Background: Sensory ganglionopathy (SG) is a rare form of neuropathy affecting the dorsal root ganglia and leading to non-length-dependent sensory abnormalities. Although balance problems are frequently reported by patients, a comprehensive balance assessment in SG has not been conducted. This study quantifies balance deficits in SG and examines their relation to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: Prospective data was collected from five participants with SG. Balance assessments included Fullerton Advanced Balance scale, Berg Balance scale, and 360 degree turn. Participants completed PROMs assessing balance confidence (ABC scale), pain, fatigue, quality of life (QoL), and daily activity and participation. Assessment also included neurological exam, nerve conduction studies (NCS) and posturography. Results: All participants had severe SG on NCS with normal strength and significant sensory abnormalities. Balance scores indicated severe balance deficits in all participants and aligned with posturography and truncal sway measures. PROMs revealed low confidence in balance, high levels of pain and fatigue, difficulties with daily activities, and reduced QoL. Conclusions: Although balance testing is not part of routine clinical practice, PROMs and targeted assessment may help monitor patients with SG and their response to treatment. Larger sample sizes are needed to understand the impact of balance on PROMs and optimize bedside balance testing.

Over 2.4 million children in the public school system are diagnosed with a learning disability, including dyslexia and developmental dyscalculia. Previous research has shown that some teachers are unaware of the importance of working memory in a student’s academic and social realm and what working memory deficits may look like in the classroom. The relationship between learning disabilities, working memory, and behaviour problems were examined with tailored recommendations for improvement to provide insight for classroom educators. Three children from the United Kingdom, all of whom were 8 years old and presented with symptoms of learning disorders and low working memory profiles, were selected for case studies. Measures of working memory, behaviour, and academic attainment were included. Results from their standardised assessments indicated that each child had below average working memory, as well as low scores in arithmetic, writing and spelling skills. Each child also exhibited some type of behavioural problem, such as inattention or hyperactivity. Implications of the impact of their working memory profile on their academic outcomes and behaviour are discussed. Recommendations, such as Response to Intervention (RTI), are included for classroom educators to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vector-borne disease (VBD) in pets is one cornerstone of companion animal practices. Veterinarians are facing new challenges associated with the emergence, reemergence, and rising incidence of VBD, including heartworm disease, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Increases in the observed prevalence of these diseases have been attributed to a multitude of factors, including diagnostic tests with improved sensitivity, expanded annual testing practices, climatologic and ecological changes enhancing vector survival and expansion, emergence or recognition of novel pathogens, and increased movement of pets as travel companions. Veterinarians have the additional responsibility of providing information about zoonotic pathogen transmission from pets, especially to vulnerable human populations: the immunocompromised, children, and the elderly. Hindering efforts to protect pets and people is the dynamic and ever-changing nature of VBD prevalence and distribution. To address this deficit in understanding, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) began efforts to annually forecast VBD prevalence in 2011. These forecasts provide veterinarians and pet owners with expected disease prevalence in advance of potential changes. This review summarizes the fidelity of VBD forecasts and illustrates the practical use of CAPC pathogen prevalence maps and forecast data in the practice of veterinary medicine and client education.

The chemical enrichment of the Universe is considerably affected by the contribution of cool evolved stars. We studied the O-rich star R Peg and the C-rich star V Oph, using respectively the VLTI/GRAVITY and VLTI/MIDI instruments. We interpret the data using grids of 1-D and 3-D dynamic model atmospheres.

Brumadoite, ideally Cu3Te6+O4(OH)4-5H2O, is a new mineral from Pedra Preta mine, Serra das Eguas. Brumado, Bahia, Brazil. It occurs as microcrystalline aggregates both on and, rarely, pseudomorphous after coarse-grained magnesite, associated with mottramite and quartz. Crystals are platy, subhedral. 1—2 μm in size. Brumadoite is blue (near RHS 114B), has a pale blue streak and a vitreous lustre. It is transparent to translucent and does not fluoresce. The empirical formula is (Cu2.90Pb0.04Ca0.01)Σ2.95 (Te0.936+Si0.05)Σ0.98O3.92(OH)3.84.5.24H2O. Infrared spectra clearly show both (OH) and H2O. Microchemical spot tests using a KI solution show that brumadoite has tellurium in the 6+ state. The mineral is monoclinic, P2/m or P21. Unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder data are a 8.629(2) Å, b 5.805(2) Å, c 7.654(2) Å,β 0 103.17(2)°, F 373.3(2) Å3, Z= 2. The eight strongest X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å,(I),(hkl)] are: 8.432,(100),(100); 3.162,(66),(2̄02); 2.385,(27),(220); 2.291,(12),(l̄22); 1.916,(11),(312); 1.666,(14),(4̄22,114); 1.452,(10),(323,040); 1.450,(10),(422,403). The name is for the type locality, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil. The new mineral species has been approved by the CNMNC (IMA 2008-028).