Abstract
Objectives
To characterize the extent to which brief cognitive assessments administered in the population-representative U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and its International Partner ...Studies can be considered to be measuring a single, unidimensional latent cognitive function construct.
Methods
Cognitive function assessments were administered in face-to-face interviews in 12 studies in 26 countries (N = 155,690), including the U.S. HRS and selected International Partner Studies. We used the time point of the first cognitive assessment for each study to minimize differential practice effects across studies and documented cognitive test item coverage across studies. Using confirmatory factor analysis models, we estimated single-factor general cognitive function models and bifactor models representing memory-specific and nonmemory-specific cognitive domains for each study. We evaluated model fits and factor loadings across studies.
Results
Despite relatively sparse and inconsistent cognitive item coverage across studies, all studies had some cognitive test items in common with other studies. In all studies, the bifactor models with a memory-specific domain fit better than single-factor general cognitive function models. The data fit the models at reasonable thresholds for single-factor models in 6 of the 12 studies and for the bifactor models in all 12 of the 12 studies.
Discussion
The cognitive assessments in the U.S. HRS and its International Partner Studies reflect comparable underlying cognitive constructs. We discuss the assumptions underlying our methods, present alternatives, and future directions for cross-national harmonization of cognitive aging data.
Objective: Studies use different instruments to measure cognitirating cognitive tests permit direct comparisons of individuals across studies and pooling data for joint analyses. Method: We began our ...legacy item bank with data from the Adult Changes in Thought study (n = 5,546), the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n = 3,016), the Rush Memory and Aging Project (n = 2,163), and the Religious on such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Boston Naming Test. CocalibOrders Study (n = 1,456). Our workflow begins with categorizing items administered in each study as indicators of memory, executive functioning, language, visuospatial functioning, or none of these domains. We use confirmatory factor analysis models with data from the most recent visit on the pooled sample across these four studies for cocalibration and derive item parameters for all items. Using these item parameters, we then estimate factor scores along with corresponding standard errors for each domain for each study. We added additional studies to our pipeline as available and focused on thorough consideration of candidate anchor items with identical content and administration methods across studies. Results: Prestatistical harmonization steps such qualitative and quantitative assessment of granular cognitive items and evaluating factor structure are important steps when trying to cocalibrate cognitive scores across studies. We have cocalibrated cognitive data and derived scores for four domains for 76,723 individuals across 10 studies. Conclusions: We have implemented a large-scale effort to harmonize and cocalibrate cognitive domain scores across multiple studies of cognitive aging. Scores on the same metric facilitate meta-analyses of cognitive outcomes across studies or the joint analysis of individual data across studies. Our systematic approach allows for cocalibration of additional studies as they become available and our growing item bank enables robust investigation of cognition in the context of aging and dementia.
Key Points
Question: What considerations were addressed in setting up and implementing a robust workflow that harmonizes and cocalibrates cognitive data across studies of older adults? Findings: Data from thousands of individuals at tens of thousands of study visits have been cocalibrated to the same metrics for four different cognitive domains. Importance: These data will facilitate analyses of cognition across studies, despite varying levels of overlap in cognitive tests used across studies. Next Steps: Cocalibrated scores and standard errors for the studies incorporated in our item banking efforts to date are available to investigators. Additional studies will be incorporated in the coming years using the same methods.
Allium cepa L. (A. cepa) is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. A. cepa has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat inflammatory disease in several regions, such as Palestine ...and Serbia. A. cepa peel has a higher content of flavonoids, such as quercetin, than the edible parts. These flavonoids alleviate inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of A. cepa peel extract—obtained using various extraction methods—and their underlying mechanisms require further investigation.
Although research to find safe anti-inflammatory substances in various natural products has been actively conducted for many years, it is important to continue identifying potential anti-inflammatory effects in natural materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethnopharmacological properties of the A. cepa peel extract, whose efficacy when obtained through different extraction methods and underlying action mechanisms is not well known. The present study specifically aimed to observe the anti-inflammatory effects of the A. cepa peel extracts obtained using various extraction methods and the related detailed mechanisms of A. cepa peel extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.
