The importance of shear on the collective charge transport in CDWs revealed by an XFEL source.

Charge transport in materials has an impact on a wide range of devices based on semiconductor, battery, or superconductor technology. Charge transport in sliding charge density waves (CDW) differs from all others in that the atomic lattice is directly involved in the transport process. To obtain an overall picture of the structural changes associated to the collective transport, the large coherent x-ray beam generated by an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) source was used.

It is child's play: Caregiver and playworker perspectives on a community park-based unstructured play program.

Unstructured play is characterized as play that is child initiated and determined, allowing children the freedom and flexibility to engage in activities, including taking risks, without adult intervention. However, playworkers and caregivers are important mediators of children's unstructured play. Studies have investigated playworker and caregiver perspectives regarding play, yet few have done so within the context of community based unstructured play interventions.

Charge density waves tuned by biaxial tensile stress.

The precise arrangement and nature of atoms drive electronic phase transitions in condensed matter. To explore this tenuous link, we developed a true biaxial mechanical deformation device working at cryogenic temperatures, compatible with x-ray diffraction and transport measurements, well adapted to layered samples. Here we show that a slight deformation of TbTe can have a dramatic influence on its Charge Density Wave (CDW), with an orientational transition from c to a driven by the a/c parameter, a tiny coexistence region near a = c, and without space group change.

Proteome-wide association study and functional validation identify novel protein markers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal malignancy, largely due to the paucity of reliable biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic targeting. Existing blood protein biomarkers for PDAC often suffer from replicability issues, arising from inherent limitations such as unmeasured confounding factors in conventional epidemiologic study designs. To circumvent these limitations, we use genetic instruments to identify proteins with genetically predicted levels to be associated with PDAC risk.

Associations between genetically predicted plasma protein levels and Alzheimer's disease risk: a study using genetic prediction models.

Background: Specific peripheral proteins have been implicated to play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the roles of additional novel protein biomarkers in AD etiology remains elusive. The availability of large-scale AD GWAS and plasma proteomic data provide the resources needed for the identification of causally relevant circulating proteins that may serve as risk factors for AD and potential therapeutic targets.

Identification of blood protein biomarkers associated with prostate cancer risk using genetic prediction models: analysis of over 140,000 subjects.

Prostate cancer (PCa) brings huge public health burden in men. A growing number of conventional observational studies report associations of multiple circulating proteins with PCa risk. However, the existing findings may be subject to incoherent biases of conventional epidemiologic studies.

Myelodysplastic syndromes disable human CD271+VCAM1+CD146+ niches supporting normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) within the bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) support normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, the heterogeneity of human MSCs has limited the understanding of their contribution to clonal dynamics and evolution to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We combined three MSC cell surface markers, CD271, VCAM-1 (Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1) and CD146, to isolate distinct subsets of human MSCs from bone marrow aspirates of healthy controls (Control BM).

Mitigation of photoreceptors abnormalities after low-level laser therapy and chia seeds supplementation in experimental diabetic retinopathy.

Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and chia seeds on the mitigation of photoreceptors abnormalities in experimental diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Materials And Methods: A total of 65 female Wistar rats, 5 rats were served as a control group and 60 rats were injected intraperitoneally with one dose of 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce DR after 6-8 weeks. The rats were divided into ( = 20 rats each): (a) DR group: did not receive any treatment, (b) DR+ LLLT group was exposed to 670-nm LLLT for 6 weeks (two sessions/week), and (c) DR+ LLLT+ chia seed group, in which rats were exposed to LLLT and administrated with 250 mg/kg/day of chia seeds flour for 2 weeks before STZ injection and continued to the end of the experiment.

Effectiveness of an 8-Week Physical Activity Intervention Involving Wearable Activity Trackers and an eHealth App: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Health-promotion interventions incorporating wearable technology or eHealth apps can encourage participants to self-monitor and modify their physical activity and sedentary behavior. In 2020, a Calgary (Alberta, Canada) recreational facility developed and implemented a health-promotion intervention (Vivo Play Scientist program) that provided a commercially available wearable activity tracker and a customized eHealth dashboard to participants free of cost.

Objective: The aim of this study was to independently evaluate the effectiveness of the Vivo Play Scientist program for modifying physical activity and sedentary behavior during the initial 8 weeks of the piloted intervention.

Light-Emitting Diode Laser Therapy for Hyperoxia-Induced Retinal Abnormalities.

Hyperoxygenation is linked to numerous effects in a variety of organ systems. It can cause tissue damage by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), increasing oxidative stress, and inducing cell death by apoptosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy on the retina in response to acute hyperoxia in animals.

Low-Level Laser Therapy with 670 nm Alleviates Diabetic Retinopathy in an Experimental Model.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the retina with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Eight Wistar rats were used as a control group, and 64 rats were injected intraperitoneally with 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes and served as a diabetic group. After the establishment of the DR, the rats were separated into (a) 32 rats with DR; did not receive any treatment, (b) 32 rats with DR were exposed to 670 nm LLLT for 6 successive weeks (2 sessions/week).

A transcriptome-wide association study identifies novel blood-based gene biomarker candidates for Alzheimer's disease risk.

