Broad Ability Research Articles

Enhancement of Light Amplification of CsPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dot Films via Surface Encapsulation by PMMA Polymer.

Photonic devices based on perovskite materials are considered promising alternatives for a wide range of these devices in the future because of their broad bandgaps and ability to contribute to light amplification. The current study investigates the possibility of improving the light amplification characteristics of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dot (PQD) films using the surface encapsulation technique. To further amplify emission within a perovskite layer, CsPbBr3 PQD films were sandwiched between two transparent layers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to create a highly flexible PMMA/PQD/PMMA waveguide film configuration. The prepared perovskite film, primed with a polymer layer coating, shows a marked improvement in both emission efficiency and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE)/laser threshold compared with bare perovskite films on glass substrates. Additionally, significantly improved photoluminescence (PL) and long decay lifetime were observed. Consequently, under pulse pumping in a picosecond duration, ASE with a reduction in ASE threshold of ~1.2 and 1.4 times the optical pumping threshold was observed for PQDs of films whose upper face was encapsulated and embedded within a cavity comprising two PMMA reflectors, respectively. Moreover, the exposure stability under laser pumping was greatly improved after adding the polymer coating to the top face of the perovskite film. Finally, this process improved the emission and PL in addition to enhancements in exposure stability. These results were ascribed in part to the passivation of defects in the perovskite top surface, accounting for the higher PL intensity, the slower PL relaxation, and for about 14 % of the ASE threshold decrease.

Listening Difficulties in Children With Normal Audiograms: Relation to Hearing and Cognition.

Children presenting at audiology services with caregiver-reported listening difficulties often have normal audiograms. The appropriate approach for the further assessment and clinical management of these children is currently unclear. In this Sensitive Indicators of Childhood Listening Difficulties (SICLiD) study, we assessed listening ability using a reliable and validated caregiver questionnaire (the Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills [ECLiPS]) in a large (n = 146) and heterogeneous sample of 6- to 13-year-old children with normal audiograms. Scores on the ECLiPS were related to a multifaceted laboratory assessment of the children's audiological, psycho- and physiological-acoustic, and cognitive abilities. This report is an overview of the SICLiD study and focuses on the children's behavioral performance. The overall goals of SICLiD were to understand the auditory and other neural mechanisms underlying childhood listening difficulties and translate that understanding into clinical assessment and, ultimately, intervention. Cross-sectional behavioral assessment of children with "listening difficulties" and an age-matched "typically developing" control group. Caregivers completed the ECLiPS, and the resulting total standardized composite score formed the basis of further descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate modeling of experimental data. All scores of the ECLiPS, the SCAN-3:C, a standardized clinical test suite for auditory processing, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cognition Toolbox were significantly lower for children with listening difficulties than for their typically developing peers using group comparisons via t-tests and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests. A similar effect was observed on the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences (LiSN-S) test for speech sentence-in-noise intelligibility but only reached significance for the Low Cue and High Cue conditions and the Talker Advantage derived score. Stepwise regression to examine the factors contributing to the ECLiPS Total scaled score (pooled across groups) yielded a model that explained 42% of its variance based on the SCAN-3:C composite, LiSN-S Talker Advantage, and the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary, and Dimensional Change Card Sorting scores (F[4, 95] = 17.35, p < 0.001). High correlations were observed between many test scores including the ECLiPS, SCAN-3:C, and NIH Toolbox composite measures. LiSN-S Advantage measures generally correlated weakly and nonsignificantly with non-LiSN-S measures. However, a significant interaction was found between extended high-frequency threshold and LiSN-S Talker Advantage. Children with listening difficulties but normal audiograms have problems with the cognitive processing of auditory and nonauditory stimuli that include both fluid and crystallized reasoning. Analysis of poor performance on the LiSN-S Talker Advantage measure identified subclinical hearing loss as a minor contributing factor to talker segregation. Beyond auditory tests, evaluations of children with complaints of listening difficulties should include standardized caregiver observations and consideration of broad cognitive abilities.

