Using digital and hand printing techniques to compensate for loss: re-establishing colour and texture in historic textiles

Conservators use a range of 'gap filling' techniques to improve the structural stability and presentation of objects. Textile conservators often use fabric supports to provide reinforcement for weak areas of a textile and to provide a visual infill in missing areas. The most common technique is to use dyed fabrics of a single colour but while a plain dyed support provides good reinforcement, it can be visually obtrusive when used with patterned or textured textiles. Two recent postgraduate dissertation projects at the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) have experimented with hand printing and digital imaging techniques to alter the appearance of support fabrics so that they are less visually obtrusive and blend well with the colour and texture of the textile being supported. Case studies demonstrate the successful use of these techniques on a painted hessian rocking horse and a knitted glove from an archaeological context

Dementia in Latin America:Assessing the present and envisioning the future

The demographic structure of Latin American countries (LAC) is fast approaching that of developing countries, and the predicted prevalence of dementia in the former already exceeds the latter. Dementia has been declared a global challenge, yet regions around the world show differences in both the nature and magnitude of such a challenge. This article provides evidence and insights on barriers which, if overcome, would enable the harmonization of strategies to tackle the dementia challenge in LAC. First, we analyze the lack of available epidemiologic data, the need for standardizing clinical practice and improving physician training, and the existing barriers regarding resources, culture, and stigmas. We discuss how these are preventing timely care and research. Regarding specific health actions, most LAC have minimal mental health facilities and do not have specific mental health policies or budgets specific to dementia. In addition, local regulations may need to consider the regional context when developing treatment and prevention strategies. The support needed nationally and internationally to enable a smooth and timely transition of LAC to a position that integrates global strategies is highlighted. We focus on shared issues of poverty, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic vulnerability. We identify avenues for collaboration aimed to study unique populations, improve valid assessment methods, and generate opportunities for translational research, thus establishing a regional network. The issues identified here point to future specific actions aimed at tackling the dementia challenge in LAC.Alzheimer's Society UK grants AS-R42303 AS-SF-14-008 CONICYT-Fondecyt 117001

Brain transcriptome sequencing of a natural model of alzheimer's disease

We acknowledge support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2013–2017,” SEV-2012-0208 and Project PT13/0001/0021 (ISCIII - Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación/FEDER “Una Manera de hacer Europa”)

Dementia in Latin America : paving the way towards a regional action plan

Regional challenges faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) to fight dementia, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instabilities, and socioeconomic disparities, can be addressed more effectively grounded in a collaborative setting based on the open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into actions with transformative power. Then, by characterizing genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions and mapping these to the above challenges, we provide the basic mosaics of knowledge that will pave the way towards a KtAF. We describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF

Uptake of Silver by Jarosite and Natrojarosite Family Compounds at 22 °C, 97 °C and 140 °C

The jarosite family of minerals are part of the alunite supergroup with the general formula AB3(TO4)2(OH)6. Jarosite family minerals are known to incorporate silver (Ag), but the extent to which this occurs, and at what temperature range, is not well constrained. To address this knowledge gap, jarosite compounds with the A site filled with K, Na, Ag and H3O were synthesised at 22 °C, 97 °C and 140 °C to simulate low-, moderate- and high-temperature environments, respectively. The compounds were characterised by XRD, SEM, chemical analysis and Raman spectroscopy. All of the synthesised compounds took up Ag. In general, higher temperatures of synthesis increased alkali and Ag occupancy of the A site of the products. Silver contents increased with the increasing concentration of Ag in the starting solutions at all temperatures. The order of preference for occupancy of the A site in the synthesised solids is K &gt; Na &gt; H3O &gt; Ag at all temperatures, which is consistent with the reported order of ΔGf of −3309 kJ/mol, −3270 kJ/mol, −3247 kJ/mol and −2948 kJ/mol for jarosite, natrojarosite, hydroniumjarosite and argentojarosite, respectively. The results of this study show that Ag can be incorporated in jarosite and natrojarosite at low-to-high temperatures, and therefore, jarosite family minerals can be important stores of Ag in in natural and engineered environments.</jats:p

Neurulation and neural tube closure defects

Tuan, R.S., Lo, C.W. (eds).The purpose of this chapter is to summarize some technical approaches and aspects of interpretation that are important when studying the process of neurulation and the origin of neural tube defects in mouse embryos. The techniques are not exclusive to studies of neurulation, so few protocols are described in practical detail. Instead, we emphasize the overall type of approach that appears most effective and give tips on the best application of standard techniques such as those described elsewhere in this and other volumes.Peer reviewe

Reversal of behavioural phenotype by the cannabinoid-like compound VSN16R in fragile X syndrome mice

Abstract Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited intellectual disability and mono-genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition occurring due to a CGG trinucleotide expansion in the FMR1 gene. Polymorphisms and variants in large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are increasingly linked to intellectual disability and loss of FMR protein causes reduced large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity leading to abnormalities in synapse function. Using the cannabinoid-like large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activator VSN16R we rescued behavioural deficits such as repetitive behaviour, hippocampal dependent tests of daily living, hyperactivity and memory in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. VSN16R has been shown to be safe in a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and in a phase 2 study in patients with multiple sclerosis with high oral bioavailability and no serious adverse effects reported. VSN16R could therefore be directly utilized in a fragile X syndrome clinical study. Moreover, VSN16R showed no evidence of tolerance, which strongly suggests that chronic VSN16R may have great therapeutic value for fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. This study provides new insight into the pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome and identifies a new pathway for drug intervention for this debilitating disorder.</jats:p

Brain Transcriptome Sequencing of a Natural Model of Alzheimer's Disease

We acknowledge support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2013–2017,” SEV-2012-0208 and Project PT13/0001/0021 (ISCIII - Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación/FEDER “Una Manera de hacer Europa”)

Genome Sequencing Variations in the Octodon degus, an Unconventional Natural Model of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

The degu (Octodon degus) is a diurnal long-lived rodent that can spontaneously develop molecular and behavioral changes that mirror those seen in human aging. With age some degu, but not all individuals, develop cognitive decline and brain pathology like that observed in Alzheimer's disease including neuroinflammation, hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid plaques, together with other co-morbidities associated with aging such as macular degeneration, cataracts, alterations in circadian rhythm, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the degu genome, which revealed unique features and molecular adaptations consistent with aging and Alzheimer's disease. We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with Alzheimer's disease including a novel apolipoprotein E (Apoe) gene variant that correlated with an increase in amyloid plaques in brain and modified the in silico predicted degu APOE protein structure and functionality. The reported genome of an unconventional long-lived animal model of aging and Alzheimer's disease offers the opportunity for understanding molecular pathways involved in aging and should help advance biomedical research into treatments for Alzheimer's disease.</jats:p