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SHANK2 establishes auditory hair bundle architecture essential for mammalian hearing
(National Academy of Sciences, 2025) Choi, Han Seul; Park, Hyeyoung; Min, Hyehyun; Kim, Kwan Soo; Kim, Soo Min; Li, Jinan; Liu, Chang; Ko, Hyuk Wan; Lee, Min Goo; Song, Lei; Zhao, Bo; Bok, Jinwoong; Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
The mammalian auditory system relies on the precise architecture of the hair cell stereociliary bundle for effective sound transduction. Each bundle consists of approximately 100 actin-filled stereocilia arranged in a three-row staircase pattern, forming a linear shape in inner hair cells (IHCs) and a V-shape in outer hair cells (OHCs), the latter geometry being a hallmark of the mammalian cochlea. While the initial development from uniformly distributed microvilli into stereociliary bundles is guided by lateral migration of the kinocilium, the mechanisms that establish the characteristic bundle architecture and its functional significance remain unclear. Here, we show that SHANK2, a protein implicated in synaptic function and autism spectrum disorders, is a critical regulator of bundle architecture. SHANK2 localizes to the medial apical surface of developing hair cells. This localization is regulated by the small GTPase RAP1, independently of known lateral (Gαi, GPSM2) or medial (aPKCζ, PARD6B) proteins. Hair cell-specific ablation of Shank2 or Rap1 disrupts bundle architecture while preserving key features essential for mechanotransduction. In particular, OHCs lose their unique bundle geometry and show impaired amplification, especially at high frequencies. Longitudinal studies further reveal that this architectural disruption leads to progressive bundle degeneration and hearing loss. These findings suggest that the characteristic bundle architecture, particularly the V-shaped geometry of OHCs, is essential for high-frequency hearing and long-term bundle integrity in the mammalian cochlea.
Black People Living with Memory Challenges & Study Partners’ Preferred Activity Tracker Features
(Oxford University Press, 2025-12-31) Lassell, Rebecca; Carey, Christopher; Sample, Lola; Elftmann, Hanley; Gitlin, Laura; Harezlak, Jaroslaw; Holden, Richard; Keith, NiCole; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
Activity tracker preferences of Black people living with memory challenges (PLMC) or dementia and study partners are largely unknown, which can impact wear-time adherence. We sought to identify Black PLMC and study partners’ preferred activity tracker features. Participants (n = 10) were recruited from Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. Data were collected through two 90-minute focus groups with Black PLMC participants (n = 5) and Black study partners (n = 5), respectively, and a PLMC and study partner interview. The focus group was guided by a semi-structured questionnaire and involved interacting with an Apple Watch SE, Oura Ring Heritage, Fitbit Inspire 3, and Polar Watch Ignite. Participants ranked each device based on comfort (device size, weight, material), convenience (battery life, water resistance, style, emergency button), and features (e.g., activity, steps, time standing, calories, distance/GPS, heart rate, respiratory rate) from 1-5 using checklists and picture cards. Focus groups were audio recorded. Device rankings from each category (comfort, convenience, and features) were summarized with descriptive statistics. Audio recordings were analyzed using the Rapid Identification of Themes from Audio recordings method and transcribed. PLMC rated the Apple Watch SE with mean scores in comfort (4.00), convenience (3.33), and features (4.3),30) emphasizing screen size, viewing progress on the watch, and an emergency button. Study partners rated the Fitbit Inspire 5 most in comfort (5), while the Apple Watch SE had the most rankings for convenience (4.75) and features (5.00), highlighting the emergency button and GPS as key attributes. Findings can guide activity tracker selection in future studies with this population.
Trends in library STEM education projects: A review of publicly funded projects from the institute of museum and library services
(Elsevier, 2025-07) Kim, Soo Hyeon; Yoon, Ayoung; Park, Jaihyun; Library and Information Science, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Considering the growing national investment in informal STEM education and libraries' emerging role within that landscape, it is timely to systematically review library-based STEM education projects to understand how libraries have contributed to STEM education over time in the US. This study conducts a systematic review of grant-funded projects related to STEM education from 2012 to 2022 from the Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS). One hundred and twenty-eight library STEM education projects were analyzed to understand trends in growth and focus of IMLS-funded library STEM education projects. Based on the content analysis of project abstracts and Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) topic modeling method, library STEM education projects contribute to diversification at multiple levels, such as participant populations, program structures, STEM disciplinary focus, funding scale and distribution, and network of collaboration were demonstrated. Findings highlight the unique role libraries have played in broadening the landscape of informal STEM learning.