Age and Sex Invariance of the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities: Evidence from Psychometric Network Modeling.

The Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ IV COG) is a comprehensive assessment battery designed to assess broad and narrow cognitive abilities, as defined by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of intelligence. Previous studies examined the invariance of the WJ assessments across sex and age groups using factor analytic methods. Psychometric network modeling is an alternative methodology that can address both direct and indirect relationships among the observed variables. In this study, we employed psychometric network modeling to examine the invariance of the WJ IV COG across sex and age groups. Using a normative sample (n = 4212 participants) representative of the United States population, we tested the extent to which the factorial structure of the WJ IV COG aligned with CHC theory for the school-aged sample. Next, we used psychometric network modeling as a data-driven method to investigate whether the network structure of the WJ IV COG remains similar across different sex and age (age 6 to 19, inclusively) groups. Our results showed that the WJ IV COG maintained the same network structure across all age and sex groups, although the network structure at younger ages indicated weaker relationships among some subtests. Overall, the results provide construct validity evidence for the WJ IV COG, based on both theoretical and data-driven methods.

Functional Connectivity and Compensation of Phonemic Fluency in Aging.

Neural compensatory mechanisms associated with broad cognitive abilities have been studied. However, those associated with specific cognitive subdomains (e.g., verbal fluency) remain to be investigated in healthy aging. Here, we delineate: (a) neural substrates of verbal (phonemic) fluency, and (b) compensatory mechanisms mediating the association between these neural substrates and phonemic fluency. We analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging from 133 right-handed, cognitively normal individuals who underwent the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) to record their phonemic fluency. We evaluated functional connectivity in an established and extended language network comprising Wernicke, Broca, thalamic and anti-correlated modules. (a) We conducted voxel-wise multiple linear regression to identify the brain areas associated with phonemic fluency. (b) We used mediation effects of cognitive reserve, measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Information subtest, upon the association between functional connectivity and phonemic fluency tested to investigate compensation. We found that: (a) Greater functional connectivity between the Wernicke module and brain areas within the anti-correlated module was associated with better performance in phonemic fluency, (b) Cognitive reserve was an unlikely mediator in younger adults. In contrast, cognitive reserve was a partial mediator of the association between functional connectivity and phonemic fluency in older adults, likely representing compensation to counter the effect of aging. We conclude that in healthy aging, higher performance in phonemic fluency at older ages could be attributed to greater functional connectivity partially facilitated by higher cognitive reserve, presumably reflecting compensatory mechanisms to minimize the effect of aging.

Screening and Identification of Laccase Producing Fungi from Environmental Samples

Laccases are oxidases with broad substrate specificity and ability to oxidize various phenolic and non-phenolic compounds. This study was carried out to isolate and characterizes laccase producing fungi from environment samples. Soil and decaying wood samples were collected from different locations within Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Main campus. Suspensions of the samples (1 g in 10 mL sterile distilled water) were serially diluted, inoculated onto Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) containing 0.01% Chloramphenicol and incubated for 7 days at 30oC.The fungal isolates were characterized macroscopically and microscopically with the aid of an atlas. The identified fungal isolates were screened for laccase production by inoculating onto PDA containing 0.02% Guaiacol, 1mM ABTS (2 2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 0.5% Tannic acid as indicator compounds and incubated at 250C for 7 days. The laccase producing isolates were confirmed molecularly by ITS rDNA sequence analysis using the FASTA algorithm with the Fungus database from the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI).A total of 25 fungal species (11 from soil and 14 from decaying wood samples) were isolated. Two isolates from the soil origin identified as Curvularia lunata SSI7 (Accession No. QIE06317.1) and Fusarium clade VII SSI3 (Accession No. GQ505677) were found to produce laccase where Curvularia lunata SSI7 was able to oxidize all the indicator compounds used for the screening. Fusarium clade VII SSI3 was able to oxidize only 0.5% Tannic acid. Laccase producing Curvularia lunata and Fusarium clade VII were isolated from soil samples collected from ABU Zaria Main Campus.

