Language-Related Skills in Bilingual Children With Specific Learning Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand the characteristics of the language-related skills of bilingual children with specific learning disorders (SLD). The aim is achieved by analyzing language-related skills in a sample of bilingual (Italian plus another language) and Italian monolingual children, with and without SLD. Patients and methods: A total of 72 minors aged between 9 and 11 were recruited and divided into four groups: 18 Italian monolingual children with SLD, 18 bilingual children with SLD, 18 Italian monolingual children without SLD, and 18 bilingual children without SLD. Each child underwent tests to evaluate different aspects of language skills: lexical and grammar, metalanguage and executive functions. Results: With regard to lexical and grammatical skills, the conditions of SLD and bilingualism both impact naming in terms of total number of errors for words with low frequency of use, while the condition of SLD has an effect on semantic errors for words with low frequency of use. The condition of bilingualism impacts on the total errors for words with high frequency of use and on circumlocution-type errors for words with low frequency of use. There were significant effects of bilingualism and SLD on the metalinguistic test for understanding implicit meaning, and an impact of SLD on phonological awareness was also found. Conclusion: The results suggest that both SLD and bilingualism have an effect on some lexical skills, in particular for words with low frequency of use. Both conditions, bilingualism and SLD, seem to impact on metalinguistic abilities that depend on lexical knowledge. These findings reinforce the importance of improving understanding of the neuropsychological profile of bilingual children with SLD

Inhibition of de novo ceramide biosynthesis affects aging phenotype in an in vitro model of neuronal senescence.

Although aging is considered to be an unavoidable event, recent experimental evidence suggests that the process can be counteracted. Intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) dyshomeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and lipid dysregulation are critical factors that contribute to senescence-related processes. Ceramides, a pleiotropic class of sphingolipids, are important mediators of cellular senescence, but their role in neuronal aging is still largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of L-cycloserine (L-CS), an inhibitor of thede novoceramide biosynthesis, on the aging phenotype of cortical neurons cultured for 22 days, a setting employed as anin vitromodel of senescence. Our findings indicate that, compared to control cultures, 'aged' neurons display dysregulation of [Ca2+]ilevels, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), altered synaptic activity as well as the activation of neuronal death-related molecules. Treatment with L-CS positively affected the senescent phenotype, a result associated with recovery of neuronal [Ca2+]isignaling and reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS generation. The results suggest that thede novoceramide biosynthesis represents a critical intermediate in the molecular and functional cascade leading to neuronal senescence and identify ceramide biosynthesis inhibitors as promising pharmacological tools to decrease age-related neuronal dysfunctions

The pharmacological perturbation of brain zinc impairs BDNF-related signaling and the cognitive performances of young mice.

Zinc (Zn2+) is a pleiotropic modulator of the neuronal and brain activity. The disruption of intraneuronal Zn2+ levels triggers neurotoxic processes and affects neuronal functioning. In this study, we investigated how the pharmacological modulation of brain Zn2+ affects synaptic plasticity and cognition in wild-type mice. To manipulate brain Zn2+ levels, we employed the Zn2+ (and copper) chelator 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline (clioquinol, CQ). CQ was administered for two weeks to 2.5-month-old (m.o.) mice, and effects studied on BDNF-related signaling, metalloproteinase activity as well as learning and memory performances. CQ treatment was found to negatively affect short- and long-term memory performances. The CQ-driven perturbation of brain Zn2+ was found to reduce levels of BDNF, synaptic plasticity-related proteins and dendritic spine density in vivo. Our study highlights the importance of choosing "when", "where", and "how much" in the modulation of brain Zn2+ levels. Our findings confirm the importance of targeting Zn2+ as a therapeutic approach against neurodegenerative conditions but, at the same time, underscore the potential drawbacks of reducing brain Zn2+ availability upon the early stages of development

