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Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated that physical exercise can modulate the endogenous melatonin level in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and improve their sleep quality. However, it remains unclear whether physical exercise or melatonin supplement, or a combination of both, is more effective in improving sleep quality in this population. The purpose of this study is to answer this research question by comparing the effectiveness of three types of interventions (physical exercise vs. melatonin supplement or a combination of both) in improving sleep quality in children with ASD. Methods: Sixty-two (62) children diagnosed with ASD were randomly assigned to one of four groups--cycling (n = 18), melatonin supplement (n = 14), a combination of both (n = 12), and placebo control group (n = 18). Four (4) sleep parameters (sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and wake after sleep onset) were assessed. Results: The results revealed a significant improvement in sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and sleep duration in all of the interventions, but not in the placebo control group. However, no significant group differences were found among the interventions (ps > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest similar effectiveness of physical exercise and melatonin supplementation in improving sleep quality in children with ASD.

Sections of a magnesium alloy, AZ31B, joined with tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, were examined with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) to investigate corrosion mechanisms by correlating observed corrosion behavior with weld-affected microstructural variations. Insight into the changing nature of the galvanic couples between weld zones and at localized microgalvanic sites were investigated using SECM and SKPFM to map both electrochemically active regions and Volta potential differences across the weld-affected zones. The formation of an Al-Zn solidification network in the fusion zone (FZ) at and near the TIG weld epicenter differs from the outer heat-affected zone (HAZ), where intermetallic particles (IMPs) are the notable secondary phase from the magnesium matrix. These microstructures were mapped with SKPFM before and after brief exposure to a salt solution, revealing micro-galvanic couples as the main driving force to corrosion initiation and propagation within each zone. The IMPs and Al-Zn solidification network act as strong cathodes and govern the corrosion processes. The galvanic coupling and evolution of the intrinsic corrosion behavior between the weld zones is explained by monitoring the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with SECM over time. Anodically induced cathodic activation is confirmed for this welded material, as micro-galvanic couples between microstructural features are found to transition over time to broad electrochemically active areas within the weld-affected zones, resulting in polarity reversal as time of exposure proceeds.

Abstract Objectives To interview a series of individuals with bulimia nervosa of longstanding to establish their symptoms and examine the suggestion, using qualitative analysis, that the term “Severe and Enduring Bulimia Nervosa (SEED-BN)” might be appropriate and helpful. Methods 12 participants with Bulimia Nervosa, one male, were interviewed with the help of an interview guide. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Results Participants with Bulimia Nervosa described serious problems in many realms, especially social, psychological, family and relationships. Conclusions Bulimia nervosa of long duration is associated with many serious symptoms. It seems likely that recognition of long-standing bulimia nervosa as a severe and enduring eating disorder could encourage clinicians and families to pay attention to the wide variety of problems suffered by this group. Further research is required to examine this proposal.

Abstract Short-term preoperative methionine restriction (MetR) is a promising translatable strategy to mitigate surgical injury response. However, its application to improve post-interventional vascular remodeling remains underexplored. Here we find that MetR protects from arterial intimal hyperplasia in a focal stenosis model and pathologic vascular remodeling following vein graft surgery in male mice. RNA sequencing reveals that MetR enhances browning in arterial (thoracic aorta) perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and induces it in venous (caval vein) PVAT. Specifically, Ppara is highly upregulated in PVAT-adipocytes upon MetR. Furthermore, MetR dampens the postoperative pro-inflammatory response to surgery in PVAT-macrophages in vivo and in vitro. This study shows that the detrimental effects of dysfunctional PVAT on vascular remodeling can be reversed by MetR, and identifies pathways involved in MetR-induced browning of PVAT. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of short-term preoperative MetR as a simple intervention to ameliorate vascular remodeling after vascular surgery.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a critical end-stage disease that leads to high amputation rates. Over the past few decades, therapeutic angiogenesis has attracted a lot of attention as a means to reduce the necessity for amputations. Especially gene- and cell therapy are regarded to as possible treatment modalities to restore the hampered blood flow. So far, early-phase clinical trials often fail to prove a significant clinical improvement in mortality, amputation rate, and ulcer healing but still conclude that therapeutic angiogenesis might be promising as therapy. The subsequent phase III clinical trials based on these indecisive early trials fail consistently to demonstrate clinical benefits leaving the promising early results unvalidated. In this review we will illustrate that designing good trials for CLTI patients is challenging, not in the last place since patients are often not eligible due to strict inclusion criteria. Moreover, in this review, we advocate that clinical trials should be conducted with a low risk of bias and that it is of utmost importance to publish results, regardless of the outcome. It is definitely very concerning that many studies of a lower quality (due to small group size or high chance for bias) reporting positive outcomes are published while good quality trials (often with larger group sizes) are stopped prematurely due to lack of effects and remain unpublished. This keeps the ‘promising but not yet proven’ image of these therapeutic neovascularization studies alive, with still new groups starting similar trials.

