Potential contribution of spinal interneurons to the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consists of a group of adult-onset fatal and incurable neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons (MNs) throughout the central nervous system (CNS). At first, ALS was considered to be an MN disease, caused by cell-autonomous mechanisms acting specifically in MNs. Accordingly, data from ALS patients and ALS animal models revealed alterations in excitability in multiple neuronal populations, including MNs, which were associated with a variety of cellular perturbations such as protein aggregation, ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism defects, calcium dyshomeostasis, modified electrophysiological properties, and autophagy malfunctions.

Financial markets value skillful forecasts of seasonal climate.

Scientific agencies spend substantial sums producing and improving forecasts of seasonal climate, but they do so without much information about these forecasts' value in practice. Here we show that financial market participants value the production of seasonal forecasts: options traders price the uncertainty generated by upcoming United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Winter and El Niño Outlooks. Each outlook affects firms throughout the economy, with total market capitalization of $6 and $13 trillion, respectively.

The Rural Integrated Community Clerkship: a vital stretch in the Alberta rural physician workforce pipeline.

Background: Longitudinal integrated clerkships are thought to operate synergistically with factors such as rural background and practice intent to determine medical graduates' practice types and locations-sometimes known as the pipeline effect. We examined the influence of the rural integrated community clerkship (ICC) at the University of Alberta on students choosing family medicine and rural practice.

Methods: We completed a retrospective cohort analysis of graduates from 2009-2016.

International Family Nursing Association: toolkit of resources for caring for refugee/migrating families.

Objective: To report the experience of the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) Practice Committee on developing a Toolkit of resources to care for refugee/migrating families as a response to the global migration and refugee crisis.

Method: Qualitative and descriptive study, experience report, which describes the development of a toolkit of resources for caring for refugee/migrating families.

Results: The development of this Toolkit of resources to care for refugee/migrating families is supported by current literature related to family-centered evaluation and intervention, culturally sensitive practice based on family strengths; statements of positioning on immigrant and refugee families; and nursing and health organizations that addressed the health of the refugee family.

Estradiol Augments Tumor-Induced Neutrophil Production to Promote Tumor Cell Actions in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Models.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease caused by smooth muscle cell-like tumors containing tuberous sclerosis (TSC) gene mutations and found almost exclusively in females. Patient studies suggest LAM progression is estrogen dependent, an observation supported by in vivo mouse models. However, in vitro data using TSC-null cell lines demonstrate modest estradiol (E2) responses, suggesting E2 effects in vivo may involve pathways independent of direct tumor stimulation.

Intravenous Dabigatran Provides Adequate Anticoagulation for Cardiopulmonary Bypass Using a Rabbit Model.

Background: Heparin anticoagulation has been used successfully for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, an alternative anticoagulant approach is desirable due to the cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Dabigatran provides anticoagulation for an in vitro model of simulated CPB.

Delayed concentration effect models for dabigatran anticoagulation.

Introduction: Dabigatran is an anticoagulant with potential use during cardiopulmonary bypass in children and adults. The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship for dabigatran anticoagulation effect was investigated in an intact animal model using rabbits.

Methods: Ten male New Zealand white rabbits were given a novel preparation of intravenous dabigatran 15 mg.

[Intervention of the medical-psychological emergency unit with the carers during Covid-19].

The medical-psychological emergency units have been meeting with care teams to discuss their experiences and feelings about Covid-19 for a little over a year. This preventive approach allows for psycho-education and the identification of stressful states.

Chronic nicotine increases midbrain dopamine neuron activity and biases individual strategies towards reduced exploration in mice.

Long-term exposure to nicotine alters brain circuits and induces profound changes in decision-making strategies, affecting behaviors both related and unrelated to drug seeking and consumption. Using an intracranial self-stimulation reward-based foraging task, we investigated in mice the impact of chronic nicotine on midbrain dopamine neuron activity and its consequence on the trade-off between exploitation and exploration. Model-based and archetypal analysis revealed substantial inter-individual variability in decision-making strategies, with mice passively exposed to nicotine shifting toward a more exploitative profile compared to non-exposed animals.

Inhibition of androgen/AR signaling inhibits diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced tumour initiation and remodels liver immune cell networks.

A promotional role for androgen receptor (AR) signaling in hepatocellular carcinogenesis is emerging. In pre-clinical models, including diethylnitrosamine- (DEN-) induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), anti-androgen therapies delay hepatocarcinogenesis. However, pharmacologic anti-androgen therapy in advanced HCC patients fails, suggesting that AR plays a role in HCC onset.

Probing the ionotropic activity of glutamate GluD2 receptor in HEK cells with genetically-engineered photopharmacology.

Glutamate delta (GluD) receptors belong to the ionotropic glutamate receptor family, yet they don't bind glutamate and are considered orphan. Progress in defining the ion channel function of GluDs in neurons has been hindered by a lack of pharmacological tools. Here, we used a chemo-genetic approach to engineer specific and photo-reversible pharmacology in GluD2 receptor.

The thermostability of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine can be increased by co-lyophilizing RTS,S and AS01.

Background: Developing thermostable vaccines is a challenge for pharmaceutical companies due to the inherent instability of biological molecules in aqueous solution. The problem is even more stringent in regions subjected to high temperatures in which protective cold chain is difficult to maintain due to a lack of infrastructure. Here, a simple, cost-effective solution to increase the thermostability of the malaria candidate vaccine RTS,S/AS01 is described.