The Detection of Incipient Caries with Tracer Dyes

The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in color contrast produced by the use of a tracer dye in detection of incipient caries lesions with transillumination. Twenty four caries-free first premolars were immersed in an acid gelatin for production of artificial incipient caries lesions. After the lesions had developed, these teeth were photographed by transillumination. Two photographs were taken of each tooth. The first photograph showed the lesion without dye. A blue tracer dye was then added and absorbed by the lesion, and a second photograph was taken. The data on the color difference were obtained by use of a reflectance colorimeter and showed a four-fold increase between the lesion and surrounding area with the dye. A two-way analysis of variance was used for the statistical interpretation. The color difference between the lesion without the dye and then with the dye was significant. The use of the blue tracer dye, therefore, significantly increased the contrast in the images of the artificial incipient lesions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68289/2/10.1177_00220345890680021101.pd

Інновації у технологіях приготування страв із використанням нетрадиційної сировини

The priority direction of the development of food industries of the 21st century is the production of healthy-prophylactic, functional purpose food, which get due to using the innovation technologies and also the use of non- traditional plant raw materials, including the wild plants, with the aim improving the qualitative adequacy of food rations namely ensuring compliance their chemical composition to the physiological needs of human body, improvement of their taste, aroma and other properties. Nowadays, the action of biologically active substances of plant origin for the creation of dishes with a health-improving, preventive functional effect remains insufficiently studied. Therefore, one of new recipes with an improved composition of raw materials, and also using new methods of processing and preparation of products which will allows to keep all nutrients and enriching the body with the necessary nutrients. In this context, in order to expand the range of dishes, we searched for non-traditional raw materials with a significant content of biologically active substances among the biodiversity of the vegetation of the Carpathian region and improved the technologies for the introduction them into Ukrainian cuisine. The properties of non-traditional raw materials of local origin are considered and proposed the priority of directions its use in the development of dishes with health-improving properties for sanatorium – resort complex and restaurants. Changes have been made to innovative manufacturing technologies dishes using traditional vegetable raw materials. Llingonberry and cranberry berries, and green leaves of stinging nettle were used as innovative ingredients taken to improve and expand the assortment of dishes with health-improving properties. Using innovative ingredients with the application of high technologies expands the possibilities of obtaining a technologically new product enriched with biologically active substances, macro- and micronutrients, vitamins, dietary fibers, and other functional additives. The nutritional and biological value of food products using unconventional raw materials of plant origin is given, and the priority directions of its use in the development of dishes with health-improving properties for sanatorium-resort complexes and restaurant establishments of the Western region of Ukraine are proposed.Пріоритетним напрямом розвитку харчових виробництв  ХХІ століття є виробництво продуктів харчування оздоровчо-профілактичного і функціонального призначення, які одержують за інноваційними технологіями, а також внаслідок використання нетрадиційної рослинної сировини, в тому числі дикорослої, з метою поліпшення якісної адекватності харчових раціонів, тобто на забезпечення відповідності їхнього хімічного складу фізіологічним потребам організму людини, поліпшення їх смакових, ароматичних та інших властивостей. На сьогодні недостатньо вивченою залишається дія біологічно активних речовин рослинного походження для створення страв оздоровчої, профілактичної та функціональної дії. Тому одним із способів вирішенням цієї проблеми є розробка нових рецептур з удосконаленим складом сировини, а також застосування нових методів обробки і приготування продукції, які дозволять зберегти всі поживні речовини та збагатити організм необхідними нутрієнтами. У цьому контексті з метою розширення асортименту страв проведено пошук нетрадиційної сировини зі значним вмістом біологічно активних речовин серед біорозмаїття рослинного покрову Карпатського регіону та вдосконалено технології щодо їх введення у страви української кухні. Розглянуто властивості нетрадиційної сировини місцевого походження та запропоновано пріоритетні напрямки її використання в розробці страв з оздоровчими властивостями для санаторно-курортних комплексів і закладів ресторанного господарства. Внесено зміни у технології виготовлення інноваційних страв із використанням натрадиційної рослинної сировини. Як інноваційні інгредієнти – взяті для вдосконалення та розширення асортименту страв із оздоровчими властивостями ягоди брусниці та журавлини і зелене листя кропиви дводомної. Використання інноваційних інгредієнтів із використанням високих технологій розширює можливості отримати технологічно новий продукт, збагачений біологічно активними речовинами, макро- і мікронутрієнтами, вітамінами, харчовими волокнами та іншими функціональними добавками. Наведена харчова і біологічна цінність харчових виробів із використанням нетрадиційної сировини рослинного походження та запропоновано пріоритетні напрями її використання в розробці страв з оздоровчими властивостями для санаторно-курортних комплексів і закладів ресторанного господарства західного регіону України