Increased segregation of structural brain networks underpins enhanced broad cognitive abilities of cognitive training.

A major challenge in the cognitive training field is inducing broad, far‐transfer training effects. Thus far, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying broad training effects. Here, we tested a set of competitive hypotheses regarding the role of brain integration versus segregation underlying the broad training effect. We retrospectively analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial comparing neurocognitive effects of vision‐based speed of processing training (VSOP) and an active control consisting of mental leisure activities (MLA) in older adults with MCI. We classified a subset of participants in the VSOP as learners, who showed improvement in executive function and episodic memory. The other participants in the VSOP (i.e., VSOP non‐learners) and a subset of participants in the MLA (i.e., MLA non‐learners) served as controls. Structural brain networks were constructed from diffusion tensor imaging. Clustering coefficients (CCs) and characteristic path lengths were computed as measures of segregation and integration, respectively. Learners showed significantly greater global CCs after intervention than controls. Nodal CCs were selectively enhanced in cingulate cortex, parietal regions, striatum, and thalamus. Among VSOP learners, those with more severe baseline neurodegeneration had greater improvement in segregation after training. Our findings suggest broad training effects are related to enhanced segregation in selective brain networks, providing insight into cognitive training related neuroplasticity.

Are There Cognitive Profiles Unique to Students With Learning Disabilities? A Latent Profile Analysis of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition Scores

It is often assumed that children with learning disabilities (LD) exhibit unique profiles of ability scores that reflect idiosyncratic cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Interpretation of cognitive ability profiles initially focused on visual inspection of subtest scores followed by statistical comparisons to identify significant cognitive strengths and weaknesses. However, subsequent research demonstrated that these subtest profiles lacked sufficient reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility. Profile research typically utilized variable-centered methods, but person-centered methods might be more appropriate. The present study utilized latent profile analysis (LPA), a person-centered method that is model-based and flexible, with 1,830 school-identified students with LD and 2,200 simulated normative participants. Four broad ability score profiles distinguished by level rather than shape emerged. Thus, this latent mixture model analysis found no mixture of subpopulations, suggesting that WISC-IV score variation was due to underlying continuous latent factors rather than a typology unique to LD. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1919923 Impact Statement It is often assumed that children with learning disabilities (LD) exhibit unique profiles of ability test scores that reflect idiosyncratic cognitive strengths and weaknesses. However, this person-centered analysis found no profile of ability scores distinctive of children with LD. These results suggest that cognitive test scores may vary due to underlying continuous latent factors rather than a typology unique to LD.

Surface Topography, Bacterial Carrying Capacity, and the Prospect of Microbiome Manipulation in the Sea Anemone Coral Model Aiptasia.

Aiptasia is an emerging model organism to study cnidarian symbioses due to its taxonomic relatedness to other anthozoans such as stony corals and similarities of its microalgal and bacterial partners, complementing the existing Hydra (Hydrozoa) and Nematostella (Anthozoa) model systems. Despite the availability of studies characterizing the microbiomes of several natural Aiptasia populations and laboratory strains, knowledge on basic information, such as surface topography, bacterial carrying capacity, or the prospect of microbiome manipulation is lacking. Here we address these knowledge gaps. Our results show that the surface topographies of the model hydrozoan Hydra and anthozoans differ substantially, whereas the ultrastructural surface architecture of Aiptasia and stony corals is highly similar. Further, we determined a bacterial carrying capacity of ∼104 and ∼105 bacteria (i.e., colony forming units, CFUs) per polyp for aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia anemones, respectively, suggesting that the symbiotic status changes bacterial association/density. Microbiome transplants from Acropora humilis and Porites sp. to gnotobiotic Aiptasia showed that only a few foreign bacterial taxa were effective colonizers. Our results shed light on the putative difficulties of transplanting microbiomes between cnidarians in a manner that consistently changes microbial host association at large. At the same time, our study provides an avenue to identify bacterial taxa that exhibit broad ability to colonize different hosts as a starting point for cross-species microbiome manipulation. Our work is relevant in the context of microbial therapy (probiotics) and microbiome manipulation in corals and answers to the need of having cnidarian model systems to test the function of bacteria and their effect on holobiont biology. Taken together, we provide important foundation data to extend Aiptasia as a coral model for bacterial functional studies.

