Trial and error versus errorless learning of functional skills in patients with acute stroke

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of errorless learning versus trial and error learning for teaching activities of daily living to patients with acute stroke with or without explicit memory impairments. Design: Randomized crossover. Setting: Rehabilitation hospital. Participants: 33 adult subjects following an acute stroke. Intervention: Subjects were taught to prepare a wheelchair for a transfer and to put on a sock with a sock-donner. Tasks were taught using errorless learning or trial and error learning. Explicit memory was assessed using the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Exam. Main Outcome Measures: Days until subject was able to demonstrate retention of the task, and success or failure at carry-over to a similar task. Results: No significant differences were found in days to retention for either functional task when taught using errorless learning or trial and error learning in subjects with or without explicit memory impairments. Carry-over was significantly better when trial and error learning was used for learning sock donning. Conclusions: When choosing the best learning method for patients undergoing rehabilitation for stroke, the nature of the task should be considered. Additional research is needed to identify the best approach for teaching activities of daily living and facilitating carry-over of learning in individuals with acute stroke

Noninvasive imaging of focal atherosclerotic lesions using fluorescence molecular tomography

Insights into the etiology of stroke and myocardial infarction suggest that rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaque is the precipitating event. Clinicians lack tools to detect lesion instability early enough to intervene, and are often left to manage patients empirically, or worse, after plaque rupture. Noninvasive imaging of the molecular events signaling prerupture plaque progression has the potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with myocardial infarction and stroke by allowing early intervention. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-principle in vivo molecular imaging of C-type natriuretic peptide receptor in focal atherosclerotic lesions in the femoral arteries of New Zealand white rabbits using a custom built fiber-based, fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) system. Longitudinal imaging showed changes in the fluorescence signal intensity as the plaque progressed in the air-desiccated vessel compared to the uninjured vessel, which was validated by ex vivo tissue studies. In summary, we demonstrate the potential of FMT for noninvasive detection of molecular events leading to unstable lesions heralding plaque rupture

Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Postural Control in a Toddler With Cerebral Palsy: Brief Report

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe changes in linear and nonlinear measures of postural control along with motor outcomes in a young child with cerebral palsy. Summary of Key Points: Posturography in sitting and standing, the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66), and the Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB) were performed prior to, during, and after physical therapy. The child demonstrated independent sitting throughout the study and developed independent standing during the study. He made improvements in the GMFM-66 and ECAB throughout the study. Higher average values were found in all linear and nonlinear measures in standing when compared to sitting, which may indicate less predictable movement due to less experience with standing. Recommendations for Clinical Practice: Greater variability and lower predictability in postural control likely reflect early stages of skill acquisition. Research is needed to understand the optimal levels of movement variability and predictability

Ozone depletion due to dust release of iodine in the free troposphere

Iodine is an atmospheric trace element emitted from oceans that efficiently destroys ozone (O3). Low O3 in airborne dust layers is frequently observed but poorly understood. We show that dust is a source of gas-phase iodine, indicated by aircraft observations of iodine monoxide (IO) radicals inside lofted dust layers from the Atacama and Sechura Deserts that are up to a factor of 10 enhanced over background. Gas-phase iodine photochemistry, commensurate with observed IO, is needed to explain the low O3 inside these dust layers (below 15 ppbv; up to 75% depleted). The added dust iodine can explain decreases in O3 of 8% regionally and affects surface air quality. Our data suggest that iodate reduction to form volatile iodine species is a missing process in the geochemical iodine cycle and presents an unrecognized aeolian source of iodine. Atmospheric iodine has tripled since 1950 and affects ozone layer recovery and particle formation.Fil: Koenig, Theodore K.. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados Unidos. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Volkamer, Rainer. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados Unidos. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Apel, Eric C.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados UnidosFil: Bresch, James F.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados UnidosFil: Cuevas, Carlos A.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Química Física; EspañaFil: Dix, Barbara. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados Unidos. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Eloranta, Edwin W.. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez, Rafael Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Básicas. - Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Hall, Samuel R.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados UnidosFil: Hornbrook, Rebecca S.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados UnidosFil: Pierce, R. Bradley. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; Estados UnidosFil: Reeves, J. Michael. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados UnidosFil: Saiz López, Alfonso. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Química Física; EspañaFil: Ullmann, Kirk. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados Unido

Gross Motor Function in Pediatric Onset TUBB4A-Related Leukodystrophy: GMFM-88 Performance and Validation of GMFC-MLD in TUBB4A