The total flavonoid content of the A. cepa peel extracts was determined the diethylene glycol colorimetric method and measured using a calibration curve prepared using quercetin as a standard solution. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the ABTS assay, and cytotoxicity was measured using the MTT assay. NO production was measured using Griess reagent. Protein levels were measured by western blotting, and mRNA expression was measured by RT-qPCR. Secreted cytokines were analyzed using ELISA or cytokine arrays. In the GSE160086 dataset, we calculated Z-scores for individual genes of interest and displayed using a heat map.
Of the three A. cepa peel extracts obtained using different extraction methods, the A. cepa peel 50% EtOH extract (AP50E) was the most effective at inhibiting LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, AP50E significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammation cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-27. Additionally, AP50E directly inhibited the Janus kinase-signaling transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway.
These results showed that AP50E exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages by directly inhibiting JAK-STAT signaling. Based on these findings, we propose AP50E as a potential candidate for the development of preventive or therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases.
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•Among various Allium cepa L. peel extracts, AP50E was the most effective anti-inflammatory.•AP50E suppresses pro-inflammatory molecules in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.•AP50E directly blocked JAK-STAT activation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.
This study investigated diabetes management processes among young adults with type 1 diabetes applying the grounded theory method. A total of 15 young adults, with an average age of 29 years, with ...type 1 diabetes were selected through theoretical sampling between November 2016 and October 2018. Data collected through in-depth interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The core category of this study was defined as “living in a standardized frame.” Participants managed diabetes through the trial-and-error process in addition to selective restriction or selective minimization. They restricted their diet, physical activity, social interactions, and range of thoughts, often following passive and avoidant strategies. Consequently, nurses are in a critical position to assist diabetic individuals via support programs and take the lead in mitigating social prejudice.
Objectives
This study aimed to elucidate the association between oral health status and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korean adults (≥ 40 years old) using a representative national ...dataset from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (6th KNHANES, 2013–2015).
Methods
Participants aged ≥ 40 years from the 6th KNHANES who had received an oral and pulmonary function tests (N = 7719) were included in this study. The participant characteristics according to COPD were compared using t‐test and chi‐squared test. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between oral health status and COPD.
Results
Participants with poor periodontal status exhibited a higher prevalence of COPD. Moreover, patients with COPD had a greater number of missing teeth than those without COPD. The logistic regression model adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health‐ and oral health‐related factors showed that the periodontal status was not significantly associated with COPD, while participants with more missing teeth had a significantly increased possibility of having COPD.
Conclusions
This study revealed that loss of teeth in adults aged ≥ 40 years was associated with COPD.
A perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based microfluidic device with cross-junction microchannels was fabricated with the purpose of producing uniform droplets. The microchannels were developed using CO
laser ...engraving. PFPE was chosen as the main material because of its excellent solvent resistance. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was mixed with PFPE to improve the hydrophilic properties of the inner surface of the microchannels. The microchannels of the polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device had a blackened and rough surface after laser engraving. By contrast, the inner surface of the microchannels of the PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic device exhibited a smooth surface. The lower power and faster speed of the laser engraving resulted in the development of microchannels with smaller dimensions, less than 30 μm in depth. The PFPE and PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic devices were used to produce uniform water and oil droplets, respectively. We believe that such a PFPE-based microfluidic device with CO
-laser-engraved microchannels can be used as a microfluidic platform for applications in various fields, such as biological and chemical analysis, extraction, and synthesis.
The current production of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccine is based on animal cells, where various risk factors for human health should be resolved. This study used a transient ...expression system to express the chimeric protein composed of antigenic epitopes from the JEV envelope (E) protein in
. JEV multi-epitope peptide (MEP) sequences fused with FLAG-tag or 6× His-tag at the C- or N-terminus for the purification were introduced into plant expression vectors and used for transient expression. Among the constructs, vector pSK480, which expresses MEP fused with a FLAG-tag at the C-terminus, showed the highest level of expression and yield in purification. Optimization of transient expression procedures further improved the target protein yield. The purified MEP protein was applied to an ICR mouse and successfully induced an antibody against JEV, which demonstrates the potential of the plant-produced JEV MEP as an alternative vaccine candidate.
