SO42- and NO3- did not affect the reaction. Overall, this study shows that thermally activated persulphate can effectively remove BP and water matrix anions greatly influence the reaction.Julius Lothar Meyer, John Newlands, and Dmitrii Mendeleev were amongst the discoverers of the periodic system of the elements. Although their systems are similar enough to be recognised as the precursors for the modern periodic system, they were also different. Here, I argue that many of their differences can be explained in terms of how the chemists emphasised different values in the process of developing their systems. In particular, Newland highlighted the simplicity of his arrangements; Meyer was more careful about the quality of data that gave rise to his system of elements; and Mendeleev sought to make his system more complete. By shedding light as to how the values of simplicity, completeness and carefulness guided the development of early periodic systems, this paper contributes to a broader understanding of how values influence science.Fully differentiated HepaRG™ cells are the hepatic cell line of choice for in vitro work in toxicology and drug trials. They are derived from a hepatoblast-like progenitor (HepaRG™-P) that differentiate into a co-culture of hepatocyte-like and cholangiocyte-like cells in the presence of differentiation-inducing chemical dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). This process requires 2 weeks of proliferation and differentiation and can be time consuming and costly. Identifying a chemical free method to push HepaRG™-Ps towards a mature lineage would save both time and money. It has been shown, that tissue culture substrates play an important role in the development and maturity of a cell line, and this is particularly important for progenitor cells, which retain some form of plasticity. Oxygen plasma treatment is used extensively to modify cell culture substrates, and there is evidence that patterned rather than planar surfaces have a positive effect on proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we compared the effect of standard tissue culture plastic (TCP), oxygen plasma treated (OPC), and nanopatterned surfaces (NPS) on early differentiation and functionality of HepaRG™-P cells. Since NPS were oxygen plasma treated we initially compared the effect of TCP and OPC to enable comparison between all 3 culture surfaces using OPC as control to asses if patterning could further enhance early differentiation and functionality. The results show that cells grown on OPC substrate exhibited earlier differentiation, proliferation and function of HepaRG™-P’s compared to TCP in the absence of DMSO. Culturing these cells on OPC with the addition of NPS did not confer any additional advantage. In conclusion, OPC surface appeared to enhance hepatic differentiation and functionality and could replace traditional methods of differentiating HepaRG-P cells into fully differentiated and functional HepaRGs earlier than traditional methods.Early-onset hypertonia is characteristic of developmental neuromotor disorders, including cerebral palsy (CP). The spa transgenic mouse displays early-onset spasticity, abnormal gait, and motor impairments that are remarkably similar to symptoms of human CP. Previously, we showed that spa mice have fewer motor neurons innervating the tibialis anterior (TA). An expanded innervation ratio may result in increased susceptibility to neuromuscular transmission failure (NMTF). We assessed NMTF in an ex vivo TA muscle nerve preparation from spa and wild-type (WT) mice by comparing forces elicited by nerve versus muscle stimulation. TA muscle innervation ratio was assessed by counting the number of muscle fibers and dividing by the number of TA motor neurons. Muscle fiber cross-sectional areas were also assessed in the TA muscle. We observed that NMTF was immediately present in spa mice, increased with repetitive stimulation, and associated with increased innervation ratio. These changes were concomitant with reduced TA muscle fiber cross-sectional area in spa mice compared with WT. Early-onset hypertonia is associated with increased innervation ratio and impaired neuromuscular transmission. These disturbances may exacerbate the underlying gait abnormalities present in individuals with hypertonia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Nerve-muscle interaction is poorly understood in the context of early-onset spasticity and hypertonia. In an animal model of early-onset spasticity, spa mice, we found a marked impairment of tibialis anterior neuromuscular transmission. This impairment is associated with an increased innervation ratio (mean number of muscle fibers innervated by a single motor neuron). These disturbances may underlie weakness and gait disturbances observed in individual with developmental hypertonia and spasticity.In the mid-1800s, plantation-produced tea from India came onto the British market. Tea retailers blended this more malty and black tea with the lighter Chinese-grown tea to which consumers had become accustomed. By the turn of the 20th century, blending helped Empire-grown tea supplant Chinese-grown tea on the market. Scholars of tea have shown how British tea companies working in South Asia stoked racialized fears that Chinese tea arrived in Britain in an adulterated state, laden with impurities that included dyes, perfumes and even human sweat. This article describes how concerns about protecting tea leaves from outside adulteration gave way to concerns about the potential digestive threat that lay inside tea leaves themselves. Medical journals linked the increased consumption of Indian teas to a population-wide 'epidemic’ of indigestion. The most cited culprits in this epidemic were tannins, chemical compounds that were also thought to give black tea its characteristic bitterness and color. The normalization of black tea consumption among the British public