Missing lnc(RNAs) in Alzheimer’s Disease?

With the ongoing demographic shift towards increasingly elderly populations, it is estimated that approximately 150 million people will live with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by 2050. By then, AD will be one of the most burdensome diseases of this and potentially next centuries. Although its exact etiology remains elusive, both environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in the mechanisms underlying AD neuropathology. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified genetic variants associated with AD susceptibility in more than 40 different genomic loci. Most of these disease-associated variants reside in non-coding regions of the genome. In recent years, it has become clear that functionally active transcripts arise from these non-coding loci. One type of non-coding transcript, referred to as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), gained significant attention due to their multiple roles in neurodevelopment, brain homeostasis, aging, and their dysregulation or dysfunction in neurological diseases including in AD. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge regarding genetic variations, expression profiles, as well as potential functions, diagnostic or therapeutic roles of lncRNAs in AD. We postulate that lncRNAs may represent the missing link in AD pathology and that unraveling their role may open avenues to better AD treatments.

Special Issue “Wearable and BAN Sensors for Physical Rehabilitation and eHealth Architectures”

The demographic shift of the population toward an increased number of elder citizens, together with the sedentary lifestyle we are adopting, is reflected in the increasingly debilitated physical health of the population [...]

Non-Response to Population Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Survey of Gerontology Scholars

Life expectancy is increasing globally, with the biggest gains expected in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, most of the population growth globally in the next few decades will occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Using an online survey we investigated the perspectives of gerontology scholars on the challenges of aging in sub-Saharan Africa as well as the assets of elders. Respondents (n=72) from 17 countries, primarily in Africa, and representing 16 disciplines, identified the top issues facing African elders as: poverty, lack of trained professionals, food insecurity, disability/health issues, and long-term care. Older adults’ unique strengths were noted as indigenous knowledge systems, being holders of cultural heritage, and their contributions to development. Respondents’ biggest concerns about older adults in sub-Saharan Africa were the lack of government attention to aging issues (63%) and a lack of social services targeted to elders’ needs (57%). Government funding (77.8%) and international partnerships (38.9%) were noted as resources needed to support aging research in sub-Saharan Africa. The response or non-response of governments in sub-Saharan Africa will determine whether the growing number of older adults will increasingly experience unmet needs and whether their assets will be considered in development efforts. Establishing professional networks of gerontology scholars in the region will help to document the challenges faced by elders, to plan for the coming demographic shift, and to empower elders to thrive as valued community members.

InclusiVaart: (Re)defining shared neighbourhood spaces

Cities and dense urban areas are dynamic environments, always adapting to changing circumstances and shocks, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Vaartkom, a neighbourhood in Leuven, provides an interesting case-study, having undergone a drastic transformation in the past two decades, from dilapidated industrial zone to residential quarter and cultural hot-spot. This has introduced a demographic shift, which inevitably influences the use of public and private space in the neighbourhood, creating new areas for inclusion and exclusion. Our research focuses on how the use of public space has changed under COVID-19, and how community members envision their neighbourhood in a post-COVID context. We employed various methods – such as interviews, site visits, stakeholder and physical mapping exercises – and worked with the community to identify the different areas of in-and exclusivity. Some findings relate to the conflicting expectations about the use and future of public space and the link between the location of public engagement and the level of inclusiveness. This illustrates the magnitude and consciousness of the effort required to be truly inclusive. Above all, our own understanding of inclusivity broadened significantly over the duration of the project, illustrating the clear advantage of using a transdisciplinary approach in research. Our findings have been summarised in a small video.

