The feasibility and effects of eye movement training for visual field loss after stroke: a mixed methods study

Acknowledgements The author(s) would like to thank the designers of all included scanning training tools for providing free access during this study. They wish to note that MyHappyNeuron is designed for a general population, and a version specifically for healthcare use (HappyNeuron Pro) is also available. We would also like to thank the low vision centres and rehabilitation officers involved in this study Funding This study was funded by the Stroke Association (UK) by way of a Junior Research and Training Fellowship held by the lead author (TSA JRTF 2011/02). MCB, AP and the NMAHP Research Unit are funded by the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funders.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Molecular Mechanisms Driving Switch Behavior in Xylem Cell Differentiation.

Plant xylem cells conduct water and mineral nutrients. Although most plant cells are totipotent, xylem cells are unusual and undergo terminal differentiation. Many genes regulating this process are well characterized, including the Vascular-related NAC Domain 7 (VND7), MYB46, and MYB83 transcription factors, which are proposed to act in interconnected feedforward loops (FFLs). Less is known regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying the terminal transition to xylem cell differentiation. Here, we generate whole-root and single-cell data, which demonstrate that VND7 initiates sharp switching of root cells to xylem cell identity. Based on these data, we identified 4 candidate VND7 downstream target genes capable of generating this switch. Although MYB46 responds to VND7 induction, it is not among these targets. This system provides an important model to study the emergent properties that may give rise to totipotency relative to terminal differentiation and reveals xylem cell subtypes

Cerebral organoids derived from Sandhoff disease-induced pluripotent stem cells exhibit impaired neurodifferentiation

Sandhoff disease, one of the GM2 gangliosidoses, is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the absence of beta-hexosaminidase A and B activity and the concomitant lysosomal accumulation of its substrate, GM2 ganglioside. It features catastrophic neurodegeneration and death in early childhood. How the lysosomal accumulation of ganglioside might affect the early development of the nervous system is not understood. Recently, cerebral organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have illuminated early developmental events altered by disease processes. To develop an early neurodevelopmental model of Sandhoff disease, we first generated iPS cells from the fibroblasts of an infantile Sandhoff disease patient, then corrected one of the mutant HEXB alleles in those iPS cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology, thereby creating isogenic controls. Next, we used the parental Sandhoff disease iPS cells and isogenic HEXB-corrected iPS cell clones to generate cerebral organoids that modeled the first trimester of neurodevelopment. The Sandhoff disease organoids, but not the HEXB-corrected organoids, accumulated GM2 ganglioside and exhibited increased size and cellular proliferation compared with the HEXB-corrected organoids. Whole-transcriptome analysis demonstrated that development was impaired in the Sandhoff disease organoids, suggesting that alterations in neuronal differentiation may occur during early development in the GM2 gangliosidoses

Communication Services and Supports for Individuals With Severe Disabilities: Guidance for Assessment and Intervention

The National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of People with Severe Disabilities (NJC) reviewed literature regarding practices for people with severe disabilities in order to update guidance provided in documents originally published in 1992. Changes in laws, definitions, and policies that affect communication attainments by persons with severe disabilities are presented, along with guidance regarding assessment and intervention practices. A revised version of the Communication Bill of Rights, a powerful document that describes the communication rights of all individuals, including those with severe disabilities is included in this article. The information contained within this article is intended to be used by professionals, family members, and individuals with severe disabilities to inform and advocate for effective communication services and opportunities

Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium focus group Study of Habits, Attitudes, Realities, and Experiences of Bladder health