Micafungin Inhibits Dengue Virus Infection through the Disruption of Virus Binding, Entry, and Stability.

Dengue fever is an arbovirus disease caused by infection with the dengue virus (DENV). Half of the world’s population lives under the threat of dengue fever, however, researchers have yet to develop any drugs that are clinically applicable to this infection. Micafungin is a member of the echinocandins family of anti-fungal drugs, capable of blocking the synthesis of β-1,3-D-glucan in the walls of fungal cells. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Micafungin against infections of enterovirus 71 (EV71) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). This is the first study demonstrating the effectiveness of micafungin in inhibiting the cytopathic effects of dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Time-of-addition assays verified the inhibitory effects of micafungin in pre-treated, co-treated, and full-treatment groups. Binding and entry assays also demonstrated the effectiveness of micafungin in the early stage of DENV-2 infection. The virucidal efficacy of micafungin appears to lie in its ability to destroy the virion. Molecular docking assays revealed the binding of micafungin to the envelope protein of DENV-2, thereby revealing the mechanism by which micafungin affects the early stage of DENV infection and the stability of DENV. Two other micafungin analogs, caspofungin and anidulafungin, were also shown to have the antiviral effects on DENV-2. Finally, immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed the broad anti-DENV ability of micafungin against dengue virus serotypes 1, 3, and 4 (DENV-1, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential of micafungin and its analogs as candidates for the development of broad-spectrum treatments for DENV infection.

Genome-wide programmable transcriptional memory by CRISPR-based epigenome editing

A general approach for heritably altering gene expression has the potential to enable many discovery and therapeutic efforts. Here, we present CRISPRoff-a programmable epigenetic memory writer consisting of a single dead Cas9 fusion protein that establishes DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications. Transient CRISPRoff expression initiates highly specific DNA methylation and gene repression that is maintained through cell division and differentiation of stem cells to neurons. Pairing CRISPRoff with genome-wide screens and analysis of chromatin marks establishes rules for heritable gene silencing. We identify single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) capable of silencing the large majority of genes including those lacking canonical CpG islands (CGIs) and reveal a wide targeting window extending beyond annotated CGIs. The broad ability of CRISPRoff to initiate heritable gene silencing even outside of CGIs expands the canonical model of methylation-based silencing and enables diverse applications including genome-wide screens, multiplexed cell engineering, enhancer silencing, and mechanistic exploration of epigenetic inheritance.

Gene Therapy Approaches

Gene therapy can be described broadly as the transfer of genetic material to control a disease or at least to enhance a patient's clinical status. The transformation of viruses into genetic shuttles is one of the core principles of gene therapy, which will introduce the gene of interest into the target tissue and cells. To do this, safe strategies have been invented, using many viral and non-viral vector delivery. Two major methods have emerged: modification in vivo and modification ex vivo. For gene therapeutic approaches which are focused on lifelong expression of the therapeutic gene, retrovirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated viruses are acceptable. Non-viral vectors are much less successful than viral vectors, but because of their low immune responses and their broad therapeutic DNA ability, they have advantages. The addition of viral functions such as receptor-mediated uptake and nuclear translocation of DNA may eventually lead to the development of an artificial virus in order to improve the role of non-viral vectors. For human use in genetic conditions, cancers and acquired illnesses, gene transfer techniques have been allowed. The ideal delivery vehicle has not been identified, although the accessible vector systems are capable of transporting genes in vivo into cells. Therefore, only with great caution can the present viral vectors be used in human beings and further progress in the production of vectors is required. Current progresses in our understanding of gene therapy approaches and their delivery technology, as well as the victors used to deliver therapeutic genes, are the primary goals of this review. For that reason, a literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar was carried out using different keywords.

