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Cerebellar degeneration progressively impairs motor function. Recent research showed that cerebellar patients can improve motor performance with practice, but the optimal feedback type (visual, proprioceptive, verbal) for such learning and the underlying neuroplastic changes are unknown. Here, patients with cerebellar degeneration (N = 40) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (N = 40) practiced single-joint, goal-directed forearm movements for 5 days. Cerebellar patients improved performance during visuomotor practice, but a training focusing on either proprioceptive feedback, or explicit verbal feedback and instruction did not show additional benefits. Voxel-based morphometry revealed that after training gray matter volume (GMV) was increased prominently in the visual association cortices of controls, whereas cerebellar patients exhibited GMV increase predominantly in premotor cortex. The premotor cortex as a recipient of cerebellar efferents appears to be an important hub in compensatory remodeling following damage of the cerebro-cerebellar motor system.

Bronchiectasis has been observed in association with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Theorised aetiology includes aspiration related to oesophageal dysmotility, immunosuppressant medication use and the direct effect of collagen deposition on airway calibre.

In this study we detail bronchiectasis prevalence in an SSc population who have had a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) thorax. We assessed whether oesophageal dysmotility, demographic variables, SSc duration or subclass were associated with bronchiectasis.

Participants in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS) with an HRCT were included. The ASCS provided demographic and clinical data. HRCT studies were reviewed for bronchiectasis, oesophageal dilatation and interstitial lung disease (ILD). CL-82198 in vitro Traction bronchiectasis associated with ILD was recorded as a separate entity to bronchiectasis. Oesophageal dysmotility was defined by symptoms and/or oesophageal dilatation.

16.4% (n=42) of the 256 participants had bronchiectasis. Logistic regressier duration of SSc, we hypothesise that its development is not related to immunosuppression alone. Oesophageal dysmotility was almost universal in our population such that its effect on bronchiectasis development could not be concluded. A negative association between bronchiectasis and ILD reflects that bronchiectasis occurring alongside ILD was recorded as a separate entity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Although frailty could be reversible by early diagnosis and interventions, it lacks definite diagnostic criteria. The Kihon Checklist is a 25-item questionnaire that diagnoses frailty with a cutoff score of 7/8. The Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) was recently established and used for medical checkups among Japanese older adults, but no method or cutoff score for diagnosing frailty has been established. Thus, we aimed to diagnose frailty using the QMCOO and to determine its cutoff score by comparing it with that of the Kihon Checklist.

We recruited 223 older adults in Yasugi City and Yonago City to answer all the questions in the Kihon Checklist and the QMCOO at the same time. Those scoring ≥8 for the Kihon Checklist (n=38) were diagnosed as frail. We also determined the cutoff score for frailty for the QMCOO and examined which questionnaire items affected the frailty status.

The QMCOO and the Kihon Checklist score showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.670, P < 0.001). The area under the curve was 0.851. A cutoff score of 3/4 for the QMCOO represented the best results (sensitivity, 76.3%; specificity, 88.1%; and accuracy, 86.1%). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that subjective health status, body weight loss, slowness, and forgetfulness still affected the frailty status.

A cutoff score of 3/4 for the QMCOO might be effective in diagnosing frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22 127-131.

A cutoff score of 3/4 for the QMCOO might be effective in diagnosing frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22 127-131.

To expand the SyntEyes keratoconus (KTC) model to assess the Visual Image Quality (VIQ) of sphero-cylindrical spectacle and rigid contact lens corrections as keratoconus progresses.

The previously published SyntEyes KTC eye model to determine best sphero-cylindrical spectacle and rigid contact lens correction in keratoconic eyes was expanded to include the natural progression of keratoconus, thus allowing the assessment of corrected VIQ with disease progression.