Plasmodium ovale Malaria in Travelers and Immigrants to the United States: A Case Series
(American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2024-10-22) Mayhew, Jonathan A.; Alali, Muayad; Enane, Leslie A.; Kirkpatrick, Lindsey M.; John, Chandy C.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Malaria in child travelers caused by Plasmodium ovale spp. is less well characterized than malaria due to other Plasmodium species. Commonly used diagnostic tests often lack adequate sensitivity to identify P. ovale spp., and a missed diagnosis may have serious consequences. We present a case series of eight children in the United States with P. ovale malaria, all of whom had traveled to or immigrated from malaria-endemic areas. Two children developed clinical malaria, including one with severe malaria; two had isolated splenomegaly; and four were asymptomatic siblings of the children with splenomegaly. Seven of the eight children had negative blood smear readings, and the diagnosis was made by polymerase chain reaction testing. Two children had concurrent P. malariae infection despite presumptive antimalarial treatment before immigration. These findings suggest a need for reconsideration of screening and diagnostic evaluation for P. ovale malaria in high-risk groups.
Associations of circulating c-reactive protein levels with central Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
(Elsevier, 2026) Choi, Hye Ji; Byun, Min Soo; Yi, Dahyun; Ahn, Hyejin; Jung, Gijung; Park, Sangyong; Jung, Joon Hyung; Keum, Musung; Sohn, Bo Kyung; Kim, Yu Kyeong; Choi, Hongyoon; Lee, Yun-Sang; Lee, Jun-Young; Kang, Koung Mi; Sohn, Chul-Ho; Huang, Yen-Ning; Saykin, Andrew J.; Nho, Kwangsik; Lee, Dong Young; KBASE Research Group; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is well-known marker of inflammation and immune response. Its potential role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology remains unclear, particularly in relation to central AD biomarkers, including beta-amyloid (Aβ), tau, and neurodegeneration.
Objectives: To investigate the associations between circulating CRP levels and central AD biomarkers-including Aβ deposition, tau, and AD-signature neurodegeneration-in nondemented older adults.
Design, setting, participants: This cross-sectional observational study analyzed data from a Korean Brain Aging Study for Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer Disease conducted from 2014 to 2020. A total of 417 nondemented older adults underwent comprehensive evaluations, including blood sampling and multimodal neuroimaging for measuring of Aβ and AD-signature neurodegeneration. A subset of participants (N = 123) also underwent tau positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
Measurements: The primary outcomes were A/T/N biomarkers of AD, including brain Aβ and tau deposition measured via amyloid and tau PET, as well as AD-signature neurodegeneration measured by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET. Associations between CRP levels and these biomarkers were analyzed while adjusting for CRP-decreasing allele scores, as well as other confounders, including age, sex, vascular risk score, body mass index, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usage, smoking status, and APOE ε4 carrier status.
Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 70.57 (8.00) years, with 179 (42.9 %) females. Circulating CRP levels showed non-linear associations with A/T/N biomarkers of AD, showing a U-shaped relationship with Aβ and tau deposition and an inverted U-shaped association with neurodegeneration. Threshold effect analyses revealed that CRP was inversely associated with Aβ deposition (B = -0.081; 95 % CI, -0.153 to -0.007; p = 0.031) below 0.63 mg/L, after adjusting for all confounding variables. In contrast, higher CRP levels were associated with lower cerebral glucose metabolism in AD-signature regions, indicative of greater AD-related neurodegeneration, when above 2.15 mg/L (B = -0.056; 95 % CI, -0.112 to -0.001; p= 0.042).
Conclusions: Our study revealed differential associations between circulating CRP levels and central AD biomarkers that varied according to the CRP concentration. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inverse relationship between circulating CRP and brain Aβ within the clinically normal range, as well as potential aggravating effects of elevated CRP on Aβ-independent neurodegeneration.