Clapping in Time With Feedback Relates Pervasively With Other Rhythmic Skills of Adolescents and Young Adults.

Rhythmic expertise is a multidimensional skill set with clusters of distinct rhythmic abilities. For example, the ability to clap in time with feedback relates extensively to distinct beat- and pattern-based rhythmic skills in school-age children. In this study we aimed to determine whether clapping in time would relate to both beat- and pattern- based rhythmic tasks among adolescents and young adults. We assessed our participants on seven tasks: two beat-based tasks (Metronome and Tempo adaptation), two pattern-based tasks (Reproducing rhythmic patterns and Remembering rhythmic patterns), a self-paced drumming task, a task of drumming to a music beat, and a clapping in time task. We found that clapping in time correlated with all other rhythmic tasks, even though some were not mutually related to one another. These results provide insight into the taxonomy of rhythmic skills and support the practice of clapping in time with feedback as a means of developing broad spectrum rhythmic abilities.

C-type lectin with a QPN motif from swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus displays broad nonself-recognition ability and functions as an opsonin

In the immune system, C-type lectins, as pattern recognition receptors, have an important function. Carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) endow C-type lectins with the function of recognizing and scavenging non-self factors. In the present study, a new C-type lectin (designated as PtCTL-9 according to the order of discovery) from swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) was characterized. QPN (Gln-Pro-Asn) and FHS (Phe-His-Ser) were identified as the key motifs that determine carbohydrate binding. Motif QPN was mutated to QPD (Gln-Pro-Asp) (M1) and EPN (Glu-Pro-Asn) (M2) to study its immune function and for comparative analysis. The results showed that PtCTL-9 displayed broad non-self immunity. PtCTL-9 could also function as an opsonin to promote phagocytosis and the in vitro encapsulation of hemocytes. These results indicated that PtCTL-9 has an extensive nonself-recognition ability, regulates pathogen clearance, and its QPN motif is important in PtCTL-9's immune function.

How Multidimensional Is Emotional Intelligence? Bifactor Modeling of Global and Broad Emotional Abilities of the Geneva Emotional Competence Test.

Drawing upon multidimensional theories of intelligence, the current paper evaluates if the Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECo) fits within a higher-order intelligence space and if emotional intelligence (EI) branches predict distinct criteria related to adjustment and motivation. Using a combination of classical and S-1 bifactor models, we find that (a) a first-order oblique and bifactor model provide excellent and comparably fitting representation of an EI structure with self-regulatory skills operating independent of general ability, (b) residualized EI abilities uniquely predict criteria over general cognitive ability as referenced by fluid intelligence, and (c) emotion recognition and regulation incrementally predict grade point average (GPA) and affective engagement in opposing directions, after controlling for fluid general ability and the Big Five personality traits. Results are qualified by psychometric analyses suggesting only emotion regulation has enough determinacy and reliable variance beyond a general ability factor to be treated as a manifest score in analyses and interpretation. Findings call for renewed, albeit tempered, research on EI as a multidimensional intelligence and highlight the need for refined assessment of emotional perception, understanding, and management to allow focused analyses of different EI abilities.

Cyclophilin A: a key player for etiological agent infection.