As keratoconus progresses, the pattern of visual Strehl ratio (VSX) in correction space for spectacles alters from a typical hourglass into a shell pattern. The former would guide the subjective refraction towards the optimal correction while the latter is relatively insensitive to large dioptric steps. In 15 out of the 20 SyntEyes, the shell pattern eventually produces two foci on different sides of the correction space separated by a clinically significant dioptric difference with a similar, albeit lower VIQ. Wearing the best possible spectaclenefit of spectacle correction is short lived and that rigid contact lenses provide better and more stable VIQ with disease progression. Other aspects, such as the presence and behaviour of the second focus in some cases, remain to be confirmed clinically.The targeted synthesis of deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, especially those with non-π-conjugated sulfates, has experienced considerable difficulties due to the need to reconcile the oft-competing requirements for deep-UV transparency and strong second-harmonic generation (SHG). We report herein the designed synthesis of the first rare-earth metal-based deep-UV sulfate La(NH4 )(SO4 )2 by a double-salt strategy involving introduction of complementary cations, together with optical studies that reveal a short-wavelength deep-UV absorption edge (below 190 nm) and the strongest SHG response among deep-UV NLO sulfates (2.4×KDP). Theoretical calculations and crystal structure analysis suggest that the excellent balance between SHG response and deep-UV transparency can be attributed to a synergistic interaction of the hetero-cations La3+ and [NH4 ]+ , which optimize alignment of the [SO4 ] tetrahedra and highly polarizable [LaO8 ] polyhedra.Bistable electrochromic materials are a promising alternative solution to reduce energy consumption in displays. Limited by the mechanism and lack of a design strategy, only a few electrochromic materials have truly been able achieve bistability. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed to design bistable electrochromic materials based on polymer-assisted dynamic metal-ligand coordination. The mechanism and materials of such unconventional electrochromic systems are proved by sufficient characterization. Synergistic stabilization of polymerized switchable dyes and the ionic ligand polymer are attracted to each other by supramolecular forces. The color states of the dye molecules are controlled and stabilized by valence changes of the metal ions. Meanwhile, through the polymerization of the electrochromic material and the nearby metal-ligand material, the metal ions of the electroinduced valence change are tightly fixed, and the related diffusion problem of the active EC component is also almost completely suppressed. This strategy successfully enables preparation of the corresponding transparent electrochromic displays with good performances, such as, the display information is clearly visible for more than 1.5 h without consuming energy. Furthermore, the new way of dynamic coordination or dissociation bistable displays could likely prosper the development of the electrochromic area and inspire other fields.This study was performed to compare the noncapsulated with nanoliposome-encapsulated phenolic-rich fraction (PRF) obtained from Rheum ribes as a dietary additive and to assess their health-promoting potentials in the mice infected by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (O157H7). Upon fractionation, the ethyl acetate fraction with 46.9 ± 2.17 mg GAE/g DW was found as a highest phenolic content. The PRF successfully loaded into nanoliposome structure with a nanometer in size (193.2 nm) and spherical shape and homogeneous dispersion. The gallic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, catechin, ellagic acid, and ferulic acid are bioactive phenolics present in the nanoliposome-loaded PRF; however, the main bioactive compounds are cinnamic acid (911 μg/g DW) and ellagic acid (826 μg/g DW). The infection caused by E. coil impaired the weight gain and food intake, liver function, morpho structural characteristics of jejunum, upregulated the expression of inflammatory genes (Cox2, iNOS), downregulation of antioxidant-related genes (SOD, GPX), and increased the ileal population of E. coil. The addition of nonencapsulated PRF and nanoliposome-encapsulated PRF at the concentration of 10 mg TPC/kg BW/day improved these parameters although the nanoliposome-encapsulated PRF revealed more potential as compared with the nonencapsulated PRF in improving the health parameters in mice. The higher health-promoting activity of nanoliposome-encapsulated PRF could be associated with its enhanced intestinal absorption, bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and bioactivity. Consequently, the nanoliposome-encapsulated PRF could be considered as a promising phytobiotic against E. coil infection in mice.

Implicit biases of health professionals could cause biased judgements. Many anti-bias interventions seem to be ineffective, and some even counterproductive. People tend to be compliant to standards describing what the majority of people finds or does, and this could cause people to think in a stereotype-consistent manner. This study examines whether descriptive social norms such as 'the majority of people have stereotypes' (majority message), as often stated in interventions, actually increase people's stereotypes. To examine the effect of descriptive social norms (Hypothesis 1) and the effect of individual perceptions and preferences (Hypothesis 2a and 2b) on stereotypical expressions towards medical students.

First, we determined which ethic stereotypes regarding medical students prevail in Dutch medical education (N = 52). Next, two similar randomised controlled trials, both with teachers and students, were carried out (N = 158 and N = 123, respectively), one with an East Asian student picture (ethnic y of people thinks or does. Individual perceptions and preferences are predictive of stereotypes, whereas descriptive social norms are not.

Interventions do not unintentionally increase stereotypes by communicating what the majority of people thinks or does. Individual perceptions and preferences are predictive of stereotypes, whereas descriptive social norms are not.Formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3 ) is attractive for photovoltaic devices due to its optimal bandgap at around 1.45 eV and improved thermal stability compared with methylammonium-based perovskites. Crystallization of phase-pure α-FAPbI3 conventionally requires high-temperature thermal annealing at 150 °C whilst the obtained α-FAPbI3 is metastable at room temperature. Here, aerosol-assisted crystallization (AAC) is reported, which converts yellow δ-FAPbI3 into black α-FAPbI3 at only 100 °C using precursor solutions containing only lead iodide and formamidinium iodide with no chemical additives. The obtained α-FAPbI3 exhibits remarkably enhanced stability compared to the 150 °C annealed counterparts, in combination with improvements in film crystallinity and photoluminescence yield. Using X-ray diffraction, X-ray scattering, and density functional theory simulation, it is identified that relaxation of residual tensile strains, achieved through the lower annealing temperature and post-crystallization crystal growth during AAC, is the key factor that facilitates the formation of phase-stable α-FAPbI3 .