AimThe study purpose is to explore adolescent and adult women’s experiences, perceptions, beliefs, knowledge and behaviours related to bladder health across the life course using a socioecological perspective. Lower urinary tract symptoms affect between 20-40% of young adult to middle-aged women, with symptoms increasing in incidence and severity with aging. There is limited evidence to address bladder health promotion and prevention of dysfunction. This first study of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium is designed to address gaps in existing qualitative research in this area.DesignThis focus group study will be implemented across seven geographically diverse United States research centres using a semi-structured focus group guide informed by a conceptual framework based on the socioecological model.MethodsThe study was approved in July 2017. A total of 44 focus groups composed of 6-8 participants representing six different age categories (ranging from 11 to over 65 years) will be completed. We aim to recruit participants with diverse demographic and personal characteristics including race, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, urban/rural residence, physical/health conditions, and urinary symptom experience. Six of the focus groups will be conducted in Spanish and translated into English. Focus group transcripts will undergo content analysis and data interpretation to identify and classify themes and articulate emerging themes.DiscussionThis foundational qualitative study seeks to develop an evidence base to inform future research on bladder health promotion in adolescent and adult women.ImpactThis study has the potential to provide new insights and understanding into adolescent and adult women’s lived experience of bladder health, the experience of lower urinary symptoms and knowledge and beliefs across the life course.ç ®ç æ ¬ç  ç©¶ç ç ®ç æ ¯ä» ç¤¾ä¼ ç æ å­¦ç è§ åº¦,æ ¢è®¨é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¥³æ §å ¨äººç è¿ ç¨ ä¸­ä¸ è è ±å ¥åº·ç ¸å ³ç ç» éª ã è§ å¿µã 信念ã ç ¥è¯ å è¡ ä¸ºã ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶å½±å 20-40%ç 中é å¹´å¥³æ §,é ç å¹´é¾ ç å¢ é ¿,ç ç ¶ç å ç ç å 严é ç¨ åº¦é ½å ¨å¢ é ¿ã å ³äº ä¿ è¿ è è ±å ¥åº·å é¢ é ²å è ½é ç¢ ç è¯ æ ®æ é ã æ ¬æ¬¡é¢ é ²ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶(PLUS)ç  ç©¶è ç ç ç  ç©¶æ ¯é¦ ä¸ªå ³äº æ­¤æ ¹é ¢ç ç  ç©¶,æ ¨å ¨è§£å ³ç °æ ç å® æ §ç  ç©¶å ¨è¿ æ ¹é ¢ç å·®è· ã è®¾è®¡è¯¥é¡¹ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç  ç©¶å° å ¨ä¸ ä¸ªä¸ å ä½ ç½®ç ç¾ å ½ç  ç©¶ä¸­å¿ è¿ è¡ ,ä»¥å ºäº ç¤¾ä¼ ç æ 模å æ¦ å¿µæ¡ æ ¶ç å ç» æ å ç ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» æ å 为æ 导ã æ ¹æ³ è¯¥ç  ç©¶äº 2017å¹´7æ è ·å¾ æ ¹å ã ç ±6-8å 代表6ä¸ªä¸ å å¹´é¾ ç±»å «(ä» 11å² å °65å² ä»¥ä¸ )ç å ä¸ è ç» æ å ±44ä¸ªç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ã æ 们计å æ å ä¸ å äººå £å ä¸ªäººç ¹å¾ ç å ä¸ è ,ä¾ å¦ ç§ æ ã ç§ æ æ¸ æº ã æ è ²ç» å ã ç¤¾ä¼ ç» æµ å °ä½ ã å ä¹¡å± æ° ã èº«ä½ /å ¥åº·ç ¶å µå æ³ å°¿ç³»ç» ç ç ¶ç» å ã å ­ä¸ªç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç ç  ç©¶å° ä»¥è¥¿ç ­ç è¯­è¿ è¡ ,å¹¶ç¿»è¯ æ è ±è¯­ã ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç èª æ ¬å° è¢«ç ¨äº å 容å æ å æ °æ ®è§£é ,ä»¥ç¡®å® å å ç±»ä¸»é¢ ,并é æ æ °å ºç °ç ä¸»é¢ ã è®¨è®ºè¿ é¡¹å ºç¡ æ §ç å® æ §ç  ç©¶æ ¨å ¨ä¸ºæ é« æ ªæ ¥é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¦ å¥³ç è è ±å ¥åº·ç ç  ç©¶æ ä¾ è¯ æ ®å ºç¡ ã å½±å è¿ é¡¹ç  ç©¶æ å ¯è ½æ ä¾ å ³äº é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¦ å¥³ç è è ±å ¥åº·ç ç æ´»ç» éª ,ç» éª ç ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶å ç ¥è¯ å ç æ³ ç 人ç è¿ ç¨ ä¸­æ °ç è§ è§£å ç 解ãPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151981/1/jan14148_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151981/2/jan14148.pd

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in recurrent sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors: Results of a phase 2 trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group: Bevacizumab for Stromal Ovarian Tumors

The Gynecologic Oncology Group conducted this phase II trial to estimate the anti-tumor activity of bevacizumab and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity in patients with recurrent sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary

School Toileting Environment, Bullying, and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a Population of Adolescent and Young Adult Girls:Preventing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Consortium Analysis of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

AIM: Little is known about the association of the school toilet environment with voiding behaviors and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in adolescents. The purpose of the present longitudinal, secondary data analysis is to examine whether the school toilet environment at age 13, including bullying, is associated with LUTS at ages 13 and 19. METHODS: The sample comprised 3962 female participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). At age 13, participants reported on 7 school toilet environment characteristics and a range of LUTS items. At age 19, participants completed the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-BFLUTS) questionnaire. RESULTS: All toilet environmental factors were associated with at least one LUTS outcome at age 13. Holding behavior was associated with all school toilet environmental factors, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.36 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.76) for dirty toilets to 2.38 (95% CI: 1.60, 3.52) for feeling bullied at toilets. Bullying was associated with all LUTS symptoms; ORs ranged from 1.60 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.07) for nocturia to 2.90 (95% CI: 1.77, 4.75) for urgency. Associations between age 13 school toilets and age 19 LUTS were in the same direction as age 13 LUTS. CONCLUSION: This is the first examination of associations between school toilets and LUTS. Toileting environments were cross-sectionally associated with LUTS in adolescent girls. While further work is needed to determine whether these associations are causal, school toilet environments are modifiable and thus a promising target for LUTS prevention