was not just a work of marketing or branding but a work of resolving uncertainty about what tannins were at a material, biophysical level. As this uncertainty was resolved scientifically, tea was materialized not as a singular, unified product but as an active chemical assemblage.Although experience suggests a shift in the epidemiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) toward an older demographic, population studies are lacking. We aimed to evaluate 1) how the epidemiology and age profile of SCI have changed over time, and; 2) how increased age impacts health outcomes up to 15 years post injury. A population-based cohort study was performed in Ontario including adults diagnosed with traumatic SCI between 2002-2017. Older and younger SCI cohorts were created based on an age cut-off of 65 years. An older cohort of non-injured persons was matched to the older SCI cohort based on age, gender and comorbidity status. Changes in crude incidence were reported as average annual percentage change (AAPC). Survival, readmissions and costs were compared between the older and younger SCI cohorts as well as the older SCI and older matched non-injured cohorts. The incidence of SCI increased among females (AAPC2.2;95%CI0.1,4.3), driven by a marked rise (4%/year) among elderly females (AAPC4.3;95%CI0.1,4.3). While no change in incidence was detected for males, there was a trend towards increased incidence among older males (AAPC1.2;95%CI-1.3,3.8). There were a higher proportion of cervical, incomplete and fall-related injuries in the older vs. younger SCI cohorts. Age over 65 was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of death (HR5.75;95%CI4.72,7.00). In comparison to the older non-injured cohort, the older SCI cohort had double the risk of death (HR2.23;95%CI2.00,2.50). Older persons with SCI had higher odds of readmission and higher costs. The incidence of SCI among elderly is increasing, particularly among women. Prevention through fall reduction and education to improve outcomes are needed.Background Retinal neovascularization, which is characterized by the increased proliferation, migration, and tube formation of retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs), contributes to the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MiR-409-5p has been reported to be upregulated in peripheral blood of DR patients and in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced RMECs. However, the role of miR-409-5p in retinal neovascularization of DR remains unelucidated.Method The expression of miR-409-5p was measured in retinal tissues of streptozocin-induced and db/db diabetic mice, in high glucose-induced mouse RMECs (mRMECs), and in vitreous fluid of proliferative DR patients. Antagomir of miR-409-5p was intravitreally injected into diabetic mice. Proliferation, migration, and tube formation were detected using cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell assay, and microscope observation, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the direct interaction between miR-409-5p and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα).Result MiR-409-5p was upregulated in retinal tissues of diabetic mice, in high glucose-induced mRMECs, and in vitreous fluid of proliferative DR patients. The knockdown of miR-409-5p attenuated retinal neovascularization in vivo. The overexpression of miR-409-5p promotes the proliferation, migration, and tube formation, and increased VEGF expression and secretion, while the knockdown of miR-409-5p suppressed the VEGF-induced retinal neovascularization in vitro. PPARα is a downstream target of miR-409-5p, and PPARα overexpression negated the promotion of miR-409-5p overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of mRMECs.Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that miR-409-5p acted as a neovasculogenic factor in DR, and anti-miR-409-5p therapy may provide a novel strategy in treating DR.Aim Pharmacogenomics (PGx) holds potential to improve patient treatment; yet, effective patient educational materials are limited. Materials & methods Using a 'think aloud’ technique, we sought to understand comprehension and perceptions of a multimedia PGx results packet including a cover letter with QR code to an educational video, brochure and prototype report in the context of PGx case vignettes. Results The cover letter and video components were viewed less favorably due to excess detail, complex jargon and technology challenges. Recommendations were to enhance comprehension and utility and to customize materials to each patient’s medications or disease conditions. Conclusion Educational materials were revised to improve comprehension and usability, and diminish concerns to better prepare patients to understand the importance of discussing test results with their provider.Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (TID) and their parents depend on school nurses to keep students safe in school. Parent satisfaction with T1D care is impacted by school factors including school nurse presence. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among parental satisfaction with diabetes care in school, parental report of diabetes-related safety, adolescent report of school nurse helpfulness, and school nurse presence represented by school nurse to student ratios. The sample consisted of 89 parent-adolescent dyads. Adolescents 10-16 years old with T1D completed a questionnaire that included perceptions of school nurse helpfulness. Parents completed a questionnaire that included perceptions of T1D safety and satisfaction. Diabetes-related safety was positively correlated with parental satisfaction and school nurse helpfulness and inversely correlated with age and school nurse to student ratios. Findings validate the importance of school nurse presence to adolescents with T1D and their parents with implications for school nursing policy, practice, and research.