Cerebrospinal fluid leak as a driving factor in chronic subdural hematoma formation: A histological study

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) represents the most common neurosurgical disease. Given the demographic shift toward an aging population, the overall incidence of this condition is increasing. Nevertheless, clarity in the pathophysiological process is yet to be made. Several etiological mechanisms have been proposed to initiate and consequently promote fluid collection in the subdural space. Traumatic injury of the bridging veins has long been considered the primum movens of the pathology but increasing evidence shows that trauma is not the only factor involved. Along with recent advances we sought to understand the role of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the buildup of the intense inflammatory reaction that characterizes CSDH. Methods: In the present study, we examined histological features of reactive membranes secondary to extracranial CSF leakage with CSDH-related membranes. Similarity and differences between the specimens were examined by means of light microscopy. Results: Histological similarities were consistently found between CSDH membranes and reactive membranes secondary to CSF leakage in the extracranial space. Activated histiocytes were highlighted in all specimens along with an intense inflammatory reaction. Conclusion: CSDH is most likely the result of a complex interaction among different pathophysiological events resulting from both traumatic and inflammatory etiologies. In the present work, we highlight how CSF leakage could be an early factor that leads to a cascade of events that culminates in CSDH formation.

Learning Communities in the City: Social Constructivism, Spaces and Connections in the New Urban Primary School

<p>The main intention of the research is to develop a model for an inner city primary school building which is responsive to the urban context and reflects the educational theory of Social Constructivism. The underlying demand for an inner city primary school was identified as a result of a recent demographic shift which involves more families living in the centres of New Zealand’s cities. Schools are an important part of a city’s infrastructure, where quality schools can help to develop quality cities. There should be a close fit between current educational theory and contemporary school design. Social Constructivism views learning as the construction of knowledge through social interaction with peers, adults and the environment. The design case study proposes a vertical school that is capable of supporting strong links with the community through developing a ‘public living room’ alongside retail outlets. While the vertical nature of the school limits some contact it is possible to develop a ‘learning street’ and other meeting places within the school. The plan also provides flexible classroom spaces and workrooms to meet curriculum objectives. A variety of indoor and outdoor spaces can be provided but it is proposed that the children also access the city’s public open spaces and amenities. The city can be viewed as an extended classroom, as suggested in Strickland’s ‘City of Learning’ model. The site for the proposed school was selected to ensure easy access to amenities and resources. Overall the research suggests an inner-city primary school building is possible and even desirable for those living and working in the city.</p>

Learning Communities in the City: Social Constructivism, Spaces and Connections in the New Urban Primary School

<p>The main intention of the research is to develop a model for an inner city primary school building which is responsive to the urban context and reflects the educational theory of Social Constructivism. The underlying demand for an inner city primary school was identified as a result of a recent demographic shift which involves more families living in the centres of New Zealand’s cities. Schools are an important part of a city’s infrastructure, where quality schools can help to develop quality cities. There should be a close fit between current educational theory and contemporary school design. Social Constructivism views learning as the construction of knowledge through social interaction with peers, adults and the environment. The design case study proposes a vertical school that is capable of supporting strong links with the community through developing a ‘public living room’ alongside retail outlets. While the vertical nature of the school limits some contact it is possible to develop a ‘learning street’ and other meeting places within the school. The plan also provides flexible classroom spaces and workrooms to meet curriculum objectives. A variety of indoor and outdoor spaces can be provided but it is proposed that the children also access the city’s public open spaces and amenities. The city can be viewed as an extended classroom, as suggested in Strickland’s ‘City of Learning’ model. The site for the proposed school was selected to ensure easy access to amenities and resources. Overall the research suggests an inner-city primary school building is possible and even desirable for those living and working in the city.</p>

Educating Latinx and African American Students in Charter Schools: A Comparative Study from Chicago

The public school system in U.S. has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Institutionally, neo-liberal reform has created a new educational apparatus known as charter schools. As they admit students without school boundaries, these schools promise to offer great opportunities for disadvantaged students. The enrollment in charter schools is mainly Latinx and Black students, especially in large urban areas. That demographic shift is not reflected in the literature because previous studies have predominately focused on comparisons between Whites and minorities. Using Chicago as a case, this study compares the association between the enrollment of Black and Latinx students with educational resources and academic performance in charter schools. Using Illinois Report Card data representing 119 public schools during the 2016 to 2017 academic year, we aimed to understand which group could more systemically benefit from charter schools. We found that although the enrollment of Black students might be associated with better educational resources (i.e., total number of school days per academic year, and class size), the enrollment of Latinx students predicted stronger school academic performance on the SAT and PARCC. Those findings can contribute to the debate about institutionalized racial inequality in education and the effects of charter schools.

