Flowering plant composition shapes pathogen infection intensity and reproduction in bumble bee colonies.

Pathogens pose significant threats to pollinator health and food security. Pollinators can transmit diseases during foraging, but the consequences of plant species composition for infection is unknown. In agroecosystems, flowering strips or hedgerows are often used to augment pollinator habitat. We used canola as a focal crop in tents and manipulated flowering strip composition using plant species we had previously shown to result in higher or lower bee infection in short-term trials. We also manipulated initial colony infection to assess impacts on foraging behavior. Flowering strips using high-infection plant species nearly doubled bumble bee colony infection intensity compared to low-infection plant species, with intermediate infection in canola-only tents. Both infection treatment and flowering strips reduced visits to canola, but we saw no evidence that infection treatment shifted foraging preferences. Although high-infection flowering strips increased colony infection intensity, colony reproduction was improved with any flowering strips compared to canola alone. Effects of flowering strips on colony reproduction were explained by nectar availability, but effects of flowering strips on infection intensity were not. Thus, flowering strips benefited colony reproduction by adding floral resources, but certain plant species also come with a risk of increased pathogen infection intensity

Engaging Stakeholders as Advisors on the Design of a Large-Scale Calibration Study of the Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI) Item Pools

Introduction People living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in North America are involved in the following as stake holders in research: identifying priorities for research; planning interventions; and implementing rehabilitation or peer-support interventions. The best practice is for partnerships to span the continuum of research. Project purpose: to collaborate with an advisory board of individuals living with SCI, to make recommendations for the methods of a large-scale calibration study of the Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index )SCI-MI). The SCI-MI is being developed as a SCI clinical trial outcome assessment to evaluate the construct of movement in the context of function using item-response theory

Bilateral Upper Extremity Motor Priming (BUMP) Plus Task-specific Training for Severe, Chronic Upper Limb Hemiparesis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Various priming techniques to enhance neuroplasticity have been examined in stroke rehabilitation research. Most priming techniques are costly and approved only for research. Here, we describe a priming technique that is cost-effective and has potential to significantly change clinical practice. Bilateral motor priming uses the Exsurgo priming device (Exsurgo Rehabilitation, Auckland, NZ) so that the less affected limb drives the more affected limb in bilateral symmetrical wrist flexion and extension. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a 5-week protocol of bilateral motor priming in combination with task-specific training on motor impairment of the affected limb, bimanual motor function, and interhemispheric inhibition in moderate to severely impaired people with stroke. METHODS: Seventy-six participants will be randomized to receive either 15, 2-h sessions, 3 times per week for 5 weeks (30 h of intervention) of bilateral motor priming and task-specific training (experimental group) or the same dose of control priming plus the task-specific training protocol. The experimental group performs bilateral symmetrical arm movements via the Exsurgo priming device which allows both wrists to move in rhythmic, symmetrical wrist flexion and extension for 15 min. The goal is one cycle (wrist flexion and wrist extension) per second. The control priming group receives transcutaneous electrical stimulation below sensory threshold for 15 min prior to the same 45 min of task-specific training. Outcome measures are collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up (8 weeks post-intervention). The primary outcome measure is the Fugl-Meyer Test of Upper Extremity Function. The secondary outcome is the Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Index-Nine, an assessment of bimanual functional tasks. DISCUSSION: To date, there are only 6 studies documenting the efficacy of priming using bilateral movements, 4 of which are pilot or feasibility studies. This is the first large-scale clinical trial of bilateral priming plus task-specific training. We have previously completed a feasibility intervention study of bilateral motor priming plus task-specific training and have considerable experience using this protocol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03517657 . Retrospectively registered on May 7, 2018

An Integrative Review of Clinical Outcome Assessments Used to Measure Carryover Effects of Exoskeletons and Functional Electrical Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury

Introduction Functional electrical stimulation (FES) and exoskeletons are rehabilitation technologies that provide direct functional ability and potential carryover effects Carryover effects may be due to neuromuscular recovery, behavioral compensation, or a combination of both (Figure 1) Clinical outcome assessments (COAs) are used to measure recovery of function with and without the device o