Abstract Alcohol use disorder has been associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, recent studies demonstrate that moderate alcohol consumption may be protective against dementia and cognitive decline. We examined astrocyte function, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), and the NF-κB p65 and IKK-α/β signaling pathways in modulating neuroinflammation and amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition. We assessed apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in the brain of APP/PS1 mice using IHC and ELISA in response to low to moderate ethanol exposure (MEE). First, to confirm the intracerebral distribution of ApoE, we co-stained with GFAP, a marker for astrocytes that biosynthesize ApoE. We sought to investigate whether the ethanol-induced upregulation of LRP1 could potentially inhibit the activity of IL-1β and TNF-α induced IKK-α/β towards NF-κB p65, resulting in a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. To evaluate the actual Aβ load in the brains of APP/PS1 mice, we performed with a specific antibody Aβ (Thioflavin S) on both air- and ethanol-exposed groups, subsequently analyzing Aβ levels. We also measured glucose uptake using 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET). Finally, we investigated whether MEE induced cognitive and memory changes using the Y maze, noble object recognition test, and Morris water maze. Our findings demonstrate that MEE reduced astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ApoE levels in the cortex and hippocampus in presymptomatic APP/PS1 mice. Interestingly, increased LRP1 protein expression was accompanied by dampening the IKK-α/β-NF-κB p65 pathway, resulting in decreased IL-1β and TNF-α levels in male mice. Notably, female mice show reduced levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, and IL-10 without altering IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations. In both males and females, Aβ plaques, a hallmark of AD, were reduced in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice exposed to ethanol starting at pre-symptomatic stage. Consistently, MEE increased FDG-PET-based brain activities and normalized cognitive and memory deficits in the APP/PS1 mice. Our findings suggest that MEE may benefit AD pathology via modulating LRP1 expression, potentially reducing neuroinflammation and attenuating Aβ deposition. Our study implies that reduced astrocyte-derived ApoE and LDL cholesterol levels are critical for attenuating AD pathology.

Physical exercise is widely reported beneficial to executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder. However, its impact on self-regulation in the population remains unknown. This study is to test whether two types of physical exercise (cognitively engaging vs non-cognitively engaging) benefited self-regulation and whether the social, emotional, and physical needs of an individual mediated the exercise--executive function and exercise--self-regulation relationships. Sixty-four children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups: learning to ride a bicycle (n = 23), stationary cycling (n = 19), or an active control with walking (n = 22). Two executive functions (flexibility and inhibition), self-regulation and the mediating roles of perceived social support, enjoyment, stress, physical self-efficacy, and perceived physical fitness were assessed. Participants in the learning to ride a bicycle group significantly improved their executive functions (p values < 0.01). The learning to ride a bicycle group and the stationary cycling group also significantly enhanced their self-regulation (p values < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that physical self-efficacy and perceived physical fitness partially mediated the exercise--executive function relationship. Meanwhile, perceived social support significantly mediated the exercise--self-regulation relationship (p < 0.05). Our findings highlight the value of cognitively engaging exercise on enhancing executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder in part by improving their physical self-efficacy and perceptions of fitness.

This critical content analysis used critical literacy and critical race theory to examine eight children's picturebooks to reveal patterns in the depictions of Black-white biracial characters. Analysis attended to protagonists' skin tone, hair texture, and facial features. Findings identify a pattern in the text of the protagonists' skin tone and hair texture being referenced as part of the storyline. However, the text of the picturebooks did not discuss the protagonists' Afrocentric or Eurocentric facial features even though the illustrations depicted them. Three other trends were identified: (1) comparing Black-white biracial characters' skin and hair to food; (2) presenting only two self-concepts for the Black-white biracial protagonists--either being "just right" or "mixed up;" and (3) portraying interracial families as either contentious or idyllic. The findings highlight how power differentials and racial socialization are embedded in the picturebooks and that opportunities for Black-white biracial counterstories must be pursued.

Study region: A complex mountainous region that is the source of water for the major river basins of northwestern North America. Study focus: Trends in magnitudes and timing of annual low flows in relation to basin characteristics and climate indices in 106 nival rivers in British Columbia and Alberta, New hydrological insights: Two types of significant trends in annual low flows were observed: [1] decreased magnitude and earlier occurrence in the warmer southwest, or [2] increased magnitude and later occurrence in the colder, higher elevation north and east. These differences are associated with differences in the form of nival regime from the reliable cold winter and spring freshet of the north and east to regimes with fall and mid-winter melts, often associated with rainfall, in the south and west. Basin location and regional climate, rather than individual basin attributes such as elevation or hypsometry drove these differences in streamflow regimes and their responses to climate variations and warming. Atmospheric teleconnections had strong effects that corresponded to the regime and spatial differences in trends and were dominated by positive relationships between magnitude and timing with long duration indices (AMO & PDO), and negative relationships with short duration climate indices (NAO & SOI). The pattern of these relationships mimicked the temporal trends over time, positive with magnitude and timing in the northeast, and negative in the southwest.