Twenty Years of Communication Intervention Research With Individuals Who Have Severe Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This literature review was conducted to evaluate the current state of evidence supporting communication interventions for individuals with severe disabilities. Authors reviewed 116 articles published between 1987 and 2007 in refereed journals meeting three criteria: (a) described a communication intervention, (b) involved one or more participants with severe disabilities, and (c) addressed one or more areas of communication performance. Many researchers failed to report treatment fidelity or to assess basic aspects of intervention effects including generalization, maintenance, and social validity. The evidence reviewed indicates that 96% of the studies reported positive changes in some aspects of communication. These findings support the provision of communication intervention to persons with severe disabilities. Gaps in the research were reported with recommendations for future research

Post-operative exercises after breast cancer surgery: results of a RCT evaluating standard care versus standard care plus additional yoga exercise

Introduction: There is a lack of standardisation in the guidelines for post-operative exercises following breast cancer surgery. Adherence to exercise programmes is low, and complementary therapies such as yoga often appeal to patients and may encourage practise. A step-by-step guide to yoga DVD was evaluated in addition to the standard care exercises (SC) compared to SC alone. Methods: Women with early-stage breast cancer were randomised to SC plus or minus a yoga DVD for 10-weeks. Patient-reported outcomes were collected at baseline, 10 weeks and 6 months. The primary study-endpoint was the Trial Outcome Index (TOI) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Breast; a recognised quality of life (QoL) tool with an arm morbidity subscale (FACT-B+4). Results: 92/103 (89%) women were randomised to the study. The SC group reported practising post-operative exercises more often than the yoga DVD group. There was a 69% improvement from baseline in FACT-B+4 TOI, which included an arm subscale, at 10 weeks and 6 months in the SC group. This was 62% and 81% respectively for the yoga DVD group. Numbness in the affected arm was greater in the SC group (OR= 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.6) and in patients receiving chemotherapy (OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1, 4.6). Despite no group differences, 74% of women would definitely recommend following the yoga DVD after surgery. Conclusions: Practising post-operative exercises does improve arm and shoulder morbidity following breast cancer surgery. The addition of a self-practise general yoga programme was well received and appeared to improve QoL at 6 months

Projecting ocean acidification impacts for the Gulf of Maine to 2050: new tools and expectations

© The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Siedlecki, S. A., Salisbury, J., Gledhill, D. K., Bastidas, C., Meseck, S., McGarry, K., Hunt, C. W., Alexander, M., Lavoie, D., Wang, Z. A., Scott, J., Brady, D. C., Mlsna, I., Azetsu-Scott, K., Liberti, C. M., Melrose, D. C., White, M. M., Pershing, A., Vandemark, D., Townsend, D. W., Chen, C,. Mook, W., Morrison, R. Projecting ocean acidification impacts for the Gulf of Maine to 2050: new tools and expectations. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 9(1), (2021): 00062, https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00062.Ocean acidification (OA) is increasing predictably in the global ocean as rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide lead to higher oceanic concentrations of inorganic carbon. The Gulf of Maine (GOM) is a seasonally varying region of confluence for many processes that further affect the carbonate system including freshwater influences and high productivity, particularly near the coast where local processes impart a strong influence. Two main regions within the GOM currently experience carbonate conditions that are suboptimal for many organisms—the nearshore and subsurface deep shelf. OA trends over the past 15 years have been masked in the GOM by recent warming and changes to the regional circulation that locally supply more Gulf Stream waters. The region is home to many commercially important shellfish that are vulnerable to OA conditions, as well as to the human populations whose dependence on shellfish species in the fishery has continued to increase over the past decade. Through a review of the sensitivity of the regional marine ecosystem inhabitants, we identified a critical threshold of 1.5 for the aragonite saturation state (Ωa). A combination of regional high-resolution simulations that include coastal processes were used to project OA conditions for the GOM into 2050. By 2050, the Ωa declines everywhere in the GOM with most pronounced impacts near the coast, in subsurface waters, and associated with freshening. Under the RCP 8.5 projected climate scenario, the entire GOM will experience conditions below the critical Ωa threshold of 1.5 for most of the year by 2050. Despite these declines, the projected warming in the GOM imparts a partial compensatory effect to Ωa by elevating saturation states considerably above what would result from acidification alone and preserving some important fisheries locations, including much of Georges Bank, above the critical threshold.This research was financially supported by the Major Special Projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2016YFC020600), the Young Scholars Science Foundation of Lanzhou Jiaotong University (2018033), and the Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Projects of Lanzhou (2018-RC-84)