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Soft robots show excellent body compliance, adaptability, and mobility when coping with unstructured environments and human-robot interactions. However, the moving speed for soft locomotion robots is far from that of their rigid partners. Rolling locomotion can provide a promising solution for developing high-speed robots. Based on different rolling mechanisms, three rolling soft robot (RSR) prototypes with advantages of simplicity, lightweight, fast rolling speed, good compliance, and shock resistance are fabricated by using dielectric elastomer actuators. The experimental results demonstrate that the impulse-based and gravity-based RSRs can move both stably and continuously on the ground with a maximum speed higher than 1 blps (body length per second). The ballistic RSR exhibits a high rolling speed of ∼4.59 blps. And during its accelerating rolling process, the instantaneous rolling speed of the robot prototype reaches about 0.65 m/s (13.21 blps), which is much faster than most of the previously reported locomotion robots driven by soft responsive materials. ALK inhibition The structure design and implementation methods based on different rolling mechanisms presented can provide guidance and inspiration for creating new, fast-moving, and hybrid mobility soft robots.A diverse array of sex determination (SD) mechanisms, encompassing environmental to genetic, have been found to exist among vertebrates, covering a spectrum from fixed SD mechanisms (mammals) to functional sex change in fishes (sequential hermaphroditic fishes). A major landmark in vertebrate SD was the discovery of the SRY gene in 1990. Since that time, many attempts to clone an SRY ortholog from non-mammalian vertebrates remained unsuccessful, until 2002, when DMY/DMRT1BY was discovered as the SD gene of a small fish, medaka. Surprisingly, however, DMY/DMRT1BYwas found in only two species among more than 20 species of medaka, suggesting a large diversity of SD genes among vertebrates. Considerable progress has been made over the last 3 decades, such that it is now possible to formulate reasonable paradigms of how SD and gonadal sex differentiation may work in some model vertebrate species. This review outlines our current understanding of vertebrate SD and gonadal sex differentiation, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. An impressive number of genes and factors have been discovered that play important roles in testicular and ovarian differentiation. An antagonism between the male and female pathway genes exists in gonads during both sex differentiation and, surprisingly, even as adults, suggesting that, in addition to sex-changing fishes, gonochoristic vertebrates including mice maintain some degree of gonadal sexual plasticity into adulthood. Importantly, reviewing various SD mechanisms among vertebrates suggest that this is the ideal biological event that can make us understand the evolutionary conundrums underlying speciation and species diversity.Introduction Gut dysbiosis is assumed to play a role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-associated morbidities. Pre- and probiotics, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal matter transplantation (FMT) may offer potential as novel therapeutic strategies that target this gut dysbiosis. As more mechanisms of OSA-induced dysbiosis are being elucidated, these novel approaches are being tested in preclinical and clinical development. Areas covered We examined the evidence linking OSA to gut dysbiosis and discuss the effects of pre- and probiotics on associated cardiometabolic, neurobehavioral and gastrointestinal disorders. The therapeutic potential of SCFA and FMT are also discussed. We reviewed the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, including PubMed and PubMed Central between 2000 – 2020. Expert opinion To date, there are no clinical trials and only limited evidence from animal studies describing the beneficial effects of pre- and probiotic supplementation on OSA-mediated dysbiosis. Thus, more work is necessary to assess whether prebiotics, probiotics and SCFA are promising future novel strategies for targeting OSA-mediated dysbiosis.Background Reproductive complications for cancer survivors are identified as one of the top unmet needs in the survivorship period. However, current models of cancer care do not routinely incorporate reproductive follow-up for pediatric or adolescent cancer patients. The Kids Cancer Centre has had a one-stop survivorship clinic that includes the attendance of a gynecologist and fertility specialist for the last 12 years. Methodology To inform the future development of our reproductive survivorship care, we reviewed the reproductive care our survivorship clinic has provided over a 12-year period, specifically reviewing the electronic and patient records to collect information on the demographics of the patients who used the service and their gonadotoxic risk and associated fertility treatment, their documented reproductive needs and concerns, and information provided on preventative reproductive advice and screening. Main Results Two hundred seventy-eight patients were seen (397 consultations) for advice and m dysfunction. Survivors 36-45 years of age prioritized fertility status, pregnancy, and contraception. Fertility preservation (FP) (p = 0.05), preventative health strategies (p = 0.001), and contraception advice (p  less then  0.001) were more commonly discussed by females than males. Conclusion Young cancer survivors have multiple ongoing reproductive concerns that change over time. Assessing survivors’ reproductive potential following cancer treatment is important as it gives patients who have not completed their family planning an opportunity to explore a possible window to FP or Assisted Reproductive Treatment. Our data can assist in informing the model of care for a reproductive survivorship clinic.

Generic preference-based measures often lack validity in states of impaired mobility. Our aim was to derive a novel health state classification system from the MobQoL tool, for the purpose of preference-based measurement of states of impaired mobility.

Data were collected through online and postal surveys. Respondents were recruited through the NHS, charitable organisations and HealthWise Wales. Statistical and psychometric analyses were used to assess the validity and reliability of the MobQoL tool. Exploratory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were used to determine dimensional structure and to select items for the MobQoL health state classification system.

Three hundred and forty-two respondents completed the survey. Respondents had a wide range of different mobility impairments. Nine of the MobQoL items demonstrated adequate validity and reliability. Exploratory factor analysis and Rasch analysis confirmed two sub-scales within the item structure 1) physical and role functioning, and 2) mental wellbeing.