The influence of xeno-free culture conditions on the angiogenic and adipogenic differentiation properties of adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

Introduction: Before performing cell therapy clinical trials, it is important to understand how cells are influenced by different growth conditions and to find optimal xeno-free medium formulations. In this study we have investigated the properties of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) cultured under xeno-free conditions.

Methods: Human lipoaspirate samples were digested to yield the stromal vascular fraction cells which were then seeded in i) Minimum Essential Medium-α (MEM-α) supplemented with 10 % (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS), ii) MEM-α supplemented with 2 % (v/v) human platelet lysate (PLT) or iii) PRIME-XV MSC expansion XSFM xeno-free, serum free medium (XV).

An Information Manifold Perspective for Analyzing Test Data.

Modifications of current psychometric models for analyzing test data are proposed that produce an additive scale measure of information. This information measure is a one-dimensional space curve or curved surface manifold that is invariant across varying manifold indexing systems. The arc length along a curve manifold is used as it is an additive metric having a defined zero and a version of the bit as a unit.

Item response theory-based continuous test norming.

In norm-referenced psychological testing, an individual's performance is expressed in relation to a reference population using a standardized score, like an intelligence quotient score. The reference population can depend on a continuous variable, like age. Current continuous norming methods transform the raw score into an age-dependent standardized score.

Cognitive ability, gender, and well-being in school contexts: longitudinal evidence from Sweden.

While well-being does generally constitute a moderate predictor of school achievement, research on the predictive validity of cognitive ability for well-being in school contexts remains scant. The current study analyzed longitudinal relations between cognitive ability measured at age 13 (Grade 6) and well-being measured at age 18 (Grade 12, valid  = 2,705) in a Swedish sample, using several multivariate model techniques. The results indicate that cognitive ability was not a statistically significant predictor when several predictors were entered in a multiple regression model.

Fasting triglyceride concentrations are associated with markers of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis in healthy, non-obese dogs in lean and overweight condition.

Serum triglyceride concentrations increase in dogs with obesity, which is typically assessed by body condition score (BCS), however little is known about changes that take place in non-obese dogs in overweight condition. Further, the associations of triglyceride levels with other markers of energy homeostasis are poorly characterised in healthy animals. The present study aimed to evaluate associations between both BCS and triglyceride concentrations with other markers of lipid and glucose metabolism in healthy, non-obese dogs, as well as to assess whether these markers change significantly in non-obese dogs with overweight as compared to their lean counterparts.