Family Perspectives on Developmental Monitoring: A Qualitative Study

Developmental monitoring, an ongoing process to identify children at risk for developmental delays, is an essential component to the identification of a developmental disability in young children. In collaboration with families, medical professionals are expected to monitor the development of a child; however, current research focuses on screening with less attention on developmental monitoring and the role of the family. Here, we show the experiences of families with medical professionals specific to developmental monitoring and how families obtain and develop knowledge on child development. We analyze qualitative data from a sample of family caregivers using semi-structured interviews. With a thematic approach, we identified three themes: (1) developmental monitoring with physicians is not common, (2) families use diverse supports to learn about child development, and (3) contextual factors (e.g., maternal health, work demands, demographic components) influence and shape the child development experience within a family unit. These findings indicate variability in developmental monitoring practices, in addition to the unique needs of children and families

Development of Neuronal Guidance Fibers for Stimulating Electrodes: Basic Construction and Delivery of a Growth Factor

State-of-the-art treatment for sensorineural hearing loss is based on electrical stimulation of residual spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) with cochlear implants (CIs). Due to the anatomical gap between the electrode contacts of the CI and the residual afferent fibers of the SGNs, spatial spreading of the stimulation signal hampers focused neuronal stimulation. Also, the efficiency of a CI is limited because SGNs degenerate over time due to loss of trophic support. A promising option to close the anatomical gap is to install fibers as artificial nerve guidance structures on the surface of the implant and install on these fibers drug delivery systems releasing neuroprotective agents. Here, we describe the first steps in this direction. In the present study, suture yarns made of biodegradable polymers (polyglycolide/poly-ε-caprolactone) serve as the basic fiber material. In addition to the unmodified fiber, also fibers modified with amine groups were employed. Cell culture investigations with NIH 3T3 fibroblasts attested good cytocompatibility to both types of fibers. The fibers were then coated with the extracellular matrix component heparan sulfate (HS) as a biomimetic of the extracellular matrix. HS is known to bind, stabilize, modulate, and sustainably release growth factors. Here, we loaded the HS-carrying fibers with the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is known to act neuroprotectively. Release of this neurotrophic factor from the fibers was followed over a period of 110 days. Cell culture investigations with spiral ganglion cells, using the supernatants from the release studies, showed that the BDNF delivered from the fibers drastically increased the survival rate of SGNs in vitro. Thus, biodegradable polymer fibers with attached HS and loaded with BDNF are suitable for the protection and support of SGNs. Moreover, they present a promising base material for the further development towards a future neuronal guiding scaffold. Copyright © 2022 Wille, Harre, Oehmichen, Lindemann, Menzel, Ehlert, Lenarz, Warnecke and Behrens

Chemically induced hypoxia by dimethyloxalylglycine (dmog)-loaded nanoporous silica nanoparticles supports endothelial tube formation by sustained vegf release from adipose tissue-derived stem cells

Inadequate vascularization leading to insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply in deeper layers of bioartificial tissues remains a limitation in current tissue engineering approaches to which prevascularization offers a promising solution. Hypoxia triggering pre-vascularization by enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression can be induced chemically by dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). Nanoporous silica nanoparticles (NPSNPs, or mesoporous silica nanoparticles, MSNs) enable sustained delivery of molecules and potentially release DMOG allowing a durable capillarization of a construct. Here we evaluated the effects of soluble DMOG and DMOG-loaded NPSNPs on VEGF secretion of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) and on tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)-ASC co-cultures. Repeated doses of 100 mM and 500 mM soluble DMOG on ASC resulted in 3- to 7-fold increased VEGF levels on day 9 (P<0.0001). Same doses of DMOG-NPSNPs enhanced VEGF secretion 7.7-fold (P<0.0001) which could be maintained until day 12 with 500 mM DMOG-NPSNPs. In fibrin-based tube formation assays, 100 mM DMOG-NPSNPs had inhibitory effects whereas 50 mM significantly increased tube length, area and number of junctions transiently for 4 days. Thus, DMOG-NPSNPs supported endothelial tube formation by upregulated VEGF secretion from ASC and thus display a promising tool for prevascularization of tissue-engineered constructs. Further studies will evaluate their effect in hydrogels under perfusion

Spatially heterogeneous argon-isotope systematics and apparent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages in perlitised obsidian