Cyclophilin A (CypA), a key member of the immunophilin family, is the most abundantly expressed isozyme of the 18 known human cyclophilins. Besides acting as an intracellular receptor for cyclosporine A, CypA plays a vital role in microorganismal infections, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases, neurodegeneration, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, sepsis, asthma, and aging. This review focuses on the pivotal roles of CypA in the infection of etiological agents, which manifests mainly in promoting or inhibiting viral replication based on the host cell type and viral species. CypA can interact with viral proteins and thus regulate the replication cycle of the virus. CypA is involved in pathogenic bacterial infections by regulating the formation of host actin skeleton or membrane translocation of bacterial toxins, or mediated the adhesion of Mycoplasma genitalium during the infection processes by acting as a cellular receptor of M. genitalium. CypA also plays a critical role in infection or the life cycle of certain parasites or host immune regulation. Moreover, we summarized the current understanding of CypA inhibitors acting as host-targeting antiviral agents, thus opening an avenue for the treatment of multiple viral infections due to their broad antiviral effects and ability to effectively prevent drug resistance. Therefore, the antiviral effect of CypA has the potential to promote CypA inhibitors as host-targeting drugs to CypA-involved etiological agent infections and human diseases.Key points• CypA is involved in the replication and infection of several viruses, pathogenic bacteria, mycoplasma, and parasites.• CypA inhibitors are in a strong position to inhibit the infection of viruses, bacterial, and mycoplasma.

MHC class I evolution; from Northern pike to salmonids

BackgroundSalmonids are of major importance both as farmed and wild animals. With the changing environment comes changes in pathogenic pressures so understanding the immune system of all salmonid species is of essence. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are key players in the adaptive immune system signalling infection to responding T-cells populations. Classical MHC class I (MHCI) genes, defined by high polymorphism, broad expression patterns and peptide binding ability, have a key role in inducing immunity. In salmonids, the fourth whole genome duplication that occurred 94 million years ago has provided salmonids with duplicate MHCI regions, while Northern Pike, a basal sister clade to salmonids, represent a species which has not experienced this whole genome duplication.ResultsComparing the gene organization and evolution of MHC class I gene sequences in Northern pike versus salmonids displays a complex picture of how many of these genes evolved. Regional salmonid Ia and Ib Z lineage gene duplicates are not orthologs to the Northern pike Z lineage sequences. Instead, salmonids have experienced unique gene duplications in both duplicate regions as well as in the Salmo and Oncorhynchus branch. Species-specific gene duplications are even more pronounced for some L lineage genes.ConclusionsAlthough both Northern pike as well as salmonids have expanded their U and Z lineage genes, these gene duplications occurred separately in pike and in salmonids. However, the similarity between these duplications suggest the transposable machinery was present in a common ancestor. The salmonid MHCIa and MHCIb regions were formed during the 94 MYA since the split from pike and before the Oncorhynchus and Salmo branch separated. As seen in tetrapods, the non-classical U lineage genes are diversified duplicates of their classical counterpart. One MHCI lineage, the L lineage, experienced massive species-specific gene duplications after Oncorhynchus and Salmo split approximately 25 MYA. Based on what we currently know about L lineage genes, this large variation in number of L lineage genes also signals a large functional diversity in salmonids.

Crystal structures of a novel family IV esterase in free and substrate-bound form.

Bacterial lipolytic enzymes of family IV are homologs of the mammalian hormone-sensitive lipases (HSL) and have been successfully used for various biotechnological applications. The broad substrate specificity and ability for enantio-, regio-, and stereoselective hydrolysis are remarkable features of enzymes from this class. Many crystal structures are available for esterases and lipases, but structures of enzyme-substrate or enzyme-inhibitor complexes are less frequent although important to understand the molecular basis of enzyme-substrate interaction and to rationalize biochemical enzyme characteristics. Here, we report on the structures of a novel family IV esterase isolated from a metagenomic screen, which shows a broad substrate specificity. We solved the crystal structures in the apo form and with a bound substrate analogue at 1.35 and 1.81Å resolution, respectively. This enzyme named PtEst1 hydrolyzed more than 60 out 96 structurally different ester substrates thus being substrate promiscuous. Its broad substrate specificity is in accord with a large active site cavity, which is covered by an α-helical cap domain. The substrate analogue methyl 4-methylumbelliferyl hexylphosphonate was rapidly hydrolyzed by the enzyme leading to a complete inactivation caused by covalent binding of phosphinic acid to the catalytic serine. Interestingly, the alcohol leaving group 4-methylumbelliferone was found remaining in the active site cavity, and additionally, a complete inhibitor molecule was found at the cap domain next to the entrance of the substrate tunnel. This unique situation allowed gaining valuable insights into the role of the cap domain for enzyme-substrate interaction of esterases belonging to family IV. DATABASE: Structural data of PtEst1 are available in the worldwide protein data bank (https://www.rcsb.org) under the accession codes: 6Z68 (apo-PtEst1) and 6Z69 (PtEst1-inhibitor complex).

