Intrinsic catalytic activity of rhodium nanoparticles with respect to reactive oxygen species scavenging: implication for diminishing cytotoxicity.

Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their hybrids have demonstrated a strong potential to mimic the catalytic activity of natural enzymes and diminish oxidative stress. There is a large space to explore the intrinsic catalytic activity of Rh NPs with respect to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. We found that Rh NPs can quench H2O2, •OH, O2•-, 1O2 and inhibit lipid peroxidation under physiological conditions. In vitro cell experiments proved that Rh NPs have great biocompatibility and protect cells from oxidative damage caused by H2O2. This study can provide important insights that could inform future biological applications.

Comparing the effectiveness of two app-based number lines to teach price comparison to students with autism spectrum disorders.

PURPOSE: A number line consisting of Arabic numerals is a commonly used instructional tool for teaching price comparison. However, typical number lines lack concrete visual cues, which may benefit students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have not yet mastered the representation of Arabic numerals. METHOD: This study investigated the effects of additional visual cues (i.e., dots) by comparing two types of app-based number line conditions: number lines with and without dots. A single-subject, alternating treatment design study was employed across five secondary students with ASD. RESULTS: Both number line conditions were effective for four of the students in assisting them to select cheaper items and complete task analysis steps. The number line with dots was effective or slightly more effective in selecting smaller numbers for three of the students. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support the literature on the use of number lines as an effective tool to assist students in price comparison. The benefits of adding concrete visual cues and other teaching strategies (e.g., the holistic and decomposition models) were discussed. Implications for Rehabilitation This study investigated the effectiveness of concrete visual cues, such as dots, on a number line app for teaching students with ASD who had not yet developed the association of quantities with the numerals. We found that incorporation of a hybrid number comparison model - first holistic (for whole numbers) and then decomposition (for numbers after the decimal point) - is effective when teaching students how to compare prices with an uneven number of digits. This study provides an alternative for special education teachers to schedule practice, such as the use of simulated settings to achieve mastery, then transitioning to community-based settings to test skill generalization.

Hearing Math: Algebra Supported eText for Students With Visual Impairments.

Supported eText for students with visual impairments in mathematics has a promising, emerging literature base, although little of the existing research focuses on implementation within a classroom setting. This qualitative study sought to understand the use of supported eText to deliver algebra to students with visual impairments enrolled in algebra mathematics courses. The study also sought to explore supported eText in contrast to students' traditional means of accessing an algebra text. The main results suggest supported eText holds potential in terms of delivering mathematics content; however, more research and more reflection on the field is needed regarding this approach as a sole means of presenting text. Implications for teacher professional development and implementation practices are discussed.

The reduced trabecular bone mass of adult ARKO male mice results from the decreased osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stroma cells.

Male mice with androgen receptor knock-out (ARKO) show significant bone loss at a young age. However, the lasting effect of AR inactivation on bone in aging male mice remains unclear. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of AR on bone quality in aging male mice and to find the possible causes of AR inactivation contributing to the bone loss. The mice were grouped according to their ages and AR status and their trabecular bones were examined by micro-CT analysis at 6, 12, 18, and 30 weeks old. We found that bone mass consistently decreased and the bone microarchitectures continuously deteriorated in male ARKO mice at designated time points. To determine the cause of the bone loss in ARKO mice, we further examined the role of AR in bone cell fate decision and differentiation and we conducted experiments on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) obtained from wild type (WT) and AR knockout (KO) mice. We found that ARKO mice had higher numbers of colony formation unit-fibroblast (CFU-F), and CD44 and CD34 positive cells in bone marrow than WT mice. Our Q-RT-PCR results showed lower expression of genes linked to osteogenesis in BMSCs isolated from ARKO mice. In conclusion, AR nullification disrupted bone microarchitecture and caused trabecular bone mass loss in male ARKO mice. And the fate of BMSCs was impacted by the loss of AR. Therefore, these findings suggest that AR may accelerate the use of progenitor cells and direct them into osteogenic differentiation to affect bone metabolism.