In vitro reliability testing and in vivo lifespan estimation of wireless Pixium Vision PRIMA photovoltaic subretinal prostheses suggest prolonged durability and functionality in clinical practice.

Objective: Retinal implants have the potential to restore some sight in patients with retinal degeneration. The PRIMA implant's novel design features simpler insertion and no transscleral cabling or extraocular components. This in vitro study investigated PRIMA's durability under real time and accelerated conditions and estimated the device's lifespan in vivo.

Theoretical investigation of the electronic relaxation in highly excited chrysene and tetracene: The effect of armchair vs zigzag edge.

Non-adiabatic molecular dynamics of neutral chrysene and tetracene molecules is investigated using Tully's fewest switches surface hopping algorithm coupled to the time-dependent density functional based tight-binding (TD-DFTB) method for electronic structure calculations. We first assess the performance of two DFTB parameter sets based on the computed TD-DFTB absorption spectra. The main focus is given to the analysis of the electronic relaxation from the brightest excited state following absorption of a UV photon.

Non-adiabatic molecular dynamics investigation of the size dependence of the electronic relaxation in polyacenes.

The Tully's fewest switches surface hopping algorithm is implemented within the framework of the time-dependent density functional based tight binding method (TD-DFTB) to simulate the energy relaxation following absorption of a UV photon by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This approach is used to study the size effect on the ultrafast dynamics in excited states for a special class of PAH species called polyacenes. We determine the dynamical relaxation times and discuss the underlying mechanisms.

Provision of consumer health information in Alberta's Rural Public Libraries.

Background: Access to health services is a major challenge in many rural communities within Canada. Rural public libraries can serve as centres for health resources.

Objective: The aim of this exploratory study was to analyse the manner in which Alberta's rural libraries provide health information to their patrons.

Riding on the wind: volatile compounds dictate selection of grassland seedlings by snails.

Background And Aims: Seedling herbivory is an important selective filter in many plant communities. The removal of preferred food plants by both vertebrate and, more commonly, invertebrate herbivores can destroy entire seedling cohorts, and consequently dictate plant community assembly. Nevertheless, our understanding of how and why some seedlings are more prone to herbivore attack than their neighbours remains limited.

Manipulating midbrain dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors with light-controllable nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here, we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in living mice.

Field-based assessment of the mechanism of maize yield enhancement by Azospirillum lipoferum CRT1.

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) of the genus Azospirillum are known to enhance root growth and yield in many plant species including cereals. To probe the underlying mechanisms, correlations between modifications of yield and 6-leaf plantlet characteristics were estimated on maize in four fields with contrasting soil properties over two consecutive years using the commercial isolate A. lipoferum CRT1.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of Traumatic Brain Injury and Usage of Protective Headgear During Equestrian Activities.

Some of the more popular sporting activities for those living in rural areas include equestrian activities such as rodeo events and horseback riding. The lack of helmet use poses a concern for those who participate in these activities due to the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ultimately having a negative effect on their future. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a trauma center comparing the data on animal-riding patients and their use or lack of use of headgear and incidence of TBI.

Benchmarking Density Functional Based Tight-Binding for Silver and Gold Materials: From Small Clusters to Bulk.

We benchmark existing and improved self-consistent-charge density functional based tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) parameters for silver and gold clusters as well as for bulk materials. In the former case, our benchmarks focus on both the structural and energetic properties of small-size Ag and Au clusters (N from 2 to 13), medium-size clusters with N = 20 and 55, and finally larger nanoparticles with N = 147, 309, and 561. For bulk materials, structural, energetics and elastic properties are discussed.

Mechanisms of Antigen Adsorption Onto an Aluminum-Hydroxide Adjuvant Evaluated by High-Throughput Screening.

The adsorption mechanism of antigen on aluminum adjuvant can affect antigen elution at the injection site and hence the immune response. Our aim was to evaluate adsorption onto aluminum hydroxide (AH) by ligand exchange and electrostatic interactions of model proteins and antigens, bovine serum albumin (BSA), β-casein, ovalbumin (OVA), hepatitis B surface antigen, and tetanus toxin (TT). A high-throughput screening platform was developed to measure adsorption isotherms in the presence of electrolytes and ligand exchange by a fluorescence-spectroscopy method that detects the catalysis of 6,8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate by free hydroxyl groups on AH.

[A listening support group for nursing staff].

The feedback from a consultant nurse in a listening support group for health professionals shows that, for hospital nursing staff, the phenomenon of suffering in the workplace is a reality. In addition to providing help to professionals who request it, the missions of such a group are to promote discussion around psycho-social risks in the framework of a policy of compassionate care for staff.

Optogenetic Control of Mammalian Ion Channels with Chemical Photoswitches.

In neurons, ligand-gated ion channels decode the chemical signal of neurotransmitters into an electric response, resulting in a transient excitation or inhibition. Neurotransmitters act on multiple receptor types and subtypes, with spatially and temporally precise patterns. Hence, understanding the neural function of a given receptor requires methods for its targeted, rapid activation/inactivation in defined brain regions.

Automated Gravimetric Calibration to Optimize the Accuracy and Precision of TECAN Freedom EVO Liquid Handler.

High-throughput screening technologies are increasingly integrated into the formulation development process of biopharmaceuticals. The performance of liquid handling systems is dependent on the ability to deliver accurate and precise volumes of specific reagents to ensure process quality. We have developed an automated gravimetric calibration procedure to adjust the accuracy and evaluate the precision of the TECAN Freedom EVO liquid handling system.