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We use paleoecological techniques to investigate how Canadian High Arctic wetlands responded to a mid‐twentieth century increase in growing degree days. We observe an increase in wetness, moss diversity, and carbon accumulation in a polygon mire trough, likely related to ice wedge thaw. Contrastingly, the raised center of the polygon mire showed no clear response. Wet and dry indicator testate amoebae increased concomitantly in a valley fen, possibly relating to greater inundation from snowmelt followed by increasing evapotranspiration. This occurred alongside the appearance of generalist hummock mosses. A coastal fen underwent a shift from sedge to shrub dominance. The valley and coastal fens transitioned from minerogenic to organic‐rich wetlands prior to the growing degree days increase. A subsequent shift to moss dominance in the coastal fen may relate to intensive grazing from Arctic geese. Our findings highlight the complex response of Arctic wetlands to warming and have implications for understanding their future carbon sink potential. Plain Language Summary: The response of Arctic wetland ecosystems and carbon stores to climate change is uncertain. We investigate the response of wetland ecosystems in the Canadian High Arctic to twentieth century climate warming. We use proxies for changes in vegetation (plant macrofossils) and wetness (testate amoebae) preserved in the wetland soil in combination with radiocarbon dating to reconstruct the past ecology of these wetlands. This approach allows us to explore beyond the timeframe of monitoring studies. Our results suggest that wetland type is an important determinant of the response of ecological, hydrological, and soil carbon accumulation to climate warming. Our findings highlight the clear but complex response of Arctic wetlands to twentieth century warming. This has important implications for understanding the future carbon sink potential of these ecosystems. Key Points: The ecological, hydrological, and C accumulation responses of Arctic wetlands to climate warming may be strongly influenced by wetland typeContrasting site‐specific responses to an increase in growing degree days include increased moss diversity and a shift to shrub dominanceIntensive grazing from Arctic geese may be an important driver for recent vegetation change in High Arctic coastal wetlands [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a glimpse into the development of family therapy in China, by reviewing family therapy articles written in Chinese and published in journals in China that are not, therefore, readily accessible to the international community. A content analysis of journals published between 1978 and 2006 revealed 199 family therapy articles in 109 Chinese journals. Most of the studies were conducted by psychiatry or medical professionals, and were based on general systems theory or a systemic family therapy model. The articles focused on the promotion of family therapy theories and interventions in China, but did not specify the application of theory to specific clientele or symptoms. After the year 2000, a threefold increase in the number of family therapy publications was noted. These papers included the introduction of additional theories, but did not include critical assessment of the applicability of Western family therapy models to Chinese families. The researchers noted an absence of articles that identified Chinese approaches to family therapy, and a paucity of papers on gender, professional reflection, and the therapy process. The article concludes that there is room for improvement in the quality of family therapy publications in China, and that gains may be made by interdisciplinary collaboration among academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sim TPC, Knowles JC, Ng Y-L, Shelton J, Gulabivala K. Effect of sodium hypochlorite on mechanical properties of dentine and tooth surface strain. International Endodontic Journal , 34 , 120–132, 2001. --> Aim: The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that sodium hypochlorite irrigation of root canals does not alter the properties of dentine and contribute to the weakening of root‐treated teeth. Methodology: The effect of two concentrations (0.5%, 5.25%) of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and saline on (i) the elastic modulus and flexural strength of machined dentine bars, and (ii) changes in strain of 'whole' extracted human teeth were evaluated. One hundred standardized plano‐parallel dentine bars (> 11.7 × 0.8 × 0.8 mm) were randomly divided into the three groups, immersed for 2 h in the respective solutions and then subjected to a three‐point bend test. Changes in strain of each of 10 teeth on cyclical nondestructive occlusal loading were measured using electrical resistance strain gauges bonded to the cervical aspects. Each tooth had its crown and enamel reduced and root canal prepared. These were irrigated sequentially in a series of four separate, 30‐minute regimes; initial‐saline, 0.5% NaOCl, 5.25% NaOCl and final‐saline. The changes in strains after each irrigation regime were compared. Results: There was a significant decrease in elastic modulus of the dentine bars immersed in 5.25% NaOCl compared with the saline group (P < 0.01). There was also a significant decrease in flexural strength of the dentine bars in the 5.25% NaOCl group compared to both the saline and 0.5% NaOCl groups (P < 0.01). The strain data from the nondestructive tooth loading tests