Do Cattell-Horn-Carroll Cognitive Abilities Predict Reading Achievement Similarly for Black Children as for Other Racial/Ethnic Groups?

Racial/ethnic bias in the prediction of students’ educational potential was questioned in the Larry P. Vs. Riles case. The construct and predictive validity of the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ IV; Schrank et al. 2014b) have not been examined for racial/ethnic bias. This study extended Keith’s (1999) examination of bias across racial/ethnic groups for general and specific cognitive abilities predicting reading achievement. It employed a higher-order model of cognitive abilities based on Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory and a three-factor reading achievement model adapted from Niileksela et al. (2016). Using samples of 9- to 13-year-old Black, Hispanic, and White children from the WJ IV norming sample, models representing CHC cognitive abilities and reading demonstrated invariance across groups. Despite the fact that the models where CHC broad abilities predicted reading achievement were a poor fit, results indicated similar predictive relations for Black children as for other racial/ethnic groups. The CHC cognitive models employed are not acceptable to predict reading for Black children—and all children—within this age range.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE IN THE CERVICAL REGION FOR TENSION HEADACHE RELIEF

Myofascial release is a manual thrust applied to the body face to treat the facial system. Myofascial release restores the flexibility and elasticity of the fascia, thus having a broad ability to alter the body's range of motion and dissolve restrictions in the fascial tissues. Sedentary lifestyle and positions that cause pain can gradually cause muscle and fascial restrictions and shortening. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of myofascial release in the cervical region for tension headache relief. This study is characterized as a bibliographical research of qualitative descriptive character, where the researcher is the one who describes the research object, assuming the role of observer and explorer, directly collecting the data in the place where the study phenomena occurred or appeared. It is concluded that through the use of this technique, it is possible to deactivate trigger points, promote a correct alignment of the body structure, minimize movement restriction and pain without compromising the myofascial structures.

PressION: An All-Fabric Piezoionic Pressure Sensor for Extracting Physiological Metrics in Both Static and Dynamic Contexts

The strategy of detecting physiological signals and body movements using fabric-based pressure sensors offers the opportunity to unobtrusively collect multimodal health metrics using loose-fitting, familiar garments in natural environments. (A. Kiaghadi, S. Z. Homayounfar, J. Gummeson, T. Andrew, and D. Ganesan, Proc. ACM Interact. Mob. Wearable Ubiquitous Technol., 3, 1–29 (2019)). However, many sensing scenarios, such as sleep and posture monitoring, involve an added static pressure from exerted body weight, which overpowers weaker pressure signals originating from heartbeats, respiration and pulse and phonation. Here, we introduce an all-fabric piezoionic pressure sensor (PressION) that, on account of its ionic conductivity, functions over a wide range of static and dynamic applied pressures (from subtle ballistic heartbeats and pulse waveforms, to larger-scale body movements). This piezoionic sensor also maintains its pressure responsivity in the presence of an added background pressure and upon integration into loose-fitting garments. The broad ability of PressION to record a wide variety of physiological signals in realistic environments was confirmed by acquiring heartbeat, pulse, joint motion, phonation and step data from different body locations. PressION’s sensitivity, along with its low-cost fabrication process, qualifies it as a uniquely useful sensing element in wearable health monitoring systems.