Air pollution particulate matter exposure and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and measures of white matter injury in a murine model

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient air pollution particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased risk of dementia and accelerated cognitive loss. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment are well recognized. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) promotes neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier weakening, which may augment neurotoxic effects of PM. OBJECTIVES: This study examined interactions of nanoscale particulate matter (nPM; fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter METHODS: nPM was collected using a particle sampler near a Los Angeles, California, freeway. Mice were exposed to 10 wk of reaerosolized nPM or filtered air (FA) for 150 h. CCH was induced by BCAS surgery. Mice (C57BL/6J males) were randomized to four exposure paradigms: RESULTS: The joint DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that nPM and CCH contribute to white matter injury in a synergistic manner in a mouse model. Adverse neurological effects may be aggravated in a susceptible population exposed to air pollution. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8792

Effects of Low-Level Salt Additions on Plant Growth and Implications for Riparian Detrital Processing

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Here\u27s the Dirt: The Newest Recommendations for Garlic Mustard Management

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive plant that has quickly become naturalized throughout most of the United States. Due in part to high reproductive output and the release of chemical compounds that disturb beneficial plant-fungal associations, this species is able to outcompete many native plants. Over the years, different garlic mustard management strategies been prescribed and implemented with varying success. Here we summarize methods for the removal of garlic mustard based on the most recent literature and research conducted in our lab. We aim to provide a series of clear tasks that landowners, stakeholders, and managers may find useful regarding the eradication of garlic mustard

Preliminary analysis of an instructional alternative to exclusionary discipline

37 pagesDecades of research have shown that exclusionary discipline practices are not only ineffective for changing student behavior, they lead to worse social, behavioral, and academic outcomes for students. This article explores the findings from a pilot study of the Inclusive Skill-Building Learning Approach (ISLA), an instructional alternative to exclusionary discipline practices. The purposes of ISLA are to improve student social and behavioral problem-solving, teacher and administrator practices, and student-teacher relationships while also reducing lost instructional time for student excluded from their learning environment. Results from the pilot indicated that implementation of ISLA was associated with reductions in exclusionary discipline practices (Cohen’s h effect sizes ranged from .06 to .18 across schools and outcomes), and a substantial decrease in instructional minutes lost (~ 92%). Educational staff also reported favorable impressions of the intervention. Practical and conceptual implications, limitations of this study, and directions for future research are further discussed.The research reported here was supported by the Fairway Fund, a College of Education Faculty Research Award at the University of Oregon and by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A180006 to the University of Oregon

Gender inequality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: gendered time disparities in perceived and actual time spent in practical laboratory-based activities

This is the final version. Available on open access from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.Lab-based activities provide essential skills for students within STEM disciplines, as lab activities provide students with research skills and science knowledge. Therefore, it is critical to note that female students have reported feeling less confident in conducting lab-based activities and report a lower sense of belonging in the lab. In two studies (N = 544) we examined gender differences in the time that students spent, and perceived they spent, on various laboratory-based activities. We predicted that female (vs. male) students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) would both perceive, and actually spend, less time in practical, science-specific activities, such as using equipment, compared to observing or note-taking. Study 1a (N = 227) was an online, cross-sectional survey where university STEM students reported their perceptions of time spent during lab-based practical activities, and how satisfied they were with their time spent in these activities. Study 1b (N = 318) was an observational study of university practical lab sessions in STEM disciplines. Our findings demonstrated that female (vs. male) students (1) spent more time recording and taking notes during lab sessions, (2) did not perceive, yet actually spent, less time in the lab using equipment, and (3) were equally satisfied with their time in the lab using equipment. Together, these results suggest that women occupy stereotypically gendered roles in the STEM lab, spending less time on activities that are key for their professional development. Furthermore, the fact that students from disciplines with more female participation were more satisfied with their time spent in lab activities can promote the insidious effects of assessing gender participation and equality in STEM through numbers only. The differences in time spent in lab activities-yet the lack of acknowledge of these differences-opens the discussion about how women might be receiving reduced utility from their programmes, and that universities may not be delivering on their obligations to ensure equal access to teaching resource and opportunities

Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic symptoms occur more frequently in the general population than psychotic disorder and index risk for psychopathology. Multiple studies have reported on the prevalence of these symptoms using self-report questionnaires or clinical interviews but there is a lack of consensus about the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among children and adolescents.MethodWe conducted a systematic review of all published literature on psychotic symptom prevalence in two age groups, children aged 9-12 years and adolescents aged 13-18 years, searching through electronic databases PubMed, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO and EMBASE up to June 2011, and extracted prevalence rates. RESULTS: We identified 19 population studies that reported on psychotic symptom prevalence among children and adolescents. The median prevalence of psychotic symptoms was 17% among children aged 9-12 years and 7.5% among adolescents aged 13-18 years. CONCLUSIONS: Psychotic symptoms are relatively common in young people, especially in childhood. Prevalence is higher in younger (9-12 years) compared to older (13-18 years) children

Nanoparticulate matter exposure results in white matter damage and an inflammatory microglial response in an experimental murine model

Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with white matter damage and neurocognitive decline. However, the mechanisms of this injury are not well understood and remain largely uncharacterized in experimental models. Prior studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter (PM), a sub-fraction of air pollution, results in neuroinflammation, specifically the upregulation of inflammatory microglia. This study examines white matter and axonal injury, and characterizes microglial reactivity in the corpus callosum of mice exposed to 10 weeks (150 hours) of PM. Nanoscale particulate matter (nPM, aerodynamic diameter ≤200 nm) consisting primarily of traffic-related emissions was collected from an urban area in Los Angeles. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to either re-aerosolized nPM or filtered air for 5 hours/day, 3 days/week, for 10 weeks (150 hours; n = 18/group). Microglia were characterized by immunohistochemical double staining of ionized calcium-binding protein-1 (Iba-1) with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to identify pro-inflammatory cells, and Iba-1 with arginase-1 (Arg) to identify anti-inflammatory/ homeostatic cells. Myelin injury was assessed by degraded myelin basic protein (dMBP). Oligodendrocyte cell counts were evaluated by oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2). Axonal injury was assessed by axonal neurofilament marker SMI-312. iNOS-expressing microglia were significantly increased in the corpus callosum of mice exposed to nPM when compared to those exposed to filtered air (2.2 fold increase; p\u3c0.05). This was accompanied by an increase in dMBP (1.4 fold increase; p\u3c0.05) immunofluorescent density, a decrease in oligodendrocyte cell counts (1.16 fold decrease; p\u3c0.05), and a decrease in neurofilament SMI-312 (1.13 fold decrease; p\u3c0.05) immunofluorescent density. Exposure to nPM results in increased inflammatory microglia, white matter injury, and axonal degradation in the corpus callosum of adult male mice. iNOS-expressing microglia release cytokines and reactive oxygen/ nitrogen species which may further contribute to the white matter damage observed in this model

The brain recovery core: Building a system of organized stroke rehabilitation and outcomes assessment across the continuum of care

none10siThis Special Interest article describes a multidisciplinary, interinstitutional effort to build an organized system of stroke rehabilitation and outcomes measurement across the continuum of care. This system is focused on a cohort of patients who are admitted with the diagnosis of stroke to our acute facility, are discharged to inpatient and/or outpatient rehabilitation at our free-standing facility, and are then discharged to the community. This article first briefly explains the justification, goals, and purpose of the Brain Recovery Core system. The next sections describe its development and implementation, with details on the aspects related to physical therapy. The article concludes with an assessment of how the Brain Recovery Core system has changed and improved delivery of rehabilitation services. It is hoped that the contents of this article will be useful in initiating discussions and potentially facilitating similar efforts among other centers.mixedLang, Catherine E.; Bland, Marghuretta D.; Connor, Lisa Tabor; Fucetola, Robert; Whitson, Michelle; Edmiaston, Jeff; Karr, Clayton; Sturmoski, Audra; Baty, Jack; Corbetta, MaurizioLang, Catherine E.; Bland, Marghuretta D.; Connor, Lisa Tabor; Fucetola, Robert; Whitson, Michelle; Edmiaston, Jeff; Karr, Clayton; Sturmoski, Audra; Baty, Jack; Corbetta, Maurizi