revealed significant increases in tensile strain between the initial‐saline and the final‐saline stages (P < 0.01). Significant increases in compressive strains were also found between initial‐saline and 5.25% NaOCl; and between 0.5% NaOCl and 5.25% NaOCl stages (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The null hypothesis was rejected, 5.25% NaOCl reduced the elastic modulus and flexural strength of dentine. Irrigation of root canals of single, mature rooted premolars with 5.25% NaOCl affected their properties sufficiently to alter their strain characteristics when no enamel was present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dens evaginatus (DE) is an odontogenic anomaly characterized by an enamel covered tubercle, enclosing dentin and pulpal tissue. It most commonly affects premolar teeth of people of mongoloid ethnicity. The prevalence of DE in Singapore is 2.1%. Fracture or attrition of the tubercle may lead to pulpal necrosis. Thus, prophylactic management of DE is preferred. A retrospective cohort study comparing two common prophylactic restorative methods was conducted. This involved 817 children, aged 10 years at the outset, having 1591 DE. The teeth were observed for 2 years. The results showed that significantly less teeth developed pulpal pathology when an enamoplasty-preventive resin restoration method was used (0.52%) as compared to an amalgam cavity restoration (5.37%) and the control (3.65%) [X[sup2] = 9.595 (p<0.01) df = 2]. Knowledge of the various treatment options and prevalence data is important as there is an increasing global migration of people of mongoloid ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuolar protein sorting 41 (VPS41) is as part of the Homotypic fusion and Protein Sorting (HOPS) complex required for lysosomal fusion events and, independent of HOPS, for regulated secretion. Here, we report three patients with compound heterozygous mutations in VPS41 (VPS41 S285P and VPS41 R662 * ; VPS41 c.1423-2A>G and VPS41 R662 * ) displaying neurodegeneration with ataxia and dystonia. Cellular consequences were investigated in patient fibroblasts and VPS41-depleted HeLa cells. All mutants prevented formation of a functional HOPS complex, causing delayed lysosomal delivery of endocytic and autophagic cargo. By contrast, VPS41 S285P enabled regulated secretion. Strikingly, loss of VPS41 function caused a cytosolic redistribution of mTORC1, continuous nuclear localization of Transcription Factor E3 (TFE3), enhanced levels of LC3II, and a reduced autophagic response to nutrient starvation. Phosphorylation of mTORC1 substrates S6K1 and 4EBP1 was not affected. In a C. elegans model of Parkinson's disease, co-expression of VPS41 S285P /VPS41 R662 * abolished the neuroprotective function of VPS41 against α-synuclein aggregates. We conclude that the VPS41 variants specifically abrogate HOPS function, which interferes with the TFEB/TFE3 axis of mTORC1 signaling, and cause a neurodegenerative disease., (© 2021 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.)

Although various delivery systems for nucleic acids have been reported, development of an efficient and non-toxic delivery carrier is still a key subject for gene therapy. To find new efficient delivery carriers for nucleic acids, we synthesized amphiphilic peptides composed of a guanidino group, an oleyl group, and a cysteine. We prepared both linear and branched types of peptides and found that the linear peptides were superior to the branched peptides as nucleic acid carriers. Our study also suggested that the intermolecular cysteine disulfides might allow the linear peptides to form the optimal particle sizes with nucleic acids for cellular uptake. The incorporation of a benzoyl group to the linear peptide gave rise to smaller, less suitable particle size with plasmid DNA, which greatly reduced the efficiency of plasmid DNA delivery. On the other hand, the benzoyl modification maintained the optimal particle size with siRNA, and interestingly it significantly enhanced the siRNA delivery. The higher efficiency is because the hydrophobicity from the benzoyl group might assist in interacting with the hydrophobic cell membrane. This demonstrates that a small structural change can modulate the preference of the carriers. Our study may provide an insight designing efficient delivery carriers., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Objectives: Epidemiological studies indicate widespread memory impairment in patients with stroke in the early post-ictal stage. Nimodipine may have psychopharmacological properties and may improve memory. We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial to determine whether nimodipine given 7-14 days after cerebral infarction improved memory., Material and Methods: One hundred patients with acute cerebral infarction were consecutively enrolled between D7 to D14. After stratification, patients were randomized to receive oral nimodipine 90 mg daily for 12 weeks, or no drug. Independent assessors administered Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation (FOME) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks., Results: Patients receiving nimodipine showed greater improvement in FOME mean scores at 12 weeks (P=0.0334), and also in FOME score change across time (P=0.0283). Patients with severe disability who received nimodipine also showed greater MMSE score change across time (P=0.0495)., Conclusion: Nimodipine given 7-14 days after cerebral infarction for 3 months results in memory improvement.