Utjecaj različitih površinski aktivnih tvari i njihovih koncentracija na kontrolirano oslobađanje kaptoprila iz polimernih matriksa

Various methods are available to formulate water soluble drugs into sustained release dosage forms by retarding the dissolution rate. One of the methods used to control drug release and thereby prolong therapeutic activity is to use hydrophilic and lipophilic polymers. In this study, the effects of various polymers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and surfactants (sodium lauryl sulphate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and Arlacel 60) on the release rate of captopril were investigated. The results showed that an increase in the amount of HPMC K15M resulted in reduction of the release rate of captopril from these matrices. When HPMC was partly replaced by NaCMC (the ratio of HPMC/NaCMC was 5:1), the release rate of the drug significantly decreased. However, there was no significant difference in release rate of captopril from matrices produced with ratios of 5:1 and 2:1 of HPMC/NaCMC. The presence of lactose in matrices containing HPMC and NaCMC increased the release rate of captopril. It was interesting to note that although partial replacement of HPMC by EC reduced the release rate of the drug (ratio of HPMC/EC 2:1), the release rate was increased when the ratio of HPMC/EC was reduced to 1:1. The effects of various surfactants on the release rate of captopril from HPMC/EC 1:1 matrices were also investigated. The results showed that the surfactants did not significantly change the release rate of the drug. Release data were examined kinetically and the ideal kinetic models were estimated for the drug release. The kinetic analysis of drug release data from various formulations showed that incorporation of surfactants in HPMC/EC matrices did not produce a zero-order release pattern.Postoje različite metode formuliranja vodotopljivih lijekova u dozirane ljekovite oblike s polaganim oslobađanjem. Jedan od načina postizanja kontroliranog otpuštanja, a prema tome i produljenog učinka je upotreba hidrofilnih i lipofilnih polimera. U ovom radu proučavan je utjecaj različitih polimera poput hidroksipropil metilceluloze (HPMC), etilceluloze (EC) i natrijeve soli karboksimetilceluloze (NaCMC) i površinski aktivnih tvari (natrijevog lauril-sulfata, cetiltrimetilamonijevog bromida i Arlacela 60) na oslobađanje kaptoprila. Rezultati pokazuju da povećanje količine HPMC K15M ima za posljedicu smanjenje oslobađanja kaptoprila iz matriksa. Ako se HPMC djelomično zamijeni s NaCMC (omjer HPMC/NaCMC 5:1), oslobađanje ljekovite tvari značajno se smanjuje. Međutim, nema značajne razlike u oslobađanju kaptoprila iz matriksa s omjerom HPMC/NaCMC 5:1 i 2:1. Prisutnost laktoze u matriksu koji sadrži HPMC i NaCMC povećalo je oslobađanje kaptoprila. Iako djelomična zamjena HPMC s EC smanjuje oslobađanje ljekovite tvari (omjer HPMC/EC 2:1), oslobađanje se povećava uz omjer HPMC/EC 1:1. Nadalje, ispitivan je utjecaj površinski aktivnih tvari na oslobađanje kaptoprila iz matriksa u kojima je omjer HPMC/EC (1:1). Može se zaključiti da površinski aktivne tvari ne utječu značajno na oslobađanje ljekovite tvari. U sklopu istraživanja određen je i kinetički model oslobađanja kaptoprila. Analiza kinetičkih podataka ukazuje da dodatak površinski aktivnih tvari u HPMC/EC matrikse ne slijedi kinetiku nultog reda