Introduction
Composite scores may be useful to summarize overall language or visuospatial functioning in studies of older adults.
Methods
We used item response theory to derive composite measures for ...language (ADNI‐Lan) and visuospatial functioning (ADNI‐VS) from the cognitive battery administered in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We evaluated the scores among groups of people with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in terms of responsiveness to change, association with imaging findings, and ability to differentiate between MCI participants who progressed to AD dementia and those who did not progress.
Results
ADNI‐Lan and ADNI‐VS were able to detect change over time and predict conversion from MCI to AD. They were associated with most of the pre‐specified magnetic resonance imaging measures. ADNI‐Lan had strong associations with a cerebrospinal fluid biomarker pattern.
Discussion
ADNI‐Lan and ADNI‐VS may be useful composites for language and visuospatial functioning in ADNI.
Core Ideas
Agricultural drainage ditches can be considered as carbon sinks.
Agricultural ditches can provide an optimum environment for carbon sequestration.
Soil topography influences spatial carbon ...storage within wetlands.
Soil bulk densities influence carbon storage in wetlands.
Agricultural ditches are capable of many ecological functions, including flood control and edge of field nutrient filtration. This study investigated the potential for carbon sequestration within mowed and unmowed experimental conventional and controlled (with weirs) agricultural drainage ditches. The study analyzed and compared spatial and temporal variation in soil organic carbon (OC) concentration (g C kg–1) and OC pool (kg C m–2) within a 3‐cm soil depth between treatments. Soil OC concentrations were quantified through combustion of organic matter (OM) at 400°C in a muffle furnace for 16 h using the loss on ignition (LOI) method. Soil bulk density was also determined for each ditch treatment. In both summer and winter, mean soil C concentration in ditches with weirs was similar to mean soil C concentration in ditches with no weirs (16.68 ± 0.49 vs. 16.47 ± 0.46 g C kg–1 in summer; 14.47 ± 0.75 vs. 16.27 ± 0.72 g C kg–1 in winter). Similar bulk densities (0.67 Mg m–3, on average) and OC contents in ditches furnished comparable C pools in ditches with weirs and no weirs respectively (28.08 ± 0.75 vs. 27.88 ± 0.68 kg C m–2 in summer; 26.44 ± 1.56 vs. 30.24 ± 1.40 g C kg–1 in winter). The studied drainage ditches can therefore be considered for their contributions to the C sink, given the high values of C pool observed in the ditch treatments. This suggests agricultural drainage ditches can offer a suitable environment for C sequestration.
Marine yeasts have versatile applications in the industrial, medical, and environmental fields. However, they have received little attention compared to terrestrial yeasts and filamentous fungi. In ...this study, a phylogenetic analysis of 11 marine-derived yeasts was conducted using internal transcribed spacers and nuclear large subunit rDNA, and their bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and tyrosinase inhibition activities, were investigated. The 11 marine-derived yeasts were identified to belong to seven species including Geotrichum candidum, Metschnikowia bicuspidata, Papiliotrema fonsecae, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Vishniacozyma carnescens, Yamadazyma olivae, and Yarrowia lipolytica, and three strains of these were candidates for new species of the genera Aureobasidium, Rhodotorula, and Vishniacozyma. Most extracts showed antioxidant activity, whereas seven strains exhibited antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis. Only Aureobasidium sp. US-Sd3 among the 11 isolates showed tyrosinase inhibition. Metschnikowia bicuspidata BP-Up1 and Yamadazyma olivae K2-6 showed notable radical-scavenging activity, which has not been previously reported. Moreover, Aureobasidium sp. US-Sd3 exhibited the highest antibacterial and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. These results demonstrate the potential of marine-derived yeasts as a source of bioactive compounds for improving industrial applications.
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