In situ laser ablation Ar-isotope analyses of variably hydrated and devitrified obsidian from the ~ 27 Ma Cochetopa Dome, San Juan, USA, reveal complex interplay between degassing of initial Ar and absorption of atmospheric Ar. These processes have locally modified the Ar-isotope composition of the obsidian and led to spurious, spatially-heterogeneous Ar-isotope and 40Ar/39Ar age data. Small perlite beads exhibit older apparent Ar-ages at the rims than the cores. This is interpreted as an apparent excess of 40Ar at the rims, produced either by a) diffusion of excess 40Ar into the bead during flushing of the lava with excess 40Ar-bearing volcanic gas, or by b) isotopic fractionation during degassing of initial Ar, causing preferential loss of 36Ar over 40Ar at the bead rims. The second interpretation is favoured by a relative enrichment of 36Ar in the core of a perlite bead along a microlite-free (poorly degassed) flow band, and by a lack of age variation in a larger, fresh, well-degassed perlite bead. These isotopic gradients were later overprinted during glass hydration by absorption of Ar with near-atmospheric composition, resulting in elevated 36Ar and reduced radiogenic 40Ar* yields at the rims of perlite beads. These complex interactions essentially represent the mixing of three distinct Ar reservoirs: initial trapped Ar that may or may not be fractionated, an isotopically atmospheric Ar component introduced during hydration, and radiogenic 40Ar*. Such reservoir mixing is the underlying reason for poor correlations on isotope correlation diagrams and the difficulties in validating the composition of the non-radiogenic Ar component. We thus suggest that high 36Ar yields are a combination of the incomplete degassing of initial (possibly magmatic) Ar and the gain of Ar during interaction between the obsidian and meteoric/atmospheric fluids. Our analyses emphasise the challenging nature of 40Ar/39Ar dating obsidian samples, but also point to possible solutions by careful sample characterisation and selection of highly degassed samples

Hexacoordinate Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts with pH-responsive N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and N-donor ligands for ROMP reactions in non-aqueous, aqueous and emulsion conditions

Three new ruthenium alkylidene complexes (PCy3)Cl2(H2ITap)Ru=CHSPh (9), (DMAP)2Cl2(H2ITap)Ru=CHPh (11) and (DMAP)2Cl2(H2ITap)Ru=CHSPh (12) have been synthesized bearing the pH-responsive H2ITap ligand (H2ITap = 1,3-bis(2’,6’- dimethyl-4’-dimethylaminophenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Catalysts 11 and 12 are additionally ligated by two pH-responsive DMAP ligands. The crystal structure was solved for complex 12 by X-ray diffraction. In organic, neutral solution, the catalysts are capable of performing standard ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions with standard substrates. The ROMP with complex 11 is accelerated in the presence of two equiv of H3PO4, but is reduced as soon as the acid amount increased. The metathesis of phenylthiomethylidene catalysts 9 and 12 is sluggish at room temperature, but their ROMP can be dramatically accelerated at 60 °C. Complexes 11 and 12 are soluble in aqueous acid. They display the ability to perform RCM of diallylmalonic acid (DAMA), however, their conversions are very low amounting only to few turnovers before decomposition. However, both catalysts exhibit outstanding performance in the ROMP of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and mixtures of DCPD with cyclooctene (COE) in acidic aqueous microemulsion. With loadings as low as 180 ppm, the catalysts afforded mostly quantitative conversions of these monomers while maintaining the size and shape of the droplets throughout the polymerization process. Furthermore, the coagulate content for all experiments staye

Rapid detection of human blood in triatomines (kissing bugs) utilizing a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay - A pilot study

BACKGROUND DNA- and proteomics-based techniques are currently used to identify a triatomine human blood meal. These methods are time consuming, require access to laboratories with sophisticated equipment, and trained personnel. OBJECTIVES We tested a rapid and specific immunochromatographic assay (that detects human blood in forensic samples) to determine if human blood was present in triatomines and their fecal excreta. METHODS We fed Triatoma rubida human blood (positive control) or mouse blood (negative control) and performed the assay on the abdominal contents and fecal excreta. Triatomine field specimens collected in and around human habitations and excreta were also tested. FINDINGS The assay was positive in triatomines fed human blood (N = 5/5) and fecal excreta from bugs known to have ingested human blood (N = 5/5). Bugs feeding on mice (N = 15/15) and their fecal excreta (N = 8/8) were negative for human blood. Human blood was detected in 47% (N = 23/49) triatomines, representing six different species, collected in the field. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The pilot study shows that this rapid and specific test may have applications in triatomine research. Further study is needed to determine the sensitivity of this assay compared to other well-established techniques, such as DNA- and proteomics-based methodologies and the assay's application in the field.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Reflections on the CLIVAR Early Career Scientists Symposium 2016