A Machine Learning-Based Holistic Approach to Predict the Clinical Course of Patients within the Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition driven by multifactorial etiology. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional condition between healthy aging and dementia. No reliable biomarkers are available to predict the conversion from MCI to AD. Objective: To evaluate the use of machine learning (ML) on a wealth of data offered by the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolomics Consortium (ADMC) database in the prediction of the MCI to AD conversion. Methods: We implemented an ML-based Random Forest (RF) algorithm to predict conversion from MCI to AD. Data related to the study population (587 MCI subjects) were analyzed by RF as separate or combined features and assessed for classification power. Four classes of variables were considered: neuropsychological test scores, AD-related cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, peripheral biomarkers, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables. Results: The ML-based algorithm exhibited 86% accuracy in predicting the AD conversion of MCI subjects. When assessing the features that helped the most, neuropsychological test scores, MRI data, and CSF biomarkers were the most relevant in the MCI to AD prediction. Peripheral parameters were effective when employed in association with neuropsychological test scores. Age and sex differences modulated the prediction accuracy. AD conversion was more effectively predicted in females and younger subjects. Conclusion: Our findings support the notion that AD-related neurodegenerative processes result from the concerted activity of multiple pathological mechanisms and factors that act inside and outside the brain and are dynamically affected by age and sex

Analysis of B. taurus and B. indicus admixture in Uganda as revealed by the Illumina BovineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip

The NextGen project investigates disease resistance in indigenous Ugandan cattle. Since population structure and stratification may produce biased results, We have investigated the genomic structure of sampled animals genotyped with the BovineSNP50 Genotyping Beadchip. A total of 788 animals from 9 populations belonging to Ankole (crossbred between B. indicus and B. taurus), Zebu and Ankole-Zebu crosses have been sampled in 52 grid cells throughout the country (Table 1). We merged this data whit other 400 Italian Holstein Cattle, genotyped in the framework of SELMOL project to seek for a likely introgression of European B. taurus. The data were filtered with the following exclusion criteria: MAF < 0.01, genotype call rate (SNPs) < 0.95, genotype call rate (Animals) < 0.95. The resulting working dataset were composed of 43494 SNPs and 1188 animals. Hidden genetic structures were investigated by a Bayesian clustering approach with the ADMIXTURE software (Novembre et al. 2010). The software Admixture identified four ancestral genomic components. Three of them likely correspond to European taurine, African indicine and African taurine components (Figure 2). The fourth has a still unidentified origin (Yellow, Figure 2d). Most Ugandan individuals investigated have a remarkable level of admixture. Overall, about 20% of the Zebu genome is of African taurine origin, confirming previous data on the foundation of African Zebu. The European taurine (Blue, Figure 2) is a minor component of African genomes, rare in Zebu and evenly distributed in Ankole, other taurine subgroups and Ankole- Zebu crosses. Indicine and taurine components show a clear geographical structure, the former being predominant in north-eastern Uganda, and the latter in the south-west. Holstein Fresian introgression is spread mostly in south-western Uganda, while the fourth component is located in restricted geographical area in the East (Figure 3). The Ugandan cattle population is a complex admixture of African taurine (green in Figure 2) and zebuine (red) genomes, with a minor component of European origin (blue) and a rare but relevant contribution (yellow) from a still unidentified source. This complexity is to be accounted for in the following GWAS and selection signatures analyses planned within the NextGen project

An atlas of genetic scores to predict multi-omic traits

The use of omic modalities to dissect the molecular underpinnings of common diseases and traits is becoming increasingly common. But multi-omic traits can be genetically predicted, which enables highly cost-effective and powerful analyses for studies that do not have multi-omics1. Here we examine a large cohort (the INTERVAL study2; n = 50,000 participants) with extensive multi-omic data for plasma proteomics (SomaScan, n = 3,175; Olink, n = 4,822), plasma metabolomics (Metabolon HD4, n = 8,153), serum metabolomics (Nightingale, n = 37,359) and whole-blood Illumina RNA sequencing (n = 4,136), and use machine learning to train genetic scores for 17,227 molecular traits, including 10,521 that reach Bonferroni-adjusted significance. We evaluate the performance of genetic scores through external validation across cohorts of individuals of European, Asian and African American ancestries. In addition, we show the utility of these multi-omic genetic scores by quantifying the genetic control of biological pathways and by generating a synthetic multi-omic dataset of the UK Biobank3 to identify disease associations using a phenome-wide scan. We highlight a series of biological insights with regard to genetic mechanisms in metabolism and canonical pathway associations with disease; for example, JAK-STAT signalling and coronary atherosclerosis. Finally, we develop a portal ( https://www.omicspred.org/ ) to facilitate public access to all genetic scores and validation results, as well as to serve as a platform for future extensions and enhancements of multi-omic genetic scores