Adaptation and Validation of an Evaluation Instrument for Student Assessment of Veterinary Clinical Teaching.

There is a dearth of validated instruments for assessing clinical teaching in veterinary education. This study describes the development and validation of a veterinary-adapted Stanford Faculty Development Program 26 (SFDP-Vet22) instrument for student evaluation of veterinary clinical educators. Validity evidence was gathered in three specific categories: (a) content, (b) response process, and (c) internal structure.

Measuring Scholarly Practice in Respiratory Therapists: The Development and Initial Validation of a Scholarly Practice Tool.

Introduction: Respiratory therapists (RTs) must apply competencies to address the health care needs of the public. Although all competencies are deemed essential, scholarly practice requires that professionals critically assess their practices, integrate evidence-based literature, and enhance the care they deliver to patients. Though scholarly practice is also associated with professional empowerment, role satisfaction, and improved patient care, it is rarely measured.

Mouse α-synuclein fibrils are structurally and functionally distinct from human fibrils associated with Lewy body diseases.

The intricate process of α-synuclein aggregation and fibrillization holds pivotal roles in Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). While mouse α-synuclein can fibrillize in vitro, whether these fibrils commonly used in research to induce this process or form can reproduce structures in the human brain remains unknown. Here, we report the first atomic structure of mouse α-synuclein fibrils, which was solved in parallel by two independent teams.

The scholarly and practice profile of respiratory therapists in Canada: A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Respiratory therapists (RTs) are expected to provide high-quality care for patients with chronic and acute cardiopulmonary conditions across the lifespan by staying abreast of emerging scientific evidence and effectively integrating it into clinical practice. This integration of evidence is encompassed within the competency of scholarly practice. However, there is currently a limited understanding of RTs' scholarly practice.

Lung ultrasound in respiratory therapy: a global reflective survey.

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive point of care diagnostic tool used to assess the presence and severity of various lung disorders for more than two decades. Within the healthcare professionals are the respiratory therapists (RTs) who play a vital role in managing ventilated and other patients requiring respiratory support, but the incorporation of LUS into their scope of practice has not been well highlighted. This international cross-sectional survey was specifically designed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of RTs with respect to LUS.

Single molecule array measures of LRRK2 kinase activity in serum link Parkinson's disease severity to peripheral inflammation.

Background: LRRK2-targeting therapeutics that inhibit LRRK2 kinase activity have advanced to clinical trials in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab10 on endolysosomes in phagocytic cells to promote some types of immunological responses. The identification of factors that regulate LRRK2-mediated Rab10 phosphorylation in iPD, and whether phosphorylated-Rab10 levels change in different disease states, or with disease progression, may provide insights into the role of Rab10 phosphorylation in iPD and help guide therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.

Single molecule array measures of LRRK2 kinase activity in serum link Parkinson's disease severity to peripheral inflammation.

Background: LRRK2-targeting therapeutics that inhibit LRRK2 kinase activity have advanced to clinical trials in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab10 on endolysosomes in phagocytic cells to promote some types of immunological responses. The identification of factors that regulate LRRK2-mediated Rab10 phosphorylation in iPD, and whether phosphorylated-Rab10 levels change in different disease states, or with disease progression, may provide insights into the role of Rab10 phosphorylation in iPD and help guide therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.

Effects of CurraNZ, a New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract during 1 Hour of Treadmill Running in Female and Male Marathon des Sables Athletes in Hot Conditions: Two Case Studies.

Four weeks before competition in the 2023 Marathon des Sables, a 6-stage, ~250 km running event in the Sahara Desert, we examined the effects of a 7-day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract (210 mg anthocyanins per day) on 1 h treadmill running-induced physiological and metabolic responses in the heat (~34 °C, relative humidity: ~30%) in non-acclimatized amateur female and male athletes (age: 23, 38 yrs, BMI: 24.2, 28.4 kg·m, body fat%: 29.

RAB32 Ser71Arg in autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease: linkage, association, and functional analyses.

Background: Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with multifactorial causes, among which genetic risk factors play a part. The RAB GTPases are regulators and substrates of LRRK2, and variants in the LRRK2 gene are important risk factors for Parkinson's disease. We aimed to explore genetic variability in RAB GTPases within cases of familial Parkinson's disease.

A pathogenic variant in RAB32 causes autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease and activates LRRK2 kinase.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Mendelian forms have revealed multiple genes, with a notable emphasis on membrane trafficking; RAB GTPases play an important role in PD as a subset are both regulators and substrates of LRRK2 protein kinase. To explore the role of RAB GTPases in PD, we undertook a comprehensive examination of their genetic variability in familial PD.

Exploring knowledge gaps and research needs in respiratory therapy: a qualitative description study.

Background: Respiratory therapists (RTs) are expected to stay updated on technology, treatments, research, and best practices to provide high-quality patient care. They must possess the skills to interpret, evaluate, and contribute to evidence-based practices. However, RTs often rely on research from other professions that may not fully address their specific needs, leading to insufficient guidance for their practice.