Alzheimer's disease (ad) adversely affects the health, quality of life and independence of patients. There is a critical need to identify novel blood gene biomarkers for ad risk assessment. We performed a transcriptome-wide association study to identify biomarker candidates for ad risk.

Perceived anxiety and physical activity behaviour changes during the early stages of COVID-19 restrictions in community-dwelling adults in Canada: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic changed daily routines, including physical activity, which could influence physical and mental health. In our study, we describe physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in relation to the pandemic and estimate associations between anxiety and physical activity and sedentary behaviour in community-dwelling adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: A Qualitative Study in a Canadian City.

Public health measures introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the physical activity, health, and well-being of millions of people. This grounded theory study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected physical activity and perceptions of health among adults in a Canadian city (Calgary). Twelve adults (50% females; 20-70 years) were interviewed between June and October (2020) via telephone or videoconferencing.

Realtors' Perceptions of Social and Physical Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Active Living: A Canadian Perspective.

Realtors match home-seekers with neighborhoods that have built and social characteristics they desire to pursue active lifestyles. Studies have yet to explore realtors' perspectives on neighborhood design that supports active living. Using qualitative description, our study was to explore the perceptions and understandings of neighborhood design (walkability, healthy, bike-ability, vibrancy, and livability) among urban residential realtors.

Parent anxiety and perceptions of their child's physical activity and sedentary behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

The public health emergency response to the COVID-19 virus has involved physical distancing strategies to reduce person-to-person transmission. Pandemics, including COVID-19, may influence changes to physical activity and sedentary behaviours among children. However, the role of parent anxiety related to COVID-19 on children's physical activity and sedentary behaviours has yet to be explored.

Mendelian Randomization Analysis of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels and Pancreatic Cancer Risk.

Background: Whether circulating polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels are associated with pancreatic cancer risk is uncertain. Mendelian randomization (MR) represents a study design using genetic instruments to better characterize the relationship between exposure and outcome.

Methods: We utilized data from genome-wide association studies within the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium and Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium, involving approximately 9,269 cases and 12,530 controls of European descent, to evaluate associations between pancreatic cancer risk and genetically predicted plasma n-6 PUFA levels.

A Transcriptome-Wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Susceptibility Genes for Pancreatic Cancer Risk.

Pancreatic cancer is among the most well-characterized cancer types, yet a large proportion of the heritability of pancreatic cancer risk remains unclear. Here, we performed a large transcriptome-wide association study to systematically investigate associations between genetically predicted gene expression in normal pancreas tissue and pancreatic cancer risk. Using data from 305 subjects of mostly European descent in the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project, we built comprehensive genetic models to predict normal pancreas tissue gene expression, modifying the UTMOST (unified test for molecular signatures).

Advances in the Conceptualization and Study of Schizophrenia in Later Life: 2020 Update.

A crisis looms as research and clinical programs have not kept pace with dramatic increases in the number of older adults with schizophrenia. This article provides an overview of the advances in the conceptualization and study of schizophrenia in later life. Theoretic and clinical models in psychiatry and gerontology are integrated.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect Against Amiodarone-Induced Lung Injury in Rats.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive and irreversible lung disease, characterized by poor prognosis with limited treatment options. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells having the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple tissues, thus considered a novel treatment option. The present study aimed to investigate the possible antifibrotic effect of undifferentiated adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSC) therapy on PF experimentally induced in rats using amiodarone (AMD).

Histopathological Changes of the Retina After Nd: YAG Laser Thrombolysis in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion: An Experimental Study.

The efficacy of many therapeutics techniques for treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) has been the subject of many investigations. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the transluminal Nd: YAG laser thrombolysis as a new therapeutic approach used for treatment of BRVO in rabbits as an experimental model. Four rabbits were considered as a control (n=8 eyes); occlusion of the branch retinal veins was performed by using a dye enhancing thrombus formation in right eyes of 10 rabbits (n=10 eyes).

Effect of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy on Tear Proteins and Lipids in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Purpose: To assess the effect of a novel intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy on tear proteins and lipids in eyes with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients with MGD were recruited and received five overlapping flashes (565-1400 nm) directed at the lower eyelid. The IPL parameters include intensity: 2.

Conservation of location of several specific inhibitory codon pairs in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts reveals translational selection.

Synonymous codons provide redundancy in the genetic code that influences translation rates in many organisms, in which overall codon use is driven by selection for optimal codons. It is unresolved if or to what extent translational selection drives use of suboptimal codons or codon pairs. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 17 specific inhibitory codon pairs, each comprised of adjacent suboptimal codons, inhibit translation efficiency in a manner distinct from their constituent codons, and many are translated slowly in native genes.

Identification of new high affinity targets for Roquin based on structural conservation.

Post-transcriptional gene regulation controls the amount of protein produced from a specific mRNA by altering both its decay and translation rates. Such regulation is primarily achieved by the interaction of trans-acting factors with cis-regulatory elements in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs. These interactions are guided either by sequence- or structure-based recognition.

Advances in the Conceptualization and Study of Schizophrenia in Later Life.

A crisis looms as research and clinical programs have not kept pace with dramatic increases in the number of older adults with schizophrenia. This article provides an overview of the advances in the conceptualization and study of schizophrenia in later life. Theoretic and clinical models in psychiatry and gerontology are integrated.