TUBB4A pathogenic variants are associated with a spectrum of neurologic impairments including movement disorders and leukodystrophy. With the development of targeted therapies, there is an urgent unmet need for validated tools to measure mobility impairment. Our aim is to explore gross motor function in a pediatric-onset TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy cohort with existing gross motor outcome tools. Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS-ER), and Gross Motor Function Classification-Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (GMFC-MLD) were selected through face validity. Subjects with a confirmed clinical and molecular diagnosis of TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy were enrolled. Participants' sex, age, genotype, and age at disease onset were collected, together with GMFM-88 and concurrent GMFCS-ER and GMFC-MLD. Performances on each measure were compared. GMFM-88 floor effect was defined as total score below 20%. A total of 35 subjects participated. Median performance by GMFM-88 was 16.24% (range 0-97.31), with 42.9% (n = 15) of individuals performing above the floor. GMFM-88 Dimension A (Lying and Rolling) was the best-performing dimension in the GMFM-88 (n = 29 above the floor). All levels of the Classification Scales were represented, with the exception of the GMFC-MLD level 0. Evaluation by GMFM-88 was strongly correlated with the Classification Scales (Spearman correlations: GMFCS-ER:GMFM-88 r = 0.90; GMFC-MLD:GMFM-88 r = 0.88; GMFCS-ER:GMFC-MLD: r = 0.92). Despite overall observation of a floor effect, the GMFM-88 is able to accurately capture the performance of individuals with attenuated phenotypes. GMFM-88 Dimension A shows no floor effect. GMFC-MLD shows a strong correlation with GMFCS-ER and GMFM-88, supporting its use as an age-independent functional score in TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy

Microfluidic Devices for Analysis of Spatial Orientation Behaviors in Semi-Restrained Caenorhabditis elegans

This article describes the fabrication and use of microfluidic devices for investigating spatial orientation behaviors in nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans). Until now, spatial orientation has been studied in freely moving nematodes in which the frequency and nature of encounters with the gradient are uncontrolled experimental variables. In the new devices, the nematode is held in place by a restraint that aligns the longitudinal axis of the body with the border between two laminar fluid streams, leaving the animal's head and tail free to move. The content of the fluid streams can be manipulated to deliver step gradients in space or time. We demonstrate the utility of the device by identifying previously uncharacterized aspects of the behavioral mechanisms underlying chemotaxis, osmotic avoidance, and thermotaxis in this organism. The new devices are readily adaptable to behavioral and imaging studies involving fluid borne stimuli in a wide range of sensory modalities

A pervasive role for biomass burning in tropical high ozone/low water structures.

Air parcels with mixing ratios of high O3 and low H2O (HOLW) are common features in the tropical western Pacific (TWP) mid-troposphere (300-700 hPa). Here, using data collected during aircraft sampling of the TWP in winter 2014, we find strong, positive correlations of O3 with multiple biomass burning tracers in these HOLW structures. Ozone levels in these structures are about a factor of three larger than background. Models, satellite data and aircraft observations are used to show fires in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia are the dominant source of high O3 and that low H2O results from large-scale descent within the tropical troposphere. Previous explanations that attribute HOLW structures to transport from the stratosphere or mid-latitude troposphere are inconsistent with our observations. This study suggest a larger role for biomass burning in the radiative forcing of climate in the remote TWP than is commonly appreciated.We thank L. Pan for coordinating the CONTRAST flights and her constructive criticism of an early version of the manuscript; S. Schauffler, V. Donets and R. Lueb for collecting and analysing AWAS samples; T. Robinson and O. Shieh for providing meteorology forecasts in the field; and the pilots and crews of the CAST BAe-146 and CONTRAST Gulfstream V aircrafts for their dedication and professionalism. CAST was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council; CONTRAST was funded by the National Science Foundation. Research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, is performed under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A number of the US-based investigators also benefitted from the support of NASA as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or US Government position, policy or decision. We would like to acknowledge high-performance computing support from Yellowstone (ark:/85065/d7wd3xhc) provided by NCAR's Computational and Information Systems Laboratory. NCAR is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1026

300 Area Treatability Test: Laboratory Development of Polyphosphate Remediation Technology for In Situ Treatment of Uranium Contamination in the Vadose Zone and Capillary Fringe

This report presents results from bench-scale treatability studies conducted under site-specific conditions to optimize the polyphosphate amendment for implementation of a field-scale technology demonstration to stabilize uranium within the 300 Area vadose and smear zones of the Hanford Site. The general treatability testing approach consisted of conducting studies with site sediment and under site conditions, to develop an effective chemical formulation and infiltration approach for the polyphosphate amendment under site conditions. Laboratory-scale dynamic column tests were used to 1) quantify the retardation of polyphosphate and its degradation products as a function of water content, 2) determine the rate of polyphosphate degradation under unsaturated conditions, 3) develop an understanding of the mechanism of autunite formation via the reaction of solid phase calcite-bound uranium and aqueous polyphosphate remediation technology, 4) develop an understanding of the transformation mechanism, the identity of secondary phases, and the kinetics of the reaction between uranyl-carbonate and -silicate minerals with the polyphosphate remedy under solubility-limiting conditions, and 5) quantify the extent and rate of uranium released and immobilized based on the infiltration rate of the polyphosphate remedy and the effect of and periodic wet-dry cycling on the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation for uranium in the vadose zone and smear zone