We present a summary report of the CLIVAR Early Career Scientists Symposium, a three-day event associated with the CLIVAR Open Science Conference held in Qingdao, China during September 2016. The Symposium aimed to capture the ideas of early career researchers on pressing science priorities, imminent challenges, and emerging opportunities to help guide the future evolution of CLIVAR. We identified the need for improving process-based understanding and predictability of regional climate variability and change, moving toward seamless predictions, and improving and expanding global observations. We emphasize the need for increasingly open science, including universal access to data, code, and publications as well as opportunities for international cooperation and exchange. As the next generation of climate scientists, we are dedicated to overcome the challenges outlined in this summary and are looking forward to advancing CLIVAR???s mission and activities

Infection routes matter in population-specific responses of the red flour beetle to the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis

Background: Pathogens can infect their hosts through different routes. For studying the consequences for host resistance, we here used the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum for oral and systemic (i. e. pricking the cuticle) experimental infection. In order to characterize the molecular mechanisms underpinning the two different infection routes, the transcriptomes of beetles of two different T. castaneum populations – one recently collected population (Cro1) and a commonly used laboratory strain (SB) – were analyzed using a next generation RNA sequencing approach. Results: The genetically more diverse population Cro1 showed a significantly larger number of differentially expressed genes. While both populations exhibited similar reactions to pricking, their expression patterns in response to oral infection differed remarkably. In particular, the Cro1 population showed a strong response of cuticular proteins and developmental genes, which might indicate an adaptive developmental flexibility that was lost in the SB population presumably as a result of inbreeding. The immune response of SB was primarily based on antimicrobial peptides, while Cro1 relied on responses mediated by phenoloxidase and reactive oxygen species, which may explain the higher resistance of this strain against oral infection. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that immunological and physiological processes underpinning the two different routes of infection are clearly distinct, and that host populations particularly differ in responses to oral infection. Furthermore, gene expression upon pricking infection entailed a strong signal of wounding, highlighting the importance of pricking controls in future infection studies

German translation of the Alberta context tool and two measures of research use: methods, challenges and lessons learned

Background: Understanding the relationship between organizational context and research utilization is key to reducing the research-practice gap in health care. This is particularly true in the residential long term care (LTC) setting where relatively little work has examined the influence of context on research implementation. Reliable, valid measures and tools are a prerequisite for studying organizational context and research utilization. Few such tools exist in German. We thus translated three such tools (the Alberta Context Tool and two measures of research use) into German for use in German residential LTC. We point out challenges and strategies for their solution unique to German residential LTC, and demonstrate how resolving specific challenges in the translation of the health care aide instrument version streamlined the translation process of versions for registered nurses, allied health providers, practice specialists, and managers. Methods: Our translation methods were based on best practices and included two independent forward translations, reconciliation of the forward translations, expert panel discussions, two independent back translations, reconciliation of the back translations, back translation review, and cognitive debriefing. Results: We categorized the challenges in this translation process into seven categories: (1) differing professional education of Canadian and German care providers, (2) risk that German translations would become grammatically complex, (3) wordings at risk of being misunderstood, (4) phrases/idioms non-existent in German, (5) lack of corresponding German words, (6) limited comprehensibility of corresponding German words, and (7) target persons’ unfamiliarity with activities detailed in survey items. Examples of each challenge are described with strategies that we used to manage the challenge. Conclusion: Translating an existing instrument is complex and time-consuming, but a rigorous approach is necessary to obtain instrument equivalence. Essential components were (1) involvement of and co-operation with the instrument developers and (2) expert panel discussions, including both target group and content experts. Equivalent translated instruments help researchers from different cultures to find a common language and undertake comparative research. As acceptable psychometric properties are a prerequisite for that, we are currently carrying out a study with that focus