The effects of racial status threat on White Americans’ support for Donald Trump: Results of five experimental tests

Prior theory and research suggest that threats to the status of White Americans may increase support for Donald Trump. Consistent with this, one previous experiment conducted in early 2016 documented this effect (Major et al., 2018), finding that making salient the declining White majority in the United States increased support for Trump’s presidential candidacy among White participants with high levels of ethnic identification. We report the results of five very similar experiments (total N = 3,076) also conducted in 2016, including one conducted on a national probability sample. The first experiment (conducted in January 2016) found that racial status threat increased Whites’ support for Trump. The other four (conducted from February to October 2016), however, all found null results, and an internal meta-analysis of the five studies found no significant main effect overall. Additionally, none of the studies found an interaction of racial demographic shift and ethnic identification in which racial demographic shift increased Trump support among high-identifying Whites. We conclude by discussing a variety of potential explanations for our findings, including (a) that racial status threats did not increase Whites’ Trump support, (b) that racial status threats increased Trump support early in the 2016 election cycle, but the role of this factor in Trump support declined over time, or (c) that this pattern is an example of a broader tendency of declining experimental treatment effects on candidate support over time in campaigns (Kalla & Broockman, 2018).

Ophthalmic services in Shanghai 2017: a cataract-centric city-wide government survey

Background Demand for eye care has increased in recent decades in China due to rapid socioeconomic development and demographic shift. Knowledge of output and productivity of ophthalmic services would allow policymakers to optimize resource allocation, and is therefore essential. This study sought to map the landscape of ophthalmic services available in Shanghai, China. Methods In 2018, a government-led survey was conducted of all 86 tertiary/secondary hospitals and five major private hospitals providing eye care in Shanghai in the form of electronic questionnaire, which encompassed ophthalmic services (outpatient and emergency room [ER] visit, inpatient admissions, and surgical volume) and service productivity in terms of annual outpatient and ER visits per doctor, inpatient admissions per bed, and surgical volume per doctor. Comparisons were made among different levels of hospitals with categorical variables tested by Chi-square analysis. Results The response rate was 85.7%. The Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT) Hospital was the largest tertiary specialty hospital, and alone contributed to the highest 21.0% of annual ophthalmic outpatient and ER visits (visits per doctor: 5460), compared with other 26 tertiary hospitals, 46 secondary hospitals and five private hospitals (visits per doctor: 3683, 4651 and 1876). The annual inpatient admission was 20,103, 56,992, 14,090, and 52,047 for the EENT Hospital, all the other tertiary hospitals, secondary hospitals and five private hospitals, respectively. Turnover rates were highest for the EENT Hospital and private hospitals. The average surgical volume at the EENT Hospital was 72,666, exceeding that of private (15,874.8) and other tertiary hospitals (3366.7). The EENT Hospital and private hospitals performed 16,982 (14.2%) and 55,538 (46.6%) of all cataract surgeries. Proportions of both complicated cataractous cases and complicated cataract surgeries at the EENT Hospital was the highest, followed by other tertiary and secondary/private hospitals (P < 0.0001). Conclusions In Shanghai, public providers dominate ophthalmic services especially for complicated cases, with almost one fifth of services provided by the EENT Hospital alone, while private sectors, though not large in number, still effectively help meet large proportions of eye care demand. Optimization of hierarchical medical system is warranted to improve the efficiency and standardization of ophthalmic services.