RESULTS: We show that SYMRK is essential for nodulation and endomycorrhization in Parasponia andersonii. Subsequently, it is revealed that the 5'-intron donor splice site of SYMRK intron 12 is variable and, in most dicotyledon species, doesn't contain the canonical dinucleotide 'GT' signature but the much less common motif 'GC'. Strikingly, in T. orientalis, this motif is converted into a rare non-canonical 5'-intron donor splice site 'GA'. This SYMRK allele, however, is fully functional and spreads in the T. orientalis population of Malaysian Borneo. A further investigation into the occurrence of the non-canonical GA-AG splice sites confirmed that these are extremely rare.
CONCLUSION: SYMRK functioning is highly conserved in legumes, actinorhizal plants, and Parasponia. The gene possesses a non-common 5'-intron GC donor splice site in intron 12, which is converted into a GA in T. orientalis accessions of Malaysian Borneo. The discovery of this functional GA-AG splice site in SYMRK highlights a gap in our understanding of splice donor sites.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and February 2022. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select farming households. The sample size for each district was determined by a proportionate allocation to the number of households. From wastewater-irrigated farms, 70 wastewater samples, 28 soil samples, and 86 farmers' stool samples were collected and analyzed for helminths. A questionnaire was used to gather ethnographic data, about farming households, whereas wastewater and soil sample analysis was used to generate quantitative data on helminth loads. The data were systematically analysed by developing themes, and bias evaluated using triangulation validation methodologies. Potential pathways to helminth infection were evaluated by measuring. Total number of helminth eggs in wastewater, soil samples and farmer's stools was investigated using Poisson regression.
RESULTS: In this study, 82.9% of wastewater samples, 57.1% of soil samples, and 18.6% of farmers' stool samples contained helminth eggs. The most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides in all samples (wastewater 67%, soil 25%, and stool 10.5%), followed by hookworm (wastewater 10%, soil 21.4%, and stool 6.9%) and Trichuris trichiura eggs (wastewater 5.7%, soil 10.7%, and stool 1.2%). There was a positive association between the total number of helminth eggs in wastewater and soil samples with counts in farmers' stool. The Poisson regression coefficients for wastewater and soil were, 1.63 (95% CI = 1.34-1.92) and 1.70 (95% CI = 1.39-2.01), (p
RESULTS: The results indicated that acidification induced conversion of PPSI aggregates into linear chains. Increasing concentration promoted formation of cross-linked network structure shown in transmission electron microscopy images. Consequently, the viscosity, yield stress, storage modulus and flow activation energy significantly increased, further fabricating gel structure. Moreover, aggregation behavior suggested that more exposed proteins were involved in gel structure, thereby forming many hydrophobic cores as verified by fluorescence spectroscopy of pyrene. Afterwards, emulsion characteristics indicated that APPSI produced strong and thick steric hindrance around oil droplets and the coil-like interweaved chains locked the continuous phase, bringing strong elasticity and resistance to stress and creaming. Meanwhile, the lower fatty acid in APPSI-emulsion was released after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, mainly as a result of the high retention ratio of emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the elastic and viscous Lissajous curves suggested that the structure strength of APPSI-emulsion was similar to that of the salad dressing within the strain 53.22%.
CONCLUSION: The conformation of PPSI after acidification at pH 3.0 was suitable for preparing the stable emulsion. The obtained emulsion could resist digestion and maintain a strong structure, comprising a cholesterol-free and low-fat salad dressing substitute. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
METHODS: Adults with active NIIPPU received adalimumab in this prospective, observational study (06/2017-04/2020). Patients were evaluated at baseline (V0) and four follow-up visits over 12 months (V1-V4).
PRIMARY ENDPOINT: proportion of patients achieving quiescence (anterior chamber (AC) cells grade and vitreous haze (VH) grade≤0.5+ in both eyes, no new active chorioretinal lesions) at any follow-up visit. Secondary endpoints: proportion of patients achieving quiescence at each visit; proportion of patients maintaining response; and proportion of patients with flares. Workability, visual function, healthcare resource utilisation, and safety were evaluated.
RESULTS: Full analysis set included 149 patients. Quiescence at any follow-up visit was achieved by 129/141 (91%) patients. Quiescence at individual visits was achieved by 99/145 (68%), 110/142 (77%), 102/131 (78%), and 99/128 (77%) patients at V1-V4, respectively. Number of patients in corticosteroid-free quiescence increased from 51/147 (35%; V1) to 67/128 (52%; V4; p<0.05). Proportion of patients with maintained response increased from 89/141 (63%; V2) to 92/121 (76%; V4; p<0.05) and proportion of patients with flare decreased from 25/145 (17%; V1) to 13/128 (10%; V4; p=0.092). Workability and visual function improved throughout the study. Proportion of patients with medical visits for uveitis decreased from 132/149 (89%; V0) to 27/127 (21%; V4). No new safety signals were observed.
CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated adalimumab effectiveness in improving quality of life while reducing economic burden of active NIIPPU.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of the Motor Skill Occupational Therapy Intervention ON ASD (MOTION-ASD) and Cognitive Orientation Exercise (CO-EXC) programs to improve motor skills performance, self-care performance, and adaptive behaviors among preschool children with ASD.
DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial, two-group, triple-blinded, repeated-measures design Setting: University laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen preschool children with ASD (M age = 4.91 yr).
OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition, Brief Form, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition.
RESULTS: Children in the MOTION-ASD group showed significantly greater improvements in manual coordination and overall gross and fine manual skills than those in the CO-EXC group immediately after the intervention. Significant improvements in fine manual control, body coordination, overall motor skills, and self-care performance were made throughout both interventions and were retained at the posttest and the 4-wk follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings provide supporting evidence that motor skills interventions involving fundamental skills and cognitive training may be a viable therapeutic option for treating children with ASD. The results also suggest that practitioners may consider providing structured and strategic motor skills interventions for preschool children with ASD. What This Article Adds: This study's rigorous tests of motor skills interventions support ways to manage motor difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An intervention based on motor learning theory could benefit preschool children with ASD, especially in terms of manual coordination ability and overall gross and fine motor skills.
METHODS: Final-year medical students across three campuses (Ireland, Bahrain and Malaysia) were invited to share experiences of feedback in individual semi-structured interviews. The data were thematically analysed and explored through the lens of self-regulatory learning theory (SRL).
RESULTS: Feedback interacts with learners' knowledge and beliefs about themselves and about learning. They use feedback to change both their cognitive and behavioural learning strategies, but how they choose which feedback to implement is complex. They struggle to generate learning strategies and expect teachers to make sense of the "how" in addition to the "what"" in planning future learning. Even when not actioned, learners spend time with feedback and it influences future learning.
CONCLUSION: By exploring our findings through the lens of self-regulation learning, we advance conceptual understanding of feedback responses. Learners' ability to generate "next steps" may be overestimated. When feedback causes negative emotions, energy is diverted from learning to processing distress. Perceived non-implementation of feedback should not be confused with ignoring it; feedback that is not actioned often impacts learning.