Gut mucosal cells transfer α-synuclein to the vagus nerve.

Epidemiological and histopathological findings have raised the possibility that misfolded α-synuclein protein might spread from the gut to the brain and increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. Although past experimental studies in mouse models have relied on gut injections of exogenous recombinant α-synuclein fibrils to study gut-to-brain α-synuclein transfer, the possible origins of misfolded α-synuclein within the gut have remained elusive. We recently demonstrated that sensory cells of intestinal mucosa express α-synuclein.

Anionic nanoplastic contaminants promote Parkinson's disease-associated α-synuclein aggregation.

Recent studies have identified increasing levels of nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Here, we find that anionic nanoplastic contaminants potently precipitate the formation and propagation of α-synuclein protein fibrils through a high-affinity interaction with the amphipathic and non-amyloid component (NAC) domains in α-synuclein. Nanoplastics can internalize in neurons through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, causing a mild lysosomal impairment that slows the degradation of aggregated α-synuclein.

Anionic Nanoplastic Contaminants Promote Parkinson's Disease-Associated α-Synuclein Aggregation.

Recent studies have identified increasing levels of nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Here we find that anionic nanoplastic contaminants potently precipitate the formation and propagation of α-synuclein protein fibrils through a high-affinity interaction with the amphipathic and non-amyloid component (NAC) domains in α-synuclein. Nanoplastics can internalize in neurons through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, causing a mild lysosomal impairment that slows the degradation of aggregated α-synuclein.

A blood-based marker of mitochondrial DNA damage in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, and neuroprotective or disease-modifying interventions remain elusive. High-throughput markers aimed at stratifying patients on the basis of shared etiology are required to ensure the success of disease-modifying therapies in clinical trials. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of PD.

Gut mucosal cells transfer α-synuclein to the vagus nerve.

Epidemiological and histopathological findings have raised the possibility that misfolded α-synuclein protein might spread from the gut to the brain and increase the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). While past experimental studies in mouse models have relied on gut injections of exogenous recombinant α-synuclein fibrils to study gut to brain α-synuclein transfer, the possible origins of misfolded α-synuclein within the gut have remained elusive. We recently demonstrated that sensory cells of the gut mucosa express α-synuclein.

Effect of Substitution Time on Physical, Technical and Cognitive Performance in Sub-Elite Male Field Hockey Players.

We examined the effects of substitution time (i.e., recovery time) in a simulated field hockey test on physical, technical and perceptual/cognitive performance.

Corrigendum: CARMA II: a ground vehicle for autonomous surveying of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.

Experimental Quantification of Halogen⋅⋅⋅Arene van der Waals Contacts.

Crystallographic and computational studies suggest the occurrence of favourable interactions between polarizable arenes and halogen atoms. However, the systematic experimental quantification of halogen⋅⋅⋅arene interactions in solution has been hindered by the large variance in the steric demands of the halogens. Here we have synthesized molecular balances to quantify halogen⋅⋅⋅arene contacts in 17 solvents and solvent mixtures using H NMR spectroscopy.

Ensuring fair, safe, and interpretable artificial intelligence-based prediction tools in a real-world oncological setting.

Background: Cancer patients often experience treatment-related symptoms which, if uncontrolled, may require emergency department admission. We developed models identifying breast or genitourinary cancer patients at the risk of attending emergency department (ED) within 30-days and demonstrated the development, validation, and proactive approach to in-production monitoring of an artificial intelligence-based predictive model during a 3-month simulated deployment at a cancer hospital in the United States.

Methods: We used routinely-collected electronic health record data to develop our predictive models.

Activation of the cGAS-STING innate immune response in cells with deficient mitochondrial topoisomerase TOP1MT.

The recognition that cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) activates cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) innate immune signaling has unlocked novel disease mechanisms. Here, an uncharacterized variant predicted to affect TOP1MT function, P193L, was discovered in a family with multiple early onset autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Although there was no previous genetic association between TOP1MT and autoimmune disease, the role of TOP1MT as a regulator of mtDNA led us to investigate whether TOP1MT could mediate the release of mtDNA to the cytosol, where it could then activate the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway known to be activated in SLE and other autoimmune diseases.

Effects of a Head-Cooling Cap on 5-Km Running Performance in the Heat.

Cooling the head region during exercise can enhance running performance, but this observation is limited to intermittent cooling. This study investigated the effects of continuous head cooling on 5-km running time-trial (TT) performance in hot conditions. Six male and four female triathletes completed two experimental sessions consisting of two 10-minute runs at 50% and 70% V̇O followed by a 5-km TT in the heat (32.

CARMA II: A ground vehicle for autonomous surveying of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

Surveying active nuclear facilities for spread of alpha and beta contamination is currently performed by human operators. However, a skills gap of qualified workers is emerging and is set to worsen in the near future due to under recruitment, retirement and increased demand. This paper presents an autonomous ground vehicle that can survey nuclear facilities for alpha, beta and gamma radiation and generate radiation heatmaps.