

Background and objective: Hyperglycemia leads to adaptive cell responses in part due to hyperosmolarity. In endothelial and epithelial cells, hyperosmolarity induces aquaporin-1 (AQP1) which plays a role in cytoskeletal remodeling, cell proliferation and migration. Whether such impairments also occur in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) is not known. We therefore investigated whether high glucose-induced hyperosmolarity impacts proliferation, migration, expression of pluripotency markers and actin skeleton remodeling in iPS cells in an AQP1-dependent manner. Methods and results: Human iPS cells were generated from skin fibroblasts by lentiviral transduction of four reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc). After reprogramming, iPS cells were characterized by their adaptive responses to high glucose-induced hyperosmolarity by incubation with 5.5mmol/L glucose, high glucose (HG) at 30.5mM, or with the hyperosmolar control mannitol (HM). Exposure to either HG or HM increased the expression of AQP1. AQP1 co-immunoprecipitated with beta-catenin. HG and HM induced the expression of beta-catenin. Under these conditions, iPS cells showed increased ratios of F-actin to G-actin and formed increased tubing networks. Inhibition of AQP1 with small interfering RNA (siRNA) reverted the inducing effects of HG and HM. Conclusions: High glucose enhances human iPS cell proliferation and cytoskeletal remodeling due to hyperosmolarity-induced upregulation of AQP1